Chapter 255: Chemical Gas Mask
Border Region Arsenal
“Xiao Li, have you heard?”
Due to the rain, most of the logistics transfer preparations had temporarily stopped.
Zhang Wanhe came to Li Muzhi’s Border Region Arsenal.
“Heard what?” Li Muzhi looked at Zhang Wanhe.
“Regimental Commander Li and the others are fighting the Japanese Invaders outside the encirclement, and the Japanese Invaders used poison gas shells on them.” Zhang Wanhe said cursing, “These despicable and shameless Japanese Invaders are simply inhumane.”
As soon as Li Muzhi heard this, he hurriedly asked: “Then did Regimental Commander Li and the others suffer heavy losses?”
During World War II, Japanese Army troops used biological weapons, including poison gas shells, bacterial bombs, and so on.
This caused great harm to our troops and civilians.
“I heard the quantity wasn’t large, and the losses weren’t too great.” Zhang Wanhe replied, then looked at Li Muzhi, “Xiao Li, we can’t always just think about making weapons and ammunition for the troops. You’d better research it and make gas masks for the troops.”
Zhang Wanhe then said: “Whether it’s the direct lineage side, the Jin Sui Army, or our side, once the Japanese Invaders use poison gas shells in large quantities, the defensive line will be quickly breached by them.”
Li Muzhi looked troubled: “Minister Zhang, to make chemical gas masks, you can’t just throw it to me with one sentence. We need equipment, materials, activated carbon, even electrostatic fiber layers.”
Hearing this, Zhang Wanhe paused: “Xiao Li, from your tone, it seems you already understand the structure of this gas mask quite well?”
Zhang Wanhe’s meaning was to have Li Muzhi figure out a way to research it first.
Now hearing his tone, it seemed like he could make them directly.
As long as he had the materials, equipment, and whatever electrostatic fibers, he seemed like he could make them right away.
This made Zhang Wanhe feel strange; where did Li Muzhi learn this.
Li Muzhi explained: “The combat troops snatched a lot of supplies from the Japanese Invaders earlier, including a small number of gas masks. I took some time to disassemble a few and study them.”
“As long as you can make them, that’s fine.” Zhang Wanhe said, “I’ll figure out a way to get you the equipment, materials, and so on.”
“Minister Zhang, we’re currently being raided by the Japanese Invaders. How are you going to figure it out?” Li Muzhi asked suspiciously.
Although the rain had temporarily halted the Japanese Invaders’ raid, we were still in the midst of their encirclement.
Zhang Wanhe explained: “The Military Statistics Bureau wanted to buy our flashbangs, and they tried to play tricks. I’ve already talked it over with Wang Xunbu. I don’t want their money; I just want equipment and raw materials for making gas masks. Otherwise, no deal.”
Upon hearing this, Li Muzhi paused: “Minister Zhang, aren’t you putting the Military Statistics Bureau in a tough spot?”
During the War of Resistance, The Bald One’s side could indeed make gas masks, but mainly relied on imitation and imports.
Moreover, these gas masks were only available to elite troops like the German-equipped Division Training Corps.
In other words, the equipment and raw materials for manufacturing gas masks were extremely precious.
Even The Bald One probably wouldn’t give them up easily.
As for the Military Statistics Bureau, their main role was gathering intelligence and striking Japanese Invaders and Traitors.
They couldn’t access these important equipment and raw materials.
“I can’t worry about that now.” Zhang Wanhe said glaring, “Since they wanted to play tricks, they have to pay the price!”
Then, Zhang Wanhe said: “You, Xiao Li, are still a bit too soft-hearted. What’s the use of gaining twenty more silver dollars!”
“I still wanted to keep an eye on the equipment in their hands…”
“We can’t let them pick the equipment; we have to pick it ourselves!” Zhang Wanhe interrupted Li Muzhi, “Right now, making gas masks here is urgent. We need that equipment and raw materials! If Dai Kasa wants flashbangs, convincing The Bald One is his problem!”
“Alright, if Minister Zhang is personally handling this, I won’t say more.” Li Muzhi shrugged his shoulders; this was originally Old Zhang’s task.
He was absent, so he had only been acting temporarily.
Zhang Wanhe looked seriously at Li Muzhi: “Xiao Li, I don’t mean to blame you. Just in the future, if I’m not around and you negotiate with them, you need to be tougher. Back then, when those bastards were hunting our comrades everywhere, their hands weren’t clean of blood.”
“Got it, Minister Zhang.” Li Muzhi nodded.
Then, Zhang Wanhe asked: “Can you make flashbangs with anti-disassembly devices, and install timed self-destruct devices inside? Having Wang Xunbu’s people join Military Statistics Bureau operations isn’t a long-term plan. And the Military Statistics Bureau isn’t incompetent; they might strike early and snatch the flashbangs, leaving our comrades no chance to activate the self-destruct device.”
“Minister Zhang, we can definitely make them, but Wang Xunbu came in a hurry at the time.” Li Muzhi replied, “This thing takes some time, and…”
Zhang Wanhe took over Li Muzhi’s words: “And you’re now rushing to make parts for the new type rockets, right?”
“Yes.” Li Muzhi nodded, “The equipment has been modified, and all the parts are being produced as quickly as possible. Once the parts are done, we can assemble the new type rockets. Although this heavy rain has temporarily stopped the Japanese Invaders’ raid, our crisis still exists. Getting the new type rockets produced quickly will show their meaning right away!”
“The flashbang device matter isn’t urgent. I’ve thrown the problem to Dai Kasa; convincing The Bald One won’t be easy for him, it takes time.” Zhang Wanhe said calmly, “Or in the end, The Bald One still won’t agree, and we’ll need to find another way. So!”
Zhang Wanhe paused, then continued: “So you don’t need to distract yourself with modifying the flashbangs now. Focus on producing the new type rockets. If The Bald One agrees later, you can handle it then.”
“Yes, Minister Zhang.” Li Muzhi replied.
Although The Bald One probably wouldn’t agree, Dai Kasa wasn’t incompetent either.
Let those two butt heads first.
“How much longer until all the parts for the new type rockets are fully produced?” Zhang Wanhe was still very concerned about the progress of the new type rockets.
“If there are no surprises, probably another five days.” Li Muzhi answered.
“Mm.” Zhang Wanhe acknowledged.
This rain would likely continue for three days.
As soon as the rain stopped, the Japanese Invaders’ ground troops’ raid would start immediately.
He still needed to wait for the ground to dry.
By the time the ground dried, the new type rockets should be assembled and ready for testing.
“Factory Director, Minister Zhang, Staff Officer Guo from 386 Brigade brought the transportation team; they’re here to transport the fake tungsten ore.” At this time, someone came over to report.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanhe immediately turned to Li Muzhi: “Is the fake tungsten ore all done?”
“Yes, we can wrap up today.” Li Muzhi nodded.
Zhang Wanhe then said to Li Muzhi: “I’ll handle the matter of Staff Officer Guo from 386 Brigade transporting the fake tungsten ore. You go continue producing your new type rockets.”
“Okay.” Li Muzhi nodded, and Zhang Wanhe walked out.
“Minister Zhang, you’re here too.” Staff Officer Guo saw Zhang Wanhe come out and greeted him.
“Staff Officer Guo, it’s still raining, and you came so urgently. Couldn’t you wait until the rain stops to transport?” Zhang Wanhe asked while leading them toward the storeroom.
With the rain, the roads were muddy and hard to travel.
Staff Officer Guo explained: “Once the rain stops, the Japanese Invaders’ airplanes will definitely come out. With airplanes flying overhead, it won’t be easy to transport the fake tungsten ore. Besides, our brigade commander doesn’t want to keep fighting the Japanese sweeping army; we need to hurry and carry out a big operation to relieve the pressure.”
“What big operation?” Zhang Wanhe asked.
“Minister Zhang, you don’t need to ask so much about fighting wars; you don’t understand fighting wars anyway.” Staff Officer Guo said.
“Do you still need more manpower here to speed things up?” Zhang Wanhe didn’t ask further, “If you’re short on manpower, I can find some people from my side to help.”
If 386 Brigade could carry out a big operation to keep the Japanese sweeping army at bay, it would buy more production time for our Border Region Arsenal.
Naturally, Zhang Wanhe wanted to cooperate as much as possible.
“No need, we have enough manpower here.” Staff Officer Guo said.
“Alright then.”
……
A certain county town
Li Yunlong sat under the eaves, watching the rainwater dripping from the eaves, peeling peanuts while occasionally taking a couple sips of wine, and said to Chu Yunfei in front of him: “Brother Chu, don’t worry too much. Mr. Yan Kai is definitely fine. Come on, have a couple drinks too.”
Ding Wei and Gao Xigang hadn’t stayed put with Yan Kai waiting to die; they kept changing positions.
The purpose was to prevent the Jin Sui Army from picking him up.
Of course, now Li Yunlong and the Jin Sui Army troops were all “besieged” here, so Ding Wei and Gao Xigang must have found another place to hide.
The place where Li Yunlong was now was pretty good too.
They directly seized a county town from the Japanese Invaders with powerful firepower and used it as a shelter from wind and rain, much better than hiding under a big tree in the wild.
They could even have a couple drinks.
But Chu Yunfei, sitting opposite Li Yunlong, was sullen.
“Brother Yunlong, I really have no mood right now.” Chu Yunfei waved his hand; how could he have the mind to drink.
The army was now besieged here; whether they could break out later was uncertain.
After all, once the rain stopped, Japanese Invaders’ airplanes might come.
“Brother Chu, take my advice as a brother: no matter how much you worry, it won’t help.” Li Yunlong advised, “Maybe right now Yan Kai is snoring away, completely safe. Your worrying…”
“Brother Yunlong!” Chu Yunfei interrupted Li Yunlong, “I have only one request right now.”
“What request?”
“When the rain stops, you and Gao Liujin must not slack off as the vanguard.” Chu Yunfei said solemnly, “Otherwise, if the army can’t break out, it’ll be bad.”
Li Yunlong and Gao Liujin’s artillery fire was powerful, and rocket launchers countered the Japanese Invaders’ tank regiment; the army needed them to break out.
“Brother Chu, rest assured on that.” Li Yunlong promised readily, “If we can’t break out, I risk being encircled and annihilated too. Brother Chu, we’re all grasshoppers on the same rope now. I know what’s at stake.”
“As long as you know what’s at stake, I have something else, so I won’t keep you company.” Chu Yunfei stood up and left.
After Chu Yunfei left, Li Yunlong turned to Gao Liujin beside him: “Gao Liujin, you always say you want to fight hard in wars. When the rain stops, don’t slack off on the job.”
“Damn it, when fighting Japanese Invaders, have I ever slacked off!” Gao Liujin said energetically, “If we don’t break out, how do we get the profits from Taiyuan!”
“Haha, that’s true.” Li Yunlong laughed, pouring wine for Gao Liujin: “Come on, drink, drink. Where were we?”
“You were talking about you and your girl making out in the haystack.” Gao Liujin scratched his head and said.
Originally, Gao Liujin and Li Yunlong were drinking happily when Chu Yunfei suddenly came and interrupted.
“Yeah, yeah, right there. Man, let me tell you, my girl’s lips were so sweet, like they were coated in honey. I still can’t forget it.” Li Yunlong started bragging again, “If it weren’t for the Huangma Uprising, that kid would already be born, filling a kang.”
“Who’s Huangma, why did he uprising, and didn’t that delay your kid?” Gao Liujin was already a bit drunk and confused.
Li Yunlong got furious: “Damn it, I told you not to skip reading and listening, but you had to go feed pigs for the landlords.”
……
