Chapter 301: Coconut Shell Activated Carbon
Border Region Arsenal
The sun rises in the east, and all things revive!
At the usual time, Li Muzhi woke up precisely on schedule.
After getting dressed and washing up, he went out of his room and to the canteen for a meal.
As soon as he entered the canteen, Li Muzhi felt the atmosphere was a bit unusual, somewhat oppressive.
Normally, when the workers ate, they would chat and laugh, but today there were fewer smiles, and it was rather subdued.
“Old He, what’s wrong? Did something happen?” Li Muzhi happened to see Workshop Director Old He and asked, “Could it be that the combat troops’ action to dismantle the military train last night was unsuccessful, and the supplies weren’t brought back?”
Old He pointed to the breakfast at the window and said, “Director, haven’t you seen that there’s bread in the breakfast now? The military train was dismantled and returned, and the supplies were brought back. Look, we all have bread to eat.”
“Then why do I feel the atmosphere is off?” Li Muzhi hadn’t noticed it before, but now that he looked closely at the window, there was indeed bread.
In later generations, bread was not a scarce item; ordinary families could even buy bread makers to produce it.
But during the War of Resistance, it was a scarce commodity.
Let alone the Eighth Route Army not having bread, many Japanese Army units couldn’t get it; only high-ranking officers had the good fortune to eat it.
Of course, those Navy idiots among the Japanese Army could eat bread as they pleased.
The meal standards for those Navy idiots were extremely luxurious, even by later generations’ standards.
“Regiment Commander Liu’s troops are fighting fiercely with the Japanese,” Old He said. “Due to the lack of anti-aircraft weapons, Regiment Commander Liu’s Hell Cannons were bombed, his Type 92 Infantry Guns were also bombed, and even most of his rocket launchers became scrap. There are also rumors that the intelligence department obtained information from the Japanese, and it seems they are going to borrow more airplanes from the Kwantung Army. You say we don’t have anti-aircraft weapons now, and if the Japanese planes come to fiercely bombard us, the casualties of the combat troops will definitely increase significantly, not to mention that combat missions will become difficult. If the combat troops are not doing well, can we in logistics be happy?”
When Li Muzhi heard this, his brow furrowed: “If the Japanese have more aircraft reinforcements in the Second War Zone, won’t that allow them to use aircraft to cover the military train and deliver supplies to the Kumamoto Division’s army? Won’t that Kumamoto Division army be resurrected, and perhaps under the cover of aircraft, raid us again?”
Li Muzhi also deeply regretted the significant loss of artillery fire from Liu Weidong.
Although the Border Region Arsenal could produce Hell Cannons, its output was limited due to insufficient materials.
For every one bombed by the Japanese, one less was available.
Unless!
Unless the equipment for producing seamless steel pipes could be quickly supplemented. With the equipment, Hell Cannons could continue to be produced.
Anti-aircraft weapons could also be urgently developed immediately.
There was no other way.
Seamless steel pipe technology was a formidable barrier; there was no possibility of overtaking by a shortcut.
Without the equipment, it was impossible.
“Yes,” Old He nodded and said, “You see, the combat troops finally managed to eliminate the supplies of the Japanese sweeping army, and they even seized the military train again. If they could just hold on for a few more days, the Japanese sweeping army would surely have to stop. But if a large number of aircraft from the Kwantung Army could come to escort military trains for transporting supplies again, the Japanese sweeping army would be resurrected, and we would likely be swept again.”
In this way, the precious time the Border Region Arsenal could have gained for production would likely become an illusory moon in the mirror.
Li Muzhi quickly adjusted his emotions and said sternly to Old He, “After eating, immediately gather the management personnel. I will hold a meeting for them.”
Li Muzhi generally did not hold meetings, but now seeing that the morale of the logistics personnel was clearly affected by the frontline warfare, this was definitely not acceptable.
“Yes, Director,” Old He nodded.
Li Muzhi went to the serving window, and the woman serving food added two pieces of bread to Li Muzhi’s plate, saying enthusiastically, “Director Li, if this bread isn’t enough, I can add more for you.”
“Alright, thank you,” Li Muzhi took the two pieces of bread and a bowl of soy milk, turned, and casually found a seat.
After eating one piece of bread and drinking a bowl of soy milk, just as he was about to get another bowl, he saw Deputy Minister Zhang quickly approaching with a coconut shell, “Director Li, do you think this coconut shell will do?”
This Deputy Minister Zhang was a deputy minister under Minister Zhang Wanhe, and his name was Zhang Yu.
Not all materials needed by the Border Region Arsenal were handled by Zhang Wanhe.
After all, Zhang Wanhe was the Head of Logistics and had to manage the entire army’s food, drink, and daily necessities; he was very busy.
Therefore, for any materials the Border Region Arsenal needed, Li Muzhi could also contact the other deputy ministers in logistics.
As Li Muzhi took the coconut shell, he handed his empty bowl to Zhang Yu and smiled, “Deputy Minister Zhang, please get me a bowl of soy milk.”
“Okay,” Zhang Yu took the empty bowl from Li Muzhi’s hand and turned to get soy milk for Li Muzhi.
Li Muzhi placed the coconut shell close to his eyes and observed it carefully.
Before Old Zhang comrade could swap the equipment from the Military Statistics Bureau, Li Muzhi had already asked Deputy Minister Zhang Yu to prepare some raw materials in advance.
Coconut shells were an important raw material for producing activated carbon.
And activated carbon was a very important component in gas masks.
Coconut shell activated carbon had a high surface area, and in later generations, it could even adsorb formaldehyde, so adsorbing the Japanese poison gas molecules would be no problem.
Li Muzhi looked at the coconut shell with a satisfied expression.
At the same time, he still felt a little… something.
Although these coconut shells were ordinary items, obtaining them might not be easy.
After all, coconuts were produced only in coastal areas.
Now that the coastal areas were occupied by the Japanese invaders, how could coconuts be transported inland?
In other words, even if there were coconuts, the Japanese invaders would have already picked them.
In such a short time, for Deputy Minister Zhang to be able to procure coconut shells naturally made Li Muzhi curious.
Zhang Yu sat down with a plate.
On the plate was Li Muzhi’s bowl, already filled with soy milk, and another breakfast, which was Zhang Yu’s breakfast.
Zhang Yu handed Li Muzhi’s bowl to him and, seeing Li Muzhi’s satisfied expression, smiled, “Director Li, it seems the coconut shell meets your requirements, right?”
“Mhm,” Li Muzhi grunted and asked, “How did you get these coconut shells? How many are there?”
If it were just a few coconut shells, then Li Muzhi would have to give up.
The use of Japanese poison gas shells on the battlefield was not an isolated incident but rather frequent and widespread.
Besides airplanes dropping poison gas shells, their ground artillery could also fire them.
Without a sufficient quantity of coconut shells, enough gas masks could not be produced.
“It was quite a coincidence. Wang Xunbu took the flashbangs you made to eliminate a traitor, a major traitor. Unexpectedly, after apprehending him, this fellow was very afraid of death and, to save his life, revealed quite a bit of information, including these coconut shells,” Zhang Yu explained with a smile. “He said these coconut shells could be used to make medicinal materials and were transported from the coastal areas inland. Good heavens, this fellow had stockpiled quite a lot of coconut shells, nearly a thousand catties.”
“So that’s how it is. Then we were lucky,” Li Muzhi also smiled.
Coconut shells could indeed be used to make medicinal materials.
Boiling coconut shells in water generally has effects such as antioxidant properties, promoting fluid production, relieving thirst, clearing heat and dispelling summer-heat, and lowering blood pressure.
Boiling coconut shells in water also helps to increase one’s resistance to illness.
Li Muzhi then said, “This thousand catties of coconut shells are still not enough. I need more.”
Once the coconut shell activated carbon is put into gas masks, it will have a lifespan.
Our troops are so numerous, and the Japanese invaders use poison gas shells so crazily; these mere thousand catties of coconut shells are simply not enough.
Moreover, once these gas masks are developed.
Whether it’s the Jin Sui Army or the Direct Line Army, they will surely covet them.
These gas masks have no offensive capabilities, and later we can exchange them for other goods and resources with them.
Zhang Yu promptly said, “Director Li, this is not a problem. Since we have apprehended this major traitor, we will definitely get his procurement channels. Then, whatever amount of coconut shells you need, you can get them through this channel.”
“Is that so? That’s good,” Li Muzhi nodded. “It’s not about how many coconut shells *I* need, but rather, try to get as many as you can.”
“Okay, no problem,” Zhang Yu nodded, picked up a piece of bread, took a couple of bites, and praised, “This bread tastes better than steamed buns. I’ll have another one later. Director Li, do you want another one? I’ll get it for you.”
“No, thank you,” Li Muzhi waved his hand and took a couple of sips of soy milk.
The texture of this bread was indeed good, retaining the original aroma of the grain.
Unlike in later generations, where bread was full of artificial flavors and additives, and one couldn’t taste the original texture and flavor of the grain at all.
Remembering something, Li Muzhi looked at Zhang Yu, “Deputy Minister Zhang, has Minister Zhang returned?”
Yesterday, Zhang Wanhe said that the equipment for producing gas masks from the Military Statistics Bureau would arrive last night.
It was already morning, and if everything went smoothly, Zhang Wanhe should have brought the equipment back.
Why hadn’t he appeared yet?
Could it be that the Military Statistics Bureau was playing some trick again this time?
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen Minister Zhang at all this morning,” Zhang Yu shook his head, looking at Li Muzhi suspiciously. “Director Li, do you need him for something? If he’s not here, I can help you with it.”
“The Military Statistics Bureau was supposed to trade the equipment for producing gas masks for our flashbangs. I’m curious; the exchange should have been completed last night, so why hasn’t Minister Zhang shown up yet?” Li Muzhi said.
“Perhaps something delayed him,” Zhang Yu, who was not responsible for this matter and therefore uninformed, still tried to comfort him.
“Mhm,” Li Muzhi grunted and continued to lower his head, eating breakfast.
After chatting with Zhang Yu for a few more sentences, Li Muzhi gave Zhang Yu a few more instructions, asking him to procure a few other materials.
Zhang Yu noted down these materials, and after eating, he left in a hurry.
After all, even a Deputy Minister of Logistics was very busy.
Li Muzhi finished his breakfast and went to the meeting room.
There, Old He had already gathered all the management personnel.
Li Muzhi’s tone was solemn: “The production tasks in the workshops are urgent. I will say a few words.”
…
