Chapter 32: Kong Jie Is So Moved He’s About To Cry
“It would be best if the Eighth Route Army couldn’t make mortars, but we’re not afraid of ten thousand, just in case of that one.”
Hirata Ichiro still said worriedly, “If the heavy cannon in the Eighth Route Army’s hands turns out to be made by their arsenal, they can even make heavy cannons. With that equipment, making some mortars is probably possible.”
Immediately after, Hirata Ichiro asked together: “How did the Eighth Route Army get their heavy cannon? Where have you investigated to?”
“Sorry, Sir, even now, we still haven’t found any valuable clues.” Zheng Qianyi lowered his head.
“Hurry up and investigate for me!” Hirata Ichiro roared angrily, “Also, find clues about the location of their arsenal!”
This batch of equipment must have been taken by the Eighth Route Army to their arsenal. Find the Eighth Route Army arsenal, and we can still snatch back this batch of equipment.
“Yes, Sir.” Zheng Qianyi nodded heavily and withdrew.
“This batch of equipment falling into the Eighth Route Army’s hands, it’s good if they can’t make mortars, but I’m afraid…” Hirata Ichiro was still a bit worried.
This batch of equipment has strengthened the Eighth Route Army Arsenal. Even if they can’t make mortars, who knows what other weapons they will use it to make.
……
A certain coal mining site
Kong Jie led the New Second Regiment here digging coal with great enthusiasm. Working three days earns one Hell Cannon shell. The New Second Regiment soldiers were full of energy:
“Did you hear? This Hell Cannon can take out three gun towers with one shot.”
“And, I heard this Hell Cannon can kill over a hundred Japanese invaders with one shot.”
“Digging coal for three days gets you one such shell. What a great deal.”
“Exactly, Headquarters’ few infantry gun shells reportedly require approval from Headquarters leaders for each use. This Hell Cannon has much greater power than infantry guns. What a great thing, other troops would be jealous and wouldn’t even have time for it.”
“So, even though the arsenal didn’t set a production quota for us, we absolutely can’t slack off when working.”
“Whoever the hell slacks off and gets the arsenal to replace us, kill him!”
“Killing him would be letting him off easy. Break his legs, then reconnect them, break them again, reconnect again.”
“You’re ruthless. Even the Japanese invaders’ gendarmerie’s tortures aren’t as good as your method.”
……
Mealtime arrived.
“Meal time, meal time, eat first then work.” The cooks brought people to deliver the food.
“Regiment Commander, digging coal for the arsenal, do they even provide food?” The New Second Regiment soldiers were very surprised.
The New Second Regiment was just formed, going full one meal and hungry the next, starving the soldiers badly.
Unexpectedly, coming to dig coal for the arsenal, they even provide food.
“Of course.” Kong Jie also felt very surprised. Li Muzhi had only told him to dig coal earlier, without mentioning providing food.
Unexpectedly, they really provide food.
Moreover, the arsenal’s meal standards are really not low— they’re eating noodles!
Kong Jie ate two big bowls in a row, patted his round belly, and was very happy: “I dare say, our New Second Regiment eats the best in the whole army.”
“Yeah, Regiment Commander, we eat coarse grain steamed buns in the regiment, but here we can eat noodles. Unbelievable.” Some soldiers were so happy they cried.
Some among them joined the Eighth Route Army wanting to go to established main regiments like the 772nd or 771st, since main regiments have better conditions.
Being assigned to the New Second Regiment, many still thought they were unlucky.
And now, this negative emotion was swept away!
Our luck is too good, assigned to the New Second Regiment, digging coal for the arsenal with noodles to eat— main regiments don’t even get that.
“So, after eating noodles, don’t slack off when working.” Kong Jie said.
“Regiment Commander, rest assured, as long as we don’t work ourselves to death, we’ll work like hell!” The soldiers’ morale was sky-high.
Li Muzhi, having taught the arsenal’s backbone and workers how to make cannons, now had free time to come over here.
Seeing Li Muzhi arrive, Kong Jie hurried to him: “Factory Director Li, this is too polite of you. This food is really good, better than what we eat at brigade headquarters.”
“Regiment Commander Kong, digging coal is hard work, we definitely have to let you eat well and full.” Li Muzhi smiled, “What you’re doing now is providing power for the arsenal.”
“Isn’t your arsenal’s power from generators, burning oil?” Kong Jie asked suspiciously.
Earlier when he entered the arsenal, he saw diesel generators, no coal-burning power.
“Soon there will be other power.” Li Muzhi was confident.
“Factory Director Li, I, Kong Jie, you can rest assured about the work. My soldiers absolutely won’t slack off, we’ll dig as much coal as possible for your arsenal, guaranteeing the arsenal’s future power.” Kong Jie vowed solemnly.
“Regiment Commander Kong, do you really plan to keep digging coal here with me and not kill Japanese invaders anymore?” Li Muzhi asked.
“Of course I still want to kill Japanese invaders, but conditions don’t allow it right now.” Kong Jie pointed out, “You saw, the New Second Regiment is a new regiment, the whole regiment has only one light machine gun, rifles are old barrel Hanyang-made rifles eliminated from other troops, and the soldiers aren’t strong yet. Dig coal for you first, let the soldiers train up.”
“Heh.” Li Muzhi chuckled and said, “Just based on Regiment Commander Kong’s heart full of zeal to kill enemies and serve the country, I won’t let your hot blood cool. Once your New Second Regiment soldiers are trained up, I’ll give you a batch of weapons and ammunition.”
“Really?” Kong Jie was very surprised.
The Deputy Brigade Commander had said, those closest get the first pick. Digging coal for Li Muzhi’s arsenal, maybe we can get weapons from him.
Unexpectedly, he really didn’t let us work for nothing, he’ll even give a batch.
He’s the arsenal’s factory director, top talent who can make Hell Cannons. The weapons he gives definitely won’t be ordinary.
“Weapons and ammunition made by the arsenal are for providing to your combat troops to kill Japanese invaders.” Li Muzhi said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Factory Director Li, you’re really, really much easier to talk to than Minister Zhang.” Kong Jie was so excited he was about to shed tears.
Earlier, Zhang Wanhe came to him, said two sentences and hurried away, afraid he’d beg for stuff.
Look at Li Muzhi here, proactively giving weapons and ammunition. Both in logistics, one in the sky, one underground— huge difference.
“Heh, Regiment Commander Kong…” Li Muzhi chuckled, about to say why so polite, but someone shouted toward him: “Factory Director, the 386th Brigade Commander and Independent Regiment’s Regimental Commander Li are here to see you.”
Hearing this, Li Muzhi turned and sure enough saw a middle-aged officer wearing glasses and a leather jacket quickly trotting over following Li Yunlong.
Seeing this middle-aged officer, Li Muzhi felt deep respect.
Li Yunlong’s brigade commander, this is a resounding big shot.
When others carry formal backs, he carries the one from Chiang himself!
In the Eighth Route Army, only Li Yunlong’s brigade commander wears a leather jacket; other brigade commanders don’t.
In this era, getting such a vest isn’t easy.
Of course.
What’s most talked about is still this great brigade commander’s telephone extortion with Li Yunlong.
Congratulations on getting rich, hand over the stuff!
