Chapter 57: Walk The Road Step By Step
Facing Li Muzhi’s joking demeanor, Zhang Wanhe still said: “That’s true, but the problem you’ve posed for the combat troops is too big.”
“Aren’t you also providing them with workers and tools, as well as Hell Cannon shells? I believe the combat troops have a way.” Li Muzhi was confident.
Not to mention others, just take Li Yunlong—when it comes to critical moments, he always has a way.
Even more so since a brigade commander stands behind Li Yunlong, and this one is not undeserved of his reputation.
Li Muzhi believed that as long as there were enough Hell Cannon shells, capturing the Japanese invaders’ train would be no big deal for them.
“Alright, alright, I’ll first find people and tools for you. Once the Hell Cannon shells are made, we’ll…” Zhang Wanhe didn’t want to think too much about it anymore. At this point, he remembered something and immediately asked: “By the way, with our over three thousand catties of sugar, how many Hell Cannon shells can we make?”
“I plan to make five hundred…” Li Muzhi hadn’t finished speaking.
Zhang Wanhe’s eyes widened again like the moon in the sky: “Five hundred shells, real or fake? Can we really make that many?”
By then, with our eleven cannons made, each cannon can get nearly fifty shells on average. In the future, who would dare call us poor Eighth Route!
Li Muzhi explained: “I’m only using part of the sugar inside to make Hell Cannon shells. We still need to make some conventional shells.”
As for making rockets, there’s no need to mention it in advance for now.
“Yes, yes, that’s right. We still need to make conventional shells. The mortar and infantry gun shells captured by our troops are also few, and we can’t let them run out.” Zhang Wanhe nodded.
The battlefield significance of the Hell Cannon is beyond doubt, but the significance of small-caliber artillery remains indispensable.
Immediately after, Zhang Wanhe asked again: “Then how many conventional shells can we make?”
“It’s hard to say for now.” Li Muzhi needed to reserve materials for rockets, so he definitely couldn’t make too many conventional shells. “It should be a few hundred, mainly because there’s too little sugar.”
To ensure the number of rockets, the conventional shells would be fewer.
“Having a few hundred conventional shells is still better than none.” Upon hearing that a few hundred conventional shells could be made, Zhang Wanhe was still very happy. Then he mocked himself: “386 Brigade sent over three thousand catties of sugar, which excited me to death, thinking there was so much sugar. Now hearing you say this, alas, over three thousand catties of sugar is indeed too little.”
“So, Minister Zhang, it’s best if we can be self-sufficient with this sugar.” Li Muzhi pointed out.
“Don’t worry, the planting of sugar beets will definitely not be neglected.” Zhang Wanhe nodded heavily, then remembered something and asked: “By the way, is there enough iron at the arsenal?”
“No rush.” Li Muzhi was very calm. “You have to eat rice one bite at a time, and walk the road one step at a time. Once power is solved, iron is no problem—let the combat troops go to the Japanese invaders’ railway and rip up as much as they want.”
With the Hell Cannon and rocket launchers, the defenses on the Japanese invaders’ railway line won’t be as tough to crack as before.
Once the defensive threats on the railway line are resolved, the railroad tracks on that railway are practically free.
Next is.
Crippling the Japanese invaders’ railway line would also be more conducive to blocking the Japanese invaders’ logistics transportation, indirectly supporting the frontline battlefield.
“That’s right, that’s right. Once we have enough Hell Cannon shells, going to the Japanese invaders’ railway to rip up tracks is indeed a shortcut.” Zhang Wanhe beamed with joy.
If luck is good, the Japanese invaders’ train flips over, and we can still get profits from the train—a surefire profitable business transaction.
“Li Muzhi, I’ll go contact the other arsenals for people and tools right now.” Zhang Wanhe had been a bit sleepy before, but now he was full of energy, not sleepy at all, as if injected with a hundred shots of stimulants.
People and tools from the other arsenals won’t arrive immediately— their military industry production can’t stop, which takes time.
Zhang Wanhe left quickly. Li Muzhi walked back to the arsenal workshop and instructed Lao He: “Lao He, gather the key personnel first for a meeting.”
“Okay.” Lao He nodded.
Soon, the arsenal’s key personnel gathered. Although it was very late at night, they were all like night owls, staring with big bell-like eyes at Li Muzhi.
In their eyes, there was full reverence and admiration for this young arsenal factory director.
Even if Li Muzhi asked them to brave fire and water, they absolutely wouldn’t furrow their brows.
Li Muzhi spoke: “Let’s first talk about the production of Hell Cannon shells. Based on the feedback cannonball data, I think our shells need some optimization. For example, the siege-type shells have decent explosive power, but there’s still excess in the explosive power. I’m planning to reduce the charge amount, and also lower the sugar addition ratio. Then there are the lethal shells, which mainly rely on nails and iron beads to kill dense crowds, so as long as those nails and iron beads have enough kinetic energy, it’s fine—not too much explosives needed. Then the projectile body—I think it still needs detailed optimization, like the balance tail wing…”
“Here are the updated shell data. Take them and first produce samples. Once testing succeeds and there are no issues, continue production according to these samples.” Li Muzhi took out a few notebooks with the optimized new data recorded on them and handed them to these key personnel.
After looking them over, the key personnel all nodded: “No problem, Factory Director. We’ll modify according to your requirements right away.”
“There’s one more thing.” Li Muzhi continued, “Reserve half of the sugar sent by 386 Brigade—don’t touch it for now. I have other uses for it.”
“Factory Director, aren’t we using this half of the sugar to make Hell Cannon shells?” Lao He asked curiously.
“The troops are fighting wars—they can’t always rely solely on the Hell Cannon.” Li Muzhi said.
“Then you’re reserving this half of the sugar to make other weapons?” One key personnel’s eyes lit up as he looked at Li Muzhi. “Factory Director, what are you planning to make?”
“I only have a preliminary idea right now.” Li Muzhi couldn’t lay his cards on the table with them directly and said euphemistically, “I’m still researching it.”
“Factory Director, we’ll wait for your good news.” The key personnel didn’t doubt it at all and believed Li Muzhi would definitely figure it out soon.
“Finally, let me emphasize once more: I understand each of your passionate hearts for military industry construction, but I still need to solemnly state it again!” Li Muzhi’s expression turned serious. “Sleep time and quality must be guaranteed. When it’s time to get off work, you must get off work—no one is allowed to proactively work overtime!”
“Military industry production cannot involve fatigued work. Any small accident could cause our arsenal to be completely set back to square one.”
“Whoever violates this, I’ll expel him!”
Although Li Muzhi had already divided the arsenal workers into three groups for shifts.
But these workers really had too high an awareness—too high. Even when it was time to get off work, they still wanted to proactively do a bit more.
In later generations, bosses love such employees the most.
But in military industry production, it’s exactly the opposite!
“Yes, Factory Director.”
“Meeting adjourned.”
……
