Chapter 88: The General’s Sword Delivered
Seeing Li Muzhi arrive at the workshop, Lao He hurried over: “Factory Director, we’ve made twenty cannonballs. Twelve assault-type, eight casualty-type.”
The casualty-type cannonballs mainly have an extra process of adding iron nails and iron beads, so they take a bit longer to make.
People who don’t understand military industry might say, just directly add the iron nails and iron beads into the explosives; that wouldn’t take much time, right?
No!
Iron beads and iron nails aren’t added directly into the explosives, as that would affect the combustion of the explosives.
The iron beads and nails wouldn’t get sufficient kinetic energy either.
These iron beads and iron nails are evenly wrapped around the outside of the explosives, so they won’t affect the violent combustion of the explosives.
When the explosives explode, the iron beads and nails can then gain sufficient energy boost and diffuse flying projectiles in all directions.
“I’ll check them.” Li Muzhi nodded and personally inspected every single cannonball.
Li Muzhi was very satisfied; every cannonball met his requirements.
“Regiment Commander Kong, you’re just in time; come over here.” Li Muzhi looked at Kong Jie and called out to him.
“Factory Director Li, what’s up?” Kong Jie rushed over to Li Muzhi like the wind, polite and smiling.
“We’ve made twenty Hell Cannon shells; send someone to take them to your brigade headquarters.” Li Muzhi instructed.
Although Li Muzhi didn’t understand fighting wars, he knew that much.
Since 386 Brigade snatched so many things from the Japanese Invaders, they definitely wouldn’t give up.
Since cannonballs were produced, don’t put them in the warehouse; release them immediately to combat troops—that’s the most appropriate.
“Alright, no problem. I’m off duty anyway; I’ll deliver them personally.” Kong Jie nodded quickly.
Regarding getting off work, Kong Jie was very grateful to Li Muzhi.
In Kong Jie’s view, doing three days of work to get one Hell Cannon shell—although Li Muzhi didn’t demand output, they couldn’t slack off; they could dig more coal, so they’d definitely try to dig as much as possible.
But Li Muzhi had seriously said not to let Kong Jie proactively work overtime.
When the time came for New Second Regiment, they had to get off work on time like military industry personnel.
This way, not only could New Second Regiment soldiers have time to recover their strength, but Kong Jie could even squeeze in some simple military training.
“Mm.” Li Muzhi hummed, and Kong Jie took the guard troops to quickly deliver these twenty cannonballs to brigade headquarters.
Li Muzhi finished inspecting the production of the cannonballs, then checked the production of the Hell Cannon, and finally returned to the office.
He was preparing to rest his eyes when Minister Zhang from above arrived.
“Xiao Li, look at the good thing I brought.” Zhang Wanhe handed Li Muzhi a long box that looked a bit like the sword cases ancient swordsmen carried on their backs.
Seeing this, Li Muzhi couldn’t help saying, “Minister Zhang, is this a general’s sword inside?”
“Exactly, it’s a general’s sword.” Zhang Wanhe nodded and opened the box in front of Li Muzhi, revealing a long samurai sword over a meter in length.
The hilt was wrapped with silk cord, and the sword tassel’s strap was tea-colored on the outside and red on the inside.
In between were M-shaped decorative patterns made with gold thread, and the tassel was golden silk.
These were exactly the features of a Japanese Army general’s sword.
Li Muzhi reached out and picked up this general’s sword, drawing it from the sheath.
The blade was intact, with no battle marks.
But that didn’t affect the blade’s cold gleam and sharpness.
The Japanese Invaders were hateful, but one had to admit their sword quality was really well made.
Li Muzhi sheathed the sword and asked, “Which troops below sent this sword?”
“Regiment Commander Liu from 115 Division Independent Regiment.” Zhang Wanhe replied, “They want to exchange it for one Hell Cannon.”
“Mm.” Li Muzhi hummed and said, “Once the Hell Cannon is made, deliver it to them first thing.”
Thinking of something, Li Muzhi asked, “Why didn’t this Regiment Commander Liu come personally?”
“He has something going on and can’t get away; he sent someone with this general’s sword and asked me to send the Hell Cannon over to him sooner.” Zhang Wanhe explained.
“Mm, looks like Regiment Commander Liu is indeed quite busy.” Li Muzhi had no doubts about it.
The Hell Cannon was so important to combat troops that he’d definitely come personally if possible.
Since Regiment Commander Liu only sent someone, he really couldn’t make time.
“Xiao Li, now that we’ve got this general’s sword, what do you plan to do with it?” Zhang Wanhe knew Li Muzhi wanted a general’s sword, but probably not for his own collection.
“Find a time to contact Jin Sui Army or Direct Line Army.” Li Muzhi said, “Our military industry strength is weak; use the general’s sword to exchange with them for some military industry resources or equipment.”
Zhang Wanhe paused upon hearing this: “Xiao Li, Jin Sui Army and Direct Line side aren’t fools either.”
A Japanese Invaders general’s sword was valuable, but military industry resources were even more precious.
Whether The Bald One or Officer Yan, they might not be willing.
After all, they’d killed Japanese Army major generals too and had general’s swords.
“Of course I know they’re not fools, but corruption is so severe over there, especially with The Bald One; we might still have an opportunity.” Li Muzhi said confidently.
Just how corrupt was it with The Bald One?
Corrupt enough to smuggle and sell arms.
Corrupt enough to take kickbacks for passing military aircraft intelligence.
Corrupt enough that national and ethnic interests weren’t as important as personal career advancement.
They had general’s swords, but not many.
Corrupt officials who wanted general’s swords? Plenty.
“Alright then, I’ll contact Jin Sui Army first.” Zhang Wanhe nodded, “If Jin Sui Army doesn’t agree, I’ll contact Direct Line side. Keep the sword here with you for now; observe it at your leisure.”
“Forget it, I’m not that interested in Japanese Invaders swords.” Li Muzhi waved it off and said, “Minister Zhang, keep it at your place.”
Japanese Invaders swords weren’t actually used much on the battlefield; most were used on civilians, notorious!
“Fine, I’ll keep it then.” Zhang Wanhe nodded and continued, “I’ve organized nearly two thousand people for the transportation team, over four hundred ox carts, donkey carts, rickshaws, etc.”
“Not enough; keep organizing.” Li Muzhi shook his head and said, “Besides getting the locomotive back, there are many other supplies. If combat troops get lucky and the train is fully loaded, we’ll need more people and tools.”
“Mm, I’ll push harder and try to get six or seven thousand people, over a thousand vehicles.”
……
