Bright Sword: From Border Region Manufacturing to Major National Heavy Industry

Chapter 100 Another Mischievous King Under the Brigade Commander

Upon hearing this, Li Muzhi remained silent for a long time.

When crossing the grasslands, the troops ahead had bought up all the grain, and Li Yunlong's regiment could not collect any more. Li Yunlong did indeed send his troops to loot grain.

I thought he was robbing ordinary people, but I never expected that he was robbing his own people's team!

Now that I think about it carefully, it seems to make sense.

If Li Yunlong really did seize the lives of ordinary people, the brigade commander would most likely lose his position.

"I really didn't expect that you and Commander Li had such a past conflict," Li Muzhi said.

"I've had a huge grudge against him!" Gao Liujin shouted at the top of his lungs. "After this incident, everyone laughed at me. Why did Li Yunlong have to rob me instead of others? Did he think I was easy to bully? Am I easy to bully? I'll compete with Li Yunlong and see what I'm lacking compared to him. I'm clearly stronger and more capable than him. This time, I robbed four thousand catties of white sugar, while he only got three thousand catties. I beat him."

Li Muzhi was still a little puzzled: "Commander Gao, you and Commander Li are not from the same division, you are in your own districts, and you don't usually see each other, so why do you need to compare yourself to him?"

"We have to compete! If we don't beat him, people will still think I'm easy to bully!" Gao Liujin said seriously, boasting, "Just you wait and see, beating Li Yunlong is nothing, I'll even beat Li Yunlong's brigade commander..."

Got it!

Before Gao Liujin could finish his boasting, he saw Brigade Commander Chen arrive.

"Hello, Brigadier!"

As soon as Gao Liujin saw Brigade Commander Chen arrive, his arrogant attitude immediately vanished, and he saluted Brigade Commander Chen properly.

This posture was similar to Li Yunlong's when he met the brigade commander, and also somewhat like a mouse seeing a cat.

“Gao Liujin, I just heard you say that you want to outdo me.” Brigade Commander Chen narrowed his eyes.

"No, no, you must have misheard." Gao Liujin hurriedly reached into his pouch to take out cigarettes to apologize, but then realized what he had done when he touched his pocket.

How can you smoke in an arsenal? This is no joke!
Fortunately, Brigade Commander Chen didn't mind too much. Looking at the sugar that Lao He had counted, he was surprised: "Wow, Gao Liujin, you've really got some skills. You've managed to get so much sugar. There must be three or four thousand jin of it."

"No more, no less, four thousand catties," Gao Liujin said politely with a smile.

"Not bad, four thousand catties of white sugar. You went to the 120th Division and didn't embarrass me," Brigade Commander Chen praised.

Gao Liujin was also once a subordinate of Commander Chen.

When the Japanese invaded, the troops were reorganized, and Gao Liujin was assigned to the 120th Division.

"It's mainly because you taught me well," Gao Liujin flattered.

"You brought so much sugar to the arsenal, and you're all alone? Where are your superiors? Where are your partners?" Brigade Commander Chen suddenly changed the subject and asked, "You're not like that bastard Li Yunlong, sneaking around behind your superiors' backs again, are you?"

This Gao Liujin, like Li Yunlong, was also a troublemaker.

The reason this kid was assigned to the 120th Regiment is mainly because he has some connection with the brigade commander.

After all, having a troublesome tyrant under your command is already a headache enough.

The brigade commander really wanted to live a few more years. He left two behind.

It must have been tough on the brigade commander, who weighed six pounds; he must have been through a lot.

Several times when people saw Brigade Commander Chen, their eyes were filled with resentment.

"How could that be, sir? You know I'm very obedient and never cause trouble..." Gao Liujin quickly replied.

"Go away, I don't have time to listen to your nonsense." The brigade commander waved his hand. Anyway, this troublemaker had been sent away. Whatever he did in the 120th Division was none of his business anymore.

Old He finished tallying up the sugar and said to Li Muzhi, "Factory Director, four thousand catties, the quantity is correct."

"Put the sugar in storage, and give the cannons and shells to Commander Gao," Li Muzhi instructed.

"Yes." Old He nodded and led his men to put the sugar into storage first.

Then, Li Muzhi's gaze fell on Brigade Commander Chen's face: "Brigade Commander Chen, you didn't come empty-handed, did you?"

"How could I go empty-handed? I'm going ahead first, the stuff is behind." The brigade commander raised his voice slightly and said, "That kid Li Yunlong, he's given me another unexpected surprise."

Upon hearing this, Gao Liujin, who was standing nearby, immediately perked up his ears.

He acquired 4,000 jin of white sugar, thinking he could outdo Li Yunlong.

Has Li Yunlong gotten something good again?

How can he move so fast?

"What is it?" Li Muzhi asked curiously.

"I don't know the specifics, but Li Yunlong seized it from the Japanese mine. I guess it's equipment used for mining..." The brigade commander didn't finish his sentence.

Gao Liujin, standing to the side, stumbled and almost lost his balance.

My God, did I hear that right?

Li Yunlong was even able to rob the Japanese mines!

They even managed to snatch back the mining equipment. This is truly... if you fall behind in one step, you'll fall behind in every step.

If I had gotten the Hell Cannon earlier, I wouldn't still be unable to catch up with him now. It's so infuriating.

Li Muzhi asked in surprise, "Is it really mining equipment?"

Although this mine can be opened by human labor.

But how can manpower compare to professional mining equipment!
and!

Some mines are located very deep underground, making them impossible to access by human labor alone.

"You'll see it when the goods arrive," the brigade commander said.

"Okay, I'll wait." Li Muzhi was looking forward to it.

Old He brought out a hell cannon and ten shells, and gave them to Gao Liujin.

Gao Liujin took the things and ran away in a sorry state.

I originally wanted to install one, but Li Yunlong did it anyway, so there's no point in staying any longer. I should hurry up and get to work. If Li Yunlong can raid mines, so can I!

Watching Gao Liujin's retreating figure, Li Muzhi still asked the brigade commander curiously, "Brigade Commander Chen, is this Regiment Commander Gao someone you know?"

"This guy served as a regimental commander under me for a few days, caused some trouble, and I kicked him out to the 120th Division." The brigade commander clearly didn't want to say more and changed the subject, saying to Li Muzhi, "If the equipment I brought is important, how many shells can you give me?"

The small lathes we got earlier weren't worth much because they were scrap.

But the equipment that has been stolen now is not like that.

"Let's see the stuff first." Li Muzhi heard the brigade commander casually mention that Gao Liujin had caused some trouble, but he knew it couldn't be that simple.

If the other party is unwilling to say more, then you shouldn't ask.

"also."

About half an hour later, the item was delivered.

Li Muzhi immediately leaned closer, his eyes lighting up: "Great stuff, Commander Chen! This is all good stuff. With it, we can mine copper!"

Equipment capable of mining copper?

Upon hearing this, the brigade commander's expression immediately turned serious.

The uses of copper are self-evident. From bullets to warships and cannons, copper is indispensable.

The arsenal is short of iron, but has plenty of artillery shells. Our combat troops can scavenge them from the Japanese railway.

But copper is different; it's hard to steal that stuff.

But if we can mine it ourselves, the significance is different.

"How many artillery shells can this be exchanged for?" the brigade commander asked excitedly. "How about a hundred rounds?"

“Brigadier General Chen, this batch of equipment is very important, but asking for only one hundred shells is outrageous,” Li Muzhi said tactfully. “Besides, I can’t make such a big decision on one hundred shells, and neither can our Minister Zhang. We have to consult with the headquarters leaders.”

"How many rounds can you give us?" the brigade commander asked.

The brigade commander certainly knew that one hundred shells was too many.

It's best to let Li Muzhi make the decision on this matter.

If the decision is made by the headquarters leaders, the number of shells exchanged will most likely be reduced.

This reduction came from two aspects: one was the leadership at headquarters, and the other was the involvement of division commanders.

"Thirty shots, please," Li Muzhi said.

"Only thirty rounds? That's a bit low." The brigade commander looked at Li Muzhi. "This is equipment that can mine copper."

“Commander Chen, the equipment for mining copper is important, but it doesn't mean you'll immediately have copper. There's still the smelting process to go through; this is just the first step,” Li Muzhi explained. “If you can get your hands on the smelting equipment, then without a doubt, I can give you much more. Of course…”

Li Muzhi paused for a moment, then continued, "If you are not satisfied, I can report it to headquarters and let the leaders there make the decision."

"Forget it, forget it, don't bother headquarters with such a small matter. The commander is too busy." The brigade commander waved his hand. "Thirty rounds it is. How many shells have you produced here? Give them all to me."

The brigade commander also knew that if the headquarters were to make the decision, they would at most give him a few more rounds.

When the division commander takes over, we won't even have thirty shells left.

As for the brigade commander wanting more artillery shells, it wasn't because he was busy attacking the railway line and seizing Japanese locomotives.

After all, the main character, Li Yunlong, has gone missing, so there's no work to do for the time being.

A brigade commander should be prepared for any eventuality.

In case Li Yunlong makes a big fuss, the brigade commander has plenty of artillery ammunition on hand for emergencies.

"Commander Gao took ten rounds, leaving eighteen rounds," Li Muzhi replied.

"Alright, give them all to me." The brigade commander nodded.

Li Muzhi had someone deliver the artillery shells to the brigade commander, who didn't linger and left in a hurry.

Watching the brigade commander's retreating figure, Li Muzhi muttered to himself, "Judging from this, Regiment Commander Li has messed up for Brigade Commander Chen again."

The 386th Brigade delivered a batch of equipment for mining copper, and Gao Liujin delivered 4,000 jin of white sugar. After learning the news, the logistics minister, Old Man Zhang, made a final flash to the arsenal.

"Haha, four thousand catties of white sugar, not bad, we can mine copper and iron ore now." Zhang Wanhe looked at the equipment and white sugar, his face beaming with joy. He turned to Li Muzhi and asked, "What did you give to the 386th Brigade? They're not going to ask for artillery again, are they?"

This equipment for mining copper can also be used to mine other minerals, such as iron ore and coal.

Of course, I couldn't be that specific with Brigade Commander Chen, otherwise, thirty shells wouldn't be enough to get rid of them.

“They gave us thirty shells,” Li Muzhi replied.

"How many? Thirty shells?" Zhang Wanhe asked in disbelief. "Is Commander Chen really willing to do that?"

This batch of equipment was so important, yet they only gave him thirty rounds and sent him away, which was really beyond Zhang Wanhe's expectations.

Is Commander Chen really willing?

“I told him that if he’s unwilling, the decision will be made by the headquarters leaders,” Li Muzhi explained.

"Haha." Zhang Wanhe laughed heartily, "Truly, the old waves of the Yangtze River push the new waves forward."

With the headquarters commander getting involved and Brigade Commander Chen's division commander intervening, Brigade Commander Chen was determined not to get thirty shells.

"Minister Zhang, how are the transport team's preparations going?"

"The number of personnel and transportation vehicles has doubled. Don't worry, there will be more than enough when the operation takes place."

"That's good."

……

(End of this chapter)