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

Chapter 31 You're so greedy, kid.

"Li Yunlong, stop envying Kong Jie. Once we get two cannons from Li Muzhi, you can make a fortune on the battlefield with those cannons. Kong Jie might not even be as well off as you!"

The brigade commander said to Li Yunlong.

With one cannon and two shells, we could take down the Xikou warehouse and the brigade headquarters could eat white flour and white rice for more than a month.

With two cannons, it's like celebrating the New Year every day!
“That’s true.” Li Yunlong grinned at the brigade commander. “Brigade commander, don’t keep blaming me for causing trouble later. As the old saying goes, the reward is proportional to the risk, I…”

The brigade commander yelled, "Giving you a little autonomy, do you really think you're above the law?"

"Hehe, not at all, not at all. I'm just a kite, the string is always being held by you, Brigade Commander. How could I dare to break the sky for you?" Li Yunlong smiled and rubbed his hands excitedly. "You said it, if you really ask for two cannons, give me both of them."

"Did I say that?" The brigade commander glared. You're so greedy, wanting both, leaving me, the brigade commander, empty-handed.
"Brigadier, didn't you say you'd trade two cannons with Li Muzhi? I'll make a fortune on the battlefield with those cannons, and Kong Jie might not even be as well off as me. You're giving me both of them..." Li Yunlong didn't finish his sentence.

"Keep dreaming. We'll see how you perform then. If I'm happy, I might consider giving you one. But if you cause me trouble, forget about the cannon, you won't even get the slag," the brigade commander cursed.

"Hehe, brigade commander, don't worry, I'll definitely do well, definitely well," Li Yunlong chuckled.

Li Yunlong understood, of course, that it was simply unrealistic for both schools to come over.

The reason I said that is to finalize the deal with the brigade commander in advance so that we can be assigned to a different unit later.

Now that the brigade commander has said that, hehe, we really have a chance to win one.

"Of course I'm relieved." The brigade commander tossed Li Yunlong a sentence, "They said they'd exchange two cannons with Li Muzhi. If they only get one, my cannon will be in the bag. As for your cannon, Li Yunlong, you'd better pray for good luck."

The brigade commander said he would exchange the equipment for two cannons from Li Muzhi, but this was just wishful thinking on his part.

It's still unknown whether Li Muzhi will agree.

We don't recognize the other machines, nor do we know their value.

"Brigade Commander, you are a top student from the first class of the Whampoa Military Academy. You must have confidence in yourself!" Li Yunlong said hurriedly.

"Stop talking nonsense, is everything ready? We're about to leave!" the brigade commander urged.

"Almost there, almost there, give me two more minutes." Li Yunlong agreed, then turned to Zhang Dabiao and shouted, "Dabiao, why are you so slow? Aren't you ready yet?"

"Commander, it's done, it's done." Zhang Dabiao quickly responded to Li Yunlong.

Li Yunlong turned to the brigade commander with a smile and said, "Brigade commander, everything is ready. We can head to the border region's arsenal now."

"You didn't embezzle any money and put it in your own pocket, did you?" the brigade commander asked.

"How dare I? How dare I?"

"Let's go then."

"Da Biao, let's go."

Li Yunlong and the brigade commander left the brigade headquarters with their belongings and headed to the border region's arsenal.

No sooner had the brigade commander and Li Yunlong left than the communications soldier from the New 1st Regiment arrived and reported to the deputy brigade commander: "Reporting to the deputy brigade commander, our New 1st Regiment has successfully lured away the enemy pursuers and has successfully shaken off the enemy."

"Hmm." The deputy brigade commander nodded and asked, "The New First Regiment did a good job of covering the retreat. Tell Ding Wei that the brigade commander and Li Yunlong have returned safely with the supplies. Tell Ding Wei to take the New First Regiment back to rest."

"Yes, Deputy Brigade Commander." ...

Japanese Military Police in Heyuan

Hirata Ichiro paced back and forth in his office like a cat on a hot tin roof.

News of an attack by the Eighth Route Army came from the Xikou warehouse; the Eighth Route Army had also brought heavy artillery.

Although a number of reinforcements were sent to the Xikou warehouse area, it did not yield any results.

This time, the Eighth Route Army did not ambush the reinforcements; they fled.

If they cannot catch up, the threat of the Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery will continue, and the supplies lost at the Xikou warehouse will never be recovered.

How could Hirata Ichiro not be anxious?

With a solemn expression, Zheng Qianyi approached Hirata Ichiro: "Sir, news has come from the reinforcements that they have not found the Eighth Route Army. Their pursuit operation has failed."

"idiot!"

Upon hearing this, Hirata Ichiro slammed his fist on the table: "I don't believe it! I don't believe it! There are so many supplies in the Xikou warehouse. The Eighth Route Army couldn't possibly run fast with them. How could they not catch up!"

"They said they fell for the Eighth Route Army's diversionary tactic. One unit of the Eighth Route Army misled them into pursuing them, while another group of Eighth Route Army soldiers took the opportunity to escape with the supplies from the Xikou warehouse."

"Baka, baka, a bunch of idiots!" Hirata Ichiro couldn't help but slam his fist on the table again, then glared fiercely at Zheng Qianyi: "The Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery is far too great a threat. You immediately issue a reward for anyone who can provide clues about the Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery. Anyone who can provide clues will be richly rewarded!"

"Yes, sir." Zheng Qian nodded, but did not leave.

"Why aren't you going yet? Is there something else?" Hirata Ichiro looked at Zheng Qianyi suspiciously.

"Sir, among the supplies lost from the Xikou warehouse, there was also a batch of equipment. We were originally planning to transport it away in a few days, but..." Zheng Qianyi didn't finish his sentence.

Hirata Ichiro interrupted, "What equipment? I don't know anything about it!"

"The Imperial Army unexpectedly discovered an arsenal that assembles mortars and produces shells. I reported this to you earlier, didn't you see it?" Zheng Qian asked suspiciously.

"When was it given to me?" Hirata Ichiro hadn't actually seen the report.

“The Wednesday of the week before last,” Zheng Qianyi replied.

"My God, I remember now." Hirata Ichiro slapped his forehead, realizing what had happened, and glared at Zheng Qianyi: "Wasn't this batch of equipment supposed to be shipped out last week? Why has it been delayed until now?"

"I don't know the specific reason either. Yuichi Ohno also died." Zheng Qianyi shook his head, meaning that Yuichi Ohno should know why it wasn't transported away in time.

But once someone dies, it's difficult to find out the cause of death.

However, investigating the cause now seems pointless.

The important thing is to hurry up and get the things back.

"Damn it! That idiot, Yuichi Ohno, why didn't he move the stuff away sooner?" Hirata Ichiro cursed. "If the Eighth Route Army uses this equipment to build mortars, it will be a huge problem for us. Their guerrilla warfare is so difficult to deal with, and mortars are easy to carry. The security forces in the rear will definitely be cursing us out."

Zheng Qianyi comforted him, "Sir, perhaps you are worrying too much. Those devices are mainly used to produce shells. Even if the Eighth Route Army gets the devices, they won't be able to make shells without electricity. Also, they assemble mortars there, not produce them. Even if some of the barrels fall into the hands of the Eighth Route Army, they will be nothing but scrap metal to them. They don't have the necessary parts and can't make mortars."

(End of this chapter)