Bright Sword: Follow Kong's fun and build the strongest military industry

This is also the reason why Factory Director Ren and Political Commissar Qin were so excited when they heard that they had obtained so many bullet raw materials at once.

With this copper, they safely produced millions of bullets, solving a big problem for the troops.

Kong Hao continued, "We also brought some damaged weapons with us."

"By the way, before coming to the arsenal this time, I specially purchased 20 vernier calipers. They are the latest ones produced by the Japanese. They should be useful."

After hearing this, Director Ren praised loudly:

"good, very good!"

"This is exactly what our arsenal needs. Just now, several engineers complained to me that the arsenal's measuring equipment is very scarce. The only two old-fashioned vernier instruments are severely worn out and cannot measure accurately at all."

"Now we have 20 brand new ones at once, which can be used for a long time, and the precision of the parts produced will be much higher."

Then, Kong Hao explained: "This time I also brought 5000 kilograms of fertilizer powder, which will be used as raw materials for the development of explosives. It should be enough for a short period of time."

Finally, he also emphasized: "Because of the special situation here, our special operations team needs a dedicated training ground and logistical support."

"We will handle these on our own and won't get involved with the Arsenal."

When Political Commissar Qin heard the last point, he was very happy. It saved him a lot of trouble and also reduced a lot of burden on the arsenal.

When Director Ren saw that everything had been explained, he quickly took Kong Hao to the Arsenal to have dinner with everyone.

The next morning, after breakfast, Director Ren called together all the leaders of the arsenal and Kong Hao to hold a brief meeting.

Because we all had dinner together last night and got to know each other.

Director Ren was also straightforward and got straight to the point:

"We used to claim that we were an arsenal, but that was for outsiders to hear. In fact, we all know that this is at most a large workshop."

"There are only about 300 people in the entire workshop. Their main job is to produce bayonets, grenades, mines, etc. The weapons are basically dismantled and assembled from scrapped and unusable firearms. It is not a job that requires much technical skills."

"This model will change in the future. I have discussed with the political commissar and decided that starting today, the arsenal will set up a gunpowder department, a chemical department, a firearms department, a grenade and mine department, an artillery department, and the most important bullet department."

In fact, the most important department here is the bullet production department. The rest are just setting up the framework now, and then dispatching personnel according to demand when the time is right in the future.

He then announced the persons in charge of each department and emphasized:

"Xiao Kong was only temporarily transferred to us because of special circumstances, so after consulting the head of the headquarters, we specially appointed him as the chief consultant of the arsenal."

"He can intervene in all matters of the Arsenal and mobilize all the resources of the Arsenal."

Everyone present had heard of the legend about Kong Hao, and they all admired his abilities.

This is a ruthless man who can research high-performance explosives using sugar and fertilizer powder, and is also proficient in various mechanical technologies.

Kong Hao played an indispensable role in the expansion of their arsenal to its current size.

After conveying all of this, Director Ren asked the others to go down and do their work first. He, the political commissar, and Kong Hao stayed to discuss the next plans for the arsenal.

Kong Hao took out a piece of paper and started writing with the pen in his pocket.

"This one is ammonium nitrate explosive, which requires fertilizer powder as an extract of ammonium nitrate, wood powder, rice bran powder, peat powder and grain husks as combustion agents, and a sensitive agent to mix them together."

"But the production of this kind of high explosive requires a large amount of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid. These basic chemical materials are fine if they are used in small quantities, but if we need to manufacture gunpowder on a large scale in the future, we must be able to produce it ourselves."

After hearing Kong Hao's explanation, Director Ren and Political Commissar Qin didn't know how to explain it.

After a long while, Political Commissar Qin said in embarrassment:

"Xiao Hao, we understand all this, but we don't have the conditions."

"At present, the arsenal only has these equipments. It is no problem to get some black powder. After all, it is something passed down by our ancestors."

"But I know the chemical formulas for sulfuric acid and nitric acid, but they are all produced in large factories abroad. We have nothing, not even a piece of equipment. How can we produce them?"

Director Ren also quickly added: "We also have several college students who have returned from abroad in our arsenal, but they have never been involved in the production of sulfuric acid and nitric acid."

"After all, this stuff is a basic chemical material. You can buy as much as you want when doing experiments. Who would want to study such a thankless task?"

Kong Hao smiled and said, "What a coincidence! My family owns a factory that produces nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrochloric acid. When I was a kid, I often followed my father to the factory to play. I know the relevant processes very well."

"I will do some research in the next few days and try to come up with a set of processes that suit the actual situation of our arsenal. Any technology must be adapted to local conditions, otherwise it will not be possible at all."

In fact, the reason why Kong Hao was so confident was mainly because when he was in the army in his previous life, he specially visited the equipment of the Eighth Route Army Arsenal. He still remembered the equipment for producing sulfuric acid and nitric acid by primitive methods.

Although some details are not very clear, you can always find the right process by trying a few more times.

Director Ren and Political Commissar Qin were very happy after hearing this, as this solved their big problem at once.

"Xiao Hao, you are the chief consultant of the arsenal. Just do whatever you want. No matter what the result is, the political commissar and I can help you."

After hearing this, Kong Hao was also deeply moved. This is what a good leader is.

But the next day, the cruel reality poured a bucket of cold water on him, making him feel indescribably depressed.

After Kong Hao confirmed the material warehouse of the arsenal, he found that there was nothing there.

According to the internationally accepted technology for producing sulfuric acid, a lead chamber is built with acid-resistant lead plates, and then sulfur and saltpeter are placed in a special iron spoon and concentrated sulfuric acid is obtained through various chemical reactions.

However, in order to make equipment for large-scale production of concentrated sulfuric acid, a large number of lead plates are needed, which is difficult for the Eighth Route Army to do.

"Director Miao, is there any metal called lead in the warehouse?"

Director Miao of the Arsenal Logistics Department said with an embarrassed look on his face:

"General Advisor, we don't know what to do with rare metals like lead, and we haven't made any special reserves."

At this time, Political Commissar Qin on the side said with a hint of meaning:

"When Mr. Zhang just came back from abroad, he was also trying to find a way to produce sulfuric acid, and he specifically asked me for a large amount of lead plates."

"Unfortunately, we spent a lot of money and couldn't find the right lead plate, so the plan was shelved."

"I remember finding a few lead rods, but since they were of no use to me, I just threw them somewhere else."

"If you need it, I can have someone deliver it to you, but the quantity is very small, and I don't know if it will be enough."

After hearing this, Kong Hao happily took out a blueprint from his pocket and said with a smile:

"Commissar Qin, make those lead plates into lead pipes according to the dimensions on the blueprint. They will be used to produce sulfuric acid."

"Also, notify the logistics department to do their best to collect lead blocks. Once we succeed in developing the technology, we will need to import it on a large scale."

"And I'm going to find someone nearby to make a large water tank of this specification. It needs to be thicker and the holes need to be drilled in the same place. I've also marked the dimensions."