diymy Chapter 62 Commander Chen's Incredibility
Chapter 62 Commander Chen's Incredibility
Li Yunlong's heart skipped a beat, and his face turned embarrassed. He had just tried to brush it off with a few words, but Commander Chen didn't give him a chance at all.
"Li Yunlong, have you thought this through?"
"Cough cough cough..." Li Yunlong choked on his saliva a few times, then dared not hide it any longer. Looking at the expressions of Brigade Commander Chen and Political Commissar Wang, he cautiously said:
"Well, Yang Zheng's side does have the capability to produce 6.5mm bullets, and their power isn't inferior to the Japanese 6.5mm bullets!"
This statement contained a great deal of information, and Brigade Commander Chen and Political Commissar Wang immediately frowned and fell into deep thought.
Then, Brigade Commander Chen pressed further: "The propellant they used wasn't black powder?"
Li Yunlong nodded, thinking about the single-base propellant he had seen in Changning Village. "It's a single-base propellant."
"Damn it, do they have complete equipment?" Brigade Commander Chen lost his composure and swore.
Political Commissar Wang was also in turmoil, and he couldn't help but take a few steps in front of Li Yunlong.
Li Yunlong glanced at Brigade Commander Chen, then at Political Commissar Wang, and carefully recalled the situation in Changning Village. Finally, he shook his head.
"No, I saw it with my own eyes. Yang Zheng recruited a technical talent named Wang Wenhan, who is in charge of producing the propellant and primer for the bullets."
Furthermore, he stated that this was his livelihood skill and that he wouldn't allow it to be shared, therefore the production process could not be observed.
"A single person handcrafting a single-base propellant and a mercury fulminate primer? That's impossible!"
Commander Chen frowned, his face filled with disbelief. "Without a complete set of acid-resistant equipment, without precise temperature control and measurement, and without protective measures, the nitration process of cotton treated with concentrated acid alone is extremely dangerous!"
Not to mention something like mercury fulminate, which explodes at the slightest touch! How could he possibly complete the entire process by himself? Li Yunlong, are you sure you're not being fooled?
Li Yunlong was a little stunned by Brigade Commander Chen's series of professional questions, but he had a personal understanding of Yang Zheng, the changes in the Eighth Company during this period, and especially of the reliable-looking, golden bullets that Li Dachui and his men produced with Wang Wenhan using simple tools.
He stiffened his neck, but his tone was unusually firm: "Brigade Commander, although I, Li Yunlong, am a roughneck and don't understand those complicated things..."
But I saw with my own eyes that new bullets were being made in their blacksmith shop every day! I held one in my hand and weighed it; it was about the same weight as the bullets we captured from the Japanese. The soldiers tested it, and the misfire rate was low, and the power was not bad either!
That Wang Wenhan was indeed very secretive. He set up a separate small room and didn't let anyone in. Materials were sent in, and after a while, the prepared propellant and primer could be taken out.
I saw it with my own eyes; there wasn't any complicated equipment inside that little hut, nor could it hide the propellants and primers.
"It's impossible for Yang Zheng to conspire with him to deceive me, what would be the point? Besides, I trust Yang Zheng..."
Political Commissar Wang had been listening silently, but then interjected, "Old Chen, the world is full of wonders. Haven't we encountered some extraordinary folk people with unique skills before?"
Perhaps this Wang Wenhan really has some family secret method or special means that allows him to complete these procedures under such rudimentary conditions.
Although Li Yunlong can be carefree at times, he won't speak carelessly on matters of principle, especially those concerning the combat effectiveness of the troops.
Commander Chen took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
He certainly hoped it was true, as the Eighth Route Army was desperately short of a stable source of ammunition.
If there really is such a person, such a technology... its strategic value far exceeds the annihilation of a Japanese regiment!
He paced around the room a few steps with his hands behind his back, then suddenly turned around and stared intently at Li Yunlong: "Li Yunlong, this person and this skill are extremely important to our entire Eighth Route Army!"
He must be sent to our safer rear arsenal! He must teach his skills to more people! Do you understand how many soldiers' lives this will save, how much it will increase our combat effectiveness?
Li Yunlong's heart tightened; this was exactly what he was worried about.
He said with a bitter face, "Brigade Commander, I understand, I understand a hundred times! But... but I tried it on my first day! That kid Yang Zheng also spoke up for me."
But that Wang Wenhan was as stubborn as a mule! He said that his unique skills were passed down only to men, not women, and only to sons, not apprentices. If it weren't for the sake of fighting the Japanese, he wouldn't even help Yang Zheng.
His willingness to stay in the Eighth Company is already his biggest concession. He said that if they force him to leave the Eighth Company or force him to reveal his skills, he'd rather take his skills to his grave, or they could part ways completely and no one could expect it!
"Foolish! That's narrow-minded!" Brigade Commander Chen was furious, slamming his hand on the table. "When the nation is in peril, every citizen has a responsibility! He's so capable, how can he only care about his own little corner of the battlefield? That's irresponsible towards the overall war effort!"
Political Commissar Wang quickly raised his hand, signaling Brigade Commander Chen to calm down.
He walked up to Li Yunlong, his tone calm but serious: "Comrade Li Yunlong, the brigade commander's considerations are based on the overall situation of the Eighth Route Army and the entire War of Resistance Against Japan. You must understand this."
However, we must respect Comrade Wang Wenhan's personal wishes and the special nature of his technical secrets. Forcing things will not yield positive results, and could very well lead to a complete loss.
He paused, looked at Brigade Commander Chen, and slowly said, "Old Chen, I think it's like this. Yang Zheng is also a comrade with a strong will, and Comrade Wang Wenhan is now willing to work in the Eighth Company and has indeed produced things that are useful to us. This is a good start."
We don't need to rush things. Let's temporarily keep the bullet production line running at the Eighth Company. This will solve part of Yang Zheng's ammunition needs, and also give Comrade Wang Wenhan a chance to understand and trust our Eighth Route Army.
"You mean..." Brigade Commander Chen said thoughtfully.
"Yes," Political Commissar Wang nodded, "Let the facts speak for themselves. Let Comrade Wang Wenhan see with his own eyes what kind of army our Eighth Route Army is, for whom we fight, and how we treat the people and our technology."
Once he has a deeper sense of identification and belonging with us, and we talk to him with the utmost sincerity, perhaps the situation will be different.
He turned to Li Yunlong: "Li Yunlong, go back and tell Yang Zheng that you must absolutely guarantee Comrade Wang Wenhan's safety and living conditions, and respect his working methods."
At the same time, we must also do ideological work with him, not by forcing him, but by subtly making him understand how enormous a contribution his technology would make to the entire Chinese resistance against Japan if it could be promoted.
Li Yunlong breathed a sigh of relief and nodded quickly, "Political Commissar, don't worry! That kid Yang Zheng is clever; he'll definitely be able to keep an eye on Engineer Wang! I'll also keep an eye on things!"
Brigade Commander Chen's expression softened somewhat. Although he still felt it was a pity, he knew that Political Commissar Wang's method was more reliable and feasible.
He sighed, "Alright, we'll do as the political commissar says. But Li Yunlong, you listen up! The Eighth Company..."
No, it's almost the Fourth Battalion's turn. Their bullet production line must be kept absolutely secret! Safety in production is also a top priority; don't let them explode! And the raw materials you asked for earlier…”
He walked to the table, picked up a pen, and quickly wrote a note: "I will talk to the logistics department and give you priority in allocating some resources. But the quantity can't be too large, and the base is also in short supply. You'll have to figure out your own solutions."
"Yes! Thank you, Brigade Commander! Thank you, Political Commissar!" Li Yunlong took the note, overjoyed, and beamed with delight.
"Don't be too happy yet!" Brigade Commander Chen glared at him. "Once your Fourth Battalion is officially established, you'd better build up the framework properly!"
Also, tell Yang Zheng that Political Commissar Wang and I might visit you in a while. Let him be prepared!
Li Yunlong's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the brigade commander hadn't completely given up on poaching him, but on the surface he could only repeatedly agree: "Yes, yes, yes! Welcome the brigade commander and political commissar to inspect and guide us!"
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