Bright Sword: Technology is the primary productive force in war

Chapter 114: We must build an arsenal! Let’s get some smokeless gunpowder to play with first

Seeing the two men on the verge of a fight, Zhao Gang was worried about the lawsuit.

He took a step back and said impatiently, "If you have the guts, fight me.

This matter will not be over unless a human head hits a dog head today.

It would be best if your brains burst out, so that I can have peace of mind from now on."

After hearing this, Chen Yan was dumbfounded.

To fight or not to fight has risen to the level of a philosophical question.

I can really beat up Lao Li.

Chen Yan asked weakly, "Old Zhao, please don't stop me!"

"Stop you? Brigade Commander Chen thinks too highly of me. I'm afraid I'll end up bleeding."

Li Yunlong took a breath and said, "This scholar is so damn cruel."

Chen Yan is good at finding a way out for himself.

"This guy has read so much that he has no idea what he is doing. He instigated others to fight and then he just watched the fun.

The old saying is true, pretty boys have no good intentions, Lao Li, we have to be careful."

"Xiao Chen, I think this guy is not only cunning but also filthy. He might be eyeing the position under you.

But don't worry, with me, Old Li, here, no one can do anything to you."

"Lao Li, we are friends, and I trust you. Thank you!"

"Hey! Wouldn't it be unnatural for us to say thank you? From now on, I will hit you wherever you point and that's it."

......

Zhao Gang was confused listening to the two people bullying him one after another.

Wow, these two are wearing the same pants again.

After the farce, the Big Three started talking about work again.

Zhao Gang looked at Chen Yan and spoke first:

"What Lao Li said just now makes sense. Our brigade runs its own arsenal. What do the superiors and brother units think? Is it because you are too powerful or you are deliberately looking for trouble? This is really not conducive to unity.

Before, you made some small 60 fires, which were just minor things. The headquarters turned a blind eye and even gave you some support. This time you are actually thinking of building an arsenal. Where can you get the raw materials, technicians, and equipment? This is too difficult."

Chen Yan waved his hand and interrupted Zhao Gang.

"Old Zhao, stop talking and listen to me. There are definitely external factors, but in a nutshell, I have to build this arsenal.

Why can't we Chinese defeat the Japanese? We always say that our weapons are too inferior. They have all kinds of weapons, but what do we have? The inferior troops are still fighting with red tassel spears.

Why does our army suffer huge casualties in every battle? There is no other way. If you use guns against others, they will use cannons against you.

On the surface, our weapons are inferior, but in fact it reflects that China's industrial level lags far behind others."

At this point, Chen Yan choked up a little, but continued:

"If you fall behind, you will be beaten. Even if we drive the Japanese away with millet and rifles, there will be many people in the world eyeing the fat piece of meat of China.

Therefore, I believe that only by accelerating industrial development and strengthening our country's steel defense system can we resist risks in the future.

Lao Li often said that he would draw his sword when he met an enemy. But if you don't prepare for some things in advance, when the time comes, where is the sword?

I think the development of the arsenal is not just about producing more guns and cannons now. I hope to become a leader in the future and drive China's industrial technology. In the future, I want to build domestically made airplanes, cannons and even warships."

Even Zhao Gang, a college graduate, did not expect Chen Yan to say such forward-looking words, "It seems that my vision is too narrow."

On the other hand, Li Yunlong was so excited that his blood boiled.

"Fuck, if I had a plane, I could hit the Japanese island."

"Who of you is against and who is in favor now?"

Zhao Gang was still a little hesitant at this time, as this matter was too big.

"But if my superiors knew..."

"Old Zhao, Chen'er has said so much, what else can you say?

All I want now is to fly my own plane and I can’t care about anything else.

Grandma's legs, what about the consequences? Just do it first and we'll talk."

Chen Yan looked at Li Yunlong with satisfaction. Although Li Yunlong was not well educated, he never hesitated when it came to doing something he had decided on. Such a person had first-class mobility and execution abilities.

This is also the reason why Chen Yan refused to let Li Yunlong leave.

"Old Zhao, you are the political commissar, and this matter is difficult for you to handle. But don't worry, once we get going, the headquarters may not blame us.

Who would dislike their own child for being promising? Besides, if anything goes wrong, I, Chen Yan, will take responsibility."

After the three giants reached an agreement, they began to discuss the preparations for the military factory.

"Lao Li, Lao Zhao, I've said before that what we're worried about right now is not the guns, but the ammunition. I thought about it all night last night, and I finally found a solution.

Bullet gunpowder is composed of two parts. The primer is lead azide, which is complicated to make, but it is completely fine to use purified black powder instead. I plan to use smokeless gunpowder for the propellant."

Zhao Gang: "Smokeless gunpowder? This stuff is good, but in the whole of China, apart from the Japanese arsenal, I'm afraid only President Jiang has it."

"Hmph! If the Japanese can make it, I, Chen Yan, can also."

Chen Yan continued to introduce Zhao Gang to the relevant knowledge about smokeless gunpowder.

"The main component of smokeless gunpowder is nitrocellulose, also known as nitrocellulose cotton, which is an explosive substance obtained by soaking cotton in nitric acid. So as long as we can extract nitric acid, our pain point will be solved.

The soil contains nitrogen. Generally, the soil at the base of walls, toilets, pig pens, etc. contains bacteria and other microorganisms. Under their action, nitrogen-containing organic compounds can be oxidized into nitric acid. The cations in the soil generally include calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, etc., thus generating nitrates.

Charcoal ash contains potassium carbonate. After adding water, the soil at the base of the wall is soaked in it, and the nitrate reacts with potassium carbonate to obtain potassium nitrate. After the water evaporates, it becomes saltpeter.

Finally, nitric acid can be obtained by calcining, diluting and storing saltpeter."

Li Yunlong was so confused that he almost fell asleep, but when he heard the last sentence, "This is how we get nitric acid."

"What???.

Brother, you are not mistaken, a handful of wall soil and a handful of charcoal ash can make the smokeless bullet you mentioned."

Chen Yan smiled and said, "Although this is only in the theoretical stage, I don't think it's a big problem."

As he spoke, Chen Yan asked Huang Yi to start trying the experimental operation according to his own method.

Not long after, Huang Yi came over tremblingly with a small spoonful of liquid.

The brigade commander said we have to be careful with this stuff because it is corrosive.

Chen Yan took a piece of cotton fiber and dipped it in the liquid. After lighting it, it burned up in the blink of an eye with a hiss, and there was almost no residue left.

Smokeless gunpowder was a real success!

Chen Yan looked at the two of them happily and said, "We'll add some stabilizer, press it into particles, and load it into the bullet, and it will be smokeless gunpowder."

Seeing Li Yunlong's puzzled expression, Chen Yan said helplessly:

"Well, let me put it this way, this thing is no worse than the Japs' bullets."

After hesitating for a minute, Li Yunlong suddenly grinned and ran around the yard excitedly.

"Wow, it's a success...awesome...quack quack..."

Li Yunlong ran up to the two people and looked at them dumbfoundedly and asked:

"Why aren't you two excited?"

"Fuck, Lao Li, your reaction time is too long."