sbdcsierra Chapter 260 Research Center
Chapter 260 Research Center
"Brigade Commander, don't worry. As long as we have sufficient supplies, our arsenal will definitely be able to produce more bullets." Wang Qiang nodded confidently.
"Brigade Commander, our arsenal has recently recruited another batch of talent, and now we are much stronger and more well-equipped than before," Wang Qiang said with a smile.
“I remember back then our arsenal only had a few veterans like you. Now, looking around, there are no fewer than a hundred people working here.”
"Wang Qiang, you've done a great job as factory director!" Tang Weiguo praised.
"It's all thanks to the brigade commander's leadership." Wang Qiang smiled somewhat embarrassedly when he heard the brigade commander praise him like that.
"Commander, let's continue forward." Wang Qiang led the group to another space.
"Brigadier, this is our explosives manufacturing workshop. The batch of equipment we purchased last time has arrived, and our explosives production capacity and scale are now much larger than before!"
"Now, all the grenades, explosive packs and other items produced by our arsenal are made with explosives produced in-house."
"The explosives were much more powerful than those supplied by the theater of operations."
"Yes, very good." Tang Weiguo nodded repeatedly as he watched the soldiers busily carrying out production.
"Ah, it's a pity we can't get our hands on a production line for artillery shells right now. If we could, that would be great," Wang Qiang said with a hint of regret.
"Director Wang, don't worry, we'll have it all in the future!" Tang Weiguo said with a smile.
"Then let's wait for the brigade commander's good news!"
After speaking, Wang Qiang continued to lead everyone on a tour of the arsenal.
Wang Qiang led the group to an inconspicuous cave. There was an iron gate at the entrance, with the words "Confidential Location, No Unauthorized Personnel Allowed" written in red on it.
Not only that, there were also two soldiers standing guard at the entrance.
"Let's go in and take a look at our weapons research center." After saying that, Tang Weiguo led everyone inside. The soldiers on guard at the door saw Tang Weiguo and opened the door to welcome him and his group.
This heavily guarded place in the arsenal was a top secret even within the Independent Brigade, known only to its core personnel.
This was a weapons research project initiated by Brigade Commander Tang Weiguo, who envisioned that rifles could fire like machine guns.
Therefore, Tang Weiguo personally summoned the core members of the Independent Brigade to secretly carry out this task, and Zhang Haoshan and Professor Zhao were both members of this plan. So Tang Weiguo felt at ease leading them.
Tang Weiguo and his group walked in. Compared to the bustling scene outside, it was very quiet here. Only four or five people were standing in front of the machine tools, seemingly chatting about something.
"Xiao Qian, come here for a second," Wang Qiang called out.
One of the thin, bespectacled young men who was working on his research heard the sound, put down his work, and came over, wiping his hands as he walked.
"Factory Director, you wanted to see me?" Qian Jin approached and then noticed several people standing behind Wang Qiang. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was the brigade commander and his men.
"Brigade Commander, Deputy Brigade Commander, Professor Zhao, what brings you here?" Qian Jin's tone revealed surprise.
This young man named Qian Jin was recruited by Professor Zhao through an old friend. He graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Tsinghua University and then went to the United States to study weapons research.
After the outbreak of war in China, Qian Jin decisively abandoned his studies and his stable life in the United States, and resolutely returned to his war-torn motherland to contribute his strength to the fight against the Japanese invaders.
As a researcher, the first thing he wanted to do upon returning to China was to join the arsenal and turn his knowledge into weapons to fight the Japanese invaders! On the recommendation of his professor at National Tsinghua University, Qian Jin went directly to Wolong Mountain and joined the arsenal of the Independent Brigade.
When Qian Jin first arrived, he felt that he was wasting his talents by seeing such a small arsenal. He planned to explain the situation to his teacher and prepare to go to the mountain city to realize his ambitions.
But before leaving, Tang Weiguo talked to him about his vision for future automatic rifles, and Qian Jin was immediately astonished. Such a forward-thinking idea would be considered very novel even in America.
However, Qian Jin found it unbelievable that this idea would come from a brigade commander in a remote mountainous area.
Driven by curiosity, Qian Jin carefully inquired about Tang Weiguo's background and suddenly realized that Tang Weiguo was incredibly formidable.
Starting from scratch as a student, he has managed to build such a large team in just over two years.
What Qian Jin found even more astonishing was that Tang Weiguo's troops achieved victory after victory in their battles against the Japanese!
More importantly, Tang Weiguo was actually younger than him, making Qian Jin feel as if he had wasted all these years.
After learning about Tang Weiguo's past, Qian Jin immediately changed his mind and decided to stay at Wolong Mountain.
What solidified Qian Jin's determination to stay was the exceptionally high regard the Independent Brigade had for its talent; the Independent Brigade would do everything in its power to meet any reasonable request Qian Jin made.
To Qian Jin's surprise, the Independent Brigade had already provided him with most of the research equipment he needed.
At this point, Qian Jin decided that he must make a name for himself in the Independent Brigade.
You treat me like a national hero, and I will repay you with the same respect!
And so Qian Jin began his research work at the Wolongshan Arsenal.
"We just happened to be passing by and came across the arsenal, so we thought we'd take a look," Tang Weiguo said with a smile.
"How's the research going lately?" Tang Weiguo asked again.
"Commander, the research is not going very smoothly at the moment. Although we know the general findings, the actual production is still very difficult."
“Recently, we produced several versions, all of which ended in failure!” Qian Jin’s expression showed a hint of defeat.
"It's alright, take your time. We don't expect you to figure it out right now," Tang Weiguo said, noticing Qian Jin's discouragement.
"As long as you dedicate yourselves to the research, I believe you will definitely be able to figure it out!" Tang Weiguo patted Qian Jin on the shoulder and encouraged him.
"Don't worry, Brigade Commander, I will definitely develop the new rifle and contribute to the War of Resistance against Japan." After listening to Tang Weiguo's words, Qian Jin's eyes flashed with fighting spirit again.
"Brigadier, you guys go ahead and look, I'll get back to work." With that, Qian Jin turned and went back to his research on the firearms without looking back!
Seeing Qian Jin's anxious look, Tang Weiguo and the others couldn't help but smile knowingly.
Seeing that they were busy, Tang Weiguo did not disturb them further and left the research center.
Before leaving, Tang Weiguo said to Wang Qiang.
"Director Wang, you've worked hard. If the arsenal has any needs, please let us know in time, and I, Tang Weiguo, will definitely find a way to help you solve them!"
"Commander, with your words, we at the arsenal feel even more at ease," Wang Qiang said with a smile.
Tang Weiguo chatted with Wang Qiang for a few more minutes before leaving the arsenal.
Tang Weiguo spent another half day with Zhang Haoshan, basically touring the entire military fortress. During this time, Professor Zhao, exhausted, went back to rest early.
It was already dark when Tang Weiguo walked out of the underground fortress.
"Deputy Brigade Commander Zhang, I can finally relax completely today after the last battle." Tang Weiguo looked at the brilliant starry sky above him and felt incredibly at ease.
"Yes, Brigade Commander, we can finally get a good night's sleep tonight." Zhang Haoshan nodded in agreement.
"We've been starving all day, let's go to the canteen and get something to eat." After saying that, Tang Weiguo pulled Zhang Haoshan toward the canteen.