Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 153 Modifying the Flying Thunder Cannon

The next day, Wang Qiang led Lin Zhenglei and the others back to the test site on the back mountain. After returning the day before, they made twenty more small explosive packages for testing purposes, to check the yield rate of the explosives. As Lao Li lit the fuse again, one explosive package after another exploded.

"A total of 20 explosions, a great success." Wang Qiang counted as he listened to the explosions.

"Factory manager, it seems we've really succeeded!" Lin Zhenglei was overjoyed to receive today's test results, and only today did the pressure on his heart finally ease.

"Regarding the production of new explosives, you must standardize and institutionalize the production process. The next step for our arsenal is to begin mass production of this explosive."

"Yes, factory manager, I've got it."

"As for the raw materials, you don't need to worry. Director Bi has been arranging for people to collect the 'fertilizer powder' distributed by the Japanese. There is enough for us."

"That's great! We can finally contribute to the fight against Japan."

"Haha, you've made a huge contribution this time. I'll ask the regimental commander to commend you on your behalf," Wang Qiang said with a smile.

"Factory Director, can we tell the regimental commander this good news?" Lin Zhenglei said excitedly.

"Well, since our experiment was very successful today, I'll tell the commander the good news. Let's go back to the arsenal first. You guys continue to make a few more experimental samples and demonstrate them to the commander when he arrives."

"Yes." After saying that, Lin Zhenglei and the others cheered and ran towards the arsenal.

"Haha, in our eyes, they're still just kids!" Wang Qiang said, looking at Lin Zhenglei and the others running ahead.

"Speaking of which, the regimental commander is about the same age as them. I wonder what he ate to grow up like that. He seems incredibly strong." Old Li thought about what Tang Weiguo had done with the militia.

"Otherwise, how could he be the regimental commander! Alright, let's hurry back and report this good news to the regimental commander."

"Hahaha, I'm telling you, Lao Wang, you'd better hurry up, or you'll miss the train."

"You old Li, you can't stand it if you don't bicker with me all day, so just shut up a bit."

Wang Qiang walked towards the arsenal while bickering with Old Li. Ultimately, they were getting old, and once they returned to the arsenal, Lin Zhenglei and the others resumed making explosives.

Wang Qiang returned to his office, picked up the telephone that the communications department had just installed that morning, and said that for the time being, he could only call the regimental commander's office, but that was enough for him. Normally, these people rarely contacted others; their closest contacts were the logistics department, who would procure various supplies for them.

Wang Qiang picked up the phone, dialed the number, and said:

"Get the regimental commander."

"Hello, is this the regimental commander? This is Wang Qiang from the arsenal. I have some good news to report to you. Lin Zhenglei and his team have successfully developed a new type of explosive."

"Yes, yes, the explosive power is five times that of the previous explosives."

"Yes, yes, you asked if we can visit in person now? No problem."

"Okay, Commander, I'm waiting for you to come over now." After explaining the situation, Wang Qiang hung up the phone and headed towards Lin Zhenglei's cave.

To ensure safety, Lin Zhenglei's laboratory was located in a separate cave, isolated from the rest of the arsenal.

On the other side, Tang Weiguo stood up with a joyful expression after learning the news reported by Wang Qiang.

"Cheng Shanshan, let's go and inspect the arsenal." Tang Weiguo called out to the bodyguard that Tang Xiaohu had selected for him from among the soldiers of the entire regiment.

"Yes, Commander." Cheng Shanshan followed closely behind Tang Weiguo. Tang Weiguo entered the Wolong Mountain cave complex and headed towards the arsenal cave with ease. At this moment, the passageway inside the cave had been widened by the engineering regiment, with special lighting on both sides, and people were constantly coming and going in the passageway.

Following the main road and seeing the signs for the arsenal, Tang Weiguo turned in and walked along a side road for a while before arriving at the arsenal's new location.

Wang Qiang had been standing at the door waiting for Tang Weiguo to arrive. When he saw Tang Weiguo coming, he hurriedly went forward to greet him.

"Director Wang, you've worked hard!"

"I wasn't much of a help; it was mainly thanks to Lin Zhenglei and those young men." Wang Qiang never took credit for himself; whoever did the work, that's who it was. That's why Wang Qiang had a very high reputation in the arsenal.

"Come on, let's celebrate for these young men." With that, Wang Qiang led Tang Weiguo into another cave.

"Congratulations! The militia will remember your contributions," Tang Weiguo praised Lin Zhenglei and the others.

"We were all contributing to the fight against the Japanese," Lin Zhenglei and the other young men said shyly.

"Let's go out and try it out if we see if it's ready yet." Tang Weiguo still wanted to witness it with his own eyes.

"Commander, yes, we can test it now."

"Okay, let's go to the test site."

"Yes." After saying that, Lin Zhenglei and the others took the five experimental explosive packages they had just made and followed them back to the test site on the back mountain.

As the fuse of the explosive charge was lit, five more explosions rang out at the test site. Seeing the test succeed once again, Lin Zhenglei's tense heart relaxed once more.

“It’s a sure thing this time!”

Tang Weiguo was overjoyed to see the power of the explosion, just as Wang Qiang had said. Now their militia had another means to fight the Japanese.

"How's the production?"

"Currently, due to limitations in the manufacturing process, we can only produce a maximum of 20 kilograms of explosives per day," Lin Zhenglei calculated and said.

"20 kilograms, that's only 600 kilograms a month, which is a bit low. We need to improve the process and increase production."

"Commander, we are trying our best to change the production process and increase output. Right now, we mainly use traditional methods, which are very slow," Lin Zhenglei said.

"Here's what you need. Make a list for me, and I'll have Bi Shoucai think of a way. In short, you must do everything you can to increase production."

"Yes."

"Use this batch of new explosives to make hand grenades first, and use the surplus to make explosive charges. Director Wang, since we have increased the power of the explosives, the amount of explosives needed to make explosive charges will be less, and the size and weight of the explosive charges will be reduced."

"Director Wang, do you think you could reduce the caliber of the flying thunder cannons we made before? That way, the soldiers can transport them more easily and improve combat efficiency."

"Commander, this is good. We'll go back and improve these flying thunder cannons."

"Okay, I'm waiting for your good news."

"Yes, Captain."

“Our militia’s systems are not yet perfect. Once they are, I will personally visit your arsenal to commend your contributions,” Tang Weiguo said after thinking for a moment.

"I will follow the commander's orders."

"Good, your arsenal is the lifeblood of our regiment. As long as you continue to produce weapons and ammunition, our militia will have the confidence to fight the Japanese."

"Yes, Commander, our arsenal guarantees to do its utmost to produce weapons and ammunition for the regiment."

"it is good."

After chatting with them for a while, Tang Weiguo returned to his office and then picked up the phone to call the staff office.

"Hello, is this Staff Officer Long? I'm ordering you to formulate a plan for recognizing the merits of our militia soldiers. The specifics should be based on the Nationalist Army's plan, but there's one thing: the rewards must be more generous than those of the Nationalist Army. The soldiers also need to eat and support their families. Don't worry about the funding; I'll take care of that."

"Yes." Long Wenying took the order on the other end of the phone.