"Captain, why are you here?"
As soon as the three of them came out, they saw Zhang Pingan. The middle-aged man with glasses in the middle pushed up his glasses and asked in surprise.
"hehe!"
Hearing the middle-aged man's inquiry, Zhang Ping'an chuckled and said to the middle-aged man: "Director Xue, I'll give you some supplies. We'll have pork for lunch today. I brought more than three hundred kilograms, so that's enough!" After saying that, he smiled and said hello to the two people beside Director Xue: "Gong Zheng, Team Leader Liu!"
This middle-aged bespectacled man’s surname is Xue and his first name is Pengju. He once worked in firearms design and production at Fengtian Military Factory. He has rich experience in firearms design and manufacturing. He retired to the customs in 1931 and came to Dayuan Military Factory to work in 1933. For related work, Zhang Pingan was appointed as the director of ordnance.
Zheng Gong's name is Zheng Guo. He is a college student in the Department of Chemistry. After graduation, he worked in the explosives factory of Dayuan Arsenal. He is very proficient in the production, research and use of explosives.
Team Leader Liu's name is Liu Dalong, who also comes from Dayuan Arsenal. He was once a deputy team leader of the production line. He not only has rich production experience, but also has outstanding abilities. He is now the production team leader of the Ordnance Institute.
"Oh my god!!!"
Director Xue, Gong Zheng, Team Leader Liu, and other comrades from the surrounding ordnance stations, their eyes suddenly lit up when they heard Zhang Pingan's words. Although they came to the county brigade, the food was not bad, let alone It's so good to eat, but you can still be full, but meat is hard to come by!
"Thank you, thank you captain!!! We haven't tasted meat for a long time, and we can have a satisfying meal of meat today!"
Director Xue couldn't help but smile and expressed his gratitude to Zhang Ping'an on behalf of dozens of people in the entire Ordnance Institute, while everyone in the Ordnance Institute smiled expectantly.
"Hehehe!!"
Hearing Director Xue's words, Zhang Pingan waved his hands gently and said: "Since you have come to our county brigade, we must ensure that our comrades have stuttering, and this is not the last time. I promise that we will let everyone stutter every month in the future." Eat a meal of meat, try to eat a meal of meat every week.”
"good!!!!"
"Captain is mighty!!!"
"Long live the captain!!!"
"..."
Zhang Pingan's guarantee caused everyone to shout excitedly again, and the atmosphere and morale were also boosted.
"Director Xue, Gong Zheng, and Team Leader Liu!"
After talking about these trivial matters, the four of them entered the room. Zhang Ping'an didn't waste any time and directly expressed his thoughts: "In addition to sending you some supplies this time, I just have an idea that I want to consult with you. What these professionals think.”
"oh?!"
As soon as Zhang Ping'an said these words, Director Xue and the other three showed expressions that were indeed true, but they were not impatient. Director Xue smiled and said: "Captain, tell us, let's listen!"
"Um!"
Zhang Ping'an nodded when he heard this, then found a piece of paper and began to draw and introduce at the same time, saying: "The army currently lacks heavy firepower. My idea is is there a possibility that we can use the principle of mortars to make a ejector?" , throwing the explosive package hundreds of meters away, so that although the range is shorter, it is more powerful, and it can be used very effectively in ambush battles, blockade battles, or critical battles."
"My requirements are actually very simple, that is, the bigger the explosive package is, the better, the farther the throw, the better, the production process is as simple as possible, it is best to be generalizable, and a certain degree of safety must be ensured." said After that, Zhang Pingan drew the appearance of the "heartless cannon" on the picture.
"Forehead!!!"
I originally thought it was the whim of my captain, but everyone thought about it again and said it couldn't be done.
But when Zhang Pingan finished his request and drew the drawings, Director Xue, although he was not an expert in artillery, had been exposed to it in so many years of work and felt that Zhang Pingan's drawings and his thoughts , it’s really feasible.
"Liu Ermin!!!"
Thinking of this, Director Xue lowered his head for a while, and shouted at the top of his voice without even raising his head without rushing to answer Zhang Ping'an.
"well!"
As soon as Director Xue's voice sounded, a young voice was heard outside.
"Come in!"
Director Xue said directly without any nonsense.
"Okay, Director!" The young voice sounded again, and soon, a young man who was somewhat similar to Team Leader Liu Dalong, about eighteen or nineteen years old, rushed in.
"Director!"
As soon as the young man came in and saw four people, he first called out to Director Xue, and then said one by one: "Captain, Worker Zheng, Dad!"
Yes, Liu Ermin is the second son of team leader Liu Dalong. Liu Dalong has three sons. The eldest son Liu Yimin has joined the Eighth Route Army and is in the 115th Division Independent Regiment. The third son, Liu Sanmin, is 17 years old and also joined the Eighth Route Army. Because he has a good voice, he is now a propaganda officer. Liu Ermin has been interested in machinery manufacturing since he was a child, and because of Liu Dalong's job, he inherited his father's business and learned weapons production, especially since this kid worked in the artillery factory of Ohara Arsenal.
"Ermin, come here!"
Director Xue waved to Liu Ermin, then pointed to the picture drawn by Zhang Pingan, and said the requirements Zhang Pingan said, "Do you think this thing can be done?"
After hearing Director Xue's words and looking at the drawings, Liu Ermin pondered for a moment, then nodded without hesitation: "No problem, Director, as long as we don't pursue accuracy and longer range, it's absolutely no problem. Think of it as an enlarged mortar.”
"good!"
Director Xue was very satisfied when he heard this. He shouted "Okay" and said, "Then if you are asked to take the lead in the development of this weapon, can you win it?"
As soon as Director Xue said these words, Liu Ermin said nothing, but Liu Dalong on the side said: "Ermin, we can't be brave, one is one, two is two."
Regarding his father's words, Liu Ermin nodded slightly, and then said: "Director, this weapon is not difficult to make, but the propellant and explosive pack are a problem."
"I'll do this!"
As soon as Liu Ermin asked this question, Director Xue didn't say anything. Zheng Gong directly said that he had been watching and thinking in his heart.
"If Gong Zheng joins in, then I will have no problem and I will complete the task!" As soon as Liu Ermin heard what Gong Zheng said, he no longer hesitated and immediately said that he had no problem.
"good!"
Director Xue was very happy when he heard this and said with a smile: "Then it's decided, Ermin, you will be responsible for the research and development of this new weapon."
"Okay, Director!"
Liu Ermin did not refuse and immediately solemnly agreed.
Zhang Ping'an, who had never spoken, also smiled and said: "I just have nothing to do these days, so I will stay here to be busy with Comrade Liu Ermin and others, and by the way, I can feel the working status and work situation of our comrades on the military-industrial front."
Director Xue couldn't refuse, so he agreed with a smile.
"What should we use to make the projectile?" Liu Ermin quickly got into the mood, and his own research and development team was quickly established, and he told everyone about the situation. After Liu Ermin finished speaking, a young man asked.
"Iron sheet? I think iron sheet is enough!" After hearing the question, one person followed: "It's too thin, it's too thick. We don't have a machine and can't curl it! So I think we should find something a little thicker. Ironhide should be good!”
This person's suggestion was recognized by others: "I think it's okay too. Our weapon is simple and easy to make. We don't require it to have a long service life. At worst, it will be eliminated after more than a dozen battles and be replaced again." Just make it!”
"..."
Zhang Ping'an, who stayed to participate, did not rush to speak. After everyone chatted for a while, he finally suggested: "What do you think of the gasoline barrel?"
"Uh-huh!!!!"
As soon as Zhang Pingan said these words, everyone was stunned for a moment, then their eyes lit up and they all became excited.
“Don’t tell me, this gasoline barrel is really good!!!”
"Yeah, although it's not very thick, it's enough. If we want to ensure safety, we can put a few more hoops around the gasoline barrel."
"And gasoline barrels are relatively easy to obtain. They can be used with just a little modification and cutting!!"
"..."
Zhang Pingan's proposal was unanimously agreed by everyone.
"Okay, I just happened to bring a dozen empty oil barrels with me when I came this time, and I planned to use them as water barrels for you and the military academy. These are brand-new gasoline barrels that have not been used." Zhang Ping'an smiled and said to everyone. : "In this case, let's try to produce new weapons first. There are still many at the brigade headquarters. I'll have some more sent over!"
After solving the problem of the main material of the projectile, the progress was accelerated a lot. In addition, there was not much work in the Ordnance Department, so everyone was repairing and looking for spare parts to assemble weapons.
With enough manpower, the three gasoline barrels were modified in the afternoon. During this period, Zhang Ping'an still maintained the attitude of talking less and watching more. He only gave everyone opinions at critical times and did not express himself. It also promoted the progress of work.
Zheng Gong, who had been paying attention all the time, after determining the caliber of the projectile, he took his people and started making propellant packs and explosive packs.
Originally, when Gong Zheng made the explosive packets, he still used the customary square structure. At this time, Zhang Ping'an quietly came up and said: "Zheng Gong, you said that if the explosive packets were made into a round shape, Yes, this will fit the gun barrel better and increase the air tightness. Can it be ejected further?"
As soon as Zhang Ping'an said these words, Zheng Gong was stunned for a moment, and then he reacted and said repeatedly: "Captain, you are right, it is indeed like this!" After saying that, he and his people began to revise and re-write. Make.
After doing this, Zhang Ping'an came to Director Xue's side again. At this time, he didn't know when he was holding five or six 7.92 mm bullets in his hand, and said: "Director Xue, I have a question I want to ask you. !”
Director Xue raised his head when he heard this, looked at Zhang Pingan, and said: "Captain, tell me!"
Zhang Ping'an smiled and asked in a very casual and curious tone: "That's it, Director Xue, when you were working at Dayuan Arsenal or our Eighth Route Army logistics ordnance factory, whether you were producing bullets Even when reloading bullets, there will always be some defective bullets, so how do you usually deal with these defective bullets?"
"What can be done with them? Naturally, store them separately and then destroy them together!" Upon hearing Zhang Ping'an's question, Director Xue replied with some confusion.
"Director Xue, I have an idea!"
After getting this result, Zhang Ping'an had a touch of surprise on his face and said: "You said, if I go to the comrades of our logistics department to apply for the return of the batch of defective and unusable bullets, you said the comrades of the logistics department will give it to me." me?"
"Here, why not?"
Director Xue was even more unsure of what Zhang Pingan was going to say, but he still answered.
"hey-hey!"
Zhang Ping'an smiled when he heard this and said: "In that case, I will go back to my superiors and apply to get back the defective bullets left over from our own production."
"Captain, what are you doing with this thing?"
Listening to Zhang Pingan's words, Director Xue couldn't bear it anymore and asked curiously.
"I have thought of a gadget, which I can call a bullet mine for the time being." Looking at Director Xue who was looking for knowledge, Zhang Pingan explained with a smile: "It is to use wood, iron sheets and other things to make a A small device that can excite bullets." At the same time, he was still talking and drawing.
"Then it is used as a landmine and buried in the soil. As long as a kid walks over it and triggers this little trap, the bullet will be activated and finally penetrate the sole of the kid's foot and cause some damage."
"I would be a little reluctant to use good bullets, but using defective products that cannot be used in guns is considered waste recycling. Our main force cannot use it, but it can be used by our local troops and militia forces. But it’s a great addition.”
After hearing Zhang Pingan's introduction and looking at the pictures drawn by Zhang Pingan, Director Xue suddenly understood what had happened. His eyes lit up and he said: "Captain, your idea is so genius. Those bullets may be caused by various factors." It cannot be used for various reasons, but this bullet mine does not require a barrel, no need to worry about exploding the chamber, and a simple trigger. As long as it can trigger the bullet primer, it can cause damage."
Speaking of this, Director Xue immediately said: "Captain, I'm going to make a batch right now. Let's test it. If it really works, those defective products can also play their due value. Don't you know? Every time we see those defective products, we feel heartbroken." After that, Director Xue ignored Zhang Ping'an and took the people to work in a hurry.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, in an open space behind Niuergou Village, Zhang Pingan, Liu Ermin, Zheng Gong, Team Leader Liu, Director Xue, as well as all the comrades from the Ordnance Institute, as well as the military school staff and students who heard the news came to join in the fun. Everyone, everyone looked at the five "earth cannons" in front of them, which were simple in shape and half buried in the soil, and whispered there.
"Captain, the thunder cannon team is ready for testing!"
Liu Ermin didn't care about this. He looked at what he had made all afternoon with anticipation in his eyes, and then shouted loudly to Zhang Pingan.
"start testing!!!"
Zhang Ping'an heard that there was no nonsense, smiled and nodded, saying.
"Yes, Captain!"
Liu Ermin immediately led his men and began to get busy, filling in the propellant and simple gunpowder bags tied up by Zheng Gong and his men, then lighting the long fuse and quickly retreating. As for Zhang Ping'an and others, Watch from dozens of meters away.
The lead was very long, leaving Liu Ermin and others a long time to retreat.
finally!
"boom!!!!"
As a dull roar sounded, everyone saw a flash of fire from the thunder cannon, and a round thing flew out, rolled in the sky and leaped hundreds of meters. When it finally landed, it bloomed into a ball. There was a bright fire, followed by a dull explosion and the shock caused by the explosion.
"Boom!!!!"
This scene was caught in the eyes of everyone present. At this moment, everyone couldn't help but open their mouths. They just stared blankly at the smoke that gradually dissipated. It was obvious that everyone was suppressed.
"Ha ha ha ha!!!"
At this moment, a hearty laugh sounded, and then Zhang Pingan's voice sounded: "Okay, now I announce that the first weapon "Flying Thunder Cannon" developed and produced by our Quanyang County Brigade Ordnance Institute has officially completed the test. .”
"I am also very grateful to our comrades at the Ordnance Department for allowing our county brigade to possess such a powerful, simple and reliable weapon of mass destruction!"
