On the first day after arriving in Nanyang City, Luo Zhixue basically spent time in meetings. Four consecutive large meetings were held until seven or eight o'clock in the evening.
Even so, Luo Zhixue was still busy meeting with various military and political officials after the large meeting was over.
The first one to come was Colonel Huang Chengyong, who had just been appointed as the commander of the 7th Infantry Brigade. He came here specifically to report his thoughts on the subsequent training of the 7th Infantry Brigade and to listen to Luo Zhixue's instructions.
After listening to many of Colonel Huang Chengyong's ideas, Luo Zhixue said: "Our Baoxiang Army currently has twelve brigades, but you also know that most of them are old-style brigades with traditional formations, and the real new-style brigades There were only three before, but now with the 7th Infantry Brigade, there are only four."
"Now our army is short of main force. The existing three brigades are incapable of splitting their time and can only run back and forth to barely maintain the front line. And with the subsequent implementation of the southward strategy, this force is even more scarce. The 7th Infantry Brigade must take more time to form an army. Strictly until July.”
"By July, I hope to see the 7th Infantry Brigade form initial combat effectiveness to alleviate the shortage of main force in our army!"
"However, we cannot relax the standards in order to quickly form an army. After the brigade forms an army, it must become the backbone of our army. It must not only play the mainstay role in large-scale battles, but also be equipped with cavalry, artillery, When the baggage fights independently, it serves as the core of the battle and supports a single front."
"Just like the current Second Infantry Brigade of the Northern Route Army!"
"I also know Cheng Yong's abilities. I think you are fully capable of leading this brigade. I am relieved that you will be the brigade commander!"
After listening to Luo Zhixue's words, Huang Chengyong said with a solemn expression: "General, please rest assured that Cheng Yong will lead the soldiers of the 7th Infantry Brigade to train hard day and night. I am confident and determined that when the army is formed, General, you will Seeing a strong army, riding on it will definitely live up to your high expectations, General!"
After hearing this, Luo Zhixue nodded slightly: "Just have confidence and determination. Don't worry and do it boldly. If you encounter any problems, you can write to me and tell me!"
After Huang Chengyong retreated, Ding Gangyi, the supervisor of the Liqingdian Arsenal who had attended the industrial meeting, also walked in.
However, unlike Huang Chengyong who took the initiative to report, Ding Gangyi was summoned by Luo Zhixue.
And Ding Gangyi still doesn't know why Luo Zhixue summoned him.
So I was a little worried on the way here. Could there be something wrong with my work?
But it’s unlikely!
After the establishment of the Li Qingdian Arsenal, Ding Gangyi officially took over as the supervisor of the factory. Song Tiejiang, who was originally in charge of the affairs of the Songshan Arsenal, became the co-organizer of the arsenal and the general manager of the artillery factory.
Ding Gangyi thinks that he has done quite well during the period of time he served as supervisor. Even if he has no credit, there should be some credit for his hard work!
Ding Gangyi was not born as a technician. He was actually born as a traditional scholar, and he was a scholar who passed the Scholarship Examination in his twenties.
Because he liked to read various miscellaneous books in his early years, he especially liked to delve into miscellaneous books such as the Elements of Geometry, the Meaning of Measurement, the Meaning of Circles, Pictures of Strange Instruments, and Western Water Methods translated by Xu Guangqi and Li Zhizao from the Westerners Matteo Ricci and Xiong Sanba.
Maybe he spent too much time reading miscellaneous books, so that at the age of forty he was still just a scholar, with no hope of passing the provincial examination...
His family in Luoyang was hit by military turmoil this year, and his entire family became refugees. Almost all of his family members died during the escape. Only he and his two children were left to follow other refugees and fled south. This spring, they fled to Fushan County, southwest of Lushan County. Niushan area.
It just so happened that the Baoxiang Army came out of Lushan County and widely recruited all kinds of scholars and craftsmen, with generous remuneration!
After hearing that the Funiu Mountain Protector Army had generous treatment, and the most important thing was food, in order to keep his two children alive, he didn't care about his dignity as a scholar, or whether he was a rebel or not. , at that time, he gritted his teeth and turned into a thief as a clerk.
However, his superiors soon learned that he had the reputation of being a scholar, so he was quickly promoted. In just ten days, he was transformed from an ordinary clerk into a deputy section chief under the Industrial Department at that time...
At that time, there was a real shortage of cultural talents among the subordinates of the Baoxiang Army. Therefore, as long as your cultural level was excellent, regardless of your actual ability, you were basically indispensable for promotion.
Ever since, Ding Gangyi, who originally just wanted to earn a living to support his two children, became a mid-level official in the anti-thief army before he recovered...
Later, it was discovered by Luo Zhixue that he liked to read various miscellaneous books in Thai and Spanish translations, so not long after, he was promoted again...
He was directly transferred to the Liqingdian Arsenal, which was still under construction, as a supervisor.
Even the official position of supervisor of the arsenal was specially created for him by Luo Zhixue. There was no such thing as supervisor before, only management and so on.
Li Qingdian Arsenal was the largest and only arsenal in the Baoxiang Army at that time. It was responsible for the important strategic task of manufacturing guns and other types of weapons to expand the army and provide support for the war.
It goes without saying that its importance is known.
After taking up the position of supervising the Li Qingdian Arsenal, Ding Gangyi also worked hard, from planning the establishment of the arsenal to production, completing mass production in a short period of time and supplying a large amount of ordnance to the military.
The Baoxiang Army was able to quickly capture the Nanyang Basin and block the counterattack by Zuo Liangyu's troops of the Ming Army. On the one hand, the soldiers sacrificed their lives, and on the other hand, the arsenal ensured the supply of ordnance.
Ding Gangyi thought that what he did directly was pretty good, but why did the general summon him?
Is it for the bronze cannon mentioned at the meeting?
But there's nothing much to say about the bronze artillery. It was already said at the meeting that this kind of bronze artillery is still the same shape as the 600-pound long-barreled artillery made of iron, and there won't be much change.
After all, if the changes are too big, various equipment, molds, etc. on the current production line will have to be refitted on a large scale or simply built new, which will affect production capacity.
At the same time, it also affects the artillery unit's ability to form combat effectiveness as quickly as possible.
So even if the cannon is replaced by bronze casting, the basic things will still be maintained.
At the meeting, General Luo Zhixue also affirmed the bronze artillery and gave instructions for mass production on the spot. There was no need to call him over to make a special statement.
With doubts, Ding Gangyi entered a study room where Luo Zhixue temporarily worked.
Luo Zhixue did not leave Ding Gangyi puzzled for too long. After a few casual conversations, he went straight to the topic: "The new Xiangyang Arsenal is newly built. It has always been under the direct management of the Ministry of Industry. There is no supervision yet."
Luo Zhixue continued: "The Xiangyang Arsenal has now completed the first phase of the project, and there will be second and third phases of the project later. After the completion of the third phase of the project, the factory will be the largest of our Baoxiang Army in the Nanyang Basin. , and it is also the only large-scale comprehensive arsenal.”
"As for the Nanyang Arsenal, its tasks are relatively lighter. It will not set up a production base for guns and other weapons here. It will only retain the ability to repair guns and various weapons and armors. It will mainly produce ammunition to provide the northern defense line nearby. Each ministry provides ammunition and repairs firearms and weapons.”
"Such a large arsenal requires a strong and powerful person who is proficient in mathematics, physics, mechanics and other new subjects to preside over the work. My opinion is to let you manage this arsenal."
"After all, you are now the supervisor of the Li Qingdian Arsenal, and most of the key personnel and equipment of the Li Qingdian Arsenal will gradually be relocated to the Xiangyang Arsenal. Your going to the Xiangyang Arsenal will also help you continue your work. "
"Of course, it mainly depends on your own thoughts."
Ding Gangyi was a little surprised when he heard this, because Yuan Gaofeng had said not long ago that after the personnel and equipment of the Li Qingdian Arsenal were relocated, he, Ding Gangyi, would be transferred back to work in the Ministry of Industry as a Director of the Mechanical Department.
Now, Luo Zhixue asked him to continue working in the arsenal. This was obviously to continue to reuse him.
Because if you serve as the supervisor of the Xiangyang Arsenal, your status will obviously be more powerful than the directors of the departments under the Ministry of Industry.
In the Baoxiang Army's Ministry of Industry system, the Ministry of Industry established five departments responsible for industry: the Heavy Industry Department, the Machinery Department, the Light Industry Department, the Textile Department, and the Metallurgical Department.
The above-mentioned departments can theoretically take charge of the Liqingdian Arsenal, because Liqingdian is a comprehensive arsenal, and the same is true for the subsequent Xiangyang Arsenal, which has a gun factory, a machinery factory, a wood factory, a gunpowder factory, etc.
But in fact, each department has basically no authority to directly intervene in the affairs of the Liqingdian Arsenal, because the Liqingdian Arsenal is directly under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Industry, Yuan Gaofeng.
The Li Qingdian Arsenal in special times is so important.
In today's industrial and commercial meeting, Ding Gangyi, who is the supervisor of the Li Qingdian Arsenal, is sitting next to Yuan Gaofeng, and several other department heads are still below.
But at this moment, no matter how low Ding Gangyi's political consciousness is, he still knows that Luo Zhixue will continue to reuse him.
Immediately he said loudly: "The general has great love and perseverance. I will definitely work hard in the future to build more and better ordnance for the general and our hometown protection army!"
After hearing this, Luo Zhixue nodded slightly: "Okay!"
"Looking back at the Xiangyang Arsenal, we must focus on production and quality, and we must pay close attention to the bronze artillery issue."
"In addition, I will arrange another task for you to start trial production of large artillery!"
"The current 600-pound long artillery has excellent maneuverability, but the shells it fires are only two and a half pounds, and the power is still too small. It is acceptable as an infantry battalion support firepower, but it is very insufficient when used as suppressive firepower. !”
"Previously, in the Battle of Sanyuanzhuang and the Battle of Yuzhou, when our artillery was used for long-distance bombardment, its lethality was unsatisfactory."
"We need more powerful long-barreled field guns!"
"We need a powerful field gun that can cover the entire battlefield and effectively kill enemy formations within 500 to 1,000 meters!"
