NFBE Chapter 352 Commander Yan's Pain
Chapter 352 Commander Yan's Pain
Yoshio Shinozuka was keenly aware of the logistical support issues behind such a powerful firepower configuration. Logistics is a very core issue in modern warfare.
So many military experts would say that war is all about logistics.
Yoshio Shinozuka very accurately poured a bucket of cold water on his staff. If the locust army was equipped with such weapons, they would be dragged to death before they even occupied China.
Because judging from the current rate of digestion of China's strategic resources, there is still a long way to go before all the basic equipment of the locust army can be brought to this level.
However, the Locust Army’s Chinese opponents will not give them such an opportunity.
In fact, the Japanese are now frantically plundering various resources in China and Southeast Asia to supply the war, but this method will not last long.
At the same time, Shinozuka Yoshio thought about the other side of the problem: how did the independent regiment maintain such a strong firepower? How did the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army dare to hand over its logistics to the Eighth Route Army?
These were questions that puzzled Yoshio Shinozuka.
Not only were the Japanese confused, but the King of Jin, the Commander of the Second War Zone, and Lao Xier who were far away in Shaanxi were also very puzzled. They had only supported the Liaoyuan Arsenal with a few machine tools that were almost obsolete, so how did it develop to this point today?
Not only did the Eighth Route Army not need to obtain weapons and equipment from themselves, but now it was selling equipment to the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army. In the past few days, the news that Chu Yunfei bought a 155mm caliber howitzer from the Eighth Route Army spread like wildfire. Coupled with the previous heroic feat of the Independent Regiment in the Battle of Bizigou using heavy artillery to bomb and kill the Japanese division commander, and the legendary experience of the Independent Regiment in the Battle of Ping'an County, which smashed the Japanese special operations battalion Yamamoto Ikki with a single shot from dozens of kilometers away, many generals of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army were very much looking forward to the 155mm howitzer.
Several people even found Old Yan, hoping that he could contact the Eighth Route Army to see if they could provide their team with some of these heavy weapons.
These generals were directly pointed at and scolded by Old Yan. Isn't this just making things difficult for himself?
At the same time, Old Yan was also worried about a very important issue to him, that is, according to the development trend of the Eighth Route Army, even if the Japanese were defeated, whether he could continue to be the King of Jin would be a huge question mark.
Old Yan paced back and forth in his office, unable to understand how the Independent Regiment's Liaoyuan Arsenal had grown to this point in just over half a year!
The more I think about it, the more it seems that it is not the case. If I had known that Yu Ye, the guy from Liaoyuan Arsenal, was so capable, I should have snatched this guy away at all costs before the Liaoyuan Arsenal was developed, and let him be responsible for the military production of the entire Jinsui Army. Maybe by now I would have launched a counterattack and pushed the Japanese and other Chinese troops out of Shanxi.
"Go, call Zhang Shutian over to me!"
Old Yan thought for a long time and decided not to give up the idea of recruiting Yu Ye under his command. The person who knew Yu Ye best in his team was Zhang Shutian.
After Zhang Shutian received the notice from Old Yan's guard, cold sweat suddenly broke out on his forehead.
He has been feeling a little uneasy these days, because after the machine tool was delivered back that time, the entire machinery factory conducted an inventory and found that a set of precision measuring instruments imported from Germany was missing.
This matter was not a big deal for General Manager Zhang. He could just report the damage and buy another one. For Zhang Shutian, this was not something he could bring to the table.
However, some things are not as heavy as a few ounces if not weighed, but once weighed, they weigh a thousand pounds.
Especially during this period, the industrial strength of Liaoyuan Arsenal has advanced by leaps and bounds, which has put more and more pressure on Zhang Shutian. So when Old Yan's guard came to call him, he immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
Could it be that Old Yan wants to hold someone accountable?
With an uneasy mood, Zhang Shu rushed to Old Yan's office.
"Shutian."
Old Yan shouted with a stern face.
Zhang Shutian was startled when he heard this, and even shuddered: "Commander... Commander, you're looking for me?"
"What's wrong? Why are you so nervous? This doesn't look like General Manager Zhang who controls the industry and commerce in our Jin area."
Old Yan's expression softened a little and he even made a small joke.
Seeing that Old Yan had no intention of punishing him at least for the time being, Zhang Shutian felt a little relieved and forced a smile, saying, "No, no, Commander, I wonder what you want to talk to me about?"
"Nothing else. You've heard about the news that Liaoyuan Arsenal held an arms exhibition in Ping'an County, right?"
"Commander, I did hear about it. Some of our officers and logistics officers who visited us said a few words after they came back."
Zhang Shutian responded, but since he was not sure what Old Yan’s attitude was towards the exhibition, it was difficult for him to draw any conclusion.
If I say the wrong thing, I will probably be in trouble.
"Shutian, I also heard that Liaoyuan Arsenal signed an order worth nearly 200 million yuan just for this exhibition. This is equivalent to the production volume of our Taiyuan Arsenal for more than half a month."
"Yes, Commander."
Zhang Shutian carefully pondered what Old Yan meant by this, but still didn't understand what Old Yan was trying to do. However, he understood one thing: Old Yan might not have asked him to come here for the set of precision measuring instruments that could cause very serious consequences.
"Shutian, you said that before our Taiyuan Arsenal was ravaged by the Japanese, we had countless machines and thousands of personnel, but we didn't produce so many new weapons, let alone 155-caliber howitzers.
Tell me, have the decades of business that I, Old Yan, have been doing all for nothing? "
At this point, Old Yan's voice became low and even hoarse, and it was obvious that he felt deeply frustrated.
"Commander, sometimes we have to admit that there are still some geniuses in this world. Maybe Yu Ye is a genius in military manufacturing."
Speaking of this, according to the habits Zhang Shutian has figured out after following Old Yan for so many years, Old Yan must still want to gather the Liaoyuan Arsenal in his own hands. He has really made up his mind.
On the one hand, it was Old Yan's own sense of frustration, and on the other hand, Old Yan's love for talent led to his incomprehensible words.
"Shutian, how great would it be if this talent could be used by our Jinsui Army? That way we can recover our Jin territory sooner."
After all, Old Yan's plan depends on his one and a half acres of land in Jin.
"Commander, since you said so, even though Yu Ye has failed you before, I, Zhang Shutian, am still willing to make this trip to express your love for talent."
Zhang Shutian figured out Old Yan's intention, which was to ask him to find a way to recruit Yu Ye.
Since the leader has almost made it clear, it would be impolite for me as a subordinate not to take the initiative. Although I have almost torn my relations with Yu Ye and the Eighth Route Army, I still have to bite the bullet and go.
Otherwise, if Old Yan found an excuse to lose a precision measuring instrument and shot himself, that would be so unfair.
"Commander, I'm thinking of finding an excuse to buy 155mm howitzers from Liaoyuan Arsenal to get in touch with Yu Ye again. What do you think?
It just requires some funds, of course, all of which must be spent on the proper purchase of howitzers."
"Okay, go get it, use it as you need it."
Old Yan waved his hand and was quite willing to spend money.
Old Yan is sometimes extremely stingy, but when it comes to spending money, he is never vague, such as the education and industry in Jin area before, and this time spending money to win over Yu Ye.