Chapter 763
Giving Chang Ruiyuan a shock from Shanxi!
Taiyuan, Xishan Industrial Zone.
Beneath the rolling mountains, chimneys stand tall, thick black coal smoke rises straight into the sky, and the roar of huge machines rolls across the ground like muffled thunder.
This is the heart of the entire Second World War zone and even the North China theater – the Taiyuan Ordnance Industry Cluster.
Leaning on a cane, Chang Ruiyuan, accompanied by Chu Xichun and a group of technical officials, entered one of the huge workshops filled with the smell of machine oil and steel.
"Chairman, please look this way."
Chu Xichun pointed to the rows of brand-new artillery pieces being assembled on the production line, his tone filled with pride, yet also tinged with the worries of a family leader: "These are the American M2A1 105mm howitzers that we are currently producing in imitation."
"After several years of technological breakthroughs and with the arrival of special steel smelting equipment provided by the United States, the problem of gun steel has been basically solved, and the monthly output can now reach about 12 guns."
Chang Ruiyuan stepped forward, reached out and stroked the cold, heavy cannon shield, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
While the rear can barely produce 75mm mountain guns, this place is already mass-producing 105mm howitzers.
Chu Xichun continued to lead the way.
Before long, he continued to introduce the products with great familiarity: "Besides this big guy, the workshop next door produces the American-made M1 75mm mountain gun."
He pointed to the compact and ingeniously designed cannon: "This cannon also uses American technology. Its biggest feature is that it is lightweight and can be quickly disassembled into several parts, which can be transported by mules or even manpower. It is very suitable for fighting in mountainous terrain like Shanxi. Its firepower response speed is extremely fast."
"The monthly output has now reached forty guns, which is enough to make up for the current combat losses. Previously, in order to coordinate the overall situation of the national war of resistance, our Second War Zone, under the coordination of the Ordnance Department and the Ministry of Military Affairs, supplemented the Sixth War Zone with forty-five 75mm mountain guns, which greatly improved their heavy weapon firepower."
Chang Ruiyuan nodded slightly: "Very good. I heard the artillery officers below talk about this before. The mobility of artillery is also an important part of combat effectiveness. We can't just look at the power of the shells, but also the speed of deployment and withdrawal of the artillery. In this respect, your theory is ahead of the world."
Afterwards, accompanied by Chu Xichun, Chang Ruiyuan went to another workshop two kilometers away.
Turning our attention to another production line, we saw rows of long-barreled anti-tank guns.
"Is this also American technology?"
"Yes!"
Chu Xichun gestured to the technicians beside her.
The man immediately stepped forward and replied in a low voice, "Reporting to the Chairman, this is an M1-45mm direct-fire cannon."
"Although the caliber is not large, it uses high chamber pressure barrel technology and armor-piercing ammunition technology provided by the United States, making it extremely penetrating."
"The miniature tanks that were used to fight the Japanese were like paper. Even when they hit semi-permanent bunkers, they would leave a hole in one shot. They were light and agile. We had been using them at the regimental level. They performed well in previous battles and we received letters of thanks from dozens of different regimental-level combat units."
"Very good, how's the production volume?"
The technicians paused for a moment before reporting truthfully: "According to Chief Advisor Chu's instructions, the production capacity of 45mm direct-fire artillery has always been limited, with an annual production capacity of around 140 units, which is only used to maintain the current losses of the anti-tank combat force."
"limit?"
Direct-fire artillery was a good weapon for the Nationalist government at that time.
Currently, the 37mm version is still being prototyped.
Chu Xichun stepped forward at the opportune moment and then explained, "Chairman, this involves considerations of potential future enemies."
"Currently, the frontal protection capabilities of tanks in the world's mainstream countries exceed the limit of penetration of 45mm direct-fire cannons."
"Mainstream countries?"
Chang Ruiyuan pondered for a moment: "You mean top-tier powers like Germany, the Soviet Union, and the United States?"
Chu Xichun smiled and nodded: "Of course, that also includes Britain."
That said.
Chang Ruiyuan understood.
In addition to "filling in the gaps" in their production, the weapons manufactured by the Taiyuan Arsenal had another important function.
It is to prepare for the possible threat of war in the future.
Clearly, both the Russians and the US military are part of the hypothetical enemy.
However, Chang Ruiyuan's biggest concern is not these two countries.
Rather, it is the British who are sharpening their knives in Britain and India at this very moment.
"We are currently conducting research on anti-tank artillery. However, the lack of relevant technical and research personnel has caused a slight slowdown in progress, but we anticipate completing the prototype development within two years."
After turning past one workshop, I walked another 500 meters.
The noise from the press is sharp and piercing.
Light weapons are produced here.
Chang Ruiyuan casually picked up a submachine gun with a somewhat peculiar, even "crude" design, pulled the bolt, and only heard a crisp metallic clang.
"Is this the Soviet submachine gun you reported earlier? It seems slightly different from the sample sent to the mountain city. Have you made any improvements?"
"Yes, with the help of Soviet experts."
"The Shanxi-made version of the PPS-43 submachine gun has undergone some minor improvements, and the production cost has been reduced by about 20%."
Chu Xichun took a deep breath and then explained, "In the past, we copied a lot of the Thomson typewriters made in Shanxi, which are the Chicago typewriters, but the manufacturing process of those guns was too complicated and the production cost was too high. We have stopped production in recent years."
"It's been discontinued?" Chang Ruiyuan said with some regret. "That gun has powerful firepower and is very useful."
"It's useful, but it's too expensive. We're poor and can't afford it."
Chu Xichun smiled wryly and made an "eight" gesture: "Chairman, most of the parts of this Soviet-designed submachine gun are stamped from steel plates. This not only saves labor and time, but most importantly, the money to make one Thompson can make eight of these PPS-43s!"
Chang Ruiyuan was moved: "One-eighth of the cost?"
"Yes, its firepower is not bad, and it is even more suitable for our soldiers to operate, plus it's cheap."
"Besides this, we are also mass-producing the Type 31 rocket launcher, the Czech light machine gun, and the Shanxi-made Type 65 rifle."
As Chu Xichun walked, she took the opportunity to "plead poverty": "Chairman, you have no idea."
This base now has more than 48,000 core workers alone.
Including the workers in the surrounding supporting factories, that's hundreds of thousands of mouths to feed.
"In order to maintain military production and supply the front lines, the finances of the Second World War zone had long been depleted."
"We didn't even have to pay for raw materials. We just paid wages to ensure people's livelihood and covered the costs of technology imports, which completely drained the World War II zone's resources."
"Although we've implemented the land tax collection system, it's only solved the problem of food. There's still a huge shortfall in the cash needed to pay military salaries and buy materials."
Chu Xichun looked at Chang Ruiyuan with hopeful eyes, her gaze clearly conveying a message.
Could the central government provide some subsidies?
Chang Ruiyuan stopped, his gaze lingering for a moment on the bustling production line, then, as if ignoring Chu Xichun's complaints, looked past the factory and into the distance. There, on a much wider expanse of land, dust swirled.
Countless Chinese workers are working alongside a group of blond-haired, blue-eyed American engineers on a vigorous construction project.
Its scale far exceeds that of the arsenal in front of us.
"Qingbo, what is that place over there?"
Chang Ruiyuan pointed with his cane, abruptly changing the subject.
Pay me?
The central government's finances are now ten times worse than those of the World War II zones!
The legal tender in the Nationalist-controlled areas was devalued to the point of being worthless. If Chang had money, why would he be forced by a few financial magnates to come to North China to "avoid the storm"?
At least the World War II zone was still able to maintain operations.
His Nationalist government had long been living on borrowed money.
He genuinely couldn't come up with the money, so he could only pretend not to hear it.
Seeing this, Chu Xichun sighed inwardly and could only follow the conversation, instantly switching back to her enthusiastic explanation mode.
"Oh, Chairman, that's our tank production base!"
Chu Xichun pointed to the construction site, her voice rising several octaves: "That's a tank manufacturing plant built with American aid, specifically for producing Sherman medium tanks!"
"Tank factory?"
"At the current pace, the first Sherman truck made in Taiyuan could roll off the production line as early as next summer!"
Chu Xichun held up three fingers: "The American experts said that we can reach peak production within three years."
"At that time, operating at full capacity, the estimated annual output will be around 1,200 vehicles!"
Chang Ruiyuan gasped: "Twelve hundred vehicles?"
He looked at the construction site that stretched as far as the eye could see, feeling both shocked and overjoyed.
What is shocking is the terrifying scale and production capacity of this industry; what is exhilarating is that this armored force, which will belong to the "National Army" in the future, will genuinely enhance the country's military strength.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Chang Ruiyuan nodded repeatedly, completely forgetting the awkwardness about the finances earlier: "With this factory, what's there to worry about if the Japanese invaders aren't defeated, or if Manchuria isn't restored? By the way, Qingbo, can this figure be increased a bit more?"
Chu Xichun said with a solemn expression, "I'm sorry, Chairman, 1,200 vehicles is already the maximum production capacity planned for the aid factory."
"On the one hand, we lack the capacity to further expand production capacity; on the other hand, the Americans are naturally wary of us..."
"The Americans also understand that the Japanese are currently at their limit, so naturally they are unwilling to invest more money and effort in it..."
……
The next morning, on the outskirts of Taiyuan.
Sunlight pierced the morning mist, and the resounding bugle call echoed through the valley.
Chang Ruiyuan and his entourage drove to the Taiyuan Comprehensive Training Base.
Before even getting out of the car, they heard a deafening roar of killing.
On the spacious training ground, thousands of new recruits in gray military uniforms were conducting bayonet drills, tactical maneuvers, and live-fire exercises.
That vibrant energy and chilling killing intent were worlds apart from the troops in the rear who were just conscripts to make up the numbers.
"Chairman, Shanxi has more than one comprehensive training base like this."
Standing on the reviewing stand, Chu Xichun pointed to the formation below and introduced, "We have formed a four-legged balance of power, with the Jincheng Comprehensive Training Base as the leader, in coordination with the Taiyuan Comprehensive Training Base, the Changzhi Comprehensive Training Center, and the Northwest Shanxi Comprehensive Training Base."
"Of course,"
"These four bases not only have complete training facilities, but also a dedicated team of instructors."
Chu Xichun held up two fingers: "If supplies are sufficient and operations are at full capacity, we can send 240,000 grassroots officers and soldiers to the front lines every year who have undergone more than three months of rigorous training and are fully combat-ready!"
"Two hundred and forty thousand?"
Chang Ruiyuan's binoculars trembled slightly: "And they're all elites?"
"That's not all."
Chu Xichun added, "The most crucial element is the non-commissioned officers."
“Relying on these four bases, we can also provide additional training to about 4,000 grassroots team leaders every year. These grassroots team leaders are mostly veterans, and some are even capable of taking on the corresponding platoon-level combat command.”
"Soldiers are made of iron, generals are made of courage, and squad and platoon leaders are made of steel on the edge of a knife."
"With these four thousand qualified squad leaders, we can lead tens of thousands of fiercely competitive squads!"
"How were the soldiers allocated?"
"Prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance, with priority given to army groups currently en route to combat missions, followed by second-line units undergoing reorganization and restructuring, and the lowest priority given to combat units currently serving as operational reserves."
"After all, it will take some time for them to get familiar with and adapt to the new environment. If the time is too short, it may even affect their combat effectiveness."
Chang Ruiyuan was very puzzled: "Won't this generate any dissatisfaction, such as a strong demand to return to the original unit, since the treatment of different units is different?"
Chu Xichun then patiently explained, "Similar situations have indeed occurred before, so we have promoted relevant compensation policies to achieve equal treatment. Whether it is a Class A combat unit or a Class B combat unit, they now have equal rights. There is only a division of combat functions, and the rest of the treatment is basically the same. Any special cases are handled specially."
"Therefore, when we allocate personnel now, it is basically a random allocation. In order to ensure that there is no underhanded operation, our Second War Zone will randomly select relevant personnel from various departments to go to the recruit training center for supervision to prevent any problems from occurring."
"After six months of implementation, there has been no dissatisfaction among the enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers."
Looking down at the surging, iron-like sea of people.
Listening to the deafening slogans.
Chang Ruiyuan remained silent for a long time.
He finally understood why Chu Yunfei dared to fight large-scale battles head-on at the front, and why the troops in North China grew stronger with each battle, instead of being defeated.
With such a terrifying capacity for manpower, as long as the war continues and the refugee population is constantly being absorbed, the number of soldiers is virtually inexhaustible.
"Qingbo"
Chang Ruiyuan put down his binoculars, a hint of barely perceptible emotion in his voice, "Your Shanxi is now as solid as bronze and iron."
"Yunfei once said that the times will not give Shanxi a second chance, so as people from Shanxi, we also want to seize this hard-won opportunity to develop our hometown."
“The bond with one’s homeland is something that we Chinese cannot avoid.”
Chang Ruiyuan nodded in deep agreement: "Let's go. After seeing this place, I have even more confidence in the upcoming Kaifeng meeting." (End of Chapter)