The 399th Brigade currently doesn't have a significant shortage of firearms. On top of that, they need a large number of skilled workers.
For the time being, the armory can't start the rifle production line without jeopardizing the production of bullets and artillery shells. So, it's left idle for now.
They will put it into use once they have more skilled workers.
To increase the number of workers in the armory, Xiao Yun adopted a three-pronged strategy.
Headquarters and Yan'an have already provided maximum support, so he couldn't possibly bother them again.
After all, they also need skilled workers to maintain the factories in their own areas.
Deputy Brigade Commander Liu Zhixuan, who is in charge of intelligence, has been dispatching intelligence personnel to contact technicians who used to work at the Taiyuan Armory and fled to their homes after the Japanese occupied Taiyuan.
They offered them good pay to work in the base area. So far, it has been quite effective, with many workers willing to move their families to the base area.
Secondly, they widely recruited educated people from the base area to join the armory.
They used the technicians from Headquarters and Yan'an as teachers to train a new generation of skilled workers.
On the other hand, the 399th Brigade has made a major breakthrough in their communication with Yan Xi regarding the issue of Shuizhou.
The negotiator sent by Yan Xi will arrive at the base area soon to further discuss the matter of Shuizhou.
Apart from the silver dollars, the only thing that Yan Xi possesses that Xiao Yun wants is his machine tools and skilled workers.
Don't even think about the machine tools. Unless Yan Xi has gone completely insane, he wouldn't give those to Xiao Yun. But skilled workers are a different story.
With Yan Xi's current industrial strength, he doesn't need so many skilled workers, and he has to pay them to support them.
In the past two years, he has gradually laid off some less skilled workers.
Xiao Yun believes there is a chance to get a group of skilled workers in exchange for the Shuizhou region, which can help the armory develop rapidly.
......................
Speak of the devil!
Not long after Xiao Yun finished his inspection of the armory, his guard reported that someone from the Jin-Sui Army had arrived.
Xiao Yun asked him to invite them to the meeting room, preparing to receive them with Political Commissar Wang Yan.
The reason for such importance is, of course, that they are big customers. How could he be so bold as to haggle with them without expressing his appreciation?
The person who came was the same Jin-Sui Army colonel as before.
Yan Xi has sent this person twice, showing that he is a true confidant.
"Commander Xiao, we meet again!"
In the meeting room, the Jin-Sui Army colonel, with his mouth full of high-quality tea, wiped the tea leaves from his lips with a handkerchief and stood up to salute.
"Hello, Xiao Wang. This is our Political Commissar, he's also a Wang, same family name as you."
Xiao Yun sat down in the main seat and then said.
"Commander Wang, nice to meet you. I'm Wang Shikai. I was sent by Commander Yan to negotiate with your brigade. Just call me Xiao Wang!"
The Jin-Sui Army colonel just sat down and stood up again, saluting Wang Yan.
"Colonel Wang, don't be so polite. Please, take a seat!"
Wang Yan, smiling, moved a chair and sat down beside Xiao Yun.
Then the two of them sat there calmly, drinking tea. Although it was the same high-quality tea, they both enjoyed it and didn't mention the negotiation or trade.
It was clear that they wanted the other party to speak first and gain some initiative in the negotiation.
The Jin-Sui Army colonel soon became restless.
The last time he tried to recruit Xiao Yun on behalf of Yan Xi, he was reprimanded by Yan Xi when he returned.
Fortunately, Yan Xi also knew that Chiang Kai-shek had offered such a high price but still failed to recruit Xiao Yun, and the price he offered was almost like giving a beggar a handout. So, he didn't press the issue.
But this time it was different. Yan Xi gave him a direct order.
If he failed to achieve his goal, even if he was Yan Xi's confidant, he would inevitably be banished to the cold palace and lose his favor.
So, the Jin-Sui Army colonel, who was on pins and needles, spoke directly.
"Two commanders, Commander Yan wants to exchange the Shuizhou region for it from your army. What are your thoughts?"
Seeing the other party speak first, Xiao Yun and Wang Yan looked at each other, like two old foxes - the initiative in the negotiation was theirs!