Chapter 10: A Big Purchase at the Fengtian Arsenal!
The arsenal warehouse of the Fengtian Army in North City.
In the future, it would become the famous ‘Northeast China Arms Factory’.
But now, with Zhang Zuolin newly in charge of Fengtian, the factory was just in its infancy.
The space was cramped, and the equipment was primitive!
The entire factory, including guards, had only around 400 people.
They didn’t even have a rifle production line.
They could only do simple work like reloading bullets and repairing rifling.
At this moment, Zhang Xue Ming arrived with a large group of cavalry.
The factory director, Zhang You De, was terrified.
What was going on?
A mutiny?
But Zhang Xue Ming said, “Uncle Zhang, I’m here to collect equipment.”
“Those Czech-made light machine guns, I remember there are 18 in the warehouse, pack them all up.”
“Those 75mm mountain cannons, I remember there are 2, tie them all to pack horses!”
“Right, there are over a hundred boxes of grenades buried under the north warehouse, dig them all out and move them!”
For the past few days, Zhang Xue Ming had been preparing to branch out and become independent.
He had already come to the arsenal to scout the place.
Therefore, he even knew about the bullets and grenades hidden underground.
The Imperial Guard Cavalry Regiment had always been the Warlord's confidants, and they were used to being arrogant. Now that they had Zhang Xue Ming's command.
They didn’t care about anything else, and cheered as they started to load the equipment.
“Don't! Don't!”
Seeing Zhang Xue Ming take away all the assets that the Warlord had accumulated over the years, the arsenal director couldn’t help but panic.
“Second Master! In the military order, the Warlord only gave you a cavalry regiment… this is like emptying the warehouse!”
The arsenal director’s name was Zhang De You!
He was from the Zhang family.
According to the family hierarchy, Zhang Xue Ming also called him Uncle Zhang.
Even in the system's ‘Zhang Family of Fengtian’ family tree.
He was one of the few green-attribute figures among the branch family members.
He had two positive attributes: [Diligent and Hardworking] and [Loyal and Devoted].
Therefore, Zhang Xue Ming didn’t give him any trouble.
Instead, he smiled and said, “That’s right! My dad said I’d get a regiment, but he didn’t say how much equipment I’d get!”
“Uncle Zhang, if I encounter bandits out there and run out of ammo and food and get captured, I’ll have to complain to my dad!”
Upon hearing this.
Zhang De You shuddered.
The Zhang family of Fengtian was their own family matter, and this distant cousin shouldn’t be so greedy!
He waved his hand.
“What are you all standing around for!”
“Move! Move all the arsenal’s equipment for the Second Master!”
“Second Master! Don’t just talk about equipment, you want the arsenal’s gate too!”
“Take it if you want.”
He took the shovel handed to him by his subordinates and started digging up the grenades buried underground.
That expression!
It was so enthusiastic!
Soon, Zhang Xue Ming gathered over 1200 rifles, over 30,000 rounds of various ammunition, 18 light machine guns, and 2 75mm mountain cannons.
Enough to arm another regiment!
Combined with the Imperial Guard Cavalry Regiment that Zhang Zuolin had given him.
He hadn’t even left Fengtian City!
Zhang Xue Ming already had the arms of half a brigade.
.......
Half a day later.
Outside Fengtian City.
A team of cavalry, armed to the teeth, was slowly setting out.
Looking at the ancient city walls gradually disappearing behind them.
Yu Feng Zhi, with a slightly swollen belly, leaned against Zhang Xue Ming.
“Husband, are we going to Harbin in Songjiang Province?”
Since the 22nd year of Guangxu, when the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway began, the population of industrial and commercial workers began to gather in Harbin.
As a transportation hub, connecting the Russian Far East, Manzhouli, and Lushun Port, it was home to a large number of foreign expats.
In 1916, Harbin was an international commercial port that was no less than Shanghai!
Therefore, as a wealthy lady, Yu Feng Zhi also hoped to go to a big city.
However.
Zhang Xue Ming calmly shook his head.
“We’re not going to Harbin!”
The teacher had said that the countryside surrounds the city. Harbin City had a combined force of over 50,000 troops from various countries.
With only over 1,000 cavalry, they would be like eggs hitting a stone if they charged in now.
Only by establishing their own family, setting up a base, and developing industry.
And then, with a steel torrent!
Crushing Mount Tai!
Would they be safe and secure!
“Where are we going then?” Yu Feng Zhi asked, a little disappointed.
Zhang Xue Ming smiled, “There’s a lot of potential in the vast sky, the place we’re going is very close to Harbin.”
“Daqing, do you know Daqing?”
Daqing?
Yu Feng Zhi was stunned for a moment, then shook her head.
“Songjiang Province, is there such a place?”
Seeing Yu Feng Zhi’s confused expression.
Zhang Xue Ming laughed.
Before the discovery of the Daqing oil field in 1959.
To ordinary people, Daqing was just a piece of land so barren that it couldn’t even grow food.
Compared to the fertile black soil.
The black oil that occasionally gushed out here.
Was more harmful than beneficial.
But Zhang Xue Ming knew.
Oil!
Was the lifeblood of modern industry!
The cornerstone of the Second Industrial Revolution!
Petrochemicals, plastic production, and even industrial fertilizers.
All required a large amount of oil!
And Xia Kingdom was vast and abundant in resources, but it lacked oil!
Therefore, this strategic resource, oil, must be in their hands!
And Daqing!
Until the 20th century, its annual oil and gas equivalent production had always been over 40 million tons!
How terrifying is that number?
The output of one Daqing oil field accounted for 38% of the country’s total oil production!
Its discovery!
Allowed Xia Kingdom to shed the label of a poor oil country.
It could be said that the exploration and development achievements of the Daqing oil field!
Were achievements worthy of being recorded alongside the “Two Bombs and One Satellite” in the history of China’s development.
And Zhang Xue Ming’s first base for establishing his family.
He decided to choose Daqing!
The steel torrent needed a powerful oil lifeline to support it.
Before he could take over the oil fields in the Middle East.
This place would provide his family with a continuous source of energy!
Setting up a base directly on top of a rich mine.
What could be better?
Damn it!
With oil!
He would be a rich tycoon who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Sha Mo Ren!