Chapter 4: Research Slots and the Arrival of the Senior Leaders

Regarding the research slots, Zhang Qian has his own opinion. Because of the negative impact of the Long March's tragedy, both construction speed and factory output are affected. Moreover, the base may at any time face a major sweep by the Japanese; these damned things have built extensive railways and highways, attempting to encircle and divide the base along those lines, hoping to use a prison‑camp policy to fracture us into many isolated pieces. Under these circumstances the Logistics Department could be relocated at any moment; trying to build our own military and civilian factories is a thankless, difficult, and unrealistic endeavor.

Furthermore, at the start there are only two research slots, and the base's average cultural level is too low; these problems all need to be solved.

「Basic Machine Tool:"

Research time required: 70 days

Effect: Production efficiency upper limit: +10%

「Construction Technology Type I:"

Research time required: 70 days

Effect: Construction speed: +10%, factory repair speed: +10%

If there were another research slot, Zhang Qian would certainly need something related to electronic engineering, such as the one mentioned next.

「Electromechanical Engineering:"

Research time required: 95 days

Effect: Research speed: +3%

But the base currently lacks scientific talent, and compared to the follow‑up radar and computer of electronic engineering, Zhang Qian feels that the later technology options of the production and construction branches are more important for the base's development.

「--------Author's nonsense

「There are many things that can be researched in the research slots: infantry weapons, support equipment, artillery, tanks, naval vessels, air force aircraft, engineering, industry. But back then we simply lacked the capability to produce cannons, tanks, aircraft, warships, etc. My current idea is to rely on pirating for early‑stage infantry gear, support equipment, artillery, and tanks—since the European battlefield is fighting fiercely, I can't write about it but I can pirate your technology. In the early stage the base will mainly focus on engineering and industry; my hometown is in Shaanxi, I did my undergraduate in Shandong, so let's not talk about environmental issues—just say who as a kid wasn't confused by seeing light and heavy factories. Moreover, one more point: the weapons of that time were really poor, and conditions didn't allow us to have any fun gadgets, so I'm abandoning the original weapons research line—everyone is a Clean Thief Sect, hahaha」

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After planning for the future and allocating all system functions, Zhang Qian entered a waiting period of up to 70 days. During this time he spent most of it studying the distribution of mineral veins in the base; the Japanese not finding them doesn't mean Zhang Qian can't. In history the Japanese tossed and turned in the Northeast Three Provinces for so long, even drilling a well two kilometers from the Daqing Oil Field, yet found no oil, so they concluded the Northeast Three Provinces have a continental geological structure, making oil unlikely. Shanxi is a province rich in mineral resources; the Japanese occupied it for so long yet found nothing. You Japanese, if you can find and develop a place, I will develop it; if you cannot develop it, I will still develop it.

As Zhang Qian obtained cotton, thread and other supplies through the system by trading with civilian factories, these materials gradually entered the warehouse; the base began operating busily, and batches of well‑made winter clothing started being issued to each regiment‑level unit. All the soldiers knew that the Logistics Department had gained a capable comrade, and they looked forward to a better future, hoping to drive out the Japanese.

At noon one day in the base, Zhang Qian had just finished his meal in the mess hall when Wang Dexing notified him that the senior leaders had arrived and were now waiting in his cave dwelling. Zhang Qian didn't have time to put away his bowl and chopsticks; he called out and ran straight to his quarters. To be honest, Zhang Qian's mood was extremely excited; the future‑era him combined with the original body's memories gave him a heartfelt admiration for these senior leaders, who are all heavenly‑sent hunks.

After pushing open the door, Zhang Qian saw three men sitting on the heated brick bed chatting.

He immediately stood at attention and saluted, shouting to the three: "Hello, commanders!"

The three men were momentarily stunned, then instinctively said: "Hello, comrades; comrades, you've worked hard."

"Serve the people!"

Soon after, hearty laughter from four men came from the cave dwelling.

"Little Comrade Zhang, let me introduce you: this is the Eighth Route Army's Commander‑in‑Chief, you all are people who have drunk foreign ink, hahaha. This is the Eighth Route Army's Deputy Chief of Staff, and I am the commander of the 129th Division. On behalf of the Eighth Route Army we welcome your joining, and we thank all the base's comrades for your contributions over the years."

Zhang Qian hurried forward, firmly grasped the division commander's hand, and saluted the senior leaders and the deputy chief of staff one by one.

"Why are you being so polite, kid? We're all comrades sharing the same ideals and goals—come, come, sit down and chat."

The division commander took Zhang Qian's hand and sat back on the heated brick bed; Zhang Qian also tried to calm his excited heart.

"I see you still seem a bit disappointed; do you think we three aren't as tall and mighty as you imagined?" the division commander, bearing the aura of an ancient‑style famous general, teased.

"It's not that I finally got to see you; I want to take a close look at what kind of mighty figure the Eighth Route Army's modern Guan Yu really is. Moreover, seeing you together with the senior leaders always reminds me of a saying."

"Hahaha, you kid can talk—so go on, what is that saying?"

Zhang Qian put on a serious look and said to the division commander and the senior leaders: "Back then the immortals fought; now the immortals gather."

"Hahaha, I didn't expect you, being abroad, to still know so much. Since you're praising us so much, why were you a bit disappointed at first?"

"You say that, but I'm not disappointed at all. At most I just feel it's a pity we haven't seen the commander of the 386th Brigade."

"Yo, that's simple—after a while you'll be able to see him. Well, let's get down to business: this is your appointment letter; from today on you're a member of the Logistics Department, mainly responsible for procurement and assisting your fellow townsman Zhang Wanhe."

Zhang Qian received the appointment letter and carefully put it away.

"In these few days of work in the Logistics Department, what are your thoughts on the current state of the Eighth Route Army?"

"Senior leader, the Eighth Route Army now faces many problems: the comrades' cultural level, the base's industrial foundation, and the soldiers' weapons and equipment all need to be solved. When I just returned, Old Zhang told me I needed to prepare winter cotton clothing; I have already arranged enough cotton and cloth, which can supply the whole army in about a month. Next I will try to use connections to obtain a batch of weapons and equipment for us."

Hearing about weapons and equipment, the senior leaders became interested and gestured for Zhang Qian to continue.