The next morning, Xiao Yimin accompanied Chiang Kai-shek and Liu Bingxian to visit the production workshop of the new M1916 rifle, the assembly workshop of the M60A light mortar, and the rifle bullet production workshop of the Ya'an Gun Factory.

Walking out of the bullet packaging workshop, Chiang Kai-shek and Liu Bingxian, who were full of interest, couldn't even imagine that it would take 25 processes to complete the production of a simple rifle bullet, from blanking, leading to punching, pulling lead until the final forming, not counting the five quality inspections.

Liu Bingxian sighed and said: It is the first time I know that it is not easy to produce a bullet, and it is no wonder that only Ya'an Gun Factory in the country can produce pointed bullets.

Chiang Kai-shek, who had visited the Hanyang Gun Factory in Hubei, was very insightful, and he found that the scale of the Ya'an Gun Factory was only a quarter of that of the Hanyang Factory, and the total number of workers was only one-fifth of that of the Hanyang Factory, but the technical management personnel of the Ya'an Factory were as many as 250 people, the machinery and equipment were very advanced, and the production efficiency was obviously much higher than that of the Hanyang Factory.

After lunch, Chiang Kai-shek, who was bent on trying out new rifles and 60 mortars, accompanied by Xiao Yimin and Liu Bingxian, drove again to the shooting range of the training base.

Xiao Yimin motioned to the shooting instructor at the base not to bother, picked up a calibrated new rifle and a box of bullets and walked to the firing position, and lay down with Chiang Kai-shek, who had changed into a camouflage training uniform, and then handed the gun to Chiang Kai-shek, took out his binoculars, and observed the human-shaped target 100 meters ahead.

Chiang Kai-shek couldn't put down the steel guard plate embedded in the butt and the new rifle with the handle changed to a downward curved shape, touched the refined walnut butt, slid four fingers to the carefully polished receiver without the slightest burr, and finally pulled the bolt, skillfully inserted the five-round bridge, pressed and pulled to complete the loading in a blink of an eye, turned to Xiao Yimin, and asked with a smile: "After the barrel is changed to 600mm, will it have an impact on the range and trajectory?" ”

"The impact is not great, the accuracy is still extremely high within five hundred meters, plus the bullet charge we produce is efficient and stable, the experimental data such as chamber pressure, muzzle velocity, curvature and so on have reached or exceeded the imported M1905 Mauser long rifle, the improved weight of the whole gun has been reduced by more than half a catty, the length has been shortened by 15mm, which is more suitable for us Chinese, it is more convenient to use in narrow trenches or jungles, and the cavalry can also be equipped, plus the improved bayonet with a total length of 570mm, basically meets our requirements, All the indicators are above the Hanyang style and fully meet the design requirements. Brother Kai-shek will take a few shots, and you will have an experience after the fight. Xiao Yimin replied in detail.

"Good!"

Chiang Kai-shek's five shots were evenly spaced, and Xiao Yimin judged that Chiang Kai-shek was calm and extremely focused at the moment when he heard the gunshots, and the same was true for the second bullet shooting, showing Chiang Kai-shek's solid basic skills everywhere.

Judging from the telescope observation and the results of the target report in front, Chiang Kai-shek achieved 86 rings in 10 shots in 55 seconds, which was a good result, and the viewers behind immediately burst into applause, which made Chiang Kai-shek quite embarrassed.

"Good gun! What a gun! Chiang Kai-shek, who got up, was not at all proud, and he was full of praise for the steel gun in his hand, leaving a deep impression on everyone with humility and courtesy.

In contrast, Liu Bingxian's results were unsightly, and the score of 10 rounds of the 100-meter target was only 54 rings, which aroused a burst of ridicule from Xie Mingyang and others, and even the instructor who helped him supply the bomb and report the target could not look at it.

Chiang Kai-shek knew that Liu Bingxian had just recovered from a serious illness, and he had been depressed and worried for more than a month, so he understood Liu Bingxian's embarrassment very much, and before Liu Bingxian got up, he snorted and suggested loudly to Xiao Yimin: "Yiming, you can also take a few shots and try it." ”

Xiao Yimin hurriedly refused: "Time is precious, why don't you change places and try the 60 mortar?" ”

Chiang Kai-shek had long heard that Xiao Yimin was a sharpshooter, and he just wanted to take the opportunity to divert everyone's attention and give Liu Bingxian a step down, and he understood when he heard the words: "It's okay, then let's go, Zicheng, go quickly, how about our brothers fight together later?" ”

Half an hour later, Chiang Kai-shek and Liu Bingxian, who had fired 30 high-explosive shells each, were very happy and were greatly amazed by the simplicity and accuracy of the mortars.

Chiang Kai-shek took the wet towel handed by the soldier and wiped his face, walked to Xiao Yimin and asked happily, "Can you observe the infantry marching and shooting?" Look at how far we are from the trained officers and soldiers. ”

Xiao Yimin immediately nodded to Xie Mingyang behind him, and Xie Mingyang ran to the guard company commander and whispered an order.

After the commander of the guard company answered, he turned to his subordinates and shouted, and the soldiers of an infantry platoon started to step forward, and in groups of three, they rushed to the depression 100 meters away from the left front with 60 mortars and ammunition boxes, and stopped neatly in the platoon commander's voice and command, and quickly set up guns to measure the range, and it only took five minutes from receiving the order to completing the five rounds of salvo fire from eight mortars.

Chiang Kai-shek observed through the telescope that at the foot of a hill about 800 meters in front of him, two target fortifications built with pine planks had been blown up without a trace, and Chiang Kai-shek immediately put down his binoculars and cheered loudly, deeply shocked by the strong combat effectiveness of this Sichuan army.

During the return to the barracks to change clothes, the commander of the base, Xie Mingyang, saw that no one was approaching everywhere, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Commander, this person surnamed Jiang is just a rising star with a small name in the Kuomintang camp, and he deserves the commander's attention to him so much?" ”

Xiao Yimin laughed in a low voice: "This is a personal masterpiece, and I am afraid that my future achievements will be far more than this...... Don't believe it, think about the way I've seen people over the years, you shouldn't have any doubts. ”

Xie Mingyang seemed to understand Xiao Yimin's thoughts: "I kind of understand, you brought him here, in addition to showing sincerity, I'm afraid you also want him to understand our strength, right?" ”

Xiao Yimin nodded appreciatively: "In terms of figuring out people's hearts, Senior Brother Wang and Senior Brother He are not as good as you." My mind really makes you right half of it, the other half is to make some preparations in advance for the future future of our Sichuan army, we are now making enemies on all sides, there are few true friends, it is absolutely impossible to go on like this, we have won a few battles, and we have worked hard for several years, my brothers and you and I have unconsciously become bigger, and now I am afraid that no one wants to continue to be in a corner of old age and death, so we urgently need to adjust our pace, make more friends and make fewer enemies. ”

Xie Mingyang nodded, and then smiled slyly: "It's more than that, right?" ”

"Haha! Senior Brother Xie, it seems that you can only be in charge, I have wronged you in the past few years. ”

Xiao Yimin put away his smiling face and reminded Xie Mingyang very solemnly: "Although the Kuomintang is not yet a climate, they have a good foundation in the coastal provinces and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, after more than ten years of unremitting efforts, they have won the hearts and minds of the people, what they lack is that they have not found the right path, I believe that it will not be long before the elite Kuomintang can achieve a great cause."

"Again, their advantage is our disadvantage, in the final analysis, we are congenitally deficient! Therefore, I am extremely optimistic about the future of Brother Kai-shek, this person is deeply hidden, determined, strict with himself, studious, and even more rare, he has the country and the nation in his heart, and has lofty ambitions, so I want to give him as much help and sincerity as possible when he needs help the most, and at the same time let him see our strength, through this relationship, quietly plant a seed in his heart, hoping to have a day when it will take root and sprout. ”

Xie Mingyang felt guilty in his heart, and immediately put away his impetuousness, and stood aside with joy and sincerity, no longer having the slightest contempt and complacency.

Due to time constraints, Chiang Kai-shek, who had entered Sichuan with a secret mission, needed to have a serious talk with Xiao Yimin, and then rush back to Shanghai to resume his life. Therefore, everyone did not have the intention of continuing to stay in Ya'an, so they said goodbye to Xie Mingyang and others after a little washing, and boarded the car to rush back to Chengdu.

(To be continued)