Chapter 467, I Don't Want the Blueprints
Among them were blueprints for the Type 56 rifle, grenades, and ammunition structures.
"Sort out all these blueprints, especially the one for bullets. See if you can design a production line," Wu Heng said to the skeleton.
These blueprints had been acquired in a trade with the provincial rescue team.
They had been sitting unused, collecting dust.
Wu Heng's primary interest was in blueprints for an ammunition production line, especially one for cannon shells, but the other side had repeatedly delayed providing them.
He had brought up the matter several times, only to be met with various excuses.
For now, he could only let the mechanist familiarize themselves with these three designs and see if they could complete the task.
If such precise constructs could be developed, a production line shouldn't be an issue.
The skeleton began carefully studying the blueprints.
Wu Heng glanced over but realized he couldn't help, so he left the room.
...…
The next day.
After breakfast, Wu Heng headed straight to the zombie world.
The daylight was short there; the sky was just beginning to brighten.
Wu Heng picked up a walkie-talkie and called Qi Hancai but received no response.
"No one?"
He felt puzzled.
Pulling on a down jacket nearby, he went downstairs.
Seeing the stationed survivors confirmed there was no immediate danger.
"Boss!" A survivor ran over excitedly.
"Where's Qi Hancai?"
"Sister Qi went back to the train station yesterday," the survivor replied.
"For what?"
The survivor thought for a moment. "She mentioned arranging a train to return to Xinfu City. She left during the day to handle it."
Xinfu City was the city they originally came from.
Over the past few days, the snow had stopped, and the railways were clear.
"Prepare a vehicle to take me to the station."
"Understood."
Soon, a truck was prepared.
Wu Heng boarded with a skeleton and headed toward the station.
...…
Upon arriving at the station...
Qi Hancai was directing survivors to conduct the final inspection of the train.
Since it had recently snowed, a thorough check was necessary.
Seeing Wu Heng arrive, she smiled. "Nothing major, just sending the train back."
Wu Heng nodded. "I also need to go back."
Qi Hancai was surprised. "Then I'll go with you!"
"This place can't be left unattended. Stay here, and we'll keep in touch via radio."
Qi Hancai glanced at the train. "Alright. I'll also work on preparing the location for the next trade hub in the next city."
"Sounds good!"
Wu Heng boarded the train, which soon started moving, slowly leaving the station.
...…
In the afternoon, Xinfu City.
Inside a temporary meeting room...
Li Yanhong sat on one side, while on the other sat "Deputy Commander Liu" from the provincial rescue team, along with two sharp-looking young men.
Li Yanhong frowned. "Deputy Commander Liu, we agreed that after three food trades, you'd hand over the blueprints for the ammunition production line. You can't go back on your word."
Deputy Commander Liu sighed. "Leader Li, the blueprints are being organized. You know how extensive they are—at least seventy or eighty kilograms—and there are also regional security concerns that higher-ups are considering."
"At this point, what security concerns? The central station has already called for the public release of technology. What are you holding onto it for?" Li Yanhong protested.
The blueprint issue had been discussed repeatedly.
Every time, there was an excuse.
Deputy Commander Liu remained silent, but one of the accompanying personnel spoke up. "We're bringing gold and paying the price. It's not like we're taking your stuff for free. What's there to explain?"
Li Yanhong's gaze sharpened as she stared across the table.
"Don't talk nonsense," Deputy Commander Liu warned his subordinate before adding, "This is a normal trade. I'll discuss it with the higher-ups later. Don't worry."
Li Yanhong said nothing, though a fire burned in her heart.
It wasn't about taking advantage of the other side.
It was about their repeated backtracking, forcing her to relay unfulfilled promises to Wu Heng.
In the end, it seemed like they were using the blueprints as leverage to speed up food trades with the gold they had exchanged.
On their side, they didn't lack food.
After all, Wu Heng could produce it, but the feeling of being toyed with was frustrating.
Taking a deep breath, she ordered, "Qiangzi, take them to complete the exchange."
The door creaked open.
Instead of Qiangzi, Wu Heng entered, holding a book.
Li Yanhong's face lit up with a smile, while Deputy Commander Liu and his group grew visibly tense.
The real decision-maker had arrived.
"You're back," Li Yanhong greeted with a smile.
"Yes, just got back by train."
Li Yanhong vacated her seat, and Wu Heng sat down.
Looking at the trio across from him, he said, "Deputy Commander Liu, are the blueprints still not finalized? We're not asking for them for free—we're trading food for them."
"Sigh!" Deputy Commander Liu sighed. "They're being prepared. Just give us a little more time."
Wu Heng raised an eyebrow. "Fine, we don't need them anymore. They're useless to us."
The trio's expressions turned grim immediately.
A bad feeling crept into their minds.
"Winter is here, and every city needs food to survive. We're planning to set up trade hubs in other regions, so... the exchange ratio with your rescue team will have to change: 100 grams of gold for 10 kilograms of food."
"What...?" Deputy Commander Liu's face darkened. "Captain Wu, you can't play with people's lives. So many in the province are waiting for food!"
"We also want to save more people, but food is limited," Wu Heng said with a helpless tone.
"I think this matter should..."
"Qiangzi, take them to exchange the food. If they're not satisfied with the price, return their gold," Wu Heng shouted toward the door.
With a bang, Qiangzi entered, leading a group of men.
Their imposing demeanor immediately unsettled the trio.
Deputy Commander Liu's face turned sour. "I'll negotiate about the blueprints and notify Commander Wu."
"No need. We won't use them."
"This way, please!" Qiangzi gestured for them to leave.
Deputy Commander Liu's group hesitated for a long time before leaving with grim faces.
...…
Once they were gone...
Li Yanhong asked, "Are we really giving up on the blueprints?"
"We'll find another way. I suspect they either don't have them or never intended to give them to us," Wu Heng analyzed.
If it was the former...
They were using the blueprints as an excuse to increase food exchanges.
If it was the latter, they were testing the limits of their side, thinking they could be easily manipulated.
"Where else could we get them?" Li Yanhong rested her arm on his shoulder.
Wu Heng replied, "We'll contact the central station or the world channel and announce that we're willing to trade food for advanced weapons and blueprints. Surely someone else has them."