Reborn in 1977

Chapter 632: A Few More Would Be Good

After chatting for a while, Chen Fan took out the blueprints to explain his intentions.

Jiang Heng looked at the blueprints and, without saying a word, took him to the workshop.

The multi-functional storage bag and tactical suit were easy enough; following the blueprints to cut and piece them together, even with slightly rough craftsmanship, they could still be made.

However, the ghillie suit presented a challenge for the workshop director.

“How is this thing made?”

Chen Fan explained with a smile, “This thing looks complicated, but it’s actually very simple, just a bit tedious. It’s generally divided into two parts: the ordinary clothes as the base layer, and the attached hemp rope and cloth strips.

The hemp rope and cloth strips should be as naturally curved as possible and dyed in variegated colors, mainly the green, yellowish-brown of plants, and the brownish-yellow of soil.

After dyeing them, piece them together into blocks, and then sew them onto the surface of the clothes…”

After listening to the explanation, the workshop director immediately understood the production process and nodded, saying, “No problem, it just means finding a few more people to work together, and it can be done quickly.”

Chen Fan added, “Make a few more of these, and also make a few camouflage nets. The process is similar to the ghillie suit, just replace the base cloth with a mesh fabric. Or you can directly use fishing nets woven from nylon rope.”

The best ghillie suit is actually just a net, relying entirely on the soldier to add things to the net according to the environmental needs during combat. Sometimes, it can take a week to ten days for a ghillie suit to take shape.

Of course, Chen Fan wouldn't bother with that much trouble; getting about 70-80% of the effect would be good enough.

This thing is just a thin layer of paper; once you break through it, the soldiers will naturally diverge their thinking and use their clever minds to play with camouflage.

For example, the soldier who later tied garbage bags to his body and hid in the garbage dump created the trend of urban ghillie suits.

Jiang Heng watched the workshop workers start production. After a while, he turned to look at Chen Fan, his eyes full of surprise, “How did you think of this kind of thing? If this is equipped for the troops, the probability of being discovered during small-scale operations will be much lower in the future.”

Almost all of their generation had undergone military training and were familiar with tactics such as individual combat and small-scale coordinated operations.

Seeing this kind of camouflage, they naturally thought of using it on the battlefield.

As for limiting it to small-scale battles rather than using it for large-scale group battles, that’s because the scenarios are completely different.

Small-scale battles emphasize surprise, so camouflage is essential.

Large-scale group battles, on the other hand, emphasize collective charges, requiring an overwhelming momentum to directly crush the enemy's morale.

Didn't you see them running forward as if their lives didn't matter when charging? What use is a ghillie suit at that time?

Moreover, when engaging in close combat and bayonet fighting, hanging so many odds and ends on your body is just asking for a quicker death?

It was precisely because of this that even though the ghillie suit had been invented for more than a hundred years, it had not received much attention before World War II.

Even the US military only started officially using ghillie suits after the 1980s.

Later, with the development of weapons, group charge tactics were completely eliminated, and the struggle between major powers turned to small-scale special operations, and ghillie suits were valued and even became popular.

Before that, ghillie suits were only camouflage tools for snipers, so they were also called “sniper suits” at the time.

However, this thing, when used well in the mountains and forests, is also a powerful weapon.

Chen Fan sat aside, waiting for the finished product to come out.

Hearing Jiang Heng’s words, he smiled and said, “I don’t have that much inspiration. This thing has been around for more than a hundred years. It was invented by an Englishman named Ghillie, and it was originally used for shepherding and hunting.

Shepherding involves sticking wool on your body, disguising yourself as a sheep, hiding in the flock, reducing the vigilance of wild animals such as wolves, and then unexpectedly sniping them.

Later, because the concealment effect was very good, it was borrowed by snipers and used in battlefield sniping during World War I, and it was a hit again during World War II.

The Lujiawan has a militia team that has been following an old hunter for the past year, diligently practicing jungle tactics. I thought this thing should have a very good concealment effect in the mountains and forests, so I wanted to make it for them to try.”

After listening to Chen Fan’s explanation, a hint of surprise flashed in Jiang Heng’s eyes, “You really care about Lujiawan.”

Who still cares about the militia these days?

The focus of the entire society is on just a few things: reversals of verdicts, returning to the city, and the relaxation or tightening of policies.

The last one gets the most attention because whether it's loose or tight is related to making money.

Making money isn't a new idea; it's the inherent instinct of the masses to pursue a better life. As long as the higher-ups open a gap, that wind can penetrate everywhere.

Otherwise, why would so many checkpoints spring up like mushrooms on the roads starting next year?

They are all aimed at making money.

Zero cost, convenient, is there an easier way to make money than this?!

As for things like staying vigilant and preparing for battle at all times, who in society remembers them besides the troops? Maybe only those veterans will never forget.

That was a long time ago.

Chen Fan sighed almost imperceptibly, withdrew his thoughts, and said jokingly, “The militia company commander is a martial arts fanatic. All he thinks about is raising vigilance, preparing for battle at all times, and finding people to compete with.

Didn't he come to me again the day before yesterday? I didn't want to bother with him, but if I ignored him, he would keep pestering me. I happened to have seen some interesting things in a book before, so I made a sample for him, let him figure it out, so he wouldn't be idle and go around looking for people to fight.”

Hearing this, Jiang Heng couldn't help but laugh out loud, “Are you talking about Zhang Wenliang, Company Commander Zhang? I didn't expect him to be that kind of person.”

“Ah?”

Chen Fan turned his head in surprise, “Have you met him?”

Jiang Heng smiled and said, “Lujiawan also supplies the cotton mill with a lot of chickens, ducks, fish, and meat. The transportation team delivers it every day. Sometimes Company Commander Zhang personally escorts it. I've only met him a few times.”

Chen Fan nodded in understanding, “Oh, no wonder.”

Zhang Wenliang is mainly responsible for transportation and sales. When he comes to the cotton mill, it's reasonable for Jiang Heng to personally receive him out of respect for Chen Fan.

He didn't pay much attention to this matter. In the meantime, he, Jiang Heng, and Shen Xueyi, along with Director Yang and Deputy Director Xue of the Machinery Factory, had lunch in the cotton mill's small cafeteria and discussed the matter of asking the Machinery Factory to develop industrial sewing machines.

This matter is difficult for others, but for Director Yang and Deputy Director Xue, it's just a word.

Moreover, although industrial sewing machines are difficult to buy, the structure is actually not complicated. It's just that Chen Fan is too lazy to do it; otherwise, give him half a day, and he can draw a complete structural diagram.

As a student majoring in mechatronics, it's normal to disassemble an industrial sewing machine at school, right?

There are also many capable people in the Machinery Factory. Before Chen Fan appeared, their research and development department had also produced many good things.

In comparison, the difficulty of industrial sewing machines is indeed very average.

Besides, if you can't buy large quantities of machines, can't you buy prototypes?

Go back and ask the Provincial Industrial Bureau for help, get two prototypes over, and disassemble them to draw diagrams, wouldn't that work?

Deputy Director Xue raised his wine glass on the spot and said that if they couldn't produce a prototype within a month, he would drink upside down!

In Old Xue's eyes, Chen Fan was his greatest benefactor. If Chen Fan hadn't come up with two car designs, prompting the establishment of the Yunhu Automobile Factory, would Director Yang have been able to leave?

If Chen Fan hadn't come up with the small appliance project, would Deputy Director Li have been able to leave?

If those two hadn't left, when would Old Xue have been able to rise to the leadership position in the machinery factory?!

There was no question; this matter had to be handled perfectly.

Besides, the Lujiawan people weren't stingy with money. And once the industrial sewing machine was developed, wouldn't he have another powerful product in his hands?!

It was an endeavor with a hundred benefits and no harm, so why not do it!

At that moment, Old Xue was full of vigor, confident that he could lead the machinery factory to another peak.

After finishing the meal, everyone dispersed. By a little after three in the afternoon, all the required items had been produced.

After Chen Fan checked everything, he bid farewell to Jiang Heng and left.

Then, carrying large and small packages, he took a boat back to Lujiawan.

...

The boat docked, then he switched to a horse. Before the brigade headquarters leaders finished work and left, Chen Fan arrived at the brigade headquarters courtyard.

Actually, it wouldn't have mattered if he was a little later; anyway, Xiao Liewen and Zhang Wenliang both lived in Team 5, so it wouldn't delay things.

In the brigade headquarters office, Zhang Wenliang grabbed a piece of scrap cloth, his eyes somewhat dazed, "What is this thing?"

Xiao Liewen, after all, was more experienced. He shook the garment and quickly found where the collar was and where the waistband was. After looking at it repeatedly, he looked up at Chen Fan, "Does this look a bit like a sniper suit?"

Chen Fan held a large teacup and drank water, first nodding, then without saying much, he stood up, took a camouflage net from his bag, beckoned to everyone, and walked outside.

Secretary Yang was still studying the multi-functional entrenching tool. Hearing the movement, he realized everyone was about to leave, so he quickly followed, even forgetting to put down the entrenching tool in his hand.

After leaving the courtyard, Chen Fan looked around and walked towards the back of the courtyard.

There was a small grove there, overgrown with shrubs, as well as some messy bamboo and weeds.

When he reached the edge of the grove, Chen Fan waved his hand at them, "You guys just watch from here."

After speaking, he walked into the grove, picking up fallen branches and leaves and hanging them on the camouflage net as he went.

He didn't go deep, finding a place where weeds and thin bamboo grew together, squatting down in the middle, and covering himself with the camouflage net covered with branches and leaves.

Zhang Wenliang's pupils gradually dilated. After a moment, his eyes were filled with surprise, "This thing is amazing!"

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, even if he had walked past that pile of weeds, he might not have noticed it.

The others nearby nodded in agreement.

Xiao Liewen took the lead and walked over, looking at the branches on the camouflage net. He turned around and smiled at Secretary Yang and the others, "Actually, this thing isn't complicated. Back when we were ambushing, we also wore a wreath of branches and leaves on our heads and stuck two branches in our waistbands. As long as you don't get close, you can't see it from a distance."

Chen Fan suddenly stood up, removed the branches and leaves from the camouflage net, "Why didn't you say so earlier? Now you're just giving hindsight."

Xiao Liewen's face darkened, "Bullshit, when did we have the conditions to make something so fancy like you? Don't you know that every thread and every strand should be cherished?"

Chen Fan was immediately surprised, "Oh, Master Xiao, who did you learn that from? You're speaking so eloquently!"

Xiao Liewen rarely blushed, rolled his eyes, "Get lost."

Chen Fan chuckled, but he didn't press his advantage.

Master Xiao was right. In the past, there were no conditions to play with this kind of ghillie suit. Not to mention ordinary people's homes, even the army emphasized 'three years new, three years old, patching and mending for another three years.' Tearing up cloth strips to make a ghillie suit, in the eyes of most people, was a bit crazy.

He was the only one who brought this thing over. If it were someone else, they would be scolded.

Chen Fan coughed dryly and smiled, "Master Xiao, this thing looks wasteful, but it can be reused. If we are in a long-term combat situation, reusable camouflage suits are more convenient and economical. Don't you think that makes sense?"

Xiao Liewen was still unconvinced, "One battle extinguished the arrogance of the great powers, and later we repelled the oppression of the Soviet revisionists. Both tigers have been beaten down, who else would dare to fight us?"

Chen Fan's lips twitched slightly, muttering silently in his heart, this old man's mouth is still hard even when he's turned to ashes.

Who would dare to fight us now? What about the 'always be vigilant' that you always talk about?

There was no way, this old man didn't play by the rules.

He could only nod repeatedly, "Yes, yes, you're right."

Then he walked towards Secretary Yang.

Although he had won the argument, Xiao Liewen felt strange, so he followed behind Chen Fan, "Are you still unconvinced?"

Chen Fan took the entrenching tool from Secretary Yang's hand, "Convinced, convinced, completely convinced."

Saying that, he slammed the entrenching tool into the ground, turned his head around, "Is this shovel sharp?"

Zhang Wenliang squatted down to take a look, "It's not a question of whether it's sharp, is it?"

He tilted his head and looked at it, grabbed it, and chopped it at a poplar tree as thick as an arm next to him.

With two quick chops, the poplar tree creaked and fell to the ground, crushing many broken branches and some flowers and plants.

Zhang Wenliang gasped, holding the shovel in front of his eyes and examining it carefully, "This shovel is awesome!"

Before Chen Fan could speak, Zhang Wenliang jumped two steps to the fallen poplar tree and used the serrated edge of the shovel to aim at a thick branch, sawing the branch off with two clicks.

Not satisfied, he used the tree trunk to experiment, sawing off three sections of the trunk in a row.

Secretary Yang, Captain Zhang, Xiao Liewen, and Ye Shubao all gathered around, all wanting the power to saw off the next section of the tree trunk.

Chen Fan walked over with a dark face, snatched the shovel from their hands, "This thing is not for you to play with like that."

Zhang Wenliang was already full of interest, and when he heard this, his eyes lit up, "Not for playing like that? How else can you play with it?"

Chen Fan squatted down and disassembled all three handle sections, "It's like this, like this, and like this, and then it can also be like this..."

After watching Chen Fan's demonstration, not to mention Secretary Yang, even Xiao Liewen was stunned.

A small entrenching tool could actually be played with so many ways?!

It even contained dry food and rope. He immediately thought that if he only brought this shovel, it would be entirely possible to operate in the old forest for a long time.

Thinking of this, he turned to look at the camouflage net on Chen Fan's body, and then looked at the pile of tools on the ground, a trace of understanding flashed in his eyes, "The camouflage suit, the entrenching tool, and the hand axe are all prepared for long-term jungle warfare?!"

Chen Fan immediately gave a thumbs up and nodded with a smile, "As expected of an old soldier, you can see the purpose of these things at a glance, amazing!"

Zhang Wenliang also understood what Chen Fan meant yesterday, and immediately stood up and put his arm around his shoulder, "Good brother, you're loyal, I'll take these things."

This guy was selling favors after getting an advantage, looking at the entrenching tool, he smacked his lips regretfully, "Unfortunately, there are only three, and there are too few other things. It would be great if there were more."

Chen Fan rolled his eyes, "It's not like you don't have money, go buy it yourself."