Chapter 135

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Chapter 135: FC-20 Handover! Order Delivery!

The sounds of gunfire echoed outside, with various weaponry like the Type 97, AKs, and M4s intermingling, accompanied by the sporadic sound of bullets ricocheting off the armored carriage. The explosions nearby filled everyone with worry that a bullet might pierce the train’s armor and strike inside. The sound of explosions continued, as both sides unleashed rocket attacks.

Lin Mo and a few others cleared away the table and pressed against the train’s wall to brace for any potential high-caliber bullets that might breach the train’s armor. In contrast, the four escort soldiers in the carriage remained calm, stationed in the corners, stealing glances out the windows while listening to reports about the battle through their walkie-talkies.

Boom! Boom! A series of explosions violently shook the train, as if it might derail at any moment.

Though the two engineers had prepared for it before departure, they couldn’t shake their fear, their faces turning pale as they trembled in dread. If not for the generous compensation for this foreign trip, they likely wouldn’t have ventured so far from home.

“Old Bai, Old Yang, what are you afraid of? It’s fine! Those outside wouldn’t dare touch us unless they want to end their own lives!” Seeing the engineers shaking, Major Huang De winked at them, his Type 92 pistol held steadily with the muzzle pointed upward.

Compared to the danger of encountering robbers, the stakes for pilots were evidently much higher; even a mechanical failure could lead to destruction and loss of life. Even the air force had a casualty quota—no one could guarantee they would always return safely without facing emergencies; pilots who had never dealt with crisis situations were simply not qualified.

“What about the aircraft outside? If they get damaged, we’ll be in trouble,” Bai Fei, a forty-something aircraft engineer, expressed his concern about the fighter jet containers in the carriages behind them.

Nearby, Engineer Yang nodded, sharing the worry.

“No worries! The K2051 special containers can withstand RPG attacks; they have an additional layer of ceramic composite, and they feature an internal suspension system. We encounter situations like this often; everything will be fine,” one of the escort soldiers in the corner reassured them.

The escort soldier continued, “Captain Luo said that what happens outside is none of our concern. Others will deal with it for us; we don’t need to do anything! It will be over soon.”

The responsibilities of the escort team were clear; they were tasked with safeguarding the cargo and crew. As for the unidentified attackers, others would handle them. The escort soldiers were not responsible for taking on every threat themselves. Acting recklessly could provoke international tensions, becoming an excuse for hostile factions.

After listening for a while, the gunfire outside gradually diminished. Looking out the window, Lin Mo noticed many soldiers from the Zambian government arriving along the railway, charging toward the direction of the attackers. Armed helicopters in the sky maintained both height and firepower advantages, relentlessly firing into the thick tropical highlands, sending branches and leaves flying and black smoke billowing into the air.

Clearly, the situation had once again been brought under control. Such covert power plays were always present; one misstep could lead to mortal consequences. While everyone presented a friendly fa?ade, opportunities for backstabbing were never in short supply.

“Come on, let’s continue!” Major Han Ringuang, eager to regain his losses, cleared the table and reshuffled the Mahjong tiles, calling for the game to restart.

As night fell, the train swayed gently and continued moving forward, the path ahead likely cleared.

There was neither a dining car on the train nor a vendor selling boxed meals. Ever since departing from Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, they had relied on their supplies of instant noodles and canned meat. They felt uneasy about the food provided by Tanzania, so Lin Mo and the others stuck to their own supplies for safety.

Once abroad, instant noodles became their only connection to hometown flavors.

This journey had been tumultuous; gunfire occasionally erupted from outside at night, yet Lin Mo and the others kept to their carriage, as if the battle outside had nothing to do with them. In truth, they couldn’t offer much help.

Fortunately, the speed of the train wasn’t significantly affected. By the next noon, they arrived at Nakonde in Zambia, greeted with a rare short break. The temporary station was filled with soldiers, forming multiple layers of security against any potential threats.

Only after confirming safety were Lin Mo and the others allowed to disembark, stretch their legs, and breathe some fresh air.

Standing on the platform, Lin Mo observed the train had clearly endured its share of gunfire. Almost every bulletproof window was riddled with shattered spiderweb patterns, and the carriage exterior was adorned with bullet holes—all signs of their perilous journey, with black stains marking where rockets had struck.

The special containers were shielded by the train’s own cargo armor. Though the exterior bore numerous impacts, thankfully, the interior containers had remained largely unharmed. Gratefully, the armed attackers had not employed anti-tank missiles, and the Zambian military had responded promptly, launching counterattacks along the route. This reckless style of fighting undoubtedly incurred losses, but it effectively safeguarded the goods on the train.

In fact, the Republic of Tanzania, despite being responsible solely for the overland security, also cared deeply about this transaction. In 1974, Tanzania received twelve J-6 fighter jets from China, supplying a squadron stationed in Mikumi. Given its significant economic partnership with neighboring Zambia, Tanzania took the escort responsibility very seriously and coordinated diligently.

Lin Mo and his group of Chinese with black hair and yellow skin were easily recognizable. Wherever they went, they were under the watchful eyes of a group of soldiers. The stares of many black eyes locked onto them, serving as a form of indirect protection. Everyone understood the difficulties these individuals faced, risking their lives for them.

Mweya Kampeya, their liaison officer and translator, proudly told them that these soldiers were the most loyal warriors, ready to shield their guests from China with their bodies if necessary—ensuring they felt safe.

Zambia ranks as the fourth-largest copper producer in the world, with reserves amounting to 6% of the global known supply. Its capital, Lusaka, sits on a 1,400-meter plateau in southeastern Africa, earning it the title of "Copper City.” The city features distinctive copper culture, with copper sculptures visible everywhere. Since the railway was laid in 1905, Zambia has exported vast amounts of copper through the Tanzanian seaports.

Copper has a wide range of applications; it was one of the first metals used by humans. It plays a crucial role in electrical and electronic industries, especially in military manufacturing. Due to its malleability and density, copper shell bullets are more suitable for long-term storage. They retain some shape after being fired and can be easily ejected from the chamber. Copper is also a non-ferrous metal, which results in lower electricity and tool wear costs compared to iron during machining, simplifying its production.

Thus, copper is exceptionally well-suited for producing bullets and shells. Most American weapons utilize copper cases. In contrast, China, due to its copper scarcity, relies on copper-coated iron shells, as seen with the currently fitted 95 rifles, which exclusively use 5.8mm iron shell bullets. Due to the limited shelf life, a significant number of expired stocks must be destroyed each year.

Ammunition represents a vital military lifeline for a nation; redundancy in storage is crucial, but discarding expired rounds is an unavoidable waste. If they could use all-copper shell bullets, it would significantly reduce production and storage costs.

Zambia’s plan to exchange ore for fighter jets offers a high cost-performance ratio, greatly encouraging the Chinese government to accept the order promptly. Moreover, Zambia is rich in minerals, including cobalt, lead, cadmium, selenium, nickel, and gems.

Upon entering the Republic of Zambia, the train transitioned from mountainous regions to highland areas, reaching Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, without any major incidents. After disembarking, they transferred the special containers via large cargo trucks, while the other personnel boarded buses escorted by military forces heading for the Lusaka air force base.

Outside the city, they traveled along a bumpy dirt road. Lin Mo observed makeshift straw huts, naked black children, and women carrying items balanced on their heads.

A rumbling noise echoed through the sky as Lin Mo and the others sat on the bus. Looking up, they spotted J-8 fighter jets, previously exported by China to Zambia, circling above—perhaps coming to welcome them or provide armed protection.

After over an hour of driving outside the city, Lin Mo and his group finally arrived at the Lusaka air force base. Engineers Bai and Yang immediately sprang into action upon stepping off the bus. Under the protection of five escort soldiers, with Liaison Officer Mweya Kampeya coordinating, they directed over two hundred Zambian soldiers and heavy machinery in unloading the cargo. They worked almost until dawn to complete the handover of all special containers.

Meanwhile, the four air force instructors, including Lin Mo, were taken to barracks for rest. This special treatment was customary for pilots, as they were strictly forbidden from remaining fatigued for extended periods—a command, not a privilege. They would likely start formal training a week later.

As dawn broke, Lin Mo awoke on a simple straw mat, stretching his body as he stepped outside the barracks. He hadn’t slept well, with noise from outside ringing throughout the night.

The Lusaka air force base had little greenery, stretching out in dusty yellow tones. The facilities were quite rudimentary; aside from the control tower, radar station, fuel depot, a few semi-open hangars, and dormitory areas, four old J-6s, six MiG-21s, two Chinese-made K-8 trainers, and ten F-7NM export versions of the J-7 lingered on the tarmac. Overall, they appeared at least two generations behind China.