I, transformed into a vampire girl, sparked the Industrial Revolution.

Chapter 319 The Workers' Pickets in Action

The industrial park is as usual, but today, right today, some changes are quietly beginning to occur on the production line.

"no one."

Several boxes suddenly appeared in the warehouse of the factory that manufactures M177 rifles. From the outside, they looked no different from other rifles, but several workers and warehouse managers went in and opened the boxes.

Those were 5.56x45mm rifle cartridges produced by a bullet factory a kilometer to the south. The Portland authorities had their own considerations in the layout of the industrial area. In order to prevent "labor rioters" from infiltrating the factory area and inciting workers to seize weapons and ammunition, the factory specifically placed the rifle production factory and the ammunition production factory at two extremely far distances, not to mention the pyrotechnics hidden in a valley.

But as the civil war continued and the local labor unions were "destroyed," the Portland authorities also weakened their oversight of the industrial area. The police were slacking off, and although the army had moved into Portland's train station and was preparing to cross the Rocky Mountains along Highway 77, no one had thought of inspecting the industrial area to this day.

After all, they were genuinely afraid of uncovering something; that's how capitalists are. Lockheed would not allow military police or agents to enter the factory premises.

This created space for the workers to operate. The new M177 rifle, factory codename CAR-15, is actually a carbine. However, with the Department of Defense of the Greater California proposing the "Mechanized Warfare Doctrine," which requires full mechanization, the engagement distance of soldiers fighting alongside armored vehicles should be within 150 meters. At this distance, the importance of projected firepower is greater than the range and accuracy of the rifle.

Refugees from the United States and spies from the Republic of California brought with them the design of the United States XM16E1, which proved to be an excellent design at the Mojave Weapon Proving Grounds. The Republic Ordnance Department replaced it with a telescoping stock, shortened the barrel, replaced it with a cylindrical handguard, and installed a large flash suppressor, thus creating the M177 we know today.

Dozens of workers were taking bullets out of the "damaged weapons" and pressing them into magazines using a cable tray. Their work clothes were tied with strips of cloth, and most of them had been cut and modified. Their trouser pockets had a divider, and the two side pockets could fit four standard 4179 steel magazines.

The foreman strode through the factory as usual, but these foremen were actually just supervisors; they had no production experience and were merely henchmen for the capitalists to control the factory.

Today, most of the factories under the Lockheed Portland Industrial Group have such supervisors. Capitalists or middle-level managers rarely go to the factories. They mostly sit comfortably in their offices on the edge of the factory. Not to mention the capitalists, who are in the dazzling money pits of downtown Portland every night, as if the civil war had never happened.

The foreman picked up his stick and lashed it hard across the back of a worker beside him: "Damn it, don't you dare slack off, you filthy things!"

The worker cried out in pain, and the foreman snorted and looked at the worker: "You dare to stop? Give me a good beating!"

The two thugs were about to pick up their sticks when they saw this, but the labor union saw them and two strong hands held them down and took their sticks away.

"you!!!?"

"Damn it, Waters, you son of a bitch, you're the one who beats up our workers and all your lackeys!"

The workers stopped what they were doing and gathered around.

"Damn it, you dare?"

The workers formed a wall around him, their eyes blazing with fury: "We workers are not to be enslaved by you thugs and capitalists! Waters, you son of a bitch! Workers, brothers! Beat him up!"

One of the thugs broke free, pulled out a pistol from his coat, and aimed it at the workers surrounding him.

"You! Get out of here!"

The workers were completely oblivious, letting Waters and his two henchmen brandish their revolvers.

"Scatter, you filthy, stupid bunch!"

The foreman thought he had the situation under control, but what he didn't know was that behind them was a fully armed workers' picket team.

Click!

The sound of a gun being cocked reached the ears of the three men. The workers scattered, and the worker rioters raised their assault rifles. The two thugs were the first to realize their mistake and were disarmed by the workers next to them.

Before the foreman could understand what was happening, the butt of a gun slammed into his forehead. The revolver in his hand was being held by another hand. He pulled the trigger, but the hammer struck the fingers of that hand instead.

"Lock them up!"

It was an ordinary day. Amid the roar of the assembly line, the "General Mobilization" plan was launched under the planning of the Portland underground organization. Workers transported weapons and ammunition to various factories, worker pickets were formed, and the capitalists' henchmen were suppressed and quietly disappeared into the factories.

The factory that successfully revolted had a white flag hanging at the highest point of the factory building. It was not conspicuous; most of the items were blankets or clothes.

At the same time as the workers' uprising, the first tank of the Greater California Republican Army was passing through checkpoint 77.

Rafis Yao and Foster strolled through factory after factory, where worker pickets were being formed, and comrades from the underground organization were going to each factory to strengthen organizational leadership and conduct ideological and tactical training.

After all, they needed to withstand the attack from the Republic of California's army for a considerable period of time.

“Our comrades in the army sent us a message that the 38th Mechanized Infantry Division of the Republic Army is a key military unit we are focusing on. Most of the soldiers and officers in this division, including the division commander, Comrade Kusta Hall, are our comrades.”

Foster continued, "The 38th Division, as the third division to advance beyond Gate 77 in the authorities' offensive plan, is expected to arrive in Portland tomorrow afternoon."

"At that time, the moment of rousing all forces will arrive."

The workers' picket line is distributing guns, accelerating the arming of the workers' picket line, and the workers are putting their arms around each other's shoulders and learning how to use the guns.

"The workers are the main force of our revolution. They are disciplined, have ideals, and are physically strong. With just a little learning, they can become the best soldiers."

Rafis saw the young worker who had been beaten a few days earlier; he too had received a rifle, and the worker next to him was demonstrating how to use it.

The young worker was full of energy. He pulled the cocking handle, pressed the magazine release button, and disassembled the rifle in his hand with the help of other workers.

"You must study hard. Rifles are precious items; they require careful maintenance. You need to regularly brush the barrel and wipe away the carbon buildup."

The young worker nodded, stroking the rifle in his hand.