Chapter 272: Even Learned To Brag!
The messenger sighed and explained, “Sigh, our operation was originally successful, but during the withdrawal, Regimental Commander Cheng of the 772nd Regiment sprained his ankle.”
“…” Zhang Wanhe.
The atmosphere immediately froze.
Even the guard at the door couldn’t help but glance over.
A dignified combat regiment commander actually sprained his ankle during the operation, committing such a low-level error?
Li Muzhi turned his head with a smile and said to Zhang Wanhe, “Minister Zhang, even a fine horse stumbles, and a man can lose his footing…”
Regarding Cheng Xiazi spraining his ankle, Li Muzhi didn’t think there was anything to it.
After all, twenty Hell Missiles destroyed the enemy army’s logistics and supplies, so his mood must have been extremely elated.
In such high spirits, it’s inevitable to get carried away while walking.
There’s an ancient saying: A joyful crow breaks an egg.
“Hmph!” Zhang Wanhe snorted heavily and said, “Regimental Commander Cheng has greatly undermined the significance of the Hell Missile. I must report this to the headquarters leader!”
As soon as the Hell Missile was introduced, it destroyed the Japanese Army’s logistics and supplies—this was simply too exhilarating, too explosive.
Paired with zero casualties, it reached the highest level of significance.
But Cheng Xiazi’s sprained ankle was like dust falling into a pot of perfectly made good soup.
“Factory Director Li, Minister Zhang, I’ll be going now.” The messenger took his leave.
“Here, take these.” Zhang Wanhe pulled two boiled eggs from his pocket and handed them to the messenger.
“Minister Zhang, you…” The messenger was flattered.
“I’m in a good mood— these are for you.”
“Thank you, Minister Zhang, thank you so much.” The messenger happily left.
Zhang Wanhe said to Li Muzhi, “Xiao Li, since the Japanese Sweeping Army’s logistics and supplies are gone, I estimate the warfare will definitely see new changes again. Maybe no relocation is needed. I have to readjust my work right away.”
“Alright, Minister Zhang, take care. I won’t see you off.”
“No need, no need.” Old Zhang comrade scurried off happily. Although Cheng Xiazi’s speck of dust had fallen into the soup, it was ultimately harmless.
We’ll completely omit this speck of dust.
Li Muzhi looked at the data feedback while turning to head back.
After reviewing the data feedback, Li Muzhi felt a few details needed adjustment. The propellant charge didn’t need changing; mainly, the accuracy had to be improved.
Li Muzhi had anticipated these details that needed changing.
Most parts produced by the Border Region Arsenal were not among those needing detail adjustments and could continue normal production.
…
386 Brigade Headquarters
“Brigade Commander, up to now, those direct line troops show no signs of any movement. They haven’t even prepared to deploy.” The Deputy Brigade Commander reported to the Brigade Commander.
The Brigade Commander remained calm: “That’s normal. Although these direct line troops covet the five carts of tungsten ore, the troops of sixty to seventy thousand Japanese Invaders and Traitors represent an insurmountable mountain to them.”
The Brigade Commander then said, “As long as Liu Weidong succeeds over there and destroys this Japanese Army’s logistics and supplies, let’s see if these direct line troops can still sit still.”
“According to intelligence, Kumamoto Division Commander left over ten thousand troops guarding the logistics and supplies. It won’t be easy for Liu Weidong to succeed.” The Deputy Brigade Commander said gravely.
“In our battles against the Japanese Invaders, which one has ever been easy?” The Brigade Commander asked rhetorically.
The essence of this war is a contest of national strength between two countries.
The little Japanese Invaders have sea, land, and air forces fully equipped, while we lost our Air Force as soon as the war began.
As for warships, no need to even mention them.
In the end, only the Army remained.
The gap between our Army and the Japanese Invaders is also enormous.
Under normal circumstances, it takes four of us to exchange for one Japanese Invader.
In abnormal circumstances, ten may not even exchange for one Japanese Invader.
With the two countries’ strengths unequal and us at a disadvantage, every battle is destined to be hard-fought.
“That’s true.” The Deputy Brigade Commander nodded.
Not to mention anything else, just take the 386 Brigade.
Back when they crossed the Yellow River to the anti-Japanese battlefield, it was truly surviving in the cracks.
Without the Brigade Commander’s outstanding command ability, the 386 Brigade wouldn’t have just stood firm—it might have been driven out or even wiped out.
Even now, with our Border Region Arsenal able to produce weapons and ammunition, the disparity in strength between us and the enemy remains very, very large.
The Japanese Invaders casually launch a raid with tens of thousands, while we can only guerrilla and maneuver, without the capability for frontal confrontation.
Ding ling ling!
The telephone on the table rang.
The Deputy Brigade Commander picked up the phone, and from inside came Regimental Commander Cheng Xiazi’s squealing like a pig being slaughtered: “Success! We succeeded! The Kumamoto Army’s logistics and supplies have been completely and utterly destroyed!”
The Deputy Brigade Commander, upon hearing this, was immediately delighted: “Regimental Commander Cheng, are you sure the mission is complete?”
Just now, the Deputy Brigade Commander had been lamenting in front of the Brigade Commander that Liu Weidong’s mission would be tough.
Now, the mission was actually complete—the efficiency was extraordinarily fast.
Cheng Xiazi was thrilled: “Yes, the mission is complete. We had zero casualties.”
The sprained ankle, this minor detail, was directly omitted by Cheng Xiazi.
Zero casualties?
The Deputy Brigade Commander froze upon hearing this.
The Kumamoto Division’s logistics and supplies were guarded by over ten thousand Japanese Invaders and Traitors.
Liu Weidong had zero casualties and destroyed the enemy’s logistics and supplies—this was simply too incredible to believe.
Were those ten thousand Japanese Invaders and Traitors just decorations, standing by without stopping you?
In other words, with ten thousand Japanese Invaders and Traitors watching the logistics and supplies, even if you succeeded and flew away on wings, the Japanese Invaders would still rake you with a few bursts—how could there be zero casualties?
Thus, the Deputy Brigade Commander said very solemnly: “Regimental Commander Cheng, there are no jokes in the military. As Main Regiment Commander, you should know the consequences of falsifying military intelligence!”
Cheng Xiazi also said solemnly: “Is the Brigade Commander there? I’ll report to him.”
“Wait a moment.” The Deputy Brigade Commander said into the microphone, then handed it to the Brigade Commander while saying, “Brigade Commander, Regimental Commander Cheng of the 772nd Regiment called. He and Liu Weidong had zero casualties and destroyed the Kumamoto Army’s logistics and supplies.”
The Brigade Commander had overheard the Deputy Brigade Commander talking with Cheng Xiazi. He heard the Deputy Brigade Commander express surprise that the mission was complete, followed by strongly questioning if Cheng Xiazi was falsifying military intelligence.
Now hearing the Deputy Brigade Commander tell him that Cheng Xiazi and Liu Weidong had zero casualties and destroyed the Kumamoto Army’s logistics and supplies, the Brigade Commander clearly didn’t believe it either.
Even if he personally led the operation, against ten thousand Japanese Invaders and Traitors, how could there be zero casualties?
The Brigade Commander quickly took the microphone and roared into it: “Regimental Commander Cheng, after hanging around with Li Yunlong for a few days, you’ve learned to brag too!”
Cheng Xiazi answered seriously: “Brigade Commander, this is all thanks to the Border Region Arsenal promptly providing us with twenty Hell Missiles.”
“What Hell Missiles?” The Brigade Commander clearly didn’t yet know the new type rockets were named Hell Missiles.
Cheng Xiazi explained: “It’s the new type rockets produced by the Border Region Arsenal that can be launched without a cannon barrel.”
“The new type rocket is named Hell Missile—hmm, that’s a good name.” The Brigade Commander acknowledged, then asked solemnly: “Even if the Hell Missile doesn’t need a cannon barrel to launch, how did just twenty destroy the Kumamoto Army’s logistics and supplies?”
In the Brigade Commander’s view, if twenty Hell Missiles could destroy the Kumamoto Army’s logistics and supplies, then the Hell Cannon could certainly do the job completely.
Cheng Xiazi then explained in detail: “At that time, the Japanese Invaders’ logistics commander wanted to find a place easy to defend and hard to attack, so they chose Luoxue Slope…”
After hearing this, the Brigade Commander slapped the table and laughed delightedly: “So that’s how it is! Bringing the Hell Missiles to the cliff, launching them from above down onto the Kumamoto Army’s logistics and supplies—this move is simply brilliant.”
This was also thanks to the Hell Missile’s light weight—no cannon barrel needed, so it could be manually pulled up the cliff with a rope.
If it were the several-hundred-jin Hell Cannon, it definitely wouldn’t work.
Cheng Xiazi emphasized earnestly: “Brigade Commander, this Hell Missile is really too effective—feels even better than the Hell Cannon. You must urge the Border Region Arsenal to hurry up and provide as many as possible.”
“Nonsense, something this good, of course I’ll keep an eye on it.” The Brigade Commander said briskly, “Now that the Japanese Sweeping Army’s logistics and supplies are destroyed, the Japanese Invaders will definitely transport supplies via military train. Coordinate well with Liu Weidong over there.”
“Yes, Brigade Commander.” Cheng Xiazi happily hung up.
The Brigade Commander put the microphone back on the rack while laughing: “Who would have thought the Border Region Arsenal’s Hell Missiles would be so effective.”
The Deputy Brigade Commander beside him still asked: “Brigade Commander, how exactly did they do it?”
Originally, even the Brigade Commander hadn’t believed it.
But after hearing Cheng Xiazi’s explanation, he no longer doubted—the Deputy Brigade Commander was curious.
“It’s like this…” The Brigade Commander immediately recounted it to the Deputy Brigade Commander.
“So that’s how it is. The Hell Missile came at just the right time.” The Deputy Brigade Commander was shocked. “Just twenty Hell Missiles saved us at least two or three thousand casualties.”
The Deputy Brigade Commander then immediately said: “Then we should quickly spread the news that the Kumamoto Division Army’s logistics and supplies have been destroyed to the direct line army side…”
Before the Deputy Brigade Commander finished, the Brigade Commander waved his hand to interrupt: “No need for that.”
“Why not?” The Deputy Brigade Commander was puzzled.
“The five carts of tungsten ore have already drawn the direct line army’s attention to the Kumamoto Army.” The Brigade Commander said calmly. “Now that the Kumamoto Army’s logistics and supplies are gone, the direct line army’s intelligence officers aren’t just idling—they’ll quickly receive the news and hasten to deploy.”
“That’s true.” The Deputy Brigade Commander nodded.
The Brigade Commander added: “However, once they deploy, we still need to cooperate properly.”
After all, this was five carts of tungsten ore the Japanese Invaders took from us. With the direct line army getting involved, we still have to put on a show.
If we don’t, the direct line army would suspect— with the Kumamoto Army’s logistics and supplies cut off, it’s the perfect chance to snatch back the tungsten ore, yet we don’t act. Even a fool could see something’s wrong.
“Of course…” Before the Deputy Brigade Commander finished.
An intelligence officer rushed in, saluted, and reported: “Report, Brigade Commander. Just received news: the Japanese troops attacking Li Yunlong and the others have split off half their men, escorting supplies rapidly toward the Kumamoto Division side. Also, Kumamoto Division Commander’s reinforcement supply escort team is heading out to meet them.”
Upon hearing this, the Brigade Commander immediately smiled and said to the Deputy Brigade Commander: “See, the Japanese Invaders attacking Li Yunlong have split half their men, bringing supplies toward the Kumamoto Division. What do you think the direct line side will do once they get the intelligence?”
“Do I need to say? They’ll definitely race to snatch the tungsten ore back from the Kumamoto Division before this batch of supplies links up with them.” The Deputy Brigade Commander said without thinking.
“So, we absolutely cannot let this batch of supplies smoothly link up with the Kumamoto Division.” The Brigade Commander said solemnly. “Send troops to delay, harass, and destroy roads.”
“Yes.”
