Chapter 164: Comrade Old Kong’s Impressive Record!
Li Yunlong and Ding Wei both watched the twelve rockets with gazes of attention.
Although, in their hearts, they had full confidence in the items produced by Li Muzhi.
But having confidence was one thing.
Seeing the effect with their own eyes was another matter entirely!
Under the gaze of everyone present!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
……
All twelve rockets exploded, with only five hitting their targets.
Twelve rocket launchers, with an average of four aiming at each target.
Twelve hits out of five!
Although the hit probability was a bit low, the tactical effect was extraordinary!
The three Japanese tanks at the front had their armor pierced, and the shockwave from the exploding shells had instantly shattered the internal organs of the Japanese soldiers inside.
The three tanks lost power and quickly stopped, billowing thick smoke!
The other seven rockets, although they didn’t hit their targets, also exploded behind them.
These were not lethal shells, but they still caused casualties to over a dozen Japanese infantry soldiers!
The casualties of the Japanese soldiers were temporarily ignored; everyone was shocked that three tanks, billowing smoke, had been completely destroyed!
“Baka, did the Chinese really use fireworks to destroy our war vehicles!” Ueno no Mura’s eyes almost bulged out of his sockets.
Since the Chinese did not have anti-tank weapons, Ueno no Mura’s tank regiment had been incredibly arrogant on this battlefield!
And now, the local Eighth Route Army had actually destroyed our war vehicles with fireworks, which was equivalent to the enemy possessing anti-tank weapons from now on!
If this were the case, wouldn’t we be restricted from now on!
Kuroshima Morita, standing nearby, was full of shock: “Impossible, this is absolutely impossible. How could the Chinese, with those broken tubes, destroy our war vehicles? It’s impossible, it’s impossible.”
The destruction of the three war vehicles in the front row was a very dangerous signal.
It meant that if the subsequent war vehicles did not retreat quickly, they would very likely suffer heavy blows again.
If the cavalry regiment suffered heavy blows and the tank regiment suffered heavy blows again, then this battle would be a complete loss for the Imperial Army.
This was something Kuroshima Morita absolutely could not tolerate!
All other Imperial Army units had won, but our side, with the most troops, had instead lost the battle and suffered defeat. This would be a complete loss of face again!
Chu Yunfei watched this scene, his mouth involuntarily opening wide, and it took him a long time to close it: “Is this the Eighth Route Army’s new trick? Carrying artillery barrels on their shoulders to fire shells, and using them to destroy the Japanese tanks! How did the Eighth Route Army’s arsenal achieve this? Is there no recoil when firing the artillery?”
Fang Ligong, standing beside him, immediately shouted: “Regimental Commander, looking at this, the Eighth Route Army’s arsenal has very likely developed new weapons again. These are anti-tank weapons! These are weapons that can be carried on the shoulder to strike tanks, and their value is no less than that of the Hell Cannons. Regimental Commander, we must find a way to buy them.”
Fang Ligong could not believe that the Eighth Route Army’s arsenal had actually developed anti-tank weapons.
Our side was desperately lacking in anti-tank weapons. Facing the Japanese tank regiment, both the Jin Sui Army and the Direct Line Army were in dire straits.
Sending men with explosive packs for suicide charges was too costly and not very effective.
And now, the Eighth Route Army had actually developed an anti-tank weapon that could be used by individual soldiers to destroy Japanese tanks. If they could buy it, its significance would naturally be immense.
Chu Yunfei did not speak. Anti-tank weapons were so important that the Eighth Route Army would probably not sell them easily.
This was the same as their Hell Cannons. We only bought the cannons, but not the shells.
Although Chu Yunfei didn’t understand military industry well, he could tell.
The shells trailed long smoky trajectories, and the technology was probably mainly in the shells.
The long artillery barrels themselves had little technical content.
However, Chu Yunfei still had an idea in his mind.
After the war was over, he would definitely have to report to his superiors as soon as possible and find a way to buy them.
Although Chu Yunfei’s officers and soldiers were fiercely engaged with the Japanese, the destruction of the three Japanese tanks still caught their attention:
“The Eighth Route Army destroyed three Japanese tanks, how did they do it?”
“We didn’t hear their Hell Cannons firing either.”
“No matter how the Eighth Route Army did it, it looks like they can handle the Japanese tanks. We must not let these two brigades of Japanese escape.”
“Yes, that’s right. Cover the Eighth Route Army, we’ll hold off the Japanese brigades.”
Chu Yunfei’s troops displayed strong morale and managed to keep the two Japanese brigades that were trying to disengage from the battle.
These two Japanese brigades were furious and shouted:
“Baka, damn it, the Eighth Route Army seems to have developed anti-tank weapons.”
“Baka, damn the 358th Regiment, their firepower suppression is too strong.”
“Baka, the cavalry regiment suffered heavy blows, and the tank regiment suffered heavy blows again. Are we going to lose this battle?”
……
“All three Japanese tanks were destroyed. Brother Li’s tactics are indeed effective.” Seeing Kong Jie’s twelve rockets, fired in a single volley, eliminate the three leading Japanese tanks, Li Yunlong’s face was beaming with a smile: “Rocket launchers are so useful, I must ask Brother Li for more of them later.”
Ding Wei’s tone was shocked: “I can’t believe it. Director Li really developed artillery that can fire shells by carrying it on one’s shoulder. This is an anti-tank weapon.”
“Used to attack tanks, it’s an anti-tank weapon. Used to attack Japanese infantry, it’s infantry artillery. Used to attack gun towers, it’s an assault artillery.” Li Yunlong’s tone was full of admiration: “This is almost a light, all-purpose tactical artillery!”
……
On the battlefield, Kong Jie, seeing the good results of the twelve rockets, was so happy he almost jumped up.
Destroying three Japanese tanks at once, from now on, who would dare say that he only knew how to mine coal!
Of course, while Kong Jie was happy, he did not forget to issue orders.
The main force quickly opened fire on the enemy infantry, and the rocket launcher soldiers also quickly repositioned.
With the destruction of the three tanks, the machine guns on the remaining Japanese tanks immediately opened fire fiercely on Kong Jie’s position, and the tank turrets also began to turn rapidly.
The Japanese infantry soldiers returned fire, shouting wildly.
The enemy and our side quickly engaged in fierce fighting.
Swish!
Swish!
Swish!
……
Soon, another twelve rockets were fired from new positions.
This time, three hits out of twelve!
Although the accuracy decreased, the tactical effect was the same as before.
Another three Japanese tanks stopped, billowing smoke, and the remaining shells caused casualties to over a dozen Japanese infantry soldiers.
After hitting the tanks, the rocket launcher soldiers, under the cover of the main force’s firepower, quickly repositioned again.
The soldiers of the New Second Regiment had morale soaring:
“We always said it was hard to fight the Japanese tank regiment, but after fighting them today, it’s not difficult at all.”
“Exactly, our New Second Regiment is still a new regiment, and we easily destroyed six Japanese tanks. Those Japanese infantry soldiers didn’t seem to have much combat power either.”
“What Director Li from the arsenal made is really damn useful.”
“Yeah, this is just a test. We don’t want to return these to the arsenal when we’re done.”
“Why don’t we ask our regimental commander to talk to Director Li and have these twelve rocket launchers left with our New Second Regiment from now on.”
“Director Li is easy to talk to, but Minister Zhang of Logistics is not.”
“Never mind him, as long as Director Li can persuade him, Minister Zhang will have to give way.”
“Haha, that makes sense, that makes sense.”
……
The morale of the New Second Regiment soldiers exploded, and their combat power followed suit.
Even many new recruits, who were on the battlefield for the first time, were like they had been injected with adrenaline, showing no fear.
If they hadn’t been held back by the veterans, many new recruits would have probably charged forward with their guns.
“Three more tanks have been hit.” The officers and soldiers of the 358th Regiment were all greatly shocked to see this.
This time, they had all seen it with their own eyes: the Eighth Route Army soldiers carried the artillery barrels on their shoulders, and the shells were fired directly from their shoulders.
“What kind of weapon is this? I’ve never seen artillery that can be fired from the shoulder.”
“Although I don’t understand what this thing is, it’s too useful for destroying tanks.”
“Yes, this thing is simply the nemesis of tanks.”
……
Fang Ligong also said to Chu Yunfei: “Regimental Commander, the battlefield significance of this type of anti-tank weapon is extraordinary. We must find a way to buy it.”
The accuracy of this thing didn’t seem very high.
But with several artillery pieces aiming at the same target, the Eighth Route Army’s tactic was well utilized.
Of course, it was also possible that the Eighth Route Army had just developed it and was not yet skilled in its initial use.
Once they became proficient and their accuracy improved, the combat power of this thing would be terrifying.
“As long as it’s reported to the superiors, they will definitely find a way.” Chu Yunfei nodded, filled with longing for this weapon.
Although he had an artillery battalion, which could to some extent suppress the enemy’s tanks and armored vehicles.
But how could the maneuverability of the artillery battalion compare to these artillery barrels that could be fired from the shoulder by individual soldiers?
These could be carried by individual soldiers, and their concealment was also very high.
Hiding in the dark to launch surprise attacks, these were simply stealth weapons on the battlefield.
It was only the smoke trail of the shells that would expose the gunner’s position.
However, with the main force’s firepower covering the gunners’ repositioning, this problem was well solved.
……
Seeing another three tanks and war vehicles destroyed, Ueno no Mura’s eyes were bloodshot: “Baka, baka, baka, my war vehicles! Three more are gone. When did my war vehicles become so fragile, so vulnerable? Baka, damn it, it’s really damn it all!”
Kuroshima Morita, standing nearby, saw another three tanks stop, billowing smoke, and his emotions also exploded.
The efficiency of the Eighth Route Army’s new weapon in striking tanks was simply too terrifying.
They could no longer let the remaining tanks and war vehicles engage in a head-on confrontation. Kuroshima Morita forcibly pulled Ueno no Mura: “Ueno-kun, the Chinese’s new weapon is too powerful against war vehicles. We must retreat quickly and not lose our entire force here.”
The cavalry regiment suffered heavy blows, and the tank regiment suffered heavy blows again. The balance of the war tilted severely due to the appearance of the Eighth Route Army’s anti-tank weapons.
Despite Kuroshima Morita’s anger and unwillingness, he realized that this battle had already been lost.
Continuing to resist in vain was meaningless.
First, retreat quickly and preserve their fighting strength.
“Retreat! The remaining war vehicles, retreat immediately!” Ueno no Mura could not accept it emotionally, but his reason was still intact.
The Eighth Route Army’s anti-tank weapons were too terrifying, and they had suddenly appeared, so they didn’t know how to counter them.
Therefore, they could only retreat first.
Under Ueno no Mura’s command, the remaining Japanese tanks and armored vehicles, though unwilling, quickly turned around and fled.
The shells fired from the Chinese shoulder-mounted cannons were truly terrifying.
It was like the scythe of the god of death; although it didn’t always hit precisely, when used in conjunction, it cut ruthlessly and accurately.
Seeing the Japanese tank regiment retreating, Kong Jie shouted: “Did you all see that? The Japanese tanks are scared, they want to run. Charge at them, don’t let them escape.”
“Charge!”
“Kill!”
……
The officers and soldiers of the 358th Regiment were dumbfounded when they saw this:
“I can’t believe it, the Eighth Route Army is actually counter-attacking and pursuing the Japanese tanks and armored vehicles!”
“Yes, I never imagined that the Japanese tanks and armored vehicles used to chase others, and now it’s their turn to be chased. And it’s the Eighth Route Army doing the chasing, it’s incredible.”
“Before, I looked down on the Eighth Route Army the most. Now, I just want to say, the Eighth Route Army is too awesome.”
……
Watching Kong Jie’s troops charge and pursue the Japanese tanks and armored vehicles, Li Yunlong cursed: “This Kong Er Lengzi, he’s been mining coal for too long, his brain has become even more wooden. Can your two legs really outrun the enemy’s wheels!”
As Li Yunlong expected, Kong Jie’s troops, with their two legs, ultimately could not catch up to the enemy.
However, another volley of rockets was fired, destroying two more armored vehicles.
In this battle, Comrade Old Kong achieved a glorious record, destroying a total of eight enemy war vehicles!
As he walked, Comrade Old Kong adopted a swaggering gait, looking unapproachable.
Li Yunlong and Ding Wei were not slow either.
One of them quickly attacked the remaining cavalry to capture warhorses, while the other led his troops to block the two heavily retreating Japanese infantry brigades that were trying to cover the cavalry regiment, cooperating with Chu Yunfei to attack these two brigades.
These two Japanese brigades abandoned nearly a thousand corpses and retreated in disarray along with the fragmented cavalry regiment and tank regiment.
“Qian Bojun, take the First Battalion and pursue these beasts.” Chu Yunfei did not stop, ordering Battalion Commander Qian Bojun to lead the First Battalion in pursuit.
“Yes, Regimental Commander!” Qian Bojun responded loudly and ordered the First Battalion: “First Battalion, charge! Pursue the Japanese devils!”
“Charge!”
“Kill!”
……
The First Battalion, having held back their anger for days, quickly rushed out of the trenches with Qian Bojun, further expanding their gains.
When Chu Yunfei came towards Li Yunlong’s position, Li Yunlong, Ding Wei, and Kong Jie’s troops had already hastily cleaned up the battlefield and were about to leave.
“Brother Yunlong, please wait. Chu has something to say to you.” Chu Yunfei saw Li Yunlong about to leave and immediately chased after him.
“Brother Chu, I have something to attend to at home. We’ll talk again later.” Li Yunlong replied to Chu Yunfei, pulling Ding Wei and Kong Jie, and left without looking back, their figures quickly disappearing.
Chu Yunfei did not pursue, but stopped. Fang Ligong, by his side, said: “Regimental Commander, the Eighth Route Army helped us heavily damage the Japanese in this battle. If they leave in such a hurry without thoroughly clearing the battlefield, they probably don’t want to discuss their shoulder-mounted artillery with us, right?”
On the battlefield, the Eighth Route Army took away the Japanese guns and ammunition, and also led away nearly a thousand warhorses belonging to Kuroshima Morita.
However, they did not take away the dead and wounded warhorses.
Although these warhorses were killed or injured, they were still meat.
Could the Eighth Route Army bear to abandon such good meat?
However, Fang Ligong did not know that although these dead and injured warhorses had considerable value, taking them all would affect the marching speed of Li Yunlong, Ding Wei, and Kong Jie’s troops.
It would also affect the transportation of military industrial supplies when the latter three captured the Cuicun Arsenal.
Therefore, they decided not to take them for the time being.
What, they’re not taking this? Then won’t the 358th Regiment get it? Is Li Mouren, who never loses, actually at a disadvantage?
Look at that statement.
Li Mouren is only not taking them for the time being, he didn’t say he doesn’t want them. When he has free time, he’ll come back to retrieve them, isn’t that allowed?
Even if the meat rots and stinks by then, it will still be his meat!
Chu Yunfei took away his things without even a word. Is Chu Yunfei in the right in this matter?
Li Mouren’s things are not so easily taken!
“Regarding their shoulder-mounted artillery, I can only report it to the superiors.” Chu Yunfei shrugged and said, “Since the Eighth Route Army is not taking these dead and injured horses, we will take them. The brothers have fought hard for days, and this can be considered a reward.”
“Yes, Regimental Commander.”
