Chapter 21: Eighth Route Army Fires One Shot
“Sir, when I first received the message, I didn’t believe it either, but I personally went to inspect the scene, and I had to believe it.” Zheng Qianyi looked serious. “Preliminary judgment: the Eighth Route Army’s arsenal has probably produced heavy artillery.”
“Idiot, what stupid nonsense are you saying!” Hirata Ichiro’s face changed immediately upon hearing Zheng Qianyi say the Eighth Route Army’s arsenal had produced heavy weapons. “Their arsenal doesn’t have the capability for steel smelting; they can’t even make the most basic bayonets—how could they possibly make heavy artillery!”
“Sir, I don’t believe the Eighth Route Army’s arsenal can produce heavy artillery either, but according to the investigation, we have no missing heavy weapons on our side.” Zheng Qianyi replied, “The Eighth Route Army’s weapons mainly come not from manufacturing, but from captures.”
“Could it be that they got them from the Jin Sui Army or the direct line army?” Hirata Ichiro still didn’t believe it.
“Sir, you know how the Jin Sui Army and the direct line army treat the Eighth Route Army troops.” Zheng Qianyi answered tactfully.
On the surface, they treat the Eighth Route as friendly forces, but in reality, they wish the Eighth Route would fend for themselves.
The Eighth Route belongs to the 18th Army Group’s combat sequence, but the Bald One doesn’t give military pay, doesn’t give equipment, and doesn’t even give cotton clothes in winter.
The Eighth Route is only nominally their friendly forces—how could they possibly provide weapons to the Eighth Route, let alone heavy artillery.
“But the Eighth Route’s arsenal can’t even smelt steel or make bayonets—how could they possibly make cannons?” Hirata Ichiro still strongly questioned.
“Sir, this is just my preliminary judgment; it still needs further investigation.” Zheng Qianyi said.
“Investigate this matter thoroughly as soon as possible.” Hirata Ichiro said solemnly, then still suspiciously added, “Ono Ichiro brought a full company and three hundred puppet army—how did they all get wiped out? The Eighth Route’s combat power seems a bit exaggerated.”
The Eighth Route is the worst-equipped unit in the Chinese regular army.
Their main weapons are old barrel Hanyang-made rifles; machine guns and artillery are very scarce.
Even if Ono Ichiro was ambushed, how could he not even break out?
“Sir, the main reason is this heavy artillery from the Eighth Route.” Zheng Qianyi explained to Hirata Ichiro, “They added quite a few iron beads and nails to their cannonballs. Half of Ono Sir’s troops were blown up by these cannonballs.”
“Idiot, is Ono Ichiro an idiot?” Hirata Ichiro couldn’t help cursing again. “The enemy has heavy cannons and fires one shot—doesn’t his unit know to dodge?”
“Sir, the key to the problem is right here.” Zheng Qianyi’s tone was grave. “The Eighth Route’s heavy artillery only fired one shot.”
“What? The Eighth Route only fired one shot?” Hirata Ichiro reacted as if he had heard a ghost. “Don’t tell me the Eighth Route wiped out half of Ono Ichiro’s troops with one shot?”
“Yes.”
“Idiot, impossible, this is impossible!” Hirata Ichiro roared in fury. “Why? The Eighth Route can only make some black powder. Even if they added iron beads and nails to their cannonballs, the lethality wouldn’t be enough!”
“Sir, this is my second judgment.” Zheng Qianyi continued. “The Eighth Route has probably developed high explosive on their own. The power of their cannonballs is in no way inferior to the imperial army’s large-caliber heavy cannons. At Sunjiabao, three gun towers collapsed, but there was only one shell crater on the battlefield!”
“Idiot, the Eighth Route developed high explosive on their own—how is that possible!” Hirata Ichiro yelled like a dog whose tail had been stepped on. “Do you think high explosive is that easy to develop on their own? Those local Eighth Route Army peasants are only fit to make black powder.”
“Sir, the local Eighth Route Army has already made heavy artillery—developing explosives on their own seems…” Zheng Qianyi didn’t finish his words.
Hirata Ichiro jumped up in rage: “I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it, I absolutely don’t believe the local Eighth Route Army has this capability. Go investigate right now—find out the source of the Eighth Route’s heavy artillery. They must have gotten it from somewhere else.”
“Sir, then I’ll go.” Zheng Qianyi also knew this answer was hard for Hirata Ichiro to accept, not to mention he hadn’t accepted it himself yet.
Maybe Hirata Ichiro was right—the Eighth Route’s heavy artillery had another source, and he needed to hurry and check.
Zheng Qianyi withdrew, and Hirata Ichiro soon calmed down.
No matter where the Eighth Route’s heavy artillery came from, the fact that the Eighth Route had this thing was a huge threat.
Hirata Ichiro picked up the telephone and said into it: “Notify all strongholds to raise alert and strictly guard against the Eighth Route attacking with heavy weapons.”
After making the call, Hirata Ichiro quickly gathered the gendarmerie’s Japanese invader backbone for a meeting to study how to quickly find the Eighth Route’s traces and destroy the heavy artillery in their hands as soon as possible, eliminating the hidden danger.
……
Eighth Route Army Headquarters
“Report to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Minister Zhang from logistics is here.” The Deputy Chief of Staff was writing at the table when someone came in to report.
Zhang Wanhe was here?
The Deputy Chief of Staff paused, sensing something was off.
Not long ago, he had just called Zhang Wanhe, urging the arsenal’s production, and Zhang Wanhe had guaranteed it over the phone.
Why had Zhang Wanhe come to headquarters in person now?
After all, for ordinary matters, Zhang Wanhe didn’t need to come in person—a phone call would suffice.
Suppressing his thoughts, the Deputy Chief of Staff nodded: “Let him in.”
With permission, Zhang Wanhe entered the room, stood before the Deputy Chief of Staff, and saluted: “Leader good.”
Seeing Zhang Wanhe’s excited expression, like he was on chicken blood, the Deputy Chief of Staff’s worry immediately turned to anticipation. He asked: “Zhang Wanhe, what good news have you brought me that you couldn’t say over the phone?”
A good thing that required Zhang Wanhe to come to headquarters in person to report was definitely no small matter.
“Leader, let me first confess my fault.” Zhang Wanhe said first. “Without your permission, I unilaterally halted production at the Border Region Arsenal…”
Before Zhang Wanhe finished, the Deputy Chief of Staff said angrily: “Zhang Wanhe, what are you saying? The arsenal is the lifeline of our army—how can you casually halt production privately! What did you guarantee me over the phone? Have you forgotten?”
Facing the Deputy Chief of Staff’s roar, Zhang Wanhe handed over the written report and said: “Leader, take a look at this, then criticize me.”
The Border Region Arsenal had produced heavy cannons, and the fertilizer sold by the Japanese invaders contained high explosive components—the news was simply too important.
It wasn’t suitable to say over the phone—what if the enemy was listening in?
So Zhang Wanhe had personally brought the report to headquarters.
“Then I’ll see what reasonable explanation you have for me.” The Deputy Chief of Staff still suppressed his emotions, taking the report while saying so.
