Chapter 15: If You Won’t Give It, I’ll Take It
Seeing the second cannonball directly wipe out half of the Japanese Squadron, Zhang Wanhe and the workers from the arsenal all stood there dumbfounded.
Although everyone knew that this cannonball was packed with a large amount of iron beads and nails, its power was surely not to be underestimated.
But no one had expected its lethality to be so terrifying!
One shot causing over a hundred enemy casualties—unimaginable!
On the frontal battlefield, to kill or wound over a hundred Japanese soldiers, the troops would have to pay a heavy price.
And now!
We only need one shot!
No wonder the Japanese are so wary of the heavy cannons in the hands of the direct line troops.
The lethality of heavy cannons is no joke; it’s far beyond what conventional mountain cannons or infantry guns can compare to.
In an instant, everyone’s gaze toward Li Muzhi was filled with immense reverence!
Our Border Region Arsenal’s military industry strength has always been extremely weak, only able to produce reloaded bullets and black powder grenades.
The quality is very poor, criticized by others, losing face.
And now!
Our factory director has led us to overtake on a bend, producing cannons—and not just any, but heavy cannons with terrifying lethality!
With such top military industry talent leading us to make weapons, we can become proud; we can be confident!
Li Yunlong was equally stunned.
He had been worrying that the arsenal’s cannon’s second cannonball wouldn’t fire, that something would go wrong.
Who could have thought that not only did the second cannonball fire, but its killing effect was so astonishing!
One shot taking out over a hundred Japanese—if not seen with one’s own eyes, who the hell would believe it!
What’s more, this was a cannon produced by our arsenal!
“Regiment Commander, the Japanese have been wiped out halfway; we’ve basically picked up a ready-made victory,” Zhang Dabiao said, his mouth agape as if stuffed with an invisible fist.
They had all prepared for a fierce battle, but this was beyond expectation—way beyond.
“Damn it, no wonder Old Zhang was so confident,” Li Yunlong couldn’t help cursing.
No wonder Li Muzhi said they couldn’t take out the Japanese Squadron without ammunition, and Zhang Wanhe agreed— their cannonballs’ quality is indeed top-notch.
Zhang Wanhe snapped to attention, yanking Li Muzhi back fiercely while shouting at Li Yunlong: “Li Yunlong, we’ve taken out half the Japanese for you. I’m taking Li Muzhi and withdrawing; the rest is up to you.”
With that, Zhang Wanhe dragged Li Muzhi and immediately ran back.
The arsenal workers also quickly formed a human wall.
That’s right!
Even though the enemy hadn’t reacted yet and hadn’t opened fire, making the area somewhat safe.
But the arsenal workers instinctively formed a human wall, blocking behind Li Muzhi.
We have such a precious top talent; we must protect him well.
Li Yunlong watched Zhang Wanhe pull Li Muzhi away and shouted back at him: “Old Zhang, slow down, don’t let Li Muzhi twist his ankle.”
Then, Li Yunlong quickly ordered his troops: “Brothers, we’ve never had such powerful artillery support in our lives. The Japanese are down half; the remaining half want to run—no way! Take them out for me!”
Rat-tat-tat!
Zhang Dabiao’s machine gun immediately roared to life.
The other soldiers of the Independent Regiment snapped out of their shock one by one, their weapons instantly firing at the enemy.
They stuck to Li Yunlong’s original plan: take out the Japanese as much as possible first.
Once the Japanese are gone, the remaining puppet soldiers are just sitting ducks.
Ono Ichiro watched Li Yunlong’s troops open fire, his eyes full of disbelief: “No, no… cough cough, impossible… cough cough, how…”
The Japanese squad leader beside him also couldn’t believe it: “How is this possible? This can’t be—the Eighth Route Army’s troops, how could they have heavy cannons?”
Half the Japanese soldiers were wiped out, and though the remaining half’s combat training was top-notch.
But their morale had been shattered by the cannon; under the Independent Regiment’s attack, the Japanese soldiers around Ono Ichiro dwindled, eventually completely suppressed, hiding in cover, unable to escape.
As for those puppet army dogs, they always fight with the wind at their backs.
When their masters charge fiercely, they follow suit with ruthless attacks.
When their masters falter, they collapse even faster.
So, once Ono Ichiro’s troops were beaten down by Li Yunlong, the puppet army proactively hit the dirt.
“Sound the charge!” Li Yunlong saw the moment had come and immediately ordered the charge!
Toot-toot-toot!
Toot-toot-toot!
Toot-toot-toot!
The charge horn sounded, and Li Yunlong’s three battalions charged at the enemy like fierce tigers down the mountain.
The puppet army saw the tide had turned and very sensibly surrendered.
Ono Ichiro couldn’t breathe, blood spraying from his mouth and nose; he died on the spot.
The Japanese squad leader led the remaining dozen or so Japanese in desperate resistance but were quickly all sent to meet Amaterasu.
“Dabiao, when cleaning the battlefield, remember to pick up all the iron beads, nails, and such,” Li Yunlong instructed Zhang Dabiao.
After witnessing the lethality of iron beads and nails mixed into cannonballs, these unassuming little things were even more precious.
“Don’t worry, Regiment Commander; I’ll even pick up the iron scraps,” Zhang Dabiao responded loudly, then added, “Regiment Commander, the arsenal’s cannon has such terrifying lethality—can you really get it in advance?”
With such fierce cannon power, who wouldn’t be jealous!
If not for discipline, Zhang Dabiao would have gone to snatch it himself.
“Of course I have to get it! I’m going to Old Zhang right now. If he won’t give it, I’ll snatch it from him,” Li Yunlong said, leaving Zhang Dabiao to clean the battlefield and running off in the direction where Zhang Wanhe had taken Li Muzhi.
But Li Yunlong didn’t catch up to Li Muzhi and Zhang Wanhe.
Lao He from the arsenal said to Li Yunlong: “Regimental Commander Li, Minister Zhang took our factory director back ahead of time; he was worried about safety.”
“Mm, Old Zhang did the right thing!” Li Yunlong nodded immediately.
After wiping out the Japanese reinforcements, it would surely alert the Japanese even more.
More Japanese would be called in; this talent Li Muzhi really shouldn’t stay out here anymore—he needed to be taken back immediately.
Thinking of something, Li Yunlong asked: “What about the cannon? Doesn’t Old Zhang want it anymore?”
Lao He explained to Li Yunlong: “Minister Zhang left instructions for me to take the cannon and remaining cannonballs back. Also, with the enemy reinforcements eliminated, half the captured spoils should go with me too.”
“Enemy reinforcements wiped out, you can take half the spoils, but I can’t give you the cannon and cannonballs,” Li Yunlong felt like heaven was helping him.
With such terrifying killing power from the cannon, he cherished it more than his own wife.
He wished he could take it straight to the bridal chamber.
Forget Old Zhang—even if it were the king of heaven, he wouldn’t give it up.
Seeing this, Lao He couldn’t help saying: “Regimental Commander Li, how am I supposed to explain this to Minister Zhang when I go back?”
Lao He understood Li Yunlong’s feelings; as combat troops, their craving for artillery support was understandable.
Especially after witnessing our Hell Cannon’s terrifying lethality—no normal commander could easily look away from it.
