Chapter 14: The Devil’s Weapons
Ono Ichiro was the Squadron Leader of the Japanese Squadron. When he heard the sounds of the Sunjiabao Stronghold being shelled, he immediately gathered his troops to go out for reinforcement.
Midway, he also gathered the other two routes of reinforcements under his command.
“Faster, even faster.” Ono Ichiro saw the Puppet Army in front running too slowly and kept urging them on.
“Squadron Leader, we’re not far from Sunjiabao now. The smoke over Sunjiabao has dispersed. It looks like the enemy fled long ago.” A Japanese Squad Leader said to Ono Ichiro.
“Then we must run even faster, search for traces, and find this group of enemies.” Ono Ichiro’s tone was extremely serious.
If the artillery shelling the Sunjiabao Stronghold was ordinary Mountain Cannon or Infantry Gun, Ono Ichiro wouldn’t be so serious.
The sound of that shelling seemed like Heavy Cannon!
Chinese people’s ordinary Mountain Cannon or Infantry Gun doesn’t have much impact on the Imperial Army.
Heavy Cannon has a huge impact on the Imperial Army.
Many times, because of fear that the opponent has Heavy Cannon, the Imperial Army’s formation doesn’t dare to go all out, which greatly affects the battle results.
The Military Headquarters has also issued strict orders: once traces of Chinese Troops’ Heavy Cannon are found, destroy and eliminate them at all costs.
“Squadron Leader, but this area only has Eighth Route Army troops. They don’t even have many basic Mortars, let alone Heavy Cannon.” The Japanese Squad Leader questioned.
“Still can’t be careless.” Ono Ichiro’s tone was grave. “Maybe other Chinese Troops have come over.”
“Mm, that makes sense.” The Japanese Squad Leader nodded.
Under Ono Ichiro’s urging, the troops ran faster and faster, soon entering Li Yunlong’s ambush field of view.
Seeing a real Japanese Squadron coming, Li Yunlong still ordered the troops in a serious tone: “Remember, as soon as my order is given, immediately fire as I said. Understood?”
Although Li Muzhi and Zhang Wanhe’s confidence was high, Li Yunlong still had to prepare for the worst.
In case this cannon fails to fire, this task still has to be gritted out by the Independent Regiment.
Even if eating up the Japanese Squadron won’t be easy, I’ll break my teeth if I have to, and take out these bastards!
“Yes, Regiment Commander.” The Independent Regiment’s soldiers all gripped their weapons tightly, waiting for Li Yunlong’s order.
Zhang Wanhe and Li Muzhi squatted together here. Seeing the enemy coming, Zhang Wanhe was still a bit nervous: “Li Muzhi, are you sure this Cannonball can fire smoothly without any mishap?”
“Minister Zhang, relax.” Li Muzhi smiled at Zhang Wanhe. “If my Cannonball fails, you can shoot me right away.”
“What nonsense are you talking, kid? Even if this Cannonball doesn’t fire, you’re still our Logistics’ treasure. Whoever dares touch a hair on your head is poking a stick in my eye!” Zhang Wanhe’s tone was very serious.
“Minister Zhang, the enemy squadron is almost at the right position. You light the fuse.” Li Muzhi handed the match to Zhang Wanhe.
“Me lighting it, is that appropriate?” Zhang Wanhe said this, but his tone was still eager.
This was a bit like boys playing firecrackers.
Moreover, this was a very powerful firecracker. Even for an old boy, the attraction was fatal.
“Hurry up, don’t let the enemy pass.” Li Muzhi stuffed the match into Zhang Wanhe’s hand.
Zhang Wanhe didn’t dawdle. He took the match, opened the box, took out a match from inside, struck it on the striker, and brought the flame to the fuse.
Sizzle!
The fuse emitted green smoke and rapidly combusted.
Lao He and the other workers from the Arsenal all focused their gazes.
Although the first shot had succeeded.
But the firing of the second shot was still crucial!
Of course, there was also Li Yunlong and his troops.
Although we’ve prepared for the worst, we still hope the Arsenal’s cannon can heavily damage the enemy with one shot and reduce our combat pressure.
Boom!
The fuse burned out, the cannon’s second shot fired normally, and the Cannonball roared toward the Japanese Squadron!
The sudden Cannonball firing sound came. Neither the Puppet Soldiers nor the Japanese Squadron expected it, and they were all stunned for a moment.
No one expected that after taking the Sunjiabao Stronghold, the enemy didn’t flee, but set up an ambush here.
The Japanese Squadron Leader Ono Ichiro saw the cannon’s Cannonball booming toward his squadron. His shocked expression was mixed with a hint of joy.
That’s right, joy!
Although he expected this Cannonball to cause casualties to the soldiers, this bit of casualties was worth it.
Because the enemy’s Heavy Cannon didn’t escape, the significance of capturing the Heavy Cannon far exceeded this bit of casualties.
But soon, Ono Ichiro’s joy turned to fear!
Deep fear!
This strange and very large Cannonball precisely landed in the middle of the squadron’s troop formation.
A boom of explosion!
The Emperor’s soldiers in the middle of the troop formation instantly dissipated, becoming part of the smoke.
Then the powerful shockwave, with devastating force like an autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves, swept the Imperial Army soldiers before and after the impact point into the sky, like sweeping a pile of rats, scattering everywhere.
They originally thought the shockwave was over and done.
Who would have thought that from this shockwave, densely packed small things shot out.
These small things were too fast to see clearly what they were, penetrating bodies like penetrating paper.
The Imperial Army soldiers not affected by the shockwave were covered head-on by these small things.
Most fell silently, killed on the spot.
The Japanese Soldiers who didn’t die screamed miserably.
“Baka, my eyes, my eyes.”
“Baka, my leg, a hole through my leg.”
“There’s a nail in my waist. Heavens, the Chinese people’s Cannonball has nails added inside!”
……
Ono Ichiro wasn’t spared either. Two iron beads penetrated two Japanese Soldiers and finally hit his chest.
Ono Ichiro’s lungs weren’t penetrated; both iron beads stayed in his lungs.
“Cough cough cough…”
Lungs bleeding, Ono Ichiro quickly started coughing, breathing becoming difficult.
“Heavens, where did the Chinese people’s Heavy Cannon come from? The lethality is too great. We’re done for, we’re done.” The Japanese Squad Leader shouted in fear beside Ono Ichiro.
The casualties from this Cannonball’s shockwave weren’t the greatest; the greatest came from the iron beads and nails added inside the Cannonball.
These small things were given powerful kinetic energy by the shockwave, with lethality not inferior to bullets.
One Cannonball caused over a hundred casualties in the squadron, directly wiping out half. This was simply the devil’s weapon!
“Withdraw, cough, withdraw, cough cough cough…” Breathing difficult, Ono Ichiro struggled to speak.
The enemy’s Heavy Cannon lethality far exceeded imagination. Even if the squadron still had half its men and the Puppet Army suffered no losses, if the enemy’s Heavy Cannon continued roaring, we had no power to resist, just fish meat on the chopping board.
“Withdraw, withdraw fast, withdraw!” The Japanese Squad Leader shouted retreat like a pig being slaughtered.
