Chapter 265: Mobile Heavy Cannon
Hearing Liu Weidong say this, the other several Eighth Route regiment commanders immediately all turned their gazes to Cheng Xiazi.
The Border Region Arsenal was making artillery fire that didn’t need a cannon barrel to launch, and several Eighth Route regiment commanders already knew about this.
Since ancient times, cannonballs have been pushed out through the cannon barrel by huge chamber pressure.
Factory Director Li from our Border Region Arsenal actually wanted to make cannonballs that could be launched without a cannon barrel, to let the cannonballs fly on their own.
To be honest, several Eighth Route regiment commanders still felt it was very mysterious, even thinking it was an untrue rumor fabricated by someone to exaggerate Factory Director Li’s abilities.
Cannonballs flying on their own, how is that possible.
The Japanese invaders’ military industry experts, the US Military’s military industry experts, none of them could do it, can our Factory Director Li do it?
Of course.
Several Eighth Route regiment commanders had doubts in their hearts, but they still had expectations.
Factory Director Li from our Border Region Arsenal, relying on a few cutting machines, generators, fertilizer, and such, could produce heavy firepower. Under his leadership, the Border Region Arsenal has now directly surpassed the Huangyadong Arsenal in a cliff-like leap, becoming one of the leading arsenals of ours.
Factory Director Li’s military industry capabilities have already been powerfully proven.
If he really made cannonballs that could fly on their own without artillery to launch them, then their weight would definitely be lighter.
With lighter weight, Cheng Xiazi’s men could climb the cliff and use ropes to pull the cannonballs up.
This way, completing this mission would be too easy.
Facing the gazes of Liu Weidong and several Eighth Route regiment commanders, Cheng Xiazi waved his hand and shouted towards the back: “Battalion Commander, hurry up for me, don’t dawdle so slowly, quickly bring over all the Hell Missiles.”
“Yes, Regiment Commander.” The 771 Regiment Battalion Commander brought people over carrying twenty long wooden crates.
Looking at these long wooden crates, Liu Weidong and several Eighth Route regiment commanders’ expressions were still somewhat uneasy.
Cannonballs that could be launched without a cannon barrel, this was really made?
However, the name Hell Missile was quite fitting.
While using tools to pry open one of the crates, Cheng Xiazi explained: “I smoothly dumped the fake tungsten ore to the Japanese invaders and hurried over at the fastest speed. Halfway, I ran into the logistics team; they were sending these twenty Hell Missiles over, so I brought them along. To be honest, I was worried about delaying military affairs, so after getting these Hell Missiles, I didn’t open them to look, and rushed over all the way.”
Soon, Cheng Xiazi opened the crate in front of him, revealing a long cannonball inside.
This cannonball’s appearance compared to conventional cannonballs was just a bit longer, with no other major differences.
Looking at this Hell Missile, some Eighth Route regiment commanders couldn’t help saying to Cheng Xiazi: “Regiment Commander Cheng, you didn’t grab the wrong thing, did you? This isn’t just a cannonball? How can it fly on its own?”
Cheng Xiazi said seriously: “No mistake, this is exactly the Hell Missile sent from logistics.”
Then, Cheng Xiazi also took out the manual and said: “Factory Director Li even attached a manual, let’s quickly read it.”
“Give it to me.” Liu Weidong directly reached out his hand.
Here, his education level was the highest, and his comprehension ability was the fastest.
“Here.” Cheng Xiazi gave it to Liu Weidong, then several Eighth Route regiment commanders all came forward.
They tried lifting this Hell Missile, and their expressions showed surprise: “One Hell Missile weighs only thirty or forty jin, completely usable with a rope to pull up the cliff.”
Then, everyone turned their gazes to Liu Weidong.
Liu Weidong read quickly and soon finished, laughing: “This Hell Missile is very simple to operate; dig a dirt pit and it can be launched.”
Dig a dirt pit and it can be launched?
Several Eighth Route regiment commanders and Cheng Xiazi, upon hearing this, were all somewhat stunned: “Really that simple and convenient?”
Dig a dirt pit and it can be launched, this is too convenient.
In the future, if we use it for guerrilla warfare, wouldn’t it be like carrying a mobile heavy cannon?
“Factory Director Li said so in the manual; we have to believe him.” Liu Weidong’s expression quickly became serious, “Time is tight, let’s start preparing immediately. Regiment Commander Cheng, didn’t you say you have a man who has climbed the cliff? Have him take a rope and climb up right away.”
“Good.” Cheng Xiazi nodded and immediately called that man, having him take a rope to climb the cliff.
Liu Weidong took several deep breaths and quickly calmed down: “Everyone, once the Japanese invaders’ supplies suffer heavy damage, they will definitely go crazy with retaliation, so most of us need to withdraw in advance.”
Several Eighth Route regiment commanders all looked at Liu Weidong; although they understood what Liu Weidong meant, they still couldn’t help saying: “Except for the firing personnel, the rest withdraw, right?”
Originally, our several thousand people were all troubled over attacking the Kumamoto Division army’s logistics and supplies.
And these mere twenty Hell Missiles arriving not only made our mission extremely simple.
Our several thousand people could withdraw in advance.
This was simply unbelievable.
“Yes.” Liu Weidong nodded affirmatively and said, “You several regiments go back first. Prepare to intercept the Japanese military train, and have the disassembly team at the Border Region Arsenal prepare in advance too.”
“Alright.” These several Eighth Route regiment commanders also nodded; although they really wanted to stay and see the effect of the Hell Missile, they still carried out the order.
Anyway, as long as our Border Region Arsenal keeps producing Hell Missiles continuously, do we still need to worry about not seeing the effect in the future!
The several regiment commanders took their teams and left; Liu Weidong also kept only a small portion of people and had the rest of the teams go back.
Cheng Xiazi did the same; most of 772 Regiment withdrew.
Here, only Cheng Xiazi and Liu Weidong’s dozens of people remained, all agile veterans.
Fewer people mean smaller target.
They quickly arrived at the other side of the cliff; in the past, Cheng Xiazi’s man had climbed up from the other side of the cliff.
Looking up from below, the cliff was very steep and high.
But Cheng Xiazi’s man was as agile as a rock goat; climbing the cliff might not be like walking on flat ground, but he climbed indeed nimbly.
Liu Weidong asked Cheng Xiazi: “Regiment Commander Cheng, how did you find such a good soldier?”
Cheng Xiazi smiled:
“Once, I went with my partner to eliminate a traitor.”
“We arrived at the traitor’s home, but didn’t see the main guy; instead, we saw this kid on the bed with the traitor’s concubine.”
“My partner and I burst in; this kid thought the traitor had brought people to deal with him, so without even putting on clothes and pants, he jumped out the window butt-naked.”
“The traitor’s courtyard wall was a full four meters high, and this guy vaulted over it smoothly.”
“I had people set up outside and that’s how we caught him.”
“Later, after investigation, we learned he and the traitor’s concubine were childhood sweethearts, forcibly taken by the traitor.”
“To meet his childhood sweetheart, he practiced climbing skills bitterly.”
“After I eliminated that traitor later, he joined my team.”
Liu Weidong laughed upon hearing this: “I can see this kid’s skills are truly mastered.”
“Of course, this cliff is so steep, among so many of my men, only he can climb up.” Cheng Xiazi nodded emphatically.
“What about his childhood sweetheart?” Liu Weidong still asked curiously.
Cheng Xiazi didn’t answer Liu Weidong’s question, and Liu Weidong wisely didn’t ask further.
The man finally climbed up the cliff smoothly; he fixed one end of the rope at the top of the cliff and lowered the rope down.
The Hell Missile wasn’t sent up immediately; instead, several other soldiers took ropes and climbed up one after another.
Then, a few more ropes were lowered from the cliff.
Immediately after, Liu Weidong, Cheng Xiazi, and most of the people slowly climbed up the cliff along these few ropes.
Finally, the remaining few below used ropes to securely tie the ammunition boxes containing the Hell Missiles, and the soldiers on the cliff took turns pulling them up.
After all, pulling thirty or forty jin objects up the cliff edge was no light physical labor.
They had to take turns pulling and conserve some stamina.
Otherwise, stamina would be exhausted.
Then, during withdrawal, if they couldn’t hold the rope, it would be easy to fall off the cliff.
All twenty Hell Missiles were pulled up the cliff; the soldiers sat in place panting heavily to rest.
Liu Weidong took the telescope and observed below the cliff.
The terrain below was very open; Liu Weidong couldn’t confirm in advance exactly where the Japanese invaders’ arms, ammunition, and supplies would be placed.
So, they couldn’t dig pits in advance.
Thus, Liu Weidong simply sat down to rest too, waiting for the Japanese invaders’ supplies to arrive.
“Regiment Commander Cheng, now that the Hell Missiles are up, when digging pits later, we won’t need that many people. Why don’t you and the others withdraw first.” Liu Weidong said to Cheng Xiazi.
Once the Hell Missiles are launched, we will be exposed.
Still need to hurry and withdraw along the ropes.
More people means slower withdrawal.
So, no need to leave so many people here.
“I’m not leaving; I have to see the effect of this Hell Missile with my own eyes.” Cheng Xiazi shook his head, insisting on staying.
However, Cheng Xiazi had his other men withdraw, including that nimble climbing expert.
Liu Weidong’s side also kept only a dozen people; for twenty Hell Missiles, each would dig one pit.
At launch time, each would ignite one Hell Missile.
Of course, resting on this cliff wasn’t idle.
Liu Weidong followed Li Muzhi’s manual and taught Cheng Xiazi and the others how to aim and use the Hell Missile, along with some precautions.
“Regiment Commander, quick look, that seems to be Japanese invaders’ vanguard coming.” After Liu Weidong finished teaching, everyone knew it, and soon a soldier reminded them.
Liu Weidong quickly picked up the telescope; in the view, several Japanese invaders’ vanguard indeed appeared.
Liu Weidong smiled: “Heh, timing is perfect. We all lie down on the cliff to rest now; wait for the Japanese invaders’ supplies to arrive, then these twenty Hell Missiles descend from the sky like flowers scattered by heavenly maidens. I think the Japanese invaders below will surely love this gift very much.”
“Hahaha, good, haha, they will definitely love it.” Cheng Xiazi and the others lowered their voices, excited and expectant.
