Chapter 277: Overjoyed!
“Report to Regiment Commander Kong, Minister Zhang wants you to go to the Border Region Arsenal right away.”
Kong Jie was personally leading people on patrol when someone ran up and reported to him.
Minister Zhang wants me to go to the Border Region Arsenal?
Kong Jie paused for a moment upon hearing this.
Wasn’t it Factory Director Li who wanted me to go to the Border Region Arsenal?
The Border Region Arsenal produced this Hell Missile, and with one shot, it was extraordinary, directly destroying the logistics and supplies of the Japanese Sweeping Army.
Kong Jie was naturally very eager for this Hell Missile as well.
If it was Factory Director Li who wanted him to go to the Border Region Arsenal, then he definitely had a chance to get the Hell Missile.
But this was Minister Zhang calling him, so it probably wasn’t about getting the Hell Missile.
“You all continue patrolling seriously according to the plan.” Kong Jie still ordered the patrol team.
The Japanese mopping-up troops’ logistics and supplies were gone. Although Kong Jie wasn’t at the frontline, he could tell that this counter-sweep was likely to succeed soon.
Of course, even if the counter-sweep was going to succeed, the Japanese mopping-up troops seemed to have stopped as well.
But Comrade Old Kong did not let his guard down because of this; he still personally led the team to inspect the surrounding environment of the Border Region Arsenal.
“Yes, Regiment Commander.”
Kong Jie arrived at the doorway of the Border Region Arsenal at the fastest speed, where Zhang Wanhe was already waiting.
Seeing Kong Jie come over, Zhang Wanhe smiled and said, “Regiment Commander Kong, you’ve worked hard.”
Although the Border Region Arsenal had Guard Captain protecting it, Kong Jie still personally led troops to patrol and guard it every day, and Zhang Wanhe saw it all.
“Minister Zhang, what hard work? This is all what I should do.” Kong Jie smiled and asked, “You called me here, is there something you want me to do?”
Zhang Wanhe pointed to the wooden crate placed to the side and said, “This is the blinding powder that Xiao Li just made, wrapped in paper portions. If you have time now, take it to the battlefield and test it.”
Blinding powder?
Kong Jie immediately became very interested upon hearing this.
Factory Director Li made flashbangs, and that thing could blind.
It was especially useful for capturing spies.
But flashbangs could only be used in rooms.
They couldn’t be used on the open battlefield.
Now, Factory Director Li made blinding powder. Could this thing be used on a large scale on the battlefield to fill this gap?
Seeing Kong Jie’s expression, Zhang Wanhe knew he was thinking wrong and explained, “This blinding powder is for throwing in the faces of the Japanese Invaders during close combat.”
Throwing it in the faces of the Japanese Invaders?
Kong Jie thought for a moment upon hearing this: “Could this be to make up for our soldiers’ disadvantage in bayonet fighting?”
“Yes.” Zhang Wanhe nodded and said, “Before bayonet fighting with the Japanese Invaders on the battlefield, have the soldiers grab a handful of this blinding powder first. When close to the Japanese Invaders, throw it directly in their faces. Before, we used chili powder or pepper flour, but the cost was too high. Sand doesn’t work as well, and the two pieces of cloth on the Japanese Invaders’ military caps get in the way, so Xiao Li made this blinding powder. You go test it and see if the two pieces of cloth on the Japanese Invaders’ military caps still work.”
“Alright, no problem.” Kong Jie’s spirits lifted immediately.
Although this wasn’t for large-scale use on the battlefield, throwing it in the faces of the Japanese Invaders during close combat to blind their eyes would definitely be very effective.
“Right, this blinding powder inhaled into the lungs will also cause breathing difficulties.” Zhang Wanhe added, “When the powder diffuses in the air later, don’t rush in. Wait for the powder to disperse before advancing, understand?”
“Mm, I got it.” Kong Jie nodded.
After Zhang Wanhe relayed a few attention details instructed by Li Muzhi to Kong Jie, before happily carrying the wooden crate away, he still leaned in and said, “Minister Zhang, can I take two Hell Missiles?”
“The Hell Missiles need to be kept for emergencies now.” Zhang Wanhe directly shut down Kong Jie.
Now the Hell Missiles could only produce twenty-something per day, too few to use casually.
After all, the Kumamoto Army was still there, and the Direct Lineage Division and the Japanese Invaders hadn’t clashed yet.
Who knew what changes might happen later, so the Hell Missiles were kept for emergencies for now.
“Alright, alright.” Kong Jie didn’t say anything more.
Anyway, Factory Director Li was a good person and would definitely give him Hell Missiles later.
Kong Jie carried the wooden crate and quickly found the Battalion Commander: “Battalion Commander, have you found any other Japanese Invaders’ transportation teams?”
The Kumamoto Army’s logistics and supplies were gone, but the nearby strongholds and county towns were still desperately organizing transportation teams for rescue.
And the Eighth Route Army’s troops wouldn’t let these small transportation teams succeed.
Intercepting these transportation teams could prevent the Kumamoto Army from getting supply replenishment, and they could replenish themselves as well.
To exaggerate, it was a bit unclear now who was sweeping whom, hahaha.
Before the Battalion Commander could answer, the First Company Commander came running over hurriedly: “Battalion Commander, Regiment Commander, good news. A Japanese Invaders’ transportation team came out, escorted by one squadron of Japanese Invaders and one battalion of Puppet Army.”
Kong Jie laughed immediately upon hearing this: “That’s the one. Let’s go, take them down right away.”
The troops set off quickly, and the Battalion Commander leaned close to Kong Jie and asked, “Regiment Commander, what’s this secret weapon in your box?”
“Blinding powder made by Factory Director Li. Minister Zhang wants me to test it on the battlefield and see the effect,” Kong Jie said. “When bayonet fighting the Japanese Invaders later, throw it in their faces.”
“So is the effect the same as chili powder or pepper powder?” the Battalion Commander asked.
“The effect is definitely different,” Kong Jie said. “This blinding powder has more weight when thrown; unlike pepper or chili powder that’s so light, which doesn’t throw far and requires close range. This blinding powder has more weight, so it can be thrown farther. Also, inhaling this blinding powder into the lungs causes breathing difficulties, while pepper or chili powder has limited effect even if it does that. I have a feeling that once this blinding powder is used, the effect on these little Japanese Invaders will be great.”
“Haha, if this works, we won’t worry about heavy casualties in bayonet fights with the Japanese Invaders anymore,” the Battalion Commander laughed.
Although the Border Region Arsenal was now producing weapons and ammunition, their troops were huge in number, and bayonet fights with the little Japanese Invaders were inevitable later.
The Japanese Invaders’ bayonet skills were solid, and the Type 38 Rifles plus bayonets were long.
Three little Japanese Invaders back-to-back, and ten-plus of ours couldn’t break through.
With this blinding powder, throw it in the little Japanese Invaders’ faces and see if they’re still fierce.
“Exactly, and this stuff costs almost nothing. Their Bushido isn’t all that great,” Kong Jie also laughed. “Next bayonet fight, one packet per person, see if their Bushido holds up, haha.”
Kong Jie’s troops marched quickly and soon arrived at a suitable ambush spot.
The troops had just set up the opening when the Hell Cannons were set up, the grenade launcher mortars and infantry guns were in position, light and heavy machine guns were mounted, and then the enemy’s vanguard of this transportation team appeared.
They let the enemy’s vanguard pass, and the transportation team behind revealed its true nature.
These were all livestock trucks, totally loaded with thirty carts of supplies.
The escort was spot on: one squadron of Japanese Invaders plus one battalion of Puppet Army.
“Fire the cannons!”
Kong Jie saw the transportation team reach the best position and immediately ordered to open fire.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
……
The Hell Cannons and Type 92 Infantry Guns immediately shelled.
Cannonballs exploded beside the transportation team, and the Japanese Invaders and Traitors on the sides were immediately blown sky-high.
Rat-tat-tat!
Rat-tat-tat!
Rat-tat-tat!
Before the Japanese Invaders and Traitors could scramble for cover in panic, the light and heavy machine guns fiercely spat fire.
Rifles joined in the shooting.
From the start, the battle was almost one-sided.
Although this group of Japanese Invaders and Traitors had decent equipment, Kong Jie’s side had fierce firepower and took the initiative.
By the time the grenade launchers and mortars unleashed their power, the Japanese Invaders and Traitors in this transportation team were mostly done for.
The Puppet Army saw the situation was bad and quickly dropped their weapons, kneeling with hands raised in surrender.
Twenty-something Japanese Invaders soldiers and the Squadron Leader huddled together, forming a circle with bayonets outward—they were planning bayonet fighting.
“Battalion Commander, serve these Japanese Invaders the main dish.” Kong Jie ordered the Battalion Commander.
“Yes, Regiment Commander.” The Battalion Commander nodded, took some soldiers, and directly threw the blinding powder at these Japanese Invaders in a circle.
Of course, when throwing the blinding powder, the Battalion Commander and the others quickly retreated to avoid friendly fire.
“Cough cough, baka!”
“Baka, cough cough cough!”
“Baka, my eyes!”
“Baka, what is this powder!”
“Cough cough cough! My eyes aaaaaah!”
……
Dozens of packets of blinding powder thrown over directly enveloped this group of Japanese Invaders.
Although most Japanese Invaders closed their eyes in time, their nostrils inhaled the powder, and they immediately coughed violently and cursed.
In the end, all the Japanese Invaders painfully clutched their throats, coughing until they saw stars.
Weapons dropped from their hands one after another, completely losing combat power.
Seeing this scene, the surrendered Puppet Army soldiers turned pale and trembled.
They were all glad they surrendered early, or else if the Eighth Route Army threw this unknown powder in their faces, they would end up the same as these Imperial Army… ptoo ptoo ptoo, these Japanese Invaders.
Seeing this effect, the Battalion Commander and his soldiers were all stunned:
“My god, this blinding powder is too effective. Over twenty Japanese Invaders lost all resistance.”
“Next bayonet fight with the Japanese Invaders, we won’t be afraid anymore.”
“Yeah, their weapons are long, bayonet skills solid, but in front of blinding powder, it counts for nothing.”
……
“What are you all stunned for? Hurry up and send these Japanese Invaders on their way.” Kong Jie was overjoyed seeing the blinding powder’s effect.
Of course, the reason the blinding powder’s effect was good was partly because it really worked.
And partly because the Japanese Invaders were unprepared and all got hit at once.
“Yes, Regiment Commander.” The Battalion Commander nodded, waved his hand, and the soldiers charged with bayonets, swarming forward.
Stab!
Stab!
Stab!
The twenty-something Japanese Invaders were all stabbed into beehives. In this bayonet fight, Kong Jie’s side had zero casualties.
“Clean the battlefield quickly, we’re heading back.” Kong Jie had the troops swiftly clean the battlefield.
“Regiment Commander, among them, two carts are melon grenades, three carts are Type 38 Rifle bullets. Three carts are Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun bullets, two carts are grenade launcher and mortar cannonballs, and the rest are grain and supplies.” The statistician quickly reported the results to Kong Jie.
“Haha, not bad, take it all back.” Kong Jie laughed heartily.
The troops quickly returned to the Border Region Arsenal, and Kong Jie went to Li Muzhi: “Factory Director Li, your blinding powder is really too effective. Thrown from a few meters away into the Japanese Invaders’ faces, the effect was perfect—they quickly lost combat power and became lambs.”
Then, Kong Jie grinned: “Hehe, I didn’t use up all this blinding powder. No need to return the rest, right?”
“Hehe.” Li Muzhi chuckled and said, “If it’s useful, keep the rest yourself, Regiment Commander Kong. The Border Region Arsenal will soon mass-produce more blinding powder, and you can get more then.”
“Hahaha, good.” Kong Jie nodded repeatedly.
