Chapter 289: Blinding Powder Counters The Japanese Invaders
When the officers and soldiers of the Direct Line Troops were pumped up like they had been injected with chicken blood, charging counterattack against the Japanese Invaders.
The Eighth Route Army on the high ground on both left and right sides were no longer in a defensive posture.
Taking advantage of the Japanese Invaders’ artillery position being destroyed with no more shelling, the Eighth Route Army on both high grounds, under the cover of light and heavy machine guns, immediately charged down from the high ground, just like fierce tigers descending the mountain.
And those blocked by heavy Japanese Invaders troops behind the Kumamoto Division, that group of Eighth Route Army, also bared their truly sharp teeth.
Previously, they had only feint attacked the back of the Kumamoto Division, with the purpose of attracting the heavy firepower of the Kumamoto Division.
Now, with the Direct Line Army troops blooming in the middle, the Eighth Route Army on the high grounds on both left and right sides charging fiercely, the Eighth Route Army behind directly unleashed their most powerful firepower, cutting off the retreat of the Kumamoto Division army.
“Baka, damn it!” The Kumamoto Division Commander waved his commanding sword, personally going to the front line battlefield, roaring: “Warriors, even without airplane reinforcements, without cannons, we still have machine guns, we still have grenade launchers, hold the line for me.”
Although the Kumamoto Division was at a disadvantage at this moment, the Japanese Invaders’ individual combat ability was no joke after all.
Under the Kumamoto Division Commander’s command, the formation of the Japanese Invaders and Traitors quickly stabilized.
But it was only temporarily stabilized.
Muto Juichi shouted to the Kumamoto Division Commander: “Kumamoto Division Commander, our ammunition consumption is too great, without subsequent ammunition replenishment, we can’t hold for long.”
Major General Miyai also shouted loudly: “Kumamoto Division Commander, we need airdrops, we still need airdrops, and reinforcements from air power, immediately have the Commander send reinforcements to us again.”
“If ammunition is insufficient, then try to mix in with the enemy, use the advantage of bayonet combat to block them.” The Kumamoto Division Commander ordered.
At the same time, the Kumamoto Division Commander still ordered the signalman: “Immediately send a telegram to the Commander, tell him our current situation, have him quickly send Army Aviation to reinforce us.”
Although Army Aviation reinforcements were very difficult, now with the army in dire straits, this Army Aviation reinforcement would still come.
“Hai!” The signalman quickly carried out the order.
Under the Kumamoto Division Commander’s orders, some Japanese Troops charged into the enemy ranks with bayonets fixed, engaging the enemy in bayonet combat.
The Direct Line soldiers showed no fear, they were fierce and fearless of death, succeeding one another, engaging the Japanese Invaders in desperate hand-to-hand fighting.
Feng Zhihui, the Regiment Commander of the Direct Line 217th Regiment, although he had most of the bureaucratic flaws of Direct Line Army officers, these bureaucrats all had one even more prominent characteristic.
That was, when it came to grabbing meritorious service or profits, they worked harder than anyone.
Feng Zhihui had also received strict military academy training, gripping a Zhongzheng rifle tightly, with bayonet fixed.
Although the weapon was not as long as the Japanese Invaders’ Type 38 Rifle with bayonet, Feng Zhihui never fought Japanese Soldiers head-on, always striking from behind.
Unfortunately, the Japanese Invaders stood back-to-back, very vigilant, and Feng Zhihui several times failed to find an opportunity to strike.
“Damn it, this little Japanese Invaders’ Type 38 Rifle is longer than our rifles, too disadvantageous.” Feng Zhihui was extremely annoyed, just like a toad with short legs that couldn’t get on the kang.
“Regimental Commander, quickly look over at the Eighth Route Army side.” At this time, someone shouted to Feng Zhihui.
Feng Zhihui turned his head to look, his pupils immediately contracting.
He saw more than a dozen Japanese Soldiers clutching their eyes and coughing violently, their weapons dropping from their hands:
“Ah, baka!”
“Baka, cough cough cough!”
“My eyes, baka, cough cough cough!”
……
The Eighth Route Army soldiers took the opportunity to slash with broadswords, and these more than a dozen Japanese Soldiers soon lost their breath.
Similar scenes rapidly continued to play out on the Eighth Route Army side of the battlefield.
The Eighth Route Army soldiers had no idea what they were holding in their hands, but when close to the Japanese Invaders, they directly threw it at the Japanese Invaders’ faces.
Then the Japanese Invaders clutched their eyes in agony and coughed violently, quickly losing combat power, and were then hacked down by the Eighth Route Army soldiers taking advantage.
“My God, what secret weapon do these Eighth Route Army soldiers have in their hands, so effective in bayonet combat!” Feng Zhihui was greatly shocked.
If he could get his hands on this stuff, why fear bayonet combat with the Japanese Invaders in the future.
“Seems like iron sand.” Someone said to Feng Zhihui.
“Can iron sand be inhaled into the lungs causing breathing difficulty?” Feng Zhihui questioned directly, “Can iron sand make eyes unable to open right on the spot?”
“Could it be chili powder or something?” Someone else questioned.
“The Eighth Route Army is already charging towards our side, wait until they kill off the Japanese Invaders on our side, then see what secret weapon they are using.” Feng Zhihui wisely stopped guessing.
That group of Eighth Route Army killed back the Japanese Invaders, and then charged towards Feng Zhihui’s side.
As soon as this group of Eighth Route Army came over, they threw the stuff in their hands at the Japanese Invaders’ faces, and the Japanese Soldiers here immediately clutched their eyes and screamed in agony.
Even Feng Zhihui, who had never found an opportunity to kill Japanese Invaders, took advantage to stab two Japanese Soldiers to death.
The remaining Japanese Soldiers saw the situation was bad and quickly retreated.
Feng Zhihui grabbed an Eighth Route Army Company Commander: “Brother, what is this stuff in your hands, how is it so effective?”
“Blinding Powder.” The Eighth Route Army Company Commander answered.
Blinding Powder?
Feng Zhihui was stunned for a moment upon hearing it.
He had obviously never heard of this stuff before.
However, this stuff’s battlefield effect was indeed very good.
Feng Zhihui hurriedly asked: “Brother, do you have any more, give me some.”
“Can’t give, all used up.” The Eighth Route Army Company Commander spread his hands.
Indeed used up, his company relying on Blinding Powder had killed more than two hundred Japanese Invaders in bayonet combat, this Blinding Powder was really used completely clean.
“Oh, no problem, we can buy some after the battle ends.” Feng Zhihui said he didn’t mind.
The other side had no more Blinding Powder, the Japanese Invaders temporarily retreated, Feng Zhihui still grabbed a handful of soil from the ground.
This soil was stained with Blinding Powder powder.
He lowered his head to observe carefully, finding wood powder inside, and also the smell of coal.
There were also some black particles left, not sure what they were.
Unable to figure it out, Feng Zhihui put this soil into his pocket.
Shouting to the troops: “Attack, continue the attack for me.”
Similar scenes were playing out in other places.
The Japanese Invaders had insufficient ammunition and wanted to play to their close combat advantage.
After being taught a lesson by the Eighth Route Army’s Blinding Powder, the Japanese Troops quickly shrank to the center, while the Direct Line and Eighth Route Army troops seized the time to attack.
“Division Commander, these Eighth Route Army soldiers throw unknown powder at our warriors whenever they see them, this stuff harms eyes and lungs, in bayonet combat our soldiers are at too much of a disadvantage.” Muto Juichi gritted his teeth and said to the Kumamoto Division Commander, “Bayonet combat can’t suppress the enemy, the enemy is charging again, we need to think of a way quickly.”
“These damn local Eighth Route Army, as insidious as ever.” The Kumamoto Division Commander was also extremely annoyed.
Throwing unknown powder in bayonet combat to make our soldiers lose combat power, what’s the difference from kids fighting and throwing sand into each other’s eyes!
Ammunition remaining was not much, bayonet combat advantage suppressed, could it be today we really get trapped to death alive!
Major General Miyai said: “Division Commander, I have a suggestion.”
“What suggestion?” The Kumamoto Division Commander looked at him.
“Collect the ammunition from the Puppet Army.” Major General Miyai said.
“That’s just a drop in the bucket.” The Kumamoto Division Commander pointed out, and moreover, if the Puppet Army had no ammunition, they were very likely to surrender.
Major General Miyai said: “Our supplies and ammunition remaining are too few, if the number of this Puppet Army greatly decreases, doesn’t that also reduce our logistics pressure?”
For example, a batch of supplies originally enough for fifty thousand people to eat for one day.
If the number is only half left, then this batch of supplies can last two days.
Ammunition is the same calculation.
Ammunition that fifty thousand people can use for one day, half the people can use for two days.
Muto Juichi nodded, looking at the Kumamoto Division Commander: “Kumamoto Division Commander, I think this method works. In the current situation, we are probably doomed to lose this battle, beyond saving. But we still need to preserve as much of our Imperial Army’s living forces as possible. As for the Puppet Army surrendering, let them surrender, as long as we can withdraw, there are so many spineless people on this land, we won’t lack lackeys in the future.”
“Retain the Puppet Army with strong combat power, deal with those without strong combat power, who slack off in fighting, sneaky and slippery ones.” The Kumamoto Division Commander quickly made up his mind.
“Yes.”
……
Taiyuan First Army Headquarters
“Your Excellency Commander, urgent telegram from the Kumamoto Division Commander.”
A staff officer holding the telegram hurriedly ran into Shinozuka Yoshio’s command room.
“What happened over at Kumamoto?” Shinozuka Yoshio quickly asked.
Bombers had been sent to Kumamoto, transport planes had also airdropped supplies to him, and now an urgent telegram, could it be the Kumamoto Division Commander not only failed to do the job well, but something went wrong instead?
The staff officer answered: “The Kumamoto Division Commander says in the telegram that the artillery position was sneak attacked by new-style cannonballs launched by the Eighth Route Army placed in dirt pits, the artillery position is gone, the Direct Line Army and Eighth Route Army took advantage to jointly counterattack, the army due to insufficient ammunition, even though temporarily stabilized the position, probably can’t hold for long, asking you to immediately send airplanes again for reinforcement.”
Shinozuka Yoshio upon hearing, widened his eyes: “Baka, what did you say, new-style cannonballs launched by the Eighth Route Army placed in dirt pits, this really exists?”
Previously, when Shinozuka Yoshio received this intelligence, he was so angry his nose crooked.
For hundreds of years, cannonballs were pushed out from the cannon barrel using powerful chamber pressure.
Placing cannonballs in dirt pits to launch, this was simply a huge joke.
Now, you tell me again.
The Kumamoto Division Commander’s heavy artillery cluster position was attacked by this huge joke, the artillery group completely wiped out!!!
Baka, this simply can’t be believed!
Can’t believe it.
Cannonballs placed in dirt pits to fire, without chamber pressure, how do they fly?
“Your Excellency Commander, now is not the time to debate the Eighth Route Army launching cannonballs from dirt pits, but the Kumamoto Division Commander side is in peril, you need to make a decisive decision.” The staff officer reminded.
“You go reply to the Kumamoto Division Commander, bomber and transport plane reinforcements will arrive soon, have him seize the time to break out first, then withdraw to some city near the Jingtai Line, the military train will deliver subsequent supplies right to him. Also, five carts of tungsten ore, not a gram less, all must be transported back.” Shinozuka Yoshio still suppressed his emotions and said.
From the moment the Kumamoto Division Commander’s logistics and supplies were destroyed, it sealed the failure of this raid action.
But the Kumamoto Division Commander was unwilling, and Shinozuka Yoshio was equally unwilling.
Once this Kumamoto Division breaks out, the military train delivers subsequent supplies, this raid must continue!
“Hai.” The staff officer hurriedly went.
Shinozuka Yoshio picked up the telephone on the table, applying again for air reinforcements.
