Chapter 177: This Is An Order
They said it was drinking coffee, but actually it was a group of people using alcohol stoves to boil aluminum lunch boxes filled with water, then pouring in several packets of instant coffee, stirring evenly, and each person dividing a bit with ceramic tea mugs.
Afraid that the firelight would expose their position, the group specially dug an anti-artillery bunker in the trench, then covered the entrance with a blanket, so that whether they were cooking or smoking inside, they wouldn’t be seen by others.
Soldiers are like that; after downing a cup of hot coffee, they started thinking about having a smoke. Since it was already the end of the month, everyone’s stock was exhausted. Seven people pooled together three cigarettes and began puffing away in the anti-artillery bunker.
After downing a cigarette, everyone’s spirits lifted. Someone said, “Old Cao… I heard this guy has really good luck. He ran into the Commander while having a smoke, and the Commander even gave him a lighter. This luck is unmatched.”
“That’s right.”
At this point, Old Cao couldn’t help but puff out his chest. He took out the bright orange Zippo lighter from his pocket and dangled it in front of everyone, smugly saying, “See this? Brass made, genuine American goods, worth a fortune.”
Looking at the golden-orange lighter in Old Cao’s hand, many showed envy in their eyes.
“Old Cao, are you selling this thing? I’ll give three big ocean dollars.” Someone suddenly asked.
“Three big ocean dollars, Old Ma, don’t you have a conscience? You can even say that price out loud.” Someone else disdainfully glared at him, then raised one hand.
“Five big ocean dollars… I’ll give five big ocean dollars!”
“I’ll give ten!”
The group of soldiers started arguing over a lighter, leaving the other few soldiers dumbfounded.
Someone couldn’t help but say, “Hey… brothers, if you really want a lighter, wait until after the battle and buy one at the service club. One lighter there only costs three big ocean dollars. Is it worth buying this one for ten?”
“You know shit.”
Someone nearby disdainfully gave him a glance. “Can the lighters at the service club compare to the one in Old Cao’s hand?
The ones there are steel-made, but Old Cao’s is all brass. Are they the same?
Most importantly, this lighter was given by the Commander. That meaning is different. Take it out and flash it in front of the brothers, and in the entire militia regiment, from the Regiment Commander down to the privates, who won’t look at you with respect?”
The despised guy was stunned for a moment, thought for a while, then slapped his thigh. “Right… Old Cao, give it to me… to me… I’ll give twelve big ocean dollars…”
Just as the group was getting into an uproar, an exasperated voice came from outside.
“What are you bunch doing? Do you want to attract the Japs?”
“Oh… the Company Commander is here.”
The blanket was lifted, bringing in a gust of cold night wind. Then a captain walked in, coldly cursing, “Damn it, I heard you bastards from far away.
Not sleeping in the middle of the night, hiding here making a racket. Believe it or not, I’ll lock you all up for ten days or half a month to let you talk enough!”
As soon as the Company Commander arrived, the noisy voices in the anti-artillery bunker stopped abruptly, and everyone lowered their heads.
Seeing the group looking dejected, the Company Commander got even angrier. “You bunch of bastards, how did I end up with you guys.
Can’t sleep, huh? Good… all follow me to move stuff.”
“Ah…”
Upon hearing they had to move stuff, everyone was dumbfounded. Although it was late July, the night in the valley was still quite cold. In the anti-artillery bunker, there were smokes to smoke and coffee to drink—who would want to brave the cold wind in the middle of the night to move stuff?
A private second class timidly said, “Company Commander… we were wrong. You can scold us however you want, but no need to move stuff, right?”
“Bullshit… you dare not listen to me? Got bold, huh? All follow me, don’t make me kick your ass!” The Company Commander unceremoniously cursed.
Seeing the Company Commander lose his temper, the group of soldiers could only obediently stand up and follow him out of the warm anti-artillery bunker.
Ten-odd minutes later, the group followed the Company Commander to the road at the foot of the mountain, where they saw a line of cargo trucks parked. Besides the trucks, the road was packed with people carefully unloading stuff from the trucks.
Getting closer, everyone was startled.
Someone who knew his stuff immediately exclaimed, “Hey… isn’t this the small anti-aircraft gun from the anti-aircraft battalion? How did they give it to us too?”
“You brat.” As soon as the soldier spoke, he got kicked in the butt. “You talk the most crap. Hurry up and move the machine cannon to the position for me? Our company got six of them!”
“Six?” The soldiers instantly turned bitter-faced, and many started wailing. It looked like there would be no sleep tonight.
The soldiers were right. That night, Old Cao and his squad were all busy moving anti-aircraft guns and ammunition until dawn broke.
What Old Cao and they were moving was actually the Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft cannon equipped by the anti-aircraft battalion.
This thing might not be well-known, but it played a huge role in World War II.
This small-caliber machine cannon, developed by the Swiss Oerlikon company using recoil operation, was widely purchased or copied by Germany, the US, Britain, Japan, and other countries during World War II.
Especially the Americans, who were the craziest, producing over 120,240 copies during the entire war, making the Japanese kamikaze pilots cry bitterly.
According to statistics, in the later war period, 32% of the Japanese planes shot down by the Pacific Fleet were credited to Oerlikons.
Of course, the Japanese weren’t fools; they also copied this anti-aircraft gun, model Type 94 20mm machine cannon.
But due to inferior technology, the Japanese turned the original 60-round magazine into a 20-round one, with frequent jams, part wear, and other issues, resulting in an extremely high failure rate.
“Phew…” Old Cao let out a long breath, looking at the Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannon on the freshly dug machine gun position, a surge of envy rising in his heart.
This thing looked super cool, way more impressive than his M1919 Browning.
“Cao Dawang…”
“Yes… Company Commander.”
Old Cao turned his head and saw the Company Commander standing behind him, pointing at the machine cannon in front. “From today on, this gun is yours. I’ll assign two more guys to you later. You three will form a machine cannon team. If Jap planes come, blast them with this thing, got it?”
“Company Commander… but I’ve never used this thing.” Old Cao got a bit anxious.
“Can’t use it? Learn now. There’s about an hour until dawn. Use this time to learn.”
“I…”
“That’s an order!”
“Yes!”
