Sword of Light: Humanoid Self-Propelled Artillery

Chapter 254 Preparing to Depart
Wang Gensheng's telegram requesting permission to join the battle was rather long. In order to get the higher-ups to agree to the Marine Corps' participation in the war, Wang Gensheng had to dig up the Navy's previous achievements.

The story begins with the start of the War of Resistance against Japan, especially the capture of Yoshio Shinotsuka, and then recounts the events leading up to the dismantling of Liao Yaoxiang's army during the Liberation War. It emphasizes the special operations capabilities of the Marine Corps, highlighting their crucial role in critical moments.

In return for this long telegram, the Marine Corps was allowed to enter the Chaoguo area to conduct operations as an army without using aircraft carriers.

Of course, for such a super elite combat force, especially with Wang Gensheng, the naval commander, leading the team, the higher authorities did not assign Wang Gensheng's marines to any particular army or corps, but directly to the front-line command of the aid-to-Chaozhou army.

Wang Gensheng was naturally very happy when he saw the telegram approving the operation to enter the tide. However, just as Wang Gensheng was preparing to go to the camp to assemble the Marine Corps for departure, there was an argument in the camp.

Li Xiu roared at Duan Peng:

"Duan Peng! What do you mean? You say I'm a carrier-based pilot, but aren't you one too?! What gives you the right to kick me out of the Marine Corps and not let me join the war?! Who do you think you are?! When I joined the Eighth Route Army, you were probably still selling your millet somewhere!"

Just as Li Xiu finished speaking, Baili Xiu, who was standing to the side, also spoke up:

"That's right! What gives you the right! Li Xiu and I joined the Eighth Route Army much earlier than you, what right do you have to stop us from joining the Marine Corps to fight in Chaozhou!"

Duan Peng then said:

"I'm doing this for your own good. These American devils are much tougher than the Japanese. I'm afraid you two won't come back if you don't go! If you're not satisfied, let's have a go!"

"I'm not coming back, but I think you're the one who's not coming back! Besides, fighting isn't just about martial arts. If martial arts were really that invincible, why don't you go and twist that guy's head off? If you want to compete with me in martial arts, why don't you compete with me in night reconnaissance!"

Just as Li Xiu finished speaking, Baili Xiu chimed in:
"Duan Peng, have you no shame? What era are we living in? Still comparing martial arts? Why don't you compare marksmanship with me then! Even if you wear full armor, I'm not afraid of you. I don't believe you can even put armor on your ankles! Your face mask doesn't even leave an eye hole!"

Duan Peng immediately fell silent upon hearing Baili Xiu's words, because he knew that with Baili Xiu's marksmanship, he could indeed shoot a bullet through the eye hole in Baili Xiu's visor from a hundred meters away.

Seeing them arguing so much, Wang Gensheng naturally had to step in and stop them:

"Alright! You two can join us too!"

Although the addition of Baili Xiu and Li Xiu meant taking away the main backbone of the navy, the navy was not allowed to go into battle at the moment, so it was better to take them to the battlefield than to stay here.

After all, Baili Xiu's marksmanship and Li Xiu's reconnaissance abilities were both very important, but at this moment, Baili Xiu suddenly suggested:
"Si Ling, I think we should bring a few pilots with us this time. After all, I've heard that the Americans have a lot of fighter jets. If we capture American fighter jets at a Chaozhou airport like we did at Xuzhou Airport, but we don't have pilots, then we won't be able to fly them back. Wouldn't that just be a waste for Chaozhou or something that would have to be destroyed on the spot? That would be such a pity!"

Upon hearing Baili Xiu's words, Wang Gensheng immediately thought of the Hagaru-ri airfield, which had been captured during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Wang Gensheng remembered that the airfield was used to transport wounded soldiers. Therefore, if the wounded were used as leverage, the US wouldn't attack the planes, and they could be brought back to China. Thinking about it, Wang Gensheng's eyes brightened, and he immediately nodded, saying:

"That makes sense. We can transfer about a third of the carrier-based pilots, roughly thirty pilots, to the Marine Corps! Oh, and get me a lot of white cloth, or even white linen will do! Also, bring our skis. It's already past October, and it'll snow heavily in Chaoguo soon. We'll definitely need to ski for our mobility! And bring me warm cotton-padded coats, hats, gloves, and boots too!"

Following Wang Gensheng's words, the naval secret base, not far from Qinghuang Island, began to allocate supplies.

As a result, after the war, the equipment of Wang Gensheng's marine corps also changed drastically.

Originally, these were weapons used in the War of Resistance against Japan, such as the Japanese Type 96 light machine gun. Now, they have been replaced by American submachine guns, Thompson submachine guns, or M3 submachine guns.

Of course, in addition to these, they are also equipped with M1 Garand rifles. However, these rifles are intended for snipers or those who require precise rate of fire. For example, Baili Xiu has now replaced his Type 38 sniper rifle with a Garand sniper rifle.

Of course, the only Japanese equipment that the Marines still have is the grenade launcher. Compared to mortars, the grenade launcher is much more useful. Although its range is shorter, the grenade launcher itself is lightweight, and the ammunition is also lightweight, so it is easy to carry in large quantities.

Of course, the Marine Corps' configuration is the same as before, divided into three groups: the assault group, which has the most personnel and is equipped with submachine guns and grenades; the fire support group, which is equipped with grenade launchers and rifles or light machine guns; and the reconnaissance group, which has the fewest personnel.

Duan Peng and Wei Dayong, two martial arts experts, stayed in the assault team. However, instead of submachine guns, they were armed with M2 heavy machine guns. There was no other way; in the entire Marine Corps, only Wang Gensheng, Duan Peng, and Wei Dayong could use the 30-plus kilogram M2 heavy machine gun as a submachine gun.

Wearing full armor and carrying a 12.7mm heavy machine gun, their firepower is unmatched except by tanks.

However, in addition to these, there is also the super-heavy anti-tank grenade that was recently produced. This grenade is similar to the tank grenades used by the Soviet Union.

They are extremely heavy, weighing a full kilogram, more than twice the weight of a regular hand grenade. Therefore, for ordinary people, the throwing distance is only a dozen meters, and they may even injure themselves if thrown carelessly.

However, its armor-piercing capability is still quite good, capable of penetrating 120mm of tank armor. With such armor-piercing capability, it wouldn't be afraid even if it faced the US Pershing tank head-on.

However, considering the throwing problem, Wang Gensheng only obtained about a hundred of them and did not equip the Marine Corps with them on a large scale, because such anti-tank grenades were simply too heavy.

However, Wang Gensheng still handed over the production method of this anti-tank grenade to the logistics department, so that they could produce it when needed.

Because Qinhuangdao is not far from Dandong, Wang Gensheng led his marines there on two horses, intending to enter Chaoguo with the Ninth Army Corps.

(End of this chapter)