Bright Sword: From Border Region Manufacturing to Major National Heavy Industry

Chapter 277 Overjoyed!

"Reporting to the regimental commander, Minister Zhang wants you to go to the border region's arsenal immediately."

Kong Jie was personally leading a patrol when someone ran up to report to him.

Minister Zhang asked me to go to the border region's arsenal?
Kong Jie paused for a moment upon hearing this.

Wasn't it Factory Director Li who sent me to the border region's arsenal?

The border region's arsenal produced the Hellfire missile, and its effectiveness was extraordinary from the start, directly destroying the logistical supplies of the Japanese army's sweeping campaign.

Kong Jie was naturally very eager for this Hell Missile.

If Director Li sends me to the border region's arsenal, then I definitely have a chance to get my hands on the Hell Missile.

But since Minister Zhang asked me to go, it probably wasn't about getting the Hellfire missiles.

"Continue patrolling diligently according to plan," Kong Jie ordered the patrol team.

The Japanese mopping-up troops have run out of supplies and logistics. Although Kong Jie is not at the front line, he can tell that the counter-mopping-up operation will probably succeed soon.

Of course, even if the counter-sweep operation were to succeed, the Japanese sweeping forces seemed to take a break.

However, Comrade Lao Kong did not let his guard down and still personally led his team to inspect the surrounding environment of the border region's arsenal.

"Yes, Captain."

Kong Jie arrived at the entrance of the border region's arsenal as quickly as possible, where Zhang Wanhe was already waiting.

Seeing Kong Jie approach, Zhang Wanhe smiled and said, "Commander Kong, you've worked hard."

Although the border region's arsenal had a guard captain, Kong Jie still personally led his troops to patrol and guard it every day, which Zhang Wanhe noticed.

"Minister Zhang, don't mention it. This is just what I should do." Kong Jie smiled and asked, "Did you call me here because there's something you want me to do?"

Zhang Wanhe pointed to the wooden box placed to the side and said, "This is the blinding powder that Xiao Li just made. It's wrapped in paper. If you have time now, take it to the battlefield and try it out."

Blinding powder?
Upon hearing this, Kong Jie immediately became very interested.

Factory Director Li invented a flashbang, which can cause blindness.

It's especially useful when catching spies.

However, flashbangs can only be used indoors.

It cannot be used on a large battlefield.

Now, Director Li has produced a blinding powder. Could this be used on a large scale on the battlefield, filling this gap?
Seeing Kong Jie's expression, Zhang Wanhe knew he had misunderstood, and explained, "This blinding powder is used in close combat to sprinkle on the faces of Japanese soldiers."

Sprinkle it on the Japanese soldiers' faces?

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie seemed to ponder: "Could this be to compensate for our soldiers' disadvantage in close combat?"

“Yes,” Zhang Wanhe nodded and said, “Before engaging the Japanese in bayonet combat on the battlefield, have the soldiers grab a handful of this blinding powder. When they get close to the Japanese, they throw it directly at their faces. In the past, we used chili powder and pepper powder, but the cost was too high. Using sand wasn't very effective either, and the two pieces of cloth on the Japanese military caps were also in the way. So Xiao Li made this blinding powder. Go and try it out and see if those two pieces of cloth on the Japanese military caps still work.”

“Okay, no problem.” Kong Jie’s spirits lifted immediately.

Although this wasn't used extensively on the battlefield, in close combat, if you could sprinkle some on the Japanese soldiers' faces to blind them, the effect would certainly be quite good.

"By the way, this blinding powder can also cause breathing difficulties if inhaled into the lungs," Zhang Wanhe added. "When the powder spreads in the air, don't rush over. Wait until the powder disperses before you go in, understand?"

"Okay, I understand." Kong Jie nodded.

After Zhang Wanhe relayed a few more details that Li Muzhi had told Kong Jie, Kong Jie happily carried the wooden box away, but before leaving, he still leaned in and said, "Minister Zhang, can I take two of these Hellfire missiles with me?"

"We need to keep the Hell Missiles for emergencies," Zhang Wanhe said, directly silencing Kong Jie.

Currently, only about twenty Hellball missiles can be produced per day, which is too few to be used casually.

After all, the Kumamoto army was still there, and the elite divisions had not yet clashed with the Japanese.

Who knows what might happen next? So we'll keep these Hellfire missiles for now as a contingency plan.

"Alright, alright." Kong Jie didn't say anything more.

Anyway, Director Li is a very nice person, he will definitely send me the Hell Missile later.

Kong Jie, carrying the wooden crate, quickly found the battalion commander: "Battalion Commander, have you found any other Japanese transport teams?"

The Kumamoto army lost its logistical supplies, but nearby strongholds and towns are still trying their best to organize transport teams to provide relief.

The Eighth Route Army would not allow these small transport teams to succeed.

By intercepting these transport convoys, we can prevent the Kumamoto army from receiving supplies, and we can also replenish our own supplies while we're at it.

To put it dramatically, it's getting a bit confusing now; it's unclear who's sweeping up whom, hahaha.

Before the battalion commander could answer, the company commander rushed over: "Battalion commander, regimental commander, good news! A Japanese transport team has come out, escorting a company of Japanese soldiers and a battalion of puppet troops."

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie immediately laughed and said, "That's it! Let's go get it right away."

The troops set off quickly, and the battalion commander still leaned close to Kong Jie and asked, "Regimental Commander, what secret weapon are you carrying in this box?"

"Director Li's blinding powder was given to me by Minister Zhang to be used on the battlefield to see how effective it is," Kong Jie said. "When we're fighting the Japanese with bayonets, I'll just throw it at their faces."

"So, is the effect the same as chili powder or pepper powder?" the battalion commander asked.

"The effects will definitely be different," Kong Jie said. "This blinding powder feels heavier, unlike pepper powder and chili powder, which are lighter. Lighter powders are harder to throw and require close range. This heavier powder can be thrown farther. Also, inhaling this powder will cause breathing difficulties. While pepper powder and chili powder have the same effect, it's much more limited. I have a feeling that once this blinding powder is properly prepared, it will be very effective for that Japanese soldier when he inhales it."

"Haha, if this works, then we won't have to worry about our casualties increasing when we fight the Japanese in hand-to-hand combat anymore," the battalion commander laughed.

Although the border region's arsenal is now producing weapons and ammunition, our forces are still too large, and we will inevitably have to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese.

The Japanese soldiers were highly skilled in bayonet fighting, and their Type 38 rifles with long bayonets were also formidable.

Three Japanese devils back to back, even a dozen of us couldn't squeeze past them. With this blinding powder, we can just throw it in their faces and see if they're still so fierce.

"That's right, this stuff is extremely cheap to produce. Aren't those Japanese Bushido supposed to be pretty awesome?" Kong Jie laughed. "Next time we have handy battles, let's each have a packet of this stuff and see if their Bushido can hold up, haha."

After a forced march, Kong Jie's troops soon arrived at a suitable place for an ambush.

The troops had just set up the entrance, the hell cannons were up, and the grenade launchers, mortars, and infantry guns were all in place. Light and heavy machine guns were also set up when the enemy's scouts came over.

Having let the enemy's scouts go, the transport convoy behind them revealed its true colors.

These are all livestock wagons, carrying a total of thirty wagons of supplies.

The escort team was exactly the same, consisting of a company of Japanese soldiers and a battalion of puppet troops.

"Fire!"

Kong Jie watched as the transport convoy reached the optimal position and immediately ordered the artillery to fire.

boom!
boom!
boom!
……

The Hell Cannon and the Type 92 Infantry Gun immediately opened fire.

The shells exploded near the transport convoy, instantly blasting the Japanese soldiers and traitors walking alongside them.

Da da da!
Da da da!
Da da da!
Before the Japanese soldiers and traitors could scramble for cover, the light and heavy machines had already begun fiercely spitting fire.

The rifles were then used in conjunction with the firing.

From the very beginning, the battle was almost one-sided.

Although the Japanese soldiers and traitors were well-equipped, Kong Jie's side had superior firepower and gained the upper hand.

By the time the grenade launchers and mortars unleashed their power again, the Japanese soldiers and traitors in the transport team had been mostly dealt with.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the puppet troops quickly put down their weapons, knelt down and raised their hands to surrender.

About twenty Japanese soldiers and their company commander huddled together, forming a circle with their bayonets facing outwards, preparing for hand-to-hand combat.

"First Battalion Commander, serve these Japanese devils their main course," Kong Jie ordered the First Battalion Commander.

"Yes, Commander." The battalion commander nodded, and led some soldiers to throw the blinding powder at the Japanese soldiers who were surrounded by them.

Of course, as soon as the blinding powder was thrown, the battalion commander and others quickly retreated to avoid being accidentally injured.

"Cough cough, idiot!"

"Baka! Cough cough cough!"

"Baka! My eyes!"

"Baka! What kind of powder is this?!"

"Cough cough cough! My eyes! Oh my god!"

……

Dozens of blinding powders were thrown over, instantly engulfing the group of Japanese soldiers.

Although most of the Japanese soldiers closed their eyes in time, they inhaled the powder through their nostrils and immediately began coughing and cursing violently.

Finally, all the Japanese soldiers clutched their throats in agony, coughing so hard they felt dizzy and disoriented.

Their weapons fell from their hands, rendering them completely incapable of fighting.

Seeing this scene, the surrendered puppet troops turned pale and trembled uncontrollably.

They were all glad they surrendered early, otherwise, if the Eighth Route Army had sprinkled that unknown powder on their faces, wouldn't they have ended up like these Imperial Army soldiers... ptooey, ptooey, like these Japanese devils?

Seeing the effect, the battalion commander and his soldiers were stunned:

"My God, this blinding powder is so effective! More than twenty Japanese soldiers have lost their ability to resist."

"We won't be afraid of hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese anymore."

"Yes, their weapons are long and their bayonet fighting skills are excellent. In front of the blinding powder, they are nothing."

……

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and send these Japanese devils on their way." Kong Jie was overjoyed at the effect of the blinding powder.

Of course, the reason why the blinding powder works so well is that it is genuinely effective.

On the other hand, the Japanese were caught off guard and were all caught off guard at once.

"Yes, Commander." The battalion commander nodded, waved his hand, and the soldiers, bayonets at the ready, swarmed forward.

puff!
puff!
puff!
All twenty-odd Japanese soldiers were riddled with holes, and Kong Jie's side suffered zero casualties in this hand-to-hand combat.

"Hurry up and clean up the battlefield, we're heading back." Kong Jie ordered his troops to quickly clean up the battlefield.

"Commander, two of these trucks contain melon-shaped hand grenades, three contain Type 38 rifle bullets, three contain Type 92 heavy machine gun bullets, and two contain grenade launcher and mortar shells. The rest are food supplies." The statistician quickly informed Kong Jie of the results.

"Haha, not bad, take them all back." Kong Jie laughed heartily.

The team quickly returned to the border region arsenal. Kong Jie came up to Li Muzhi and said, "Director Li, your blinding powder is really effective. Just sprinkle it on the Japanese soldiers' faces from several meters away, and the effect is amazing. The Japanese soldiers quickly lost their fighting ability and became lambs."

Then, Kong Jie said with a grin, "Hehe, I didn't finish using this blinding powder, so I don't need to return the rest to you, right?"

"Hehe." Li Muzhi chuckled and said, "This stuff is useful. Commander Kong, you can keep the rest for yourself. The border region's arsenal will soon be mass-producing more blinding powder, and you can take more then."

"Haha, okay." Kong Jie nodded repeatedly.

(End of this chapter)