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

Chapter 291 Recommendation
A certain regiment of the Eighth Route Army
The regiment suffered minimal losses in this battle and captured a considerable amount of spoils.

More than 400 Type 38 rifles and more than 400 bayonets were seized.

As for bullets, there are less than ten.

There was no other way; these Japanese soldiers were out of bullets and were forced into close combat.

In the past, if four or five hundred Japanese soldiers came to fight us with bayonets, even if our entire regiment were wiped out, we still couldn't win.

Our border arsenal provided blinding powder, wow, this stuff is amazing.

More than 400 Japanese soldiers were killed, while our losses were only over 200. Our casualty ratio was one to two.

This ratio is remarkable.

The bald man's most elite troops fought against the Japanese, and it took four soldiers to take one Japanese soldier to kill.

With the blinding powder we have, one soldier can be exchanged for two Japanese soldiers, which is already a very impressive achievement.

Of course.

Having guns but no bullets would have been a real headache in the past.

But now there's no need to worry anymore, our logistics and arsenal can produce bullets.

However, in this battle...

The most dazzling weapon is the Hellfire Missile.

This salvo destroyed the Japanese heavy artillery positions. The commotion was so great that it was like an earthquake. Even now, thinking about it still makes me feel shocked.

"Commander, these Hellfire Missiles are so useful. Our regiment did a great job this time. Shouldn't we be able to get a few?" The deputy commander asked the commander expectantly.

"Isn't that obvious? In hand-to-hand combat, we killed more than four hundred Japanese soldiers and captured more than four hundred Type 38 rifles. With this achievement, he should be entitled to three or five Hellfire missiles." The Eighth Route Army regimental commander stared wide-eyed, spitting with joy.

This Hellfire missile doesn't need a cannon barrel; you can launch it by hand from a hole you just dug. It's incredibly convenient and easy to launch, and it's also very powerful.

In the past, we all coveted the Hell Cannon, but unfortunately, we weren't qualified.

Now that I think about it, if I could get the Hell Missile, it wouldn't be so important if I didn't get the Hell Cannon.

"Three or five missiles, isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?" the deputy regimental commander said. "Many units are definitely envious of these Hellfire missiles, and our regiment isn't the only one to have made a name for itself this time..."

Before the deputy commander could finish speaking, someone came to report: "Reporting to the commander, the commander of the 217th Regiment, Feng Zhihui, and his division commander have come and want to see you."

"What are these loyalists doing here? Could it be that they're eyeing our Hellfire missiles?" The deputy commander immediately turned to the commander.

“It’s as clear as day, they’re coming for our Hellfire missiles.” The Eighth Route Army regimental commander nodded and said, “But since they’re here, let’s negotiate and report back later.”

The Eighth Route Army commander had also heard about it; they were even planning to sell the Hell Cannon in the rear.

However, before selling them, we need to tamper with the shells to prevent the other side from obtaining the key core technologies.

These Hellfire missiles are so effective, they might be tampered with before being sold.

With such wealth, the elite troops are excellent easy targets for customers.

I heard that Li Yunlong introduced a client to the Border Region Arsenal and received a military equipment reward from the arsenal.

If we can close a deal, we'll definitely get a weapons reward.

Soon, Feng Zhihui and his division commander arrived in front of the Eighth Route Army regimental commander. Feng Zhihui smiled and congratulated him: "Regimental Commander Luo, congratulations on your unit capturing more than 400 Type 38 rifles. Congratulations!"

The Eighth Route Army regimental commander also congratulated him: "Regimental Commander Feng, your regiment seems to have captured quite a lot as well. Congratulations to you too!"

Although the 217th Regiment, a direct subordinate unit, suffered heavy casualties, it still managed to capture some items.

More than 200 Type 38 rifles, two grenade launchers, and four Type 11 light machine guns.

No bullets were seized.

Feng Zhihui cut straight to the point: "Commander Luo, at a critical moment, you bombarded the Japanese from the high ground on both sides and destroyed their heavy artillery positions in time. Where are your artillery pieces?"

"We don't have any artillery here," Commander Luo replied seriously.

No artillery?

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhihui and his division commander looked at each other, both finding it absurd.

Without artillery, did you really fire your shells by hand?
Feng Zhihui questioned, "Commander Luo, we are all friendly forces, not your enemies. You don't need to talk nonsense with me like this."

Feng Zhihui's division commander also asked, "If you don't have artillery, how do you fire your shells?"

"The shells were fired by hand from the ground," Commander Luo replied.

Fire a shell by hand from the ground?

Feng Zhihui, the division commander, and the guards he brought all stared at each other in disbelief.

Could it be that this shell was actually fired by hand from the ground?
What a joke!

For hundreds of years, cannonballs have been propelled out of the cannon barrel by immense chamber pressure.

Can your hardworking hands really fire a cannon barehanded?
One of the guards couldn't help but say, "Commander Luo, you're firing these shells by hand from the ground. Are you trying to hit the primer with a hammer and a chisel? Even if the primer ignites, without the enclosed space of the breech, the explosive energy of the primer will overflow. How are you going to push the shell out?" "We didn't use a hammer or chisel. We lit it with a match," Commander Luo corrected.

Lighted with a match?

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhihui and the people around him were immediately left speechless.

The idea of ​​igniting a cannonball with a match is utter nonsense.

If you light it with a match, does that create a sealed space?

Commander Luo explained, "This is a new type of shell that our border region's arsenal has just manufactured, called the Hellfire Missile. It doesn't need a cannon barrel; there's a fuse at the back of the shell. Once the fuse is lit, the shell flies out on its own."

Even after Commander Luo's explanation, Feng Zhihui and the others still couldn't understand.

The fuse on the back of your shell is probably used to ignite the primer.

Without a sealed chamber, how does the shell gain power to fly out?
If he hadn't witnessed the Eighth Route Army's hellish missiles detonating on the Japanese heavy artillery positions, and if Feng Zhihui hadn't found no clues on the high ground to the left and right, he probably would have completely turned against them by now.

Even if we are not military industry personnel, we are all soldiers.

We soldiers may not be able to manufacture artillery, but we do understand the firing principle of artillery.

You're talking nonsense; you're insulting our intelligence.

But at this moment, Feng Zhihui and the division commander stared at each other, then looked at each other with suspicion: "Commander Luo, you're not kidding, are you? These are newly manufactured shells from your arsenal?"

The Eighth Route Army's arsenal has been making headlines lately; the Hell Cannon made it famous overnight.

Then there are the cannons on the shoulders.

The practice of firing artillery from the shoulder set a precedent.

Now, your arsenal has produced the Hellfire Missile, which can fly on its own without being fired by cannons.

To be honest, even though Feng Zhihui and the others thought it was absurd that the shells flew by themselves, no one dared to completely deny it for the time being.

After all, the traces on the battlefield provided evidence that the Eighth Route Army did not fire any shells with artillery.

The military expert at the Eighth Route Army's arsenal was indeed a prodigy.

Otherwise, even the mountain city would have offered a significant bounty.

If you can capture this military talent from the Eighth Route Army alive, you'll be rewarded with 100,000 silver dollars and promoted three ranks.

"If you are interested in our Hellfire missiles, I can act as an intermediary and introduce you to our logistics department," Commander Luo said.

"Interested? Absolutely interested!" Feng Zhihui blurted out immediately. "How many do you have left? Name your price, and we'll take them all."

Commander Luo shook his head and explained, "I'm sorry, as you all saw, after that salvo of Hellfire missiles, our troops didn't use any more. That's because we didn't have many Hellfire missiles left, and we've already used them all. If you want to buy more, you'll have to wait until our rear arsenal produces more."

“That works too, that’s fine.” Feng Zhihui looked at Commander Luo. “Can I order ten now? Name your price.”

"As I said, I can act as an intermediary and help you make an introduction," Commander Luo explained, shaking his head again. "The specific price and delivery time need to be discussed with the logistics department first."

"Could you help me get a recommendation for logistics?" Feng Zhihui's division commander asked hurriedly.

Previously, Feng Zhihui had purchased some hand grenades from the Eighth Route Army's logistics department.

These grenades are very useful, so Feng Zhihui's division commander wanted to contact the Eighth Route Army's logistics department again to see if he could buy a few more.

But the Japanese army's mopping-up operation began, which caused a delay.

If we could meet with the Eighth Route Army's logistics personnel now, we could talk about Hellfire missiles and buy some more of these grenades.

Okay, enough of the nonsense.

In this battle, although the elite units achieved some success, they also suffered heavy losses.

They had also consumed a lot of supplies and were no longer able to forcibly search the Eighth Route Army's base.

Otherwise, the elite troops wouldn't pretend to be ignorant with the Eighth Route Army, and they wouldn't adopt a purchasing stance.

“It’s definitely not possible now. My unit hasn’t finished cleaning up the battlefield yet. Although the Japanese army has retreated, if we don’t wipe them out completely, they will quickly come back after replenishing their forces,” Commander Luo said. “I can remind our logistics department first, and then they will contact you when they are available.”

"Well, well, that's fine then." Seeing the other party's attitude, Feng Zhihui's superior knew that things couldn't be rushed.

Feng Zhihui took out the mud covered in blinding powder from his pocket and said to Commander Luo, "This blinding powder is a good thing. Can you sell it here?"

"If you're interested, I can also talk to the logistics department about it," Commander Luo nodded.

“Of course I’m interested. You should tell your logistics department about it.” Feng Zhihui nodded.

Feng Zhihui and his division commander exchanged a few more words with Regiment Commander Luo before withdrawing.

“Commander, I have a gut feeling that even if the Eighth Route Army manages to sell Hellfire missiles in the end, they will definitely have tampered with them, and we won’t be able to get the core technology.” Feng Zhihui’s expression was sinister. “Once we go back and rest, when the Japanese are sweeping through the Eighth Route Army again, we will launch a surprise attack on their base from behind. I don’t believe we won’t be able to find their arsenal.”

“That’s right.” Feng Zhihui’s division commander had a sly expression. “The Eighth Route Army is now a thorn in the side of the Japanese. The Japanese will vent their anger on them. We, their direct troops, will stay in the rear and wait for the right opportunity. I don’t believe we can’t find a chance to strike from behind.”

(End of this chapter)