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

Chapter 289 Blinding Powder Resists the Japanese

While the officers and soldiers of the elite troops were like chickens on steroids, charging back at the Japanese.

The Eighth Route Army troops on the high ground on both sides were no longer in a defensive posture.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Japanese artillery positions had been destroyed and there was no more shelling, the Eighth Route Army troops on both sides of the high ground, under the cover of light and heavy machine guns, immediately charged down from the high ground like tigers descending the mountain.

Those Eighth Route Army soldiers, who were blocked by the heavy Japanese troops behind the Kumamoto Division, also revealed their true sharp teeth.

Previously, they had only launched a feint attack on the rear of the Kumamoto Division, with the aim of drawing the Kumamoto Division's heavy firepower.

Now, the elite troops are spreading out in the middle, while the Eighth Route Army on the left and right highlands is charging forward rapidly. The Eighth Route Army behind them is using its most powerful firepower to directly cut off the rear of the Kumamoto Division's army.

"Damn it!" Commander Kumamoto brandished his sword, personally leading the troops to the front lines, and roared, "Warriors, even if we no longer have air support or artillery, we still have machine guns and grenade launchers. Hold them off!"

Although the Kumamoto Division was at a disadvantage at this moment, the individual combat capabilities of the Japanese soldiers were not to be underestimated.

Under the command of the Kumamoto Division Commander, the Japanese soldiers and their collaborators quickly stabilized their formation.

But it's only temporarily stabilized.

Muto Juichi shouted to the Kumamoto Division Commander, "Commander Kumamoto, we've used up too much ammunition. Without a resupply, we can't hold out for long."

Major General Miyai also shouted loudly: "Commander Kumamoto, we need airdrops, we need more airdrops, and we need air power reinforcements. Immediately have the commander send us more reinforcements!"

"When ammunition runs out, try to mix with the enemy and use the advantage of close combat to stop them," Commander Kumamoto ordered.

At the same time, the division commander Kumamoto still ordered the communications officer: "Send a telegram to the commander immediately, tell him our current situation, and ask him to quickly send army air reinforcements to us."

Although reinforcements from the Army Air Force are difficult to obtain, the army is in imminent danger, so reinforcements from the Army Air Force will still be available.

"Hai!" the communications officer quickly gave the order.

Under the orders of the division commander Kumamoto, some Japanese troops charged into the enemy ranks with bayonets and engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

The soldiers on the elite side were fearless; they fought bravely and relentlessly, engaging in a fierce battle with the Japanese invaders.

Although Feng Zhihui, the commander of the 217th Regiment of the elite army, had most of the bureaucratic problems of the elite army officers, these bureaucrats all had one more prominent characteristic.

That is, when there is an opportunity to gain merit or make money, they will work harder than anyone else.

Feng Zhihui, who had also received rigorous military academy training, gripped a Chiang Kai-shek rifle and fixed a bayonet.

Although his weapons were not as long as the Japanese Type 38 rifles with bayonets, Feng Zhihui never fought the Japanese soldiers head-on; he always attacked from behind.

Unfortunately, the Japanese soldiers were back to back and very vigilant, so Feng Zhihui failed to find an opportunity to strike several times.

"Damn it, those Japanese Arisaka rifles are longer than our rifles, we're at a huge disadvantage!" Feng Zhihui was furious, like a toad with short legs that couldn't climb onto a kang (a heated brick bed).

"Commander, look over there at the Eighth Route Army!" someone shouted to Feng Zhihui.

Feng Zhihui turned his head and looked over, his pupils immediately contracting.

A dozen or so Japanese soldiers were seen covering their eyes and coughing violently, their weapons falling from their hands.
"Ah, bastard!"

"Baka! Cough cough cough!"

"My eyes, bastard, cough cough cough!"

……

The Eighth Route Army soldiers seized the opportunity to slash at the Japanese soldiers with their broadswords, and the dozen or so Japanese soldiers were quickly killed.

The same scene quickly unfolded on the Eighth Route Army's side of the battlefield.

The Eighth Route Army soldiers, holding something in their hands, approached the Japanese soldiers and swung it directly at their faces.

Then the Japanese soldier covered his eyes, screamed and coughed violently, and quickly lost his fighting ability. He was then taken down by the Eighth Route Army soldiers.

"My God, what kind of secret weapons are these Eighth Route Army soldiers carrying? They're so effective in close combat!" Feng Zhihui exclaimed in astonishment.

If I could get my hands on this thing, I wouldn't be afraid of hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese anymore.

"It looks like iron filings," someone said to Feng Zhihui.

"Can iron filings be inhaled into the lungs and cause breathing difficulties?" Feng Zhihui questioned directly. "Can iron filings immediately make it impossible to open one's eyes?"

"Could it be chili powder or something?" some people questioned.

"The Eighth Route Army is already marching towards us. Let's wait until they've driven away the Japanese soldiers on our side, and then we'll see what secret weapon they're using." Feng Zhihui wisely decided not to speculate.

The Eighth Route Army troops drove back the Japanese soldiers and then charged towards Feng Zhihui's position.

As soon as the Eighth Route Army came over, they threw what they were holding at the Japanese soldiers' faces, and the Japanese soldiers on this side immediately covered their eyes and screamed in pain.

Even Feng Zhihui, who had never had a chance to kill a Japanese soldier, took the opportunity to stab two Japanese soldiers to death.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the remaining Japanese soldiers quickly retreated.

Feng Zhihui grabbed a company commander from the Eighth Route Army and asked, "Brothers, what are these things you're holding? How come they're so useful?"

"Blinding powder," the Eighth Route Army company commander replied.

Blinding powder?
Feng Zhihui was stunned for a moment when he heard this.

He was clearly hearing about this for the first time.

However, this thing is indeed quite effective on the battlefield.

Feng Zhihui hurriedly asked, "Brother, you don't have any more? Give me some." "I can't give you any more, I've used them all up," the Eighth Route Army company commander shrugged.

He had indeed used it all up. He had killed more than two hundred Japanese soldiers in close combat using the blinding powder, so the blinding powder was really completely used up.

“Oh, it’s okay, we can buy it after the battle is over,” Feng Zhihui said, indicating that he didn’t mind.

The enemy ran out of blinding powder, and the Japanese soldiers temporarily retreated. Feng Zhihui still grabbed a handful of soil from the ground.

The soil was stained with blinding powder.

He looked down and examined it closely, discovering wood powder inside, as well as the smell of coal.

There are some black particles left, but I don't know what they are.

Unable to figure it out, Feng Zhihui put the soil into his pocket.

He shouted to his troops, "Attack! Keep attacking!"

The same scene is playing out everywhere else.

The Japanese soldiers were running out of ammunition and wanted to take advantage of close combat.

After being taught a lesson by the Eighth Route Army's blinding powder, the Japanese troops quickly retreated to the center, while their own troops and the Eighth Route Army seized the opportunity to launch an attack.

"Division Commander, these Eighth Route Army soldiers throw some kind of powder at our soldiers whenever they see them. This stuff can damage their eyes and lungs. Our soldiers are suffering too much in close combat." Muto Juichi said through gritted teeth to Division Commander Kumamoto. "We can't suppress the enemy in close combat, and they're attacking again. We have to think of a solution quickly."

"Those damned Eighth Route Army guerrillas, as treacherous as ever!" Commander Kumamoto was also very annoyed.

Throwing unidentified powder into our soldiers during close combat is no different from children throwing sand into each other's eyes during a fight!
Ammunition is running low, and our advantage in close combat has been neutralized. Are we really going to be trapped and die today?

Major General Miyai said, "Division Commander, I have a suggestion."

"What suggestion?" Commander Kumamoto asked, looking at him.

"Collect the ammunition from the puppet troops," Major General Miyai said.

"That's just a drop in the ocean," the Kumamoto Division Commander pointed out, adding that the puppet troops were out of ammunition and were very likely to surrender.

Major General Gongjing said, "We have very little supplies and ammunition left. If the number of these puppet troops is greatly reduced, wouldn't that alleviate our logistical pressure?"

For example, a batch of supplies was originally enough to feed 50,000 people for a day.

If only half the number of people remain, then this batch of supplies can last for two days.

The same applies to ammunition.

Five thousand people can use up one day's worth of ammunition, and half of them can use it for two days.

Muto nodded and looked at Division Commander Kumamoto: "Division Commander Kumamoto, I think this method is acceptable. In the current situation, we are probably doomed to lose this battle, and there is no way to turn the tide. But we should still try our best to preserve the strength of our Imperial Army. As for the surrender of the puppet troops, let them surrender. As long as we can withdraw, there are so many spineless cowards on this land, we will not lack lackeys in the future."

"Keep the puppet troops with strong combat capabilities, and deal with those who are not strong in combat, like to slack off in battle, or cheat and shirk their duties." The Kumamoto Division Commander quickly made up his mind.

"Yes."

……

Taiyuan First Army Headquarters
"Commander, an urgent telegram has been sent by the commander of the Kumamoto Division."

A staff officer rushed into Yoshio Shinozuka's command room with a telegram in hand.

"What happened in Kumamoto?" Yoshio Shinotsuka asked quickly.

Bombers have been sent to Kumamoto, and transport planes have airdropped supplies to him. Why is he sending this urgent telegram? Could it be that the Kumamoto division commander not only failed to do his job well, but also made some mistake?

The staff officer replied, "The Kumamoto Division Commander said in his telegram that the artillery positions were attacked by new-type shells fired from pits by the Eighth Route Army. The artillery positions are gone, and the elite troops and the Eighth Route Army took the opportunity to launch a counterattack. Due to insufficient ammunition, even if the army has temporarily stabilized its position, it probably won't last long. I need you to send another plane to reinforce it immediately."

Upon hearing this, Yoshio Shinotsuka's eyes widened: "Baka! What did you say? The Eighth Route Army put new types of shells into pits and fired them? Is that really true?"

Previously, when Yoshio Shinotsuka received this information, he was so angry that his nose was crooked.

For hundreds of years, artillery shells have been propelled out of the barrel by powerful chamber pressure.

Launching artillery shells from craters is an absolute joke.

Now, you're telling me this again.

The heavy artillery position of the Kumamoto Division Commander was attacked in this ridiculous way, and the entire artillery group was wiped out!
Baka! This is unbelievable!

I can't believe it.

If you fire a shell from a pit, how can it fly without chamber pressure?
"Commander, now is not the time to discuss the Eighth Route Army's artillery shells being fired from the craters. The situation is dire for Division Commander Kumamoto. You must make a decisive decision," the staff officer reminded him.

“Go and call the division commander of Kumamoto back. The bomber and transport plane reinforcements will arrive soon. Tell him to break out as soon as possible and then retreat to a city near the Zhengtai Railway. The military train will deliver the remaining supplies to him. Also, five truckloads of tungsten ore, not a single gram can be missing, they all have to be brought back.” Yoshio Shinotsuka said, still suppressing his emotions.

The moment the Kumamoto Division Commander's logistical supplies were destroyed, the failure of this sweep was sealed.

But the Kumamoto Division Commander was unwilling to give up, and so was Yoshio Shinotsuka.

Once the Kumamoto Division breaks through and the military trains transport the remaining supplies, the mopping-up operation will continue!

"Hai!" The staff officer hurried off.

Yoshio Shinozuka picked up the phone on the table and requested air support again.

(End of this chapter)