"You must have them. You're so capable."
Wang Diren couldn't figure out where Li Yunlong’s confidence came from.
"I have a weapon that's supposed to be powerful, but it’s just a toy. Do you have any explosives?"
"We are a full regiment. I wouldn't say we have a surplus, but we definitely have explosives," Kong Jie said after a moment of thought.
"Then let's replace the sand in my toys with explosives and see how it performs."
Wang Diren was very cautious.
"Shen Quan, go with Brother Wang and fetch the items," Kong Jie ordered.
Wang Diren had stashed the twenty toy directional landmines in a nearby cellar, and he retrieved them with Shen Quan. Shen Quan arranged for his men to swap the sand for explosives, following instructions to add bits of iron scrap and nails as well.
Wang Diren wasn't entirely at ease and suggested, "Shall we set one off to test it?"
"It’s agreed, we aren't paying for this. We haven't even accounted for the explosives you're using up."
That was so like Li Yunlong. Wang Diren was speechless.
"One blast from this will net me at least fifty gold bars. How can you have the nerve to ask for them for free? I won't haggle with you; let’s just count this one as a sample."
Wang Diren didn't mind. The toys really weren't worth much—they were mostly filled with sand, and only the Eighth Route Army would treat them like treasure.
"Keep bragging. You're even better at blowing hot air than I am," Li Yunlong retorted, unconvinced.
Wang Diren placed some wheat stalks in the area facing the "THIS SIDE TOWARD ENEMY" label; he also wanted to see what the actual effect would be. Once everything was ready, he directed everyone to move back—no joke, the backside wasn't necessarily safe, and standing ten meters away wasn't guaranteed to be secure either.
*BOOM!*
A thunderous explosion shook the earth. The wheat stalks were flattened, swaying and broken as if swept by a gale.
"My goodness! Is this what you called a toy? It’s too brutal," Li Yunlong exclaimed in shock. Cries of surprise rose up all around them. They inspected the area; each stalk of wheat was embedded with dozens of steel shards and nails.
"Good heavens! If this were a man, could he even survive? He’d be turned into a sieve!" Li Yunlong marveled.
"How many do you have? I want them all. Tell me, how much money do you want?" Kong Jie was also incredibly excited.
"Why talk about money? We are in the middle of a war, fighting the devils. You kill a whole troop of them; just give me a gold tooth or two later, and I'll be satisfied. But Li Yunlong has to be the guarantor." Wang Diren felt it wasn't the time to discuss money. The geese were still flying in the sky; what was there for brothers to argue about?
"That’s no problem," Kong Jie said, without needing to consult Li Yunlong.
"It’s settled. As an anti-personnel landmine, the original design intent is to use wide-range fragmentation to stop an enemy advance. Such mines are usually placed in critical defensive positions or strategic locations to reinforce a line and inflict heavy casualties on the enemy." Wang Diren began to channel his inner instructor; it felt great.
"This not only increases the attack area but also significantly increases the difficulty and risk for the enemy to pass through the zone," Kong Jie added, unexplainably excited.
"Next, let’s discuss how to set an ambush for the devils and cook them a pot of steel stew," Li Yunlong said, not wanting to be left behind.
"The cliff at the back of the mountain is the only path the devils can take; the passable area is only a few meters wide. That makes things easy," Kong Jie said, as he was more familiar with the terrain of the defense zone.
With two tactical masters on board, Wang Diren didn't need to worry about the details anymore.
"Do you have any other good stuff? Bring it all out and let everyone see," Li Yunlong, as expected, never had enough.
"That only works for defense and is too passive. There will inevitably be some that slip through the net. We must take the initiative. I also have rapid-fire hand crossbows and night-vision goggles. These are perfect for night battles. We can see the enemy, but they can't see us. Let’s equip one company first and test the results," Wang Diren mused.
It was the same cellar, and Shen Quan led the men to retrieve the gear. By now, the sky had turned dark, and everyone was trying out the equipment. Through the goggles, everything outside was clearly visible. Li Yunlong was green with envy.
"I can't take it anymore. I can't stay on as the head of the clothing factory. Even if you only give me a platoon, I must lead soldiers."
On the edge of the ambush site, they kept watch for two nights. The sentries were posted far out. On the third night, a squad of Japanese soldiers moved quickly through the darkness. They were indeed well-trained; despite their speed, they made no sound at all.
*Swish.*
*Swish.*
Grappling hooks were thrown onto the cliff. The devils were as agile as monkeys, moving as if on flat ground. The first wave had already climbed the cliff.
But it was all in vain. No matter how good your kung fu is, you're still afraid of a kitchen knife. The soldiers saw them clearly through the night-vision goggles, and several resolutely triggered the directional landmines.
*Boom!*
*Boom! Boom!*
The devils on the cliff were swept down in rows, and several corpses were blown straight off the mountain. The devils' quality wasn't bad, though—a few lucky ones hid behind trees and rocks, trying to counterattack, but they heard no gunfire and saw no muzzle flashes.
The soldiers, however, saw them clearly. The crossbows fired in succession, and one by one, the devils were picked off. The first wave was almost completely wiped out. The devils below the cliff were clueless and kept climbing up without fearing death. Several more directional landmines were detonated. It was the same familiar recipe, the same familiar taste. Hearing the explosions and watching the corpses and bits of flesh falling one after another, Yamamoto Ichimu finally believed they had been ambushed. Looking at the few men he had left, he finally gave the order in frustration:
"There’s an ambush here. Retreat!"
In this battle, the Independent Regiment won a complete victory, killing over eighty enemies while suffering only a few minor injuries. These were the elite of the elite among the devils. They captured over sixty submachine guns, several light and heavy machine guns, and several grenade launchers and mortars, along with countless ammunition. This was mainly because the devils had been caught by surprise and hadn't had the chance to use up their ammunition, and their submachine guns and machine guns were heavily loaded.
"Is this what you called a toy? It’s truly too brutal," Li Yunlong exclaimed again.
Wang Diren hadn't left in these two days, mainly because Kong Jie hadn't paid him yet; they had agreed to settle with gold teeth after the battle.
"Commander Li, why aren't you leaving now?"
The daring fellow replied, "Let it be whatever it’s going to be. Death is the worst that can happen. I’m already at rock bottom anyway; maybe they'll demote me to a platoon leader, which would be for the best."
"Dead devils are truly good enemies; they send more equipment. It’s just that they ran into me, and I don't follow the rules of the game. No matter how good your kung fu is, one blast knocks you down."
"This batch of equipment is truly good stuff. Their tactics aren't actually bad either. If it weren't for Brother Wang, if I had run into them directly, I would’ve been skinned alive even if I didn't die."
"Brother Wang was brought by me. We’re partners in business, so you have to give me half. Or, just write a report to the Brigade Commander, and I’ll join you. Use this equipment and I’ll lead a group of elite soldiers for you."
"Giving you half is impossible. Don't even think about it. You can join me, though; it’s a waste of your talent to be embroidering in a clothing factory."
"The remaining landmines have all been recovered, right? They absolutely must not fall into the hands of the devils." Wang Diren remembered something and felt as if something had been overlooked.
"That’s a given. I’ve issued a strict order," Kong Jie guaranteed.
Faint sounds of gunfire drifted from the distance. Wang Diren felt a bit uneasy. The victory had come too easily; could there be some twist?