Chapter 70

On the 16th, the Japanese military deployed flamethrowers, weapons of immense power capable of turning our positions into a sea of fire in an instant. Yet, even in the face of such terrifying attacks, our soldiers stood fearless, fighting back with heroic resolve. They understood that the Arsenal was of vital importance to the Eighth Route Army; if it were to fall into enemy hands, the consequences would be unthinkable. Therefore, they were willing to sacrifice their lives to defend this land. Though powerful, the flamethrower had its own inherent weaknesses. For instance, its range was limited, and its fuel consumption was rapid; once out of fuel, it became little more than a useless piece of scrap metal. Furthermore, because the flamethrower operators were burdened with heavy equipment, they were relatively clumsy in their movements—a vulnerability we could exploit. Moreover, the weapons themselves were flammable and explosive; Wang Diren wondered if they could even pass their own safety inspections.