Chapter 2: We’re Taking on the Elite—Introducing the Homemade 107mm Rocket Launcher!

Defying Fate!

“Ha...” Li Yunlong took a deep breath, silently thinking, “If I want to attract the attention of the Eighth Route Army’s higher-ups, I can’t be too low-key.”

“I choose to break through the Sakata Regiment head-on!”

At the very moment Li Yunlong made his decision,

[Ding dong! The host has made a choice. The reward has been delivered to the system space!]

Soon, information about the system space flooded Li Yunlong’s mind.

This system space was only for storing rewards granted by the system; as the host, Li Yunlong could retrieve items from it anytime, anywhere.

However, he could not place real-world items into the system space.

“What a pity...” Li Yunlong sighed inwardly. “If I could store real objects here, that would be much more convenient.”

“But this works well enough; I can withdraw system rewards whenever I want. It will surely prove invaluable in critical moments.”

While Li Yunlong pondered the system’s workings, Zhang Dabiao’s voice rang out again: “Commander, what should we do next?”

“The Sakata Regiment is powerful; we must find a way to break out as soon as possible.”

“Breaking out quickly is natural...” Li Yunlong raised an eyebrow. “But instead of breaking out through Yujialing, we’ll break through head-on, right through the Sakata Regiment.”

Hearing Li Yunlong’s decision, Zhang Dabiao’s heart skipped a beat, and he urged, “But this is disobeying orders on the battlefield.”

“Besides, the enemy defenses are weakest at Yujialing; retreating that way would be best.”

“Zhang Dabiao!” Li Yunlong shouted sharply, “Who’s the commander here?”

“You are,” Zhang Dabiao replied loudly.

“Then obey my orders!” Li Yunlong said coldly, unwilling to waste words.

“Yes, sir!” Zhang Dabiao immediately acknowledged.

Now, with the system’s reward stored in the system space, Li Yunlong could summon a devastating weapon like the Type 107 rocket launcher at will.

With the 107 rocket launcher in hand, why bother detouring through Yujialing? That would be pointless.

Li Yunlong then began searching for the Sakata Regiment’s command post, quickly spotting it perched halfway up the mountain through his binoculars.

This time, armed with the 107 rocket launcher, he could easily blow the Sakata Regiment’s command post to smithereens!

At this moment, Zhang Dabiao also noticed the location of the Sakata command post.

As the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion of the New Regiment, Zhang Dabiao was a capable military leader.

He naturally knew that assaulting the Sakata command post was a golden opportunity to counterattack and break through.

With this in mind, Zhang Dabiao immediately sought out Wang Chengzhu, the artillery officer of the New Regiment.

“Zhuzi, do you see that tent halfway up the hill?” Zhang Dabiao pointed to the distant Sakata command post. “Can you figure out a way to hit it with one shot?”

Wang Chengzhu gave a thumbs-up and began to make gestures.

Moments later, he confidently said, “The distance is too far. If we can advance five hundred meters forward, then definitely we can.”

“Good, the advance is up to our 1st Battalion,” Zhang Dabiao agreed without hesitation.

Then, Zhang Dabiao turned to Li Yunlong nearby and volunteered.

“Commander, I’m confident I can lead the 1st Battalion forward by 500 meters. Once Wang Chengzhu fires successfully, the Sakata command post will be destroyed, and the New Regiment can break out amidst the chaos.”

Hearing this, Li Yunlong raised his eyebrows.

Zhang Dabiao’s plan was indeed feasible, as in the original chronicles, Li Yunlong had used this very method to destroy the Sakata command post.

Of course, this plan came at a heavy price.

In the original story, Wang Chengzhu had sacrificed himself under enemy fire while destroying the Sakata command post.

Thinking of this, Li Yunlong rejected the proposal outright: “No need to advance.”

“I still have a high-range homemade cannon up the mountain. I’ll have Wang Chengzhu bring it here.”

“With that cannon, distance won’t be a problem.”

Soon, Li Yunlong extracted the Type 107 rocket launcher and 36 shells to a nearby hilltop and informed Wang Chengzhu of the location.

Before long, Wang Chengzhu returned carrying the 107 rocket launcher and the shells.

Seeing the massive weapon with twelve launch tubes before him, Zhang Dabiao looked puzzled—it was clearly his first time seeing such artillery.

“What kind of cannon is this?” Zhang Dabiao asked curiously.

Li Yunlong was too lazy to explain and casually replied, “A homemade cannon. We’ll use it to blast the Sakata command post.”

Upon hearing “homemade cannon,” Zhang Dabiao didn’t doubt it at all.

The Type 107 rocket launcher was so unremarkable in appearance that it resembled a farming tool when placed on the ground.

But Li Yunlong knew all too well the terrifying power of the 107 rocket launcher.

Wang Chengzhu was stunned and scratched his head awkwardly, “Commander, this is the first time I’ve seen this cannon. I don’t know how to operate it.”

“I’ll handle it,” Li Yunlong said firmly. “You just assist me.”

“But...” Wang Chengzhu hesitated, “The Sakata command post is halfway up the hill—over a thousand meters from our current position.”

“At that range, not even the most advanced mortars can guarantee a hit.”

“That’s because you don’t understand this homemade cannon’s range,” Li Yunlong smiled slightly. “Just wait and see; it can definitely reach.”

At this, Li Yunlong looked at Zhang Dabiao. “Go find Battalion Commanders Shen Quan and Wang Huaibao. We need a meeting.”

“Yes, sir!” Zhang Dabiao promptly obeyed.

Soon, Battalion Commanders Shen Quan and Wang Huaibao, along with Zhang Dabiao, Wang Chengzhu, and others, gathered around Li Yunlong.

Looking at everyone present, Li Yunlong spoke solemnly, “Gentlemen, we’re facing the Sakata Regiment—that much is clear.”

“They say the Sakata Regiment is the elite of the enemy, but our New Regiment fights elites.”

“They’re just a bunch of Japanese soldiers, the same as us—all with one head and two arms. How could we lose to them?”

“Remember this: in a narrow fight, the brave win. None of the soldiers in our New Regiment are cowards.”

“I will use the homemade cannon to directly destroy the Sakata Regiment’s command post.”

“If the Sakata command post is destroyed, the entire regiment will charge forward and break through the chaos at full speed. Understood?”

“Understood!” all present responded together.

Then, the battalion commanders of the New Regiment quickly went to prepare for battle.

...

Sakata Regiment Command Post.

Sakata Nobutetsu, the regiment commander, was stationed here.

At this moment, Sakata Nobutetsu held binoculars, observing the battlefield.

“Tsk tsk tsk...” Sakata Nobutetsu clicked his tongue and remarked, “This Eighth Route Army unit is no ordinary force. Their deployment is very deliberate.”

“Although their numbers are few, they’ve held out so long under our heavy firepower. Truly remarkable.”

His adjutant nodded repeatedly in agreement, “Indeed, the commander of this Eighth Route Army unit must be an exceptional talent.”

“To make such strong combat power with limited troops, this commander must be an important figure.”

“However, it’s a pity we lack detailed intelligence on them; this is a failure on our part.”

“No matter...” Sakata Nobutetsu waved dismissively with a disdainful smile, “Although the Eighth Route Army’s commander is strong, they are already trapped in our encirclement. There is no way out.”

“He’s just a dead man; his intelligence is not that important.”

“Still, it’s regrettable that such a man cannot serve our empire.”

Setting down his binoculars, Sakata Nobutetsu sighed thoughtfully, “The location of this command post is indeed excellent.”

“It commands a high vantage point, right on the frontline, allowing full observation of the battlefield and convenient command.”

“I believe soon I will witness the total annihilation of the Eighth Route Army forces opposite us!”

Hearing Sakata’s words, his adjutant expressed concern, “But isn’t it too dangerous to set the command post here?”

“After all, this is the frontline, very close to the battlefield.”

“You worry too much...” Sakata Nobutetsu shook his head confidently. “Though it seems on the frontline, it’s over a thousand meters from the Eighth Route Army’s position.”

“The ‘dirt-eaters’ lack artillery; even if they had it, they couldn’t hit us from a thousand meters away.”

“So even if the Eighth Route Army discovers our command post, they can only watch helplessly.”

“Besides, our fortifications are solid; no ordinary artillery can break them.”

Sakata Nobutetsu was utterly confident in victory, utterly dismissive of the New Regiment, despite admiring their tenacity.

Little did he know, Li Yunlong had already set up the 107 rocket launcher and aimed it at the Sakata command post over a thousand meters away.

Sakata Nobutetsu and his bunker were equally laughable...