Chapter Fifty-One: The Artillery Regiment!

In truth, Chen Qingzhi's vision was to ensure that within each combat unit of the independent mixed brigade, every squad—the basic tactical element—would possess at least one light machine gun, providing fire support at the squad level. Beyond that, there would also be a grenade launcher portable by a single soldier, and fire support teams at the company and platoon levels. When it came to units at the regimental level, an artillery company or even an artillery battalion would be required.

Only with such arrangements could the troops guarantee sufficient firepower, ensuring that, when facing the Japanese, they would not be overwhelmed by enemy fire. Chen Qingzhi’s entire configuration of weaponry and equipment was modeled directly after the standards used by the Japanese army. Though the Japanese were adversaries, their approach to equipping their forces was certainly worthy of reference.

Within the Japanese ranks, every small detachment was outfitted with a machine gun and a grenade launcher; company-level units were always provided with artillery, making their firepower formidable. It was precisely because of this configuration that a single Japanese regiment could often withstand the assault of a whole division from the Nationalist side without faltering.

Everyone on the Nationalist side was painfully aware of this, but impoverishment made it impossible to equip their troops with such weaponry. Their only recourse was to rely on human-wave tactics, sacrificing soldiers’ lives to overwhelm the Japanese by sheer numbers. However, thanks to the Iron Blood Resistance System, Chen Qingzhi could use accumulated points to exchange for weapons, allowing his troops to be outfitted with luxuriously advanced arms.

Watching his jubilant, enthusiastic soldiers, Chen Qingzhi allowed himself a slight smile as he walked to the side of Zhu Xiaocheng, commander of the artillery regiment. Regarding the artillery regiment, Chen Qingzhi had indeed spared no expense.

For the infantry, acquiring weapons was relatively economical; the logistics department had previously delivered a batch of Mauser rifles, and combined with captured arms, Chen Qingzhi only needed to equip about six thousand men. Between rifles and machine guns, he spent roughly 380,000 points. With a total of 580,000 points at his disposal, the remaining 200,000 points were almost entirely used to exchange for artillery.

In fact, before exchanging for new artillery, the independent mixed brigade already possessed a considerable number of guns. Some had been acquired during the defense at Zhonghua Gate, exchanged specifically to counter the Japanese; others were captured from the enemy’s 115th Regiment, and still more were sent by the logistics department.

Among these artillery pieces, there were four mountain guns with 82mm caliber, two mortars with 80mm caliber, twelve mortars with 62mm caliber, and six Type 92 infantry guns.

These guns alone were more than sufficient to outfit an artillery battalion. After careful consideration, Chen Qingzhi spent 20,000 points to acquire ten GR.W.34 mortars with 80mm caliber, and another 20,000 points for twenty mortars with 62mm caliber. Fearing that these smaller-caliber pieces might lack power, he also exchanged for eight mountain guns with 82mm caliber at 2,500 points each, totaling 20,000 points.

Additionally, he acquired twelve FH18 Krupp howitzers with 105mm caliber, produced in Germany, at 4,000 points each—an expenditure of 48,000 points.

With these additions, the artillery regiment of the independent mixed brigade now boasted twelve howitzers of 105mm caliber, twelve mountain guns of 82mm caliber, twelve mortars of 80mm caliber, and thirty-two mortars of 62mm caliber. Such firepower was sufficient to outfit an entire artillery regiment.

As for the artillery companies within each infantry regiment, Chen Qingzhi exclusively exchanged for Japanese Type 92 infantry guns. The Type 92 was considered the best-value artillery piece among the Japanese, yet its power was substantial, with a caliber of 70mm.

Notably, this infantry gun was exceptionally compact, standing only sixty-two centimeters tall, and if the shield was removed, the height dropped to around fifty centimeters, making it very easy to conceal. It could be deployed alongside regimental and battalion-level infantry right at the front lines, close to the enemy and difficult to spot.

Moreover, it was ideal for use in complex terrain. Whether in field battles or mountainous combat, it provided excellent support for infantry, meeting nearly all fire support needs of any battalion. Its lightweight—only 0.2 tons—and its ability to be disassembled and dragged by manpower made its operational requirements astoundingly simple.

Its straightforward construction made it easy to produce during wartime, and correspondingly, it was simple to operate and maintain. One could say this infantry gun was extraordinarily practical.

Each gun cost only 800 points to exchange—cheaper even than the 62mm mortars. Chen Qingzhi exchanged sixty of them in one stroke, equipping the artillery companies of three regiments.

Altogether, exchanging for artillery cost 156,000 points. With less than fifty thousand points remaining, Chen Qingzhi spent 20,000 points to acquire eight anti-aircraft cannons for the air defense battalion, and used the rest to exchange for corresponding shells.

Thus, the previously accumulated 580,000 points were spent in full, not a single point left! Though he had used them all at once, Chen Qingzhi felt no regret—only a growing sense of sufficiency and pride.

Only now did his independent mixed brigade truly possess combat strength. Chen Qingzhi firmly believed that, with these weapons, and once trained to proficiency, his brigade would surely deliver a tremendous ‘surprise’ to the Japanese in the coming Battle of Xuzhou.

Chen Qingzhi led Zhu Xiaocheng to the place where the artillery was stacked. Upon seeing the array of guns, Zhu Xiaocheng was utterly stunned, deeply shocked.

He gazed at the dazzling array of artillery, their barrels angled toward the sky, reflecting cold gleams under the sunlight. The impact on Zhu Xiaocheng’s heart was indescribable.

Since graduating from the Whampoa Military Academy, Zhu Xiaocheng had never seen so many artillery pieces. The sight of so many guns at once caused his previously calm expression to flush with excitement; for a moment, he could not find words, his mouth opening but nothing coming out. At last, he hoarsely asked in disbelief, “Commander, are these really our regiment’s guns? Am I dreaming?”

“Of course they’re real!” Chen Qingzhi patted Zhu Xiaocheng’s shoulder and laughed. “As long as you give me your best in fighting the enemy, and train an elite artillery regiment, there will be even better guns in the future!”

Chen Qingzhi spoke no falsehood; the more Japanese he killed, the more points he would earn, and with those points, he could exchange for any artillery he desired.

“Commander, don’t worry!” Zhu Xiaocheng quickly patted his chest and declared resolutely, “With these guns, I can definitely train an elite artillery regiment, and when the time comes, the Japanese won’t know what hit them!”