Chapter 189: Man-Portable Rocket Launcher

"Lao Li," Zhao Gang said with a solemn expression, "the orders from our superiors have been issued. We will become the first cross-border unit, shouldering the heavy responsibility of breaking into Taiyang and intercepting the advance of the Star-Spangled Country."

Li Yunlong picked up the cigarette on the table, lit it, and took a deep drag.

"It should have been like this long ago! Watching the Star-Spangled Country run wild at our doorstep, I've had a fire burning in my heart for a long time!"

He turned to the Regimental Commanders and Battalion Commanders present, "Pass on my order: the entire army is to enter a state of combat readiness immediately. Polish the weapons until they shine, fill the magazines, and as soon as Mingyuan's new equipment arrives, we set out!"

The next day at noon, a convoy slowly drove into the military camp.

Li Mingyuan jumped down from the first jeep and was immediately grabbed by the shoulders by Li Yunlong.

"Brother Mingyuan is here!" Li Yunlong patted his back, so enthusiastically that Li Mingyuan could barely breathe, "I've missed you to death!"

"Lao Li," Li Mingyuan said with a smile as he broke free, "I've brought all the new equipment, along with the operation manuals and training plans."

Li Yunlong looked at the ten strangely shaped All-Terrain Tracked Vehicles and clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Is this the all-terrain vehicle you were talking about? It really is damn small and exquisite!"

"Don't let its size fool you; its capabilities are not small," Li Mingyuan walked to the nearest vehicle and patted the body lightly.

"Five tons in weight, three tons of payload, a top speed of fifty kilometers per hour, a fording depth of one point two meters, and a climbing ability of thirty-two degrees. In the mountainous terrain of Taiyang, this vehicle has better flexibility than a tank and better mobility than a jeep."

Li Yunlong whistled, "Isn't this the equipment I've been dreaming of? Let's go, we have to test it!"

Without another word, he climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine.

With a roar, the tracked vehicle moved forward steadily. Li Yunlong excitedly drove a lap around the drill ground and then deliberately steered toward a steep slope.

The vehicle climbed steadily up the slope without the slightest slippage, reaching the top smoothly.

Li Yunlong jumped down from the vehicle, his face beaming with joy.

"Good fellow! This is simply an iron Mongolian horse that can climb mountains! With this thing, we can run however we want in those mountain gullies of Taiyang!"

The surrounding soldiers also gathered around, full of curiosity about this new type of vehicle, discussing it all at once.

"Look at these tracks, they're much narrower than a tank's, flexible!"

"The cockpit can even seat six people, and it can hold weapons and ammunition!"

"Is that an Anti-aircraft Machine Gun on top? Can it hit planes?"

Li Mingyuan smiled and answered them one by one, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Seeing these fully armed soldiers and their eyes filled with anticipation, a sense of mission welled up within him.

"Come on, stop crowding around," Li Yunlong waved to gather the soldiers.

"In a moment, Chief Engineer Li will introduce all the new equipment to us. Everyone listen carefully; these are all life-saving gear!"

On the drill ground, the soldiers lined up neatly. Li Mingyuan stood in front of a row of neatly arranged weapons and equipment and began to explain in detail.

"This is the improved Type Automatic Rifle. Compared to the old model, its accuracy is improved by 20%, the rate of fire is increased by 15%, the magazine capacity is 30 rounds, and the effective range is increased to 400 meters."

"This is the mm Rocket Launcher. It can fire 12 Rocket Shells at once, covering an area three times that of a standard Mortar, making it especially suitable for dealing with the cluster targets of the Star-Spangled Country."

"This is the Tianluo Air Defense System, composed of Anti-aircraft System guns guided by Radar, capable of effectively intercepting enemy planes at about 2000 meters."

"This is the Ultra-light Alloy Mortar. It is 40% lighter than traditional Mortars, but its range is increased by 20%, and a single soldier can operate it independently."

With the introduction of each weapon, the soldiers' faces showed increasing confidence.

These weapons clearly surpassed the equipment they had used before, giving them the confidence to contend with a powerful enemy.

Finally, Li Mingyuan picked up the black cylindrical object.

"This is our trump card—the 'Flying Dragon-1' man-portable air defense rocket. A single soldier can operate it. It has a range of 4000 meters and a hit rate as high as 70%. It can effectively deal with various planes of the Star-Spangled Country, including their pride and joy, the 'Sabre' fighter jet."

The whole place fell into Silence. Everyone stared at this seemingly ordinary cylindrical object, finding it hard to believe that a weapon carried by a single soldier could counter the advanced fighter jets of the Star-Spangled Country.

"Is that for real?" a young soldier couldn't help but ask, "Just this little thing can shoot down a 'Sabre'?"

Li Mingyuan did not answer, but instead turned to Li Yunlong, "General, why not demonstrate it on the spot?"

Li Yunlong grinned, "I was just waiting for you to say that!"

He turned to the Communication Soldier, "Notify the shooting range to release the target drone; we are going to test the man-portable air defense rocket!"

Half an hour later, at the shooting range.

A remote-controlled aircraft circled in the sky, simulating the flight path of an enemy plane.

Li Mingyuan handed the "Flying Dragon-1" to an ordinary soldier who had never touched this type of weapon before and gave him a few minutes of instruction on the essentials of operation.

"It's very simple: aim, lock on, fire. The rocket will automatically track the target."

The soldier nervously shouldered the launcher and, following the instructions, aimed at the target drone in the sky.

"Ready... fire!"

Whoosh—!

The Rocket Shell dragged a white tail flame as it rushed into the sky, rapidly approaching the target drone.

Everyone watched with bated breath, only to see the Rocket Shell make a turn and accurately strike the target drone.

Boom!

With an explosion, the target drone disintegrated in the air, and fragments fell in all directions.

A thunderous cheer erupted on the scene!

The soldiers jumped up excitedly, high-fiving each other in celebration.

An ordinary soldier, with just a few minutes of training, could shoot down an enemy plane!

Li Yunlong laughed and walked to Li Mingyuan's side, patting his shoulder heavily.

"Good! Very good! With this treasure, if the Star-Spangled Country's planes dare to run wild over our heads again, we'll make sure they don't return!"

Morale was high, and everyone was eager to have a go, unable to wait to fight the enemy.

Li Mingyuan felt a sense of relief.

Although these weapons might not seem very advanced from the perspective of later generations, in this era, they were enough to change the landscape of the battlefield.

And most importantly, they boosted morale—war has never been just a contest of weapons, but a duel of wills.

That evening, Li Yunlong assembled all officers and soldiers to hold a brief and solemn oath-taking ceremony.

"Comrades!" He stood on the high platform, his voice resonant.

"We are about to become the first cross-border unit, shouldering the heavy responsibility of defending our home and country! Relying on their advanced equipment, the Star-Spangled Country has been acting recklessly in the Sun Country, and now they have reached our very doorstep! The Party and the people have entrusted us with the heavy responsibility of blocking the invaders from the Star-Spangled Country, and we must not fail this trust!"

Below the platform, eight thousand soldiers responded in unison, their voices like thunder.

"Now, we have new equipment: the improved Type 56 Rifle, the Bulletproof Cotton Jacket, the 107 Rocket Launcher, the 'Flying Dragon-1' anti-aircraft rocket... these are all advanced weapons developed for us by Chief Engineer Li and his team! With this equipment, we have the confidence to fight any enemy!"

The soldiers raised their weapons and shouted slogans, swearing to defend the motherland to the death.

Li Yunlong surveyed the entire field and continued:

"This afternoon, we received the latest intelligence: the Star-Spangled Country has reinforced the Sun Country border with three divisions and deployed a large number of air forces. The situation is grave, but we do not fear! At dawn tomorrow, we will set out, cross the border, and strike directly into the north of the Sun Country to block the offensive of the Star-Spangled Country! Let the invaders know the iron-blooded commitment of the Long Country's soldiers!"

"Fight for the motherland!"

"Fight for the people!"

"Fight for peace!"

Eight thousand soldiers shouted in unison, their oaths resounding through the clouds.