Chapter 210: The Gap in National Strength

Although there was the first Tonggu Campaign, for the th Division it could not be called a great victory, and its own losses were also heavy.

It also depended on Tonggu's positions, and Dai Anlan obtained Jiang Anguo's first Brocade Bag, decisively confiscated the British weapons, and after receiving this weaponry, the damage inflicted on the Japanese Army was enormous.

But this time, the battle lasted only a few hours and wiped out so many Japanese troops.

Not to mention tenfold; a Japanese unit of five thousand men was almost a brigade, and in the past, not ten times the manpower but at least the strength of ten divisions would be required to avoid being shattered by the Japanese Army.

Everyone turned their eyes to the map on the table, where dense arrows and symbols were marked in red and blue pencil. They did not understand, or rather, could not believe the worth of this victory.

Firepower—we have T-34 tanks and support from 105mm Howitzers. This is the only reasonable explanation they could think of.

It can be said that under absolute firepower superiority, the Japanese Army was helpless.

Dai Anlan listened quietly until everyone finished speaking. He then slowly rose and walked to the map.

"You are all correct; firepower is the foundation of our victory," he said, pounding heavily with his finger on the blue symbol representing the tank units, "but have you ever wondered why our firepower can produce such a devastating effect?"

He lifted his head, his gaze blazing, scanning every puzzled face.

"This victory is also thanks to the weapons and equipment provided by Jiang Anguo, which greatly strengthened the th Division's capabilities. The Little Devil and we have long been old opponents; their tactics are simple—just fighter aircraft and bombers to bomb once, then artillery, and finally infantry to charge. Yet this simple tactic has beaten us like this."

"In Tonggu, our th Division's equipment was not inferior, yet even so, the first Tonggu Campaign cost us over two thousand brothers. But don't forget, in that first Tonggu Campaign we also dealt lethal damage to the Little Devil. This time we have artillery and tanks; although it was a surprise attack on the Japanese Army, the Little Devil didn't even have a chance to respond—this is true modern warfare."

"If all our domestic units had this firepower equipment, I believe within a year we could drive the Little Devil out of Huaxia."

Dai Anlan's voice rose, "So, brothers, this victory is not luck. It tells us a truth: in war, merely having a fearless spirit is insufficient! We are even less afraid of death than the Devil, but before, our weapons were inferior to the Little Devil's, so we were constantly pressed. Now it's different—we wield weapons more advanced than theirs and powerful artillery!"

"We used steel to crush their Bushido!"

That final sentence, like a heavy hammer, struck everyone's hearts hard.

"Good!"

"Division Commander!"

At that moment, a discordant voice rang out, "I just don't know if there will be any more Howitzers or tanks later."

It turned out to be Deputy Division Commander Peng Bicheng of the th Division, the person they had just been cheering for, who now quieted down.

"Yes, I heard Jiang Anguo was the last to withdraw, blowing up all the artillery and everything."

"I think I still heard the sound of an explosion."

"What a pity, that was a 150mm Howitzer, and there aren't many domestically."

Speaking of that, Dai Anlan felt a pang of heartache; after being accustomed to poverty, they suddenly became prosperous, only to lose it again, now forced to return to the old days.

Before departure, Lin Yi received Jiang Anguo's order to re-equip the th Division, having refreshed its armament, including weapons—all German Mauser 98K rifles—and the units were equipped with many 60mm and 81mm mortars, and each battalion also received a certain number of 75mm mountain guns.

Three months of the Myanmar Campaign caused heavy losses to the th Division's weapons and equipment; obtaining replenishment was already very difficult.

At that time, the explosion at Tonggu was not actually the sound of Jiang Anguo destroying the 150mm Howitzer and tanks.

In fact, Migong received Jiang Anguo's order and bombed Tonggu Airport; the massive explosion at the airport led people to think Jiang Anguo had already blown up the weapons and equipment.

But they also knew that in Myanmar they could not take these equipments away, yet the 150mm Howitzer could, with great effort, indeed be taken.

However, Jiang Anguo considered that taking them would affect marching speed; heavy weapons in the muddy Myanmar jungle would hinder movement.

Watanabe Masao had already made a mistake, leaving heavy weapons far to the rear and advancing lightly, causing the Japanese Army 56th Division to be almost completely annihilated, and he himself fell into Jiang Anguo's hands.

Only some troops that stayed in the rear managed to survive.

Jiang Anguo, having a system at hand, was not lacking weapons and equipment; moreover, now he was using a level‑3 system, where a 150mm Howitzer cost only 100 points and came with five 150mm shells as a gift.

At that moment, the classroom door creaked open.

A figure stepped in from the darkness, military boots striking the wooden floor, producing a steady and clear footstep sound.

Dai Anlan instantly turned, a flash of surprise in his eyes, "Jiang Anguo, you finally came."

"Swish"—with that sound, all the officers sprang to their feet, looking at Jiang Anguo, their eyes full of respect.

If it hadn't been Jiang Anguo, the th Division's grudge from Tonggu would not be avenged for an unknown length of time.

But now it's good; the retribution comes without delay.

The newcomer was Jiang Anguo.

His gaze swept over faces blackened by war yet still vigorous.

Jiang Anguo said loudly, "I just heard the Division Commander speak, and my heart also surged; after a few days, I will supply the th Division with twelve German-made 105mm Howitzers."

It's not that the 150mm is bad; the 150mm requires mechanization, and in northern Myanmar's terrain, the 105mm Howitzer may not be as useful as the Little Devil's Type 94 mountain gun.

When they said this Howitzer would be destroyed, Shi Xiaomao was the most heartbroken; he wept, with snot and tears pouring out.

Jiang Anguo had tried to persuade him many times.

No matter what he said, it was useless; heartache, truly heartache.

Domestically, not only the 150mm Howitzer but even the 75mm infantry gun is considered a cannon.

Shi Xiaomao had studied in Germany, so he understood the national strength gap between Germany and Huaxia; regarding domestic units, which unit can equip a mortar at the platoon level? Not even a mortar— even the Little Devil's grenade launcher is beyond them.

If, truly just if, any mortar—even a 60mm mortar—could be equipped at the battalion level for fire support, the resistance would not be so hard.

The firepower gap is truly huge.

This is also a national strength gap; if all units could equip 60mm mortars at the battalion level, the threat to the Japanese Army would be enormous.

Huaxia never lacks good soldiers, but war is changing, and the weapons in hand are changing; you cannot let an agricultural nation wield a hoe against guns and artillery.

The Little Devil's heavy artillery brigade is rarely deployed; once deployed, at least two division-sized forces surround it for protection, showing the Little Devil is very concerned about heavy artillery.

But on the European battlefield, in the United States, the 105mm Howitzer is only considered light artillery, and only Howitzers with a 150mm caliber are called heavy artillery.