Chapter 90: Pyrophobia!

After listening to Duan Peng’s report, Jiang Bai’s lips curled into a sharp smile.

“It seems the enemy’s sense of smell is truly keen,” he said. “After years of infiltration, who knows how many people they've bribed into serving them? Intelligence networks have sprung up like mushrooms after the rain, riddling the entire Chengyun Province with vulnerabilities.”

“You have breakfast in the morning, and within an hour the news is delivered straight to the enemy general’s headquarters. Secrecy is almost impossible. That’s why, before the war, we must build an effective defensive mechanism, or else we’re bound to lose the intelligence war.”

Jiang Bai turned to Duan Peng and continued, “Duan Peng, I intend to establish a secret intelligence bureau—both to collect information and to counter the enemy’s network. From this moment forward, your unit will no longer be under the Independent Regiment’s command.”

“Do your utmost to eliminate enemy agents from Chengyun Province before the conflict breaks out, and destroy their intelligence network. This task requires us to start from scratch; it is not only challenging, but fraught with uncertainties. Are you certain you can succeed?”

The collection of intelligence has always been a priority for certain hostile forces.

After Jiang Bai finished his instructions, Duan Peng’s eyes burned with determination. He straightened his back and responded in a voice full of strength and resolve, “Rest assured, Commander—I will not disappoint!”

Jiang Bai’s decision to expand Duan Peng’s special forces was not only a response to strategic needs, but also a testament to his trust and recognition of this young general’s potential.

When approving the expansion and allocating special secret funds, Jiang Bai had no intention of informing the old marshal about its purpose. In this chess game, every move had to be made with the utmost caution, ensuring absolute safety and secrecy.

Afterward, Jiang Bai took time to visit the new recruits’ training base.

He saw soldiers on the training grounds performing standard tactical drills, piles of spent shell casings littering the earth, and nodded approvingly.

As the saying goes, marksmanship is fed with bullets. Without extensive shooting practice, soldiers have little hope of achieving precision on the battlefield.

Watching an infantry squad advance through complex terrain, Jiang Bai suddenly offered a suggestion regarding firepower configuration.

Li Jian, accompanying him, quickly stepped forward, eager to record his advice.

Jiang Bai proposed that every infantry squad be equipped with a light machine gun—an innovative move he decided to pilot first within the 62nd and 63rd Divisions. If successful, he would gradually implement the strategy across the entire army.

Both the 62nd and 63rd Brigades had been upgraded to divisions during the previous expansion. As elite units under Jiang Bai’s command, they were not only armed with the latest weapons, but their soldiers were of exceptional caliber.

According to Jiang Bai’s estimates, the combat effectiveness of the 62nd and 63rd Divisions was now comparable to top-tier divisions.

Jiang Bai did not intend to use the enemy’s Class-A divisions as his sole benchmark. Instead, he sought to suppress them by boosting his own troops’ firepower.

It’s worth noting that even during the Second Dynasty War, the enemy only managed to equip each squad with two specific types of light machine guns—equivalent to the strength of one of our platoons. This was mainly due to the enemy’s limited factory capacity, which couldn’t produce enough ammunition—a forced measure.

In the current era, the enemy’s machine gun numbers have dwindled further. Typically, a Class-A brigade is assigned just one machine gun squad, with sixteen heavy machine guns, and light machine guns are rarely seen.

When Jiang Bai suggested that every infantry squad be equipped with light machine guns, Li Jian asked in surprise, “Commander, isn’t it a bit extravagant to equip every squad with a light machine gun? The logistical burden alone would be enormous.”

Though light machine guns boast impressive rate of fire and firepower, their demand for ammunition is equally tremendous.

Jiang Bai explained, “I know it seems excessive, but it’s necessary. In terms of physical endurance, we may be no match for the enemy, so we must seek advantages elsewhere. The most direct method is to enhance our firepower.”

“This way, we can achieve firepower suppression on the battlefield and effectively thwart enemy charges.”

“In my opinion, trading ammunition for the life of an enemy soldier is worthwhile.”

“Besides, light machine guns aren’t heavy. If we use belt-fed models, a gunner and an assistant can carry enough rounds for several battles. As long as the supply lines are open, we can keep fighting.”

Li Jian, though hesitant, nonetheless recorded the suggestion in his memo.

Thanks to foreign aid, we have established two rifle and ammunition production lines in a certain region. If they supply only the two main divisions, production will be more than sufficient.

Additionally, Jiang Bai paid special attention to sniper training. According to his requirements, a large number of high-precision rifles equipped with scopes were imported from abroad, allowing distant targets to be seen clearly and greatly improving lethality.

Once these precision rifles were distributed to snipers, their mission was to focus on targeting enemy officers.

Before launching an attack, the enemy typically led the charge with their officers. If these leaders could be accurately eliminated by snipers, it would undoubtedly deal a heavy blow to the enemy’s morale.

Therefore, Jiang Bai attached great importance to the sniper’s role and instructed that each infantry platoon be equipped with at least one sniper observation team.

As for reconnaissance units, they were assigned directly to operate within infantry squads.

“Commander, the thirty-millimeter ultra-light mortar we developed in collaboration with Kepo has now been successfully completed.”

“Its range easily covers three hundred meters, and its destructive power is astonishing.”

“Once fired, all targets within ten meters are swept away, and those within twenty meters are still hit by shell fragments.”

Jiang Bai nodded in satisfaction. Although mortars are simple in principle and don’t require particularly demanding materials, for Rheinmetall, masters of advanced metalworking, this was a trivial task.

Later, Li Jian organized a live-fire demonstration for Jiang Bai.

With a series of muffled booms, the mortars fired at a rate of thirty rounds per minute, and their explosive power stunned all the gathered generals.

“My God, the power of this little thing is incredible—almost on par with light artillery!”

“It’s terrifying. I feel this will trigger a revolution in weaponry if it’s widely adopted!”

“Heavens, with this ultra-light mortar, the next time we strike the enemy, they will be in serious trouble!”

“This thing is extremely portable. If we can mass-produce it, we could equip it at the company or platoon level as support firepower!”

By contrast, Jiang Bai’s expression remained exceptionally calm.

For the design of this ultra-light mortar was his own creation, so its capabilities did not surprise him.