Chapter 15: Tear Gas and Mortars

Chapter 15: Tear Gas and Mortars



Bruno and his company of riflemen would continue on with their patrol for the rest of the day. Coming across several other Boxer rebels on their route. It was becoming increasingly clear that the Boxers were acting out of desperation.

The overwhelming majority of their movement had been thoroughly obliterated in the early days of the conflict. What remained were a fraction of their initial numbers, many of which had resorted to banditry and brigandry in order to stay alive.

Rumors of contact with the Boxer rebels spread like wildfire across the military base upon Bruno's return. It was a rare occurrence, after all, there weren't many of them left, and their remaining cells were spread across the Northern Chinese countryside. Hiding where they could, and taking from the locals whenever possible.

To the men on the base it was surprising that Bruno's company had multiple incidents with the Boxer rebels, wiping them out to the last man in every encounter. While sustaining limited casualties. Under Bruno's watch, not a single man beneath his command had met an end. Albeit, some had been inflicted with minor wounds.

It had only been a month or so since the occupation began, and already things were progressing smoothly on Bruno's end. He proved very quickly to have a mind for counter insurgency.

Having learned how to think like an insurgent in his experiences within Afghanistan. Bruno was uniquely in a position to anticipate when and where the Boxers would strike, and how they would do so.

The battalion commander began relying more and more on Bruno's inputs, as his company alone appeared to having the most contact with the enemy. After weeks of conflict, things started to settle down. As less and less Boxers remained active participants in fighting against the foreign occupation.

Currently, Bruno was in a room that one might consider being the "officer's club" on base. It was a common gathering place for commissioned officers, whether to discuss the war effort, or to simply have a smoke and a beer.

Either way, Bruno refused to partake of alcohol while deployed. Believing, even if he was located within the safety of the base, that there was always a danger present. And it was the fact that he was the only one completely sober in this discussion, which caused several of his peers within the battalion to make fun of him.

"Every day we gather here to drink, smoke, and talk about the operations, and every day you refuse to do so, Captain von Zehntner. I'm starting to think you must be some kind of religious fanatic... Are you sure you don't want a beer?"

Bruno was leaning against the wall in the back of the room, watching the other officers entertain themselves with nicotine and alcohol. He himself was in the act of smoking a cigarette when he responded to the Captain's remarks.

"On the contrary, I am the direct opposite of a religious zealot. In fact, I am quite open about my lack of faith. But even so, it is an objective truth that partaking of substances that dull the senses is incredibly unwise while you are in the middle of an active Warzone.

You never know when the base could come under attack, and what would happen if that occurred while the Officers in charge were all intoxicated? My sobriety is a matter of professionalism, not morality. Which is something that you would know very little about Captain Mueller...."

Bruno had been on the receiving end of Captain Mueller's harassment ever since he was freed from his cell. The man was one of those officers who was investigated for war crimes. And while Captain Mueller had been cleared of any potential wrongdoing. Bruno understood that the man was most definitely aware of what was happening and looked the other way the entire time.

Combine that with the envy towards Bruno for the repeated successes in the field which culminated in gaining the ear of the Battalion commander, and it was no wonder why several of the other captains treated him with hostility.

The moment Bruno accused Captain Mueller of lacking professionalism he rose to his feet, clearly antagonized by the remarks, as well as slightly buzzed. Just enough that his judgement had been affected by it.

However, before the may could properly aggress towards Bruno the Battalion commander raised his voice. Having just entered the room to witness what was happening.

"Captain Mueller, stand down!"

The captain looked over at the Lieutentant Colonel who called out to him and immediately felt himself sober up. It became abundantly clear as he was chewed out by the Battalion commander that Bruno had laid a trap for him. Making sure that he would make a fool of himself just in time for the Lieutentant Colonel to witness it.

After being forced to sit down and remain silent, Captain Mueller glared daggers at Bruno, who continued to smoke with a smug smile on his face. It was not until the Lieutentant Colonel began speaking about their upcoming operations that Bruno put out his cigarette and joined the other captains at the table.

If you can promise to hold off the assault until these preparations are made, and simply encircle the enemy position in the meantime so that they cannot escape. I can guarantee you minimal casualties, while also assuring utter annihilation of the enemy."

The Lieutentant Colonel was intrigued by this promise that Bruno had given him. Like Bruno had suspected, he was quick to grant approval, as the lives of his men were more important than a swift victory against the rebels and their last stronghold in the region.

"So long as you keep your word, I will grant you approval to contact whoever you need to speak to in the fatherland. However, be aware, if this operation of yours results in a failure, or more casualties than are to be expected I will hold you responsible for it!"

Bruno immediately saluted the Lieutentant Colonel, responding in the affirmative as he did

so.

"Thank you, sir!"

After saying this, Bruno was granted permission to send a telegraph back home. Where he contacted his father, giving him the chemical formula for CS gas. Or more commonly referred to as Tear Gas. While also creating the means for its deployment via the use of lightweight

80mm mortars.

Lightweight mortars were an invention of the first world war. In the year 1900, mortars were generally very large bore artillery pieces that required the same means of transportation as howitzers and field guns. They simply fired at a different arc hence why they were called

mortars.

What Bruno had sent his father via telegram was a detailed account on how to manufacture a

lightweight 80mm mortar that could be carried and operated on the move by a small team of men. It was a revolutionary concept for the year he was in.

And had the potential to change the nature of warfare as the world currently knew it. That was

assuming, of course, anyone other than the Germans learned about this device and how to copy it.

The mortar he designed was based on the ones used by German Paratroopers in WW2. In his past life, it was known as the kz 8 cm GrW 42. The weapon weighed 26.5kgs or 58.4lbs and could be broken down into three pieces for ease of transportation.

As for the chemical formula of CS gas, that would normally not be invented until the 1920s.

And at this time, there was no outright ban on the use of chemical warfare. Even though the first of the Hague Conventions was signed a year prior.

Because of this, there were no moral qualms using Tear Gas to smoke the Boxer Rebels out of the temple, and into the open where they could be fired on while in a temporarily disabled

state.

This also gave Bruno the ability to display his vast knowledge of mechanical engineering and chemistry for the first time since reincarnating in this world. Knowledge which he had gained in both his past life and his current one. Bruno's father responded, affirming that he would begin the production of the 8cm Lightweight Mortars immediately, and would use his powers as a member of the Committee for Land Army and Fortifications to approve emergency deployment of the device once it had been tested briefly for functionality and safety.

It would be a month or two before the prototype weapon was shipped off to China, and in the

meantime the Battalion which Bruno served in would encircle the enemy at Mount Cangyan while waiting for their revolutionary new weapon to arrive.