On February 26, 1640, after several days of rest, three warships guarded two merchant ships of the South China Sea Transportation Company, carrying a large amount of supplies and left the Hezhongbao Pier in turn, heading towards Mozambique Island and Suez Port.

When the Second Fleet was leaving, Mo Ming, the captain of the South African Development Team, decided to conduct this year's sweep operation in advance after repeated consideration. He was originally planning to mobilize militias to carry out this year's sweep operation after the autumn harvest ended in mid-May, but considering that the Executive Committee might start the development plan of the Horse Island at any time, he no longer delayed it and decided to take advantage of the assault in just over two months before the autumn harvest to destroy some of the Xhosa black tribal alliance forces that are still entrenched in the area near Dongshan (Sedberg Mountain).

During last year's major sweep, many Xhosa people in the mountainous areas of Dongshan were well-informed and fled to the mountains and hid, and some even crossed the mountains to the Great Karu Plateau area to the east. Therefore, these Xhosa people preserved their strength well during the major sweep of the East Coast people. After the East Coast people left, they began to migrate westward from the mountainous areas and gradually devoured the territory of the Koisan people (mainly the San people). The San people, who had greatly lost their strength during the East Coast people's raid, were unable to resist and retreated step by step. It is difficult to see the San people again south of the Great Yanchi.

Moreover, it is said that the black Xhosa tribes in the west of the Dongshan Mountains have basically surrendered to the chief of a large Xhosa tribe in the east of Shandong. The large Xhosa tribe is numerous, extremely powerful, and easy to fight. It is believed that it has merged and integrated many small Xhosa tribes in the western section of the Great Karu Plateau through bribery, war and other means. According to the sporadic news received by the East Coast people, the population of this tribe may have reached more than 50,000. Among them, more than 10,000 strong men can be conquered at any time. It can be regarded as a rare powerful force nearby.

What is particularly noticeable is that this tribe is said to have made several transactions with the British in the Cape Town area. The British exchanged cattle and sheep for cattle and sheep for food with some muskets and ammunition from these Xhosa people. This was confirmed by some British refugees who recently fled. According to their recollection, the chief of this tribe was extremely visionary. He exchanged hundreds of cattle and sheep for about two hundred muskets and some ammunition for the British as his trump card for fighting with other tribes.

However, these rumors seem too far away for the people on the east bank of Hezhong Fort. Especially some rumors about barbarians, it is even more difficult to attract the interests of people on the east bank. Now they don’t have to worry about food and drink, and the only thing they are interested in is all kinds of goods from the local area. However, the prices of those goods are not very cheap. If you want to afford those things, you have to find a way to get more money. Now, an opportunity to make money is in front of them.

"Get up, don't sit fucking! The company commander is here!" A middle-aged man in a yellow military uniform came over. Under his urging, the farmers of Yuanhezhong Fort who were originally sitting on the ground chatting stood up in panic.

Zhang Daniu dusted the grass clippings on his brand new yellow military uniform, and then stood up with a rifle. Standing beside him was his neighbor, Mr. Zhang, who are now both of them are soldiers of the newly mobilized 104th Company of the Army Reserve.

Speaking of this 104th Company, it is one of the four newly formed army reserve forces by the military headquarters last year. The company has a company structure of 180 people like the regular army. Perhaps the difference between them and the regular army is their yellow uniforms (the regular army is dark blue), and only one-quarter of the training volume.

"Sun Erdan is just a platoon leader, so what's so arrogant!" Zhang Daniu chattered constantly, but his movements were not slow at all. The officers had long used horse whip to let them understand the importance of obeying orders.

Zhang Defa glanced at Zhang Daniu, smiled coldly, and whispered: "You are useless to say these things now. If you put more effort into training at the beginning, don't try hard on your Persian woman all day, you won't be as good as Sun Erdan. After all, this platoon leader is not from the sky. If you have the ability, you can also fight for one."

Zhang Daniu was flushed with his face and said, "Bah, just talk about me, aren't you a bullshit lieutenant like me? You can be a corporal and a sergeant, or something."

"I'm different from you." Zhang Defa glanced at Zhang Daniu and said, "I'm over thirty years old this year. According to the seniority of the village at that time, I am still your uncle. You are not capable of a strong young man, so let me go like an old man?"

The two are neighbors in the village. They are mostly separated when working and training. The relationship is pretty good, but when they are fine, they love each other when they are fine.

At this time, Xiao Baitu, the acting company commander of the 104th Company, and Sun Shengjun, the deputy company commander, had already arrived in front of the team one after another. The soldiers quickly lined up under the command of the officer. Xiao Baitu, who was a cavalry officer, inspected a little in front of the queue, and then waved his hand, the deputy company commander Sun Shengjun immediately stepped forward and shouted loudly: "There are all the 104th Company of the Army, with guns on their shoulders, turn right, and walk in unison! One, two, one...one, two, one..."

On another playground that is only a few dozen meters away from them, Mo Ming, the highest commander of South Africa, was seeing off Xie Hansan and others. During this sweep operation, the Hezhong Fort mobilized a total of 485 people from the Fourth Company of the South African garrison, the 104th Company of the Army Reserve, the South African Cavalry Company (local troops, 90 cavalry), and the South African Field Artillery Company (local troops, 4 artillery pieces); plus 400 indigenous Eight Banners spearmen recruited, and 100 British fugitives; plus some Eight Banners slaves who acted as husbands, the total strength was about 1,300.

It can be said that the army essence in the Hezhong Fort area is here. As for the local defense after they left, the militia and the remaining Eight Banners soldiers were responsible as usual.

After the 104th Company set out, followed by the army's baggage troops and the spearmen troops, and the elite fourth company of the army was the last one to be in the formation. As for the cavalry troops, they set out half a day earlier than the main force, and they probably had already walked out dozens of miles.

On March 10, after nearly half a month of hard marching, the entire army first went north and then turned east, and entered the Xiang River Basin along some small river valleys between the Dongshan Mountains. In fact, they didn't need to spend so much time on the road, but some intern officers from the South African Garage Command needed to draw maps along the road and inspect local vegetation, rivers, geology and other environments, so it was a waste of time.

However, since the cavalry troops who set out first one day ago reported the news that they discovered the enemy, the entire army suddenly accelerated their marching speed. At present, they are only a few kilometers away from the famous Cran William Dam area in later generations. According to the news sent by the cavalry, three small Xhosa tribes are grazing and farming nearby.

The mountain road is becoming increasingly difficult to walk, and there is a desolate scenery everywhere. The continuous hills and low mountains are covered with vegetation, but it is still mostly low bushes and few big trees. It can be seen that the rainfall here is not very sufficient. However, as long as you climb over this mountain and enter the Xiang River Valley, the green along the way should be more abundant.

Xie Hansan stood on a rugged hillside, raised his telescope and looked forward. The 104th Company, who was walking in the front, had entered a rugged and difficult canyon area. The artillery and baggage troops that were originally following them had already fallen to the end because of the rugged and difficult roads. Xie Hansan had no choice but to order the British fugitives to stay and guard them forward.

Xie Hansan picked up a cowhide water bag from his waist and gently drank a few sips of cold boiled water to relieve the thirst of his throat. After walking for several days, the soldiers were already very tired. The Fourth Company, which was usually strictly trained, was fine, but the 104th Company, which was not trained, was a little different. After a few days of departure, some soldiers shouted that their feet were worn out, which made the officers get angry. Two more days later, most of the soldiers found that their water bags were empty. In desperation, Xie Hansan had to pause and let someone go to the nearby river to fetch water and boil water.

"These farmers who just put down their hoes are still not good, so they need to practice more." Xie Hansan looked at the slightly crooked formation of the 104th Company ahead and sighed in his heart. As a hidden member of the Emperor Han, he still had some hope for the 104th Company, a unit mainly composed of Han people. However, it seems that this unit is far from being formed. Every year, they only have time to concentrate on training during the slack season, whether in terms of discipline, physical fitness or military skills, they are not as good as the Fourth Army Company, which is close to the close. They still have a lot to learn.

Before this big sweep, the officers of the 104th Company had just taken their seats, and before that, they had not even conducted a long-distance training. The soldiers sent them to the battlefield without sufficient training, which seemed to Xie Hansan a crime. The east coast was no more than other countries. Because of their sparse population, every soldier was precious. They were not war animals, but professional soldiers carefully trained by the country and could not be squandered at will.

The only interesting thing in South Africa is probably the cavalry unit led by Leonid. There are many officers in this unit. The non-commissioned officers are Shaanxi people from thieves. Under their leadership, the cavalry unit is also the most diligent and strictest troops in daily life. The soldiers' military qualities are generally high, so their combat effectiveness is naturally much stronger.
Chapter completed!