During the 85th year of the Republic, all this changed. The Suiyuan Cavalry Brigade suffered a serious defeat in the battle, losing nearly half of its war horses and personnel, and nearly 3,000 infantry were also injured and killed and captured by nearly 3,000 people. Seven towns were lost one after another, which was an unprecedented defeat in the War against Rouran. Although the war horses and soldiers could be replenished quickly, officers and soldiers with combat experience could not be replenished.

In addition to the commander's mistake, the main reason for the defeat was that the Rouran rebels received assistance from the northern powers, and the large number of equipment of new cavalry and rifles and new infantry artillery greatly enhanced the enemy's combat effectiveness. At that time, the Feng army, which ruled the three provinces of Resui and Cha, was the base of the Feng army, with the three northeastern provinces as their bases. Under the strong pressure of public opinion, was forced to send a "Dingbian Army" composed of temporary recruitment of frustrated officers and volunteers. Liu Jingxiao was one of this army.

Although he was young, considering that he was already a qualified officer and had even richer combat experience than some veterans over thirty years old, he was also a talented graduate of the Zhuque Military Academy. At the same time, he also brought dozens of qualified officers, which made the Dingbian Army, which was extremely lacking in military talents, see a glimmer of hope for victory, so Liu Jingxiao was promoted to the position of battalion commander.

However, although the so-called "Dingbian Army" is called the First Army, its actual strength is pitifully small. The officers and soldiers sarcastically said: "The Dingbian Army has been passed down by four generations alone." Because the Dingbian Army only has one temporary division of Recha, and the Recha temporary division of Recha, only has one first brigade. The First Brigade does not yet have a regiment, but only has one combat detachment, with three infantry battalions, one cavalry battalion, one artillery company, two baggage companies, one communication company, and one search company. At best, it is a reinforcement regiment.

The cavalry battalion commanded by Liu Jingxiao is largely inconsistent with the name. There is only one cavalry company with less than forty cavalry in the entire battalion, and the other two companies are pure infantry companies composed entirely of studded infantry. The pack horses, mules, horses, war horses, and reserve horses of the entire battalion are only 60.

Compared to the fact that the organization is not true, the economic difficulties have more reasons to make the officers disheartened. The regular expenses of the entire army are only 10,000 yuan per month, which can only be used for the officers and soldiers to fill their stomachs. All the fire costs, allowances, horseshoe costs... are all lacking. The escape rate of the entire army is high. In the first month after the troops entered Rehe, the entire army had fled more than 200 people.

The problem with Liu Jingxiao's camp is even greater. Although there are absolutely not many mules and horses, mules and horses are obviously more edible than people. In half a month, the bosses who asked Liu Jingxiao for debts have already surrounded him.

No matter how much a military horse saves, five kilograms of grass and three kilograms of materials a day are required. After rough calculations, each horse will eat 20 cents and five cents of the ocean every day. In addition, the monthly reincarnation fee is four yuan, and the medicine fee is two and a half yuan. With other fragmentary expenses, a horse will eat an average of twenty yuan a month.

Helplessly, Liu Jingxiao took the initiative to fight and led the troops of Xinting to Xin'anling north and attacked Xilingol all the way.

Fortunately, the cadres in this battalion were basically alumni brought by Liu Jingxiao from the Zhuque Military Academy, so command was not a problem. After several battles, the newcomer who was in battle for the first time was able to shoot skillfully, and the feelings between the officers and soldiers became increasingly deep.

Liu Jingxiao led the battalion to sweep the way, and successively wiped out several small rebel troops who came out to fight Qiufeng. The casualties were small, but the harvest was quite good. The officers and soldiers finally received some of the fire-burning fees and horseshoe fees. This led to his prestige in the army gradually increasing.

However, the source of funds can always be from gray channels, by selling contraband, officers and soldiers even drank the spirits from their hometown for the first time.

Wine...Wine...

The officers and soldiers refused to taste it in big mouthfuls, but just drank it slowly and moistened their throats first and savored it in their hearts.

Although this was a bad wine produced by Zhang Bei, Liu Jingxiao personally mixed it with water this afternoon. In the heart of the man who had not smelled the wine for more than two months, this was like a fairy wine. Looking at some of his brothers' eyes, Liu Jingxiao warned: "Who dares to use the gun to change the wine privately, I will twist his head off first!"

Although food, clothing and consumption are now exchanged for business of contraband, the cavalry battalion still has strict military discipline in this regard. The battalion commander must personally come forward for the sale of seized materials, and the negotiations must involve three officers at the same time to show justice.

On the one hand, this will maximize the profit of the seized materials. On the other hand, it is also for the sake of maintaining military discipline. After entering Xilingol, the military discipline of the cavalry battalion is quite good, and at least it keeps the Rouran tribe on Xilingol in a neutral state.

Liu Jingxiao suddenly shouted: "Fang Chuming, stop being sloppy, you have poured a glass!"

The guy named Fang Chuming smiled embarrassedly. Liu Jingxiao didn't care. He poured him another cup and said, "Then let's have a drink for me!"

Although the amount of wine in the sheepskin bag is heavy, it is not much. After fifteen minutes, the wine in the sheepskin bag is almost over. Liu Jingxiao said: "Don't pour it down! I'll send some to the brothers who are standing guard! Give me a cup!"

Chen Ninghe held the rifle tightly in his hand and looked ahead with vigilance. Although the moon was shining, the torch was less than fifteen steps away, and the other side was pitch black.

The night wind in Xilingol was mixed with endless cold air. Through the military coat she was covered with, it penetrated deeply into the bone marrow. The torch could not bring a trace of warmth, but he still patrolled all this without hesitation.

A sound of footsteps broke the tranquility. Chen Ninghe picked up the rifle, looked back, and saw a suspicious black shadow walking behind, and shouted at the black shadow: "Who? Command!"

The other party replied: "Restore the mountains and rivers! It's me!"

"Battery Commander!" Chen Ninghe put away his rifle, straightened his body, and saluted Liu Jingxiao respectfully.

Liu Jingxiao nodded, but looked to the left of the post. There was an ambush sentry he had personally arranged. When he saw a soldier turn his face and smile at himself, he felt much more relieved.

"How about it?"

"Nothing is moving!"

"That's good! I've brought you some wine, and you'll drink some later... don't drink too much... it will make a mistake..."

Chen Ninghe took the cup full of water-filled wine, sipped it in a small mouthful, his face suddenly filled with the glory of happiness, and said, "Battery Commander, I have something to tell you?"

"What's the matter? Apart from not being able to help you get married, you can do something if you have some strength to be a battalion commander!"

Liu Jingxiao is very capable of buying people's hearts. Chen Ninghe said with a little gratitude: "Battery Commander, it's not a big deal. I'm just changing the gun!"

"I want to change the rifled gun! As long as I work hard, I promise I will change the gun next time I fight! You have taken this gun and tried it!"

While speaking, he took the rifle from Chen Ninghe, skillfully stroked the gun body with his left hand, raised the rifle in front of him, and was about to speak, "Bang!", the muzzle jumped violently, and the huge recoil pushed the defenseless Liu Jingxiao backwards, and the rifle made a crisp sound in the dark.

"It's gone!" When Liu Jingxiao was sighing at his luck, he heard a scream in his ears, followed by a burst of sighs and noises coming from dozens of steps away.
Chapter completed!