Chapter 1355 The role of the cavalry battalion

Among the generals who entered the high-level ranks of the Haihan military in the early stages of time travel, Harugong was one of the few who stood out. This was mainly because the troops he commanded were too special, and the speed and scale of the army were subject to many restrictions.

, coupled with the special environment and development route that Haihan is in, the navy is the main body, and the battle situation faced by the Haihan Army has little room for cavalry to play, so the chances of him leading his troops on the battlefield to participate in combat are relatively small.

Since there are so few, his military exploits are naturally far inferior to those of other generals who have been leading troops on the front line for a long time.

Of course, Harugong also wanted to train thousands of cavalry troops, and then show off their skills on the mainland, but Hainan Island did not have good pasture conditions, and the cost of domesticating a large number of war horses was extremely high, and on the sea

In the area controlled by the Han Dynasty, the combat missions that the cavalry could perform were extremely limited. A considerable number of the cavalry trained by Harugong were eventually dismantled and assigned to various army units to serve as horsemen delivering military orders, or as horsemen.

As the traveling escorts for dignitaries and senior officials, the actual number of soldiers remaining in the cavalry battalion has always been only more than two hundred cavalry.

With such a scale of cavalry, even if every soldier is armed to the teeth, it is only a small group of elite soldiers, and its role in a relatively large battlefield environment will be very limited. So every time the cavalry is dispatched, haha

Lu Gong cherished it very much, hoping to obtain more military exploits from it, and used this to apply to the Ministry of National Defense for more resources to develop the cavalry force.

In the south, there are very few opportunities for organized cavalry to enter the mainland. It was only after arriving in Dengzhou that the cavalry began to be dispatched frequently. The terrain along the northern coast of Dengzhou is flat, making it easier for the cavalry to move. But now it is autumn and winter.

At that time, it was difficult to obtain food and fodder supplies for the horses in nature, and transport ships had to be followed along the coastline. This also placed certain restrictions on the scope of the cavalry's activities.

The plan that Harugong told everyone at the meeting was for the cavalry to come out and make a feint attack to frighten the Ming army in Dengzhou. However, his real idea was to take this opportunity and use it as an actual battle without any plan.

If he really encounters the Ming army, he will not hesitate to resort to force and teach the Ming army a lesson. In short, Harugong does not intend to bluff and go away, but wants to take this opportunity to practice again.

Let’s take a look at the actual combat capabilities of the cavalry under his command.

After leaving Jijia Town, Harugong no longer planned to march along the coastline, because such a march route was too easy for the Ming army to guess based on supply issues, so he sent someone to the beach to notify the supply fleet and agreed to meet next time.

After reaching the location, he led his troops diagonally to the southwest and entered the inland area. He and the supply fleet each carried radio stations and exchanged information twice a day to maintain contact. There was no need to worry about completely losing contact after going deep into the inland.

The cavalry battalion only carried a small amount of fine food, which could last the war horses for one to two days. Although doing so would be risky, Harugong believed that he could find supplements locally before the food and grass were exhausted. What's more important is that

, this would make it impossible for the Ming army to predict the movements of the Haihan cavalry, and would have a greater effect of deterring and containing them.

To the southwest from Jijia Town is a large field, and forty miles away is another town, Xindian Town. In the past, these places were all connected farmland, but after the Denglai Rebellion, a large number of local people fled

, and the fields in these places were also abandoned, leaving not many people. Although the Haihan cavalry passed by here in broad daylight, it did not attract any attention at all. The cavalry scattered on the periphery did not find any Ming troops.

Traces of activity.

In fact, as Harugong expected, when the Ming generals predicted the march route of the Haihan cavalry, they considered the supply problems that the Haihan cavalry would face if they marched straight into the Ming-controlled area, and also realized that Haihan might take

The maritime supply tactic was adopted, so the reconnaissance cavalry was deployed in the coastal area west of Jijia Town, waiting for the Haihan cavalry to enter the surveillance area.

But in this confrontation between calculation and counter-calculation, Harugong still took the initiative. His march to the inland precisely avoided the main reconnaissance direction of the Ming army, and he led the team into the Ming Dynasty quietly.

The army did not deploy surveillance areas. What could a large group of cavalry do in an undefended countryside? Harugong soon commanded his cavalry to give the answer.

Xindian Town is about forty miles away from Jijia Town and Dengzhou City. However, because it is relatively close to the inland, the official road from Dengzhou to Fushan County does not pass through this place. Therefore, regarding various changes that have occurred in the outside world,

The news that can be received here is a few minutes late. The defense and early warning range deployed by Liao Qianshi in Dengzhou City does not include Xindian Town.

When the Haihan cavalry appeared outside Xindian Town, the people here inevitably fell into chaos. Most people did not understand whether the people outside the town were Ming troops, Haihan people or bandits. But for them,

There doesn't seem to be much difference between the three. As the saying goes, bandits are like a comb, soldiers are like a grate, and officials are like a shave. As long as there is an army crossing the border, nothing good will happen.

Many people immediately fled home, closed their doors, and hid their valuables in secret places. Then the family sat at home like sifting chaff, waiting for the unknown outcome. If there were young girls at home, they still had to use earth and mud.

Use methods such as burning stove ashes to destroy your image to avoid being taken advantage of by the rebels.

Harugong divided some troops to guard the east and west exits of the town, and then led the team into the town. He had already explained in daily training what targets should be controlled first after entering a town, and he had also done so before.

It has been practiced in Guxian Town.

Due to the current defense situation in Dengzhou, almost all troops are stationed in various cities and guard posts. Therefore, Xindian Town, like other towns in Dengzhou, does not have troops stationed, and even the inspection department is gone. Haihan Cavalry

Entering the town, just like in the ancient town, we did not encounter any resistance.

The cavalry first controlled the two main traffic thoroughfares in the town, and then looked at the facades of the buildings along the street and blocked the doors of several wealthy houses in the town. This was not to rob these wealthy squires, but to prevent them.

He did something wrong because of impulsiveness. By sending people to block the door, it meant that Haihan had noticed their presence, so he should stop trying to use secret means to expel Haihan's cavalry.

Next, the cavalry quickly found the only mule and horse shop in the town, and then made a request to the owner of the mule and horse shop - to requisition all the fodder in his shop to feed the nearly 300 horses in the cavalry battalion.

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The mules and horses in this small town can only carry more than 20 animals, but there is quite a lot of winter fodder prepared, which is enough to barely provide a meal for the cavalry camp horses. However, after these forages were forcibly confiscated by the Haihan soldiers, the boss's expression changed.

It’s also very ugly. To purchase so much fodder when winter is about to begin is not only a matter of money, but also requires a lot of energy and time. It may not be possible to do it properly. If these animals don’t have enough fodder.

, then the coming winter should be very difficult.

But the boss also recognized that these people were Haihan soldiers. Since the government and the army had nothing to do with them, how could he, a common man, dare to disobey the Haihan people's demands. As long as the other party did not kill people, set fire, or plunder property, that would be Amitabha.

Harugong has led troops for many years, so naturally he is not the kind of person who is overly sympathetic. He will not consider the profits and losses of these ordinary people. However, he still pointed out a way for the owner of the mule and horse shop. If there is nothing to do in winter,

Next, all the mules and horses can be driven to the Fushan Copper Mine in the east to spend the winter. The mine there has a large number of mules and horses used to pull carts, and the fodder reserves are sufficient to ensure that the mules and horses in his shop can survive the winter normally.

Of course, the directions were not for nothing. Harugong also asked about other families in the town who kept a large number of livestock and had fodder. The boss saw that the Haihan soldiers did not rob property, but only wanted food and fodder.

Feeling relieved, he lowered his voice and said, "Master Jun, about ten miles to the west of Xindian Town, there is a military horse farm. There is not only fodder there, but also horses!"

After hearing this, Harugong asked noncommittally: "I haven't heard of any military horse racing farm over there before? Is your news reliable?"

The boss responded: "Master Jun, this horse farm was built just at the beginning of the year and only raises one or two hundred horses. It's normal that you haven't heard any news."

Harugong still had some doubts about the authenticity of the news: "Since you are a citizen of the Ming Dynasty, why did you tell me this news?"

The boss said with a look of resentment on his face: "The military master didn't know something. When this horse farm was first established, the military master from Dengzhou City came to the private sector to recruit stallions. But they didn't care whether they were suitable breeders for military horses.

, they took all the horses away when they saw them, and seven or eight horses were requisitioned from the villain’s shop, without even asking to return them or buying them, and they have disappeared since then.”

Harugong understood now. It was obvious that this was another incident of soldiers bullying the people. The Dengzhou military probably wanted to reorganize the cavalry force, and setting up a horse farm was also a necessary measure. However, the people working below probably wanted to swallow these military expenses.

, they directly requisitioned horses from the private sector free of charge to replenish their stock. As long as they can collect enough numbers to meet the business, the large cost of setting up a horse farm will be divided among the people below. Like the mule and horse business in Xindian Town

The situation is that we are clearly trying to take advantage.

Haru Gong said: "Then you didn't go to them to ask for it?"

"I've been there!" the boss said bitterly: "I've been there three times, and I beat and scolded the villain every time. The last time I was beaten like a dog by the sergeant at the racecourse, and I lay on the bed for more than half a day after I came back.

Take care of your wounds!" After saying that, he turned around and lifted up the hem of his clothes, letting Harugong see the dense whip marks on his back. It looked like he was really seriously injured at that time.

Harugong pondered for a moment and said: "If that's the case, then pack up as soon as possible and move to Fushan County."

The boss was puzzled: "Why... is this?"

"Something happened at the racecourse. We must trace the source later. When we find you, do you and your family still want to live a good life?" Harugong's face was still expressionless, but his tone was gentler than before.

Many said: "After you go to Fushan County and tell our people the whole story, you won't have to worry about retaliation from the Dengzhou Ming Army in the future."

The boss then understood Harugong’s intention to ask him to move, but he did not agree at the moment. It was indeed difficult for him to make up his mind to leave his hometown and move his family. Harugong saw this.

Without much persuasion, he turned around and left. He didn't have much time to care about the fate of these little people. If he listened to the advice, he was lucky. If he didn't, it would be his fate.

As for the military horse racing farm that the boss mentioned, of course Harugong had to go and take a look. If there really was such a place, then Harugong wouldn't mind taking all the local horses as his own.

The cavalry battalion stopped in Xindian Town and rested for about three hours before setting off on the road again. However, Harugong had already changed its original route to the north, and instead turned west and headed straight for the horse farm.

For the cavalry, the journey of more than ten miles is coming in the blink of an eye. When they are still a few miles away from the target area, Harugong has already noticed that there is indeed a large grassland under the foothills ahead. However, it is late autumn, and most of the ground is covered with grass.

The grass in the area has begun to wither. According to the information obtained by Haihan, these places were farmland in the past and were basically abandoned during the Denglai Rebellion. Last year, Dengzhou General Guo Xingning led his troops to harass the Fushan Copper Mine.

, on their way back to Dengzhou City by the Haihan Army, both armies passed by here.

Harugong signaled the troops to stop, then found a hill and rode up, using binoculars to observe the situation ahead. Just as the boss of the mule and horse shop said, there was indeed a horse farm ahead, built with wooden

The stables are lined up at the foot of the mountain, a mile long. Behind the stables are several warehouses, presumably where winter fodder is stored. Dozens of horses can be seen walking slowly in several outdoor horse pens.

After walking around, Harugong had never heard of a private horse farm of this size in Dengzhou. It looked like it was indeed a military horse farm.

"There are loopholes in the intelligence work of the Security Department!" Harugong couldn't help but clicked his tongue: "There is such a good place hidden in Dengzhou, but there is no news about it. It seems that I need to have a good talk with Hao Wanqing when I go back."

If he hadn't temporarily changed his action plan and came to Xindian Town, of course he wouldn't have been able to learn about the racecourse. If it hadn't been for such a chance encounter, the existence of this racecourse wouldn't have been discovered by Haihan until the right time. But now.

Now that Harugong has found out the details, he will naturally not let it continue to develop.

The next thing is to judge the strength of the opponent's troops and come up with a feasible battle plan as soon as possible. Harugong continued to observe on the hill for a while, then rode back to the team and began to explain the battle plan to his officers.

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Chapter completed!