Liu Haifeng, the leader of the second regiment, walked out of the camp proudly.
He had the chance to take the vanguard and have a chance to clash with the Russian Cossack cavalry.
This time it was an appetizer before the war, and the overall scale of the war was small.
This mission is to train troops. In addition to training, they will collect intelligence on the Russian army, especially the Cossack cavalry.
And try out the new weapons developed by the empire. Are they useful in war?
Using the size of a group is already the limit.
Using too many troops will directly anger the Russians and lead to an early outbreak of war.
Liu Haifeng didn't know whether the Russians were ready. He felt that the empire was not fully ready yet.
The imperial army is ready, but due to poor logistics, it is difficult to transport weapons and ammunition.
If the imperial army fights a few more intense wars, it will lack ammunition and fall into hand-to-hand combat with the opponent.
The Empire was on the front lines, stockpiling large quantities of muzzle-loading rifles, black powder and lead ingots.
Liu Haifeng had previously thought that these weapons were prepared to arm the empire's servant army to conquer them.
Only during this meeting did he realize that this was an order issued by the Imperial General Staff.
These old-fashioned firearms are stored in case of extreme situations when the frontline army lacks weapons and ammunition.
The army can still use this old weapon when the time comes, so it won't be without guns.
When Liu Haifeng saw the camp of the Second Regiment, he shouted.
"Boys, we have a mission."
He shouted this voice, and many officers of the second regiment walked out of the camp.
Someone even asked in surprise: "Snowflakes are falling in the sky again, look at the snow around the camp.
The horses in our cavalry division all wear cotton coats to protect themselves from the cold.
Commander, how can our cavalry fight in this situation outside?
Our soldiers have good endurance and can survive in this weather.
If a horse goes out in this weather, even if he doesn't freeze to death, he won't be able to run in the snow.
A cavalryman who cannot run is a living target."
The leader of the regiment, Liu Haifeng, saw that the opinions of the regiment members were similar to his previous ones. They all believed that it would be difficult to go out to fight in this situation.
"You all thought it was impossible to fight in this weather, and the Russians didn't even think that we could conduct a sneak attack."
After Liu Haifeng finished speaking, he described in detail the tactics arranged by Commander Zhang Wansi.
"Commander, this tactic is working, let's go out.
You can’t run fast on skis, but you can still run faster than people running in snowdrifts. Even the Russian cavalry can’t catch up in this environment.”
"Captain, our team has received this mission and should still undergo training.
Once the sleds and other equipment arrive, we can start training, and when the soldiers are proficient in using them, we can send troops to deal with the Cossack cavalry."
The regiment leader Liu Haifeng smiled when he saw his men actively discussing the war.
"You go back and call each squad leader to the cafeteria, and I will hold a pre-war mobilization meeting.
The combat equipment will be sent from the division soon, and we must form combat effectiveness as soon as possible.
If it cannot achieve combat effectiveness for a long time, this mission will be taken back by the division."
The group leader Liu Haifeng soon arrived at the canteen.
This is an open-air canteen where soldiers can gather around the fire to stay warm and eat.
Liu Haifeng saw the military chef cooking, and the aroma of the food filled the surrounding area.
The squad leaders of the regiment soon arrived at the canteen.
Liu Haifeng looked at these people, waved his right arm, and said excitedly: "Our Great China Empire is resting and recuperating, and we are good to others.
Every household is living a small life.
Russia, this evil neighbor, refuses to let us live a stable and peaceful life.
They have sent hundreds of thousands of troops to invade the borders of the empire.
Once these Russians are allowed to penetrate into the heart of the empire.
They will seize our land, enslave our wives and children, and enslave our parents and children.
As upright men, can we allow this to happen?
No, even if we risk our lives, we must resolutely drive away the Russians.
Our leader will go to the battlefield with you.
Be brave enough to be a martyr, and return with your body wrapped in horse leather.
We have absolutely no worries, the country will be responsible for raising our loved ones."
Soldiers of the Great China Empire all know that among all corruptions, the harsh deduction of martyrs' pensions is the most rigorous investigation.
Not only the person involved will be shot, but his direct leaders will also be implicated.
The empire's actions over the years also reassure all soldiers.
In the large dining hall, hundreds of soldiers shouted in unison: "I would rather return the body wrapped in horse leather than drive away the Russians."
Liu Haifeng is very satisfied with the performance of junior officers.
"It's time to eat. My regimental leader will accompany you to eat together and tell you about the mission the regiment has received.
After you go back, you must do a good job in mobilizing soldiers."
While eating, Liu Haifeng explained this combat mission to these grassroots officers.
…………………………
Liu Haifeng is wearing the newly issued equipment.
A sled that can slide at high speeds on the snow, and a large white cloak.
He saw his soldiers lying in the snow covered with white cloaks.
A little further away, I couldn't clearly see a person lying in the snow.
They have been training for three days, and most of the soldiers are proficient in using sleds.
There are some soldiers with extraordinary talents who can ensure that they hit the eight-ring moving target while gliding.
Liu Haifeng felt that the time was ripe, so he reported to the division commander Zhang Wansi and requested to formally send troops.
They quickly obtained approval from the division commander Zhang Wansi, allowing them to send troops.
Liu Haifeng came to the camp and shouted with his loud voice: "Everyone rest for half a day and prepare personal belongings.
Check your ammunition and dry food, we will officially send troops at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."
Liu Haifeng's order to dispatch troops was issued. The soldiers cheered at first, but soon became nervous and began to check their personal belongings.
After eating and drinking enough, they began to sleep immediately to ensure sufficient energy.
Everyone knows that once a war starts, the spirit is always tense and there is no such time to relax.
At nine o'clock in the morning on the second day, this place is in Central Asia, and the sky is still full of stars.
The soldiers of the Second Regiment took advantage of the darkness, gliding on the snow like ghosts.
They rushed towards the carefully scouted Russian Cossack cavalry camp.
They were less than fifty miles away from the forward camp of the Russian Cossack cavalry.
In the evening, they could already see the camp at the foot of the mountain ahead.
Liu Haifeng immediately ordered: "The Huotou Army set up smokeless stoves, and the other soldiers recovered their strength.
Inform everyone to eat seventy percent full and be ready to fight at any time."
Ling Xu, chief of staff of the Second Regiment, suggested: "Regiment Commander, smokeless stoves also have the risk of exposure.
We can just eat some dry food."
Liu Haifeng said angrily: "That's nonsense, the water in the kettle has frozen into ice.
Beef jerky is difficult to cut with a knife and cannot be chewed in your mouth.
If they only eat dry biscuits and fried noodles without drinking water, the soldiers will easily choke to death.
You think I don’t want to light a fire in a safe place, what if we finally catch this Cossack cavalry and they run away?”
Ling Xu took out a hard cookie, grabbed a handful of snow, and ate the cookie with the snow.
"Captain, at this time, just take a rest and regain your strength.
But we can't expose our position by lighting a fire, otherwise the previous suffering will be in vain."
Liu Haifeng saw a lot of soldiers and learned what Chief of Staff Ling Xu did.
With tears in his eyes, he said: "You are all good."
Ling Xu replied: "For victory."
The soldiers dug snow pits in the snow and hid in them to avoid the wind.
They drank biscuits and snow water to barely eat their food and maintain their physical strength.
As the sky gradually darkened, Liu Haifeng's eyes became sharp and he ordered: "There are more than 2,000 Cossack cavalry ahead. Let's send troops to deal with these people."
The soldiers of the cavalry division, using the cover of night and snow, like ghosts, approached the camp of the Cossack cavalry.
They were less than 800 meters away from the camp, and the soldiers began to disperse and surround the camp.
Liu Haifeng did not forget that he was sending troops this time to test some new weapons.
Especially in such severe cold conditions, see if the new weapon is reliable.
"Mortar soldiers, the next time is your performance."
Liu Haifeng looked at the slender mortar. This small cannon can be carried by one soldier, which is very suitable for the cavalry division.
The previous guns were too heavy and heavy to keep up with the rapid movements of the cavalry divisions.
Artillery can only operate behind the cavalry division, like the logistics troops.
The most commonly used heavy weapon of the cavalry division is the heavy machine gun, and now heavy weapons such as mortars have been added.
Liu Haifeng soon saw the mortars taking off.
Mortar shells are less powerful, but easier to use.
At least he got the word "cannon" on him, and the Cossack cavalry camp was immediately thrown into chaos.
The soldiers of the second regiment took advantage of the chaos in the Cossack cavalry camp and immediately launched an attack.
The grenades opened the way, and the Cossack cavalry who wanted to rush out of the camp were immediately blown back.
The soldiers began to pull the triggers and kill the enemies they encountered.
Ling Xu kicked away the new recruit who was dazed on the battlefield, and a projectile flew past his shoulder.
He immediately reprimanded: "You don't want your life, you are stunned on the battlefield."
The recruit said with a frustrated face: "Chief of Staff, gun, my gun is frozen."
Ling Xu gave his gun to the recruit, and he took the recruit's gun and observed it carefully.
It is true that there is a layer of ice at the bolt, and the gun cannot fire bullets.
He made a note of this incident and asked the soldiers to be careful about using firearms when it was cold in the future.
Ling Xu took out his pistol and shot dead a Russian soldier who tried to get close to him.
He found that the popularity of firearms in the Cossack cavalry was not high, and at least half of the soldiers were not equipped with firearms.
The Russian Cossack cavalry, which uses cold weapons to fight, has no ability to turn defeat into victory when it is attacked by surprise.
The shouts of killing in the camp continued until the next morning, and the soldiers of the second regiment destroyed all enemies in the camp.
Liu Haifeng saw Chief of Staff Ling Xu coming back after counting the results.
He asked excitedly: "What is the outcome of this war?
Judging from the situation, it was an unexpected victory.”
Ling Xu nodded and said: "It is indeed a great victory. There are probably more than two thousand Cossack cavalry in the camp.
This is already one-fifth of the strength of the Russian Cossack cavalry.
Some of the Cossack cavalry were very smart and left the battlefield as soon as the battle started. There were about 800 of them.
The rest of the Cossack cavalry were all surrounded by our army.
More than 400 people were killed and more than 700 were captured. Most of them had gunshot wounds, making it difficult to continue living.
The damage to our army was not serious, 78 people were killed, and a total of 275 people suffered varying degrees of injuries."
Liu Haifeng said excitedly: "A great victory, this is indeed a great victory."
Based on the situation of this war, he wrote a military report to Commander Zhang Wansi.
Describe in detail the advantages and disadvantages of this war, focusing on the performance of the new weapons.
Introducing the morale and weapons and equipment of the Russian Cossack cavalry.
Liu Haifeng took the second regiment and used this camp as a base to look for the main force of the Cossack cavalry.
The second regiment used squad as a unit to ambush the lone Cossack cavalry on the vast snow.
Like ghosts, they took advantage of the long range of imperial firearms to directly kill a patrolling Cossack cavalry without the enemy noticing.
Soldiers from the Second Regiment are active in nearby areas.
The Russian Cossack cavalry no longer dared to go out on patrol with just a few people.
Seeing the methods of these Chinese people, they named this unit Snow Ghost.
Chief of Staff Ling Xu led the team back, and he saw that the leader Liu Haifeng didn't look good.
He quickly asked: "Captain Liu, what's wrong with you? Are you sick? We don't have a doctor here. If you are sick, return as soon as possible."
Liu Haifeng sighed and said: "I'm not sick, I just feel sorry for those moving achievements that haven't been included yet.
The signs in the past few days indicate that the Russian Cossack cavalry is already encircling us.
Teacher Zhang Wansi repeatedly told me that I was not allowed to directly trigger a war.
In this situation, our second regiment can only evacuate."
When Ling Xu learned about this situation, he said with emotion: "We have collected enough information from our battles with the Cossack cavalry during this period.
Commander Zhang Wansi received first-hand information and promptly adjusted the empire's combat methods against the Cossack cavalry.
Our mission of sending troops this time has been completed. We really shouldn’t take risks and return to the camp in time.”
Liu Haifeng ordered the soldiers of the Second Regiment to reluctantly leave the temporary camp.
…………………………
Commander Zhang Wansi heard that Liu Haifeng led the Second Regiment back to the camp. The overall casualties of the Second Regiment were relatively low.
He immediately called Liu Haifeng to his camp and asked him in detail about the confrontation between the two armies.
Zhang Wansi listened to Liu Haifeng's account of the Second Regiment's efforts on the front line.
He interrupted Liu Haifeng from time to time, feeling that he had encountered important problems, and asked in more detail.
After Zhang Wansi listened to Liu Haifeng's story, he wrote down several characteristics of the Cossack cavalry.
Cossack cavalry firearms are not popular, probably around 70%.
The morale of the Cossack cavalry is not high. Once the battle situation goes against the wind, many Cossack cavalry will choose to flee the battlefield.
Some Cossack cavalry have severe night blindness and are not suitable for fighting at night.
The armor of the Cossack cavalry cannot withstand rifle attacks within 500 meters.
Cossack cavalry officers and soldiers were not on good terms.
Zhang Wansi looked at these important situations that he had written down.
He originally thought that the Russian Cossack cavalry was very powerful, otherwise why would they choose to join the invader empire?
After a brief confrontation, Zhang Wansi already understood that he had indeed overestimated his opponent.
Russia chose to join the invader empire, not because the country was strong, but because they were too stupid.
With this first-hand information, Zhang Wansi felt no pressure at all to lead the cavalry division to a complete victory over the Cossack cavalry.
Based on the intelligence obtained by the Second Regiment, he promptly adjusted the deployment of the First Cavalry Division.
Division Commander Zhang Wansi sent a telegram to other cavalry division commanders and Cai Gong Wu Jie.
He briefed his colleagues and superiors on the intelligence obtained from the 1st Cavalry Division's exploratory attack.
The first-hand intelligence obtained by the 1st Cavalry Division will break some people's illusions about Russia's power in the Imperial Army and will definitely enhance the morale of the Imperial Army.
