It was quite cold in the morning, minus 22 degrees Celsius.
The temperature was similar to that in Northeast China, and it was difficult to breathe due to the high altitude. It was even more unbearable. I couldn’t walk very far and I was out of breath.
Two-thirds of the cavalry division is made up of Haraqin Mongols from Monan, and one-third is Han Chinese from Northern Zhili. Looking at it now, it is obvious that the Mongolians living on the Bazi of the Mongolian Plateau are better able to adapt to the climate here.
Captain Sai Rabbit told his men to tidy up while observing the weather. It seemed that the weather would be good in the next few days, but we had to hurry up and march.
"Cheer up, everyone, we must reach the Kunlun Pass within three days." Sai Tu shouted loudly.
The soldiers tied up the salute and placed a large bag on both sides of the yak.
There was no water to wash my face, so I had to wipe it with snow. There was no new stir-fry or hot rice, only compressed biscuits.
Fortunately, it is equipped with a portable kerosene stove, which can heat up the cans and sausages that are as frozen as rocks, and the water in the kettle. Otherwise, the water would be frozen and there would be no need to drink the water.
But it's just warm water, not boiling water.
Taking advantage of the fine weather, Wang Hao hurriedly marched.
"Catch all the Zang people I meet along the way and take them away so that the news will not be leaked." Wang Hao whispered to the scout captain Hou Youde.
After a while, the cry of a shepherdess was heard. She came out to herd sheep and encountered this team. They immediately captured her and her sheep and marched with her and her sheep.
It's impossible not to arrest him. If Quetu Khan learns the inside story, the situation will change.
Yesterday's strong wind tore the tarpaulin, and a large number of firearms were exposed. Who knows if there are any of his spies along the way, at least he has come here long ago to dominate the mountain and become king.
Three days later, we finally arrived at Kunlun Pass.
Even though Wang Hao was strong, he still felt dizzy.
My eyes went dark for a while. I also had anorexia, chest tightness, dizziness, difficulty breathing, and nausea.
It turns out that what I said is true. This kind of altitude sickness can indeed make people lose their fighting ability.
Most Han people couldn't bear it anymore and fell ill one after another.
Wang Hao decisively ordered the sick Han people to go back the way they came. He retreated to lower altitude areas to recover his strength first. He continued to advance with only 3,000 Mongolian soldiers and 3,000 Lama soldiers.
As for the heavy weapons, the twenty vehicle-mounted machine guns were operated by Han people, and they could only take them back with them.
Bringing these people with them is actually a burden and has no combat effectiveness, so manpower is needed to take care of them.
On the third day, they finally crossed the Kunlun Mountains and walked all the way down the mountain. The altitude became lower and lower as they went down, and Wang Hao felt that his condition began to improve.
On the fourth day, we camped on the south side of Kunlun Mountain, which is already the eastern edge of the Hoh Xil Wasteland.
Kunlun Mountain blocks the north wind, and the temperature here is much warmer, returning to seven or eight degrees below zero. Wang Hao found this place with a water source to camp.
"Send the scouts far away. Don't let Chotu Khan take advantage of this."
It was an uneventful night, but Chutu Khan did not show up.
But Wang Hao did not take it lightly. He continued to tell the scouts to be alert on all sides.
The next morning, after only ten miles away, the scouts came back and reported that the way ahead was blocked by about 10,000 Mongolians. Then, the sound of gunfire was heard.
Wang Hao was a little surprised. He didn't expect that Quetu Khan still had firearms. It was not easy to bring firearms here from Transkarkha. Mongolia was afraid of firearms, so they were reluctant to throw away the firearms they captured, and passed them down from generation to generation. No matter how shabby they were,
I couldn't bear to throw it away.
Wang Hao observed for a while, saw the smoke in front, and heard the gunfire.
However, the plateau lacks oxygen and the firearm propellant does not burn fully.
Not to mention the black smoke, the sound sounds like farting. Puff, puff, puff. Performance is greatly compromised.
The three-eyed musket is inherently bad. Its range exceeds ten meters and it is useless. It loses its accuracy completely. Although it still has lethality when it reaches thirty meters, God knows what it will hit.
Wang Hao climbed onto the erected telescope of a large cart and picked up a telescope to observe the situation ahead.
This kind of watchtower is a small platform of one square meter with railings on all sides. Below it is a folded steel pipe, which can be erected and straightened to lock the rotating shaft. It is a small watchtower mounted on a four-wheeled carriage.
When all the poles are extended, the height can reach fifteen meters. It is suitable for observing the enemy's military formation in field battles.
The officers and soldiers of the cavalry division of the three battalions in front were already engaged in battle with Chatu Khan's troops. Since there were no horses, both sides fought on foot.
Although the cavalry division was not as good as Chotu Khan's troops, its team combat capabilities were very strong. As soon as the battle began, it was in a stalemate with the Khalkhas in front.
Although Chatu Khan has a numerical advantage, he has never achieved a substantial advantage. The officers and soldiers of the cavalry division are stronger in individual combat ability and team combat ability. If it were not for the poor performance of firearms on the plateau, which were not brought this time,
It is more difficult for them to deal with the officers and soldiers of the cavalry division.
An hour passed, and the two sides were fighting inextricably.
On the plateau, physical strength is exhausted very quickly, 3,000 versus 10,000 people, and the endurance is far less than that of the opponent to adapt to the environment. Gradually there are signs of exhaustion.
Quitu Khan was riding on a Tibetan horse, looking quietly ahead.
"These people can't keep up with their physical strength. Let the two wings attack."
As he waved the flag, he fired a cannon with the three general cannons captured from the Ming army. Immediately after the cannon sounded, five thousand fresh Mongolian troops on each wing came out from behind the ambush mounds and bushes.
Wang Hao sneered, having already guessed that this was his plan. He said, "Let three thousand lama soldiers attack us. If we admit defeat so quickly, I'm afraid we won't be able to deceive Chotu Khan."
Wang Hao had already guessed that there were ambushes on both sides.
Three thousand lama soldiers immediately rushed towards both sides.
These people had undergone a year of military training. They were originally Tumut herdsmen and were very skilled with bows and horses. At this time, they were fighting with these Khalkha herdsmen from Mobei.
The six battalion leaders in front began to shrink, cover alternately, and retreat back. The master's carriage took advantage of the two wings of the Lama soldiers to hit him, so he turned around and ran back.
Obviously, they did not have enough troops. Three thousand lamas could not stop ten thousand Khalkha warriors. For safety reasons, the master's carriage was allowed to retreat and leave the battlefield.
When Quetu Khan saw this, he already understood that these people could not withstand his attack of 20,000 troops.
Although Quetu Khan had heard that there were nine thousand of them, and now there were only six thousand here, he was not suspicious, because it was not strange to lose three thousand people after crossing the Kunlun Pass.
I heard that there was a snowstorm there two days ago. It seems that they have seriously reduced their numbers. It is estimated that a large number of people and horses froze to death and received frostbite.
Quetu Khan smiled contemptuously. These Han people dared to rush into the plateau without knowing anything about it. It was not surprising that they lost one-third of their manpower in a snowstorm.
