The first thousand three hundred and forty-six chapters start the war
These places are cold and not suitable for agricultural development, and the exploration ships were not lucky enough to discover gold mines directly on the seashore. Therefore, the empire's attitude towards these places is that immigration and development will be discussed later.
Let's erect a stone monument first to confirm our sovereignty.
Therefore, although there is not a single citizen of the Tang Dynasty in the above-mentioned areas, the Tang Empire has already unceremoniously classified all the above-mentioned areas as imperial territory. The above-mentioned areas are all under the jurisdiction of Northeast Province!
Although the Northeastern Province of the empire today has only a few hundred thousand people, it governs a very large territory, including Liaodong, north of Liaoxi, and all the way to the Arctic Ocean, regardless of whether it is the Heilongjiang area or the outer Xing'anling area.
Wudao, or the Kancha Peninsula, is under the jurisdiction of Northeast Province.
Well, although the people of the Tang Dynasty have not been able to set foot in most of the above-mentioned areas, it is not important. What is important is that these are imperial territories.
However, after the Northeast Campaign began, the Navy found that it could also get involved. It would first land in Vladivostok, then go north along the river, land at the mouth of the Heilongjiang River, and then fight in depth along the river, which was a similar pattern.
The navy's plan is naturally not just as simple as landing at the estuary and then entering the inland river for a cruise. The navy also has a deeper plan.
That is to open up the inland river routes in the Northeast, then build cities along the Heilongjiang River, and finally rely on Heilongjiang for supply and transportation. Although there will be nothing to do with the city building and navy, if we use river transportation, we will still have to use sea transportation in the end.
, in this way, the importance of the navy will naturally become more important.
To put it bluntly, the navy just wants to highlight its presence in the Northeast and cannot let the army steal all the light, so it is trying its best.
However, this plan is still limited within the Navy and has not been disclosed to the outside world. The Army does not know about it either. If it knew that the Navy was preparing to toss these crappy things, it would probably cause another disturbance.
This kind of thing cannot be judged in terms of right or wrong, whether it is good or bad for the empire. The two sides are just competing for dominance and a sense of existence.
While Fang Xitong was struggling in the Northeast, a large amount of military supplies were gradually transported to the north. Not to mention the most basic supplies such as food and ammunition, in order to withstand the severe cold, the military also prepared a large amount of cold-proof supplies and clothing.
Liquor etc.
Although the Northeast Campaign is expected to be launched after the ice and snow melt, the main battle time should be carried out in the summer and autumn, trying to end the large-scale battle before the arrival of winter.
But no one can say for sure about the war. If the war is delayed on a large scale and is delayed until winter, if a large amount of cold-proof materials are not prepared in advance, then the trouble will be big.
Li Xuan did not want to see his army perform the same embarrassing situation as when the German army entered Russia.
Therefore, cold-proof materials must be prepared in advance, and they must be fully prepared.
After the supplies were gradually in place, the Northeast Expedition Command also finalized the final battle plan in March. The scheduled launch time of the campaign was in late April, and the specific time depended on the weather.
Due to distance and communication restrictions, it was initially set for late April. The detailed time can be determined by each subordinate army. A few days in advance or a few days in delay are acceptable.
According to the combat plan, the battle will first break out in the Liaohetao area. A large number of elite cavalry will move to predetermined positions in advance. Then after the battle breaks out, the cavalry regiment will quickly move north to intersperse, using the mobility of the cavalry to directly destroy the enemy's
Defend outposts, and then divide the tribes that surround the enemy to prevent them from contacting and mobilizing.
As for the infantry, they actually just follow up in the rear, deal with the remaining troops, and then establish and maintain supply lines.
Yes, although the infantry unit participating in the war this time also has two main infantry divisions, the main task of these two infantry divisions is still to maintain the supply line.
The main force in the battle will be cavalry!
In order to strengthen the combat effectiveness of the cavalry, the Army assigned excess cavalry artillery to the cavalry units participating in the war in advance. Although cavalry artillery was also equipped in the past, judging from the Ninth Army's battle with the Tatars, the cavalry unit's own firepower was still
Insufficient, the number of cavalry artillery is not enough, and its firepower is still insufficient.
Based on the combat experience of the Battle of Hetao, the Army began to increase the number of cavalry cannons assigned to the cavalry units.
These cavalry cannons are all lightweight artillery, mainly five-pound cavalry cannons. Although these five-pound cavalry cannons are modified from the five-pound field guns in the artillery force, they have been lightweighted and improved.
The cavalry gun uses more advanced steel, so although the cost is much higher, the weight is greatly reduced while ensuring the range and barrel life.
If these cavalry cannons are used properly, they will be enough to give the cavalry troops powerful firepower!
After Fang Xitong finalized the final battle plan in Shenyang, he reported the relevant situation to Jinling, but this report did not mean requesting approval.
In fact, when Fang Xitong set out at the beginning of the year, he had already obtained combat permission and could launch a large-scale campaign in the spring and summer of this year.
If after the preparations are completed, we still have to ask for approval from Jinling City before we can launch an attack. It will take at least a month to go back and forth.
In reality, Fang Xitong and the Tang Empire would not be given so much time.
Therefore, this time Fang Xitong sent a letter to Jinling, just for reporting purpose, telling Jinling that the northeastern barbarian army was preparing to start official operations in late April.
Time passed day by day, and when this letter was delivered to Jinling City on April 14th, Li Xuan read it and reviewed it, saying "I understand", and then sent the secretary of the Hanlin Academy Secretariat as an angel to the Northeastern armies.
, on behalf of the emperor, he visited and expressed condolences to all the troops participating in the war.
A few days after the Angel set out, while the ship was still floating on the sea, on April 22, Fang Xitong, who was in charge of the Chinese Army, officially issued an order for all ministries to formally march.
Then he personally led the Chinese army into Liaohetao.
The reason why we only bring the Chinese Army is because the combat areas of the Northeastern armies are relatively scattered. According to the different locations of each unit, their tasks are also different, and their marching directions are also different.
Fang Xitong currently has four armies and a first temporary brigade of the Guards under his command. Among them, there are about 100,000 main field troops preparing to participate in the war. In addition, there are nearly 30,000 main troops and 20,000 reserve divisions, a total of about 50,000 troops.
Troops are stationed in the rear, suppress the rear, maintain supply lines, and serve as strategic reserves.
The main force of 100,000 people is also divided into three parts. The left wing is an infantry division and a cavalry division under the 14th Army, with a total strength of about 20,000 people. Their main task is to seize the Daning area, and then continue to move north to cut off
The Mongolian left wing troops fled westward, and at the same time cooperated with the main force of the Chinese army to encircle and suppress the Chahar tribe and other enemies.
On the right wing are the mixed brigade and a reserve division under the 15th Army, with a total strength of 15,000 people. Its main task is to seize Jianzhou, Shuangcheng and other eastern areas.
The Chinese army is the real main force!
Among the 50,000 elite cavalry, 45,000 are in the Chinese Army. For this reason, Fang Xitong also specially formed three temporary cavalry corps: the First Cavalry Regiment, the Second Cavalry Regiment, and the Third Cavalry Regiment.
The first cavalry regiment has fifteen thousand troops, the second cavalry regiment has fifteen thousand troops, and the third cavalry regiment has ten thousand troops.
If separate cavalry regiments were not set up, it would be difficult for Fang Xitong to directly command so many cavalry troops. There are four cavalry divisions alone and nearly ten independent cavalry regiments.
The infantry force consists of one infantry division and two mixed brigades (including the first temporary brigade of the Guards), with a total of 30,000 people.
The troops participating in the war this time all belong to four different armies, and Datang's military-level command organization is an organization similar to a war zone, not a pure field army command organization. Therefore, this time, Fang Xitong adopted a left-wing approach.
, right wing, center corps, cavalry corps to command the troops, rather than commanding the corps and then the division.
This is also an important step for the Tang Army to continue to explore the theater and field army command system. If nothing else happens, I am afraid that after the Northeast Campaign, the military-level command organization will become a pure field army instead of the current theater command organization.
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However, although there are left wing and right wing, the commanders of these units are still the commanders of the original armies. For example, the commander of the left wing corps is the commander of the 14th Army, and the commander of the right wing corps is the commander of the 15th Army.
Commander.
As for the Chinese Army, although the army is personally commanded by Fang Xitong, the commander of the Chinese Army Infantry and Artillery Regiment composed of infantry and artillery units is the commander of the Sixth Army. As for the commander of the Tenth Army, he is
Staying in the rear serves as the commander of the strategic reserve, and establishes and maintains supply lines for the frontline army. Logistics is a matter of life and death. This task is no easier than leading troops on the frontline to fight.
Of the four army commanders, none of them were replaced, and all of them concurrently served as corps commanders!
Another thing worth noting is that among the three commanders of the cavalry corps this time, the commander of the first cavalry corps is Kang Changning, who made great contributions in the Battle of Hetao!
This veteran cavalry general fought head-on against the Tatar cavalry several times in the Battle of Hetao without falling behind. He even won with a small number and made great contributions to the victory of the Battle of Hetao.
After the war, he led the cavalry troops to fight against the Tatars many times. In the end, these achievements earned him the title of Imperial Viscount. He was also promoted to lieutenant general of the army and served as deputy director of cavalry. In the name of deputy director, he continued
In charge of cavalry training and combat affairs in the Hetao area.
This man can be regarded as a rare late-blooming general in the Tang Army.