"What? Rakshasa ghosts are moving south? What are they going to do?!"
The Russian army is preparing for a decisive battle.
The commanders of the Ming army had more guesses about the movements of the Russian army.
Due to the continuous victories over the years, almost everyone in the Ming army became arrogant soldiers.
They didn't quite believe that the Russian army really dared to fight them face to face in an upright decisive battle.
So when the Russian army suddenly turned southward.
The Ming army's staff officers were overthinking things.
"What is their purpose of moving south? Do they want to attack Pingxi Fan?"
One of the staff members frowned and said.
Yang Yuchun frowned when he thought of this possibility.
Pingxi Fan occupies the Fergana Basin. In the past two years, many immigrants have flowed in, resulting in a large population and abundant products.
If the Russian army really captures Fergana, then they can get a stable food supply place.
"Can they beat Pingxi Fan?"
Some people think that the 30,000 Russian troops went south to attack the Fergana Basin.
"What if they make a false shot, go to make peace with the Kazakh Khanate, and form a coalition to fight back?"
A staff officer said.
The Kazakh Khanate was caught between Pingxi Fan, Ming Dynasty Western Province, and Russia.
If they want to say who they are most wary of, it must be Daming.
The Fergana Basin occupied by Pingxi Fan was snatched from the Kazakh Khanate.
The Kazakh Khanate can organize 50,000 to 60,000 cavalry.
If they and the 30,000 Russians had on hand entered into a conflagration, then these 80,000 or 90,000 people would not be able to be dealt with by the Zhengxi Dusi.
"We can't let them go to Kazakhstan! If they join forces with Kazakhstan and there are 70,000 to 80,000 people stationed in defense, then we won't be able to do anything to them!"
Chen Dewang looked at the map and said.
"I suggest attacking in advance. You can send out a mounted infantry brigade to bite them first!"
"Yes! If they want to cross the river, attack them halfway across the river!"
Yang Yuchun nodded and said.
The Syr Darya River is definitely not a small stream.
This is one of the largest rivers in Central Asia.
In the absence of bridges and ferries.
It is impossible for tens of thousands of troops, as well as a large number of baggage and horses, to cross the river easily.
Therefore, if a mounted infantry brigade is dispatched to pursue at full speed, it is absolutely possible to take a bite before the opponent crosses the river!
That night.
The camp of the Western Expeditionary Army was brightly lit.
None of the generals rested.
All commanders at all levels came to the big tent.
Orders are issued step by step through the staff departments at all levels.
The whole army was divided into three parts.
The first part was the third mounted infantry brigade of the First Army of the Western Expeditionary Army. It was personally led by Li Sheng, commander of the First Army, and pursued at full speed.
The second part, the main force led by Yang Yuchun, commander of the Western Expedition Army, and Chen Dewang, chief of staff, set off later and headed south along the Syr Darya River.
The third part is an infantry brigade left behind in the camp, as well as the army's baggage, grain, grass, cattle and horses, etc.
Following the orders from the staff.
The Western Expeditionary Army was like a war machine, operating rapidly.
Although it is said that the soldiers of the Western Conquest Army mainly come from the original Manchu and Mongolian children.
But its system is a completely Ming-style system.
The staff goes from the corps to the battalion and company.
In the past two years, a large number of "second generation former Manchu and Mongolian Eight Banners" who have entered the Beidu Army Officer Academy have been added as grassroots officers.
In addition, the training syllabus is completely based on the methods of the regular Ming army.
And because everyone in the Western Expeditionary Army was eager to leave the grasslands and live in the hinterland through meritorious service.
His will to fight is also unquestionable.
So after the order is given.
Less than half an hour.
The whole army has been reorganized.
In the early morning of June 6th.
A mounted infantry brigade took the lead in attacking to the southwest.
In order to avoid being discovered by other enemies.
No torches were used during the march.
These Manchu and Mongolian warriors with very skilled horse control skills blended into the night like a black iron stream.
And almost at the same time.
There is also a large army marching northeast.
They were the troops of the Kazakh Khanate coming from the southwest.
Due to the expansion momentum shown by the Ming Empire.
The chaotic interior of the Kazakh Khanate also showed obvious stress reactions.
Same as Russia.
The Kazakh Khanate was originally part of the Golden Horde.
It is a country that split from the Golden Horde after the mid-15th century.
It was founded by Sultan Kelei Khan and Janibek Khan of the Jochi family.
In 1456, he officially broke away from the Golden Horde and moved to Mughalstan, Chuhe and Taras. The Eastern Chagatai Khanate also first occupied a place in Mughalstan with Buhua II and Yunusi. Bash was set aside for their habitation. In 1465-1466, a large number of nomads broke away from Abu Khaier. He died in battle in this year, and his land was taken over by the Kazakh Khanate. A purely nomadic state was established. They officially established their country in 1470.
The current Kazakh Khanate once surrendered to the Qing Dynasty and Russia at the same time, but it is obvious that the Russian aggression was more aggressive before that.
Beginning in the early 18th century, the Russians began to build fortresses along the three major rivers of the Ural River, Ishim River and Irtysh River on the Kazakh pastureland.
Most of these fortresses are located in the border areas of the Kazakh Khanate.
Since the Russians transformed Siberia, the capital of the Siberian Khanate, into the Tobolsk Fortress, in the more than 100 years since the formation of the New Kokand Line in 1865, Russia has successively built the Amesh Fortress (in 1715, later occupied by the Junggar Destroyed by humans and rebuilt in 1716), Omsk Fortress (1716), Zheretinsk Fortress (1717, located between Omsk and Lake Yamysh), Semipalatinsk Fortress (1718) , Ust-Kamenogorsk Fortress (1720, on the north bank of Zaisan Lake in the middle and upper reaches of the Irtysh River) and so on.
All these fortresses became the starting point of the military border line on the Irtysh River, which later became a reliable base for the Tsarist army to gradually advance towards the Kazakh Khanate.
And laid the foundation for the final demise of the Russian Empire and the Kazakh Khanate.
But now with the rise of the Ming Empire.
These fortresses were not the advance bases for the Tsar's invasion of Kazakhstan, but instead became a group of fortresses for the Russians to shrink their defenses.
The Kazakh Khanate originally planned to pay tribute to the Ming Empire - just like in the past.
However, the vassals of the Ming Empire did not just do whatever they wanted. In addition, Emperor Zhu did not pay much attention to the Kazakh Khanate, so he easily gave the Fergana Basin, one of the most important territories of the Kazakh Khanate, to Pingxi Fan. , which resulted in the Kazakh Khanate being forced to stick together with the Russians for warmth.
Now leading an army of more than 20,000 people heading eastward is the cavalry led by Xiaoyuzi Khan Nourili Khan of the Kazakh Khanate.
Nuari Khan was the eldest son of Hassar Abul Khair Khan. He succeeded to the throne after his father's death in 1748. He received support from Russia and was canonized by Russia.
Due to the series of Russian fortresses just overhead.
Nourali had to take orders from the Russians.
Now he is leading his own troops to march eastward to meet with Musayev's Russian army.
In fact, they were also worried that the Ming Dynasty's Western Army would easily wipe out Kazakhstan during its westward march.
Right now.
Bright rockets streaked across the sky.
"It's a Han rocket!"
A Kazakh captain said in horror.
"We've been discovered!"
"It's normal to be discovered. We are close to the battlefield!"
"Continue to go to the Syr Darya River. If the Russians are defeated, Kazakhstan may not be able to survive alone."
The Kazakh army now ignores the Ming army sentries who discovered them.
The sentinels of the Ming army were generally equipped with rockets. On the one hand, they could transmit messages through rockets, and on the other hand, they could also use rockets to harass the enemy's army and undermine the enemy's morale.
soon.
News that the Kazakhs had also sent troops reached the base camp of the Western Expeditionary Army.
"Report! There are about 20,000 Kazakhs, most of them are cavalry, some are equipped with muskets, some are equipped with rifled guns, and some of them are traditional horse archers equipped with bows and arrows!"
"Report, the armies of Kazakhs and Rakshasa ghosts are heading towards each other, and they have the intention of meeting!!"
The sentinels of the Ming army continued to pass the news to Li Sheng, the military tent of the First Army of the Western Conquest Army.
He was originally the first brigade commander of the Guards Cavalry Brigade of the Ming Army Guards Regiment.
With his qualifications, he is qualified to be the commander and chief of staff of the Western Army.
But due to command errors in a battle last year, he was demoted one level.
Now he was sent by Emperor Zhu to conquer the Western Army and made meritorious service.
In fact, this is also a good thing for her.
Because now the only one who has a chance to fight is the Western Expeditionary Army.
Neither the Russians nor the Kazakhs are easy to deal with.
Moreover, the combat effectiveness of the mounted infantry brigade he has on hand is not the highest in the Ming army's combat sequence.
If he were still the commander of the Guards Cavalry Brigade.
He would definitely lead the assault with 5,000 Guards Cavalry.
In the first battle, we must first defeat the Kazakh cavalry coming from the west.
But now he had at his disposal five thousand mounted infantry.
He couldn't use 5,000 mounted infantry to wipe out the 20,000 Kazakh cavalry on the opposite side.
Li Shengli sat upright on the horse in military uniform, wearing a polished steel helmet on his head and a polished breastplate on his chest. He was dressed like a heavy cavalryman, as if he was still the commander of the Guards Cavalry Regiment.
"I originally thought the person bitten was a Rakshasa ghost, but I didn't expect it was a Kazakh."
Li Shengzhou said with a frown.
"Now we can only break through the more than 20,000 Kazakhs first!"
"The Rakshasa ghosts can only let them go to the Syr Darya River. It seems that this battle will be difficult to fight, and the Kazakhs are also involved."
at the same time.
On the banks of the Syr Darya River.
Brigades of Russian troops have begun to assemble, preparing to attack and push away the approaching Ming division of the Ming Dynasty.
Although the main force of the Ming army has not yet arrived, thousands of Ming army reconnaissance cavalry and Russian troops arrived at the Qiyili grassland.
Of course they will not fight a decisive battle with the Russian army, after all, their numbers are too small.
But the Ming army is not without offensive methods.
Intense rockets continued to fall into the Russian military formation. The Russian army did not fight back, but just covered their heads and built fortifications! ,,
Because they knew that the purpose of these Ming army reconnaissance cavalry was to delay their construction of fortifications.
obviously.
The main force of the Ming army is coming here, and the decisive battle will begin soon.
Two days and two nights.
The eyes of Musaev, Andrei, and Holcutt were all red. They had not slept for three days.
This war can be said to be a gathering of Russian forces in Asia, and even the Kazakhs were pulled over by them.
If it fails to win, then the Russian Empire will lose its Asian territories and beg for peace.
The three of them are now gathered around the map, discussing the upcoming battle.
"Your Excellency, Commander, the 12th Division has been assembled and is ready to attack!"
A bearded Russian major general came to report to Musayev.
Musayev said calmly: "Okay. Major General Lermontov, this is a probing attack and the most critical first battle!"
The Russian major general named Lermontov nodded and performed a military salute: "Please rest assured, your Excellency, the 12th Division will not let the Pan-Slavic flag be shamed."
"No, in this battle, we can only lose, not win!"
Musayev looked back at the map.
"Um, Commander, did I hear you correctly?"
"Of course you heard it right, that's what I said."
Musayev turned around and said,
"I need to convince the Chinese that they can easily defeat us in a field battle, and at the same time, I need to convince them that we still have a lot of food, so that they will be eager to launch an attack, because they will definitely be worried about us building a solid barbed wire defense. !”
"Got it! Your Excellency, Commander!"
Lermontov already knew the intention of the Governor.
For the Russian army, they are actually also worried about the delay of the war.
Because the supplies they have on hand can't last long!
If the Ming army adopts delaying tactics, the Russian army will be forced to retreat.
Therefore, they need a small defeat to confuse and paralyze their opponents.
Musayev nodded, "Very good, go ahead and do it."
…
"How many are there? It seems there are more than 30,000 people!"
Chen Dewang stood on a high ground outside the Russian camp, raising his telescope to observe the huge camp.
"It seems that the Russians have mobilized all their troops from the major fortresses in Xiaoyuzi!!"
Fang Yu, the division commander who was born in Tiandihui, stood beside Chen Dewang and frowned.
"It looks like there are at least 40,000 Russian troops!"
"The Russians are out!"
At this time, Chen Dewang had already discovered that the Russian soldiers of the brigade had already lined up to walk out of the trench fortifications that had just been dug half way.
"It looks like a whole division! Sigh, the queue is really neat!"
Chen Dewang smiled and asked: "Can you defeat them?"
"It's hard to say. Their foreign guns have a long range, our rate of fire is fast, and they have quite a few cannons. It seems they have been specially strengthened."
Fang Yu analyzed the comparison of strengths and weaknesses between the two sides with a calm expression.
Honestly.
This was the first battle between the Ming army and the Ming Dynasty after the large-scale replacement of breech-loading guns.
Which one wins, a breech-loading gun with a short range and fast rate of fire, or a front-loading rifled gun with a longer range?
There are still a lot of debates within the Ming army.
"If these are the only ones they have, we will definitely win!"
Chen Dewang smiled and said.
"Determined to win?"
Fang Yu frowned.
"how you said that?"
"You know we can attack from a crawling position, right?"
"Yes, Chief of Staff."
"The rate of fire of our guns is more than six times that of theirs, and they have to stand up to reload. We can lie down on the ground to reload, which means our bullet-receiving surface is one-eighth of theirs!"
"Six times the rate of fire, and one-eighth of the bullet-receiving surface" Fang Yu seemed to understand.
(End of chapter)
