The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Moreover, for cavalry, giving up the mobility of cavalry and choosing to dismount is really a loss-making behavior. In other words, the cavalry of the field army is basically starting from scratch. Zhang Yinghao set the cavalry of the field army as mounted infantry, so there is no problem with this.

Of course, the purpose of forming cavalry lies in its rapid mobility. In an era without cars, cavalry played an irreplaceable role in this regard. In this era, if cavalry is to carry out some tasks such as assault or cutting off the enemy's retreat, it needs more powerful firepower support, so the cavalry's firepower needs to be strengthened. Unless it is absolutely necessary, the field army will not use cavalry to hedge, which is really a situation where killing one thousand enemies will only cause eight hundred casualties.

Hearing the division commander's words, many people laughed out loud, but some people frowned and looked at the layout of the field army's position. Although they couldn't see the details, they felt that the field army's position was like a huge mouth that seemed to be able to swallow them completely.

Of course, it is impossible for the field army to expose all the machine guns and artillery for the enemy to see when arranging its positions, so the Russian army did not know the specific arrangement of the field army. However, seeing such a scattered arrangement, they at least knew that there should be quite a few heavy machine guns in it. Otherwise, with such a sparsely arranged position, the cavalry could break through the position with a simple charge.

"No, sir, those yellow monkeys seem to have deployed quite a few machine guns."

"Machine guns? So what? The great Cossack cavalry comes and goes like the wind. After we launch the attack, we can rush to their positions in two minutes at most. During this time, how much damage can their machine guns cause us? As long as we rush to the positions, these yellow monkeys will be able to taste the power of our Cossack sabers. You see, by then, even if those yellow monkeys want to escape, they will have no chance. Haha..."

The staff officer who had just raised his question still had a frown on his face. He felt something was amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

The emergence of automatic and semi-automatic weapons has severely challenged the ancient cavalry. With the emergence of armored forces, cavalry was about to be phased out. However, until now, there has been no precedent for large-scale cavalry-infantry exchanges, and no one has realized how terrifying it would be to use heavy firepower from automatic weapons against cavalry.

In fact, the power of heavy machine guns had already been demonstrated during the Russo-Japanese War, but that was only against infantry. Even in the rare instances where infantry faced cavalry, the cavalry would have considered it merely a fluke. Many cavalry commanders firmly believed that the cavalry's speed would compensate for this. Therefore, during World War I, hundreds of thousands of Russian cavalry still charged the Germans, only to suffer heavy casualties. Of course, this was the inevitable result of the Tsarist army's lack of communication.

The Russian cavalry quickly surrounded the field army. After a simple organization of the team and forming a charging formation, the division commander immediately shouted loudly: "Cossack warriors, those damn yellow monkeys have been scared into shrinking and becoming infantrymen. I believe that as long as we charge forward, those yellow monkeys will be scared to wet their pants by the heroic spirit of us Cossacks. Since there is a river next to these yellow monkeys, let's drive them into the river to feed the fish. Ura..."

The Cossacks immediately started shouting, waving their sabers and laughing wildly. When their morale was boosted, the major general immediately gave the order.

"Next, I order the attack to begin."

To quickly annihilate this field army and secure their first victory, the Cossack cavalry surrounded the enemy on three sides, deploying their entire force without even a tentative move. Thousands of horses, galloping slowly, created a truly spectacular spectacle. The momentum was truly overwhelming, unstoppable, as if anything in its path would be ripped to shreds.

Even though the field army soldiers had undergone many training sessions to face charging war horses, many of them were still pale, biting their lips tightly, and the knuckles of their fingers holding the guns were slightly white.

Unfortunately, with the changes of the times, no matter how well you build up your momentum, it is useless. After all, the flesh cannot stop bullets, and the superficial momentum cannot withstand steel cannons.

“Hurrah! Hurrah!”

Chapter 638: Third update!

The Russian cavalrymen shouted their resounding slogans, finally reaching the perfect moment for a charge. Their whips lashed their horses' hips, forcing them from an initial trot to a gallop, accelerating ever faster until they finally launched into a high-speed charge. Dust billowed, a scene of doomsday unfolding before our eyes. If we hadn't known the bloodshed that was about to flow, the distant view would have been truly striking: a fierce gale on one side, a tranquil sea on the other.

"Hurrah! Hurrah!"

"fire."

Seeing the cavalry finally within cannon range, the artillery commander was the first to shout the order to kill. Shell after shell roared out of the barrel, exploding into the cavalry's ranks, instantly knocking several cavalrymen down. However, the death of their comrades did not frighten the Cossacks. Instead, it stirred their inner ferocity, arousing the bloodthirsty animal instincts deep within them, and they wanted to attack the field army positions even faster. Of course, the Cossacks were also very experienced. When the field army began to bombard, they quickly distanced their horses to reduce casualties, but their horses did not slow down and continued to charge forward.

“Hurrah! Hurrah!”

There is almost no need to aim, and bullets fly out of the cannon barrel at the fastest speed.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh

Shells streaked across the sky, fell onto the grassland, and exploded instantly, sending shrapnel flying everywhere, killing and wounding nearby Russian cavalry and horses.

The cavalry's charge had reached its peak speed, and stopping was now impossible. When the cavalry rushed into the gap between the field artillery's attacks, the battlefield fell silent for a moment. Aside from the Russians still shouting "Ura! Ura!", there was no other sound. The scene was extremely strange and dreamlike.

However, this situation only lasted for a short moment. Soon the cavalry fell into the fire network of mortars and heavy machine guns. No Russian knew that what was about to greet these brave Cossack cavalry was a feast.

"Hmph, if the cavalry carries so many cannons, how can the cavalry's mobility be brought into play? These yellow monkeys don't understand cavalry at all and don't know how to use them." The division commander said with disdain when he saw this situation.

The cannons continued to explode, and the divisional commander seemed completely oblivious to the scattering of debris. Perhaps this was the proper behavior of a general; after all, kindness is not the way to command an army. On the battlefield, soldiers were merely tools in the hands of officers, and they were nothing more than the gray beasts of burden of Russia. As many as they wanted, they could have. As long as they achieved victory, they would receive flowers, glory, beauties, and money.

The sound of horse hooves was like thunder, shaking the heavens and the earth, and the momentum was like a rainbow, unprecedented. However, the worried officer's brows were still furrowed, he always felt as if a mysterious crisis was approaching.

"Mortars, fire."

The commander at the front gave orders. His voice was not loud, but it seemed to resound throughout the entire battlefield and linger in the sky of history.

When the distance was only about two kilometers, the mortar commander gave the order, and the artillerymen who had been prepared immediately lowered the shells into the muzzle, then squatted beside it and covered their ears.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Mortar shells flew out of their muzzles, hurling themselves at the oncoming Russian cavalry. Mortars were less powerful than field artillery, but they fired at a rate of thirty or forty rounds per minute, non-stop. From a distance, it looked like hail falling on the Russian cavalry.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

Shells exploded within the cavalry ranks, sending cavalrymen near the detonation points falling to the ground. The scattered shrapnel, like the Grim Reaper's scythe, reaped the lives of these Russians wantonly. Only at such times did people believe there was no Hades, no heaven, only endless sorrow for the dead. And precisely at such times, those with religious fervor were fearless, ready to face death with equanimity.

Faced with the artillery shells that fell like hail, the Russian soldiers' charge was slightly halted. Many blank spots appeared in the middle of the Russian ranks, and the Russian soldiers inside had been killed. This caused a brief panic among the Cossack cavalry who had just been ferocious. However, the Cossacks immediately swept over like a hurricane, because these old Russians believed that as long as they rushed into the position, the final victory would definitely belong to them.

"Damn it! Where did these yellow monkeys get so many cannons? There seem to be hundreds of them."

The division commander's smile faded, and a hint of worry, never before present, emerged within him. The intense artillery fire from the field army had inflicted heavy losses on the Cossack cavalry. If this continued, the situation would be disastrous. The other officers, observing this situation, also had a sudden, bitter expression on their faces. The Russian cavalry rarely equipped themselves with artillery, believing, as they themselves did, that such equipment would significantly reduce their mobility. The infantry, however, had a number of field guns, but Russia was a poor nation, and even the infantry had limited artillery. Otherwise, during World War I, several soldiers wouldn't have shared a single rifle. Therefore, the cavalry could be described as being artillery-less, relying more on their sabers.

Of course, China was poorer than Russia at that time, but who said Zhang Yinghao was a time traveler? How could he have been prepared for all this? The slogan "Everything for war, everything for victory" is not new. This is the saying that if you plan more, you will win; if you plan less, you will not win. What about if you plan nothing?

"Hurry up, hurry up! As long as we break into the yellow monkeys' position, their cannons will lose their power and become the empire's spoils of war. Then we will let these yellow monkeys have a taste of the cannons."

The division commander spoke fiercely. He still hadn't considered retreating, and he still didn't think he'd fail. He was still dreaming of victory, of revenge against the field army. He couldn't accept his own defeat, and he couldn't imagine what he'd face if he were defeated by the yellow monkey.

The Cossack cavalry was truly remarkable. In the absence of a political commissar system and despite suffering so many casualties, they still did not collapse, but continued to charge forward, with even their direction not changing much.

"Hurrah! Hurrah!"

The Cossacks' fearless attack finally made progress. They could now clearly see the soldiers on the field army's position, and their cries became louder. The Cossack cavalry in front had already raised their sabers high in the sunlight, and they gleamed with a faint cold light. The soldiers on the front line of the field army could already see the ferocious face of the Russians.

"You old Russians dared to invade China. Now I'll let you know the consequences of invading China. You even want to eat up my cavalry brigade, but you don't even know if you have such good teeth."

Seeing that the Siberian Cossack Cavalry Corps suffered heavy losses under the mortar attack, Lu Kaiwen said hatefully, but there was a smile on his face.

"Heavy machine gun, fire!"

Chapter 639: First update!

When the Russians reached a distance of 300 meters, the heavy machine guns had to open fire. Once the cavalry reached a high-speed charge, their speed was too great. It would take less than 20 seconds for the cavalry to reach the front of the position at a distance of 300 meters. The Maxim heavy machine gun had a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute, which meant only 200 rounds in 20 seconds. The range at which the heavy machine guns fired had to be carefully controlled. Too far away and the enemy could easily escape; too close and the enemy could easily break through the position, causing unnecessary casualties.

Fortunately, the fallen horses would block the position, slowing the cavalry's charge. The cavalry would be frightened and would detour, buying the soldiers considerable time. The heavy machine guns roared low, their muzzles flashing orange-red as they unleashed a barrage of bullets towards the Russian cavalry.

Heavy machine guns formed a fire network. Although the bullets were not very dense,

The cross-sectional area of ​​the warhorse is large, and the bullets are like lawn mowers, knocking down the horses or soldiers in the front rows. The horses at the back are still moving forward.

Charge, and soon the wails of war horses and the screams of soldiers were drowned out by the sound of gunfire, and all the sounds gradually disappeared in this world.

Although the field army lacked deep positions, cavalry charges were generally not easily overcome, provided they had sufficient ammunition. The barrage of bullets from multiple heavy machine guns, like an invisible wall, held back the Cossacks' relentless charge. With the addition of rifles, the Russian cavalry suffered even more casualties. While the magazines needed to be replaced after firing, their endurance was far inferior to that of heavy machine guns, their sheer volume and accuracy more than made up for this shortcoming.

Fortunately, some scattered Cossack cavalry were less than fifty meters away from the front line of the field army. If the horses charged at high speed, they would reach the position in more than three seconds, or the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, this distance became an insurmountable barrier for the Russian army, and the accurate bullets sent them all to see God.

Soon, the fearless Cossack cavalry could not bear such casualties. Without any orders from above, the cavalry began to move back to both sides of the position. However, the distance was so close at this time that the effective range of the heavy machine gun against the war horses could reach 500 meters. These horses and soldiers were still within the coverage of the bullets.

"All hands on deck."

Seeing the enemy's charge completely halted, the commanders naturally ordered a full-scale fire. Soon, pistols with shorter ranges also joined the firing, and the sound of gunfire was endless. By this time, the field army had become somewhat unhurried. Many soldiers had already begun to accurately fire on those who had slipped through the net, eliminating them and preventing them from actually rushing into the position and causing unnecessary casualties. Of course, even if a few cavalrymen were lucky enough to pass through the fire network and reach the front of the position, they still could not escape death. After all, no matter how sharp the saber is, the bayonet-mounted rifle is no pushover.

From this height, the field army's position looked like a reef on the seashore, unmoved by the wind and waves, or like a bamboo clinging to a green mountain, unfazed by the winds from all directions. The corpses of the attacking Cossacks, both men and horses, now covered the ground, their blood staining the earth red, nourishing the abundant and lush vegetation in the future.

"Damn it! How could this happen? Those damn yellow monkeys, how many machine guns and cannons are they equipped with?"

But no one answered him. Everyone was stunned by the massive casualties before them. The heavy casualties weighed heavily on the Russian commanders' hearts. This single battle had not only shattered their arrogance, but had even begun to frighten them. By this point, everyone understood that if nothing unexpected happened to the field army's defenses, even if all the thousands of cavalrymen they had brought with them perished in battle, they would not be able to break through.

"Oh my God, what kind of troops are we facing? Is it cavalry or infantry? How can cavalry have such powerful firepower? Even if it is infantry, it definitely doesn't have such powerful firepower, right?"

The staff officers, having recovered their senses, exclaimed in astonishment. While the Russian army's equipment was rudimentary, even the infantry was rudimentary, that didn't mean they were unaware of the equipment of other countries' infantry. Even Germany, known as the world's premier army, couldn't possibly be equipped with so many machine guns and artillery.

Of course, these Russians did not know that the mortar's rate of fire was several times that of other cannons, and they were facing a force with specially enhanced firepower. Because these heavy firepower weapons were not needed to deal with the Qing Dynasty troops at home, most of the weapons were sent to Mongolia, and the heavy firepower weapons of many other troops were used to support this battle, so they could produce such firepower.

If all the troops of the field army were equipped with such equipment, the liberated areas would have been bankrupt long ago. Moreover, such a luxurious fighting style could not be sustained for many times, after all, logistics and transportation were too difficult. This time, the purpose was to completely annihilate the Russian cavalry and win a beautiful first victory, so so many weapons were used.

Of course, the Field Army was only using innovative tactics, not real secret weapons. This was why they hadn't allowed any foreign military observers into Mongolia. Zhang Yinghao didn't want these things to fall into the eyes of the Western powers anytime soon, especially conceptual things like tanks. With the current technological level of the Western powers, they could easily manufacture them. Zhang Yinghao hoped these things would be kept secret for as long as possible.

For centuries, the Russian Cossack cavalry had posed a formidable threat to the nations of Central and Western Europe. They moved with the swiftness of the wind, possessing powerful offensive power and mobility, making them difficult to defend against. If Western nations learned how to defeat these cavalry, Zhang Yinghao had no idea what the future would hold.

Zhang Yinghao suspected that if that were the case, the intensity of the war would increase. After all, the more heavy firepower was used, the more casualties would naturally increase. However, until his productivity reached a certain level and bottlenecks were broken, until he had the ability to protect himself, and until the national transportation network reached a certain level, Zhang Yinghao preferred to remain a coward and keep a low profile.

After the victory, all the soldiers on the Western Front were convinced of Chairman Zhang Yinghao's theory of mounted infantry tactics. In the age of cold weapons, cavalry could be considered the king of war, relying on its agile mobility to dominate the world. After all, since ancient times, it was impossible to conquer the world without cavalry. The Mongols and the Qing Dynasty relied on cavalry to conquer the vast lands of the Central Plains. However, with the emergence of automatic weapons, cavalry gradually declined. The battle between the Field Army and Russia was only the beginning. Once the Field Army began to equip tanks and armored vehicles, cavalry was essentially eliminated from the historical stage. Even if a few cavalry still existed, they were only in a few marginal areas.

"What should we do now? Retreat?"

The bearded division commander was already pale and somewhat bewildered. He knew he was finished. This offensive had failed miserably, and his military career was probably over. At least, without any significant achievements, there was no hope of promotion.

"This is a trap, a trap the yellow monkeys have set for us." How could it really be called a trap? It was merely a defensive position that inflicted heavy losses on the Russians. However, by then, it was too late to react. The moment they launched an all-out attack, unprepared and without any testing firepower, their defeat was certain. Such a blind charge would inevitably come at a heavy price. Of the Cossack army's six thousand-plus men, less than a third remained as cavalry, and many were still struggling under the firepower of the field army. It didn't take long for anyone with a discerning eye to realize that, even if this cavalry wasn't completely annihilated, it had essentially lost the ability and courage to launch an offensive.

"what to do?"

Chapter 640: First update!

This was a problem their vanguard troops urgently needed to solve, but even the best cooks can't cook without rice. It was impossible for these remnants of their army to eliminate the enemy in their positions. However, the Russians didn't have to worry for long, because a division of the follow-up force had already arrived behind them, and the two armies soon merged! After all, they were all cavalry units, and in order to coordinate with each other, the follow-up force's speed was naturally not slow.

The officers knew that the battle was already going on at the front, so they all came to the headquarters and watched through their binoculars. The commander of the Vanguard Cavalry Division explained the situation at the headquarters. Perhaps because they had really lost miserably, his eyes were red and he said excitedly: "Sir Alyosha, the enemy's firepower points have all been drawn out. Let your troops attack from both wings along the river. Now the main force of the Yellow Monkeys has been attracted by me. The defense forces on both wings must be very weak. As long as you put your troops into battle, you will definitely be able to tear through the Yellow Monkeys' defense line and rush into the position. Then, victory will still belong to us."

The elite First Division was crippled so quickly. It all happened before everyone's eyes, and now it was even more clear, which made everyone realize the combat effectiveness of the field army. Now, whether their own troops would still foolishly go in was a problem.

Seeing Alyosha's hesitation, the bearded commander immediately knew this might be his last chance. If he failed to capture the position, and so many soldiers were killed, while victory and defeat were common in the military, the wrath of St. Petersburg would surely require someone to bear the responsibility and anger for the defeat, and he would be practically finished. However, as long as he captured the position, even if all his troops were killed, what would it matter? He could still make a comeback, or even achieve greater success.

"Alyosha, this is absolutely a good opportunity. As long as you launch an attack on the flank of the yellow monkeys, we will surely achieve final victory. You and I both know the current situation in the Far East, so we must win now and cannot fail. St. Petersburg is still waiting for news from us. Once we achieve victory, His Majesty the Emperor will be very pleased. I don't want a single cent of the credit, I'll give it all to you."

Even St. Petersburg had been dragged into the picture. Alyosha had to imagine the consequences of this. If he didn't fight, he would be accused of being a coward. Even if he couldn't break through the field army's defenses, he had to rescue the remaining cavalry under the field army's firepower. Otherwise, he would be accused of not rescuing the division commander in front of him.

"Perhaps the field army's firepower has really been attracted. Perhaps a flank attack can really lead to victory. This would be a huge achievement. As long as we attack once, no one can accuse me of not helping..."

After comforting himself in his heart, Alyosha said: "Okay, considering our friendship over the years, I will help you."

“Thank you so much.”

When the bearded division commander discovered that his plot had been discovered, he didn't feel anything at all. Even if he could win, his position as division commander would be over for the time being.

It didn't take long before the newly arrived Cossack cavalry were ready. At the command, they immediately launched an attack on the field army's positions.

This time, the cavalry did not attack the field army from the front, but instead adopted a circuitous tactic, bypassing the field army on both sides and preparing to charge the position. However, at this time, the Russians had already concentrated all their heavy firepower and immediately bombarded the field army's position!

However, after the field army repelled the first wave of the Russian charge, the position was constantly changing. All the unreasonable heavy firepower was repositioned, and the soldiers no longer concealed it. They all took up pickaxes and began to dig trenches, anti-artillery holes and foxholes.

"Orders, artillery ready to fire, reserves ready to reinforce at any time."

The soldiers, having already demonstrated their prowess once before, knew how to fight and were confident they could hold their ground. Faced with the disparity in casualties and the promise of victory, they were itching to get their hands on one, eager to do so. Just then, the Cossack cavalry arrived, and the soldiers took aim, awaiting the order to fire.

"Hurrah! Hurrah!"

The slogans shouted by the Russian Cossacks were still loud and clear. Some of them held carbines, and some of them danced their sabers to the peaks, advancing rapidly towards the field army's positions.

However, the Russians' tactics remained largely unchanged, perhaps expending the field army's ammunition. However, the Russians first faced a ferocious barrage from field artillery and a barrage of heavy machine gun fire. Thousands of Cossack cavalrymen, seemingly slamming into an invisible wall, were left bleeding and unable to advance a single step. Some of the fallen soldiers were trampled to pieces by the horses behind them before they could even raise a cry.

Under the intense fire, bright bloodstains appeared on the bodies of the Cossack cavalrymen. They were constantly shot and fell to the ground, never to stand up again. Compared to the cavalrymen on horseback, even more horses were injured and fell to the ground. When the horses fell, the cavalrymen on horseback were thrown violently. Even if they did not die immediately, they were seriously injured and would soon be carried to the grave by passing horses.

Seeing this, Lü Kaiwen immediately ordered, "Gradually reduce the firepower, focus on training, and improve shooting accuracy! Order the reserve troops to mount their horses and prepare for pursuit!"

The Russian attack was once again completely contained. Not only did they fail to break through the field army's defense line, they also failed to rescue other cavalrymen. They simply gave the field army a wave of heads.

"Damn it, how could this happen? How much automatic firepower do these yellow monkeys have?"

Alyosha was also roaring at this time. Watching the elite cavalry fall to the ground one after another, his heart seemed to be bleeding.

"Sir Alyosha, hold on a little longer. Perhaps we can break through the Yellow Monkeys' defenses. They must be at the end of their strength now. Look, their firepower has decreased."

Alyosha was filled with regret at this moment. He knew he had been tricked. Even if he retreated now, the price he would pay was too high for him to bear. He could only continue to fight. Perhaps there would be a turning point. Otherwise, his future would be ruined.

Such an attack by the Russian army was indeed tantamount to suicide. Equipped with automatic firepower and trenches, the cavalry's high speed and mobility were completely useless. Furthermore, since the field army intended to act as bait, they naturally had ample supplies of ammunition. Otherwise, it would not be bait, but a suicide mission.

"Asshole, we can't go on like this. We must withdraw immediately. We can't let our soldiers die anymore."

Alyosha almost roared. At this time, everyone knew that defeat was inevitable. Even if they broke through the defense line, they no longer had the strength to fight against the field army in front of them.

The order to retreat was finally given, and the surviving Cossacks felt a wave of relief. Those still atop their horses immediately abandoned all thought, turning their horses and spurring off at top speed. The Cossacks were unique. Under such intense firepower, few retreated without the signal to retreat. However, charging at such speed, retreat was no easy task.

The two Cossack cavalry divisions had arrived with over 12,000 men, but by this point, fewer than 4,000 had managed to escape unscathed, with many still lying wailing on the ground. Overall, over half had been killed or wounded.

But now, even the Cossacks couldn't retreat. Soldiers from the Fifth Field Army Brigade had already mounted their horses and charged the Russians before they could retreat. Meanwhile, heavy machine guns raised their muzzles, continuing to fire at the retreating Russians. Many Russians, barely breathing a sigh of relief, were shot down, perhaps unacquainted with the cause.

Seeing the field army cavalry rushing out, this was exactly the result the Cossack cavalry had dreamed of. Many brave Cossack cavalry immediately turned their horses' heads and rushed towards the field army cavalry, with their sabers waving like a big windmill.

Unfortunately, what greeted him were the muskets of the field army soldiers. The brave Cossacks on the opposite side continued to fall to the ground. After the bullets in the gun chambers were used up, the cavalry soldiers of the field army also drew their sabers and charged towards the Russian army.

"Those who surrender will not be killed. The People's Liberation Army will treat prisoners well!"

The field army soldiers charged, shouting loudly. By this point, the Cossack cavalry had completely lost their morale. Faced with the high morale of the field army, some Cossacks immediately dismounted, knelt, and raised their hands in surrender. Others fled, while others continued to fight to the death with the field army. However, the situation they faced was still the same as the scouts' duel. The Cossacks looked down on the mounted infantry of the field army, and many cavalrymen were killed by the field army due to their carelessness.

At this time, except for some comrades left behind, all the soldiers of the Fifth Brigade began to pursue. After these Cossack cavalry had suffered such heavy losses, they were no longer able to fight against the field army's cavalry.

Tens of thousands of cavalrymen from both sides battled on the grasslands. The Siberian Cossacks, each tall and strong, their horses swift, were now fleeing in panic. The two sides were a perfect match, and the sound of fighting shook the grasslands.

Chapter 641: First update!

Behind these two cavalry divisions stood the main force of the Siberian Cossack Cavalry Corps. Alexander Demyanov was still marching, anxiously awaiting the outcome of the battle. He had originally believed that even if the field army's cavalry had some fighting ability, they would be no match for the brave Cossacks. Furthermore, with a cavalry division of over 6,000 men, it was only natural that they could achieve victory against a field army of over 8,000 men. What he truly needed to be wary of were the field army's machinations; after all, no one would send 8,000 men to die.

But soon after the battle began, one of the Cossack cavalry divisions was severely damaged and suffered a crushing defeat, which made Alexander Demyanov simply unable to believe his ears. When the second division was also hit and suffered heavy losses, he still refused to believe it!