Five kilometers east of Shanhaiguan, Balipu!

This Dongjiu people occupy a small fortress closest to the front line of Shanhaiguan.

Two years earlier, the Eastern Captives had surrendered Zu Dashou and Wu Sangui, and after marching into the Western Liaoning Corridor, they galloped westward, trying to get to Shanhaiguan before the Chu army.

But it’s still a step too late!

The Dongji people finally reached more than ten kilometers east of Shanhaiguan. Seeing that they could reach Shanhaiguan in just one day, the Chu army captured Shanhaiguan and built fortifications overnight.

On the next day, the Dongjiu people continued to march westward. After entering Balipu, they used Balipu as the support point to advance and launched a large-scale attack on Shanhaiguan. They wanted to take advantage of the Chu army that had just captured Shanhaiguan and was not yet stable.

Defeat the Chu army and capture Shanhaiguan.

But they did not expect that the Chu army only spent one night to initially build fortifications and deploy a large number of artillery. In the end, the Dongji people paid heavy casualties and still failed to shake the Shanhaiguan defense line.

Then they were forced to retreat to Guangning Zhongqian Fortress. However, although the main force of the Dongjiu people retreated, there were still many troops left in Balipu.

After all, this is an extremely important outpost. Even if it cannot be used as the core defense system to resist the Chu army's eastward advance, it is used as an outpost to monitor the Chu army's movements and detect the enemy's movements as early as possible when the Chu army launches a large-scale attack.

And it is also very valuable to slightly block the Chu army's advancement speed and buy time for the defense deployment of the center and front in the rear.

Therefore, the Dongjiu people left thousands of troops to garrison here, and there were also many cavalry.

Subsequently, the Chu army did not launch a large-scale attack in this direction, but the Dongji people took advantage of the time to continue to strengthen the defenses of Balipu.

So much so that this small village-fort-like place has been transformed into a fortress that can garrison thousands of troops and has solid defenses.

According to the intelligence previously detected by the Chu army, there are at least 3,000 Dongdi troops deployed here, and these 3,000 people are very special. They are not infantry or artillery in the traditional sense, but cavalry.

And it’s not just some miscellaneous troops, but the elites of the Manba Banner, the headquarters of the Dongji people!

These elites can ride and shoot when mounted, and can fight on foot wearing heavy armor when dismounted. They also have mounted artillery units that are relatively rare among the Eight Banners.

The Dongji people put this elite force at the forefront, and their strategic intentions are very obvious!

That is to use these elite cavalry to retreat freely.

If the Chu army attacks with few troops, then they will fight defensively!

The three thousand cavalry dismounted and wore armor to fight. They were the most elite armored heavy infantry among the three thousand Dongjiu people. It would not be a problem to block the small and medium-sized attacks of the Chu army.

You can even react in a counterattack!

Three thousand cavalry rushed out. If the Chu army on the opposite side did not have corresponding cavalry to cover them, they would probably suffer a big loss!

If the Chu army attacks on a large scale, then these three thousand cavalry can simply abandon Balipu, and then directly resume the cavalry combat method, threaten the Chu army's strength by maneuvering the flanks, compress the Chu army's forward space, etc., and provide space for the rear, center and front

All preparation time is required.

Now, these Eastern captive cavalry are doing the same thing.

When they discovered that thousands of Chu army cavalry came out of the pass in front of them, followed by a large number of infantry and artillery, they immediately realized that the Chu army was about to launch a full-scale attack.

While they urgently sent people to send messages to the rear, they packed up their belongings and led their horses out of Balipu.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to burn the entire Balipu to avoid being exploited by the Chu army.

The East Capture garrison in Balipu retreated cleanly. Although this gave the Chu army an undefended Balipu, it actually caused greater trouble to the Chu army.

After the three thousand cavalrymen abandoned Balipu, they didn't go far and stayed nearby.

In this regard, Lieutenant General Zhu Xingfa, the commander of the Chu Army's vanguard cavalry, the First Cavalry Corps, has always been highly vigilant.

Although he was very confident that the three cavalry divisions under his command were enough to cover the flanks of the army, the Dongdu cavalry on the opposite side knew at a glance that they were elite.

As for things like elites, you cannot look at them with normal eyes. If the combat power breaks out, you will suffer a loss.

Once one's own cavalry suffers a loss, the large number of infantry, artillery and even baggage units at the back will be unable to move even an inch under the threat of a large number of cavalry captured from the East, let alone attack Zhongqian Fortress.

In this regard, Army Lieutenant General Zhu Xingfa was very cautious and directly dispatched the most powerful Second Cavalry Division under his command to continue monitoring the Dongdu Cavalry on the opposite side.

If the opponent wants to go around, stop them as soon as possible. If the opponent doesn't take the initiative to attack or try to go around to the side, then don't worry about them.

Army Lieutenant General Zhu Xingfa gave very serious instructions to several major generals of the 2nd Cavalry Division, including Brigadier General Qi Lianghou, commander of the 4th Cavalry Brigade: "We must keep in mind that our mission is not to kill or injure many enemy troops, nor to create a great victory.

, but to ensure that the main infantry, artillery and baggage troops in the rear can smoothly enter the battlefield and launch an attack on the enemy city!"

"If we want to win this war and drive the Eastern captives back to the mountains and forests, we must give full play to our infantry and artillery advantages."

"As for the cavalry, we must have a clear understanding. We are not as good as the other party in terms of the number of cavalry, the experience of the cavalry, and the quantity and quality of the horses!"

"On this point, we must have an accurate and substantial understanding, and blind arrogance is absolutely not allowed!"

"As long as we smoothly cover the infantry, artillery and baggage troops to the front line, we will win this war!"

"So, no matter what the situation, ensuring the completion of strategic tasks must be the only priority goal!"

With that said, Lieutenant General Zhu Xingfa looked at Brigadier General Qi Lianghou, commander of the 4th Cavalry Brigade: "Old Qi, fight steadily this time, don't be too aggressive like before!"

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Brigadier General Qi Lianghou showed a rare cautious expression and nodded: "Commander, don't worry, I understand!"

Army Brigadier General Qi Lianghou, this man has a very hot temper. He dares to scold General Zuo Yingzhe, commander of the Third Army, when he encounters something he doesn't agree with. He also often takes the lead during battles. He often sets an example and leads the cavalry to charge, with a fearless momentum.

Directly crush the enemy.

This kind of fighting style allowed him to lead his army to win many small and medium-sized battles with the Eastern captive cavalry in the past two years, and several times beat the Mongolian cavalry controlled by the Eastern captives into panic.

However, this style of fighting is fine in small and medium-sized battles. After all, this kind of battle does not have a big strategic goal. When both sides have small forces, the brave one wins when they meet in a narrow road!

But in a large-scale battle involving hundreds of thousands of troops on the surrounding battlefields, if the Fourth Cavalry Brigade continues to fight as boldly as in the past, or even goes deep alone, it will easily be led into an ambush by the enemy, or be ambushed by the enemy.

Deliberately diverting the enemy away, thus exposing a huge gap in one's own flank defense line.

As a result, the rear infantry, artillery and baggage troops were directly threatened by the enemy's cavalry!

Therefore, Zhu Xingfa gave Qi Lianghou some important instructions!

He actually feels very good about this person. Although he has a bad temper and doesn't know how to adapt, he really dares to fight and his fighting style is extremely brave.

Such a general led the troops, and even the Fourth Cavalry Brigade under his command gradually developed this kind of brave fighting spirit.

The Fourth Cavalry Brigade has also become a core and main cavalry unit in the First Cavalry Army. Zhu Xingfa is still counting on them to play a key role at critical moments.

But this is also a double-edged sword. If used well, it will be a sharp sword, but if used incorrectly, the sharp sword will be broken.

Now Brigadier General Qi Lianghou’s statement makes Zhu Xingfa somewhat reassured.

Although Qi Lianghou has shortcomings of one kind or another, he still takes the overall situation into consideration, which is good.

After giving instructions to these people, Zhu Xingfa sent the Second Cavalry Division up.

The 2nd Cavalry Division will not get too close to the enemy cavalry, but will stay on the side and rear to prepare for possible enemy cavalry attacks from behind.

As for himself, he led the First Cavalry Division and the Third Cavalry Division to follow up from the rear.

Sure enough, after the Dongji cavalry on the opposite side voluntarily abandoned Balipu, they really had the idea of ​​attacking from behind.

He tried several quick maneuvers to bypass the First Cavalry Corps and go to the rear, but Zhu Xingfa responded calmly.

If the enemy's cavalry makes the slightest movement, the Second Cavalry Division will go directly to block the enemy's route. At the same time, the two cavalry divisions in the rear are always paying attention and are ready to go up for reinforcements at any time.

Under such circumstances, although the enemy's three thousand cavalry are elite, it is impossible to get around them.

As for them forcing a breakthrough, they will immediately engage in battle with the Second Cavalry Division, and then not long after, they will be surrounded by the three cavalry divisions of the First Cavalry Corps.

The East Riding Cavalry on the opposite side are not stupid. Their generals are very clear-headed and have no intention of rashly forcing a breakthrough. Instead, they keep wandering around trying to find opportunities.

The Chu cavalry is constantly intercepting with maneuvers!

During this process, although there was no large-scale cavalry battle between the two sides, there were several small-scale cavalry battles.

Three of the battles were fought by the 2nd Cavalry Division, and to be precise, they were fought by cavalry sentries under the 4th Cavalry Brigade.

The cavalrymen of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, influenced by the personal style of Brigadier General Qi Lianghou, often fight very bravely in such small-scale battles!

Although in terms of riding skills, experience and even personal combat skills, the cavalry in the 4th Cavalry Brigade are inferior to those on the opposite side who have been on the battlefield and are extremely experienced.

However, in this kind of small-scale combat, courage is actually more important.

Furthermore, the excellent national defense industrial strength of the Great Chu Empire also gave the Chu army’s cavalry better cavalry equipment.

The 4th Cavalry Brigade is the main traditional cavalry in the front line!

Their equipment is naturally the best. The sabers attached to the cavalry are all the best fine steel sabers. The riding bows and infantry bows are also carefully selected bows and arrows. Even the arrows used in the bows and arrows are of fine quality.

Made of steel, the heavy arrows have excellent armor-piercing capabilities.

Finally, the armor they wear is also quite excellent.

This is the latest type of plate armor from the arsenal affiliated to the Ministry of Industry of the Dachu Empire. Although it is only a light half-body armor and has basically no protection against bullets, it is still no problem in protecting against bows, arrows and sharp weapons.

At the same time, while maintaining the same protective capabilities, this kind of armor is lighter than previous cloth-covered iron armor, which gives these cavalrymen better mobility.

Not only that, these cavalrymen also went to the battlefield with two and a half kilograms of cavalry cannon!

These two-and-a-half-pound cavalry cannons gave the cavalry of the Fourth Cavalry Brigade extremely beneficial fire support. Several times, the enemy cavalry was on the way over and suffered heavy casualties from the two-and-a-half-pound cavalry cannons.<

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Sometimes the Dongjiu people would retreat directly, and sometimes the Dongjiu cavalry would bite the bullet and increase their speed at a longer distance, or even start sprinting at a distance of three to four hundred meters.

A premature sprint charge will greatly consume the physical energy of the war horse, which will naturally put it at a disadvantage in the subsequent confrontation with the Chu army's cavalry.
To be continued...