Novel Full Chapter 61 Cavalry Charge
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Actually, by 8 a.m. on the 17th, cavalry armies in name from both divisions had arrived.
More than 400 herders had also rushed over.
Therefore, Wang Zhong planned to gather representatives of the herders and officers of the cavalry army at and above the company level to discuss issues pertaining to combat operations.
He initially wanted to convene the meeting after the enemy’s morning barrage, but when it was eight o’clock, the enemy had not yet started shelling.
Waiting indefinitely was not an option, so Wang Zhong simply moved the gathering site to the grasslands outside the city. In case of artillery fire or an enemy air raid, they would scatter and hide in the grass.
So at 8:30 that day, commanders from the cavalry armies (in name only) of both divisions, as well as representatives of the herders, gathered on the grasslands outside the city.
Wang Zhong used a jeep as a podium and climbed onto it.
“Gentlemen!” he began, “this time I’m entrusting the offensive task to the cavalry, to you! It is said that cavalry has been eliminated, but I believe that there is no obsolete branch of the military, as long as there are suitable battlefield conditions, the cavalry can play a tremendous role!”
In actuality, the Soviets later realized that in certain areas cavalry could be extremely effective. So, they reformed their cavalry armies and extensively employed cavalry during their counteroffensive in the south.
At that time, the Sturmtiger’s armored forces had suffered such losses after the battle of Kursk that some divisions had fewer than ten tanks ready for combat.
With tanks in such a state, there were huge losses in other technical equipment too, so many Sturmtiger infantry and mountain troops had to retreat on foot, then they were pursued and attacked by the cavalry.
It could be said that it was truly the last great moment for the cavalry troops.
Later, cavalry was also used to cross the Carpathian Mountains, but there it did not fare well, as crossing the Carpathians meant entering the densely populated Eastern European plains, and the Sturmtigers had received replacements for their technical equipment. Consequently, the Soviet cavalry suffered heavy losses.
This also indirectly showed that cavalry was indeed very limited and could only play a major role under special conditions.
And Wang Zhong, of course, had absorbed all the Soviet experiences and lessons; he would never employ cavalry in densely populated areas.
But now, this vast grassland was perfect for horse riding!
In the game “Hearts of Iron” series, there is a tactic called “cavalry raiding,” which means using the high mobility and low logistics dependence of cavalry units to run around the map with a skeleton force of a few cavalry units, leading enemy regular units on a merry chase, and ultimately capturing enough victory points to win.
Originally, this tactic was just an exploitation of the game mechanics and AI stupidity, but now Wang Zhong suddenly found the term quite suitable to describe the battle about to take place.
Wang Zhong glanced at the cavalry officers present again and decided to offer some flattering praise, “In the era of flintlock guns, cavalry was the branch of the military most in need of independent action!”
Actually, that was true. During the era of line infantry and flintlock guns, cavalry required courage, independent spirit—or in other words, ruthlessness or even a bandit-like attitude. That’s why cavalry units often allowed their soldiers to drink and plunder to maintain that spirit.
Wang Zhong continued, “During combat with the Conqueror, the Cossacks often broke away from the general’s command to maneuver and charge at the enemy’s supply trains at their own discretion.
“I now require you to revive this tradition! You will set out this very day, pass through enemy lines by night, and loot the enemy’s supply trains at will!
“My demands are simple, bypass the enemy’s armored forces and any other units that offer strong resistance and combat capability; only prey on the enemy transport troops!
“You are to completely break down the enemy’s logistics!”
At that point, someone among the cavalry officers shouted, “We have incendiary bombs to deal with enemy tanks!”
“I know you can handle them,” Wang Zhong paused, “I know you have enough courage and skill to destroy the enemy’s tanks, but that’s not your mission this time. We have numerous ways to handle enemy tanks, but only you can destroy the enemy’s supply lines!”
Then Wang Zhong pointed to the herders waiting nearby, “I require you to pack your saddles with dry food and operate for about a week behind enemy lines without resupply! When the enemy logistics collapse after a week, we will launch a counterattack and completely annihilate them!
“During this week, in addition to occasional support from the Air Force, you must fight independently. And these fellow countrymen will become your guides, each company will be assigned at least one local guide.
“They all have rich experience surviving on the grasslands and will help you get through the week.”
After Wang Zhong finished speaking, one of the herder representatives stood up, “During the civil war, I was the aide to Peterlyula, and after the war ended, I spent five years in a labor camp. The past ten years have seen the herders’ lives getting better. To hell with Peterlyula, I will fight with you!”
Wang Zhong was surprised to look at this herder, thinking to himself that the church must be quite merciful for you to have survived until now.
However, this guy had earned a merit this time, and it seemed he might not face future reprisals.
Wang Zhong took control of the meeting again, “Now let’s assign the guides, Vasily!”
Vasily, with documents in hand, also climbed onto the jeep. Taking advantage of the rising sun’s light, he read from the list, “Abnachinko, go to the 33rd Division of the 20th Army, First Regiment, First Battalion, First Company…”
Wang Zhong stepped down from the jeep, yielding the stage to Vasily.
At this moment, the commander of the 20th Cavalry Army, Rodionovich, came to Wang Zhong and said, “I never thought the Cavalry Army would be entrusted with such an important task again.”
Wang Zhong replied, “It wasn’t until I came here to inspect the situation myself that I realized cavalry is the most suitable military arm. I initially thought about using jeeps from the Federation, but unfortunately, the conditions here are too harsh and only cavalry will do.”
Rodionovich asked, “You think you’re back in the grasslands of Nan’ant?”
“Yes, I didn’t expect the difference to be so huge.”
Saying this, Wang Zhong turned to look towards the sun, as the grasslands gently swayed in the sunlight.
He thought of the Kazarlia steppes; in appearance, they indeed looked remarkably similar.
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Vasily jumped out of the jeep and saluted Wang Zhong, “General, all 400 herders have been allocated.”
Wang Zhong nodded and said to Rodionovich, “Let the soldiers leave after they’ve received their cigarettes and alcohol. The longer we gather here, the greater the possibility of being shelled and bombed by the enemy. Disperse as much as possible and avoid being caught by enemy planes.”
Rodionovich saluted Wang Zhong and then turned to run towards his warhorse.
Wang Zhong climbed back into the jeep.
Minutes later, the officers from the cavalry camp rode past Wang Zhong on their well-fed horses, heading towards the troops scattered across the prairie.
As each row passed in front of Wang Zhong, they all saluted him.
Wang Zhong had always found this Russian salute a bit comical, as if they were jabbing their chins towards the sky.
But now that he had become the person receiving the salutes, he suddenly felt the chin-jabbing gesture was quite imposing.
Wang Zhong stood on the jeep, watching the officers advance forward.
“Return victorious!” he shouted involuntarily.
The officers responded with a thunderous “Ura.”
—-
An hour later, Wang Zhong returned to the warehouse where the Army Group Command was located.
Popov was still playing chess by himself. Seeing Wang Zhong enter, he spoke, “The sound of ‘Ura’ could be heard even here. The last time someone brought ‘Ura’ wherever they went in Ante’s land was Kutuzov.”
Wang Zhong, “I thought it was Peter the Great.”
“That can’t be.” Popov shook his head, “There was an Ekaterina in between.”
Pavlov, “Is it appropriate for a Military Bishop to make such jokes?”
Popov shrugged, “Don’t worry. The ‘Ura’ from outside just now is enough to keep many from sleeping well. A few jests from me won’t hurt anyone.”
Wang Zhong turned the conversation back to military matters, “Has anything happened while I was mobilizing the cavalry?”
“What could happen? The Prussians are very quiet, no shelling, no attacks. Some reconnaissance troops tried to infiltrate, but quickly retreated after exchanging fire with our patrol units.”
Wang Zhong, “They couldn’t really be having supply issues, could they?”
—-
“Our logistical efficiency is worse than we estimated yesterday,” the Chief of Staff of the Tenth Army Group reported solemnly to General Boke, “because the enemy’s twin-engined bombers raided Shepetovka.”
He turned towards the nearby map, picking up a pointer and indicating the location of the Commander of the Western Front Army, “It must have been the Air Force units of the Western Front Army. The bombing seemed to be guided by ground guerrillas. It detonated a large amount of ammunition, and the oil fires ignited are still not extinguished.”
General Boke, with pursed lips, was silent for several seconds before asking, “Is that the full report?”
“Yes.”
General Boke, “So our fuel and ammunition were destroyed by the enemy’s bombers?”
“Yes, we estimate it will take until the 20th to complete repairs. The good news is, while waiting for fuel and ammunition, we can repair damaged tanks. By the 20th, the number of our operational tanks will increase by ten percent.”
General Boke cursed, “But the enemy’s cavalry will soon launch an attack! Rocossov won’t wait on the prairie, because the longer he waits, the greater the chance of air raids and shelling! His cavalry will sweep across the prairie!”
Chief of Staff, “Should we break up the armored grenadier division into many parts and defend at critical supply points?”
“It’s too late,” General Boke shook his head, “we’ve spotted so many cavalrymen yesterday, they should start disrupting our supply today. A competent commander would seize the fleeting opportunity. Do you think Rocossov is an incompetent?”
“Err…” the Chief of Staff hesitated.
General Boke answered his question, “No! Clearly not! Otherwise, the generals he’s defeated in our army wouldn’t be worth much, would they? He will take advantage of this gap!”
General Boke paced back and forth in the command tent as he spoke.
Chief of Staff, “Maybe we can have the Air Force strafe the cavalry moving on the ground as much as possible?”
“If the Air Force was any good, we’d have landed in the United Kingdom by now.”
General Boke stopped in front of the map, “Now, the only way to reduce casualties is to pull back the supply convoys, retreating to near heavily defended depots.”
“The enemy’s Cavalry Troops also need supplies. They can at most roam in our controlled area for five to eight days. Let’s have our troops stand guard, tighten their belts, and wait for them to exhaust their supplies and retreat on their own!”
Chief of Staff, “Isn’t this…a bit passive?”
General Boke stomped his foot, “Then what other methods do you have to deal with these cavalry? This way, by hunkering down and waiting for them to retreat, we can immediately resume supplies! If more of our trucks get burnt by the enemy, then we’re really in trouble! Hunker-down defense is the most suitable response right now!”
General Boke stared at the map for a few seconds and repeated, “The most suitable!”