Chapter 3: The Morning Star (5 below)

The Japanese devils habitually lined up in four columns when marching. Suddenly attacked. Only a dozen people who walked in the first three rows were able to shoot back. There is simply no room for others to make a difference. The devils in the back row are transformed into actual combat formations under the organization of low-level officers. Set up light and heavy machine guns. The ** man on the war horse had already run out of the accurate range. Only the pale green soot and grass clippings were left in the sky. Blown by the evening breeze on the prairie. Floating around in front of the little devils.

"Yaga."" Coward. Don't run if you have the ability." The devil soldiers who are unwilling to be teased pull the trigger. Firing in vain at the back of the Chinese cavalry. The ones in the distance are getting smaller and smaller. And with the war horse running high and low figures. It's hard to get hit by a bullet. And the goal of taking the war horse is big. Such a distance. Bullets hit but have a very limited damage effect. As long as it's not fatal. You can't stop the horses right away. Prompted by the nature of herbivores. Wounded mounts will instead chase the pack even harder. Until the last drop of blood is gone. Nor will they fall into the hands of their pursuers alive (Note 1)

Fifteen to eighteen meters per second. In total, it only took about forty seconds. The incoming Chinese cavalry has lost their sights. The commander of the 1st Squadron, Saburo Suzuki, scolded and ordered his subordinates to stop shooting. Scolding and scolding, organize people to count the casualties. The final statistics will be reported later. But he became more and more angry.

Three people were killed in battle. Fourteen people were wounded. Only one of them was seriously injured. If you change it in the old days. This number of battle losses is almost negligible. Yet in today's day. It almost brought the entire 1st Squadron to a crumble. How could he not be furious. How can you still keep a cool head. Pick up the squad leader closest to you. Splitters are two big slaps." Yaga. It's only been a few days since I left Shenyang. Have you forgotten how to fight? Beaten by a small group of Chinese, he didn't even have the strength to fight back. The emperor's face has been lost by you.."

"The chief reprimanded. The commander reprimanded him well. Subordinates are incompetent. Please, sir." Sanadamura, the leader of the squad who was beaten, half hunched his body. Even the guilty pleas. The performance of him and his soldiers just now. It's really substandard. Not only is it far from meeting the requirements of the Empire's elite. I'm afraid that the troops stationed in those places that everyone looks down on the most are usually the most. It's also a big difference. When he saw more than thirty tall horses rushing towards him. Even he, a battle-hardened veteran. I felt a shivering sensation in my calves. If it weren't for the fact that the number of people on his side was more than ten times that of his opponent. I'm afraid I'm going to turn around on the spot. Escaped.

This is not the reaction that an emperor should have. So Captain Sanada is willing to wash away the shame by any means. However his immediate superior. Saburo Suzuki, the leader of the first squadron, suddenly lost interest in holding his subordinates accountable. sighed. Command in a low voice." Forget it this time. You go and put the team in order. I'm going to ask Captain Kawada for advice. How do we deal with the next situation?"

"Hi Yi." Sanada Muraichi gratefully agreed. Trotting to regroup the team. Squadron Leader Saburo Suzuki shook his head as he looked at the depressed soldiers under his command. Turn around. Strode towards Kuniaki Kawada's car.

Bright cab. Kawada Kuni Showa and Shiro Shirakawa both. I have already seen the embarrassing performance of the first squadron clearly. Although it is known that the losses inflicted by the enemy on their side will not be too large. But my heart is still as heavy as lead. Two sneak attacks. Both times hit the weak point of the emperor ** team. The squadron commander who was hiding in the shadows. It's like I've been dealing with the Imperial Japanese Army for many years. Advantages and disadvantages of the Imperial Japanese Army. I know it all. And on their own side. But the name of this person. Curriculum vitae and combat habits. There is no information. I only know that he is leading the team to resist the rule of the Japanese Empire near the Black Stone Village. Originally, they were all born in the green forest and grass. Nothing else is known.

Where is this green forest and grass. Even a graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy. Command skills may not be able to reach such a level. Especially in the application of cavalry. In the memory of Kuniaki Kawada. I've never seen any squadron use the same tactics. Ambush in advance. Close Assault. After taking advantage of it, he immediately drifted away. Modern cavalry drill code. There is absolutely no such trick. And the man who can train dozens of cavalry in such a coordinated manner. Nor will the cavalry drill be taken seriously.

"The battle just now. It's not your responsibility." Don't wait for Saburo Suzuki to open his mouth to plead guilty. Kuniaki Kawada has already taken the initiative to jump out of the cab. Say it out loud." Stop your team. I discussed it with Shirakawa-kun. New tactical adjustments will be made. Watanabe-kun. You go and inform the 2nd Squadron and the Baggage Squadron. Let them stop first. Stand by now."

"Hi Yi." The herald Miji Watanabe agreed loudly. Ride a horse to deliver orders. Kuniaki Kawada poked the ground with a command knife. Continued: "Suzuki-kun. When the cavalry rushed over just now. What is the feeling in your heart. Can you tell me more about that?"

"Subordinate. subordinates." Saburo Suzuki, who originally thought that he had escaped, immediately saw sweat on his forehead again. Red-faced and red-eared to make amends." Subordinate. The subordinates were too flustered at the time. Unable to organize a fire counterattack in time. Please. Please, sir, punish."

"Penalties. You don't have to. I'm not trying to hold you accountable. I just wanted to find out. Why even you, a high-achieving student who graduated from the Army University. will suddenly play out of order." Kuniaki Kawada smiled. Shake your head gently. Received two loud slaps in the face. He was concerned about the Chinese resistance forces active in the vicinity of Heishi Village. I don't dare to have the slightest contempt anymore. Instead, he seriously regarded the resisters as opponents on the same level as himself. Start learning lessons in earnest. Begin to study the operational characteristics of the opponent.

"They. They appeared too suddenly." Saburo Suzuki reached out and wiped two handfuls on his forehead. Then respond quickly. It's good not to put all the blame on yourself. Don't put the blame on yourself. I have a chance to get revenge." It's like it came out of the grass. Wait for you to see them. They've killed you. And our marching habits. And it's just not suitable for dealing with such a surprise attack. Don't put the position out of the way. Bullets are likely to injure one's own people by mistake. And wait until we've got the position out of the way. They've run away again."

"Hmm." I was just watching from the car. Kuniaki Kawada felt the same way in his heart. Two charges of the enemy. All make full use of the convenience of people and horses in hilly areas that are easy to hide. And the tactics employed. It also seems that the shortcomings of the emperor ** team have been rehearsed many times.

"Enemy. When the enemy charges. The formation is very neat. And it's always changing. The closer we are. The smaller the distance between horses." Sneaking a glance at Kuniaki Kawada's face. Saburo Suzuki continued. And they were at the time of evacuation. And try to spread the team out as much as possible. And will also release the reins of the horse with both hands. Turn around and shoot. Although there is no guarantee of an accurate head. But it makes it impossible for our soldiers to take aim calmly."

"Oh." This detail. Kuniaki Kawada didn't notice. He only noticed that his soldiers had suddenly become extremely flustered. The bullet went out without an accurate head.

"Hmm. Their riding. Very superb indeed. It's the most superb I've ever seen." Saburo Suzuki recalled. Whispered again. It's no worse than the cavalry of our Imperial Japan. It could even be better. In particular, the array transformations performed in the charge. The subordinates have never seen it in the cavalry units of the Empire."

"It's the classical cavalry tactics of the Mongols." Shiro Shirakawa, an operational staff officer who had been listening, suddenly interjected. Shock was written on his white face." Someone actually tried to put classical cavalry tactics. Reintroduced into modern warfare. This man is really a genius. It's really daring, too."

"Classical cavalry tactics." Kawada Kuni Showa and Saburo Suzuki turned their heads in unison. Looking at Shirokawa Shirakawa. His eyes were full of incomprehension.

"This tactic has been gone for years. Specifically. Since the advent of muskets. This tactic is becoming less and less suitable for war. Standby machine guns appeared. He was completely eliminated." Shiro Shirakawa, Combat Staff Officer, nodded. Very patient to explain.

Looking at Kawada Kuni Showa and Saburo Suzuki, the two of them were still confused. Thought about it. He went on to patiently explain: "A very important tactical feature of medieval cavalry. It is the momentum brought out by the dense formation and the impact of the war horse. to crush their opponents from both external and internal aspects. But it was possible to shoot continuously after the appearance of machine guns. can intercept the group charge with fire. The denser the formation. The more one-sided they were slaughtered by machine guns. So in the modern cavalry drill code. Both Europeans . The Soviets and the Great Japanese Empire. The standard tactic is to rely on the high-speed maneuver of horses. Interspersed with weak points of enemy forces. Then jump off the horse. Build a position like an infantryman. Lie in the trenches to attack or intercept the enemy."

"Hmm..."Kawada KuniShowa and Saburo Suzuki recalled their textbooks when they were in military school. Nodding his head again and again.

"So strictly speaking. Modern cavalry. has completely turned into a lancer. Or rather, infantry on warhorses. In addition to being able to maneuver at high speeds. Miscellaneous. It's no different from ordinary infantry." Shirokawa Shirakawa, an operational staff officer, thought about it. Keep adding." And the small force of Chinese cavalry that appeared just now. But he never left the horse. Offensive. The retreat is all like a flowing cloud. After one blow. Disengage with us immediately. This was a classic tactic of the Mongol Empire when it conquered Asia and Europe. Bows and arrows were replaced with rifles and light machine guns. Replaced the Mongolian scimitar with a Cossack saber." (Note 2)

"Shhhh The brows are furrowed into a Sichuan character. If the enemy and the enemy are facing each other. With heavy firepower in your hands. They could easily slaughter this Chinese cavalry. You won't lose a single soldier on your side. But if the Chinese cavalry had been employing this kind of sudden slaughter from behind the hills. Hit-and-run approach. I'm afraid that the next time there will be contact between the two sides. I'm still going to be beaten up. After all, the habit of marching developed for decades. It's not something you can change if you want to. And the hot weather and the rudimentary road conditions to the extreme. They are also not allowed to move slowly towards their destination in a dispersed formation.

"Still. I think they'll launch one or two more attacks like this at most. will take the initiative to retreat." Shirakawa Shiro, who is familiar with all kinds of war classics, is not as depressed as the other two. Smiled. Draw a conclusion with confidence.

"Stand back. Why did they take the initiative to withdraw .." Kuniaki Kawada was surprised and delighted when he heard it. Wide-eyed questioning.

"yes. Don't they want to continue to take advantage?" Saburo Suzuki is also puzzled. If he changes places with his opponent. See that there is a bargain to take advantage of. It's definitely going to be enough at once. How can you be able to do it before the opponent finds a countermeasure. I took the initiative to go home..

"Their tactics are very demanding on both cavalry and war horses. People with poor body coordination and too little timid. can't adapt to this tactic. And the war horses under their crotches. It is impossible to maintain the same physical and spiritual strength all the time." Shiro Shirakawa smiled and nodded. Explain with great confidence." Every charge. Both men and horses are in a high state of excitement. High state of tension. The mental and physical exertion is at least five or six times higher than usual. Or even a dozen times. Repeat this three or four times. Even if people can still hold it. The horses are also exhausted."

"Besides, we don't have any countermeasures." I'm afraid that Kawada Kunizhao and Saburo Suzuki will think that they are talking about it. Shirakawa Shiro thought about it. And he proposed to come up with another contingency measure." What they're relying on right now. It's nothing more than the speed of a war horse. What they take advantage of. Nothing more than our army on the march . The disadvantage that the machine gun is not easy to put into service . And if we leave a car empty. Add a machine gun in front of the compartment and on each side. And in the carriage with a small detachment of elite soldiers. Next time, they will dare to use the same tactics to sneak attack. It's like asking for your own death."

"Yo hee. SHIRAKAWA-kun. You're really awesome. It's really my lucky star." Kuniaki Kawada gives a thumbs up. Praise again and again.

"It's Shirakawa-kun. The brain spins fast." Saburo Suzuki also jumped high. Shouting loudly with excitement." I personally led a small detachment in a car to open the road in front of the head. I'll go personally. Let's see if those Chinese dare to kill again."

"Two cars. It's all for you to use." Captain Kuniaki Kawada nodded. The tactics of Shiro Shirakawa, an operational staff officer, were categorically adopted." SUZUKI-kun. I'll give you both cars. Heavy machine guns are also allocated to you four. Next time I see the Chinese cavalry. Be sure to hit me hard."

"Hi Yi." Saburo Suzuki gave a military salute. Originally depressed spirit. Reinvigorated to the top." The subordinates guarantee to complete the task. If the Chinese still dare to show up . None of the subordinates will let them go."

Note 1: Horses are not the only ones who have this habit. Social animals on the steppe. Such as antelope, sika deer. All have evolved to form similar instincts. Herbivores when they encounter predators. The more not out of the group. The greater the chance of escaping. Even if it hurts. Just don't stop. There is also a chance of healing in the future. Contrarily. It will be eaten by wild wolves.

Note 2: On cavalry and mounted infantry. Modern cavalry tactics. All references are made to the memoirs of some Chinese cavalrymen. and the book "Chinese Cavalry" by Mr. Wang Wai Majia. Not original for alcoholics. It is hereby declared.