The Russian Empire had the largest territory in the world, spanning the Eurasian continent. Before the Trans-Siberian Railway was built, it would have taken several months to get from St. Petersburg, the westernmost point of Russia, to Vladivostok, the easternmost point. Even if you go by sea, it will take more than two months. Perhaps this is the trouble caused by the huge territory!

During the Russo-Japanese War, the Russian Navy rushed to the Far East for reinforcements from thousands of miles away from Europe. However, due to British obstruction, it was impossible to pass through the Suez Canal, and could only make a detour to the Cape of Good Hope. Along the way, there was also no port supply. After half a year of sailing, the Russian navy, which arrived in the Far East, was exhausted. In addition, the Pacific Fleet had already been dealt with by Japan first, so that the reinforced fleet was finally reduced to a lone force. In the end, it was wiped out by the Japanese Combined Fleet, which was waiting for work.

"Find a way to transport a batch of troops, weapons and ammunition to Governor Aleksayev. This time, the British will not stop us again. Those yellow-skinned monkeys don't have a navy. We can transport it entirely by sea. Tsar Nicholas II said.

It's just that now the Russian navy, which had suffered heavy losses in the Russo-Japanese War, is now regaining its strength, and there is not much strength to send to the Far East. Otherwise, Tsar Nicholas II wanted another fleet crusade.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Sukhhomlinov nodded. If a group of reinforcements can be sent to the Far East, this will undoubtedly be beneficial to hold the Far East. However, it is only a few months before the port of Vladivostok freezes. In terms of time, it is only enough for them to make a round trip. In addition, Russia's transportation capacity is already insufficient, and at most two infantry divisions can be transported to the Far East, which is already their limit. Two infantry divisions, but more than 20,000 people, how much effect can this play?

After the meeting. Sukhholmlinov returned to the War Department with a sad face. Nicholas II left him with the task of counterattacking, and he had to find a way to fulfill Nicholas II's request. Otherwise, it is very likely that he, the Minister of War, will pay tribute to the former Minister of War Alexei, who lost the Russo-Japanese War. Nikolaevich. Kuropatkin, like him, stepped down in disgrace.

"To fight back against the Chinese, it will definitely not work in the Far East. The armies of the Far East were struggling to defend even the front. Not to mention a counterattack. Once they leave the strong defensive position, I am afraid that they will become the target of Chinese extermination. Sukhhomlinov thought secretly.

Since it is impossible for the Far Eastern Military District to carry out a counterattack, the only army capable of launching a counterattack is undoubtedly the East Siberian Military District. It's just that before the start of the war, the entire East Siberian Military District had only 140,000 people. After the declaration of war, the strength of the army now increased to 200,000 people. If you want to invade the Mongolian steppe with 200,000 people and fight a decisive battle with the Northern Army, it will definitely not work.

But Tsar Nicholas II demanded it. It's just a counterattack on the Northern Army. It was not to defeat the Northern Army through this battle. This gave Sukhhomlinov a lot of room for manoeuvre.

So, Sukhomlinov sent a telegram to the governor of Eastern Siberia, Anucchin, asking him to send a powerful army to attack the Mongolian steppes in order to prepare for the war in the Far East.

Anuchin was able to become the governor of Eastern Siberia, a prince of one side, and he was not a fool. He is well aware of the current situation, the Eastern Siberian Military District has not yet completed preparations for war, and at this time it took the initiative to attack. There is a high probability of failure. Also, from Eastern Siberia to the Mongolian steppe. The distance of thousands of kilometers is an endless steppe, and if you send an army to attack it before you are ready, what is the difference between that and looking for death?

Since the Tsar wanted to see the valiant Russian army invade China, it would have been very easy to meet this demand.

On May 24, the Governor of Eastern Siberia, Anuchin, called the commander of the 2nd Cossack Corps, Major General Dimitry. He was asked to lead more than 26,000 Cossack cavalry under his command. Attack the Mongolian steppe.

Of course, Anuchin told Major General Dimitri not to go too deep into the Mongolian steppes, lest they be besieged by the main forces of the Northern Army. All you need to do is wander the northern part of the Mongolian steppe. In this way, they will be able to give their hands to Tsar Nicholas II.

Merely. Major General Dimitri is also a man of arrogance. Apparently, such a task could not be accepted. Although he ostensibly obeyed the orders of Governor Anuchin. But in fact, in his heart, he was very eager to fight with the Northern Army and use the blood of the Northern Army to forge his glory. According to the practice of the Russian Army, the commander of each cavalry regiment was a lieutenant general. But Major General Dimitri has just taken over the position, and he needs a win to complete his promotion.

Major General Dimitri was confident that he would be able to win the war with the strongest cavalry in the world.

The Cossack cavalry was one of the most powerful cavalry in modern times. Whether it was dragoons or cuirassiers from other European countries, although in terms of combat power, they were barely able to confront the Cossack cavalry. But in terms of troops, they were far from being the opponents of the Cossack cavalry. You must know that in the first war in history, Russia formed a total of 11 Cossack cavalry regiments, with a total of 300,000 people into battle.

Beginning in the 13th century, some Slavs fled the rule of the Kipchak Khanate in the Mongol Empire to southern Russia, including the Don Valley, the lower Dnieper River, and the Volga River basin. In the 15th and 16th centuries, some Russian and Ukrainian peasants who did not want to become serfs migrated to southern Russia after the overthrow of the Kipchak Khanate. These people were called "Cossacks", that is, "free people" in their native Turkic language. The Cossacks established a number of local regimes in Ongo. The Eastern European Plain is mountainous and less mountainous, so most of the Cossack ethnic groups are named after rivers, such as the "Don Cossacks".

The Cossacks were known for their bravery and good fighting. In Russian history, the tsar controlled the Cossacks by buying off the Cossack elite. The cavalry, composed of Cossacks, was an important force of Tsarist Russia. During Russia's expansion into Siberia, the Cossacks were Russia's main dependents. In particular, Empress Catherine's expansion around the Black Sea, the Cossack territories were included in the territory of Tsarist Russia. Faced with turf grabbing by the Germanic people who had been forcibly resettled, the Cossack cavalry quickly became known in the West for their bravery. The Cossack cavalry moved quite quickly and quickly retreated from the battlefield when the battle situation was unfavorable.

In the era of cold weapons, the Cossack cavalry shocked Europe with its speed, mobility, lethality, and brave warfare, and European countries often recruited Cossacks as mercenaries. The Cossacks took part in all campaigns from the 18th century to the Second World War in the Soviet Union. Some say that they are the most reckless classic cavalry in the Eurasian steppe. Their cavalry hooves flew in tandem with the pace of Tsarist Russia's outward expansion, and they made great achievements in Russia's territorial expansion on many occasions.

The Cossacks were not an independent people, but a military group. Its members are mainly Slavs (such as Ukrainians, Belarusians and Poles, especially Russians), in addition to a small number of Tatars, Caucasians, Georgians, Kalmetsks and Turks.

It can be said that the current Cossack cavalry is still the most elite unit in the Russian Army. Now in the Russian Army, there are only 5 Cossack cavalry regiments. The 2nd Cossack Cavalry Regiment was the only mobile regiment under the Eastern Siberian Governor Anuchin. In order to adapt to the battlefield in the Mongolian steppe, Russia has sent another Cossack cavalry corps to support. It's just that the legion is still on the way.

Compared to the Cossack cavalry, the cavalry of the Northern Army was somewhat insufficient. Or, rather, it would be more appropriate to describe it as an infantry on horseback. Half of the cavalry of the Northern Army were Mongols. But the current Mongols are no longer as elite as their ancestors. Although, growing up on horseback, they are superb in riding. But the Northern Army has always believed in firepower, so even the cavalry is equipped with a large number of heavy weapons.

The cavalry was equipped with almost the same weapons as the infantry. It's just that the cavalry gun in the hands of the cavalry is more suitable for firing on horseback. In addition, the cavalry had only one more saber than the infantry. The rest of the equipment is pretty much the same. Each squad has light machine guns, each platoon has heavy machine guns and mortars, etc. Each cavalry brigade, there was also a two-company artillery battalion, armed with 18 75-mm field guns.

Such firepower is definitely incomparable with the Cossack cavalry, who believed in fast mobility. With the advent of automatic weapons, cavalry swarm charges have gradually become obsolete. In the face of the crossfire of heavy machine guns, the cavalry attack was more like looking for death. Although, now the cavalry has not yet withdrawn from the stage of history. However, they are already in decline.

With the development of science and technology, when armored vehicles appeared, cavalry completely lost its value. Of course, at this time, cavalry is still the most mobile force.

The 2nd Cossack Cavalry Corps, led by Major General Dimitri, set out from Irkutsk and marched towards Mongolia. In just a week, they crossed the border and stormed into Mongolian territory. At the moment, the Northern Army is in northern Mongolia, and there is no army deployed at all. All the troops were withdrawn to central and southern Mongolia. This allowed the Cossack cavalry to drive straight in.

Tsar Nicholas II was very pleased when he learned of the "brilliant" results of the Cossack cavalry. (To be continued......)

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