PS: The third update is here, asking for subscriptions, monthly passes and recommended tickets! Thank you book friend afuo, I don't like to read books very much, kill the wolf, and wait for your monthly pass for the next century!

On the evening of April 30, the Imperial cavalry, which had attacked Irkutsk, stopped its attack and withdrew from the city of Irkutsk. Not for other reasons, but because of the heavy casualties that the Imperial cavalry could not bear. If this continues, even if Irkutsk can be captured, the casualties of the imperial cavalry will not be small, in this case, it will be too cost-effective.

"How can this be? In just over two hours of attack, we actually paid such a large number of casualties? Major General Monk Greenqin's face was gloomy as water. Since the formation of the Imperial Cavalry, it has been smooth sailing, and has never suffered such a large loss.

"Monk, it seems that Irkutsk's defense is beyond our appearance! However, this is also normal, cavalry is a force used in field battles, and street fighting is not our forte. Besides, the Russian army in Irkutsk is not a rabble in Ulan-Ude that is only equipped with cold weapons. When our cavalry enters the city, they will be attacked on all sides. Major General Qiao Moyan said.

Two brigades of the Imperial Cavalry entered Irkutsk, totaling more than 13,000 men, but when they finally withdrew, only more than 10,000 remained. The casualties reached about a quarter. You must know that when it came to conquering Ulan-Ude, the casualties of the imperial cavalry were only a few hundred.

"No, it's not just about the equipment. The morale of the Russian army in Irkutsk and the Russian army in Ulan-Ude are also completely different things. The morale of the Russian army in the city of Ulan-Ude is low. But the Russian army in Irkutsk dared to fight to the death with us. Major General Monk Greenqin said. Under the combined influence of these factors, the Imperial cavalry wanted to attack Irkutsk. It's very difficult.

Major General Qiao Moyan nodded: "It seems that Irkutsk is a relatively difficult bone to gnaw!" ”

"Monk King, if you want me to say, let's just take other methods. Engaging in urban street battles, storming fortifications and the like, that would have been the business of the infantry. Let's stop the offensive and focus on the siege! Wait until the infantry arrives. Give it to the infantry. There were not many Imperial cavalry units in the first place, and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th cavalry armies were still being formed. And, after the 3rd Cavalry Corps and the 4th Cavalry Corps were formed. will be sent to the northwest to fight, only the 5th Cavalry Corps and the 6th Cavalry Corps will come to reinforce us. We need to minimize losses as much as possible. Major General Qiao Moyan said. Even before the Mongol tribes were annexed to the empire, cavalry had always been a weaker part of the empire. Knowing now, this problem is slowly solved.

"Bastard!" Major General Monk Greenqin scolded secretly. Layout inside the city of Irkutsk. It was clearly aimed at the Imperial cavalry. There are large and small obstacles in the urban area. If the cavalry rushes inside, the speed will be limited. This made the cavalry vulnerable to the attack of the Russian army in ambush. If the Imperial cavalry dismounted and fought on foot, it would be a little more than worth the loss. After all, the Imperial cavalry was very valuable, and if it was lost in street fighting, it would not be worth it.

"Okay, send the situation we have to the commander, how to do it. It's up to the commander to decide! Major General Monk Greenqin said with a sigh. He wanted to lay down Irkutsk, but. However, he had to take into account the huge casualties of his troops.

"Okay, King Monk, I'll send a telegram to General Liu immediately." Major General Qiao Moyan said.

In order to command the battle with the Russians in East Siberia this time, the empire deliberately placed its headquarters in Kulen, and Lieutenant General Sun Hao, the head of operations, came to Kulen to direct the battle. In addition, Major General Liu Zhongming, deputy director of the Operations Department, assumed the command of the front area and followed the troops in combat.

Now Major General Liu Zhongming is following the infantry and is on his way to Irkutsk. But now, the snow and ice are beginning to melt, the roads are muddy, and the Imperial Army has a lot of heavy equipment, and the pace of the march is very slow. It's only twenty or thirty kilometers a day. If the main infantry forces in the rear are to reach Irkutsk, I am afraid it will take about three weeks. During this period, the Imperial cavalry had to fight on their own. Therefore, they could not afford to lose their limited forces in urban street fighting.

In less than an hour, Major General Liu Zhongming's call back came. Having learned about the situation that the Imperial Cavalry was now facing, Major General Liu Zhongming believed that it was quite correct for the Imperial Cavalry to stop its offensive on Irkutsk. Battles such as urban street battles are more appropriate to be left to the infantry. Major General Liu Zhongming asked the Imperial Cavalry to leave a brigade of troops to monitor the Russian troops in Irkutsk, while the main force of the cavalry returned to the Angarsk line to set up defenses. According to reliable information received by the Reich* Military Intelligence Agency, the Russian expeditionary force had sent more than 50,000 Cossack cavalry and was rapidly approaching. Major General Liu Zhongming asked the Imperial cavalry to wait for an opportunity to crush this Russian cavalry, and if possible, it was better to annihilate this Russian cavalry in one fell swoop.

The cavalry of the Russian expeditionary force was only more than 100,000 in total. If you can eat this Russian cavalry in one bite, it will be very beneficial for the imperial army to fight the Russian army in the next decisive battle.

"King Monk, this is General Liu's telegram. About 50,000 Cossack cavalry were rapidly approaching, and General Liu asked us to wait for an opportunity to crush this Russian cavalry. If possible, it would be better to eliminate them. As for the Russian troops in Irkutsk, we just need to leave a brigade to monitor them. Major General Qiao Moyan said. It would have been best if the Russian cavalry had been the target of the battle. In this way, the combat effectiveness of the Imperial cavalry can be brought into play.

"Haha, this is the battle that the Imperial cavalry should fight! The whole army was ordered to pack up and retreat early tomorrow morning. Major General Monk Greenqin said.

On 1 May, the Imperial Cavalry left a cavalry brigade to defend 10 kilometers west of Irkutsk, while the rest of the main force retreated westward to Angarsk, where it prepared to block the Russian expeditionary force. If the Russian troops in Irkutsk dared to go out of the city to fight at this time, a cavalry brigade remaining outside the city would be enough to deal with them. Having lost the protection of the city and fighting on a flat plain, the Russian army would be easily routed by the Imperial cavalry.

"General! The Chinese retreated. We won. Early in the morning of May 1, having discovered the retreat of the main force of the Imperial cavalry, Brigadier General Borif excitedly rushed into the headquarters of Major General Nevelskoy and reported the good news to him.

"What? The Chinese retreated? This, how is this possible? Major General Nevelskoy could not believe this qiē at all. Although in yesterday's battle, the Russian army successfully resisted the attack of the Chinese cavalry, and caused a large number of casualties to the Chinese cavalry. However, the losses of the Russian army itself were even greater. Coupled with the losses paid when the Imperial cavalry shelled the day before yesterday, the total casualties of the Russian army have reached tens of thousands. Major General Nevelskoy was a little embarrassed, if the Imperial cavalry continued to attack, how long would they be able to hold out, and whether they would be able to hold out until the arrival of the expeditionary force. But I didn't expect that at this time, the Chinese cavalry actually retreated?

"Really, General, it's true. The main forces of the Chinese seventh squad really retreated, and they were left with only a few thousand people outside Irkutsk. Brigadier General Boriv said.

"Damn, what are those Chinese trying to do? Could this be a trap for them. Order all departments to strengthen their vigilance, and absolutely not to relax. If you slacken, you will not be attacked by the Chinese. Major General Nevelskoy said.

"Yes, General!" Brigadier General Boriv nodded. Whether this is a conspiracy of the Chinese cavalry or not, as long as they strengthen their vigilance and do not give the Chinese a chance, then there should not be much of a problem.

By the time the Imperial cavalry arrived in Irkutsk, the telegraph lines erected outside the city had already been cut. As a result, the connection between Irkutsk and the Russian rear has been cut off. It is not impossible for them to want to know the specific information about the Chinese * army.

Compared with the Russian army, the Imperial* army undoubtedly has an extreme advantage in communications. After two years of development, the Imperial Army had already equipped the radio station with troops at the battalion level. At the military level, it is equipped with high-power radio stations, which can make contact with the rear. As for the navy, all warships are equipped with radio stations. Large warships, such as the 'Western Zhou-class' warships that have been put into service or the 'Dongzhou-class' warships that have begun to serve one after another, are equipped with high-power long-wave radios, which can directly communicate with China. As a result, the communications of the Imperial Army and Navy have been greatly ahead of the West.

These are all the credit of the Emperor Long Yufei. As a double doctor in metallurgy and materials science, he also has some knowledge in radio. Over the years, in addition to focusing on the management of state affairs, most of the rest of the energy has been put on scientific research. Under the leadership of Long Yufei, the newly established Academy of Sciences of the Empire set up a real room to develop various advanced technologies. Communication technology is one of them, and after unremitting efforts, great progress has been made.

Now, the empire's scientific research capabilities have made great progress, and the emperor Long Yufei often only needs to explain a general direction, and the scientists and engineers of the empire can conduct research in that direction. In this process, a large number of advanced technologies are often obtained, which are applied to industry and military, so that the industrial and military strength of the empire is constantly improved.

Having abandoned the assault on Irkutsk, the main forces of the Imperial cavalry retreated to Angarsk, where they actively deployed for a large-scale cavalry battle with the approaching Russian Cossack cavalry. (To be continued......)