Around late June, the Russian army received a report that the Chinese army had left Jiayuguan and launched a military operation to the west. The commander of the Russian army, Kalinin, held a military meeting in Dihua to study countermeasures. It was at this time that a Polish cavalry division arrived in Dihua and joined the battle group, which repeatedly belonged to the Russian battle sequence. During this period, Poland was basically a vassal state of Tsarist Russia, so it was normal to enter the battle sequence of the Russian army.

In an Islamic-style building in Dihua, it is full of generals above the division level. Don't look at Kalinin's stature, but his body is strong, and his blue eyes are very bright. His gaze was sharp, revealing a certain self-confidence and determination to kill. This guy is in his 50s, graduated from the Imperial Military Academy of St. Petersburg, and is a top student. Kalinin never met until the outbreak of war on the Crimean peninsula.

At that time, the Russian army was backward in equipment and military theory. Despite the first-class bravery of the Russian soldiers, they were still defeated in the face of the strong armament of the British army. The few local battles in which the Russian army rarely won were commanded by Kalinin, who at that time was only a regimental commander. This time, Russia mobilized the whole country to fight against China, and Kalinin was reused, promoted to commander of the Russian Southern Front, and commanded all Russian troops in Xinjiang.

Kalinin faced the generals and said: "So far, there are still people who are unrealistic and look down on our opponents. Some stupid pigs are still silent in their former glory, believing that the Chinese Imperial Army has achieved brilliant results by using despicable means. I analyzed the defeat of the coalition forces in the Chinese theater and can now draw a correct conclusion. I say to you, the enemy before us. Already formidable to be powerful. ”

Kalinin continued: "This rising army of tigers and wolves studied us before the war, and they found out all our weaknesses before they struck quickly. It can be said that the two sides did not fight before. We're doomed. At present, the armed forces of the Chinese Empire far surpass us in terms of weaponry, the quality of its soldiers, its training methods, its military theory, and its ability to command on the battlefield. In a frontal battle, we simply could not resist the attack of the Chinese Imperial Army. ”

Kalinin continued: "Therefore we must avoid its edge. Employing unconventional tactics to strike at the enemy's weak points. According to reconnaissance intelligence, the Chinese Empire's westward expeditionary force numbered 200,000 people. Frankly, even if we deploy an army of 400,000. Nor can it withstand the enemy's attack. What to do? Where is the weakness of the enemy army? In a word, the enemy's supply lines. Xinjiang has harsh natural conditions and limited land suitable for reclamation, so the enemy's powerful corps needs supplies from the rear in order to fight effectively. ”

"I decided to trade time for space. Let our enemies have nothing to eat. Trapped and unable to gain a foothold, Zuihou had to retreat. Xinjiang is a vast territory, and when the enemy's front is stretched, our opportunity will come. The next step is to evacuate Dihua, to drive everyone in Dihua away, and to make Dihua a dead city and an empty city. At the moment, the pride of the enemy is very high, and we must take advantage of the pride of the enemy. Strike hard at the arrogance of the enemy. ”

Kalinin looked around and said confidently: "The enemy's army to the west will soon reach Hami, and I have decided to send a cavalry unit to make a long-distance attack. When the enemy's main force leaves Hami, launch an attack on Hami and strike at the enemy by surprise. Everyone was excited when they heard this, and the gloomy atmosphere was swept away. At this time, the commander of the Polish cavalry division, who had just arrived, took the initiative to ask: "Your Excellency, General, please allow me to lead the troops to attack Hami." ”

Kalinin smiled: "Your courage is admirable, the attack on Hami is a long-distance attack, and the target of dispatching a division is too big." My guess is that the enemy didn't expect us to be going on a long run, so they wouldn't have too many troops left in Hami, and one brigade would be enough. Remember not to fall in love with the battle, fight quickly, and wait for our enemies to react too late. "On that day, the Polish cavalry division sent a brigade to embark on a long march.

Three days after He Meng led the brigade to Turpan, the Polish cavalry brigade arrived in Hami under the guidance of a Russian cavalry reconnaissance detachment, and immediately launched a furious attack. At that time, Hami had only one infantry garrison regiment and one company of cavalry. The local garrison was unprepared and was taken by surprise. The cavalry company fought bravely with the enemy, but was outnumbered and all killed. The infantry regiment fought valiantly to protect all the personnel from the retreat into the Hami palace to resist.

After a tenacious battle, the infantry regiment lost half of its men and horses, and finally held the Hami Palace. The Polish cavalry could not break through the palace, so they burned and plundered in Hami Town, and all the things that could not be taken away were burned, and the local people were killed as long as they found a trace, except for the people who hid in the palace, there were not a few living mouths left in the whole town. The Polish cavalry burned the town of Hami for a whole day and withdrew after dark.

After the Polish cavalry left, the soldiers came out of the palace to inspect and extinguish the fire, and the scene was like hell on earth. The streets and houses were full of dead bodies, and it was unbearable to see. It is said that the smell of blood in the town has not been emitted for dozens of days. Especially the local people, ten rooms and nine empty, the whole Hami has almost become an empty city.

On the morning of the Polish cavalry's attack on Hami, He Meng was sitting under the grape trellis and tasting grapes. A subordinate hurriedly came in and reported: "Commander, at midnight, the reconnaissance unit was at the Peach Blossom Oasis, about 50 kilometers to the south, and found that the oasis had been sacked by a Russian cavalry unit three days earlier. The reconnaissance unit followed the trail, and judging by the horseshoe prints, this Russian cavalry unit, numbering about a brigade, went east. The reconnaissance unit pursued hundreds of miles and found no shadow of the Russian troops. ”

He Meng stood up when he heard this, Lin Xiong waved his hand, and an operational staff officer quickly unfolded the map. He Meng looked at the map, a cold sweat suddenly broke out, and he suddenly slammed his fist on the map and said regretfully: "It turns out that the military operation of the Russian army is a long-distance attack on Hami, why didn't I think of it?" "Commander, Hami is in danger, and he should return to help immediately." He Meng said: "Order the 1st Cavalry Division to rush back to Hami!" A combat staff officer immediately ran out.

He Meng closed his eyes in pain and continued: "The reinforcements rushed back to Hami, I'm afraid the battle will end early." "Did you send cavalry units to intercept the Russian cavalry?" Lin Xiong asked anxiously. He Meng looked at the map and said, "Where is the 2nd Cavalry Division active?" An operations staff officer pointed to the map and said, "The 2nd Cavalry Division is active in the northern region!" "Order Division Commander Luo to immediately go to this area to intercept the Russian army?" He Meng pointed to the map.

Lin Xiong said confusedly: "Commander, weishenme intercepting the Russian cavalry in the northern region? He Meng said confidently: "The enemy will never return the same way." After the Russian army succeeded in its surprise attack on Hami, it must have looted a large amount of property, so the speed of the return journey was very slow. We get the news that Hami has been attacked, and it will take three days at the earliest, so it is wisest for the Russian army to choose the northern region with abundant water and grass on the return trip. ”

Luo Zhentian, commander of the 2nd Cavalry Division, received He Meng's order, did not dare to slack off, and immediately went to the designated area to intercept it. As expected, the Polish cavalry brigade, loaded with large bags and small bags, appeared in sight. Without any hesitation, the battle broke out in an instant. The Polish cavalry had a reputation in Europe, and their horseback fighting skills were slightly better than those of the Kossako cavalry. Fighting between the two sides began to break out.

In the face of the Chinese cavalry, the Polish cavalry was not afraid, and after the initial panic, they quickly regained their true character of being brave and good at fighting. As soon as the two sides fight, it is life and death, and it is stupid to the dark. Half an hour later, the Polish cavalry realized that something was wrong. The opponent's fighting skills were not weak at all, and the more people fought, as the follow-up troops continued to join the battle group, the Polish cavalry brigade was difficult to parry and began to scatter and flee, and the army was broken.

Three days later, He Meng received news of Hami's losses and the slaughter of Polish cavalry. An operational staff officer said: "Commander, the 2nd Division confirmed that it was not the Russian cavalry that attacked Hami but the Polish cavalry. This Polish cavalry fought bravely. According to post-war statistics, the Polish cavalry suffered more than 1,000 casualties, 800 were captured, and the rest fled. He Meng said: "It seems that the Russian messenger is not wrong to lose, and Dihua did come with a division of Polish cavalry troops." ”

The operational staff officer asked: "Commander, Division Commander Luo asked, what to do with the captured Polish cavalry?" He Meng did not hesitate at all: "Order Commander Luo to send a regiment to take the prisoners of war to Hami, and to publicly execute them all to pay tribute to the fallen officers and soldiers and the local people." I have now made a rule that all enemy troops who innocently kill unarmed poor people will not be spared, and that they will be executed when they are captured. ”

Then He Meng ordered the generals above the brigade level to go to the headquarters to hold an operational meeting as soon as possible! (To be continued......)

PS: The road to the west is full of uncertainties, and the enemy is not a straw bag.