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Time passed little by little, and after entering May, even Eastern Siberia in high latitudes finally passed the long cold winter and entered spring. Even though the climate is still a little cold, the sun is already hanging in the sky all the time. As the sun shines, the temperature will gradually begin to rise, the frozen rivers will begin to thaw, and the roads that have become muddy due to the melting of the snow and ice will begin to dry out. This was undoubtedly very advantageous for the empire and Russia, which were about to have a decisive battle in Eastern Siberia.

From May to October, this period is a short period of spring, summer and autumn in Eastern Siberia, and after entering October, the temperature will plummet again, and the whole of Eastern Siberia will enter a long winter. When the time comes, in the cold season, it will not be suitable for the operation of large forces. Large-scale military operations will be forced to stop, and if they want to defeat the other side, they will have to use these few months. Both the Chinese Imperial Army and the Russian Expeditionary Force hope to be able to defeat each other by October, if not completely, to gain a huge advantage, and then enter the winter. After the end of winter, the decisive battle will continue in the spring of the following year.

Both the Chinese Empire and Russia knew that it was impossible to defeat the other in a short period of time. Therefore, this war will be a protracted war. In addition to the general battle in Eastern Siberia, the two sides will also fight in other regions. For example, Central Asia and Northwest China, the Chinese Empire wanted to recover the Northwest. Defend the Northwest Frontier. Similarly, the Russians wanted to use the northwest as a springboard to pose a threat to the Chinese Empire. Especially if the Russian army is unable to open the situation in Eastern Siberia. Opening up the northwest battlefield has become another choice for the Russian army.

The eyes of the whole world have been focused on Eastern Siberia, and the outcome of this war will be directly related to the Chinese Empire and Russia, which is the most powerful country in land warfare on the Eurasian continent. Of course, from the current point of view, the Chinese Empire is undoubtedly a little more advantageous. The reason why Russia was able to become the hegemon of Europe was because of Russia's huge army. It's not their combat power. The strength of the standing force of the Russian Army of 1.4 million men is much more than the standing strength of all countries on the European continent. However, such an advantage was in front of the Chinese Empire. There is no advantage. By now, the army strength of the Chinese Empire has increased to 30 infantry corps, 6 cavalry corps, and 5 heavy artillery brigades. As well as two mountain infantry brigades. The total strength has reached about 1.3 million people, and the navy still has five marine brigades. In total, it is not much less than that of Russia. Of course, Russia has now begun a new round of conscription, preparing to expand its army by more than a million people.

However, the total population of Russia is only about 60 million. After the unification of the Chinese Empire, the total population was already more than 300 million and close to 400 million. That's about six times as large as Russia. Moreover, the industrial power of the Chinese Empire was far superior to that of Russia. If the Chinese Empire wanted to, it could easily double the size of its army. Of course. If that's the case, it's a bit of a reckless militarism. The empire's current economic strength is not enough to support an army of more than two million. The current army is already able to guarantee the security of the empire.

The Chinese Empire and Russia were both countries with large armies and land areas, which made it take a lot of time for both countries to defeat each other. Therefore, the war between the Chinese Empire and Russia will be a protracted war. However, the upcoming battle on the East Siberian Plain will be a decisive one. Whoever can gain the upper hand will be able to gain the upper hand in the early stages of the war. Therefore, both China and Russia hope to be able to win in Eastern Siberia.

Judging from the number of troops invested by both sides in the East Siberian battlefield, the Russian expeditionary force is as high as 600,000 people, and there are 200,000 local armies formed by East Siberia itself. Of course, after the arrival of the Russian expeditionary force, it is estimated that there will not be many of these local armies left. The Chinese Empire invested 12 infantry corps and 4 cavalry corps, with a total strength of more than 560,000 troops. The forces of both sides were almost equal. Of course, these are combat units, and those who are responsible for logistics and transportation are not counted. However, even so, the total number of troops invested by both sides is close to 1.2 million. In the history of warfare in the entire world, such a large-scale battle is also one of the few in the handful.

The East Siberian War broke out between China and Russia, and as the troops of both sides continued to move closer to East Siberia, the big war was about to begin. And the prelude to this battle is about to begin. 、

The 1st and 2nd armies of the Imperial Cavalry, having abandoned the offensive on Irkutsk, stationed the main forces at Angarsk. After learning that the Russians' 50,000 Cossack cavalry were about to arrive, the Imperial cavalry sent a large number of troops across the Kitoy River to search for traces of the Russian army. According to the information obtained by the Empire* Military Intelligence Bureau, the Russian cavalry that arrived this time were the 10th and 12th armies of the Russian Cossack cavalry, with a total strength of more than 50,000 people.

In terms of strength, the 1st and 2nd armies of the Imperial Cavalry, with a total strength of more than 70,000 men, left two cavalry brigades to garrison west and south of Irkutsk, and after deducting the losses in the battle, the remaining strength was only more than 50,000 people. The strength of the two sides was almost identical.

The Russian Cossack cavalry has long been called one of the most formidable cavalry, and it once terrified the European countries. The imperial cavalry, on the other hand, consisted mainly of Han Chinese and Mongols. The Mongol cavalry was also a natural cavalry, and once even hit the Danube in Europe, making a mess of the whole of Europe. The Mongol cavalry has always refused to recognize the toughness of the Cossack cavalry. This time, you can prove who is stronger through guò fighting!

On May 5, 1847, an infantry battalion of the 1st Brigade of the Imperial Cavalry encountered the vanguard of the 38th Cavalry Division of the 10th Russian Cossack Cavalry Corps eighty kilometers west of Angarsk. On the flat steppe, a fierce battle was fought.

The size of the Russian army is a regiment with more than eight hundred people. There was only one battalion of the Imperial cavalry, with a total of more than six hundred men. The Russian army has a slight advantage.

However, in the early stages of the battle, the Imperial cavalry inflicted heavy casualties on the Russians with their horse pistols and mortars and heavy machine guns deployed in the rear. The Imperial cavalry was trained to inflict heavy damage on the enemy with long-range weapons before attacking the heavily wounded enemy in order to minimize their own casualties when they were victorious.

Under the heavy fire of the Imperial cavalry, the attacking Russian cavalry paid a heavy price, and more than two-thirds of the cavalry fell on the way to attack. After that, the Imperial cavalry fought a fierce battle with the Russian army.

Although the Russian Cossack cavalry was strong in combat, in the case of heavy losses, they were already at an absolute disadvantage in terms of strength. In half an hour of fighting, the Russian army lost most of its personnel, and only a few dozen of the remaining successfully escaped. And the price paid by the Imperial cavalry was less than a hundred.

In this encounter, the Imperial cavalry won a complete victory. Facts have proven that if the cavalry is only equipped with sabers and other cold weapons, if it is hit by superior firepower, it will pay a heavy price. This is also the reason why the Imperial cavalry was organized according to the size of the infantry, and was also equipped with a large number of hot weapons. The cavalry of the Empire, in essence, was both cavalry, but at the same time infantry! Compared to before, the Russian Cossack cavalry suffered much more.

This encounter heralded the beginning of the Great War of Eastern Siberia between the Chinese Empire and Russia. The two sides will engage in a major war in the vast expanse of East Siberia that will affect the national fortunes of the two countries.

"General, the front-line reconnaissance unit sent news that one of our cavalry battalions encountered a cavalry regiment of the Russian army, a fierce battle broke out between the two sides, and we achieved victory, at the cost of less than a hundred people, almost annihilated the cavalry regiment of the Russian army, and of the more than eight hundred Russian troops, only a few dozen escaped." A junior officer reported to Major General Seng Lingqin and Major General Qiao Moyan.

"The Russians have already come? They're coming really fast. That's just right, though. Before the arrival of the main forces of the Russian expeditionary force, we will destroy them! Major General Monk Greenqin's eyes were full of excitement. The Russian Cossack cavalry and the 1st and 2nd armies of the Imperial cavalry, which have now arrived, are roughly equal in strength. If the Imperial cavalry could win, it would prove that the Mongol cavalry was undoubtedly more powerful than the Cossack cavalry.

"General Liu's previous telegram indicated that the main force of the imperial infantry would not arrive in Irkutsk for half a month. The Russian expeditionary force will probably not arrive until the end of next month. As long as we can defeat this cavalry unit of the Russian army, then we will have enough time to finish out Irkutsk. Major General Qiao Moyan said. The big war is about to begin, and it's always unpleasant to let the nail of Irkutsk stick in your back. After dealing with the Russians there, the Empire was able to let go of the decisive battle with the Russians.

"Order the ministries to prepare for battle. Additional reconnaissance units were sent to keep a close eye on the movements of the Russians. Major General Monk Grinqin ordered.

"Yes, General!" The heralds immediately transmitted the instructions of Major General Monk Greenchen to the troops.

"Old Joe, how about we put the battlefield here?" Major General Sanglingqin pointed to the map opposite Angarsk, on the west bank of the Kitoy River, a large area of plains. (To be continued......)