U-Tsangdusi.

Large numbers of cavalry troops continued to gather from the nine borders.

Under normal circumstances, the cavalry does not march very fast, which seems a little different from what we imagine.

In fact, in addition to special raids, the cavalry will also be followed by a large number of auxiliary troops.

The infantry naturally walks and needs to pull a lot of baggage and food.

It is very rare to ride a horse for hundreds of miles.

No matter how powerful a horse is, it still needs rest. It cannot run all the time, and it is even rare for it to be able to march long distances quickly, which would cause great damage to the warhorse.

Only when they reach the vicinity of the combat target will the cavalry separate from the infantry and act independently.

The Mongolian cavalry carried seven or eight days' worth of dry food during their forced marches. Each man rode two horses, and they took turns leading the herd in front while the cavalry took turns resting on horseback.

The Mongolian army would not normally waste horsepower like this.

The 20,000 cavalrymen from the nine sides did not march together, but were divided into twenty thousand horses.

Each thousand-cavalry team will be equipped with two thousand auxiliary soldiers.

In addition to transporting food and fodder, these auxiliary troops can also serve as infantry.

The biggest difference between auxiliary troops and infantry, besides combat power, is armor.

Auxiliary soldiers usually do not wear armor.

Before the Nine Border Cavalry arrived at the U-Tsang Dusi City, the news had already been sent through the post station.

When the cavalry arrived, they followed the assigned personnel to get settled.

The restaurant in Dusi City was immediately occupied by a large number of thousand households.

"Cao Tai, you are too slow. We arrived two days ago, but we haven't seen you yet. Maybe you got lost in the sandstorm on the way."

The young man who spoke was Pu Yu, the son of Pu Ying, the Duke of Lelang and a founding hero.

The Cao Tai he was referring to was the son of Cao Liangchen, Duke of Anguo and a founding hero of the country.

As soon as Pu Yu finished speaking, there was a burst of laughter from the surroundings.

Cao Tai shouted with a red face and thick neck: "Who is lost? I was attracted by the scenery along the way. You rough people are only concerned with getting on the road and fail to see the beautiful scenery around you. You are really illiterate."

Hearing what Cao Tai said, everyone laughed out loud again.

He Rong, the son of Dongguan Bo He Zhen, could not help but say, "I know, I know. Only you, Cao Tai, have read a lot. We are all illiterate. I don't know who was reprimanded by the instructor for failing the exam last year, which lowered the bottom line of our class."

Everyone was joking without restraint and seemed to be getting along very well.

There are a total of twenty thousand households here. In addition to their young age, they also come from prominent family backgrounds.

Even the lowest-ranking centurion's fathers were nobles of the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, most of the parents here have basically passed away.

And they can be said to be the true second generation of nobles in the capital.

At the beginning, Zhu Ying threw all these second-generations into the Ming Military Academy for training.

Cavalry is the most expensive type of soldier in the Ming Dynasty, and building a strong cavalry for the Ming Dynasty is also a great demand.

Even in the Ming Dynasty, where industrialization was constantly advancing, the strength of the cavalry could not be ignored. At least for a few hundred years, the strength of the cavalry could not be replaced.

Unless the industry is updated and replaced again, cars and motorcycles are produced.

Such a huge leap, at least Zhu Ying would not be able to see it while he was alive.

Therefore, the importance of cavalry is self-evident.

Zhu Ying sent the cavalry troops who had been training at the grassland military base over there after they had trained at the Ming Dynasty Capital Military Academy.

It is obvious that these second generations, who have been exposed to military affairs since childhood and influenced by their parents, perform better than ordinary people.

When you are poor, study literature; when you are rich, practice martial arts.

Their foundation needs to be more solid.

Many of them also inherited their fathers' titles.

It can be said that this is the most prestigious group of young people in the Ming Dynasty at present. All of them are nobles and are also the strongest military force in the Ming Dynasty.

The armor they wore was made of the latest Thousand Forged Steel from the Ming Dynasty's Scientific Research Department, and was also finished with a drawing process.

It is thinner and lighter than ordinary armor, but also stronger.

At least the current muskets cannot penetrate it, and at close range they will only leave a shallow dent.

"Okay, let's not talk about this. It is said that the Crown Prince has arranged a batch of secret weapons for us. They are the latest output of the Research Department."

"It is for us to use in stopping Timur's cavalry this time."

Sun Ke, the son of Sun Xingzu, Marquis of Yanshan, spoke up.

He is the oldest, already in his thirties. Compared with those who are in their twenties, he is considered a big brother.

Most of our fathers were conferred titles posthumously, and their hereditary titles were certainly not that high. Some of them were second sons or youngest sons, so there were not many differences in their status.

In fact, the person they should thank the most is Zhu Ying. If it were not for Zhu Ying who prevented the Lan Yu case from happening, all these people would have been implicated and killed in history.

"Brother Sun, do you know what this secret weapon is?" Cao Tai asked.

Sun Ke shook his head, then looked at Batu and asked, "Do you know?"

Batu was once a subordinate of the Heroes Chamber of Commerce in Mongolia. His full name is Batu Borjigin, and he is a descendant of the former Heavenly Khan.

Of course, by Batu's generation, only the surname remained.

He was rescued by the Qunying Chamber of Commerce and has joined Zhu Ying's team.

After the Heroes Chamber of Commerce evacuated, Batu was arranged to stay at the border. Later, when the Grassland Military Academy was established, Batu was naturally included.

Batu is now also one of the twenty thousand cavalry commanders.

Among these 20,000 cavalrymen, a considerable number are not Han people.

Among them, there were thousands of Jurchens.

However, now they all have household registration in the Ming Dynasty and are true Ming people.

What the Ming Dynasty advocates now is the great integration of nationalities. No matter what nationality they are, as long as they have a household registration in the Ming Dynasty, their identities are the same.

Batu smiled bitterly and said, "This is the secret of the capital, how could it be spread to the border."

Batu now also holds a position in the Border Intelligence Department, so Sun Ke asked this question.

"Batu doesn't know, so we can only wait. There is no need to rush. The transport team from the capital has entered the city today. We should know tomorrow at the latest."

After saying that, Sun Ke stood up and picked up the wine glass: "Everyone, the ancients said that it takes a thousand days to train an army and only a moment to deploy it."

"We have been training hard day and night, practicing martial arts and horsemanship, waiting for this day."

"Our fathers followed Your Majesty to drive out the Tartars, restore China, and establish the Ming Dynasty, which is why we are where we are today."

"It is because of the glory of our fathers that we have the Nine Border Cavalry today. How can we let the world look down on us?"

"What they were able to do back then, we can do as well."

"Don't even mention the past. There has never been a warhorse with such armaments as ours."

"It is said that fame and fortune can only be achieved on horseback. We want to prove to the world that we are not just playboys who only know how to have fun, but also heroic men who can serve the court."

"Let's drink this glass of wine and make a name for ourselves on the battlefield."

After saying that, Sun Ke drank it all in one gulp, then threw the bowl hard on the ground and shouted, "Great!"

Many of the thousand households followed suit and smashed their bowls after drinking.

The crackling sound was endless.

It really has a heroic spirit.

The shopkeeper who was listening downstairs was smiling.

I made a lot of money today.

The next day.

On the battlefield.

Twenty thousand cavalrymen formed neat rows.

In the front was the cavalry commander, Yingguo Gong Fu Youde.

Only he can suppress these second-generation nobles.

In front of Fu Youde, the identities of these second-generations are not worth mentioning. Their fathers might have once been soldiers under Fu Youde.

According to the requirements, these 20,000 cavalrymen will undergo special assessment here.

The first test is to open fire immediately.

While charging on horseback, they had to use muskets to shoot at targets along the way at a distance of fifty meters.

The effective range of the matchlock gun is about eighty meters, which is a relatively high requirement, after all, it is still moving.

You will pass the charge only if you hit two of the three targets.

Just for this item, almost half of the 20,000 cavalry will be eliminated.

This is not a question of accuracy.

After all, they are all elite cavalry of the Ming Dynasty.

The main thing is to load the musket while galloping on horseback.

Slowing down is not allowed during this period. Once the loading speed is too slow, it means missing the target.

"I didn't expect that this time the Crown Prince would ask the Song Zhenfu Envoy to personally escort him."

The cavalry were being tested, and Fu Youde said to Song Zhong with a smile.

Song Zhong bowed in the direction of Nanjing and said, "I dare not betray the trust of the Crown Prince. These breech-loading flintlock rifles are extremely expensive. If there is any mistake on the road, it will be a huge sin."

"Now that our Ming Dynasty has developed a train that has shocked all nations, many people are willing to be running dogs for the sake of money. Even in the imperial court, there are many spies hiding very deeply."

"The post stations are spread all over the Ming Dynasty, far away from the capital, and are most susceptible to being deceived by others, so the Crown Prince specially sent me to escort them."

There was a hint of pride in Song Zhong's words.

The trust of the Crown Prince is the greatest power for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Even when facing Duke Fu Youde, Song Zhong was not afraid at all.

After saying that, Song Zhong waved to the side, and the Jinyiwei behind him immediately handed him a wooden box.

Song Zhong opened the wooden box, and inside lay a shiny breech-loading flintlock rifle.

"This is called a flintlock rifle. It is the latest technology of the Research Department and is made entirely of thousand-forged steel."

"Let me demonstrate it for the Duke," Song Zhong introduced.

Looking at the bright and beautiful flintlock rifle, Fu Youde was a little curious and nodded, "Thank you for troubling Governor Song."

Song Zhong shouted, "Come here, set up the target."

Immediately, a Jinyiwei carried the target and lowered it at a distance, about thirty meters away.

Song Zhong cursed, "You look down on me? Back off fifty steps immediately."

Those who could join the Jinyiwei were all good soldiers with excellent martial arts skills.

In terms of personal martial arts, Song Zhong believed that he was unbeatable.

The bow and arrow have always been the standard of judgment in the military.

Of course I can't hit the target from a hundred steps away, but fifty steps away is no problem.

In Fu Youde's sight.

Song Zhong picked up the flintlock rifle, and then turned the small joystick next to the rifle, and a hole immediately appeared on the rifle.

He put the loaded bullet into the hole, then shook it in the opposite direction to lock it, pulled the bolt, and Song Zhong raised his gun and fired.

With a bang, a light smoke came out.

Looking at the target again, it had been pierced directly near the center.

Fu Youde, who was sitting, saw this scene and stood up and exclaimed: "There are such fire guns in the world."

Fu Youde, who had led troops in battles for many years, was really scared.

Such a musket was beyond his imagination.

Then, Fu Youde smiled and said, "This kind of flintlock rifle is superior to cavalry, it is simply unstoppable."

"Why are there only 5,000? The Research Department is too stingy. Can't they give more?"

As he was speaking, Fu Youde took action and snatched the flintlock from Song Zhong's hand into his own.

At this moment, he didn't care about Song Zhong's identity as the Jinyiwei pacification envoy.

Touching the flintlock rifle, it felt like a peerless sword.

"Good musket, good musket, quick, bring the fire bullets, let me feel it too."

Song Zhong nodded slightly to the Jinyiwei next to him.

The Jinyiwei immediately delivered a round of fixed bullet.

Fu Youde imitated what Song Zhong had done just now, put the loaded bullet in, pulled the bolt for impact, aimed at the target, and pulled the trigger.

With a loud bang, the target in the distance was pierced again.

Feeling the vibration in his hand, Fu Youde couldn't help but say, "What a powerful force, I'm afraid it has a range of a hundred steps."

Then he laughed and said, "With such a sharp weapon, our Ming cavalry is invincible."

Song Zhong immediately poured cold water on them: "Don't be too happy too soon. Each flintlock rifle is equipped with 20 rounds of special fire bullets. After firing these 20 rounds, the flintlock rifle will be considered useless. It must be returned to the Research Department for repair before it can be used again, otherwise it will explode directly."

"And the cost of making a flintlock rifle is at least 20 taels of gold. Being able to make 5,000 of them is already the limit."

Fu Youde stroked the gun and exclaimed again: "Twenty taels of gold, this is too expensive."

Song Zhong said: "That's why we need to select the most elite cavalry to be qualified to use the flintlock rifle. At that time, every soldier who receives the flintlock rifle must be registered."

"Each flintlock rifle has a special manufacturing mark. The man is alive as long as the rifle is alive. If the rifle is dead, the man is dead."

Fu Youde looked at the side of the flintlock and saw the words '0001' engraved on it.

Arabic numerals were introduced to the Central Plains at the end of the Song Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, but they were not used on a large scale.

In his educational reform, Zhu Ying has begun to require the use of Arabic numerals to make calculations more convenient.

"Twenty rounds are a bit too few. Maybe they won't even be used for two battles." Fu Youde said with a sigh.

Song Zhong said: "So the soldiers must also be equipped with matchlock guns."

Fu Youde nodded, and his hand never stopped stroking the flintlock.

The cold gun body made his heart burn with heat.

"These 5,000 flintlock rifles will make those enemies who attack our Ming Dynasty feel despair."

"I want to see how they resist."

Fu Youde was so excited that he wished he could take his flintlock and fight Timur's cavalry directly.

At this time, the selection of cavalry was gradually coming to an end.

A large number of cavalry were eliminated, and only the real elites remained.

Five thousand flintlock rifles mean five thousand cavalry teams.

At that time, these five thousand cavalrymen will be like five sharp knives, directly piercing into the heart of the enemy.

It is hard to imagine how desperate the enemy would be when facing such a war weapon.