Chapter 631: Two-front attack (please vote and subscribe)
The herdsmen wore the standard military uniforms of the Han tribe for the first time, and they seemed a little uncomfortable, but it looked like that after all, at least it looked a lot neater.
Because the herdsmen had no problem with foot clothing, Luo Chong directly got a lot of linen used for foreign trade, tore it into small pieces for them to use as foot binding cloth. Foot binding cloth is very suitable for wearing boots. Even during World War II, Soviet soldiers still commonly used foot binding cloth.
And it is not in the shape of cloth strips as many people think. The ones that use cloth strips are foot binding and foot binding. The foot binding cloth used as socks is actually a square piece of cloth, one of the corners facing forward, and then the foot is stepped in the middle, and then the four corners are wrapped around the foot in the order of front, left, right, and back. No need to tie it, just step it into the boots.
Boots are also reserved for archers, and the size is picked and worn, which is quite suitable.
The last step of putting on the armor was for the archers to help them put it on. Fortunately, the armor of the Han tribe was adjustable. The size was not picky, but the coverage ratio was smaller for tall people. To put it bluntly, more of the body surface was exposed than others. Then there was the iron helmet, which was also adjustable, but they didn't have masks.
The young and strong herdsmen who had a new look finally found some confidence. They felt confident in putting on this invulnerable iron armor. If they were shot to death by the enemy,
they could only blame their bad luck. Luo Chong looked at these temporary cavalrymen who were dressed in uniform but in a scattered formation. There was nothing to complain about. Even if they were not good at it, there were more than a thousand people, and more than a thousand people wearing iron armor.
The next step was to organize the team. The organization was ready-made, and it was done directly according to the previous household registration. Wu Shitun Baiqian, each lined up and followed his captain.
In addition, Luo Chong promised them iron arrows. The two guards of the Han tribe used crossbow arrows, which were quite different from arrows and could not be used interchangeably. Generally speaking, the arrowheads of crossbow arrows were relatively small, without much blade, like a pyramid, and the arrow shaft was relatively short, because it was to be mounted on the crossbow arm for firing. The tail feathers were also only two pieces, because they needed to be placed flat in the arrow groove.
Arrows generally did not have so many restrictions. First, they were relatively long. Secondly, the arrowheads were varied, but most of them were larger than the diameter of the arrow shaft, so they were also more lethal, and they often had barbs. Another feature of bows and arrows was that the tail feathers of the Han tribe's bows and arrows were three pieces, which made them more stable in flight.
Originally, the army was not equipped with this kind of bows and arrows, but considering that this was a new city on the grassland, and the forces on the grassland were relatively complex, it was the most likely front line for war. Therefore, based on the needs of city defense, it would not be wrong to prepare more arrows, so a batch was delivered recently when the goods were transported.
Not much, but it was sufficient to equip the more than 1,000 cavalrymen. Each of the 1,200 people received 50 iron arrows.
However, considering that the arrows may not be recovered, and may even be picked up by the enemy, causing unnecessary casualties to the enemy, Luo Chongrang made this batch of arrows that are disposable.
The so-called disposable iron arrows are cast with iron directly smelted from coal mines. If the coal is not desulfurized and made into coke, it is directly used to smelt iron. First, the temperature will be discounted. Secondly, the iron smelted in this way has a high sulfur content. If there is too much sulfur in the iron, it will become very brittle.
If the arrows are directly cast without forging, if they are shot on stones, the arrows will break directly. The same effect will be achieved if they are shot on human bones. The broken arrows will remain directly in the body of the injured. If the target is lucky enough and only pierces the flesh, it is possible to retain a complete arrow.
However, such cast iron arrows, even if shot back by the enemy, will break directly when shot on the steel armor of the Han army. It is impossible to use the arrows of the Han tribe to fight back against the Han tribe.
This routine is basically the same as the design route of the rabbit's weapons. The Eagle Sauce's mortar has a caliber of 81 mm, and the rabbit must make an 82 mm one. Don't think it's just a matter of one millimeter.
It will be very useful in a real fight. If you seize our army's artillery shells, but they are larger than your caliber, you can't put them into the barrel, and you can only give up or detonate them. But we seized your artillery shells, because the barrel caliber is one millimeter larger than your artillery shells, it can just fit in, and it can still be used. This is the battlefield advantage.
I can use your weapons, but you can't use my things. Are you angry?
Luo Chong took this into full consideration and carefully made this disposable arrowhead, including the iron pots sold to the grassland people, which are also made of this high-sulfur iron. They will rot if you hit them, while the desulfurized wrought iron pots used by the Han tribe can only be hammered flat and deformed, but they will never rot.
Do you think the Han tribe is so kind to export ironware? Is it that easy?
However, it was obvious that these newly conquered herdsmen did not understand this situation. They took these well-made iron-tipped arrows in their hands and loved them so much that they were reluctant to shoot them, because it was difficult to find the arrows shot in the battle. It would be a pity to use one less arrow.
"Okay, the weapons and armor are all given. The dry food is the pancakes we made with flour. There is no problem eating them for a few days. As for the food for the horses, I believe you know more than me, so I will not provide it for you.
These grains are enough to eat until you meet the caravan. At that time, your food will be provided by the caravan for the rest of the time.
Let me tell you about your mission this time. Your goal is to meet the caravan, protect the cattle, horses and white salt with the caravan, and then return here as soon as possible. If you encounter enemies on the road, avoid them if you can. Don't fight when you can break through. If the loss of personnel is too great, you can abandon the goods to protect the caravan members and withdraw first, and then find a way to deal with the goods when the time comes."
"Yes, we will definitely take the caravan and the goods back." Yili said.
But although he said that, he was still grateful for Luo Chong's words, which made them feel much more relaxed. At least the last sentence, if the casualties were too great, the leader would not let them defend to the death, but abandon the goods and protect the evacuation of the personnel, which showed a lot of friendship, indicating that the leader at least did not use them as cannon fodder. In the leader's heart, they were much more important than those goods.
The two guards of the Han tribe also had cavalry units. Although not many, they added up to more than 300 people, thousands of horses, weapons and armor. The Huben Guards would not be used for sneak attacks by water, and the Qianniu Guards would not need cavalry if they stayed at home for defense. Luo Chong simply organized the direct cavalry units of the two guards together, and then acted together with the herdsmen this time, and finally found Wuyun from the caravan to guide them, and the others would be fine for the time being.
After the cavalry set off, Luo Chong also asked Ling Feng to tell the remaining women and children of the herdsmen to limit their herds from grazing too far in the next few days. If they encounter the enemy, they must immediately hide in the military camp so that the soldiers can protect them. The herdsmen women agreed, but they didn't know if they could come at that time.
After sending off this group of cavalrymen who rushed to reinforce, it was much simpler when it was the turn of the Tiger Guards to go out. Everything was ready and there was no need to prepare at all.
Xue Tu said with great enthusiasm, "As long as the boats are in place, the enemies will be destroyed. Don't worry, chief. We have also taken boats to land and fight. There is nothing to worry about."
However, Luo Chong still shook his head and could not help but remind him, "Don't underestimate the enemy. There is a big difference between your action this time and the last time. This time it will not be as easy as last time.
First of all, you went ashore two days in advance last time, and you did not risk the enemy's attack to land on the beach. Secondly, the enemy this time has horses and formal troops, but the last time did not. So, you must not underestimate the enemy and be prepared in advance to deal with all possible accidents.
But you don't have to worry too much. Didn't you practice the beach landing training before? When the time comes, you will fight according to the situation. Pay attention to the use of sword and shield soldiers. The enemy has a lot of long-range weapons. Let the sword and shield soldiers play the advantage of high defense."
"Yes, please rest assured, chief, I know what to do."
After listening to Luo Chong's comparisons and instructions, Xue Tu finally knew how to pay attention to the enemy. He was no longer as sloppy as before and began to be serious.
The fleet of the Huben Guards also set out on the same day as the cavalry. Luo Chong specially sent these personally trained soldiers, hoping that they could have a good harvest, both for themselves and for the Han tribe, but Luo Chong was not too worried.
Although the Jinwu Guards still couldn't be sure where Maodun's army was, its army had long been out of the garrison, and this news had been verified, so Maodun's grazing ground was now an empty camp with only the elderly, the weak, women, children and livestock. The two thousand troops of Xue Tu attacked such a target, and even if they couldn't win, they could retreat calmly.
Thirty two-masted sailboats loaded with soldiers and food set sail, followed by three sunken three-masted sand transport ships that had just unloaded their cargo. They were transporting construction materials to and from the grassland, but they were directly detained by Luo Chong after unloading, and asked them to participate in this mission with the Jinwu Guards, but Luo Chong didn't plan to let them go ashore to fight. These large ships were specially used to transport prisoners and livestock.
The sails gradually disappeared from sight. The fleet's route was not close to the shore, as it would easily expose the target. If the herdsmen of Maodun's forces found that the Han tribe's fleet had transported so many soldiers to their side, the sneak attack would not succeed. So the fleet first moved away from the lake shore and walked around far away to avoid being discovered by the people on the shore. The
two troops responsible for the attack had already set off, leaving only the Qianniu Guards who stayed in the military camp. Luo Chong was not idle either. He first ordered all the crossbowmen of the Qianniu Guards to return to the camp and not come out from now on. They were all soft-skinned without armor. It would be a pity if they were attacked and injured. Luo Chong couldn't bear it.
From now on, the defense task of the military camp would be taken over by the halberd soldiers, who would arrange multiple sentries, take turns on duty, and increase the alert level. The sword and shield soldiers were lucky not to be arranged to stand guard. They were too heavy to carry, and if a fight really broke out, they would have to wait for these people to resist the thunder in front, so the sword and shield soldiers had to maintain sufficient physical strength.
However, Luo Chong still issued an order for the whole camp to be ready for battle at the first level. The so-called first-level combat readiness means that soldiers are not allowed to take off their armor, weapons must be at hand, and
they cannot act alone. They must maintain the most basic organization, which is conducive to gathering at any time. It can really be called ready to fight. Although it is a bit exaggerated, because there is no way to be sure whether Maodun will come to attack the military camp, it is better to be prepared than to sharpen the gun before
the battle. If he does not come, it will be a military exercise. Anyway, the Han tribe will not suffer any losses. However, Maodun did not know at this time that Luo Chong had made a plan against him and sent two armies to beat him.
Maodun had a lot of people. He had tens of thousands of cavalrymen under his command, which was equivalent to tens of thousands of families, that is, one man from each family. In this way, the population he controlled alone was about 50,000 people. However, he only attacked a caravan of less than 200 people in the Han tribe. Naturally, it was impossible to pull everyone out. That would be a waste of manpower.
Moreover, he did not bring any allies with him, and he even did it without telling his younger brothers.
First, he didn't want his brothers to know that he was an enemy of the Han tribe, because most of the tribes on the grassland recognized that the Han tribe was powerful. If you have the guts to die, don't drag us along. Maodun was afraid that if they knew, they would be scared away and the alliance would be broken up, so he didn't dare to tell them at all.
Second, he came to rob supplies this time, all of which were white salt and cattle and horses. Such important strategic materials were of course the safest to be in his own hands. If he dragged his brothers to fight, how would the spoils be divided? If you don't give them any, who would recognize you as the boss? But without these white salt, it would be difficult for him to control the brothers in the alliance, so it was better not to bring them.
Along the way, Maodun sent out many scouts to conduct reconnaissance in all directions, and specially went to places where there were no people, one is to find the caravan of the Han tribe, and the other is to fear being discovered by other tribes.
Although he didn't know which road the caravan of the Han tribe took, there was only one direction from the dark bridge of Zhudao, so he didn't have to worry about not being able to find it.
His target was not hiding at all. You Zhi knew that the leader had sent more than a thousand armored cavalry to pick him up. He was so excited that he was not afraid at all. He led the caravan and rushed to the military camp along the usual route.
All the members of the caravan rode horses. There were more than 50 of the more than 70 heavy armored cavalry. The missing people were sent by him to win over the small tribes, such as Wu Yun and Ling Feng. Among the more than 100 riders, there was a team of two-wheeled horse-drawn carts, which were loaded with bags of sacks and tied tightly with ropes. There was a coachman on each cart, but there were also several unridden horses next to the carts. They were all prepared for the driver. If he wanted to abandon the cart and escape, the driver could get on the horse and leave in an instant.
At this moment, two herdsmen with bows on their backs suddenly appeared on the horizon in the distance. When they saw the caravan from afar, they immediately shouted excitedly. One of them immediately raised the horn hanging on his chest and blew it.
(End of this chapter)
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