The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 220 Preparation
After returning from Datong, Wang Xin stayed at Yanmen Pass. Then came the official documents issued by Zhang Wenjin, the governor of Datong, to various places, which, in addition to provisions, urged local authorities to urgently recruit troops.

There is a large open space outside Yanmen Pass, which is perfect for the army to conduct drills.

The Hexi Battalion currently has 2,500 soldiers. Although the various units have expanded over the past month, they have not yet been integrated. The tradition of the Hexi Battalion is to strike with all its might.

"Just sitting on horseback doesn't mean you can ride a horse. Do you even know the commands? If you're just charging around recklessly, do we need you to guide us?"

"You can't even sit still on horseback, let alone hold a spear properly. What kind of elite are you?"

The cavalry in the Hexi camp could not fight alone. This was true for 100 cavalrymen before, and it is still true for 300 cavalrymen now. They must fight in coordination with the wagon camp as the core. The new cavalrymen were scolded so much that they could not even lift their heads.

"You spent the whole morning training trying to slack off and save your energy? Do you need to save your energy? We didn't give you any food. Train harder now so you'll bleed less on the battlefield."

"Military discipline, military discipline, you must etch military discipline into your very bones, do you understand!"

The drill ground was filled with shouts and reprimands.

If Zhang Wenjin can listen to me, then this person can still be saved. If he still can't understand and recklessly attacks for his own benefit, then he is beyond redemption.

Regardless of Zhang Wenjin's decision, Wang Xin should focus on leading his team well.

The next crucial step is to fully utilize the capabilities of the 2,500 battalions. Through rigorous training, tactics must be ingrained in the soldiers' very being so that even when faced with life-or-death threats and panic, they can instinctively execute orders.

"The Hu cavalry lacked excellent bows and arrows, but the entire population was a soldier and everyone rode a horse, so mobility was the Hu cavalry's advantage. Our wagon cavalry's weakness was speed; they were not as mobile as the Hu cavalry."

Wang Xin summoned his generals and explained the new tactics.

It's not new, but rather an adjustment made to the existing one.

For example, the original 100 cavalrymen, due to the shortage of horses and cavalry, could only move between the wagon camps. Once outside the protection of the wagon camps, they were easily attacked by the barbarian cavalry, resulting in heavy casualties.

Now that we have armored cavalry, and the number of cavalry has reached three hundred, and the number of horses is sufficient to provide the horses needed for continuous combat, then we can send them out to fight away from the wagon camp when appropriate, but not too far away, so that the wagon camp can provide support at any time in case they encounter a large number of barbarian cavalry.

"Our cavalry is mainly heavy cavalry. Why? Because the Hu cavalry are numerous. If the enemy uses their numbers to charge our wagon camp, like last time, it will not only pose a huge threat to us, but also cause heavy casualties."

"With this heavy cavalry, things will be different. Although they are not as fast as the Hu cavalry, if the Hu cavalry dare to charge, this cavalry can play an important role."

Wang Xin explained in detail, and the generals, combining their existing tactics with the new ideas proposed by the general, had no doubts and could all understand the general's requirements.

The core of the wagon camp was the cannon.

Tang Ping saw through the mystery and said with difficulty, "Zhang Wenjin is not trustworthy. We have to consider that if we are besieged by the Hu cavalry without reinforcements, the cannons may not be enough."

Wang Xin nodded and said, "Xue Yan is already on his way with the craftsmen, and it shouldn't be long."

With craftsmen, cannons could be cast. Casting cannons required highly skilled craftsmanship, but unlike bows and arrows, which seemed much cheaper and simpler than cannons, bows and arrows actually took a long time to manufacture, often two or three years. Datong had coal mines and blacksmiths' forges.

Once the craftsmen who know how to cast breech-making machines arrive in Datong, casting can begin very quickly.

While the Hongyi cannon was incredibly powerful, it was also too heavy. Although the range and power of the Frankish cannon were slightly less, its rate of fire was much higher than that of the Hongyi cannon. Crucially, it was also lighter and more portable, making it the most suitable for wagon-mounted units.

Currently, the entire Hexi Camp only has twenty breech-loading cannons, which is insufficient, especially when the enemy outnumbers us. It is easy for them to be breached. Last time, they were breached, but the soldiers managed to plug the gap with their lives.

Simply buying them won't work; the price from the red-haired devils is too high for Wang Xin to afford. For the long term, training his own craftsmen is the most cost-effective approach.

There was so much preparation to be done, which is why I hoped Zhang Wenjin could proceed steadily and surely. Ou Yanhu was decisive, and although his style was rough, success was success. In fact, there were also internal conflicts within Dabansheng.

Mo Bisheng was unable to suppress the internal conflicts, which gave Ou Yanhu an opportunity. Ou Yanhu seized the opportunity and gained the upper hand, so Mo Bisheng had to pay attention to this person from now on.

Datong used to be able to subdue the Shanyu tribe and the Daban tribe, but now it needs to be reconsidered. Zhang Wenjin still holds onto his old ideas, which is very dangerous. If Zhang Wenjin does not listen to his plan, then he will not listen to Zhang Wenjin either.
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"Bahhhhh."

A troop of twenty cavalrymen, clad in iron armor and riding horses in cloth armor, wielded a variety of weapons, some even carrying spiked clubs. Though they were only trotting, their presence was astonishing.

After a short training session, the armored cavalry stopped and began to remove their armor and the equipment from the horses that had just run two laps.

The Hu soldiers nearby rushed over to help, leading another horse and rolling up the soldiers' armor and the horse's cloth armor, putting them on the horse's back, while pulling the magnificent warhorse to drink water.

"The general is a meticulous person." Ma Fan was promoted and placed in charge of the armored cavalry within the Hexi Camp.

Ma Fan had a good temper, and Liu Ying nodded seriously, agreeing with Ma Fan's words. Ma Fan smiled and put his arm around Liu Ying's shoulder, "Don't look so gloomy. Trust the general, he will definitely solve the problem."

Many people are willing to join the Hexi Camp, but not everyone can; they need to be vetted and selected.

These men had extensive experience in heavy cavalry warfare, which was exactly what Ma Fan needed. The two sides hit it off immediately. Liu Ying was also appointed by the general; he was originally a sentry officer in Feng Yong's household guards.

Liu Ying said earnestly, "If you can settle my family well, General, I will repay your kindness tenfold. I will definitely repay you."

Feng Yong left Datong, and the Yongxing Army he left behind should have been won over by the censor. However, the censor did not think so. Instead, he wanted to make an example of him, saying that it would teach them to follow the rules and know how to be respectful.

They were defeated in battle, and Zhang Wenjin was unwilling to stand up for them. Without them, the family was plunged into hardship.

"Don't worry," Ma Fan said confidently. "Not only your families, but even those who weren't chosen will have their families taken care of. You underestimate the general's magnanimity."

Seeing Ma Fan so full of energy, Liu Ying couldn't help but feel even more moved, and a thought couldn't help but rise in her mind.

(End of this chapter)