Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

Just as the armor-piercing power of the "Crow" heavy crossbow had the Armory and the Military Academy engrossed in frenzied research and tactical simulations, another powerful force of the Cold Abyss Army—the cavalry—was also undergoing a transformative metamorphosis.

During the exercise, although the Blue Army cavalry, commanded by Zhang Meng, ultimately failed to break through the Red Army's tight infantry formation and crossbow fire, its high mobility, impact, and tactical flexibility still left a deep impression on everyone and exposed the Han Yuan Army's enormous potential in rapid response, long-range raids, and battlefield containment.

After the military exercise, Xiao Chen's emphasis on cavalry development not only did not diminish, but was elevated to a strategic level.

"Infantry can defend the land, but only cavalry can expand the territory."

At a high-ranking military officer meeting at the Military Academy, Xiao Chen set the tone: "If Han Yuan is to achieve great things, it must have an iron cavalry that can roam the world and be invincible!"

Therefore, Xiao Chen personally approved Zhang Meng's "Outline for Cavalry Reorganization and Expansion" and mobilized a large amount of resources to support it.

I. Warhorse optimization and bloodline improvement.

The warhorses of the Hanyuan cavalry in the past mostly came from grassland trade and captured, resulting in a mix of breeds and varying quality.

Therefore, Xiao Chen ordered the establishment of the "Military Horse Bureau," which was responsible for the breeding, procurement, and training of warhorses.

On the one hand, they continued to strengthen cooperation with Batu Khan of the grasslands and introduced a large number of fine horses from the grasslands; on the other hand, they secretly purchased a small number of top-quality stallions from merchants from Northern Yan and the Western Regions at high prices, and attempted to establish their own military horse farm in Hanyuan to improve the bloodline.

All warhorses were classified into different grades, such as "scout horses," "war horses," and "pack horses," based on their size, endurance, speed, and temperament, and were managed and used accordingly.

II. Comprehensive equipment upgrade.

The Military Academy and the Ordnance Department collaborated to develop new equipment specifically for the cavalry.

Equestrian equipment: Fully promote high-bridged saddles, double-sided metal stirrups, and horseshoes to significantly improve rider stability and horse endurance.

Weapons: Standard equipment includes a hundred-refined steel saber, a horse bow, and a horse lance, all produced by Hanyuan.

Armor: Depending on the type of troop, light cavalry were equipped with lightweight iron-lined leather armor, while heavy cavalry began to be equipped in small batches with a combination of half-body plate armor and scale armor, which greatly increased protection, while the weight was well controlled due to the excellent quality of the steel.

Support: Each cavalryman is equipped with a leather water bladder, dry food bag, first aid kit, and repair tools to improve their survival ability in the wild.

III. Organization and Tactical Innovation.

The Hanyuan cavalry is no longer simply divided into "light cavalry" and "heavy cavalry," but is instead subdivided into specialized units such as scout cavalry, rangers, assault cavalry, and horse archers.

Tactically, it emphasizes the coordination of multiple troop types, such as "cavalry harassment, archer cavalry suppression, cavalry charge to break through formations, and scouts to intercept".

The Military Academy specially compiled the "Cavalry Drill Manual," which standardized a complete set of training subjects, from individual horsemanship and squad coordination to large-scale mass charges.

IV. Strengthening and Realizing Training.

Zhang Meng selected the most skilled archers, the strongest men, and the most determined men from the entire army and among the refugees to supplement the cavalry force.

The training intensity has been greatly increased, with daily equestrianism, spearing, archery, long-distance riding, and wilderness survival as compulsory courses.

At least one live-fire confrontation exercise is conducted every month, and troops are even taken to the edge of the grassland or deep mountains for long-distance training without rear support to hone their will and adaptability.

With Xiao Chen's strong support and Zhang Meng's iron-fisted training, the appearance of the Hanyuan Cavalry underwent a dramatic transformation in just a few months.

On this day, fifty miles north of Zhenbei City, in a vast grassland called "Yinmachuan," banners fluttered and ten thousand horses neighed. The main force of the Hanyuan cavalry, twelve thousand riders, assembled here to receive Xiao Chen's inspection.

The reviewing stand was towering, and Xiao Chen, dressed in light black armor and a black cloak, stood with his hand on his sword.

Behind him, Wang Dashan, Zhao Tie, Han Lie and other important civil and military officials stood solemnly.

Below the stage, twelve thousand cavalrymen, arranged in dozens of neat square formations according to different military branches and organizational structures.

The knights stood tall and proud, their eyes sharp, their horses pawing and snorting, yet they maintained an orderly formation, demonstrating an exceptionally high level of discipline and training.

"Begin!" Zhang Meng commanded, waving the command flag.

First to pass the reviewing stand were the scout cavalry. Lightly armed and riding swift horses, carrying bows on their backs and sabers at their waists, they moved with lightning speed, constantly changing formations as they marched, demonstrating their superb horsemanship and reconnaissance and communication skills.

Next came the rangers. Dressed in light, iron-trimmed leather armor and carrying horse bows, they suddenly turned while charging, simultaneously unleashing a dense rain of arrows at targets on either side, demonstrating their precise horsemanship and agile tactical maneuverability.

Next came the horse archers. They swept past the reviewing stand in neat lines, and at the officers' command, they fired volleys at distant targets, raining down arrows that covered a large area and demonstrating powerful suppressive fire.

Finally, the cavalry charged in. Two thousand heavily armored cavalrymen, wielding long spears, sabers, and carrying round shields, formed a tight wedge formation, slowly starting and gradually accelerating.

The heavy clatter of hooves gradually increased in speed, eventually culminating in a deafening thunderclap that made the earth tremble.

Like a moving steel wall, they charged toward the simulated enemy formation in the distance with unstoppable momentum, instantly engulfing and tearing it apart.

The terrifying impact caused everyone on the viewing platform to turn pale, as if they were witnessing a torrent of steel that would destroy everything.

After the inspection, the 12,000 iron cavalrymen re-formed their ranks, their imposing aura soaring into the sky.

Xiao Chen rode his horse to the front of the formation, his gaze sweeping over the young yet resolute faces. He proclaimed in a loud voice, "Soldiers! Today, I have witnessed the might of the Cold Abyss Iron Cavalry! I have seen the fruits of your months of arduous training! The steel blades in your hands are forged by the artisans of Cold Abyss through countless hammer blows; the iron armor you wear is strong enough to withstand powerful bows and crossbows; the warhorses beneath you are the finest steeds of the grasslands! But a true iron cavalry is not merely about superior equipment, but also about the spirit of its army!"

His voice suddenly rose: "Your military spirit is loyalty! Loyalty to the cold abyss, loyalty to this land, loyalty to the elders and folks behind you! It is bravery! Daring to unsheathe your sword against any powerful enemy, daring to take the head of a general amidst ten thousand troops! It is discipline! Orders are obeyed without question, as if they were your own limbs! It is sacrifice! For your country, for your comrades, you will go even if it means facing millions!"

"Today, you are assembled here as an army! One day, I will lead you to conquer the Helan Mountains, drink from the banks of the Yangtze River, and let the might of the Cold Abyss Iron Cavalry resound throughout the land! Do you have confidence?!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Twelve thousand iron cavalry roared in unison, their voices shaking the surrounding land and even seeming to scatter the clouds in the sky.

"Very well!" Xiao Chen drew his sword, pointing it straight at the sky. "The Frost Abyss Iron Cavalry, may you triumph!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!"

The iron cavalry formed an army, their sharp edge fully revealed.

This powerful cavalry force, combining excellent equipment, rigorous training, advanced tactics, and high morale, will become the sharpest spear, the swiftest sword, and the most terrifying nightmare for the enemy in Han Yuan's hands.

The skies of the North, and indeed the wider battlefields, will bear the marks of their iron hooves.