Arc of Gunfire

In fact, at 8 o'clock in the morning of the 17th, the cavalry corps of the two armies arrived in name.

More than 400 herdsmen also arrived with them.

So Wang Zhong planned to gather the herdsmen representatives and the officers above the company level of the cavalry corps to talk about the precautions for combat.

He originally wanted to gather after the enemy's artillery bombardment in the morning, but the enemy had not started the bombardment until 8 o'clock.

Waiting all the time was not a solution, so Wang Zhong simply changed the gathering place to the grassland outside the city. In case of artillery bombardment or enemy air raids, they would be divided into small groups and hide in the grass.

So at 8:30 that day, the commanders of the company level and above of the two cavalry corps (in name) and the representatives of the herdsmen gathered on the grassland outside the city.

Wang Zhong got a jeep as a podium and climbed up.

"Everyone!" He began, "This time I will give the heavy responsibility of the attack to the cavalry, to you! It is said that the cavalry has been eliminated, but I think there is no useless type of troops. As long as there are suitable battlefield conditions, the cavalry can play a huge role!"

In fact, on Earth, the Russians later discovered that cavalry can play a huge role in some places. So they reorganized the cavalry army and used a large number of cavalry during the counterattack in the south.

At that time, after the Battle of Kursk, the armored forces of Sandezi had lost so many tanks that some divisions had less than ten tanks in combat readiness.

The tanks were like this, and other technical equipment also suffered huge losses, so a large number of Sandezi's infantry and mountain hunters could only retreat on foot, and then they were chased and beaten by cavalry.

It can be said that it was the real last glory of the cavalry.

Later, cavalry was also used to cross the Carpathian Mountains, but it was not useful that time, because crossing the Carpathian Mountains would enter the densely populated East European plains, and Sandezi also received technical equipment supplements, so the Maozi cavalry suffered a great loss.

It also reflects from the side that cavalry is indeed very limited and can only play a huge role under special conditions.

And Wang Zhong naturally absorbed all the lessons learned by Maozi, and he would never use cavalry in densely populated areas.

But now, this vast grassland is just right for horse racing!

In the game series "Hearts of Iron", there is a way of playing called "horse racing", which means taking advantage of the high mobility and low logistics dependence of cavalry units, using a small number of cavalry units to run around the map, leading the enemy's regular troops to stroll, and finally occupy enough victory points in the chaos to win the battle.

Originally, this tactic only took advantage of the loopholes in the game mechanism and the stupidity of AI, but now Wang Zhong suddenly found that this word is very suitable to describe the upcoming battle.

Wang Zhong glanced at the cavalry officers present again and decided to flatter them: "In the era of flintlock rifles, cavalry was the most independent fighting force!"

This is actually true. In the era of line infantry and flintlock rifles, cavalry needed to be brave and have a sense of autonomy - or to be fierce and even bandit, so cavalry units often allowed soldiers to drink and rob in order to maintain this momentum.

Wang Zhong: "When fighting with the conqueror, the Cossacks often broke away from the command of the generals and detoured and attacked the enemy's baggage train according to their own wishes.

"I now ask you to bring this tradition into play! You will set out today during the day, cross the enemy's front at night, and then rob the enemy's baggage train at will!

"My requirements for you are very simple. If you encounter the enemy's armored forces and other troops that are determined to resist and have combat effectiveness, just bypass them and only bully the enemy's transport team!

"You must completely destroy the enemy's logistics!"

At this time, someone among the cavalry officers shouted: "We have incendiary bombs that can deal with the enemy's tanks!"

"I know you can deal with it." Wang Zhong paused, "I know you have enough courage and skills to destroy the enemy's tanks, but this is not your task this time. We have plenty of means to deal with the enemy's tanks, but only you can destroy the enemy's logistics!"

Then Wang Zhong pointed to the herdsmen waiting next to him: "I require you to fill the saddle with dry food and fight for about a week without supplies behind the enemy! After a week, when the enemy's logistics collapse, we will launch a counterattack and completely eliminate the enemy!

"During this week, you must fight independently except for occasional support from the air force. These fellow villagers will be your guides, and each company will be assigned at least one fellow villager.

"They all have rich experience in surviving on the grassland and will help you get through this week."

After Wang Zhong finished speaking, one of the herdsmen representatives stood up: "I was Petliura's adjutant during the civil war. After the war, I stayed in a labor camp for five years. The lives of herdsmen have been getting better and better in the past ten years. Go to Petliura, I will fight with you!"

Wang Zhong looked at the herdsman in surprise, thinking that the fact that you can survive until now shows that the church is still relatively merciful.

However, this guy has made a contribution this time, and he probably won't be liquidated in the future.

Wang Zhong regained the initiative of the meeting: "Let's start assigning guides now, Vasily! "

Vassily climbed onto the jeep with the documents in hand, and read the list in his hand in the light of the rising sun: "Abonashenko, go to the 1st Battalion, 1st Company, 1st Regiment, 33rd Division, 20th Army..."

Wang Zhong jumped off the jeep and gave the stage to Vasily.

At this time, the commander of the 20th Cavalry Army, Rodionovich, came to him and said: "I didn't expect that the Cavalry Army would be entrusted with an important task one day. "

Wang Zhong: "It was only after I came here to actually inspect the situation that I realized that cavalry is the most suitable unit. I originally thought of using jeeps from the United States to complete the mission, but unfortunately, the situation here is so bad that cavalry is the only option. OK."

Rodionovich: "You regard the South Ant's steppe as your home steppe, don't you?"

"Yeah, I didn't expect the gap to be so huge."

Wang Zhong said, turning his head to look in the direction of the sun. The grassland was swaying gently in the sun.

He thought of the grasslands of Kozalia. Judging from the appearance, they were indeed very similar.

At this time, Vasily jumped out of the jeep and saluted Wang Zhong: "General, all 400 herders have been allocated."

Wang Zhong nodded and said to Rodionovich: "Soldiers, let's set off after getting the cigarettes and wine. The longer we gather here, the greater the possibility of being shelled and bombed by the enemy. Try to organize as much as possible." Zero, don’t get caught by enemy planes.”

Rodionovich saluted Wang Zhong, then turned and ran towards his horse.

Wang Zhong climbed into the jeep again.

A few minutes later, the cavalry battalion and company commanders, riding fat horses, drove past Wang Zhong in rows and ran towards the troops scattered on the grassland.

When each row passed in front of Wang Zhong, they all paid attention to Wang Zhong and saluted him.

Wang Zhong had always thought Mao Zi's attention gift was a bit funny, and his chin almost touched the sky.

But now that he has become the one being noticed, he suddenly feels that this gesture of chin poking the sky is quite impressive.

Wang Zhong stood on the jeep and watched the officers move forward.

"Return victorious!" He couldn't help shouting.

The officers responded to him with an overwhelming number of "hurrahs."

————

An hour later, Wang Zhong returned to the warehouse where the army headquarters was located.

Popov was still playing chess by himself. When he saw Wang Zhong come in, he said: "The sound of the hurrah can be heard here. The only person in the land of Ant who can hear the sound of the hurrah wherever he goes is Kutuzov." "

Wang Zhong: "I thought it was Peter the Great."

"That's not possible." Popov shook his head, "There's still Ekaterina in the middle."

Pavlov: "Is it appropriate for a military bishop to make fun of such a thing?"

Popov shrugged: "Don't worry, the sound of hurling outside just now has made many people sleepless. It's harmless for me to make fun of it."

Wang Zhong turned the topic back to military affairs: "Did anything happen when I left to mobilize the cavalry?"

"What could have happened? The Plosans were very quiet. There was no shelling or attack. Some reconnaissance troops tried to infiltrate, but after exchanging fire with our patrol troops, they quickly retreated."

Wang Zhong: "They won't really have a logistical problem, right?"

————

"Our logistics efficiency is even worse than yesterday's estimate." The Chief of Staff of the Tenth Army reported to General Polk with a serious face, "Because the enemy's twin-engine bombers attacked Shepetovka."

As he spoke, he turned to the map next to him, picked up the map stick and pointed at the location of the Western Front headquarters: "It should be the air force of the Western Front. The bombing seemed to be guided by the guerrillas on the ground, detonating a large amount of ammunition, and fuel ignited. The fire has not yet been extinguished.”

Admiral Poker pursed his lips and was silent for several seconds before asking: "Is the report finished?"

"Yes."

Admiral Poker: "So our fuel and ammunition were blown up by enemy bombers?"

"Yes, we don't expect to complete the repairs until the 20th. The good news is that while we are waiting for fuel and ammunition, we can repair the damaged tanks. By the 20th, we will have 10% more tanks in combat readiness."

Admiral Poker scolded: "But the enemy's cavalry will launch an assault soon! Rokossov will not wait on the grassland, because the longer he waits, the greater the possibility of being attacked by air raids and artillery! His The cavalry will sweep across the grassland!"

Chief of Staff: "How about splitting the Panzergrenadier Division into many parts and setting up defenses at key supply nodes?"

"It's too late." General Poker shook his head, "We took pictures of so many cavalry yesterday, and today the cavalry Caesar came over to disrupt our supplies. An outstanding commander will definitely seize the fleeting opportunity. What do you think? What kind of commander is Kossov? Is he a mediocre person?”

"Uh..." the chief of staff hesitated.

Admiral Poker asked and answered: "No! Obviously not! Otherwise, our general who was defeated by him would be worse than a mediocre person? He will seize this opportunity!"

Admiral Poker said as he paced back and forth in the headquarters tent.

Chief of Staff: "Perhaps, the air force can be used to straf the cavalry on the ground as much as possible?"

"Air force works, we have landed in the United Kingdom."

Admiral Bok stood still in front of the map: "Now there is only one way to reduce casualties, which is to withdraw the supply team and shrink it to a military station with strong defenses."

"The enemy's cavalry troops also need supplies. They can roam around in our control area for five to eight days at most. Let the troops stay in place, tighten their belts, and wait for them to eat up all the supplies they carry with them before retreating!"

Chief of Staff: "Isn't this... too negative?"

Admiral Poker stomped his feet vigorously: "Then what else can you do to deal with these cavalry? Wait until they retreat like this, and we can restore supplies immediately! It would be really bad if the enemy burned more trucks! Huddle up Defense, this is the most appropriate response now!”

Admiral Poker stared at the map for a few seconds and repeated, "The most suitable!"