The cavalry "Pingxia Tieyaozi" (its infantry is called "Hengshan Bubazi") is famous for its strong combat effectiveness by "riding good horses and wearing heavy armor".

Mongol Era:

During this era, Mongolian cavalry became a symbol of terror in the eyes of the enemy. The Mongols pushed cavalry tactics to the peak of the cold weapon era. The advantages of cavalry such as long-distance raids, roundabout outflanking, etc. were brought to their limit.

The Mongolians practice a system of one hundred households and one thousand households, and all the people are hereditary soldiers and officers. They "prepare their horses to fight and gather in villages to raise animals." In wartime, they prepare their own weapons and equipment and go on expeditions. In peacetime, they are ordinary herdsmen. In order to ensure the combat effectiveness of the army, the Mongols often use large-scale

Large-scale hunting was used to train the troops, and children were specially trained in their ability to ride horses and shoot arrows from an early age. With the command of outstanding tacticians such as Genghis Khan, Muhua Le Subedai, and towing mines, the Mongols became the most powerful army in the world at that time.

It gained an unprecedented vast territory. In the east, it eliminated the Song, Jin, and Xixia. In the west, it defeated Khwarizm, conquered the Russian grasslands, and defeated the Western coalition forces all the way to the Danube River.

In the early stage, the Mongolian army was basically cavalry. In the later stage, its field strength was also cavalry. The Mongolian cavalry has super mobility. Each soldier often has more than six horses for rotation.

They can often advance nearly a hundred kilometers in a day. The main weapon of the Mongolian cavalry is the bow and arrow.

Cheng. The Mongols who can fire accurately while maneuvering at high speed (even while retreating and turning around to fire) can inflict great damage to the enemy before a close-quarters battle. Because the Mongols often prepare their own weapons, soldiers besides arrows and sabers

They also carry their favorite weapons such as spears, maces, rope nooses (those used to harness horses can also be used to harness people on the battlefield), etc. In terms of armor, the Mongols mainly use leather armor, which is light and strong, although not as iron armor.

The good protection gives it greater mobility. It is worth mentioning the Mongolian horse. Although the Mongolian horse is smaller and not as fast as the Arabian Aryan horse, the Mongolian horse is tall and adaptable, and can tolerate rough feeding and can easily gain weight.

They have a long lifespan and are very suitable for long-distance marches. They can fight without logistical support. These horses can find food anywhere on the grassland terrain and can march fifty to one hundred kilometers in a day. They can be used all year round. And the important point is that the Mongolian horse mare can give birth to nai for three to three days during the nurturing period.

Four hundred kilograms became an important source of food for the Mongolian army who fought outside for a long time without logistical support. (In addition, it was plundered.) The Mongols are nomadic people. Their people grew up in a bitter cold land and have extremely strong tolerance for harsh climates. They have strong material requirements.

It is very low and has a fighting power that is unmatched by ordinary people from farming ethnic groups.

Ming and Qing dynasties and later eras:

After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, firearms developed vigorously. With the emergence of specialized firearms units and artillery, the status of cavalry gradually declined. After the Ming Dynasty, there were very few cavalry as the main strategic force. I won’t go into details here.

The cavalry in the Ming Dynasty mainly fought in conjunction with other arms and were equipped with firearms. (Riding iron?) The famous general Qi Jiguang set up a chariot camp, which was a way of fighting with infantry, chariots and cavalry. In the "Che Ying Kou Da Compilation" written by Sun Chengzong of the Ming Dynasty

This tactic was also further studied. It also developed a strategy of first bombarding with firearms (fire preparation?) and then following up with cavalry to attack infantry. (Similar to the strategy of the Napoleonic era?)

By the time of the Qing Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty thought that the Jurchen Mongolian cavalry at the founding of the country was a traditional cavalry. There was little development and no emphasis on firearms. As a result, our country ended up being arbitrarily bullied by the great powers. At that time, in the era of firearms, the status of the cavalry was even worse.

Until the emergence of positional warfare consisting of machine gun trenches, it basically lost its status in the military and gradually withdrew from the military stage. Only with the emergence of its successors, armored and mechanized units, the cavalry became a history and was only used on certain ceremonial occasions.

What Yu Feng admires most is Temujin's Mongolian cavalry.

In the early 13th century, a unique cavalry force was active in the prairie of northern China. This Mongolian cavalry broke away from the shackles of traditional European military thinking and established a magnificent empire unprecedented in the world. The establishment of this army should be attributed to the talent and strategy.

Temujin. It was he who built a nation of many tribes into an invincible nation.

It is precisely because of his excellent organizational and command skills that the leaders of various Mongolian tribes respectfully called him Genghis Khan, which means an extraordinary leader. The term "Khanate" originally referred to a Mongolian nomadic tribe or a field force and later became

became a synonym for "huge numbers". The defeated enemies could never believe that they would be conquered by a nomadic tribe. Therefore, they always wrongly insisted that the Mongolian army was a group of powerful but undisciplined rabble. The reason for their victory was completely

It relies on the superiority of military strength. In fact, the secret of the Mongolian army's victory lies precisely in the fact that Genghis Khan had an unprecedentedly well-organized and well-trained army with extremely strict military discipline.

The organizational structure is simple and single. The basis for the Mongolian army's combat victory is not quantity but quality. Usually the Mongolian army is smaller than the army of its main enemy. The largest army Genghis Khan formed was the one he used to conquer Persia. The number of troops was only small. 240,000. Later, the army they used to conquer Russia and the entire Eastern and Central Europe never exceeded 150,000. A simple and single organizational system is a distinctive feature of the Mongolian army. The standard Mongolian field force consists of 3 cavalry columns. Each Each column has 10,000 cavalry, which is roughly equivalent to a modern cavalry division. Each cavalry column includes 10 cavalry companies of 100 men each; each cavalry company includes 10 squads of 10 men each. All cavalry generally fight on horseback. Once the horses collapse Some soldiers had no choice but to stand behind their horses and shoot arrows under the cover of the cavalry troops. The Mongols actively innovated in the right to use weapons. The Mongols did not have any major reforms in weapons, but they made some innovations in the use of weapons at that time.

Heavy cavalry engaged in assault operations in a typical Mongolian army accounted for 40% of the total number. They wore simple helmets and body armor. The armor was usually made of leather, and some were chain armor captured from the enemy. Heavy cavalry The horses of the cavalry are often also covered with a small amount of leather armor. The main weapon of the heavy cavalry is a spear. Each soldier also carries a scimitar or a mace on his waist. The other six percent of each unit The ten light cavalry are tasked with reconnaissance and cover, providing fire support to the heavy cavalry, clearing out the remaining enemies, and tracking and pursuit. The light cavalry generally do not wear armor except for wearing a helmet.

The main weapon is the bow. This bow is quite large and requires at least 166 pounds of draw force to shoot at a distance of 200 to 300 yards. They carry two types of arrows, one is a light arrow, small and pointed, one is used for distance and the other is a heavier arrow. Large and wide for close combat. Like heavy cavalry, they also have a heavy scimitar or mace or a lasso and sometimes a javelin or lance with a hook on the head. Each soldier before the battle Everyone wears a silk robe. This robe is made of raw silk and is woven very finely. Genghis Khan found that it is difficult for arrows to penetrate this silk robe, but it will be inserted into the wound together with the arrow and robe. Therefore, the medical staff only need to put the silk robe into the wound. The arrow can be pulled out of the wound by pulling out the cloth. Strictly trained maneuverability guarantees. In order to ensure and drive a high degree of maneuverability, each Mongolian cavalry has one or more spare horses. These horses follow closely

They can be replaced at any time during the march behind the troops or even during the battle. The horse replacement is carried out in the proposed relay method, which can ensure safety and ensure the completion of the scheduled tasks to the greatest extent. The Mongolian army's cavalry and war horses have undergone Rigorous training and careful selection. Genghis Khan realized that it would be difficult to achieve good maneuverability without high-quality soldiers and horses. Therefore, the Mongolian cavalry were selected from the best-trained soldiers at the time. They were three or four years old. When they were young, they were sent to schools in the Gobi Desert for rigorous horseback shooting training. Therefore, it is not surprising that each of them has extraordinary abilities in controlling horses and using weapons. Their physiques are strong and can adapt to the needs of combat; Ability to turn around and fire at enemies following them during a rapid retreat; able to endure hardship and endure harsh climate conditions without coveting comfort and delicious food. What cannot be ignored is: the strict discipline system formed during the training process makes them personally Everyone obeyed orders with such rigor that this was unheard of in other armies in the Middle Ages.

The training of war horses is also extremely strict. Unlike European horses, Mongolian horses live in the wild no matter the severe winter or heat. They have extremely strong endurance and can go for days without food or grass if necessary. They can even cross the most dangerous terrain in a short period of time.

The distance is almost unbelievable. Since horses do not need to carry fodder when marching, the soldiers carry their own food and equipment, and usually only bring the minimum amount. Therefore, the Mongolian army does not need to drag a huge logistics supply train, nor does it need to maintain a rear supply.

Base. Since most Mongolian war horses are mares, soldiers can live on nai, which also reduces the army's food supply.

This also greatly enhanced the mobility of the Mongolian army. Genghis Khan and his fierce generals never followed the old-fashioned tactics and tactics. The most common combat method used by the Mongolian army was to use light cavalry to attack the enemy.

The troops lined up in many roughly parallel columns and moved forward in a very wide position line. The messengers in the communication room sent messages between the main troops. When the first column encountered the enemy's main force, the column would either stop advancing or move slightly forward according to the situation.

After retreating, the troops still continued to advance to occupy the areas on the enemy's flanks and rear. This often forced the troops to retreat to protect their lines of communication. The Mongolian army took the opportunity to approach the enemy, causing it to become chaotic as it retreated. Finally, the enemy was completely surrounded and completely annihilated.

After discovering a non-main enemy force, all nearby troops will use this as a target to launch an assault. At this time, all information about the enemy's location, strength, movement direction, etc. will be quickly sent to the general headquarters for evaluation and then forwarded to each field unit. If

If there are not many enemies, the commander who is closest will immediately lead his troops to fight. If the Generalissimo's men are too large to be eaten by horses, then the main force of the Mongolian army will quickly assemble behind the cavalry cover force and then advance at high speed before the enemy has time to assemble their forces.

When the time comes, they will be defeated separately. The standard Mongolian army battle formation is composed of 5 rows, each row is in a single row. There is a wide distance between each row. The first two rows are heavy cavalry and the rest are light cavalry.

In front of these five lines, there are also some light cavalry responsible for reconnaissance and cover. When the enemy troops are getting closer and closer, the three columns of light cavalry at the back will pass through the gap between the first two columns of heavy cavalry to attack.

After advancing forward, carefully aiming and throwing destructive javelins and arrows at the enemy. Then, while still maintaining an orderly formation, the first two heavier cavalry retreated backwards, and then the light cavalry retreated in turn. Even if the enemy's line was

No matter how stable it is, it will be shaken under the attack of this kind of prepared dense arrows. Sometimes this kind of attack alone can make the enemy disperse, and there is no need to carry out a surprise charge. In this case, the light cavalry is ordered to retreat and the heavy cavalry launches the charge. Order.

The method of transmission is to use signal flags and pennants during the day and lights or firelights at night. During the battle, the cavalry units are close together. However, if the troops in the center of the Yangtze have interacted with the Chairman, the troops on the two wings will spread out to the flanks.

Go around the enemy's sides and back. When carrying out this kind of outflanking movement, smoke screens and dust are often used to confuse the enemy, or the cover of hillsides or valleys is used. After completing the encirclement of the enemy, each unit launches halberds from all directions, causing chaos in the enemy's formation.

The enemy lied and was defeated. The Mongols were good at using tricks and strategies in battle, which allowed them to take the lead in the battle, reducing their own losses and increasing the enemy's casualties. For example, the Mongolian army often used smoke screens in battle. They often sent a small force

The detachment burns fires in the grasslands or herders' residential areas to confuse the enemy and conceal their combat intentions or actions. The Mongolian leader often sends an advance team to fight the enemy for a long time, then retreats to lure the enemy to follow. The retreat may last for several days.

The enemy realizes that he has fallen into the trap of the Mongolian army and has no way to escape. The comprehensive and extensive intelligence system plays an important role in the victory of the Mongolian army. The role of the Mongolian army in every battle cannot be underestimated.

war

All operations are carefully planned in advance. The intelligence system is an important department involved in formulating operational plans. The formulation of operational plans must first conduct careful research and analysis of complete and accurate intelligence. The Mongolian military intelligence network spreads across Europe and Asia.

The vastness of the mainland's institutions and the thoroughness of its work surpassed all countries in the Middle Ages. Spies generally wore the guise of merchants to engage in intelligence activities. Once the intelligence was analyzed and estimated, the route of the entire campaign was determined and each cavalry was assigned.

Lower-level commanders have certain command authority over the column's route and combat objectives without violating the overall combat plan. The transmission of orders and the exchange of combat intelligence enable soldiers to move quickly and agilely between the combat headquarters and subordinate units through confidence.

This ensured the unified advancement of municipalities at all levels of command, allowing Genghis Khan to personally command the largest range of combat operations until the final victory of the war. The achievement of Genghis Khan and his successors was to establish an army with bows, arrows, and spears as the main components.

The Mongolian army uses cavalry as its main weapon. This is an army that has undergone strict military training, developed good discipline, and has an incomparable military system. They shuttle back and forth, understand and make full use of the combat principles of surprise attack and flexible maneuvers, and adopt outsmart tactics.

The tactical means of calculating profits. War practice has proved that this is indeed a formidable and invincible whirlwind force. They can be said to be equivalent to modern armored units at the time.

It can maneuver 100 kilometers in a day and night. Concentrated firepower maneuverability and one

They use bows at long distances

Once they rush in, they will be light cavalry. This ability is not comparable to that of ordinary troops.

Therefore, they had the most glorious record in history. The reason why the Mongolian cavalry was invincible was not with swords and guns but with bows and arrows. The Mongols had the longest-range and most lethal combined bow at that time (this weapon was usually made of an animal on its back)

It consists of a layer of horny material on the belly of the sinewed bow and a wooden frame in the middle. The draw force of this bow is between 50 kg and 75 kg, and it is very short and convenient for cavalry to move freely. The killing range of arrows fired by this bow can reach 300

If the arrows are equipped with sharp metal arrows, they can penetrate the thickest armor.) Coupled with the mobility of the Mongolian cavalry, the Mongols were able to travel across Europe and Asia unstoppable. The Mongols were extremely good at shooting and were called "Parthians" by the ancient Romans.

The "Arrow Technique" is a tactic in which the rider shoots arrows at the enemy in the rear while escaping. (The Mongols call this tactic "Manguya"). The essence of this tactic is to attack the enemy from a long distance and then continuously

Continuously attacking the enemy without giving the enemy a chance to fight back. Under this kind of attack, no matter how strong the enemy's spirit and armor are, it is only a matter of time before it completely collapses. At that time, most European knights were equipped with heavy helmets and heavy armor. Although they were very powerful in close combat, they were very mobile.

There is no way to compare with the Mongolian cavalry. If you encounter the Mongolian cavalry, not only can you not chase them, you can't escape, you can only serve as an arrow target. Moreover, the Mongolian cavalry does not rely entirely on storming like the European knights. They can only kill the enemy with bows and arrows first.

It took most of the time to come into close contact with the enemy. In April 1241, the Mongolian cavalry relied on this tactical method to defeat Europe's most elite 100,000 Hungarian army (led by King Béla IV of Hungary) on the Danube River. They killed more than 70,000 enemies with bows and

Arrow played the song "Red Danube" and almost completely wiped out the resistance forces in Europe. If it weren't for Ogedei's untimely death, the yellow race would have unified the entire Eurasian continent 800 years ago.

The Mongolian cavalry is enough to make them invincible in field battles. When facing a solid city wall, the Mongols also have a weapon for siege, which is the return cannon "imported" from the Western Regions. This super-large trebuchet throws

No matter how strong the city wall is in front of the huge projectiles fired, it is no different than paper. Historical records record that this huge cannon "made a sound that shook the sky and the earth, and all the hits were destroyed and sunk seven feet into the ground." The Mongols relied on it to conquer the city in 1273 AD.

Xiangyang City failed to survive for several years. At that time, the Mongolian trebuchets only had a range of 100 meters, and the moat alone of Xiangyang City was 150 meters wide. Later, the Mongols brought several craftsmen from Persia to improve the trebuchets.

It is about 180-200 meters, so the Mongolians also call this cannon "Xiangyang Cannon" and "Huihui Cannon". However, in the 12th century, only the Mongols in the world used Huihui Artillery on a large scale on the battlefield. The Mongols conquered almost all the wars in the south and north.

In addition to cavalry, having huge artillery is also an important factor in winning every battle.

Excellent military equipment:

The military uniforms of the Mongolian Khanate and the Yuan Dynasty were famous for their exquisiteness. Before the Mongolian Plateau felt tribes were unified by Genghis Khan, they used mackerel skin armor, and later they used copper and iron armor with cowhide as the lining.

In the Petersburg Palace, there are remains of Mongolian knights. The inner layer of the armor is made of cowhide and the outer layer is covered with iron armor plates. They are connected like fish scales and cannot be penetrated by arrows. In the reliefs depicting Juyongguan Yingtai in the Yuan Dynasty, there is ringed armor.

, fish scale armor and willow leaf armor. "Black Tartar Story": "Their weapons include willow leaf armor, ring armor (sixth layer of leather), sheep's horn bow, noise arrows, and camel bone arrows."

The excellent weapons and equipment of the Mongolian cavalry are clearly recorded in relevant historical documents and unearthed objects from the Yuan Dynasty. According to Plano Garbini, the Mongolian cavalry was equipped with: 2 to 3 bows, 3 of which were filled with arrows.

A huge quiver of arrows, an ax and a rope for dragging the weapon. The leader must carry a scimitar with a sharp tip but only one edge and put it in an exquisite scabbard. The horses they ride are all

Some soldiers' horses also have body armor.

The horse's body armor is composed of 5 parts. There is one piece of armor on each side of the horse that covers the horse's head; the other piece of armor is placed on the horse's buttocks and tied with the armor pieces on both sides. This piece of armor leaves a hole for ease of use.

The horse's tail sticks out of the hole; another piece of armor is on the horse's chest. On the horse's forehead they put an iron plate and tie it to the armor pieces on both sides.

The breastplate of the Mongolian cavalry is composed of four parts. One piece is made from the thigh to the neck according to the shape of the human body; the other piece is connected from the neck to the waist with the front armor piece. Each shoulder is fixed with an iron plate. Each of their arms

There is also a piece of armor covering from the shoulder to the wrist and another piece of armor covering each leg. All these pieces of armor are connected together with buckles.

The helmet part is made of iron or steel but the part that protects the neck and throat is made of leather.

According to Plano Garbini, the armor making method of the Mongolian cavalry is extremely exquisite. Taking the willow leaf armor as an example, they first made a number of iron pieces one finger wide and one palm long, and drilled 8 small holes in each iron piece. They placed 3

A strong and narrow belt was used as the base, and then these iron pieces were placed one by one on top of another iron piece so that the iron pieces overlapped. They used thin leather wires to pass through the holes and tied these iron pieces to the three belts. At the ends

They then tied a leather thread so that the iron pieces were firmly connected together. In this way, they used these iron pieces to make an iron strip and then connected these iron strips together to make various parts of the armor. They

These parts were connected to make armor to protect people and horses. They polished the iron pieces so brightly that the silhouette of a human figure could be reflected on the iron pieces.

According to the "History of Ancient Chinese Costumes", in the Yuan Dynasty, there was a kind of quill armor, which was decorated with tendons and quills and the glued armor pieces could not be worn. There was also elephant hoof armor. Most Mongolian cavalry wore helmets. There was another kind of armor.

It is shaped like a hat and does not cover the eyebrows, but it has a huge nose protector on the nose. The shape is quite strange.
Chapter completed!