On May 8, Xiang Xiaoqiang temporarily stationed troops outside the city of U-Lum-Qi and set up a headquarters. U-Lum-Qi, this is what later generations called it. The current name is still the one ordered by Qianlong -
Dihua.
The headquarters was established outside Dihua City. The first thing to do was to choose a flat area a few kilometers north of the headquarters and use bulldozer tanks to repair an airport. To the south is the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain, and to the north is
It is an endless prairie, and planes can land almost anywhere.
The officers and soldiers looked at the vast plains in front of them and the sight of lush water and grass, and felt happy in their hearts. The fatigue of the long journey in recent days seemed to have been swept away. In addition, everyone could see that everywhere here was suitable for aircraft to take off and land, so it must have been
The Ming army's air superiority could be fully utilized, and they felt that victory was just around the corner.
Flowers of various colors are scattered on the grass above the calf. A few hundred meters away or thousands of meters away, you can see large and small lakes and bubbles everywhere. The big ones can be called lakes, and the small ones are only as big as fish ponds.
It is called Shuipaozi. The water inside is blue and blue, reflecting the white clouds in the sky. Behind it is the Tianshan Mountains that are gradually rising. The slopes are very gentle, and dense coniferous forests grow all the way up. One third of the way up, there is white snow.
, like a person wearing a white hat.
The officers and soldiers sat scattered around a few kilometers around, gathered around several large and small water bubbles, happily bathing, catching fish, and lighting bonfires. The cooking soldiers cooked, and the ordinary soldiers grilled the caught fish and bought some.
Sheep. The pain of being tortured by sand, dust, and salt alkalis along the way was all forgotten at this moment.
In early May, it was still very cold in northern Xinjiang, especially since the water flows down from the Tianshan Mountains. It looked crystal clear, but in fact it was still cold when you put your feet in it. But even so, there were already many soldiers who relied on their physical strength and took off their clothes.
I went into the water to swim naked, but after a while, I climbed ashore screaming and shivering from the cold.
Some of these water bubbles are more than one meter deep, and some are several meters deep. But even if the water is several meters deep, if you look down from the shore, you can see the pebbles on the bottom of the water and see the fish swimming inside, and they are quite clear.
.Such clear water is unimaginable in the east.
These southern soldiers especially liked to eat fish. They were so hungry after not having access to fresh fish for so many days on the road. Now that they saw so many fish in the water, many soldiers cut branches from the hillside, made them into fishing rods, and sat by the puddles to fish.
.Can often be caught.
The fish here are quite fat, with a lot of fat, and are very delicious. However, the good times did not last long, and fishing only benefited the soldiers who came first. As more and more troops came behind, especially the tanks and armored vehicles that rumbled over, the fish
It became increasingly difficult to catch fish. So some soldiers used guns instead.
Anyway, the water is so clear that you can see to the bottom. However, there is refraction in the water. We often see big fish standing still at the bottom of the water, but when we take a shot, the fish swims away. Later, we figured it out and used refraction.
Taking into account the variables, one big fish after another floated with blood.
…
On the 8th, after dispatching reconnaissance patrols in three directions: north, west, and east, Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shi Shigege held a "bonfire party" outside Dihua City in the evening to reward the officers and soldiers of the division. This meant that everyone had worked hard along the way.
, now that we have reached northern Xinjiang, it means that the battle has been won.
In Dihua and Changji in the south, traders in the two cities heard the news. Regardless of the Han or Uighurs, a large number of people drove sheep and cattle, carrying fruits, raisins, scones, naan, fine wine, etc. to do business. Some people even got
Fresh fish were brought out for sale... But in order to facilitate local transactions, the expeditionary force of the Ming Army did not bring any banknotes, but almost all the
It's gold coins, silver coins, copper plates and other hard currencies. Even the soldiers have a lot of silver coins in their pockets. They are like rich people here. They buy and eat what they like, and they also buy things they have never seen before.
Come down and try something new... The vendors in Dihua and Changji are crazy about it. They haven't encountered such a big and good business in many years.
Uyghur and Kazakh girls danced in the bonfire, holding large bunches of raisins and scones in their hands. While dancing, they were surrounded by the bonfire salesmen. The bearded father next to them played the piano and accompanied them, with hangings hanging around their waists.
Chickens and ducks squawking, with wine jars at their feet... When they are sold out, they go back to the packhorse to get the goods, and when they come back they sell them again... The 1st Armored Division came here, and before a battle was fought, it first attacked the two cities of Changji and Dihua.
The economy has been boosted.
Amidst the bonfires scattered all over the mountains and fields, and the aroma of countless roasted lambs permeating the air, Xiang Xiaoqiang used the radio to give an encouraging speech to the officers and soldiers of the entire division through the loudspeakers on dozens of vehicles. The officers and soldiers of the entire division were eating and drinking.
While listening to the adults shouting at the top of their lungs, everyone's blood was boiling with excitement, and they were top-heavy at other times. Not many of them were looking for the north.
That night, the officers and soldiers guarded the embers of the campfire and fell asleep soundly in their tents. Although the night was still very cold, and although the howling of wolves could be heard from all sides, the officers and soldiers had never slept so comfortably in the past ten days.
All night long, one or two gunshots rang out from far and near. The remains of cattle, sheep, chickens and ducks all over the mountains and plains attracted wolves from miles around. But the sentries with guns gave them a few clicks, and the wolves were let go.
They retreated. Even before going to bed, the officers and soldiers knew that the single-shot gunshot was nothing, it was for hunting wolves.
…
The next day, May 9, the airport continued to be expanded. At the same time, the Army Aviation Northern Xinjiang dispatch team began to land one after another.
There were no fighter jets this time, all were dive bombers. It was clear that they would not encounter enemy planes. Apart from a small number of anti-aircraft guns, the only "air defense weapons" in Erden Mutu were machine guns.
Watching the "Ospreys" one after another and the "Vultures" roaring and landing one after another, the soldiers were running and cheering beside the runway, and they were so happy. They seemed to see Erdenmutu's cavalry on the vast prairie.
He was chased, bombed, and strafed by planes, and ended miserably.
Everyone believed that when they saw the enemy's army, it was already a pile of corpses. Even the most cautious people had to admit that even if there were casualties this time, they would probably be less than those lost in non-combat situations.
The Army Aviation flew two dive bombing squadrons, a total of 90 dive bombers. Among them, there was one squadron each of "Osprey" and "Condor". There were also many transport aircraft and ground maintenance personnel, as well as some Army Aviation and Jiuse
Deer company's technical experts.
This time, the Army Aviation also intends to use Northern Xinjiang as a testing ground. It wants to test what are the strengths, weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages of the two dive bombers in this completely open environment, interfered by invincible aircraft and fierce anti-aircraft fire.
How to improve, etc.
…
In the next few days, the 1st Armored Division was in a resting state, waiting for the reconnaissance results of the landing aircraft before determining the next attack direction.
Dihua Airport serves as the main airport for the Army Aviation Northern Xinjiang Dispatch Team. It is together with the Army and close to the two major cities of Dihua and Changji. It is very convenient. Moreover, dive bombers have a range of 1,200 kilometers. Taking off from here, the combat radius is completely covered.
The entire northern Xinjiang can even fly past the northernmost Altay and enter the territory of the Soviet Union.
Central Asia is far away from the ocean, with a dry climate, good lighting, and many sunny days. The climate is also very suitable for air operations. The officers and soldiers of the Army Aviation Northern Xinjiang Dispatch Team, like the officers and soldiers of the Armored Division, are full of optimism from top to bottom.
On the 9th, Army Aviation took a day off, and on the next day, the 10th, Army Aviation's mission began.
Dive bombers flew in groups of two and took off in three directions for reconnaissance and propaganda.
East Route: Fly to the eastern end of Northern Xinjiang and the western end of Inner Mongolia for reconnaissance. This route sends the fewest aircraft because it is mainly uninhabited land and the Great Gobi Desert, and the possibility of enemy activities is low.
West Route: Fly westward along the Jungar Basin, passing through Manas, Shihezi, Jinghe, until the westernmost section of Northern Xinjiang: Lake Aibi, then don’t fly out of the country, turn north and fly to Tacheng area
, and then return. A lot of planes were dispatched along this route because there were many residential areas along the way, which were suitable for enemy troops to come and go.
North Road: Pass through the center of the Jungar Basin - that is, the Gurbantunggut Desert, and go to the northernmost tip of Northern Xinjiang: the Altay region for reconnaissance. The Altay region is the top priority, with the most aircraft dispatched. Because it is there
Erdenmutu's lair.
…
Reconnaissance planes flew ground-based reconnaissance along the way. When they passed through residential areas, they dropped leaflets to tell the local residents that now the Beiqing Dynasty had surrendered, this place was already the territory of the Ming Empire, and everyone was a citizen of the Ming Dynasty. Erden Mutu was a traitor
Army, please don’t support him. Now the Ming government is offering a reward for Erdenmutu’s head. Anyone who can kill him and lead his troops to surrender will be rewarded with 5,000 taels of gold. Anyone who can kill him will be rewarded with 1,000 gold.
two.
On the 10th, a snow-like leaflet spread across the vast Altay region, Tacheng region, Changji region, Hami region, and Turpan region.
On the morning of the 11th, the West Route reconnaissance plane discovered the situation and discovered a small group of cavalry in the Tacheng area, which is the "Devil City" area 250 kilometers away from Dihua.
Suddenly, a group of planes took off, roaring towards the "Devil City" in the northwest direction.