Chapter 2883: Equipment (4)

"Xiao Bailang, you can't put it like that." Wang Ruixiang, having finished inspecting the split helmet, cut in. "Different branches have different roles. Cavalry's mobility and shock are irreplaceable by infantry. In the right terrain at the decisive moment, a reliable armored cavalry force can be the hammer that breaks the battle. Our opponents—especially the Eight Banners core we may face in future continental campaigns—are built around heavy-armored cavalry. If we send light cavalry or firearm cavalry to collide head-on, even if we win, the cost would be enormous. Cavalry is a technical branch, and an expensive one. That's simply how it is."

Yu Zhiqian's voice was steady. "Quite right. The question is not whether we need them, but how to field them, how many, and at what priority. The Senate is not flush right now; resources must be carefully accounted for. Yang Ning's design and testing have proven the approach viable and exposed the production bottlenecks. My view: the saber should enter small-batch production as soon as possible, prioritized for existing elite cavalry and officers, as a supplement and test of standard equipment. The armor, on the other hand..."

He glanced at Yang Ning's expectant, anxious face and continued: "It can serve as standard equipment for officers or a small elite assault force, but it is not yet suitable for large-scale issue. We can keep optimizing the design and simplifying production. At the same time, perhaps we should look for alternatives, or phase it in. Prioritize chest-and-back protection and the helmet first. Arm guards, leg armor, horse barding can wait, or be substituted with other protection—such as the chainmail Jiang Ye mentioned."

Yang Ning was disappointed he could not "iron-can" the whole force immediately, but he knew this was the realistic path. He nodded quickly. "Old Yu thinks thoroughly. That's exactly what I had in mind—protect the most critical areas first. Chainmail arm guards and padded horse barding also work well against slashes and stray arrows, and they're easier to manufacture. We can test several approaches in parallel and find the most cost-effective combination."

Dongmen Chuiyu synthesized the discussion. "Then the preliminary plan is as follows. One: after minor adjustments by the General Machinery Works based on today's feedback, the new saber goes into production—three hundred, no, five hundred blades, to equip the Jeju Island Cavalry Training Unit and the Shandong Auxiliary Cavalry first, with continued field feedback. Two: for cavalry protective equipment, a working group led by Yang Ning, with Jiang Ye and Wang Ruixiang assisting. Based on the existing plate design, produce both a basic and an enhanced version. The basic version must be producible using existing or easily expandable capacity, to deliver a batch as quickly as possible, even if it only covers chest, back, and head at first. The enhanced version may include more comprehensive protection, serving as technical reserve and future direction. Cost estimates and labor-hour assessments must be prepared promptly—I need to report upward."

He glanced at Yang Ning. "Xiao Yang, while you're back this time, besides meetings and testing, organize all your private stock into proper proposals and training manuals. Equipment alone is not enough—tactics, training methods, logistics, maintenance must all keep pace. Next time you report, I want to see something more complete."

"Yes, Secretary Dong!" Yang Ning snapped to attention, wincing as the movement pulled his wrist, but his face lit up. His cavalry dream had, at the very least, taken a solid step forward—from blueprints and private obsession to a formal project within the Senate's military system, one that was being considered, tested, and planned.

"One more thing." Dongmen Chuiyu's gaze fell on Yang Ning's resplendent uniform, so conspicuous among the surrounding gray-blue-green tones. He paused, his tone delicate. "Personal attire... mind the impression. For testing occasions, fine. Normally, tone it down."

Yang Ning's face flushed to the ears. Under the amused gazes of the industrial Senators, he mumbled, "I'll change as soon as I get back to Jeju... I just thought I'd dress up a bit for the formal test..."

The testing had gone smoothly, leaving Yang Ning in excellent spirits. The saber's passing was expected; the armor's approval was a pleasant surprise. Many things, it seemed, needed physical demonstration before people could be moved. On paper, the proposal would likely have been shot down outright.

For now, the armor's production plan had not entered the Planning Institute's schedule—it was classified only as preliminary research. But preliminary research meant it was on the right track, out in the open, no longer needing to be done furtively. Many next steps could now proceed legitimately.

Riding this newfound legitimacy, Yang Ning went first thing the next morning to the Joint Logistics Headquarters and found Hong Huangnan.

The Joint Logistics Headquarters was not in Maniao Fort, nor in the Lingcheng Central Government District, but in the former Green Zone of Bairen Town. The location was chosen for supplier access: most of the county's factories clustered near the hydroelectric station, convenient for on-site inspection.

Hong Huangnan was a busy man. Since the continental campaign began, he had spent most of his time in Guangzhou, or more precisely the Pearl River Delta. Supplying the entire South China Army was an enormously demanding job. Besides, he had his own affairs in Guangzhou: the planning of the Shameen Senator Residential District and the New Swan Hotel consumed a great deal of his energy.

Yang Ning's visit was lucky—Hong Huangnan happened to be in Lingao. Through a prior appointment, he secured a thirty-minute meeting with this logistics titan, during which he presented the cavalry unit's new equipment and uniform designs.

The logistics director—wearing a Rolex, smoking a cigar—silently studied the portfolio. Those ten minutes stretched endlessly, excruciatingly dull.

Finally Director Hong set down the portfolio, removed the cigar from the corner of his mouth, and rested it on the ashtray. A long column of ash dropped off of its own accord.

"Xiao Yang, the new horse tack and other individual equipment you want can all be supplied. A few items will need custom orders, but that's no great matter. These uniforms, however, are far too wasteful. They aren't interchangeable with our existing uniform styles and don't comply with current standards. Equipping one soldier with three completely different uniforms—this kind of blatant special treatment is a tremendous waste."

Yang Ning had anticipated this. He spread his hands helplessly. "Director Hong, if you say my uniform designs are wasteful, I'll admit it—our material conditions are limited, after all. But the three sets of uniforms must be guaranteed. That's a basic requirement."

"Oh? Go on—convince me." Hong Huangnan folded his hands over his belly, leaned back, and spoke with amused interest.

"Cavalrymen don't only fight on horseback." Yang Ning tugged at the hem of his own uniform. "Besides training, our main daily work is tending to mounts in the stables. Dirty, heavy work, extremely hard on uniforms. You can't wear the service uniform for that. But the field environment is completely different from the stable, and the training uniform isn't suitable either. Also, cavalry operating over long distances need protection from rain, wind, and cold—a cavalry greatcoat is essential."

"Ah, cavalry units are troublesome. But it doesn't matter, really. For stable duty, we can substitute existing training uniforms. The main issue is the cavalry combat uniform—it has its own special characteristics. Whether service or training uniform, both are designed for infantry..."

Hong Huangnan pondered, did calculations on a scratch pad, and said: "Stable duty uses the training uniform. The service uniform is the standard army service uniform. Your cavalry field uniform is still too complex; it needs simplification and cost reduction. Tall riding boots are absolutely out of the question for army-wide issue—not even for parade. Breeches are unnecessary; standard uniform trousers will do. The greatcoat I can give you."

Yang Ning's heart ached. He could accept the boots being rejected, but cavalry without breeches—how was that different from infantry? He argued weakly, "Breeches are an essential, specialized garment for cavalry..."

"Let's not even mention that the old PLA cavalry didn't wear breeches. Even during the Napoleonic Wars, after 1809, some Russian cavalry replaced breeches with long trousers. Clearly, breeches are not indispensable. And besides—without tall boots, what would you need breeches for?"

"You could wear puttees..." Yang Ning argued weakly, wondering how on earth this man knew about Russian cavalry not wearing breeches.

After much argument and haggling, the cavalry uniform style was settled. Stable duty would use the Fubo Army's existing army-gray infantry field uniform, only with the leather equipment belt replaced by a cloth one. The cavalry combat uniform was more refined: a green single-breasted stand-collar fitted short jacket, standard army cap unchanged, helmet issued for combat, tapered cuffs, gray heavy-fabric trousers with double-layer reinforcement patches on both inner and outer legs. No tall boots—standard infantry short boots with gray puttee wraps. Also issued: leather gloves extending to the elbows, an equipment belt, a cavalry greatcoat, and a cotton vest worn over the jacket when armor was donned.

Another week later, Yang Ning finally put on the dragoon uniform he had designed and Director Hong had modified.

"Tsk, tsk... this getup is something else. Outfitting one cavalryman like this costs as much as outfitting four or five infantrymen." Director Hong looked at the simplified uniform on Yang Ning and lamented with visible pain.

"Still, it does look rather good." Dongmen Chuiyu nodded in appreciation. A full set of the uniform was genuinely imposing—much like seeing the new winter uniforms before the Engine Operation, perhaps even more striking. The winter uniforms had been modeled on modern military service uniforms from the old timeline, styles seen plenty before the crossing, nothing particularly novel. This cavalry uniform, however, was designed almost entirely along Napoleonic-era military fashion. Even after stripping away many superfluous decorations, it still conveyed a powerful sense of splendor, instantly outshining every other officer present.

"Let's put this design into production for now," Hong Huangnan concluded after mulling it over. "Produce three thousand sets first. Cotton vests and leather gloves issued only to armored cavalry. Cavalry greatcoats to be issued as circumstances permit."