solarz
Brigadier
I've been reading about Yue Fei's battles against the Jin, and the later Mongol successes. Some of the Chinese posters I read are of the opinion that because Song did not have a way to produce horses, their infantry was fundamentally disadvantaged against the Mongol cavalry.
I wonder if that's really the case?
Now I admit that logistically, a cavalry force like the Mongols have a huge advantage. They are far more mobile than infantry, and are able to strike anywhere they please before infantry reinforcements can even arrive.
However, the Song had a far greater manpower, and the cavalry was not invincible on the battlefield even by the technology of the time. The Song had powerful crossbows and even firearms that surely outranged the mongol bows.
What do you think? Did Song fall mainly because of its political situation, or mainly because of its military situation?
I wonder if that's really the case?
Now I admit that logistically, a cavalry force like the Mongols have a huge advantage. They are far more mobile than infantry, and are able to strike anywhere they please before infantry reinforcements can even arrive.
However, the Song had a far greater manpower, and the cavalry was not invincible on the battlefield even by the technology of the time. The Song had powerful crossbows and even firearms that surely outranged the mongol bows.
What do you think? Did Song fall mainly because of its political situation, or mainly because of its military situation?