Jurchen Cavalry

Timeline

1. 1115–1125Jurchen homeland in the Northeast · NortheastJin founder Aguda consolidated the cavalry of the Jurchen tribes, defeating Liao forces with tactics such as the 'guai zi ma' (flanking cavalry); cavalry became the core mobile force of Jin expansion, with the meng'an mou'ke system as the basis for conscription and supply.
2. 1126–1161North China and Central Plains battlefields · North ChinaJin forces marched south into the Central Plains, with cavalry and heavily armored 'Iron Pagodas' operating together to overwhelm Song forces at Yellow River crossings and on plains, laying the foundation for Jin rule over North China.
3. 1231–1234Yellow River defensive line · HenanIn the 1230s Jin cavalry organized mobile defense south of the Yellow River, participating in battles at Sanfengshan and Kaifeng, but depleted manpower and shortage of horses left them unable to match Mongol cavalry mobility, and they dispersed with the fall of the Jin dynasty.