The first day of the fifth month. Jiujiang City.

A Yangtze River and a city wall separate two completely different worlds.

In Jiujiang City, the line of Li Shouhan, the Duke of Liang Guo, had already moved in. The noisy lord turned the governor's yamen into his residence. The original governor of Jiujiang stood outside the gate respectfully, holding his notebook and waiting for the summons.

The officials of Jiujiang City, big and small, were already able to fully understand the mood of the princes of the Six Kingdoms when they saw Xiang Yu after the Julu War. "When you enter the gate, you all walk forward on your knees, don't dare to look up!" There is no way, what makes these veteran rogue politicians of the Six Nations tremble is not Xiang Yu, a hairy young man, but his "nine battles, no way, big break, kill Su Jiao, capture Wang Li." If you don't fall into Chu, you will burn and kill. When it was, the Chu soldiers crowned the princes' achievements! There are also Chu soldiers with the combat effectiveness and courage of one to ten.

Now, nearly two thousand years later, the officials in Jiujiang City have once again experienced this feeling.

"With 30,000 soldiers and horses, Grandpa Guo fought against Zuo Liangyu's 800,000 army, and won successive battles and defeated it. This feat, only Xiang Yu of the year can compare with it. ”

What surprised them even more was the statistics of the results of the sweep of the left army. After all, when watching the battle at the head of the city and watching from the wall, I only saw the shouts of killing that shook the sky, saw the killing all over the field, saw the rout of the left army, and saw countless Nanyue troops holding spurs in their hands like a fierce wind and thunder in pursuit. Only those numbers, as well as the hordes of prisoners of war and captures, can make them realize how great the fruits of this battle are.

The first to be read aloud in front of everyone was the number of casualties of the Guards Brigade, the 12th Garrison Brigade, and the Marine Division and Army Battalion during several days of hard fighting.

During the fighting of these days, the number of casualties of the various units has been counted, and more than 12,000 people of the Guards Brigade have been put into battle, more than 2,000 have been wounded, and more than 500 have been killed. Among the more than 2,000 wounded, about 1,100 or so, or about 60 percent, can return to the army after recovering from their wounds, and another 5 or 600 may be left with disabilities and are not suitable for fighting in the army; according to the regulations of the Nanyue Army, they will be given a good position in the prefectures and counties of Nanzhong, Liangguang, Fujian, Taiwan, and even Shizhou and Fuso. Of the more than 8,000 people who participated in the battle, the 12th Garrison Brigade suffered more than 1,400 casualties. Of these, about half were killed or seriously wounded, and of the remaining six or seven hundred, four or five hundred were able to return to the army. After this battle, the combat effectiveness of the 12th Garrison Brigade has risen to a new level, and it can become more popular among the units of the Garrison Brigade series.

Among the 6,000 men and horses of the four battalions of the Sailor Lu Battalion personally led by Li Shouhan's eldest son-in-law, Shi Lang, the casualties were the smallest. The total number of casualties was less than 500, and the number of killed and wounded was less than 100. Most of the damage is done by cold weapons.

"My lord! Because the 12th Brigade is currently carrying out your military orders, pursuing nearly 100,000 horses under Wang Yuncheng's command from Jiujiang City to the south, the number of casualties in the troops may change somewhat! ”

Although the words of the Military Administration Department were very modest, and even the posture was very low, the officials below the Jiujiang Governor were all sweating. Wang Yuncheng, who is also a famous general in the left army, you actually chased after a garrison brigade with thousands of soldiers and horses, and it was a tired division after the war?

However, no one dared to say anything. After all, there is a bigger incredible thing in front of everyone, that is, Zuo Liangyu's army, which has been defeated. Although there are still tens of thousands of horses entrenched in the camp, in the eyes of Jiujiang officials, it is already meat in a fish bowl in a pot.

After counting their losses, they have to count the results.

"In this battle, the officers and soldiers of all units of our army have captured very much!"

The Military Administration Department first made a summary opening, which immediately made the local officials quite curious and excited. Can the Nanyue Army, which has always been known for its bold means, especially the subordinates led by Grandpa Guo, say that they have captured very much, so how many assets and goods have to be seized?

"When the various units were cleaning the battlefield, they found a large amount of grain stored in the left army barracks of each battalion, and counted the income from the grain stations in various places, and obtained a total of more than 250,000 stones of rice, wheat, and beans, as well as more than 5,000 cattle and thousands of donkeys. There are more than 400,000 and more than 170 pieces of satin cloth of various colors. ”

"In addition, various colors of armor were seized, classified as non-iron cotton armor, inlaid iron cotton armor, willow leaf iron armor, chain mail, Jiaolong leather armor, coconut shell armor, and cuirass, with a total of 200,000 pieces of armor and helmets of various colors!"

Although Zuo Liangyu's army equipment was a pile of tatters in the eyes of the Nanyue Army, the population base of soldiers and horses that could not stand them was large, and the Military and Political Department was also very experienced in counting these figures, knowing that on this occasion, it was to use numbers to break down the psychological defense line of local officials in Jiujiang.

Sure enough, the faces of the officials below the Jiujiang Governor changed again.

The governor of Jiujiang tidied up his robes and was about to stand out of the team to congratulate Li Shouhan, but was stopped by Li Shouhan: "Our old parents, but do you want to seek some benefits for the people of Jiujiang and northern and southern Jiangxi?" Needless to say, Ben Jue already has a plan, and the grain, cattle, donkeys, and other things seized from the rebellious left camp can be distributed to various states and counties as appropriate, and used to plan the autumn harvest to survive this winter and next year's agricultural mulberry! ”

"In addition, the governor was able to avoid the arrows and stones when crusading against the rebellion of the left, and personally braved the edge to stimulate morale to pacify the rebels and be loyal to the king's affairs. It is enough to see the Governor's fierce loyalty, and in this book, it is necessary to ask the Governor to write a few strokes, and don't be too humble! ”

Get! Grandpa Guo gave you grain, cattle and donkeys to make you have political achievements, and he gave you a great credit in the notebook, what else does this say? Grandpa Guo is a person who knows how to leave a mouthful of soup for others when he eats meat at home!

As for the gold, silver, antiques, calligraphy and paintings seized from the Zuojun camp, there are inevitably people who quietly send some to officials at all levels in Jiujiang to share profits. Anyway, for many years, the essence of Zuo Liangyu's robbery of the Quartet is in front of him, so what does it matter if he takes out some?!

"The armor, knives, guns, firearms, and gunpowder that Zuo Rabbit Master bought from us for so many years, didn't they all send it back?" Before the meeting, Shi Lang was quite proud to comment on the capture of this battle with his uncle Li Peiting.

In addition to gold, silver, fine armor, swords, guns, grain, cattle and donkeys, what satisfied Li Shouhan the most was the harvest of population and horses.

"From the various departments of the outer battalion of the left army, a total of more than 220,000 Ding Zhuang were captured. There were as many as sixty or seventy thousand prisoners in the inner camp! In addition, when the thief wrapped Wang Yuncheng into his headquarters and fled, there were about 100,000 people, and there were still 100,000 bandits in the camp where Zuo Mengeng and others were entrenched. Most of the rest are scattered in various villages and are being searched. ”

"This generation has plagued all parts of the Ming Dynasty for a long time, and we must eliminate the evil! It is necessary to ask the governor to order all the prefectures and counties to arrest him, and then send him to various places in the south and central to do hard labor to atone for his crimes. In this way, every prisoner of the Left Army is two silver dollars of hard-earned money for meritorious personnel! ”

This kind of thing naturally can't be said by Li Shouhan, Li Huamei, Shi Lang and others, and naturally Li Peiting offered an attractive price to the officials in Jiujiang. As long as you catch an officer and soldier of the Left Army and send it, you will have two silver dollars!

So, "Catch the left thief well!" Catch a left thief, and there will be a silver dollar with white flowers on it! You can also earn reward money for yourself, and you can export evil anger to your own family! This kind of good thing can be under the command of Grandpa Guo! A similar shout was widely known the next day in all parts of Jiujiang. Don't ask me why the price has changed, I don't know! Come to think of it, the gentle, courteous officials and gentry will not embezzle and deduct from it!

The population, the labor force composed of the elite population, especially the forced labor prisoners and official slaves who evolved from prisoners of war, has always been the favorite of all industries in Nanzhong. This kind of labor force is even lower than that of official slaves, and can be supplied with heavy manual labor and dangerous industry consumption at will.

I believe that if these hundreds of thousands of hard labor prisoners are sent to Nanzhong, the output of various industries will go up even more! Every industry is a cut, so the cascading effect is immeasurable.

The other seizure was also of the human type. Not the labor force, though.

"More than 20,000 women who were plundered by the left army were taken out from all over the camp and at the intersections of roads and roads in various parts of the battlefield. According to the captive's confession, there were at least 10,000 women in the camp! ”

At present, although a large number of young and middle-aged immigrants continue to go to Nanzhong, including Shizhou, Taiwan, Fusang and other places, there are always more men than women. A serious gender imbalance does not guarantee full assimilation of location. Although the female population is constantly imported through various channels to alleviate the gender imbalance, so that those young adults can live and work in peace and contentment in the local area. However, the mentality of the Chinese people to relocate to the land still troubles the high-level leaders of the Nanyue Army.

Now that there are more than 20,000 women who have been plundered by Zuo Liangyu, the Nanyue Army will have to take them all in, so that they can start a new life. After all, all parts of Nanzhong, in the eyes of mainland scholars, are a group of foreign barbarians who do not know etiquette, righteousness and shame. It is because there is no such bullshit spiritual cleanliness that these insulted and damaged women can have their own new lives.

More than 20,000 women, that's more than 20,000 families. In time, it will be the multiplication of one family after another. What's more, there is the last entrenchment of the Left Army, and there are at least more than 10,000 women in it.

"My lord. In addition to this, it is the number of horses captured by the various divisions of the left army! ”

Hearing this, the generals of the Nanyue Army present couldn't help but be in good spirits. The lack of horses in the Nanyue army has been a chronic problem for many years. Even trying to get a horse from top to bottom is a drop in the bucket. Now, how can it not be ecstatic to hear that the war horse has been captured from the left army?!

"Eight thousand four hundred and sixty-three mules were seized, and ten thousand and three hundred and seventy-six pack horses and horses were pulled. According to the standards of our Nanyue Army, there are 4,567 horses that can be used as war horses! ”

"These figures are only captured and collected on the battlefield from the various battalions of the Left Army. The number of camps where Zuo Mengeng and others are entrenched is not among them. ”

Before the words of the Secretary of Military Affairs were finished, the hall was already full of applause. In this battle, more than 20,000 mules and horses were captured, including more than 4,000 war horses, and according to the establishment standards of the Nanyue Army, at least two cavalry brigades can be established!

"Li Huamei!"

Li Shouhan pondered for a moment and began to dispatch messengers.

"The subordinates are here!"

"Right now, most of the 12th Brigade is pursuing Wang Yuncheng, you can quickly inform their brigade commander Hai Zhengchong. He was ordered to select at least two battalions of elite soldiers to Jiujiang City. The Guards Brigade and the Marine Division and the Army Battalion also did the same. Draw the elite, form a frame of two cavalry brigades, and then go to Nanjing to train for some time, it is a strong force! ”

"Yes! Subordinates obey the order! ”

"The rest of the wounded and sick can be transported to Nanjing, Shanghai and other places for recuperation and treatment by boat with the rescued women. The same was true for the prisoners of the various ministries. ”

After discussing the urgent report to the imperial court, and also making arrangements for how to divide the spoils, there are only two things left: First, solve the remnants of Zuo Liangyu's troops as soon as possible, and do everything to eliminate evil, and must be completely annihilated. Second, how to deal with the aftermath? You must know that behind Zuo Liangyu's army, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River are nearly 100,000 horses pursued by the Dashun army, with Hao Shaoqi and Yuan Zongdi, who are known for their bravery, as commanders, and pursued them all the way. After eliminating Zuo Liangyu, it is inevitable that the governor of Jiangxi, Lord Kuang Zhaokuang, will rush directly to the front line.

"Don't worry, Lord Kwong. After this battle, Benjue will leave an elite division to garrison the front line of Jiujiang and Anqing. In addition, armor, equipment, money and food could be allocated, capable men could be dispatched, loyal and righteous men could be recruited in Jiangxi, and simple farmers could form an army to resist Li Chuang's soldiers and horses. ”

When it came to this, Kuang Zhao was naturally full of joy. It's a good shade under the big tree!

Li Shouhan stood up and said: "Lord Kuang, generals, in the first battle of Jiujiang, my rebel army defeated most of the left rebel army at the cost of thousands of casualties. According to Benjue's speculation, although there are still nearly 100,000 soldiers and horses in the left army, after the war, this generation suffered heavy casualties, especially the fighting families. This generation has become a frightened bird. With such a large number of casualties and such a heavy defeat today, it is fearful to think that they are quarreling and fighting among themselves at this moment. In particular, the headquarters of Zuo Liangyu, who rebelled against the leader, should have suffered greater casualties, and he was unable to drive the battalions outside the department to fight. ”

He said: "Tomorrow, our army will rest for a day, if the whole army of the left rebellion is still like this, it will be their twilight and poverty, and we can besiege it with all our strength and break the thieves in one fell swoop!" ”

Jiangxi Governor Kuang Zhao hesitated for a moment, then stood up from his seat again: "Qi Yu Shuai, his subordinates have something to return to Shuai Qi." ”

"Lord Kwong, please speak."

"Lord Marshal, the former right squire of the military department and the right of the capital of the imperial history, stationed in Jiujiang, the governor of Jiangxi, Huguang, Anqing, Yingtian (Nanjing) and other military affairs Yuan Jixian Yuan, returned from the left reverse camp, and is now in the lower office, can the marshal take the time to meet him?"

Yuan Jixian has been in Zuo Liangyu's army, whether he was coerced or under house arrest, and now he suddenly returned to Jiujiang City, naturally for some reason.

"There is no such thing as a gift. Yuan Gongjiu was in Zuo Liangyu's army and was familiar with the inside story. Just for us to be a good old horse. ”

Yuan Jixian didn't come back alone. In addition to himself, he also brought a peace envoy sent by Zuo Menggeng, or a surrender representative.

At this time, in the camp of the Central Army of the Left Army, Zuo Mengeng was also looking at the lights at the head of Jiujiang City.

Like the usual means adopted by any dynasty or group when the helmsman dies suddenly, Zuo Mengeng is also secretive, and after controlling Zuo Liangyu's personal soldiers with his own personal soldiers, he then controlled the inner camp pro-army directly under Zuo Liangyu with thunderous means. Then, Jin Shengheng, Wang Deren and others were convened to discuss and announce the news of Zuo Liangyu's death.

It was getting late, and in the biting cold night, the lights of the left army camps on all sides were lit up one after another, but compared to the dense sea of lights a few days ago, it was much dimmer. Zuo Mengeng stood on top of the watchtower, looking at the vast night.

"I don't know what the situation is in Jiujiang City."

In the left army camp at his feet, it was not the scene of the past at all. The wails of the wounded soldiers in the battalions continued to be heard, and they spread farther and farther in the night, and they looked extremely miserable. The whole camp was like a hell.

The weather was hot, and most of the wounds were caused by cannons, lead bullets, and stabs, and they were most susceptible to infection and suppuration, and in just a few days, hundreds of people in the battalion had died of their wounds.

"The eldest young marshal, Jin Shengheng, Wang Deren and others have already arrived." Zuo Mengeng's personal soldier leader whispered to him, his tone cautious, lest an careless one anger the rebel scales and become a ghost under the knife.

Originally, Zuo Liangyu's Shuaifu Xingyuan lobby has now become Zuo Mengeng's.

Above the lobby, the people who came to discuss the matter were also speechless for a long time, and no one said a word for a long time.

"Tell me, what are we going to do now? Do you want to fight, or do you want to find another way? Zuo Mengeng's words lingered in everyone's ears. Beat? Definitely not. In just one day, more than 10,000 of the soldiers of the battalions were killed in battle, more than double the number of wounded, and the number of seriously wounded and incurable continued to increase.

At the height of the military prestige of the Left Army, it was claimed to be 800,000 people. However, the number of soldiers and soldiers available to them was less than 10%. With such tragic losses, the general soldiers had long lost the idea of continuing to fight!

Wang Deren was the first to jump out and shouted: "We can't fight anymore, the casualties of the soldiers and horses in the camp are too great, and if we continue to fight, the soldiers in our battalion will be lost!" Liang Guogong doesn't care about the loss of soldiers and horses, that's because his family has a solid foundation and doesn't care about these, but when we run out of soldiers and horses, there is nothing! ”