After the initial cleaning of the battlefield, Li Yan asked the troops to retreat two hundred steps back and set up camp, but left one battalion of troops to guard the bridge in front.

Then he sent a part of his baggage troops to Zhecheng to transport ammunition. Today's artillery fired a lot of ammunition, nearly twenty pieces per gun, so he had to make up the ammunition. Moreover, Li Zicheng has so many troops here, in case Li Zicheng rushes over regardless of casualties, he must have enough ammunition to resist the enemy.

Before dark, he inspected two other river crossing sites for Li Zicheng. It was found that the pontoon bridges in both places were half-built, and they both stopped in the middle of the river.

Li Yan shook his head with a smile and said, "It seems that Li Zicheng still doesn't want to consume his troops." ”

Huang Desheng also nodded and said: "They say that there are 500,000, but the homeless people in it account for the majority, and there are not many real elite soldiers." ”

Li Yan instructed Bai Shixiong: "You send more people to patrol along the river to prevent them from finding other places to cross the river." If you come across a boat people, gather their boats here. Give some money and food, and if you encounter something really cunning, you can do it yourself. ”

"Humble duty understood." Bai Shixiong nodded in agreement.

"By the way," Li Yan continued, "and those horses that have run away, you can also send some people to look for them." Then send the horses back to Qixian County, and in two months they will be able to make up the horses. As long as there are enough horses, we will have enough cavalry. ”

Bai Shixiong said happily: "I wanted to send someone a long time ago, it's not too late now, and I can get two or three hundred more horses." ”

In the evening, Li Zicheng got a report that Li Yan had lit a lot of bonfires at the bridgehead and on the shore, so he had to give up the idea of sneaking up on the dark. He also knew that on the first day of engagement, Li Yan would definitely be very careful, and tonight was not a good time.

For the next two days, neither side did anything, and quietly confronted each other in place. And the official army did not have any reinforcements coming, but the news came from Guide, saying that the robes and rewards given by the imperial court to Li Yan's lieutenant general had been sent. However, the official who came to reward him heard that Li Yan was fighting with Li Chuang in front, and he didn't wait for Li Yan to go back, and took the thank you gift and went directly back to Beijing across the Yellow River.

Li Yan didn't think there was anything wrong, but instead saved the drama of kneeling down and thanking him, and didn't waste much time. As for the position of the lieutenant general, it was not attractive to him, and his subordinates had long called him the commander.

But Shi Jincai, who was guilty of meritorious service, thought about it for two days, and finally let him come up with a solution, so he immediately went to report to Li Zicheng.

"General," Shi Jin saluted, then clasped his fists and said, "My subordinates have figured out a way to deal with Li Yan." ”

Li Zicheng was immediately happy. He has also been thinking hard for the past two days, but Li Yan's artillery is too powerful, and he is unwilling to give up the strategy of attacking Li Yan first and then attacking Kaifeng, which is really contradictory. Now when he heard Shi Jincai say this, he immediately asked happily: "What way?" Quick, get up and talk. ”

Shi Jincai stood up and replied respectfully: "General, generals, Li Yan's most powerful thing is artillery. But gunpowder is afraid of water, so as long as it rains heavily, Li Yan's artillery will lose its effect. At that time, if we attack again, Li Yan can only be captured. ”

"Fighting in the rain?" Luo Rucai said disdainfully: "Then aren't our artillery and bows and crossbows also affected?" Li Yan's subordinates are all wearing chain mail, how can they be so easy to deal with? ”

Shi Jincai explained: "Everyone has been deceived by Li Yan, he doesn't have so much chain mail, he just lets the people in the front row wear it to scare people." Even if he had chain mail under his men, as long as he leaned over and stabbed with a spear, it would be white in and red out. ”

Liu Zongmin nodded and said, "That's right, as long as you can get close to Li Yan's military formation, it will be easy to do." How many people is he? Let's storm around him, three or five for one, and still consume him to death! ”

Tian Jianxiu said helplessly: "When it rains, God has the final say." And in the past few years, the rain has been insufficient, and the crops have not grown well, so we have come out to rebel and survive. If you wait for a rainy day, when will you have to? ”

In the early years, they kowtowed to the Dragon King Temple and the Jade Emperor Temple to beg for rain, praying that God would give them some rain so that they could grow some food. But what's the use? There was still no rain for three or five months, and they could only watch the crops wither and wilt in the ground. Therefore, they have long disbelieved in gods and ghosts, so they have less awe in their hearts, and they have no scruples about killing people and setting fires.

Li Zicheng frowned and thought for a while, feeling dissatisfied. So he asked, "Is there any other way?" ”

Shi Jincai said again: "Yes, but this method will take some trouble. ”

"Just say it!" Li Zicheng commanded.

Shi Jincai explained: "The projectiles of the artillery are all shot straight, so as long as you lie on the ground, you can take them. However, the bomb fired by Li Yan's tiger squat cannon exploded, and he couldn't hide from it while lying on his stomach. So let's dig underground like a siege, and go directly to Li Yan, and his artillery will be useless. ”

Tian Jianxiu shook his head and said, "Li Yan is different from other officers and soldiers, and he will not stand still in the camp. This is not going to work. ”

Shi Jincai said helplessly: "Then, the rest can only use people to consume Li Yan's ammunition." However, as long as you dare to rush up, in fact, there will not be much loss. After all, artillery is not fired fast, and it cannot be fired all the time. As long as he gave up his life of twenty or thirty thousand, Li Yan would be defeated. ”

Everyone looked at each other, but no one spoke. Twenty or thirty thousand people is not a lot for them. However, it is not easy to make those displaced people keep moving forward. Even if it is to threaten the lives of their small family, it may not work. As for letting the elite soldiers in their hands be consumed, they are not willing to do so.

Li Zicheng saw that everyone didn't speak, and he knew what they were thinking. Now that it is adversity, he does not dare to be too harsh on everyone. So he asked Shi Jincai again: "How is the Li Yan's gun carriage you said?" ”

Shi Jincai replied: "The lowly position has already told the craftsmen of the craftsman camp all the shapes. The subordinates have only seen it, and they really don't know how to make it and what materials to use. ”

"What other tricks does Li Yan have? Say it as well. Since he is so powerful, our rebels are not elm heads, just learn from them. Li Zicheng asked with a pleasant face.

Shi Jin thought about it for a while, he said all the bows, crossbows, armor, formations, and artillery, so he hugged his fists and said: "I have said everything I know, and there is nothing else." ”

Li Zicheng nodded with satisfaction and said, "Yes, you go and rest first." You will be notified of the next meeting. ”

"Subordinate General Xie!" Shi Jincai knelt down and thanked Li Zicheng. To be able to come here to discuss matters means that he has entered the core class of the rebel army, and he is naturally grateful to Dade.

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