The Ming army lost more than 20,000 people, including 10,000 cavalry, and there were many wounded soldiers among the soldiers who fled back, which can be described as heavy losses, and the remaining number of people, close to 150,000, was still far larger than the Mandate of Heaven army.

But yesterday's defeat and the morale of the Ming army were low, and Li Zicheng decided to take advantage of the victory to pursue.

The soldiers rested for half the afternoon, feasted on horse meat in the evening, and returned to the camp early to rest.

After dawn, the soldiers of the Heavenly Mandate Army were alive and well, and yesterday's victory boosted the morale of the soldiers, especially the gunners, who seemed to have returned to Xining and Lanzhou, which they were very familiar with before.

The battles turned out to be so similar!

Under the influence of Li Xin, the independent battalion did not think about defeat at all, they only thought about how many military exploits they had won, and that was the Chengtian battalion with high meritorious service, and with the encouragement of their comrades, they were also happy, as if they had also participated in the battle yesterday.

Li Zicheng left the Chengtian Battalion with high meritorious service to stay in the camp, and today's Chengtian Battalion has one more task: to train 5,000 prisoners of war!

The prisoners of war were organized into the 3rd Regiment of the Chengtian Battalion, and Wei Ziming was transferred from the 3rd Regiment of the 4th Battalion to the commander of the 1000 households, receiving the rank of 1000 households.

Although the Chengtian battalion did not participate in yesterday's and today's battles, it was satisfied with the strength of a regiment, and he knew that since there was a third regiment, sooner or later there would be a fourth regiment, on an equal footing with the other battalions.

However, Li Zicheng privately told Gao Ligong that the newly formed third battalion, because the number of soldiers has not been abandoned, there must be many soldiers who are difficult to discipline, and in the process of training, pay attention to finding out these soldiers, eliminate the Heavenly Mandate Army, and rather lack than abuse, the lack of soldiers can be recruited in the future to replenish young and strong.

After placing the prisoners of war, Li Zicheng immediately transferred troops to attack the Ming army camp in Shuipoji, and the soldiers who went out to fight were still the fourth battalion, the seventh battalion, the independent battalion, and the cavalry of the first battalion Liu Yunshui's department that went out yesterday.

Considering that the Ming army was defeated at the beginning and might not respond to the battle, Li Zicheng specially asked Li Ji and Song Wen to bring all their forty mountain guns, in case the Ming army retreated in the camp and did not come out, they could use the mountain artillery to try to attack, at least to deter the Ming army, and even create a shadow in the hearts of the Ming army.

The rangers of the Ming army had already transmitted the news of the Heavenly Mandate Army's departure from Zhuxian Town to the camp, and Ding Qirui summoned Yang Wenyue to discuss countermeasures, because Zuo Liangyu had many people, so he also notified Zuo Liangyu.

It was an ad hoc meeting, which was to be carried out immediately, so there was no staff record arranged, and it was effectively an oral meeting.

In Ding Qirui's big tent, there are only three people: two superintendent-level bosses, and one Zuo Liangyu who holds heavy troops.

Yesterday's superior forces were in a good situation, but they were defeated by the Mandate of Heaven army, and more than 20,000 people were lost, including 10,000 precious cavalry.

There was silence and solemnity in the tent, as if waiting for a very important decision.

Ding Qirui was the convener, and seeing that the atmosphere was too depressing, he coughed and said, "Inspector Yang, General Zuo, the Mandate of Heaven army is only 50,000 people, and they dare to approach the big camp to challenge, how should we deal with it?" ”

Yang Wenyue naturally didn't want the soldiers of his headquarters to fight, including the soldiers of the Tiger Dawei Division, there were only 20,000 soldiers in Baoding, and there were more than 1,000 casualties yesterday, how could they be the opponents of the 50,000 Heavenly Mandate Army? He cast his eyes on Zuo Liangyu, but Zuo Liangyu put his hands on his cheeks, lowered his head and didn't look at anyone, as if he was looking for a mouse hole on the ground.

Ding Qirui was disgusted, but he didn't have any soldiers in his hands, and he had to rely on the efforts of others, especially Zuo Liangyu, who had more than 100,000 troops in his hands, so he held back his anger and said, "According to Inspector Yang, what should we do?" ”

"This ......" Yang Wenyue was named, knowing that he couldn't hide, but he didn't want to offend Zuo Liangyu, so he said: "The Mandate of Heaven Army is approaching the camp, we naturally have to fight, more than 100,000 officers and soldiers, do you want to let the Mandate of Heaven Army show off its strength outside the camp?" ”

Ding Qirui nodded, "In the opinion of this superintendent, I also want to fight, but I ......" He arched his hand to Zuo Liangyu, "General Zuo, the 50,000 troops of the Heavenly Mandate Army are coming to challenge, if there are fewer officers and soldiers, I am afraid it will be difficult to resist, and I hope that General Zuo will send a large army to participate in the war!" ”

Zuo Liangyu raised his head suddenly, and said: "Master Supervisor, the subordinate army, yesterday's new defeat, nearly 10,000 cavalry casualties, morale is seriously frustrated, if you send troops today, I am afraid that it will be unfavorable to the battle," he returned the salute to Ding Qirui, and said: "Master Inspector will first transfer his troops to fight, and wait for the soldiers under him to raise for two days, once the morale returns to a normal level, the subordinates will definitely take the lead and expel the Heavenly Mandate Army from Zhuxian Town, so as to lift the siege of Feng!" ”

"You ......" Ding Qirui was angry, he knew that Zuo Liangyu would not listen to the dispatch, and today it is really the case, when he said "morale", he couldn't touch it or see it, it all depended on the feeling of the commander, could it be that if your morale does not recover in January, you will stay in the camp for a month?

The key is that there are too few soldiers in the rest of the departments, and the combined number of Hu Dawei, Fang Guoan, and Yang Dezheng is less than 30,000 people, how can they resist the elite of the 50,000 Heavenly Mandate Army?

Zuo Liangyu didn't care what Ding Qirui was thinking, as long as his soldiers didn't fight, he suddenly got up, arched his hand at Ding Qirui and Yang Wenyue, and said: "The two overseers have an idea, and they will return to the camp to appease the injured soldiers!" ”

didn't say much, let alone wait for Ding Qirui and Yang Wenyue to speak, got up and left in a hurry.

Ding Qirui was furious, it was only two or three days, Zuo Liangyu hit him twice, and he was so angry that he blew his beard and stared, but he couldn't help it.

Zuo Liangyu is the main force of all reinforcements, accounting for more than seventy percent of the total strength, if Zuo Liangyu picks a son, the consequences are unimaginable, and it will be a big defeat!

Although Ding Qirui is a thief supervisor, the soldiers in his hands are only a few thousand, and he can only be regarded as a personal guard, and he does not have the ability to face the enemy on the battlefield at all.

He finally experienced the taste of "Light Pole Supervisor"!

Could it be that Zuo Liangyu is used to it like this? Can you seize Zuo Liangyu's military power?

Ding Qirui looked embarrassed, and secretly glanced at Yang Wenyue, fortunately, Yang Wenyue didn't mean to mock this time, so he coughed and covered up the past, "Inspector Yang, Zuo Liangyu's loss yesterday wasn't so big, right?" Why don't we attack this time, we don't need Zuo Liangyu's department, and let the other three general soldiers go up, right? ”

"I'm afraid that's not right, right?" Yang Wenyue was repeatedly defeated by Li Zicheng, knowing that the combat effectiveness of the Heavenly Mandate Army had surpassed that of the officers and soldiers, especially the firearms, which were much sharper than the officers and soldiers, and he escaped by luck in the first battle of Xincai, but Fu Zonglong, the governor of the three sides at that time, was defeated and captured and killed, "Ding Governor, the strength of the three general soldiers, but 30,000 people, let them meet the 50,000 Heavenly Mandate Army......"

"The number of people is small, but we are attacking from the back camp, and there are more than 100,000 troops of Zuo Liangyu's department behind us, unless Zuo Liangyu and the Heavenly Mandate Army secretly communicate with each other, otherwise, the Heavenly Mandate Army will definitely not dare to attack with all their might, they must leave behind!"

Yang Wenyue thought about it, with more than 100,000 troops on his side, could the Heavenly Mandate Army rest assured that he could fight against the officers and soldiers who came out of the camp? Unless Li Zicheng doesn't want to live, the more Zuo Liangyu's troops don't move, the more afraid Li Zicheng is, if all the officers and soldiers leave the camp and are in front of Li Zicheng, Li Zicheng doesn't have to worry too much.

He came up with an idea, taking advantage of the opportunity of the Heavenly Mandate Army to take the initiative to attack, if he sent a partial division to steal the camp, there might not be no hope of victory......

However, it is better to deal with the enemy head-on first, since Zuo Liangyu is unwilling to fight, only Hu Dawei and them are on it.

Ding Qirui went to spread the tiger to them, Yang Wenyue saw the opportunity to tell him about sending troops to steal the camp, no need to wait until the evening, taking advantage of the main force of the Mandate of Heaven Army to gather in Shuipo, as long as a general soldier was sent out of the village from the back camp, quietly avoiding the rangers of the Mandate of Heaven Army, and by the time the main force of the Mandate of Heaven Army returned to help, the battle should have ended.

Ding Qirui also thinks that it is feasible, but this side must drag the main force of the Heavenly Mandate Army, no matter what the victory or defeat, the main force of the Heavenly Mandate Army must not be allowed to withdraw, otherwise, the officers and soldiers who go to Zhuxian Town to steal the camp will fall into an unfavorable situation of attacking from the front and back.

The two discussed for a while, and even the details were planned, however, after waiting for a pillar of incense, only Hu Dawei came to the big tent.

The soldier who gave the order came back and said that Fang Guoan didn't cover the quilt last night, he caught a cold, and now he is vomiting and diarrhea, and Yang Dezheng is even more wonderful, when he returned to the camp yesterday, he broke his foot when he dismounted, walked to the gate of the camp, and was tripped by the horse, fell on the thistle, and was covered with injuries, and he had to recuperate for at least five days before he could go into battle.

Ding Qirui was furious, these were his subordinates.

Zuo Liangyu refused to fight, Fang Guoan and Yang Dezheng refused to play due to injury, everything is an excuse, and a discerning person will know it at a glance.

Yang Wenyue's heart sank into the valley all of a sudden, originally counting on Ding Qirui, this time he joined forces near Zhuxian Town, relying on the three general soldiers under Ding Qirui, but when the matter came, one by one avoided the battle and cowardly the battle, how could this battle be fought?

There are only 20,000 Baoding soldiers, even if Hu Dawei takes all the soldiers out of the camp, they will not be able to resist the Mandate of Heaven Army, besides, the Baoding soldiers are not the main force in the battle......

In today's situation, Ding Qirui and Yang Wenyue are all difficult to ride tigers!

Ding Qirui pretended to be pretending to be waiting to personally check the injuries of Fang Guoan and Yang Dezheng, but was persuaded by Yang Wenyue, if there was no confidence in victory, even if Hu Dawei, Fang Guoan, and Yang Dezheng led the troops out of the camp, they would definitely not be able to shake the 50,000 main force of the Heavenly Mandate Army.

It is better to hang up the battle exemption card, temporarily hold the troops still, the officers and soldiers have a large battalion to rely on, can the Mandate of Heaven Army still attack the big battalion?

Ding Qirui knew that even if it was found out that Fang Guoan and Yang Dezheng were pretending to be injured, with Zuo Liangyu in front, he could still punish them? They pretended to be injured, but Zuo Liangyu clearly refused to fight......

Fight still depends on them!

Although he gritted his teeth with hatred, he had no choice but to let Hu Dawei go back temporarily, closely monitor the Heavenly Mandate Army, and be sure to stick to his camp and wait for the best opportunity to attack.

Li Zicheng waited hard outside the camp of the Ming army, and at first thought that Ding Qirui and Yang Wenyue would take "reciprocal" measures and let themselves wait outside the camp for half an hour, and the Ming army would come out of the camp for a decisive battle.

After a battle, although the Ming army was defeated, the main force was not damaged, so it was admitted so quickly?

Nearly 200,000 troops, a long-distance attack to Zhuxian Town, is it just to waste time?