That night, the cold wind gusted, the icy winter night wind shrouded the Ming army camp by the river, at this time a large number of bonfires were lit inside and outside the Ming army camp, although there were many fires, the Ming army defense line that had been broken was illuminated, but the soldiers of the Ming army did not feel much warmth.

At this time, the officers and men of all units were hurriedly cleaning up their respective battlefields, and the corpses and weapons of the Qing army had not been taken care of to clean up, and the officers and men of all regiments were picking up the corpses of their comrades who had died in battle, rescuing the wounded, and counting the number of casualties. Everyone was busy, but not many people were talking, and the atmosphere inside and outside the camp was very dreary and oppressive.

In the big tent of the Chinese army, the armor on Lu Xiangsheng's body has been removed, and the clothes on his left arm have been stained red with blood.

In the fierce battle during the day, Lu Xiangsheng was shot by the Tartar soldiers with an arrow, which happened to be shot on the left arm, fortunately, the iron arm on the left arm was very defensive, and the arrow did not hurt the bones.

So Lu Xiangsheng couldn't take a break, and convened Liu Yan, Hu Dawei, and Yang Guozhu overnight to discuss the next step of the Ming army's various departments.

First of all, Lu Xiangsheng asked Liu Yan, Yang Guozhu, and Hu Dawei to report the casualties of each department.

"To this day, the army has suffered 1,875 casualties, of which 1,134 were killed in battle, 352 were seriously wounded, and 389 were lightly wounded. Chen Xun and Wang Bo, the general manager of the hundred departments, were wounded, 37 captains were killed in the battle, and 23 flag commanders were killed in the battle. ”

Liu Yan was the first to report the casualties of the department, and in Liu Yan's painful voice, the shocking list of casualties was reported from his mouth one by one.

This time, he led his troops to aid Lu Xiangsheng's department, and Liu Yan led seven general soldiers, totaling more than 3,700 people, and now more than 1,800 people have been killed in battle, and more than half of them have been killed or wounded.

Then came Hu Dawei, at this time the casualties of Hu Dawei's department were even heavier, and there were only more than 2,000 soldiers and horses left under his command to continue fighting, and the general Hu Zichen was even more killed.

And Yang Guozhu is no better there, there are also more than 2,000 people under his command, and almost all the family members he brought out are explained here, and only a dozen people are still moving.

The general Zhang Yan was killed in direct battle, and more than 2,000 people under his command were almost wiped out, and the remaining more than 100 remnants were temporarily included in the Chinese army by Lu Xiangsheng.

At this time, everyone in the tent had a gloomy face, and the atmosphere was dull. At this time, even the elite and powerful Xiahezhai New Army suffered more than half of the casualties, and its vitality was greatly damaged, if it were not for the battle of the garrison, as well as the unique tenacity of the Xiahezhai New Army, this army would have collapsed long ago.

Lu Xiangsheng frowned even more, there were more than 16,000 soldiers and horses in Xuanda and Shandong, but how many were left at this time?

There are more than 1,900 people in the new army of Xiahezhai, the Chinese army and the Governor Biao led by Lu Xiangsheng have gathered together, there are still 7 or 800 people, Hu Dawei and Yang Guozhu have more than 2,000 people each, and now the strength of the Ming army is full, and there are still more than 7,000 people, which has been lost by more than half!

Rao is all the soldiers led by Lu Xiangsheng are the elite of the Ming army at this time, and if they were replaced by any of the other Ming troops, they would have collapsed at this time.

At this time, Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei were not in the mood to say anything, they both lowered their heads and muttered over there, Lu Xiangsheng was also in a heavy mood when he saw this, and seemed to be thinking about how to continue to stick to the strategy.

Seeing this, Liu Yan sighed slightly, the Ming army of all departments has been able to hold on to the present, it has been extraordinary, but it is hateful to fight until now, and Gao Qiqian, a gelding, has not sent troops!

So Liu Yan stood up and said: "Governor, according to the military discipline of my Xiahezhai New Army, the commanders of all banners, generals, and teams are killed, and the lower-level generals of each department will automatically take over. The subordinates have ordered all departments to immediately reorganize their systems, and ask the governor to order the whole army to follow suit and stabilize the combat strength of our army as soon as possible. ”

Lu Xiangsheng said in a deep voice: "Accurate! ”

In addition, it was difficult to transport the corpses for thousands of miles, and in addition to the generals who died in the battle, the bodies of the remaining soldiers had to be cremated on the spot. Collect the ashes, waist cards, and important clothing relics and then return to the hometown for burial, and hand over the spirit cards to the imperial court military department for worship. ”

"Accurate!"

After Lu Xiangsheng arranged for the people to implement them one by one, everyone in the tent fell silent again.

Liu Yan was silent for a long time, then slowly got up and said, "Governor, our army has been fighting in Julu for several days, and has already severely damaged all the slaves and thieves, and has won a lot. However, Gao Qiqian has tens of thousands of elites, but he has never sent troops, his heart can be punished, and his deeds can be killed! ”

As soon as Liu Yan's words came out, Hu Dawei and Yang Guozhu were both red-eyed, and the two of them couldn't wait to eat Gao Qi alive at this time, and the family and the main barracks that the two had worked so hard to bring out had all been disabled at this time, and the hard work of several years was in vain, and no one could calm down.

"What General Liu said is very true!"

Hu Dawei stood up abruptly and said loudly: "If Lao Tzu can go back alive, he will definitely go to the imperial court, and participate in it, from now on, there will be me without it, and there will be no me!" ”

Although Yang Guozhu did not rise up as angry as Hu Dawei, he also said loudly with a blue face: "Count me in!" ”

Lu Xiangsheng glanced at Liu Yan, Hu Dawei, and Yang Guozhu, sighed heavily, and said: "The senior supervisor army has not rescued for a long time, this is something that the governor never imagined!" It's just for the sake of the present, our army's defense line is already so broken, how can we continue to hold on? That's the most urgent thing right now! ”

After speaking, Lu Xiangsheng, Hu Dawei, and Yang Guozhu all looked at Liu Yan.

This battle has been fought so far, the Ming army has suffered heavy casualties, and the defense line is also incomplete, and there is no point in holding on any longer.

So Liu Yan said loudly: "Governor, my subordinates think: The reason why our army fought a decisive battle with the Qing army in Julu is to use our army as a chopping block, and use the army of the high diving station as a hammer, and attack inside and outside, and gather tens of thousands of horses and horses of the Qing army in the area of Julu!" ”

"But now that the troops are not rescued, they sit back and watch our army be defeated, and more than half of our army's units have suffered casualties, and it is difficult to continue here, and it is no longer meaningful to continue to hold on. In this battle, our army has already inflicted heavy losses on all parts of the Qing army here in Julu, and the casualties of the Qing army's banners in this battle are at least thousands, or even tens of thousands, and the combat purpose of our army has been achieved. ”

"If our army continues to stick here, once our army is all defeated, it is not a pity for us to die, but let eunuchs like Gao Qiqian continue to go unpunished, wouldn't it be indignant!"

At this time, Liu Yan had already begun to scold the street, Lu Xiangsheng frowned slightly, but he didn't say anything.

Hu Dawei and Yang Guozhu couldn't sit still at the moment, and they echoed one after another.

Lu Xiangsheng's expression changed when he saw this, although he already had the ambition to repay the country with death, but the thousands of soldiers in the army could not accompany him to the funeral, otherwise it would be difficult for a strong man.

So Lu Xiangsheng said: "If our army breaks through and withdraws, the Qing army will definitely launch a pursuit, and then our army will be wiped out, how is it good?" ”

After speaking, Lu Xiangsheng looked at Liu Yan, after the battle of Julu, although Liu Yan was the lowest official among the people, but the strength of the new army in Xiahezhai, Liu Yan's command of the battle was also outstanding, so Lu Xiangsheng also regarded Liu Yan as his right-hand man at this time, and asked directly.

Liu Yan had already become a bamboo in his chest, and at this moment he clenched his fists and said: "Qi Yu Governor, after days of fierce battles in all banners of the Qing army, especially after today's brutal and bloody battle all day, there must be heavy casualties. ”

Then Liu Yan pointed to a map in the big tent of the Chinese army, and said to Lu Xiangsheng, Yang Guozhu, and Hu Dawei: "So our army is ready for battle tomorrow, if the Qing army does not continue to attack, then there is no strength to fight again, and the Qing army must also rest and recuperate." Our army could take the opportunity to rest for a day, and then take the opportunity to retreat from the Xidu River. ”

At this time, Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei glanced at each other, and they both thought that what Liu Yan said was very reasonable, today's bloody battle, the Ming army suffered heavy casualties, and it can be said that the number of casualties in one day today has exceeded the sum of the past few days!

With such tragic casualties of the Ming army, the real casualty figure of the Qing army must be twice that of the Ming army, or even more!

Hu Dawei said loudly: "It makes sense! In my opinion, most of the Qing army will not be able to fight again tomorrow! ”

Yang Guozhu also groaned and said: "Indeed, judging from the strength of the Qing army, although there are tens of thousands of horses here, this is already the main force of the entire Qing country, and today's casualties in one day must have made the slave chieftains on the side of the Qing army unbearable, and they will definitely not attack again tomorrow." ”

Seeing this, Lu Xiangsheng also nodded, logically speaking, the Qing army should not fight again tomorrow, and his side will have at least one day of rest and recuperation.

But......

Lu Xiangsheng asked, "But what if my army withdraws tomorrow?" ”

After speaking, Lu Xiangsheng denied himself again, after a series of fierce battles, the Ming army has reached the verge of collapse, and must rest and recuperate, otherwise whether the Qing army pursues or not, the retreat will evolve into a rout.

Liu Yan said: "Governor Mingjian! In the early morning of the day after tomorrow, with our Xiahezhai New Army as the vanguard, we will take the lead in crossing the river and set up a defensive line on the west bank to cover the retreat of the governor and the two military gates! ”

Lu Xiangsheng thought for a while, then agreed, and said, "That's the best." ”

At this time, Yang Guozhu said: "General Liu, where will our army withdraw after crossing the river?" ”

Liu Yan pondered for a moment and said, "The last general thinks that after our army crosses the Haoshui River to the west, it should immediately enter Zhending Mansion to the north, and then withdraw to the area of Jingshi through the direction of Baoding Mansion. ”

"This road is the safest, although Gao Qiqian refuses to rescue our army, but his troops are in the north, at least it can make the Qing army who may be pursuing something fearful."

After Liu Yan finished speaking, Hu Dawei stood up, clasped his fists and said loudly: "Governor, give an order!" ”

Yang Guozhu also stood up at this time, clenched his fists and said: "Governor, after the subordinates are willing to lead the subordinates to break off, please give the order of the governor!" ”

Lu Xiangsheng saw that the three of them had made up their minds, so he said loudly: "Okay! Tomorrow the troops will strengthen their vigilance, rest in the camp for a day, and at dawn the day after tomorrow, the whole army will cross the Artemisia River to the west and retreat! ”

Some people died, but not completely......