The afterglow of the setting sun fell on the battlefield, and the noisy battlefield gradually calmed down, but there were still many wounded soldiers moaning, and from time to time there were ownerless war horses passing by, disturbing the new soldiers who were cleaning the battlefield.

In the temporary garrison of the Chinese Army of the New Army, two corpses were placed in front of Liu Yan, namely Zhang Xianzhong and Zhang Wenxiu.

Liu Yan looked at Zhang Xianzhong's corpse carefully, with a hint of relief on his face: This battle was not fought in vain, at least Zhang Xianzhong, one of the two-stirring sticks in the late Ming Dynasty, was killed!

Regardless of Zhang Wenxiu, that is, Liu Wenxiu, Liu Yan felt a little sorry, after all, Liu Wenxiu was still a good man in history, at least he did not surrender to the Qing army, and insisted on resisting the Qing until he died of illness.

"Alas! Perhaps this is the regret of history. ”

Liu Yan sighed with emotion and said: "If Zhang Wenxiu's body is buried thickly, don't behead it, just put away the seal letter and armor." When he turned around to report to Yang Sichang, he said that the body was shattered by artillery. ”

"Yes."

Liu Yan pointed to Zhang Xianzhong's corpse and said, "Cut off the head of this thief for me!" ”

"Yes!"

A flag commander pulled out his waist knife and stepped forward.

"My lord, the list is out."

Xun Jingyun, the pacification officer, came over, invited Liu Yan to the side, lowered his voice and said: "There are more than 40,000 people in Zuo Liangyu's army, except for more than 10,000 people who were defeated by the thieves, our army has killed about a few thousand people, and the remaining more than 10,000 people have been dispersed, these people are all trouble!" ”

Liu Yan naturally expected this situation a long time ago, the battlefield was extremely chaotic, tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, it was impossible to take all of them without falling, and the news of his move to Zuo Liangyu would definitely spread.

But this doesn't matter anymore, anyway, Zuo Liangyu is dead without proof, when the time comes to see Yang Sichang, Liu Yan can say whatever he wants, with Yang Sichang's treachery, he will not embarrass Liu Yan, the leading general, for the sake of a dead man.

"How many thieves have been beheaded?"

Now the battalions have successively sent heralds to contact each other to report the beheadings of their respective battalions, as well as the casualties and captures.

Up to now, no trace of Zhang Dingguo, Zhang Nengqi, and Zhang Kewang has been found in any battalion, and no bodies have been seen.

Xun Jingyun said: "At present, the number reported by each battalion is that our army has beheaded 38,752 thieves, and the actual number of beheadings must be more than this number, it should exceed 40,000. It's just that there are a lot of thieves' corpses that have been beaten by artillery and birds, and their heads are broken, so they are not counted. ”

"Among them, there are 36,990 levels that are Zhang Xianzhong's department, and the rest are He Yilong's department in Ge Yan."

Liu Yan said: "According to the information given by Yang Sichang and the information that the battalions did not collect and probe at night, the troops under Zhang Xianzhong's command were about 60,000, that is, there were still 20,000 or 30,000 thieves who escaped. ”

Xun Jingyun said: "There is no way, our army is insufficient, and it is distributed on the battlefield to fight more with less, and it is impossible to encircle and annihilate all of Zhang Xianzhong's troops, and my lord has done his best." ”

"It's just a pity that even He Yilong ran away in Ge's eyes."

Liu Yan said: "Forget it, this battle is already a big victory, let's not be too greedy." ”

Then, Liu Yan asked, "What are the casualties of each battalion?" ”

Xun Jingyun said: "My lord, the casualties of each battalion are not large, only the casualties of the cavalry battalion are slightly larger. ”

Liu Yan nodded, after all, the cavalry battalion was ordered to delay Zhang Xianzhong's main force, and it would definitely rush into battle with the army of thieves.

"Fifty-two people were killed in the front battalion, seventy-three in the rear battalion, thirty-one in the left battalion, forty in the right battalion, twenty-eight in the middle battalion, no casualties in the guard battalion, no casualties in the artillery battalion, and two hundred and ninety-six casualties in the cavalry battalion."

"In this battle, our army lost a total of 520 soldiers and a total of 112 wounded."

Such casualties are still within Liu Yan's tolerance, more than 500 people in exchange for more than 30,000 thieves, a one-to-sixty exchange ratio, and also won Zhang Xianzhong and Zhang Wenxiu, the two thieves, which is already a great victory.

Xun Jingyun said: "My lord, do you want the soldiers of each battalion to withdraw? In my opinion, the adults should go back to the Chinese army camp as soon as possible, before the rout of Zuo Liangyu's troops flees back, so as not to be passive. ”

Liu Yan sat down on the spot, and the army fought fiercely all day, even if Liu Yan did not go into battle to kill the enemy, but only commanded the battle in the Chinese army, he was hungry and tired at this time, not to mention the soldiers who fought the battlefield for a day.

So Liu Yan said: "Don't worry, Zuo Liangyu's remnants can't turn the sky, send someone to inform you, each department will clean up the battlefield within half an hour, rest in place for half an hour, and then withdraw to the Chinese army camp to the east." ”

"Yes."

"By the way, is the cavalry battalion still pursuing the enemy?"

"Commander Xu sent a herald half an hour ago, saying that he had chased to the west of Agate Mountain, and asked if the lord would continue the pursuit."

Liu Yan thought for a moment and said, "Forget it, the casualties of the cavalry battalion in this battle are not small, let Xu Ming withdraw." ”

"Yes."

At the same time, more than ten miles west of Agate Mountain, Zhang Dingguo, Zhang Kewang, and Zhang Nengqi were riding their horses in embarrassment, and the routs all over the mountains were also running, and many people were exhausted, but they still gritted their teeth and persisted, for fear that they would be caught up by the Ming army after falling behind.

A large number of routs ran for a while, Zhang Dingguo ordered to stop and rest, and Zhang Kewang was not at ease and sent someone to investigate in the back, so he beckoned Zhang Dingguo and Zhang Nengqi to come over and discuss the next plan together.

And the thieves stopped suddenly, and many of them lay down on the ground, and then they never got up, but they were exhausted to death.

Zhang Dingguo, Zhang Kewang, and Zhang Nengqi were also silent when they saw this.

After a while, Zhang Kewang said: "I saw with my own eyes that my father-in-law's Daxu had fallen, and all the soldiers and horses of the Chinese army had been wiped out. What do we do in the future? ”

Zhang Dingguo suppressed the pathos in his heart and said: "Liu Yanbu came from the East Road, which shows that the fourth brother Wenxiu is also more auspicious, and now there are only three people left, whether to go or stay, you all talk about it." ”

Zhang Nengqi looked at Zhang Dingguo and said, "I listen to my eldest brother." ”

Zhang Kewang paused and said, "Big brother, let's speak." ”

Zhang Dingguo said angrily: "Sichuan can't stay any longer, I think we can gather our soldiers and horses and go north directly to join King Chuang!" ”

Zhang Kewang and Zhang Nengqi were very surprised, Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng have always been at odds, and now that they have taken refuge in the past, Li Zicheng will definitely annex everyone's soldiers and horses, can a few people still have a good life?

Zhang Dingguo said: "Let's gather the soldiers and horses, there should be 10,000 or 20,000 people, plus we have fought against Liu Yanbu, knowing his details, it will be useful to King Chuang in the future." With the strategy of the king, he will definitely not treat us badly. ”

Zhang Kewang and Zhang Nengqi glanced at each other, and the two immediately nodded in agreement.

When Zhang Dingguo, Zhang Kewang, and Zhang Nengqi packed up the remnants of their troops and continued to retreat, the sunset had gradually disappeared into the mountains, and the night gradually covered the earth.

At this time, Liu Yan led the battalions of the New Army to rush to the large camp of the Chinese army, and the soldiers of each battalion marched in line with torches high, carrying a large amount of captured materials and military merits.

Shen Wen followed his captain to march on foot, and in today's battle, Shen Wen's rear camp defeated a lot of rogue soldiers and horses, and Shen Wen also killed two rogue soldiers in the fierce battle, and the captain was recorded in the military merit book.

In the new army, the beheading two levels may not be promoted, after all, the new army has always had rich military achievements, and almost most of the soldiers will be killed once they stand down, and if they are all promoted, they will not have so many official positions.

However, Shen Wen was still very happy that he could gain something from the first time he went to the battlefield, and the joy in his heart was beyond words.

At the same time, according to the captain, even if these two military merit heads cannot be exchanged for promotion, they can be discounted into silver rewards, a thief's head is discounted for three dollars of silver, and a thief's head is discounted for one or two silvers, and if it is an enemy general or an officer at all levels, there is also a corresponding reward.

"After the first battle, there will be a reward of six dollars of silver, and there is already more than 10% of the military salary, which is really cost-effective!"

Shen Wen also thought about using the six coins of silver to buy something for his father to take back, it was best to fight a few more battles, get more heads, get more rewards, and then buy a cow after he went back, so as not to share one with his neighbors.

Shen Wen was thinking about this, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise slightly.

"Anyway, I really want to hear that Lao Qiao beheaded the eighth level, wouldn't it be that you can get two or four coins of silver just by rewarding the silver, it is estimated that there is a shortage, and Lao Qiao can still be promoted with these eight heads!"

At this time, Shen Wen was envious of Lao Qiao of the neighboring team, and regretted why he didn't hit the two thieves accurately when he was fighting.

"Boss."

Shen Wen looked at the captain who led the team in front of him, and said in a low voice: "Boss, do you say that we are going to fight the thieves next, when will we go?" I'd like to kill a few more thieves. ”

The captain glared at Shen Wen, scolded secretly, and reprimanded in a low voice: "Shen Wen! You have forgotten the seventeen articles of military discipline, and there must be no noise when the army marches! You want to be beaten with a stick! ”

Shen Wen was suddenly startled, and in addition to his excitement, he actually forgot all the provisions of the military law, and hurriedly lowered his head and hurried away, for fear of being discovered by the pickets who were constantly patrolling.

The captain glared at Shen Wen again, and then whispered, "I guess, we're about to go back to Jimo Camp City." ”

"Huh?"

Shen Wen looked at the captain in surprise, very puzzled, how long has the army just arrived here, and it has only been a battle, and it is going back?

The captain said, "What are you doing here?" The thieves have been killed, so don't go back and stay here to support the elderly! ”

Shen Wen sighed, muttered a few words in annoyance, and then was glared at by the captain again, and quickly shut his mouth in fright.

Suddenly, there was a sound of iron hooves, and the guards of the brigade and the night did not collect their horses to pass by, and a general in fine armor rode by in the middle, and the soldiers of the new army along the way raised their arms and cheered, and the cheers of the soldiers of the army came from back to forward, like the waves of the sea.

"It's the General!"

Shen Wen looked excitedly, only to see Liu Yan riding his horse galloping past, and the guards of the brigade and Ye Bushu followed around, and also rode by.

Shen Wen also raised his arms and cheered with his throat, and looked at Liu Yan who had passed over with his comrades around him, and everyone's eyes were full of admiration and support.

"My lord, a few miles away is the Chinese army camp."

Miao Shaoze followed Liu Yan, Liu Yan nodded, and said: "When you arrive at the Chinese army camp, let the soldiers of each battalion go back to the camp to rest, you take the guards with me to the Chinese army tent to see Yang Sichang, and bring Zhang Xianzhong's corpse head and Zhang Wenxiu's armor and seal letter with you." ”

"Yes."

At this moment, Liu Yan saw a few people riding horses in front of him, and everyone hurriedly slowed down in front of Liu Yan, and then rode horses and Liu Yan side by side.

"My lord, I'm waiting to find out the news, Zuo Liangyu's son Zuo Mengeng suddenly arrived in Yang Sichang's army at night!"

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