The number of soldiers and horses in each battalion of the thieves has always been a mystery, because most of them are coerced civilians, called dead soldiers and infantry, and there is only an approximate number.

It was not until Li Zicheng reorganized the strength of each battalion that the exact number of soldiers and horses in each battalion was obtained.

In today's battle, the strength of each battalion was seriously damaged, and Gu Junen led hundreds of people to wander among the camps of each battalion, working from dusk until night, before he got a relatively accurate casualty figure of each battalion.

After Li Zicheng finished asking, Gu Junen stood up, and under the gaze of everyone, he said with a solemn face: "Is King Chuang taking a break and ...... tomorrow?"

Li Zicheng said: "Say, what about the casualties of each battalion? ”

Gu Junen clenched his fists and bowed, and then reported the results of the statistics.

In this battle, the middle battalion of thieves finally participated in the battle, but the casualties were not small, 200,000 foot soldiers supported the two wings in two ways, He Jin's department lost more than 23,000 people, and Zuo Wuwei's general Xin Sizhong was killed in battle. The general Tian Jianxiu lost more than 2,000 people, and most of the foot soldiers were brought back.

The casualties of the 40,000 horsemen led by Li Zicheng and Liu Zongmin were not small, and there were only more than 21,000 horsemen in the middle camp who were brought back, and the remaining 8 or 9,000 people were either killed in battle or fled.

The front battalion led by Li Laiheng suffered the largest casualties, with more than half of the 20,000 horsemen lost, and only more than 8,000 people were finally recovered. The 50,000 armor soldiers also lost nearly 20,000 people, and finally collected about 30,000. As for the rest of the 80,000 foot soldiers, there were only more than 30,000 left, and the rest were scattered!

The casualties of the rear battalion led by Li Guo were relatively small, except for the loss of more than 20,000 dead soldiers, most of the foot soldiers, as well as 25,000 cavalry and 30,000 armored soldiers, were basically not damaged.

And the left battalion led by Liu Fangliang was similar, the losses were basically dead soldiers and infantry, and the main force of cavalry and armored soldiers was not sent to the battlefield in formation, and the losses were not much, and in the end they only lost more than 20,000 dead soldiers.

As for the firearms battalion led by Li Dingguo, it was basically disabled, and there was basically not much left of the 5,000 firearms and 5,000 horsemen.

As for the 30,000 spearmen led by Sun Kewang, they lost more than 12,000 people, and the remaining 10,000 people were also shaken by the morale of the army.

At this time, the right battalion led by the general Yuan Zongdi was not outside Kaifeng City and was not put into battle, so it was not counted.

In this way, in just one day today, the thieves' battalions lost 170,000 or 80,000 soldiers and horses, and many of them were elite soldiers such as Xiao cavalry and armor soldiers, and even lost the three generals Zhang Nai, the right mighty general, Li You, and the left mighty general Xin Sizhong, Li Zicheng was blind in one eye, and Liu Zongmin injured his shoulder.

It can be said that the army of thieves in World War I today was defeated miserably!

The faces of everyone present were very ugly at this time, almost everyone knew that Liu Yanbu was strong, but they didn't expect it to be so strong, tens of thousands of horses fought hard all day, and in the face of the repeated attacks of hundreds of thousands of troops in each battalion, they were able to fight to the death and not retreat, causing huge casualties to the righteous army of each battalion, such a strong army, rare in the world!

Then Gu Junen said: "In addition, there are still many wounded soldiers in each battalion, but there is a lack of medicine in each battalion, and it is estimated that many soldiers of the righteous army will not be able to hold on, and the final number of casualties in our army may exceed 200,000!" ”

Li Zicheng's face was even more ugly, he lost 200,000 horses in one day, and this kind of consumption, even if the rebel army had a million troops, he couldn't afford it.

"Order the battalions to be on guard."

Li Zicheng endured the pain and said: "Liu Yan is extremely treacherous, our army is frustrated today, it is difficult to guarantee that it will not send troops to rob the camp, and all battalion soldiers and horsemen must wait for it, and they must not be taken lightly." ”

The crowd took orders.

"Alright, let's all disperse."

Then Li Zicheng waved his hand, he didn't have the energy to deploy anything more tonight, so he could only let everyone disperse first.

After everyone dispersed, Li Guo and Li Laiheng sat in place and did not move, and after everyone left, the two came over to check Li Zicheng's injury.

"Don't worry, King Benchuang can't die."

Li Zicheng, supported by Li Guo, lay on a tiger skin bed and said: "This battle has just begun, this ruining revenge, King Benchuang must avenge it!" ”

Li Guo didn't speak, Li Laiheng hesitated, and said: "King Chuang, Liu Yan's department is strong, although I don't know what the casualties of his department are today, but no matter how you look at it, it will not exceed 10,000 people, or even only a few thousand casualties." In such a comparison, our army can't fight Liu Yanbu. It is better to withdraw the army for the time being, or wave the army south to attack Jiangnan, or return to Shaanxi and Shanxi, and wander around Henan in order to replenish the troops. After our army's soldiers and horses have enough money and food, it is not too late to seek revenge on Liu Yanbu. ”

Li Zicheng's right eye widened suddenly, and he said angrily: "There are still hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses in my righteous army, and King Benchuang will never withdraw his army!" ”

Li Laiheng wanted to say more, but was stopped by Li Guo: "You retreat first, tonight you lead the headquarters to patrol the camp to guard against a possible surprise attack by the official army." ”

Li Laiheng clenched his fists and retreated.

Li Zicheng closed his eyes and said, "King Benchuang will never withdraw his troops!" ”

Li Guo said with a smile: "My father-in-law doesn't want to withdraw from the army, so let's fight to the end." ”

"Alas!"

Li Zicheng sighed and said, "You still understand King Ben Chuang with a red heart." ”

Li Guo said: "Now there are too many soldiers and horses in my volunteers, but there is not much grain and grass in the army, if we can't beat Kaifeng City in time, our army will face the danger of running out of food, and I naturally support my father-in-law." ”

"The rest of the generals want to raid money and grain from elsewhere to avoid Liu Yan's department, but now in the entire Henan, Shaanxi, and Shanxi, where can they still get such a large amount of money and grain? There is only Kaifeng City. ”

Li Zicheng said with a wry smile: "Yes, they all think that if they don't open the lockdown, they can avoid Liu Yan's department, but will Liu Yan let us withdraw?" He will pursue it all the way until our rebel army falls apart! ”

Li Guo comforted: "Father-in-law, don't think too much, it's only right to heal the injury first." Our army only lost the first battle in this battle, and there are still many big battles to fight with Liu Yan in the future, so you can't worry, and you don't have to worry too much. ”

"Hmm."

At the same time, Li Yan returned to his tent with a frown, and his wife, the red lady, greeted him and asked with concern, "How is the situation with King Chuang?" ”

Li Yan sat down and said worriedly: "King Chuang lost his left eye. ”

"What!"

The Red Lady was shocked, the rebels were injured in today's war, and Li Zicheng, the king of Chuang, was seriously injured, and the situation was very critical.

The red lady is a native of Henan, following the juggling street since childhood, good at "rope skills red lady", is a female juggling acrobatic showman, because she wears a red dress when performing and gets the name, the people of the rivers and lakes call the "red lady", after a long time, no one knows what her real name is, and she is commensurate with the red lady.

As early as the early years of Chongzhen, the Red Lady pulled up a team of people in Jigong Mountain, Xinyang, Henan, and began to kill corrupt officials and landlords and gentry, burning down the government everywhere, breaking the prison and releasing prisoners, and opening the granary to help the hungry.

Then Li Yan was arrested and imprisoned by the government, and the Red Lady led his troops to attack the city to rescue him, so the two got together and defected to Li Zicheng together.

At this time, the red lady was silent for a long time, and said: "In today's battle, King Chuang ordered me to lead the five hundred strong women's army of the headquarters to stay in the old camp, and the grain and grass of the army are all in the old camp. According to what I have seen today, there is not much food and grass in the army, and it is simply impossible to support the hundreds of thousands of horses and horses of the rebel army for a long time! ”

The worry on Li Yan's face became even stronger, and he said: "I know about this matter, but I am just worried that the army's heart will be shaken, so I just reported it to King Chuang, and I didn't tell anyone about it." At today's military meeting, King Chuang insisted on not wanting to withdraw the army, not only because of the defeat in the battle to take revenge, but also because the army was short of food and grass, and King Chuang was eager to take Kaifeng City to replenish the army's supplies! ”

"But ......"

The red lady said worriedly: "Then Liu Yanbu's combat power is too terrifying, only tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, and it is also from Liaodong so far away from the labor division, only one night can be put into battle, fierce battle all day!" ”

"In the evening, I asked a lot of wounded soldiers who were sent to the old camp to find out that those officers and soldiers were not only well-equipped, but also extremely tenacious, even when they were with King Lu Yan, He Madman, Cao Wenzhao and other troops, they were not so strong! If we continue to fight, will our righteous army really be able to take Kaifeng City? ”

"I don't know ......"

Li Yan has always watched the battle in the Chinese army, and he has seen the powerful combat power of the new army in Qinglai Town with his own eyes, and at this time he has no confidence in the past, so he shook his head and said: "Liu Yanbu is too strong, it is worthy of defeating the strong army of the Tartar iron cavalry outside the gate several times, this time my righteous army is considered to have encountered difficulties, great difficulties!" ”

"That ......"

Li Yan stretched out his hand to stop the red lady and said: "I know what you want to say, King Chuang's side can't be persuaded anymore, what we can do now is to fully support King Chuang, and try our best to win this battle, there is no other way!" ”

"Alas!"

The red lady sighed, then got up and said: "In this case, then I will go to the old camp, the wounded soldiers of each battalion have been transported over one after another, but the doctors and medicines in the camp are extremely short, and there will be chaos after a long time." ”

"Okay, you go and keep an eye on it."

Li Yan got up and said: "I went to the firearms battalion, through today's battle, I always feel that the key to defeating Liu Yanbu is still on firearms, and I want to have a long talk with General Li." ”

In the middle of the night, the cool breeze in the middle of September gusted, and the summer heat had dissipated, replaced by a burst of coolness, just like Li Yan's mood at this moment.

When he arrived at the Chinese military tent of the firearms battalion, Li Yan met Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi, explained their intentions, and the four of them discussed.

Li Dingguo said: "I originally thought that the 5,000 firearms fighters of the firearms battalion would definitely be able to shine on the battlefield after reorganization and training, but through today's battle, I know what firearms combat is!" ”

"There are not many types of firearms in Liu Yanbu, all kinds of firearms are used intensively, all the firearms are birds, and there are only so many kinds of artillery, but under centralized use, they can maximize their firepower."

"And Liu Yan's soldiers and horses are trained well, on the battlefield, our army's gunners shoot at each other, Liu Yanbu's soldiers are not afraid, even in the face of firearms, they are motionless, this kind of momentum of seeing death as home, my firearms battalion soldiers and horses can't do it!"

"So I thought that if you want to defeat Liu Yanbu, you must not only rectify the equipment of the firearms battalion, but also unify all firearms, and it is best to recruit craftsmen and build firearms on your own on a large scale. In addition, the soldiers and horses of the firearms battalion must also be strictly trained, otherwise even if the firearms battalion has more people, it will definitely not be Liu Yanbu's opponent! ”

Sun Kewang and Ai Nengqi nodded frequently, obviously in today's battle, Liu Yanbu has already subdued the three of them, and the three of them have begun to think about changes.

Li Yan smiled bitterly and said, "What General Li said is very true, and it is quite reasonable. It's just that it's unrealistic to do, my righteous army wanders everywhere, living in no fixed place, like duckweed, the imperial court will not give me the opportunity for the righteous army to occupy the city and develop and grow, where will our righteous army recruit craftsmen, where can we build sophisticated firearms with peace of mind? ”

Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and Ai Nengqi all sighed when they heard this, and the four of them were at a loss at this time, and they all vaguely realized that the righteous army should find a place to settle down, and they couldn't wander around anymore!

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