Hong Shitou lay on the ground like a dead corpse - only the rising and falling chest and the white air coming out of his mouth and nose could prove that he was still a living person.
For two hours, wearing heavy armor and wielding swords and halberds, even a burly and tough guy like Hong Shitou couldn't bear it.
Now he just wants to close his eyes and sleep.
Several Chu soldiers who were also exhausted supported each other and walked over. With trembling hands and feet, they used daggers to open the cowhide ties on Hong Shitou's armor, removed the heavy armor from the latter, and then whispered: "Hong Qian." General! Thousand generals!”
Hong Shitou opened his heavy eyelids, wiped the blood on his face, and exhaled a long breath: "I'm fine."
"Count the casualties and clean the battlefield."
After a long time, the Chu soldiers who were still alive stood up one after another... The winner of this bloody battle was the Quyang New Army, but they also paid a heavy price for it.
The Qin army has a large number of people - 5,000 main cavalry and 10,000 civilians.
The Chu army only had five thousand people.
But it was an incredible victory!
Putting aside the spirit and will to fight to the end...the Chu army's victory in this fierce battle was due to their abundant physical strength, especially their excellent ordnance.
The Qin army's cavalry failed to give full play to its advantages and fell into a close combat with the Chu army's heavy infantry, which was a disadvantage... Moreover, although the Qin people were large in number, they wanted to break through the heavy armor of Quyang's new army. Very difficult.
It should be noted that the Quyang New Army, as Xiong Wuliang's disciples, luxuriously wore two layers of armor - an outer layer of iron armor and an inner layer of leather armor.
Unless they are extremely powerful or hit with blunt objects...the armor of Quyang's new army is a nightmare for all opponents.
The cavalry was forced to fight on foot with the heavy infantry, and it was really difficult to win.
"General Hong Qian... We haven't even had time to count the bodies of the Qin people. There are about seven or eight thousand corpses... About three thousand of them are Qin cavalry, and the rest are civilians."
Hong Shitou nodded tiredly, finding it difficult to even speak: "Where is our army?"
"Reporting back to General Qian... our army... our army killed more than a thousand people in the battle, and almost all of the survivors were injured..." the sergeant's voice deepened.
Since the formation of Quyang's new army, there has never been such a brutal fight. Even the predecessors of the Quyang New Army, the Quyang Army and the Shaohu Army, had never suffered such heavy casualties.
If the Qin people's civilian combat power is ignored - the direct bloody battle between Quyang's new army and the Qin army's cavalry actually resulted in a battle loss ratio of one to two, or close to one to three.
This record alone is enough to shock the world.
"It is not suitable to stay here for a long time... Treat the wounded as soon as possible and take the bodies of our troops. Burn all the baggage and withdraw!"
"Retreat... Gaoqian Camp." Hong Shitou breathed heavily.
Five thousand elite soldiers have exceeded their mission.
And it is true that he is unable to fight anymore.
The sergeants looked at General Hong Qian with reverence - after two hours of bloody battle, this commander had won the respect of all the sergeants with his own bravery.
…
Qin army, Dan Yu camp.
Bai Qi's hands trembled slightly.
Ten thousand civilians were killed and scattered... Five thousand elite cavalry suffered more than three thousand casualties. Only a thousand of the defeated soldiers who fled back to Danyu's camp were left.
This is five thousand cavalry! The main force of the Qin army!
In usual battles with the Six Kingdoms of Shandong, the Qin Army's cavalry can often achieve a battle loss ratio of one to ten! A total of 5,000 cavalrymen, assisted by 10,000 civilians, were actually killed by a Chu army with a similar number?
"Ying Xiao... Where is General Ying Xiao?" Bai Qi asked with some difficulty.
Qin Bing kneeled in front of him, his head and face were covered with blood, and he was in a miserable state. The corner of the Qin soldier's mouth twitched slightly, and he choked and said: "The commander-in-chief of the rear army... risked his own life and fought to the last moment... committed suicide for his country..."
It was surprisingly quiet in the camp, and you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone realized that the ferocity of the Chu army in front of them was definitely not comparable to that of the previous Chu armies.
This is a different Chu army!
Great Sima of Chu State! The elites under Qu Yanghou’s command!
Bai Qi patiently asked many details - including the specific number of people in this Chu army, how they suddenly appeared, and how they fought...
The wounded soldiers explained everything they knew.
When it was said that the Chu army rushed down very decisively and entangled with the Qin army... Bai Qi and the generals looked at each other.
Obviously, this Chu army is very brave, otherwise they would never dare to take the initiative to charge in the face of a number several times their own.
Secondly, the generals of the Chu army were also good at fighting. In a very short period of time, they keenly chose the tactics that were most beneficial to the Chu army's victory.
Bai Qi was deeply shocked!
Chu people are so brave! He actually actually won!
The tent was quiet for a long time. Finally, a Qin general stood up and held his hands, saying with difficulty: "Young Master Zao... Our army has run out of food and grass, its morale is low, and there are many complaints among the soldiers... If the stalemate continues, it seems to be detrimental to our army. "
In a short period of time, Qin had already sent two supplies in a row, and it was obvious that it would not be able to send the third batch of food and grass before Dan Yu's camp ran out of supplies.
Then, there is only one choice left!
Abandon Danyu Camp and take the initiative to retreat to Wuguan in the northwest... thereby achieving the purpose of shortening the supply line.
However, no one wants to say this is the only way.
the reason is simple.
The invincible and invincible Qin army actually wanted to retreat in front of the Chu army, which they had always looked down upon the most!
shame! What a shame!
Bai Qi was silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "Everyone, victory or defeat is a common thing for a military strategist."
"Besides, our Great Qin has not yet been defeated!"
"Temporary retreat does not mean failure - we might as well give up the land of Danyang to Chu Man for the time being, and then take it back with our own hands after the spring begins!"
"My general orders the three armies to pull out their camps and slowly retreat to Wuguan! Each camp retreats in an orderly manner and takes cover alternately. Do not panic. Anyone who disobeys the order will be executed."
"The infantry will withdraw first. I will personally lead the 25,000 main cavalry to serve as the rear of the army!"
The generals of the Qin army reluctantly cheered up and promised.
…
Looking at the scarred elite in front of him, Xiong Wu's conscience twitched with pain.
Hong Shitou tiredly came to Xiong Wuliang and Shaohu, handed over his hands and said: "I will pay my respects to my lord! I will pay my respects to General Shaohu!"
"In two fierce battles, our troops successfully intercepted the Qin army's baggage twice, killed more than 3,000 Qin army's main cavalry, and defeated more than 20,000 Qin civilians... Fortunately, we did not disgrace our orders!"
Of the 5,000 Quyang new troops sent out, more than 1,000 were killed in battle. After excluding the seriously wounded... there were only 3,000 men left to fight.
This is the loyal and elite heavy infantry that Xiong Wuliang spent a lot of money on, from equipment to training, from training to treatment... He spent countless efforts to create this elite heavy infantry!
How could you not feel heartbroken after losing two thousand in one fell swoop?
Xiong Wuliang took a deep breath: "Place the seriously injured properly and arrange for vehicles to be sent back to the territory as soon as possible."
"The rest of the sergeants have reorganized...the battle is still to come!"
Shao Hu and Hong Shitou both raised their hands and accepted the order: "Yes!"
General Wu Bi hurried over and brought the latest news: "Your Majesty! Qin Jun Dan has made a move in the camp - my 50,000-strong army has been ordered to be ready. Do you want to pursue it now?"
…
