When retreating, the Qing army was afraid that the Taiping Army in the city would leave the city to pursue, but there was no movement in the city, and there was no movement in the cave in the city gate, and no soldiers from the Taiping Army came out at all.

To be honest, if the Qing army attacked twice at this time, the Taiping army would probably not be able to hold on. At present, they only had the strength to defend the city but no longer had the strength to chase the enemy, let alone Ge Zheng, Jiang and they were brave enough, they did not have the courage to go out to pursue the Qing army. In their minds, the impression of the Qing army's invincibility in the field was very profound.

Thanks for being able to defend the city. Who dares to act as a hero to leave the city? Even Zhou Shixiang dares not make this decision here. The Qing army suffered serious losses, and the Taiping army suffered heavy casualties, just like two tigers fighting each other and were injured. No one side could do anything to any side.

The Taiping Army did not dare to go out of the city to pursue the Qing army, but the artillery on the city did not rest. All kinds of small cannons roared to harvest the lives of the retreating Qing army. When the retreating Qing army entered the range of the Red Barbarian cannons, the swordsmen who had been anxious had ordered the Han army flag captive gunmen to fire. One cannon was fired, and hundreds of Qing army were killed and injured.

During this siege, the Guangdong Green Camp and the garrisoned Green Camp under the Guangzhou Prefecture had a total of more than 4,000 people, but only more than 2,000 retreated, and nearly 600 soldiers of the Han army of the Lan Banner led by Qin State, and one-third of the 600 soldiers led by Qin State were also lost. In addition, the Qing army suffered no less than 4,000 casualties after the two battles. The only thing that did not lose was Geng Zhongde's hundreds of Han army of the Huang Banner, and the other was the unscathed model governor.

During the retreat, a cannon exploded not far behind Qin Guocheng, and almost gave the first-class Han army commander here. After getting up from the ground, Qin Guocheng looked terrible and didn't want his helmet. He stumbled and ran away with the support of Goshha. Then he ran out of the attack of the deadly red barbarian cannon.

When he arrived at the safe area, Qin Guocheng ordered the remnants to gather the remaining soldiers, and went to apologize to Shang Kexi himself. When he arrived in front of Shang Kexi, he fell to the ground like a deflated ball without saying a word, and did not dare to look up at Shang Kexi.

"Get up, this defeat is not a crime of war. It is my fault. I underestimate the enemy."

Shang Kexi had no intention of blaming Qin Guocheng. He sighed at the extremely embarrassed beloved general and then stepped forward to help him up.

"Prince..."

Qin Guocheng looked bitter, his face turned red and he was ashamed. Since he went south, Qin Guocheng had never suffered such a defeat, and he subconsciously refused to accept it.

The retreating Qing army gradually retreated to the camp. The officers had already gathered the defeated soldiers and resettled them, and the generals came to apologize to King Pingnan. What made them feel at ease was that Shang Kexi did not punish them for their defeat, but instead comforted them with kind words, which made the generals feel moved and uneasy. What was touched was that after such a great defeat. King Pingnan, who had always been very strict in the army, did not punish them. What was uneasy was that he failed the trust of King Pingnan and lost so many troops.

Looking at the generals kneeling all over the ground, and looking at the Xinhui City, which was still flying with the Taiping Army flag, Shang Kexi was filled with mixed feelings and was very melancholy. He thought that he had been fighting for the rest of his life since he joined the Qing Dynasty. He had fought south and north for more than 20 years, but he had never suffered such a defeat today! Could it be that this small Xinhui City really can't take over, and it really made him King Pingnan helpless!

After a while, he suddenly turned around and asked Ban Zhifu: "Who is the guard in the city?"

Ban Zhifu was stunned and said, "It is said that Zhao Sihai, who is a bandit."

Shang Kexi shook his head: "This person cannot be born a bandit! There should be regulations on the city, so it can be said that the defense is moderate. If the guard is afraid that there are other people, it cannot be born a bandit... The bandit does not have this ability, this person... Who is this person?..."

Shang Kexi's eyes were deep and he stared at Xinhui, and his confusion was unsolvable.

Seeing Shang Kexi's lonely face, Ban Zhifu advised: "Prince, since this Xinhui City cannot be attacked today, it's better to attack again tomorrow. Please ask the prince to enter the tent to rest!"

Upon hearing this, Shang Zhixin hurriedly said, "Father, please go to the account to rest. Let me leave the matter of siege tomorrow to my son. Don't worry, if you have learned today's lesson, if we fight again tomorrow, our army will definitely break the city!"

But Shang Kexi smiled bitterly, raised his hand and raised the whip in his hand, pointed at the tall Xinhui City in the distance, and said to the generals: "Can we definitely break the city tomorrow?"

No one dared to answer when the generals heard this, and Shang Zhixin dared not pat his chest to say that the city would be able to break the sky. After all, everyone saw the fierce and tragic situation of today. Moreover, attacking the city was never the advantage of the Qing army. If the Taiping Army in the city tomorrow is still the same today, it is hard to say that this city will definitely break. If you want to break the city, you can only transfer cannons from Guangzhou. If you only fill it with your life, you will definitely not be able to get this city.

Seeing that the generals did not speak, and his son disappeared, Shang Kexi felt even more tired. At this time, he saw the deputy governor Wang Guohui hesitating for a while, and stepped forward and said, "Prince, what the general saw in the end, this Xinhui City is probably not going to be beaten."

"Can't fight?"

Shang Kexi's expression sank, a little displeasure appeared on his face, and he angrily scolded Wang Guohui and said, "Can you let the bandits take over it? You can't fight or fight? Humph, I see that you are afraid of fighting and dare not fight!"

Seeing that King Pingnan got angry, Wang Guohui was startled and hurriedly said, "Prince, Mo General is definitely not afraid of the thieves. Mo General means that this Xinhui City cannot be attacked, but it can surround him."

siege?

Shang Kexi was stunned, and his heart moved, and hesitated. The military strategy was full of force. The soldiers who besieged the city must be several times the defending city. Only in this way can the city be surrounded and the defenders in the city besieged to death without the possibility of breaking through. However, the Qing army suffered losses in the two attacks on the city, and the remaining troops were less than 10,000. It is difficult to surround Xinhui City to death. But if we continue to attack vigorously, how can we capture the city with the strength of Xinhui City and the tenacity of the Taiping Army? If we cannot defeat Xinhui, how can we return to Guangzhou, and how can we explain to the court?

Shang Kexi was a little embarrassed for a moment. He didn't know if he should adopt Wang Guohui's opinion on besieging the city. He turned around and looked at the generals under his command: "What do you think?"

Ban Zhifu didn't think much and nodded, "The last general agrees with the king's opinion. This city cannot be beaten but can be surrounded!"

Shang Zhixin shook his head and said, "Father, my son thought it took too long to siege the city and involved it too much. At present, it is not my Qing soldiers in Guangdong. If the troops in Xinhui are stopped for a long time, it is difficult to ensure that other places will not change. It is better to attack quickly in Xinhui. It is not good for me to delay it for a long time."

"What do you mean?" Shang Kexi looked at his son and ignored his words.

Shang Zhixin said: "It is better to go ahead by digging the ground and choose some warriors to break the city at night."

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Zhou Bingzheng, the leader of the governor: "The prince can use this method elsewhere, but it may not work in Xinhui. Last year, the army of Li Dingguo attacked Xinhui several times, digging tunnels, digging walls, and shield chariots, and brought many cannons, but they were useless once. Without it, the Xinhui City is too strong and the method of digging ground is difficult to work. According to me, since Xinhui is difficult to attack, it is better to go back to Guangzhou. If you surround me, it will be impossible for the Ming army to know that if it really attracts Li Dingguo, it will be a loss." After saying that, he looked up carefully and looked at Shang Kexi.

Shang Kexi did not express his opinion, but Shang Zhixin said angrily: "Xinhui is the southern gate of Guangzhou. How can we abandon it easily? Abandon this gate, and there will be no barrier in the south of Guangzhou. If the Ming army attacks Guangzhou from Xinhui, what will we block it!"

Zhou Bingzheng did not dare to contradict Shang Zhixin, but he also insisted on his own opinions and said loudly: "Prince, Xinhui City was built as solid as a few years ago. Li Dingguo's tens of thousands of troops could not help it. Our army was unable to attack in a hurry. If it was much damaged in Xinhui, what would our army use to defend Guangzhou and how would we suppress the Ming army in various places?"

Seeing that Zhou Bingzheng dared to refute himself, Shang Zhixin was angry and said, "Why are you a thief and destroying my ambition? Since his father went south, he has been invincible in the battle, invincible, and swept thousands of miles away. Now if he fails to attack once, he will be afraid of the enemy? If only one bandit army can't be taken, how can he win with the Southern Ming army in the future? You said, if you don't win the Xinhui, this Xinhui will be a pier that is nailed to our eyes. If you don't pull it, the bandits in the city collude with Li Dingguo. If we can feel at ease in Guangzhou, we can gain a foothold?"

After a few words, Zhou Bingzheng stopped asking: Yes, if the Taiping Army and Li Dingguo's military and horse association join forces to invade Guangzhou?

"The Xinhui must not be abandoned, and no matter what, the troops cannot be withdrawn!"

"How can you fight if you don't withdraw your troops? Do you have the ability to break the city?"

"If you can't fight, just surround him. If you surround him for a few months, I don't believe that the Taiping Army can hold on! If there is no food at that time, we don't have to fight, they will starve to death!"

"How many months are surrounding him? Joke, what can't happen if there are these months? Besides, do you know how much food is in the city? What if the bandits haven't starved to death in a few months?"

"If you can't fight and surround, you can't walk, and if you can't walk, what should you do? You can come out with a way!"

“…”

There are generals who still have to attack Xinhui, but who can still fight this battle that takes human life to fill. Some generals agree with Zhou Bingzheng's opinion to withdraw troops, but what does it mean to give up Xinhui to Guangzhou? Can Xinhui really give up?! Some generals disagree to fight or withdraw, so they can only agree with Wang Guohui's opinion to siege the city, but the siege involves a lot of troops and how much food is needed. It should be noted that the siege consumes not only the defenders in the city, but also the food and supplies for the soldiers outside the city.

You talk about your reason, I have my opinion, and no one can convince anyone of the generals and they are quarreling.

During the quarrel, Shang Kexi suddenly raised his hand and shouted: "What are you all quarrels? Whether to fight or not, how to fight, I will decide!"

The generals hurriedly stopped talking and dared not say anything more.
Chapter completed!