At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the country was in great chaos and many heroes rose up. In this changing historical stage, Li Zicheng emerged as a leader of the peasant rebellion and eventually established the short-lived Dashun regime in 1644, declaring himself emperor. However, his throne was not stable, and he was defeated by the Manchu in just a few months. So, how long did Li Zicheng reign as emperor, and why could he not defeat the Manchu?

First, let's explore Li Zicheng's reign as emperor. In 1644, Li Zicheng captured Beijing, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, ending its rule. In the same year, he declared himself emperor in Xi'an, establishing the Dashun regime. However, the good times were not long-lasting. In the same year, the Qing army entered the capital and attacked Li Zicheng along with the remnants of the Ming court. Under the strong pressure of the Qing army, Li Zicheng was forced to retreat, and he was eventually killed by the Qing army in 1645. Therefore, in a strict sense, Li Zicheng's reign as emperor lasted less than a year.

Next, we analyze why Li Zicheng could not defeat the Manchu. There are several reasons:

1. Military strength gap: The Qing army was a well-trained and powerful military force, while Li Zicheng's peasant army, although numerically superior, lacked systematic training and discipline. In battle, the Qing army, with its tight tactics and rich combat experience, was often able to defeat Li Zicheng's army.

2. Internal contradictions: Although Li Zicheng led the peasant rebellion to some success, internal conflicts gradually emerged after the establishment of the Dashun regime. On one hand, there were different interests and political ideologies within the peasant army, leading to intensified internal conflicts; on the other hand, Li Zicheng's exclusion and suppression of the remnants of the Ming court alienated forces that could have been allies.

3. Strategic mistakes: When facing the attack of the Qing army, Li Zicheng's strategic deployment appeared conservative and passive. He did not fully utilize the advantages of terrain and popular support, but chose instead to engage in direct clashes with the Qing army. This strategic mistake led to repeated defeats for his troops in battles against the Qing.

4. Support from external forces: The Qing Dynasty, while fighting against Li Zicheng, received support from many remnants of the Ming court and other forces. The addition of these forces greatly enhanced the combat effectiveness of the Qing army, while Li Zicheng found himself in a situation of isolation and lack of support.

In summary, although Li Zicheng rose to power and became emperor for a time, his reign was brief and he was defeated by the Manchu. This was due to the gap in military strength, internal conflicts, strategic mistakes, and other reasons. The wheel of history rolls forward, and Li Zicheng's failure also left a profound lesson for future generations.

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