After the command of the Japanese division and regiment in Datong learned the news that the Caoziling defense line might be broken through by the garrison regiment, a trace of bad premonition flashed in the chief of staff's mind.

He was not as optimistic as the division commander.

Although Caoziling is dozens of kilometers away from Datong City, even if the garrison group breaks through the Caoziling defense line, it will take time to rush to the battlefield to participate in the battle.

But the garrison regiment was too powerful, and all kinds of tactics were endless, making the imperial army unable to defend itself.

In the previous several big losses suffered by the division and regiment, each time it happened when everyone thought that the imperial army would win, and how similar it was to the current situation.

He didn't dare to guarantee that in addition to attacking the Caoziling defense line, the garrison regiment was hiding other conspiracies that the imperial army did not know.

If there were, the division would definitely suffer a lot of losses at the hands of the garrison regiment in this battle tonight.

"Sir, the reconnaissance unit's urgent telegram is from the direction of Cao Ziling." The communications staff officer walked in with a serious face.

"The Caoziling defense line was broken through by the garrison regiment." After reading the telegram, the chief of staff's face also became solemn, and reported in a deep voice.

"Two battalions of the Eighth Route Army crossed the Caoziling defense line and came towards Datong, and the speed was very fast."

The division commander's brows only furrowed for a moment before he regained his composure: "No need to make a fuss. ”

"By the time the Eighth Route Army of these two battalions arrives on the battlefield, the decisive battle between us and the Jin Sui Army has already been decided."

"Now that all the attacking troops have exchanged fire with the Jin Sui army, I believe that with the combat strength of the imperial army, the battle can be ended in two hours at most."

"Order: The attacking troops in the west and north of the city can chase out forty kilometers, and then establish a defensive line on the spot, and then return to Datong City after the receiving troops are in place."

"To the east of the city, the attacking troops in the south of the city can only chase out thirty kilometers."

"As soon as the distance comes, even if they are about to catch up with the Jin Sui army, they must stop, establish a defensive line on the spot, and block the garrison regiment that has crossed the Caoziling defense line."

Hearing this order, the solemn expression on the chief of staff's face soothed a lot.

It had been more than four hours since the attacking troops had left Datong City, and they were already more than 20 kilometers away from Datong City.

This meant that in a maximum of two hours, the attacking troops in the east and south of the city would stop and establish defensive lines on the spot.

The garrison regiment had just taken the Caoziling defense line, and the rapid march from Caoziling to 30 kilometers outside Datong City, the fastest would take two hours.

By that time, the attacking troops had already established positions and were ready for battle.

Even if the garrison attacked, the threat of the two main battalions would not be too great.

At one o'clock in the morning, the communications staff officer came again, and his expression was obviously more solemn than just now: "Sir, the reconnaissance unit is in an emergency." ”

"They found a large number of corpses of imperial soldiers fifteen kilometers southeast of the city, and all weapons and equipment were lost."

"According to statistics, there are at least 300 imperial soldiers killed in the battle, and there are dozens of corpses of the imperial army."

"Nani?" The division commander and the chief of staff both couldn't hold their breath and showed shocked expressions at the same time.

In the battle to defend the city of Datong, after half a night of bloody fighting, the losses of the imperial army would not exceed 300 people.

And now, more than 300 imperial troops have been wiped out without explanation.

The division commander was the first to react, staring at a pair of incredibly big eyes, staring at the communications staff officer and asking, "Have they found out who did it?" ”

"The preliminary judgment is that Jin Suijun did it." The communications staff officer replied staring at the telegram.

"Impossible!" The division commander denied without hesitation.

"Our pursuit force is marching in divisions, one unit is attacked, and the other unit must be reinforced as soon as possible, more than 300 imperial troops, and a large number of heavy machine guns and mortars, even if they are attacked by the Jin Sui army, the battle will last for a long time, thus attracting the attention of the nearby reconnaissance troops, how can it be killed so quickly without any notice."

The chief of staff also reacted at this time, and analyzed with a frown: "Sir, could it be that the Jin Sui army arranged an ambush in advance on their retreat road." ”

"When our pursuing troops arrive, suddenly attack and ambush our pursuing troops!"

The division commander's face became more and more heavy, and he thought for a moment and replied: "I don't rule out this possibility, they occupied this area a few days ago, and the advantage of troops is also in their hands, so in order to arrange ambushes in advance." ”

The chief of staff immediately reminded: "Sir, if our analysis is correct, then the Jin Sui army must have lurked more than one ambush on the retreat road. ”

"I don't know if the other pursuing troops will also be ambushed and in danger."

The division commander reacted quickly and began to give orders on the spot: "Immediately contact all the attacking troops that can be contacted, strengthen precautions during the pursuit, and pay attention to the ambushes that the Jin Sui army may ambush." ”

"Mobilize all the scouts to search the battlefield."

"If you find an ambush by the Jin Sui army, immediately notify the nearest imperial army to kill them."

Half an hour later, telegrams were sent to the command headquarters.

After reading the telegram, the chief of staff slowly eased his nervousness, and then reported.

"Sir, the pursuing troops in the north of the city report that they have not encountered ambushes, and they have already routed the retreating troops of the two Jin Sui armies, and eliminated and captured more than a thousand Jin Sui troops."

"Sir, the troops attacking from the west of the city report that they haven't encountered an ambush either."

Seeing that the chief of staff stopped and stopped reporting, the division commander's brows that had just stretched down furrowed were furrowed again, and he was very anxious to ask: "Have the troops attacking in the east and south of the city sent a telegram back?" ”

"Not yet!" The chief of staff shook his head and replied.

He hadn't realized this question just now, but as soon as the division commander reminded him, his brows were twisted.

My heart jumped, and a hint of bad premonition emerged.

The corpses of more than 300 imperial soldiers were found in the southeast of the city, and now there is no telegram from the east and south of the city, and there is no news from the attacking troops.

"Sir, the reconnaissance force is in a hurry!" The communications staff officer suddenly rushed in, pulling the two men back to reality in their deep thoughts.

"They found a large number of corpses of the imperial army in the east of the city, and all the weapons and equipment were lost, a total of two battlefields, four kilometers apart, more than 300 corpses of the imperial army, and dozens of corpses of the imperial army."

"Battlefield reconnaissance judged that it was a cavalry unit that attacked them."

The division commander was shocked again, turned his head to stare at the chief of staff and asked, "Does the Jin Sui army participating in the war have cavalry troops?" ”

The chief of staff thought for a moment and replied: "There are cavalry, but they are all responsible for communications and reconnaissance. ”

"The role of cavalry in siege battles was almost nil, so there were no formed cavalry units on the battlefield."

"And where did these cavalry come from?" The division commander was furious, stared at the chief of staff and asked.

The chief of staff's brows also furrowed deeper and deeper, and he fell into deep thought, which was also what he couldn't understand.

Suddenly, Cao Ziling on the sand table entered his field of vision, and a bold idea popped up from his mind.

Looking at the division commander, he said tentatively: "Sir, will this cavalry unit be a garrison regiment?" ”

"According to intelligence, they have a cavalry battalion."

"On the Caoziling battlefield, this cavalry battalion has never appeared."

"It is not excluded that this cavalry took advantage of the chaos to bypass the Caoziling defense line and enter the battlefield, lurking on the retreat road of the Jin Sui army, and suddenly launched an attack to surprise the pursuing troops of the imperial army."