After the Japanese division headquarters in Datong learned that the Caoziling defense line might be breached by the garrison, a bad premonition flashed through the mind of the chief of staff.
He was not as optimistic as the division commander.
Although Caoziling is dozens of kilometers away from Datong City, even if the garrison regiment breaks through Caoziling's defense line, it will take time to get to the battlefield and join the battle.
But the garrison was too powerful, and it was full of various tactics, making it difficult for the imperial army to defend itself.
In the past several major losses suffered by the division, each time it occurred when everyone believed that the imperial army was bound to win. It was very similar to the current situation.
He could not guarantee whether the garrison, in addition to attacking the Caoziling defense line, was hiding other conspiracies unknown to the imperial army.
If so, the division will definitely suffer heavy losses at the hands of the garrison in tonight's battle.
"Sir, the urgent call from the reconnaissance force is coming from the direction of Caoziling." The communications staff member walked in with a serious look.
"The Caoziling defense line was broken through by the garrison." After reading the telegram, the chief of staff's face became solemn and he reported in a deep voice.
"Two battalions of the Eighth Route Army crossed the Caoziling defense line and came toward Datong very quickly."
The division commander only frowned for a moment before regaining his composure: "No need to make a fuss."
"By the time these two battalions of the Eighth Route Army arrive on the battlefield, the decisive battle between us and the Jinsui Army will already be decided."
"Now all the attacking troops are at war with the Jinsui Army. I believe that with the combat effectiveness of the imperial army, the battle can be over in two hours at most."
"Order: The attacking troops in the west and north of the city can chase forty kilometers, and then set up a defense line on the spot, and then return to Datong City after the response troops are in place."
"The attacking troops in the east and south of the city can only pursue for thirty kilometers."
"Once the distance is reached, even if they are about to catch up with the Jinsui Army, they must stop and set up a defense line on the spot to block the garrison that crosses the Caoziling defense line."
After hearing this order, the solemn expression on the chief of staff's face relaxed a lot.
It has been more than four hours since the attacking troops left Datong City, and the farthest distance from Datong City is more than 20 kilometers away.
This means that within two hours at most, the attacking troops in the east and south of the city will stop and establish a defense line on the spot.
The garrison regiment had just captured the Caoziling defense line and marched from Caoziling to 30 kilometers outside Datong City, which would take at least two hours.
At that time, the attacking troops had already established their positions and were ready to fight.
Even if the garrison launches an attack, the threat from the two main battalions will not be too great.
At one o'clock in the morning, the communications staff came again, his expression obviously more solemn than before: "Sir, the investigation team has an urgent call."
"They found a large number of corpses of the imperial army fifteen kilometers southeast of the city, and all weapons and equipment were lost."
"According to statistics, at least 300 Imperial soldiers were killed in the battle, and there were dozens of corpses of Imperial Army soldiers."
"Nani?" The division commander and chief of staff both lost their composure and showed shocked expressions at the same time.
During the battle to defend the city of Datong, after half a night of bloody fighting, the imperial army's losses would not exceed 300 people.
But now, more than three hundred imperial troops were wiped out without any explanation.
The division commander was the first to react. He stared at the communications staff officer with a pair of incredible big eyes and asked, "Have they found out who did it?"
"Preliminary judgment is that the Jinsui Army did it." The communications staff replied staring at the telegram.
"Impossible!" the division commander denied without hesitation.
"Our pursuit force marches in separate groups. If one force is attacked, the other force will definitely be reinforced immediately. There are more than 300 imperial troops equipped with a large number of heavy machine guns and mortars. Even if they are attacked by the Jinsui Army
The attack and battle will also last for a long time, thus attracting the attention of nearby reconnaissance troops. How could they be killed so quickly without any awareness."
The chief of staff also reacted at this time, frowned and analyzed: "Sir, could it be that the Jinsui Army arranged an ambush in advance on their retreat?"
"When our pursuit troops arrive, they will suddenly launch an attack and ambush our pursuit troops!"
The division commander's face became increasingly serious, and he thought for a moment before replying: "This possibility cannot be ruled out. They occupied this area a few days ago, and they also have the advantage in strength. Just in case, they arranged an ambush in advance.
."
The chief of staff immediately reminded: "Sir, if our analysis is correct, then the Jinsui Army must have more than one ambush lurking on its retreat."
"Maybe other pursuing troops will be ambushed and put in danger."
The division commander reacted quickly and began to issue orders on the spot: "Contact all available attacking troops immediately, strengthen defenses during the pursuit, and pay attention to possible ambushes of the Jinsui Army."
"Launch all scouts to search the battlefield."
"If you discover an ambush by the Jinsui Army, immediately notify the nearest imperial army to kill them."
Half an hour later, telegrams were sent to the headquarters one after another.
After reading the telegram, the chief of staff's nervousness slowly eased, and then he reported.
"Sir, the pursuit force in the north of the city reported that they did not encounter an ambush, and they have defeated two retreating units of the Jinsui Army and killed more than a thousand captured Jinsui Army."
"Sir, the troops attacking in the west of the city reported that they did not encounter any ambush."
Seeing that the chief of staff stopped reporting, the division commander's brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed again, and he asked anxiously: "Have any telegrams been sent back from the troops attacking in the east and south of the city?"
"Not yet!" the chief of staff replied, shaking his head.
He hadn't realized this problem just now, but when the head of the division was reminded, he frowned.
My heart skipped a beat, and I had a bad premonition.
The corpses of more than 300 imperial soldiers were found in the southeast of the city. Now there are no telegrams coming back from the east and south of the city, and there is no news from the attacking troops. No one knows whether there is any connection between them.
"Sir, there's an urgent call from the reconnaissance team!" The communications staff officer suddenly rushed in, bringing the two people who were deep in thought back to reality.
"They found a large number of corpses of the imperial army in the east of the city, and all weapons and equipment were lost. There were two battlefields, four kilometers apart. There were more than 300 corpses of the imperial army, and dozens of corpses of the Imperial Alliance Army."
"Battlefield reconnaissance determined that they were attacked by a cavalry unit."
The division commander was shocked again. He turned to stare at the chief of staff and asked, "Does the Jinsui Army participating in the war have any cavalry units?"
The chief of staff thought for a moment and replied: "There are cavalry, but they are responsible for communications and reconnaissance."
"The role of cavalry in siege battles was almost zero, so there were no organized cavalry units on the battlefield."
"Then where did these cavalry come from?" The division commander became angry and stared at the chief of staff and asked.
The chief of staff's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and he fell into deep thought. This was also something he couldn't figure out.
Suddenly, Cao Ziling on the sand table came into his field of vision. An idea suddenly appeared in his mind, and a bold idea emerged from his mind.
Looking at the division commander, he tentatively said: "Sir, is this cavalry unit part of the garrison regiment?"
"According to intelligence, they have a cavalry battalion."
"This cavalry battalion has never appeared on the Caoziling battlefield."
"It cannot be ruled out that this cavalry took advantage of the chaos to bypass the Caoziling defense line and enter the battlefield, lurk on the retreat route of the Shanxi-Sui army, launch a sudden attack, and surprise the imperial army's pursuing troops."