The cannon roared, reverberating, a streamer flickered, and a dazzling light burst out of the sky! After more than two hours of artillery fighting, the firepower of the Turkish army's counterattack became weaker and weaker, and it was gradually suppressed.

Knowing that the opportunity had come, Popov did not hesitate to order: "Attack!" ”

The first round of the attack was launched by the 1st Infantry Division, which, under the cover of numerous artillery, began to storm the Chatalja positions of the Turkish army!

In this battle, the artillery once again has the supreme divine might, clearly telling the world: "What is the god of war!" ”

In particular, the more than 300 huge cannons provided by the Russians played a major role, and in this kind of offensive operation, there is nothing more powerful than the powerful artillery to destroy the enemy's fortifications, kill and wound the enemy in large numbers, and hit the enemy's morale!

The casualties of the Turkish army were very large, and due to the miscalculation of the number of artillery of the defenders, there were serious problems with the deployment of positions!

Suddenly hit by Bulgarian artillery, the time was still chosen in the early morning, when the nobles were sleeping, and they did not organize in time!

By the time the Turkish artillery began to return fire, more than ten minutes had passed. In just ten minutes on the battlefield, the price paid is often painful!

The Bulgarian artillery focused on the artillery positions of the Turkish army, as well as the soldiers' tents. In just ten minutes, the Turkish army withdrew from the war before at least dozens of artillery pieces could start!

After all these factors were superimposed, the Turkish army suffered more than 4,000 casualties in just over two hours, which is rare in the history of warfare!

The sudden shelling also disrupted the connection between the various units of the Turkish army, especially some of the recruits were scurrying around like headless flies!

At the beginning of the general attack, the 1st Infantry Division of the Bulgarian Army tore a hole in the position of the Turkish army, and a steady stream of defenders entered the position of the Turkish army from this opening!

Subsequently, the Ottoman army also organized a large number of troops to counterattack the position, and the two sides launched a fierce fight!

There is no doubt that the Bulgarian army, which has stronger combat effectiveness, has the upper hand in this battle, and the cultivation has suppressed the Turkish army!

The brutal battle lasted until the evening, when the Ottoman army began to retreat!

If you want to go, it's not that easy! General Popov, who caught the cheapest and took advantage of it, immediately ordered to beat the water dogs, and at this time the troops at the front were already chasing the butts of the Turkish army and beating them behind!

The Chatalja position, which historically hindered the Bulgarian offensive, was taken down like this! But Popov was not happy at all, or the entire top of the First Army!

In the daytime battle, the combat strength and fighting will of the Turkish army far exceeded that of any Turkish army they had seen before!

Popov asked gloomily: "Have you counted the results?" ”

Petrov said in a low tone: "It came out, but the result was much worse than we imagined!"

During the day's fighting, we annihilated 15,000 enemy troops and captured 6,842 enemy soldiers.

But the toll we paid was also enormous!

The 1st Infantry Division suffered 3,842 casualties, of which 856 were killed, 685 were seriously wounded, and the rest were lightly wounded!

The 8th Infantry Division suffered 1,285 casualties, of which 586 were killed and 284 were seriously wounded......

The total casualties of our army: about 7,800 people, more than 2,100 killed, and more than 1,000 seriously wounded! ”

Popov sighed and said, "Yes! One Chatalja, and we lost half of the main division!

From the beginning of the war to the present, our First Army has defeated more than 100,000 Turkish troops and conquered dozens of fortresses, and the casualties are no more than that!

It seems that the battle behind is not easy to fight! The Sultan government has given a death order, 'The city is in the people, the city is in the city, and the people are dead', and now the Ottoman army is coming desperately! ”

Petrov sneered and said: "The Ottomans are only now starting to fight, don't you think it's too late?" Even if you can keep Constantinople, what can you do?

The Balkans are almost gone, in our pockets, and they can't get it back!

What age is it, and the whole family is still engaged in Zhulian, the Sudanese government is really brutal! ”

Popov smiled wryly and said, "But it works, doesn't it?" Those who dare to surrender to us now are basically from the Balkans, and I really didn't expect that group of noble lords would be powerful enough to fight hard!

My Chief of Staff, how are we going to report back to the country now? With such a large casualty, I really don't know what kind of turmoil it will cause in the country! ”

Petrov was depressed and wanted to vomit blood, no matter how it was reported, the First Army would not fall well!

Conquering a Chatalja position, or taking advantage of it, with such a big loss, how can you account for the past? If it was Constantinople, it would be pretty much the same!

"Let's be honest! Explain the situation to the country clearly, to conquer Constantinople, it is simply impossible to complete it without paying fifty or sixty thousand casualties!

If the Ottoman Empire increases its troops again, this loss is estimated to be expanded, so let the country have a mental preparation first! ”

Compared to the distress of the First Army, at this moment in Constantinople, Eder Pasha and a group of Ottoman officers are even more distressed!

The artillery, with high hopes, has already lost hundreds of artillery pieces and thousands of casualties in today's battle!

Don't think about the firepower advantage, just wait for the bombardment!

The worse heavily guarded Catalja position was lost in less than a day, and by the way, two divisions of defenders were buried, which was undoubtedly worse!

Eder Pasha said coldly, "Let's talk about it! Now everyone is a grasshopper on a jump rope, no one can run away, just say what you have to think! ”

General Etor Pasha, who had withdrawn from the front, was the first to speak: "Now the situation is obvious, with the intervention of the Russians, we have lost the advantage of firepower!"

What is the combat effectiveness of the Bulgarian army, everyone here has seen it! To hold Constantinople, with the 80,000 troops we have in our hands now, it is simply impossible to do it!

I suggest that you explain the situation directly to the country and ask for help! We need at least 200,000 reinforcements, a lot of weapons and ammunition, to hold Constantinople!

If the nobles in the country still advocate a counteroffensive, then less than 500,000 troops are not to be discussed! To be on the safe side, then bring in an army of 800,000 and we can fight Sofia! ”

The crowd burst into laughter, and Ettore Pasha spoke their minds. The same nobles, why do you want us to work the front line when you are enjoying yourself in the rear?

The situation in the Ottoman Empire, are they still not clear? An army of 200,000 is no problem, as long as you wait a few months, you can always get it together! 800,000 troops, no problem, wait another year or two!

The only thing is weapons and equipment, which are imported from abroad, and the government can't afford it; Let's produce it yourself, then in three years and five years, maybe you can get it together, and the quality is not guaranteed!

Eder Pasha knew that he was not capable of suppressing this group of arrogant "defeated generals", and he was also very dissatisfied with staying in Constantinople and fighting hard.

At the moment, he didn't care whether the country could send reinforcements, and said coldly: "Since everyone agrees, then let's report it jointly!" ”

……

Ferdinand, who had just received an emergency battle report from the front, felt a chill in his heart, could it be that something went wrong and let the Ottomans turn the tables?

hurriedly opened the battle report, fortunately it was good news, but the more he looked down, the more surprised he became!

But it's not worrying, it's happy!

Historically, the Bulgarian army was held back by the Chatalja position and could not make a breakthrough; Now the First Army had conquered the Chatalja position on the first day, which in his opinion was undoubtedly a good thing!

As for casualties, "one will make ten thousand bones dry"! Constantinople was not so easy to fight, there were heavy casualties, and Ferdinand had already prepared for it!

After thinking about it, Ferdinand still decided to fight, and immediately ordered: "Attendant officer, send a report to the headquarters of the First Army!" Contents: Order General Popov to take Constantinople at all costs!

Now I authorize him to recruit additional troops on the spot, and the scope of recruitment is the engineer division and militia volunteers of various nationalities!

If necessary, it is allowed to form a temporary division on the spot and join the siege! ”