The battle near Adrianople had been going on for eight days, and during that eight days, the Ottoman army launched one large-scale offensive after another.

Every time it looked, the Bulgarian positions were about to become untenable. It was as if it only took one more attack to crumble. But when they actually attacked again, they found that the Bulgarians, who could not be killed like Xiaoqiang, had emerged from the trenches again, and among them, the Bulgarian 9th Division, which was holding Petrotaro, was the most tenacious.

The division was stationed in Petrotaro, which was the midpoint of the Bulgarian line, and if the Ottomans took it, the Bulgarian position would be divided into two parts. At that time, it was up to the Ottomans themselves to decide whether to divide and outflank or break through one by one.

Therefore, in the face of the main point of Petrotaro, the Ottomans prepared four divisions of troops, took turns to fight the ninth division, and even launched a rare night battle.

However, the 9th Division was not vegetarian either, and the division, led by its commander, Colonel Oleg Zoteyev, gritted its teeth and stubbornly blocked the opponent's attack.

So the two armies were in Petrotaro, and the fighting between the two sides never subsided, and wave after wave of warriors were thrown into it, so that for the next two years, the vegetation here was much more lush than the surrounding area.

"Get ready for bayonets!"

The Bulgarian commander, who was guarding the position, saw that the enemy was very close to the position, and immediately ordered the officers and men to take bayonets. Following his order, the Bulgarian soldier on the position pulled out his bayonet from his waist and stuck it on his gun, ready to engage the enemy who was already approaching the position in hand-to-hand combat.

And living up to their expectations, the Ottoman officers and soldiers who finally attacked the position also let out a cry and rushed into the position, and the bloody white-knuckle battle began.

White-knuckle warfare is no better than anything else, and it is very important for officers and men to test their courage and skills, so it does not last long. In about a quarter of an hour, the two sides decided the winner.

As a result, the remaining one-third of the Ottoman officers and soldiers who stormed the position were driven out of the position. There is no way, the Ottomans are worse than the Bulgarians who hold their positions in any way, whether it is in terms of courage, or in the skills and cooperation of white-knuckle combat, they are worse than the other side, and the Ottomans who attacked the position did not occupy an absolute advantage in numbers, so it is normal to lose.

However, although the Ottomans lost, Hamad Riza and others, who were observing the situation on the battlefield from a distance, were very satisfied. He saw through the binoculars that after a white-knuckle battle, only half of the Bulgarians were left on their feet.

"Good fight, Major General Fana."

In the face of Riza's praise, His Excellency the commander of the Ottoman 41st Division did not dare to bear it. "This is all Your Excellency's visit to the front line, so that the officers and soldiers burst out with the spirit of sacrificing their lives and fighting for their lives, but unfortunately it is still a little worse, otherwise the enemy will be defeated."

Major General Fana's modest words satisfied everyone present. This Major General Fana is capable, and it can be seen from the combat effectiveness of his officers and men that it is very good to know that the 41st Division was formed less than four months ago, and it is very good to have such achievements. Although there are also factors that the defenders of this position are too tired after continuous fighting, they are able to attack their positions and still show their ability.

No, Sabah al-Din, who is Riza's right-hand man, defended it. "Major General Fana, you don't have to be modest, you have already fought very well, as long as you attack a few more times, then it will not be difficult for the position to change hands."

While the Ottoman commander was judging the enemy, a young officer rushed over with an anxious look on his face.

The sharp-eyed Sabaheddin immediately recognized the person, this was Major Dorjee of the command, who was mainly responsible for the communication problems of the headquarters.

I saw Major Dorjee trotting all the way to Riza and whispering something in his ear. I don't know what he said, but Riza's expression changed from good at the beginning to not very good-looking.

"How many people know about this news?"

"It's just me and the receiver at the moment."

When others saw such a scene, they were naturally very curious. However, Riza didn't give them a chance to ask questions, and then spoke. "Let's go back first."

With Riza's words, in the headquarters of the 41st Division, only Major General Fana and his officers remained.

What makes Riza so eager to go back, knowing that the breakthrough of the enemy's position is just a few days away.

After returning to his headquarters in Andreabort, Riza sent everyone else away with Sabaheddin and then asked Major Dorjee to report again.

However, compared to Riza, Sabah al-Din is not enough for the city.

"What, Rülebulgats was taken by someone? Who is it? ”

It is no wonder that Sabaheddin was surprised, as the city is so important that it is halfway between Andriapor and Istanbul, and the main road from Istanbul to Andriaphar must pass through it.

In the face of Sabah al-Din's surprise question, Major Dorjee truthfully told the details. "The defenders of the city of Lulebul Gaz were attacked at eight o'clock this morning by a division of the Italians. A regiment of garrisons stationed in the city resisted, but at eleven a.m. the defenders of the city sent out the news that the city was about to be destroyed, and we did not hear from it again. In addition, our telegram with Istanbul was cut off, and I think the enemy has taken the city. ”

After Major Dorjee finished his report, Riza spoke. "Didn't the defenders send any troops of the enemy division?"

In the face of Riza's inquiry, Major Dorjee shook his head and said. "There is no telegram in this regard, and it is very likely that they have not yet found out clearly, and it will be too late to send a report when they find out clearly."

Riza and Sabaheddin then continued to ask several questions about the occupation of Lülaibulgats, and Major Dorjee answered them truthfully.

"Okay, you go out first, don't tell anyone else about this news."

Riza, who had already finished asking, sent Major Dorjee away first.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

After Major Dorjee left, Riza's face suddenly collapsed. "Sabah al-Din, did you say that the Italians have arrived, and they are preparing to encircle us?"

Faced with inquiries from the party leader and al-Shabaab, Sabah al-Din realized that he did not know much about military affairs. But since I've already asked myself, I need to give an answer anyway.

"Your Excellency, it seems that the Italians must have arrived at the moment, then we need to hurry up and prepare to retreat, this battle is no longer fought, we had better retreat to the vicinity of Istanbul for the time being, relying on the fortifications of the capital, to confront the enemy."

But it's only now, doesn't it feel too late?

In Hasaf, less than 35 kilometers from Adrianople, coalition troops along the Maricha River were already able to feel the Ottos.