Reincarnated as Nikolai II

The enemy artillery units fired a substantial number of shells during the engagement, unleashing an impressive barrage that filled the air with the thunderous sound of explosions, but the outcome was unexpected.

Keeps firing.

"Deputy Chief of Staff Hoffmann, how many days have they been firing?"

"Exactly one week. We're trying to track positions and counterattack but... can't match their firepower."

"Roman, planning to change the map?"

Infantry General Paul von Hindenburg, originally destined to join German High Command (OHL) after becoming Germany's most popular by triumphantly facing Russian Imperial forces, was still buried nameless on this Eastern Front.

Today too, facing Roman Isidorovich Kondratenko.

And the engineer who only defended mockingly for a year suddenly goes berserk.

'Just how many shells does Russia have? No, if they had such firepower they could have used it earlier?'

He knew their medium artillery firepower was superior to his forces.

That was information easily grasped after a few engagements.

But firing nearly ten million shells in less than a week?

'Russian army command allowed this madness?'

Kuropatkin of General Staff.

Kokovtsov of the cabinet.

Even the empire's Tsar.

Allowed such nonsense?

Battle firing hundreds of thousands of rounds before attacking.

Nikolai, looking at his knowledge, dismissed it thinking 'since they'll use 2.5 million rounds basically per week at Verdun later, this must be natural on the Eastern Front too.'

Kokovtsov permitted it consoling himself 'though financial burden straining the empire, might need less pensions if saving hundred thousand lives.'

Kuropatkin just didn't know the field as a desk soldier. When war hero Roman strongly advocated and used it, he thought that must really be necessary for offensives.

No, even if he knew he couldn't have stopped it.

Then Roman?

"Whew, Kornilov, you're alive."

"Hmm, casualties are high but enemy resistance wasn't as fierce as expected. Above all, since we stopped after just 3km advance..."

"They say on the Western Front they sacrifice one division, one corps to advance 1km! You've already achieved great merit!"

Though to Hindenburg, just one year into the war, it looked like the enemy had gone beyond mad to betting life and death on imminent merit, the Northwestern Army Group just advanced carefully like testing a stone bridge before crossing.

"Request more shells from Warsaw. Need more, many more shells to pressure Berlin as Anglo-French forces requested!"

"...General, our forces aren't decreasing, just shell inventory."

"That's why just request shells!"

Though he tested the stone bridge quite a lot.

Roman had no intention of making unreasonable advances just because he laid some groundwork with shell fire.

That would be no different from the mindset of a bad farmer wanting harvest after just sowing seeds without considering weeds and pests.

But to Hindenburg:

"Roman, just how massive an offensive are you preparing. Don't tell me Brusilov has returned?"

There had to be a compelling reason for breaking the tense yet familiar routine of trench warfare, where soldiers on both sides remained hidden in their earthen fortifications, watching and waiting in an endless standoff. The mud-caked walls had become almost like home, a grim comfort in their predictability.

Indeed, though it began as merely a slight movement, it was the enemy who first emerged from their trenches, breaking the unspoken agreement of stalemate. Their shadows appeared on the horizon like dark specters rising from the earth, an ominous sign of what was to come.

The tragedy of losing all Polish land within those first devastating weeks of war still haunted the collective memory. Cities fell like dominoes, families fled eastward with whatever they could carry, and ancient streets that had witnessed centuries of history now echoed with the sound of foreign boots.

That tragedy, with all its bitter lessons and deep wounds, stands poised to repeat itself. The air grows heavy with the same foreboding that preceded those dark days, and once again, people look to the borders with growing dread in their hearts.

Yes, perhaps now with massive German forces committed to Western Front's Champagne and Dual Monarchy's southern front at Tarnów might be Russia's best offensive opportunity.

'No, definitely. Battles at Champagne and Tarnów are clearly likely to be prolonged. So even the great defensive commander Roman moved forces now with troops drawn to south and west.'

Enemy firepower superiority.

Acknowledge it.

Enemy troop numbers.

Acknowledge that too.

However, Hindenburg couldn't acknowledge Roman's offensive trying to take easy wins like early war just with that.

"The enemy aims for Berlin now with forces drawn to other fronts."

Wrong. Not just Roman but to the Tsar too, Berlin was beyond unripe grapes - just an astringent persimmon impossible to eat.

"Enemy bombardment is certainly overwhelming. But can't withdraw front just for that one reason. The enemy must have more troops than those shells."

Wrong. Though troops are many, if Roman must choose between troop attrition and shell attrition, he unconditionally chooses the latter.

If shells run out he'll just curl up more, but won't push in troops after using them all.

Roman thought this offensive being very political meant just pretending to advance moderately was enough.

"So even if damage is great, we can't avoid it."

Can avoid it. Just concede some Polish land and there'll be no grand offensive.

"Hoffmann."

"I'll prepare the troops."

"Good, and Chief of Staff Ludendorff."

"Yes, Commander."

"Let's show what true elite forces are."

"Meeting strength with strength?"

"Only way to stop them."

Just facing off in firepower battle might suffocate in that breathtaking bombardment.

If the enemy came out of trenches, naturally they too must have mindset to break through enemy to stop them.

Above all, if pushed back further.

'If pushed back more, Berlin OHL might drive us out.'

'...A battle we can't lose. Understood.'

They understood without needing to talk. Both men already had precarious lives that could be dismissed anytime.

When Roman, worried about delaying action on defense-advantaged battlefield, bet everything on firepower.

The two men staked their positions on this defensive offensive.

Crossing objectives.

"Commander-in-Chief, German forces attempting counterattack!"

"Hmm? They came out of trenches too?"

"Mobile artillery confirmed! Enemy counterattack operation certain!"

"...Why?"

However, battlefield bound to meet.

"Enemy advanced less deep than expected. Enemy main force position seems unchanged from original front!"

"...Quite passive compared to shells expended. Roman, were you planning to go straight to Berlin? Today I'll prove Brusilov's offensive was just luck by driving you out."

Rusza and Champagne in the west.

Gorlice and Tarnów in the south.

And Bydgoszcz in the east. Explore stories on empire

Series of major battles erupting regardless of front.

Autumn 1915.

The war between Allied and Central Powers was reaching its peak.