Reincarnated as Nikolai II

"As expected. The Tsar wouldn't negotiate in such an ambiguous situation."

Roman, who had been firmly guarding the Eastern Front, nodded as if he had expected these changes in the rear.

The successful return of Chief of General Staff Kuropatkin to Warsaw.

That alone was enough to bring winds of change to the stagnant Eastern Front.

"I thought Kuropatkin's faction in the General Staff had all fallen away, but I guess not."

"Are there even factions in this country? Consider such things during wartime and your head's likely to roll. Kornilov, don't go around talking about being in my faction either."

"Oh no, I won't."

In the past, when Grand Dukes were embedded in the army, lieutenant generals and generals were connected to them.

Back then, it was impossible to achieve the rank of general without a Grand Duke's backing.

It was an era when they would send Grand Dukes as commanders to the front when war broke out with the Ottomans.

During the Russo-Japanese War, there were some semblances of factions. It was a time when generals who had made their names in expeditionary wars against the Turks weren't chosen, and lower-ranked ones like General Dukhovskoy rose up instead.

However, in this war, factions have become completely meaningless.

'How can there be factions when all commanders are in actual combat? They're evaluated solely on ability.'

In that sense, Chief of General Staff Kuropatkin, true to being someone who carried out genuine military reforms, had led the Warsaw General Staff exceptionally well.

Sufficient ammunition for the war of attrition.

Reserve forces needed for three fronts - the split Northwest and Southwest fronts, plus the added Romanian front.

And above all, the politics between front and rear necessary for conducting large-scale warfare.

"Have you heard the news that many royal family members and high nobles are coming this way?"

"I know. When they arrive, send them straight to the frontline units."

"What? If even one of them dies, how will you handle the aftermath?"

"Chief of Staff Kuropatkin is returning to Warsaw. The General Staff will take responsibility."

With Kuropatkin as Chief of Staff, he'll surely package it well for the rear, talking about noble sacrifices of the royal family and noblesse oblige.

"But if they're captured as prisoners..."

"I told you. There are no factions in this country. They're people who came to the battlefield to escape purges. They must accept that level of risk."

If there are no factions, there are no exceptions.

Seeing how the Chief of Staff is returning and trying to reinvigorate the front lines once more, it seems there will absolutely be no end to the war.

Then if royalty dies gloriously in battle...

'Wouldn't that only raise the Empire's will to fight?'

Maybe we should have them all charge trenches.

With someone back to handle the aftermath, Roman's heart grew ever lighter.

==

In autumn 1916, Kitchener's promise seemed to be being kept.

When France blocked the breakthrough at Verdun and launched a counterattack at the Somme.

The British Army wasn't satisfied with just this.

While the Somme offensive was in full swing, they additionally opened independent battlefronts at Fromelles and Pozières in the Belgian direction to disperse enemy forces, and the Royal Navy also took risks by leaving the North Ireland Strait to enter North Sea control.

In October, when pressure on Germany reached its peak, it would be good if the Russian army responded by pressuring Berlin, but that didn't happen and.

Instead.

"Oh my, more corpses have walked here on their own feet."

"At this rate, the entire country of Joseon might move to Europe."

"This should be more than enough to fill in for the troops we lost last time?"

Russia maintained its own kind of active stance in the war.

"Brother, where are you from?"

"Manchuria. I tried to enlist in the Far Eastern Army, but my Russian was poor so I had no choice but to join the Korean Army."

"Then after the war ends, you'll at least be recognized as a Manchurian resident."

"That's the most important thing."

Reinforcements for the Korean Imperial Army, which had left a strong impression by steadfastly advancing even under friendly fire during offensives.

"Damn it, we're not even Slavic people!"

"Shut up, they're giving us autonomy. This is independence movement, this is patriotism."

"The only way to protect our homeland without fighting Russia is to fight Germany."

Moreover, they gathered forces by dangling carrots and sticks to all sorts of pro-Russian countries.

This indicated one thing.

'Depending on how that Western Front goes, the deaths of 1915 will be repeated.'

'I heard they're launching a total offensive even in the Balkans with Bulgaria's participation this time.'

'I wonder if Germany can help the Dual Monarchy this time too.'

Namely, that Russia was preparing the blade to slit Austria-Hungary's throat.

The Dual Monarchy maintaining a front line longer than the Eastern and Western Fronts combined.

The thousands of kilometers of front stretching from Czechia to Serbia encompassed five theaters.

Naturally, there were various countries fighting face to face, and.

While officers fighting on the frontlines couldn't know if Russia would dedicate itself to capturing Berlin, it was different regarding Austria-Hungary.

"Even Germany is barely surviving with two fronts, but to extend the theater all the way to Serbia, are they crazy?"

"And they're trying to block even Italy's Isonzo with just 3.2 million troops?"

"What will become of you?"
Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

In 1916, with the Western Front activated, the Dual Monarchy's current situation finally became visible.

The precarious position of the Central Powers having to face Russia, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Italy simultaneously.

If Germany retreats on the Western Front, Russia will judge that German forces no longer have the strength to help the Dual Monarchy like before, and begin judgment on that central nation.

Conversely, if the Anglo-French alliance retreats again, Russia might choose to step back rather than eliminate the Central Powers.

While other countries couldn't fully know the intentions of the Entente's core leadership - Britain, France, and Russia - this was the general view.

Whether the Dual Monarchy lives or dies.

It seemed to depend on the Western Front.