Reincarnated as Nikolai II

While the Austria-Hungary Empire is commonly called the Dual Monarchy, it's closer to a combination of various states in terms of politics, economy, and ethnicity.

Nevertheless, if we strip away all the small numbers and divide it into just two, we can split it into the Kingdom of Hungary with 42% of the population and the Austrian Empire with 58%.

So did the Hungarian army and Austrian army recruit exactly according to this population ratio and fight as one body? That wasn't the case.

When the constituent states of the Dual Monarchy were steeped in nationalism and complaints, Austria, which led them, had quite a lot of grievances piled up as well.

"Damn it, why do only we have to die?"

"Only we get drafted, only we do labor, only we die, and they call this the same country, a 'Dual' Monarchy?"

"Do only we want to win? Are only we at war?"

Most of the Dual Monarchy's army was being handled by Austria.

It's not that the Austrian government particularly controlled all armies in a hierarchical relationship or pressured each country.

The military headquarters has been largely controlled by Germany since 1915, and the Austrian headquarters merely supported them from behind.

Above all.

Austria's economy, which had enjoyed the Belle Époque more than anyone, was destroyed by the end of 1917.

This economic destruction wasn't just a matter of graphs plummeting and economic growth rates being shattered.

"I risked my life fighting in the trenches and came back... to find my family starved to death?"

"Finally got leave only to find this place is hell too."

"This isn't right... I'm not even asking for wealth and glory."

In its fourth year, the domestic economy went beyond negative growth to deserve the word extinction, bringing hunger to citizens similar to Germany's turnip winter.

While the battlefield suffered high casualty rates, low morale, insufficient supplies, and different languages and customs for each unit leading to defeat.

The rear was collapsing from extreme labor, family dissolution, ethnic conflicts, famine, poverty, and epidemics.

In the midst of this, there was no way the Dual Monarchy could withstand the pressure from all directions that had continued since the beginning of this year.

"The Austro-Hungarian army is withdrawing from Belgrade? Those bastards who drove forward for two years to occupy Serbian territory?"

"Is it because of pressure from the Romanian front? But Romania isn't coming down to Serbia?"

"These guys... They've reached their limit!"

The Austro-Hungarian Empire voluntarily withdrew from Serbian territory and shrank back into Hungary.

Brusilov's pressure that had continued since the beginning of the year.

The Isonzo battlefield reaching cumulative casualties of 500,000.

Additionally, the economic crisis and food shortage that hit simultaneously due to the loss of Poland and sea routes.

Now the Dual Monarchy didn't even need to reach the crossroads of victory or defeat.

Could they endure this winter?

Would they be alive next year?

Would the empire be maintained?

These were the concerns they had to worry about.

==

"To Vienna... Seems we won't need to go."

Although they had been one-sidedly beating them for the past year, even Brusilov didn't want to occupy Czechoslovakia, Slovakia, and Hungary with infantry and attempt an invasion of Austrian territory.

If they did, not only would it take time, but it would clearly exceed the culminating point of the offensive, obviously causing combat power to drop ridiculously.

Though the Dual Monarchy's interior was unstable, frankly speaking, if they completely gave up all front lines and concentrated only on defending Austria, Vienna would likely be protected.

Of course, this was because Germany would likely protect Austria at all costs.

"Now, Hötzendorf. Time to choose. Prague? Brno? Or Budapest?"

Hötzendorf had to choose which of Ivanov and Brusilov's two army groups to block.

Retreat from the 12th Battle of the Isonzo.

Abandonment of all Serbian territory.

Retreat from the Romanian front.

Dissolution of the Polish front.

Russian forces entering Hungarian territory.

In Brusilov's view, Hötzendorf had only one chance for counterattack left.

Of course, since this opportunity could only be used once anywhere, as soon as it was used, other places would be cut down like wheat harvested by a farmer's scythe.

Currently, the Southern Army and Romanian forces were approaching Budapest, Hungary's capital, and General Ivanov had entered Czech territory.

"Wouldn't General Hötzendorf try to block General Ivanov's army, which is closer to the Eastern Front?"

"Following orthodox strategy, he would do so considering the safety of Berlin and Vienna. However, if Budapest falls, the Hungarian government is likely to surrender rather than flee."

That's how much the Kingdom of Hungary was separating from the Austrian Empire and was willing to put surrender on the table for their original war goal of 'territorial preservation'.

"What would you do if you were the general?"

"If it were me... I would split the army in two. We'd lose either way if we get pushed back anywhere."

"You'd defend one side and engage in full-scale battle on the other?"

"No. Must breakthrough individually. Hötzendorf isn't in a position to just defend fortunately. He needs to break through completely to either stop the enemy or redeploy forces."

Though Mannerheim didn't seem to entirely agree, in Brusilov's view, the Dual Monarchy's war situation was that bad.

'Even if they win like that, the army is likely to collapse due to heavy losses.'

However, this was close to a predetermined sequence since they conducted the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive and Serbian invasion simultaneously.

It means the backlash from operating the army beyond its capacity is now covering the country.

As Brusilov was seriously yet lightly predicting Hötzendorf's choice with his favorite pupil Mannerheim.

"Commander-in-Chief, aerial reconnaissance has detected enemy troop movements."

"Which country's army?"

"Though we don't know that far, given the numbers aren't small, wouldn't it be forces pulled from Isonzo and Serbia?"

Additional forces rather than movement of existing forces.

This must have been pulled from other fronts.

"So it was me after all."

"It's because you've been sweeping through all of Hungary and Slovakia."

"Well, I wonder if that's all."