Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 147 Promises Must Be Kept: Pacta sunt servanda (1)

Just seven months ago, 1915 was quite arduous for Kitchener who had returned after making a grand agreement with Russia.

First, he was being held responsible for both the field material shortages and the defeat at Gallipoli.

"How can it be that the Empire's finest can't fight because they lack shells! The cabinet should resign en masse!"

"Coalition cabinet? So which party takes responsibility!"

"Just kick out all of George's cabinet ministers and reconstruct a coalition cabinet led by Asquith!"

While the wartime cabinet could wield enormous authority impossible during peacetime, with a coalition cabinet sharing power rather than a specific ruling party, issues of responsibility and initiative were bound to arise.

Simply put, with more to eat, fights spread more easily.

Still, in May, when the Black Sea was somehow opened and Russia implemented enormous imports and exports, they could avoid the crisis of holding elections or overturning the cabinet during the war.

However, Kitchener, who was responsible for crucial tasks like organizing the expeditionary force, expanding and supervising munitions production, food procurement, and controlling supply strategy, had to face new attacks.

"...Russia, those bastards just licked up the Black Sea clean and wiped their mouths?"

"Earl Kitchener! Didn't you say you received direct assurance from the Russian Tsar in person! Why is Russia sitting still even though summer has come?"

"Jerusalem! The Orthodox bastards are finally heading for Jerusalem!"

Military supplies imports. Suez Canal usage permission. Mediterranean port usage. Temporary tariff reduction and so on.

Not only militarily drawing attention at Gallipoli, Britain had thoroughly handled the aftermath, yet Russia wasn't launching their offensive.

"They need time! Shouldn't they have space to redirect troops from the Balkans!"

Gallipoli, Ypres, Artois.

Even after the winter operation failures, Britain jumped around like a child unable to wait for marshmallows, with casualties in the tens of thousands in several major battles.

"They ran! Russia ate up the Black Sea and ran!"

"This is diplomatic fraud! It's a scam!"

Instead, women encouraged enlistment by putting feathers on men seen on streets and insulting them.

The real problem with this act was that the state encouraged it, led by Home Secretary McKenna.

Encouraging enlistment by exploiting the psychology of - my son, my brother, my boyfriend enlisted, how dare you enjoy comfort in the rear?

Britain tried to solve conscription this way when even Kitchener's famous "Your Country Needs YOU!" poster couldn't achieve it.

However, mere shame couldn't drag gentleman men from their island to the continent.

"Private Ernest Atkins? Want to parade through London streets in fake uniform?"

"...Thank you, lady. I'll tell my comrades at Passchendaele."

Feathers stuck in even during leave.

"Seaman G. Samson, for Royal Navy men who seem to prefer feet on dirt?"

"What? I'm on my way to receive the Victoria Cross?"

Perhaps such feathers were just stupid acts that only decreased soldiers' fighting spirit and caused internal discord.

In the end, going round and round, Britain had only one poor excuse to present.

"So what's Russia doing?"

"They ate Poland and got the Black Sea back, so they're full now?"

"We must send the Royal Navy to the Bosphorus now and grab Russia's lifeline!"

Yes, it's all Russia's fault.

The reason British youth don't head to recruitment offices is because they won't respond to conscription since only meaningless death awaits if Russia doesn't attack.

Russia organizing alliance armies with Finland, Korea and such is all because they don't want to bleed themselves.

A strange triangular relationship between allies where France pressures Britain and Britain pressures Russia.