Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 148 Promises Must Be Kept: Pacta sunt servanda (2)

Then September came.

Just when summer's heat slowly began to break.

East, West, South, Balkans, Isonzo, Serbia, Arabia, Africa, Asia - battles, rebellions, and uprisings continue endlessly in all regions.

"Send, send more troops!"

"Ah, citizens still harbor antipathy toward this conscription system-"

"If conscripts are difficult, send Territorial Force! The front lines are hell right now!"

"The homeland's territorial army is part-time volunteers?"

Sure enough, Britain suffered from severe army manpower shortages.

Starting with creating six additional divisions in August 1914, they increased to 29 divisions by March 1915, but didn't grow much after that.

More precisely, they increased numbers but lost just as many, so the troop ledger stayed even.

They barely created the Third Army in July, but before even filling it, the war intensified from September.

Was manpower shortage their only problem?

After several months of fierce struggle, when they ran the numbers...

"We... lost?"

"We sometimes burned 100,000 French, 30,000 British, 8,000 Canadians in one battle and still lost?"

"No, we had more troops! Doesn't this mean we lost all major battles this year!"

Looking at just the major Western Front battle results in 1915.

Winter Operations, failed.

Battle of Neuve Chapelle, losses.

Battle of Festubert, defeat.

Second Battle of Ypres, losses.

Battle of Loos, defeat.

Battle of Champagne, defeat.

All crushed.

Lost every battle fought.

"...We might actually lose the war at this rate."

Was there a troop shortage?

No. Many battles had force ratios ranging from 1:1 to 1:2.1.

Was there geographical disadvantage?

There were several times in hill battles, but even those were just repetitions of taking and losing, so it couldn't be an excuse.

Was it weapon difference?

Because Russia had walked through deaths and hell they couldn't imagine.

Your journey continues at empire

"...A country that doesn't even need recruitment posters like mine."

[Is Russia going to Berlin alone?]

Roman's offensive was so shocking that talk of independent victory emerged.

The cabinet and military viewed news of Russia's offensive very hopefully.

"If they just keep pressuring Berlin like this, the Boche will have no choice but to withdraw troops from the Western Front!"

"General Roman Kontratenko must be a legendary commander! To utilize his country's military characteristics so well!"

"Am I the only one feeling victory is within reach?"

However, Kitchener, who joined the cabinet as a soldier and negotiated with Russia, felt something different.

The East, victorious while bleeding desperately.

The West, defeated despite admirable efforts.

Russia, facing Germany and the Dual Monarchy alone.

The Anglo-French alliance, defeated despite combining forces.

'...Russia kept their promise. After the Black Sea opened, they thoroughly prepared and executed two major battles. Successfully at that.'

They kept their promise. These words kept circling in Kitchener's mind.

If promises were kept... then isn't it over?

At this moment, Kitchener arrived at this question.

"Will Russia really launch another offensive?"

Now Britain has neither means nor justification to pressure them.

Russia has lost far more than Britain or France.

Then does Britain still have any carrots or sticks left to move that country?

No, before that.

"Minister, the Russian Empire has refused to form a Supreme War Council to command allied forces."

"..."

Aren't the positions reversed now?

For some reason, he seemed to hear the voices of Prime Minister Kokovtsov and Chief of General Staff Kuropatkin whom he met then.

Saying they've done their part.

So now it's your turn.

Or.

That Russia will now withdraw from the war.