Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 203 Each One's War (3)

In March, the Western Front launched a counteroffensive under Ferdinand Foch's strong will.

While Pétain's side still wanted to gather more supplies and troops, Foch had different ideas.

"Our goal is not just to recapture the Marne! Beyond the Marne, we will retake Amiens and finally reach Belgium and Alsace-Lorraine!"

From his perspective, what the Allied forces needed wasn't more troops but a single victory to turn the front around, and that victory lay at the Marne.

Opinions were divided, but regardless, Ferdinand Foch had taken control of the Allied Supreme Command.

They mobilized 60 divisions to attack the Marne.

Seeing how they went all out from the start, it seemed France no longer cared about the post-war situation.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere was quite different in Russia's theaters.

"The Czechoslovak Legion?"

"Though it's a mix of two ethnicities, over 90% are Czech. According to what we've confirmed so far, they number over 100,000 and are cooperating with us for their homeland's independence."

"That's not a small number. Does the General Staff plan to use them?"

"Though they're still growing in number, unfortunately it's just at the level of cooperation."

The birth of that famous legion of madmen.

The army that, during the Russian Civil War, would occupy the Trans-Siberian Railway from Eastern Europe to Siberia, walk to Vladivostok in the Far East, and then return to Europe by ship from Asia.

The Czechs, unable to endure Austria's tyranny, joined hands with the Slovaks and rose up.

"At this rate, Vienna's fall is just a matter of time. With Hötzendorf's resistance already ended, they have no means to stop us. However, we won't advance for now."

"There's no real reason to enter Austrian territory anyway."

Though it had effectively been decided as Russia's victory, we were satisfied with just 'maintaining' the front.

"Once the south is finished, those Western bastards will ask us to expand the Eastern Front."

"Then there's no reason to finish the southern front."

"Right. We're still fighting Germany and the Dual Monarchy alone."

"Hmm, indeed."

Though General Kuropatkin tries hard to hide his wickedness, this relaxed atmosphere says it all.

Russia's war was already close to being a fake war.

While enjoying such peace in the spring of 1918.

"Armistice, we wish to propose an armistice!"

Even Austria threw in the white flag.

The Czechs turned away, Slovakia called for independence, and even Austria and Hungary separated.

The proof is that the Padua Armistice was conditional on applying only to the Austrian army.

The southern front that has now truly ended.

I was given choices.

I could demand billions of rubles in reparations they couldn't afford.

I could forcibly annex occupied territories, plunder them, or conclude a treaty covered in all sorts of unequal provisions.

However.

"Your Majesty, based on the principle of national self-determination, I will support the independence of Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary."

"Yes, since we fought this front alone, we can do as we please."

I had no intention of dismantling those Central Powers into component parts to use for maintaining the empire.

We mustn't forget our true purpose by getting caught up in taking a few more bites.

We started this war already well-fed. Anything more would be excessive greed.

"Prime Minister, let's fill the treaty with peaceful and gentle conditions."

"The world will praise Your Majesty's benevolence."

"Don't say such ridiculous things. It'll be fortunate if they don't curse us."

We will extend a hand to the defeated, embrace them, and simply draw lines to keep them from straying down wrong paths again.

Then, can those Western Europeans do the same?

"First try recovering your lost territory."

For them, that would be a matter of surviving to talk about.

==

Ferdinand Foch.

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He could pride himself on not having lived a single day carelessly since taking command of the Allied forces.

"We must block those islanders from making useless moves. They're desperate to fight Russia."

"They're all under surveillance. This time, agitation will be difficult."

"Check two, three times."

He strived to stitch together this ragtag bunch that constantly suffered internal divisions, trying to form a proper 'Allied force'.@@@@