Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 246 Conspiracy (4)

Rolling up both sleeves to directly strengthen the army?

"Let's say you became Chief of Staff right now. Which Duma members and bureaucrats reviewing the military budget would dare cast opposing votes?"

"...Wouldn't State Council elders or those seeking media attention evaluate coldly?"

"They would examine. But oppose? Old men fearing the next election and facing retirement absolutely cannot touch the military."

I can pride myself on knowing better than anyone the problems when one person's influence becomes too great, having risen to Tsar.

"Even the Okhrana Director here would have been polite and courteous when investigating you. He had to be. Who would roughly tie up and investigate the great commander who defeated the Empire of Japan and brought Germany to its knees?"

Even Sukhomlinov leading the military committee under the cabinet can't touch Roman now.

If there's anyone left... maybe Rödiger who's rolled since the early military reforms of '98 with Kuropatkin?

But even Rödiger can only suppress with experience and seniority, control is impossible.

'The generational change coming too late is also a problem. After Kuropatkin, Brusilov, Ivanov, Alexandrovich. Their successive departures left big gaps.'

The situation where generational change was impossible even to prepare for the Great War after Dukhovskoy probably contributed to Roman's solid position now.

"But Your Majesty. Don't look at such external factors, look at my sincerity. Military reform is essential regardless of my will to become Chief of Staff."

"You're unconditionally necessary? Do engineers study such things these days?"

"Having run the field more than anyone, I pride myself on knowing well."

This time throwing off all pitiful pretense, Roman met my eyes.

Quietly receiving Roman's sincerity, I judged there was need to listen once.

"...The army's field combat doctrine was completed before Brusilov retired. Simultaneous attack in actual combat, breakthrough of lines, combined arms utilization, etc. He already proved it several times in the south. What would you do after becoming Chief of Staff?"

"I would overturn everything - cavalry, engineering, artillery, infantry, and even aviation. Because there's no need to handle each branch with drawn lines anymore."

He even prepared detailed content about the army reform he argued for yesterday.

"Why."

"The military has moved beyond the era of conscripting farmers, with everything becoming complex and sophisticated. The lengthening education period and increasing time needed for training is proof. From now on, all units must know how to make basic trenches and have mobility comparable to cavalry."

"That's obvious."

Anyway, even for a strong army, the conscription system is essential to operate large numbers of standing forces.

A moderate level of elite forces with overwhelming mechanized quantity.

"Artillery changes?"

"Mount howitzers on tracked tractors."

"You said not to put infantry at the front. Infantry?"

"Mount direct-fire guns on tracked tractors."

"Unit defensive power?"

"Add armor to tracked tractors."

"Mine clearing, communications, reconnaissance, command units, supply units, evacuation. Special missions?" Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire

"Mount plows, communication equipment, carry people and wounded on tracked tractors. Special mobile units can ride trucks instead of tractors."

"...Pass."

What's this? I haven't even brought up proper doctrine talk yet, but why does nothing sound wrong to me?

"Quite the mechanization devotee. Did someone teach you?"

"In the field now they wear helmets instead of fur hats or caps even in cold. Similarly, I realized that with fortresses' effectiveness gone, only armor and mobility can replace this defensive power."

Roman Isidorovich Kondratenko.

The Empire's greatest fortress commander in history.

Master of defensive warfare.

God of trenches.

Demon of attrition warfare.

He had somehow become the founder of the Russian version of élan vital.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I've realized it! That the best offense is the best defense!"

With a somewhat twisted offensive spirit installed.