Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 53 A Plausible Plan (1)

Russia, having temporarily halted all domestic reforms and policies.

While Witte actively focused the empire's administrative capacity on war and Bunge's grand plan was added to this.

Sergei Dukhovskoy, commanding battles at the frontline, carefully examined each change in the war situation as Supreme Commander.

"One month to occupy and control Korea. Very fast."

"Korea won't resist the Japanese army. They must think it meaningless now that their emperor and high officials are captured."

"They must have their own plans prepared."

Though Roman was holding well at the Yalu River, battles intensified when Third Army Commander Nogi Maresuke also joined.

Dukhovskoy had no choice but to send matching forces to block Maresuke's troops being sent up to Uiju in Pyongan Province and beyond.

"It will become somewhat of a war of attrition, but we're winning greatly in fortress battles at least, so nothing to worry about."

What Dukhovskoy truly wanted to examine wasn't just one or two battles.

"Colonel Elston, by my observation the Japanese army can't exceed 300,000 at most now."

"That's right. First Army barely 50,000, Second and Third Armies not exceeding 100,000, so even including forces scattered across that peninsula, roughly 250,000 level."

"Yet they'll keep sending forces through ports endlessly. Same for us. The Siberian 1st and 2nd Corps have arrived, and if needed, more forces from all military districts can come."

The Tsar's military calculus hinged on a fundamentally flawed assumption - that this would be a brief engagement. His strategic thinking followed a seductively simple logic: surely the enemy's resources and resolve would be limited, compelling them to launch aggressive offensive actions. In his mind, Russia could simply weather these attacks from defensive positions, gradually depleting enemy forces until victory was inevitable through attrition.

Examining the peculiar deployment known as the 'Roman Line' that traced its way from the lower reaches of the Yalu River up to its middle course, one can see why he found this reasoning persuasive. The positioning seemed to support his vision of an efficiently defensive war. However, this assessment would prove to be a critical miscalculation, revealing the dangers of building strategy on untested assumptions about an adversary's capabilities and intentions.

That place is... already hell.

Even if some luckily cross the river, Roman won't just watch. Before their artillery and heavy equipment can cross the river, machine guns mounted on wagons are already waiting for them.

However, when spring comes. That is, when the weather starts warming, it might become difficult to maintain this Yalu River as the front line.

'Then we'll face not 300,000 but 600,000, or even more.'

The same worry original history's Russian commanders had - the choice between full-frontal battle and delaying tactics.

Though circumstances were somewhat different, Dukhovskoy too was having the same concerns.

Roman dividing his forces in two against their full assault was evidence of this.

'It can't be just this much. If so, the Tsar wouldn't have been so wary.'

Though races differed, Roman believed those yellow people had sufficient ability to capture this place.

Not yet. They can do more. No, they must.

Only then can he show what's really prepared up there.

==

Imperial General Headquarters.

Since its establishment in Hiroshima for the 1894 Sino-Japanese War, the one thing this organization endlessly researched and hypothesized.

That was war with Russia.

For nearly 10 years, army and navy command headquarters and elite staff had researched.

How to defeat that giant bear-like empire?

"Can we quickly occupy Korea and incorporate Korean troops?"

"Are you crazy? Feed, house, train people who can't even shoot, create units and use them? And right after war starts?"

"They'll have to supply troops and materials from about 7,000 kilometers away. That means they'll have to negotiate if the war situation is good!"

First conclusion: Must wage war with negotiation in mind.

"The Baltic Fleet... finally came to the Far East."

"What is Britain doing? Why are they just watching the Baltic Fleet come to the Far East!"

"They're rather happy the naval presence in the Baltic Sea decreased making the Mediterranean safer!"

"Damn! At this rate... naval battle is difficult. The moment we retreat east, our continental advance becomes bubbles."

"So land battle is the only answer. Must maximize army strengthening with reparations from Qing."

Second conclusion: Difficult to gain war advantage through fleet decisive battle.