Chapter 397 Compromise

"Even if we want to launch an attack, we have to consider the weapons and equipment of the soldiers, the ammunition supply and food supply of the logistics! The East Prussia Campaign and the Galicia Campaign have already consumed most of our logistics reserves. If we want to plan a war again, we must at least reserve enough supplies to have hope." Grand Duke Nicholas continued to express his views and refuted the proposal of the Prime Minister.

There is a relatively unique situation. Unlike all European countries, the Russian military currently supports the suspension of the war, but the government supports expanding the scale of the war and continuing to launch large-scale battles to win results.

This is in stark contrast to the current situation in most European countries. Whether it is the Allied Germany and Austria-Hungary or the Allied Britain and France, the military is more willing to participate in the war than the government.

Hearing the rebuttal of Grand Duke Nicholas, Russian Foreign Minister Alexei had expected it and said: "Your Highness, please rest assured that logistics is the last thing we need to worry about. Our offensive has won the support and affirmation of Britain and France, and Australasia will also promise to continue to provide us with more supplies and weapons and ammunition."

"If Your Highness is worried, the logistical assistance from Britain and France will arrive soon, and Australasia's weapons and equipment will arrive in Vladivostok within a month."

After all, it is the beginning of the war now, and the weapons and material reserves of various countries are still sufficient, and Russia can also obtain enough weapons and equipment to start the war.

Although the equipment of the Russian army is not so good, at least it will not be like in history, where several soldiers share a rifle, and the rifle will fall into the hands of others after they die in battle.

A rifle for each person and dozens of rounds of ammunition for each person are the common equipment of the current Russian army. As for what type of rifle it is and whether the ammunition can match it, it depends on the conscience of the Russian logistics department.

Fortunately, the weapons and ammunition supported by Australasia are matched, and they occupy most of the main Russian forces.

At least the combat effectiveness of the main Russian forces can be guaranteed. Judging from the final results of the current wars, the war is still biased towards Russia.

The war has been going on for half a year, and there is actually a clear comparison between the combat effectiveness of the armies of various countries.

Germany has the strongest combat effectiveness. The combat effectiveness of the German army is at a discontinuity level, and it is also the ceiling of the current combat effectiveness of the army.

France ranks second. The combat effectiveness of the French army is slightly inferior to that of Germany, but the French army can withstand the offensive of the main German forces, and the combat effectiveness of the French army can be seen.

The current French army is not like World War II. It is currently the last glory of France and the last dance of white France.

The third most combat-effective is the British army. The British troops here do not refer to all British troops, but the elite main British army, which is not large in number.

Compared with the armies of Russia and Austria-Hungary, the elite main British army is better equipped and has sufficient logistical supplies.

Russia and Austria-Hungary rank fourth and fifth respectively. The combat effectiveness of the Russian army is still relatively weak compared to that of Germany and France, but after all, it has manpower that other countries cannot reach. The human wave tactics are still very powerful in this era without destructive weapons.

As for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the defeat in Galicia made the combat effectiveness of the Austro-Hungarian Empire fall behind several levels in the eyes of the people, and it was considered the weakest among the major European powers participating in the war.

As for Australasia, because it did not send many main forces, it did not participate in this ranking.

But no one would underestimate the combat effectiveness of the Australasia army. The main force that is comparable to or even exceeds the equipment of the British, plus the fact that the 4th Division once fought a German division on equal terms or even had a slight advantage, proves that the combat effectiveness of the main force of Australasia is not weak.

"Your Majesty, Britain and France promised us that as long as we are willing to launch an offensive, they can bear all the expenses of our offensive and exempt part of our loans. Moreover, they will do their best to persuade Australasia to provide us with all the weapons, equipment and resources for the offensive. We only need to provide soldiers and organize this offensive." Seeing that Grand Duke Nicholas began to remain silent, Foreign Minister Alexi looked at Nicholas II and said with a piercing look.

The reason why Foreign Minister Alexi was so eager to launch another offensive was that the British and French masters privately found Alexi and used a bribe of 500,000 pounds in exchange for Alexi's strong support for the Russian government to launch a new round of offensives at the meeting.

As for Alexi's statement that Britain and France would bear all the expenses of the campaign and Australasia would be responsible for all supplies and logistics, well, 30% of it was true.

This is also the current practice of Russian officials, deceiving their superiors and concealing the truth from their subordinates.

Anyway, the Russian logistics department is not sure how much material reserves the country has at present, and the amount of materials supported by Britain, France and Australia to Russia is also hesitant and there is no clear number.

"Have Britain and France really promised to bear all the expenses of the campaign? And also waive part of the loan?" Nicholas II asked somewhat worriedly.

In Nicholas II's eyes, such a thing is really no different from pie in the sky.

The cost of the campaign, the consumption of weapons and equipment and materials will all be borne by the allies. Russia only needs to mobilize its own manpower, which is completely sufficient, and can also obtain part of the loan reduction. Isn't this a free benefit?

"Yes, Your Majesty. Britain and France also promised that if the supplies cannot be transported from the North Sea or the Mediterranean, Australasia will be temporarily responsible for the supply of supplies and transported by land from Vladivostok to the front line." Foreign Minister Alexei nodded calmly. Nod and say.

Although the British and French representatives did not promise so much, if Nicholas II asked, the British and French representatives would definitely support Alexey.

After all, the purpose of Britain and France was to allow Russia to launch a campaign on the Eastern Front to relieve the war pressure on the Western Front.

As for the small issue of how much of the cost to bear, no one would care, and Nicholas II didn't know anyway.

After hearing Alexei's assurance, Nicholas II nodded with satisfaction. When he looked at Grand Duke Nicholas, he asked: "If Britain and France can provide us with weapons, equipment and resource supplies, then can we Are you able to launch the next offensive? "

Archduke Nicholas still wanted to fight for it, and after thinking for a while he said: "Your Majesty, I think it is not suitable to launch another offensive at the moment. German reinforcements have arrived, and what we have to face is more German troops. The better decision at the moment is Compress the scale of the war and reduce our losses and casualties to a relatively small number."

"That's enough, Nicholas." Nicholas II was a little dissatisfied and directly called Grand Duke Nicholas by his name.

"The difficulties you raised have been solved by Alexei, why are you hesitant now? You don't look like a grand duke or chief of general staff! I know you are worried about the losses and casualties of the empire. Don't you know it yet? ? In order to resolve the current contradictions faced by the empire and quickly resolve this war, the top priority is to lick the wounds of the loot we want. "

Nicholas II said dissatisfied: "Because of this damn war, our international trade, foreign resource exports, etc. have almost all stopped. Britain and France do not have enough loans to help us. If the war continues, our economy will It is about to collapse, and the country is about to collapse! At this time, my dear Grand Duke, you are still thinking of reducing the scale of the war and fighting a continuous war, which may cause fewer casualties to the people, but the country cannot support it. At that time. I can’t survive until that time.”

Although Nicholas II had shortcomings of one kind or another, as the ruler of a huge empire, Nicholas II was obviously not an idiot.

As the highest authority in this country, Nicholas II naturally knows all the current situation of the empire.

Although the life of the entire Russian top brass seems to be very prosperous and prosperous, it has not been affected in any way by this war.

However, the life of the Russian civilian class is not easy. Affected by the war, the Russian people currently have no enough food and clothing, and they are always worried about the danger to their lives due to the war.

In the first two months of 1915, more than ten workers' strikes broke out in major factories in Russia. This all means that the crisis in Russia has become very serious, even reaching the dangerous level of subverting the country.

Any country can fight a war of attrition in this war, but Russia cannot. According to the estimation of Nicholas II, Russia can currently persist in the war for more than a year at most. If it cannot win the war as soon as possible and use the joy brought by victory, a large amount of loot, and huge profits to make the Russian people change their minds, I am afraid that Roman The Nov dynasty will be destroyed.

"I understand, Your Majesty. I will organize the army to conduct a large-scale battle, and strive to determine the situation of the entire Eastern Europe in one battle." Grand Duke Nicholas nodded helplessly and agreed to Nicholas II's request.

Nicholas II talked about this. Even if Grand Duke Nicholas no longer wanted to start this war, he had to carry out Nicholas II's order.

Because this is not only related to the casualties of the people, but also related to the survival of the royal family and the country.

If Grand Duke Nicholas disobeys Nicholas II's orders, it will be regarded as a betrayal of the Russian royal family in the eyes of others, and he will be abandoned by the entire Russian aristocracy. It is also very likely that Nicholas II will be dismissed from his position.

Rather than letting others sit in the position of chief of general staff and launch a campaign, it is better to let yourself stay in this position that can determine the outcome of the campaign and do your best to achieve smaller casualties for the Russian people and soldiers.

"But Your Majesty, I also hope that during the entire campaign, the army can receive all the supplies promised by Minister Alexei. This is not only related to the victory of the battle, as you said, it is also related to the country and The survival of the royal family," Grand Duke Nicholas demanded at last.

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