Reincarnated as Nikolai II

France is a state with better centralization than any European country. No matter how developed regional communes are, they absolutely can't replace Paris.

Politics, administration, transportation, economy, population too. France has one city controlling the country.

If such Paris falls, we need to reevaluate France as a force.

This isn't something I can change by doing something, nor an area Russian forces can block by fighting harder.

Perhaps those who knew that atmosphere best were the French and British ambassadors residing in Russia.

"Tsar! France will absolutely not abandon Paris!"

"If you move Commander-in-Chief Brusilov to pressure Berlin just a bit more, we can instantly push the front back to the border!"

"BEF organization really almost complete! 700,000, no, million-strong army by next year! War Minister Kitchener promised on his honor! Please believe us!"

Even to them, the Western Front was just brutally trampled.

Not just trampled. The Battle of Saint-Quentin, the first and only time meaningfully blocking enemy advance in dozens of engagements.

But looking inside, clearly France overwhelmingly lost even in engagement ratio.

Though they know Russia isn't yet at the point of letting go of France and Britain's hands.

'Was the German army this strong?'

'...Capital in crisis of collapse in just a month? Our proud Grande Armée, Grand Armée is just this much?'

The past 30 days' battle progress is too shocking to just rely on allies.

After comforting and sending back ambassadors showing forced confidence, I checked the situation so far once.

"The Western Front casually loses 200,000, 300,000 whenever they fight."

Wherever both armies clash, they fight until blood rivers form there.

Like at Rossignol or Le Cateau, just brushing produces casualties in tens of thousands, so when dozens of divisions deliberately clash, what kind of human hell would unfold is crystal clear.

Compared to that, I see our Eastern Front as still quite stable.

We smoothly pushed back the enemy at the Masurian Lakes and the enemy showed no particular resistance at Tannenberg.

General Ivanov smoothly pushes back Hötzendorf of the Austro-Hungarian Empire leading four field armies across Galicia.

Though engagements grow bolder there day by day too, damage doesn't seem beyond manageable levels.

Still no army in the world supplies and uses wireless communication down to battalion level.

At most they use wireless for rear communication at certain regional command levels. Experience tales at empire

So they advance laying wire behind while advancing, which is a method used by all regardless of German or Russian.

'Meaning unlike original history, there won't be cases of suddenly being pushed by the enemy due to impossible communication.'

If the current situation becomes trench warfare front as is, 70% of former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth territory would become our territory.

'Though I'd like to advance a bit more forcefully... Already the limit.'

We're not winning because we have mysterious tactics or overwhelming strong army.

Just some preparation, and power from numbers.

Everything else is mediocre or rather inferior.

Above all, if we advance more here.

"As we get closer to Prague and Berlin, enemy supply capability rises exponentially. Meanwhile, supplying to the front line through Moscow-Minsk-Warsaw won't be easy."

"I'm fully aware."

"Danzig is fine. However, the moment we cross Bydgoszcz, risk of being caught by enemy return increases."

As the General Staff warns, we might only lengthen supply lines without ability to advance further.

This is a problem of lacking support ability regardless of combat power of forces led by Commander Brusilov.

As of September 4th. As we Russians expected initially, the front formed double across Poland and Slovakia.

Northwest front facing Germany.

And southwest front facing the Dual Monarchy.

Quite difficult front formed for us too, not less than Germany's two-front situation.

Germany has maximum 400km from domestic territory to frontline for supply length, but we easily exceed 1,000km starting from Moscow.

Though we've gained not little already, still this far.

'...Can't advance further.'

Though the start was good, if asked whether satisfactory, seems I can't just smile.

September 5th. The Battle of the Marne, a single match betting Paris's owner between France and Germany, began.

Though the detailed military situation remained unclear, the name Ferdinand Foch echoed with significance - a brilliant French military commander whose strategic genius had proven instrumental during several critical battles. His leadership as Supreme Allied Commander on the Western Front demonstrated that France, despite its tremendous struggles, had produced at least one true hero for these dark and troubled times. His methodical approach to warfare and ability to coordinate Allied forces marked him as a commander worthy of his reputation.

Regardless, I had to face the sobering reality that the crucial window of opportunity - those vital first 50 days of offensive operations - was steadily drawing to a close. This initial period, where surprise and momentum could be fully exploited before the enemy could properly organize their defenses and counterattack, was slipping away like sand through an hourglass. The time for decisive action was growing short, and soon the advantage of initiative would begin to fade.

Already more than half the time has passed.

Seeing enemy reserve forces flooding east while German Western Front's First through Fifth Armies don't increase anymore, clearly Berlin must be anxious.

"General Kuropatkin."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Let's start pulling back Commander-in-Chief Brusilov."

"Want to stop the offensive?"

"Stop... not quite. Just seems nothing more can be gained by offensive now."

Even without me saying, Kuropatkin must know too.

That we can never destroy Berlin even if reborn from death.

Though war has no order or turn, if we must distinguish, now our offensive opportunity is ending and we must switch to defense when the enemy decides return march to reclaim lost territory.

'Moreover, we're in position to open triple front.'

If Russian forces keep being tied there, Prime Minister Kokovtsov might go to Constantinople alone with a gun.

So just until here.

"Tell Commander-in-Chief Brusilov to prepare to head south."

"Then for new Northwest Army Group Commander-in-Chief..."

"Who else but that person?"

Attack turn ends and defense turn comes.

Having sufficiently confirmed Brusilov's command ability this opportunity, seems we can entrust Constantinople occupation too.

Then his successor was only one person from the start.

"Roman Isidorovich Kondratenko."

The cavalry era's end has arrived.

Now is the engineering era.