No answer, not even as pleasantries.
"What? No?"
"I apologize, but I cannot give a definitive answer here."
"Why? Didn't French Commander-in-Chief General Joseph Joffre declare since last year that the war would end this year?"
Of course, General Joffre's statent ant ending the war by recovering French territory and peace negotiations with Germany, but anyway. They said the Western Front would end this year.
"Because we haven't gained the upper hand yet. If we just endure like this, the war could stretch on for years."
At Kokovtsov's razor-sharp statent, I briefly showed contemplation while setting down my glass.
Then raising my head again, I spoke to Kokovtsov.
"Well, I trust our warti Pri Minister. Yes, certainly."
Of course I trust soone I appointed. There's no doubt about his ability after working with Witte for over a decade.
"But you know. If the war drags on, the entire empire except might start doubting you."
Though it might sound like a warning to Kokovtsov, no one in this room doesn't know this is ant for Minister Kitchener.
Naturally, Kitchener himself knew very well.
'British BEF expeditionary force organization was late, and the proud Royal Navy does nothing but naval blockade. If the Western Front just watches like this... We might not be able to hold on?'
Whether they can't hold on or won't hold on will have to be seen then, but this is a warning.
"Though I sohow ended up pointing a sword at my Billy, don't forget that the wellbeing of imperial citizens is more important than punishing Germany. What use is victory or defeat in war when our imperial citizens are naked and starving?"
"I'll keep it in mind."
"Yes, since I've t Lord Kitchener too, I'll leave first."
I clearly conveyed my will.
That Russia doesn't want a long war. So show us sothing definitive on the Western Front.
Since the winter operations failed, take so action whether sumr operations, fall operations, or whatever.
The winter operations failed, and then in February and March you burned 240,000 French troops in Champagne? Threw 30,000 British troops into enemy trenches during three hours advancing 1km?
Still not enough.
In April, the enemy fired poison gas at Ypres, but France holds the defense line with human lives instead of gas masks?
Still insufficient.
I don't care how many died on the Western Front or how great the damage was.
Only military achievents.
From now on, the Eastern and Western Fronts will communicate only through military achievents.
How much enemy territory was occupied.
How many enemies were killed.
I hope they show results.
Because we've already proven it with Poland.
==
"Damn it! Who is the occupation of Constantinople for!"
As soon as he returned to his pre-assigned room after the banquet, Kitchener threw his outer coat on the floor and shouted.
"Minister, please don't worry too much. The Tsar's words were just passing remarks."
"Ambassador Nicolson, have you been in this country so long and still don't know? In this country, the Tsar's word is law!"
Sowhat exaggerated, but the Tsar's remarks just now could be interpreted as 'At this rate, shall we withdraw our anti-German forces?'
Why were Anglo-French forces deployed to Constantinople?
While importing resources from Russia's Donbas region through the Black Sea is part of it, fundantally it's for Russia's sake.
That Gallipoli showing poor performance insufficient in March and continuing into April? Wasn't that too where hundreds of thousands of troops were committed all because of Russia?
And then what? BEF organization was late? The navy doesn't move? No change on the Western Front?
'We're putting Constantinople in your mouths to try to make that damned change!'
If not for this war, Russia wouldn't dare dream of coming out to the diterranean so easily.
Wasn't it just a few years ago that the century-long Great Ga was barely settled as a draw?
Even thinking back on today's conversation while standing with hands on hips for a long while.
'This country is thinking of pulling out if things go wrong. No, even if that's my delusion, they absolutely won't conduct offensives!'
If they truly had plans to attack, they should have brought General Brusilov from the south to Poland instead of putting so engineer as commander-in-chief.
"Sigh, Ambassador Nicolson. Pri Minister Kokovtsov just keeps making excuses that independent offensives are difficult with three fronts open."
"Looking at casualty ratios-"
"Yes, nonsense."
10,000 British expeditionary forces dying versus 10,000 Russian troops dying.
Comparing these itself is aningless.
For that country where any random military district had 100,000-200,000 peaceti troops, 100,000 casualties? It would barely impact them.
But Britain is different. One winter operation killed 95,000 British soldiers.
Considering casualties accumulated since last September, both Britain and France can hardly find active duty soldiers anymore, all are conscripts or reserves.
Already voices of concern are rising in the holand about too many dying.
Still, such complaints can be ignored during warti.
The real problem Kitchener faced was.
'I can't know how many more must die...'
That is, not knowing how many more tis the BEF would need to be conscripted.
anwhile, the Russian Empire?
'Damn... You're a country that can endure even a million deaths!'
170 million in the holand. Approaching 200 million including surrounding grand duchies, satellite states, and protectorates.
The India of Europe, the China of Europe.
That's the Russian Empire.
And then recreating that Russo-Japanese War era Roman Line in Poland.
"Who exactly is afraid of war..."
"Minister, from what I've seen of Russia over these years here, they certainly don't fear casualties."
"Then what? Is there another reason they won't budge their front lines at all?"
Continue your journey with empire
"This country fears poverty more than death. They fear railways being cut more than front supply lines being cut."
The Tsar that Nicolson had observed was like that. They were strangely serious about rear economics even during warti.
When every country shouted for short war, only Russia focused on industrial and system transformation.
Looking now it was foresight, but the Russia Nicolson had seen then feared the length of war more than the sweetness of winning a short war.
"How about trying negotiations keeping these points in mind?"
"Buy Russian army blood with money?"
"Try floating it casually in tomorrow's negotiations. Nothing to lose by trying, right?"
Kitchener's day of departure approaches soon.
aning it's ti to reach an end, whether agreent or breakdown.
"...Ambassador, tell more details."
Ambassador Nicolson's words had certainly shaken Kitchener's heart.
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