Reincarnated as Nikolai II

The Great War. Or World War 1.

This massive whirlpool is not simply an upgraded version of the Russo-Japanese War.

If it were merely that, a single war couldn't have finished four empires, dragged emperors to the ground, and replaced ruling parties and regimes of 8 out of top 10 countries except America and Japan.

This 5-year war is one where you regress even in victory, and lose everything in defeat.

Then is there nothing to gain even in victory? That's not true.

"Competitors decrease."

Though people say war causes intertwine with all sorts of incidents and national situations, in one word, it's just due to neo-imperialism.

Yes, great powers' expansion.

That imperialism blooming since 18th century gunboat diplomacy with clipper ships before ironclads.

Imperialism is an unstoppable flow of the era. Just look at us who jumped in this game late - isn't the imperialist wave strengthening with our whole country going crazy about Asian expansion?

Even if war devastates countries and tens of millions die, human greed has no end.

This war is fought for the right to unleash that greed.

Losers will lose their nation's future in all forms - territory, colonies, reparations.

Winners will flourish further based on what losers spit out.

That was probably what great powers thought during the Great War era but.

Reality is different.

"Even victors collapse, losing power to maintain empire let alone expand."

If the war had ended in year 2-3, perhaps France and Britain would have pursued world management holding greater colonies and firmer Western European leadership, but they collapsed spectacularly. Like defeated Germany.

Yes, even victors couldn't fill the vacuum of four collapsed empires!

In the end only Japan and America who just watched prospered, colonies started watching for independence chances, and European division stole their leadership.

After this war, it becomes hard to find history of European powers joining forces to check other countries like during the Boxer Rebellion.

Then what lessons do these series of thought errors give me?

First.

The Great War isn't a war to win.

It's a war to endure.

"If we proceed with drafting active duty, first-class reserves, second-class reserves, and those without military service, we can gather up to 15 million troops."

"General Kuropatkin, do you think I put you in that position to hear such absurd numbers? The numbers we can actually deploy to the front."

"...Around three million immediately. Numbers beyond this become difficult to control and must only serve as reserves due to commander shortage and organization issues."

"Of course it would be so."

France drafted eight million in the Great War? But actual army and navy size maintained on the Western Front didn't exceed two million.

Even dropping to early millions when casualties were extreme like at Verdun.

Drafting fills gaps of active duty and some reserves, not "15 million draft? Push straight to Berlin with human wave tactics!" from the start.

So we too must not forget this war's core by getting buried in troop numbers.

The Great War isn't won by fighting.

It's won by enduring.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

It's a marathon, not 100m sprint.

But this lesson is obvious from my position having seen the war's end.

Probably Britain, France, Austro-Hungarian Empire... no, everyone except our Russia will assume short-term war.

Well at most half a year. If war starts in summer, they'll think they'll all be home before Christmas.

The evidence showing this most desperately is Alfred von Schlieffen's invasion operation plan against France.

The Schlieffen Plan.

This plan based thoroughly on 1870 Franco-Prussian War history is a short-term plan utilizing German Imperial Army's qualitative superiority.

A method aiming for early game over through peace negotiations by capturing Paris in just 42 days.

Second lesson from such illusions.

"Our only chance to unilaterally attack German territory is the first 42 days after war starts."

If we want to win by enduring, minimize damage, and have national power remaining after war to devour defeated countries. We absolutely must not get excited about offense.

Original history's Eastern and Western Front relationship was a quasi-zero-sum game hoping the other side would do everything.

In other words, if we want to just hold position for remaining 5 years on Eastern Front, we must build war achievements early.

"...Unilateral offense? Me?"

"Yes, in my opinion cavalry can only be active during early war when front lines change actively. Meaning it's very suitable for the Cavalry General of our Russian army that operates cavalry on largest scale worldwide to run wild. Is my meaning difficult to understand?"

"It-it's too sudden... I'm just confused. To entrust the anti-German plan to mere Cavalry General like me."

I'm embarrassed to say this too, but in Great War era Russian Empire, there was only one person who succeeded in offensive plans.

The person called one of Russian Empire's three great generals along with Mikhail Golenishchev-Kutuzov of Napoleonic Wars and Peter Rumyantsev of Seven Years' War and Russo-Turkish War.

Aleksei Brusilov. Continue your journey with empire

Perhaps because his whole family from grandfather, father, to relatives was extraordinary, he was born with innate military talent.

Chance is just 42 days. Around 50 days considering German army withdrawal from Western Front.

What does this mean?

"I'm not telling you to do it alone. I too will maintain continuous interest and various staff from Kuropatkin's General Staff will join. Why, want to refuse?"

"...I will follow Your Majesty's orders."

"Good, that's an imperial general."

If Germany activates the Schlieffen Plan.

We too must activate a similar Schlieffen.

Early war.

One offensive chance.

When over 80% of enemy forces move to France and defense tactics and doctrine aren't yet ripe.

After 250 years, Poland will become one again.

==

The Tsar's orders to Kokovtsov were very detailed and practical.

Rather than questioning such specific orders, Kokovtsov could see the Tsar was seriously preparing for war.

Though half a year passed since selection and start of term as Prime Minister, those knowing the Tsar's grand plan didn't exceed twenty.

Naturally those few had to work without rest.

"A fund... you say? For when St. Petersburg Stock Exchange crashes?"

"Yes, think of it like wife's pocket money for comparison."

"Prime Minister, if you're speaking about United States' panic, our empire won't have such thing. From start their stock prices jump up and down daily but our securities trading volume isn't that large."

"Just do it when told."

France is a world-renowned investment country.