Reincarnated as Nikolai II

There was no special tactics prepared. They could only hope to push back the front line even slightly when artillery fire would weaken enemy resistance.

Yet if they could push back the front line.

If they could achieve military merit to raise their homeland's name and have that merit recognized.

"Come, let's go die! They say they'll give more money to our families if we die!"

"If we get medals too, they say the Russian Emperor will give us pensions!"

"Let's die to make our children live in luxury!"

The Korean Imperial Army was prepared to die at any time.
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Hill warfare, fortress warfare, offensive and defensive battles, occupation warfare.

While precious human lives became no different from swarms of flies dying to occupy militarily valuable areas on all fronts regardless of battle type.

The Battle of Bydgoszcz between Roman and Hindenburg took on a slightly more primitive form of combat.

"18th Corps annihilated! 29th Division holding position!"

"We need to deploy more Siberian Corps! The enemy won't retreat an inch!"

"The enemy is using chlorine gas while ignoring our artillery! Seems they're determined to stop infantry advances somehow!"

Everywhere is flat ground. No rivers or hills to use tactically. Yet neither side's front line will retreat a single step.

As a result, the engagement between the two army groups focused purely on 'killing' rather than targeting specific terrain.

This was like opening a Verdun on the Eastern Front.

In other words, it was a pure and primitive engagement where the exchange of troops itself became the purpose.

"Aaagh! My leg, my leg!"

"Just wait! I'll-"

"It's a trap, don't save them! The enemy deliberately left them alive!"

Naturally, its cruelty was beyond words.

"Divisions are disappearing two or three at a time every day. The enemy must also be taking heavy casualties while enduring our heavy artillery fire, yet they won't budge."

"Despite no changes in the front line, casualties are incomparable to before."

"The enemy is clearly pulling in reserves to block us. Using mixed forces with reserve units. That's always been a German army specialty. They intend not to move a single step until they're all dead!"

The command was also tremendously shocked by the thousands of casualties pouring in daily.

Since the war began, the Russian army had never experienced such a hell.

Even Roman hadn't thought the enemy would hold the line while enduring this insane heavy artillery fire.

'Hindenburg, are you really planning to conscript all German citizens.'

Losing in firepower but maintaining a solid front line? This doesn't make sense from the start.

If you're losing in firepower, the front line should give way.

If many troops die, you should retreat and regroup.

Since such common sense didn't apply, even Roman couldn't help but be surprised.

'Choosing to run to the end when lacking ammunition and troops to spend in a war of attrition?'

This was like Hindenburg calling against Roman who had both many chips and a straight flush.

Then what are the odds of Hindenburg having a royal flush?

'If such variable creation was possible, they would have used it already.'

None. Absolutely none.

The proof can be seen by examining the cards the German army is playing elsewhere, not here on the northwestern front.

Champagne, which keeps losing compared to France. It's been almost a month since clashing there, but German troop reinforcements are getting increasingly delayed.

The force disparity is estimated to have widened to 1:1.8, so they must be losing.

Even the southern front, where Falkenhayn supposedly made a big move, is being well handled by General Ivanov.

1.6 million troops? The Warsaw General Staff covered the south with forces no less than that.

Seeing no further enemy increases afterward, it seems the German OHL won't make any bigger moves on the southern front.

Then the probability of Hindenburg having better cards here in Bydgoszcz compared to other fronts is zero.

"Running to the end with no variables... Is this testing me, or just unable to give up the path to Berlin."

If they've shown courage after enduring well so far, it could be called admirable, but if they're just being arrogant and blocking without acknowledging reality, it could be called pride.

Either way, from Roman's view, no matter how much they conscript, they have no troops to deploy here immediately.

Then Roman's only choice is one.

"Berlin and Posen have long been connected by rail and road."

"Yes. The enemy is also aware of this and has formed defensive lines centered on Posen."

"If we break through there, we'll see what cards Hindenburg is holding."

It's about confirming the truth by directly facing the enemy's choice.

Even the greatest liar in the world reveals truth before guns and swords.

'I don't want to do this either but... This is clearly because you won't acknowledge your disadvantage.'

Anyway, the more intense the battle becomes, the more impossible it becomes not to show your cards.

"Maintain the front line, but select locations to push troops into, including Posen."

"Commander, are you thinking of piecemeal attacks?"

"No. I'm not General Brusilov."

Even with superior forces, this war is too advantageous for defenders to repeat investment-attrition in just some areas.

This isn't a siege battle with limited space, nor are we trying to breakthrough by having units take turns hammering one spot.

That way we can't see the effects of numerical superiority.

'Moreover, such tactics are too difficult. It's too late to prepare now.'

Sometimes slightly simpler, more brutal methods can be more certain and effective.

Not fighting by designating units in sequence like piecemeal attacks, but just continuously pouring in troops.

Just showing overwhelming numerical superiority through frontal offensive.

While casualties may increase in the short term, if this reveals the liar's shameful true face.

Isn't that ultimately the way to reduce meaningless sacrifices?

Therefore, Roman wanted to confirm that the cards in Hindenburg's hand were not even one pair but lower, high cards that couldn't form any combination.

'Can you really not retreat the line even then?'

If they still won't acknowledge it then, the reserve SC, TC in Warsaw.

And I'm willing to have a decisive battle betting Berlin like the Battle of the Marne last year that bet Paris, even pulling in troops from General Ivanov's Southwestern Army Group.

Would they dare boast to me even then?

"We'll know soon."

The many deaths to come would reveal the truth of the Eastern Front.