General Krapovich was seething with rage.
"Infuriating! How shameless can Zhilinski be? He actually intends to shift the blame for defeat onto me—such audacity!" Krapovich bellowed.
As a prominent figure in the Russian army, Krapovich ranked just below Marshal Mirolav within the Guards system. Although Zhilinski held slightly higher seniority, it was utterly unacceptable for him to orchestrate such treachery.
"General, what should we do now? Should we maintain our current marching pace?" inquired a lieutenant general.
Krapovich's face darkened as he fell silent. Both he and General Letsky had deliberately slowed their advance toward Warsaw, not only due to the looming threat from the Germans but also out of discontent with Zhilinski. They believed that, having suffered a defeat in East Prussia, Zhilinski ought to resign from his position, thereby creating an opportunity for them to assume command of the army group.
In the Russian army, advancing to the rank of marshal often hinged upon service as an army group commander. Thus, Krapovich and Letsky had intentionally delayed their progress, planning to launch an attack to reclaim Warsaw after its fall. This way, they could at least provide an account to Tsar Nicholas II, possibly earning commendation while simultaneously eliminating Zhilinski—a perfect two-for-one strategy.
However, they had not anticipated Zhilinski's sheer audacity in reporting to Nicholas II. If this reached the Tsar's ears, it would certainly ignite his wrath, leading to dire consequences for them all.
"General, you don't think Zhilinski will really report this to His Majesty, do you?" some officers expressed their concerns. Everyone understood that Nicholas II was already displeased due to previous defeats, and inciting his anger further could result in severe repercussions.
"Send a telegram to General Letsky. He must have received Zhilinski's warning as well. Ask him how he intends to respond!" Krapovich ordered.
"Yes, General." The aide promptly set off to send the message.
In Lublin, General Letsky, commander of the Russian 9th Army, had likewise received Zhilinski's warning, which greatly incensed him. Yet, like Krapovich, he found himself unable to counter Zhilinski's threats.
Consequently, both Letsky and Krapovich were compelled to hasten their troops toward Warsaw, inadvertently falling into the German trap. The German 8th Army Corps had long been prepared, eagerly awaiting the arrival of these Russian reinforcements.
General Letsky and General Krapovich remained vigilant against the Germans, fully aware of their formidable capabilities. The fact that the Germans had not attacked the vulnerable Warsaw indicated that they were instead focusing their sights on the two approaching Russian army units.
At the command center of the German 8th Army Corps, reconnaissance aircraft and intelligence reports had converged, allowing the commanders to be acutely aware of the Russian movements.
"Your Highness, the Russian 9th Army and the 2nd Guards Army have both increased their marching speed. It seems our feigned intention to assault Warsaw has frightened Zhilinski into pressuring Letsky and Krapovich to accelerate," General Hindenburg said with a broad smile.
In his eyes, these two Russian army groups were nothing more than ripe fruit, ready to be plucked as soon as the 8th Army launched its assault.
"Yes, it appears Zhilinski has been thoroughly intimidated, fearing we might genuinely attack Warsaw, hence his urgent orders for reinforcement," Qin Tian nodded.
Often, internal strife among enemies proves far more advantageous than direct confrontation.
"Your Highness, given the current speed, the Russian 9th Army and 2nd Guards Army will reach Warsaw in four to five days. When shall we strike, and which Russian unit shall we target?" asked Major Ludendorff.
"What is the staff's opinion?" Qin Tian inquired.
On tactical matters, Qin Tian preferred to heed the advice of specialists. After all, they were the true professionals, reducing the likelihood of errors. Unlike him, who had only recently ventured into military matters, he understood the theoretical aspects but relied on his foresight for broader suggestions.
"Your Highness, based on the distance, the 9th Army will likely arrive in Warsaw approximately one day ahead of the 2nd Guards Army. However, the 2nd Guards Army is closer to our main forces. Therefore, the staff recommends launching our attack on the 2nd Guards Army in two days. According to their marching speed, the 2nd Guards Army will reach Ostrów in two days, where the 8th Armored Division and the 11th Army can launch an offensive against them. With the strength of the 8th Armored Division, defeating the 2nd Guards Army should not pose significant difficulty. The 17th Army will encircle the 2nd Guards Army's flank to expand our gains, ideally eliminating them entirely. Meanwhile, the 20th Army will secure Warsaw and monitor the 9th Army. Should the 9th Army attempt to reinforce the 2nd Guards Army, the 20th Army will intercept them," Brigadier Hoffman detailed the staff's operational plan.
Qin Tian had no objections to this strategy. The 8th Armored Division had become the 8th Army Corps' ace unit, enabling the Germans to confidently launch offensives against the numerically superior Russians.
"The 2nd Guards Army is their elite force. Do we truly have the capacity to eliminate them with our two armies and one armored division?" Qin Tian queried.
"Your Highness, it may present certain challenges, but they should not be insurmountable!" Major Ludendorff replied with unwavering confidence.