"Father, I have returned!" Upon arriving at the palace with von Falkenhayn, Qin Tian proceeded directly to Kaiser Wilhelm II's office.
"Ah, Oscar, your accomplishments on the Eastern Front have been truly commendable!" Wilhelm II beamed with approval.
Indeed, Qin Tian and the 8th Army Corps had surpassed Wilhelm II's expectations on the Eastern Front. Prior to the war, Qin Tian had invested heavily in procuring various equipment for the 8th Army Corps, significantly enhancing its combat effectiveness. However, Wilhelm II had never believed that the 8th Army Corps alone could withstand the onslaught of the Russians. Although he recognized the Russian army's combat capabilities were lacking, their overwhelming numerical superiority posed an insurmountable challenge that other nations could hardly match. With fewer than 200,000 troops, the 8th Army Corps might repel one or two Russian offensives, but holding the Eastern Front was nearly impossible.
Originally, Wilhelm II had intended to swiftly redeploy troops from the Western Front to reinforce the 8th Army Corps once a decisive victory was achieved there. Yet, to his dismay, the Western Front had not yielded the anticipated decisive outcome. Although German forces had advanced into northern France, mere kilometers from Paris, the final stretch proved an insurmountable barrier. Despite holding an advantage, the German army suffered severe losses, making further offensives exceedingly difficult.
As Wilhelm II grappled with disappointment over the Western Front, the Eastern Front provided an unexpected boon. Qin Tian and the 8th Army Corps, with their fewer than 200,000 troops, had succeeded in defeating four Russian army groups, annihilating nearly 900,000 Russian soldiers. Such accomplishments shone even brighter compared to the situation on the Western Front, where German forces had deployed seven times the number of troops.
The Russian army, having suffered such devastating losses, was severely weakened. Although they were still mobilizing and could potentially field millions against Germany, Wilhelm II felt less apprehensive. Any renewed Russian offensive would take time to prepare, granting Germany valuable breathing room. What developments awaited them thereafter remained uncertain.
"Father, the achievements of the 8th Army Corps are entirely due to your wise leadership and support," Qin Tian humbly stated, aware of the need to remain modest in the presence of Wilhelm II's obstinate nature.
Wilhelm II nodded with satisfaction, clearly pleased with Qin Tian's performance.
"Oscar, you have excelled on the Eastern Front. What are your thoughts on our next steps?" Wilhelm II inquired.
"Father, while we have dealt the Russian forces a significant blow, their capabilities should not be underestimated. They are still in the process of mobilization. Once completed, they could unleash millions against us," Qin Tian replied with a serious expression. The sheer numerical might of the Russian army had long been a concern for nations across Europe.
"I am pleased to see your clear-headedness, Oscar. Indeed, the Russians are not easily dealt with," Wilhelm II acknowledged.
"Yes, Father. Given the current situation, I believe we must further diminish Russian strength on the Eastern Front. Next, the 8th Army Corps aims to collaborate with the Austro-Hungarian forces to neutralize the Russian Southwestern Army. Our allies have performed poorly against the Russians, and without our assistance, victory will likely elude them, which would be detrimental to the Eastern Front," Qin Tian asserted. Should the Austro-Hungarians suffer continued defeats, it would weaken the alliance, potentially forcing Germany to commit additional resources to maintain pressure on Russia, ultimately impacting its efforts on other fronts.
"Indeed, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has fared poorly in this war. They possess far superior weaponry compared to the Russians and equal manpower, yet they have still been bested," Wilhelm II remarked with scorn.
"Nonetheless, as our ally, stabilizing the Eastern Front is beneficial for us. I fully support the collaboration between the 8th Army Corps and the Austro-Hungarians. Falkenhayn, you shall be responsible for coordinating with them," Wilhelm II directed.
"Of course, Your Majesty!" von Falkenhayn exclaimed with delight.
Typically, such matters would be handled by Moltke. Wilhelm II's decision to assign this responsibility to Falkenhayn indicated a significant loss of trust in Moltke, further bolstering Falkenhayn's confidence in his ambition to replace him as Chief of Staff.
Qin Tian recognized this shift and felt a surge of joy. Displacing Moltke would significantly enhance his influence within the military. Moltke had become a key obstacle in Qin Tian's quest to expand his power within the army.
"Oscar, the Austro-Hungarians will surely not refuse our assistance. However, how confident are you in the 8th Army Corps' ability to defeat the Russian Southwestern Army?" Wilhelm II queried.
The Kaiser wished to avoid a scenario where they not only failed to secure a victory but also suffered severe losses, jeopardizing German advantages on the Eastern Front, which would be extremely detrimental.
"Father! Based on the 8th Army Corps' prior engagements against the Russians, they have struggled to counter our formidable firepower. The Russians have launched numerous assaults on our defenses, even deploying Cossack cavalry, yet their efforts have invariably resulted in catastrophic losses. Our armored units' exceptional striking capability has rendered the Russians unable to withstand us. The combination of overwhelming firepower and the striking ability of our armored forces has been the primary reason the 8th Army Corps has triumphed on the Eastern Front despite numerical disadvantages," Qin Tian explained.
Wilhelm II nodded, yet another thought lingered in his mind: "Can such formidable firepower and armored units really elevate our forces to such heights? I wonder if they will prove effective on the Western Front as well."