"Belarus, Staveka, Russian Army General Headquarters. Due to unfavorable conditions, Grand Duke Nikolai, the commander of the Russian Army, has personally arrived here from St. Petersburg to oversee the frontline operations.
However, the losses sustained by the Russian forces at the front remain staggering. The Northwest Front's four army corps have been nearly annihilated, suffering over nine hundred thousand casualties, all elite regular troops. Such catastrophic losses have inflicted severe wounds on the Russian military. If not for the gradual mobilization of the Russian Army, defeat would have been inevitable.
Although the Southwest Front still maintains an advantage, its losses are also considerable. Combined losses from the two fronts have exceeded one million. Despite the Russian forces being numerically superior, such losses cannot be sustained for long.
"General Ivanov, according to our reliable intelligence, the German Eighth Army Corps has moved south and will soon arrive on the battlefield to engage the Southwest Front. Are preparations in place to confront the Germans?" Grand Duke Nikolai asked solemnly.
Though the Eighth Army Corps consists of fewer than two hundred thousand men, the heavy toll they have inflicted on the Russian forces has left their commanders terrified. If the Russian generals fear any adversary above all, it is undoubtedly the German Eighth Army Corps. The Eighth Army Corps has already defeated and annihilated four Russian army corps, instilling a deep sense of dread among these commanders.
"Your Highness, when can the Thirteenth Army Corps arrive at the battlefield?" General Ivanov inquired.
Originally, the Southwest Front comprised five army corps: the Third, Fourth, Eighth, Ninth, and Eleventh. However, due to the disastrous defeat of the Northwest Front, the Ninth Army Corps was redeployed north to reinforce it. Unfortunately, sending the Ninth Army Corps north was akin to a death sentence. Now, the Southwest Front is left with only four army corps. General Ivanov is confident in defeating the Austro-Hungarian Empire with these four, provided he receives further reinforcements and logistical support. However, facing the Eighth Army Corps, which has already decimated nearly a million Russian troops, leaves him feeling uncertain.
Following the catastrophic defeat of the Northwest Front, General Ivanov organized his staff to assess the combat capabilities of the German Eighth Army Corps. The conclusion drawn was that to withstand the Eighth Army Corps' assault, at least two fully-staffed main army corps would be necessary, equating to six hundred thousand troops—more than three times the size of the Eighth Army Corps. To defeat the Eighth Army Corps, even greater numbers would be required. It is important to note that the Southwest Front currently possesses only a limited number of troops. Clearly, it is impossible to deploy all forces against the Eighth Army Corps. The Austro-Hungarian Empire still has several army corps stationed at the front, and they are not merely for show. Although the combat capability of the Austro-Hungarian Army is not particularly strong, should the Germans tie down the Russian main forces, the Austro-Hungarian Army would certainly seize the opportunity to defeat the Russians. After all, their weaponry is quite sophisticated, even more so than that of the Russians, and their industrial strength is significantly greater than that of Russia.
"The Thirteenth Army Corps has been ordered to expedite their movement. However, they won't arrive at the battlefield for at least another two weeks. Moreover, since the Thirteenth Army Corps is newly formed, many of their weapons and equipment have yet to arrive. They have only half their artillery and two-thirds of their machine guns," Grand Duke Nikolai said, somewhat helplessly.
Although Russia can mobilize millions of troops, arming these forces remains a formidable challenge. Given enough time, they might slowly equip them, but unfortunately, the urgency of the situation leaves no room for delays. Thus, Grand Duke Nikolai is forced to send many poorly equipped troops into battle. Although he knows this will likely lead to their deaths, he feels he has no other options.
General Ivanov nodded, though the gravity of the situation etched deeper lines of concern on his face.
"General Ivanov, the situation domestically is dire. Our significant losses at the front have stirred public outcry, with many blaming the imperial government. Therefore, we cannot afford any further failures. In this joint operation against the Germans and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Southwest Front must find a way to secure victory. Otherwise, the consequences will be severe. I will do everything in my power to assist you," Grand Duke Nikolai pledged.
"Yes, Your Highness. I will do my utmost. I hope that in addition to the swift arrival of the Thirteenth Army Corps, we can ensure our logistical supply is guaranteed. The Germans are formidable in battle. Their firepower is overwhelming, and their assault capabilities are exceptional. If we cannot even secure our logistics, we stand no chance against them!" General Ivanov asserted.
Grand Duke Nikolai nodded, fully aware of the criticisms regarding the Russian Army's dismal logistical support system. Without robust logistical backing, it would be impossible to sustain the fight.
"General Ivanov, you are undoubtedly aware of our actual situation. The pressure on me regarding logistical support is immense. However, in light of current circumstances, I will do everything possible to provide logistical support to the Southwest Front," Grand Duke Nikolai affirmed.
"Yes, Your Highness," General Ivanov replied.
"By the way, Your Highness, with the Eighth Army Corps moving south, why don't we send troops to attack East Prussia? This could be a golden opportunity!" Ivanov suggested. If they could push the German Eighth Army Corps back, it would be a significant victory.
Grand Duke Nikolai shook his head, "Due to our heavy losses, we lack the extra troops to rebuild the Northwest Front. It is estimated that it won't be until next spring that the Northwest Front can be reestablished. Additionally, the Germans have long been preparing for this. Many of their forces are mobilizing towards East Prussia and the Kingdom of Poland to fill the gaps left by the southward movement of the Eighth Army Corps."