In Uzhhorod, the Austrian Army's headquarters, the three army groups of the Russian Southwestern Front continued their fierce assault on the Austrian defenses. Despite the Austrians successfully repelling the Russian onslaught through their fortifications and formidable firepower, inflicting significant casualties upon the enemy, their own losses were steadily rising.
As casualties mounted, the morale of the Austrian troops inevitably began to wane. This decline resulted in multiple close calls along their lines, with several sectors nearly breached by Russian forces. Marshal Habsburg, greatly alarmed, felt compelled to deplete the reserve Fourth Army, sending reinforcements to the front lines to stabilize the defense.
Qin Tian could only shake his head at the performance of the Austrians. Initially, their response had been commendable, but as losses escalated, their conduct deteriorated considerably. The root cause was undoubtedly the fragility of their fighting spirit. Had it been the Germans, such a scenario would have been utterly inconceivable.
However, given the Austrians' long-standing weakness, Qin Tian felt powerless to intervene; he could only hope they could hold out until the German strategic plan came to fruition. If so, victory in this monumental conflict would be theirs. Otherwise, the consequences would be dire.
"Your Excellency, is the Russian offensive still as fierce?" Qin Tian inquired.
"Indeed, Your Highness. The Russians seem frenzied, relentlessly launching vigorous attacks on our defenses. Our troops are under immense pressure," Marshal Habsburg replied, his eyes reddened from sleeplessness. The previous night had been harrowing, with the Russians orchestrating several night assaults that nearly breached the Austrian lines.
As the Chief of Staff, Marshal Habsburg understood all too well the grave consequences should the Austrians fail to maintain their defense. Thus, he remained at the command post, continually in touch with the front lines, personally sending telegrams to each infantry division commander, urging them to hold the line at all costs.
"The Russians have suffered heavier losses than we have, significantly so. I believe their sustained high-intensity assaults cannot last much longer. If we endure a few more days, a turning point will emerge," Qin Tian asserted.
Marshal Habsburg nodded in agreement, recognizing the validity of Qin Tian's assessment. After all, the Russians' casualties far exceeded those of the defending Austrians. Even in a war of attrition, the Austrians were at an advantage. Consequently, he had adopted an unusually stern stance toward his commanders, insisting they must hold the line, prohibiting any unauthorized retreats under penalty of military law.
Thanks to Marshal Habsburg's resolute leadership, the Austrian commanders fought tenaciously to maintain their defenses. Had they performed as they had earlier in the conflict, their lines would have certainly crumbled.
"Your Highness, what is the progress on the German front?" Marshal Habsburg inquired.
"The Eighth Army is making commendable strides. Our forces in Uzhhorod are on the brink of victory. The Russians attempted to dispatch an infantry division to reinforce Uzhhorod, but we routed them. The battle in Zamość has also commenced, where we similarly hold a decisive advantage. The Russian Fourth Army has been utterly shattered; their defeat is irreversible. They will soon be annihilated," Qin Tian stated confidently.
Hearing this, Marshal Habsburg exhaled in relief. He knew Qin Tian would not deceive him regarding such matters. As long as the Eighth Army's progress remained favorable, hope for victory would be intact.
"Rest assured, Your Highness. We will not falter. Before the Germans complete their operational plan, we will steadfastly hold our defenses and will not permit the Russians to breach our lines!" Marshal Habsburg declared.
"Marshal, I have faith that your forces can achieve this. The Russians will be no match for you this time," Qin Tian replied.
Nodding in acknowledgment, Marshal Habsburg appeared satisfied by Qin Tian's confidence.
Upon returning to his office, Qin Tian received an operational report from the front lines.
"The Russians have surrendered? How can this be?" Qin Tian was taken aback by the news of the Russian troops stationed in Uzhhorod capitulating to the German Seventeenth Army. While the Russian combat capability was lackluster, their demonstrated fighting spirit throughout this war had been admirable.
"Perhaps despair drove them to this decision. Now that the Russians have surrendered, the Seventeenth Army's mission has undoubtedly been accomplished ahead of schedule. Your Highness, what shall be our next course of action?" Brigadier General Manstein inquired.
Qin Tian's gaze settled on the map hanging on the wall.
"General Manstein, what are your thoughts?" Qin Tian asked.
"Your Highness, I believe it is time for the Eleventh Army to mobilize. We should have Colonel Rommel lead the remaining tanks to support the Eleventh Army in a direct assault on Lviv. Capturing it would ensure our victory!" Brigadier General Manstein proposed.
Lviv was a crucial strategic node in the Russian Fourth Army's defenses, serving as a key logistics hub for the Southwestern Front. Approximately sixty percent of the supplies for the entire Russian Southwestern Front passed through this location before being distributed to various units. Should the Germans capture Lviv, it would spell dire shortages for the Russian forces. It wouldn't take long for the Germans and Austrians to jointly dismantle the Russian Southwestern Front.
"Is the Eleventh Army ready?" Qin Tian inquired.
"Yes, Your Highness. Over the past few days, the Eleventh Army has covertly moved to the front lines. We have assembled over two thousand trucks for their use. Combined with their existing vehicles, the Eleventh Army can reach Lviv at remarkable speed. If they face no Russian interference, they could arrive in a day and launch an attack," Brigadier General Manstein explained.
Qin Tian nodded. Despite the Eleventh Army being over a hundred kilometers from Lviv, if everyone were to travel by truck, covering that distance in a day was entirely feasible. Moreover, upon arrival, the soldiers would still possess ample energy to engage in combat.
"Very well, let General François take action! They must launch an attack on Lviv. It is imperative that we capture it within three days!" Qin Tian commanded.
"Yes, Your Highness."