"How long will it take for our newly formed troops to become combat-ready?" asked Nicholas II.
"Your Majesty, approximately a year," replied Sukhomlinov.
"A year? No, that is far too long!" Nicholas II shook his head. By then, the war may very well be over. If the Russian army is only combat-ready at that time, it would be of no use.
"Six months, Your Majesty—just six months. However, we will need the British and French to provide us with weaponry. Given our own military production capacity, arming several million troops would undoubtedly be exceedingly difficult," Sukhomlinov said.
Nicholas II hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Although seeking assistance from the British and French was somewhat humiliating, it was worth it if it meant restoring the Russian Empire's military strength to defeat the Germans on the battlefield. Moreover, since the Russian Empire was aiding the British and French in this conflict, it was only reasonable that they should provide us with reinforcements in weaponry.
"Izyvolsky, you are responsible for communicating with the British and French to secure a shipment of arms. Otherwise, our forces will be unable to sustain the Eastern Front. Should any adverse consequences arise from this, they will bear full responsibility," Nicholas II commanded.
"Yes, Your Majesty. However, the British Navy is currently under pressure from the German Navy, and even if they wish to transport munitions to us, they may not reach our ports," Izyvolsky noted.
Nicholas II stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "That is indeed a problem. However, should we not leave the resolution of this matter to them? I trust the British and French will find a way to resolve it."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Izyvolsky acquiesced, understanding that Nicholas II intended to shift the burden onto the British and French. In light of the dire circumstances, they had no choice but to assist the Russian Empire as much as possible in rearming its forces. Otherwise, should the German and Austro-Hungarian armies break through to the Western or Southern Fronts, the Allies would face impending defeat. At that point, the situation would become irretrievable.
"Your Majesty, the current state of affairs is extremely unfavorable to us. Why can we not consider negotiating peace with the Germans to end this war?" suggested Prime Minister Vyacheslav Plehve.
"Negotiate peace? With the Germans?" Nicholas II's expression darkened, akin to that of a smoldering pot.
"I will never bow to that arrogant man—absolutely not!" Nicholas II vehemently opposed the idea.
The "arrogant man" referred to by Nicholas II was, of course, Kaiser Wilhelm II. In reality, the kings of Britain, the emperor of Germany, and the tsar of Russia were all related, yet they fought each other fiercely in this war. Wilhelm II's empire was thriving, while Nicholas II's vast empire was in decline. This disparity was intolerable to the equally proud Nicholas II. Thus, even in the face of unprecedented defeats, he would never submit to Wilhelm II—unless the German forces were to reach Saint Petersburg and he found himself a prisoner.
"Yet, Your Majesty, we are already in an extremely precarious position in this war. Meanwhile, the domestic situation is equally dire, with various factions stirring discontent. If we fail to manage this properly, the Empire may plunge into a severe crisis," Plehve cautioned gravely.
"Are you suggesting that someone would oppose my rule? Deploy the army to suppress those rascals! Either send them to Siberia to mine or hang them all!" Nicholas II coldly commanded.
Realizing the futility of further argument given Nicholas II's resolute stance, Plehve chose to remain silent. He understood that once Nicholas II made up his mind, no one could alter it, and continued persuasion could incite extreme hostility.
Another reason Nicholas II was averse to negotiating with Germany was that he recognized there is no such thing as a free lunch. In such an unfavorable situation, if he were to propose peace, Germany would undoubtedly demand exorbitant terms, possibly requiring the cession of vast territories and hefty reparations. Nicholas II was unwilling to pay such a heavy price. He even harbored a flicker of hope that if Russia were victorious in this war, not only could they retain their interests but also carve a piece from the Germans. Even a stalemate would be favorable for the Russian Empire, as it would mean preserving their interests.
"We must find a way to withstand the German offensive in the upcoming battles," Nicholas II said, turning to Minister of War Sukhomlinov.
"Your Majesty, Prince Nikolai has suggested that we consolidate our defenses, relinquishing portions of western territory to shorten our supply lines while lengthening those of the enemy. This will buy us considerable time to regroup and rearm our forces," Sukhomlinov proposed.
Nicholas II nodded. Although it pained him to cede vast territories, it was merely a temporary measure. If peace were to be negotiated with Germany, those territories would be permanently lost—an outcome he found intolerable.
"Very well, I agree with Prince Nikolai's proposal; we shall trade space for time!" Nicholas II declared. His willingness to make these sacrifices had one objective: to secure victory in the war.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Sukhomlinov responded.
Nicholas II then issued orders to reorganize the Northwestern and Southwestern Fronts, dispatching the 1st Guards Army to the front lines as the main force of the Northwestern Front, while reconstituting the 1st, 2nd, 9th, and 2nd Guards Armies, increasing the Northwestern Front's strength to one and a half million troops. The Southwestern Front's 3rd, 4th, 8th, and 11th Armies would also be reestablished, alongside the 13th Army, amounting to a total of five armies, also totaling one and a half million.