Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Of course they would need to be armed and later share spoils of war or provide sufficient compensation, but still a profitable deal.

"But I wonder how well they would actually fight on the battlefield."

"That’s a meaningless assumption when we look at General Sergei Dukhovskoy’s records of organizing local forces in Manchuria in the past. Whether their skin color is different or bodies are small, they all die the same when a bullet lodges in their head."

Romania, Korea, Finland. The three countries’ desires are clear.

And our empire has more than enough ability to give them what they want.

"Your Majesty, if the cabinet and State Duma allow this, I will form an allied force on the Eastern Front. By next summer, no, by next spring, imperial army casualties will clearly decrease and the enemy will be more intimidated by the increased forces."

"I see. What does Prime Minister Kokovtsov think?"

"...We would essentially have to cede some territory to Romania and recognize Korea as an equal diplomatic partner. If we draw them in but don’t see much effect, we’ll only increase the burden on the empire after the war."

The addition of forces qualitatively inferior to imperial troops.

Tremendous backlash from countries like Bulgaria.

And as the Prime Minister said, since they joined under Russian leadership, we must take responsibility for their costs.

Even I can’t easily gauge the profits and losses of this proposal.

But one thing I like:

"...I like that imperial army casualties would decrease."

Setting aside calculations of loss or profit, if fewer of my imperial citizens would die in those trenches, isn’t that alone worth trying?

Though everyone seems doubtful about its effectiveness, there doesn’t appear to be much strong opposition.

"Since everyone seems about half in agreement, I hope things go as the general wishes."

With those final words, I rose from my seat.

Though everyone tried to rise as well, I raised my hand to stop them.

They were the working-level officials who needed to chew over this proposal for much longer even after I left.

’Kuropatkin, you’ve exceeded the level of mere political soldier.’

When given reform and power, there were plenty who could wield it besides him.

The empire had no shortage of warriors who would loyally swing their swords with me as their backing.

I was just impressed by how he read my direction and moved one step ahead.

However, going beyond original history to write new history.

That is, creating and advancing down an unrecorded path on one’s own.

This is something even I can’t know the limits of.

And looking at him so far.

’...Show me more.’

I think he’s worth having some expectations for.

At least as far as I know, he’s an ill-fated soldier that history recorded wrongly.

==

Since the war began, the Russian Empire hadn’t issued any conscription orders.

Though one might think they issued general mobilization orders, in reality it was just the gathering of first and second class reserves.

Above all, there was no need for additional mobilization orders because...

"Why can’t we enlist!"

"Well, you’ve never received regular training."

"We’re applying for voluntary enlistment! Isn’t anyone who’s healthy and loyal to the empire able to enlist?"

"Anyway, I said no. The empire will call when it needs you!"

The imperial army hadn’t suffered major casualties yet, and the volunteer enlistment fever was too intense.

Today too, as young men stormed away from the recruitment office after being rejected, those in uniform sighed, "Today’s youth know nothing of war’s horror!"

Though war didn’t feel like a distant story to Russia since they’d fought wars every 20 years on average, this was still Europe’s first large-scale total war since the Napoleonic era.

This volunteer fever wasn’t unique to Russia, but Russia’s case was particularly serious.

"Training camps are full, stop recruiting!"

"Damn it, don’t even take Jews anymore! No spots left!"

The empire had already been swept up in patriotic fever until last year with the Romanov 300th anniversary, and with war breaking out the very next year, this trend could only continue.

However, from the imperial army’s perspective:

’One skilled machine gunner is better than five.’

’On flat ground, one sniper is as fearsome as a company.’

There was no benefit to just accepting youth full of passion.

Whatever the case, it was a good sign if only because there would be no troop shortage.

Amid this situation, there was a group heading to the frontlines through Moscow, the empire’s largest railway hub:

"Welcome to Warsaw. I am Training Center Commander Vertikov Brikhima, in charge of imperial army education for the next month."

"Korean Imperial Army Colonel Lee Dong-hwi."

"Colonel Lee. You’re quite fluent in Russian. Were you from the Advanced Korea Detachment?"

"Though from a different unit, I did work with them. I learned Russian while associating with military attachés."

"I’m from the 2nd Manchurian Army that fought alongside that Advanced Korea Detachment."

These were regular troops sent from Korea before Kuropatkin’s "Russian Allied Forces Policy" was properly implemented.

Though not many yet, more would join as they came across the Trans-Siberian Railway, so increasing numbers was just a matter of time.

’They say if you endure a month here you can buy farmland in the countryside, and if you endure a year you can build a house in Hanseong!’

’They say if you achieve merit here, even a soldier can become a major overnight!’

’I don’t even hope for the Order of the Double Dragon, just one lower Russian medal!’

Vertikov highly regarded that they included Manchurian veterans and Advanced Detachment veterans, and above all that they were volunteer troops rather than conscripts.

Now training and utilizing them was his job.

Though they couldn’t send an entire corps by rail in one day like Germany, Russian forces on the Eastern Front kept growing endlessly.

And on October 10th.

Carol I, who had ruled Romania for half a century, passed away.

Prince Victor naturally ascended as Ferdinand I, and...

[Romania Declares War on Germany and Dual Monarchy]

[Secret Alliance Between Romania and Russia?]

[The Casting Vote of the Balkans, The Romanian Kingdom]

At the same time, Russia gained another ally.

A new wind of change began to blow on the Balkan and Eastern fronts.