Reincarnated as Nikolai II

"What do you mean?"

"Have you forgotten? Constantinople was advance payment from the start. Being able to easily swallow Bosphorus Strait sovereignty just for occupying it first was all us giving advance considering their future role."

And then the insatiable appetite revealed itself - opening the Middle Eastern front under the pretext of choking the Ottoman’s throat and advancing to Jerusalem. The desert campaign stretched endlessly across sun-scorched lands, while diplomats spoke of holy sites and strategic necessity.

Who’s calling who cowards now? While they sit in their colonial offices, addicted to building others’ armies by thoroughly shaking down colonial forces, principalities, and allies - extracting every resource and man they can muster. The blood price paid in foreign coin, while they count their growing influence from safe distances.

"Beren Volkov? He’s just a politician trying to get spotlight by causing cracks between allies since he couldn’t enter Kokovtsov’s cabinet and only played minority party leader role for long."

"Hah! Then I’ll ask the opposite. How will you move Russia forward?"

"As a war participant they should naturally commit sincerely to war... I’d like to say such principled words but realistically their belly is already full. Their mindset has spoiled unlike when they left seeking food."

Though a bit twisted, Churchill calmly acknowledged Russia’s changed position as not completely blind to reality.

"Then?"

"So we must go strong against strong! Prime Minister, Russia that’s tasted the Mediterranean’s warm water will never drink ice water! We still have initiative in the Dardanelles and the 1912 Russo-French Naval Agreement content also has Russia unilaterally dependent on France for navy so we just need to use this!"

Like a true Royal Navy head and Naval Minister, Churchill suddenly twists the solution into talk of seas and navies. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Just like Muslims or Jews can’t quit once they taste pork, Russia that’s warmed their body in warm water must submit!"

Asquith, seeing Kitchener already shaking his head without listening further, said:

"Get out."

"What? If BEF and Russian Imperial Army come to comparison like this, we’ll be disadvantaged. If they threaten to break alliance, we should similarly show them taste of Black Sea blockade like naval blockade-"

"Get out now!"

Churchill had observed how Beren Volkov, that once-stalwart parliamentarian, had slowly unraveled during his decades in the opposition benches. Years of futile arguments and defeated motions had worn away his resolve like water on stone, until paranoia consumed him. Now Churchill understood the man’s descent all too well.

To Asquith and Kitchener, watching their colleague’s increasingly erratic behavior in the wake of the Gallipoli disaster, it seemed Winston Churchill had followed a similar path into madness. The failed campaign had transformed their once-brilliant First Lord of the Admiralty into someone they barely recognized.

Even while being physically dragged out of the meeting room door by two junior ministers, Churchill’s face flushed red with desperation as he shouted, "Don’t run away from this fight, damn you all! Fight back - it’s not too late to turn the tide!" But the two elder statesmen simply exchanged knowing glances and shook their heads. They had already decided to erase Churchill’s impassioned opinions from their minds, dismissing his warnings as the ravings of a broken man. With each passing moment, the weight of their judgment pressed down harder, suffocating any remaining credibility he might have held.

"Why regress international diplomacy history by 10 years."

"Minister Churchill is... a bit extreme."

"He’s the minister who even seized neutral Ottoman Empire’s warship. He’s just that kind of person originally."

The Prime Minister and Kitchener, having confirmed Russian Imperial Army’s power, wanted to use them, not fight them.

The Great Game was now just an outdated game with only shell remaining, drained of substance even in Britain.

"Ultimately... for victory, shouldn’t we solve problems head-on?"

"Increase conscription despite public opposition, reorganize BEF and shed blood equally?"

"Adding offensive too. Whatever it takes, we must advance forward to end the war."

"Of course France must agree too."

Like Russia divided the Eastern Front into Northwestern and Southwestern Army Groups.

The French Army could also be largely divided into Central Army Group (GAC: Groupe d’armees du Centre) and Northern Army Group (GAN: Groupe d’armees du Nord), excluding minor units.

This was split from the army (GPN) formed by general mobilization at war’s start in 1914 into two army groups in 1915, but problems with troop deployment arose from this splitting process.

The problem was very simple.

From North Sea to Switzerland. The front was too wide.

France having to both break through and defend this massive front.

"Having been pushed back to Paris once, they won’t easily leave defensive lines."

"The Battle of the Marne was a miracle added to heaven’s fortune. Without that miracle, Paris would have long fallen to the Kaiser’s grasp."

Until just a year ago they were in uproar about moving the capital, about Governor Gallieni preparing final resistance in Paris, but abandoning defense and switching to attack?

Though French military’s hatred toward Germany isn’t small, fear is equally ingrained.

"Ultimately going round and round, if BEF isn’t sufficient, convincing France will be difficult too."

"... I will try to increase conscription as much as possible."

Still, the cabinet was certain Russia absolutely wouldn’t pull troops from the front or retreat defensive lines right now.

No matter how dissatisfied with the Western Front’s state and feeling like only they were dying, they couldn’t abandon front lines obtained through all sorts of sacrifices.

This day’s cabinet meeting hosted by the Prime Minister ended with very rational but fundamental talk of fully recognizing risk of alliance cracks and seeking solutions over time to lead to victory.

However, their textbook talk had to face testing sooner than expected.

Roman and Ivanov’s war of attrition in late 1915 didn’t just change Russia.

Germany who directly experienced that fight also changed.

Morning of February 21, 1916.

"Artillery fire! Everyone down!"

"W-What! This isn’t normal artillery fire?"

"F-Firepower battle? F*ck, wasn’t heavy artillery battle only used by Russian forces?"

1,200 field guns poured fire at French infantry units around the Meuse River.

The Western Front’s first war of attrition.

The beginning of the Battle of Verdun.