Reincarnated as Nikolai II

The prosperity they built on peace was shining too brilliantly.

Meanwhile, we living in the cold and hungry frozen earth... unable to join among them, had to turn our eyes elsewhere.

I’ve had thoughts like this recently.

Father, who hated spending money on anything except the military, suddenly ordering the Trans-Siberian Railway built - perhaps he foresaw Russia becoming obsolete?

"Do you understand? Though I don’t know as much about tactics and strategy as the generals here, I know one thing for certain - the imperial government can’t endure a prolonged war. The longer the war, the more workers will pour into streets and squares striking. That is, if the war extends beyond 2 years... regardless of victory or defeat, we’ve lost."

"Prime Minister, are you saying to wage a quick decisive war?"

"I’ll take over from here."

As Witte’s ongoing topic of finances showed signs of extending to the generals’ strategy and tactics, I took back the right to speak.

"There will be defensive battles from the start of war. Starting from the borders of Korea and Manchuria."

"The fortresses are well built, truly good for defensive lines."

"Of course it’s good to hold, but no need to shed blood to defend. If the enemy pays sufficient price, give it to them. Then we’ll naturally be pushed back toward Port Arthur, the Lüshun fortress."

"It’s truly a heaven-sent fortress! Even the imperial Warsaw fortress can’t compare to Lüshun!"

The Lüshun fortress, where a crazy engineer showed what was possible with money.

"The enemy will take damage but keep pushing up. Same for this Lüshun fortress - after holding it, fine to give it if they pay sufficient price."

"Your Majesty, if we give up that far-"

"What I’m saying is while field judgment is important, don’t fixate on territory for now. I won’t dismiss you midway."

The biggest reason commanders split in the original history’s battlefield. It was because all sorts of political dogfights broke out between the two options of delaying tactics giving up territory and full-frontal confrontation.

"Do you all understand my point? While what to occupy and what to give up is important, just as we want to avoid a prolonged war in this war, Japan also lacks the ability for prolonged war. Enough to charge in despite obvious fortresses."

It’s no coincidence that the Japanese army sacrificed 110,000 souls in four general offensives at the Battle of Lüshun.

This war isn’t between wealthy countries like Britain or America.

To use an analogy, it’s an expeditionary war between a winter pauper who spent all savings and a summer beggar who just moved into a shantytown on the city outskirts.

"I guarantee - Japan will push forward with full force throughout."

That is, if they don’t want to just pay money for 49 years after the war like current Qing.

Some nodded in understanding, while others tilted their heads lacking confidence, but anyway the war’s direction was firmly set centered on me and Witte.

After this day, Minister Giers immediately departed for the Paris financial district. It was for preparing and promoting new bond issuance.

Though the Franco-Russian Alliance was limited to Europe, France had to buy bonds due to diplomatic relations, just as Britain indiscriminately bought Japanese bonds.

From July, the state began coordinating Siberian Railway schedules, and from August the military occupied all stations focusing on material transport.

And four months later, Japanese forces landed at Incheon.

Though they sent the declaration of war three days late, in reality the war was already in its sixth month.

==

While summer’s Yalu River is difficult even to swim across, winter’s Yalu River is different.

Since it’s not seawater, it freezes easily and the flow volume itself becomes tens of times less than summer, becoming easy even for wild animals to cross.

In other words, if one can endure the cold breaking below zero, this period is optimal for defeating the Far Eastern Army forming defense lines along the Yalu River.

If one can endure this cold that is...

"Commander! It’s negative 25 degrees! When the sun sets soon it might break negative 30 degrees again! Even now, if we rebuild positions first to preserve the troops’ strength-"

"Where’s the time for that! If you want to sleep warmly like in your room, sleep in that fortress!"

"No! Even small wounds lead to skin necrosis and frostbite! We must take time to induce artillery battle!"

"Damn! How is this land made to break negative 30 degrees every day!"

Exactly one week. That’s how long it took Lieutenant General Kuroki Tamemoto to realize something was wrong.

The First Army, experiencing taiga for the first time in their lives, stumbled in the cold rushing toward the fortress, only to retreat to camp as the sun set by 5 PM.

Except for some from Hokkaido, most soldiers had never felt such cold on their skin.

"T-Tokyo rarely even sees snow in winter!"

"Here snow reaches your knees in just a day!"

"Is this land fit for humans?"

The Japanese Army, having realized the importance of artillery through the previous Sino-Japanese War, brought as much artillery power as possible from the start.

However, this rather made it difficult to attack the treacherous mountains upstream of the Yalu River.

It was nearly impossible to drag artillery up snow-covered cliffs to engage the enemy.

In the end, it meant they had to attack those fortresses openly blocking every path in the middle and lower reaches.

"It’s definitely warmer coming down a bit."

"General! The sun stays out during the day. Isn’t it amazing? In my hometown the sun only rises for 3 hours a day."

"Well, at least you came from where the sun rises. Ask the soldiers from East Siberia or Irkutsk Military District. What it’s like in a hell of cold exceeding negative 50 degrees."

Roman’s soldiers, living in well-built fortresses, didn’t particularly feel the cold.

They had stayed in the Far East for a long time, and above all, most soldiers’ hometowns were colder than this Korean border.

Negative 25 degrees during the day? Hah, it needs to be negative 50 degrees for seawater to freeze and skate on it.

Even the Vladivostok port right above doesn’t freeze until late February, right?

"Ha! It’s snowing too. Must give up mine-laying operations."

"Won’t they be buried by snow even if roughly thrown?"

"Maybe so."

Contrary to expectations that war would be good because Vladivostok port freezes and rivers including the Yalu freeze over, winter warfare is a Slavic specialty.

"Have those resting from battle immerse in ice water to maintain cleanliness."

"Understood."

To them, the Yalu River’s cold was too warm.