Russia was now a member of the Entente and was the country that carried the battlefield on the Eastern Front of the Entente on its own. Russia's position among the Entente powers can be imagined. Although, Britain and France looked down on Russia very much. However, in order to defeat Germany and the Allies, they had to support Russia vigorously. Otherwise, once Russia was defeated or withdrew from the war, the Germans would be able to attack the Western Front without distraction. At that time, the pressure on Britain and France will be even greater, and more young people will die on the battlefield.

It is precisely in this way that Russia's security has been ensured to a certain extent. If, at this time, any country wants to use force against Russia, it will undoubtedly be an enemy of the entire Entente.

"Your Majesty, Archduke Karl is right, we have the entire Entente to back us up. Even those Chinese don't dare to do anything with us. As long as they dare to do it, they will be enemies of the entire Entente. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sergei Witt said with a smile. It seems that Russia can ignore China's attitude because of this.

But is this really the case? Even if Russia was a member of the Entente, the Entente was strong. However, if the Chinese Empire really wants to use force against Russia, then Britain and France will probably have no choice. What's more, if the Chinese Empire joined the Allies in the war, Russia would inevitably become the first country to collapse.

"Your Majesty, we can inform our allies such as Britain and France about this. However, it's best not to put your hopes entirely on them. Now is the most difficult time for the Entente. If China is forced into the camp of the Central Powers, it will be very disadvantageous to us and even to the entire Entente countries. Prime Minister Stolypin said.

"Rest assured, Prime Minister. With the entire Entente as the backing, the Chinese will certainly not dare to act rashly. Nicholas II said triumphantly. For the first time, he felt that joining the Entente. It's not that there are no benefits at all. At the very least, in the face of Chinese pressure, there can be a strong backing as support. He has even begun to fantasize about how he will be able to use the strength of the entire Entente to seek revenge on China after the Entente has won the war.

"Niratov, inform England and France of this at once. Tell them. The Chinese brazenly interfered in Russia's internal affairs, which was not only a provocation to Russia, but also a provocation to the entire Entente. The Entente should unite and let the Chinese know the consequences of being enemies of the Entente. Nicholas II commanded. In this way, he argued, perhaps the Chinese Empire would be able to back down and compromise.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Foreign Minister Nilatov nodded. It's just that he doesn't know if it will be useful.

"Archduke Karl. Order our troops at the front, ready for battle. If the Chinese are going to war, we must resist their attack at the first time and buy more time for the deployment of troops. Nicholas II ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty. However, it would be better to mobilize another part of the army. Otherwise, we will not be enough with the existing army alone. Archduke Karl proposed. Now Russia. There are already five million troops. However, in terms of Russia's huge population resources. Mobilizing some more troops, it will be completely easy.

Nicholas II nodded, and before the outbreak of the war, the total population of Russia had reached more than 130 million. If there is a maximum mobilization, there is no problem in mobilizing 10 million troops to fight. Of course. There are so many soldiers, but it is not so easy to arm so many troops. Even if it is a rifle per person, it will be difficult to achieve it with the current industrial base of Russia. Not to mention other heavy weapons. Even so, though. An army of tens of millions is still a great deterrent force and an important guarantee for Russia to maintain its position in the world.

"Mobilize another million troops. If you want to have a weapon, equip some of them first. Wait until the British and French aid of weapons and equipment arrives, and then replenish them. This million troops were sent to the east of the Ural Mountains to be on guard. Once the Chinese want to act rashly, they immediately go to the front line to resist the attack of the Chinese. Nicholas II ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Grand Duke Karl nodded. In this way, the number of Russian troops stationed on the Sino-Russian border can be increased to 1.5 million. Even if the combat effectiveness of the Russian* army is inferior to that of the Chinese* army, it should still have no problem resisting for a while. This would also buy Russia enough time to turn around. When the time comes, whether it is peace talks or sending more troops to fight the war, Russia will have more time to think about it.

Britain and France attached great importance to the incident reported by Russia. The military power of the Allies was completely beyond the imagination of Britain and France. Originally, they thought that this war would end easily. But I didn't expect that the war had been going on for a year. Britain and France suffered heavy losses, not only suffering a large number of casualties, but also losing large swaths of territory. However, the German offensive was still very fierce.

Now Russia has become an important part of the Entente. Fortunately, the Germans changed their strategy and mobilized heavy troops to the Eastern Front, otherwise the British and French might not have been able to support it. They can use this time to repair and mobilize more troops to be sent to the front. to consolidate the defenses of the front.

However, now that there is a possibility of a fierce conflict between China and Russia, they cannot afford not to pay attention to it. In the previous conflict between China and Japan, the Chinese Navy showed extremely strong combat effectiveness and resolved the powerful Japanese Navy. If a conflict breaks out between China and Russia, no one can guarantee that the powerful Chinese Army will not solve the problem of the Russian Army. In that case, the Entente would face a catastrophe. Once the Russians were gone, they would have to ******** forces to fight the Germans. Therefore, Russia must not be able to do anything.

Britain and France immediately took action, and they sent a note to China demanding that China not be hostile to Russia. If there is any conflict, it can be resolved through peaceful negotiations.

The conflict between China and Russia has also attracted the attention of the whole world. In the past, when the conflict between China and Japan broke out, many people thought that the scale of the world war would increase. Unfortunately, neither China nor Japan has declared war on each other. But this time it was different, Russia was one of the most important countries of the Entente. If China had used force against Russia, the Entente would have declared war on China.

The allies, on the other hand, are naturally very happy about the possible outbreak of conflict between China and Russia. Even, Germany and Austria-Hungary are desperately trying to promote the conflict between China and Russia. Although, in the past year's wars, the Central Powers have won many victories, wiping out a large number of Allied armies. However, the Entente had blood transfusions from overseas colonies, which allowed the Entente to hold out all the time. It was very difficult for the Allies to win the war. They desperately hope that a powerful country will join their camp, and in this case, it may be able to turn the tide of the war.

It's a pity that the only country with such capabilities, apart from China, is the United States. However, both China and the United States are firmly neutral, preferring to use this opportunity to make war profits rather than get involved in war. So, the Germans also had no way. But now, the opportunity seems to have come.

At a time when the international situation has become turbulent as a result, the Chinese Army announced a large-scale military exercise in Siberia and the Northwest Frontier. The 2nd Army, the 3rd Army, the 6th Army, the 7th Army and the 12th Army of the Imperial Army were all within the sequence of the exercises. Combined, these five armies amounted to more than 700,000 troops.

Among them, the 2nd Army and the 6th Army were stationed in northern China, south of Lake Baikal and the eastern front, with Ulan-Ude as the center. The 3rd Army, the 7th Army and the 12th Army were stationed on the northwestern frontier of the empire, with the frontier provinces as defense areas.

These two forces have always served as the main force of the empire's westward expansion. Over the years, preparations have also been made in this regard. With the opening of the railway line from the hinterland of the empire to Siberia and the Northwest Frontier, the empire can use the railroad to deploy more troops to these frontiers. This not only allowed the empire to strengthen its control over these regions, but also allowed the empire to use these railway lines to quickly transport war materials in future wars, ensuring the westward expansion of the imperial army.

Imperial Frontier Province, Ili, the seat of the Northwest Theater Command of the Imperial Army. General Zou Fang, commander of the 3rd Army and commander of the Northwest Theater of Operations, gave the order for the start of the exercise.

For a time, on the Sino-Russian border, the three armies of the Imperial Army, with more than 400,000 people, mobilized more than 400 155-mm heavy howitzers, more than 500 105-mm light howitzers, more than 400 75-mm field guns, and 3,000 mortars to launch fierce artillery bombardment on the preset targets. After the end of the shelling, a large number of infantry, under the cover of artillery fire, launched a charge, breaking through the positions of the imaginary enemy of the exercise in one fell swoop.

The same scene was played out in Siberia, where 300,000 men of the 2nd and 6th armies of the Imperial Army also staged a massive exercise.

The large-scale exercises of the Imperial Army made the Russians very nervous. You know, in the event of tensions between the two countries, these exercises can immediately turn into a real offensive. In that case, the Russian troops deployed on the border would not be able to resist it at all. (To be continued.) )

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