“…… The focus of the operation at this stage is to ensure that Ukraine's resources, as well as the aid materials of the allies, can be imported into the main industrial centers and military stations normally on the premise of holding the two strategic hubs of St. Petersburg and Moscow. ”

"To do this, on the north-western front, at a minimum, it is necessary to hold the line of Tallinn, Pskov, Velikiye Luki."

"On the western side, it is necessary to hold the line of Velikiye Luki, Mogilev and Gomel."

"On the southwestern front, it is necessary to hold the Dnieper line: on the one hand, to ensure the supply of grain and minerals on the left bank of the Dnieper, and on the other hand, to ensure that there are enough available ports on the Black Sea coast to receive allied aid."

"In the east, at the very least, the squadron must be blocked east of the Volga River to ensure that the water and land communication lines from Ukraine to the interior can operate normally."

Reporting this, Alekseev put down his whip and stressed to Nicholas II with a look of amazement: "Although Russia is big, we have nowhere to retreat. ”

His Majesty the Tsar continued to lament in the image of a melancholy literary youth: "Yes, there is nowhere to retreat...... What else can I do? You see, we got our wish and got Constantinople, the treasure for which the tsars had fought for three hundred years, but I was not happy at all. ”

Alekseev reluctantly replied: "Because ...... At the same time, we have lost most of the fruits of the 'great conquests' of the tsars of the past three hundred years, from Poland to Litterra, from Siberia to Turkestan...... But this is only temporary, Your Majesty, please cheer up, we still have a chance. ”

"What chance?" Nicholas II blinked helplessly.

"As long as you keep going, you will have a chance. In fact, the situation has improved dramatically compared to the beginning of the year......"

Alekseev turned around and pulled out a few documents from the small table next to the map shelf, and began to comfort his emperor - plus self-comfort.

"Since August last year, the main channels for receiving allied fire and machine aid, the Persian communication line and the Balkan communication line, have been cut off by the enemy, and the only remaining communication line in the Arctic Ocean has also been unable to make up for the gap for the time being due to the lag in the construction of relevant ports and railway facilities. The comprehensive defeat of our army on all fronts since the summer and autumn of last year is not unrelated to this. ”

"Since March this year, the victory in the battle of the strait, as well as the gradual improvement of the infrastructure of the port of Murmansk, have greatly improved the foreign traffic situation of our country, and the import of foreign aid in May was three times that of February, reaching 80 percent of the same period last year, and it is expected that the import volume in June will be flat in the same period last year."

In addition, a year and a half after the outbreak of the war, efforts to develop the industry of the capital industry also began to bear fruit: from January 1915 to January 1916, rifle production tripled, artillery of all types increased by three to seven times, and ammunition of all types by one and a half to four times...... Of course, this is far from enough to meet the huge needs at the front. ”

"Although China's development is still far behind that of China and Germany in terms of heavy artillery, aircraft, tanks and other technical weapons, in the past year, China's self-developed battleships, heavy bombers, tanks, armored vehicles and other new weapons have withstood the test of war and shown unique and outstanding performance......"

Nicholas II interrupted him again impatiently: "Superior performance? Mendeleev's 'big coffin', which is slower than a snail, Lebezinko's 'tricycle', whose wheels are higher than a building, and Rigsky's 'toy car', which can't turn...... I have to admit that they are all very unique works of art, but if they are really as you say, the performance is so good, why should they all be discontinued and replaced with British and French tanks? ”

"Your Majesty, before the tanks aided by Britain and France, we only have these 'works of art' that can fight against the advanced Chinese and German tanks - of course, the 'works of art' are always complex and expensive in construction, and in wartime we need 'industrial products' that are simple in structure and easy for mass production."

Alekseev argued that General Nakasidze, the commander of the Panzer Corps, who was working on these "works of art" projects, was another of his old friends, and that even in the face of the increasingly moody Tsar of lately, he had the audacity to save the face of his old friend.

"No matter what, I can't surrender, you can do the rest."

Nicholas II suddenly straightened his face and said, waving his hand, signaling "That's it".

"Look at it? You are the commander-in-chief, and you told us to watch it? What to do? If Nikolai? If the Grand Duke Nikolayevich is still there......"

Alekseev sighed in his heart, saluted hastily, and left in a huff.

……

An hour later, in a small villa on the outskirts of the city, Alekseev extended a warm hand to a guest from St. Petersburg.

"You're finally here, dear Victor? Krajevich, I'm waiting for you. ”

It was none other than the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Petrograd Military District, Viktor? Krajevich? Major General Kremov, a noble officer with a strong spirit, was also one of the key members of the anti-tsarist conspiracy group organized by Alekyev himself.

The two exchanged pleasantries, then sat down one after another, and Alekseev poured a cup of tea for Kremov with his own hands, and said with concern: "How is it?" Is the situation in Petrograd okay? ”

Kremov scooped a large spoonful of white granulated sugar from the sugar jar, poured it all into the teacup, stirred it vigorously a few times, and quickly pulled out the silver spoon, and the swirl in the cup foamed at the white.

"It's getting worse and worse, food shortages, strikes and marches, and even the capture of Constantinople with such an unprecedented and coveted glory can't cheer up the hungry citizens."

Alekseev nodded in agreement: "There is no way, the losses on the front line are too great, and the young men and horses in the countryside are constantly being called up, and it is impossible not to affect food production - some provinces have even lost half of their labor and livestock." Plus the bastard officers who are in charge of the railroad have their brains full of wood and excrement...... Forget it, let's not talk about that, let's talk about our 'results'. ”

Kremov smiled knowingly, raised his glass and took a sip of tea, and began to report.

"The former Prime Minister, the prestigious Earl of Witte, has agreed to assist us on the only condition: to leave His Majesty a 'dignified' retreat."

"Duke Leewolff of the Constitutionalist Party said that he could accept the road map from the palace coup to constitutional reform, but he opposed the rebuilding of the republic, and even more could not tolerate a separate peace with China and Germany."

"Kerensky of the Socialist Party told me personally: 'If necessary, the terrorist means should be used to solve the problem,' and the Socialist Party was willing to share the responsibility for this, on the condition that the Socialist Party would afterwards preside over the formation of a new government."

"Duke Yusupov and Grand Duke Dimitri offered to assassinate Rasputin, or lead the capture of the Empress, or either leave both to them, and 'do it all in one go'......" V