The dust has not yet settled, and everything expected has not yet happened. Lemberg was regained, although the fighting was in full swing in the west, and the enemy forces in the east were heavily pressed. On the night of the 11th, Rudolph waited for the only reinforcements.

The soldiers of the 41st Regiment of the 79th Brigade, mostly Poles and Ukrainians from Galicia, had traveled a long way, but after entering their homeland, they were in high spirits and warmly greeted their compatriots and congratulated each other.

Rudolph and the officers knew that war was about to begin, but on this night, they still chose to celebrate the victory.

The Russians' warehouses were opened, Rudolph distributed a week's worth of food to the people of the city, and the rest was taken over by the army. In addition to leaving more than 4,000 prisoners, Lieutenant General Sergei also left a large amount of supplies. Because of the haste of departure, there was no time to destroy, and there was plenty of food in the warehouse, as well as some munitions. There were not many heavy weapons and ammunition, but there were more than 7,000 rifles.

Rudolph did not hold a banquet, he came to the barracks and celebrated with the soldiers.

"The great Habsburgs and the entire royal family cannot thank you and your family enough. You fought for the honor of the empire and the people, and I salute you on behalf of the emperor. ”

"We have won this battle, and the Grand Duke Friedrich wants us to continue fighting. Now is the most critical period, and according to intelligence, the Russians will counterattack in the east. We must hold our ground at all costs. ”

"This city was once part of the empire, fighting for the emperor and your family, and everyone must remember that you will decide the fate of the empire."

Rudolph was very disappointed to convey the mobilization order before the celebration, and the officers received the heavy news before they were seated. But these officers were prepared, or they had a premonition.

"For the Motherland!"

At the dinner, no one mentioned the future. At the wine table, they praised each other for this great victory. Although all of you here may be destroyed, the strategic purpose of the army has been achieved, and the Russians are destined to pay the price, and they will be on the defensive.

In order to be sober, everyone drank only a few glasses of wine. Catalyzed by alcohol, in a tragic atmosphere, I don't know who said first, "We will fulfill the obligations of the state." ”

"Sacrifice for honor, never surrender."

"Brave souls survive the battle."

Everyone responded by calling and reciting their vows.

"Man may be immortal, but salvation is yet to come.

There is no eternal life in the kingdom, and salvation is only now. ”

Rudolph couldn't help but feel that according to his outlook on life, he was not obliged to make sacrifices, but he was infected by these officers, and he was not willing to surrender in humiliation at this time, even though it was the last moment.

It's not a celebration, it's a farewell.

That night, Rudolph saw Cassia at Headquarters. She put on the blue-gray uniform again.

"Got home?"

"Well, my family is all good. The Russians took only some money and wine. My clothes shop is rarely disturbed. ”

"Let's go back."

"I'm a soldier."

"You're now dismissed from the military."

"The streets are calling on citizens to take up arms and defend their families and their country. I also have this right and obligation. ”

As soon as Rudolph entered the city, he mobilized the city's reserves and called on the youth to take up arms and defend the motherland. Although many of the city's youth were inducted into the army last year, many did not meet the requirements for military service. The war had just broken out, and apart from Serbia, no country was worried about the supply of troops. The army only recruited young people with strong physiques, such as the Viennese painter Adolf, who volunteered to join the army, but was rejected by the army because he failed the physical examination. In the end, he had to write a letter to the King of Bavaria and join the German army.

"The Russians are fighting again, and the servicemen are either killed or captured."

"Will you lose?"

"No, I'm just going to be destroyed."

"Can you go?"

"Yes, my troops can also go. But for the sake of the previous victories and the victories in the future, I would prefer to stay here. ”

Cassia looked up in thought, she seemed to have trouble understanding the words. "This is my home, and since you don't leave, I can't go."

"You don't have to go, stay at home, the Russians will just snatch things. Wait until the end of the war to go to the United States, away from this battlefield. ”

"When will the war end?"

"Wait for one side to lose completely."

"We're going to lose?"

"Hmm."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know, maybe I'll die on the battlefield."

"But you're a general."

"I can't be taken prisoner."

Cassia was silent for a moment, then suddenly shouted in horror: "You're going to kill yourself." You can't give up your life, I... Your family and friends will be sad. ”

"I'm not going to kill myself, I don't know who killed the deer. Good night, I'm going to rest. ”

Rudolph lay on the bed, forcing himself not to think about anything. Soon, the tiredness of several days came over his body, and he fell asleep.

At six o'clock in the morning, the adjutant woke him up. Rudolph came to the conference room. The same people were at yesterday's banquet, and today is the time for them to fulfill their promise.

"According to the instructions of the army group, the Russian 24th Army will attack from east to south."

Clifford, the chief of the operations section, placed the flag representing the Russian army on the sand table.

"The 133rd Regiment formed a defensive line in the town of Mepulo to the south. The 146th Regiment is stationed on the heights to the southeast, which will not be the main direction of attack of the Russian army, and your task is to protect the flank of the 50th Regiment. Fire support will be provided by two artillery battalions of the 79 brigade, one of the 27 artillery battalions of the 75 division. ”

"The 50th Regiment is defending in the east, and this place is suitable for defensive operations. The Grani Lipa River is your first line of defense, and three artillery battalions will support you, and the Russian army will definitely suffer heavy losses here. If the Russians cross the river, you will block them along the forests and valleys, and finally retreat to the ruins of the town of Karlov to form a position. ”

The chief of staff, Colonel Yodel, asked, "Don't we have to worry about the defense of the other two fronts?" ”

"The Russian army on the Western Front is retreating south, and they are converging with the Russian 8th Army with all their might, and the 12th Army is cutting these two Russian armies."

Grady, the commander of the 133rd Regiment, stood up, "The 146th Regiment is three kilometers southeast of the city, and my defense line is seven kilometers beyond them, and my troops are equivalent to defending alone. ”

The commander of the 146th Regiment, Wren, was a little embarrassed, "General, my defense line should be moved forward." ”

"Colonel Wren, your 146th Regiment must hold the high ground, and you are also tasked with defending the city."

"Colonel Grady, the 133 regiment is a unit of trucks and combat vehicles. You need to use resilient defensive tactics. ”