The fighting on the eastern side played out exactly according to the script, with the Russians attacking on 16 February, the day after the fighting on the southern front began. By February 20, they had finally crossed the Lipa River.

The 50 regiment held out for five days, and then voluntarily abandoned its position, because the shells had run out and the position was damaged.

Relying on the valleys and woods along the way, they fought and retreated, delaying for another two days.

On 22 February, the Russian army advancing west stopped at the town of Karlov. The 50 Regiment had been withdrawn to the rear for repairs, and in their place was the second battalion of the 41 Regiment and 1,200 volunteers. After the 50th regiment, only 600 fighters remained. They had suffered 1,800 casualties in the week's fighting, and with the loss of nearly 1,000 men during the siege, the 4,000-strong infantry regiment had lost its basic combat capability.

The 133 regiment on the southern front was also not having a good time. Previously, relying on flexible defensive tactics, the Russian army was forced to return in vain. After a day of repairs, the Russians attacked again on 20 February, and the 133rd Regiment repeated its old tricks and successfully repulsed the Russians.

Rudolph had nothing to do in the headquarters, and he worked like a dispatcher every day, contacting the front and army group headquarters, constantly calculating how many days he could hold out, and how many days would come for reinforcements. The agreed one-week period has long passed, and in three days, the two weeks predicted by Rudolph will be reached.

Rudolf proved to be overly optimistic, the Second Army did defeat the Russian 7th Army, the 12th Army, and the newly formed 7th Army also managed to contain the Russian 8th Army. The Russian 7th and 12th armies were in a bad condition, they suffered heavy losses and had no supplies, and now they were all under the protection of the 8th Army, and they were only one step away from victory. Then something happened to the Third Army, and since the last battle, they have suffered a great loss of vitality and can only exert half of their combat strength. In this battle, thanks to the excellent command of General Boroyevich, they managed to resist the Russian Third Army, which was almost twice their size. Then Rudolph received two bad news in a row, and Russia sent a new army group, which joined the attack on Boroyevich, and the northern defense line was in danger. In desperation, the Second Army, as the main attacker, could only go north to support. The task of supporting Rudolph was left to the Seventh Army.

This Seventh Army doesn't need to think about it to know what it is. According to Rudolph's understanding, there are only seven divisions under this group army, and five of them are estimated to be newly formed units, and the combat effectiveness of these units is probably not much different from that of Rudolph's volunteer regiment. These divisions were basically shrunken troops, with one division having three regiments under its command. Before the armament reform, a division had two brigades and four regiments under its command, but the command of this establishment proved to be too bloated, so only a dozen or so long-established units retained this formation. After the outbreak of the war, this understanding became even more far-sighted, and it was difficult to command such a division of more than 20,000 people, and the various participating countries basically reduced their strength.

General Elmolly had done his duty, leaving behind the 12th Army, which had been moving closer to Rudolph.

In the face of the attack of the 24th Army, Rudolph could have held out until reinforcements arrived. Now it is the Russians who are in a hurry, they need to capture Lemberg as soon as possible and build a defensive line here. The command told Rudolph that there was another division going to Lemberg, presumably Brusilov's reserve. Russia did not lack troops, they were simply limited by equipment and transportation.

The 24th Army besieging Lemberg numbered about 40,000 men, and the combat strength was about two divisions. After fighting with the 50 regiment, the Russian army lost an infantry brigade, which they stopped in the east.

On February 22, the positions of the 133 regiment were covered with artillery fire. This time, the Russian army saw the weakness of the Austrian artillery, and they not only used heavy artillery, but also placed 76 field guns on the front line. Under the direct threat of artillery, Rudolph ordered the 133rd Regiment not to counterattack, and all of them retreated to the main position, and the positions that had been repeatedly fought for before were thus surrendered.

On February 23, the Russian army seemed to see the reality of the opposite side, and seeing the 133rd Regiment retreating, they attacked with the situation. The position was first covered by artillery fire, and then the Russian soldiers rushed up.

Vincent emerged from the trenches, and he was now promoted to corporal, becoming squad leader. He counted his soldiers, and all five of them were still there.

There were now twenty-five people in his platoon, and only six were the original ones. Vincent did not know each other with five of his men, all of whom were battalion reinforcements.

"Grab your rifles, the Russians are coming." Vincent picked up the Manlicia M1895 rifle in his hand, which was about to become a veteran symbol as the war continued.

In order to reduce costs and simplify production, the M1914, which was finalized before the war, eliminated the colander and closed the bottom of the rifle. This not only prevents sand and dust from penetrating into the chamber, but also reduces the magazine to facilitate ammunition feeding.

Vincent, however, opted for the old gun, which he used in his reserve training. He had become accustomed to the force of the bolt and the way it was fed.

Vincent took out several magazines from the bullet pouch, and his bullets were loaded into the commette in advance, all from his dead comrades.

The Russians were still 500 meters away when Vincent opened fire. Only a few light machine guns were firing, and the mortars fired only a few shells. The battle scene was much calmer, but Vincent's war became more intense.

This trench used to have fifty people, but now there are only half. This means that everyone needs to take on greater responsibility. Vincent fired at the Russian army as fast as he could, and at this distance, it was simply difficult to aim.

Their strength was too meagre after all, and the Russians soon approached the position.

"Get on the bayonet." Vincent yelled. He attached a bayonet to his rifle and loaded his pistol.

The final battle is about to start, and they will eventually drown in the sea of Russian troops. Death or capture was their predetermined fate, and Vincent reflected on his life when he volunteered to enlist in the army, dreaming of becoming a hero of his country. He served in the 133 regiment and fought all the way to Lemberg. On the day he entered Lemberg, it was to be expected that the names of General Rudolf and his troops would be resounding in every alley, all of which were his ideals, as war or heroes should be.

Later, the ideals became reality, and they repeatedly tug-of-war with the Russian army in a position, and the withering and decaying of the past were nowhere to be found, and even the invincible chariots lost their former fearlessness. In order to defend a trench, his comrades died one by one. General Rudolph could not ask them to continue fighting, they were a unit formed for the offensive, and although they did not have a long history and honorary titles, their records had proven themselves to be a well-deserved elite.

In a trance, Vincent heard the roar of machinery.