Chapter 0266: Marching on Warsaw

**East Prussia, Königsberg. QinTian returned once more to this place.**

In the midst of war, QinTian found himself increasingly drawn to the company of the military. In times of turmoil, forging a legacy was undoubtedly every man's dream. Even though QinTian now held the esteemed title of Crown Prince of the Empire, a general's ambition still burned brightly within him. Under his command, the 8th Legion was achieving one victory after another on the battlefield.

Upon QinTian's return to Königsberg from Berlin, the 8th Legion had completed its rest and, according to the established plan, commenced military operations. Only the staff remained in Königsberg, while the 11th Army, the 17th Army, the 20th Army, and the 8th Armored Division had already departed their stations, crossing the borders of East Prussia and the Kingdom of Poland to march towards Warsaw.

"Are our advances proceeding smoothly? Have we encountered any resistance from the Russians?" As soon as QinTian entered the 8th Legion's headquarters, he inquired.

"Your Highness, the advances of all units have been quite smooth; we have yet to face any resistance from the Russians. The Russian Northwestern Army was nearly annihilated by us, and while they have dispatched reinforcements, they have yet to arrive. The remaining Russian forces in the Kingdom of Poland number only around twenty thousand and are largely concentrated in Warsaw. At this rate, we should reach Warsaw in just five days," Major General Ludendorff reported.

QinTian nodded, recognizing the aftermath of the near-total destruction of the Russian Northwestern Army. The inadequately mobilized Russian forces had no power left to impede the advance of the 8th Legion.

"What reinforcements have the Russians sent to the Kingdom of Poland? How many are there, and when can we expect their arrival?" QinTian pressed.

"Our allies from the Austro-Hungarian Empire have provided us with intelligence. Tsar Nicholas II has ordered the 9th Army Corps and the 2nd Guards Army Corps to reinforce the Kingdom of Poland. However, both corps are still en route and will not reach Warsaw for at least a week. If we manage to disrupt their rail lines, their arrival will be further delayed. By the time they reach Warsaw, it will likely have already fallen into our hands," General Hindenburg chuckled.

"The 9th Army Corps and the 2nd Guards Army Corps? Isn't the 9th Corps engaged in combat with the Austro-Hungarians? How can they spare troops to march north? The 2nd Guards Army Corps is a key force guarding Moscow. Is Tsar Nicholas II truly willing to stretch his resources so thin?" QinTian questioned.

"Your Highness, the ability of the Russian 9th Army Corps to advance north is undoubtedly due to the failure of our ally, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to contain them. Otherwise, how would they dare to redeploy forces? In truth, the Austro-Hungarian Army has not fared well against the Russians and has already suffered defeats. Were it not for their substantial troop numbers, they might have collapsed entirely," Major General Ludendorff remarked with disdain.

Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a steadfast ally of the German Empire, the German military leaders held a low opinion of the Austro-Hungarian Army's combat capabilities.

"The Russians have proven to be no match for us in battle. Yet, in their engagements with the Austro-Hungarian Army, they appear surprisingly formidable. Sometimes, I truly wonder if the Russian forces we face are even the same ones," General Hindenburg mused, bemused.

In reality, it might be quite the opposite. The Russian Northwestern Army was the main force of the regular Russian military. The Austro-Hungarian Army faced only a fraction of the Russian main forces, while the remainder consisted of secondary units. Even so, the Austro-Hungarians had not achieved victory, underscoring their dismal combat effectiveness.

"The Austro-Hungarian Army has long been weakened; we cannot place too great a burden upon them. Their ability to tie down hundreds of thousands of Russians is commendable enough," QinTian remarked.

QinTian was well aware of the Austro-Hungarian Army's combat ineptitude. In another timeline, their performance had been abysmal, relying heavily on German assistance to secure victories against both the Russians and Serbians, and later the Italians.

"As for the Russian 2nd Guards Army Corps, its combat capability should indeed be considerable. However, that is merely the case. The 8th Legion remains confident in its ability to defeat them. Tsar Nicholas II's decision to send the 2nd Guards Army Corps was a necessity; the Russian mobilization efficiency is notoriously low. Poland holds immense significance for Russia, and losing it would place them in a precarious position in this war. Under duress, Nicholas II had no choice but to redeploy the 2nd Guards Army Corps," Major General Ludendorff explained.

"If we were to defeat the 2nd Guards Army Corps once again, do you think Nicholas II would then send out the 1st Guards Army Corps?" QinTian inquired.

"Your Highness's implication is?" Both General Hindenburg and Major General Ludendorff looked puzzled, aware that QinTian would not pose such a question lightly.

"The 1st Guards Army Corps is responsible for the defense of St. Petersburg. If they were redeployed, it would leave St. Petersburg vulnerable. Our Russian counterparts may then find themselves with an opportunity. If chaos were to ensue in Russia, our victory would become even more attainable," QinTian replied with a smile.

"Your Highness, such a scenario is indeed possible," General Hindenburg's eyes lit up.

"Your Highness, it seems we must revise our operational plans to ensure the complete annihilation, or at least the severe weakening, of the Russian 1st Guards Army Corps," Major General Ludendorff concurred, grinning.

"Gentlemen, it appears you have grasped my intent. Let us proceed accordingly! I propose we relocate our command center from Königsberg to the front lines, ideally to a location not far from Warsaw. This will enable us to maintain immediate oversight of the frontline situation," QinTian suggested.

Neither Hindenburg nor Ludendorff objected to QinTian's proposal.

That afternoon, QinTian and his companions departed Königsberg by train, heading toward the southern border of East Prussia. From there, they would switch to automobiles and continue their journey to Warsaw.