Chapter 0955: A Favorable Situation

On the evening of January 19th, Qin Tian did not return to the imperial palace. Instead, he remained in the operations room of the General Staff Headquarters, listening to the battle reports from the front lines.

"Your Majesty, the adverse weather conditions have somewhat hindered the movement of our troops. However, both within the Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the transportation infrastructure remains relatively good. Therefore, the impact of rain and snow on our operations is minimal. But if this were the plains of Eastern Europe, it would pose significant challenges," said Marshal Falkenhayn, the Minister of the Army and Chief of the General Staff.

Qin Tian nodded. Undertaking large-scale military operations in the cold winter was indeed a risky venture. Fortunately, both Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were industrially advanced nations with relatively good transportation networks. This allowed the German army to carry out operations during winter. Moreover, Germany's logistical support was far superior to that of other nations. The supply of warm clothing and fuel for heating was ample, ensuring that the troops had no concerns as they marched and fought. Were it other nations, the bitter cold alone could have led to a horrifying increase in non-combat casualties.

"Your Majesty, the 3rd and 5th Armies have already fully entered the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Army has virtually put up no resistance. However, due to the weather, our forces have advanced only twenty kilometers. At this pace, it will likely take around ten days to reach Vienna! The 6th and 7th Armies are also advancing rapidly in the Kingdom of Bohemia. Thanks to the cooperation of the Archduke of Bohemia, most of the Bohemian troops have laid down their arms, with only a small number continuing to resist. These forces have already been surrounded. Our troops are currently crossing through the Kingdom of Bohemia and heading toward Austria to join the 3rd and 5th Armies in encircling the Austrian Army. As for the 9th Army, it remains in reserve. However, with the Austro-Hungarian Empire in disarray and no support from other nations, the 9th Army is unlikely to be needed," Marshal Falkenhayn continued.

The current situation could be described as extremely favorable. On the first day of the war, the German army had virtually moved through unopposed territory. More importantly, the states within the Austro-Hungarian Empire had either switched sides or remained neutral, leaving Austria to fight alone. Without the support of these states, Austria's strength amounted to barely over thirty percent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's former might. Initially weaker than Germany, Austria was now no match for Germany's overwhelming force.

In Marshal Falkenhayn's view, deploying four army groups would be more than sufficient to annihilate Austria.

"The situation is highly advantageous for us. Our only remaining enemy is Austria. Their army not only lacks combat effectiveness, but their resolve is also fragile. It seems we will soon defeat them!" Qin Tian said optimistically.

"However, we must act quickly. We need to find ways to supply the front lines with more trucks to increase the speed of our advance. Ideally, we should reach Vienna within a week. Once we capture Vienna, Austria will be finished, and the war will be over!" Qin Tian emphasized.

He hoped that the war would end as swiftly as possible, minimizing both the losses of the troops and the consumption of resources. More importantly, the rapid destruction of a major power would serve as a tremendous deterrent to other nations.

"Understood, Your Majesty," Marshal Falkenhayn nodded.

The German army was undoubtedly equipped with a large number of trucks. While they had not yet reached the point where entire armies could travel exclusively by truck, they did use trucks extensively for transporting supplies and towing artillery. The use of horses had become rare, and cavalry units had almost been phased out. With the advent of armored units, the role of cavalry had diminished significantly. Only ceremonial cavalry remained, while field cavalry had largely been disbanded.

Marshal Falkenhayn had already decided to reallocate trucks from other units and even requisition civilian vehicles to further speed up the advance. Even a daily increase of ten kilometers would meet Qin Tian's requirements.

"What about the navy?" Qin Tian inquired.

The military campaign against the Austro-Hungarian Empire was not just an army affair; the navy had its own critical role to play, and its mission was substantial.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Navy's Mediterranean Fleet has entered a state of emergency readiness. We have deployed submarines and light warships in the waters where the Adriatic Sea meets the Mediterranean to monitor the movements of the Austro-Hungarian Navy. Seaplanes launched from Sicily are also focusing on reconnaissance in this area. Should the Austro-Hungarian Navy mobilize, we will be immediately informed," Admiral Reinhard Scheer reported.

Qin Tian nodded. The geographical conditions of the Adriatic Sea were indeed highly unfavorable for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. Should hostilities commence, the Austro-Hungarian fleet would be forced to leave the Adriatic, or risk being trapped within it.

"The Imperial Navy's Home Fleet and Indian Ocean Fleet are en route to the Mediterranean. The Home Fleet is expected to enter the Mediterranean in two days, while the Indian Ocean Fleet will take three days to arrive!" Admiral Scheer continued. This was due to the Indian Ocean Fleet having already taken early action, or else it would have taken much longer to reach the Mediterranean.

"The Atlantic Fleet has also heightened its vigilance. Should the United States Navy dare to intervene in this conflict, the Atlantic Fleet will be there to counter them. Additionally, the Imperial Navy's aircraft carrier fleet has entered the Atlantic and is on standby. With six aircraft carriers and the strength of the Atlantic Fleet, we will be more than capable of defeating the United States Navy!" Admiral Scheer said with confidence.

Qin Tian nodded in satisfaction. Both the Imperial Army and Navy were making excellent progress. It could be said that the Empire had already secured victory in this war. Before long, the Empire would once again achieve a great victory that would shake the world.