I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 576 All That Glitters Is Not Gold

In order to control the soldiers, the aristocracy gave them the highest status, such as chivalry, gentlemanly manners, honor is life, duty is obedience, etc.

George was a Russian first and a soldier second.

John French's reasoning was based on George's military contributions.

If John French hadn't reminded him, George would not have realized that he had made so many contributions to the military over the years.

Not to mention the battleships equipped with all heavy artillery, that was the Italians' idea. George was not greedy for credit, nor did he want to attract hatred.

Armored vehicles and aircraft all shined brightly thanks to George's work.

Although there are still some old-fashioned people who do not have a full understanding of armored vehicles and aircraft and are still fantasizing about human wave tactics.

But some people have realized that the form of war has been completely changed.

George's reason for refusal was simple.

One of the eight virtues of chivalry is humility, and not being proud or complacent.

So George wasn't doing enough.

The key point is that George made no contribution to Britain, so he did not receive any reward.

"Your Excellency the Duke, you are a true knight. Unfortunately, there are too few people like you nowadays."

French had a smile on his face and was not angry at being rejected.

George didn't know what he was thinking.

George didn't want to know either.

They are all thousand-year-old foxes, what's the point of performing Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio with them?

Can a mere memorandum of understanding offset the damage caused by Britain to the Russian Empire?
George V was Nicholas's cousin and had no blood relationship with George.

Of course, George would not say bad things to respond or pretend to be nice. When necessary, George is also good at talking in circles.

If Britain was unhappy with George's refusal to accept the honor, George could also, in the name of the Russian Imperial Navy Minister, award medals to those British officers who would rather be dismissed than suppress the Irish.

Anyway, we just disgust each other. If there is your first day, there will be my fifteenth day.

The former British Chief of General Staff is visiting, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Empire, Sukhomlinov, must have expressed his views.

So that evening, Sukhomlinov held a reception for French at the General Staff Headquarters.

George did not go to the reception, but went to see little Nicholas.

George finally remembered Zhilinsky.

Zhilinski's current position is Governor-General of Warsaw and Commander of the Warsaw Military District.

George was curious about how Zhilinsky had escaped accountability after the Russo-Japanese War.

This is actually thanks to Nicola.

During the Russo-Japanese War, Kuropatkin adopted a defensive position while fighting and retreating to wait for reinforcements, luring the Japanese army to attack the hinterland, and then counterattacked the Japanese army after the troops were assembled.

This is Kuropatkin's confession. If we ignore the consequences, Kuropatkin's plan is still feasible.

Zhilinsky was Alexeev's chief of staff. His plan was completely opposite to Kuropatkin's plan. He required that Fort Arthur be defended to the death and no retreat be allowed.

Inferring from the results, if the Russian army in Kwantung had adopted Zhilinsky's plan at that time, it would indeed have had a chance of winning.

The problem was that Zhilinsky asked the Pacific Fleet to defend Fort Arthur to the death, but he himself ran to Fengtian with Alexeev as soon as the war broke out.

Well, that's typical of Zhilinsky.

In order to avoid greater turmoil, Nicholas took the initiative to assume responsibility for the Russo-Japanese War.

This is the key reason why Zhilinsky escaped.

The Warsaw Military District was on the front line against the German-Austrian alliance. Before George returned to St. Petersburg, Nicholas the Younger recalled Zhilinski and asked him how long it would take for the Warsaw Military District to complete mobilization.

Zhilinsky's answer was 15 days.

This is the mobilization of the army, which means how long it takes for the army to enter combat status after receiving the combat order. If it is a national mobilization, George planned three to six months for the Russian Empire.

It takes three months for the reserve forces to complete their assembly and enter a state of war.

If the Cossacks were to be recruited, it would take at least half a year.

Based on George's understanding of the Guards, it would take more than 15 days to mobilize the Guards.

So how did the Warsaw Military District do it?
"You should ask yourself this question. You are the one responsible for the military reform."

Little Nicholas has not forgiven George yet and is very angry with him.

After George's military reform, the Warsaw Military District became the fourth largest military district in the empire after St. Petersburg, Moscow and Amur, with a strength of nearly 4 troops.

The main role of these 4 people is to suppress the resistance forces in the Warsaw area.

If the Germans really attack, it can only serve as a warning at most.

Therefore, it is hard to say how much combat effectiveness the army used to suppress the riots has.

"Do you remember that you whipped him at Rovno?"

George reminded little Nicholas.

"So what? I've whipped a lot of people!"

Little Nicholas didn't take it seriously at all.

George could only say, you have a really big heart.

George doesn't mean that you have a grudge against each other, but that Zhilinsky has a long history of bad deeds and cannot be reused.

"This man is not suitable to stay in Warsaw. His ability is at most to be a staff officer, not a leader. We should send a strong general to Warsaw."

George pointed out directly that Warsaw is such an important place and Zhilinski cannot be allowed to be in charge.

"This is not for you and me to decide."

Little Nicholas had no choice, as only the Tsar could decide who would serve as the commander of the Warsaw Military District.

The power of George and Nicholas the Younger was limited to middle and low-ranking officers.

At the level of military district commander, only Nicholas can make the decision.

So Nikolai stuffed Kirill into the navy. Even if George disliked Kirill, he could only sideline Kirill and could not refuse.

"What do you think of Brusinov?"

George took the initiative to recommend.

Little Nicholas frowned.

Although Brusinov did not perform very well in the Russo-Japanese War, he performed well in the Balkan War and became the most outstanding general of the empire in recent years.

Little Nikolai frowned because of the close relationship between George and Brusinov.

George and little Nicholas were in charge of the navy and the army respectively, and they did not interfere with each other.

In the past two years, George and Nicholas Jr. have had many disputes over the Marine Corps. Nicholas Jr. meant that the Imperial Army should all be under the command of the Army Department, and George was overreaching.

In terms of ability alone, Dmitriy is actually not inferior to Brusinov.

Demeter has served in the Guards for so many years, but his rank is only lieutenant general, and he has not been able to serve as a military district commander. This is very telling.

Even Zhilinsky has become a cavalry general, but Demeter is still a lieutenant general.

George didn't know what to say.

The empire is not without talent.

Talent has to be used in the right place.

A few years ago, Kuropatkin wrote a book called "The Russian Army in the War against Japan" and tried to be a writer, which was a suitable career for him.

(End of this chapter)