Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 1169 Seeking Help from Allies

"Colonel," Petrov suddenly said, "Should we report to the military district? Request reinforcements?"

"Reinforcements?" Ivanov sneered, "Do you think the military district will mobilize troops for our small group? They are now thinking about how to deal with the Bird Empire."

At this moment, a loud noise was heard, shaking the entire command center.

"What is that?" the young officer asked in horror.

"Thor's Hammer," Kuznetsov said, his face turning pale. "Their new heavy artillery. It is said that one shot can destroy the position of a reinforced company."

Ivanov stood at the window, looking at the military exercises on the other side, his face terribly gloomy. He knew that this elite Chinese army was showing off its muscles to them, but they were powerless to do anything.

This is the reality. The Tsarist Russian Empire, which once dominated the Far East, can now only watch others show off their power in front of it.

Moscow, Winter Palace.

Tsar Nicholas III sat at the head of the conference room with a gloomy face. The telegram in front of him recorded in detail the military activities of the Northland Division of China on the border.

"Everyone," he said in a deep voice, "You have all seen the report from the Far East Military Region. The Chinese Northern Division has been conducting exercises on the border for three full days."

"Your Majesty," Far Eastern Military District Commander Konovalov reported via a telephone conference, "According to observations from the front line, the enemy has deployed at least a thousand armored vehicles. Their equipment is very advanced, with nearly 34 heavy artillery pieces alone."

"These yellow monkeys!" Defense Minister Popov slammed the table angrily, "They are provoking our great Tsarist Russian Empire!"

"Provocation?" Foreign Minister Sergei smiled bitterly, "They are showing their strength. We all know that the current Far Eastern Military Region is no longer the Far Eastern Military Region of 34 years ago."

"So what?" Popov retorted, "We still have 34 troops in the Far East!"

"Two hundred thousand?" Military Chief of Staff Kuzminchev sneered, "Fifty thousand of them are fighting against the Bird Empire, and the remaining troops are outdated and poorly trained. And the other side is an elite division that can defeat the main force of the Fuso Empire!"

There was a brief silence in the meeting room.

"Your Majesty," Sergei said cautiously, "perhaps we should consider diplomatic avenues..."

"Diplomacy?" Nicholas III stood up suddenly, "Are you suggesting that the Russian Empire bow down to those yellow monkeys?"

"Your Majesty," Kuzminchev said solemnly, "This is the reality. Our main force is being held back by the Bird Empire, and the Far East troops are simply unable to compete with them. If a war breaks out, we will most likely..."

"That's enough!" the Tsar roared, but his voice no longer had the majesty of the past, but instead carried a hint of weakness.

"Konovalov," he turned to the commander of the Far Eastern Military District on the other end of the phone, "How long can you hold out there?"

"Your Majesty," Konovalov's voice trembled, "If the enemy really launches an attack, with our current forces and equipment, we can only hold out for three days at most. Their firepower is too strong. The 'Thor's Hammer' heavy artillery alone can cause our entire defense line to collapse."

The Tsar slumped in his chair, his face pale. Once upon a time, the Russian Empire was in control of the Far East, but now it was forced to this point by a Chinese division-level force.

"Gentlemen," he said wearily, "give me a solution."

The conference room fell silent again, with only the sound of bells in the distance, as if tolling the death knell for the decline of the Russian Empire.

In the meeting room of the Winter Palace in Moscow, the atmosphere was so solemn that it seemed as if water could drip out. Tsar Nicholas III sat at the head of the table, his face gloomy, his eyes wandering among the ministers.

"Gentlemen," he began, "we are now facing a very serious situation. China's Northern Division is showing off its might on the border, and our Far East Military Region is unable to cope with it."

Foreign Minister Sergei coughed lightly and broke the silence: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, we only have two choices now."

"Go on." The Tsar motioned for him to continue.

"First," Sergey said carefully, "we can follow the example of England and Portugal and return the land to China unconditionally."

Before he finished speaking, the Tsar slammed the table, furious: "Absolutely impossible! How can we give up the land of the Russian Empire?"

Sergei shrugged helplessly: "Your Majesty, I am just raising a possibility."

"This is not a possibility," the Tsar sputtered. "This is a shame!"

There was silence in the meeting room. The ministers looked at each other and dared not say anything.

"So," the Tsar looked at Sergei coldly, "what is your second choice?"

"Secondly," Sergei adjusted his mood, "is to ask for help from our allies. After all, Britain, the United States, France, Portugal and Spain are now all members of the anti-Will alliance. They should support us, Tsarist Russia, out of emotion and reason."

"Allies?" Defense Minister Popov frowned. "Will they be willing to send troops to help us?"

"That depends on our diplomatic skills," Sergei replied. "We can emphasize the threat posed by China, especially its expansionist ambitions in the Far East."

"But," Military Chief of Staff Kuzminchev interrupted, "Britain, the United States, France and other countries are now busy fighting the Alliance of Will and may not have time to care about us."

"This is exactly where we need to work hard," Sergei said. "We can use diplomatic means to win their support. At least in terms of materials and intelligence, they can give us help."

The Tsar thought for a moment and asked: "If we choose the second option, what is the probability of success?"

"Your Majesty," Sergei replied, "it depends on whether we can convince our allies that the threat posed by China is not just to us, Tsarist Russia, but a challenge to the entire anti-War alliance."

"Okay," the Tsar sighed, "I'll do as you say. Contact the allies as soon as possible to see their attitude."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Sergei nodded.

"In addition," the Tsar turned to Defense Minister Popov, "while making diplomatic efforts, we must strengthen the defense of the Far East. Even without the support of our allies, we cannot sit idly by."

"Understood, Your Majesty," Popov replied, standing at attention.

After the meeting, the Tsar sat alone in a chair, looking at the snow outside the window, his heart filled with helplessness and anger. Once upon a time, the Russian Empire was able to call the shots in the Far East, but now it has to rely on the support of its allies to barely maintain the situation.

On the border of the Far East, the exercises of the Northern Division are still going on, and the rumbling of artillery seems to be announcing the arrival of a new era.