1914 was shrouded in an atmosphere that made people shudder at the future of mankind. Even the most courageous and decisive people would cry for it.

On August 5, French Army Minister Messimi was full of confidence and courage in his opening speech at the cabinet meeting, but in the middle of his speech, he suddenly interrupted and covered his face and cried, which was unsustainable.

When British Navy Secretary Churchill left the British Expeditionary Force and rushed to the French battlefield, he could not help but cry.

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

On August 5, French Ambassador Paleologge said when he visited the Tsar: "Please ask His Majesty to order his troops to take an offensive immediately, otherwise the French army will be in danger of being destroyed."

The Tsar thanked the French for keeping the agreement and showed their loyalty to the agreement very much by supporting France. He declared with confidence and courage: "Our original goal is to annihilate the German army."

The Tsar assured the French that he had ordered the Russian commander-in-chief Nicholas to "open the road to Berlin as soon as possible at any cost."

The French ambassador immediately asked to meet the Grand Duke, the cousin of the Tsar's father.

In fact, for a vast country like Russia, an order was issued, but no one could be sure whether it was delivered. The lack of communication equipment and trained communication soldiers made it impossible for communication to be fast and reliable. The lack of mobile transportation also made it difficult for Russian soldiers to move quickly. However, the Grand Duke still assured the French that in order to keep the promise of starting the action on the 15th day of the mobilization order, he would start a large-scale attack without waiting for the entire army to assemble.

On August 6, the Russian General Staff ordered that "a powerful attack on the German army as soon as possible to ease the situation facing France. Of course, this can only be carried out when there is enough power."

After that, due to the source of telegrams urging from Paris and the eloquence of the French ambassador, by August 10, the "enough strength" was omitted. That day, the order of the Russian General Staff wrote: "In view of the sudden launch of a sharp attack on France, it is our duty to support France, and this support must attack Germany as soon as possible and attack its troops left in East Prussia."

On August 13, on a charming summer night, the Grand Duke left the capital and headed to the battlefield headquarters located in Baranovizi. It was the hub of the Moscow-Warsaw railway line, located at the midpoint of the German and Austrian front. The Grand Duke and his staff and their families gathered on the platform at the St. Petersburg Station, waiting for the Tsar to arrive to see the commander-in-chief. However, due to the obstruction of the queen, Nicholas II did not show up. Finally, the Grand Duke and his staff boarded the train silently and set off for the front line.

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

East Prussia, Germany, Cornisburg.

"Your Highness, an advancing cavalry unit from the other side has crossed the border. They then occupied the town of Magrabova, 8 kilometers away from the border, but the residents there have been moved away a week ago." In the General Staff of Cornisburg, a staff officer reported the latest movements of the Russian army.

"It's finally here!" Chen Tian, ​​who was lying on the table and studying the map, stood up and placed his right hand on his left chest.

"Generals, Prussian warriors, for us, the battle begins today!"

Everyone was doing the same movements with great enthusiasm.

The Russian troops attacking the Prussian region included the 1st Army of Leninkamp and the 2nd Army of Samsonov, including 6.5 infantry divisions, 5.5 cavalry divisions, 492 artillery pieces, 11.5 infantry divisions, 3 cavalry divisions, 720 artillery pieces, and a total force of 450,000.

The Russian army's plan was to attack the 1st Army from the front of the mouth of Insterburg, while the 2nd Army crossed the Matsu Lake District from the south, and gave a decisive blow to the German defenders from the flanks and rear.

The first to cross the German border was a cavalry division of the Russian 1st Army.

Leninkamp, ​​the commander of the 1st Army, was a 61-year-old general, neat and upright, with two beards. He was famous in the army for his bravery and decisiveness and strategy during the Russo-Japanese War and the 1905 suppression of the Revolution. However, the general was shrouded in a thin shadow, that is, he was a descendant of the Germans, and people had some doubts about his loyalty.

After receiving reports of the evacuation of the town and the residents fleeing, Leinenkamp and General Jilinsky, commander of the Northwest Army Group, both inferred that the Germans did not intend to resist seriously in the area east of the Vistula River, and were extremely excited.

In order to show his loyalty, Leninkamp quickly concentrated three armies and 5.5 cavalry divisions and launched an offensive on August 17. His 200,000 troops crossed the border along the 55-kilometer front line, with the goal of the entrance of Insterburg 60 kilometers away from the border. However, the Russian 2nd Army was in trouble at this time. There was no east-west railway between Russian Poland and East Prussia, so they needed to cross a forest and a wasteland full of swamps to cross the border and join the 1st Army.

Samsonov was unfamiliar with the area and was not familiar with his troops and staff. When the war broke out, he was 55 years old in the Caucasus recuperation and did not arrive at the Warsaw 2nd Army Command as the commander of the Army. The communications between his troops and the Leninkamp's troops, and between the Jilinsky Command, which was located in the rear to coordinate the operations of their two troops, had very abnormal communications, which had a very adverse impact on their subsequent battles.

"Col. Hoffman, how long will it take for the Russians' 2nd Army to reach the border?" In the combat command room, General Fronsova, Commander of the First Infantry Army, General Makenyan, Commander of the Second Infantry Army, General Oli, Commander of the Third Infantry Army, Commander of the Fourth Infantry Army, Colonel Matthew, Deputy Commander of the Armored Army, General Orger, Commander of the Cavalry Division, General Belo, Commander of the Air Force, Commander of the Air Force, and all the generals of the East Prussian Army gathered here to wait for their first order.

"3 days!" Max Hoffman returned to the simplicity, and Chen Tian admired this keen-eyed adviser very much.

"We act according to Plan B!"

The generals stood up in unison, and Chentian saluted everyone solemnly.

"The first battle on the Eastern Front, I wish you all a victory!"

Without any extra words, everyone shook hands with Chen Tian one by one, then left the command room calmly, and they would immediately return to their troops.

"General Fronsova!" Chen Tian held the hand of the fierce general tightly.

"Remember what I said?"

"Yes, Your Highness! Abide by the orders and adapt to the situation!" Fronsova still had a cold expression on his face, but his eyes were filled with respect for the prince.

"Very good, go!"

In the evening, General Leiningkamp's Russian First Army stopped in the Tannenburg area, 40 kilometers away from the border, and they were about to stay here for one night before continuing their journey.

All day, they saw no German, or even a German sheep, or a German dog, and only a few planes kept hovering over their heads. Lenin Camp several times asked his soldiers to shoot machine guns into the sky, but it was ineffective because the planes were always at higher places.

"Cowardly German pig!" Lenincamp and his soldiers cursed. Those planes were just wooden toys to them.

After sending more than a dozen patrols around the camp, Leninkamp entered his tent and began to enjoy his dream. In his opinion, the entrance of Insterburg tomorrow might be subject to some resistance, but the decisive battle will not take place after crossing the entire East Prussia to the Vistula River.

At about 12 o'clock, Lenincamp was awakened by several explosions. He rushed out of the tent with his bare shirt and called his adjutant. At this time, the other soldiers also came out of their tents.

"Go and find out what happened!" He shouted in angrily. Two hours ago the patrol team had clearly reported to him that there were no traces of German troops within ten kilometers nearby.

After a while, his adjutant appeared in front of him trotting.

"General, the camp of the 3rd Corps was attacked by unknown shells from the west. The opponent fired a total of 3 large-caliber howitzers. Five people died and 19 were injured! General Yosip had sent a cavalry regiment to the west!"

"Large caliber howitzer? It's so damn! I see how these guys can escape!" He spat on the ground hard, then got back into the tent and slept soundly.

Three hours later, Lenincamp was awakened again by the sound of shell explosions. This time he stared at his red eyes and began to beat and scold him.

"Are those damn patrols all the money? I don't know if the enemy is approaching! Tomorrow, tomorrow I will throw them all into Siberia!"

This time, his adjutant ran to the shelled camp to inquire about the situation without waiting for his order. Soon, he ran back panting.

"General, this time the 5th Corps was bombarded from the north. The opponent still fired 3 shells with howitzers. Our army lost 7 soldiers and 18 others were injured. General Sokolov has sent two cavalry regiments to advance to the north!"

"Have you noticed any troops sent by General Josip?" Leninkamp remembered that he had troops tracking the opponent's cannon a few hours ago, and he should have caught up with the opponent at speed.

"General, one hour ago, General Josip reported that no trace of the other party was found!"

"Food bucket! It's a food bucket! Four legs can't escape the cannons pulled by horses!" Leninkamp didn't know that the one racing against his cavalry was not the cannons pulled by horses, but the cannons pulled by cars. If his cavalry installed four tires, they might be able to catch up.

When it was just dawn, the Russian camp was attacked again. This time, two planes swayed their wings and dropped six bombs, hitting a Russian kitchen squad. Food fragments were scattered all over the ground, and 13 soldiers were injured. Of course, the most important thing was that it disturbed Lenincamp's good dream again. The poor general was furious and vowed to urinate and defecate anywhere in the Berlin Palace.
Chapter completed!