Vienna, General Staff of the Austro-Hungarian Army. Karl I himself arrived here to learn about the development of the war. After all, this battle was directly related to the survival of Austria-Hungary, as well as his own fate. Therefore, he is very concerned about the development of the battle situation.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency the Chief of Staff. I've reached out to the Americans. The Americans said that their navy would soon depart for the eastern Atlantic to fight with us and the German navy. As long as our Army can hold out for a month, the US Army will be on the battlefield. You know, the total strength of the U.S. Army is now more than two million. If mobilized, the U.S. Army could be further strengthened. When the time comes, we will have a good chance of defeating the Germans! Karl I still looked optimistic.

In Karl I's view, even if Austria-Hungary could not defeat Germany, it would be no problem to hold out for a month. After all, on the European continent and in the world, Austria-Hungary is the second military power after Germany!

However, the expressions of Archduke Friedrich and Marshal Baron Herzendorf were very solemn. They are obviously not very optimistic about this battle. Although, it seems a bit humiliating to admit that the Austrians were not even sure to hold back the German offensive for a month. However, facts are facts and must be acknowledged. What's more, this is a matter of life and death for the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire!

They also did not know why Karl I agreed to the demands of the Americans without consulting them. If they had been in the know, they would not have agreed to the conditions that Karl I had promised.

"Your Majesty, we will do our best to stop the Germans." Marshal Baron Hezendorf said.

In such an extremely unfavorable situation, he did not dare to pack the ticket. After all, this time the enemy is the world hegemon!

Karl I couldn't help but frown, how he wished he could hear an affirmative answer. However, Marshal Baron Hezendorf's answer was still very conservative, which made Karl I a little dissatisfied. He even made up his mind that when this crisis had passed, he would find an opportunity to remove Marshal Baron Hezendorf and replace him with someone who could obey. In this way, he would be able to better control the Austro-Hungarian army. If you can't even control the army, how can you still be considered an emperor!

"The report shows that the German troops have crossed the border and entered our country." A staff officer reported.

"What? Bastards, damn the Germans, they actually really invaded Austria-Hungary. We can't let them go so easily! Karl I roared angrily.

"How's it going?" Archduke Friedrich asked.

"Your Excellency, the Germans have sent two armies into our borders from Bavaria in two separate ways. At the moment, the German army is marching towards Vienna. In addition, there were two German army groups, which entered the Kingdom of Bohemia. The staff officer reported.

"Four armies, 800,000 people. The Germans actually used so many troops at once! The faces of Grand Duke Friedrich and Marshal Baron Herzendorf became very ugly.

Although, the total strength of the German Army is undoubtedly more than two million. However, excluding the two armies that were fighting in Australia, they were already stationed in India and France, as well as troops on the Eastern European Plain. There were not many troops that Germany could use. Now, with four armies in one move, Germany was apparently doing its best.

If the Austro-Hungarian Army wants to defeat these 800,000 German troops, the difficulty is probably not ordinary!

However, Karl I seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency the Chief of Staff. The Germans sent only 800,000 men, we had two million troops. We will definitely be able to defeat the Germans this time! Karl I said excitedly. The heart he had been hanging on was finally put back into his stomach at this moment.

"Your Majesty, although we have two million troops, after deducting the troops stationed all over the country, the number of troops we can use is actually not much, only one and a half million at most. Even though they had twice the strength of the German Army, it would be very difficult to defeat the Germans. Marshal Baron Herzendorf explained.

After all, the German army was much more powerful than the Austro-Hungarian Army. Even with nearly twice the strength advantage, it is not always possible to win.

Karl I frowned suddenly, as if he was somewhat dissatisfied with the combat effectiveness of the Austro-Hungarian Army.

"In that case, let's mobilize further. We need more troops to defeat the Germans! In three months, we will be able to expand the army from two million to four million! Karl I said.

With the population of Austria-Hungary of 40 million or 50 million, it would not be much of a problem to arm an army of four million if mobilized. However, it also takes time. Whether the Austro-Hungarian Army was able to hold out for such a long time is undoubtedly very difficult to say.

It was at this time that bad news came.

"The army of the Kingdom of Bohemia, on its own initiative, opened its borders and surrendered to the Germans. Now the Germans are on a long drive in the Bohemian kingdom! ”

"What? How so? Everyone, including Karl I, was stunned. They never imagined that such a thing would happen when the battle had just begun.

"Damn, Archduke of Bohemia, what does he want? Is it to betray the Empire? Isn't he afraid that the Empire will send him to the gallows? Karl I was furious. For the first time, he felt that the situation seemed to be out of his control. Or rather, it's not something he can control.

The faces of Archduke Friedrich and Baron Herzendorf were also very unsightly. The betrayal of the Kingdom of Bohemia undoubtedly cost Austria-Hungary almost a fifth of its strength. The battle had just begun, and so much power was lost. This makes it so how they will fight the Germans next!

The bad news is much more than that.

"Report, the Chief of Staff of the Hungarian Army, Baron Tobres, has issued an order for all Hungarian troops to stay in the barracks and not to go out."

"What?"

Everyone was devastated by the news. Hungary was one of the most powerful states in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. If the Kingdom of Hungary remained neutral, it would directly cost them more than a third of their strength!

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