On July 8, 1909, Ferdinand delivered his famous Declaration of Self-Defense before the Bulgarian Parliament, directly branding the "Anti-Bulgarian Alliance" as aggressors!
That same day, Bulgaria delivered declarations of war to Greece, the Kingdom of Montenegro, and Romania. The Second Balkan War erupted in full.
Of course, by the time war was declared, both sides' armies had already begun fighting. Though Bulgaria's main forces appeared to be stationed on the Asia Minor peninsula, it still had two construction corps at home, totaling more than 300,000 men. Once they took up weapons, they could be sent straight onto the battlefield.
Although their combat strength could not compare to that of regular troops, they were by no means at a disadvantage against the Anti-Bulgarian Alliance!
With another hundred-odd thousand regular troops at home, Bulgaria fielded 400,000 men at the outbreak of the war and fought the Anti-Bulgarian Alliance with tremendous vigor, even gaining a major upper hand.
Caught by surprise, the Anti-Bulgarian Alliance had not had time to complete full mobilization. Greece sent 80,000 troops, Montenegro 70,000, and Romania 300,000, hastily launching their offensive.
The stalled offensive instantly cast the shadow of defeat over the Anti-Bulgarian Alliance. If they could not win quickly and were forced into a war of attrition, they would undoubtedly be the first to collapse!
At this moment, no one regretted things more than Nicholas I. Just like in the First Balkan War, the Kingdom of Montenegro's army had once again been halted at Shkodër.
Nicholas I furiously ordered, "Attack! Attack at any cost! Shkodër Fortress must fall today!"
The war had already been raging for a week, yet the Kingdom of Montenegro—the strongest fighting force in the Anti-Bulgarian Alliance—was still locked in bitter combat beneath Shkodër Fortress.
As for bypassing it and advancing onward?
Nicholas I was