With the great battle on the southern front on the verge of eruption, how could Ferdinand possibly sit back and wait for death?
In the earlier great battles on the Western and Eastern Fronts, Bulgaria had merely stood to the side as a spectator. Now the wheel of fortune had turned at last, and it was Bulgaria's turn to play the leading role.
Unfortunately, Ferdinand did not want this sort of chance to steal the spotlight in the slightest. Even victory would be a pyrrhic one; defeat went without saying.
Though cannon fodder was cheap, it still had value. At the very least, it had greatly increased Bulgaria's voice within the Entente, allowing it to barely communicate with Britain, France, and Russia as an equal.
If their losses in this battle were too severe, it would be disastrous! Winning would be manageable, since they could make up the losses afterward. But if they lost, the trouble would be immense. It would inevitably affect Bulgaria's standing within the Entente.
Just like the Russians now. Although their position within the Entente remained important, their strength had been badly damaged, so they certainly would not receive the largest share in the future division of interests.
Of course, Bulgaria's situation on the southern front was still far better than that of the Russians on the Eastern Front a few months ago. At the very least, the enemy was not as powerful as before.
And whether the Russians meant to or not, as long as they remained members of the Entente, they would help Bulgaria tie down a large portion of the German-Austro-Hungarian forces.
Besides, Britain and France on the Western Front were more or less ready as well. They could not possibly continue watching Bulgaria suffer defeat on the southern front, or they would