Europe's melee had already begun. The French had risen to the occasion, showing everyone that their title as the world's foremost land power was no empty boast.
Facing off against the Germans on one front while pinning the Italians to the ground and beating them on the other, the French military had even declared that they would hold a victory parade in Rome three months from now.
Judging by the current situation, the odds of that happening were quite high. The Italians had even lost Bologna; whether they could hold out for three months was itself a question.
And that was with British help. Without that wet nurse pumping them full of blood, let alone three months, the Italians would be practically cheating if they managed to last one.
Less than half a month after the war broke out, the Italians had already lost more than six hundred thousand troops—an average of three divisions wiped out per day. Such losses were nearly on par with the bloodiest days of World War I.
"Chief of Staff, brief us on the current state of the European war," Little Ferdinand said.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Christoph replied.
"Since the war began on July 18, the three belligerent nations have mobilized more than eight million troops in total and fought a major battle with the Rhine River and the Milan region as the battlefield.
"Of those, France mobilized approximately 2.87 million men, Germany 2.76 million, and Italy 1.84 million.
"At present, Germany and France are locked in confrontation along the Rhine River. Neither side can do anything to the other, and their armies have yet to formally clash.
"The situation on the Italian front is already very clear. Eight hundred thousand French troops have beaten the Italians until they are crying for their fathers and