Peak Showdown

With the British acting as go-betweens, Prussia and Germany sat down at the negotiating table and began protracted talks.

The diplomatic moves did not affect the climactic showdown between Prussia and Russia on the battlefield.

Forced by the grim situation at the front, after abandoning Latvia, the Prussian Army had no choice but to continue relinquishing Lithuania. The flames of war had already reached East Prussia.

As the situation continued developing in the Russian Army's favor and victories from the front arrived one after another, Marshal Ivanov not only failed to relax—he grew increasingly tense.

He knew clearly that behind those victories, the Russian Army's front line was also being stretched ever longer. Not only was logistical pressure mounting by the day, but the defensive fortifications prepared in advance could no longer serve their purpose.

That alone would have been manageable. The crucial issue was that calls at home for a decisive battle were growing louder and louder, while requests for battle within the military emerged in endless succession. Even with Alexander II backing him, Ivanov felt crushing pressure.

An officer said loudly, "Marshal, an urgent telegram has arrived from the Fourth Army."

Ivanov said flatly, "Read it!"

"Yes!"

"...On October 18, 1880, our forces captured Puławy, annihilating 12,000 enemy troops and taking 1,876 prisoners.

"The gateway to Warsaw now stands wide open. In war, speed is paramount; to seize this opportunity, our forces have decided to proceed downstream along the Vistula River and advance on Warsaw.

"We request the Seventh Army and Fifth Army to coordinate by launching attacks on the Warsaw region from the north and east respectively.

"..."

With a bang, the cup in Marshal Ivanov's hand fell to the floor.

For all his calculations, he had still underestimated his officers' hunger for victory. Of course, other