Ch.102Japan’s Invitation

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Initially, the country name is just different. The population is about the same, and isn’t Russia precisely the country that pulls people from the fields?

We could sweep across Europe with infantry alone.

America might be called the “room master’s scam map,” but when you think about it, Russia’s resources are also tremendous.

Even in the world I originally lived in, they threatened Europe by turning gas valves on and off.

Moreover, Siberia still has abundant resources.

“I’m not sure about the military. But with what we’ve prepared so far, even if the Great Depression hits, Russia will be fine while the rest of the world recovers.”

“That’s fortunate. How is the development of Northern Manchuria in the Far East progressing? Are the Jews causing any riots?”

Northern Manchuria is essentially under military administration.

We occupied Northern Manchuria during the civil war through a surprise attack, so we didn’t go through an official cession process but established military governance instead.

With Jews and Koreans mixed in, and Japan having taken Southern Manchuria, military administration became even more necessary for a while.

Naturally, since it’s under military rule and exclusively under White Army jurisdiction, I asked the Black Baron about it.

“The Jews aren’t a problem. However…”

“However?”

“It seems the Koreans who have settled in Northern Manchuria are quite organized in participating in Manchurian development and establishing themselves.”

They’re participating in Manchurian development in an organized manner.

There must be many Koreans who came over from the South Manchuria Railway or the Korean peninsula, so it must be quite chaotic.

But they say they work diligently.

Among the various ethnic groups, specifically mentioning Koreans means they’re doing particularly well in Northern Manchuria, unlike the Jews or remaining Manchus.

In other words, there must be someone behind the scenes unifying the Korean community.

The Black Baron, with his considerable experience from the civil war, seems to have caught on to this.

“Who do you think is behind the Koreans?”

“Yes. There haven’t been any particular disturbances so we’ve left them alone, but shouldn’t we assume something is there? I wonder if they might be influenced by the Asiatic Cavalry Division.”

Unity around someone as a central figure.

This feels a bit strange. Come to think of it, was the Shanghai Provisional Government around during this period?

It’s awkward to look into this separately with China.

But for now, Russia is at least outwardly on friendly terms with Japan.

“Are there any organizations in Manchuria or China fighting against Japan? For example, Koreans fighting for independence?”

“We could look into it, but as far as I know, there aren’t any at present. If there were, wouldn’t Japan have asked us to cooperate in investigating Koreans residing in Northern Manchuria?”

Right. That makes sense. So for now, we should assume there’s no Korean provisional government opposing Japan in China.

But something smells fishy here.

Could they have established a provisional government in Northern Manchuria on their own?

Well, if they’re rallying Koreans there to develop Northern Manchuria, that’s good for us, and it’s also good for the Koreans who can hide their provisional government under Russia’s shadow.

If my guess is correct, that is.

“Speaking of which, this might be related. There are rumors circulating in the South Manchuria Railway that a member of the Korean royal family has gone missing.”

While I was pondering this oddity, Mikhail Drozdovsky spoke up.

“A Korean royal? Who?”

“Someone called Prince Uichin Yi Kang has gone missing. The South Manchuria Railway military even asked our Northern Manchuria governor for Russia’s cooperation.”

Prince Uichin Yi Kang.

He was said to have tried to defect to the Shanghai Provisional Government. Could it be that in this world, he defected to Northern Manchuria instead?

But this paints a clear picture.

If Koreans in Northern Manchuria are rallying around someone, it means there’s a figure worthy of being a central point in Northern Manchuria, and we should consider that they’ve established a provisional government.

That could be Yi Kang.

“Wait, cooperation from the South Manchuria Railway military?”

“Yes. The South Manchuria Railway military, not the Japanese government.”

Is the South Manchuria Railway military already moving independently from Japan?

Should I view it as something like the Kwantung Army?

The South Manchuria Railway military is still part of the Japanese army, and the South Manchuria Railway is a Japanese-owned railway company managing Southern Manchuria.

“Should we consider the South Manchuria Railway military as moving independently?”

“Yes. It seems the Japanese mainland has given the South Manchuria Railway an independent status while they manage the Korean peninsula. They formally requested our cooperation.”

“So did you find this Yi Kang person?”

“There’s little information about Yi Kang to begin with. The South Manchuria Railway military also wanted us to search discreetly if we were to look for him.”

That makes sense. If it became known that Yi Kang had left the country, independence activists abroad would try to find him.

Searching discreetly means they’ve at least blocked the route to America. That’s why they’re looking in Manchuria. And the Japanese mainland must have instructed the South Manchuria Railway military to search for him.

It would be difficult for the Japanese mainland to openly search for a member of the House of Yi who had left the country, as they also need to manage Korea.

“Minister of Internal Affairs, have the Okhrana search discreetly. He has nowhere else to go. He might be in Northern Manchuria.”

“If we find him, should we send him to Japan?”

Send him to Japan.

That’s not a good approach.

Looking at the House of Yi during the Japanese occupation period, while Koreans may not particularly like the Korean Imperial family, if Yi Kang has already successfully defected, there’s no benefit in interfering.

Rather, we could use Yi Kang as a card to shake Japan.

He could be seen as a kind of joker.

Of course, even if the House of Yi is treated as traitors due to Japanese machinations, their name value can’t be ignored.

Above all, capturing Yi Kang and sending him back would mean sending other provisional government officials to Japan as well.

That doesn’t seem right.

I shook my head slightly.

“No. If you find him, just keep him under surveillance. But let’s make sure he doesn’t leave.”

“Your Majesty thinks this Yi Kang is rallying the Koreans?”

“That’s not incorrect. I have that feeling.”

If he has already joined the provisional government, he could secretly gather Koreans using his name value.

Coincidentally, Koreans in the South Manchuria Railway are similar to Yi Kang in that they were in mainland Japan, so it would be easier to rally them compared to the Korean peninsula where the House of Yi is being degraded.

“Wouldn’t leaving him alone cause unnecessary disturbances?”

I don’t think so.

Even looking at it purely from the mindset of the Russian Tsar, excluding my past life, the fact that he came all the way to Northern Manchuria means he has nowhere else to go, so he won’t cause disturbances in Northern Manchuria.

In a position where he needs to ask Russia for help, what could he do?

If he were to go somewhere, it would be to America, but could Yi Kang really go all the way to America, leaving behind the Koreans in Manchuria?

I don’t think so.

Coming to Manchuria means he wants to fight against Japanese rule, unlike other royals who collaborate with Japan. If he goes to America, when would he return?

“As the Black Baron said, Koreans in the Asiatic Cavalry Division might also be influenced. Let’s leave it as is. Above all, Japan is not our ally.”

From the Russian perspective, they should seek revenge for the Russo-Japanese War whenever the time is right and there’s justification.

A great empire spanning East and West being defeated by an island nation in the Far East still remains a wound in the hearts of Russians.

Especially in a situation filled with Roman fever, isn’t it right to take the opportunity for revenge against the Far Eastern island nation?

I’m already planning to prepare justification for that time.

The Korean Provisional Government will be one of the necessary pieces for that time.

“Are you preparing for the future?”

“Yes. They haven’t caused any problems right now, have they? It’s good to prepare potential cards.”

“Yes. The Koreans are following the control of the Russian Far Eastern Army well. Surprisingly, they’re participating in Manchurian development more enthusiastically than the Jews.”

Well, the Jews just needed a place to settle and live immediately, but the Koreans are in a more desperate situation.

They need to build strength to fight against Japan right away.

And they needed to find a place to live away from Japan, which must have been Northern Manchuria.

Later, when we stab Japan in the back, if the Korean Provisional Government incites Koreans within the peninsula to rise up collectively, it will be much easier to expel Japan.

If that’s the case, I should visit the Far East.

I need to see how things are going there to get a sense of what to do when war with Japan breaks out.

“Hmm, I think I should visit the Far East at some point.”

“There’s not much to see yet except for St. Sophia Cathedral, so a royal tour might be possible next year or the year after.”

Next year or the year after.

Hmm. I wonder if we can extract the Daqing oil field by 1930.

We’re expediting the development of drilling technology to extract oil, so something should come of it.

“It’s not like I’m going for tourism, so what does St. Sophia Cathedral or such have to do with it? Well, I’d like to see it when it’s ready, so let’s go when the time comes.”

Hasn’t Northern Manchuria been Russian territory for almost 4-5 years? We need to remove Chinese influence from Northern Manchuria right away.

I wonder if it has become quite Russified by now.

“Haven’t you made considerable progress in Russification?”

“We’re developing it to be as much like a Russian city as possible, alongside the existing Manchu urban areas.”

Even Constantinople is currently in an uproar about recreating the appearance of Rome. Northern Manchuria should be fine since we secured it earlier than Constantinople.

We’ve been managing it since the civil war.

“Your Majesty. Speaking of the South Manchuria Railway, the Japanese side contacted us today.”

“The Japanese side? Not the South Manchuria Railway military this time?”

“Correct.”

What’s with all these love calls?

Are the Japanese really considering Russia as an ally?

Ah, that’s a bit disgusting.

How painful will it be when they get stabbed in the back?

So, what does Japan want from us this time? What do they want? Why have they contacted us again?

“What is it this time? Are they suggesting we invade China together?”

“Not that. They want to join the Anti-Comintern Pact.”

They want to join the Anti-Comintern Pact?

Ah, this is really unexpected.

“They must have heard about it from somewhere.”

It’s not like we’re hiding it, but Japan seems quite interested in Russian affairs.

Japan and the Anti-Comintern Pact.

Didn’t they also form the Anti-Comintern Pact in actual history?

However, the Anti-Comintern Pact in this history is not just any pact. It’s literally a military alliance against communists.

Japan must know that.

Are they saying they’ll ride the Trans-Siberian Railway to come to the European front and fight Germany?

Do they want to gain something in return for that?

Isn’t this too greedy?

What are they to have interest even in Europe?

“Are they really saying they’ll come to Germany to fight and want interests in Europe?”

“They must be blinded by their victory in the last Great War.”

They really want to come to Germany?

Do they think we’ll invite Japanese troops to Europe because we’re their allies?

I’m not sure which it is, but due to the change in history, do they really think they’re equal to the European powers and want to join the Anti-Comintern Pact?

It’s not impossible.

“Hmm, they want to advance all the way to Europe.”

“These yellow race fellows have become quite bold. Ha, we should have completely subdued them during the Russo-Japanese War.”

Yes, yes. They’ve become quite bold. But racial discrimination is not good.

Wasn’t Japan’s justification about defeating the “beastly Anglo-Americans” and liberating Asia or something about Greater East Asia?

We shouldn’t have prejudice against Japan until we stab them in the back.

“We’re all human. Discrimination based on race is not good. What does the Foreign Ministry plan to do?”

“We’re thinking of accepting depending on the conditions. We don’t want to cause trouble in the Far East by refusing unnecessarily.”

That makes sense. The Anti-Comintern Pact should be seen as an extension of the Russo-Japanese non-aggression for Japan.

The more complacent they are, the more beneficial it is for Russia.

It’s not difficult to add one more title.

At least until the Russian Far Eastern Army secures enough quality to independently block the Japanese army’s northward advance, it might be good to accommodate some of Japan’s demands.

But it’s also awkward to just give in.

If we do everything they ask, what’s left for us?

Are they looking down on us?

No. Actually, this seems quite good. It’s an anti-communist alliance, right?

That is, it’s a defense alliance to catch communists, and communists aren’t only in Europe.

Right now, there are communists in China.

Later, if Mao Zedong’s forces gain considerable fame, won’t Japan try to interfere?

“Let’s add conditions. Say that they can only send support troops against Germany when Russia requests it. Also add the excuse that we shouldn’t give the communists any justification. Ah, and let’s say that it’s enough if they help prevent the spread of communism in Asia.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

To avoid looking weak, we need to show that we’re maintaining some level of caution.

So Japan can only move when the Russian army requests it.

If we do that, Japan won’t be able to claim interests in Europe later unless we call them under the Anti-Comintern Pact, and they probably won’t expect that much anyway.

But.

In that case, Japan as a member of the Anti-Comintern Pact can’t do much, and they might start the Second Sino-Japanese War saying they want to catch communists in Asia.

Maybe they’re already thinking about it.