Ch.104Perfect Acting (Revision Complete)

# The Spread of Communism

“Yes. Communism is spreading.”

I’m not sure about actual history, but at least here, Communist Germany exists.

I wonder how powerful Germany might be after completely ignoring the Treaty of Versailles and just looking out for themselves.

Didn’t they actually ignore the Treaty of Versailles after their revolution?

They might be surprisingly strong.

“It must be Germany.”

They’re stirring things up internally while Britain and France are weakened.

Whether Germany currently has the capacity for this is another matter.

Again, what makes communists frightening isn’t their military power.

It’s their ability to incite.

If communist agitation can create cannon fodder slaves willing to die for Germany without weapons, that’s beneficial for Germany.

They don’t even need to go as far as rebellion.

If they can divert even a little of Anglo-French attention to their colonies, Germany will be in a good position to strike.

Of course, the media tends to exaggerate somewhat.

When they say communism is spreading, it probably just means colonial subjects are beginning to learn about it, thinking “Oh, that exists?”

Hmm, inciting the colonies.

But what are the chances these colonial cannon fodder would stage communist demonstrations at just the right time with proper coordination?

Even if that fortunately happens, Germany would need to have the same potential as in the original history.

“To what extent is it spreading?”

I don’t know the specifics.

“We don’t know for certain yet, but isn’t the important thing that it’s spreading?”

“I suppose so.”

They might even provide weapons support after some time.

Britain and France may have ended World War I a bit early, but didn’t they exhaust themselves considerably by supporting the White Army in the Civil War?

If news about communism spreading is already known, the British and French governments must know too, and they’ll be busy focusing on that.

It’s better to leave that situation alone.

Rather than pressuring Germany now, it’s better to leave them be.

If we crush Germany while they’re in this ambiguous state, they might claim “The colonial empires are trying to destroy communism!” and gain more communist supporters.

It’s better to let it explode first, then suppress it.

“Yes. That will do. I look forward to our continued cooperation.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

So the radio broadcast is done.

Next on the schedule is the Black Baron.

He’s been visiting the Kremlin Palace frequently lately because of military agreements with Turkey and such.

“Your Majesty. Turkish forces have completely occupied Mount Ararat.”

So the Kurdish uprising is essentially over.

I feel somewhat sorry, but it can’t be helped.

If Russia took the moral high ground and supported the Kurds, we’d have to help British and French colonies too, which is problematic.

“Airborne troops seem quite useful after all?”

“Airborne operations on mountaintops weren’t very successful. They weren’t completely ineffective, but it was better to occupy villages around the mountain with airborne troops and starve them out.”

The weapons we provided must have run out by now, so that must be the end.

If Turkey succeeded with airborne troops, that’s sufficient.

Since they succeeded in Turkey, we can use airborne troops more methodically in the future.

“I see. So they are useful after all?”

“As Your Majesty said. If the skies belong to Russia, we could send airborne troops to break enemy resistance.”

“That’s good news.”

“And Turkey has requested to purchase Russian weapons.”

“Not bad. It means our weapons have gained credibility.”

Considering the old imperial era when we produced weapons through alliance countries, this is quite good.

I think I’ve sufficiently proven my worth at this point.

Though it’s annoying to keep scoring myself.

“What about Hungary?”

“As Your Majesty mentioned, Hungarian forces seem to be conducting frequent military exercises at the border. Romanian forces are responding with their own exercises.”

That must be amusing.

On the surface, Hungary claims to be conducting military exercises against communists.

Romania is also conducting military exercises against communists while keeping an eye on Hungarian forces.

One side attacking, the other defending.

Ferdinand must be rotting inside.

Unless he’s a fool, he must know they’re silently demonstrating for the return of Transylvania.

Hungary probably argued they couldn’t train near Austria.

Training near Romania could also be justified as defending against invasion from Yugoslavia.

Of course, even so, Romania wouldn’t really think Hungary would invade.

“I doubt the Romanian army truly believes they’ll invade.”

“They must know the loopholes in the anti-communist pact, don’t they?”

They must know.

Maybe not Ferdinand I, but Queen Marie, despite her colorful history of affairs and adultery, was a capable queen.

But even such a queen can’t do much.

With her eldest son in that state.

Could she handle both Russia and Hungary?

“They must know. But they wouldn’t know about the special military operation, would they?”

Occupying Transylvania with an outlandish pretext.

Something that would surprise Romania, me, and even Hungary who initiated it.

Moreover, a special military operation isn’t just a simple plan.

“Would Romania ever expect Hungary to suddenly pull such a move when there’s a problem with the throne?”

Would they anticipate Hungary approaching Carol after recognizing Romania’s power structure, timed with Ferdinand’s death?

Even if they noticed, what could they do?

What if Romania, a small country, doesn’t listen to Russia’s mediation?

Would they whine to distant Britain or France again?

Britain would be indifferent as long as Western Ukraine remains stable.

If Britain and France were thinking, they’d understand the loopholes in the anti-communist pact.

Would they bother interfering in Balkan affairs?

“But is it true? That the Romanian king might die?”

“That remains to be seen.”

There weren’t any significant historical changes in Romania, were there?

The war ended early, but they consumed everything they could, just as in actual history.

But the question is whether Hungary will hold back their special military operation until ’27.

We don’t know what might happen in those few years.

“By the way.”

“Yes?”

“Military exercises are quite useful, aren’t they?”

It’s also preparation for a future landing in Italy.

It’s good to make Romania think, “Are these guys up to something?”

Make Romania sense something strange, causing their army to split toward the coast in anticipation of a Russian landing.

No matter how weak the Russian navy is, it should be able to defeat the Romanian navy. Romania would feel provoked.

It would be good to notify Romania about the exercises in advance.

“What are you thinking?”

“We have our Black Sea Fleet, don’t we?”

We received some battleships during the Civil War.

We used them to rebuild the Black Sea Fleet.

I have something personal in mind that I want to bring up.

“There are several battleships under construction with German technology. But I’ve heard the Navy Department says they’re far from being combat-ready.”

Well, that’s not important.

We should strengthen naval forces, but for Russia, the main battlefield will be land, not sea.

We can get help from the British fleet for sea control.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t strengthen the navy, just that now isn’t the time to discuss it. Besides, what I’m about to bring up isn’t about fleet expansion.

I have one thing to propose.

“How about conducting naval landing exercises?”

Naval landing exercises. This will be somewhat novel.

Using this method, we can psychologically pressure Romania. Romania will likely have to move some troops.

“Naval landing exercises?”

“It would be good to do them near Romania.”

I stood up and pointed to Romania’s eastern coast on the wall map.

Just going back and forth in that area.

Even with the anti-communist pact, Romanians will need to protect their waters, so they’ll move their army too.

Wouldn’t that make the special military operation in Transylvania easier?

Ferdinand probably knows Russia’s position supporting the reconstruction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

We promised Transylvania, but he’ll still be anxious.

“Landing exercises in Romania?”

“Let’s request cooperation from Western Ukraine. Landing operation practice from Sevastopol to Odessa—no, that would provoke Britain.”

But planning landings from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk or other Russian beaches wouldn’t make Romania suspicious.

Training for landing operations in another country.

This might provoke Romania.

“Yes, Your Majesty. How about requesting Bulgaria instead? We could say we want to conduct landing exercises at Varna or Burgas.”

“Bulgaria?”

Bulgaria. Bulgaria.

Yes, that might be better.

“We’ve already accepted Bulgaria’s conditions. Wouldn’t it be good to inform them in advance that it’s preparation for an Italian landing?”

Bulgaria. Not bad.

Bulgaria’s military power is currently limited due to their defeat.

We didn’t bring up that issue during the last anti-communist pact. It would be good to say we’ll help resolve military reduction issues in preparation for a future invasion of Greece, while practicing landing operations.

“I see. Depending on the situation, it might be good to drop hints that we could help with a landing in Greece.”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

Helping with a landing in Greece.

From Bulgaria’s perspective, that would be very interesting.

After all, Bulgaria and Russia have made a deal.

If Bulgaria becomes suspicious, we can say we’re helping Hungary and preparing for a future Italian landing.

No, wait. Maybe we should add something more.

“Actually.”

“Please speak, Your Majesty.”

This seems quite good.

There’s no need to pretend.

The most proper use of landing operations was the Normandy landings.

If we’re going to do it, we should do it properly.

“Why don’t we just propose joint landing operations with both Bulgaria and Turkey? They both need to attack Greece, so they would agree to that much.”

They’re defense allies after all.

We’ve already promised to support a war against Greece with both Bulgaria and Turkey.

This should be acceptable to them.

I’m pretty clever, aren’t I? Even though I don’t know much about war, I think I’m using my brain well.

“Oh, that sounds good.”

“Admiral Kolchak is in charge of the Navy Department, right?”

And the Air Force Department is operated by Igor Sikorsky, who runs the airfield and design bureau.

If we’re going to use aircraft for military purposes, it’s better to directly support him with the design.

“Yes. He’s currently in charge of strengthening the Black Sea and Pacific fleets.”

“Let’s have him conduct landing exercises.”

Landing operations in this era need practice.

Even the Gallipoli landing had many complex problems.

“We can say we need to land in Greece and squeeze from all directions rather than just entering by land. That would be our reason for practicing landing operations.”

“So instead of just targeting Romania, we’re formally conducting proper training, is that it?”

“Yes. We should also prepare a manual.”

“Hmm, that wouldn’t be bad.”

“The fleet and air force would devastate enemy strongholds in the landing area, then land infantry using landing craft. We’ll need to practice landings anyway if we want to deal with communist Italy later.”

We’re conducting landing operations to check Romania.

But we also have various justifications, like future plans to take Italy, and it’s good to seriously practice landing operations.

It shouldn’t be difficult if Bulgaria helps directly.