Ch.105Tsarina Broadcasts

* * *

What started as a simple amphibious training exercise to check Romania suddenly gained a serious purpose.

We even had the perfect justification for landing in Greece and Italy.

Of course, if Romania ran its mouth and Greece or Italy heard about it, they would cause an uproar, but then we could legitimately tear Romania apart.

“I understand. But won’t Romania know our justification for targeting Greece and Italy? What if Romania leaks this information to them?”

“We’ll just label them as communist collaborators and legitimately tear them apart.”

Why overthink it?

Just accuse them: “You’re a communist collaborator, aren’t you?” Push that narrative and tear them apart anyway. Simple as that.

“I’ll discuss this with Admiral Kolchak from the Navy Department. Also, I’ve noticed that radio has become quite popular recently.”

“Yes. And?”

“I’ve been hearing anti-communist propaganda on the radio. Just my personal opinion, but…”

“Go on.”

I listened carefully to what the Black Baron had to say.

He seems to have a good idea.

“What if Your Majesty personally addressed the citizens of the United States of Greater Russia through a radio broadcast?”

“Oh? Me?”

I do enjoy that sort of thing. But what would I say?

Wouldn’t that be an abuse of power?

It would be ridiculous if I just said, “I’m the Tsar and I want to do a radio broadcast.”

Directly broadcasting anti-communist propaganda is another matter entirely. But for me to speak personally… I do have a position and image to maintain.

What would a grading Tsar even do?

The radio station staff might complain, “That Tsar is using her position to broadcast whatever she wants.”

“Yes. You could personally deliver anti-communist propaganda. You have experience from Yekaterinburg, Moscow, and Petrograd.”

Yes, that’s a good approach.

I could clap my hands in admiration.

But whether I should actually do it is another question entirely.

“But is it appropriate for me to speak?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not a radio station employee, nor was I invited. Wouldn’t it seem strange if I just showed up demanding to broadcast?”

Using the Tsar’s authority to commandeer a radio broadcast!

That seems a bit much.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a major offense.

But at the Fyodorov Arsenal, I at least had the cover of being a journalist, so I wasn’t exposed.

If even the slightest criticism emerged behind my back, it would be uncomfortable.

“The Tsar seized radio airtime solely to spread anti-communist propaganda.”

How would that look in the historical record?

This is embarrassing. These kinds of things are quite awkward.

“I believe they would welcome it.”

“Why? Wouldn’t people say I’m abusing my authority as Tsar? Using a radio station for anti-communist propaganda. It seems like it would cause a lot of talk.”

Aren’t there many socialists in media organizations?

There might be some at the Moscow radio station too. Though when I listen to the radio, I don’t hear any socialist rhetoric.

“Hmm, without pointing guns at them?”

“Your Majesty seems unaware of your own popularity.”

My popularity? What popularity?

“Well, that kind of popularity is what it is.”

My popularity is probably on the level of a moderately popular woman on social media in the 21st century.

Beyond that, I’m just whining about what I want to do.

“Well, I’ll follow Your Majesty’s wishes, but trying it once might be good. They’ll probably welcome you.”

Thinking about it again, “The Tsar personally broadcasted!” would make quite a headline. A radio station where the Tsar personally broadcasts—that alone would make the broadcast famous.

Of course, there aren’t many radio stations besides the Moscow one anyway.

If the Tsar personally worked at a radio station, it would carry some prestige.

Wouldn’t it become quite popular?

“I’ll try it sometime when I feel like it.”

“Yes. Then I shall take my leave.”

So, I sent the Black Baron away.

Thinking about it, personally doing a radio broadcast might actually be quite enjoyable.

If we’re going to spread anti-communist propaganda, wouldn’t it be best for Anastasia, the symbol of anti-communism, to step forward?

Hmm. That doesn’t sound bad at all.

I should give it a try.

“Maria? Are you outside?”

I called for Maria, the woman who recently became my secretary at the Kremlin Palace.

She also served as a kind of maid who helped check my grading and carried out my instructions.

A young woman about my age entered my office at my call.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Did you call for me?”

“Could you contact the Moscow radio station? Tell them the Tsarina would like to broadcast.”

Let’s give it a try.

If the radio station says, “Even for the Tsarina, it’s not possible!” then I’ll back off.

It might be good to inform Prince Yusupov beforehand, but seeing how busy he’s been lately, there’s no need to summon him.

“Yes, I’ll look into it.”

“Ah, if they refuse, don’t press them, understand? Using my authority to pressure the station would be inappropriate.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I appreciate how she accepts my instructions without questioning my reasons.

Maria. Though her name is extremely common in Russia, she’s a White Army veteran.

She apparently joined me as a volunteer from Yekaterinburg.

There were too many people for me to remember everyone individually back then, but that’s what they say.

Besides Maria, other people from Yekaterinburg work at the Kremlin Palace and serve as my guards.

Among them, Maria’s position would be my personal secretary.

Originally, I considered bringing in people who had served the Romanovs since the imperial era, or those who had been maids or teachers when the OTMAA five siblings were alive.

But during the Civil War, many died or foreign nationals returned to their home countries.

So I employed many people from Yekaterinburg at the Kremlin Palace.

It’s also a way of showing that even though Moscow has become the capital, Yekaterinburg won’t be abandoned.

The problem is the Moscow radio station.

Well, what should I do if they don’t accept?

“If they don’t accept, it would be embarrassing.”

Well, nothing to be done. In that case, I’d have to record a private radio broadcast at the Kremlin.

* * *

Moscow Radio Station

Dmitri, the director of the Moscow Radio Station, was one of the people who had participated in Yusupov’s radio business.

As radio became more widespread in Moscow and the station opened, Dmitri, who became the station director, knew exactly who was behind this station.

Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova.

Yes, the Tsarina was behind this station.

Even Prince Yusupov had said that the Tsarina was the actual owner of the radio broadcasting business.

Both in Yekaterinburg and Moscow, it was the Tsarina who first started the radio business.

Knowing this fact better than anyone, Dmitri received a strange call.

“Um, Director.”

“What is it?”

“The Tsarina’s secretary from the Kremlin says the Tsarina wants to do an anti-communist broadcast.”

What? The Tsarina wants to do an anti-communist broadcast?

Dmitri blinked his eyes for a moment.

He couldn’t understand what this was about.

Had he heard correctly? The Tsarina wants to do a radio broadcast?

“Uh, r-really?”

It was bewildering.

This station was a place where the Tsarina could come anytime and say, “I want to broadcast,” and it would be fine.

Of course, doing it without any procedure would be disconcerting for them too, but there was no need to be this cautious about making a request.

She could just drop by and ask if she could broadcast.

There was no reason to be so careful.

“Hmm. Anti-communist propaganda.”

Seriously, it doesn’t sound bad. Plus, the Tsarina herself broadcasting?

This is exactly what they would want.

Having the most influential person in Russia broadcast directly would increase Russians’ interest in radio.

Of course, radios are expensive, so the adoption rate isn’t high right now.

Probably just a handful in Moscow.

Yekaterinburg seems to have increased radio adoption rates because the State Duma paid special attention to it, as it was the Tsarina’s base during the civil war. But right now, Russians aren’t particularly eager to buy radios.

But what if we adjust the approach slightly?

You can hear the Tsarina’s voice?

This would be irresistible to die-hard monarchists.

Since the Red Army was largely wiped out in the last war, and monarchists make up a large proportion of the remaining White Army, they would use radios if they could hear the Tsarina’s voice.

Naturally, the radio station would flourish.

Even setting all that aside, this is ‘the’ Tsarina.

How could anyone ignore the Tsarina?

Personally, Dmitri himself was a White Army figure. If the Tsarina wanted it, he would naturally cancel all other schedules and entrust the broadcast to her.

Broadcasting wasn’t that active anyway.

They played some songs and were making additional preparations, but with the low radio adoption rate, they needed to encourage radio purchases first.

In such a situation, he was surprised that she wanted to broadcast directly.

But this was a profitable arrangement.

“Accept it immediately.”

And so began the Tsarina’s visit to the radio station.

All the radio station staff came out to welcome the Tsarina.

The Tsarina entered the station in a more modest outfit than expected.

She entered confidently in formal attire, greeting each employee individually and offering encouragement.

“Everyone, thank you for putting up with this frivolous Tsarina so early in the morning.”

Her manner of speaking conveyed less nobility and more of a common touch, like a factory worker.

“N-not at all! It’s an honor for us!”

From the beginning, Prince Yusupov had staffed the radio business planned by the Tsarina with White Russians—specifically monarchists, not even moderate socialists.

So all the employees here were structured to praise the Tsarina when she arrived.

“I’m thinking of doing an anti-communist broadcast. Hmm. What would the citizens of the United States find interesting? I’d like to consider that much since I’m doing this.”

Dmitri clapped his hands at the Tsarina’s question.

That wouldn’t be difficult at all.

The citizens would be thrilled and moved just by the Tsarina’s personal experiences.

“Ah, yes. It’s simple. Just briefly explain how you established the provisional government in Yekaterinburg and went through the civil war period, teaching one by one about the cruel acts of the communists. Wouldn’t that give the growing children of the United States an excellent anti-communist spirit?”

Communism would never again find a foothold in Russia.

“Oh. That sounds good. But won’t they find it boring?”

“Uh, um, I don’t think so?”

Station Director Dmitri answered awkwardly.

Of course not. The Tsarina’s civil war period was nothing short of a hero’s biography.

Recruiting volunteers in Yekaterinburg, establishing a provisional government. The Don Republic and Admiral Kolchak joining the White Army, recapturing Tsaritsyn with the White Army of Southern Russia.

Winning back the hearts of people who had turned to the Bolsheviks through numerous welfare policies.

Following this, the heroic battle in Moscow.

That Moscow battle where the Tsarina left her famous quote, “Nothing happened.”

Anastasia didn’t know, but her words “Nothing happened” that day remained in the hearts of the White Army and Moscow citizens who had entered Moscow first to welcome her.

Broadcasting all of this gently over the radio wouldn’t be bad at all.

“Hmm. Alright. It wouldn’t be bad to spend some time on this. Let’s give it a try.”

Let’s give it a try.

With that one phrase, the decision was made. The Tsarina had commanded it.

This fact alone made the radio station more active than usual.

As a station organized with monarchists among White Russians, they moved as if their blood was pulsing, centered around the Tsarina, creating the perfect broadcasting environment for the Tsar.

“Ahem. Well then, shall we begin?”