Ch.107Naval Budget

# Wait, then why don’t we look into it?

Russia is now prioritizing technicians, with the Ministry of Science and Technology researching and developing potentially useful materials and technologies for future use.

It’s possible. There might be someone researching television technology.

“Maria. Are there any television-related research projects in the Ministry of Science and Technology recently?”

“I’ll look into it.”

It would be nice if television development progressed well. Didn’t Germany broadcast the Berlin Olympics using television by purchasing various patents along with their existing technology?

After a while, Maria returned with a bundle of documents and began speaking.

“Yes, there is. A man named Vladimir Kosma Zworykin is working with Dr. Tesla on wireless research. He’s also in charge of television-related research. Working with him is Tihanyi Kálmán, an electrical engineer and physicist from the Kingdom of Hungary.”

Yes! That’s exactly it.

Zworykin. I knew I could count on him!

Of course. Just the fact that he stayed in Russia tells me something.

He must have been with the White Army forces. I suspect that in the original timeline, he was with the Kolchak government before going to America.

I’m not familiar with Tihanyi Kálmán, but it seems they’ve invited physicists from other countries, even from the Kingdom of Hungary.

Perhaps it’s because relations improved through the Anti-Comintern Pact.

If we do this right, we might get television before America does.

“That’s fortunate.”

It’s best to start right away.

Honestly, I think we might be short on funds, but couldn’t we recruit some investors?

Considering the previous discussions with the American side, it might be good to seek investment from America.

If they become interested in television, we could develop it while receiving their money.

If America doesn’t work out, it wouldn’t be bad to collaborate with the Anti-Comintern Pact countries.

“So, in conclusion, is the Ministry of Science and Technology researching with teams from other countries?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Then there’s a possibility.

It might be good to inquire about investment with the Hungarian side.

“Then wouldn’t it be better to request investment from the countries of these television inventors? We should also throw bait to the American side.”

We’ll need to use the Okhrana for the American side.

Once we throw bait in America, they might send engineers, scientists, or inventors related to television.

It would be good to develop television under Russian leadership.

Unfortunately, we need to prevent Germany from buying patents.

We’re essentially in a system competition with Germany now.

If war hasn’t broken out yet, we should secure an advantage in this technological competition.

While they’re busy consolidating their communist system and meddling in British-French colonies, Russia will strengthen its national power and advance its technology.

That’s good, isn’t it?

Various technologies can also be used militarily.

As a country that pulls people from the fields based on reforms, we should also increase our military power.

Especially since we’re continuously developing aircraft, by the 1930s we should have fighters that can compete with British aircraft.

But the biggest problem is…

The State Duma ultimately has to decide.

It means allocating national budget for technology development.

“I don’t fully understand what you mean, but if Your Majesty has decided, the State Duma will follow.”

Isn’t it a problem that the State Duma just follows along?

Isn’t it dangerous if they listen to me too much?

What if I’m talking nonsense?

I’m even concerned that I might be forcing them to do things against their will.

“I’m worried that I might be forcing this too much.”

This will consume budget after all.

If I order it, the State Duma will have to reallocate the budget. I feel a bit sorry about that.

It might even hinder industrializing Russia.

“They will probably accept it gladly. Your Majesty isn’t developing this technology merely for luxury, are you?”

Yes, that’s right.

“That’s true.”

This technological development will ultimately become the foundation for leading the world.

So this is being done out of necessity.

Anyway, in Anastasia’s life, she won’t see 21st century scientific civilization, so it’s not a personal desire.

This is ultimately about changing the future.

I hope that by the 21st century, the world will be more advanced than the original timeline.

“Your Majesty. And there’s a message from the Moscow Broadcasting Station.”

“Oh?”

Why would the Moscow Broadcasting Station contact me?

Did they dislike my broadcast that much?

It’s not paranoia, but I sometimes hear things.

Seeing how the original Romanov royals weren’t treated well, I wonder if there might be complaints about the radio broadcast, despite Anastasia’s personal authority.

“They asked if Your Majesty would consider setting up a personal broadcasting station in the Kremlin Palace.”

They want me to set up a personal radio station.

Ah, I see. The broadcasting station can’t solely cater to the Tsar, so they’re saying they’ll provide support for me to do broadcasting from the palace.

“Hmm. That’s something to consider. So, from their perspective, I’m a nuisance, so they’ll provide equipment for me to broadcast from my office?”

That’s quite annoying.

Even a kind Tsarina like me gets angry sometimes.

“No, that’s not it. Rather, the effect was so good that they want Your Majesty to do something on the radio frequently. So instead of coming in person, they suggested setting one up in the palace.”

“So, the response was good?”

“Yes. The response was good, and from the broadcasting station’s perspective, that’s beneficial. They wouldn’t dislike it. Who wouldn’t like stories from a war hero?”

Yes, when you put it that way, that makes sense.

From the radio station’s perspective, having the Tsarina constantly commuting to the radio station might be awkward.

And I can’t just keep hanging out at the radio station all the time.

If anything, broadcasting from here would be accommodating me.

If that’s the case, I have no choice.

There are some spaces in the Kremlin Palace that were emptied while removing Bolshevik traces.

They could be used as a radio broadcasting room.

It would also be good to use Maria for propaganda from the Kremlin Palace.

Not bad.

“So they’re accommodating me. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes. And they said they would install the radio directly. They even said it would be an honor if the Tsar continued to broadcast in the future.”

So the radio station is prospering thanks to the Tsar’s reputation.

If the response is good, it shouldn’t end with just one or two broadcasts.

If I’m going to do it frequently as the radio station suggests, it makes sense to do it from the Kremlin Palace rather than going to the broadcasting station.

If it’s in the Kremlin Palace, I could even sit in front of the radio after washing up.

“Not bad.”

Using radio, I can directly speak to all of Russia without having to give speeches in person.

Of course, we’ll have to see after the wireless revolution.

Wait a minute. Does this mean Yusupov’s radio business is doing well?

“If radio penetration has increased, it means purchasing power for radios has gone up, right?”

“Yes.”

“That means the radio business is developing further.”

So, looking at the bigger picture, the radio penetration rate is increasing due to the promotional effect of my anti-communist propaganda.

Then why not have Yusupov’s business invest in television as well?

After all, according to Prince Yusupov, it’s mine, so it would be good to include television too.

I’ve already mentioned the importance of television several times.

Isn’t television an essential existence for humanity?

If what I say on the radio is done on television, it would be even more effective.

So television needs to come out quickly.

I should squeeze more out of Tesla while I’m at it. I need to see his results.

“Oh, Your Majesty. By the way.”

“What?”

“It’s almost time for the State Duma. You’re scheduled to attend today.”

Come to think of it, it’s almost class time (State Duma meeting).

This is perfect timing.

It might be good to bring up this topic during the meeting.

* * *

The agenda at this Duma meeting was the military.

After the Anti-Comintern Pact, military matters were a sensitive issue in the Duma, along with industrialization.

“The landing exercise is good, but landing means we need to secure control of the sea. That requires a powerful fleet. The Italian fleet in the Mediterranean is not a force to be underestimated. Wouldn’t it be difficult even if we scraped together the Baltic Fleet and the Far Eastern small fleet for a battle?”

Even in difficult circumstances, couldn’t we take on the Italian fleet?

No, what if Red Mussolini decides to focus only on the fleet?

“If only we hadn’t lost in the Russo-Japanese War. Sigh.”

“Still, Britain and France are our allies. Couldn’t the British Mediterranean fleet, together with our Black Sea fleet, destroy the Italian fleet?”

Crushing the Italian fleet together with the British fleet.

Honestly, that makes sense.

The Japanese, at least on the surface, if they were to fight us and Germany, would target China as members of the Anti-Comintern Pact.

At least because they’re in the same faction, they probably won’t touch French Indochina or conduct southern operations.

At least the British Eastern Fleet won’t be diverted to Japan. This means we won’t lose in fleet battles if we fight the Communist Axis.

Ah, but there would be chaos in the colonies.

“The important thing is that we need to invest in the navy as well.”

Kolchak, who essentially oversees the naval department, spoke up.

Come to think of it, if he’s in charge of landing exercises, Kolchak should play a significant role.

Looking at his record, as the commander of the Black Sea Fleet during World War I, he must have seen some action.

“Um, there’s something the naval department seems to be misunderstanding,”

Yes, the Prime Minister has something to say too.

I wonder what he’s trying to say.

“What misunderstanding?”

“We’re already building Fyodorov-class battleships with transferred German technology. The Kaiser of East Prussia sold us ships because he couldn’t afford them. They may not be British-class, but they’re not inferior anywhere.”

I see. So the navy has been sufficiently strengthened.

We should continue to strengthen our military power in the future. But Russia’s main battlefield isn’t the sea, so is there an urgent need?

“Ahem. Isn’t that too much with the Tsarina present? What I mean is that we need to secure aircraft carriers like Britain or Japan.”

“Aircraft carriers, hmm. I’m not sure if they’re that useful.”

Ah, right. Aircraft carriers do seem necessary.

Don’t we need them for bombing and support during landings?

Personally, isn’t there something romantic about aircraft carriers?

Especially World War II era aircraft carriers.

And not just any great power’s, but Russian aircraft carriers. White Russian, not Soviet, World War II aircraft carriers.

Isn’t that quite impressive?

“It would be nice to have some aircraft carriers.”

Ah, I blurted that out without thinking.

Actually, there’s no real need to build aircraft carriers.

It’s more like I want aircraft carriers out of personal desire. If building aircraft carriers causes problems for the Russian Empire, that would be…

“Does Your Majesty think aircraft carriers are useful?”

I can’t take back what I’ve already said.

Since it came from my mouth, I should lean towards owning aircraft carriers.

“Wouldn’t aircraft carriers be good for landing support? It would be good to create landing ships for landing support.”

After all, Russia was a country that played the Great Game with the British.

We should develop a fleet accordingly.

“Then we need to allocate budget for aircraft carriers as well.”

“Using the Tesla Radar developed by Dr. Tesla would be quite useful in fleet battles.”

Ah, I see. Kolchak wanted to properly build up the fleet since he has radar.

Has the Yagi Radar made by Dr. Tesla become the Tesla Radar here?

“Hmm. According to Your Majesty, we also need to make aircraft for the aircraft carriers. The Air Force Department needs to develop more planes.”

“Planes are already being developed by Air Force Minister Igor Sikorsky. Sergei Ilyushin, who couldn’t be here, is designing aircraft. They’re so desperate for aircraft development. Right now, aircraft carriers or landing ships are a bit…”

Sergei Ilyushin?

Ah, I’ve heard of him a lot. Isn’t he the man who developed aircraft for the Soviet Union?

Then we can’t take budget from the Air Force, can we?