Ch.112Toward Northern Manchuria

“Yes, that’s right. I was just worried. Without a justification to reclaim Bessarabia, what would we do? Even if Hungary starts a war over Transylvania. And we don’t know how this war might unfold.”

You’re worried about me? Well spoken.

Trying to flatter me in hopes of getting an Okhrana branch under your control.

Still, I do like that word – “justification.”

“Justification is a nice word. But you know what? Nothing is as naive as the concept of justification. You can simply create whatever justification you need. For example, we could deliberately pressure Romania until communist sympathizers emerge internally, then label them as communist collaborators. In the end, it’s all about having power.”

In the end, those with power can manipulate any justification they need.

Of course, I won’t do anything as despicable as the British starting the Opium Wars with their forced justifications. But I can at least create a reasonably plausible justification if Hungary takes the lead.

“That may be true.”

“Moreover, there’s no more certain justification than reclaiming territory. Hungary will enter Romania claiming to recover Transylvania. What can we do? If Hungary gets pushed back, we could even create a false justification that Romania collaborated with communists.”

This is mostly a joke, of course.

Romania might not follow my or Horthy’s wishes and could act unpredictably.

If things go terribly wrong and we’re desperate, we could fabricate justifications, but that’s not my job.

What would an Emperor who merely grades papers do?

“Is it really that simple?”

Look at this guy. Why are you talking like this isn’t your business?

I pointed directly at Beria with my finger.

Why did I spare your life if not for you to do exactly this kind of dirty work?

“In Romania, Beria, you’ll create the evidence. Find communists there and round them up.”

“M-me?”

Beria pointed at himself with a look of disbelief.

Who else would do it if not you?

Has this guy not fully come to his senses yet? Among all former Soviet personnel, no one has been as successful as him.

Mikhail Tukhachevsky isn’t even a named character.

Beria is probably closer to his original historical position in the White Army.

Even Stalin himself is reportedly acting as a priest in a labor camp. If that guy has lost his mind, this one must still be feeling too comfortable.

“If you’re not confident, we can assign it to another Okhrana branch.”

At my words, Beria flinched and waved both hands.

He finally realized he’d said something foolish.

That’s right. That’s how it should be.

You shouldn’t be saying “Me?” stupidly in front of me.

You should promptly do as you’re told. It’s not like you’re a communist experiencing social life for the first time.

“No, not at all. When the time comes, I will definitely accomplish it!”

“Ah, don’t take it too seriously. I’m just getting a feeling about this.”

I waved my hand at Beria, who looked like a young man full of youthful vigor who had just joined a company.

This time I’m really just speculating, but I think there’s a possibility.

Ferdinand I himself is experiencing increasing marital discord.

From what’s being reported through the Okhrana, it’s certain.

From the beginning, Romania’s possible directions are limited.

No matter what Romania tries, it will be difficult to escape Russian influence given the flimsy framework of the Anti-Comintern Pact.

“As expected of Your Majesty.”

I raised my finger.

There’s something I need to make clear to this foolish Beria.

Even if all possibilities go awry, Russia will have the last laugh. Let me just explain why.

“It’s a simple matter. The Special Military Operation is already planned. Hungary will fight Romania using the loophole in our agreement to fight only against communists. And at the right time, we’ll say that Anti-Comintern Pact countries shouldn’t fight each other. That’s how it will go.”

The Anti-Comintern Pact has the loophole that we fight only for anti-communist purposes, but we can also use that loophole to our advantage.

Even if all my predicted variables go wrong, we have the Anti-Comintern Pact as insurance. Later, we can mediate by saying that countries in the pact shouldn’t fight each other, making it look like we made a decision to save the nation.

“I see, that’s true.”

“The choice depends on what we, Russia, decide to do. Whatever decision we make, we just need to take Bessarabia as our change. Whether we label Romania as communist collaborators, intervene in their succession disputes, mediate, or whatever else. The Anti-Comintern Pact as a power bloc is designed to be used according to our wishes.”

In other words, we can do whatever we want.

“I see. So Hungary sets the stage, and we use our rights under the Anti-Comintern Pact to secure Bessarabia.”

As expected of Beria. Your mind works well. But you know what? This is a bit annoying.

“You just need to do as I tell you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

You just need to do as I tell you.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Come to think of it, things seem quite busy in the Far East lately.

I’m not worried about China right now, but it seems Jews are pioneering extensively in Northern Manchuria.

I considered sending Beria there, but he still has much to do in Romania, so I’ll send him there later.

Anyway, the Okhrana is keeping an eye on the Far East, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

“Now, about the next issue.”

“I’ll do whatever you command.”

No, that’s not it.

This guy is seriously too loyal, and it’s making me uncomfortable.

Yes, it’s good to see someone working hard, but when they’re overly enthusiastic, I just want to hit them.

What I want to ask is something else.

I took a sip of tea and spoke casually.

“Before you go to Romania, summon Minister Grigory Vyacheslavovich and General Ungern.”

“Yes, understood.”

I could have asked Maria to do this, but since I already sent her to check on the State Duma situation, I’m just giving Beria an errand on his way to Romania.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Soon, Agricultural Land Management Minister Grigory Vyacheslavovich and Ungern returned to the Kremlin Palace together.

“Why did you summon us?”

“Is it because we let Patton listen to Your Majesty’s radio broadcast?”

Why would you let Patton listen to that?

Besides, when is that person going back?

Anyway, I have some questions for these two.

“I wanted to know about the situation in the Far East.”

“By Far East, you mean Northern Manchuria?”

Yes, that’s right. Northern Manchuria.

The more chaotic foreign affairs are, the more diligently we need to govern internally.

Since we’ve maintained military rule in Northern Manchuria for several years now, I’m curious if it’s reached the level of Russian mainland development.

“Yes. How are things going there?”

“After Russians and Jews pioneered the area, the situation has improved considerably.”

“Has the land issue in Northern Manchuria been resolved?”

There was a land issue in Northern Manchuria.

Basically, many Han Chinese and Manchus originally lived in that land.

Since Zhang Zuolin and other warlords were neutralized, many people moved back south of the Great Wall, but as the number of Jews, Koreans, and Russians increased, problems naturally arose with the original landowners.

“Yes. The original Manchus are following the Governor-General’s office, and the Northern government has entrusted us with handling the land of Manchus and Han Chinese who originally settled in Manchuria but have now moved to the mainland.”

“That’s good news.”

-I say this, but originally there was no government in China.

More precisely, there’s no government representing China.

The Qing Imperial Court exists, but it’s merely showing that ‘there is a leader.’

Beyond that, everything exists as local governments.

If it weren’t for the constant aggression toward communist Germany, Britain and France would be in an uproar over China’s situation.

That’s right. Regarding China, everything now has to be resolved through local governments.

Chen Jiongming in Guangdong is under Russia’s supervision.

Each warlord might try to borrow the power of great nations to maintain unification capabilities. That side is also becoming chaotic.

So, the issue is Northern Manchuria, which is now somewhat detached from China.

“Then there won’t be any future problems with China over land issues?”

“No, Your Majesty. Given China’s current situation, are they in any position to make demands of us?”

Right, that’s true.

As I said, there’s no representative government now.

Chen Jiongming has essentially opened a legally recognized warlord era, and by formally establishing an emperor, it’s similar to Japan’s Warring States period or the late Tang Dynasty when military governors proliferated.

On the surface, it’s about each warlord developing their assigned region until they build unification capabilities!

But realistically, if they had such capabilities, would they remain warlords?

They must all be filled with ambition for unification.

The problem is that with a formal emperor and Chen Jiongming’s federalism movement being accepted, it becomes difficult for anyone to initiate a unification war first.

They’ll just keep watching each other.

There will be limitations eventually, but at least there’s the insurance of the emperor and federalism.

They’ll be busy eyeing each other.

“We need to prepare for the chaos of a future war with Japan. We need to develop the area diligently until then.”

“I thought you were only planning to defend?”

“Defense is only if Japan attacks first. Later, when the time comes, we’ll need to attack first, and if Northern Manchuria’s infrastructure isn’t good enough, that would be problematic. And by then, the Jews who built up Northern Manchuria will have to fight to protect their base from Japan.”

Baron Rothschild.

That man might only be thinking about establishing a country, but he’ll have to support us in war too.

“Indeed, they won’t be able to abandon what they’ve built themselves.”

That’s right. Justifications can be created as needed. After fighting Japan and becoming elite forces, when Eastern Israel is established, we should turn them into Israel’s regular army to face China.

Now, the next issue.

If you’re managing land, you must also know about the Korean Provisional Government that has settled in Northern Manchuria.

“Have you looked into the Korean Provisional Government?”

If they’re occupying land illegally, that would be problematic.

The Provisional Government is one of the jokers for backstabbing Japan.

“As Your Majesty predicted, the Korean Provisional Government office exists in Harbin.”

“I see.”

Somehow they’ve managed well.

“It seems a wealthy Jewish immigrant to Northern Manchuria provided them with a building to use as their office. They’re not openly calling themselves a government, though.”

A Jewish capitalist?

There must be more than just one or two wealthy Jews.

It’s probably not Rothschild backing them.

Or is it Rothschild?

Baron Rothschild has invested in resource extraction in Northern Manchuria and clearly knows I’m going to attack Japan.

Hmm, this smells suspicious.

Knowing I’ll attack Japan, he might have sought out the Korean Provisional Government as a good focal point to trouble Japan.

“Hmm. This is troublesome.”

What would be the best way to handle this?

It means Jews are backing the Provisional Government.

Honestly, we could interfere anytime if we wanted to.

The Korea here isn’t the Korea I know. The same goes for the Provisional Government. According to Okhrana investigations, Ahn Changho has been confirmed to be in Northern Manchuria.

A Provisional Government led by Ahn Changho and Yi Kang.

I think Kim Gu and other figures might be there too.

I should make a decision about this soon.

“If a Jewish capitalist is backing them, it’s not illegal, and they’re using the land legally, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then we can’t really interfere.”

“You’re planning to use them.”

“Yes. We’ll need to use that Korean Provisional Government later.”

I said this while twirling the tip of my hair with my finger, thinking.

What should I really do with those people?

In Korean time travel novels I’ve read before, the protagonist approaches independence activists, wins the war against Japan, liberates Korea, and then asks them how they feel about it all.

Since I’m Russian here, that kind of nationalistic development is impossible.

Russia doesn’t revolve around me alone, so the Korean Provisional Government needs to receive at least the goodwill of the State Duma.

But what can the Provisional Government offer to Russia?

Honestly, from the perspective of the State Duma rather than myself, the Korean Provisional Government isn’t that important.

We can create justifications for war with Japan anytime, and after Korea’s liberation, if we don’t like the Provisional Government, we could form a government with locals.

Hmm.

I guess I can decide this after seeing it for myself later.