Ch.113Toward Northern Manchuria (2)

# “I’m not sure if Koreans will be of any help.”

Ungern stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment, then added a comment.

I honestly feel the same way.

Regardless, I should visit Northern Manchuria soon.

I’m not going just to see the Korean Provisional Government.

This is awkward to say, but Korea didn’t have just one provisional government in Shanghai—they were somewhat divided.

I don’t even know if there’s only a Harbin Provisional Government now. At the very least, the Russian Empress can’t go to Northern Manchuria claiming to be looking for the Korean Provisional Government.

Making contact with the Provisional Government is just a secondary objective. I’m going to a place I’ve been planning to visit anyway.

It’s not like a liberated Korea necessarily needs the current Provisional Government anyway.

“Well, that’s something we can approach later using the Okhrana. So, would it be acceptable for me to visit Northern Manchuria?”

I’m asking this to the Minister of Land Management, but I’m also asking Ungern, who still commands the Asiatic Cavalry Division despite the presence of a Northern Manchurian Governor-General.

Look at him, his eyes are gleaming with excitement.

“Is Your Majesty personally requesting this?”

This has been discussed before anyway.

“The situation isn’t bad right now. I should show my face there soon. That would strengthen our development efforts in Northern Manchuria.”

Just look at that.

Everyone’s idol Anastasia descending upon Northern Manchuria.

The hardworking Russians might naturally become more motivated—well, not quite.

I just need to go there and show my face. That’s how Northern Manchuria will become completely Russian territory.

“Then, I’ll contact the Northern Manchurian Governor-General about land matters and tell him to prepare for Your Majesty’s arrival.”

At the Land Management Minister’s words, I subtly turned toward Ungern standing beside him.

That man is a member of the Roman National Party. He heard our entire conversation and will likely try to prepare something extravagant.

In that case, it’s better to just tell him to receive me.

“Hmm, that’s not bad, but don’t make it too grand. It should be as modest as possible, considering Northern Manchuria’s situation.”

“Yes. I’ll do that, but…”

I could just go, but if I don’t inform these Anastasia Fan Club Roman National Party people beforehand, problems might arise later.

“Um, but about that…”

“Yes, General Ungern. Please speak.”

Why are you hesitating so annoyingly? It feels strange when this person, who’s practically the second-in-command of the Roman National Party, acts like this.

“How will you persuade the State Duma?”

“Ah.”

Even the Land Management Minister beside me has an expression that says he hadn’t thought of that.

That’s right. We should have discussed this with the State Duma first.

“About Northern Manchuria? Well, since you’ve decided to go, that’s appropriate.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought you would refuse.”

“If it were Poland, perhaps, but Northern Manchuria is completely under our influence, so there shouldn’t be any problems. Moreover, with the Asiatic Cavalry Division there, it’s a safe region.”

Surprisingly, the State Duma accepted the Tsarina’s vacation.

Though it’s not like I’ll be staying there long anyway. It would be right to bring Maria and Vera Gedroits along.

Even though there shouldn’t be any terrorist incidents like last time.

Well then, I’m finally going to Northern Manchuria.

How has Northern Manchuria changed in this era, developed by pouring in multiple ethnicities?

It’s somewhat barren land, but considering it’s the 20th century, it should be quite decent.

* * *

Russian Northern Manchuria, Harbin

During this period, Harbin, the representative city of Northern Manchuria, underwent many changes.

Once a city inhabited by Manchus and Han Chinese, traces of the indigenous people were gradually erased. Now, like Vladivostok standing tall as Russia’s Far Eastern city, Western-style buildings had been erected.

This Western-style city, built with Jewish capital and Russian government investment, had no traditional Eastern houses, but quite a few East Asians lived there.

And today, Northern Manchurian Governor-General Dmitry Horvath received a message from Moscow.

None other than a notification that the Tsarina herself was coming to visit!

“Her-Her Majesty in person!?”

Dmitry Horvath belonged to the White Army, but he had never seen the Tsarina in person.

Perhaps as a young princess, but after the civil war, he had been in charge of the Central Railway in Northern Manchuria. With the shortage of manpower, he was the only one who could exert administrative power in Northern Manchuria, making it difficult for him to go to Moscow.

At most, he could hear the Tsarina’s voice directly through the radio.

But seeing her in person and hearing her on the radio are different matters.

So Dmitry Horvath was urgent.

After all, he would be seeing the Tsarina in person.

Dmitry Horvath immediately summoned the Governor-General’s army.

Although the Asiatic Cavalry Division was also here, it was appropriate for the Governor-General ruling Northern Manchuria to lead his own army to welcome her.

That would be the proper procedure for welcoming Russia’s hero.

After all, she was the Tsarina who had appointed him, previously just guarding railways, as the Governor-General of Northern Manchuria.

“Her Majesty is personally coming to Northern Manchuria. Everyone, prepare to welcome Her Majesty!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Governor-General’s army, recently increased to tens of thousands, moved busily.

To welcome the Tsar of All Russia, who would arrive on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

As soldiers began to be densely positioned at the train station, residents of Northern Manchuria also became curious.

It was the first time they had seen the Governor-General’s army deployed somewhere other than the Manchurian Railway border, especially at the station.

Recently, the Governor-General’s army had at most suppressed bandits in Northern Manchuria alongside the Asiatic Cavalry Division, so seeing them deployed at the station was a first since the civil war.

“Who’s coming that’s making the Governor-General’s army move like that?”

“I heard the Tsar is coming directly to Northern Manchuria.”

“Ohhh, the Tsarina is coming all the way to Manchuria!”

“If the person who gave us land is coming in person, shouldn’t we properly welcome her?”

Existing Russians who had come to Manchuria, Jews who had settled in Northern Manchuria through the Jewish immigration policy, and Russian and Jewish capitalists who had smelled oil exploration opportunities—everyone welcomed the Tsarina’s visit.

As people favorable to the Tsar began to gather, Governor-General Horvath decided to make them into a welcoming crowd for the Tsar.

Soon, the streets of Harbin were covered with tricolor flags emblazoned with the double-headed eagle, as preparations to welcome the Tsar began in earnest.

After all, there was a need to show that the hearts of Northern Manchuria were with the Tsar.

Meanwhile, Ahn Changho, who had barely established an unrecognized provisional government thanks to Jewish capitalists, also detected this movement.

Ahn Changho approached a Korean who was watching what was happening at Harbin Station.

“Excuse me. Who’s coming that’s making the Governor-General’s army act like this?”

“Oh, did you just arrive recently? Everyone’s waiting because the Russian Empress is coming.”

It seems this compatriot doesn’t know about the Provisional Government yet, but according to him, it appears the Empress is about to make a tour here.

Judging by how many people are gathered, she must be arriving soon.

Wheeeeeeee!

Speak of the devil.

Finally, a train stopped at Harbin Station. Several men in military uniforms disembarked from the train and waited for someone.

And finally, a blonde woman stepped off.

As if to refute the saying that kings and ministers aren’t born with special marks, her appearance possessed an extraordinary dignity that revealed her royal bloodline.

The absolute monarch of the United States of Greater Russia, who in this era held the titles of Great Khan of Mongolia, Emperor of the European Great Empire (Roman Empire), and Tsar of All Russia.

Gulp.

Even just seeing her from afar made them feel too insignificant.

After all, the Harbin Provisional Government was a provisional government without proper military forces.

Hong Beom-do, the commander of the Asian Korean Army unit in the Asiatic Cavalry Division, was also affiliated with the Provisional Government, but since the Asian Korean Army itself belonged to the Russian army, they essentially had no legal military.

Could they possibly persuade that Empress with nothing to offer?

No matter how you look at it, the Russian Empress would gain absolutely nothing by helping them.

But they couldn’t remain intimidated like this.

Ahn Changho rushed to the Provisional Government office.

“Why are you in such a hurry, Prime Minister?”

“Ah, Chairman Kim. Is His Excellency here?”

“What’s the matter?”

“The Russian Empress has arrived in Harbin.”

Chairman Kim Gu, who had greeted Ahn Changho at the office, rolled his eyes at the news that the Russian Empress had arrived.

The Russian Empress had come.

Prime Minister Ahn had rushed to the office to make contact with the Empress.

“Prime Minister Ahn. This is important for our Provisional Government. If by any chance the Russian Empress sides with the Japanese, we’re finished.”

“Independence won’t be achieved by just sitting here. We have to try something.”

“Hmm.”

“She’s an Empress whose influence extends deep into China. She might already be aware of us. Isn’t it worth trying to make contact?”

“Sigh. Alright.”

Kim Gu had no choice.

How could he stop someone with such a determined expression for national salvation?

Moreover, sadly, this Provisional Government had only just been launched.

It hadn’t established a systematic organization, and the government’s main task was just gathering information by sending agents into Japanese-occupied territory.

Yes, independence wouldn’t come by just staying like this.

Sometimes, they needed to step forward boldly.

* * *

I arrived in Harbin.

The tricolor flag of the United States of Greater Russia, with a black double-headed eagle on a golden background, is fluttering everywhere.

I had just wanted something moderate, but isn’t this a bit excessive?

I’m really embarrassed about this.

And judging by their cheers…

I can even see an elderly Russian man shedding tears at the sight of me.

“God save the Tsar!”

“Long live Tsarina Anastasia! Long live the United States of Greater Russia! Long live Byzantium!”

“Long live the Saint of All Russia! Long live the Great Khan of the Great Mongol Empire!”

It’s truly overwhelming.

I never dreamed I’d hear someone call me the Great Khan of Mongolia.

It seems there are even Mongolians here who dream of Russian Mongolia.

If I enter the Forbidden City and receive abdication from Puyi, will I also get the title of Emperor of China?

After all, the Qing Dynasty was Manchu.

There’s no law saying the Romanov Dynasty can’t take the title of Emperor of China.

Of course, I’m joking.

Why would I take the title of Emperor? The moment I become Emperor, all Chinese people would protest against a white person becoming Emperor, and even if they didn’t rebel, it would be impossible to feed and modernize those hundreds of millions of Chinese people.

“Ohhh! Look at this! Countless subjects from both East and West are welcoming Your Majesty’s tour of Northern Manchuria!”

Ungern has an emotional face beside me.

Hah, yes. Honestly, I’m surprised too.

I heard that White Russians and Red Army factions had some conflicts in Northern Manchuria. But the people here don’t seem to be welcoming me reluctantly at all.

“Last time, my comrades and I got to hear Your Majesty’s civil war story directly on the radio! I was so moved that I cried a lot. I felt with my whole body what a great ordeal those years of civil war were for Your Majesty. Your voice was so wonderful too!”

“We knew too little about Modified Capitalism! It’s truly great! Your Majesty!”

Waaaaaaah!

Tsarina! Tsarina! Tsarina!

Wow, they’re shouting so loudly the train station might collapse.

Was I that good a Tsar to them?

More than that, both the conversation just now and their cheering… though it’s in Russian, the lines seem familiar somehow.

“This reminds me of something.”

“Pardon? No, it doesn’t.”

I unconsciously recalled that internet meme.

Well, the lines could be similar, but surely it’s not that.

I’ve watched too many of those meme videos. I should cut back.

No, I can’t even watch them here anyway.

Anyway, since they’re happy to see me, I should say something.

“Thank you! Citizens of the United States! Your Tsarina will never forget today’s welcome!”

While waving both hands to everyone.

I expressed my gratitude earnestly to the Northern Manchurian residents.

“Not at all, Your Majesty! Thanks to your support, we were able to start new lives in Northern Manchuria!”

“Long live the Tsarina! Long live the Northern Manchurian Governor-General’s Office!”

The reactions are so extravagant that I wonder if they’re paid actors.

My face is burning with embarrassment.

When they react like that, I don’t know what to say.

After receiving such a fan meeting-level welcome from the Northern Manchurian residents who had gathered, I entered the Governor-General’s building.

“I didn’t expect it to be this much.”

“Hahaha! Isn’t it amazing how great the people’s loyalty to Your Majesty is!”

Even Ungern seems high on something.

No matter how I look at it, this man must be the number one Anastasia fan in the Roman National Party.

I think it’s because he’s a monarchist. Ah, I don’t know.

Now I need to meet the Governor-General who has been ruling Northern Manchuria.