Ch.114Far East Policy

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty the Tsar!”

The elderly man who appeared to be Dmitri Horvath offered me a precise military salute.

Right. This man would have originally been with the White Army before either dying or fleeing into exile somewhere. He’s surprisingly capable.

Northern Manchuria is not only barren, but logically speaking, he had to filter out all those Han and Manchu people and manage the region in the Russian way. And he accomplished all of that.

Through military administration, no less.

Although the original plan was to incorporate it as part of the mainland rather than as a colony with a long-term strategy in mind. He’s done remarkably well implementing it.

For someone who originally just managed railways, this is quite an achievement.

I smiled with satisfaction and commended Horvath.

“Not at all. It’s my greater honor to meet the Governor-General who has pioneered and developed this barren land. I heard that during the civil war, you protected the railways from the Red Army to supply the White Army?”

Being a force protecting railways, they couldn’t have been very numerous.

With those forces, he managed to protect the railways from the Reds without the presence of Allied forces, making it easier for the Yekaterinburg Provisional Government to receive American support.

“Hahaha. The Bolsheviks in Manchuria were merely vermin who could at best commit sabotage, so they could be easily suppressed with minimal forces.”

“In any case, you’ve managed Northern Manchuria well, despite acquiring it almost by accident.”

I glanced briefly toward Ungern as I spoke.

After all, it was the Asiatic Cavalry Division that recklessly occupied Northern Manchuria.

“It’s all thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”

“Well done. I primarily came to see how Northern Manchuria is functioning, but while I’m here, it would be good to hear directly from the Governor-General.”

“Yes! I’ll tell you anything you wish to know!”

Good. That’s what I want.

I didn’t come here specifically to grade or evaluate anything. I don’t need to be so tense.

I just want to hear some explanations.

For us to eventually strike Japan from behind, Northern Manchuria needs to be properly developed.

Above all, there’s oil here.

We need to develop the oil fields, and when development succeeds, we must also consider the possibility of a Japanese military attack, however remote.

“Since Northern Manchuria is barren, we must revitalize cities based on what resources we have.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“This place is supposed to develop oil fields similar to Siberia. Has there been any progress?”

Siberia already has oil field development planned in Tyumen. It would be good if Northern Manchuria could show some progress too.

Of course, I don’t expect immediate results, but are they at least digging?

“It seems to be quite deep, so it hasn’t been discovered yet.”

“So it hasn’t been found immediately.”

I shouldn’t have too high expectations.

But I wish something would happen soon.

“Yes. Branobel and Royal Dutch Shell have sent additional drilling equipment, so shouldn’t we get some response soon?”

“Hmm. That makes sense.”

Branobel is essentially a Romanov joint venture, so it’s practically mine. The Rothschilds are also quite supportive of our side.

Yes, something should come of it eventually.

Branobel is also developing drilling equipment ahead of historical schedule.

“Still, both Harbin and the surrounding areas have developed considerably. In just a few years, we’ve almost erased all traces of the Manchus who once owned this land.”

Indeed, as I was coming here, I did see some traditional Chinese houses, but Russian-style buildings were more prevalent.

Considering that, either this person is very capable or he’s been oppressing the locals to make them obedient.

“The remaining Manchus and Han people must have resisted. Did you crush them by force?”

Those who remained after it became Russian territory probably stayed because they missed their homeland. If they were crushed by force, how would that be any different from the Japanese Empire?

I wonder if the Han and Manchu people who remained in Northern Manchuria never resisted at all.

“No. Although we implemented regulations, there wasn’t much opposition. They stayed here knowing they would be Russified, so what could they do? Moreover, while they lived in shabby traditional houses, the Jewish and Russian immigrants lived in better places, so they too accepted the immigration policy, not wanting to be left behind.”

“Immigration policy?”

I didn’t know the Governor-General’s office was implementing an immigration policy.

Right. Northern Manchuria needs immigrants, so the policies from the homeland alone wouldn’t be sufficient.

Especially since Moscow is so far from Northern Manchuria. To manage more effectively, it’s good for the Governor-General’s office to implement its own policies.

This person is quite capable.

That’s why Northern Manchuria has developed relatively well.

Honestly, I expected to see something like those photos of cities with stark wealth disparities—a Westernized city on one side and slums visible just beyond a single wall.

But it’s actually quite well-organized.

It seems like there’s almost nothing for me to do here.

I should just look around while I’m here.

“Yes. Following the Jewish immigration policy from the homeland, we also implemented a settlement support policy here—if they comply, they maintain the same privileges and status as Russians in Russian Northern Manchuria. With support from Jewish capitalists, we’re also building collective residential buildings.”

Now that I think about it, I did see some apartment-style buildings.

How much money do these Jewish people really have?

Considering how eagerly the Japanese in actual history anticipated wealthy Jewish immigration, timing and justification really do seem important.

Half of it is because the Rothschilds believed me and invested money in Northern Manchurian oil development.

Anyway, unlike in the original history, Northern Manchuria seems to be distancing itself from China.

By the time both Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong set their sights on Manchuria, the picture I want should already be complete.

“Is the South Manchuria Railway making any provocations?”

“No. Are those fellows in any position to provoke us now?”

I asked just in case.

I thought they might be aiming for my back.

They might suddenly cause a conflict at the border between Southern and Northern Manchuria to try to seize land.

The Asiatic Cavalry Division and the Governor-General’s army are quite small compared to the South Manchuria Railway or the Korean Army (Japanese forces stationed in Korea).

Japan seems to be surprisingly compliant with our demands.

“Any other issues?”

“If I had to mention one, Korean people who crossed over from Southern Manchuria have formed a Korean Association.”

“A Korean Association?”

“Yes. Upon investigation, they internally call it a Provisional Government. The Jewish capitalist managing the building where this provisional government is housed says it’s not illegal, so we haven’t interfered for now.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Well, I expected that.

“If Your Majesty commands, I will mobilize the Governor-General’s army to drive them out.”

I pretended to think for a moment, then shook my head.

“No. Leave them be for now. Rather, I heard there’s a Korean unit in the Asiatic Cavalry Division. Are they in contact with the Provisional Government?”

“A man named Hong Beom-do leads the Korean unit. But nothing has been confirmed yet.”

Hmm, even if it’s not confirmed, they must have some connection.

They might not be making overt contact, but from the Provisional Government’s perspective, the Asiatic Cavalry Division’s forces must be very appealing.

That’s probably why they’re in Northern Manchuria.

To be honest, given how the world is turning, if the Provisional Government had decided to go elsewhere, they could have.

They could have gone to America.

They’re currently staying here with help from Jewish capitalists, and they could use Jewish support to travel through Russia to America.

I understand if it’s for geographical reasons,

But Japan is close, and Russia has the image of being Japan’s ally.

America, where Syngman Rhee is, would be better.

So, obviously they want the Korean unit of the Asiatic Cavalry Division.

That’s the answer if they want to wage an armed struggle against Japanese imperialism.

This makes things complicated.

Since this isn’t the Shanghai Provisional Government, I’m not sure which way this will go.

“Hmmmm.”

“Are you thinking of meeting them personally?”

Being here has made me more aware that I’m being hailed as the Russian Tsar.

Well, since I’m here, I could meet them…

But as the Russian Tsar, there’s no particular reason for me to meet them directly.

If I were Korean, I might have been excited at the thought of meeting independence activists I learned about in childhood.

“I do think it would be good to use Koreans to create justification when we eventually strike Japan.”

The question is how desperate they are.

To be honest, if they’re desperate, they’ll probably approach me.

After all, how often will the Tsar come to Northern Manchuria?

They’ll probably try to make contact even now.

Or they might coldly just see us as Japan’s ally and try to stay hidden for a while.

But from the Provisional Government’s perspective, they don’t really have anyone else to rely on.

Going to America would be like the Tibetan Provisional Government going to India.

If they’re going to approach, it would be now while the Tsarina is here.

If they truly have a desperate desire to regain their country, they would.

If they don’t, well. Since liberating Korea would be beneficial for Russia anyway, the Duma would likely form a new government with local people from the Korean Peninsula.

“Then I’ll summon them.”

“No. If they’re desperate, won’t they come on their own?”

“How can you be so sure?”

I shook my head slightly.

I’m not certain.

I don’t know their movements either. Everything is just my speculation, but if I had to paint a picture:

“First, there’s the existence of the Korean unit in the Asiatic Cavalry Division. What Koreans need now is military power to fight against Japan. And the Korean military with such capability is in the Asiatic Cavalry Division.”

“Indeed, they might ask for that army.”

The Korean unit in the Asiatic Cavalry Division is at most a few thousand strong.

“Additionally, our country supported the Zhili–Anhui War government that tried to overthrow the corrupt Duan Qirui regime in China.”

That’s it.

They might come to me like moths to a flame, with a vague expectation or hope that we would support their Provisional Government just as we supported the righteous Zhili–Anhui War government.

“The Tsar of Russia is here. It’s worth taking a gamble.”

“I think I understand what you mean. But what if they don’t come?”

“If they don’t come, they don’t. We can form a government with locals later.”

“Your Majesty, I agree that we should strike Japan to avenge the Russo-Japanese War. But do we really need to liberate Korea? Couldn’t we just annex the Korean Peninsula? Surely the Korean people would be happy to live as subjects of Byzantium.”

What kind of colonial imperialist mindset is that?

If Koreans were satisfied with that, there wouldn’t be an independence movement in the first place. Besides, the Korean Peninsula is too far from European Russia.

Well, I should listen to the Northern Manchuria Governor-General’s opinion.

If we eventually go to war with Japan, he’ll be on the front lines.

“Even Northern Manchuria is still being pioneered, and we already have vast lands spanning East and West. It would be unreasonable to make tens of millions of people in a small peninsula in the Far East citizens of the United States.”

“So, Your Majesty intends to make them independent to weaken Japan’s power?”

That’s not really a significant reason.

The Japanese Empire actually operated at a loss after annexing Korea.

Making Korea independent won’t significantly weaken Japan’s power.

Especially since stationing troops on the Korean Peninsula costs them more money.

“England made Japan the gendarme of the Far East to block Russia’s southward expansion, and similarly, Russia needs a gendarme to defend the Far East. To balance a divided China. And to prevent Japan from targeting Russia’s Far East in the future.”

“Would a defeated Japan dare to target us again? At most, they’d be confined to their islands.”

It’s too early to be complacent.

We haven’t even fought a war yet.

Of course, this plan assumes Japan will be crushed, but still.

“After the war, whether England or America becomes Japan’s master, they will eventually rebuild Japan to block Russia’s Pacific expansion. That’s why we need a force to defend the Far East. The only country that can share a border with Russia without betraying us, while having enough population to defend against Japan, is Korea.”

A divided China won’t have that capacity, and I plan to deploy Israel to prevent China from growing too large anyway.

No matter how many times I think about it, Korea is the only option.

“Then what do we gain after the war?”

If you ask what we gain, it’s dominance in Europe.

Once the communist forces collapse, we’ll draw Germany and Italy into a new bloc led by Russia.

I don’t know what will happen to France, but looking at their current state, they’re a toothless tiger, and England is an aging lion.

“We must take the leadership of post-war Europe. We cannot surrender Europe to England or the Yankees.”

Just look at England’s current state.

If Russia leads Europe after the war, whether it’s England or America, they’ll strengthen Japan to block our expansion into Asia.

With the country currently undergoing reforms, we’ll have our hands full just taking the leadership of post-war Europe, let alone stationing troops all the way to the Korean Peninsula.

So again, it’s not because I was Korean in my past life, but Korea is the only option.

Israel will have to fight bloody battles with a divided China. So what’s left besides Korea?

If we forcibly bring Japan into Russia’s sphere of influence, America might become uncomfortable as they’d feel threatened all the way to the Pacific.

We just need to defend the Far East.