Ch.118The Shogun of South Manchuria (2)

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After a few days in Northern Manchuria, a curiosity suddenly struck me.

Renya Mutaguchi and the Provisional Government seem to have a peculiar relationship.

The Korean units in the Asiatic Cavalry Division are growing with Koreans coming up from Southern Manchuria, and Japanese weapons are flooding in from the south.

This whole situation reeks of something.

I have my suspicions, but knowing something and having overlapping interests in secret are two different matters.

So I summoned Ahn Changho, the interim Prime Minister of the Provisional Government.

“What relationship does the Provisional Government have with this Renya Mutaguchi, the Manchuria Rail military commander?”

“You mean Renya Mutaguchi of the Manchuria Rail forces?”

“Seeing how he’s doing things that benefit your people, could he possibly be a member of the independence movement?”

I blurted that out without thinking.

Look at that—Ahn Changho is smiling.

That probably means we already know about Mutaguchi through various channels.

Originally, Ahn Changho wouldn’t have lasted long either, but come to think of it, isn’t he also someone who survived because I changed history?

Seriously considering the original history, from the Russian Tsar’s perspective, I should prevent Syngman Rhee—who could be considered a pro-American force in Asia—from becoming president.

“Ahem. No, he is strictly a Japanese official. But we do have a mutually beneficial relationship.”

I see. I don’t know the details, but there’s definitely something there. That must be it.

“Well, fine. That’s for you to handle. However, since this is a time to strengthen friendships by inviting influential figures from Southern Manchuria, you shouldn’t harbor any ulterior motives.”

“He’s a necessary figure from our perspective as well. If he were to become a person who cannot return home, wouldn’t someone dangerous take over Southern Manchuria?”

That’s true.

Looking at the current situation, it’s probably best to continue supporting Mutaguchi.

Alright, that’s settled then.

“Well, that’s enough about that. I have something to say about the Provisional Government in Harbin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Anyway, the Harbin Provisional Government is close to Japan and quite far from Moscow. Wouldn’t it be better to have someone representing the government’s position in Moscow?”

Russia is too vast.

At the very least, communication lines with Moscow must be secured.

There should be at least a communicable distance.

Telephones are finally being distributed thanks to Tesla, but just because telephones exist doesn’t mean they work well throughout Russia.

“Wouldn’t that be even more dangerous? There’s a Japanese embassy in Moscow.”

“Hmm, while Moscow is the administrative capital, Yekaterinburg becomes the capital in times of national emergency. Yekaterinburg is also a logistics hub. You could be there, or even claim to be an embassy of a country.”

We can at least maintain communication networks with Yekaterinburg.

If Moscow doesn’t work, that would be fine too.

“An embassy of a country? How exactly would that work?”

Ahn Changho tilted his head, seemingly not understanding what I meant.

There are many republics within Russia.

At least formally, that is.

Of course, they’re called republics but in reality, they’re just provinces of Russia, but anyway.

“The United States of Greater Russia has many republics and provinces within it. Recently, the Mongolian Republic was incorporated into Russia. What if you Koreans also created a local autonomous government within Russia? Japan couldn’t really object to that much.”

The Bogd Khan is leading the Mongolian Republic under the Mongolian Governor-General’s Office.

I’m just suggesting we create something similar in form. Then even if it’s discovered later, Japan won’t be able to complain.

“Ah, I see. So we’d be deceiving the Japanese Empire.”

“That’s why we need to create it in advance and coordinate our stories, but we can’t use a national name that would provoke Japan, right? It wouldn’t be appropriate to call it the Harbin Provisional Government on Russian soil in name and reality.”

We need to deceive the Japanese Empire, but we should only make claims without actual territory.

Well, I can’t just give Northern Manchuria to Koreans as the Tsar.

“Hmm, then I’ll think about it.”

“Yes, please do.”

After Ahn Changho withdrew, I was lost in thought for a moment.

I suspect “Korea” will be excluded from the list of potential names.

After all, “Korea” clearly gives the impression of provoking and destroying the Japanese Empire.

So what might they come up with? Goryeo? Or perhaps Samhan? Maybe Buyeo?

Hmm. I’m quite curious about this.

As I was drifting into such imaginative thoughts, Ungern came to my office, presumably because the news I’d been waiting for had arrived.

“Your Majesty. He has arrived.”

By “he,” he must mean Renya Mutaguchi.

“Is that so? Well, it’s a bit much to welcome him personally, but I should appear to have seen him on my way somewhere.”

That level of lip service should be sufficient.

Renya Mutaguchi coincidentally receives the Tsarina’s welcome.

Just having that written on the front page of newspapers would significantly improve Mutaguchi’s influence in Southern Manchuria.

I looked outside from the second-floor window of the Southern Manchuria Governor-General’s building.

It was quite a novel sight to see the Northern Manchuria Governor-General and Renya Mutaguchi shaking hands.

“Hahaha. I am Renya Mutaguchi, commander of the Manchuria Rail forces in Southern Manchuria. It is an honor to meet the Governor-General of Northern Manchuria. This is my adjutant, Masanobu Tsuji.”

“It is an honor to meet you, Governor-General!”

Renya Mutaguchi followed by Masanobu Tsuji?

It’s amusing to see these miracle cards of the Japanese army together from their perspective.

Well, they’re both plausible opportunists.

Masanobu Tsuji. That guy is probably sticking around to get some scraps now that Mutaguchi is becoming the de facto power in Southern Manchuria.

“The honor is mine to see a commander who is working hard for friendship between our Russia and Southern Manchuria.”

He’s been promoted already?

Isn’t this person not even forty yet?

At that age, he’s already commanding the Manchuria Rail’s military forces?

I wonder how much scheming he’s done to hide things from his home country while appearing to be active here.

After exchanging a few words, Renya Mutaguchi and the Northern Manchuria Governor-General entered the government building.

Not long after, he encountered me and immediately bowed deeply.

“Oh! To meet the hero of Russia here again. Tsar, Your Majesty. I am Renya Mutaguchi of the great Empire of Japan! As Your Majesty predicted, I have become the power in Southern Manchuria!”

What a friendly person.

Isn’t he being too casual considering I’m the leader of a nation?

Perhaps he thinks there’s some goodwill because of our previous meeting and my compliments.

Well, I did want to see this person up close anyway.

Look at those straightforward eyes.

Two sparkling eyes full of confidence. They’re undoubtedly similar to those of independence fighters struggling to reclaim their country.

He’s actually been working hard in this altered history.

Whether he’s genuinely doing it for the Korean people or it’s just coincidence, Mutaguchi must be a favorite among Koreans right now.

“Ah, good to see you. What a coincidence.”

Honestly, I’d like to welcome him sincerely, but as the Tsar, I can only go so far.

“Yes, Your Majesty. It truly must be fate!”

He’s quite bold.

“Hmm. So you’ve become the power in Southern Manchuria?”

“Hahaha. As a soldier of the great Empire of Japan, shouldn’t I accomplish at least this much?”

Honestly, if the Provisional Government were to set him up right now, this person would probably lose his head immediately.

But how could I, with my past life as a Korean, betray an Allied spy, a shadow independence fighter?

I should use him instead.

If this man disappears, someone dangerous might take his place.

If Mutaguchi meets with an accident, Japan might send someone who would crack down to ensure others don’t look down on Japan.

“But I think your luck won’t end here.”

“Pardon?”

“For that day, you should fill the Manchuria Rail forces with people loyal to you.”

That’s already the case, actually.

Even now, Mutaguchi has a firm grip on the Manchuria Rail, which is why he’s managed to become the commander of its forces.

Good. Now that I’ve dropped the bait, how will Mutaguchi react?

As expected, Mutaguchi’s eyes widen.

Having already experienced it once with the great earthquake, or in Mutaguchi’s case, twice with the prophecy of “becoming a great figure,” he must be eager to hear more.

I actually like that it’s exactly as I heard in history.

Yes. Then I should tell him.

I need to make this person work for Korean independence even more than in the original history.

In this history, I intend to make him worthy of receiving a Korean Order of Merit for National Foundation.

“May I ask what you mean by that?”

“Well, I’m just vaguely sensing something.”

I slowly turned my head away as if it didn’t concern me, and Renya Mutaguchi, who had been boasting alongside the Northern Manchuria Governor-General just moments ago, knelt before me.

Yes, in Japanese they call it dogeza.

“I, as a man of Yamato, have prided myself on honing my skills for my country. Please bestow even a little wisdom upon this unworthy person for the sake of my nation!”

He’s asking for wisdom now?

If he puts it that way, I might share a little wisdom.

Though, what Mutaguchi means by “for my nation” might become “for Korea.”

Regardless, it will be working for me.

Our Renya Mutaguchi needs to survive.

He also needs to maintain a high position in Japan proper.

Now that history has changed, it’s uncertain whether Mutaguchi will start the Second Sino-Japanese War.

If that’s the case, he should at least continue to hold Southern Manchuria.

Within Russia might be different, but for Mutaguchi, it would be good if I cement my image as a prophet.

Even in Japan proper, though I don’t say it directly, he’s making gestures of goodwill toward me.

Now, after playing hard to get, should I speak?

“If Japan ever attacks China, don’t try to achieve military merit—just protect the Manchuria Rail. At most, just handle the supplies.”

If the Imperial General Headquarters goes berserk similarly, they won’t give Mutaguchi, the power (not really) in Southern Manchuria, a chance to achieve merit, so just handling supplies shouldn’t be difficult.

“How can I become great if I miss the opportunity to achieve merit?”

“Your country might face a crisis. You’ll need to conserve the Manchuria Rail forces for that time.”

From what I can see now, Renya Mutaguchi must have significant influence over the Manchuria Rail forces.

In fact, being known as a Japanese soldier friendly with me, the Russian Tsar, would make it even more so.

Then, if he doesn’t prove his incompetence in an actual war, commanding the Manchuria Rail forces shouldn’t be difficult.

Moreover, Masanobu Tsuji is by his side.

It might be worth a try.

“What exactly does that—”

“Are you doubting me, who even predicted your country’s great earthquake?”

It would be a bit much to doubt this.

“How could I doubt the sovereign of the great northern nation? I believe you!”

Good. That should be enough.

This person seems to believe my words quite readily.

The influence from Japan proper probably plays a role too, since I had predicted the great earthquake for them.

It’s still a bit shocking that despite my warning, the damage was even greater than in the actual history.

“Come to think of it, as the commander of the Manchuria Rail forces, are you equivalent to a governor-general?”

I’m not sure how Southern Manchuria is structured now.

Given the size of Southern Manchuria, it should be at the level of a governor-general’s office.

“It’s a bit different now. The entire Southern Manchuria is called the Manchuria Rail, and a man named Shinpei Goto is separately serving as the company president.”

I see. Shinpei Goto. Hmm.

So he manages the company, and Renya Mutaguchi is the commander of the Manchuria Rail forces.

But if Southern Manchuria is running quite well now, won’t a governor-general’s office or Manchukuo be established there soon?

No, in the case of Manchukuo, Puyi is “currently” the Emperor of the Chinese Empire, so Puyi probably won’t work. Then it would be a governor-general’s office.

“I see. That’s unfortunate.”

“But looking at how the great powers are moving, won’t the home country establish a governor-general’s office soon?”

Certainly, if Manchukuo doesn’t exist.

They might upgrade that Manchuria Rail to a governor-general’s office or something similar.

They wouldn’t keep it as a company called Manchuria Rail; they’d want to expand it.

“Hmm.”

At my level, I could probably convey my thoughts to the Japanese side.

How about establishing a Southern Manchuria Governor-General’s Office?

And making Renya Mutaguchi the Governor-General of Southern Manchuria.

That’s a good picture.

If I boost Mutaguchi appropriately now and then when war breaks out, move south and quickly take over the Manchuria Rail?

This sounds good.

“I’ll send a personal letter to Japan directly.”

It might be good to send one directly.

“A personal letter?”

Why is he so surprised?

Ah, it might seem like I’m taking his side too much. I should add a reason.

This side is the Northern Manchuria Governor-General’s Office, but the other side is just a Japanese company.

It’s too large to just be called a company, honestly, it’s a bit odd.

So it should become a governor-general’s office. Let’s send a letter like that.

The fact that Japan is still disguising Southern Manchuria as a company suggests they might be wary of the great powers’ reactions to making it a governor-general’s office.

What if Russia supports that?

It would be scratching where it itches.