Ch.119South Manchuria Governor-General’s Office

# Russia Acknowledges It? What Should We Do?

“Russia has acknowledged it? Oh my, what should we do?” they say. They’re upgrading it to a Governor-General’s Office.

Of course, with the great earthquake and the situation in Korea, they might not have time to focus on anything besides establishing the South Manchuria Railway in Southern Manchuria.

Still, Japan will try to hold onto Southern Manchuria.

Looking at their ambitions for conquering China through the Anti-Comintern Pact, it’s quite clear.

“We have a Governor-General’s Office here, but right below it is a company, not even a Japanese Governor-General’s Office. Doesn’t that seem a bit off?”

“Ah, yes. The ranks don’t match. Of course. While Russia, an ally of the Empire, has Northern Manchuria, we merely have a company here. The ranks are completely mismatched.”

The difference is obvious.

Northern Manchuria has a Russian Governor-General’s Office. Japan’s Southern Manchuria is just a company.

The justification is sufficient.

“Anyway, Europe is currently in a position where Britain and France are held back by Germany. Even if Southern Manchuria becomes a Japanese Governor-General’s Office, they wouldn’t dare interfere.”

America is somewhat concerning since they have interests in Manchuria.

From the current situation, it seems Japan is acknowledging American interests in Manchuria. Whether Southern Manchuria is truly stable is another question.

If Southern Manchuria needs to serve as a bridgehead for entering China, it must be stable.

“Are there any problems in Southern Manchuria?”

“Yes! There were some Manchus in Southern Manchuria who were dissatisfied with the Empire, but with China so divided, they had no choice but to follow us.”

Indeed. Unless the Manchus are as powerful as they were during the Qing invasion of Joseon, today’s Manchus couldn’t escape to the divided Chinese territory.

Perhaps it was fortunate that we occupied Northern Manchuria before federalization.

At least when we occupied it, the Manchus and Han Chinese in Northern Manchuria still had a homeland to flee to, but not anymore.

If the occupation of Manchuria had been delayed, the Han Chinese population in Northern Manchuria would have increased significantly.

“Is the South Manchuria Railway a colony?”

“How could it be? Southern Manchuria is home to Koreans who are subjects of the Empire of Japan. The Empire naturally needs to protect it. It would be correct to view it as a protectorate.”

Is this wordplay or sincerity?

Either way, it’s truly peculiar.

This Renya Mutaguchi is truly a master of wordplay.

That’s how he was able to annihilate the Japanese army.

His statement that supplies should be taken from the enemy—something that would only work in medieval times.

I found that statement deeply impressive.

Though born in the wrong era, he still managed to annihilate the Japanese army.

The Tsar is writing a personal letter to help advance such a person’s career.

“Very well. Then I shall send a letter with my modest opinion to your government.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Renya Mutaguchi, who had just risen from his dogeza, bowed deeply again before me.

Yes, yes. That’s good.

I like those clear, sparkling eyes of his.

He’s a champion of justice who was released by the Allied forces due to insufficient evidence, even after starting a war.

“Well, since it’s a good day, enjoy the party hosted by our Governor-General. I should prepare to return now.”

“Yes! It’s been an honor to meet you, Tsar!”

So respectful, so respectful.

Yes. If he follows my words well, if he does a good job, I could entrust the next Japan to Mutaguchi.

# * * *

## Empire of Japan

The news that Anastasia had openly sent a letter to the Japanese government supporting Renya Mutaguchi was quite an interesting matter for the Japanese government.

Since it could be seen as interference in internal affairs, it was mentioned that it could be treated as a personal letter from the Tsar, so it could be ignored.

The issue of the Southern Manchuria Governor-General’s Office wasn’t a bad topic for the Japanese government, which had been suffering from the Korean problem.

“The Tsar who visited Northern Manchuria met with our South Manchuria Railway Army Commander Renya Mutaguchi.”

“I heard about that, but what happened?”

“The Tsar sent a personal letter to our country through the Korean Governor-General’s Office. He said that Renya Mutaguchi appears equal to their Northern Manchuria Governor-General, and suggested that rather than just being a military commander, he should become the Governor-General of Southern Manchuria.”

“Hmm. Indeed, Southern Manchuria is too large to be just a company. The profits coming from there are substantial as well.”

Although the South Manchuria Railway’s profits had finally reached their peak and could be proudly claimed as one of the Empire’s reliable sources of income, it was still just a company.

Originally, the Japanese government had planned to make Southern Manchuria into a Japanese version of the East India Company, so honestly, it wasn’t a failure.

“The problem is that we haven’t gained anything in China. The Emperor in the Forbidden City is just a rich young master without any ability.”

“Then, we should establish a Governor-General’s Office to enhance the prestige of the Empire. There’s nothing to be cautious about now, and if the great powers support it, there’s no problem.”

Russia, which has been doing well recently, has acknowledged it, and Britain and France are distracted by communist Germany’s propaganda activities. This clearly establishes justification.

However, it wasn’t a matter to be decided so hastily.

Whether it’s the South Manchuria Railway or a Governor-General’s Office, they’re essentially the same thing.

“That’s something to consider.”

“The issue of establishing a Southern Manchuria Governor-General’s Office might need to be addressed now. There’s an urgent matter connected to this.”

“What exactly is this issue?”

“The problem is Korea.”

For Prime Minister Kato Takaaki’s cabinet, the urgent issue was the Korean problem.

Unlike the original history, there was only a nominal Governor-General’s Office, and in reality, the Japanese mainland was handling Korean affairs, causing daily headaches in the Korean-related departments.

“What’s happening in Korea?”

“With the demotion of the House of Yi, it seems they no longer intend to unite around the royal family, but the war expenses have been unreasonably high. And now they want to increase military spending for advancing into China. We’ve barely recovered from the earthquake damage. Ugh.”

Unreasonably high war expenses.

Although they were importing rice from Korea, the loss from keeping able-bodied men tied up in Korea instead of working domestically was enormous.

“How did the Korean Governor-General’s Office cooperate to incur such a deficit? Didn’t we sell firearms to China?”

“The Governor-General’s oppressive policies have ruined the morale of Koreans. There’s also various sabotage against the Japanese troops stationed in Korea. We’re spending money without getting anything in return. Fortunately, we have the South Manchuria Railway.”

Finance Minister Takeuchi Wamaguchi expressed his inner dissatisfaction with the costs going into Korea.

“We must thoroughly subjugate them again like during the Great Southern Korea Subjugation to prevent the Koreans from rising up!”

Army Minister Ugaki Kazunari took a hard-line stance, but this is how things had turned out despite doing so until now.

Kato Takaaki sighed deeply.

To think he would hold the position of Prime Minister during such a difficult time.

“That’s why things have gotten worse. We need to stabilize Korea first. Whether we like it or not, if we want to advance into China, we can’t have problems in Korea.”

There’s no point in forcibly suppressing them, as it might cause Koreans to rise up more during future wars.

If war wasn’t anticipated, they could completely crush the Koreans with force, but the military was already thinking about advancing into China, and most officials thought of resolving the damage from the great earthquake and the Korean problem not just with Southern Manchuria but with the invasion of China.

So stabilizing Korea was the immediate reality.

“We should encourage Koreans to migrate to Southern Manchuria and take back the authority of the Governor-General’s Office. We can’t spend more war expenses in Korea. This way, we won’t need to tie up our main forces on the Korean problem without using force. And it’s also good to relocate mainland Japanese to Korea.”

With the demotion of the House of Yi, they can no longer rise up using the royal family as justification.

Nevertheless, they’ve kept troops behind due to the discontent of Koreans, but what if they relocate these problematic Koreans to Southern Manchuria?

“Does that mean you want to incorporate Korea into the mainland? It’s obvious that the Empire’s subjects will resist.”

In this period where the Korean peninsula is more unstable than in the original history,

Japan was showing its ambitions more openly than in actual history, aiming to advance into China, and for that, they needed to stabilize Southern Manchuria and the Korean peninsula.

Thus, Japan raised the slogan of “Japan and Korea as One Body” to assimilate Korea with the mainland, but in reality, it only justified colonial rule.

Many government officials, who were concerned about Koreans uniting around the House of Yi, the demotion of the royal family, and the significant war expenses for stationing troops on the Korean peninsula, believed that this Korean peninsula, which only produced deficits, should be treated conciliatorily to make Koreans true imperial subjects.

That way, the rear would be stable during the invasion of China, and they could even recruit more troops.

But.

“Why should we be on the same level as Koreans?”

“What? Encouraging marriages between Japanese and Koreans? Are you crazy?”

“Mom, she married a Korean man!”

Conciliatory policies toward Korea only provoked resistance from the subjects, and Koreans also resisted more for fear of losing their unique culture and national identity.

“You Japanese bastards. Why should we learn your language!”

“Shrine worship? What a joke!”

“You think you can force everything with guns and swords? Japanese troops, get out!”

This has led to the current situation.

In the end, the idea of upgrading Southern Manchuria to a Governor-General’s Office resurfaced.

Let the South Manchuria Railway continue its business operations as before, and establish a Governor-General’s Office to share work with the Korean Governor-General’s Office.

“So it’s Southern Manchuria after all.”

“Wasn’t one of the justifications for taking Southern Manchuria that Koreans, who are imperial subjects, are staying in Southern Manchuria and need protection?”

That’s right. The justification for the surprise occupation of Southern Manchuria was to protect Koreans who are imperial subjects. Considering this, it made sense to establish a Governor-General’s Office instead of a company, and to have the Korean Governor-General’s Office and Southern Manchuria work together.

“Let’s upgrade it to a Governor-General’s Office and officially connect Southern Manchuria and Korea. This means giving Southern Manchuria the right to resolve the Governor-General’s Office issue.”

“The Russian Tsar who predicted the great earthquake. The fact that he specifically pointed out South Manchuria Railway Army Commander Renya Mutaguchi seems to have some reason.”

Seeing the Tsar’s recommendation, perhaps Renya Mutaguchi’s abilities are exceptionally outstanding.

Indeed, unlike the Korean Governor-General’s Office, Southern Manchuria is stable for now.

Of course, Southern Manchuria originally had a relatively small proportion of Koreans, but there were also people who came from the mainland, and there were Manchus and Han Chinese together, so there was more potential for discord.

If we look at the inside story, it was a kind of statistical manipulation made possible by sending all Han Chinese, Manchus, and rebellious Koreans in Southern Manchuria to Northern Manchuria due to the miserable situation in China, leaving only compliant Koreans. But from the government’s perspective, they had more trust in Renya Mutaguchi because the Tsar of Russia, which shares a border, acknowledged him.

Above all, Japan’s domestic circumstances were significant.

In a position where they need to target China in the future and increase military spending, the reality is that they’re running quite a deficit.

“But do we need to give it meaning now? We need to put out the urgent fire. Before withdrawing troops stationed in Korea, we need to use the Governor-General’s troops to relocate some to Southern Manchuria.”

“Won’t China protest?”

“What does it matter if those guys protest? Hahaha!”

“Very well. Then, I approve the upgrade of Southern Manchuria to a Governor-General’s Office.”

The upgrade of the South Manchuria Railway to the Southern Manchuria Governor-General’s Office.

This meant officially integrating Southern Manchuria, which had been operated under the company name of the South Manchuria Railway, into Japanese overseas territories.

Naturally, various Chinese warlords protested against this, but they only protested and couldn’t touch Japan, which had been managing Southern Manchuria since the South Manchuria Railway era.

# * * *

After meeting with Japan’s legendary general, an Allied spy, and the dark independence fighter Mo Jeon-gu, I returned to Moscow.

As soon as I arrived, I found a ton of things to grade.

But since our late-blooming students did well on their own, I just had to sign off on them.

However, there was no separate contact from the Japanese side regarding the personal letter.

I had only sent my opinion almost privately.

After all, the person who sent the letter is the Tsar. It would naturally be seen as interfering in state affairs.

I just casually mentioned that this person is friendly with the Northern Manchuria Governor-General~ and that it would be nice if he had the same rank as the Southern Manchuria Governor-General~.

But.

Today, I received some pleasant news at the Duma, which I attended after a long time.

“Japan listened to my words?”

“Well, there’s a bit of a minor background here. Your Majesty’s influence can’t be denied, but there were also some issues within Japan.”

This was from Foreign Minister Vasily Kharlamov.

Is it a complex issue?

Well, if they had simply followed my words with a “yes,” I might have sent a letter asking, “Would you consider peacefully granting independence to Korea?”

Of course, they wouldn’t do that.

Even if they’re running a deficit in Korea, they can’t let go of their colony because they fancy themselves an imperialist nation.

“What issues?”

“It seems Japan established the slogan ‘Japan and Korea as One Body’ and carried out various assimilation efforts. This has faced strong resistance in both Japan and Korea.”

“Making Koreans learn various Japanese cultures, changing names to Japanese style, and various assimilation plans. Hmm.”

That’s to be expected.

Japanese people would dislike colonial subjects, whom they view as far beneath them, becoming equal to them, and Koreans would feel like their national identity is being erased.

It’s natural for resistance to emerge.