Ch.143Tsarina is Building a Car

* * *

I think that’s why American cars are so popular.

But I feel like we should still support domestic cars.

“Has Your Majesty also looked into this?”

“Ah, well, about that.”

I fidgeted with my hair while holding back my words.

I really didn’t know much about this.

No, wait. It’s only natural that I don’t know much since Russian car companies have all gone under, isn’t it?

So. What I want to say is this.

If the Russian automobile industry is in shambles, we should import foreign ones.

Right. For example, something from Laurin & Klement.

It’s a prestigious Czech car company. We could acquire it.

“Acquiring Laurin & Klement?”

“Don’t you know about it?”

“I have looked into foreign companies, so I am aware of it.”

So he does know something about foreign companies.

“Yes, haven’t you been handling some money? Why don’t you look into acquiring them?”

“Hmm, well, I’ll look into it. But there’s another company trying to acquire them as well.”

See, this is the kind of person he is.

Now that he has some resources, he’s looking into other options too. This must be how he’s managed to survive with such extensive knowledge.

Cars are definitely something Russia lacks right now.

Let’s be honest here. Realistically speaking, if the domestic industry has collapsed so thoroughly, it’s hard to promote using domestic cars, isn’t it?

“Is there a company approaching Laurin & Klement?”

“There’s Škoda, yes.”

Škoda. So, is it around that time now?

Hmm, I’m not sure exactly when, but if Škoda hasn’t made its move yet, we should snatch up Laurin & Klement.

“Then acquire that company. If you can do it. If not, don’t.”

I don’t want to push too hard.

If it doesn’t work out, we can try Russo-Balt or whatever, right?

“Due to defects, they’re not producing cars properly, so if Škoda isn’t planning to be aggressive, it might be possible. Is it important?”

“Well, if we invest properly and provide enough funding, they should do well.”

And we would be the investors.

Isn’t this a good idea? I think Prince Yusupov would be happy to make money too.

He’s already made a fortune with radio.

In fact, sales increased quite a bit after I mentioned on the radio that Prince Yusupov had given me a radio.

I personally advertised for him in this era.

Isn’t that enough help?

Yusupov should pour out all his wealth for me.

Of course, technically that’s my money anyway.

Thanks to me, his name is prominently displayed alongside the developer and Tesla.

What this means is that since he has the title, he gets publicity in other fields too.

Plus, Choco Pie and lunch boxes are already starting to come out.

Money must be pouring in for Yusupov.

“If Your Majesty says so, hmm. I suppose there’s no harm in trying.”

Prince Yusupov is carefully watching my reaction.

I know why he’s looking at me like that, but if I’ve already given my word, can’t he be a bit more generous?

I clapped my hands and spoke boldly.

“Of course that company would be mine too, right?”

“Pardon? But cars are still… well…”

Come on, who’s helping you make all this money? Cars should be fine.

While he’s already making money from Branobel.

“You’re making tons of money thanks to me.”

“Ahem. No, Your Majesty. I was mistaken.”

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

To be honest, I don’t seriously intend to run the business myself.

I’m already making plenty of money from the radio business.

I just need to act as the brains while Yusupov runs the business and gives me money.

I have high stakes in radio and Branobel.

I don’t mind if Yusupov takes the car business.

“I’m joking. I don’t mind if you keep the car business. But you said you were looking into cars?”

If he’s already been researching, I won’t have to explain everything in detail.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Should I, should I ask this? I’m a bit hesitant.

After slightly hesitating and twitching my lips, I carefully opened my mouth.

“Do you know about Volkswagen? The car company, I mean.”

It doesn’t exist now, but I asked just in case.

“No. I’ve never heard of such a car company.”

Yusupov gently shook his head at my question.

Good. That’s a relief.

I was a bit nervous that Hitler might be trying to make money by getting involved in that area.

In actual history, Volkswagen wasn’t established until well over 10 years later, so unless I captured Hitler and gaslit him by saying “You’re destined to be the king of car design!”, there’s no way it would be established yet, even with historical discrepancies.

Though I’m not sure if Hitler in Austria might create something else.

If I acquire Laurin & Klement, which will become Škoda Auto, even though Austria controls Czechoslovakia, Hitler might still create something new.

“Then, try approaching Laurin & Klement, and see if you can get a technical partnership with Hispano-Suiza in Spain.”

They actually started producing cars after receiving technical assistance from there.

I’ll try to match historical accuracy as much as possible with that option.

“Seeing how Your Majesty speaks, it seems like you know something.”

No, no. If you look at me with such trusting eyes, I feel uncomfortable.

Don’t look at me like that.

Things have worked out well so far, but Škoda could suddenly fail.

The talented car engineers could die from something, you know.

Well, I suppose they could manage if we just provide enough funding.

“It’s not that I know something specific, I just think it would be good.”

So I deliberately left my statement vague.

Don’t trust me too much. I’m not certain about this either.

“I understand. After all, my current wealth has grown thanks to Your Majesty’s grace. I will follow your wishes. But what if the acquisition is impossible?”

Well, what can we do then?

Since Škoda is taking it, I didn’t think our chances were high to begin with.

“Then we’ll have to go with Russo-Balt. Ah, that wouldn’t be bad either. Try approaching them too. To produce cars, we need domestic ones.”

“I’ve increased my wealth considerably thanks to Your Majesty’s guidance. I will diligently follow your orders this time as well.”

I’ve made a lot of money by following your advice in business.

So, I believe I’ll make good money this time too, and I’ll invest accordingly.

Am I hearing things, or is that what he’s implying?

* * *

They began focusing on road development to expand infrastructure.

The first priority was European Russia, which had been heavily affected by the civil war.

Of course, infrastructure had already been expanded while recovering from the civil war. But considering the vast Russian territory, there were still many deficiencies.

Nikita Khrushchev, who had helped Hitler with the urban planning proposal during the recent Moscow urban reconstruction project, had completed his studies at Moscow Technical University through the State Duma’s education support system after the civil war, unlike in the original history. Drawing on his experience participating in Moscow’s new city planning as a worker, he applied for a road construction supervisor position.

But looking at the map with roads drawn as lines, the scale was quite enormous.

“Isn’t this an enormous construction project?”

“I heard they’re making automobile roads.”

“Really?”

But they couldn’t just not do it. Khrushchev, who had found interest in this new field, stuck out his tongue and participated in the road-building work.

Naturally, the officials who received orders from the Moscow Central State Duma or the city Duma had throbbing headaches.

The scale of the road construction was much larger than expected.

As Anastasia announced her ambition to acquire an automobile company, the State Duma ordered the construction of roads for cars to travel on.

Of course, one might argue that this isn’t urgent since foreign cars are already being imported, but the wishes of the war hero, saint, former Tsar of Russia and Eastern Roman Emperor who was immensely popular among Russian citizens were enough to make most citizens follow.

“Let our Tsarina do whatever she wants!”

“The Tsarina wants to make domestic cars, of course we should help her!”

“Workers of Russia! All roads will lead to Russia! Build the roads!”

“Aren’t too many road construction projects starting at once?”

“With this much infrastructure, the city Duma and officials will be worked to death.”

That’s right. It’s a large-scale construction.

But it’s also something that must be done.

Russia is vast, so it needs many roads, and there are still many areas lacking proper roads.

Of course, it costs an enormous amount of money, but with the increased budget from reforms and oil discoveries, it had to be done now.

“We still have to do it. Our Tsarina herself is acquiring a car company so that all citizens can drive cars. Shouldn’t we respond to Her Majesty’s profound intentions?”

“Her Majesty is making it possible for all citizens to drive cars?”

Her Majesty is making it possible for all citizens to drive cars? Is that true?

Everyone was surprised.

How can we not have roads when the Tsarina is providing cars?

“Her Majesty said as much, so there might be some exaggeration, but still, the Tsarina is acquiring a car company, and wouldn’t it be a problem if we aren’t prepared?”

“I-I understand!”

“If Her Majesty has such intentions, we must work!”

Her Majesty is preparing cars for the citizens.

The Tsarina herself.

If the Tsarina is preparing cars, how can we not have roads ready?

Everyone should work like machines to build the roads.

“Of course, we must maintain the 8-hour workday, so we’ll need to recruit people for night shifts separately. Get ready.”

Currently, the citizens of the United States of Greater Russia believe that the Tsarina has transferred power to the Duma.

A Tsar who has transferred power to the State Duma and reigns as a symbol from above.

Comically, the support for this Tsar resembles the abnormal structure seen in absolute monarchies, but anyway.

At least this potentially difficult road construction project gained momentum with the news that the Tsarina was acquiring the automobile business for the citizens.

“Um, will we also receive medals?”

“Ah, can’t resist medals.”

The workers, who absolutely couldn’t resist medals, mentioned them.

“Isn’t that obvious? Of course, since there are many of you, it would be difficult for Her Majesty to present them personally, so they will be delivered to the city Duma in each city for presentation.”

It would be different if the Tsarina presented them personally. That’s a shame, but the Tsarina can’t be in multiple places at once, so it can’t be helped.

But still, it’s a medal with the noble face of Tsarina Anastasia engraved on it.

This was something that had to be received.

Having been torn apart by the Bolsheviks, and then having removed those Bolsheviks, with most of the new officials being White Russians, they had no choice but to put their lives on the line for this work.

“The Romanovs will help us?”

“Yes. Our Russia currently doesn’t have any notable car companies. Even the Russo-Balt company has largely failed after going through the Great War and the revolution.”

“We have no objections.”

They were facing financial difficulties anyway.

Moreover, Austria is currently under threat from the Communist Party. Recently, there had been interest from Škoda, but that was being delayed due to military industry issues in response to Germany.

Well, this side can’t keep waiting like a sage.

And so, Laurin & Klement was acquired by Prince Yusupov.

* * *

Large-scale road construction continued.

And I was shocked.

Look at the roads spreading like a spider web from Moscow on the map of all of Russia.

It’s as if they’re saying, “We may have accepted Yekaterinburg as a railway center, but we can’t accept this!” and are deliberately trying to lay down roads.

No, they’re already doing it, I hear.

Not just technicians, but they’ve recruited workers on a large scale to lay down roads.

Watching the busy members of the State Duma discussing road construction, I have a thought.

Is this okay?

Large-scale construction projects like this are usually good at stirring up public resentment.

Especially the United States of Greater Russia, the successor to Imperial Russia which has tasted revolution, should be sensitive to this.

Given this, I can’t help but intervene.

“Can you handle this road construction?”

Just looking at the scale, it makes something like the Korean Peninsula’s highways look like a mere line. Well, that could be the case.

Do I not know about this?

I didn’t order this, did I? The Duma did.

I trust the workers won’t hate me.

The Duma’s reaction is quite indifferent.

They have those very nonchalant and carefree faces, as if asking why I’m asking something so obvious.

Um, is it okay?

The one who spoke up was the Minister of Finance.

“Yes, with the first reform that started during the civil war and the recent second reform, our Russian budget has increased considerably. And with the revenue coming in from selling resources, we can afford it.”

If the Ministry of Finance says this, does it mean they have more than enough?

No, shouldn’t they be saying to save money no matter what?

I tapped the edge of the table with my finger, feeling frustrated.

That’s absolutely not it. That’s not what I want to say.

“No. No, that’s not it, let’s look at the fundamental issue. Even if there’s a lot of money, it’s humans who do the work, isn’t it?”

Humans do the work.

In this era, robots won’t be laying down roads.

It’s all done by humans.

Does Russia have that many workers? Maybe if the population truly exceeds 100 million, but still.

“If you look at the map, you’ll see that we’re not just drawing lines. We’re prioritizing major cities centered around Moscow first, and then gradually expanding to other regions. So even though it costs a lot, it’s manageable.”

The map itself is certainly well-designed with a plan.

No, why are you answering a different question?

That’s not what I want to say.

“I’m not talking about labor costs. Won’t the workers die from exhaustion? Looking at this situation, I think workers might express discontent like during the imperial era.”

“For the workers who volunteer for this road construction, we’ll treat them not as humans but as machines-“

“Excuse me?”

I think I just heard the word “machines.”

Did my ears hear correctly?