Ch.145Tsarina is Building a Car (3)

* * *

“But broadcasting should be fine, right?”

If they tell me not to be on the field, I plan to broadcast to everyone via radio.

If this were an internet broadcast, I wouldn’t do it, but radio broadcasting only requires my voice, so it’s not that burdensome.

I don’t know what will happen when television comes in the future, though.

After returning to the Kremlin Palace, I entered the radio room.

Well then, shall I get started?

I clapped my hands to call Maria.

“Maria. Set it up for me.”

“You’re suddenly doing a radio broadcast today?”

“I need to do at least this much to feel less uneasy.”

After all, I am the daughter of Nicholas II. I’m concerned people might view me negatively if I undertake large-scale construction projects.

Above all, I want to clearly establish the differences between my father and me.

Unlike my father, I’m actively interested in workers’ affairs and want to be someone who cheers them on.

“Your Majesty, everything is ready.”

Shortly after, Maria set up the radio in front of me.

I sat down at the radio Maria had prepared.

“Respected citizens of the United States of Greater Russia. Our Russia has suffered from the disease called Bolshevism and has only now risen again. The terrible Tsarist Russia has fallen, and the newly established United States of Greater Russia is working hard through reforms for the welfare of workers and citizens. And now, our national power is rising day by day to the point where we can build a transportation network to travel across this vast land by automobile.”

Since I didn’t prepare in advance, this is almost just encouragement.

I try my best to convey my sincerity as I enthusiastically cheer them on.

“Today, I heard news from the State Duma. Many workers have volunteered for road construction. Such efforts from our citizens will make today’s Russia even more prosperous, and I, Anastasia, the Tsar of this country, upon hearing this news, have been thinking deeply about what I can do, when all I can do is cheer you on from the Kremlin Palace. Therefore, I have decided to use the Romanov fortune, accumulated until the era of the previous Tsar, for the development of the automobile industry for our citizens.”

In short, I’m saying I’ll make cars for you who are doing road construction, and I’ll use the Romanov fortune for that.

Of course, most of this is coming from Yusupov’s wallet through the oil business.

“Imagine this. The roads you create, the roads that cross the vast Russian land, with cars produced by domestic automobile companies running on them. Think about you, dear citizens, riding in those cars. Isn’t it exciting just to imagine?”

I stimulate the imagination of the workers who are working hard on construction.

The more difficult the work now, the more rewarding it will be in the future.

It would be awkward if no cars actually come out after this.

“To the west, Red Germany growls at us. Every day, they criticize our Russia, claiming their system is superior, demanding the liberation of workers, and denouncing us as an imperialist nation. But look. Do we oppress workers with political officers like they do? They are, just as the Russian Soviets were, merely an authoritarian government ruled by a group of bright red tyrants, despite their communist rhetoric. Let’s show them. Let’s show them how well we live and how great a nation our citizens belong to!”

Here, I should add a statement that instills confidence.

I know the Ministry of Transport has outsourced construction to construction companies.

“If there are any bosses who treat you like slaves, don’t hesitate to knock on the doors of the Kremlin Palace. I will handle it personally.”

With those words, I ended the radio broadcast.

Continuing any longer would feel a bit awkward.

It was prepared on the spot, and I’m not particularly good at speeches anyway.

*clap clap*

When it ended, Maria applauded and handed me a cup of coffee.

“Your speech today was truly remarkable.”

“Was it?”

“I can see you’re starting to enjoy it.”

“Me, enjoying it? That’s not true.”

I waved my hands in strong denial.

If I start enjoying this, wouldn’t I just be a female livestreamer?

It’s fortunate there are no computers or internet. If this were exactly the 21st century, wouldn’t I be an empress who does livestreams?

Come to think of it, even if we make television, maybe I should stick to radio broadcasting.

“Still, since Your Majesty gave such a wonderful speech, I think the response will be quite positive.”

Maria’s eyes sparkle with joy.

Well, if asked whether the response will be good, honestly, it might be ambiguous.

I am different from my father!

I’m just expressing that much.

Well, ordinary people might think positively about it.

But at a glance, doesn’t this seem like a politician making promises to the citizens?

Of course, if someone really knocks on the Kremlin Palace doors, Anastasia’s guards will definitely deal with those evil bosses, so it’s not a lie.

Above all, I am sincerely cheering them on.

Sincerely, if they’re doing the construction work.

“I’m not sure. They might just see it as political.”

No matter how hard I try, it’s obvious that communist Germany will propagandize this as “an attempt to legitimately oppress workers again!”

Even if not Russians, communist Germany could use this.

“Oh, come on. Surely they wouldn’t think that.”

“Well, I did mention Germany anyway.”

Right now, our main enemy is communist Germany.

Since I mentioned Germany, intellectuals might think the Tsarina made such encouragement with communist Germany in mind. Something like that.

“Still, I think it will be fine. Rather than getting directly involved, it’s better for the citizens if you just cheer them on.”

“Why is that?”

“Think about it, Your Majesty. Imagine the previous Tsar working alongside laborers. You need to consider it from the workers’ perspective.”

Indeed, in our country’s terms, it would be like if I were doing manual labor, and suddenly the president shows up next to me, carrying bricks and digging the ground?

Hmm, imagining it now, that does seem a bit odd.

No, but this case is different.

Trying hard to show a different image from my father. Isn’t that a good thing?

“The image is certainly a bit strange.”

“Moreover, a war hero who fought alongside soldiers, Russia’s Joan of Arc, the Saint of All Russia, the Tsar, the Emperor of Eastern Rome, the Great Khan of the Steppes. Such a person working in the same place as them? Wouldn’t that be extremely burdensome? The citizens might rise up saying, ‘Why is the State Duma sending Your Majesty to a construction site!'”

I stare into space for a moment, thinking.

Hmm, now that I think about it, that’s true.

Given the many titles I bear, that could happen.

Isn’t it similar to a king in the Joseon Dynasty working directly among the people?

“Hmm, that could be the case.”

“Besides, the radio broadcast was well-received. It’s only natural that people would respond positively when such a person cheers them on directly.”

I’ve been surrounded by too many yes-men, so I was a bit confused.

Yes, thinking about it coolly, that might be right.

If I did that, the State Duma might really get criticized.

Anyway, my current position is similar to how people in the Joseon Dynasty regarded their king as a father.

“Well, then I should trust my citizens.”

“Yes. That Alexei Gastev person seems excellent at rallying workers. Your Majesty only needs to cheer them on.”

Somehow, being told to just cheer makes me want to be on the field even more.

Ah, I think it’s better to hold back.

It wouldn’t be good for me if the State Duma gets criticized.

Well, whichever party in the Duma, they’re all people who praise me, so it should be fine.

But it doesn’t seem right for a place called a parliament to be criticized by the citizens.

The monarchists might say that the Duma should be dissolved even now and power should be given to the Tsar.

If that happens, naturally, I’ll have more work to do. Grading papers is already annoying, so being surrounded by documents? No way.

“Then I’ll just cheer them on.”

Since I’m doing radio broadcasts anyway. Maybe I’ll include more encouragement in the future?

And for citizens who knock on the Kremlin Palace doors, the Tsarina will help them directly.

This should definitely boost my likability.

And some time later.

No one knocked on the Kremlin Palace doors.

Fortunately, it seems there are no black company bosses around.

Wasn’t there a supervisor at the site?

If the supervisor was appointed by the Ministry of Transport, that should be reliable.

“Tsar, Your Majesty! I bring good news today!”

Prince Yusupov visited the Kremlin Palace with a happy face to boast about emptying his wallet.

Seeing his oily face not rotten but brightly smiling like a good person, it seems he succeeded.

“So, what is it?”

“I’ve acquired Russo-Balt and Lorraine & Clement!”

How much money did this man spend?

Honestly, I’m a bit curious, but I won’t ask specifically.

For now, he said he acquired both car companies I wanted.

“Oh, this sounds promising, doesn’t it?”

“Where should we build the factory then?”

Right. To produce cars, we need a factory. I think the place Russo-Balt used would be good.

“Didn’t Russo-Balt originally have its headquarters in Riga?”

It started in Riga, which is the capital of Latvia, isn’t it?

“Yes. Then they moved to Petrograd.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Then, maybe we should properly rebuild Petrograd as well.

Although many people have left, that might make it easier to renovate.

Placing a car factory there and later using it for military facilities would be good.

A tractor factory or car factory could also produce tanks.

“Your Majesty, what are you thinking?”

“Petrograd was the last resistance area of the Communist Party, and its function as a city has weakened since Moscow became the capital, right?”

I know about the Battle of Petrograd because I participated directly.

In preparation for strong resistance, we destroyed all places used as munitions factories.

Major buildings suffered relatively less damage and can be restored, but the Russo-Balt car factory might have been used as a Bolshevik military facility.

“Yes. When I saw the Russo-Balt factory in Petrograd, it was in ruins. During the battle, Russo-Balt employees moved to Moscow, and the Bolsheviks operated Russo-Balt itself.”

“They managed to produce firearms in a car factory?”

“Well, it seems the Russo-Balt factory was trying to produce tanks, which they didn’t have, and firearms were produced in separate munitions factories. But the Russo-Balt factory was heavily damaged.”

It couldn’t be helped.

At that time, the Communist Party was in control.

At least the citizens had fled and didn’t come to Moscow.

But due to the bombardment and attacks at that time, Petrograd was devastated, so we need to resolve that issue.

In Goryeo, despite claiming to be the successor of Goguryeo and emphasizing Pyongyang (Seogyeong), they neglected Pyongyang where numerous rebellions had occurred, and that continued into Joseon.

I wonder if Petrograd might be disregarded in the same way.

But that can’t happen, no matter what.

“It might seem like fixing something that’s broken, but let’s open a car factory in Petrograd.”

Let’s increase the importance of Petrograd while building factories.

Making it an industrial zone would be good too.

As for Finland, since I’m also the king there, there’s no need to worry.

“Building again in a ruined place. Not bad. But what if communist Germany sends its navy to bombard it?”

“Can they even protect their own seas? I doubt they have the naval power for that.”

Russo-Balt was hit during World War I because it was in Riga, but even if we place a car factory in Petrograd, communist Germany doesn’t have the naval power to reach Petrograd.

They’ve all gone to East Prussia or been sold to us. Communist Germany doesn’t have much left.

Even if they do, they won’t be able to break through our navy.

We might be inferior to Britain or Japan, but not to communist Germany.

Unless Britain sides with Germany.

Moreover, thanks to Branobel, our relationship with Sweden is good, so it’s unlikely that Sweden would lend air bases to communist Germany for bombing.

So, let’s say we build a car factory, that’s good.

The problem is the car company that will support us.

I had already asked for help from Spain.

“What about Hispano-Suiza?”

If they don’t help, our best option would be to start from scratch and refine what we already have.

It would be much easier if they helped.

I heard that Hispano-Suiza produced luxury cars with some kind of… engine? Anyway, something good in the 20s and 30s.

If we get help from them, producing cars should be possible somehow.

“Yes. They’ve agreed to help as well.”

“That’s unexpected.”

I felt relieved but was also surprised.

I didn’t expect things to go this smoothly.

“Actually, Hispano-Suiza itself has demand from automobile manufacturers worldwide. Even Rolls-Royce used Hispano-Suiza’s patents, so it’s familiar, isn’t it? When we said the Tsarina needs Hispano-Suiza’s help to revive the collapsed Russian automobile industry, they said they would provide technical support.”

“Hmm.”

We also received technical cooperation from Škoda Automobile, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

But isn’t this using my name?

If they’ve helped the Tsarina’s automobile business with their technology, they’ve done us a favor.

Whether they’re looking down on us or genuinely trying to help, I’m not sure, but their assistance is appreciated.

Well then, let’s open a new automobile market that didn’t exist in the original history.