Ch.156140%

* * *

I visited Dr. Goddard after a long time.

It was because Goddard had finally created a rocket that could be weaponized.

Who would have thought the collaboration between Goddard and Konstantin Tsiolkovsky would come to this?

This rocket was much more advanced than previous ones, equipped with the concept of a launch pad.

Whoooooosh!

Looking at that flying rocket is truly amazing.

I heard that in 1928, a rocket developed by the Soviet Union flew 1300m for the first time.

The one made by Goddard and Tsiolkovsky flew much earlier and over 1500m, and today they’ve made it into a weapon.

I watched the rocket flying hopefully, then turned my head to gaze at Goddard with sparkling eyes.

“Can it be used as a weapon immediately?”

“There are some adjustments needed, but I’ll try to make it mountable on trucks, not just launch pads, as soon as possible.”

As expected, it’s a bit faster than the original history.

“What is the name of that rocket?”

“Since Your Majesty said you would use this weapon to judge the communists, we’re calling it J1, derived from ‘Judge’.”

A rocket that emerged with a different meaning from history.

Well, it’s the first one, so there are many shortcomings, but it doesn’t seem difficult to weaponize.

However, Tsiolkovsky doesn’t seem pleased.

“Does the Tsar intend to use rockets only as weapons? Rockets are also a stepping stone to advance into space.”

“Of course not. Weaponization is to fight against communism. Separately, I also want to advance into space, just like you.”

For example, reaching the moon before America.

“As expected, Your Majesty knows something well.”

“Yes. For example, wouldn’t it be interesting to go into space and plant the flag of the United States of Greater Russia on the moon?”

I’m looking forward to that.

Making a spacecraft and advancing into space.

Since it’s something that couldn’t be done in Korea, I find myself looking forward to such things.

“Oh! This old man will finally see the light in his twilight years.”

“But we must continue weaponization as well. Russian territory is extremely vast. To defend our country from others’ covetousness, we need powerful weapons. To reach space, we need to fly far, and naturally, we should also develop weapons that can be launched far into enemy countries.”

This much is necessary for national defense.

Now is the time to leap forward as a great power while America is distracted.

After all, Russia’s potential is quite good.

“You see rockets becoming that weapon.”

“I’ve heard Your Majesty can see the future. Will this rocket become the weapon that protects us?”

Well, if you keep developing rockets, you’ll eventually develop ballistic missiles.

Didn’t Nazi Germany make ballistic missiles?

“I don’t exactly see the future. How could such a person exist in this world? It’s just coincidences aligning well, and the Duma deifying me for national unity. Well, if I had to say,”

Yes, that’s how it will be.

I want to advance rocket development further in this altered history during my lifetime.

Mounting nuclear weapons on rockets and launching them.

Honestly, thinking about Russia in the original history, I worry that far in the future, Russia might cause trouble with powerful weapons again—but as long as it’s not during my time, right?

“To be precise, it could be used as an asymmetric strategic weapon.”

“An asymmetric strategic weapon.”

“The rockets you two are making will sweep away those communists.”

So work hard.

Especially Tsiolkovsky. I’m sorry for the old man, but I just hope he advances rocket technology as quickly as possible.

What’s certain is that Russia has completely monopolized rockets now.

Even America didn’t understand the importance of rockets until World War II. And eventually, they fell behind Germany.

We must overcome that gap.

We need to work hard to advance our technology beyond that gap.

“Your Majesty, speaking of which, isn’t the election coming up soon?”

Maria said as we were leaving Dr. Goddard.

“Ah, is it that time already?”

Come to think of it, I wonder how this election will turn out.

It seems the current Duma has been continuously reelected until now, but it’s about time to reorganize things as the system has stabilized.

Even with the Great Depression, looking at Russia’s situation, it doesn’t seem like it will affect the election itself.

I just need to approve the new State Duma at the Kremlin Palace.

* * *

The election of the United States of Greater Russia.

The election system of the United States involved electing the Prime Minister and ministers of the State Duma through voting across all of Russia.

Compared to the Russian Empire era, it’s a significantly advanced system.

But there was a fundamental problem.

“So there’s an election this time.”

“Is it necessary? I don’t understand why we keep voting.”

“Voting is the duty of a United States citizen.”

“Isn’t the current situation good enough?”

Honestly, elections still felt a bit unfamiliar to the citizens of the United States.

First of all, the current State Duma had been leading White Russia since the civil war period, and that White Russia was essentially united around Anastasia, the war hero Tsar.

So, in other words, “Does the State Duma even matter?” Not in a mocking sense, but genuinely.

The Tsar’s authority was so high, and there were no complaints or grievances. Whatever happened, the current Russia was soaring compared to the past.

For the citizens, election day was just a day off.

And it didn’t matter who won because they just cast their votes for whoever was currently in power.

After all, with the Bolsheviks all killed and public sentiment turning to Anastasia, monarchists had greatly increased.

Even socialists believed that Anastasia the Tsar must remain an absolute figure to maintain the current system.

In summary, Russia’s election was just a vote for the citizens to elect someone who would really listen to the Tsar.

“I heard someone named Gastev from the Roman National Party is running this time.”

“That person draws well. He seems like a loyal servant of His Majesty.”

“They say someone named Khrushchev from the Liberal Party contributed to building the current Moscow?”

“Then we should vote for him.”

The election that started like this took an interesting turn.

Surprisingly, electoral fraud was discovered.

“Electoral fraud has been detected.”

“What kind of fraud?”

“Voters didn’t choose from the Prime Minister candidates but wrote the honorable name of Tsar Anastasia. Especially in Yekaterinburg, which was the base during the civil war, the turnout reached 140%.”

“Insane.”

Of course, the Tsar votes were invalidated, and the election was restarted to elect a different Prime Minister, but Russia’s election seemed strange to foreigners who were visiting as tourists or staying as ambassadors.

Is this really a constitutional monarchy? Especially the British wondered if this was really an election, to the point where they didn’t understand why the State Duma existed.

And around this time, it also gave a unique impression to Ishiwara Kanji, a staff member of the Manchuria Railway Army who visited Russia with officials from Japan for the revision of the Japanese-Russian military agreement regarding Manchuria.

Subjects who regard the parliament and government as mere errand boys of the emperor and praise the emperor!

Tremendous territory stretching from Europe to Asia!

An army of millions and a vast population!

This was exactly what Ishiwara Kanji dreamed of for Japan.

“This is it! Peace and prosperity centered around this divine Tsar! This must definitely be achieved in the Empire of Japan!”

Although Ishiwara Kanji came to reconfirm the agreement, he could learn a lot.

Moreover, Russia was a European country spanning Eurasia while also being an Asian country.

In other words, this means we can work together with Russia!

“Surely Russia has Mongols, Koreans, Manchus, Jews, and others.”

Russia encompasses many ethnicities.

Then shouldn’t Japan do the same?

Instead of oppressing Korea, we should genuinely embrace it, advance into China, and as the elder brother of Asia, embrace the Manchus and Han Chinese as well.

No, beyond that. If we form a national marriage with Russia, we could create an empire that encompasses the world.

Not now, but in the future, whether it’s the Russian crown prince or princess, wouldn’t it work somehow if we connect them with the Imperial Family?

‘No, before that.’

First, the Emperor should go to war directly, like that Tsar.

Then wouldn’t Koreans, Manchus, and Han Chinese all recognize the Emperor as divine?

In ancient times, didn’t Emperor Yang of Sui and Emperor Taizong of Tang personally lead armies to invade Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula? The Emperor should rightfully ride a horse directly to China and personally lead the campaign.

To do that, we must give all power to the Emperor and prepare to advance into China.

Ishiwara Kanji was filled with a new dream.

* * *

I signed a military agreement with Japan regarding Manchuria.

Although it was a military agreement, it was just a reconfirmation of joint response in case of foreign invasion related to Manchuria.

Looking at this, Japan definitely has an ulterior motive.

“It seems certain that Japan is eyeing China.”

This is fortunate. It seems like the military in Japan is trying to take control due to the Great Depression. If they go on a rampage, it would be beneficial for us.

My prophecy might come true this time as well.

Yes, with the Great Depression having occurred, Japan’s invasion of China is inevitable.

However, I’m curious how Japan will act without the Manchurian Incident.

“Prime Minister Krivoshein has arrived.”

“Ah, he was scheduled to come today.”

Well then. Somehow Krivoshein is visiting the Kremlin Palace today. I wonder what this is about.

If anything, it’s probably about the election.

Shortly after returning to the Kremlin Palace, Krivoshein arrived.

“Your Majesty, it seems Georgy Lvov, the leader of the Progressive Party, will be appointed as the next Prime Minister.”

Ah, so the Prime Minister is changing.

I thought he had been serving for a long time, and finally, it seems he’s changing.

No matter how one-sided the election is, it’s about time for a change.

“Why aren’t you continuing?”

It’s a bit late for a change, but it feels somewhat strange.

It feels somewhat familiar? Like there might be more paperwork to approve?

I just want to remain as an emperor who only approves things. Of course, Georgy Lvov is Vladimir’s mentor, so it’s also more comfortable for me.

“Originally, cabinets in England and Japan have already changed. We’ve had figures from the South Russian government during the civil war period in the cabinet.”

Yes, that’s right. We were a bit abnormal. That’s why overseas they saw us more as an empire than a united states.

It’s good to have something new at this point.

“That’s true.”

There’s a point. Even Japan has changed already…

Even the foreign ministers who occasionally visit from Japan have changed several times.

On our side, the entire Duma has maintained its position.

So it means it’s about time for a change.

“Now that Russia has regained some stability, shouldn’t the State Duma also be renewed? Here is the list of new appointments.”

Looking at the State Duma list, hmm. There’s not much significant change.

The ministers are all figures from the civil war period. I don’t see any new generation.

They say they’re rebuilding the country. Well, they’ve worked hard to overturn everything. Their popularity is already sky-high.

What stands out is:

“Alexei Gastev is the Minister of Land Management, and Nikita Khrushchev is the Minister of Land Transportation.”

It’s surprising that Gastev has entered politics like this, and Nikita Khrushchev has become the Minister of Land Transportation.

He’s essentially obtained the same position as the Soviet Minister of Construction in the United States.

I don’t know if this is some joke of fate.

But this person isn’t a communist here, so it’s not bad.

If Gastev is here, there’s no reason Khrushchev shouldn’t be.

But I wonder how the reaction will be?

The State Duma has been maintained continuously until now, but suddenly it’s changing. How will the citizens react?

After all, the current State Duma was also elected by the citizens.

“State Duma? They’ve been doing well so far,”

“Well, we just voted.”

“They say the Prime Minister is changing.”

“The State Duma is just the spokesperson for His Majesty anyway. It doesn’t matter who it is.”

The reaction of the United States citizens was unexpected. Somehow the reaction is like, “State Duma? Was there such a thing?”

Why is that? I transferred power to the State Duma, but if the reaction is like this, it’s a bit bitter.

I just hope they would pay attention to the State Duma.

Even people who know about the Duma just know that the Duma is being replaced like this. That’s all.

“Why is that?”

“Currently, Your Majesty’s authority would surpass even if you combined Catherine the Great, Peter the Great, and Alexander from the (old) Tsarist era?”

“Hmm.”

Why does my authority increase when I’m just approving things? Well, it’s not my concern.

Anyway, I’m not actually working at the Duma apart from approving things.

I’m just spreading knowledge that I know, and the State Duma calculates whether it aligns with national interests.

Come to think of it, isn’t this the most ideal system?

In this case, it’s natural that neither the State Duma nor the citizens have complaints.

I just enjoy doing radio broadcasts. In fact, I’m the one who has influenced Russian scientific technology until now.

Well, it can’t be helped. It’s time to accept reality.

I don’t deny this.

The State Duma can easily proceed with national reforms by leveraging my authority.

On the other hand, I can just do radio broadcasts from my room, which is comfortable.

Of course, I need to periodically check things that use future knowledge.

Things like rockets, atomic bombs, and what Russia lacks.

“Moreover, the Great Depression has made it shine more. Even in heavy industry alone, we’re catching up and surpassing the European powers due to the Great Depression. Isn’t this all thanks to Your Majesty? It’s natural that even commoners suddenly worship you.”

“Why ‘suddenly worship’?”

“Well, even commoners often say, ‘We should worship His Majesty.'”

It’s much better than the Soviet Union.

Originally, the Soviet Union became the world’s second-largest economy after the United States in the late 1930s, but the quality of life for the common people remained poor and miserable.

But I’m different.

I’m even praised by Ukrainians for preventing the Ukrainian famine that Nestor Makhno almost caused.

Light and heavy industries have also developed during the Great Depression.

“Yes, well, that aside. What’s today’s schedule?”

“Right, Your Majesty. An aviation mothership has been developed.”

“Aviation mothership? Oh, you mean the aerial aircraft carrier. Wait, were we making that?”

The Zveno project. I like it, but I didn’t expect we were making it.

Isn’t this investing too much in the military?

It’s good to do this when other countries are struggling due to the Great Depression, but I’m not sure if it’s good to invest in both the army and air force simultaneously.

The army is also actively developing small arms.

Of course, the navy is a bit behind in exchange. I wonder if this is okay.

Since there’s room, it seems the military tried and the treasury approved it.

“Your Majesty’s orders are absolute.”

“Absolute or not, we didn’t need to make it. Did you know about this?”

When I narrowed my eyes and looked at her, Maria waved both hands frantically.

“I only found out about it today, so I don’t know the details.”

Yes, that’s what I mean. An aviation mothership has been made?

This seems like a surprise plan.

Well, let’s go see it.

* * *