Ch.169Fluttering Splash

# “They say the Imperial Way Faction is popular in Japan these days.”

Reading Savinkov’s newly submitted report, I noticed this side of history has also diverged significantly from the actual timeline.

Ishiwara Kanji, influenced by Russia, has become practically a senior official in the Imperial Way Faction.

To summarize simply: the Imperial Way Faction has begun to gain power in Japan.

It’s ironic when you consider the failure of the February 26 coup attempt by the young Imperial Way officers.

They say it’s influenced by Russia. I wonder if this means the faction’s goals have changed somewhat.

It’s still the same fascism, but the Imperial Way Faction aims to return all power to the Emperor and serve him devotedly. I wonder…

“What fools they are.”

Anyone watching would think I’m actually a god in Russia.

I’m an Emperor of grading papers, which is quite different from that Imperial Way Faction.

Still, looking at my war alone, I probably do appear to Japanese people as Russia’s living deity.

There is an unexpected issue, though.

Ishiwara Kanji and Kita Ikki are directly leading the Imperial Way Faction.

This is quite unusual.

In the original history, it wasn’t quite like this.

“Ishiwara Kanji and Kita Ikki working together. Hmm.”

They call it the Imperial Way Faction, but during the young officers’ coup, Ishiwara Kanji, who influenced the faction, was actually on the side that suppressed them. But here things seem different.

If Ishiwara Kanji and Kita Ikki unite to lead the Imperial Way Faction…

If Ishiwara Kanji joins the faction rather than purging it…

If Kita Ikki, who didn’t cooperate with the February 26 Incident in the original timeline, joins them…

It’s impossible to predict how the February 26 Incident of the original timeline might unfold now.

After all, in the original history, Kita Ikki didn’t even participate in the February 26 Incident, yet he was identified as the mastermind and purged.

Perhaps it makes more sense for him to side with the Imperial Way Faction’s coup. Don’t you think?

Honestly, I’m secretly looking forward to that.

Looking at the current state of the Imperial Way Faction, they seem more likely to ignite than the Control Faction.

That’s why I subtly instructed our ambassador to Japan to show a positive response toward the Imperial Way Faction.

The Control Faction probably wouldn’t consider war with us either, but since things have come to this, isn’t it right to help Ishiwara Kanji’s side, which has a higher favorability toward us?

“Your Majesty, does this mean you’re supporting the Imperial Way Faction?”

This is a matter requiring caution.

Looking at Japan’s current situation, the Imperial Way Faction seems better.

Even if we support the Control Faction behind the scenes, it’s meaningless if the Japanese people have already chosen the Imperial Way Faction.

First, let’s elevate the Imperial Way Faction, and then… let them run wild.

“Isn’t Ishiwara Kanji also the Chief of Staff of the Manchurian Railway Army?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Being Chief of Staff of the Manchurian Railway Army means he’s connected to Renya Mutaguchi, the Governor-General of Southern Manchuria, who is practically our appointee.

Originally, Ishiwara Kanji often clashed with Tojo Hideki and was purged. The combination of Renya Mutaguchi and Ishiwara Kanji is also unusual.

“Then it makes sense to help them. Ishiwara Kanji and Kita Ikki are strange characters, so I’m reluctant to send gold like we did with Churchill. Let’s have Russians in Japan continue to promote the idea that the Imperial Way Faction’s cause aligns with Russia’s interests.”

Familiar opponents are easier to handle, but since everything has been turned upside down, it wouldn’t be bad if Japan were overturned too.

Moreover, with Japan, if we prepare for betrayal, we don’t need to let history flow as it originally did.

At this point, I can steel my resolve.

Only cowards insist on fighting against familiar figures and following the original historical course.

With knowledge of the future, I should simply make my country powerful enough to defeat any enemy.

If we have overwhelming power and prepare for betrayal, what’s the problem?

To be honest, I partly gave up after seeing what happened to America.

“I will do as you command, Your Majesty.”

So Japan is taken care of.

Britain, France, and now Japan are on board. Next is the most important one: America.

I’ll let the State Duma handle internal affairs while I focus on this.

“Finally, what about America, the most important matter?”

America is on the brink of civil war.

In the calm before the storm, they’re preparing to fight. The position of MacArthur’s military government, which we support, is crucial.

If MacArthur wins, we can monopolize influence and benefits in America better than anyone else.

Britain and France have limits to how much they can support, but we’re already preparing to send troops.

So there shouldn’t be any difficulties.

“KFC is quiet, but the US military government is in an isolated position.”

“That makes sense. Above them, Canada, which is practically a British satellite, supports the United American States.”

MacArthur is isolated from above and below.

He does his job well, but he’s isolated on both sides, and on the flanks are those strange chicken ideologists. It must be miserable.

Even if he builds up his military, it will be difficult if Britain and France support the United American States.

Their support will likely be limited.

Both countries haven’t even stabilized their own situations yet. If they directly support America with troops, Communist Germany would be delighted.

“I think it would be good if Patton requested our help. The problem is that we’ll need to wait a few more years.”

Intervention in the American Civil War is the biggest issue.

If things don’t work out, we’ll have to use Patton.

Patton wants to crush the Reds. We should offer our help and intervene with our military.

“We’ll create a justification somehow before their civil war begins.”

Good. That’s the right attitude.

We need to significantly increase MacArthur’s favorability toward us.

“Are we properly spreading information about the Chicken Revolution?”

That’s what I’m most curious about.

If we handle this Chicken Revolution well, we could make Trotsky go down in history as a man obsessed with chicken.

History belongs to the victors. Even if Trotsky rises up in anger, in the process of suppressing him again, we can record that Trotsky’s grand plan was to force every citizen to eat chicken once a day.

That would be good to leave in the historical record.

“Yes, Your Majesty. In both the US military government and United American States territories, we’re spreading rumors that the KFC chairman, Leon, is a madman who shouts ‘Chicken instead of bread!’ and tries to make everyone eat chicken once a day.”

So they’ve made him out to be a man obsessed with chicken.

I’m very curious about Trotsky’s reaction to this.

“Since it’s soul food for Black Americans, there’s some plausibility. After all, the main ethnicity in KFC is Black, right?”

“Yes. We’re targeting that point and spreading it diligently.”

Even Huey Long wouldn’t want to associate with a madman trying to start a revolution with chicken.

If we also blow up Tuskegee, KFC will eventually be forced to fight against either the United American States or MacArthur’s government.

Then a three-way battle is certain.

Next is the Spanish Civil War, which might break out around the same time as the American one.

Actually, Spain is lower priority than America. It’s such a mess.

If the Spanish Civil War ends in victory for the Republic or the Communist Party, it might be good to invite Franco or Falange Party members here to establish a government-in-exile.

“Let’s make contact with Spain too.”

“Spain?”

“Contact Francisco Franco and José Antonio Primo de Rivera.”

“Understood.”

That side is also important.

We can’t consider the Nationalist faction and the Falange as the same thing, but since the later Nationalist Spain was a Falange regime, we should treat them as the same. When the Spanish Civil War breaks out, we’ll ultimately have to support the Nationalist faction, but depending on the timing of the American Civil War, support for Spain might be delayed.

We need to build bridges in advance to show that we have a strong interest in Spain.

# * * *

Madrid, Spain

José Antonio Primo de Rivera.

He was the eldest son of Miguel Primo de Rivera, a dictator who served as Prime Minister of Spain during the final years of the Bourbon dynasty.

Following the original history, he founded the far-right Falange Party in 1933 and was slowly building up his power, though it wasn’t easy.

It was around this time that the Okhrana, known as the Shadow of the Tsar and the Hand of Anastasia, secretly contacted José Antonio Primo de Rivera, the leader of the Falange in Spain.

“You say your Empress has great interest in us?”

José Antonio could only blink in surprise at the Okhrana’s approach.

Indeed, why would a country from the far eastern edge of Europe show interest in a small Spanish party?

He was even curious about how they knew about him in the first place.

Actually, if they were making contact now, they might have been in touch for some time already.

José Antonio suspected that these people claiming to be Okhrana might have been sent by his political opponents, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“At least the Falange isn’t Communist, right?”

“Of course not. Rather, the Falange is the legitimate party to carry on Spain’s glory.”

“Yes, we’re aware of that. France is currently at risk of turning Red. We don’t want Spain to become Communist as well.”

Is that really the case?

He had indeed heard that the Communist Party in France was expanding its influence recently. As Russia’s ally, they must be concerned.

“You’re absolutely right. Recently, Reds have been swarming in our Spain as well.”

Perhaps it’s because of Communist Germany’s existence.

In Spain too, the Communist Party had been noticeably growing lately.

So Anastasia’s judgment wasn’t wrong.

“This isn’t much, but our Majesty has provided it as political funds for your use.”

The Okhrana handed José Antonio a box containing gleaming gold bars.

Sparkling brightly, gold bars to be used as political funds were now in José Antonio’s hands.

“Well, accepting this is somewhat…”

“We simply don’t want Spain to become an ally of Communist Germany. Whether Spain becomes our ally in the future, remains neutral, or just doesn’t become hostile to us, that’s all we care about.”

For Russia, stopping the expansion of the Communist bloc is enough.

The Okhrana before him was saying only that.

After all, being in a position to defeat the Communist party, he couldn’t possibly align with Communist Germany if he took power.

José Antonio nodded.

Perhaps they’re worried about Gibraltar being threatened.

As the son of a dictator, a marquis, and the leader of the Falange, he had an eye for reading the political situation.

Russia and Britain are allied against the Anti-Comintern Pact.

If Gibraltar were threatened, it could interfere with naval operations in the Mediterranean.

That shouldn’t be difficult.

“I understand.”

What’s difficult about that?

As long as they don’t demand something in return for the gold bars, it shouldn’t be a problem.

In fact, for the sake of a great Spain, joining hands with Russia could be a good approach.

Who knows? By joining hands with Russia, they might even be able to recover the territories of the old Kingdom of Aragon or the Spanish Empire.

Just as he was indulging in such sweet fantasies in his mind,

The Okhrana spoke with a serious expression.

“However, our Majesty warns the Marquis to be careful about his personal safety.”

“What do you mean?”

Be careful about personal safety?

Surely they weren’t threatening to assassinate him if he didn’t follow their instructions?

No, given the earlier condition—at minimum, don’t become Communist—there’s no reason he would be assassinated by Russia.

Then what could it be?

“Based on our Okhrana’s investigation, leftist forces seem to view the Marquis of Estella as a thorn in their side. Depending on the general election, they might try to purge you.”

“That can’t be.”

For a brief moment, José Antonio was taken aback by the suggestion that his life might be in danger, and his face instantly hardened.

Does this mean the Okhrana has already infiltrated the Spanish government?

Rumors say that Russia’s Empress is a saint who knows future events.

No matter what, she’s still human, so that can’t be true.

It’s just a deification effort to turn public sentiment back to the Tsar. If so, it means the Shadow of the Tsar, the Okhrana, is exceptional.

That’s how they noticed this.

“Yes, the Tsar mentioned the Popular Front. You should be wary of its existence.”

“The Popular Front?”

Does such a thing as the Popular Front exist?

Just by the name, it sounds like a coalition of leftist forces.

José Antonio racked his brain, which had been working hard for the Falange Party, but soon widened his eyes at the Okhrana’s words.

“We don’t want the Marquis to be purged. So if bloodshed occurs within Spain, you must take special care to preserve your life.”

“Have you approached others besides me?”

“We’ve also informed a man named Franco. Please consult well with him and lead Spain together.”

With those final words, the Okhrana disappeared into the darkness.

For a while, José Antonio remained dazed.

Personal threats, bloodshed in Spain, the Spanish Communist Party, the unstable Republican government.

All these point to one conclusion.

‘Civil war!’

The unstable Spanish political situation, unable to unite. In the midst of this, what bloodshed implies is clear.

José Antonio sensed civil war coming.