Ch.16Far East Affairs

# The Asian Cavalry Division’s Reason for Occupying Mongolia

I was dumbfounded by the Asian Cavalry Division’s reason for occupying Mongolia.

Since I refused to become Tsar, they thought, “As long as you’re not Tsar, right? We’ll give you the position of Great Khan instead!” That was their logic.

Isn’t this just a case of covering your eyes and pretending no one can see you?

Suddenly, I was about to become a white-skinned Great Khan.

No, wait. Would the Mongolians even accept this?

What are these lunatics thinking? If they wanted to help, they should have waited a few years until Mongolia was overrun by the Anhui warlord faction.

“Won’t there be fierce resistance from the Mongolians?”

“The Mongolian nobility said they wouldn’t mind if Your Imperial Highness ascended to the position of Great Khan.”

I’d like to believe they didn’t get that confirmation at gunpoint.

Well, if you think about it, Mongolia had been receiving support from the Russian Empire. They might be favorable toward us, but even the most friendly nation would turn against you if you suddenly invaded, wouldn’t they?

Then again, if I became Great Khan, the theory that Russia is Mongolia and Mongolia is Russia would be established. Perhaps they want us to protect them from China.

Isn’t this all working out too easily?

Friction with the Republic of China seems inevitable.

“Hahaha! Since Your Imperial Highness has refused the position of Tsarina, it’s our sincere desire to place you on the throne of an Eastern empire.”

“This is actually for the best. It will serve as an example showing that Russia is not yet dead. For the sake of controlling Mongolia, it’s appropriate that you receive the Great Khan’s seal and ascend to that position.”

Great Khan instead of Tsar.

A Great Khan in this modern age—what nonsense.

Yekaterinburg is a city in Asia.

If they’re using that as a reason for me to take an Asian monarch’s position, I suppose there’s some logic to it.

“Then, I will appoint the Bogd Khan, who offered me the seal, as Governor-General of Mongolia, and grant him and other nobility the right to participate in the Duma in Yekaterinburg. I will also appoint Semyonov as Deputy Governor to assist the Governor-General, and Ungern as Lieutenant General to command the Asian Cavalry Division.”

“Yes. The military will handle those matters.”

“Your Imperial Highness, Yekaterinburg is too exposed to Bolshevik attacks. It would be wise to establish a capital in preparation for any contingency.”

We’ve recaptured all the cities near Yekaterinburg, but…

Indeed, we’re still exposed to those Soviet bastards. I suppose that’s concerning.

“What about Vladivostok?”

“Isn’t the territory around Vladivostok too narrow? What about annexing Northern Manchuria instead?”

“Northern Manchuria?”

Northern Manchuria? Suddenly? Guys, our civil war isn’t even over yet.

“Yes. Originally, Ungern and Semyonov had their bases in Northern Manchuria. There are also Russians in a place called Harbin. I hear there are Bolsheviks there too, so we could use that as justification to move south.”

“We shouldn’t be the only ones deciding this. What do the other members of the provisional Duma think?”

This is important.

The White Army is a collection of various ideologies.

I’ve worked hard to drag them here by the collar, and public sentiment has changed significantly, but there are still many ideological fanatics.

I have no choice but to be mindful of them.

If they suddenly get upset and say, “I’m going to join the Bolsheviks!” things would immediately become troublesome.

“I’m concerned we might be unnecessarily expanding our front, but if we can’t defeat the Bolsheviks now, wouldn’t it be better to at least gain Northern Manchuria?”

“Even a small amount of strength would help us now. I believe it’s desirable to incorporate Northern Manchuria and embrace the Russians living there.”

Surprisingly, everyone was positive about taking control of Northern Manchuria.

The logic was that if we couldn’t recapture the Moscow region right away, we should at least expand our territory elsewhere.

Perhaps I’ve been too complacent, focusing only on history.

My appearance must have influenced their thinking as well.

Aren’t there warlords around this time?

I know China is in the era of warlords right now.

Taking control of Northern Manchuria, with the eyes of the great powers watching, and above all…

“I understand your thoughts, but there are some remaining issues that make it difficult to target Northern Manchuria immediately.”

“What issues?”

“The Japanese.”

The Japanese are the problem.

They started the Russo-Japanese War with a surprise attack, without even declaring war, determined to occupy the Korean Peninsula and drive Russia out of Manchuria.

After the Russo-Japanese War and the Great War, the Empire of Japan is now high on nationalism, claiming they’re equal to the European powers.

If Russia tries to take Manchuria again, won’t they come charging at us, foaming at the mouth?

The Chinese warlords aren’t a problem, but despite ongoing reforms, we could end up fighting a war against both Japan and the Soviets simultaneously.

Our civil war isn’t even over yet.

How wise would it be to fight a second Russo-Japanese War when we’ve already lost so many troops in the Great War?

“We can look at it differently.”

“Pardon?”

“The great powers support us because they want the Red Plague to end. That means they want us to grow stronger.”

Normally, they’d want Russia to remain divided.

Are they saying they’re willing to support us to the extent that they can’t formulate such a strategy now?

“And with that, we ask them to approve of Manchuria?”

“No matter how powerful Japan is, if the other great powers recognize it, what can they do? If Russians are living there, isn’t that Russian territory?”

“That’s true.”

Yes, you’re all right.

Yes, where Russians live is Russian land.

Something like national self-determination.

Yes, national self-determination, which Hitler would later interpret to suit his own tastes—

No, that’s dangerous. Even the Czech Sudetenland was in Europe and had tremendous industrial facilities. Annexing Northern Manchuria just because some Russians live there is a bit… Well, if the intention is to restore fallen Russian pride, it’s not a bad idea.

“That’s not the only problem. Although we’ve unified the White Army, if we open another front against someone other than the Bolsheviks, there could be opposition within the White Army itself.”

Indeed, when I said this, various members of the Duma started whispering among themselves.

“Above all, couldn’t this lead to new friction? There are also Chinese warlords.”

“Those guys are just large in numbers, nothing more.”

“How could China possibly pay attention to Northern Manchuria right now? We need to demonstrate that Russia is still strong.”

While others seemed to be considering my words, Kolchak and Wrangel were in favor of taking control of Northern Manchuria by any means.

I wouldn’t mind Northern Manchuria either, since more territory is always good.

Of course, this is because I’m Anastasia now.

Without the great powers, we would be helpless.

The situation might improve a bit if reforms progress, but…

“Then what if we look at it a little differently?”

“Differently?”

“Order Lieutenant General Ungern to gradually test the waters by having the Asian Cavalry Division protect Northern Manchuria.”

So we’re just going to pretend to move down slowly with various justifications?

“Test the waters.”

“If there’s opposition from the great powers, we can withdraw.”

That’s quite appealing.

If we probe once or twice and the great powers tacitly approve, that would be sufficient.

We also need to reduce Japanese influence in Manchuria to prevent them from establishing Manchukuo later and causing trouble.

If the great powers tacitly approve and encourage us to fight hard, the story changes a bit.

Thanks to the civil war, we can expand in the Asian region.

“Then let’s have them move south and also talk to Britain. After all, they’re our biggest sponsor along with Germany.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”

“And above all, numbers are important to us. We need people to fight wars and run factories. Therefore, I will embrace the Jews living in Russia.”

“Are you planning to implement pro-Jewish policies?”

“Couldn’t we also receive support from Jewish capitalists if we do well?”

Hitler killed so many Jews that other countries’ actions don’t stand out, but Russia is a representative anti-Jewish country.

During the Russo-Japanese War, Jews supported Japan to such an extent that it speaks for itself.

So we needed to win over the Jews as well.

# England

Meanwhile, the British Empire, having received reports about White Russia’s southward movement into Northern Manchuria through its ambassador to Russia, did not react as sensitively as during the Great Game.

Russia, which had surrendered to Germany, was in no position to stand shoulder to shoulder with the British Empire, which had even conquered that same Germany.

Moreover, Russia was now split in half, and Anastasia’s White Russia was receiving British support.

Rather, Russia’s desire to have Manchuria in the midst of all this even seemed cute.

“So she wants to move south to protect Russians in Northern Manchuria.”

“Now that things are getting a bit better, our cute Imperial Highness wants Northern Manchuria.”

“When she’s busy putting out the fire in her own house, she wants to plant a flag in another region? That’s a bit…”

“She probably wants to show that the Russian Empire is still strong.”

“She’s just asking us to boost her morale a bit. Northern Manchuria should be fine, shouldn’t it?”

‘I’m fighting hard! I’ll prevent the Red Plague from spreading to you! So give me a bit more compensation!’

That’s what the Imperial Highness is saying now.

It’s actually quite amusing, considering that the Soviet Union was born due to Russia’s own doing, and Russia is only alive today thanks to the great powers.

Britain was willing to tacitly approve this matter.

After all, Ukraine, Finland, the Baltic states, Belarus, and other regions had all broken away, and those regions were now under British influence.

The United States also had no reason to refuse if Russia guaranteed American interests in Manchuria.

“This isn’t something that can be decided at the ambassador level. Mr. Gallipoli should go to Yekaterinburg and meet with the Imperial Highness.”

“That’s right. Go, Gallipoli.”

“Come on, people! I’ll go, alright!”

And so Mr. Gallipoli was dispatched to Yekaterinburg.

Britain could tell Russia to freely take Northern Manchuria.

The problem was whether the Empire of Japan, which was desperate to devour Siberia and the Far East, would approve.

“Northern Manchuria? We haven’t gotten anything! Why only Russia! Why only Russia!”

As expected, Japan threw a fit.

Russia had refused support from the Imperial Japanese Army and had blocked Japan’s advance into Siberia.

Why should they give Russia anything?

“Since the great powers have tacitly approved, we can’t oppose it. I hear the British Empire is even sending someone to the provisional government in Yekaterinburg regarding Northern Manchuria.”

“Then what about dividing Manchuria as we had planned?”

“Manchuria?”

Unable to completely oppose due to the great powers’ tacit approval, Japan shifted toward trying to take at least a piece of Manchuria.

It was a typically Japanese judgment that the great powers, exhausted from the war, wouldn’t intervene in Manchurian affairs.

If they had failed to advance into Siberia, they should at least gain Manchuria.

In this case, setting aside the other great powers, what about negotiating directly with Russia?

“We’ll make an agreement directly with Russia. Russia gets Northern Manchuria, and we get Southern Manchuria as a foothold for continental expansion.”

“Or we could say we’re helping our ally Russia and protecting Russians in Manchuria, and secure Manchuria ourselves?”

“As if they would accept that. Let’s first divide Northern and Southern Manchuria amicably, and if the civil war ends with a Soviet victory, we can immediately intervene and advance into Northern Manchuria as well.”

Although Russia was split in half, if Japan caused friction with Russia over taking all of Manchuria, the great powers would intervene.

Hara Takashi, the Prime Minister of Japan, didn’t want to embark on such an adventure after the Great War had ended.

“If we divide Manchuria, we should also settle old grudges with Russia. Russia can’t fully annex Northern Manchuria right now anyway. It’s not too late to send a military attaché to assess the state of White Russia and make a decision.”

“Let’s do that.”

Japan maintained an ambiguous response, neither approving nor opposing.

This was to negotiate with Russia about Manchuria in the future.