Ch.180Give Me My Money (2)

* * *

Let’s summarize the situation.

“I heard that Britain is withdrawing from the United States. Then France will likely withdraw too. I understand that Japan is also implicitly supporting MacArthur.”

“And?”

“Japan has no intention of providing military support. I believe they’ve only issued a statement supporting MacArthur. And in the midst of all this, we’ve proven in the Spanish Civil War that Russia has reemerged as a military power.”

That’s right. The Spanish Civil War has allowed Russia to step up once again as a true great power, not just a second-rate one.

Moreover, although we didn’t get the Baltic, we did obtain Ukraine, a land of gold.

But stop being such a tease and speak properly.

“Duke. I don’t like being teased.”

“Your Majesty, with America stimulated by the Spanish Civil War and clearly looking for a fight, won’t the Huey Long government approach us as well?”

“Oh. So you thought the same thing.”

As expected of Duke Yusupov.

I can’t help but admire how well my money man understands me.

“But it’s not just the Huey Long government. If they approach us, MacArthur, with his stain of being a military government, will also desperately try to align with us.”

Oh, that’s right. That would happen.

I’ve completely blocked other powers from intervening in the American civil war.

Above all, Russia is the only country at this point that could provide military support in a civil war.

If the Huey Long government approaches us, MacArthur will have no choice but to feel anxious.

As a military man, he must be wary of Russia’s military power.

“Shouldn’t we delay our intervention and get what we can from both MacArthur and Huey Long?”

“Oh, that’s a good approach.”

The relationship afterward might become somewhat delicate.

But anyway, in relations between nations, there are no permanent allies or enemies.

And ultimately, if he receives help, MacArthur won’t be able to completely dislike us.

Hmm, I’ve thought of another good method.

“What if we spread rumors that Russia is targeting the American West? In Duke Yusupov’s opinion, how would America react?”

This is a topic that should be discussed in the Duma, but we shouldn’t tire out the Duma that’s responsible for Russia’s future.

I should prepare a separate plan.

After preparing everything like this, I’ll surprise the Duma with it, and they’ll be pleased.

While the Duma is busy organizing Russia’s internal affairs, I’ll show them something incredible.

“Then wouldn’t they protest?”

“We’ll deny it, of course. If we do that, both MacArthur and Huey Long will become desperate and open their wallets wider to ensure Russia doesn’t get any other ideas. Don’t you think?”

This is purely a question of business sense.

I wonder what our Duke Yusupov thinks about it.

“Indeed, Your Majesty is correct.”

Is it just Huey Long and MacArthur?

If we play our cards right, we could also provoke the neutral factions in the West.

They might probe us thinking, “Surely this can’t be true?” And with the central government split in two (excluding the KFC), the neutral factions might unite.

“Besides that. I have one more request. The Okhrana has been busy lately.”

“What is it?”

“Find Julius Robert Oppenheimer. He’s likely under suspicion from all sides by now. He’s a suitable person to participate in this weapons project.”

Oppenheimer fell into leftist ideology during the Great Depression.

His own brother joined the American Communist Party, his wife had leftist ideologies, and his former lover was also a member of the American Communist Party.

Perhaps history has changed and he might have joined the KFC, but I doubt it.

Moreover, since the United States of Greater Russia has created modified capitalism—Anastasia’s ideology—as a compromise form of capitalism, anything is possible.

“Understood.”

Well then, let’s focus on extracting money.

* * *

United States of America, Louisiana

The Huey Long government recently found itself in hot water when Britain withdrew its support.

What kind of country is Britain? Although they’re currently struggling with their colonies, they’re still the world’s number one colonial empire, spanning five oceans.

Even Russia couldn’t ignore their influence, and Huey Long had planned to use British support as a stepping stone to drive out the MacArthur regime in the north.

“Britain has expressed that they will have difficulty providing weapons support, citing Communist Germany and the Spanish Civil War as reasons.”

“Ha, what about France?”

What about France?

If France also turns its back on the Huey Long government, this becomes difficult.

“Well, France also said that they cannot support our government alone due to issues with the Spanish Civil War.”

Yes. That’s right.

“So all these great colonial empires have backed out.”

This means only Russia remains.

So the answer is only Russia?

Russia, which has recently been siphoning resources from America. We must persuade the Russian Empress and make her our ally.

To be honest, wasn’t Huey Long himself trying to follow Empress Anastasia’s methods before MacArthur beat him to it? This point could be mentioned during persuasion.

“Mr. President. There are rumors circulating in Russia about reclaiming Russian America.”

“With the Spanish Civil War and communist forces to deal with, is that likely?”

“They have over a million troops ready for deployment at any time. They’ve already shown their capacity by demonstrating they can deploy a million troops when Italy tried to intervene in the civil war with regular forces. If we want to bring Russia to our side, we’ll need to provide appropriate compensation.”

“Hmm. We can’t cede territory, can we? I don’t think Russia has the capacity for that right now when they’re still consolidating internally.”

“Russia is implementing various reforms, so they must need a lot of money, right?”

“So we pay them. We should show our sincerity to Russia first.”

Huey Long dispatched Gerald Smith, Secretary of State of the United States, to Russia.

Of course, Huey Long wasn’t the only one thinking of courting Russia.

* * *

US Military Government, New York

MacArthur had been reassured by the mutual defense treaty, but when he heard that the Huey Long government was approaching Russia, he changed his mind.

“Russia is targeting America? Is that true?”

He asked Eisenhower, his aide who was recently knowledgeable about Russian affairs.

“Isn’t it just a rumor because of Russia’s formidable military power? It would be difficult for Russia, which is only now growing, to occupy and manage North America. It would throw away everything they’ve built so far, and above all, the Russian Empress is not a reckless woman who would start such a venture. Considering her authority, even if the Duma proposed such a thing, she would crush it with her authority.”

Right. That must be it.

The Russian Tsarina wouldn’t be such a foolish person. Targeting America means potential friction with Canada.

And Canada is a dominion of Britain.

Would Russia risk friction with Britain?

“I know that much. But couldn’t the KFC guys make more of a fuss about this?”

“You’re right, sir. But isn’t this rumor spreading unnecessarily because of the Russian army’s activities in the Spanish Civil War? There are also rumors that Huey Long is approaching Russia.”

“Does that mean Russia might side with Huey Long too?”

If they do cross over, they won’t do it for nothing.

They’ll demand something in return.

Like a lot of money to entice Russia.

“Yes. Given that we desperately need Russian military support, shouldn’t we also give something to Russia?”

“Huh, so the value of those Russians has risen that much.”

If I had my way, I’d like to get rid of them all.

But it can’t be helped. At this point, we need Russia’s help.

Fortunately, if Russia isn’t actually targeting anything, can’t this be resolved with money?

Meanwhile, around this time, Oppenheimer, contrary to Anastasia’s expectations, was completely twisted.

The fall of Soviet Russia, the rise of the modified capitalist United States of Greater Russia, and the KFC that caused America’s division.

Due to all these complex issues, Oppenheimer, under the MacArthur government, was ideologically inclined toward modified capitalism as a solution to the Great Depression and ideological problems.

One day, a figure approached him.

“Robert Oppenheimer. We’ve started a physics-related project in Russia. The Tsar needs your help.”

Duke Yusupov, Russia’s foremost tycoon, had come to find him.

* * *

Sure enough, both the MacArthur government and the Huey Long government rushed to the Duma, begging to form an alliance and maintain mutual defense.

Of course, they didn’t come empty-handed.

Gerald Smith came from the Huey Long government, and Eisenhower came from the MacArthur government.

I know Gerald Smith as a right-wing politician, and he’s sticking with Huey Long, who tried to join hands with the KFC.

Or perhaps Huey Long recruited Gerald Smith to prove he’s not a communist?

Well, strictly speaking, Huey Long, like MacArthur who beat him to it, is on the side of escaping the Great Depression and beating down the reds.

I took this opportunity to attend the Duma again and brought up the Alaska issue.

“Is it too difficult to acquire Alaska?”

“Looking at it conventionally, I think it might be difficult.”

Indeed, if I say, “I’ll help you, so give me Alaska!”

Honestly, regardless of their own intentions, their approval ratings might plummet.

Neither MacArthur nor Huey Long would accept either side for the sake of their own regimes.

Hmm. But I still want Alaska.

There’s one reason I’m so fixated on it.

Even though it’s just the edge, I want the title of having advanced onto American soil.

Hmm, it won’t work conventionally.

Does that mean I need to take it by force?

“But what if one side promises to give us Alaska?”

“Well, but for that to happen, we’d need to hear a response from at least one side that they’re willing to discuss it.”

Discussion? Ah, I see.

There needs to be a discussion about Alaska from one side for it to be possible.

Let’s say Huey Long agrees to discuss Alaska, and MacArthur, hearing this news, fights alone because he doesn’t want to give up Alaska, and then gets defeated by Russia and Huey Long who promised Alaska. What then?

If MacArthur says he’d rather die than cede territory! Then the Huey Long government, which is willing to give Alaska, would win.

There would be no other choice.

In fact, we could somehow get Alaska by using the civil war. But the relationship with the US is the issue.

“So, does the Duma plan to meet with Gerald Smith from the United States?”

“Actually, there’s a lot of talk about that in the Duma. The Duma has already officially recognized the MacArthur government. With the Secretary of State of the United States coming in the midst of this, it’s burdensome for us.”

Oh my, then I’ll have to step in again.

I think I need to directly intervene to resolve this.

“Then, I’ll meet him.”

I declared confidently, placing my hand on my chest.

“Your Majesty?”

“Even if we can’t get Alaska, we should at least get discussions going, and even excluding that, we should receive something of equal value. The Duma might not be able to, but isn’t there a possibility, just like when Austin Chamberlain from Britain came to see me?”

From the Duma’s perspective, it’s not a losing situation.

I’ll find something to negotiate in the middle, and the Duma can just follow along saying, “Well, the Tsar has authority, so we have no choice.”

“Indeed. Your Majesty had a deep intention. Understood.”

Prime Minister Georgy Lvov and the Duma accepted.

Yes. This is something I need to resolve.

If it doesn’t work at the Duma, the thirsty Gerald Smith will come looking for me.

Not long after, while I was at the Kremlin Palace after leaving the Duma.

“Your Majesty. The Secretary of State of the United States has requested an audience with you.”

What I’ve been waiting for has arrived.

Yes. I predicted this would happen.

The Secretary of State of the United States, who visited the Kremlin Palace, was smiling, perhaps wanting to flatter me.

“After coming to Russia, I’ve clearly realized that Russia doesn’t want to occupy our America. Russia wants to establish friendly relations, but is there anything you want from the United States?”

And here comes the praise for Russia. From what he’s saying, it seems the news that we’re coveting territory has spread to America as well.

Still, our Russia has really grown a lot.

The “friendly relations” Smith is talking about is simply asking us to take their hand.

Play with them, not MacArthur. And if there’s something we want, they’ll accommodate it.

But what can I do? Unfortunately, I need to correct Gerald Smith’s words.

So, with an arrogant smile, I opened my mouth as if to say don’t waste time.

“Ah, first, a correction is needed. We don’t want to occupy America, but we do want to acquire one piece of American land.”

“What do you mean? Surely not from Alaska to California.”

Why is your face turning pale?

No, no.

I have no intention of rebuilding Russian America.

I was almost swayed by Ungern’s devilish whispers once, but my past life’s kimchi blood awakened and made me see reality.

Realistically, let’s just take Alaska for the purpose of building legitimacy.

In reality, America is probably in a state of neither here nor there.

Neither government likely has control over Alaska right now. I’m going to exploit that.