Ch.18The Bulldog and the Princess (2)

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The hostile nations had been this supportive of Russia?

Or perhaps communists had taken root internally.

That would make sense. Every country has its share of reds.

To root them out, the Soviet Union, their leader, must fall.

This has entangled the great powers, whether in small or large ways.

The story of beheading the imperial family would have been like rain in a drought for communists, inspiring them with ambition that they too could achieve such things.

Well, whatever.

Rather than trying to recover territories lost through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk only to fall victim to nationalist guerrillas, it’s better to extract value through trade.

If we really want to expand into the Baltics or Ukraine, opportunities might arise later.

Actually, having Northern Manchuria and Mongolia recognized by hostile nations isn’t bad at all.

In the end, this is a win-win for everyone.

Now then.

This should remain a secret agreement.

There’s no benefit in making it public.

“Today’s matters should remain a secret agreement. Understood? Those red bastards already faced enough public backlash over the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.”

“There’s no question about it.”

With this, Manchuria and Mongolia have been recognized.

America and France have acknowledged it for now.

It’s rather amusing that the nations furthest from these regions are the ones giving permission.

But what can we do? International society operates on power dynamics. When the British Empire, spanning five oceans, demands permission, there’s no choice.

The issue now is Japan, which is close to Manchuria.

“What do you think will happen with Japan regarding Northern Manchuria? They might be concerned.”

“Japan has already received substantial reparations, so what can they do? Even if they don’t officially recognize it, they’ll tacitly accept it.”

Come to think of it, I’ve lived longer in Korea as a Grand Duchess than I have without roots.

If we don’t have much, we can develop Russia’s core territories as they are.

Britain will likely struggle quite a bit in Ukraine.

Russia isn’t the only place with ideological conflicts and lack of foundations.

Ukraine also has anarchists, reds, and so on. British forces will probably have a hard time too.

Still.

This man is irritating.

After that spectacular failure at Gallipoli, what gives him the right to act so proud?

Well then. I should at least tease him a bit.

“I understand, Mr. Gallipoli, sir.”

“Pardon?”

“The British and French soldiers who came as volunteers to train our tanks called you ‘Mr. Gallipoli,’ so I thought it was your official title. Didn’t you achieve a great victory at Gallipoli?”

I tilted my head with an innocent expression, pretending to know nothing.

“Th-that’s not it. I can’t explain in detail, but that’s absolutely not the case.”

This bald bastard. He can’t treat me carelessly because I’m a Grand Duchess, but I can see his face turning red.

He’s angry but frustrated because he thinks I’m an ignorant Grand Duchess.

At times like this, it’s best to pretend complete ignorance and praise Churchill.

You’re the hero who crushed the Ottoman Turks at Gallipoli!

I have to get these small pleasures where I can.

“Don’t be shy. Unlike me who’s barely hanging on, you received that title after annihilating the Ottoman forces at Gallipoli. I envy you, sir.”

“Ahem. Well then, I’ll see you again later.”

And so Mr. Gallipoli departed.

Then.

“The Black Baron seems quite displeased.”

The Black Baron, Pyotr Wrangel, appeared dissatisfied.

But what can we do? This is the era of those with power.

“I’m just saddened that we must accept this humiliation.”

“We have no choice. To defeat the Bolsheviks right now, the great powers’ support is essential.”

If we don’t accept it, they might cut off support and Britain might use Poland and Germany as bulwarks against the red plague.

We’re the ones in need, so we have no choice.

Of course, Britain will struggle quite a bit too.

“But to give away Greater Russia’s territories like this…”

Greater Russia’s territories or not, it would be difficult for Russia to suppress all those seeking independence even without British interference.

“In exchange, we gained Mongolia and Northern Manchuria.”

“Those two are useless compared to the territories we’ve lost, aren’t they?”

I suppose so.

Though Mongolia and Northern Manchuria have resources, compared to what was lost through the Soviet treaty with Germany…

“I don’t think Britain will last long either.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“They could have made excuses not to provide military support and simply devoured the Soviet Union, but they didn’t. Why do you think that is?”

“Everyone is exhausted, I suppose.”

“Yes. And those red bastards will never miss such an opportunity. If they’re already demonized worldwide, they’ll turn their attention outward to maintain internal control.”

Currently, the Soviet Union is on the defensive and ostracized by everyone.

Internally, in what “used to be the Soviet Union,” Lenin probably doesn’t know what to do.

Perhaps if he stays idle, the people might behead him, following my example.

With Germany’s withdrawal, he’ll likely demand the annulment of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and try to reclaim lost Ukraine.

He needs to redirect internal discontent outward.

Assuming Britain can’t intervene militarily, he’ll try to devour Ukraine.

Just like North Korea, which picks fights to maintain internal control, or Communist China threatening Taiwan.

Lenin doesn’t care at this point.

The First World War happened because the British Empire and America saw socialist plans spreading and socialists becoming active, so they went easy on Germany and its allies to prevent communism from spreading.

Germany’s defeat was a clear fact.

In actual history, the Soviet Union also nullified the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany.

If it happened in real history, why would it be different now?

Moreover, the Soviet Union is being pushed much more extremely than in actual history.

Britain is making Germany support us with weapons to prevent them from waging war, apart from volunteers.

Wouldn’t the Soviet Union be tempted to make some audacious moves?

Thinking the imperialists lack the capacity to provide military support.

If so, wouldn’t they try to recover at least some lost territories like Ukraine, the Baltic states, Finland, and others?

Trotsky has rebuilt an army of 5 million.

Of course, it’s just a numbers game, and since this world differs from actual history, the Soviet army rebuilt here would be in terrible shape.

Even so, they could probably do something about the British forces in Ukraine with sheer numbers.

They’d use the propaganda effect: “We defeated the victorious British army in Ukraine!”

It would also be good if they went to war with Poland and got thrashed, just like in actual history.

But before that, we have our own tasks.

“Then, isn’t this bad news for us?”

“Unfortunately, the Soviet Union will likely struggle too. The Black Baron, who was in Southern Russia, knows well how many nationalists there are in Ukraine.”

How long would it take the Soviet Union to root them all out?

How long can the Soviet Union last if they only imitate the Grand Duchess without proper reforms, grinding down their people in wars?

Wouldn’t the Soviet people soon bring guillotines to behead Lenin, the idol of revolution?

Of course, this is all speculative.

But at least this is a country that has already collapsed once through revolution.

There’s no law saying Lenin can’t end up like the Romanovs.

“Now, let’s show them that propaganda isn’t their exclusive specialty. While the Soviet Union committed treason by giving away land to Germany through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, we’ve had Northern Manchuria and Mongolia recognized by the British Empire.”

“Yes, Grand Duchess.”

This rumor needs to spread before the rampaging Bolsheviks mobilize the Red Army.

Northern Manchuria has special significance.

Russia’s influence in Northern Manchuria was considerably reduced after the Russo-Japanese War.

How shocking it was to be defeated by an uncivilized island nation from the Far East.

Although we haven’t fought Japan again to gain recognition, the fact that Northern Manchuria has been acknowledged would please Russians in the Soviet Union.

Unless they’re completely brainless, they’d realize we diplomatically secured land that they sold off through treaties and would have to sacrifice conscripted troops to reclaim.

That might be what the current Soviet Union needs to do.

But gaining recognition purely through diplomacy has a different meaning.

Of course, we’ll need to drive out the warlord forces in Manchuria, but I’ll leave that to Semyonov and Ungern, who will become governor-general of Mongolia.

Surely Zhang Zuolin or Zhang Xueliang will try to recapture Northern Manchuria.

Well, they’ll figure it out.

After all, the British Empire recognizing Northern Manchuria essentially tells Chinese warlords: “Northern Manchuria is Russian territory; touch it and you’re dead.”

In other words, the warlords can’t risk offending the great powers who have recognized Northern Manchuria as Russian territory.

It shouldn’t be difficult, as China, fragmented by warlords rather than unified, likely won’t focus on Manchuria.

Now, let’s deploy the Okhrana to spread propaganda.

“I heard the Grand Duchess negotiated with the British and got Mongolia and Northern Manchuria recognized as our territory.”

“The Mongolian monarch supposedly offered his crown to our Grand Duchess!”

“So the Bolsheviks who sold our land were indeed traitors!”

“Realistically, what are those satanic bastards doing now? Oh right, suppressing churches and filling army ranks!”

“The Grand Duchess resides in Yekaterinburg! Our Grand Duchess will succeed Catherine II!”

The people’s response was explosive.

I don’t know when the rumor that Mongolia handed over the Great Khan’s position to me spread, but it was certainly contributing to my rising popularity.

They’re even saying that because I’m in Yekaterinburg, I’m succeeding Catherine II, the former empress of the Russian Empire.

It’s quite ironic considering Yekaterinburg was actually named after Catherine I, but I don’t intend to deny it.

Accepting it allows me to spite Lenin even more.

Lenin must be biting his tongue, wishing he could commit suicide by now.

The White Army was now somewhat at ease.

Recently, resistance movements under Bolshevik rule have been offering cities large and small to our side.

The rumors about the Soviets being traitors seem to have had quite an impact.

Yes, Lenin doesn’t have many options left.

Either gradually collapse or defeat us in a direct confrontation and take Russia.

Even if the latter happens, at this rate they’d just become a larger version of North Korea.

“Black Baron.”

I called for the Black Baron, Pyotr Wrangel.

We need to gradually move westward.

“Yes, Grand Duchess.”

“Take command of the White Army from Southern Russia, the White Army from Siberia, and the Cossack Corps that have joined us in Yekaterinburg, and slowly advance toward Moscow.”

“Has the time finally come?”

I shook my head.

We’ll just march toward Moscow.

We can decide on an all-out assault on Moscow after seeing how the Soviet Union wavers.

In the current situation, if they conscript to gather an army of 5 million as in the original history, the sandcastle that is the Soviet Union will surely collapse.

“We won’t attack Moscow immediately. Let’s shake them up a bit more.”

“Yes.”

Even so, we’re still sending troops.

It’s time for us to begin our attack.

“Time is on our side now.”

Trampling the worker’s sickle and hammer that cut down the double-headed eagle.

The double-headed eagle will soar again.