Ch.190American Civil War

* * *

Ah, I thought it would work out one way or another. I was too complacent.

What do you think will happen to the plan to help China defeat Japan and transplant Jews to North China to create an Israel of the East?

Now that Japan is targeting China as expected, we can strike them from behind decisively.

Well, timing is still the issue.

How will the American Civil War unfold? When will the Sino-Japanese War break out?

Japan seems to be preparing already, so there’s hardly any need to mention that.

Mao Zedong has completely changed from what I expected.

“Hmm. I understand the military has been interested in China for a long time.”

Fortunately, the military has been monitoring China for quite some time.

Honestly, this is only natural. It’s not like I’m interested in everything everywhere—I just pinpointed the truly important matters.

The military should handle strategic planning for neighboring countries.

I glanced at Drozdovsky as if asking him to answer.

He’s the strategist who established Russia’s mobile warfare doctrine and essentially the brains of the military. He must have prepared something.

“Yes, Your Majesty. If we want to attack Japan and gain Chinese territory, we should strike Japan when China is in danger.”

“That’s right.”

“For that to happen, China needs to be able to hold out against Japan at a minimum level. They need to be strong enough to retreat to southern China after losing the north and still hold out.”

Correct. At minimum, they need to resist like Chiang Kai-shek did in the original history before gradually retreating.

Chiang Kai-shek held out quite well, but I wonder if Mao Zedong with his federalism can block this.

I can’t see the future clearly.

If this is the case, perhaps it wouldn’t have been bad to support Chiang Kai-shek’s side and push things along as in the original history.

Later, we could have rescued China from Japan, then carved out territory and torn China apart piece by piece.

Looking at the Republic of China during the civil war between the Nationalists and Communists, it’s not impossible.

I was too complacent in my thinking.

If I knew Japan would attack like this, I should have looked to the future rather than tearing China apart right now.

No, that’s not right. With my “Saint” title, it would look bad to openly tear apart China later.

To legitimately divide China and maintain justification even after the Sino-Japanese War, splitting it during Chen Jiongming’s time was the right move.

With such self-justification, I decided to listen to the military’s plan.

If they’ve gone this far, the military must have something in mind.

“Hmm. Does the military have a plan ready? We should at least consider support, right?”

“We decided to use the federalism aspect.”

“The federalism aspect?”

So the military isn’t without ideas.

Honestly, the reason I’m nervous about this World War II is because of the Roman National Party.

I felt like everyone might get caught off guard and suffer a blow. That’s why I improved weapon quality so we wouldn’t fall behind even if we took a hit.

Being from the civil war generation, they’re properly observing their surroundings.

“Japan will start a war under the pretext of eradicating communists in China, so they’ll likely target the Guangdong warlord faction where this Mao Zedong, an anarchist and Chinese Communist Party leader, is based. So we’ll support other federalist warlords instead of Mao.”

I see. From both internal and external perspectives, Japan is targeting the Guangdong faction.

Honestly, from my standpoint, whether it’s Chen Jiongming or Mao Zedong, I’ve already accomplished my goal by splitting China through federalism.

But what if they still can’t hold out?

“What if they still can’t hold out?”

“We can use Britain, can’t we? Churchill won’t be pleased with Japan increasing its influence in Asia.”

Right. Churchill has already recognized the danger of communist Germany.

He’ll likely see through Japan’s ambitions too.

Japan’s goal is the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. That hasn’t changed even with the Imperial Way Faction in control.

In the end, Ishiwara Kanji’s goals aren’t different from the Control Faction’s. The only difference is that he might be less reckless than the Control Faction.

“The question is how Churchill will fight Japan in Asia.”

There probably won’t be operations like Imphal.

It’s unfortunate that my future knowledge tool couldn’t foresee this part.

“Churchill seems to be giving India broad autonomy to prevent the spread of communism. At the very least, he’ll provide weapons to China to protect India. And despite being federalist, China still has a large population.”

Right. To be honest, if the Soviet Union created meat shields against Germany with people from the fields, China did the same against Japan.

They were pushed back but held out until the end with their massive population.

That level of resistance might be achievable with weapons support.

“Hmm. It would also be good to spread rumors to the Chinese that Russia will help if they hold out.”

There’s such a thing as will in these matters.

It would be difficult if they keep getting pushed back by Japan without any support.

“We’ll do that when war breaks out.”

“So we’ll only know once war breaks out.”

I wonder if we should send even outdated tanks to China.

Should I provide tanks to this world’s Mao Zedong?

Since it’s federalism anyway, it doesn’t seem very meaningful. But there are surprisingly many variables now, which is frustrating.

Maybe I should have just pushed along with the original history like a beta male.

Though with the White Russian victory in the Civil War, this was an impossible situation to resolve anyway.

Is there a way to trigger the American Civil War now?

It would be nice if the KFC rose up decisively first.

Wait? There’s no reason to just wait. We can trigger it ourselves.

“Minister of Internal Affairs. What about starting the American Civil War?”

“The American Civil War, you say?”

Yes. We need to trigger it.

Let’s quickly start the civil war and end it before Germany starts a war.

Trotsky must be watching for his opportunity anyway.

Trotsky isn’t stupid. He must have analyzed why the Red Army lost in the Russian Civil War.

Now is the perfect opportunity for Trotsky to use my methods. Moreover, he’s learned how the White Army overwhelmed the Red Army with massive support from America and the great powers.

This is possible!

“Trotsky must be looking for his opportunity soon. Let’s try to instigate something through the Okhrana agents attached to him.”

“Hmm. I’m not sure if it’s possible.”

I understand. Starting a civil war isn’t easy.

They must be watching each other carefully now. So we need to provoke one side.

For example, what about using Renya Mutaguchi’s method?

“Before we announce our support for the US Military Government, they’ll try to resolve the situation. We’re just giving a little push.”

Didn’t the Okhrana rise to positions close to his inner circle?

We’re just giving a slight—very slight—push.

To help resolve Trotsky’s dilemma, encouraging him toward armed struggle.

“I’ll contact the Kentucky branch.”

If it works, great; if it fails, we maintain the status quo. But I hope it succeeds.

While Germany prepares for war, we can quickly trigger the American Civil War, end it quickly, and then defeat Germany in Europe.

* * *

Kentucky, American Communist United States.

In the Kentucky Secretary’s residence of the American Communist United States, Trotsky was deep in thought.

The US Military Government was spreading propaganda to its citizens.

They claimed that the Russian Empress would soon send a large army to repay the debt from the Civil War.

They weren’t just begging Russia for support—they were claiming Russia wanted to repay America for feeding millions of White Army soldiers.

In other words, America was approaching a new phase.

Whatever happened, war was drawing closer.

Trotsky sighed every day.

The memory of being defeated by the princess in the Russian Civil War remained as trauma.

“As expected of the Witch of Moscow. This puts us in a difficult position.”

“Comrade, shouldn’t we start moving eastward now?”

“Hmm. Let me think about it a bit more.”

He wanted to wait and observe a little longer.

He needed to be cautious in times like these.

War seemed imminent in North America, but no one knew how this war would unfold or what the future held.

“Rumors are spreading across America that the Witch of Moscow promised to send a large army in exchange for Alaska.”

“Hmm.”

Still, it wasn’t time yet.

Ideally, the US Military Government and the United States should fight each other first. Then he could strike from the side for a certain victory.

In fact, there was a major reason for Trotsky’s hesitation.

Doesn’t this seem like someone’s scripted scenario?

The Okhrana must know about him, yet there had been no reaction until now.

Isn’t it strange that the damned princess from Moscow only now wants to fight alongside the US military?

Just then, an officer from the American People’s Defense Force rushed into the Secretary’s residence.

“Comrade Secretary! Something terrible has happened!”

“What is it?”

What could have happened to cause such alarm?

What could be worse than the witch sending troops that had slaughtered Bolsheviks across the Atlantic?

“Comrade Kulik fired upon the US Military Government’s army!”

For a moment, Trotsky felt his head go numb.

For a brief instant, feeling as if someone had struck the back of his head, Trotsky jumped to his feet.

This was as good as declaring war.

“Why on earth did he do such a thing?”

“The US Military Government’s militia kidnapped a People’s Defense Force soldier who went to the bathroom.”

The People’s Defense Force—the organization currently called the army of the American Communist United States.

They had been preparing to defend against possible attacks from the US Military Government or the United States at the border.

Kidnapping a soldier who went to the bathroom?

What nonsense is this?

No, is it possible? The KFC is like a thorn in the foot of the US Military Government.

Since Russia announced it would send support, they might be trying to provoke KFC to deal with them first.

So the opponent deliberately provoked the KFC.

In any case, they just needed to instigate conflict and escalate it to war.

And this idiot Kulik fell for it.

He fell for those reactionaries’ petty scheme.

This should never have happened.

“And he fired because of that? Why did he do such a stupid thing?!”

“Comrade, now that things have come to this, we should finish this before the princess’s army crosses the Atlantic.”

Trotsky gritted his teeth.

Yes, that’s the answer now that things have come to this.

“Damn it! How did it come to this? Call Comrade Kulik here immediately!”

“You called for me, Comrade?”

Oh, he was right behind me.

Seeing how he arrived as if prepared, he must have done this deliberately.

Look at that face, as if he did nothing wrong.

Trotsky’s face reddened as he pointed at Kulik.

“What were you thinking?! No matter the situation, to open fire!”

“Comrade, I had no choice. They kidnapped our soldier and insulted the Fourth International.”

I should have removed such a person earlier. He briefly regretted this, but Trotsky, who had rebuilt a revolution in America after becoming destitute, quickly gathered his thoughts.

Yes. If that’s the case, they should strike down the Military Government before the Russian army crosses the Atlantic, then face a decisive battle with Huey Long’s government.

After all, they have veterans on their side.

“So war is unavoidable now?”

War had become unavoidable.

“You might as well fight. If the Russian army plans to cross the Atlantic anyway, we have no choice. We must strike first.”

“Urgh.”

Yes. There’s no other way.

The arrow has left the bow, and the die is cast.

Starting the uprising first might be better than the original plan.

This is no time to hesitate. Given the situation, they need to expand quickly westward and bring MacArthur to his knees in one swift move.

Only then will the American Communist United States survive.

Finally, Trotsky gathered KFC party members and encouraged war participation from the podium.

“Comrades! The time has come! I, Leon, in the name of the American Communist United States, will crush MacArthur and Huey Long who are draining the resources of this North American continent and unify North America! Comrades, will you follow me?”

It was truly an absurd argument—a loser who came from Russia claiming he would conquer North America.

Making a speech that Anastasia would laugh at if she heard it, he united the party members by claiming the American Communist United States was in danger.

“Yes, Comrade Secretary!”

“I will personally take up arms and cut off the reactionary MacArthur’s head!”

“Then I’ll take Huey Long’s head!”

Yes. With everyone united in their desire to defeat the reactionaries, Trotsky could make his decision.

To place his hand on this armed struggle.

Although he had failed in Russia, and Lenin along with many comrades had been executed by the revenge-obsessed princess, Trotsky, carrying on Lenin’s will, had no intention of backing down here.

“Good! Declare general mobilization for the People’s Defense Force! Before that witch from Moscow sends the army that destroyed the Bolsheviks, we must incorporate at least one into our Communist United States.”

“Yes, Comrade!”

And so, general mobilization was declared in the American Communist United States.