Ch.20Germanic Pride (2)

# The Tsar’s Granddaughter

* * *

How could that man claim I remind him of Princess Louise when he’s never even seen me?

What is Wilhelm trying to do?

Well, I suppose we’re in a position where we need to grasp at any straw we can get.

The Bolsheviks aren’t fools—they’ll be trying to build tanks through whatever means possible.

I need to prepare for a decisive battle before that happens.

I turned my attention to Kolchak.

Kolchak is a key figure in the Duma, the current commander of the White Army in Siberia, and handles Asian diplomatic affairs.

Why is a military man handling diplomacy?

Because we’re short-staffed. Desperately short-staffed. These people would be justified in questioning how I’m managing to run a country at all.

Once the civil war ends, I can finally appoint proper officials.

Anyway.

“How are things with China?”

They must be seething after losing Mongolia and Northern Manchuria.

I can’t help feeling somewhat guilty about it.

Northern Manchuria is one thing, but Mongolia was practically conquered by Ungern, who only reported it after the fact.

Of course, China wouldn’t dare try to take it back now.

After all, it was the Chinese army that was defeated by Ungern’s Asiatic Cavalry Division even after they had occupied Mongolia.

“They’ve lodged some protests, but what can they do? They’re keeping quiet.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Yes, as expected. What good would Chinese protests do?

If it were truly no-man’s-land, that would be different. But White Russia, backed by the great powers, has already claimed Mongolia and Northern Manchuria.

China can hardly pick a fight with us when they’re struggling to manage their own affairs.

If Japan isn’t making a move, what could China possibly do?

And then.

I wonder what Lenin, the failed revolution’s idol, and his fanboy Trotsky are up to.

I read through the reports that have come in.

My appearance has certainly twisted history.

Originally, there were multiple competing provisional governments among the White forces.

The Siberian Provisional Committee, West Siberian Provisional Committee, Komuch, Ural Provisional Government, Idel-Ural State. Among them was the Ural Provisional Government centered in Yekaterinburg.

Now I’ve essentially replaced all of them.

The rest are nowhere to be seen.

Well, despite the empire’s collapse, how many factions could claim as legitimate a mandate as a surviving Romanov Grand Duchess?

In actual history, they fought for leadership, but they’re not so ignorant as to miss that point.

Next is Ukraine.

“The situation in Ukraine looks suspicious?”

I hear Red Army forces are building up along the Ukrainian border.

It seems Ukraine will soon become our idol Lenin’s sacrificial lamb.

“Yes. A bloodbath seems imminent.”

“What’s the internal situation in Ukraine?”

Ukraine’s internal affairs are crucial.

Given its location, if Ukraine falls to the Soviets, we’ll be in danger.

“Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky, who was elected Honorary Otaman, nearly got expelled by Simon Petliura’s anti-Skoropadsky faction, but he’s barely maintaining power with British military support.”

These names, I swear.

This is why I like Korea. Names like Kim Chul-soo—just three syllables, how nice.

“So it went from being a German puppet state to a British one.”

Our British friends are getting involved in Ukraine too?

Aren’t they being too greedy?

So, to summarize, that side is also on the verge of collapse.

“Yes. We need to respond.”

“Tell General Anton Denikin to stay alert. He can gradually expand our influence if possible, and we may need to intervene if necessary.”

The Soviets taking Ukraine would be bad.

If we can’t have it, the Soviets shouldn’t either.

Something will happen soon.

The Bolsheviks managed to field 5 million troops during the civil war, even with their fractured forces.

They won’t be able to muster that many now, but they could still target Ukraine with human wave tactics.

Britain might ask for our help, and if Ukraine falls, our southern Russian flank will be exposed.

So, will Ukraine be the next battlefield?

“And this is a rifle produced by the arsenal recently established in Yekaterinburg.”

Suddenly, a rifle appeared on my desk.

The person who placed it there was Fyodorov.

“Oh, is this it?”

“It’s been modified with a cooling kit to solve the overheating problem. Mass production will begin soon at the factory built by the Germans.”

Why is it always Germany?

I don’t think Germany poses a threat to us, but…

They clearly have some ulterior motive.

I just can’t figure out what it is.

Wait, these bastards couldn’t be…

I heard they were begging England for peace…

Wasn’t it called an “armistice negotiation”?

The British side called it an armistice but effectively a surrender of the Allied nations, while the German side insisted it was just an armistice.

These bastards couldn’t possibly be…

Are they planning to extract massive resources from Russia, gradually move them back to Germany, and then launch another attack?

Are they thinking of stabbing Paris with a bamboo spear when England lets its guard down?

Right now, they’re just pretending to support us while catching their breath.

“No, surely they wouldn’t be that crazy.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing.”

I don’t know much about this newly made automatic rifle, but judging by Fyodorov’s confidence, it seems reliable.

At least it must be far better than that clunky Mosin-Nagant.

“So you’re saying this rifle will be mass-produced?”

“Yes. It’s possible. Germany has been very cooperative.”

Germany is suspicious, isn’t it?

It sounds like they’re moving all their munitions factories to Russia to use them. If Germany really is making a bamboo spear…

How would that affect Russia?

We need to end the civil war before that happens.

When would be the best timing?

We should do it while the Czech Legion is still here. Ukraine is indeed the key.

“Arm the White forces at the border with what’s being produced now. Please continue weapon development at the arsenal.”

“Yes.”

After Fyodorov withdrew, I sought out Mikhail Drozdovsky.

These matters are best discussed with him.

He’s currently in charge of tanks with German support.

“Chief of Staff.”

“Yes, Your Highness. What can I do for you?”

“Germany’s behavior seems suspicious.”

“In what way, Your Highness?”

“Doesn’t Germany seem excessively generous? They were our enemies not long ago.”

I wonder if there are no military restrictions like in the Treaty of Versailles from actual history?

If that’s true, the Anglo-Americans might be planning to use Germany as a bulwark against the Red plague in case of emergency.

Germany would be preferable to the newly independent Baltic states, Finland, Poland, or Ukraine, which can’t even maintain internal order.

Germany has acknowledged naval supremacy and given up its colonies, and Austria-Hungary, which barely fulfilled its role as an ally, has been torn apart, so they probably judged that Germany would have no nations to help it.

Still, I’m suspicious and want to hear Drozdovsky’s advice.

“Today’s enemy often becomes tomorrow’s friend. It’s certainly strange, but I understand helping us was a condition in their negotiations with Britain.”

Yes, normally that would be the case.

If the Bolsheviks were truly such bastards that they’re helping us kill them, that would be one thing, but even that has limits.

Aren’t they being too generous?

“Could they be gathering strength by producing weapons on our soil to deceive Britain and France, planning to attack France again?”

Setting aside whether Germany has such capacity…

Doesn’t it seem plausible?

“It’s not impossible, but surely they wouldn’t go that far. They’re in no position to plan another war when they have to pay reparations.”

“What if they start printing money recklessly?”

Even in actual history, the Weimar Republic printed money recklessly, which some say contributed to the Great Depression.

“Even if Germany has such plans, we’re in the middle of a civil war. We can’t interfere.”

That’s true.

“I suppose you’re right.”

But you know what? I’m tempted to take advantage of this. That’s what I’m thinking.

If they’re genuinely providing aid to us without expecting anything in return, that would be perfect.

What I mean is, I want to take it all.

If Germany harbors impure thoughts of stabbing France with a bamboo spear again, we could confiscate everything, claiming war is unacceptable.

While we need to keep an eye on Germany, now that weapon production is on track for the White Army, we won’t be overwhelmed by the rebuilt Bolsheviks unlike in actual history.

So let’s put Germany on the back burner for now.

The fact that our Wilhelm is somehow maintaining his imperial title is significant.

Originally, the November Revolution established the Weimar Republic. But since the Treaty of Versailles has become a simple peace treaty or armistice agreement, the German Empire continues to exist as we enter the new year.

Wouldn’t that make it harder for our mustached art school dropout to take over Germany?

Oh, whatever.

When my own house is on fire, why worry about someone else’s?

“Setting aside the German issue, it’s a good sign that people under Bolshevik rule are growing increasingly dissatisfied.”

“Yes, and our military quality is superior. The Bolsheviks are trying to rebuild their army, but they’re struggling.”

Quite a significant power difference compared to actual history.

Military reforms remain stagnant, and officers from the imperial era are all joining the White Army.

The imperial officers who initially joined the Red Army were mostly opportunists.

They must have sensed that the Soviets were doomed. This further delays army reconstruction.

The time is approaching.

“The moment is drawing near. As they strengthen their army, more Soviet supporters will turn to our side.”

For every Red Army soldier they lose, we grow stronger.

They have ultimately failed.

“I understand.”

“General Gajda, has the Basmachi movement improved?”

The Basmachi movement.

It’s a rebellion by Turkic peoples in Central Asia against the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.

It began in 1916 during World War I when anti-Russian sentiment exploded into violence after the Russian Empire conscripted Muslims.

After the October Revolution, this unrest spread throughout Turkestan and developed into an uprising centered in the Fergana Valley.

Years of guerrilla warfare followed, but eventually, after the Red Army’s victory in the civil war and the Sovietization of Central Asia was completed, it ended completely.

That’s the story from actual history, of course.

In this world where I exist, those rebels were causing trouble in Central Asia, which was under White Russian control.

I assigned this problem to Gajda.

He can work for me until he goes to Czechoslovakia.

“Yes, as Your Highness ordered, we’ve allowed them to have Turkic representatives in the Duma and agreed to cooperate to a reasonable extent.”

“This time, instead of conscription, formally employ these Muslims and ask if they’re willing to help with the civil war.”

“What if they refuse?”

They won’t accept.

Hmm, I don’t expect them to accept in the first place.

This uprising started because of exploding anti-Russian sentiment—would they accept being mercenaries?

They’ll probably say we’re trying to trick them.

Well, what can we do? We’ll just have to leave them be.

There’s no reason to get exhausted by guerrilla warfare in the rear while facing the Bolsheviks in front.

“Then we leave them alone. No need to create unnecessary problems.”

“Yes.”

Nothing is more stubborn than guerrillas.

Especially Muslim ones.

If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just have to appease them.