Ch.21Russia’s Mother

# Germany

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany did not give up on the war, just as Anastasia had predicted.

Or more precisely, he had to wage war.

Somehow, he needed to consume France to make up for the losses suffered in the war.

Despite achieving a perfect peace negotiation that minimized reparations through miraculous behind-the-scenes talks and diplomatic skills he had seemingly been hiding until now, Kaiser Wilhelm II found himself with new ambitions when Britain easily accepted the terms.

In other words, the Kaiser had personal greed.

Now that the Austro-Hungarian Empire had collapsed, wouldn’t it make sense to at least take France to balance the books?

“Is the operation proceeding smoothly?”

“Yes. It seems Britain and America haven’t noticed yet. America, having achieved its goal, will focus on supporting Russia. Britain will be busy with the Ukraine situation.”

Surprisingly, America quickly withdrew from Europe.

Judging by their support of Russia through the Far East, it seems the number of communists in America must be growing, and they intend to address this issue.

“Any word about Anastasia?”

“What could the Grand Duchess possibly say when we’re building railways and factories for them? She should just be grateful for what she receives.”

The German Empire had a top-secret operation in preparation.

Under the pretext of securing industrial power for White Russia, they were secretly building factories throughout Southern Russia and Central Asia.

Naturally, this wasn’t solely for Russia’s benefit.

They needed to show off to the great powers: “Look how well we’re doing!”

Russia would have its own factories too.

Weren’t the other great powers generously providing weapons to defeat those rootless Bolsheviks?

They were just taking a small portion for themselves.

Even with that small portion taken, Russia would still have enough for its needs. And then, after gradually accumulating resources within Germany…

They would strike.

“When the time comes, we must move carefully.”

“Yes.”

“We just need to march straight to Paris and force France to surrender. Britain has seen us submit to them, so as long as we continue to fulfill our secret agreement, they won’t say much.”

Right now, Britain was smiling broadly over the colonies Germany had given up and had withdrawn their troops. They wouldn’t send troops again to contain Germany now.

So it was all just wordplay.

America wouldn’t be able to intervene in a war that had already ended either.

“That’s right.”

“How is the performance of our tanks?”

“Testing shows they’re similar to the French Renault FT.”

Germany had already produced tanks with performance similar to the French Renault.

Disassembling British and French tanks after the war had been a great help.

“I see. We just need to strike once when they’re celebrating after tearing apart our strong allies, the Ottomans and Austria.”

“Yes.”

“And if we take Anastasia as a daughter-in-law after the war, wouldn’t Russia naturally come under our influence?”

If they could bring Russia to their side, the dismemberment of their former ally, the Austrian Empire, would be a bearable loss to some extent.

The Eastern Front would be resolved.

“Exactly, Your Majesty.”

A future that might be possible if they succeeded.

Though Russia’s fate remained uncertain, if they could just take France, the German Empire would make a remarkable comeback.

* * *

Meanwhile, the Turkic people who had launched the Basmachi movement also received a proposal from Anastasia.

Ibrahim Bek frowned upon receiving Anastasia’s offer.

“Participation in the Duma and expanded autonomy. Offering such carrots now…”

“The Grand Duchess fully recognizes your situation. She apologizes on behalf of her father, the late Tsar, for the forced relocation of Muslims.”

“Hmm.”

“Bogd Khan of Mongolia, who has already offered the Great Khan position to our Grand Duchess, has been appointed Governor of Mongolia, and the royal family members have become Duma representatives.”

Of course, the situations were different—Mongolia had been an external state.

Yet the royal family of such a state had entered the Duma.

In this situation, what would prevent the Turkic people from doing the same?

“Is this just an attempt to appease us during the civil war?”

“The Grand Duchess acknowledges that concern as well. If you don’t trust her, there’s nothing to be done. However, she asks that even if you don’t trust her, please remain quiet until the civil war ends.”

“Is the civil war that difficult for her?”

Ibrahim Bek’s eyes sparkled.

If that were the case, wouldn’t it be better to aim for complete independence?

No. If Bolshevik Russia would oppress them just the same…

Either way, it would be the same situation.

Currently, the Basmachi movement consisted mostly of guerrilla warfare.

If Russia decided to crack down, the Basmachi movement would be thoroughly suppressed.

“This wouldn’t be bad for you either. This is what the Soviet Union plans to do if they take control of Russia.”

Anastasia’s envoy revealed the Soviet Union’s plans.

Naturally, Ibrahim Bek breathed heavily and became angry.

“Collectivization? You expect us to accept that?”

“That’s the Reds’ policy. Our Grand Duchess sees collectivization as a policy to establish the Bolshevik dictatorship. And we are the last bastion against the Bolshevik threat.”

“Hmm.”

“And this is a ‘proposal’ that the Grand Duchess has secretly extended to you. She will pay you fairly and hopes that Muslims will fight alongside the White Army.”

Ibrahim Bek’s deliberation wasn’t long.

To them, the Russian Empire had been a son of a bitch, but if the Soviet Union took control, they could clearly see that an even more difficult period would arrive.

So wasn’t it necessary to follow the son of a bitch on their side?

Thus, the Turkic people joined the White forces.

Meanwhile, Pyotr Wrangel’s White Army recaptured Kazan and planted the tricolor flag with the double-headed eagle of the Russian Empire.

“Hurrah for the Greater Russian White Army! Hurrah for Grand Duchess Anastasia!”

The Russian White Army, as the military of the newborn Russia, was filled with pride as the army of Anastasia, the last Romanov.

Of course, there were still collateral branches of the Romanovs remaining,

But it was Grand Duchess Anastasia who was with them now.

Pyotr Wrangel smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the Russian Empire’s tricolor flag planted in the recaptured Kazan.

Recently, Anatoly Pepelyaev’s army of 20,000 had captured Perm, making it easier to take Kazan as well.

Indeed, it had been a wise choice for Southern Russia to join Yekaterinburg.

Thanks to that, they had recaptured Samara in the south and Kazan right before their eyes, and at this rate, they could aim for Nizhny Novgorod.

“At this point, Yekaterinburg should be relatively secure. We could reach Nizhny Novgorod.”

If Ukraine also came under White Army control, they could apply pressure from the Ukrainian side as well.

This meant they could pound Moscow, where those Reds were lurking, from all directions.

‘If that happens, it would be good to enter through Smolensk as well.’

One thing was certain: the Red Army wouldn’t last much longer.

Even the Cossacks under the Red Army were defecting to their side.

Yes. But.

‘Grand Duchess Anastasia.’

Pyotr Wrangel knew nothing about Grand Duchess Anastasia.

He had thought she was just a Grand Duchess raised like a flower in a greenhouse, but was she really this resolute?

He had heard that she didn’t die even when shot—there must be some exaggeration for legitimacy and deification—but even excluding that, it was a fact that she had directly faced the Red Army in Yekaterinburg.

If Grand Duchess Anastasia hadn’t been there, if she had fled, the White Army would have fragmented and collapsed under the Bolsheviks.

Whether republicans, non-Bolshevik socialists, or monarchists, they were now united under Anastasia.

She was even implementing reforms.

Of course, they couldn’t be implemented throughout Russia during the civil war, but the attempt itself was important.

Come to think of it, Grand Duchess Anastasia first raised her army in Yekaterinburg.

“She reminds me of Catherine the Great.”

She was the Mother of Russia, raising a fallen Russia again.

Yes. Right now, this damn civil war is what matters.

Following the Grand Duchess’s instructions to advance slowly, collaborators were increasing.

At this rate, reaching Moscow wouldn’t be difficult.

* * *

This time, technicians from America were deployed.

Since the Bolsheviks had already occupied the good areas, this was support for developing the territory of White Russia.

However, there was one unexpected figure present.

Nikola Tesla.

Edison’s rival and the father of wireless communication.

He had developed various things, including radar.

No one expected him to come here.

“Nikola Tesla. The father of wireless communication.”

“You know me well.”

They said he was handsome in his youth, and it seemed that some of that past appearance still remained even in old age.

Why would this person come all the way to Russia?

It would be much more comfortable for him to stay in America.

“To think that such a great inventor would come to a country in the midst of civil war.”

“I thought I might find inspiration here. Even as I grow old, my mind constantly demands new ideas and invention environments.”

“Hmm, we can’t provide much support due to the civil war. Will that be alright?”

“It’s fine. America is already providing a lot of support.”

I don’t know why this person is here.

But since he’s here, it would be better to keep him.

He’s already elderly anyway. Let’s make use of him in White Russia rather than just having him stay in America.

For that, we need something new and interesting.

Yes. Didn’t he create the concept of radar?

And later, Yagi Hidetsugu and Uda Shintaro created the Yagi antenna.

“Do you know about radar?”

“Yes. I didn’t expect the Grand Duchess to know about radar.”

Hmm, if that’s the case, we could try it first.

It can’t be helped.

The world I live in is one where I have to do something.

I tried to operate radios and studied various things in libraries to see if there were any cities with government functions left.

During that time, I learned about an antenna that was created in the past.

The Yagi antenna.

An antenna widely used in the civilian sector, even for TV reception.

I took out a paper in front of Tesla and drew a picture.

“What about this?”

“What is this?”

“This is a directional antenna. I’d like to use it for military purposes. I’m a layman, so I just thought something like this might work.”

“A directional antenna. Antenna. Hmm. It’s quite innovative as a radar.”

Originally, it was developed around 1925.

While we’re at it, why don’t you create the Yagi antenna ahead of time?

“Interesting. This will be a new challenge. I’ll give it a try.”

“And one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“After the war, I plan to rebuild Russia’s fleet. I heard you created a wireless-controlled boat.”

Nikola Tesla demonstrated a wireless-controlled boat in 1898.

At the time, it was called telepathy or black magic, and it was only researched in America after World War II. I plan to keep Tesla in Russia with words he would like.

“Those fools dismissed it as black magic. But that…”

“Would you consider researching it in Russia? And Russia is vast. Would you consider building the transmission tower you designed? The one that can send current several kilometers?”

“How does the Grand Duchess even know about that?”

The Great Depression isn’t far off.

So I need to extract all the benefits I can before then.

Germany is providing weapons and technology, Britain and France are providing tanks and volunteer armies, and America is sending money.

When else would I get to try something like this?

Moreover, Nikola Tesla conducted many experiments that couldn’t be replicated even in the 21st century.

If I can get Nikola Tesla to do whatever he wants here until just before his death, wouldn’t human history change a bit?

“To think that the Grand Duchess knew so much about this old man. Very well. I’ll take on the challenge.”

Nikola Tesla was appointed to head the newly established Russian Department of Science and Technology.

Something quite amazing seems to have happened.

Who would have thought it would be Nikola Tesla?

Did the old man who sent me here create a forced coincidence, or was it a possible coincidence?

Looking at Tesla’s personality in history, it doesn’t seem entirely impossible.

I was about to see who else was dispatched from America besides Tesla when something caught my eye.

“George S. Patton?”

George S. Patton came as a military attaché?

Why on earth?