Ch.23Ukraine War Zone (2)

# “How is our tank situation?”

I had ordered tanks to be produced.

Just in case the Reds really did manage to create a force of five million, we’d need to solve it with superior equipment.

That’s why I also requested fighter aircraft support.

Where did the resources and money come from?

From the great powers who provided support to kill the Bolsheviks.

Germany has been particularly active in helping, so I heard tank development was progressing smoothly.

“Yes. Our tanks are being produced, but they’re not quite ready for deployment in actual combat yet.”

“Hmm. That’s unfortunate.”

“Still, with British, French, and German tanks, defeating the Bolsheviks won’t be difficult. We’ve already sent some tanks to the Black Baron.”

The Black Baron, Pyotr Wrangel.

I originally elevated him to the position of Western Commander.

But he’s better known as the Black Baron than as the White Russian Army Commander.

That nickname is certainly easier to use.

“That’s good news. What about sending some to the Ukrainian front?”

“German and French volunteers are already there.”

German and French volunteers, huh.

Those would be White Russian divisions suspiciously fluent in German and French.

In the end, if we don’t have the numbers, we’ll have to push through with quality.

It makes sense to deploy tanks and aircraft as they become available.

With World War I ending early, there’s an abundance of military supplies.

“Once the Ukrainian front is secured, we must advance to Moscow.”

“Yes. And Major General Ungern says he wants to crush the Reds too. What should we do? He claims he’s greatly expanded the Asiatic Cavalry Division.”

Him?

He’s more passionate than I expected. But how large is this Asiatic Cavalry Division anyway? At most a few thousand men, right?

And they’re not as good as the Cossacks, are they?

“Hmm. How could they compare to the Cossacks, the Tsar’s sword? Still, his courage is admirable. If there’s no threat from China, tell him to go to Ukraine.”

“Yes.”

But wait.

Is this really okay?

I’ve been thinking about this for a while—I’m still only 18 years old on the surface.

These people are following everything an 18-year-old says.

No matter how royalist they are, I’m still just the Tsar’s daughter, a young girl. They shouldn’t be entrusting everything to me.

Kolchak seems to be working hard too.

But if the White government functions because of my presence, that says it all.

Of course, it’s convenient that the Duma members do as I say, but—

Boom boom boom

Why is it so noisy outside?

“You can’t do this!”

“Get out of my way!”

“Who’s barging in like this—”

Bang

Who is this person bursting through the door?

Not a Bolshevik—judging by the uniform.

“Listen here, Grand Duchess.”

That face looks familiar, and the uniform looks American military.

Who could have forced his way in here?

Is he dissatisfied with the Russian army or something?

I may be in this situation, but I’m still a Grand Duchess. This is too much.

Does he think he’s in a position of power?

“Who might you be?”

“George S. Patton, military attaché.”

“And?”

“Give me a chance too. Let me take my American volunteers and smash those Reds’ skulls!”

Was George S. Patton originally this kind of person?

Why do I feel like he’s breaking character?

But regardless, America is currently playing the role of financier.

What is he thinking, coming here as a military attaché?

There are Americans helping with supplies, but the United States hasn’t officially sent volunteers.

They haven’t sent combat troops, I mean.

“How dare he!”

Mikhail Drozdovsky tried to drag Patton out, but I raised my hand to stop him.

This is Patton we’re talking about. If he says he’s here to beat the Reds, I should at least hear him out.

“I’d like to hear your reasons.”

“What about the Germans? After losing the war, they still proudly participate in combat—how can I just stand by and watch?”

That area is under Anton Denikin’s jurisdiction. Did he come all the way here because he didn’t like that?

But wouldn’t it be dangerous if this man gets killed while running wild?

“While we appreciate the United States’ support, this is still reckless. Has your government approved this?”

In response to my question, Patton pulled up a chair and sat down in front of me.

“Our esteemed President sent me to Russia to prevent revolutionary war caused by the Bolsheviks.”

Wilson?

In actual history, Woodrow Wilson advocated for lenient treatment of Germany.

That was all to prevent another war. But Britain and France, having suffered enormous damage, imposed massive reparations on Germany, which eventually became the pretext for World War II.

In this timeline, Britain and France, their desire for revenge tempered by the Bolshevik threat, have shifted to a “wait and see” approach toward Germany. Perhaps Wilson’s lenient approach has been more effective here.

I don’t know the current American situation, but Wilson is now supporting the White Army to prevent a new war caused by the Bolsheviks.

Patton’s words aren’t entirely wrong.

Patton is known as a fighting cock, someone who charges into battle everywhere.

From America’s perspective, they’ve sent this fighting cock as a military attaché to the White Army, partly to keep him busy and partly to observe Russia.

“Patton. I don’t think you’re saying you want to stop us. As a military attaché, isn’t your role to report the Russian situation back to your country?”

“That’s the same thing! Isn’t it?”

Why are you asking me, man?

There’s that thing called World War II.

That’s when you should step up.

Wait, with me existing at this point, won’t World War II unfold differently too?

If so—

“Can you promise not to blame us if you die?”

“I won’t die. Rather, if you don’t include me, I’ll hold a grudge against the Grand Duchess forever.”

This man truly has madness in his eyes.

Is this really what he was like?

If he wants to do it so badly, there’s no need to stop him.

“Fine. But there’s a condition. The Reds are labeling us as traitors for bringing in foreign troops, and they’re using it to recruit. So if you want to participate in battle, you’ll have to wear a Russian uniform.”

“You want me, a soldier of the United States, to disguise myself as a Russian?”

“If you don’t like it, I can’t give permission. Feel free to hold a grudge against a much younger girl if you wish.”

What could you do if I refuse? That’s the implication.

He seems desperate to catch the Reds.

If that’s the case, he should follow our lead.

If he wants to fight on his own terms, he needs to listen to us.

“Hmm. I don’t speak Russian.”

“For someone so confident, are you saying you can’t eliminate all the Reds who might hear English and spread propaganda that the Grand Duchess has brought in foreign troops?”

If he can’t do that, I can’t give permission.

Pyotr Wrangel continues to advance westward. When the Ukrainian campaign is complete, we plan to attack from the side and below, and we can’t afford any blemishes.

“Ahem. Who said I couldn’t do it? I’ll manage.”

That’s more like it.

Considering George S. Patton’s World War I experience, perhaps we can expect good things.

“Very well. I’ll inform the military, so feel free to go wild.”

“Hahaha! Yes! Finally, I can catch those Bolshevik bastards!”

Patton ran out as excited as a child who had received a toy he wanted.

It all happened so quickly.

Wait, where are these volunteers he mentioned? I guess he’ll figure it out himself.

Whatever. Let him handle it.

If he can’t be controlled, it’s better to let him run wild.

“Isn’t this too arrogant given our situation?”

Kolchak doesn’t seem to like Patton, but as long as he helps, it’s fine. He won’t ruin things.

“Leave him be. Since that day, I’ve thought of the Grand Duchess position as just a rallying point, a symbol. I’ve never considered myself a true Grand Duchess.”

“I apologize.”

I’m more comfortable with that approach too.

Anastasia’s memories are just memories—I’m originally a Korean guy.

A Korean who lived day to day.

In that position, it’s awkward to be revered as a Grand Duchess.

I prefer people who come at me directly like that.

“Anyway, if he wants to fight so badly, what can we do? Give him a suitable position. The Ukrainian front would be appropriate.”

“Yes.”

Right now, we have the advantage in the civil war.

Thanks to the supplies pouring in from the great powers, we’re pushing forward despite having less industrial capacity than the Soviets, and above all, a united White Army is strong.

It would be great if Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin were caught while fleeing. Then we could spread propaganda that these great revolutionaries fled because they wanted to save themselves.

That might convince even those with lingering attachments to the Bolsheviks to give up.

“Grand Duchess, if we capture Moscow, will you move the capital back there?”

“Since everything is already centered around Yekaterinburg, I’ll have to think about it.”

Honestly, Moscow is ideal as a capital.

The Russian Empire claimed to be the successor to the Byzantine Empire, emphasizing that Moscow, like Rome, has seven hills.

Moscow has symbolic significance as the Russian Empire positioned itself as the successor to the Byzantine Empire.

In actual history, the White Army later called Vladivostok the “Fourth Rome.” Even as they were collapsing, they emphasized their succession from the Byzantine Empire.

Yes, if Moscow is defiled, we could call Yekaterinburg the Fourth Rome.

“Though the civil war isn’t over yet, I’ll keep Yekaterinburg as the Fourth Rome and our capital even after the war. It doesn’t feel right to call Moscow, which has become the center of the red plague, the Third Rome.”

Moreover, who knows how history will unfold—perhaps Corporal Adolf from Germany might invade, claiming Lebensraum.

Wouldn’t Yekaterinburg be safer?

Of course, I don’t know if Hitler will become the Führer of Nazi Germany.

The snowball I’ve set rolling is enormous.

Maybe the Kaiser will return to Austria after surrendering to Britain.

Well, it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.

* * *

Ukraine

In Ukraine, besides the British garrison, there were German troops, French troops, and unidentified American troops who had joined Russia as volunteers.

Of course, to prevent them from becoming propaganda material for the Bolsheviks, they all wore Russian Imperial Army uniforms. One man watching these Russian soldiers chattering in various languages found it absurd.

“I’ve lived to see such things.”

Roman von Ungern-Sternberg, leading the Asiatic Cavalry Division to the Ukrainian front, laughed heartily at the German, English, and French he heard.

He wasn’t opposed to coordinating with Major General Anton Denikin to sweep away the Bolsheviks in Ukraine. But this was truly a multinational army.

It was as rare a sight as Grigory Semyonov’s daily rants about how Russia had inherited the Mongol Empire and should advance into China.

Above all, the German troops had been enemies.

Ungern then quietly observed the army he had brought.

The Asiatic Cavalry Division.

Unlike in actual history, with the White Army forming a stable power base, Ungern had been able to greatly expand the Asiatic Cavalry Division.

The existing Russians, Buryats, Tatars, Bashkirs, Mongolians, Chinese, Manchus, Poles, and others—truly a multinational force—had been joined by troops from Mongolia and Koreans who had fled to Manchuria to escape Japanese rule, growing to 5,000 men.

Combined with Semyonov’s troops left to protect Mongolia, it was a considerable number compared to the original history.

Though a mixed unit, it was a military group that had conquered Mongolia in an instant and had become elite through repelling Chinese troops occasionally attempting to take Mongolia.

Above all, the cavalry soldiers were united by their admiration for Ungern’s strong courage and excellent horsemanship, making nationality meaningless.

“I heard the Bolsheviks are marching toward Kyiv?”

He was briefly tempted to acknowledge the momentum of these rootless Reds, but upon hearing about Bolshevik strategy, he was unimpressed.

Apparently, the Bolsheviks had many troops but they all lacked combat effectiveness.

According to the retreating British troops, they had only withdrawn because the Reds had kept coming in waves until they ran out of ammunition.

The Bolshevik strategy was clearly simple.

Short on supplies, many of them weren’t armed with rifles. Those without rifles charged toward enemy lines and picked up the rifles of fallen comrades to continue the charge. If they died, the person behind would pick up the weapon.

Isn’t that ignorant and barbaric?

Ungern was convinced that these Bolsheviks were far more ignorant and barbaric than his Asiatic Cavalry Division.

So.

Wouldn’t this be a good opportunity to stab the Bolsheviks from behind?

Though the enemy’s numbers were great, if he struck from the side, they would fall into confusion. And if Anton Denikin’s Southern Russian White Army attacked from the front?

Couldn’t they repel them from Ukraine?

It was within the realm of possibility.

‘I can’t let them steal the military achievement. Those Bolsheviks probably haven’t properly prepared for a night attack.’

He thought it was worth trying.

As always, he would lead the troops himself.

With that thought, Ungern mounted his horse.