Ch.247European Campaign Concluded

* * *

I remained indifferent despite the nuclear bomb dropped on Paris causing more casualties than expected.

Perhaps it was because I had already experienced something similar in the past.

The nuclear bombs that fell on Korea were launched by China and North Korea. That day, I was trying to head to Seoul to find my parents but couldn’t even make it there, swept up among refugees.

After Seoul was attacked with nuclear weapons, there weren’t any significant battles afterward.

Before China, which had dropped nuclear bombs on Korea, could advance southward with North Korea, both China and North Korea had to face America’s nuclear shower.

When the Taiwan War wasn’t going well, the nuclear war started with the mindset of “if we’re going down, you’re going down too.”

Anyway, as someone from the nuclear generation, I find it rather pitiful when people whine about just one city disappearing.

In any case, the French People’s Army and the remaining Communist German forces surrendered.

That makes sense. Even in the face of unprecedented destructive power, no one would think of resisting in a battle where defeat was already certain.

Above all, neither the French Commune nor the remaining Communist German forces were in a good position.

The Commune’s main forces were decimated trying to stop us on the Eastern Front, and the Communist German forces had just broken through the Sudetenland when our participation caused their army to collapse.

With armies scraped together from every last soul, all they could do was defend.

“Now, let’s change the mood. What happened to the British forces?”

Everyone seemed quite frightened, so I clapped my hands and turned to the Chief of General Staff.

Surely the British army hadn’t been annihilated again.

Personally, I’d prefer if they failed once more and their country was destroyed.

But since Churchill came in bowing and scraping on his own, there’s no real reason to reject him.

“They advanced and captured Normandy. I found out they were planning to crush the British forces that had landed once our front stabilized.”

“Thanks to me, Prime Minister Churchill narrowly missed his opportunity to become Mr. Brittany.”

That’s fortunate, isn’t it?

Since he didn’t become Mr. Brittany, he won’t be dragged down by angry British citizens.

That’s probably enough for Churchill to consider it a job well done.

Besides, as long as Britain isn’t our enemy, we have no reason to capture Churchill.

“Serbia has also fallen with Belgrade’s collapse.”

“Did they evacuate civilians from there?”

Well, France couldn’t have helped it either.

“I understand that before we used the weapon, the king and regent had evacuated as many citizens as possible. After the royal family disappeared, even more citizens fled, leaving Belgrade essentially with only military personnel.”

I rather like that.

Taking out the king was indeed a masterstroke.

With the king gone, citizens immediately crawled out of Belgrade one after another.

Well, those who stayed and died—that’s their fate, what can we do?

“That’s somewhat fortunate.”

But what does it matter when both France and Serbia are finished anyway?

Especially Serbia—since the country will no longer exist, the refugees will be absorbed into Bulgaria or the Danube Federation.

“Morale dropped when the royal family was captured. The number of citizens fleeing increased dramatically as soon as the royal family disappeared.”

Yes, that’s exactly the effect I was hoping for.

To think of such a strategy—am I not truly a genius?

“Now, let’s proceed with occupying the remaining areas except Paris. Since Gamelin has surrendered, the rest won’t hold out for long.”

“Yes.”

For two weeks, the Anti-Comintern Pact forces advanced into every corner of France.

The Spanish forces, which had advanced to Bordeaux, attacked and annihilated the French Commune forces who were unable to act due to communications being cut off from Paris.

I heard that Franco’s abilities, honed during the civil war, were on full display.

In the south, the Italian Federation—that is, the Papal States’ army—and the Danube forces advancing under Rommel’s command quickly pushed up to north of Marseille, relieving our forces and the Algerian forces who had been stationed in Marseille, allowing them to advance northward together.

France faced the greatest crisis in its history, something it hadn’t experienced even during the Franco-Prussian War or the Great War.

As time passed and several weeks went by, when almost all of France was about to fall into our hands…

“Hahaha, these commie bastards are really like cockroaches. How are they still alive in this situation?”

“Well, it’s probably thanks to the bunker this time. While civilians melted into living corpses, these guys are perfectly fine.”

We dispatched Spetsnaz and other special forces to capture the Commune and German Communist Party leadership from an underground bunker beneath the Secretary General’s residence in Paris.

Interestingly, according to the Spetsnaz, after seeing living corpses more grotesque than battlefield corpses with their intestines spilling out, finding Thorez and Goebbels alive and well in their determination to fight to the death below was quite amusing.

When we questioned the prisoners, they said the bunker itself was built to withstand Russia’s new weapon bombardment.

It probably wasn’t designed to withstand nuclear weapons, but seeing as they survived, they must have spent a considerable amount of money on it.

Still, it had partially collapsed and was isolated, but these guys were fortunate enough to survive thanks to the food and water they had stored in the deepest part of the underground bunker.

Unfortunately, some had committed suicide in the bunker, and neither Thorez nor Goebbels were in great condition.

Both were trapped with their close associates, unaware of the outside situation when the Spetsnaz entered the bunker and captured them.

Belgrade had also fallen, and the war in Europe had finally ended.

“Goebbels and Thorez, who started the war, and their followers have been captured. We have finally won this war!”

I declared the end of the European front.

God Save the Tsar!

Strong and majestic Tsar,

Reign for glory, for our glory!

God, save the Tsar!

Strong and majestic Emperor,

Reign for glory, for our glory!

Reign to make enemies fear,

Orthodox Tsar. God, save the Tsar!

Reign to make enemies fear,

Orthodox Tsar. God, save the Tsar!

The Russian Empire’s national anthem, “God Save the Tsar,” composed by Alexei Lvov in the White Army camp, resounded from all directions.

It flowed through radios and was hummed by White Army soldiers celebrating their victory.

Finally, the European front of World War II had ended.

Unfortunately, since Thorez and Goebbels were captured, it would be difficult to turn them into cross-dressing homosexuals, which is a shame. But anyway, we won.

Well, if it’s too much of the same pattern, people might later say, “Isn’t this fabricated?” So it would be better to end this fairly with a trial.

While I was contemplating this, Anton Denikin, who had joined our side, had a gleam in his eyes.

“I have a good idea, Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“The captured Thorez and Goebbels look quite disheveled. Whether it’s from the nuclear aftermath or something else, they probably didn’t have the luxury to take care of themselves.”

That makes sense. They would have been in the bunker for a long time, and even if they escaped the nuclear damage, their situation couldn’t have been good.

Trapped in that cramped corner for a long time, they wouldn’t have been able to take care of themselves.

“So?”

“What if we spread rumors that Goebbels and Thorez engaged in homosexual activities in the bunker? We can let them have their trial as planned and just spread the rumors, can’t we?”

Hearing those words, my eyes also lit up.

Thorez and Goebbels engaging in homosexual activities.

This could make for a good political cartoon.

Well, these commie bastards tend to have deep connections with each other, but there must be some who questioned why the French Commune was so cozy with the German Communist Party.

“That’s not a bad idea. From the looks of Goebbels, he doesn’t seem capable of speaking properly, and we can just present ‘that Goebbels’ at the trial.”

And we can hand over the real Goebbels and the Communist Party to the German Empire.

Our one-armed friend will probably be very pleased.

They say even a dying person’s wish should be granted, so how could we not hand over the Communist Party to Wilhelm, who has lived far beyond his expected lifespan in his desire to somehow reclaim his homeland?

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will see to it.”

“Now then, let’s prepare for the process of accepting their surrender. Call Vladimir too. Compiègne would be a good place.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

There was no need to prepare a separate surrender treaty.

With the communist leadership captured, what else was there to worry about?

We would simply have them go through a formal surrender procedure unilaterally.

On the French Commune side, Maurice Gamelin was put forward along with Commune cabinet members who had survived the nuclear aftermath, while on our side, the Prime Minister from the State Duma and White Army generals participated.

And Winston Churchill, who had crashed like a stock price after the Brittany landing operation and then crashed again, along with British cabinet members, also participated.

But our Mr. Dunkirk said he wanted to see me separately.

Wondering what it was about, I met him directly and almost burst out laughing.

Perhaps due to his mental anguish, Churchill had become a shiny bald Prime Minister with hardly any hair left.

When Churchill met me, he opened his eyes wide and gaped.

“What’s wrong?”

“When did the Tsar change? I clearly heard there was a separate successor, so how is there a new Empress?”

He seems to think I’m my daughter.

Unfortunately, I must inform you that I don’t have a daughter.

Well, he must be quite envious of how I’ve maintained my youth.

My current appearance is probably similar to his age when he was young, before he lost his hair.

It’s because the war ended like this. If it had ended more leisurely, everyone would have questioned my appearance.

“I am indeed the one who mocked the Prime Minister as Mr. Gallipoli.”

“No, why does your face look like that? Ah, I apologize. It’s just so bewildering. It seems time passes by Your Majesty without leaving a mark.”

Well, honestly, that would be the normal reaction.

Especially since all the leaders of the Anti-Comintern Pact—Wilhelm II, Hitler, and Churchill—had seen me before, they were shocked by the fact that my appearance remained youthful.

“It’s because I’m a ‘Saint.'”

Looking at me suspiciously as if wondering if that was true, he seemed to give up thinking about it as his face momentarily went blank.

Yes, it’s because I’m a saint.

So no theory will make sense—just accept it as it is.

Then he cleared his throat once and changed the subject.

“Your Majesty, this Prime Minister of Britain begs you. Please, I implore you, at least let us have Brittany and Normandy.”

Yes, this must be the main point.

He wants to maintain the territory he currently holds and is asking me to allow it.

In his previous letter, it seemed he wanted to turn France into another Serbia.

“Well, if you grant this Tsar’s request, Brittany and Normandy will become your king’s territory. I have no reason to refuse.”

At my words, Churchill’s already wrinkled face contorted as if in disbelief.

“No, we’ve given up colonies and even Gibraltar, and what more do you want? Even Suez has gone to Turkey! My neck is on the line. So many soldiers died at Dunkirk—we cannot give up any more of Britain’s possessions. Please, I beg you.”

Churchill pleaded, exhaling rough breaths as if in disbelief.

Yes, that makes sense. Compared to the Churchill of original history, the Churchill here has made tremendous concessions by “his standards.”

Although we’re allies, if another country takes Suez, the route to India will become quite troublesome.

Of course, since we plan to grant independence to the colonies, we can accept Suez being handed over. But giving up Gibraltar is almost like withdrawing from the Mediterranean.

In the original history, didn’t they maintain Gibraltar throughout?

He must be quite anxious about what demands I might make next.

But this is good for both of us.

I took out a stack of papers that the Duma and I had prepared, discussing plans for European unification that I had envisioned since before the war.

“We’ll hold another meeting later for details, but this is it. The Rome Treaty Organization. It’s a new creation for peace and economic stability in Europe. The Danube Prime Minister already knows about it, and Turkey has been informed for some time. The German Empire, which recovered its homeland thanks to us, goes without saying. We’re aiming for peace throughout Europe.”

As I handed over the stack of papers, Churchill received them and read through them, his previously agitated face momentarily stiffening.

Well, I didn’t use any British insults, so it should be acceptable. That’s why I deliberately included some clauses to boost British prestige.

“Hmm.”

“We plan to expand our navy somewhat, but we’ve invested heavily in the army and air force, and with many areas to invest in the future, we don’t particularly plan to greatly increase the navy. After gathering the remaining ships from the Commune and the German Communist Party, we’ll expand moderately. Britain should take the lead in the Treaty Navy of the Rome Treaty Organization.”

Russia will inevitably become the new hegemonic power anyway.

However, Churchill will inevitably arrive at one question.

What are we trying to counter?

After all, fleets are money-guzzling behemoths—what are we trying to counter by creating a united navy?

“What are you trying to counter?”

Churchill finally asked me that question.

“When this war ends, America will likely rise as a superpower. We need to counter them. Of course, the Russian White Fleet and other countries’ fleets will also be part of the treaty fleet.”

“Considering America’s capabilities, they will defeat Japan and dominate the Pacific. Hmm. What happens if we refuse?”

Oh? You’re going to refuse?

Are you daring to mention such an option to me?

“Britain would be isolated in Europe, and the bomb that eliminated Paris might target London. You probably already know this. But if Europe unites like this, this weapon will instead become one that protects Britain and Europe.”

Churchill’s face turned pale.