Ch.251Now to Asia

# # #

Moscow, Kremlin Palace, Russia

I returned to Moscow after a long time.

The citizens of Moscow were welcoming the triumphantly returning White Army, waving the United States flag as they marched proudly.

Young women gave flower bouquets to the marching White Army soldiers or embraced them. Those who still had nostalgia for the imperial era praised the Tsar and the empire.

For Russia, which had experienced the horrors of the Great War, revolution, and ultimately civil war, this was a victory significant enough to wash away its shameful history.

Especially since Russia now led post-war Europe.

“God save the Tsar!”

“Hurrah for the Russian United States! Hurrah!”

The praise for me simply doesn’t stop.

Russia’s pride, shattered by the Great War and the Red-White Civil War, has been completely restored through this war. Naturally.

The citizens of Moscow have come all the way to the Kremlin to praise me ostentatiously.

“Father, are you watching? Your daughter has done it.”

I suddenly found myself muttering those words by the window of my office.

At this rate, I wonder if Nicholas II, entombed in St. Michael’s Cathedral, might resurrect.

“With such endless praise for Your Imperial Majesty, this country has finally become the new Rome.”

“Your flattery is excessive, Maria.”

I couldn’t help but grin at Maria’s flattery, who now appears slightly older than me.

“It’s not false to say this is the first European unification since Rome, not through forceful annexation but through integration into one economic zone, one sphere of influence,” the Prime Minister chimed in.

Well, it’s not complete occupation but rebuilding Rome as one sphere of influence. Isn’t that peaceful?

“The Roman Treaty Organization has already been discussed with the leaders of each country. Everyone is joining, and the Nordic countries won’t stay out either. The State Duma should handle this part.”

With all the European powers joining the Roman Treaty Organization, the Nordic countries won’t remain isolated. Greece will follow suit as well.

“But is it acceptable not to call it the Moscow Treaty Organization?”

“Moscow is too off-center to manage Europe. Rome, the foundation, would be better. Rome is practically our territory now. Don’t worry about the location.”

Strictly speaking, Italy, except for the regions taken by the Danube Federation, is virtually ours.

From the beginning, the Roman Treaty Organization’s founding document, presented to the Papal States, specified that Italian Rome would be governed by Russia, the Third Rome, as the treaty organization.

Under the pretext of treaty organization governance, Rome is essentially our territory.

The Papal States merely add their spoon to this arrangement.

In other words, Russia has recovered both Constantinople, the Second Rome, and Rome itself.

Once the Roman Treaty Organization is officially established, Europe will essentially be unified under Russian leadership.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Then, shall the State Duma handle the Suez issue as well?”

“The Suez issue? Well, that’s already been discussed, so Churchill won’t be able to say anything. Since we’ve agreed to give Russia shares in Suez, coordinate with Turkey on that matter.”

Turkey probably won’t monopolize the shares either.

They just need to take an appropriate portion of the shares.

The sad part is that Egypt will come under Turkish influence.

Wasn’t Egypt filling its treasury with Suez revenue in the original history?

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Yes. Let’s take a break for a while now.

I’ll rest until America reacts, then help them when they ask for assistance later.

Yes. But what’s Beria doing in that corner?

The way he’s snickering in the corner of the office makes him look exactly like a pervert.

Yes. But what’s Beria up to?

When that bastard smiles like that, it seems like he has good news.

He’s been grinning since he greeted me earlier, and I almost punched him but restrained myself for the sake of my image.

But if it’s really something useless, he’ll soon experience that my fist is no longer just for show.

Or else I’ll have to grind his head under my foot.

“So, Beria. What is it?”

It’s quite repulsive to even ask, but I did anyway.

“Yes, Your Majesty. First, news about the Balhae Republic Provisional Government.”

The Balhae Republic Provisional Government.

Yes, this world’s version of the Korean Provisional Government. The fact that the Balhae Republic is being mentioned at this point—could it be a declaration of war against Japan?

“The Balhae Republic Provisional Government? Why? Surely not a declaration of war against Japan?”

Surely they don’t think we’ll help them right away just because the European war has ended?

“No. Yi Kang, head of the Korean Imperial Family, has weakened in health, and his second son Yi Wu has succeeded as head of the imperial family.”

Ah, so Yi Kang has finally appeared.

“Well, that’s possible. He’s getting old.”

But isn’t Yi Wu the one who originally died from radiation exposure after being atomic-bombed in Hiroshima?

Right, this must be another change I’ve created.

The eldest son Yi Geon seems to be living in submission to Japanese rule, just like in the original history.

It would be interesting to drop a nuclear bomb on Japan too, but mindless nuclear attacks don’t seem like a good idea.

“And we’ve captured that Mao Zedong fellow you wanted.”

“Mao Zedong. Yes. Let’s see him.”

I need to see for myself whether he’ll be obedient to me.

Here, he’s known as the successor to federalism and Chen Jiongming’s heir.

# # #

Beria had the Okhrana bring Mao Zedong.

“Mao Zedong, called the successor of federalist Chen Jiongming. I’ve heard of you, but this is our first meeting.”

“It is an honor to meet the Emperor of Greater Russia! Congratulations on your victory in Europe!”

Seeing Mao Zedong in person, he’s quite different from the Mao I know.

He’s prostrating himself and fawning like a sycophantic courtier.

Given his age and appearance, he looks different from the photos I’ve seen. Gone is that pudgy appearance, replaced by a skinny figure standing before me.

I almost laughed at his beggar-like appearance.

He’s so different from the Mao Zedong I know.

“Hmm. Yes. I heard you wanted to see me and were in Moscow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The dream of federalism that you supported is being destroyed by Japan and Chiang Kai-shek. Please help our Chinese Federal Government!”

Mao Zedong raised his head and then prostrated himself again.

His desperate attempt to seek my support showed his urgency.

The leader of China, the thousand-year enemy who prevented South Korea’s unification in the Korean War.

“In what way? Are you asking to borrow troops?”

“It’s shameless of me, but indeed I am, Your Majesty.”

“Do you know that we are allies with Japan?”

Absolutely not, but to extract more from our Mr. Mao, I need to raise his price.

This way, Mao will become dependent on Russia in the future federalist China.

“Your Majesty, you are the Emperor and Holy Maiden of a great empire that commands East and West. How could you be allies with those barbaric island pirates?”

“Barbaric?”

I already know they’re killing people, but I pretended not to know.

Staying silent while knowing would make it seem like I condoned Japan’s barbarism.

“Your Majesty, the Japanese roam throughout China killing even children, claiming they could resist, and raping and murdering women. They force sons to rape their mothers and fathers to rape their daughters under threat of death. These are abominable acts! Even after such humiliation, they take lives. This is not human behavior!”

Ugh, the last two are things I’ve never heard before. Disgusting.

Mao might be exaggerating, but maybe not.

After hearing such things, it would be difficult not to help.

“As Greater Russia is a world-leading nation, and as the Tsar is a Holy Maiden, please help us.”

I can’t refuse this.

I should try something as soon as news arrives from America.

America must have heard that our war has ended.

“What about Chiang Kai-shek? I heard he’s a unificationist and more popular among the Chinese people.”

Well, there probably isn’t anyone of his caliber in China right now, so that makes sense. Anyway, Chiang Kai-shek is currently dragging China up by its collar.

“That man is an imperialist to the bone. If China’s situation improves, he plans to annex Tibet, Mongolia, and Manchuria.”

“Do you think our Russia would lose to such a Chinese imperialist?”

“China would certainly lose. That’s why I’m telling you this. How can someone who endangers China be fit to be a leader? In Chinese history, after unification, dynasties don’t last as long as those of the small peninsula next door. Only through federalism can we build national capacity and lay the foundation for unification!”

He’s prostrating himself again.

Wow, to see that Mao Zedong performing dogeza before me!

But this isn’t something you should say after losing 2 million people.

Thinking about it, yes, having China fragmented as Mao suggests might be better than having Chiang Kai-shek consume it all.

As I said, Mao is now a complete federalist.

Of course, it’s probably an ideology he chose to secure his own power.

“Very well. However, the European war has just ended, so it will take time to redirect our troops. We’ll provide weapons for now, but when we go to war, I’ll mobilize my friends in the Far East to help. Is that acceptable?”

For example, the Jewish army or the Balhae army.

I’ve heard that Renya Mutaguchi in Southern Manchuria is currently indulging in luxury and pleasure. The Far Eastern Army should be sufficient to take Southern Manchuria.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Russia’s friends are benefactors to us as well. We will compensate as much as possible.”

I need to establish Israel soon.

Seeing how Mao is promising compensation as much as possible, he must be quite desperate. It seems like a good time to extract some land for our Israel to be established.

After promising support to Mao through the State Duma, I sent him out with Beria.

Finally, at last, some rest time has arrived.

A relaxation time with mint chocolate ice cream—what could be more perfect—

“Your Majesty, there’s also the medal ceremony.”

Maria presented another schedule that interrupts my rest.

Ah, damn it. Right. The medal ceremony is absolutely necessary.

Many people distinguished themselves in this war.

The State Duma will surely take care of the bereaved families, but hmm.

“Ah, that’s right. There’s also the medal ceremony.”

What kind of figurehead emperor has so many duties?

This is another problem with delegating everything to the State Duma. Because I’ve been awarding medals myself, it’s become tradition for me to present them.

To be honest, the medal ceremony is also bothersome. But given the image I’ve cultivated so far, it’s difficult to act carelessly.

Even now, Russians are everywhere around the Kremlin, singing the national anthem and praising me in celebration of our victory in World War II.

Somehow it’s even become known that I didn’t march to Paris to spare my soldiers.

Well, fine. Let’s address the medal issue.

The problem is, I don’t know how to award medals.

You know, medals have different ranks.

As I’m quietly thinking about it, this requires a new approach.

But it’s too late for me to back out now. Should I think differently?

This is about image-making.

“Should we just hand it over to the State Duma?”

“No. I should do it. That’s appropriate.”

And is there really a need to differentiate medal ranks? I’ll just give everyone the good ones.

They fought to exterminate communists, so they should be rewarded accordingly.

And so the medal ceremony began.

Many figures from the White Army are sending passionate gazes to their sovereign who ‘outwardly appears’ to be young enough to be their daughter, asking for medals.

When they send such intense gazes, I can’t resist.

First, there’s a newly created medal from before the war.

The newly established medal is the Spolia Opima Tsar Iron Cross.

It’s an Iron Cross medal newly created in Russian style, based on the highest military honor that generals could receive in ancient Rome.

It’s basically the Platinum Roman Iron Cross with some additional decorations. As Russia, the rightful Rome that has recovered Rome and Constantinople, creating this was very natural.

I personally awarded the Spolia Opima Tsar Iron Cross to generals who distinguished themselves in this war: Ungern, Bermondt, Semyonov, Drozdovsky, Anton Denikin, Krasnov, Zhukov, Tukhachevsky, Vlasov, Vasilevsky, Vladimir, and many other generals.

For Kuznetsov, who excelled in the navy, I awarded the Platinum Roman Iron Cross, and the same for several others who contributed to the war.

Everyone else received the Platinum Roman Iron Cross.

I just used these two medals for everyone.

It feels strange to personally pin medals on dozens of people.

People might later say the Tsar was too lazy to differentiate medals and just gave everyone the highest honor, but is that my problem?

“In this war, there is no distinction between greater and lesser achievements. Everyone is a hero of this war.”

All the medal recipients quietly listen to my words.

“At the top, my longtime comrades from the Red-White Civil War planned and executed operations befitting the capture of communists. Those who once sided with communists stood at the forefront of this war, demonstrating their loyalty to the United States by eradicating communists. At the bottom, ordinary soldiers faced death directly, firing guns and cannons at communists, exterminating communism and leading us to victory in this war.”

These are people who fulfilled their duties in their respective positions.

Just this one statement is enough.

There’s no need to prepare a separate speech.

“Everyone did their best in their positions, so who can say whose achievements are greater or lesser? Therefore, I have awarded the Spolia Opima Tsar Iron Cross to those who previously received the Platinum Roman Iron Cross, and the Platinum Roman Iron Cross to all other generals. Since I am but one person and cannot distribute medals to every soldier, I will make separate arrangements, but all soldiers who distinguished themselves in this war will receive the Roman Special Military Merit Medal.”

Wooooaaaah!

Cheers erupted from all directions.

You have to give carrots to fan club members, you know. This much is expected.

In addition, Beria, who developed weapons used in this war, as well as various aircraft companies and missile development departments, received the Tsar Labor Medal.

I wonder if this will be problematic if war breaks out with Japan.

I’ll be extremely busy awarding medals then too.