Ch.267End of War

* * *

Finally, the time has come to divide the world like a cake.

I’m willing to consider Central and South America as part of the American sphere of influence.

From the beginning, it would be difficult for us to extend that far anyway. We’ll have to resolve that issue later.

The Cold War must proceed as a Cold War. Of course, looking at the current situation from a global perspective, America appears to be losing.

But America is still America. They’ll manage somehow.

America isn’t part of the Rome Treaty, and as the only superpower in the New World, they will eventually stand against Russia.

America has gained experience from its fight with Japan.

I’m curious about what America will be like with MacArthur’s military regime still in power. But wouldn’t America have enough potential just by taking Central and South America?

Of course, there’s also Alaska and Canada, but that might make America even more tense.

Since they’re in the front yard of the Rome Treaty.

There might be some friction in Canada over American hegemony, but that’s a problem for later.

“Your Majesty. We also need to resolve the issue of the Taiwan Governor-General’s Office. Wouldn’t it be troublesome if it falls to America?”

That’s true.

Roughly speaking, my plan is for Taiwan and Okinawa to become independent.

In this scenario, Russia would gain the Kuril Islands, and from Hokkaido to East Japan would be handled according to America’s wishes.

The expected outcome is that they will establish republics.

Either the Republic of Ezo or the Republic of East Japan.

What’s certain is that East Japan and West Japan must have different political systems.

Modified Capitalism and current American capitalism are essentially the same.

It wouldn’t be bad if one side is a republic and the other maintains a monarchy.

After this incident, the prestige of the Imperial family has not only hit rock bottom but has dug even deeper.

America will try to take down the Emperor one way or another.

Then, would a republic with Renya Mutaguchi as president be established in West Japan?

That shouldn’t happen.

Well, I can think about this after finishing my meeting with MacArthur.

“British tea isn’t bad at all.”

It’s quite strange that I, the Tsar of Russia, am sipping tea in the Forbidden City.

Just my presence here maintains the legitimacy of the Qing Dynasty.

“We should also let Israel start forming a government soon.”

First of all, there are no longer any Chinese people in Rehe Province and parts of Inner Mongolia.

They were either relocated to the Qing territory, taken by Unit 731, or sent to extermination camps.

It’s not a bad thing to send Jews to empty places.

We’re just giving empty land to homeless Jews.

Oh, there are no Chinese? Then people who need a place to live should be moved in, right?

That’s how it ends up.

Even Mao Zedong tacitly approved this point.

From the beginning, considering the region he’s in charge of, he’s not in a position to protest or complain to us.

Currently, treaty forces have entered this region, established a military government for the formation of an Israeli government, and begun Jewish immigration.

“We’ve already selected suitable individuals to form a government.”

“Not bad. Let’s relocate everyone in advance.”

We can do whatever we want with China anyway.

With Soong Mei-ling tucking her tail and Mao Zedong’s recognition of the Qing, that’s enough.

We should quickly form a government and make Einstein the head of state.

Next is finally MacArthur.

While taking West Japan, we’ll need to offer some carrots in exchange.

* * *

Washington D.C., United States of America

After the end of the US-Japan War, the United States finally captured Tokyo, which could be called the headquarters itself, and the Tojo Hideki cabinet, ending the war.

Most of the generals leading homeland defense either committed seppuku or were captured, and Tojo Hideki was captured by American forces before he could commit suicide.

Emperor Yasuhito and all members of the imperial family were captured.

Of course, many imperial family members had already died from incendiary bombs.

Thus, MacArthur and Huey Long had to prepare for Japan’s disposition.

When MacArthur was in charge of the war, Huey Long, who was in charge of domestic affairs, carefully asked MacArthur, citing the surprisingly large share of the Rome Treaty.

“How much of Japan are you willing to concede? We should decide in advance for better negotiations with the Tsar.”

Since they had paid money as a condition for participation, the United States would lead the disposition of Japan.

But that damn Japanese hero had swallowed up West Japan whole, so they had to pound what remained of East Japan while grinding their teeth.

“Hmm. If they’ve pushed as far as Nagoya, we should divide Japan with this as the border. Damn. That Renya Mutaguchi ruined everything.”

It seems like they’re giving too much to West Japan, but since the entire country is devastated anyway, West Japan just has more land to rebuild.

Moreover, while American forces were frantically pounding the main islands, the Treaty forces defeated the Japanese Expeditionary Army in China, making the war easier and filling their share too much.

Well, that can’t be helped, but the most important issue remained.

Yes, the Imperial family, one of the causes of the war.

“The Imperial family must be brought down.”

“That’s right. There’s no reason to accept the surrender conditions the Japanese want. After all, didn’t we end this by occupying them?”

When you think about it, wasn’t it those Japanese Imperial Way Faction people who tried to make the Emperor the living god of Asia?

Everyone knows that the Emperor is the spiritual pillar of the Japanese people.

Especially after the Imperial Way Faction gained power and was influenced by Russia, many Japanese people regarded the Emperor as a living god, so naturally, the living god must be brought down.

That’s the only way to completely break the Japanese people’s will to resist again.

“Hokkaido should also be made independent.”

The place called Hokkaido in Japan must be made independent.

Even if it’s confirmed that a pro-American regime will be established in East Japan, they don’t like the idea of East Japan having even a little power.

There’s also the aspect of dividing it to show that the United States also leads a country of this size!

“We’ll have to cede up to the Kuril Islands.”

“That seems like too much of a concession.”

They need to establish military governments in East Japan and Hokkaido, but leaving an area right above them that could be beaten by Russia as Russian territory.

MacArthur can’t help but feel sick about it.

After all, didn’t Russia gain more from the US-Japan War?

Moreover, while they were busy pounding Japan, China was handed over to Russia.

“Until we develop our own nuclear bombs and advance our missile technology, we’ll inevitably fall behind Russia. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs knows this too.”

Russia’s military technology far surpassed that of the United States.

Considering how Russia siphoned off the United States during the last Great Depression, Russia’s power is beyond imagination.

So it’s difficult to openly antagonize Russia.

Moreover, Huey Long himself had just finished recovering the divided United States and ending the US-Japan War, so he was in a position where he needed to be re-elected.

In this situation, it’s difficult to antagonize Russia.

“Does the President have some kind of plan? From the looks of it, the only places where we can exert influence after the war are Central and South America and the ruined half of Japan.”

They’re gaining too little.

But as for antagonizing Russia, even MacArthur had seen that Russia’s power was extraordinary, so what more needs to be said?

Of course, Huey Long wasn’t without options.

“With the Rome Declaration, Asian colonies will also become independent. This includes French Indochina and Dutch Indonesia.”

There are colonies that will soon become independent.

Even if China, Korea, and West Japan can’t be helped, there’s still Vietnam and Indonesia.

Apart from the confirmed sphere of influence of the Rome Treaty Organization, they can draw in these few countries.

“So, Mr. President, you’re saying we should draw Vietnam and the soon-to-be-independent Southeast Asian countries to our side?”

“The Rome Declaration may liberate colonies, but those who have been oppressed under colonial empires for a long time are unlikely to side with the Rome Treaty Organization.”

Of course, with Anastasia having made the decolonization declaration, there might be special affection for Russia, but they will still prefer countries that help them afterward.

The United States was also preparing for a new era.

* * *

The surrender signing ceremony on the USS Missouri was over.

In this surrender signing, known as the Tokyo Treaty, Kim Gu signed as the representative of the Balhae Republic, and with the Balhae Republic being treated as the legitimate successor state to the Korean Empire, independence was virtually confirmed.

Moreover, the South Manchuria Governor-General’s Office was attached to the Korean Peninsula and became independent together, citing the large Korean population there, making it part of the Balhae Republic.

Looking at the situation of Japanese people in the Korean Peninsula, it seems they have two choices.

Either choose one of two equally bad versions of Japan, or stay on the Korean Peninsula. Of course, to choose the latter, they would have to become Balhae citizens, just as Koreans were semi-forcibly made to change their names and become imperial subjects during the Japanese occupation.

Of course, in the former case, Japanese people from South Manchuria under Mutaguchi’s rule could go to Japan, but the Japanese in the Korean Peninsula were a bit different.

Families with Korean spouses were more easily recognized as Balhae citizens, while purely Japanese families faced many challenges.

“If you want to live as a Balhae citizen, using a Korean name and the Korean language is basic, and you must contribute your assets for national reconstruction.”

“I can accept the Korean name and language. But giving up property is a bit… I might as well return to Japan.”

Japanese people who had enjoyed the sweet life in the Korean Peninsula for a long time found it difficult to give up.

“Aren’t those all things plundered from the Korean Peninsula? I understand that Japanese people remaining in the Korean Peninsula have all their foundations here, but do you want to go to that devastated land?”

“That’s…”

“The opportunity for naturalization given to you Japanese is solely for national reconstruction. Either hand it over nicely while we’re still talking nicely, or have everything stripped away like dogs and be deported to East Japan. If you voluntarily appear before the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction and donate your property, you will be made Balhae citizens. You should be grateful that we’re not killing you like the Governor-General’s people.”

The Japanese on the Korean Peninsula were ultimately given one of two choices.

Either give up their money and live as Balhae citizens, or be sent to devastated Japan.

Interestingly, the governing body established by the May 16 military coup forces after dissolving the 5th National Assembly of the Second Republic of Korea is here established for the reconstruction of what was literally a colony on the Korean Peninsula.

Yes, the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction.

In this world, it was established under the leadership of Lee Beom-seok.

After resolving the issue of Japanese people on the peninsula, they would rename the country and then move the provisional government to the Korean Peninsula to launch the official government.

Hearing such news, I felt quite strange.

A proper unified government was transplanted, not a military government divided by the Soviet Union and the United States.

Just this alone, from the perspective of someone who knows the original history, was like eating ramen but tasting udon.

Will Korea continue to use the name Balhae?

That would be better.

In the original history, when deciding on the country name, there was also Goryeo, but since they fell as Daehan, they chose the name Republic of Korea (Daehan Minguk) to rise as Daehan.

What was the meaning of Daehan in the name of the Korean Empire? It wasn’t like the British Empire or the Empire of Japan, but because Mahan, Jinhan, Byeonhan, etc., united to form one large Han, so they named it Daehan.

But let’s look at the special circumstances of the Korean people now.

In this history, the provisional government has secured South Manchuria and internally has the existing Manchu forces and small numbers of Jews, Russians, and even Japanese.

As a multi-ethnic state, there’s no better name than Balhae.

Having experienced the original world, I thought that since they fell as Daehan, the country named to rise as Daehan ended up being destroyed in a nuclear war, so honestly, I didn’t like Daehan either.

“I see.”

Sipping tea and looking a bit more, according to a letter from Yi U, it’s likely that the current name, Balhae, will continue to be used.

And with South Manchuria, they seem to be planning to absorb both Manchu and Japanese people, given the severe human losses from the Korean Peninsula uprising.

They seem to think this would help recover some of the population lost in the recent uprising, but Japanese people would be absorbed as Balhae citizens, with technicians being put to work and capitalists who profited in the Korean Peninsula having to give up all their money for national reconstruction.

Of course, this only applies to Japanese who either helped Koreans or at least remained neutral when the Balhae army moved south. Those who helped the military police oppress Koreans had their property confiscated without choice and were executed.

It would be good to visit the Korean Peninsula later.

And then there’s the plan for Israel in the East.

Among the Jews who helped pioneer and develop Northern Manchuria, only those who wanted to stay remained, while most of the rest moved to Rehe Province, which was the Mongjiang region in the original history, with the help of treaty forces.

Jews remaining in Europe are also expected to come here.

Some Jews still claim Palestine, but considering international society, they will eventually come here.

After all, with Europe united, why would they want to bury a source of conflict in Palestine?

Now, let’s look at Israel’s territory. The territory literally includes Rehe Province and parts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

It includes Mongjiang and Rehe Province from the original history.

It doesn’t matter anyway since most Mongolians have migrated to Russian Mongolia.

Well, it’s not that there are no Chinese people at all, but the Qing is also helping with the relocation work.

“Now that the war is over and Jews have started to immigrate, what do you think, Doctor? Isn’t this territory larger than Palestine? It’s not territory gained through bloodshed, and I think it’s quite large.”

Who else would give away such a large piece of land like I did?