Ch.286South African Lawless Zone

* * *

Of course, if Black people suddenly disappeared, many problems could arise. But I think that level of growing pain is necessary.

“In the future, public safety will likely worsen. Murders will happen in broad daylight, and the absence of security will be serious. But oppressing those Black people and exterminating them like Japan did to China would violate our decolonization declaration to liberate minority peoples. By then, white people will want to leave, or is that what South Africa wants now?”

This will actually happen.

Since I’m already famous for making predictions, the South African representative was startled.

“Can you know even that much?”

“It’s merely my speculation.”

“Your speculations have always been right. I understand.”

Churchill shrugged and responded as if he was tired of it.

Ugh. That response makes me feel hurt.

Me? Huh? I even gave up putting mint in his nostrils for Churchill, not to mention abolishing the yard-pound system!

And listen. I’m not just saying to grant independence.

“If you can’t keep it, it’s right to let it go. But as I said, confiscate all infrastructure left by white people throughout South Africa and use it for the whites. Unlike how we helped colonial nations, withdraw completely without leaving a single technician.”

“Weren’t we supposed to help them become self-sufficient?”

That self-sufficiency is limited to colonies.

In what way was South Africa a colony?

It’s just that the Black people who make up South Africa want independence.

Seeing it as a colony is absurd.

Therefore, we have no choice but to dismantle all infrastructure left in Black areas.

“I might understand for other African countries, but this is South Africa. Black people within South Africa are trying to separate and become independent. The law of leaving colonial government infrastructure for self-sufficiency doesn’t apply here.”

No matter how much we’re liberating everyone now, we must clearly distinguish between public and private matters.

The law is the law. Decolonization is decolonization.

While I’m willing to fully support independence from colonies, this is different.

“Oh, that’s a good approach.”

“Of course, those are white people’s creations. If they’re upset, they’ll have to go to places that were colonies and become self-sufficient with the infrastructure left by colonial empires. Above all, if we make concessions one by one like this, Black refugees could eventually push into mainland Europe. That absolutely cannot be allowed.”

This isn’t exactly a racial discrimination issue.

It’s just obvious what happens when you look at the future of the original history—how Black refugees and Middle Eastern refugees who flowed into Europe behaved.

Of course, Black refugees here wouldn’t be the same as those in the original history, but I can’t allow such a thing in my world.

It’s actually a simple issue.

The South African government will confiscate all infrastructure and establish a new whites-only nation.

Black people will gain separate independence but will literally start from scratch.

Can they expect support? Since we agreed with America to divide land and not touch Africa, there’s no problem.

South Africa is the Maginot Line. Even Ethiopia would struggle to help Black people becoming independent from South Africa.

They need to modernize their own country and help other African countries. In such circumstances, helping South Africa? I don’t think they can.

Other colonies might have infrastructure left, but Black people becoming independent from South Africa won’t be able to salvage anything.

“Soon Europe will have unified currency, and the ruble will be used worldwide. It will be accepted in South Africa too. Then, they’ll be foolish Black people who left a well-functioning collective of nations.”

“Should we expel mixed-race people or the small number of Black people who want to remain in South Africa?”

Well, we should make some concessions. Don’t you think?

At least from my perspective, I think that much can be allowed.

“That level of special treatment can be given without racial discrimination. And since we need to increase the population, how about accepting immigrants from Asia? Especially East Japan, which suffered greatly—there would be people willing to move if immigration support is provided.”

Although the Kanto Republic in East Japan is an American puppet state, it’s still a country that’s actively promoting itself as an oasis of liberal democracy in the Far East.

In other words, it’s nominally an independent country.

“Hmm, that doesn’t sound bad.”

At least if they stayed in South Africa, they could have been guaranteed sufficient status as a partner nation of the Rome Treaty Organization. But now that’s not possible.

Yes. This will become a story of regret for the Black people who chose separate independence.

* * *

South Africa

South Africa was in turmoil over independence issues between Black representatives and South African government representatives.

“Separate independence is only for countries that want it from colonies. This is something we need to discuss within the treaty organization.”

Having already received orders from the treaty organization to “grant independence for now,” the South African government reluctantly went through the motions of formal dialogue.

“We have lived essentially as a colony under discrimination from whites. Now we must live independently.”

Meanwhile, with other colonies gaining independence and Black people flooding into South Africa, Black people who had been discriminated against in South Africa and yearned for independence amid the decolonization fervor applied for independence from the South African government.

And finally.

“The Rome Treaty has approved our separate independence! Black people will no longer face discrimination in South Africa! We declare the Free State of South Africa on this land!”

“Long live the new South Africa!”

The Rome Treaty finally permitted independence limited to the northern Transvaal region. The South African government mobilized its forces, including the military, to relocate Black and white people who wanted to remain with the original South African government to the south.

Naturally, the South African military alone was insufficient, so treaty forces intervened directly.

“Excuse me. Who are you people?”

“We are troops dispatched by the Rome Treaty. We’ve been sent to help ensure the safe independence of Black people and assist in relocating white people in this region to the south.”

The treaty forces had another purpose as well.

“Why are you dismantling and taking away factories and facilities?! We need to use them.”

They were dismantling factories and various facilities in the area that would become Black territory.

The Black people were in a desperate situation, but the treaty forces scoffed.

“Leaving infrastructure behind only applies to colonies. You Black South Africans may claim you’ve lived under white discrimination, but what we’re permitting is only independence. Since this was neither officially a colony nor is it now South African territory, there’s no reason to leave factories or facilities behind.”

Your independence was only possible through the mercy of the Rome Treaty.

Asking for infrastructure too is shameless.

Pushed into a corner like this, the Black people couldn’t argue further.

If they pushed back any more, the Rome Treaty would have no choice but to take military action.

“We’re in charge of relocation, so you’ll have to organize your state on your own. However, do not cross the border into the Republic of South Africa. Let me be clear, this is establishing a border between nation and nation.”

A clear boundary.

The white nation is separate below, so don’t cross this line and build your new independent Black South African state.

Yes. That’s how it should have been. But naturally, the Black people who had to organize a new government from scratch were in a desperate situation from the beginning.

They managed to form a seemingly proper government called the South African Free State.

But what resources did they have to form a government?

There were intellectuals, but forming a government doesn’t create factories or increase public facilities.

Most sensible Black technicians had moved down to the Republic of South Africa under the somewhat better policies of the Rome Treaty, so they had no reason to go to the Free State.

They could only form a government and start with nothing.

Inevitably, the South African Free State, caught in limbo, eventually became a lawless zone.

“Give me your food!”

“Why do you get to monopolize what used to be white shops!”

“Hahaha! Aren’t you pretty?”

“Aaaah! Help me!”

Like the bandits of late Unified Silla.

Like the Wokou pirates rampaging during Japan’s Warring States period.

The Black-only Free State became a complete lawless zone, truly becoming an excessively free world for Black people.

The leadership tried to change the Free State, which originally had only Black people, into a Free Zone where anyone—white or Black—would be welcomed with preferential treatment for technicians, but a country with nothing had nothing to offer.

With security non-existent and the area becoming increasingly lawless, the Black people of the Free Zone turned their eyes toward the Republic of South Africa.

The newly reorganized South Africa provided various benefits to Black people who chose to stay, including special treatment and job creation under treaty organization support.

They lived a much better life than those in the separately independent Free Zone.

Following this, South Africa was also filled with Asian immigrants who had lost everything and came empty-handed from the Kanto Republic. Only then did the Black people who had hoped for independence cry out in despair.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam.

Lee Beom-seok, Commander-in-Chief of the Balhae Federation’s Vietnam Expeditionary Force, narrowed his eyes as he scanned the map of Vietnam.

“Now that I’m here, the President can rest assured. With our Balhae forces, I’ll capture all those Yankees and South Vietnamese rabble.”

“Ha. Hahaha. Thank you.”

Unlike the original history where he was influenced by Nazi Germany, he had received much influence from Russia and had quickly recaptured the Korean Peninsula commanding powerful Russian-made tank units.

Although his homeland hadn’t been divided and fought against itself, from Lee Beom-seok’s perspective, this poor Vietnam felt like his homeland that had once been ruled by Japan as a weak nation.

Therefore, he was determined to liberate South Vietnam, which was being exploited by America.

“Commander-in-Chief, we are few in number. The American forces are not that weak. It would be better to stabilize the front line first.”

“Even though the Balhae forces are strong enough to defeat the Imperial Japanese Army, this is a reckless operation. Focus on defense first. Isn’t that what Ho Chi Minh wants?”

“Well, I am the Commander-in-Chief. Prime Minister Renya Mutaguchi of your country would also want to save Vietnam, which is groaning in pain after being divided in half by America. Wouldn’t he?”

Of course, the South Manchurian Army staff opposed Lee Beom-seok’s operational plan, but Lee Beom-seok suppressed them with his authority.

And so, the Asian Allied Forces, which should have focused on defense, planned an offensive against South Vietnam.

* * *

Black people gained independence from South Africa.

Well, I did say it would be a story of regret, but I mentioned this partly to comfort South Africa and Churchill.

Anyway, from our perspective, we’ve made them free, so it’s a good thing.

Korea also started from nothing after the war. Won’t they figure it out?

Now all that’s left is to resolve the Vietnam issue and then we can relax—

“It’s just as Your Majesty said. The Black people are running wild.”

“Excuse me?”

What on earth is he talking about?

No, somehow I feel like I shouldn’t hear this. But if I don’t listen now, things might get worse later. Seeing Churchill grinning suspiciously makes me very uneasy.

When that guy is happy, it means something has happened that can be suppressed in an imperialist way.

Should I just not listen? Should I just let the treaty organization handle it?

Yes, that might be better.

“The Free Zone has become a lawless area for Black people. Security has weakened, and those who wanted independence have become bands of thieves.”

Oh my goodness. This is crazy.

Black people have become bands of thieves? This is… What on earth happened?

Yes, I expected chaos, but this quickly?

How long has it been since independence? It’s only 1947, and it hasn’t been long since the Asian Allied Forces were organized and dispatched to Vietnam to establish defensive lines.

They collapsed that quickly in such a short time?

“Why did they collapse so quickly?”

“It’s obvious. They gained independence with nothing, so what could they use to run a government?”

Yes, that could happen. It could, but I didn’t want it to go that far.

How bad must it be to fail that quickly? Did it even last a month?

“Hmm. Mmm. Hmm. I see.”

I didn’t want it to go this far. Really. If it’s like this, there’s no solution.

What needs to be done now is…

“We’ll have to dispatch treaty forces again.”

If this were someone else’s problem, I wouldn’t care, but the Black Free Zone was originally South African territory, right? Thinking about it that way, there’s no choice.

We can’t deploy UN peacekeeping forces.

So now the question is how far we go in dealing with them with treaty forces. What’s certain is that everyone is filled with the desire to take control of Africa.

“Alright. So we’ve decided to mobilize treaty forces?”

“Yes.”

“How far are we willing to go?”

No matter what, mass killings are unacceptable.

If we do that, we’d be no different from colonial times.

This kind-hearted saint doesn’t want to be treated that way.

“First, we should declare them the main culprits disrupting peace in decolonized Africa and capture all the thieves at minimum.”

Yes. Many will die in the process.

“Hmm. Yes. Restoring order should be enough. Securing public safety and whether South Africa will reabsorb those Black people are separate issues, right? We’ll need to decide what to do with the Black Free Zone area afterward.”

From my perspective, simply leaving it alone might be an option.

What good would it do for South Africa to reclaim an area that has already become lawless?

If they continue to hold onto that land and those Black people, won’t the fight between Black and white continue?