Ch.297The Hidden Agenda of the Nationalist Government

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Unlike in North Korea, there’s no practice of hanging pictures of the Kim family in every home to the point where one might suspect a pig fetish. That sort of thing shouldn’t be a problem.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll handle it appropriately. Certainly, thinking about urban aesthetics, I do believe having something here would be nice. However, with such large-scale construction, will the local citizens be alright?”

Won’t it be extremely noisy?

For a project this size, it’s probably going to be incredibly loud.

“There’s no need for concern on that point. We’ve already obtained everyone’s consent. We’ve even notified them about the foundation work.”

They’ve already gotten everyone’s consent? This sounds rather suspicious.

“You didn’t threaten them, did you?”

“No. The citizens agreed willingly.”

Right. Moscow is full of die-hard Anastasia fans, so that makes sense.

Well, there’s no stopping it then.

This approach is probably better anyway. When else would we get to do something like this?

Now is precisely the time we can do this—when we can attract European capital.

“We’ll need to allocate the budget.”

Russia has plenty of budget right now.

Post-war reconstruction has been completely resolved thanks to America’s lovely money.

So using the surplus funds for some extravagant spending isn’t a bad idea, in my opinion.

Just as things seemed to be wrapping up…

“Your Majesty. Regarding the previously developed Il-1000…”

The Roman National Party—that is, the White Army faction—officially brought up the Il issue.

“Yes. Please continue.”

I wonder why they’re bringing up the Il-1000 now?

“With further improvements, wouldn’t mass production be possible? If we deploy them from the Atlantic to Asia, we could undoubtedly protect the skies of the Roman Treaty.”

Are they suggesting we seriously produce more than just nuclear bombers?

That seems like a wasteful extravagance.

Still, if we were to mass-produce them, development would continue in that direction. They’re suggesting we focus on flying wing aircraft development.

“Are you seriously proposing to make it our main aircraft model?”

That was truly legendary.

How did they surrender immediately after the manta ray took flight? Without a single lie, it just flew around.

With that track record, they seem to have decided it’s better to develop this further.

It would cost an enormous amount of money, but perhaps computers will be developed specifically for flying wing aircraft.

Well, I called it a toy, but it’s not like I can personally fly it for fun.

If America seriously decides to compete and brings out flying wing aircraft, the world will enter the era of flying wings.

“Yes. If we develop it as a fighter, well, couldn’t we also attach missiles?”

They’re thinking about developing such things at this point.

Now that Europe is unified, America will become the potential enemy, so battles will involve naval warfare, air combat, and missiles.

In that case, development will certainly focus on aircraft and ships, but while fleets are important, development will likely lean more toward aircraft and missiles.

If they’re determined to go in the direction of flying wings, that’s not a bad thing.

“Of course, I believe we should continue developing aerial carriers as well.”

“We can gain an advantage over America in this competition.”

Right. While we’re still ahead, let’s firmly secure air superiority—that’s the point.

And they want to develop missiles too?

“America must be gradually advancing their nuclear development as well. They’ll likely develop things like flying wings too. We need to greatly extend our missile range. For example, nuclear missiles that can strike the American mainland across the Atlantic. Making flying wings into nuclear bombers is good, but wouldn’t missiles be convenient too?”

They’ll be developing too, so we need to stay ahead. That’s the message.

“Yes. We’ll do that.”

“If we greatly increase the range, we should establish missile bases in Ireland and Brittany with the cooperation of Britain and Ireland, just in case.”

Right. Britain should be able to accept that much.

After all, Britain is responsible for the naval axis among the Roman Treaty organization members.

Why would they object to installing missiles to defend their own country?

“Won’t you place them in Canada?”

That’s the problem with Canada.

If we deploy missiles in Canada, relations with America will deteriorate.

It could eventually lead to war, and while I don’t intend to lose, it would complicate my plan to make America a counterbalance to the Roman Treaty.

The damage could be so great that the Roman Treaty might dissolve.

Alternatively, Canada might leave the Commonwealth entirely and side with America.

“Openly placing them in Canada is dangerous. Unless they’re fools, the Americans would know, and what would they say?”

It seems the Roman National Party definitely wants to establish military superiority.

But we need a long time to work on decolonization and internal integration within the Roman Treaty organization.

There’s nothing to gain by provoking America now.

In fact, limited to North America, we might lose if America throws a serious punch. There’s no need to provoke America when it could unleash its full potential.

We should cooperate where necessary and guide the relationship toward continued competition.

“Then perhaps making the Canadian border a demilitarized zone on both sides would be an option.”

As long as we don’t place strategic weapons like missiles there, it should be fine.

“Well, if we’re just talking about not placing missiles, that wouldn’t be bad.”

I have no intention of placing missiles that would weaken relations between the Roman Treaty and America. That’s not why I deliberately included the Commonwealth in the Roman Treaty.

Even though Britain is a member of the Roman Treaty, the Commonwealth has been guaranteed more autonomy.

While Australia and New Zealand have already been firmly established, I’ve kept Canada loosely connected because they wouldn’t want to become a battlefield.

If I had really wanted to take down America, I would have done it during Trotsky’s time and made America into Russian America.

It’s regrettable, but it can’t be helped.

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Republic of China Federal Autonomy National Government

Around this time, the National Government (Republic of China) was not in a good situation.

Despite being on the winning side of the war, they gained nothing.

Already struggling with unification due to Anastasia’s threats, they gained nothing as a victorious nation, causing Soong Mei-ling’s position as leader of a unified government to plummet.

Duan Qirui also tried his best to support Soong Mei-ling in an attempt to gain an advantageous position within the federal autonomy, but it wasn’t easy.

How could a government that lost the Mandate of Heaven by submitting to foreign powers lead the Central Plains?

With Mao Zedong pushing federal autonomy once again, warlords also found justification to govern their respective regions, inevitably leading to fragmentation.

However.

When those who have lost the Mandate of Heaven wish to regain it, they fight over their bowls of rice.

Although the Republic of China was now a non-existent country that claimed the Mandate of Heaven, the great cause of Chinese unification was comparable to the emperor’s mandate.

Naturally, each warlord was busy building up their strength.

Most were purchasing weapons, and Soong Mei-ling of the Republic of China in southern China couldn’t remain idle either.

“Is it really impossible for us to join the Roman Treaty?”

“Yes. There’s no justification, and they withdrew from Vietnam as well. They’ve begun decolonization work, so it’s difficult to get involved any further.”

Duan Qirui answered Soong Mei-ling’s question while submitting a report summarizing the European situation.

“Still, we need to purchase weapons.”

“We’re buying somewhat outdated weapons from both the Roman Treaty and America.”

Despite being betrayed by the Roman Treaty, they were buying weapons from them. This was the unfortunate reality of the current Republic of China.

“Even the Song Dynasty, when driven south by the Jin Dynasty to become the Southern Song, flourished in the south, in Jiangnan. We too must unify at least southern China to prepare for the future.”

Although China is in such a miserable state now, it’s a land rich with potential.

Hasn’t history proven this all along?

Based on its vast territory and enormous population, it has lived as the central nation of the world, controlling surrounding countries.

Even when split in half, this remains true.

Balhae, which is now growing attached to Russia, and Japan, which now occupies half of Japan under Mutaguchi who everyone hails as a hero—both were once vassal states of China.

Though China may be in a wretched state now, the Central Plains will overcome this situation as it always has.

“How could it be otherwise?”

“Let’s continue reaching out to America. With the Roman Treaty controlling more than half the world, wouldn’t they want to establish at least one more foothold in East Asia?”

Although America isn’t showing interest in China right now, the fact that they’re meddling in Vietnam means they want to establish a foothold in East Asia.

If we can cleverly use this point to somehow establish relations with America and obtain weapons and technology, we can certainly lay the groundwork for unification.

Coincidentally, this Republic of China National Government was once led by Chiang Kai-shek, who was called the protagonist of unification.

It’s still a sufficiently strong nation compared to other warlords and the only country with a properly organized state system.

As soon as federal autonomy was established, they drew a line with other regions and made a grand declaration of founding the Republic of China.

This goes against the spirit of federal autonomy and shows their intention to be recognized domestically and internationally as the new government of China.

“Are we keeping an eye on the Roman Treaty situation?”

“Yes. They seem to be tearing their hair out, tied up with African decolonization.”

“They must reap what they’ve sown. The time for a unification war is approaching.”

Those people are working hard to grant independence to their African colonies.

That work will probably take quite some time.

“We must act when they’re tied up in Africa. America will find it difficult to intervene because of the Vietnam issue, so the peacekeeping forces will struggle to mobilize again.”

Despite talk of the United Nations and peacekeeping forces, they’ll likely find it difficult to move easily.

America is currently trying to win over Vietnam with money rather than military intervention, and the Roman Treaty is tied up in Africa, paying for its past karma. If not now, when will we have another opportunity?

Although our national power can’t be said to overwhelm other warlords yet, if not now, there will never be another chance.

“What about our troops stationed at the Qing border?”

“We need to keep them there. Cleverly. We must maintain that posture to make it look like we’re preparing for a northern expedition.”

The troops stationed at the Qing border had a different meaning than forces for a northern expedition.

To be honest, if we can’t even handle southern China, why would we attempt a northern expedition now?

This was a deception.

By pretending to prepare for a northern expedition, we make the Roman Treaty worry about Qing or that damned Mao Zedong while we prepare to unify southern China.

“Understood.”

International relations ultimately change according to national interests. America is the only competitor to the Roman Treaty and a country that checks the Roman Treaty.

However, America doesn’t have many footholds in East Asia, so when America can be less mindful of the Roman Treaty later…

At that very moment, if we step forward, things will be different.

“And Dr. Chen Xuesen has submitted a report.”

“What does he say?”

“Although he was excluded from research in America midway, he managed to smuggle out some confidential information on his way out, so he has the basic knowledge. He says nuclear development should be possible given enough time. He estimates a maximum of three years.”

Nuclear development by the Republic of China.

What the People’s Republic of China would have done in the original history, the Republic of China was trying to accomplish much earlier here.

The motivation was simple.

That tremendous power that erased Nanjing. With that power alone, Russia won the Second World War and induced China to split.

If the Republic of China could develop such a weapon, unifying southern China wouldn’t be difficult.

Furthermore, they could at least threaten Russian territory, so Russia wouldn’t be able to act recklessly.

The person in charge was Chen Xuesen, a scientist who had been working in America but was excluded from nuclear-related projects.

After receiving a letter from Soong Mei-ling, he returned to the Republic of China to devote himself to nuclear development, hoping to use his limited talents in China’s time of crisis.

For the Republic of China, it was like a sparrow trying to follow a heron and getting torn apart, but if they could just develop it, unifying southern China wouldn’t be difficult, so it was worth trying.

“That’s fortunate. If only we can develop it.”

Soong Mei-ling clenched her hands, roughened from governing the Republic of China.

“Neither the Roman Treaty nor America will dare look down on us.”

“We could achieve southern China’s unification too.”

If they could somehow develop it, unifying southern China wouldn’t be difficult, and the northern warlords like Qing and the Federal Government might be threatened and, if handled well, might voluntarily come under the Republic of China.

‘I won’t just sit here and take this.’

The Republic of China—China—will never fall like this.

# # #

Balhae Federation, Seoul

Foreign Minister Litvinov met with Balhae Federation President Ahn Changho regarding the China issue.

Around this time, Balhae’s favorability toward Russia, which had helped the independence movement, was over 140%, so President Ahn Changho greatly welcomed Litvinov’s visit.

“What brings the Foreign Minister here?”

“To be direct, war will soon break out in East Asia.”

There’s no reason to beat around the bush.

Since the Balhae Federation serves as Russia’s Far Eastern gendarme, it’s better to speak directly and get their help.

“Another war?”

“You’re telling us because we’ll have to participate, right?”

The Balhae government groaned.

This really makes them look like a puppet state moving according to Russia’s will.

They’re already economically dependent on Russia, and now Russia is demanding they grind down their manpower as a condition.

But Litvinov shook his head slightly, unconcerned with Ahn Changho’s uncomfortable expression.

“No. This time you won’t need to participate like in South Vietnam.”

“Then why have you come?”

That’s somewhat of a relief, but the Foreign Minister coming in person must mean something important.

Where will the war break out, and what does Russia want from Balhae?

“It will break out as a civil war among China’s federal autonomous regions. Of course, nothing is certain yet, but the fact that these Chinese federal autonomous states are purchasing weapons at their current level of national power suggests they’re preparing for war.”

“You mean a unification war.”

A unification war.

Although the federal autonomy created legitimate division by placing boundaries, the Chinese warlords wouldn’t accept this.

While division meant returning to their original positions, which they could accept, a unification war was the inevitable next step.

And Russia didn’t want this.

China’s unification could mean the rise of a new great power in East Asia.

Of course, now that Europe has become one, China’s unification might not be a problem, but the annoyance is another matter.

“We don’t want China to be unified in any direction. The Chinese continent is vast and abundant, and despite the great damage from the Sino-Japanese War, China’s population remains large. This wouldn’t be good for Balhae either. Whenever China is unified, hasn’t Balhae always been powerless?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Why wouldn’t it be?

When China is unified, Balhae either perishes or falls into a position that appears to be a vassal state to the outside world, despite claims to the contrary.

Ancient Joseon and Goguryeo were destroyed by a unified China, and Joseon maintained stability by paying tribute to Ming and Qing, losing its past glory.

And now, China’s period of division is a boon for Balhae, so from Balhae’s perspective, China’s unification was unwelcome.