Ch.299Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

# United States of America, Washington D.C.

“Hmm, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Not bad.”

Nuclear weapons would be possessed only by the Constantinople Treaty Organization and the United States.

In exchange, they would guarantee independence and national defense for countries under their respective spheres of influence.

It wasn’t a bad proposal.

In fact, this was exactly what the United States wanted.

This was not just a non-proliferation treaty but also a clear division of global spheres of influence.

Not just a private agreement. It was essentially an official proposal to divide the world. Additionally, it would verify whether treaty members possessed nuclear weapons.

“But why make such a proposal so suddenly?”

The proposal made sense.

Nuclear weapons weren’t ordinary items.

The world needed to be divided, and if any country happened to possess nuclear weapons, that country could potentially stand up to the Constantinople Treaty Organization and the United States.

In other words, they could disrupt the world order.

Neither Anastasia nor MacArthur would welcome that.

“Let’s solidify our spheres of influence. That’s what this means. Ike, get ready.”

“Yes, sir.”

And so, with a different meaning than in the original history—

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was being discussed with the sole purpose of containing China.

Meanwhile, the Republic of China also received requests to join from Russian and American diplomats.

“Could that Moscow fox have figured it out?”

“Damn it. We’re still far from developing nuclear weapons.”

“What happens if we don’t join or if we withdraw?”

“They said they would consider it a hostile act against the Constantinople Treaty Organization and the United States, assuming we’re developing nuclear weapons, and threatened nuclear strikes.”

Nuclear strikes?

Does that mean they would drop what destroyed Nanjing on Chongqing too?

No, surely they wouldn’t go that far.

If they did, wouldn’t the Tsar earn the title of “mass murderer”?

The Nanjing incident had some justification, but this would be different.

This was evident from how they sent troops to Indonesia instead of ending it with nuclear weapons.

“If we say it’s for our peace…”

“These people deliberately divided us. That excuse won’t work.”

They maintained federalism through nuclear threats.

Would such people care if we claimed to develop nuclear weapons for peace?

Soong Mei-ling caught herself after speaking and regretted her words.

“What about hiding it?”

What if they just hid it?

If they concealed it well enough, would the others interfere in their internal affairs?

“They could send in troops claiming we’re developing nuclear weapons.”

Dai Li’s words made sense, but Soong Mei-ling thought differently.

Just look at Europe’s current situation.

Europe was in the midst of integration.

They had mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops in Indonesia. Could they do something like that again now?

If we denied throwing nuclear weapons, how could they recklessly launch attacks without confirmation?

It was a gamble, but a trial they needed to go through for unification.

If they surrendered here, everything would collapse.

The path to unification would be blocked, and China would remain divided forever.

She didn’t want to create such a future.

“No, it would be difficult for them to take military action again. I’ve heard Europe is in the midst of integration. The United States is also focusing on Vietnam and East Japan after withdrawing forces from Japan. Couldn’t we hold out for a few years somehow?”

If they could just hold out for a few years and develop nuclear weapons, they could stand up for themselves.

If they could unify Southern China, they might not be able to advance northward yet, but they could grow stronger like the Southern Song Dynasty of the past.

“It would be difficult to hide it completely. Or…”

“Or what?”

“It’s a gamble, but we do have an option.”

As the man considered the most dangerous in China, Dai Li thought this was absurd, but it was the only way now.

“What is it?”

“We hold out for a while, then pretend to surrender and hand over some nuclear scientists. Of course, not Chen Xueshen, just a few other nuclear physicists.”

They probably wouldn’t imprison or kill them anyway.

The Constantinople Treaty Organization and the United States would likely just detain the researchers to prevent the Republic of China from developing nuclear weapons on time.

If that was the case, deception might be possible.

Yes, once they developed nuclear weapons, they could somehow resist.

# * * *

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty emerged in this world too.

However, this world’s treaty essentially declared how the world would be divided.

The United States readily accepted, and we agreed to sign the treaty with the American delegation and the Constantinople Treaty Organization delegation in London.

“Judging by how they resisted, they really were trying to develop nuclear weapons.”

According to the Prime Minister’s report, most Chinese warlords had joined.

Since there was no representative government, each regime was made to join separately.

Naturally, the warlords had no ability to make nuclear weapons and readily accepted, perhaps pleased to be recognized as legitimate governments.

But it would be different for those developing nuclear weapons.

For example, the Nationalist Government—essentially this world’s Republic of China—initially refused to join.

They weren’t even trying to hide their development efforts.

Well, they probably knew hiding would only invite retaliation, and they didn’t want to die. The important thing is that the Nationalist Government had the basic knowledge to make nuclear weapons.

“Then they must already have the basic knowledge.”

“Yes. They’ve agreed to hand over their documents and scientists. They say Constantinople Treaty and American inspectors can come verify directly.”

They’ll hand over their scientists.

They’ll show us their nuclear technology. That’s what they’re saying.

What insolent bastards.

Who do they think they are to decide what to show us?

“Is there a possibility they’ll contact the United States?”

“What value would these fragmented regimes have to America? Even if they unified Southern China, they’d still be far too weak to counter us. The United States wouldn’t support them.”

“I see.”

But we need to consider the possibility they’re hiding something.

I need to know about the person who helped Communist China develop nuclear weapons in the original history. Based on the timeline so far, it might be early, but there must have been a doctor who helped Communist China’s nuclear development.

Who was it? I remember he also developed missiles and was highly regarded in Communist China. I need to think hard.

I don’t know much about this area, but I do know a few key figures.

People like Deng Xiaoping or Zhou Enlai.

They were part of the federal government in this timeline.

But the federal government relies entirely on the Constantinople Treaty for weapons.

They don’t even have the money to develop nuclear weapons.

As an inland country dependent on us, they can’t develop nuclear weapons.

I feel like I’d recognize the name if I heard it. When I visited the federal government, I never heard such a name.

I’ve toured their weapons development facilities, so I know.

At least, I can be sure they’re not in the federal government.

I keep thinking and thinking.

After the nuclear war, there was plenty of cursing about the person who developed nuclear weapons in China, so I must have heard of him.

Chen something… Ah, yes. I finally remember.

“Ah, right. I finally recall.”

“What do you mean?”

What I mean is, I finally remember who it was.

We need to consider differences from the original history, but even if we’re wrong, we can frame him and retaliate.

We should retaliate with nuclear strikes. Erasing a city or two near the border would deter them from defying us.

So I confidently wiggled my finger and said:

“Chen Xueshen? Is it? Chen Xueshen. Find out if he’s in the Republic of China.”

That’s him! That man.

The one who made enormous contributions to Communist China’s nuclear and missile development in the original history.

A heroic figure from Communist China’s perspective, but from the perspective of a Korean who suffered nuclear attacks, an absolute bastard.

He might be different in this world, but he still needs to be eliminated.

That would end the Republic of China’s nuclear development.

Developing nuclear weapons means refusing to follow the order established by the Constantinople Treaty and the United States.

We have sufficient justification to capture Chen Xueshen.

“When our delegation goes to investigate the Nationalist Government, have them look for this man. Of course, they’ll try to hide him if we search directly, so first check if they willingly hand him over to us.”

If they hand over Chen Xueshen directly, that’s one thing, but honestly, I don’t think they will.

“Who is this person?”

“Probably the one who will develop nuclear weapons in China. Someone helping Soong Mei-ling defy our order.”

It’s likely to be him.

Since the Communist Party doesn’t exist here, he might have gone to the Nationalist Government.

“What if we’re wrong?”

“If we’ve already investigated and they deny it, we can threaten nuclear attacks while demanding to search ourselves. Of course, erasing a city or two near the border should be sufficient.”

China must never be unified.

If they just fight among themselves without nuclear weapons, we can tolerate that to some extent.

But nothing more, nothing less.

If they try to develop nuclear weapons in the midst of this, we have no choice but to respond strongly.

“How is our missile development progressing?”

“We’ve greatly increased the missile range.”

Yes, we need to extend our missile range.

So we can strike China anytime. Especially the Republic of China. We need to cross the Atlantic too.

If the Nationalist Government defies our will, our order, we have no choice but to turn them into a sea of fire.

“As I always say, we must plan for crossing the Atlantic. And if the Nationalist Government has deceived us, we’ll attack with missiles simultaneously with nuclear bombing.”

Eliminating the Nationalist Government and splitting that region in two is also an option.

Of course, on the surface, it would look like Mao Zedong and the Qing Dynasty dividing it between them.

“Yes. We’re already moving missile launchers to the Far East.”

“Good. Let’s wait and see.”

From my perspective, all Chinese factions are the same.

The main culprit, Communist China, is led by Mao Zedong, who’s practically a national father figure and has crawled under my authority. He’s a madman who wants a divided rather than unified China, so there’s no need to bring him down.

But we must be cautious of the current Republic of China, which controls much of southern China without the national father’s denigration from the original history.

Having attempted nuclear development once, they’ll likely try again.

If they don’t listen to us until the end, they should know it’s over for them.

The United States also cannot tolerate another power developing nuclear weapons.

Shortly after, a message came from the Russian delegation sent to the Nationalist Government.

“Unfortunately, there is no doctor named Chen Xueshen among their scientists.”

These bastards seem to be deliberately hiding him. Even if he’s not there, we need to make it seem like he is.

The Okhrana is also moving separately, so they should find something.

# * * *

Nationalist Government, Chongqing

The Okhrana had a Southern China branch in Chongqing.

Xian Wei, who had come down from the Far East branch, was the branch chief.

He had volunteered for this position, citing the numerous tasks here, including the previous assassination of Chiang Kai-shek.

The recent directive was to investigate the Nationalist Government’s nuclear-related facilities.

Anything suspicious was to be thoroughly investigated and reported to Moscow.

“Hmm, the director wants us to find out.”

“He emphasized we shouldn’t get caught by Dai Li.”

Dai Li—the second-in-command of the Nationalist Government and the head of its intelligence department.

Despite his surveillance, Xian Wei had steadfastly built up the Okhrana branch.

“No need to worry. We’ve been rooted in Chongqing for a long time.”

With his excellent intelligence capabilities, Xian Wei had been monitoring the situation in Chongqing as the head of the Okhrana’s China branch.

Especially regarding nuclear matters, he had been gathering information faster than others since the Nationalist Government initially refused to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

He was quick to understand. Using Okhrana agents of Manchurian origin under his command, Xian Wei had already confirmed the existence of several nuclear research facilities near Chongqing.

“Where is the money for this coming from? The funding source can’t be the United States.”

“It seems they’re investing their nation’s future.”

“Indeed. If they secure nuclear weapons, unifying Southern China wouldn’t be difficult for them.”

The Nationalist Government had placed many research facilities near Chongqing, apparently not intending to hide them.

The Okhrana had already infiltrated some of these facilities as researchers or laborers, and information was steadily coming in.

“Research Institute No. 3, directly supervised by Dai Li’s intelligence department. We haven’t been able to gather information on this one yet.”

“Then it’s obvious. That’s where Chen Xueshen must be.”

Where else could he be?

“Could it be a diversion?”

Yes, Dai Li. That man could do such a thing.

The numerous nuclear research facilities could be decoys.

But here’s the thing.

Unfortunately, Dai Li doesn’t know that we’re targeting a specific individual.

That’s the difference.

“Our Mother Tsarina has prophesied the existence of Chen Xueshen. Dai Li doesn’t know that we know about Chen Xueshen.”

Xian Wei sneered at Dai Li, who was likely working hard to hide the truth.

Surely Dai Li wouldn’t expect us to be looking for a specific individual.

Even if he doesn’t exist, create him. That was the directive from Okhrana Director Beria.

That’s how they would bring down the Nationalist Government.