Ch.315The Great War of South America

* * *

“The Cossacks should be satisfied with that much.”

If the Cossacks aren’t satisfied with that and try to revolt, well, we’ll have to crush them. What else can we do?

Of course, I believe my loyal subordinates won’t do that.

“Well then, let’s adjourn for today. I have somewhere to visit.”

I’ve been very interested in something recently.

While the United States is preoccupied with East Japan and South America, we’re preparing to take the first step in space development before the American space project—what was it called? Gemini or something—takes off.

Yes. We’re about to develop a spacecraft.

I’ve entrusted this to Yuri Kondratuk, someone who didn’t shine in the original history.

“Your Majesty, I’ll escort you.”

Beria politely guided me.

He should be handling things like this by now.

I’ll be stepping down from this position in a few years, so it’s a bit much for him to cling to me so tightly.

I hope the country won’t collapse without me.

When I arrived at the Space Engineering Institute, I found that much progress had been made on the spacecraft.

At the institute, Yuri Kondratuk was particularly enthusiastic about explaining theories related to space travel.

“Yuri Kondratuk. When will we be able to venture into space?”

I have high expectations for you.

I’m thinking of entrusting everything to this gentleman.

Sergei Korolev and Kondratuk. With these two, we should be able to accelerate space development.

If various European space engineers join in, it would be even faster.

So when exactly could we launch a spacecraft? That’s the question I can’t help but wonder about now.

“It could be within three years at the earliest.”

Three years? It’s 1950 now.

So it would go up around the time the Korean War ends. If we’re just talking about launching, I suppose that’s still ahead of schedule.

“That quickly?”

Ah, no. A manned spacecraft would be different.

For now, he must mean just launching a spacecraft would take that long.

“Your Majesty’s support has been a great help. However, to send a person would probably require the late 1950s.”

After working so hard, we’ve only moved it up by a few years? Well, I suppose that’s better than nothing.

I’ve invested in many other areas too, so even advancing it this much can be considered fulfilling my role.

Above all, space requires endless funding.

Even with the internal confusion due to the Rome Treaty integration, this level of progress in space development is quite good.

For a cosmonaut, would Yuri Gagarin be the right choice?

Or should I perhaps go myself? No, that’s ridiculous. Even I could die if something went wrong in space.

Even if I’m immortal, going myself seems inappropriate.

I shouldn’t steal the achievements of historical figures. Let’s leave it to Yuri Gagarin as it was.

If I were to announce I’m going up in a spacecraft, all of Europe might fall apart.

So, finding Yuri Gagarin should be our first priority.

As I was leaving the Space Engineering Institute, I quietly called Beria who was following beside me.

“Beria.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

This fellow is good at his job. I’m thinking of having him find someone.

Right now, Beria doesn’t have much to do, and I don’t like seeing him loafing around. I plan to have him find Yuri Gagarin.

“Do you think you could find a man named Yuri Gagarin?”

“Yuri Gagarin, hmm. Could you tell me his characteristics?”

I was about to tell him but suddenly closed my mouth.

Ah, this is too absurd. It’s as if he’s responding like I know everything.

Well, I suppose it can’t be helped if he’s one of my devotees.

“You ask as if it’s obvious.”

It’s ridiculous how casually he asks.

It’s like he truly believes I know absolutely everything.

“Ahem. I apologize, Your Majesty.”

He bowed his head deeply with an embarrassed expression.

I’m not particularly trying to scold him. I’m just wondering how many people in the world take this for granted. Now that history has completely changed, I should consider that I know very little of what’s to come.

“No, it just seems like you think I know everything.”

This fellow seems to genuinely revere me.

The way he looks at me is like someone gazing up at something approaching divinity.

That gaze isn’t entirely unpleasant.

Yes. It’s as if he would do anything I command.

Of course, there are many others who could do this job, but I can’t deny that this fellow is quite capable.

“Well, Your Majesty actually does know everything, which is why you’ve led Russia this far. So I believe without doubt.”

“Well, I don’t mind if you don’t question it.”

If he quietly follows orders like this, there’s no need to dispose of him.

Unlike in the original history, he doesn’t seem to be sexually depraved either. Not bad.

“Yes. He’s probably a young man interested in the air force and airplanes. He was from Smolensk, I believe, so look into that.”

“May I ask what this person does?”

He’s probably aiming for the Air Force Academy right now.

Honestly, I’m not sure what direction Yuri Gagarin is heading in right now.

If it’s not according to the original history, hmm. Should I force him if we find him?

The entire population of this country are my fans, so even if I somewhat force Yuri Gagarin, wouldn’t he comply anyway?

Well, finding him is the priority for now.

“Let’s say he has a deep interest in the air force. He wants to fly planes. Or he might already be at the Air Force Academy.”

Of course, he might not exist.

After all, you never know how a person’s life turns out. Perhaps Yuri Gagarin’s parents died during the Civil War.

Even if not that, what if he died somehow?

That’s why we need to find him quickly.

If not, we’ll have no choice but to make someone who didn’t exist in the original history a cosmonaut.

“Yes. I’ll see to it.”

I should pray that Beria does his job well.

* * *

Around this time, war finally broke out in South America.

Argentina declared war on Brazil.

Eva Perón of Argentina presented an all too obvious justification for war.

“The United States has extended its claws into South America, and Brazil has become America’s pawn, trying to turn South America into America’s backyard! We must subjugate Brazil before that happens to block American expansion into South America!”

Argentina had risen up to protect South America’s right to survival.

Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, and others had already joined Argentina.

These countries didn’t simply trust and follow Argentina alone.

Argentina had received various technologies from the Rome Treaty, as well as weapons, effectively becoming South America’s military powerhouse.

Unlike Argentina, Brazil had only received weapons from the United States that lagged behind those of the Rome Treaty.

Naturally, Brazil was dumbfounded by the sudden declaration of war, as was the United States behind them.

They never expected war to break out.

“Is the Rome Treaty behind this? Are they in contact with Rome?”

The White House couldn’t help but suspect the Rome Treaty was behind it.

“We said we wouldn’t interfere with South America. There’s no reason for us to break that promise now, and we’re too busy dealing with our internal affairs. Why would we help those whiners demanding the Falklands with treaty forces?”

The Rome Treaty denied any involvement when questioned by the United States.

This made it even more bewildering.

What were these bastards thinking, attacking Brazil? MacArthur truly felt his blood boiling.

“Rome says they genuinely know nothing about it. They claim they only provided weapons and technology in exchange for Black people? They say they have no intention of getting too close to Argentina, especially since Argentina keeps whining about the Falklands.”

So, does that mean they’ve grown bold?

That woman Eva Perón of Argentina is an Anastasian, isn’t she? Is she causing trouble to become the Tsarina of South America?

Either way, it’s not particularly pleasant.

“Hmph, so they’re just bluffing.”

It seems they’ve been fighting by mixing lies, telling other South American countries that they’re friends with the Rome Treaty.

If that’s the case, couldn’t we easily crush this South American alliance?

That’s why Argentina is rushing into Brazil so urgently.

But.

The problem is that the United States is currently focusing its efforts on resolving the East Japan situation.

“How is the revolution in East Japan progressing?”

“The Kanto Guard’s level is too low, so we essentially have to search all of East Japan with just our military. It seems it will take quite a while.”

That makes sense. The Kanto Guard is a quasi-military organization forcibly created by the US military.

Although they filled the guard with pro-American personnel, the completely devastated East Japan was in a very poor state.

“There will be guerrilla warfare among other things. This is troublesome. What about just sweeping everything clean? Didn’t LeMay do a good job burning everything?”

“We’ve established a pro-American puppet state, but if we do that, even the Kanto Republic won’t be sustainable. Moreover, our losses would be significant.”

MacArthur gritted his teeth.

Those damn Japs are the problem.

They were crazy during the Imperial era, and they’ve gone even crazier after turning red.

“Damn it. These Japs are just costing us money even when we have them.”

“The anti-war sentiment is considerable due to continuous wars. Especially with this Japanese deployment, public opinion is not favorable, so we cannot send troops to South America.”

So, does Brazil have to handle this on its own?

“Let’s support Brazil for now. American weapons are no longer inferior to those of the Rome Treaty, so weapon support alone should be sufficient.”

With its population, Brazil should be able to somehow hold off Argentina and the South American alliance.

That’s what they initially thought as they provided massive weapon support to Brazil, but…

“Pathetic, worthless.”

The weapons supplied to Argentina by the Rome Treaty were a step ahead of American weapons.

Of course, the weapons sent by the United States were pre-technology transfer weapons, but even considering that, Brazil was defeated too easily.

The Argentine army used missiles to strike various parts of Brazil.

Brazil, not expecting Argentina to launch such a surprise attack, belatedly prepared its defenses, but couldn’t match Argentina in either the army or air force.

And surprisingly.

Defying the expectations of both MacArthur and Anastasia, Brazil was pushed back to São Paulo in an instant and couldn’t offer any significant resistance to Argentina.

“We surrender.”

In the end, just two months after the war began, a pro-Argentine government was established in Brazil, exactly as Argentina wanted.

“What is this?!”

And Anastasia, who was eating mint chocolate in the Kremlin Palace, was shocked by the news.

* * *

While the Rome Treaty was being integrated, the world kept turning busily.

In East Japan, Patton’s army was moving around capturing Trotsky’s Japanese People’s Army.

But because of that, the United States couldn’t pay attention to South America.

Of course, I hadn’t given Argentina all the latest weapons to help them win the war.

I had to be mindful of the United States and couldn’t just give everything away.

The problem is that Eva Perón exceeded even my expectations—either she’s gone mad or she deliberately declared war on Brazil and launched a preemptive strike.

“Argentina has consumed Brazil.”

When I received the Okhrana’s report, I truly questioned whether my ears were working properly.

This isn’t some Hitler situation.

Is Eva Perón growing a mustache by now?

When I think about it that way, it seems a bit strange.

“It seems the overwhelming military power and first strike were significant factors.”

Hearing the White Army’s analysis, I sighed.

“That could be the case, but it’s still unusual.”

Even so, this easily? Is Brazil unable to hold out for long?

I think even I would feel dazed if I were hit directly, but seeing how quickly it happened, before the United States could even intervene…

“Yes. The shock seems to be great in the United States as well. While MacArthur’s military regime still maintains firm support, it’s observed that they will lose influence over South America due to this incident.”

“I see.”

The situation has grown larger than expected.

If Argentina has taken control of Brazil, wouldn’t they take over most of South America next?

It seems the US military cannot directly project power into South America right now. Could they lash out at us instead?

Surely not.

But if Argentina’s momentum grows too strong, the United States might take out their frustration on us.

MacArthur wouldn’t do that if he has any sense.

“But won’t Argentina eventually be defeated?”

“Why do you think so?”

At least Argentina seems able to hold out for now.

If they quickly take control of South America while the United States cannot project military power, this would be tantamount to a strategic defeat for the United States.

The US could probably defeat them if they were determined, but anti-war sentiment is strong in the United States right now.

They’re tired from defeating Japan, spending money everywhere, and projecting power externally, so they seem to dislike the idea of another war in South America.