Ch.317Interesting Thoughts

* * *

This is how those Middle Eastern countries with oil act up. In the end, isn’t this just a battle of pride?

But directly attacking Iraq or similar countries would make us look too much like thugs. So we need to find a new approach.

We already have a legitimate Middle Eastern country that can serve as an example.

Our support for Hejaz essentially means we’re taking their side in the fight against Nejd, and we can use this to legitimately push forward rather than mindlessly attacking the Middle East.

“Let’s support Hejaz. We’ll send Roman Treaty forces to help Hejaz fight against Nejd.”

How much weaponry could Nejd possibly have?

If Hejaz, armed with the latest Roman Treaty weapons, along with army and air force units that distinguished themselves in the Great War, pushes into Nejd, they’ll be finished in no time.

“Are you suggesting we attack Nejd as an example?”

“There are massive oil fields in Nejd’s territory.”

Massive oil fields near the Persian Gulf. We can extract them.

In this timeline, different from the original history, we can take it all for ourselves.

For Hejaz, if we consider the original history, they’d be happy to unify Arabia themselves.

“Is it worth risking a war?”

Worth risking a war?

Fighting over oil is nothing new. Above all, if the talks with Iraq don’t go well, we’ll end up fighting anyway. We need to make an example of someone to shut them up and prevent them from acting up again.

“Absolutely. Before they unite, we should support Hejaz to defeat Nejd, and we’ll take the oil fields for ourselves.”

It will become a different version of Saudi Arabia than in the original history.

And if we take all the oil fields that originally belonged to Saudi Arabia? Isn’t that exciting just to imagine?

“That does sound promising.”

“Then I’ll inform the Roman Treaty Organization.”

Yes, inform the Roman Treaty Organization. I’ve always envied Saudi Arabia in the original world.

South Korea had no massive oil fields while Saudi Arabia had them in abundance, and I never liked how the Saudi crown prince strutted around.

Here, as a Russian, I can’t share it with Korea, but we should take everything we need.

Wait a moment. Do we really need to keep our word to Hejaz until the end?

The King of Hejaz, who declared himself Caliph. When the Ottoman Empire’s caliphate system collapsed, he declared himself Caliph.

Interesting ideas are flooding my mind.

* * *

London, England

Churchill hasn’t been in a good mood lately.

Not because Russia is dominating international organizations and Europe.

Honestly, it would be a lie to say he isn’t resentful, but if things were somewhat equal, it might be different. After decolonization, the gap between Britain and Russia is overwhelming.

Yes, so he has no intention of opposing Russia.

After all, Russia has acknowledged the British Empire as second-in-command in the Roman Treaty Organization.

The problem is that this second-place position has been humiliated by those damned Iraqis.

Having learned something from the Roman Treaty Organization, they’re openly connecting with other Middle Eastern countries and throwing their weight around with oil.

Then Mosley suddenly brings a telegram from Russia.

Yes, the content of the telegram is simple.

“Instead of just punishing Iraq, we should support Hejaz to defeat Nejd? What’s the reason for that? Wouldn’t it be easier to just send troops to Iraq and teach those insolent fellows a lesson?”

Since they share a border, wouldn’t it be better to strike Iraq hard to prevent them from uniting?

There’s a possibility Nejd might join forces with them, but not yet.

If we poke around unnecessarily, it might be worse than just attacking Iraq.

“The reason is that there are massive oil fields in the Persian Gulf.”

Massive oil fields in the Persian Gulf? How on earth did they find that out?

“Massive oil fields in the Persian Gulf. Hmm, as if Nejd would let anyone see their land—”

“No, this comes from the Russian Tsar.”

The Russian Tsar? Anastasia?

Has she now gone so far as to scout out oil fields in other countries?

“The Russian Tsar? Good heavens, is this another prophecy? Well, using Hejaz to attack Nejd wouldn’t be that difficult.”

It must be that prophecy thing again.

Or it could just be a pretext for war. No, if it’s true?

The oil fields are that large? If the Tsar is mentioning it, they must be quite substantial.

Russia already has its own oil fields, so if the Tsar is considering war, these fields must be enormous.

This could be a golden opportunity for Britain to claim a share.

“And what about Iraq?”

Are we just going to leave them be?

“The plan is to beat Nejd as an example and prevent Iraq from forming alliances with other Middle Eastern countries.”

Why should we care if they form alliances? If they do, we can just crush them all.

Even with the Roman Treaty’s arms reduction, if we mobilize the army, we could overturn the Middle East in an instant.

Iraq is somewhat annoying, but instead, if our proud new Royal Army (the post-Dunkirk generation) secures oil fields by crushing another country, what would happen?

“Hmm, I suppose we have no choice. Then let’s at least request that Britain leads this treaty force. We need to show that the British Empire is still strong.”

We need to demonstrate the powerful might of the British Empire in the Middle East once again!

To show that even without colonies, we’re not a country that can be disrespected by the likes of Iraq, we’ll make an example by utterly destroying one Middle Eastern country.

“Us, sir?”

“We know that region well, after all.”

The British Army has considerable fighting experience in the Middle East.

Of course, most of those soldiers are now ghosts of Dunkirk, and the majority are new recruits, but armed with Russia’s latest weapons, they can easily crush Nejd.

“Yes, I’ll approach the Roman Treaty Organization headquarters.”

Even though we’re integrated into the Roman Treaty Organization, Britain’s position is at stake.

If we take the Persian Gulf, we can rightfully claim a share of the oil fields.

After all, the Roman Treaty Organization needs to allocate the budget.

And at the Roman Treaty Organization headquarters, they had already heard this news.

“The Tsar says there are massive oil fields in the Persian Gulf.”

Massive oil fields in the Persian Gulf?

There’s already plenty of oil, but we can get even more from there?

“What? How did Mother Tsar know this?”

“The Tsar says Okhrana agents who infiltrated Nejd fortunately discovered oil fields in the Persian Gulf.”

Yes, that “fortunate” discovery. So obvious.

“Fortunately,” just “fortunately,” Mother Tsar has discovered something new again.

It must be something that makes Iraq’s oil fields pale in comparison.

If we secure such large oil fields, Iraq won’t matter anymore.

“Indeed. If it’s fortunate, what can we do?”

Yes, if it’s fortunate, there’s nothing we can do.

“Well, securing oil fields is necessary for Rome’s survival.”

“We must consider our loyalty to Hejaz.”

And so, with various excuses, preparations for war against the Kingdom of Nejd began.

In fact, if we were to be precise, relations between Hejaz and Britain had weakened at one point due to the Balfour Declaration. However, in this world, the Treaty of Versailles, which established mandates in Syria, Iraq, and Palestine in the original history, passed without much attention. With European countries entangled in the Russian Civil War, Hussein bin Ali, who had declared himself Caliph of Hejaz, continued to receive support.

Perhaps this was the natural outcome.

“But helping those who declared themselves Caliphs, hmm…”

Turkey expressed some dissatisfaction.

Naturally, since Hejaz had declared its own Caliphate.

“Turkey isn’t the Ottoman Empire anymore, is it? It shouldn’t matter if a Caliphate has been declared.”

“Of course, we agree. It’s just a bit uncomfortable.”

During this process, the Roman Treaty Organization member states had some questions.

Yes, would the Russian Tsar really leave Hejaz alone?

They said they would capture Nejd under the pretext of helping Hejaz, but really? Would the Tsar stand by and watch as Hejaz absorbed Nejd and unified the vast Arabian Peninsula?

Of course, the Tsar might not care, but Hejaz could then threaten those oil fields.

After all, they’re a Middle Eastern country too. Would the Tsar, who looks after national interests, simply accept that?

And.

Around this time, Anastasia in Moscow was considering a new possibility.

“Maria.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please speak.”

Anastasia stroked Belka II’s head and turned her eyes to Maria.

The Mother Tsar’s eyes were full of mischief.

This was the expression Mother Tsar wore when she had wicked thoughts.

Mother was flashing the same wicked, death saint’s gaze that summoned hell, which she had shown before launching nuclear weapons, at Maria.

“The Caliph is essentially the representative of Muslims, isn’t that right?”

“Yes, I’ve heard that the Caliph’s authority represents Islam.”

“And once the Ottoman Empire wielded the Caliph’s authority. Now that the Ottoman Empire has collapsed and the Caliphate system has disappeared, Hejaz has declared a Caliphate.”

“Yes, that would be the case.”

Maria simply agreed with Anastasia’s words.

It wasn’t that she was just casually agreeing.

Whatever Anastasia said was truth and justification.

Besides, it wasn’t wrong.

So Maria, as always, simply bowed her head to Mother Tsar’s words.

Like a shadow of Mother Tsar, her role was to represent and follow Mother’s words.

What order would she give this time?

“Contact Ankara. Say it’s just a friendly call to the Turkish President.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

What order would Mother Tsar give?

“Ask if they’d like to reestablish the Caliph’s authority.”

At those words, Maria blinked.

Yes, what Mother Tsar was suggesting was not quite the revival of the Ottoman Empire, but rather creating a “puppet” Caliph like herself.

“You mean…”

“Ask if they’d like to establish a Sultan who is also a Caliph, like in Russia.”

It was just a bit of mischief. Just a bit of mischief on her lips.

But that would lead to the Roman Emperor’s command.

And Mother’s words, the Roman Emperor’s command, were simple: to make a huge bite of the Middle East belong to the Roman Treaty.

“Yes, I understand.”

That should be enough to serve as a warning to Middle Eastern countries.

And so Anastasia decided to try something interesting.

* * *

Ankara, Turkey

Shortly after Anastasia’s order was given.

In the Turkish Presidential office, Atatürk received Anastasia’s proposal.

“İnönü, I heard there was a message from Moscow. What does it say?”

A message from Moscow.

Essentially, it should be considered a request from Anastasia, the Russian Tsar.

Yes, what did she want to say to the President?

“They asked if we’d consider reinstating the Sultan’s royal family.”

“How long has it been since the Ottoman Empire fell? They want us to restore the Sultan?”

That doesn’t seem right. The Sultan lost public support, and Atatürk still has the people’s favor.

It would be difficult for the Ottoman royal family to regain public support now.

Besides, changing the political system at this point would be challenging.

Above all, Atatürk’s teeth ground at the thought of the Ottoman Empire.

“The Tsar’s intention seems to be to deal with Hejaz as well while attacking Nejd.”

But what does that have to do with the Sultan?

“What does that have to do with us?”

Is she saying Turkey should become a constitutional monarchy just to capture Hejaz?

It might sound confusing, but…

“The Kingdom of Hejaz’s king is currently the Caliph. The Tsar’s intention seems to be to deal with Hejaz as well, using the old Ottoman Caliphate system as justification, and have Turkey take the position of Caliph. It seems she wants us to take the entire Arabian Peninsula.”

Take all of Arabia.

The Middle East was originally Roman Treaty territory, but this doesn’t seem right.

I’ve heard there are issues with Iraq, but is this the solution?

So the Tsar’s intention is to push out Nejd first, then use the Sultan’s installation and the Caliphate to create a pretext to attack Hejaz as well.

Yes, I understand the feeling, but…

“Hmm, what do you think?”

“It’s not a bad idea. Even if we abolish the monarchy again later, wouldn’t it be good to have someone on the throne now for legitimacy? We just need to establish a Caliph.”

It wouldn’t be bad to establish legitimacy at this opportunity.

The Middle East has been under Roman Treaty influence, but only to that extent. It wouldn’t be bad to expand now.