Ch.326For the Restoration of Hellenism (3)

# * * *

“What kind of terrible hybrid is this?”

“Sometimes even terrible hybrids are necessary.”

Let’s capture everything, and it doesn’t seem bad to propose that to Afghanistan.

An Islamic-Hellenistic Federation. Even I think it’s a hybrid, but it doesn’t look too bad.

“Let’s leave Afghanistan to them.”

“And if Afghanistan refuses?”

If they refuse, what other option is there? We’ll just have to attack however we can.

It seems the Duma really wants to take down Afghanistan one way or another.

“Then what choice do we have besides attacking?”

In that case, we really have no choice but to attack. I’ve explained to them why I can’t conquer those territories myself, so I think they’ll handle it well.

And if they’re going to do it anyway, I’d prefer they leave me out of it. I don’t want to be labeled as the instigator of war.

“Well, that’s enough. I’ll be going there personally.”

I fled from the Duma as if escaping.

Let the White Army Department handle the Afghanistan problem.

-Scared?

-Yeah, scared

To be honest, targeting a place where Mongolia, the British Empire, the Soviet Union, and the United States have all failed… I’m genuinely nervous.

I hope they’ll work out some strategies on their own.

The best outcome would be if Afghanistan simply surrenders on its own, but… that’s unlikely to happen.

# * * *

State Duma

After the Tsar left, the Duma fell into silence.

Of course, Mother Tsarina sees this expedition as dangerous.

Islamic-Hellenistic Federation.

The State Duma held their heads in their hands at this strange plan.

Well, it’s one thing to consider it, but reviving Hellenism in the Arab world?

We know it’s just a name. But it has a certain feeling to it.

“An Islamic-Hellenistic Federation? That’s quite shocking.”

What’s certain is that to create this shocking federation after the war, we need to establish complete control.

Somehow, what Mother Tsarina has thought up requires an even more intense campaign than Alexander’s expedition.

Yes. It sounds grand, but wouldn’t this approach likely create Islamic extremists?

“But wouldn’t they accept without war?”

“We should at least draft operation plans up to Iran.”

Mother Tsar is only looking as far as Iran.

In that case, it would be better to pursue more diversity.

“No, before that, let’s consider Afghanistan as well. They may not have a central government, but doesn’t that mean there are military groups?”

Afghanistan’s military groups probably don’t number in the hundreds of thousands, and considering the population, there aren’t that many. Can’t we just capture them all?

“Then, can’t we just eliminate them all?”

Just sweep them all away unconditionally.

Today’s Russia can do it. That’s what the Duma concluded.

We should speak plainly. Mother Tsarina’s concerns are too great.

Of course. What need is there for cutting-edge equipment? The terrain is terrible? Well, could Afghan guerrillas possibly stop European armies that have experienced the Great War?

“Then let’s prepare enough troops to cover all of Afghanistan.”

Enough troops to cover everything.

The White Army Department was quite excited in the Duma.

Of course, they’ve had a relatively minor role compared to the Roman Treaty Army.

The reason is that while Russia has participated in many wars and spent a lot on military expenses during World War II, military actions under the Roman Treaty dispatch forces from the treaty organization closest to the target country.

Meanwhile, Iran and Afghanistan are closest to Russia.

What does this mean?

It meant that Russian forces would be mobilized to attack Afghanistan.

Of course, there’s Turkey, but Turkey hasn’t taken much interest in the Arabian Peninsula except for the oil-producing regions.

It’s essentially a reverse Ottoman situation.

“How much should we prepare?”

Now, the remaining question is how to conduct the war.

“Wouldn’t ten million be enough?”

“Ten million? Not even one million, but ten million? Who came up with that? If we push ten million into war after the Roman Treaty integration, then wow.”

The representatives waved their hands dismissively.

No matter how you look at it, this is beyond “a bit much.” Talk sense.

Of course, if we really, really wanted to, the Roman Treaty Organization could muster that many.

But ten million just to take Afghanistan? That’s insane.

No matter how valuable Afghanistan’s resources might be, the cost of mobilizing ten million troops would be greater.

“Of course, I was joking.”

“We should minimize the numbers. Afghanistan defeated the Mongol Empire and Britain. Honestly, if we send a large army, we could take it, but wouldn’t that look weak?”

Sending a large army to Afghanistan, such a small country? This would be a loss of face for the Roman Treaty.

“On the contrary, being able to send a large army would set an example as the Roman Emperor.”

That argument had merit too.

Sending a large army could send the message that anyone who challenges us will be crushed with full force.

This perspective makes sense.

However, while Afghanistan might consider allying with other Arab countries, they haven’t directly intervened, so this might be an excessive preventive war.

“That’s the problem. Even if we win, won’t the casualties be high?”

“What about trying to win them over with food instead?”

Win them over with food.

Is that even a reasonable suggestion? If food could win people over, the world would be a happy place without wars.

“If they could be won over with candy, Afghanistan wouldn’t be the Afghanistan of World Strategy.”

A member of the Liberal Democratic Party waved a copy of World Strategy.

The Duma members are seriously wondering if the Afghanistan in World Strategy might actually be the Afghanistan of another world.

“Isn’t the Tsar being too cautious this time? It might not be that big a deal in reality.”

That makes sense, but there are historical precedents.

Of course, weapons have evolved since then, and countries are different, but still.

“Seeing how Britain withdrew suggests it’s not ordinary.”

“It wouldn’t be bad to ask Britain about it.”

Britain should know the pros and cons of Afghanistan.

Of course, if it were the past Russian Empire, they might have targeted Afghanistan as soon as Britain pulled out. If Britain set that precedent, we should listen.

“But Britain withdrew on their own after World War I, didn’t they?”

“The war hasn’t even been confirmed yet.”

That’s right. Afghanistan might even surrender on its own.

With Iraq and Iran being beaten, would Afghanistan logically just sit still?

If we thrash Iraq and Iran like a threshing machine, will Afghanistan surrender or help them?

Helping might be somewhat possible, or at least a position where they won’t die immediately, but Afghanistan shares a border with Russia to the north.

In other words, they’re in a position to be invaded at any time and are in no position to support anyone.

“Let’s just push to Iran for now. How about sending a delegation to Afghanistan offering them leadership of the Islamic-Hellenistic Federation?”

“Wouldn’t that make us look incapable of waging war?”

“We should add some military pressure. And also mention the extensive damage to Iraq and Iran.”

“We must make it clear they’ll be under the Roman Treaty organization.”

Set up pro-Roman Treaty governments in Iraq and Iran, and give Afghanistan an impressive-sounding but empty title.

“That’s one thing, but we should also consider war separately. If what the Tsar says is true, we should push from the beginning with about 1 million troops.”

One million. Everyone swallowed hard at those words.

They’re talking about deploying 1 million troops not long after unifying the Roman Treaty.

This couldn’t be taken lightly.

“If they accept, we must support Afghanistan afterward. We should help them achieve political national unity centered around the king.”

“Then we can offer support in exchange for accepting the chairmanship.”

It might end surprisingly easily.

This expedition might actually cause extremists to emerge from Iraq and Iran to trouble the Roman Treaty.

Of course, the Roman Treaty would have to defeat them before that happens.

“It would be good to continue preparing a large army.”

“Since Hellenism has connections with Greece, how about requesting troops from Greece as well?”

Right. After all, Greece has legitimacy when it comes to Hellenism.

Greece joined the Roman Treaty almost naturally, so relations with Russia weren’t entirely positive.

The concept of Rome has caused conflicts between the Megali Idea and Russia’s Third Rome.

“Can Greece provide 50,000 troops?”

“For the symbolic reconstruction of Hellenism.”

After all, Greece is the heir to the Hellenistic Empire.

Unlike Russia, which only inherited the Eastern Roman Empire, Greece clearly has legitimacy related to Hellenism that can be utilized.

It’s good for Russian forces to be the main force, but wouldn’t it be better to have the legitimate heir participate as well?

“How many troops does the White Army Department think we need to advance from Iraq to Iran?”

“Well, about 250,000 should be enough for Iraq to Iran.”

“250,000 combat troops with sufficient supplies should do it. I think even this is excessive force.”

250,000 combat troops. Honestly, this is too much even against Iraq and Iran.

“It’s good to show them we can defeat you with this number!”

“But we should show some dignity. We need to provide just the right amount of support.”

Logically, it doesn’t make sense that an army with this level of technology and elite training couldn’t defeat Iraq and Iran.

The problem is just Afghanistan.

For now, it might be good to push all the way to Iran and then propose the Hellenistic Federation plan to Afghanistan as planned.

“Then the White Army Department should go to the Kremlin Palace as soon as preparations are complete. The Treasury Department should prepare the war budget.”

“We will do so.”

War clouds were gradually gathering in the Middle East.

# * * *

Around this time, Iraq and Iran were in dire straits.

After all, Nejd and Hejaz had been thoroughly beaten.

Rumors even said that Romanov Oil was directly dispatched to the Persian Gulf to drill, as there were supposedly enormous oil fields.

“Haven’t Hejaz and Nejd been beaten badly and incorporated into Turkey?”

“Isn’t this a warning not to challenge us?”

“But they say war preparations are already underway. Russian troops are reportedly being deployed to the border.”

Troops are already being deployed to the border region.

Russian forces are actually coming.

And these aren’t just any Russian forces. They helped in the American Civil War, defeated all of Europe, and even the famous Japan in East Asia. Aren’t Russian forces essentially the strongest military in the world?

And now those forces are coming.

It’s not just a qualitative advantage. Russian forces are also numerous.

Even if Iraq and Iran combined, they probably couldn’t match Russian military strength.

“Is there still no answer from the United States?”

They actually had something they believed in.

Yes, the United States. As Anastasia predicted, they were counting on America.

They believed that the United States would check the Roman Treaty’s expansion of power and attempt to monopolize resources.

But the United States refused again this time.

“Unfortunately, they say they need to focus on Japan now.”

“Isn’t a Middle Eastern partner with oil more important than some Far Eastern island country?”

Because of a mere Far Eastern island nation, they’re essentially abandoning an important Middle Eastern partner with oil.

Of course, the United States wouldn’t mind allying with Iran and Iraq if possible. However, with attention focused on East Japan now, there was no reason to provoke the Roman Treaty, and since oil wasn’t an immediate issue, there was no reason to support the Middle East.

However, in this situation, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan would need to unite.

“Isn’t this a big problem? What about Afghanistan?”

“The Kingdom of Afghanistan says they’re not in a position to wage war right now.”

“Damn. They must have given up since America won’t help.”

Who would have thought America wouldn’t help like this?

Of course, they didn’t receive no support at all.

Before the meeting between MacArthur and Anastasia, America had provided weapons to countries like Iraq and Iran to check Russia.

Iraq’s confidence now, unaware of the secret talks between MacArthur and Anastasia, was based on the certainty that America would help.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Even if not war, if the United States had just guaranteed Middle Eastern independence, the Roman Treaty wouldn’t have acted so freely. It was unfortunate.

“We can’t just give in. We have the weapons the U.S. provided, so let’s use them to resist.”

Outdated weapons provided by the United States. These should be enough.