Ch.338Renya Mutaguchi – Peace in Our Time

* * *

One option is to cut our losses with Western Japan, or alternatively, tell the United States to quickly suppress the Communist Party before the Japanese United States gets involved.

Or we could commit fully and push Professor Mutaguchi to unify Japan.

Honestly, even if Japan unifies now, Eastern Japan has been thoroughly devastated, and its economy must be in ruins.

If Professor Mutaguchi wants to carry Eastern Japan on his back, he’ll have no choice but to cling to our Roman Treaty.

Driving the Americans out of Japan won’t be easy in the first place.

The United States is currently beating Eastern Japan more than necessary.

“MacArthur is the president now, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Should I have MacArthur root out the communists in Eastern Japan now?

That idiot Trotsky is just going to hold out until the end. And now he’s trying to resolve this by clinging to Western Japan.

“Then it will be harder to escape from war.”

We also have the Middle East to deal with; we can’t be tied up in Japan right now.

I’ve come all this way trying to minimize friction with the United States, but even that has become difficult now.

Well, this can’t be helped. What should we do?

“Or we could think about it differently.”

For example, we could get some compensation from the United States, something that would satisfy the Western Japanese people.

The US must be in a difficult position too, right?

If Trotsky is requesting help, it means he can still hold out and has means to contact Western Japan.

That would mean the United States is struggling right now.

Come to think of it, the US needs to fold in South America, but weren’t they also trying to make Vietnam a pro-American country?

Considering that, they’ll find it hard to deliver a serious punch to Eastern Japan. I can understand that.

The US has fought many wars, needs to be mindful of public opinion, and considering the costs, they can only deploy limited forces to Eastern Japan.

In that case, Mutaguchi’s attack could become quite annoying for the US military, which needs to deal with Eastern Japan decisively.

They can’t afford to be tied down in a place like Eastern Japan when they need to deliver serious blows elsewhere, and if they’re mindful of public opinion, they need to finish the job with the troops currently deployed to Eastern Japan.

So perhaps it’s not a bad idea for Renya Mutaguchi to pressure them by making non-participation a condition.

Does Renya Mutaguchi have that kind of nerve?

From what I can see, he doesn’t seem like someone with that kind of nerve. At the very least, he should show some boldness against the United States.

If Professor Mutaguchi had that kind of nerve, he wouldn’t have come to me saying, “What should I do, Anaemong!”

“What would be the best course of action?”

“How about simply entrusting it to Renya Mutaguchi?”

“If he were that kind of man, would I have sent him like this?”

Probably not.

This man truly believes I’ll solve everything for him without thinking.

“No. We can just end this unexpectedly.”

“Pardon?”

“Do we still have Okhrana infiltrated in Eastern Japan?”

If we have Okhrana in Eastern Japan, how about using them to capture Trotsky?

“Yes. They’ve infiltrated the Kanto Republic as Americans.”

“Hmm, what about capturing Trotsky again?”

Even if the Okhrana suffers some damage, wouldn’t it be possible to somehow subdue Trotsky?

If Trotsky is indeed the central figure, we could just capture him and end this.

“Would capturing him solve anything?”

I suppose not. Communists are vermin. No, not just vermin. Cockroaches.

Contacting MacArthur directly would only be possible after returning to Moscow.

It’s annoying when something like this happens in Japan while I’m in the Middle East.

Can’t be helped. Given the situation, we just need to end this quickly.

Before that, I should tell Renya Mutaguchi to stall for time.

“For now, tell Renya Mutaguchi to stall for time somehow. Beria, send a telegram to Renya Mutaguchi right away.”

We can figure out how to stall for time.

After having him stall, we just need to resolve the Afghanistan issue as quickly as possible.

“I will do so, Your Majesty.”

“This is no time for leisure. Tell Zhukov to go to the Greek forces and tell them to finish quickly. Tell them they’ll face harsh treatment from the Roman Treaty Organization for every delay.”

It’s right to withdraw the Greek forces at this point.

Again, Afghanistan can be resolved peacefully, it doesn’t matter.

So rather than that, let’s finish Afghanistan peacefully and send Roman Treaty officials to resolve this issue.

I need to quickly return to Moscow and prepare to deal with the Japan situation.

Honestly, I’d like to leave everything to the Duma, but since I’m partly responsible for deploying Trotsky to Japan, I have no choice.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Greeks need to quickly finish in Afghanistan, whether they die or not.

We need to finish there quickly and return to focus on Eastern Japan.

“Your Majesty, what are your thoughts if war breaks out in Japan?”

If war really breaks out… If war really breaks out, then we’re finished too.

We’d have to go to war with the United States just to save Japan.

Of course, we could still defeat the United States, but the problem is that the future I’ve envisioned would be shattered.

Even if we defeat the United States, the damage would be unimaginably great, and cracks could form in the Roman Treaty.

In the worst-case scenario, we’d have to give up Japan.

“In the worst-case scenario, we’d have to give up Japan.”

From the looks of it, Renya Mutaguchi will be the one to accept this.

Since he started the war on his own, we don’t need to get involved in something that could lead to an expanded conflict.

Western Japan itself was fortunate to be established in the first place. It wouldn’t be bad to use this opportunity to give the United States a bit of a hard time.

Renya Mutaguchi has probably been building up his military diligently.

He won’t just be pushed around by the United States.

While the US is tied up in Japan, it wouldn’t be bad to secure the Middle East firmly under our sphere of influence.

If Renya Mutaguchi chooses to participate, it would be considered an invasion, so there’s no reason for the Co-Prosperity Sphere countries to help.

Abandon Japan and take the Middle East.

If we can’t have both, we should at least take one.

* * *

Japanese United States Prime Minister’s Residence

Renya Mutaguchi was troubled by his subjects’ calls for swift eastern unification.

The military generals were gathered before him, clamoring for unification, which only added to his concerns.

‘This is clearly wrong.’

From the Prime Minister’s perspective, this war must not happen.

The moment war breaks out, Western Japan, which is in the midst of recovery, will collapse again.

The Southern Manchurian Army doesn’t seem to understand, perhaps because they haven’t directly witnessed nuclear weapons. Although the US probably won’t use them because of the Roman Treaty, the possibility of nuclear weapons isn’t completely zero.

Even worse, the foolish Southern Manchurian Army is insisting on driving out the US forces.

That must not happen.

We’ve just barely completed reconstruction projects, and starting another war would mean all of Shinju would burn.

It would be the beginning of a tragic civil war.

No matter what, that’s unacceptable.

Moreover, strictly speaking, aren’t the people of the Kanto Republic also of the same ethnicity? Apart from the merit of unification, there’s no reason to side with the Reds.

When will the Tsar give his answer?

Until then, I need to think as rationally as possible.

Somehow, I must suppress this erupting nationalism.

So Renya Mutaguchi had to calm down the excited military.

“At times like this, we must think rationally.”

“Sir, what do you mean?”

When asked what I mean, it’s only natural to answer.

Renya Mutaguchi continued with the most solemn expression he could muster.

“Once, I rose up to drive out the corrupt Japanese Empire. But I failed.”

“Yes. Isn’t now the perfect time for unification?”

Now is the time for unification? Have you ever seen such simple-minded fools? Does unification seem that easy?

What a stupid fool.

Time for unification? Say it correctly. It’s the time when all of Japan will become hell.

It would be too much to directly say “You’re an idiot!” so there’s only one thing Renya Mutaguchi can do.

“But I pursue peaceful unification.”

“Peaceful unification, you say?”

“Suppose we shed blood to drive out the US forces and the Kanto Republic to achieve unification. What would remain would only be the surviving Communists and devastated Shinju.”

The entire country would burn again.

Countless people would die, and the farmland we’ve just restored would all face difficulties.

Even if Western Japan recovers Kanto now, would the United States just leave it be? Even after unification, it would only be ashes.

Now is still the time to build up national strength, and we shouldn’t provoke MacArthur unnecessarily.

Above all, the forces requesting help are the Reds.

“Then…”

“I still pursue peaceful unification, not unification through force. But once the seeds of communism are sown, it becomes difficult.”

The seeds of communism tend to rise up in difficult times.

Renya Mutaguchi could see this while observing the Russian Civil War.

“Then…”

“I don’t want the red seeds to fall upon the Yamato people. Also, attacking the Kanto Republic means mutual destruction. The United States and the Roman Treaty would get involved, and in the end, regardless of who wins, the archipelago would crumble like brittle candy.”

“But would they, would the United States help with peaceful unification?”

Probably not. Would they just give up the interests they hold? I don’t think so.

So Renya Mutaguchi had much to say.

“Then let me ask you. Conversely, the Kanto Republic is also of the same ethnicity, so is it right to attack them?”

This inevitably creates cognitive dissonance.

Even if the Kanto Republic is a US puppet, the legitimate government of Eastern Japan is the Kanto Republic, not the Reds.

“That’s not it, but…”

“I will help the US forces eradicate the red seeds. But in return, I will boldly request the United States to establish a Shinju Peace Unification Organization! An organization solely for Japan that will allow unification at an appropriate time when our mutual interests align!”

Mutaguchi stood up abruptly from his seat, clenching his right hand tightly.

With a face more confident than ever. A face that gave everyone faith.

With a face as solemn as when he once defeated the Chinese warlord coalition.

With bright, clear eyes!

“Will the United States accept that?”

“The reason the United States can’t treat us arbitrarily is because the Roman Treaty stands behind us. There’s a sufficient possibility. If they don’t accept, I will personally march into Eastern Japan.”

If neither this nor that works, then there really would be no option but to expel the United States. But at least for now, we’ve bought time, which is fortunate.

Until then, I must show a determined appearance.

“Then, we should convey our intentions to the American side.”

“Yes. Through the Kanto Republic, we will convey our intentions to New York. This is the cry for peace in Shinju, the cry for peace in Asia!”

“Yes, sir.”

Good. This should be enough.

‘Good. Let’s just buy time for now.’

If we can just buy time until the Tsar finishes his business in the Middle East, we can look for another opportunity then.

However, this cry for Asian peace that our Mutaguchi made simply to buy time drew American attention in many ways.

“So this is what they call the hero of Asia!”

“How can he be so generous to a country that has torn his own apart!”

“A bold decision to prevent World War III!”

American media outlets were lavish in their praise for Renya Mutaguchi’s decision.

Surprisingly, as Renya’s story spread to the United States during this time, he became known as a legend of Japan, a legendary warrior of Asia.

Even recognized as a prodigy by the Tsar.

As such, he received much attention from some Americans.

Naturally, the White House also had to carefully consider Renya Mutaguchi’s proposal.

“Ike, it would be difficult to push Western Japan, wouldn’t it? Seeing him make such a proposal shows his willingness to fight us.”

Renya Mutaguchi made quite a bold proposal.

And he said he would bring his army directly if the proposal wasn’t accepted. If MacArthur weren’t the president, he would have led the army himself to have an exhilarating battle on that archipelago.

He wanted to see the skills of the man whom the Tsar praised as a hero. But now, MacArthur found that difficult.

He needed to fund Southeast Asian countries and keep South America in check.

“Yes, the Western Japanese United States Army is armed with Roman Treaty weapons and their morale is sky-high. There are over 300,000 army troops deployed at the border, and if war breaks out, the Roman Treaty will also provide indirect support. Of course, the Asian Union would support Western Japan first, so it could essentially become World War III.”

World War III, just hearing it makes one shudder.

Of all times, this happens while he’s president. They’ve already withdrawn from South America, and fighting intensely in Eastern Japan would be disastrous.

But then again, establishing a unification organization… that’s also problematic.

“If we establish a unification organization, won’t they unify immediately?”

“That’s not the case. The Kanto Republic began as our puppet, a country without roots. Currently, the Kanto Republic blames Renya Mutaguchi for the archipelago being split in half to unite the Kanto people, and has deepened the conflict between Eastern and Western Japanese. Even if a peace unification organization is established, unification would be difficult for decades.”

Then there’s no need to worry.

As long as there’s no expanded conflict, this is acceptable.

“Then, accept Renya Mutaguchi’s proposal. Tell him if he properly helps eradicate the Communist Party, we’ll establish a unification organization.”

And so.

Renya Mutaguchi became a Nobel Peace Prize nominee for preventing World War III.

Commentators unanimously declared that Mutaguchi’s decision marked the beginning of Pax Japonica.