Ch.368Mother Tsar Oppression Conspiracy Theory

Israel reluctantly accepted the UN’s mediation proposal despite their displeasure.

“It’s disappointing, but withdrawing is the right choice.”

“Hmph. How can the Chinese have such a large population? I heard Japan even carried out ethnic cleansing, yet they still overwhelm us with sheer numbers.”

What nonsense about China’s population being so large.

If their numbers were smaller, the situation would have been better.

Then again, if their numbers were smaller, the war would have ended quickly.

“For now, we should listen to the UN.”

If they don’t heed the UN, the Rome Treaty Organization might intervene.

Even Russia wouldn’t want that.

So accepting the proposal at this point isn’t a bad idea.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Government also strongly protested after accepting the UN’s mediation proposal.

“They tell us to stop? When they’re the ones provoking us!”

Weren’t they freely provoking from Shanghai?

They were even reportedly expelling all Chinese living in the vicinity.

From the Nationalist Government’s perspective, this was intolerable.

“Let’s be honest. Wasn’t it the Nationalist Government that coveted Shanghai, which we had ceded to them?”

The Rome Treaty officially transferred Shanghai to Israel.

And Israel stationed troops there.

The Nationalist Government could never overlook this.

“But that land is Chinese territory.”

That nonsense about Chinese territory. These Chinese are still trapped in their Sinocentrism even while fighting among themselves.

If these people unite, modernize, and exert their power, they’ll be extremely dangerous.

“The world has changed long ago. How long do you plan to keep singing about Chinese supremacy? You don’t even have the capacity for war anymore.”

It’s time to come to your senses.

You are neither the center of the world, nor close to being a middle power, just a country engaged in power struggles.

With such a status, how long will you keep putting yourself forward? Know your place before you speak up. That was the message.

Song Meiling couldn’t refute this. After all, the Nationalist Government could maintain its form thanks to them.

Although they received help from Israeli forces during the previous war against the warlords, it was thanks to the UN that they survived, even after conceding some territory to the warlords.

Still, she wanted Shanghai back.

Of course, as the conflict intensified, the Nationalist Government’s losses continued to grow.

But this was also connected to Song Meiling’s own power.

“Shanghai. How can we get Shanghai back?”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible. You’re free to negotiate with Israel, but please stop bringing up Shanghai to the Rome Treaty Organization when it’s already left our hands.”

Absolutely not.

With such a firm rejection, the Nationalist Government couldn’t do anything.

They couldn’t afford to make new enemies.

* * *

The Cossack Kremlin Guard.

The Cossack Kremlin Guard is a guard unit composed of Cossacks.

It had its origins in the Cossacks who served in Anastasia’s personal guard, but was formally organized after the Rome Treaty was established and the existing tax exemption benefits for the Cossack people were removed.

“Is the Tsar imposing taxes on us?”

“Well, we’ve enjoyed benefits until now, so it’s not a big deal.”

In fact, the Cossack people accepted it, albeit with some discomfort.

After all, they had followed Anastasia since the Civil War, and there was no answer if Mother Tsar decided to abandon them over this issue.

However, Mother Tsar gave them various benefits instead of removing the tax exemption.

Moscow residency rights. Although tax exemption was impossible, a monthly pension was given to the Cossack people from the Tsar’s personal assets. In addition, as if to show that the Tsar had not forgotten them, she greatly expanded the Kremlin guard unit and even formed a Cossack Guard exclusively for the Cossack people.

“To bestow such great favor upon us who had such disrespectful thoughts!”

“This means the Tsar will value us Cossacks dearly for generations to come!”

“Ah, Your Majesty, we will follow you to the end!”

Yes. Up to this point, everything was good.

The Tsar directly used her personal funds to provide pensions to the Cossacks, and additionally gave them the right to work in various companies operated by the Romanovs.

She actually expanded the guard and immediately staffed it with Cossacks.

However, the problem came right after.

“The Tsar is preparing to abdicate? Isn’t that already known?”

Recently, the Tsar has been mentioned less in the media and rarely appears in advertisements or broadcasts.

Of course, from the perspective of the Cossacks who frequently see the Tsar in the Kremlin, she still appears healthy.

“This time she might be serious.”

“But she’s still in good health.”

“Still, Her Majesty has now passed her sixties.”

“There is only one Tsar in this world, our Tsar.”

“If her body isn’t what it used to be.”

They thought perhaps she only looked fine on the outside but was weakening inside.

But having seen her recently playing with Belka, she was no different from a young girl playing with her favorite dog.

“It’s unbelievable that she’s in her sixties with that appearance. She still seems vigorous.”

Rather, unlike in the past, she was actively running around in the Kremlin.

Perhaps she really wanted to step down from the Tsar’s position and enjoy herself.

After all, she had been running non-stop since her girlhood. She sacrificed her life solely for the country.

Thinking about it, isn’t the Tsar’s life truly bitter?

She appeared young, so even her citizens didn’t acknowledge her. She was the one who somehow rebuilt the empire that her predecessors had ruined.

She also dragged up diplomacy with neighboring countries by the collar.

In the process, the Tsar didn’t look after her own life.

Is that easily possible for a woman? Perhaps it was too difficult, and she might have cried behind closed doors because no one appreciated her.

Being such a person, she was also pitiful.

“Shouldn’t we at least take her side?”

“Then, is she planning to abdicate to Grand Duke Vladimir?”

From what they heard, Grand Duke Vladimir didn’t seem interested in accepting the abdication.

“We don’t know how it will turn out, but we must support Her Majesty.”

Unconditionally support Her Majesty.

That would be the destiny of the Cossack Guard.

* * *

Recently, rumors of my abdication have been quietly spreading again.

Because I haven’t been seen in Moscow city lately, this seems to have stirred up the citizens.

“Why hasn’t the Tsar appeared on television lately?”

“The media should stop oppressing Mother Tsar!”

“This is clearly the Duma persecuting Mother Tsar!”

All sorts of conspiracy theories have emerged.

Most media outlets are in the hands of the Romanovs with ‘freedom’ (?) of expression, yet they claim the media is oppressing the Tsar.

Ah, this is a bit sad. I’d seriously like them to accept it now, but at this rate, I can’t even enjoy myself.

“Mother Tsar, you must appear frequently in today’s Rome News.”

Alisa even begged me to at least let my voice be heard.

I heard that once a civilian even attempted to break into the Duma.

“No, why come to me for something the Duma should handle?”

If nothing else, isn’t this something the Duma should resolve on its own?

“Outside, there are even calls to hang the Duma.”

Hmm, this is a bit much. That’s quite an exaggeration.

For me, this was a bit scary to accept.

It might not be bad to push through at this point, but seriously, what if workers rush to the Duma and try to pull them down again?

The protests that had just stopped might erupt again.

No, honestly, even now, aren’t they causing trouble everywhere except for not protesting?

‘Mother Tsar said not to protest, so other things are okay, right?’

Wasn’t the worker policy properly passed in the first place?

Stepping in on this issue also feels a bit odd. This is ridiculous. Really ridiculous.

“If we push through, it might somehow work out.”

“If that happens, the Duma will be destroyed.”

Maria responded to my words.

Ah, why can I already imagine it?

Moscow citizens rushing to the Duma, including many workers.

The Duma being pulled down and essentially a revolution—if it were just a coup that would be one thing, but the problem is it’s a coup for me.

Wow, this is even a bit scary.

“I never dreamed they would threaten the Duma like this. Really.”

This makes it difficult to even launder my identity.

If they use this as a threat, what will happen? It’s obvious.

I’ll have to attend the Duma again and face public opinion. Ugh, it’s dreadful just to imagine.

“Rather than threats, they are children who truly desire Your Majesty.”

No, at this level, it looks like a threat.

Of course, it’s a bit sad to let it go like this, but at this rate, when will I ever be able to launder my identity?

At this rate, I definitely won’t be able to launder it.

I was planning to gradually abdicate this time, but if it turns out like this, won’t there be all sorts of reactions from the Rome Treaty nations?

“I had somehow managed to pass the grading to Vladimir. What should I do now?”

This feels a bit strange. Honestly, I feel the same way.

To be frank, this is so natural, but I’ve become such a workaholic that my bottom keeps twitching.

That’s what instinct is like.

No matter how I think about it, haven’t I essentially married the Tsar’s duties?

My fingers keep fidgeting too.

Grading every day has become such a habit, it can’t be helped.

“Still, now I’m going to enjoy myself.”

I clenched my fist firmly and declared.

This tremendous goal that seems trivial. This declaration that I will enjoy myself. I just hope no one will stop me.

“Wow, if you suddenly say such things, what should we do?”

“Now I need to do what I want to do. I can have some leisure time, can’t I?”

I, the emperor, need time to rest. This is the mission given to me.

I’ve worked a lot until now, and to launder my identity in the future, I need to prepare.

Emperor Wanli also played around for decades behind the scenes, right? I can also play behind the scenes for decades.

With the Duma and the Rome Treaty Organization headquarters, what’s the problem?

“That’s true. Then, what do you plan to do in your leisure time?”

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

“Well, that is.”

That’s right. At least during the day, in my leisure time, there’s nothing enjoyable.

Since becoming this body, I’ve experienced various things, but still, how should I live as an ordinary person? What should I do? This is a serious issue.

At least there’s no computer as I know it, no smartphone, can’t surf the web, what can I do?

Suddenly, when I try to do something, there’s nothing to do.

“Um, Maria. What do ordinary people usually enjoy?”

What do people enjoy in this world?

“Men mostly enjoy sports, and women gather together for conversation, right?”

No matter what, I don’t like that.

First of all, I’m not good at socializing, and I feel reluctant about women chatting together.

As an emperor, I don’t particularly have anything to talk about, and how many women would be at a level to chat with me?

If there are any, they would be royalty from other countries, but it’s not easy to meet them. And there’s not much to talk about.

Eva Peron is approachable, but I’m worried she might bring up sexual topics if we meet.

“Otherwise.”

“Romance would be the only option, I suppose.”

Are you telling me to date at this age? With this body?

Tsk, although I wasn’t completely uninterested in romance, I want to say, is it necessary?

Seriously, I don’t plan to become a woman desperate for love throwing flirtations everywhere, and I have my social position and dignity.

Right now, there are numerous people protecting me in this Kremlin Palace.

“Romance, what romance would I have now? Honestly, it’s too late.”

Seriously, to have a romance is a bit, hmm.

How should I put it? There’s that psychological resistance? Something like that.

“Didn’t Churchill say he would push in one of their royals?”

“What am I supposed to do with someone much younger than me? Sigh.”

Talk sense.

Even someone in their 20s would be much younger.

Unless I’m really starving for sexual desire and want to do something with royalty from another country.

Particularly, I don’t have any reason to be starving.

“If you get physically close, things might change.”

Physical relationship. You want me to do such things with a young person?

No matter what, that’s a bit too much. I don’t even think about doing that with a young person. Hmm.

“No matter what, that’s not right. Even if they were the same age as me.”

“But a man in his 60s wouldn’t be right either, would it?”

Ah, dealing with a man in his 60s would be a bit much too.

No, wait. I don’t understand why the conversation keeps turning to romance?

“I don’t understand why we’re talking about romance in the first place.”

At this age, thoughts about romance disappear.