Ch.394True Rome (Under Revision)

* * *

Unlike the Portuguese Empire of the past, today’s Portugal is merely a country at the edge of the Iberian Peninsula.

“Yes. That could be the case.”

“Yes, it’s about becoming the Emperor of Iberia completely, not just Spain.”

Right. If we’re talking about territory, Portugal isn’t much to speak of anyway.

It’s like Portugal was established on a small torn piece of the Iberian Peninsula.

“Hmm. Was Portugal a republic?”

I heard Portugal wasn’t a monarchy.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Portugal is currently a republic, so it’s a bit easier than Spain. Well, Spain also accepted easily once the king approved.”

That’s fortunate then.

Portugal is a republic… who’s in charge of Portugal now?

Is there perhaps some sort of dictator-like figure there?

No, wait a moment.

“I see. Who currently holds power in Portugal?”

I’m curious about that.

For Portugal, wouldn’t it only be possible if they had pro-Russian leadership?

“Recently, the dictator Salazar died, and Marcelo Caetano succeeded him.”

Salazar. I saw posts about him on humor forums.

A figure who kept the Portuguese people ignorant. And someone who managed to spend his final years well.

He’s similar to Franco.

Though in his final years, Salazar was basically living in a Truman Show-like situation.

“Hmm, is that so? Are they pro-Russian?”

They need to be pro-Russian for this to work.

We can’t just say, “Spain did it, so you should kneel too!” for no reason.

“They’re not exactly pro-Russian, but let’s say they’re keeping quiet. The previous leader, Salazar, implemented policies to keep the people ignorant, but with the political advisors from the Roman Treaty being dispatched, the new prime minister seems to have a different approach.”

So, you’re saying there won’t be any difficulties with them either.

Things are progressing so smoothly that I really feel like I’m becoming the Emperor of the world.

“Hmm. Good, then let’s make the proposal.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

If Portugal accepts, everything is set. Then for the middle part, Central Rome… well, there’s the German Empire, and the Donut Federation can be considered Habsburg territory.

That leaves Turkey and Greece.

If we resolve those, we can create Eastern Rome and unify the divided East and West.

“Wouldn’t we need to deal with Turkey as well?”

“Turkey? Why?”

What has Turkey done wrong that we need to deal with them?

If anything, Turkey has been on our side all along.

“Well, it was also the center of Eastern Rome.”

That’s right. It was the center of Eastern Rome.

This makes things a bit complicated.

“Would Turkey accept the Romanov dynasty? It seems awkward to even ask.”

The Roman Treaty accepts all religions.

But regardless, Turkey is still the descendant of those who destroyed Byzantium.

Would they accept if we said, “We’ll treat you as Byzantium, so hand over the imperial throne”?

“They already have a Caliph. Couldn’t we just install an Emperor separately? And I doubt Turkey would dare refuse Your Majesty’s proposal.”

“Hmm, I suppose so.”

Turkey doesn’t have the power to oppose the Roman Treaty.

And we can’t exclude Turkey from the Roman Treaty at this point.

So, it would be appropriate to make a deal. After all, most of the Roman Treaty countries are already in our hands.

Then it shouldn’t be completely impossible.

But before that, Portugal needs to accept.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter to the Roman Treaty if they don’t accept, but… well, I have no regrets.

It just means I’ll have fewer direct territories within the Roman Treaty.

Either way, they’re bound by the treaty.

“Doesn’t Portugal need to accept first for Turkey to follow suit?”

“That’s right. We can’t create a precedent of refusal.”

Correct. If even one country refuses, it sets a precedent, and they might just want to stick with the treaty without making me the Roman Emperor.

If I want to bring Portugal under me, I need to offer something appealing.

“How is Portugal’s modernization going?”

“It seems to be in poor condition. Due to Salazar’s policies of keeping the people ignorant, both education levels and modernization lag behind.”

“So they’ve just been living off Roman Treaty support.”

You mean they’ve been embezzling funds and just ensuring people don’t starve to death?

“Yes. It seems he wanted to position it as an agricultural country.”

That actually makes it easier to maintain a dictatorship.

Uneducated citizens can’t challenge Salazar’s dictatorship.

“Weren’t Roman Treaty advisors dispatched?”

“He strongly claimed it was interference in internal affairs, so only funding was provided.”

Oh, and because it’s Roman territory, they couldn’t say anything?

The Roman Treaty let them handle it themselves, but has Portugal really fallen to such a state?

“Hmm. Is Portugal taking a hard line?”

“Only Salazar himself. His close associates apologized and asked for trust, so the matter was dropped.”

I didn’t know such a thing happened.

The policy of keeping people ignorant seems different from history.

No, the policy is the same, but perhaps he just took Roman Treaty funds without modernizing and just distributed enough to the people.

The situation is more serious than I thought.

“Then don’t we need to address this?”

“Indeed. I didn’t expect such a country to exist within the Roman Treaty.”

I went to North Africa and cursed at Libya and Egypt, but to think that Portugal at the edge of Europe was in the same state! It’s more shocking coming from a supposedly educated nation.

“What about the new prime minister?”

“He seems to be in discussions with the Roman Treaty about preparing for modernization.”

“In discussions?”

“Yes. After Salazar, modernization costs were postponed.”

“So it was because of Salazar. And the Roman Treaty?”

“From the Roman Treaty’s perspective, there was no point in pouring in money.”

That makes sense. This Salazar really had it too easy.

Honestly, I almost went after him. I thought things would change a bit after the Roman Treaty was formed.

Sadly, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Instead, he just took advantage of the Roman Treaty, eating off it while essentially becoming like a province of the Roman Treaty.

Of course, that makes it easier for us to manage, but still.

We went to Libya and Egypt and criticized how they used the money we gave them, but to think Portugal is in the same state.

In other words, it’s like this:

We heard a neighbor’s house was on fire, but when we went to check, our own house was burning too.

That’s the feeling, and it makes me feel disgusted.

I can’t beat up a Roman Treaty member country, and what fault do Salazar’s subordinates have?

Even if there are corrupt individuals, the Roman Treaty will handle it.

“Well, then let’s offer to support those costs.”

“With the condition that Portugal joins us, that would work.”

Regardless of anything else, it doesn’t look good for a European country to be in such a state.

At the very least, we should make it appear as if we’re providing support.

Even just that much would be acceptable from Portugal’s perspective.

“And if they still refuse?”

“In the worst case, we could expel them, saying they don’t fit with the European countries of the Roman Treaty.”

Honestly, I don’t think it will come to that.

Unless Portugal is foolish, they should understand that modernization is necessary.

And our help is essential in that process.

They could leave the Roman Treaty and switch to being pro-American, but America is across the Atlantic, and we’re close by.

And America is focused on Asia, so they wouldn’t particularly target Portugal.

As a small country seeking support, they don’t have much choice.

* * *

Lisbon, Portugal

The Roman Treaty’s proposal arrived in Portugal.

The content: Accept the Roman Emperor who has become a republic.

“So it has come to us as well.”

“To make the Russian Tsar the Emperor of Iberia…”

Although Spain had agreed, it didn’t sit well.

While other countries had received various forms of assistance from the Roman Treaty, Portugal had been minding its own business until it was pressured by surrounding countries to reach its current state.

They even had to give up their colonies.

Despite this, Salazar had successfully kept the people ignorant using Roman Treaty support, even without colonies.

But the process of giving up colonies itself involved pressure.

The one fortunate aspect was that governance in the existing “Portuguese territories” would remain unaffected.

“Nothing will change from now, will it? The Emperor is just a title. It’s probably in the Roman sense.”

Nothing will be different from how it’s been. “That Tsar really loves Rome.”

It can’t be helped that he loves Rome.

“It’s Rome that has emerged after a long time.”

He can be like that because Rome has emerged after a long time. But Portugal abolished its monarchy quite a while ago.

They’ve been a republic for a long time, and now suddenly they’re asked to change back to having an Emperor.

Of course, they understand why this is happening.

“Still, we have our pride.”

No matter what, we’re a republic, so is it right to be so blatant about this?

Unless they offer something substantial in return.

“Pride? We’re not in a position to worry about such things. They say they’ll support the modernization that wasn’t done under the previous prime minister.”

They couldn’t do what should have been done during Salazar’s time.

Already, compared to other countries, they have less territory and a smaller population.

And on top of that, the citizens have all become ignorant, so what can they do?

Now it’s time to undo what the previous prime minister ruined.

“Then, is there a problem?”

“The state of the country is serious because of the previous prime minister. If we can receive support, wouldn’t it be good to accept, whether it’s an Emperor or whatever?”

“Then, let’s accept.”

Portugal accepted the proposal.

With Portugal’s decision, the Roman Treaty, which had only been Roman in name, saw the restoration of Western Roman territories spanning France, Spain, and Portugal under the Roman Emperor.

* * *

After waiting in Madrid for some time…

“Portugal has accepted, I’m told.”

They say the Portuguese side has accepted.

“Portugal?”

I should be happy that Portugal has accepted.

They’ve at least shown a willingness to modernize.

That Salazar bastard should be executed posthumously.

From our perspective, we got Portugal to accept by offering modernization, so that’s sufficient.

“With this, you’ve truly become the Emperor of Western Rome.”

France, Spain, Portugal. And if you consider Algeria and Morocco, which have been incorporated into France and Spain, it’s perfect.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

Congratulations my ass. This is enough now.

I’m getting tired of being called Emperor. Recently, I’ve been seriously wondering if it wouldn’t have been better to make a run for America back then.

I wouldn’t have met Maria or Belka, and I wouldn’t have this glory, but…

At least I wouldn’t have become Tsar in America.

“It was just a confirmation process. I feel sorry for the King of Spain.”

“Not at all. The fact that I was able to be restored to the throne is thanks to Your Majesty. I’ll say it again, I’m fine with this.”

Yes, yes. If I hadn’t supported the Falange, you would have been finished.

Republican Spain, with its strong communist leanings, would have become communist, and you wouldn’t have been able to set foot there.

But the Falange, with the resurgence of monarchism and wanting to look good to me, restored Spain as a monarchist country.

If you think about it, it’s thanks to me, so I can be a bit bold.

It’s fortunate that he’s a person who knows gratitude.

“Your Majesty, congratulations!”

Maria and Luiz are clapping their hands and celebrating wholeheartedly.

Franco and Rivera, who alternate as prime ministers, are also clapping. And other Falange party members are offering their blessings.

Ah, now even this sight has become familiar.

A scene I can see wherever I go, possible only because I am the Tsar.

The cheers of the people in Madrid directed at me.

A world that can be seen as peaceful wherever I go. And not just in my own country, but throughout Europe.

Seeing this, I feel like I’ve truly brought peace to this world.

It would probably be similar if I went to Portugal.

“But you know what.”

At this point, I realized something I should have noticed earlier.

Europe is already united as one, isn’t it?