Ch.43Atatürk and Tsarina

* * *

Anton Denikin’s White Army of Southern Russia moved meticulously and quickly.

As if trying to reclaim sacred territory. They entered Anatolia with rising momentum, declaring they would reclaim the land as protectors of the Orthodox Church and heirs of the Eastern Roman Empire.

“What the hell? Why are Russians here?!”

“It’s an army we cannot stop!”

The Grand National Assembly’s forces were in despair.

Looking at that army surging forward like a wave, they felt utterly intimidated.

The Russian forces had no concerns about supplies.

The Entente provided them with transport ships and food when needed, and they had an abundance of German weapons—originally intended for the French front—that had been confiscated to prevent them from reaching Communist Germany.

After mercilessly crushing the Reds and targeting the Grand National Assembly, which was already battered and could only focus on defense, they had become an elite fighting force through the civil war.

Greece, which had intended to protest against Russia, could only retreat in silence, intimidated by the White Army’s momentum.

And now.

The Turkish Grand National Assembly was in a desperate situation.

“The Russian White Army, supported by the Great Powers, has crossed into Anatolia.”

“How many? They just finished their civil war, so they couldn’t have mobilized that many troops.”

While they had been concerned about Russia, this was happening too quickly.

How could they be invading when they should be busy consolidating their own internal affairs?

The Turkish Grand National Assembly, unaware of Saint Anastasia and Russia’s circumstances, had assumed Russia wouldn’t be able to intervene in this war.

“200,000 troops armed with German weapons.”

The Grand National Assembly, which had achieved miraculous victories under worse conditions than in actual history and believed independence was within reach, was now completely demoralized by the news that 200,000 White Russian troops had appeared as enemies.

Did it really have to come to this?

What sin had the Ottoman Empire committed to deserve such a beating and dismemberment?

“Anton Denikin’s Russian White Army has halted its advance at Samsun.”

“There must have been no engagement. Why did they stop?”

Samsun was an area currently without defensive forces.

Why had they stopped there?

Of course, if they had continued, Denikin’s army would have faced guerrilla warfare, but they could have seized the advantage immediately.

“Perhaps they suspected a trap?”

“What should we do now?”

The Grand National Assembly fell into confusion.

There truly seemed to be no answer.

An additional enemy force of 200,000 troops had appeared.

And the enemy was the Slavic people who had always coveted Ottoman Turkish lands—truly their mortal enemies.

At this point, Kemal seriously wondered if perhaps he hadn’t done well enough all this time.

Honestly, if he gave up everything right now, wouldn’t he still be recorded in Turkish history for generations to come?

Mustafa Kemal had such weak thoughts before shaking his head.

Not yet.

If the Russians were just idiots pushing forward with numbers alone, things might be different.

The problem was that even an army advancing purely with numerical superiority was threatening. The Russian forces entering Anatolia were formidable.

“General İnönü. Can we win?”

“Realistically, it’s impossible. What we’ve achieved so far was already close to a miracle. And that was only thanks to the supplies left behind by Italy.”

The Grand National Assembly’s army had barely been holding on with weapons abandoned by Italy, which had deserted in discontent after not receiving Dalmatia in the Great War.

And now, 200,000 Russian troops on top of that.

Moreover, they weren’t just advancing with numbers but were properly equipped with the latest weapons.

The Russian army, somehow fully outfitted with German equipment, had quickly pushed into parts of Anatolia and was proudly proclaiming themselves heirs of Rome.

They were an army that had restored fallen Russia through consecutive victories against the Reds in their civil war.

“If they only had numbers, it would be different. But they’re an army hardened by civil war. They have abundant supplies. It will be very difficult for us to win.”

“I hear the Entente has made another proposal?”

With Russia’s participation, the Entente had sent another proposal.

It was a newly revised proposal after Italy’s withdrawal and adjustments on the Greek side.

“Yes. They say they’ll preserve our territory in central and southern Anatolia if we cede northern Turkey where Pontic Greeks reside, and Eastern Thrace including Constantinople—the land of the Second Rome—to Russia.”

Apart from the former Eastern Roman territories being transferred to Russia, they would also recognize “some” of the land along the Sea of Marmara coast as belonging to the new Turkey, though it was scheduled to come under the League of Nations’ joint administration.

Of course, it was hard to swallow when considering that the Aegean islands would go to Greece, and territories taken by Britain and France, plus the Kurdish autonomous region, but they could preserve a bit more territory than in the previous partition.

Well, the Russians who would now proudly call themselves descendants of Rome would be laughing loudly.

If this happened, Turkey wouldn’t be able to build up its national power with the same momentum as before, but what choice did they have if they wanted to survive?

After taking all the land they wanted to take, they promised to guarantee independence.

“Russia had reason to drool over this.”

“And this was sent directly from the Russian side.”

“From the Russian side?”

“It’s said to be a personal letter from the Grand Duchess.”

Mustafa Kemal, receiving Anastasia’s personal letter, couldn’t shake off an uneasy feeling about reading it.

But this Grand Duchess Anastasia was someone who had personally fought against the Reds.

Someone who, like himself, had resolved a national crisis.

What would such a goddess of the battlefield write in a personal letter?

As expected, it would be about surrender—

“No. She wants to talk?”

“Talk? The Russian Grand Duchess?”

“That’s right.”

Though the content would probably be the same, she wanted to talk.

And away from the eyes of the Great Powers. Perhaps she wanted to find some compromise.

“It’s a trap. They’re trying to lure you out to kill you.”

“She says she’ll meet in Samsun.”

Of course, Anton Denikin’s army was there, but she was asking to meet for dialogue.

Perhaps it would be worth meeting her.

Who knows? She might approach things differently.

* * *

Atatürk stands before me.

The man who gave Churchill the splendid nickname “Mr. Gallipoli.”

The hero of the Ottoman Empire who ground down the Entente forces at Gallipoli.

I never thought I’d see him in reality like this.

And in negotiations over the partition of the Ottoman Empire, no less.

Personally, I like him because he gave those pirate-like troublemakers and Churchill a hard time during World War I.

“I am honored to meet the Saint of All Russia. I am Mustafa Kemal.”

“The hero of Gallipoli and the Turkish War of Independence. I’m seeing Mustafa Kemal in person. I regret that we meet under these circumstances.”

“If you regret it, then withdraw your troops. I understand Russia has suffered no small damage from its civil war.”

Wow, he’s filled with hostility.

Well, that makes sense.

We suddenly brought a large army to destroy them.

In reality, the relationship between Korea and Turkey is quite good, but this world is different from that one.

Moreover, I am a Russian Grand Duchess.

There’s no way the relationship could be good between Russia, which claims to be the successor of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the Ottoman Empire, which destroyed the Eastern Roman Empire.

Especially in a situation like this.

“I wish I could, but it’s impossible. We’ve received significant help from the Great Powers, and we intend to settle accounts with this matter. Of course, I’d also like to receive Constantinople as my share.”

“It’s Istanbul.”

“Isn’t it land that the Ottoman Turks forcibly took after destroying the Eastern Roman Empire? Originally, that land is the sacred land of Rome, and to us who succeeded them, it is Constantinople.”

To us, it’s Constantinople!

How dare you call it Istanbul?

“Are you trying to pressure us by bringing up past history?”

Kemal, sensing he might lose this war of words, changed the subject.

Yes, I also think the main point is important.

That means I need to quickly snatch Constantinople and move on.

“Well, as you said, there’s civil war damage, and waging another war when we should be focusing on public sentiment is a gamble. That’s why I’m here. Accept our new surrender proposal.”

“You call that a proposal!”

His determination to fight here seems quite remarkable. Well, fine. Fight to the last man. That’s good.

But that’s only possible if you have an army to fight with.

Especially when you don’t even have weapons.

“Do you have an army to fight? Are your supplies abundant? If we deliberately join forces with Britain and France and attack from all sides, can you withstand it?”

He can’t refute that.

Yes, exactly. There’s no way he can refute it.

“We Turks will fight against our enemies to the last man.”

“That’s predictable. You’ll somehow fight until everyone dies, making the Entente sick of it, and then negotiate.”

“!!”

“But unfortunately, after letting Germany off in the Great War, Britain and France will try to destroy at least you. They have the pride of colonial empires. Don’t you know how detestable Britain and France are?”

Mustafa Kemal and İnönü, along with the soldiers of the Grand National Assembly who accompanied him, became speechless and looked at me with disbelief.

Why? We are the successors of the Eastern Roman Empire and can proudly trouble you.

After a while, Kemal, having regained his composure and seemingly suppressing his anger, continued.

“If we surrender, all that remains for us is central and southern Anatolia.”

“At least you can protect that central and southern region. Before all Ottomans die. Britain and France need the title of ‘Kemal’s surrender’ right now. Don’t you think they’ve been this lenient because you’ve fought back until now?”

Isn’t this much more merciful than the Ottomans who destroyed the Eastern Roman Empire that begged for its life? At least we’re saying we’ll let you keep your country.

When you think about it, this is simple.

Kemal refused the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire -> Let’s destroy at least the Ottoman Empire to show that the Great War was a victory for the Entente -> Kemal is putting up cosmic defense? Let’s just get his surrender. That’s how it went.

Britain needs to show results, so they need to somehow capture the Ottoman Empire, and France, where the smell of communism is rising, doesn’t even need to be mentioned.

So, if Kemal of this Grand National Assembly holds out, it becomes a “let’s all die together” situation.

However, it’s definitely Turkey that will die.

At least the other Great Powers will preserve their nations, whether they go through civil wars or whatever. But Turkey? It’s truly the end.

The Pontic Greeks will become independent, and Kurdistan will also become independent.

Britain and France will take out all their frustrations on Turkey.

“If it weren’t for those damned British, we would have had no reason to enter that cursed war! And you’re telling us to submit to them again. Again!”

Atatürk jumped to his feet and shouted.

I know. That Churchill bastard cheated with warships. The Ottoman Empire must feel truly wronged.

Their pride has been scratched beyond repair.

But you know what?

Eventually, good days will come.

“Won’t there be an opportunity someday?”

“Opportunity?”

“This won’t be the last war. It ended on bad terms, and Germany is now controlled by the Communists. When that time comes, we Russians can help your country regain some of what Britain and France took.”

Eventually, an opportunity will come.

When that time comes, Britain and France will gather all their strength to deal with the red plague that is Germany. In the end, they’ll only be able to maintain their home territories.

Just like in actual history, they’ll have to disgorge all the lands they’ve fattened up like pigs.

Turkey will also want to reclaim its lands.

Turning a blind eye to that would be fine, wouldn’t it?