Ch.45Crazy talk

* * *

Well, then the Makhno issue is settled.

“Are there any other issues that could be problematic at this point?”

“General Brusilov’s army is having friction with Poland, I hear.”

“In Poland?”

Is there any reason for friction to occur in Poland?

Poland wouldn’t have attacked Russia in the midst of all this, would they?

“It’s not quite war, but it seems the Polish forces are causing trouble, emboldened by British support.”

“Poland. Poland.”

I tap my fingers on the desk while trying to recall my image of Poland.

They are a country that’s been poking around everywhere since gaining independence.

Before the nuclear war, they were a country that bought weapons enthusiastically from Korea, making many comments about having similar painful histories and alliance memes.

But as soon as they gained independence, they became quite unlikeable with their provocative and expansionist behavior.

So they’re causing trouble there now?

Surely it won’t lead to another war.

“It won’t lead to war, will it?”

Starting consecutive wars with Britain right now wouldn’t be ideal.

If Britain had wanted to take us down, they would have mediated during the civil war and split us with the Bolsheviks.

“No, it won’t reach that point. The British forces in Poland have already apologized on their behalf.”

“Those guys apologized on Poland’s behalf?”

“It must be because of Germany. France and Britain are exhausted now. With revolutionary Germany’s unpredictable behavior, they probably want to maintain friendly relations with us.”

Well, if that’s the case.

Isn’t Russia absolutely thriving now?

If the British are apologizing, it means they don’t want to be hostile toward us. Wow! A weakened Russia that just went through civil war is suddenly thriving!

The snowball I started rolling has grown enormously.

“The Poland situation is fine. The problem is the Baltic region.”

“The Baltic?”

“Major General Pavel Bermondt, leading the West Russian White Army, wants to wage war against the three Baltic states now that the Bolsheviks have withdrawn.”

Seems like he’s getting restless with his improved fortunes.

But no.

At least until Russia regains its former strength, we need to be a very docile country and gradually accumulate benefits.

“What does the Duma think? Personally, I believe those three Baltic states were ceded according to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. This could cause problems with Britain. Above all, didn’t we recognize their independence to gain British support when we were crushing the Bolsheviks?”

“Just as we took eastern Ukraine. Shouldn’t we acquire at least one of the three states?”

Shouldn’t we be grateful just to maintain our current territory after winning the civil war?

“Latvia and Lithuania have strong British influence. So, geographically speaking, Estonia would be best. Ask them to join the United States. This is just my opinion, so the Prime Minister can simply inform the Duma that the Tsar opposes war.”

The current United States of Greater Russia includes minority nations that originally wanted independence.

One reason they’ve been able to unite is thanks to the Bolsheviks, if I may say so.

While offering the carrot of expanded autonomy, we impressed upon them the insect-like atrocities the Bolsheviks would commit, and formed a common front against the Bolsheviks by fighting together.

“I’ve heard that General Bermondt’s forces have already fought with the Estonian army. Will they follow our instructions?”

“If they refuse, we’ll deal with it then. There’s no reason to antagonize Britain. I’m just suggesting we make the proposal. Now is not the time for war.”

We can’t force them if they strongly refuse.

As I said, Russia shouldn’t become a thuggish nation.

If Estonia rejects the proposal, well, we’re not going to fight Britain over it.

The Turkish War of Independence benefits us greatly, so that’s different. At least until the Great Depression hits, we need to keep a low profile.

Rather, if we let it go and the Baltic states start provoking Russia because they think we’re weak, we can deal with them then.

Now is the time to focus internally.

So the Baltic situation is at a point where we can draw a reasonable line.

The real issue is Manchuria, isn’t it? Everything has already been decided, but there’s been no word from the Japanese side.

“Yes.”

“What’s happening with the Manchurian partition?”

We’ve already gained Northern Manchuria, but Southern Manchuria is different.

Japan said they would handle the Southern Manchuria issue themselves, so I was planning to let it slide. But at this rate, won’t all the warlords that should exist in Manchuria completely disappear?

“Japanese forces recently entered Southern Manchuria, I hear.”

As expected, they didn’t disappoint.

They’re strong against the weak but weak against the strong! Too difficult to deal with us, but quick to strike China!

“So it’s the Japanese army after all. They never disappoint with their thuggish behavior. What’s their pretext?”

“They claim Chinese bandits keep crossing the Yalu River.”

They’re taking all of Southern Manchuria because of some Chinese bandits.

Truly befitting of those drunk on imperialism.

Or do they believe we’ll cooperate if China makes trouble?

“Taking all of Southern Manchuria for such a reason. Typical Japan. But that seems problematic in many ways.”

“They’ve learned about the principle of national self-determination that the Grand Duchess advocated.”

What?

“National self-determination?”

I did advocate something like national self-determination.

I argued that just as we respect minorities within Russia, each nationality should have its own country, and they should all be within the United States of Greater Russia.

We expanded minority autonomy and implemented reforms. That’s basically it.

In other words, I argued that minorities should be respected and have a place to live. By making this argument, I drew minorities to the White Army.

Yes. Let’s put that aside for now.

Did they really use this as their justification?

The Asian Cavalry Division that occupied Northern Manchuria could be argued to have been like Ungern’s private army that later joined the White Army.

But Southern Manchuria is different.

Plus, Japan has already secured their ticket for the Great Kanto Earthquake.

It will happen next year.

“The Japs’ official justification is that Southern Manchuria, where Koreans who are subjects of the Japanese Empire live, is Japanese territory.”

“Oh.”

Impressive. Did they learn this from me?

They must have wanted to devour Southern Manchuria by any means.

With the Washington Conference likely forcing them to return Qingdao, they must be desperate to gain something.

As for cautioning Japan… for current Russia, criticizing Japan to protect Chinese territory in Southern Manchuria seems inappropriate.

Rather than that, I’ll tacitly approve Southern Manchuria as we previously agreed behind the scenes.

Moreover, Japan has now put forward this absurd version of national self-determination.

Since Koreans live in Southern Manchuria, it’s Korean territory, and since Koreans are imperial subjects, Southern Manchuria is Japanese territory.

If China accepts this logic, then later when we attach Southern Manchuria to create an independent Korea based on this modified national self-determination, China won’t be able to say anything.

This means everything is proceeding according to my original plan.

It’s like blowing your nose without using your hands.

I’m not trying to attach Southern Manchuria to Korea because I’m originally Korean.

Korea’s position is perfect for checking Japan, which might come under American influence.

I don’t know if Korea in this timeline will become pro-Russian or pro-American, but if Japan falls to America like in actual history, I’d like Korea to become a balancer in Northeast Asia.

For that, it needs some weight class.

* * *

China suddenly lost Southern Manchuria.

Originally it was a warlord region, and since China was pre-Northern Expedition, the area couldn’t be fully considered territory of the Republic of China.

Nevertheless, it could be called Chinese territory.

Although it was the domain of the bandit Zhang Zuolin, it could be called Chinese land in name and reality.

But suddenly they were backstabbed.

Northern Manchuria was taken by Russia.

Southern Manchuria was taken by Japan.

The Beiyang Government immediately dispatched Wang Jingwei as a special envoy to Japan.

“How could you do this? Manchuria is the territory of our Republic of China!”

“Hmm, that’s somewhat incorrect.”

But Uchida Kōsai of the Japanese Empire’s Foreign Ministry, who was receiving Wang Jingwei’s anger, looked extremely calm and relaxed.

He had the appearance of someone who had prepared all justifications and was facing a debate he couldn’t lose.

Wang Jingwei sensed something was wrong.

“What?”

“You say Manchuria is the territory of the Republic of China? Isn’t Manchuria originally the land of the Manchus? How can the Republic of China, a Han nation that overthrew the Qing Dynasty, claim Manchu land as its own?”

Overthrow the Qing and revitalize the Han.

How could the Republic of China, a Han nation established after overthrowing the Qing Dynasty, claim the Qing’s land as its own?

The Japanese side had no intention of understanding or trying to understand.

“What did you say?”

“I understand that after Russia took Northern Manchuria, many Han people from Southern Manchuria also crossed the Great Wall.”

The Han people of the three northeastern provinces, having already experienced Russia’s southward expansion, had to evacuate either voluntarily or involuntarily.

Now all that remained in Northern Manchuria were Manchus who didn’t mind living as Russians and some Han people. Moreover, with Japanese forces frequently entering Manchuria recently, the warlords had simply withdrawn. What point was he trying to make with this?

“What are you trying to say?”

“There’s a principle called national self-determination. Every nationality, according to their own will—”

“I know what it means. Tell me what Japan is trying to say.”

These Chinese never listen to the end.

National self-determination.

Every nationality has the right to determine its own destiny. On the surface, it’s a nice concept for the independence of oppressed minorities, but…

It was really just a dark-hearted claim to make the defeated powers of the World War give up their colonies, which is why Japan, as a victor, didn’t liberate the Korean Empire.

“Many Koreans have crossed over to live in Southern Manchuria. Isn’t the nationality of the people living in that land what matters?”

“What nonsense.”

“Just as the land south of the Great Wall is Han territory where Han people live, Southern Manchuria is rightfully Japanese territory since Koreans live there.”

What kind of absurd logic is this?

“How can land where Koreans live be Japanese territory! Isn’t Korea itself a Japanese colony? By that logic, you should liberate Korea first!”

“Colony? The Korean Empire merged with Japan early on, and Koreans became subjects of Japan, so naturally, Manchuria where Koreans live is also Japanese territory.”

Merger. Yes. Well said.

‘What insane nonsense is this!’

Yes. If Koreans were to throw a tantrum saying it was the territory of ancient Goguryeo, Wang Jingwei could at least pretend to listen, saying, “Oh yes, it was your land.”

But Japan is saying this?

What nonsense is this?

They want to claim that Korea is not a colony by using the pretext of “merger.” But it’s clearly just wordplay.

Weren’t the Koreans who came to Manchuria fleeing from colonial rule?

“What kind of crazy logic is this?”

“Didn’t Tsarina Anastasia of our ally, the Great Russian Empire, give Japan good guidance?”

Again with Anastasia Tsarina.

Anastasia, who was busy reconstructing Moscow and Petrograd, would ask what this was all about if she heard it. But by this time, Anastasia’s name had spread to China as well.

The protagonist of rumors spread by Semyonov and Ungern’s Asian Cavalry Division—the white Great Khan of Mongolia.

The Russian Empire was openly pressuring Chinese warlords, claiming to be the successor to the Mongol Empire.

What could that mean?

It meant that if necessary, they would swallow the Republic of China like the Mongol Empire devoured the Song Dynasty.

And now the Japanese Empire was adding its own spoon to the mix.

“We Japanese have a duty to protect the Korean imperial subjects living in Manchuria from Chinese bandits.”

“If we cannot accept this!”

If you don’t accept it, there’s nothing to be done.

The smile spreading across Uchida Kōsai’s face was magnificent.

“Then you will have to face both the Russian Empire and the Japanese Empire. Are you prepared for that?”

A sly and sinister smile, characteristic of Japanese imperialists, spread across Uchida Kōsai’s face.

Japan, unaware that Southern Manchuria might become Korean territory in the future, eagerly borrowed Russia’s name.

‘Wait, does this mean the Japanese Empire and Russia have formed an alliance?’

That would make the story different.

I heard Russia lost much territory to Germany. So they targeted Manchuria as an easy acquisition.

Japan also wanted to take Southern Manchuria after having to return Qingdao due to the Washington Conference. That seemed to be the case.

This meant both Russia and Japan were openly targeting China.

Yet the other great powers remained silent.

Doesn’t this mean the great powers have already tacitly approved this behind the scenes?

Of course, to be precise, the European powers had just concluded all wars with the Treaty of Ankara, and the major powers were focused on internal issues, making them unable to pay attention to Asia at the moment. But that didn’t matter.

In the end, Wang Jingwei surrendered.

First Mongolia, now Manchuria.

Wang Jingwei hated Japan and Russia intensely.