Ch.58Age of Madness (2)

# Austria, though a defeated nation, has managed to retain the title of “Empire.”

However, having lost the war, Austria now faces the worry of communists emerging within its borders. To make matters worse, two countries sharing its northern and southern borders—Germany and Italy—have turned communist.

In its weakened state, Austria could only suffer under the threat of the red plague.

Recently, Serbia, which had been actively pressuring Austria under the name of Yugoslavia, now had a young communist named Tito spreading communist propaganda. Austria, situated directly above, could only hold its head in frustration.

While the emergence of communist Germany had brought junkers, generals, and other personnel into Austria, the nation’s power still lagged far behind what it had been during the Austria-Hungary Empire era.

The Habsburg dynasty, despite losing public support thanks to the Entente powers, had managed to maintain the empire rather than becoming a republic as in actual history. This left them with little room to be selective.

In this situation, Karl I, who had survived and maintained his position as the Austrian Kaiser, had to make a critical decision.

‘Communists everywhere!’

Even Britain, busy with its own affairs, wouldn’t support Austria surrounded by communists.

Karl I recalled a recent proposal from Russia.

Accept Radola Gajda, who was originally to be sent to independent Czechoslovakia, into Austria. Give him a position in the military to strengthen Austrian defense capabilities, and so on.

From Austria’s perspective, these were truly absurd demands, but he began to think this might be the better option.

Current Austria was like a candle in front of a red flood.

Karl I decided to accept Russia’s proposal to maintain his position as Kaiser and prevent a potential communist revolution in Austria.

He planned to add a few more conditions.

“I hear that General Gajda of the Czech Legion commands a powerful army? Forget about Czech independence wars—if he pledges loyalty to the Habsburgs, I’ll forgive everything and grant him military authority. Summon him to Austria immediately!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Finally, it was decided that Radola Gajda and his tens of thousands of troops would return to Austria.

# * * *

Austria has agreed to accept Radola Gajda.

However, they’ve attached some conditions.

They want weapons support from Russia’s surplus and a mutual defense treaty.

Since Austria is necessary for our position anyway, the Foreign Ministry seems to have decided to accept these terms.

In actual history, Austria—considering its time as a dual monarchy—was suitable for containing Russia, but at this point, it has instead become a breakwater preventing the red plague from reaching Russia.

If Austria extends its hand, we should accept it.

Britain didn’t oppose this either.

If they found it objectionable, they would have to form their own encirclement of Germany, but is that even feasible in Britain’s current situation?

Needing to isolate communist Germany, Britain had to withdraw due to internal issues.

They had already depleted many of their colonial forces.

And Italy lies directly below them.

If Britain can’t do it, we must.

Otherwise, Britain’s strategy seems to involve France, Britain, Poland, and Russia working together to isolate the communist forces.

If Hitler and Gajda successfully take over Austria and manage to bring Hungary or Slovakia back as imperial constituents, increasing their strength…

Even if World War II breaks out, assuming we provide support, the front line at the Austria-Poland line might be defensible.

Austria would suffer greatly as a battlefield.

In that scenario, Hitler would likely find it nearly impossible to achieve German unification under Austrian leadership during his lifetime, despite his Lebensraum claims.

If World War II breaks out, Austria would likely be torn apart again afterward.

To manage that, he would need to use his eloquence to integrate Hungary and Slovakia from the beginning. Hmm.

I’m not worrying about that man for nothing.

Unfortunately, Italy has also turned communist, and in Yugoslavia, a communist named Tito is reportedly running wild.

These guys seemed to get along reasonably well with Russia, but they’re throwing themselves into the abyss.

Communist Germany above. Communist Italy and Yugoslavia below.

This is why I say Hitler’s Austria starter pack has quite a high difficulty level.

He should be satisfied just not dying as part of the Axis of Evil.

Anyway, do you know what’s most interesting here?

Benito Mussolini, that soft underbelly of the Axis powers and Hitler’s eternal buddy, somehow seized power in Rome through a red march.

It’s laughable.

“Mussolini has become the Secretary General of the Italian Socialist Republic.”

I’ve been so busy with Russia’s internal issues lately that I’ve been completely ignorant about European information.

Who would have thought that Mussolini would establish a communist state rather than a fascist one?

Perhaps he was destined to be Germany’s soulmate, even without Hitler.

Conversely, Hitler seems inspired by me, trying to reintegrate Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Slovakia to revive the dual monarchy.

I don’t understand why both Atatürk and Hitler are influenced by me.

Well, anyway. In conclusion, Hitler’s situation seems better than in actual history.

Our contact with Gajda has increased significantly recently.

“Your Majesty, are you concerned about Germany and Italy?”

Vasily Kharlamov from the Foreign Ministry, who came for another evaluation from Teacher Anastasia, glanced at me while raising the subject.

I nodded slightly.

Yes, if you ask if I’m worried, I am. I sympathize with them and even pity them.

“I feel sorry for the Germans and Italians suffering under Liebknecht and Mussolini.”

What will happen when they realize that communism is only idealistic in theory?

They will briefly prosper under Liebknecht or Mussolini, only to taste bitterness later. That much is obvious.

Above all.

Either way, when it comes to communism, I need to implement something like reforms.

Whatever name they attach to it, it’s obvious they’ll follow the reforms I’ve made,

And they’ll make some modifications, pretending to do things differently.

Looking at the Soviet Union, which experienced the Russian Civil War, Germany and Italy will demand complete submission from their people.

The result will probably resemble North Korea.

A North Korea under iron-fisted rule.

And to maintain their regimes, they’ll mark us as the final boss. And only the people under them will die for the maintenance of the communist regime.

We have Austria as a breakwater and Hitler as a joker to stop the red plague, but their people will die immediately.

When I think that all this is due to my survival and the White victory in the Civil War, it feels quite strange.

Two countries turned communist because of my existence alone.

“For Your Majesty, the Saint of Russia and Emperor of Eastern Rome, to worry even about those who have turned communist—they wouldn’t even consider it an honor.”

Is that really so?

I smiled slightly, curving the corner of my mouth.

The reason I worry about them is very simple.

Both countries are formidable.

I’m not particularly concerned about them groaning under communist oppression. It’s just that there will be too many communists to kill, and that’s what worries me.

I’m only concerned that Russia has become an entity that must kill.

And I’m worried about our Russian White Army, which must now mercilessly crush those communists.

“Couldn’t we still do something about Yugoslavia?”

“You mean Serbia?”

“Yes.”

Why should I care about them?

If we trace the cause of World War I, it was the Sarajevo incident caused by Serbia’s Black Hand.

They feared that Austria-Hungary’s plan for a United States of Austria would transfer their South Slavic territories to the dual monarchy.

That was the starting point, and their nationalists acted on it.

It all stemmed from their desire for their own Pan-Slavism, their greed to create Yugoslavia.

Even if we stop analyzing the complex reasons, which could go on endlessly…

Russia is also Slavic, so we could say the same, but in this great war, only they rose to become Yugoslavia.

Look at their state right after the great war.

While Russia suffered greatly in the Civil War after creating the catalyst for the war, they transformed into Yugoslavia.

I really don’t like this.

And now they say communism is trying to establish itself there?

What’s so appealing about pulling these guys out of the red plague?

Ah, if we deal with them, our Adolf the Zealot might be able to focus more on blocking Germany and Italy.

Alright, let’s hear the reason.

“So why are these well-fed guys trying to let the Communist Party seize power?”

“It seems there’s a lot of discontent in newly acquired areas like Bosnia and Croatia. Josip Broz Tito’s Serbian Communist Party is gaining support by offering solutions. He’s still young, so he doesn’t seem capable of doing anything to Yugoslavia immediately.”

But that means he’s slowly turning things red everywhere to gradually communize it.

A young man already becoming a red host. His sprout is yell—no, red.

It’s also awkward for us to interfere.

“In other words, they haven’t experienced a civil war like us or Germany, nor have they flipped overnight like Italy. They’re really going about it peacefully.”

“Yes.”

“Then we don’t have a proper way to intervene.”

If it were a military issue, we might be able to do something while Germany and Italy are still managing their internal affairs, which is a relatively better timing.

But for now, since it doesn’t interfere with Russia, we don’t really have a justification.

I don’t want to be marked by the great powers. And we can’t solve everything with the military every time.

“Then I’ll proceed with a moderate protest.”

“Yes. If they don’t listen, we’ll have to draw a line with them.”

Eventually, World War II will become a fight against the reds.

We’ll just say we don’t know communists like you.

We’ll actively support Austria as a breakwater against the red plague from behind.

For us, it’s about making France, Austria, and Britain clash vigorously with the Italian or German communists.

Then later, we can kill them all.

What an arrogant but grand plan.

It might also be fun to diligently develop nuclear weapons later and completely eradicate the communists.

Einstein seems to be researching hard. I should give him a push later.

“Also, Britain has invited Your Majesty.”

“To London?”

“Yes.”

Is there a need to go?

This is not the time to leisurely go on foreign tours.

Even today, besides this Foreign Ministry person, there are many late students coming for evaluation.

I’ve become accustomed to grading them as a teacher, but in the midst of this, they want me to come to London?

I don’t do such troublesome things.

I’m not sure if these late students (Duma) will do properly in my absence.

My head aches from examining and signing the ever-increasing paperwork while traveling back and forth between Moscow and Yekaterinburg.

“Let’s politely decline, citing internal issues.”

Apart from that, I should make domestic tours.

Vera Gedroits told me to refrain as much as possible, but I still need to go.

According to Vera Gedroits, I’m a tanghuru. It’s fine.

This time, I’d like to visit the Far East as well. Even though it’s a colony, being close to the Korean Peninsula makes it seem special.

Before that, I need to finalize sending General Gajda now.

“I’d like to see General Gajda first.”

“Yes, I’ll summon him.”

Not long after, General Gajda entered my office.

He looks more impressive than I expected.