Ch.60Age of Madness (4)

# Russian Military Advisors and Weapons

Sun Yat-sen welcomed Chen Jiongming back with open arms after his return with Russian military advisors and numerous Russian weapons.

“Hahaha. Chen Jiongming, you’ve done well!”

He was so pleased he nearly embraced him.

The Russian support was truly a blessing in drought for the Constitutional Protection Government.

“The Tsarina didn’t even dare mention the Manchurian issue. Hahaha!”

Chen Jiongming was secretly sneering while outwardly boasting about how confidently he had stood before the Tsarina.

“Of course. Even the imperialist Tsarina must ultimately recognize our Constitutional Protection Government.”

If Lenin was the Bolshevik idol who ended with an “explosive finale” befitting an idol, and is now called a communist dreamer in White Russia, then Sun Yat-sen was truly a dreamer incarnate.

Unlike in original history, he had barely managed to form the Constitutional Protection Government after overcoming numerous hardships. He was convinced that his government was righteous and principled.

Just as Korea had once tried to enlighten Japan and the Jurchens with Neo-Confucianism, Sun Yat-sen was convinced that his ideals had moved the imperialist Empress in Moscow.

‘We’ll see about that.’

Chen Jiongming wore a bright smiling mask on his face while inwardly directing endless contempt toward Sun Yat-sen.

With Russian power behind him, Chen Jiongming quickly rose as a hero of the Constitutional Protection Government as he armed his troops.

Chiang Kai-shek felt threatened by Chen Jiongming’s actions.

This looked suspicious, didn’t it?

It seemed as if Chen Jiongming was deliberately building his position within the Constitutional Protection Government according to someone’s plan.

So he went to meet Chen Jiongming privately.

He wanted to confirm whether Chen had sold out China to the Russian Empress.

Perhaps instead of stopping at Manchuria, he had committed the treachery of selling all of China.

Based on his past behavior, the Chen Jiongming that Chiang Kai-shek knew was not someone who blindly obeyed Sun Yat-sen. That made this even more suspicious.

“The Tsarina provided all those weapons?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“And she really said she would support us regardless of the Manchurian issue?”

“The Russian Tsarina said she would support us regardless of that, so there’s no problem.”

Chen Jiongming feigned ignorance.

“Even so, she wouldn’t just give them for nothing.”

It was strange, wasn’t it?

The Tsarina? This didn’t quite make sense.

It seemed odd that the Tsarina, who had friction regarding Manchuria, would offer support.

“Of course, there are still issues with Manchuria and Mongolia, but it seems the Tsarina doesn’t like Japan collaborating with Duan Qirui’s Beiyang Government.”

“Hmm.”

That’s what Chiang Kai-shek found strange.

Why would Russia care about Chinese affairs? Given their cooperation regarding Manchuria, it didn’t make sense that Russia would support Sun Yat-sen’s Constitutional Protection Government, which condemned Russia and Japan for occupying Mongolia and Manchuria.

Especially since Chiang Kai-shek, though he hadn’t been to Russia himself, thought it unlikely that the Tsarina, who had gone through civil war, would support the Constitutional Protection Government that might become troublesome later, particularly when she needed to defend Asia while thinking about European affairs.

“Hmm.”

“Or do you think I’ve offered China to the Tsarina’s skirts?”

Look at that smug face.

He was making such an expression because his position was improving daily.

No, Chiang Kai-shek hadn’t thought that far.

Why would the Tsarina, who had won a civil war and was reclaiming European territories, covet mainland China?

So there was no need to accuse him of treachery, but still.

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

Chiang Kai-shek gently shook his head.

There was no need to draw a line with Chen Jiongming, who served as the channel to the United States of Russia.

Perhaps he was being overly sensitive.

With Red Germany causing trouble in Europe, no one had time to worry about China, and Russia was the only power that could provide support.

He didn’t know what Chen Jiongming had offered in exchange, but they weren’t in a position to do anything about it right now.

Perhaps he had given away some Chinese business interests.

If treachery was revealed later, they could remove Chen Jiongming then and perhaps just acknowledge Russian control over Manchuria.

# * * *

As reforms progressed, I was practically selling my face everywhere.

Putting myself at the forefront of everything.

Especially like Grand Duchess Olga who had nursed the Imperial Army, I took direct action.

If someone asked whether the Tsarina should be doing this, would it really be possible?

I was simply doing what others said shouldn’t be done.

Of course, I wasn’t just wandering around aimlessly. On the surface, I told officials that I was trying to win back the public sentiment that Nicholas II had ruined and that had been left in limbo after the war.

And then.

“The Tsarina herself coming to a construction site? What is this?”

I never expected to encounter Hitler at the site.

While I was helping by giving towels and water to the workers, the mustached man appeared with a surprised face.

Is this mustached man directly supervising the site?

I had just ordered him to draw plans according to the building specifications and assigned architects to work with him. Why is he here?

Seeing young Hitler’s surprised face, it’s hard to match this face with the future Nazi Germany’s Führer.

Perhaps people really do need different starting points in life.

“This much is necessary to regain the public sentiment that my father drove into the abyss. At least I can earn the title of a Tsarina who works for the people of the United States.”

A monarch who takes direct action in the 20th century.

I understand how surprising this is. I’m simply creating the precedent myself.

“In truth, Your Majesty is Russia’s only hope right now. If any subversive elements were to appear…”

Subversive elements.

There’s no way they still exist.

There might be some who harbor anger toward me because their families died, but that’s why I’m out here doing this.

I’ve brought a few Cossacks with me to the construction site, so anyone targeting me would be killed by the Cossacks first.

Or well, I don’t think I’ll die from a bullet just yet.

Besides, the Okhrana is following me.

“Those people are all dead already. More importantly, was Corporal Adolf directly inspecting the building here?”

“I’ve been working with the architects on Moscow’s urban planning, but I simply cannot compromise on aesthetics.”

“Ah, you mean the exterior.”

That makes sense for Hitler.

He was always someone who prioritized aesthetics. Some level of compromise…

“There are certainly issues. If we focus only on practicality, wouldn’t the city’s appearance suffer?”

“That’s understandable, since it will be one of the cities serving as a capital.”

Well, Moscow isn’t quite on the level of Germania, after all.

The fact that he’s only making suggestions about aesthetics to the architects shows that Adolf has his own thoughts on the matter.

This works out well. I should open a new path for Hitler too.

The Moscow reconstruction continues and has taken shape now. Hitler must know that his time is approaching.

“The Czech Legion will soon be heading to Austria. It’s obvious they’ll become the Kaiser’s elite force. You should decide where you’re going now.”

“Yes, I plan to go to Austria. That’s why I came to check things one last time before leaving.”

Yes, that’s what I heard.

It would have been troublesome if Hitler had taken my superficial comment and declared he would go to Red Germany to become its Führer and appear in the Duma.

I might have had to have the Okhrana take care of him from behind.

So what should I say to our Corporal Adolf who’s heading to Austria?

“Austria is surrounded by the red plague drooling from all sides. You’ll probably have a harder time than me. I at least had the title of Grand Duchess to serve as a rallying point.”

I had the Romanov title to help me.

But can this world’s Hitler succeed in Austria rather than Germany?

Seeing his coordination with Gajda, it seems he’s planning to do something based on Gajda’s military power. I wonder how he’ll go about it.

“Do you know what I intend to do?”

Yes, I’m curious about that too, which is why I’m trying to draw it out of him.

“For example, you’ll mention our Russian civil war and rally people under the anti-communist flag. You’ll say that the red tide is coming from Hungary, Slovakia, and other former imperial constituents, trying to turn everything red. You’ll say everyone must unite.”

That’s the only way for Hitler to accomplish anything now.

To stand against the Bolsheviks in Austria, not Germany, he’ll use anti-communism as the spirit to reincorporate Hungary and Slovakia into the empire.

He’ll also appease Czech public sentiment.

The timing isn’t bad.

After Austria, he’ll target Hungary and Czechia, announcing a plan to reform the Greater Austrian United States while bringing everyone together.

If the name Austria doesn’t appeal, perhaps something like the Danube Federation wouldn’t be bad.

In the end, to unite what’s difficult to unite, you need to create a common enemy.

Communist Germany or Italy would serve as good catalysts.

Even so, it will be more difficult than with Germany.

“Just a hunch. As a Great War veteran, you’ll need to make Hungary and Slovakia constituent states of Austria again. You’ll have a harder time than me.”

I just picked up warlords.

I just have an invincible cheat body.

Hitler now has to face Communist Germany from the position of a weakened Austria.

The treaty restrictions on Austria will probably be loosened by Britain and France because of Communist Germany.

Until recently, fighting against volunteer forces from former enemy nations in the Great War has probably changed Hitler’s mindset.

“Still, I must succeed.”

Adolf clenches his fist, his eyes burning with determination.

Before sending him off, there’s one more thing I need to confirm.

“You seemed to have negative feelings toward Jews. Do you still feel that way?”

That’s the real problem with this guy.

What worries me is one thing.

Later, he might invade with talk of Lebensraum, pro-Jewish policies, Russia being a Jewish country, and so on.

Looking at the detailed reasons for the Soviet invasion, it wasn’t simply about Lebensraum, so I shouldn’t worry too much.

But if his ideology turns against Russia later, that’s the problem.

I’m not sure how he understood my words, but our mustached friend pulled a book from his chest.

The title is “Towards the Annihilation of Communism.”

“This book ‘Towards the Annihilation of Communism’ was written by a Jewish woman named Ayn Rand. I heard she’s studying at Moscow State University.”

“Ah, yes.”

I found myself nodding unconsciously.

Wait, when was that written? The Education Department mentioned publishing an anti-communist book, did they commission Alisa Rosenbaum?

I never expected Alisa Rosenbaum to write a book called “Towards the Annihilation of Communism.”

Her pen name was definitely Ayn Rand, so it must be right.

“The author experienced the true nature of communism at such a young age, feeling it to her bones. Seeing that made me realize that not all Jews are Bolsheviks.”

So in our mustache’s mind, it’s now Bolsheviks > Jews?

“What is your ultimate dream?”

“To annihilate the Bolshevik vermin who ruined great Germany, and to unify Germany under the leadership of Austria, Vienna.”

Yes, that’s what I thought.

If that happens, even if Communist Germany collapses and the imperial constituents become independent again, unifying Germany wouldn’t be a losing proposition.

Those eyes contain not a trace of falsehood.

Has all his anger toward Jews been transferred to the Communist Party?

In actual history, he was the one who caused the Holocaust, vowing to kill all Jews. Now, instead of Jews, all the communists in the world will face Hitler’s wrath.

Thinking about it, supporting Hitler might not be a bad idea.

If he does well, I can set up Hitler as an anti-communist shield to kill all the communists.

I like having someone else do the dirty work, and I like having someone cook for me.

If I declared I would kill all the communists, it might not suit my saintly image.

Conversely, it would be good if Hitler did it all.

“Rebuilding the Dual Monarchy will be difficult. You’re quite ambitious. The red tide will try to swallow Austria in the future. I’ll support Austria’s position when that happens.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll also arrange for Volga Germans to help you.”

With those words, I left the construction site.

Whether this will work properly is the question.

Personally, I just hope Hitler creates a proper barrier. If not, I’ll have no choice but to give Hitler more support.

This side shares a border with China in Asia, so Hitler’s Austria needs to do its job properly.

Of course, there’s no need to worry about China for decades to come.

But to ensure there’s nothing to worry about, I need to meddle in Chinese affairs.

Now, my next destination was one place.

Honestly, that book “Towards the Annihilation of Communism” by Alisa Rosenbaum that our passionate Adolf showed me is bothering me.

Yes.

It’s time to meet Alisa Rosenbaum.