Ch.67Air Defense Agreement

* * *

I was admitted to a hospital in Warsaw after giving in to Vera Gedroits’ persistent demands.

Though “admitted” is just a word—it’s practically imprisonment with Vera Gedroits glaring at me with fire in her eyes.

I’m under thorough guard by Józef Piłsudski’s troops here.

Ungern is nearby as well, and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei seems to have met with his counterpart Gabriel Narutowicz.

And then.

The Marshal appeared before me as I was lying comfortably in bed.

From my position as a victim who nearly died, I responded to Marshal Piłsudski while half-reclined in a deliberately relaxed posture.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Welcome. As you can see, I’m fine. I was ‘coincidentally’ able to avoid the explosion.”

“Ahem. I apologize. Despite our security measures… The perpetrators were anti-Russian right-wing elements. Some soldiers guarding the inn were accomplices, and we’ve discovered that German communists provided the bombs.”

How touching that the Marshal himself would tell me this.

He clearly wants to distance himself from the incident while asking me to understand Poland’s position.

“Is Germany behind this?”

“We don’t know for certain. We’re investigating, but the German communist who supplied the explosives to the perpetrators and accomplices has already disappeared.”

It doesn’t seem like someone connected to the German government.

They wouldn’t have openly attempted to assassinate the Tsarina during this suddenly arranged Polish visit by sending in German communists.

This suggests that Germany is already positioning itself to foment revolution within Poland.

The attempt on my life was likely an improvised operation by German communist infiltrators.

Hmm. This means Poland will struggle significantly in the coming war.

Communist Germany will be terrifying in ways different from Nazi Germany. Perhaps I should show some leniency.

If I, who nearly got assassinated, graciously overlook this…

Wouldn’t the world see me as a symbol of peace?

On the surface, at least. Poland is now destined to become Russia’s hunting dog, with no German option available.

This incident might spark calls within Russia to reoccupy Poland.

But that’s something that might happen in the “East” later on.

Yes. For now, I’ll leave everything to our Józef Piłsudski.

“I’ll leave that matter to you, Marshal.”

I said this while comfortably leaning back against the wall.

Handle it yourself. I can’t be bothered. That’s the message.

But for some reason, Józef Piłsudski’s gaze as he looked at me seemed extremely suspicious.

His wrinkles deepened with doubt. Why is he looking at me so suspiciously?

I suppose it is strange for someone who nearly died to entrust punishment of their would-be killers entirely to the leader of that country.

From Piłsudski’s perspective, he’d have no grounds to object if I were jumping up and down demanding the immediate surrender of the perpetrators and accomplices.

I’m not trying to bestow any favor.

Nor am I considering Polish public sentiment.

“You won’t punish them directly?”

“Of course we’ll take the perpetrators into custody. Please deal with those right-wing elements while you’re at it. If I step in, it would only scratch the surface, so for the sake of your reputation as Marshal, you should handle it. If you don’t capture them, won’t Poland’s international standing become as isolated as the communists?”

If I punish them directly, the Polish side wouldn’t be cooperative. Even if we definitely deal with the perpetrators, the Marshal’s authority would diminish.

On the other hand, if I leave this entirely to the Marshal, he can use this opportunity to crack down on anti-Russian nationalists and right-wing elements.

Anti-Russian sentiment might subside somewhat. This means he’ll be a slightly more useful hunting dog.

On the surface, I’ll appear as a merciful empress.

Unfortunately, judging by these Poles’ typical behavior, they’ll continue accumulating bad karma deliciously.

I’ll have to watch for that moment.

Until then, I should at least smile in front of this man. I need to appear as someone accustomed to crossing the line between life and death, someone who forgives easily.

And. I’ve thought of a good approach.

If communists can infiltrate, surely Okhrana can too.

It would be good to regularly monitor Poland’s situation. I can assign Beria or someone else to handle that.

I wonder if Józef Piłsudski realizes.

That Poland now has a leash around its neck.

“After experiencing such an incident, you seem pleased.”

How could I not be pleased?

This Polish trip, which I had to consider dangerous, is ultimately going according to my wishes.

My body feels beaten and sore, but it’s not bad if Poland can serve as Russia’s meat shield.

Whether Grandmother will die and rise again… I don’t know. But I believe I’ve gotten what I wanted.

Yes. After this incident, this man won’t be able to refuse my proposal.

I’m not hoping for a mutual defense treaty.

That’s something Russians wouldn’t be particularly keen on anyway.

Killing communism has become the destiny of the newly born Russia.

If communist German forces invade, Russians will gladly grind the reds into bloody red shreds like their flag.

But would Russians accept “fighting communist Germany to protect Poland” under mutual defense? Especially for Poland, which tried to kill the Tsarina?

They’d obviously find that repulsive.

The mutual defense treaty was merely meant to provoke Poland. It’s not like “Let’s go together!” like the US-Korea Mutual Defense Treaty.

In reality, though I didn’t exactly wish for it, a bomb attack happened here.

Russian sentiment toward Poland has probably worsened.

So. I just need to solve a simple, surface-level issue.

That is, an anti-communist pact against Germany.

Clearly distinguishing enemies and allies. That’s it.

In this world too, Germany and Italy will be on the same side. We need to clearly separate enemies and allies early on.

Looking at France’s condition, they’ll probably fall within six weeks in this timeline too.

Even without Nazi Germany’s potential, communist Germany will likely crush France with its own characteristics.

I don’t believe in deterrence, but somehow I feel it will happen.

Looking at France’s current state, there seems to be internal discord due to the Commune. Germany will likely team up with Italy to crush France somehow.

So I need to shackle Poland here.

He’ll have to accept my words while wearing a disgruntled expression.

Just look at Józef Piłsudski’s wrinkled face.

He must be feeling it now.

Having endured considerable hardship to reach the position of Marshal, he must understand what I’m thinking.

I smiled coldly without the slightest pretense.

“After this incident, you won’t be able to refuse my proposal.”

“Hmph. Are you suggesting you planned all this?”

Of course not. Even I wouldn’t go that far.

What madwoman would gamble with her own life?

I’m laughing about it now because things turned out well. I was genuinely terrified when I considered it as just one possibility.

I’m just pretending to be fine now.

It would be strange if people thought this was my plan.

“Of course not. I just saw it as one possibility. Honestly, I didn’t expect such madmen to exist in Poland, though I’m used to the Russian Bolsheviks being quite insane.”

“Hmph.”

“Well then, will you accept my proposal?”

You’ll have no choice.

If you stubbornly refuse here, you’ll truly be condemned by the world.

Poland’s reputation wasn’t particularly good to begin with.

“I have no choice, but our people fear Russian troops entering Poland again. You should be aware of this. We have no choice but to accept your proposal, but please consider the emotions of both our nations’ people.”

I’m not unaware of that.

I waved my hand lightly and spoke.

“Ah, don’t worry. If war breaks out, we’ll just provide weapons to the Polish army. The mutual defense treaty was just something I threw out there. We’ll just need ‘prior consultation’ for military passage rights during wartime.”

That’s probably what triggered the Polish nationalist forces.

As I said, from our position, it doesn’t matter if we don’t have a mutual defense treaty with Poland.

We’ve already made treaties with Austria anyway.

Honestly, we just need Poland to take a beating while inflicting maximum damage on Germany, and then when Poland is nearly occupied and clinging to Russia’s pant leg—that’s when we’ll help. Then we can swallow up the eastern territories.

Józef Piłsudski knows this but has no choice but to accept.

He’ll probably crack down on right-wing and nationalist forces to modify this later.

“Just weapons?”

“Meanwhile, our country can establish a defensive line from Austria through Hungary to the Baltics. It would be best if Poland could hold the line, but since you dislike that idea, we can only provide weapons and hope Poland holds out as long as possible.”

In the end, Poland maintains at least an outward friendship with us.

This is enough.

The first objective is simply to show Germany that Poland is somehow connected with us.

This is as good as achieved.

Second, it would be ideal if Poland were cooperative with us and sincerely allied with us, but judging by my near-death experience, this is clearly an impossible future.

If that’s the case, a mutual defense treaty becomes even more meaningless.

Nothing is more frightening than an ally who doesn’t help. If the Polish army doesn’t trust Russia, they won’t properly stop the German army in Poland.

Then it’s better to defend from behind.

I’m not completely insensitive to safety concerns.

I have no intention of traveling around Poland saying, “Oh, we Russians are sorry. Please accept our sincere apology and be friends with us.”

It would diminish the dignity of the Tsarina, the Eastern Roman Empress.

If I experienced this in Warsaw, what about other regions? I’d probably face similar incidents.

In that case, I’ll truly just provide weapons.

The Polish army was refined through fighting Russian forces while seeking independence.

I’ll make them hold out against communist Germany as much as possible.

Even in real history, Poland kept harassing Nazi Germany despite being struck from the side by the Soviet Union.

If Russia, which should have been the Soviet Union, provides maximum weapons support, Poland will faithfully serve as a meat shield.

After they’ve been beaten up, when the suspiciously Russian-speaking Polish army calls for help, that’s when we’ll send in the Russian army. Under the pretext of helping, we’ll occupy eastern Poland and then attack Germany.

“So it’s good for Russia either way.”

“We have nothing to lose. We took Belarus from the Red Army, but why would we bother taking Poland when it’s meaningless to us? If you don’t like it, we’ll just provide weapons. But the longer I stay here, the more Russian troops will gather at the border. Under a special military operation, that is.”

I spoke with a hint of threat.

There is no war. There’s only what someone from the future called a “special military operation.”

“Fine. I accept.”

Good. You should have done that from the start.

And so we formed an anti-communist pact with Poland.

Poland allies with Russia against potential communist state enemies. This includes Germany and Italy.

It’s not a mutual defense treaty—Poland has essentially declared itself Germany’s enemy. They’ve chosen sides of their own accord.

Of course, since Poland will become a battlefield, our key point is to provide proper weapons support.

Józef Piłsudski’s dream was to rebuild Poland-Lithuania.

I promised Russia’s support for this.

Unfortunately, Lithuania-related matters were omitted from this anti-communist pact with Poland.

This wasn’t about improving relations or reconciliation—it was an anti-communist pact formed under my threat, under my leadership.

Later, there’s no need to discuss whether we support it or not with Britain—we can end it here.

“Poland couldn’t reconcile with Russia because they hate the Tsarina enough to throw bombs at her, but they hate communists enough to form an anti-communist pact.”

That’s how the world will know it.

“I won’t interfere or intervene, but I can’t view it favorably.”

“But didn’t you say you would actively support it?”

Seems he wants to take everything he can get.

Why is he so shameless?

“After openly trying to kill a foreign monarch, aren’t you asking for too much? I’m not saying I’ll stop you from taking what you want.”

Figure it out yourself and eat wisely, that’s what I’m saying.

If Russian interests are infringed upon even slightly in that process, there will be a “special military operation” or something like that.

Go ahead and try! Take a bite!

If by chance a Lithuanian from Moscow asks for help for Lithuania, something like a special military operation might occur.

I would have overlooked that much if the assassination attempt hadn’t happened. Tsk tsk tsk.

You should have accepted earlier.