Ch.89Rothschild and Tsarina

# # #

After hearing Yusupov’s story, the Nobel family was quite peculiar in their operations.

The Nobel family’s oil company, Branobel. This Branobel achieved great success in Russia and accounted for 50% of global oil production.

However,

The Bolsheviks tried to nationalize the Baku Oil Fields in Azerbaijan, and in that process, the Nobel family nearly suffered great losses.

Just as I expected.

“Well, wouldn’t it be a good approach to ally with the Nobel family?”

“I anticipated Your Majesty might suggest that, so I’ve been discussing this matter with Emanuel Nobel of Branobel.”

“Very good.”

I wonder what will happen with American Standard Oil? It would be nice if Trotsky could blow something up dramatically.

For now, let the Americans handle their own problems. Then the issue becomes Rothschild.

Walter Rothschild, was it?

Perhaps I should try to extract money from him and put effort into oil drilling in Northern Manchuria.

If we work with Branobel on Surgut right now, we could work with Rothschild on Northern Manchuria.

It would be good to get them to invest in the Daqing oil field and start drilling in the 1930s.

At the very least, we need to prevent them from complaining about our partnership with Branobel at the Baku Oil Fields or Surgut.

No, wait a moment.

“By the way.”

“Yes?”

“The Duke must not be short on money, right? There should have been results by now.”

I know it’s impossible to mass-produce ramen in this era.

I’m not complaining about that.

But listen. I’ve shared quite a few ideas.

I let the Duke profit from them while attaching my name to them.

“Yes. We’ve made considerable profit from the generator created by Dr. Tesla. And that ramen you taught us about—though not in mass production yet, we’re trying to produce it somehow.”

“And?”

Looking at this fellow’s face, he seems to be up to something.

I hope he hasn’t started some strange business.

In actual history, he lost everything by starting a fashion business with what little money he had. Surely he’s not earning money only to lose it on that?

Of course, that might have been due to Prince Yusupov’s circumstances, but even if he’s doing well here, a fashion business doesn’t seem likely to succeed.

As I stared at him intently, Prince Felix Yusupov scratched the back of his head and continued.

“Well, actually, regarding radio. Dr. Tesla said that Russia’s vast, cursed landmass must be conquered through wireless technology, so he asked me to invest in improving radio.”

Radio? Oh. That seems good.

I won’t complain about that.

In fact, I strongly encourage it. As Tesla said, looking at Russia now, a wireless revolution absolutely needs to happen.

It needs to be satisfactory for Tesla.

It would be good if we could secure funding from somewhere.

“That’s actually useful. I won’t criticize that. But Duke.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Never. Never go into the fashion business. Absolutely never. Do you understand?”

I need to make him promise this.

I cannot forgive even a single variable.

With so many promising businesses to pursue in this era, why would anyone get into fashion?

“Do I really have a future where I go bankrupt from a clothing store?”

What is he saying?

Anyone listening would think I can truly see the entire future.

At this rate, if I fail to predict something in World War II, they’ll immediately say, “The Tsarina has been abandoned by God!”

“I don’t understand why both the Prime Minister and now the Duke think this way, but in my view, it seems likely to fail.”

It would almost certainly fail if history follows its actual course.

I’m saying don’t open a clothing store just because you’ve made some money.

“I… I understand.”

Now then, shall we meet with Rothschild next?

What if I accuse him of being an honorary communist for supporting the Reds?

If he’s been scheming behind the scenes, it means nothing unless he’s caught. But what if I openly expose this? Wouldn’t that be interesting?

This is the United States of Greater Russia, born from hatred of communists.

No, no. Before meeting Rothschild, I should understand the situation first.

I need to call Boris Savinkov to find out something.

Yes, the current sentiment toward Jews in Europe.

# # #

“Your Majesty. You called for me?”

Boris Savinkov from the Ministry of Internal Affairs rushed to the Kremlin Palace shortly after I summoned him.

Good. If he’s this quick, I can prepare the ground before Rothschild arrives.

“Can you tell me about the current perception of Jews in Europe?”

“They’ve never been particularly well-regarded. In our country, some fought on the White Army’s side during the Civil War, which has changed perceptions somewhat, but…”

His trailing off suggests that the assessment in Europe is not good.

In Russia, Jews aren’t viewed too negatively because word spread about them helping the White Army. But with Rosa Luxemburg’s revolution succeeding…

“Has it gotten worse?”

“From Your Majesty’s question, I assume this is related to the Communist Party.”

When the Communist Party was mentioned, shadows fell across Boris Savinkov’s eyes.

Yes. I like how we understand each other instantly.

It makes conversation much faster.

“Yes. Rosa Luxemburg is of Polish origin but Jewish, isn’t she? I wondered if there was something related to that.”

“Yes. Anti-Jewish sentiment has been further provoked. Communist Germany tries to protect Jews, which has intensified anti-Jewish sentiment in neighboring countries. They say that Rosa Luxemburg and others in the Communist Party are Jewish, and that Jews funded the German revolution.”

The communist side of the revolution probably favors Jews because of Rosa Luxemburg’s Jewish background.

Perhaps I could design this situation better.

“Is it that specific?”

“The German Freikorps that fled to Austria seems to be spreading such rumors. What’s ironic is that Jews are actually leaving Communist Germany.”

I wonder if Jews suffered losses in Communist Germany, just as in Soviet Russia, where everything was taken and “fairly” redistributed.

“It seems the Jews suffered when the Communist Party nationalized everything.”

“Yes.”

Wait a moment. What about Austria?

If anti-Jewish sentiment is sprouting, might Hitler be up to something in Austria?

I suddenly became curious about that.

“What’s happening with Jews in Austria?”

“The situation isn’t much different there.”

“Are there any reports of physical persecution of Jews? Or speeches calling for their capture?”

If so, I might need to assassinate Hitler.

I might need to grab France by the collar to prevent it from becoming communist.

At my words, Boris Savinkov briefly furrowed his brow in thought before carefully speaking.

“No, nothing like that. Anti-Jewish sentiment is intensifying in Britain too, but it hasn’t gone that far yet.”

That’s fortunate.

Well, how long was Hitler in Russia anyway?

Many Jews fought on the White Army’s side during the Civil War.

The current Hitler isn’t someone who lacks judgment to the point of sending Jews to gas chambers.

Still, this is unexpected.

Rosa Luxemburg and Communist Germany are protecting Jews.

Could this be spreading as a Jewish-Bolshevism alliance?

Jewish Bolshevism. That is, internationally, Jewish forces are connected behind communist movements. They led it—that kind of narrative.

Thanks to Jews who fought with the White Army, they aren’t treated badly in Russia, but I could use this to implicate Rothschild.

What if I gradually spread the idea that Russian Jews are good Jews, while Jews spreading from Communist Germany are communist Jews, to get back at Rothschild for supporting the revolution?

Of course, that alone wouldn’t have much impact, but what if a monarch actively criticizes him?

I sketch a blueprint in my mind.

“That’s good news about Austria. So in Europe now, Jews are associated with communists—’Jews are communists’—something like that?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

This might work if I connect the dots properly.

Even I can’t directly attack Rothschild.

But I could extract some money within reasonable limits, couldn’t I?

At the very least, I could prevent him from interfering with our drilling at Surgut with Branobel, and at the Baku Oil Fields.

# # #

Now that I’ve roughly designed how to handle this, I should proceed according to my plan.

In my position, I can’t really go after a globally successful financier.

I should apply pressure by emphasizing anti-Jewish sentiment and Bolshevism, then get what I can.

The Okhrana informed me that he had arrived in Moscow.

Normally, I should be accommodating and have him brought here first, as I am the Tsar of this country.

But there’s no reason to bow down.

“Your Majesty. A representative from Rothschild has come seeking an audience.”

Unexpectedly, it was Georgy Lvov who delivered the news first, not a palace attendant.

“Oh, I didn’t expect Member Lvov to personally deliver this message.”

“He was right outside the Kremlin Palace.”

I see. Did he encounter him while returning from Vladimir’s lessons?

The embassy officially stated he came to Russia to see Russian wildlife during his travels, but that’s unlikely.

With the Rothschild name. He wouldn’t just come for no reason.

Still, Rothschild must have said something.

“Did you hear anything?”

“On the surface, he said it was proper etiquette to seek an audience with Your Majesty since he’s in Russia. But ultimately, it must be about oil investment. Baron Walter Rothschild wishes to meet Your Majesty.”

“Then I should see him.”

An unexpected option. This is exactly how I should appear.

I need to appear as though I’m acting independently, with no involvement from the State Duma, in case things go wrong.

What if I fail? That wouldn’t be bad either.

Though Rothschild might be troublesome, as long as we’re drilling on Russian soil, not British, we can drill for oil somehow.

If relations with Rothschild become awkward, I can just say “sorry” and retreat into the Kremlin Palace.

Now it’s time to meet Rothschild.

I had a palace attendant bring Baron Rothschild into the Kremlin Palace.

The 2nd Baron Rothschild, Walter Rothschild, was a rather portly man.

He had that “Do you work in finance?” look about him.

“What brings the Baron Rothschild from the British Isles all the way to Moscow?”

“You are indeed as I’ve heard. The dignity of royalty, but with the behavior and tone of an empress who mingles with commoners. Hmm, indeed.”

He’s talking nonsense right from the start.

He seems to want to flatter me to get something.

But that won’t work.

I waved my hand dismissively.

“Even if I’m an emperor with limited power, I am still the Tsar. Your words are uncomfortable. Please get to the point.”

“Oh my, has Rothschild made the Tsarina uncomfortable?”

“Do I look like a fool to you?”

“Pardon?”

“When the Civil War broke out, your Rothschild family funded Trotsky and Lenin on the condition that Baku Oil Fields’ oil would not be supplied to the world market. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s not incorrect, but…”

Let me clarify here.

The British government sent volunteers to support us, but Rothschild personally supported the revolutionary forces.

Even if the Bolsheviks lost, they probably wanted Russia split in half so the Bolsheviks would at least control the Baku Oil Fields.

They couldn’t have predicted I would end the civil war so quickly.

“Yes. As a businessman, that might be understandable. You supported the revolutionary forces to eliminate Branobel. Rothschild and Rockefeller are that kind of people.”

“Your Majesty. That’s correct, and I understand your anger. However, can’t we now build a good relationship?”

A smooth, good relationship indeed.

That’s why I’m doing this.

As I said, I’ve considered the possibility of failure, but I intend to push boundaries while still maintaining some decorum.

I don’t particularly want to distance myself from Rothschild either.

But I can go this far.

I smiled conspicuously.

“Hehehe. I know. You want a piece of the Surgut oil, don’t you? As someone successful enough to have branches in many European countries, you must have smelled the oil immediately. But what can you do? Rothschild is an honorary Bolshevik who aided revolutionary forces.”

Branding him as a mindless communist.

Of course, there are circumstances, and if this makes him a communist, then the United States, which provided Lend-Lease to the Soviet Union, is a first-class honorary communist country closest to Stalin, deserving his medal.

But here, it’s a useful pretext.