Ch.90Rothschild and Tsarina (2)

“Your Majesty. That’s a misunderstanding. That was merely company policy. It has nothing directly to do with our family.”

What misunderstanding? Did Rothschild really not sponsor them?

Royal Dutch Shell must have Rothschild behind it.

“Misunderstanding or not, isn’t it a clear fact that your sponsorship allowed the Bolsheviks to resist the White Army longer?”

“That’s an excessive assumption.”

This is wordplay, but let’s think about it.

If Rothschild hadn’t sponsored the revolutionary forces, wouldn’t Mikhail Frunze have surrendered a day earlier?

Wouldn’t Trotsky have lacked the time to flee to Petrograd?

“With Lenin, Trotsky was a Bolshevik leader who might have had time to flee to Petrograd because of your support. He even managed to escape without being caught. This could also be blamed on those who supported the Bolsheviks.”

What I’m saying is this: “I don’t care! Anyway, it’s your fault for sponsoring the Bolsheviks!” By saying this, I’m making it clear from Russia’s perspective that we don’t like you.

Surgut is already planning to work with Branobel anyway.

The fact that Rothschild has shown interest means there could be some interference.

Moreover, since Russia now has the British-led volunteer army, Rothschild of Britain might try to do something to Surgut with the backing of the British government.

How can you claim Rothschild has no connection when they’re a major shareholder in Royal Dutch Shell?

“No, that’s a bit…”

“Think about it. Wasn’t there at least some possibility? What’s certain is that while the British government supported the White Army, you tried to deal with Branobel by coordinating with the Bolsheviks, and in that process, the Bolsheviks who received support would have had one more gun to shoot the White Army.”

Even if it’s not true, I need to extract money from them. I need to somehow brand them as honorary communists.

“Hmm.”

“Perhaps from Rothschild or Standard’s perspective, the ideal scenario would have been for the White Army to take Asia from the Ural Mountains, while the Bolsheviks took the European side, with plans to seize Branobel.”

Isn’t that possibility not entirely far-fetched?

I don’t think my speculation is completely unfounded.

To oust Branobel, you’d need to turn the Russian sea red, where the Branobel fish swims freely.

“You have a vivid imagination. We didn’t see it that way. If Branobel fell, that would be that, and if not, then not.”

I suppose so.

It was just an attempt anyway. Royal Dutch Shell could just continue to check Branobel along with Standard Oil.

But what about Baron Rothschild personally?

Looking at the anti-Semitic sentiment spreading in Britain, it might be interesting to link Jews and Rothschild to oil manipulation.

“I’ve heard anti-Semitic sentiment is spreading in Britain recently. The tail often wags the dog. If Rothschild is behind Royal Dutch Shell, it wouldn’t be difficult to make the connection.”

“Are you trying to threaten me with that? The Rothschild family isn’t so fragile as to collapse from such things.”

Bring down Rothschild?

What nonsense is that?

I don’t think I, sitting in Moscow, can do anything to Rothschild.

But I can certainly make things annoying for them.

“But I can certainly make things annoying. What would happen if the emperor of an anti-communist nation with pro-Jewish policies openly criticized Rothschild on the front page of newspapers?”

Communist Germany and Communist Italy are embracing communism, raising suspicions of Judeo-Bolshevism.

Add to that Rothschild being behind Royal Dutch Shell, which sponsored the Red Army.

Isn’t that the perfect example of Judeo-Bolshevism?

I tapped my finger on the desk, waiting for Walter Rothschild’s response.

“Hmm, if that was your intention, you would have done it already. Seeing you speak like this, is there something you want?”

Yes. Now we’re talking.

Unlike before, I smiled brightly as I spoke.

“Surgut oil will work with Branobel. I hope there will be no interference with this. And don’t touch Branobel’s Baku oil fields.”

I need this kind of assurance.

Standard Oil doesn’t seem interested in this area.

“I resolved Russian assets by becoming a major shareholder in Royal Dutch Shell, but I can’t control the company as I please.”

“But you can exert some influence, can’t you? Rothschild, with branches across Europe, must be able to do at least that much?”

Of course, I don’t know their circumstances.

Whether the company is independent or not doesn’t matter.

Even if the company currently has no relationship with Rothschild, given that there is some connection, wouldn’t Rothschild be able to exert influence?

Figure that out yourself.

“Hmm. You’re making this quite difficult. Very well.”

Walter Rothschild wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and answered briefly.

Now I’ll throw in some more carrots.

“But there are more places to dig. Northern Manchuria.”

“Northern Manchuria, is that where Russians and Jews are settling recently?”

“Yes, that’s right. Russia is developing many areas there, which costs a lot of money. We’re even using the Romanov gold. Our financial advisor is worried.”

“So you want me to invest money there. Will you give us shares in return?”

Why else would I bring this up?

Of course, I could give shares, that’s why I’m doing this.

Even I wouldn’t just try to extract money from Rothschild without giving anything in return.

If this negotiation fails, the Duma will have to deal with it.

“He who does not work shall not eat. That also means eat according to how much you work. Work hard for oil drilling in Northern Manchuria, Rothschild.”

“Hmm.”

Why is he still hesitating?

When the Tsarina gives such an opportunity, shouldn’t you try to take it?

“There are quite a lot of Jews there, so I’m thinking of creating a Jewish autonomous region or even a Jewish state on the Chinese side. But for that, Russia needs to gather as much as it can.”

We need to make as much money as possible.

This is all for the Jews. That’s how I need to frame it.

This much should be enough to pique Rothschild’s interest.

“You’re saying you’ll build a Jewish state?”

See, he’s unexpectedly interested.

What could this mean?

“Poland has been persecuting Jews, so too many have come to Russia. Others have come from Germany and Austria too. It’s burdensome for us to accept them all, so shouldn’t we prepare a separate area for them to migrate to?”

Actually, such a plan has emerged in the Duma.

It’s not entirely impossible.

“I see. A Jewish state in the East.”

“Rothschild is Jewish, isn’t he? So you should support this.”

I’m trying to extract money using all sorts of justifications.

I am absolutely pro-Jewish. If you’re not evidence of Judeo-Bolshevism supporting communist reds, then you should support the current White Russia.

That’s what I’m saying now.

“There’s also the Ploiești oil region, but if oil doesn’t work out, I just came to study animals.”

“Please say something that makes sense. Coming to Russia specifically to study animals doesn’t make any sense, does it?”

Can I really be sure this guy won’t try to check Branobel after seeing the situation in Russia?

I don’t know if Baron Rothschild will be directly involved, but at least he would have wanted to look into it while in Russia.

“Ahem. It’s true. But Your Majesty’s wishes aren’t difficult to understand. To summarize: Branobel is Romanov territory, so don’t touch it. You’ll give shares, so explore oil in Northern Manchuria, and as a Jewish family, support the Jews.”

He’s answering well despite his uncomfortable expression.

This is going quite smoothly.

Was Walter Rothschild always this reasonable?

Or is he just playing along with my “if you don’t accept, you’re a communist!” tactic?

Anyway, he won’t go back on his word.

“I’m glad you understand.”

Having gotten what I wanted, I clapped my hands and shook hands with Baron Walter Rothschild.

However, he seemed to have more to say, as after the handshake, his eyes returned to those of a businessman.

“What you mentioned earlier about establishing an Israel in the East, is that really true?”

He’s more interested than I thought?

I might be able to extract more.

“As I said, we have many Jewish immigrants, so we’re considering it as a possibility. China is indeed a fertile land flowing with milk and honey.”

That’s why China has maintained hegemony throughout history and why barbarians have coveted the Central Plains.

Of course, it could change depending on the situation in China, so if not, we’re looking at a Jewish autonomous region in Northern Manchuria.

However, from where I stand, China will never be unified, not even at the level of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, but will fall to at least warlord status, so there’s no reason an Eastern Israel couldn’t emerge.

“Hmm.”

“Isn’t it better than the much-discussed African candidate sites or Palestine?”

And this isn’t entirely impossible.

Why? Because the Empire of Japan once attempted the Fugu Plan to relocate Jews to Manchuria. The goal was to use Jews for Manchurian development, but while Japan hoped for wealthy Jews, only impoverished Russian Jews migrated with the White Army, leading to failure.

Honestly, our situation isn’t much different.

But wouldn’t it be a plausible picture if Jews settled in Northern Manchuria, where the Daqing oil field is? What if we add propaganda that Rothschild is helping?

Japan’s Fugu operation failed, but ours could succeed.

Wouldn’t Walter Rothschild, the representative of British Jews, be tempted?

“If you’re considering it, which area are you looking at?”

“If we establish a Jewish autonomous region, it would be in Northern Manchuria as part of the United States of Greater Russia. If we seriously consider building a Jewish state, it would be in Rehe Province or Hebei Province in China.”

Originally, the Empire of Japan caused the Rehe Incident, mobilizing the Kwantung Army and Manchurian Army to annex Rehe Province, claiming it as Manchukuo territory.

It was an event that led Zhang Xueliang, son of Zhang Zuolin, and the Fengtian warlord down the path of downfall.

“I understand that Japan is deeply involved there through the South Manchuria Railway.”

Oh, he doesn’t know yet?

No, he might not care. Didn’t the major powers, except America, start criticizing Japan when they targeted Indochina?

“Why do you think Japan is interested in that area? It’s for continental invasion. Japan has already hinted at this, and the South Manchuria Railway Company is essentially a military base for continental invasion.”

The Empire of Japan in the original history invaded the continent, so why would it be different here?

Rather, having divided Manchuria with Russia, and with oil problems emerging as in the original history, they’ll target China.

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident that triggered the Second Sino-Japanese War might have been caused by Renya Mutaguchi, but ultimately Japan engaged in the war because of oil, and there are claims they expanded the front to Southeast Asia for the same reason.

“Indeed, Japan might do that. But how does that lead to a Jewish state? It seems like there would be no land for Jews regardless of who wins.”

That’s right.

Only when the two countries are fighting.

If Japan wins, they’ll take territory and various rights in China, and if China wins, they could recover territory and even the South Manchuria Railway.

But that’s if the Sino-Japanese War proceeds conventionally.

I twirled my finger in the air as I spoke.

“But what if the Sino-Japanese War takes an unexpected turn?”

“Are you saying Russia will intervene?”

That’s unknown.

That’s possible only if I seriously consider building a state for Jews on a whim.

“We’re on good terms with Japan now, but the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War remains a humiliation for Russia. But that’s uncertain. Well, there’s the Balfour Declaration, and you, Baron, just need to support the Jews to live well. It’s not yet time to talk about establishing a country.”

I’m just dropping this hint.

As a businessman, he should understand.

Even if it was the land of ancient Israel, it’s now Palestine and could become a seed of conflict.

What if, amid the fighting between less modernized Chinese, we establish Israel with Russian support?

Couldn’t that spin some hopeful scenarios?