Ch.98Russia is Rome

# The Anti-Comintern Pact Meeting

“You have a point. But will the Duma support the Tsar’s words?”

“Yes. We’ve already received unanimous support.”

This part had already been approved by the State Duma.

Since I needed to set up the board for World War II anyway, it wasn’t difficult.

“May I take the lead on the Anti-Comintern Pact?”

“No, isn’t that obvious?”

“With foreign leaders present, naturally Your Majesty should handle it.”

They accepted it so naturally.

I have a feeling about this. I suspect the Duma is planning to leave everything to me and then blame me if things go wrong.

So I need to share responsibility with the leaders participating in this Anti-Comintern Pact.

Therefore, if Bulgaria attacks Greece, I don’t particularly plan to stop them.

Though I won’t provide military support either.

It’s more like: if Bulgaria attacks Greece, we’ll just stand by and watch. That’s all.

“We will join in the Greek matter as well.”

“Turkey?”

“Yes. Greek forces proclaimed the Megali Idea while violating our territory and committing massacres. We must retaliate.”

I’d heard about this before, so there’s no reason to refuse.

As long as it’s after World War II, that is.

It’s not a war happening on Russian soil, so why should we help Greece?

If we consider ourselves heirs of Eastern Rome, we should side with Greece, but Greece hasn’t said anything.

The Anti-Comintern Pact was proposed to several countries besides those directly selected by the Duma to sign the agreement.

It was sent to the pro-British Baltic states, and also to Greece.

The Baltic states demanded guarantees of independence as a condition, while Greece hasn’t said much yet.

Perhaps they’re displeased with Russia for interfering with their Megali Idea, or maybe it’s because Bulgaria and Turkey are part of the pact. Or it could be because of communist-tinted Yugoslavia and Italy.

In any case, Greece didn’t come here.

As a result, Bulgaria and Turkey have essentially scheduled a date to crush Greece together.

Well, it’s their fault for not showing up.

Now, we should get something in return.

“Now then, Russia also has something to request from Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey.”

“What is it?”

Boris III and Ferdinand I, apparently not expecting me to make demands of Romania and Bulgaria, widened their eyes mid-sip of tea.

İnönü seems to have anticipated something.

Now, what do these three countries have in common?

They all have connections to Rome.

Romania’s very name explicitly claims Roman succession, declaring itself “the land of Romans.”

Bulgaria, though quiet about it after independence from the Ottomans, previously aspired to the imperial throne like Rome.

Turkey is the successor to the Ottoman Empire, which annexed Eastern Rome.

“Constantinople is Russia’s rightful territory as the successor to Byzantium. You must acknowledge this.”

Turkey is bound by treaty from the Turkish War of Independence, and Bulgaria now shares a border with Constantinople.

This needs to be established.

We must clearly have neighboring countries recognize Russia as Rome’s successor, since we now possess Constantinople.

When Russia, which holds Constantinople, demands foreign recognition of Constantinople as legitimate Russian territory, it’s essentially asking them to acknowledge Russia as the heir of Eastern Rome.

“Since you’ve taken Constantinople, it is rightfully Russian territory, and Russia is indeed the heir of Eastern Rome.”

“Romania also acknowledges this.”

While I’m here, I want to reconfirm with Turkey as well. We’ve received recognition for Constantinople, but this concerns Rome’s legitimacy.

Countries that will stand together against communism should understand each other.

Prime Minister İnönü cleared his throat, seemingly slightly displeased.

But if we’re building camaraderie at an Anti-Comintern Pact meeting, it can’t be helped.

“Turkey also acknowledges that the United States of Greater Russia is the successor to Eastern Rome.”

The Ottoman Empire did use Roman titles after annexing Eastern Rome.

However, this was reportedly to justify occupying Roman territory and to appease Eastern Roman elites during the annexation.

But now Turkey directly recognizing the United States of Greater Russia as Eastern Rome’s successor means abandoning Ottoman claims to Roman legitimacy.

Isn’t it absurd to use a country’s title after destroying it?

Even the name “Turkey” derives from ethnic identity rather than Roman succession.

In other words, Russia alone is sufficient as Eastern Rome’s heir.

Russia’s current unity stems from pride in being Eastern Rome’s successor.

Considering that, it’s appropriate to confirm here that Russia is not just the elder brother of Slavic peoples but the true seat of Rome.

Given the threat of communism facing various countries, this recognition of Russia as Rome’s heir will make Russians even more obsessed with Rome.

Not with communism.

Come to think of it, if Greece had come here, they might have argued with us about being Eastern Rome’s heir through their Megali Idea.

Considering Eastern Rome’s ethnic composition, Russia holds spiritual legitimacy while Greece possesses ethnic legitimacy.

“Well then, let’s sign the agreement.”

I’ve somewhat exploited international relations to get countries around Constantinople to recognize Russia as Rome’s successor.

“Have East Prussia and Poland already signed?”

“Yes. Now that everyone has gathered for anti-communism, isn’t this a beautiful day? Let’s take a photo together.”

I smiled brightly and took a photo with the leaders of each country.

Thus, following the German Empire and Poland, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey joined the second pact, uniting the Balkans firmly against communism.

# Free Socialist Republic of Germany, Berlin

When the second Anti-Comintern Pact made headlines in newspapers, the Free Socialist Republic of Germany also received the news.

“Damn it, is revolution in the Balkans impossible?”

Whatever carrots the Tsarina dangled, however she enticed them, many Balkan countries have aligned with Russia.

This means it will be difficult to freely instigate revolution.

Moreover, with all monarchies except Turkey, their internal cohesion will be strong.

Even Turkey will be difficult to communize, as President Atatürk has already personally met with the Tsarina and received recognition for Turkey as a nation.

Secretary-General Karl Liebknecht clicked his tongue in disappointment as he looked at the map of the Balkans.

“In this case, we must ensure Yugoslavia is thoroughly communized, Comrade Secretary-General.”

Rosa Luxemburg was right.

A communist fervor was sweeping through Yugoslavia.

Even Croatia and Bosnia, former constituent states of Austria-Hungary, were responding to it, leaving the Yugoslav government with no answers.

“How do you think the French revolution will go? It would be good if it happened before the war.”

The communization of France would be a variable for Communist Germany to seize European hegemony in the future.

“The French revolution seems difficult for now. France won’t hold out long in the Ruhr, so after they withdraw, we should first implement the colonial revolution support plan.”

Colonial revolution support.

Communist Germany had boldly declared the Versailles Treaty void, but that didn’t mean they had recovered from the war’s damage.

Even now, they could only gnash their teeth at France’s occupation of the Ruhr without being able to do anything.

But the power of communism doesn’t come from military strength.

Communism traditionally penetrates the hearts of struggling people and converts them to communism.

Colonial subjects are no different.

In fact, colonial subjects suffering under cruel imperial powers, living worse than animals, would be even more susceptible.

The German Communist Party was already preparing for the final war, just as Anastasia had predicted.

That’s the nature of communism.

The German Communist Party’s final enemy to defeat is Russia.

Russia crushed the Bolsheviks early on, hates Bolshevism and communism, continues to mock Communist Germany in system competition, and will obstruct the spread of revolution.

Communist Germany knew its limitations.

To confront Russia, they would need to defeat both Britain and France.

Those colonial empires are enemies of communism, and communism is likewise an enemy they must destroy.

However, it wasn’t realistic to aim for all of this with Germany’s power alone.

So, compromising with reality, they chose to infiltrate communist parties into colonies and increase the number of communists. When Germany launches its worker liberation war, simultaneous uprisings in the colonies would tie down British and French armies, reducing their war-fighting capability on the European continent.

That was the colonial revolution support plan.

If the colonized peoples could just hold back the British Empire and France, they could defeat the abominable Russian Empress who deceived workers with the nonsensical ideology of modified capitalism, and achieve true European liberation.

“Good. We must continue recruiting local colonized peoples. And we must continue supporting the French Commune.”

“Yes, Comrade.”

Meanwhile, they maintained contact with and supported the Commune in France.

If they could strike a blow against the Anglo-French allied forces on the French front while they were tied down in the colonies, and help the French Commune seize power and successfully change the regime, the tide of war could immediately turn.

In this process, the Low Countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg) were merely highways for Germany to enter France.

If there was one thing that worried them slightly…

Secretary-General Karl Liebknecht’s eyes moved from the map on the desk to the Italian peninsula.

Yes, Italy.

The strange Secretary-General Benito Mussolini, who claimed to be a communist country while proclaiming the restoration of ancient Rome.

“How is Italy?”

“Comrade, Benito Mussolini still claims they have their own communism, but he continues to shout about Rome.”

“Tsk.”

The so-called Leader of Italy had adopted communism not for worker liberation but for Roman revival.

However, the problem was that Italy was still operating with a communist shell, making it difficult for Germany to criticize.

If they insisted on arguing, there would be plenty to criticize.

But that would mean splitting from Italy, which wasn’t necessary at the moment.

# Russian Northern Manchuria, Harbin

Around this time, Harbin in Russian Northern Manchuria was bustling with pioneering activity.

Pioneering naturally required people.

Just as Russia had extended its influence to the Far East and pioneered Vladivostok, White Russians and Jews sent from Russia proper were arriving sequentially to fill the spaces left by many Han Chinese and Manchus who had departed.

The Jews in particular found this new environment unfamiliar.

Having lost their homeland long ago and wandered through Europe before settling in Poland, Jews had failed to assimilate into Polish society and were ultimately persecuted and expelled under Poland’s anti-Jewish policies.

The Jewish groups who arrived in Russia, which claimed to favor Jews, followed the Russian government’s instructions to go to Northern Manchuria in exchange for settlement subsidies.

Coincidentally, wealthy Jews from Poland had liquidated their assets and migrated to Northern Manchuria in the first wave.

“Is this where we’ll live from now on?”

“Dad, it seems a bit cold here.”

“Still better than dying under those Polish bastards.”

The new land they had to settle in wasn’t entirely pleasant, but at least it was better than living under the scrutiny of the Poles.

A bearded White Russian general who appeared to be guiding the Jews to Northern Manchuria gathered those disembarking from the train at Harbin Square.

His name was Dmitry Horvath. Having previously controlled the Chinese Eastern Railway to secure support from the great powers and disrupt the Red Army in the Far East, this White Army leader was appointed Governor of Russian Northern Manchuria after history changed with the White Army’s victory and the establishment of the United States.

Standing on the platform, he addressed the Jews:

“Listen, everyone. From now on, you will settle and pioneer this place. There are already many Jews who migrated here before you.”

The sudden instruction to settle and pioneer this place caused some complaints among the Jews who had traveled by rail from distant lands, but it was still better than suffering under Polish oppression.

Though this eastern land and the buildings left by East Asians weren’t entirely to their liking, they could gradually transform them into their own.

“Ah, if anyone is interested in helping with oil exploration, please come to the Northern Manchuria Governor’s Office. There are many positions available for recruitment.”

Oil exploration.

Recently, oil exploration was in full swing in Northern Manchuria under the secret support of the Rothschilds.

Experts had already identified the potential for oil. If oil was struck, it wouldn’t be bad news for the Jews in Northern Manchuria.

Some propagandists dispatched from Russia proper were actively promoting pioneering under the slogan “Manchurian Dream,” making oil exploration and pioneering in Northern Manchuria a daily reality for Jews.