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It’s just different names for the countries. The population will be about the same, so isn’t Russia the country that pulls people out of the fields?

They could easily sweep through all of Europe with infantry.

They say America is a shameless map, but if you think about it, Russia has enormous resources.

I mean, even in the world I originally lived in, we used to threaten Europe just by turning off gas valves.

Besides, Siberia still has plenty of resources.

“I don’t know about the army, but since we have been preparing until now, even if the Great Depression hits, while the world recovers from the Great Depression, we in Russia should be just fine.”

“Then that’s a relief. How is the development in Northern Manchuria going? Are the Jews causing any riots?”

Northern Manchuria is essentially being governed militarily.

We didn’t officially go through the process of ceding Northern Manchuria; we just took it over during the civil war and established military governance.

With both Jews and Koreans mixed in, and Japan having taken Southern Manchuria, military governance has become even more necessary for a while.

Naturally, since it’s military governance, it falls solely under the jurisdiction of the White Army, which is why I asked Baron Beria.

“The Jews aren’t a problem. But…”

“But what?”

“It seems that the Koreans who have settled in Northern Manchuria are quite organized in participating in the development of Manchuria.”

They are participating in the development of Manchuria in an organized manner.

There must be quite a few Koreans who have come over from the Manchurian Railway or the Korean Peninsula, so it must be rather chaotic.

But they say they are working diligently.

Among various ethnicities, the fact that Koreans are specifically mentioned means that, unlike the Jews or the Manchu people remaining in Northern Manchuria, they are particularly effective in Northern Manchuria.

This suggests that there is someone unifying the Korean groups from behind.

It seems that Baron Beria, who has considerable experience from the civil war, has caught onto that part.

“Who do you think is behind the Koreans?”

“Yes. There’s been no significant disruption, but we should assume there’s something happening, shouldn’t we? I wonder if it’s influenced by the Asian Cavalry Division.”

Someone is unifying them around a central figure.

This feels a bit strange. Now that I think about it, was the Korean Provisional Government in existence around this time?

It feels a bit tricky to ask for information from the Chinese side.

However, on the surface, Russia is still maintaining an alliance with Japan.

“Is there a group on the Manchurian or Chinese side trying to fight against Japan? For example, Koreans fighting for independence?”

“I can check, but as far as I understand, there isn’t one at present. If there were, wouldn’t Japan want to collaborate with us to investigate the Koreans living in Northern Manchuria?”

Yeah, that makes sense. Then we must assume that there is no Korean Provisional Government fighting against Japan in China.

That raises a bit of suspicion.

Could they have unilaterally established a Provisional Government in Northern Manchuria?

Well, if they gather Koreans to develop Northern Manchuria, it would be beneficial for us as well, and the Koreans could conceal their Provisional Government under Russia’s shadow.

If my suspicions are correct.

“By the way, it might be related, but I heard rumors that a member of the Korean royal family has gone missing near the Manchurian Railway.”

Just as I was pondering the oddity of it all, Mikhail Drozdovsky spoke.

“A member of the Korean royal family? Who?”

“Prince I-gang has reportedly gone missing. He sought Russia’s cooperation from the Manchurian Army regarding our Northern Manchurian governor.”

Prince I-gang.

He was supposed to be in exile with the Korean Provisional Government. Could it be that he’s seeking refuge here in Northern Manchuria?

But this paints a clear picture.

The fact that Koreans are gathering around someone as a central figure in Northern Manchuria means that there must be someone capable of being that central figure in Northern Manchuria, and we can assume that they’re trying to establish a Provisional Government.

It could be Prince I-gang.

“Wait, seeking cooperation from the Manchurian Army?”

“Yes. Not the Japanese government, but the Manchurian Army.”

Has the Manchurian Army already begun to operate somewhat independently from Japan?

Should we view it in the same light as the Kanto Army?

The Manchurian Army is, after all, part of the Japanese military, and Manchuria is a railroad company owned by Japan managing Southern Manchuria.

“Should we consider the Manchurian Army operating independently?”

“Yes. It seems Japan has granted Manchuria independent status while managing the Korean Peninsula. They’ve formally requested cooperation.”

“And that’s why they’re looking for someone named I-gang?”

“There’s initially very little information about him. The Manchurian Army wants to find him discreetly, if possible.”

That makes sense. If it comes out that I-gang has gone outside, the overseas independence activists will surely want to find him.

Searching discreetly likely implies that they’ve blocked off routes to the United States as much as possible. So they are trying to search him out from Manchuria, and Japan must have issued orders to the Manchurian Army to find him.

Given that the royal family has gone missing, Japan must have a tough time searching for him openly, considering they need to keep an eye on Korea.

“Minister of the Interior, discreetly search through the Okhrana. This is the only place he could be. He might be in Northern Manchuria.”

“If we find him, should we send him to Japan?”

Sending him to Japan is not a good idea.

Seeing how the royal family was treated during the Japanese colonial period, while Koreans may not particularly like the Korean Empire, if I-gang has already succeeded in his exile, there would be no reason to disturb him.

Instead, we could use I-gang as a card to shake Japan.

We could think of him as a sort of joker.

Of course, even if the royal family ends up labeled as traitors under Japan’s own schemes, we cannot ignore their potential influence.

More than anything, capturing I-gang and sending him away would mean sending other Provisional Government figures to Japan as well.

That doesn’t sit well.

I shook my head slightly.

“No. Let’s just keep an eye on him for now. But let’s not let him leave anywhere.”

“Your Majesty believes that I-gang is uniting the Koreans, then?”

“That’s not incorrect. It feels that way.”

If he has already joined the Provisional Government, he could discreetly rally the Koreans with his name.

At this time, the Koreans in Manchuria are quite similar to those who were in Japan, so unlike in Korea where the royal family’s influence is being undermined, it would be easier to gather forces.

“Wouldn’t that cause unnecessary disturbance if we just let them be?”

I don’t think so.

Even without considering his past life, viewing it solely from the mindset of the Tsar of Russia, if he’s reached Northern Manchuria, it indicates he has nowhere else to go, so he wouldn’t cause trouble there.

Rather, he would be in a position to ask Russia for help, what could he possibly do?

If he intends to go anywhere, it’s likely toward the United States, but would I-gang be able to go all the way to the U.S. without simply abandoning the Koreans in Manchuria?

I don’t think so.

Reaching Manchuria is quite different from other royal family members who have become collaborators with Japan; it’s meant to fight back against Japan, so how could he simply flee to the U.S.?

“As Baron Beria said, the Koreans in the Asian Cavalry Division could also be affected. We should let things go as they are. More than anything, Japan is not our ally.”

From the perspective of the Russians, if given the right time and justification, we must take revenge on Japan for the Russo-Japanese War.

The fact that a so-called great empire spanning both East and West was defeated by an island nation in the Far East remains a scar in the hearts of the Russian people.

If the opportunity arises, especially with a sense of regret from the past, wouldn’t it be right to seek revenge on that island nation?

In preparation for that time, I’m thinking of laying the necessary groundwork.

The Korean Provisional Government will also play a crucial role whenever that time comes.

“Are you preparing for the future, then?”

“Yes. It’s not like we have a problem on our hands right now, is it? It’s good to be prepared for potential contingencies.”

“Indeed. The Koreans are following the orders of the Russian Far East Army quite well. Surprisingly, they are participating diligently in the development of Manchuria compared to the Jews.”

Well, the Jews only needed a place to settle immediately, but the Koreans have more desperate reasons.

They need to build strength to fight against Japan.

Plus, they must find a place to live that avoids Japan, and it seems Northern Manchuria has turned out to be that place for them.

Later, if the Korean Provisional Government stirs up the Koreans on the peninsula for a collective uprising against Japan, it will become all the easier to expel them.

If that’s the case, I must visit the Far East.

I need to see how things are going there to plan how to respond when the war with Japan breaks out.

“Hmm, I feel like I have to check out the Far East at least once.”

“The only other sight besides St. Sophia Cathedral is nothing, so it seems a pilgrimage can be arranged next year or the year after.”

Next year or the year after.

Hmm. Will we be able to excavate the Daqing oil fields by then?

We’re trying to speed up the development of excavation technology as much as possible, so something should come out of it.

“It’s not like we’re going on a sightseeing trip. How does St. Sophia Cathedral matter in any of this? Still, if preparations are made, then I want to see it, so we’ll go when the time is right.”

It has been almost 4 or 5 years since Northern Manchuria became part of Russia, right? Will it not differ from Northern Manchuria, which needs to drain Chinese waters?

By now, it should have quite a bit of a Russian influence.

“Still, hasn’t there been considerable progress toward Russian integration?”

“We are developing it alongside the existing Manchu towns as much as possible to resemble a Russian city.”

Constantinople is also currently in chaos trying to recreate its Roman glory. Northern Manchuria was secured faster than Constantinople, so it should be fine.

We have been managing it since the civil war, after all.

“Your Majesty, speaking of the Manchurian Railway, the Japanese reached out to us today.”

“The Japanese? Not the Manchurian Army this time?”

“Yes.”

What the hell, why are we getting so many love calls?

Do the Japanese really consider Russia an ally?

Ah, that feels a bit disgusting.

How much pain will it cause if we get stabbed in the back like this?

So, what is it that the Japanese want from us this time? What could they have wanted to contact us again?

“What is it this time? Do they want us to invade China together or something?”

“That’s not it. They wish to join the anti-aircraft agreement themselves.”

Those guys want to join the anti-aircraft agreement?

Ah, that’s quite unexpected.

“When did they start saying such things?”

Not that we were hiding anything, but it seems Japan has quite an interest in Russian affairs.

Japan wanting to join the anti-aircraft agreement.

Didn’t they form the anti-aircraft agreement in actual history?

However, the anti-aircraft agreement in this history isn’t just any anti-aircraft agreement. It’s literally a military alliance against the Communists.

They can’t possibly not know that.

Are they suggesting borrowing the Siberian railroad to reach the European front to fight Germany?

Are they thinking of gaining something while making that request?

Isn’t their greed just a tad excessive?

Who do they think they are to have such interests in Europe?

“Do they really want to come all the way to Germany to fight, hoping for some stake in Europe?”

“Haven’t they been blinded by their victory in the last great war?”

Seriously, are they thinking of coming to Germany?

Did they think that by becoming our ally, we’d bring their forces to Europe?

It’s unclear which side this benefits, but the notion that, due to changes in history, they perceive themselves as equals to European powers and want to sign an anti-aircraft agreement is…?

It’s not impossible.

“Hmm, they want to advance into Europe, then.”

“The Asian race is really feeling empowered now. Sigh, we should have captured them fully during the Russo-Japanese War.”

Yeah, it truly seems they’re feeling empowered. But discriminatory views are not good.

Wasn’t Japan’s justification ultimately about overthrowing Western imperialism and liberating Asia?

We shouldn’t carry prejudice against them until they stab us in the back.

“All humans are the same. It’s not good to draw lines based on race. What are your thoughts from the Foreign Ministry’s perspective?”

“I plan to accept it under certain conditions. We shouldn’t refuse and create discord in the Far East.”

That sounds right. The anti-aircraft agreement should be seen as an extension of Japan’s non-aggression policy with Russia.

The more careless they are, the more beneficial it is for Russia.

Adding a title isn’t too difficult.

At least until the Russian Far East Army can secure quality to adequately block the Japanese advance, it would be wise to accommodate Japan’s requests somewhat.

But it’s not like we should just grant everything they ask.

If we agree to everything they want, what do we have left?

Wouldn’t that be belittling us?

No. On the contrary, this seems quite beneficial. It’s an anti-aircraft alliance, after all.

In other words, it’s a defensive alliance against the Communists, and Communists are not just in Europe.

Currently, there are Communists in China as well.

Later on, if Mao Zedong’s influence grows considerably, won’t Japan feel pressured to engage with him?

“Let’s just attach some conditions. We can provide support forces to fight against Germany only when Russia requests it. Let’s also throw in an excuse to not give a reason to the Communists. Oh, let’s tell them we just want to help prevent the expansion of Communism in Asia.”

“Yes. We shall do that.”

To avoid underestimating ourselves, we need to show some level of vigilance.

Thus, Japan can only act when we request it from the Russian Army.

If we can manage that, Japan won’t be able to claim any benefits in Europe unless they are called upon by us to do so, since they probably won’t seek that out themselves.

However.

If that happens, then as a member of the anti-aircraft alliance, Japan won’t be able to do anything, and they might be compelled to instigate war to deal with the Communists in Asia.

They might already be planning this.

 

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