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* * *

Taking advantage of France’s blunders, I’m going to conquer right away, that’s what it is.

So history changes even for Camel, huh?

No, this must be the normal way of things.

Especially the British. Our Mr. Gallipoli, during the last war for this timeline when he tore up Turkish land, even played around with battleships before the war.

If there’s a chance, this is worth a shot. Hmm, it feels right, I guess.

If our Turkey wants to try something out, we need to stroke their egos a bit.

I do enjoy watching history change, you know?

Especially interested in how it will unfold.

Since part of Anatolia was taken by Russia, they might just try to regain the remaining Arab territories.

It’s not completely out of the question.

Anyway, the Ottomans were so pumped up that they called themselves Rome.

And here France and Britain show weakness? How can I stand it?

I bet they want to push straight through Syria and Arabia and head to Egypt!

The problem is that, if that happens, Palestine might not become what I know it to be. I don’t know when they’ll make a move, but Atatürk won’t act recklessly either.

“Our weapons production isn’t exactly overflowing.”

It’s quite troublesome that they’re this popular.

For now, China is slowly starting to produce their own, plus there’s support for Poland and the Balkan countries, and Ethiopia is in the mix as well. Finland should definitely be supported too.

No, maybe I should delay the Finland side a bit.

After all, if Sweden and Norway aren’t going to be gobbled up, it should be fine.

What remains is that we want to start blowing up supplies during the war.

“Should we expand the factories?”

We need to increase our arms factories to demonstrate overwhelming production compared to Russia. Let’s sell more weapons.

Ultimately, that weaponry will lead to fights against the Communists. It’s likely we won’t have to hold back too much in order to withstand that.

We’re selling weapons, and if the countries buying our weapons engage in battle with Germany, then the blood we spill will be that much less.

“Well, aren’t the countries buying our weapons the first ones to face Communist invasions?”

“That’s true.”

Since Maria seems to have a keen eye, the National Duma will probably take a positive view on selling weapons to countries that will fight against the communist bloc first.

In fact, just looking at the current grading, it seems like there were talks about this and that from the Duma side as well.

Most of them are in favor of selling weapons right now.

Of course, the military holds a contrary position.

The military argues that, when war breaks out, they must first capture the Reds.

Well, I can see their point.

Through the civil war, the White Army has become overwhelmingly anti-communist.

Honestly, it’s not an incorrect statement, but there’s no real reason for us to rush.

Just as Britain wants Germany and Russia to expend their forces against each other, we should also make excuses while pushing damage onto Austria, Poland, and the Balkans.

Ugh, this is fine. We’ve got the U.S. backing, so it’s established.

“Should we approve the weapon sales then?”

“Should I convey that to the Duma?”

“Yeah.”

I might have started this, but most are just tightly managing things with the military, so sometimes it feels like that defense company is under my thumb too.

But still, it’s nice that the Duma comes to ask for permission for things like this!

However, it seems there’s also a request related to television exports.

Things like that should be handled by the Duma themselves—but oh, it turns out this company is mine.

Yusupov has piled everything onto my desk.

“Oh, there’s something about television exports.”

Particularly, the Balkan countries are clamoring for exports at all costs.

Well, now Russia has commercialized television, but other countries not so much.

Russia’s tech is advancing while others are lagging? I can’t let that slide.

“Do you think the television will reach a performance level suitable for export?”

“Hmm.”

Since Russians are using them, it probably has what it takes to be exported, right?

Speaking of which, does America have a television industry right now?

The way things are in that country, I’d say we’re acquiring things one by one while televisions seem delayed compared to the original timeline.

Then, are we monopolizing this?

Oh, sounds like it could be fun. To monopolize televisions worldwide? I can’t resist.

Hmm, but what’s this?

There’s one more thing related to England that recently came up.

It’s a document that was posted in a hurry today, but what in the world can it be?

“Huh? What’s this? Cabinet resignation in Britain?”

From the reading, it says that a cabinet resignation happened in Britain. It occurred right after a parade.

In original history, a cabinet resignation never took place. Because when it was threatened, Edward abandoned the throne to be with his beloved.

Even if that beloved has been divorced twice, he genuinely loved her and chose her over the throne of the vast empire.

Of course, arguing about whether he became an absolute monarch or the emperor has no true meaning.

“I wonder how this will unfold.”

Edward currently has an ally.

A powerful ally known as Churchill.

Probably, Churchill whispered devilish encouragement so that Edward wouldn’t have to give up either the throne or the woman.

Of course, there would be several conditions attached, but if he doesn’t have to give up the throne, he’ll be thrilled.

To prove this, the Stanley Baldwin cabinet has just gone ahead and actually resigned in Britain.

This looks like it could be sweet fun, huh?

* * *

Recently, in the British Empire…

Edward VIII aimed to marry the glamorous woman Wallis Simpson, who had the record of being divorced twice in original history.

Naturally, Stanley Baldwin’s cabinet would not tolerate this.

“If Your Majesty intends to marry that unclean divorcee, you must relinquish the throne. If not, we unfortunately must resign!”

As a result, just as in actual history, the cabinet resignation followed, but this world was a bit different.

Edward VIII had no intention of giving up Wallis Simpson or the throne.

Instead, he boldly mocked the cabinet.

“Then go ahead, do as you will.”

“Your Majesty! What is that supposed to mean?”

“I will not give up my woman! Nor my throne! Even my father, wanting to leave the throne to Bertie and Lilibet, cannot stop me! How can one mention a throne when they can’t even protect their own woman?”

His determination to protect his woman as king.

Moved by Edward’s unwavering resolve, which had previously seemed a bit unfitting for a king, Stanley Baldwin came to a decision.

“If that’s how you truly feel, then we will resign.”

Stanley Baldwin’s cabinet boldly declared their resignation.

And this became another opportunity for Churchill.

Churchill had prepared the royalists and veterans returning from World War I, along with various lower-class citizens, to passionately support Edward’s unorthodox marriage, and seizing the moment from the cabinet’s resignation, the royalists mobilized veterans to seize control over the cabinet.

Edward VIII also implored the public, following methods instructed by Churchill, to recognize his marriage.

“Subjects of the British Empire, please hear me. I, Edward, King of the British Empire, love a woman of lower rank than you. Yet the royal family and the cabinet opposed our marriage simply because she is not a noble, even abandoning the politics of our nation and going so far as to resign the cabinet! What does this mean? It means the cabinet and the royal family, in governing this British Empire, have been disregarding the citizens of this empire! I implore you to support me, the rightful king, and stand with my marriage to Wallis Simpson, a union of king and commoner!”

If one were to argue on it, many reasons exist on why such a marriage should be avoided, but setting that aside, Edward meticulously incited dissent by stating that the royal family and cabinet prohibited marriage merely due to the woman’s low status, and commoners similar to her social class, who regularly took a lowly attitude toward Communist Germany, now pointed fingers at the Baldwin cabinet that decided on resignation.

“What problem is there with class when it comes to love! I see how the royal family and cabinet perceive the common people!”

“Long live King Edward and the royalists!”

“God save our king!”

“What is the royalists doing? Hurry and assist the new king!”

It wasn’t just about Edward’s ascension.

Churchill not only spoke on Edward’s behalf but also declared that the current cabinet was weak and he would restore the great British Empire.

“Let the cabinet that bowed to Communist Germany vanish!”

“Eradicate the communism in our colonies!”

Protests erupted nationwide, and it was then that Stanley Baldwin realized he had indeed been hit.

I had noticed that Churchill had been unusually quiet lately; who would have thought he was preparing this?

With the stigma of having abandoned the nation, Stanley Baldwin sought out Winston Churchill.

“If you aren’t going to throw away the prestige of the British Empire before the Dover Strait, stop this ridiculous act immediately!”

“Oh, really? Who is acting more ridiculous now? Those who resigned the cabinet over a marriage issue, one woman’s matter, now come to complain?”

Churchill laughed at Baldwin, utterly unamused.

It was simply impossible.

“Do you really plan to divide the national sentiment?”

“Divide the national sentiment? Right now, as never before, the British Empire shines! When walking down the street, everyone praises the current Majesty!”

To be precise, that king was not much more than a figurehead. But still, it must be different from before.

“Oh, well. Give it your best shot. I firmly declare, you Churchill could cause this country to fall!”

Stanley Baldwin’s words were not an empty threat.

If it’s just the British Isles, that might be one thing, but the situation in the British Empire’s colonies was altogether different.

The Dominion of Canada, the Union of South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand opposed the idea of Edward marrying a divorced woman.

However, colonies like British India and British Malaya obeyed the commands of the British Isles without question.

As far as colonies are concerned, there’s no way around it.

The colonial authorities disapproved of their home country rolling over for Communist Germany.

However, the betrayal from other Commonwealth white nations like Canada was enough to enrage Churchill.

“Such despicable traitors!”

Churchill’s face flushed with anger.

How dare the British dominions betray the will of the British Empire! The Westminster Charter must not be violated.

“No, that’s not right.”

Pleading for Edward’s marriage, saying they’d play separately if Britain continues to push for it, Churchill furiously shuffled the newspapers about the dominions, but at the same time, he reconsidered.

Hadn’t communism already taken root in those dominions?

It wouldn’t make sense for them to threaten the British Empire merely under the excuse of an unorthodox marriage.

This also led to suspicion of communism within white countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and more.

Meanwhile, Mosley took a different approach.

“Mr. Prime Minister, isn’t the colonial issue more urgent?”

“The colonies?”

“Eventually, the other dominions know they can’t survive without the home country. India is the primary focus of Communist Germany.”

Those dominions know their fate relies on Britain.

Meanwhile, the colonies are different. As we speak, the red seeds are spreading.

“Hmm. Right.”

“What if we promise to expand autonomy a bit more and guarantee independence once we defeat Communist Germany?”

Of course, since war hasn’t yet begun, promising to defeat Communist Germany would be something to mention later.

“Are we letting go of the colonies?”

“Let’s at least dangle a carrot in front of them. If we do that, the communists won’t be able to flex their muscles.”

“Would they believe us?”

Even in the face of total war, they had promised to promote the development of self-governing bodies, yet Britain suppressed India and oppressed independence movements post-war.

Isn’t it natural for communism to spread in India when they were betrayed by Britain after the war?

So the aim now is to expand autonomy more.

“Certainly, they likely wouldn’t believe us outright, so we should attach some conditions. If our Majesty consents to act as the head of state, we will allow unified India to gain independence.”

“Hmm.”

From the start, we’ll offer everything!

Instead of giving them a reason to suspect deceit, let’s simply come to an understanding that the king of England will be the Indian head of state. That’s the compromise here.

After that, we’ll topple Communist Germany and regain control of India using various excuses.

But the betrayal from the dominions was utterly unacceptable.

* * *

 

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