---

* * *

Austro-Hungarian Empire, Vienna

Around this time, in Austria, Hitler of the national liberal Austrian Workers’ Party was passionately delivering an anti-communist speech in front of the citizens of Vienna.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our Austria is facing tough trials. This is because communists are rising up all around us. Up above, Germany threatens us, and down below, Italy and Yugoslavia pose threats!”

Hitler spoke fervently to the citizens of Vienna, veins bulging from his neck.

“We must not succumb. Why? Because this Empire’s Habsburg royal family is the only one that carries the true legitimacy of the Germans! Look at that Red Germany! Once, it was a country where the sun never set, and it had the strongest army in Europe, yet now it’s crimson with shame!”

“That guy sure knows how to talk!”

As Hitler continued his speech, one by one, the mesmerized onlookers began to clap and praise him.

“They have lost their ethnic identity! The pride of the Germanic people has collapsed, and they have become nothing but rootless reds! This is shameful for the Germans! The purity of the Aryan race belongs solely to us Austrians!”

In this alternate version of history, Hitler began laying the groundwork to unify the downtrodden Austrians and the other independent ethnic groups suffering from feelings of defeat.

WAAAAHHHH!

“They are no better than the Jews who exploited us and sought only their own profit from behind the scenes. However, they are Germans, and we are the last remaining Germans in history; we must liberate our fellow Germans who are groaning under the tyranny of Communist Germany. But in reality, our strength is far too weak.”

As he stuttered at the end of his speech, his head drooped.

The citizens listening to Hitler also lowered their heads in unison.

However, Hitler raised his head again.

As if refusing to fall, his right hand clenched tightly, and determination burned in his eyes.

“But we have our old comrades. Slovakia, Hungary, and the Transylvanians! We must unite our strengths to establish a new nation. Not as it was during the Austro-Hungarian Empire when there were divisions but as equals among Danube people! As honorable Aryans! We must come together! If we unite, we can withstand the forthcoming ultimate war against the communists and emerge victorious!”

“““Hitler! Hitler! Hitler!”””

Of course, there were those who opposed Hitler.

After all, it was strange to expect countries that were not even of the same ethnicity to unite once again without any discontent.

“Why should we equate ourselves with those fellows?”

“We just got our independence! Why should we become a part of Austria again?”

“Isn’t it Austria’s responsibility to figure this out by themselves?”

Among Austrians and even those from other former constituent nations of the Dual Monarchy, there were people questioning why they should reunite. Conversely, there were those who responded positively to Hitler’s speech.

Especially among those who supported the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and the idea of a Greater Austria.

“A new nation might not be so bad.”

“If it’s not just a country for Austrians, then why not?”

“If we must immediately stop the reds, that wouldn’t be too bad either.”

Surprisingly, Hitler’s speech gained considerable support.

Most of all, news had spread that German communists were appearing in Slovakia, and during Hungary’s communist revolution, German communists had also intervened, placing the nations of the Dual Monarchy under the threat of the communist party.

This even attracted monarchists from various countries with Habsburg blood.

Ironically, the rise of communism prompted the idea of reconstructing the Dual Monarchy.

* * *

United States, Kentucky

In Kentucky, America, covert movements were ongoing.

“I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”

Trotsky exchanged uneasy glances with the man beside him while looking at a weapons box in front of him.

“Comrade, what do you mean?”

“Engaging in armed struggle is one thing, but smuggling weapons? Tsk.”

Trotsky clicked his tongue softly.

Indeed, Trotsky and his group were currently involved in smuggling weapons.

For a revolution that would one day occur in this North American land.

To acquire a large quantity of weapons for the revolution, there was no other way but to go the illegal route, and smuggling was the answer.

“It’s not like we have to do something right now, is it? You were the one who suggested this first.”

That’s true. He did propose it first.

After all, they had to form an army to do anything at all.

But he had not expected to be able to smuggle weapons like this.

Yes, it was astonishing that these smuggled goods were weapons made in the Russian Republic.

Smuggling firearms made by anti-revolution forces.

Though it was coming from China, the manufacturer was none other than Tsvetkov Gun Factory of the Russian Republic.

“That’s true, but… ahem. So, Comrade Kulik, do the warlords over there sell all their weapons?”

“It seems only the warlords with ample weapons are selling. They seem to be mutual rivals or something.”

“Ha! To think we’re buying weapons made by anti-revolution forces.”

Especially those Tsvetkov rifles; all of them were rifles made for the princess by that Tsvetkov fellow.

“At least it’s fortunate that frying chicken has been quite profitable.”

Unexpectedly, Trotsky’s chicken shop became a hit.

So much so that he could open chain stores.

So fishy that the reds were so fluent in Russian that they could handle those chain stores.

Originally, they were just pretending to fry chicken to hide from the Okhrana, with the help of American communist comrades.

However, it surprisingly took off.

Of course, while frying the chicken, he didn’t forget to win over the hearts of the Black people as well.

And that was the problem.

Who would’ve thought of recruiting people through chicken?

“Anyone who sees it would think it’s a chicken revolution!”

“Oh comrade, that’s a brilliant idea!”

Recently, Gregory Kulik, who joined the cause and took charge of weapons smuggling, clapped his hands with excitement while laughing.

“What do you mean?”

“If we call it a chicken revolution, we can evade the eyes of the princess’s Okhrana, can’t we?”

“Ha. How ridiculous. Is the Fourth International going to be ashamed?”

The Fourth International!

Trotsky organized the Fourth International in America, infused with his new beliefs.

This Fourth International was growing by absorbing communists hidden in the shadows of America, allowing exiled communists from Russia to join.

Of course, the Okhrana just stood by, and the American administration offered them asylum, but still.

“Honestly, isn’t that like flaunting yourself as a target? Now is the time to increase our power. From what I see, those Black folks seem to like chicken. It’ll make for a good code name.”

At least if they use the chicken revolution as a code name, the Okhrana would think nothing of it.

They’d never guess that something like that could be reds!

It was definitely a good code name for hiding, but still, chicken revolution?

“But?”

“If we use chicken, we can attract more Black people, right?”

“Hmm. Even so, that seems a bit…”

What kind of karma does this chicken have to be involved in a revolution?

Since coming to America, the number of chickens Trotsky had fried must have surpassed the number of counter-revolutionaries he had killed.

“Of course, I’m joking, but is this really the time to be fancy? Now might be the time to broaden our worldview. You do know the damned Okhrana has already come this far into bourgeois land, right?”

“That’s true.”

Even though Trotsky’s situation was dire, he was not oblivious to those pursuing him.

With the fall of Soviet Russia and the effective annihilation of the Bolshevik remnants due to Brusilov’s western offensive, they had fled en masse to America.

Perhaps there was some understanding among the reds; Trotsky had begun taking in the refugees and had gotten some news about the Okhrana, which had led him to move his base to Kentucky.

It was a miracle to engage in arms smuggling with the network of communists he had established.

“Either way, it’s going to be death at this rate. If I’m going to die at the hands of the Okhrana at any moment, I must ignite the revolution. Until then, I need to strengthen our power as much as possible.”

“Right. We must do that.”

Trotsky sighed deeply, with arms crossed behind him.

Kulik was right; there wasn’t really any method at hand. Plus, this was American soil.

So they had to hide their identities and conceal the organization’s name.

“Well, if we’re going to revolution, we need a justification, don’t we? We can’t just shout about opposing racism and start a revolution out of nowhere, right?”

Gregory Kulik nodded along as he spoke.

True enough. Trotskyism was essentially the same as racial egalitarianism and was more suited to attract Black people.

But what reason would they have for a revolution?

That was a different issue.

However, Trotsky waved his hand dismissively, as if that was no problem, and chuckled softly.

“Just wait and see, even this giant called America will have its day of reckoning.”

The end of the Great War, the scissors crisis, the gold standard, and the communist revolution in Germany. The stock market transforming due to the advent of radio.

Trotsky anticipated that an economic crisis would hit America within a few years.

Yes, if that day comes, he will once again raise the flag of labor in this America.

But.

Trotsky gazed far off to the east.

“Princess. Is that damned woman anticipating this too?”

The princess was the one who preempted the Bolshevik policies and played tricks on them.

How Russia led by the princess would respond was a topic of curiosity.

“But comrade?”

“What now? You should have fried all the chickens by now.”

He didn’t need to fry the chicken personally anymore, but because they had moved to Kentucky, he felt he needed to promote it himself; thus, he had come out to fry once again, and only now did he step out to examine the smuggled weapons.

So, what exactly does he want to say?

“Even if our code name is Chicken Revolution, we still need to set things right, don’t we?”

“That’s right. Then…”

He thought it might need a little mixing.

After all, they couldn’t get caught by the Okhrana. At the very least, it should be something understood among communist comrades.

Anyway, Trotsky’s Fourth International was founded in opposition to the Left Opposition of the German Communist Party, led by Liebknecht and Luxembourg.

Using it as is might not sit well, so they needed to shift the words around to make it a code.

Take the “K” from “International” (Коммунисти́ческий интернациона́л) in “Fourth International”.

The “4” comes from the English word “Four,” taking the “F”.

From “Communism,” take the “C.”

And mix in some American flair.

Now, with this revolutionary spirit bubbling inside his chest, Trotsky carefully and confidently opened his mouth.

“KFC sounds good.”

“Indeed, it stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken.”

Kulik applauded and praised Trotsky.

Trotsky narrowed his eyes at Kulik’s words.

Indeed.

The cleverly scrambled name for the organization was starting to look like Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The code name that was supposed to be cleverly hidden from the counter-revolutionaries had now instantaneously devolved into a word evoking thoughts of fried chicken.

Trotsky clenched his fists and screamed.

“Why are you like this, comrade?”

“Don’t say anything.”

Trotsky looked up at the night sky as if gazing at a distant mountain, contemplating whether he should take it out on this Kulik fellow.

* * *

As the sun rose again, Russia continued to develop even further.

Foreign investment was minimal because the impacts of the Great Depression were less severe.

Following the New Economic Policy, a five-year state development plan to supplement its shortcomings was implemented by the National Duma.

This five-year development plan included domestic product preference for consumer goods.

“Let us create what we must make with our own hands!”

“All citizens, as one, let us contribute to the nation’s development as part of the Union!”

“O workers of Russia! While you work, become machines!”

Russia was functioning oddly.

The National Duma, initially using my reputation, implemented various policies.

Among these were the production of Russian-made consumer goods and products.

Of course, they needed to enhance competitiveness, so companies within Russia were also competing against one another.

However, it was somewhat curious.

“Is this really okay?”

It felt as though the entire nation was functioning as one.

They seemed to be moving like machines. Would there actually be a rebellion saying they were tired someday?

As the grading emperor, I gazed at the student council president (prime minister), Krivoshein, in front of me, demanding answers.

“Companies do not make their employees work over eight hours a day. This is according to your majesty’s wishes.”

“Is it really due to my name that everyone works like this, like mere accessories of the state, like machines?”

“Does this mean it’s because of my name?”

That was strange. Were they all following my policies because of my name?

“What’s the issue?”

“It’s not that subtle. Ah, is this right?”

Though they were working less than during the previous regime, is this really how it should be?

Wages were being paid properly, and yet, this felt odd.

 

---