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“Anarchy means that—”

“Then, anarchy means exactly that, doesn’t it? We simply moved our troops because we believe the peasants of Ukraine desire to be free from Russian rule.”

Anarchy, huh. It’s meaningless because it’s a Free Territory.

Upon hearing this, the Foreign Affairs Commissioner of the Free Territory informed Makhno that they had been deceived by Russia.

“Oh dear. How did that letter leak out?”

“It seems a few Bolsheviks from the Supreme Labor Committee rushed across the border to tell Tsarina.”

“Traitors!”

Unlike his furious subordinates, Makhno’s thoughts were different.

No, it was ‘that’ Tsarina.

The Tsarina who led the civil war to victory. It’s unlikely that the Bolsheviks, who were gritting their teeth, would report to her.

Even if Makhno’s policies failed, these would be the ones who would hate the Tsarina.

Which means, among those Bolsheviks, there was evidence that the Tsarina’s hands and feet were intertwined from the start.

“I see. The Tsarina must have been aiming for this from the beginning.”

It would make sense. After all, what is the Free Territory?

It was established with the Tsarina’s approval. There was no reason for her to let half of Ukraine go independent just to check the British.

Moreover, the Free Territory is treated just the same as the Bolsheviks, who killed the former Tsar.

Shouldn’t the Bolsheviks have chosen their allies wisely? No, it’s too late for that already.

They should have never accepted Secretary Lifshitz’s letter of recommendation in the first place.

They should never have given them a pretext.

“This isn’t what was promised!”

“Now that it’s come to this, we must mobilize the Defense Corps!”

“Right. Since Russia deceived us, we’ll fight to the last man!”

Makhno’s Black Army. The current labor committee defense forces had experience fighting the Red Army in the civil war, so they welcomed Anton Denikin’s Southern Russian White Army within Ukraine—but—

“Is it even necessary to fight?”

“It’s true that Makhno is messing things up.”

“We don’t even have anyone to help us.”

Unlike in the days of the Black Army, the Defense Corps had no intention of fighting properly.

In the first place, they followed Makhno because they believed he would govern the committee and the Free Territory well.

But Makhno had seriously messed that up.

Despite Makhno being oblivious, the bureaucrats enforcing the collective farming policy were profiting behind the scenes.

There was no one willing to die for Makhno and the committee.

Instead, they heard that the Tsar of the neighboring country was leading well, and living under Russian rule wouldn’t be so terrible.

With the changing situation since the days of the Russian Civil War, the Black Army received Anton Denikin’s soldiers directly and led them all the way to Kharkiv.

Makhno, who never anticipated the Russian army’s advance, was blindsided by the subsequent betrayal of the Black Army.

Of course, there were still those who stood by Makhno and fought until the end.

“Damn it, if we get caught, we’re all dead!”

“Since we’re going to die anyway, let’s die fighting!”

This was the case for those who were perpetrators of the collective farming policy and had no choice but to die even if they surrendered.

Of course, only a few with nowhere to run would end up like that; most died fleeing, beaten to death by peasants.

The remaining outcasts wanted to fight Denikin’s army, but since Denikin’s troops were in Southern Russia, they knew Makhno’s army well, and there was a difference in the quality of weapons and troops.

“Finally gonna sweep these filthy anarchists away! Wipe them all out!”

Anton Denikin’s army thoroughly captured the resisting Makhno’s defense forces.

In such a tragic reality, Makhno, who was in the office of the Supreme Labor Committee, finally faced the truth.

“Is this where the Free Territory ends?”

Makhno suddenly recalled when he first led the Black Army.

That revolutionary spirit. Makhno hadn’t forgotten it.

In truth, Makhno wasn’t ignorant of the issues with the collective farms.

He had expected the landlords and peasants to react negatively.

However, he held a widespread belief that things would get better someday.

Perhaps it could actually have been possible.

But, there was no time left.

Tsarina Anastasia had no intention of leaving the Ukrainian Free Territory alone.

Then again, if Makhno himself were in that position, he would have likely stomped on it if given the chance.

In reality, they were even thinking of switching to Germany, keeping an eye on the situation.

It was unimaginable that there would be a Tsar’s puppet in the Supreme Labor Committee.

Anyway, this was a complete defeat.

The rapid movement by the Tsar meant that everything had been prepared to deal a rightful blow to them.

If they were dragged to Moscow like this, Makhno’s intentions would thoroughly be denied in trial.

After all, what does the opinion of a loser even matter?

Even if Makhno tried to protest—

“Not even that. I wasn’t even treated as part of the country.”

Then Makhno should rightly be viewed as nothing more than a bandit leader.

If it came to that, dying here would be more fitting.

As Russia’s invasion began and public sentiment turned against him, his wife and child also left, leaving him with no reason to live.

It would be a minor rebellion against the Tsarina, and if he died like this, he would surely be remembered as a martyr.

Makhno pressed the barrel to his temple and pulled the trigger.

<Bang!>

The bullet from the pistol pierced Makhno’s temple, splattering his brain and blood on the office wall, as Makhno’s Free Territory met its end along with his demise.

* * *

Siberian Prison Camp

Meanwhile, a small medal awarding ceremony was held at the Siberian prison camp.

“Unbelievable.”

And on this day, Stalin was shocked.

It was because a minister-level person, specially dispatched from Moscow for awarding medals to Bolsheviks, personally pinned a medal on Stalin’s chest.

This was also a new double-headed eagle medal given solely to those who had contributed to the United States.

Why was the medal awarded? It was simple.

Although Stalin was a Bolshevik, he had become a priest and stabilized the Siberian prison camp for the United States government, earning him the medal.

While it was called a contribution, Stalin quickly realized that this awarding ceremony was intended to give a public impression that the Tsarina was a merciful saint who embraced the Bolsheviks.

And the White Army soldiers and Okhrana agents present at the ceremony didn’t hold back their applause.

“I knew a day like this would come eventually.”

“The Iron Priest is indeed the only one to receive His Grace in the Siberian prison camp!”

“““Stalin! Stalin! Stalin!”””

Stalin gritted his teeth and forced himself through the medal awarding ceremony.

Refusing would have looked bad, having been made a priest, so he reluctantly accepted it, but since it was the first award ceremony held at the camp, even those from the Bolshevik side participated.

This was orchestrated by the Okhrana, and the Bolsheviks present were busy pointing fingers at Stalin.

“That traitor of the revolution!”

“I knew it since the moment he pretended to be a priest!”

“So there was something going on with the Tsarina behind the scenes? Did he fall in love with her?”

“Seeing that all of Lenin’s comrades are dead, he must’ve had a fling with her, right?”

Now, even a sense of disillusionment settled in.

Fell in love with the Tsarina? Him?

The same Tsarina who had turned his grand dream of becoming the Secretary of Russia, like that Karl Liebknecht in Germany, to ash?

He wanted nothing more than to rip off this cursed medal he was wearing right now. But he feared that doing so could cause trouble with the Okhrana.

Now that Stalin had arrived at this Siberian prison camp, he realized something.

He desperately wanted to keep his life.

He would stretch it out as long and thin as possible, living while mocking that Tsarina.

Though it wasn’t just Bolsheviks in the camp.

There were also non-Bolshevik criminals from the Tsar’s era who were unfortunate enough to be caught here and socialists who fought on the side of the White Army against the Red Army.

These individuals showed their favor towards the priest, Stalin.

After all, in this cold icy land, they needed a psychological support, and Stalin had provided that space by becoming a priest.

Today, a socialist who visited him said,

“Hahaha, Father Stalin, did you hear about that?”

“What is it?”

“There’s this fried chicken restaurant owner in America who’s gotten pretty popular recently. They say he’s loved by black people.”

On the front page of an American newspaper was a story about that chicken restaurant owner being loved by black people, with his face printed there.

But there was something very familiar about it.

When he was hiding to help the revolution, Stalin had disguised himself several times.

Of course, Trotsky, who was with him, had also dressed up, and Stalin knew Trotsky’s disguise patterns.

So, then.

“This bastard? Did he become a wealthy man?”

Stalin had to grasp the back of his neck while thinking about Trotsky feasting on chicken legs and living lavishly in America alone.

* * *

There was a medal awarding ceremony for the members of the National Duma.

To be precise, it was for those who played roles in founding the United States and had participated in the civil war, so regardless of status, even those from Yekaterinburg were included.

They were to receive the highest grade of medals, and among the new medal system created in the United States, the top tier was the newly established United States Roman Cross Medal.

It was a platinum cross adorned with a golden double-headed eagle, quickly made since it was pre-prepared when creating the workers’ medal.

Basically, since the current Prime Minister, Alexander Krivoshein, and the current ministers were essentially the remnants of the Southern Russian government, they were awarded the United States Roman Cross Medal for preserving that government.

Also, Georgy Lvov, along with local ministers and civic representatives from Yekaterinburg, helped establish the temporary government of Yekaterinburg and fought in the Yekaterinburg defensive battle, earning them the United States Roman Cross Medal.

Alexander Kolchak was awarded for rescuing me in Yekaterinburg and leading the civil war to victory, while Roman von Ungern-Sternberg was also awarded for his success in the Ukrainian campaign, along with Grigory Semenov, who took Mongolia and Northern Manchuria with a small army during the war.

Anton Denikin received a medal for his victory in Ukraine. He was awarded for his help in liberating Moscow from the Red Army, which was led by Trotsky in the southern front. Pyotr Wrangel and Mikhail Drozdovsky received medals for joining me in the defense of Moscow after advancing to it.

Anatoly Pepelyayev, leading 20,000 troops under Pyotr Wrangel and seizing Perm, which was garrisoned by 40,000 enemy troops, also received a medal, as did Yudenich, who attacked Petrograd, and Vermont, who fought against the Red Army in the Baltic.

Mannerheim of the Kingdom of Finland, which is essentially the Dual Monarchy, was also awarded this medal. Foreigners were honored due to the characteristics of this civil war.

They had instead received a new name for the founding medal of the United States.

Naturally, Patton, who was inexplicably still around, received this on behalf, and Gaida in Austria was sent one too, along with Hitler, who captured Stalin and other key Bolshevik figures.

As the medal awarding ceremony was progressing, new news arrived.

Makhno’s Free Territory had been shattered.

Honestly, I was somewhat hopeful this time.

Bessarabia, being such a small piece of land, could be quickly taken under the guise of peacekeeping forces.

Would Makhno’s Black Army fight hard against us?—I thought.

Though, in truth, the situation was different from Ukraine in the 21st century.

With public sentiment already in the dumps, what could Makhno have done?

The special news was that Makhno had committed suicide.

They said Makhno shot himself in his office.

With his subordinates having no chance to betray him, and with him holding the gun in hand, it was almost suicide.

Thus, an emergency session of the National Duma was called.

Naturally, it was concerning the attempt to gobble up eastern Ukraine.

The news of Makhno’s death was certainly a hot topic among the Duma members.

Honestly, I was suspicious too.

He wasn’t even Hitler, how could he shoot himself with a pistol?

“Is it true that Makhno committed suicide?”

Originally, I don’t know how he dies in history, but anyway, the fact that he died means there’s a scheme to fool us.

“Yes, it seems he didn’t want to be dragged to Moscow.”

I nodded at Drozdovsky’s words.

Hmm, yes. Death was likely an escape for Makhno.

He must have known he wouldn’t have a good outcome if alive.

If we took over East Ukraine and his army suffered defeat, would the peasants, who had been gritting their teeth over the collective farm policy, let him live in peace?

It would be a miracle if he were just hung at a gas station.

And being caught by us, he probably thought he would be executed under some kind of justification.

Honestly, with anarchy and the peasants desiring Russian rule, Makhno would likely be treated as just a bandit chief and wanted dead.

Who would’ve guessed he would choose to commit suicide like that?

“Why do you think he committed suicide?”

“Well, the way one dies can sometimes lead to a reevaluation of history. If he was just captured and tried, it wouldn’t be too notable. But by committing suicide, he can be seen as having died gloriously without achieving his intention while moving towards the ideal anarchist paradise. After all, he might be explained as having been killed by the Russian invaders before realizing his ambitions. Future historians might frame it that way. Bolsheviks were treated with no chance for reevaluation, but Makhno is different.”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

Even someone like that may have followers in the future.

In that case, we need to change our approach.

 

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