---

* * *

But since it could differ from the original history, I skimmed through the legal contents.

“Hmm, let’s see. Article 1, Section 1 prohibits the abuse or harassment of animals. Section 2—”

As I read further down, it turned out to be identical to the animal protection laws of Nazi Germany.

Well, the animal protection laws of Nazi Germany are worth referencing.

Okay, moving on to the next document.

The next paperwork mentioned that cigarettes sell well in recent Russia. There are too many smokers, and it’s a concern.

Wait a minute, didn’t that Hitler guy not ban smoking?

Along with the animal protection law, that was one of the few policies of Hitler that I actually liked.

“Didn’t Hitler also campaign against smoking?”

Thinking of Hitler’s anti-smoking campaign, I glanced through the smoking-related documents and asked the Prime Minister.

“What do you mean by an anti-smoking campaign?”

“Oh, it’s nothing special. Just increasing tobacco taxes or banning smoking in public places, regulating tobacco advertisement, stuff like that.”

I figured Hitler would do such things.

Thinking about the original history, it would be somewhat of a future endeavor.

“Hmm, since I don’t see any mention of it yet, it seems such laws haven’t been established.”

Is it possible Hitler has already enacted such laws?

After all, I hear he was working hard to strengthen anti-smoking laws until the end of the 30s. Now that we’re talking, should we draft one?

Hmm, then shall we take the lead?

“Do we have many smokers in Russia?”

“Yes. Especially since the Civil War, the number of female smokers has increased quite a bit.”

“Why?”

Is it because after the Civil War, they relied on cigarettes to cope with the devastation?

If that’s the logic, wouldn’t every country involved in the Civil War have a larger population of smokers?

At that moment, silence fell over the Duma.

“Well, since Your Majesty is a smoker, women who want to follow your example have learned to smoke.”

They really shouldn’t follow that.

Originally, Anastasia is a smoker enough to share with Nicholas II, but if the citizens follow suit, it would be problematic.

After all, I’m a Tanghulu, so smoking doesn’t affect me.

But the Russians, excluding me, are different. We should prevent any issues arising from smoking for pregnant women, right?

Then, in that case, since we referenced the animal protection law, it would be good to draft an anti-smoking law as well.

If more people start smoking because of me, it means I have to take responsibility for that.

Thank goodness Hitler took care of what I had forgotten early on.

Who would have thought an animal protection law would lead to such a realization?

“We should give it a go.”

“Pardon?”

Everyone’s faces looked blank, and I wondered why.

Oh, it’s probably because I smoke. Not that I smoke often or anything.

I can’t help it; I’ve gotten used to Anastasia’s touch.

“I can’t just disregard what I need because I smoke. Of course, I can’t force anyone not to smoke since I’m a smoker too, but it would be better to increase the price of cigarettes. And also teach that smoking is bad for pregnant women. Although I would still show a bit of an anti-smoking image myself.”

People in this era are way too indifferent towards cigarettes.

They don’t even realize it’s bad for their health and just smoke freely.

Would Nicholas II still smoke with his kids if he knew it was harmful?

“Understood.”

It’s a relief that Hitler has provided some useful elements after all.

At least Russia now has something worth noting.

We definitely need to push the anti-smoking campaign.

It wouldn’t be good if women began smoking because they wanted to emulate me; it’s especially concerning for pregnant women.

Particularly, as we face a major war, we need to cherish our workforce.

* * *

The US White House

The Military Government of the United States has been quite busy recently tidying up its regime.

Especially keeping an eye on the situations of neighboring countries has become a major task of the recent government, and I slammed my fist down on the desk.

“Damn it. The Brits are sending support to KFC?”

“There’s no confirmed report yet, but it seems likely.”

“No confirmed report? They must support that quasi-communist Huey Long. Look at their history! Those British are exactly the type who can’t help but meddle. Not just Huey Long; with them supporting KFC, they’re trying to divide America!”

MacArthur was a staunch anti-communist.

He disliked the Bolsheviks, the communes spreading in Communist Germany, and France.

He intended to ignore any event in Europe.

Above all, the idea of inciting people to overthrow the regime seemed to him the epitome of evil in the world.

Additionally, this anti-communism intensified due to the British and French supporting KFC and the Huey Long government.

“I don’t know the truth behind the rumors, but we are in an isolated position right now. Everyone feels uneasy, so isn’t it possible that rumors are bubbling up because of that? We need to come up with countermeasures.”

“Right. Above us, we have the unpredictable Canada, next to us are the chicken-crazy Reds, and below us are quasi-Reds.”

“At least it’s a relief that Russia is sympathetic to us. They were the first country to officially recognize our government in North America. Especially, the Tsarina explicitly stated her support for us.”

“Of course. We supported them, so they’d better do at least that much.”

How much has the support been?

However, when you think about it, there are three governments in the US, so whichever you support, it’s all the same.

“Moreover, they’ve been using the intelligence department to let us know how the West is doing.”

“Is the West still confirmed as neutral?”

At Eisenhower’s remark, MacArthur frowned and asked.

Now, depending on where the West is leaning, this divided America could spiral into catastrophe.

“Though they’re neutral, I’ve heard there are governors supporting KFC.”

“Those dirty communist bastards. They should all be eliminated.”

If this civil war drags on, it could spell serious trouble.

So, we need to quickly build up military strength for the sake of this civil war.

“What about receiving support from Russia?”

“Support from Russia?”

Yes, receiving support from Russia.

Of course, Russia wouldn’t want to see this military government getting trampled by the Reds either.

After all, didn’t they survive thanks to vast support from the US?

So it’s only natural for them to lend a hand.

Contrary to my thoughts that Anastasia should work delicately, the MacArthur military government wanted to support anyone as long as they had a decent justification.

Particularly, in the current situation, Russia is a country perfectly positioned to send troops unlike Britain or France.

“There’s Colonel George Patton, who is our Army Colonel and also serves as the special military attaché in Russia. I heard he was active in mobile warfare during the Russian Civil War.”

Oh, right. Patton is currently in Russia.

I had completely forgotten about him, but he had indeed stayed in Russia to interact about mobile warfare. Now would be a good time to promote him to Brigadier General.

“Is that so? Hm.”

The MacArthur military government’s limitations were apparent.

Isolated top, bottom, and sides.

It wouldn’t do if the West just sat there jabbing both sides. But that’s not very likely. Hence, we must seek some kind of support.

“We can’t help it. At this rate, we’ll have no choice but to hand ourselves over to the Reds.”

Having started the government, while making speeches about defeating the Great Depression, it was clear that MacArthur had mentioned Anastasia.

Using actual force, they passed various policies deemed necessary at the current moment.

This was faster than the Huey Long government and, above all, closer to Anastasia’s approach rather than an anti-communist stance, so at least MacArthur’s popularity skyrocketed within his circle.

In other words, as the economic recession began in American society, the speeches of Anastasia led to an increase in anti-communists and Anastasia supporters.

So, what was the problem?

It would be only natural for Russia to support this MacArthur government.

However, just receiving help didn’t seem right.

It would look better if we were bound by a treaty.

“We’ll establish a close military alliance with Russia. How about a mutual defense treaty?”

“I’ll push to pass that in the military council.”

“Right. Let’s try whatever we can. We must win this civil war. Just as Russia is split between White Russia and Red Russia, we’re now divided between White America and Red America. We must build a consensus.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

After Eisenhower stepped down, MacArthur looked out the window.

Under that clear sky and bright sun, they would end up fighting amongst themselves, as Americans.

Now that things have turned out this way, it’s only natural to grasp Russia’s hand.

At the very least, it would be better to hold hands equally rather than hanging on from below.

“Your Excellency, the Tsarina of the Russian Republic praised our animal protection law and passed it in Russia as well.”

Hermann Göring, the Minister of the Interior of Austria, reported to Hitler.

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Recently, the Tsarina has taken the lead in promoting an anti-smoking campaign.”

An anti-smoking campaign.

This was one of Hitler’s targets due to the increasing number of smokers.

In order to push the anti-smoking campaign, he needed to prove that cigarettes were harmful to health, even doing research.

But the Tsarina used her authority to shove through the anti-smoking campaign that Hitler wanted.

There’s no way Hitler would hold back his admiration for this.

“Indeed, the Tsarina of Russia is remarkable. To begin the anti-smoking campaign I was thinking of! Hmm, what a pity. What a shame. She should have been the Empress of Austria.”

Influenced by the German Communist Revolution, the Russian Civil War, and the encounter with Anastasia, Hitler sent boundless respect towards her.

Dreaming of becoming a hero of Germany like Anastasia, who also became a hero of Russia, he imagined liberating Germany from those communists and reuniting Germany under Austria’s lead.

‘It would be great to secure the Aryan right to exist all the way to Russia.’

Had he governed a stable Germany, he might have considered it. But with Russia governed by that Tsarina, the prospect of uniting Germany from where Austria stands now seems tough.

Isn’t Hermann Göring, who crossed over from Germany to become the Minister of the Interior of Austria, in charge of clobbering communists? He had a mountain of tasks ahead of him.

“Your Excellency.”

“Minister of War, what is it?”

Having spent a long time with Gaida, whom he regarded as a political partner, Hitler treated the Minister of War, Gaida, with respect—unlike others.

Of course, that also aimed to win the favor of the Czechs.

In fact, since Gaida took office as Minister of War, Czech support for Hitler had been on the rise.

“I think it’s important for us to fortify our borders just like the Maginot Line in France before the Communist Germans expand their military strength. Fortifying the Sudetenland is imperative.”

If a war breaks out with Communist Germany, even the betraying Italians from World War I would participate, so Austria would eventually have to focus on defense for a while.

That means fortifying the border area is crucial.

“Well then, go ahead with that. Let’s allocate the budget.”

Hitler’s Austria began the fortification of its border with Germany through the Sudetenland.

It was somewhat late in the game, but there had already been some fortifications in place, ensuring that they could provide ample defense even if it wasn’t at the Maginot-level.

* * *

MacArthur’s military government requested a mutual defense treaty.

In a nutshell, the method of intervening when attacked. Hmm, I also find myself wondering if such things are taken for granted.

Well, in 21st century Korea, U.S. troops are stationed, and there is a military alliance, so it doesn’t matter.

I’m relieved that the moves of the military government connect well with us.

They’re even requesting a mutual defense treaty without further action needed.

Initially, I had only thought about requesting support, but if they’re at least requesting a treaty, it likely means they don’t want to compromise too much on their own pride.

One thing is certain.

If we enter into a mutual defense treaty and a civil war breaks out, we can naturally receive support.

For us, it wouldn’t be bad at all, so that’s probably why MacArthur suggested the treaty.

But you know.

From a Korean perspective, MacArthur is quite an impressive person, right?

In this life, he seems like he’s going to die while directly commanding against Hirohito from China, all while posing seriously for photos and hugging Syngman Rhee.

It’s a bit puzzling to think of someone like him being in a weakened position in America right now.

Now, I must view it from the perspective of the Russian Tsar.

“Looks like MacArthur is struggling more than I expected.”

“Perhaps it’s because the MacArthur government, being a military government, lacks both purpose and justification. Besides, aren’t they in an isolated position on the American continent? They don’t know when they might get attacked.”

With British multi-purpose Canada behind them and Huey Long from the British side feeling at ease to fight, would they really be able to do that?

Right. Then let’s help.

“A mutual defense treaty. It’s better for the receiving side.”

Once the Cold War starts after World War II, we’ll have to keep some distance from America, but at least the need for one another’s existence means the relationship shouldn’t weaken too much.

Furthermore, if we establish a mutual defense treaty, then whether Japan attacks Russia or America, we can justifiably smack them down together.

I wonder what kind of activities the MacArthur government will undertake during World War II?

 

---