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* * *

“What are you thinking? If possible, we will resolve it through the Duma.”

“Instead of a future Israel in the East, we’re actually reinstating the Qing Dynasty within China to further sow the seeds of discord.”

Regardless of any China, the aim is to ensure that Israel firmly establishes itself so that it can assert some influence in Northeast Asia by creating a kind of buffer zone.

I see it as quite a plausible idea.

It seems the new China is rather disappointed with Puyi, who had merely been a nominal emperor, as they rally around the slogan of “Destroy Manchus, Revive Han” (滅滿興漢).

In any case, if Puyi is claiming to be emperor, wouldn’t at least his closest aides be Manchus?

Stationing the Manchu dynasty deep in the heart of China is to prepare them to act as a distraction amid the divided nations in the future.

“The map of China will surely be interesting in the future.”

“Puyi is the type to value his own life so much that he would surrender to Japan immediately. If Japan were to fall later, he would be torn apart by the Chinese if we left him be.”

Historically, Puyi’s later years weren’t particularly cheerful either.

However, if the goal is to divide China, using Puyi is one way to achieve that.

No matter how much he may have lost the Mandate of Heaven, he is a human from the imperial family that ruled the Chinese mainland for 300 years.

We can always treat him as a “plaything” and make sure he feels that if he isn’t Puyi, he won’t receive support.

“Later, once the Japanese army is expelled from the continent, let’s turn the Qing into our puppet state. Please prepare for this plan in advance. Using the Okhrana to make secret contact with Puyi is also a strategy.”

Puyi—just like in the original history—once given a chance for survival, will surely wag his tail on his own.

If the Manchu dynasty, having lost the Mandate of Heaven, remains as a distraction in the heart of China, it might prove to be entertaining.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Is the Okhrana prepared?”

“It has already been dispatched to the Qing. By pretending to be Russian entrepreneurs, the Japanese army seems to welcome it.”

Wow, impressive.

I guess the goodwill has been built up enough over time. To be more exact, it knows not to mess with us.

That’s a relief. If the Okhrana gets discovered by Japan, it would become troublesome.

For now, we need to maintain a friendly attitude towards Japan.

It would be great if battles with China become somewhat prolonged. Speaking of which, wasn’t there something scheduled for today?

“Then you take care of that. Maria, what’s the schedule for today?”

I casually turned my gaze toward Maria.

Since she handles my schedule, I signaled her to speak up quickly.

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s time for the radio broadcast.”

“Time? It was the radio broadcast.”

Ah, right. It was the radio broadcast.

Not just any broadcast, but a time to get closer to the citizens, I’d say.

Radio broadcasting has developed enough to offer a variety of content.

Since there’s also television, I wonder if we could do something with that, too.

“Yes, today is a special question segment with the citizens.”

Ah, that’s right. It’s basically an interview.

We just have to set up some idol and ask the fans what they’re curious about or what they want to know.

So, shall we head to the radio station?

It’s not possible to do it at my private radio station in the Kremlin.

* * *

Moscow Radio Station

As radios became more common and television began further development, radio stations also expanded significantly.

As always, the radio station that I visited after a long time greeted me warmly.

And today, the person joining me was a young woman.

“Today, Moscow Radio welcomes our Russian hero and absolute monarch, Tsar! Your Majesty! It is an honor to meet you! Thank you so much for making this moment possible. I am the journalist Anna Ivanova.”

Anna Ivanova from the radio station greeted me with due respect for the Tsar.

It’s a bit chaotic, perhaps because it’s still early days for broadcasting. However, it’s not unwelcome to have such an opportunity.

If you ask me if it’s bothersome, I’d say it’s honestly a bit of a hassle, but the Duma is busy, so I have no choice but to step forward.

“No, I’m the one grateful for the chance to answer the citizens’ questions.”

This kind of situation isn’t too bad.

Who knows? Perhaps someone has complaints against me.

I heard that Putin had to deal with grumbles about how long he would continue to rule as a dictator and why our nation is in such a state. It piques curiosity.

“Well then, there are many questions, so let’s dive right in. The first fortunate person to ask a question to Your Majesty is Mr. Stephan from Omsk! Congratulations!”

Oh, there’s a Stephan in Russia.

So, what would the first question be?

I hope it’s not just about romance since I’m a Tsar—I’ve maintained the life of a saint for quite a long time, you know.

“What is it? Whether it’s a question or a suggestion, I hope you won’t shy away just because I’m the Tsar.”

You see, I’m a caring Tsar.

I’m not Nicholas II who subdued people with a gun.

So if you want, I’m open to any questions.

“Your Majesty, you hold the title of monarch in several countries, but why does the Duma lead the nation instead of you? Ah! That’s a question that would sadden the National Duma!”

Anna asked with a refreshing voice.

Oh dear. The National Duma would surely be saddened if they heard that.

Even though I might seem like this, I’m a Tsar of deep symbolism and legitimacy.

Coming out that way would make me sad. But I still have to answer.

The Duma is, after all, the foundation of our Union.

“The answer is quite simple. This nation was reborn to overturn the incompetence of the imperial era. New wine must be put into new bottles. Naturally, now we require a political system that can develop the nation by receiving the people’s opinions more than the outdated imperial times. The past empire saw significant opposition from the nobility, and even my father, the former Tsar, led the country to ruin by falling for a charlatan. Thus, I established the National Duma and as Tsar, I transferred my power to the Duma. The Duma is elected by the people, so one can say that politics have been handed over to the citizens.”

In short, I, the Tsar, am not enforcing an autocratic rule.

This is a nation that operates solely based on the will of the people.

“Truly, Your Majesty! Next, we have a letter from a boy named Ivan from Perm. He’s expressing his desire for you to visit Perm someday. What are your thoughts?”

Perm. I think I visited once during the Civil War.

I believed there was a strong Bolshevik influence since Perm had been occupied by 40,000 Bolsheviks under Papelyaev.

So I had stopped by Perm on my way to Moscow to gauge public sentiment.

Seeing them inviting the Tsar means public sentiment there has likely improved. Anyway, I’ll give a response.

“The world is in turmoil right now. The Axis of Evil, Red Germany and Red Italy, are trying to instigate a Communist Revolution in Europe, and what once seemed like an everlasting United States has been split into three due to Communism, while in the Far East, war between Japan and China is ongoing. Despite being a mere symbolic figure, as Tsar, I must keep an eye on the situations in various countries. Once this issue is resolved, I plan to travel throughout Russia, including Perm.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty, you always take the initiative for the citizens. Next, we have a question from a worker named Dmitry in Minsk. He asks, ‘There are rumors that Communist Germany is planning to wage war. What will happen to Russia if war breaks out?'”

Well, this is a situation where it’s best to keep quiet.

It would be reassuring to simply say that no war will break out. Such statements would calm the citizens.

However, it might be more prudent to inform people about an impending war so they can prepare.

Unfortunately, it feels wrong for me to have to say those words myself.

“Why would I lie to the citizens of the Union? Our greatest enemies, the Communist Germany and Communist Italy, are indeed our Russian Union. A war may happen sooner or later, but the White Army has been preparing extensively for it. There are plenty of steadfast allies. I assure you, unlike during the imperial times, I will never allow our Russian territory to fall to these Communists.”

“Indeed, a declaration worthy of a war hero! Next, we have a question from a housewife in Moscow. ‘During the last parade, you still appeared to be in your twenties, or even late teens. What is the secret to your beauty and youthfulness?'”

Late teens? Now that’s a stretch.

Still, it isn’t a bad feeling. Although it’s not quite a question about the Tsar, I’ve lived this way for so long that I’ve developed quite an amount of pride.

This much I can answer. Anna who is conducting the interview also seems a bit curious, her eyes sparkling.

Sure, that’s how it goes for women. It’s a woman’s instinct to always want to be young and beautiful.

“Well, this could be somewhat controversial. It might earn me reproach from all women of the Union, but to answer simply, I just don’t age, you see? Though, I’m still human so I can’t be young forever.”

It’s like a munchkin protagonist saying, “It just happens, you know?” Women might want to challenge a Tsar even without a title after such a statement.

But what can I say? I really don’t age without much effort.

Look at this. Even the interviewer has a vein popping on her temple.

“Ah, that’s quite an envious answer even among women. Next, we have a letter from a girl in Pontus Greece. She asks, ‘Your Majesty, why are you not married? Don’t you feel lonely? Don’t you need a husband?’ This seems a bit rude.”

Ah, it’s no surprise that such a question would arise from women. I actually find myself wishing I could be a man.

Even so, if I flat-out deny it, people might look at the Tsar strangely, so it’s best to package my answer appropriately.

“There’s nothing rude about it. It’s a topic that any woman would be curious about. It’s also sensitive, but being the Tsar, I can’t help but make the citizens uneasy. After the Civil War, I’ve been so focused on running here that I honestly haven’t thought about marriage. Consequently, I’ve lost interest in marriage. Yes, if I had to say, I’ve been working hard for the Russian Union, so I suppose I’ve married the state. As for whether or not I feel lonely, I must deny that. I have Vladimir, and thanks to the Belka sent by the Kaiser of the German Empire, I’m not lonely at all. Belka always stays by my side and comforts me in tough times. However, it’s not wrong to say that a woman needs a husband, so I will refrain from commenting on that part.”

Belka is aging too, which is a bit sad, but oh well.

Still, one wrong word and I might turn women against me. So I used Vladimir and Belka as justifications.

“Indeed. Next, we have a question from a farmer named Gruzin in Kyiv. He says, ‘We have endured repeated tyranny under Mahno. What do you think about dictators?'”

Hmm, I hope this isn’t a jab at me.

I’m not a dictator myself; I’m properly elected alongside the Prime Minister. If it’s from a Ukrainian, he might really be questioning Mahno while cursing him.

Nevertheless, it’s clear we freed them from Mahno.

“Most dictators maintain their power through their thirst for authority. Such figures can’t engage in proper politics. However, among those dictators, if they are doing better for the people’s livelihoods and developing the country than a previous regime, then I’d have to consider that deeply.”

“Oh, so a dictator who develops a nation could be likened to a benevolent monarch?”

Well, that’s a different matter.

Fundamentally, a dictatorship is not a monarchy, so even if that dictator is truly devoted to the country, their limits are clear.

At least in a monarchy, there’s a dynasty, and a child inherits the throne, making it justifiable and understandable to the citizens.

“There’s definitely a difference. The country might develop, but we can’t deny the fact that it was ruled by a dictator, and it’s driven solely by that individual’s leadership. In a monarchy, there’s a line of succession, and the people would have a reason to accept it, while in a republic without a king, even if the dictator manages the nation well, if they fail to ensure a successor, there’s a high chance that the country might collapse after they die. So it can’t be viewed in a positive light.”

Ultimately, dictatorial rule revolves around a single leader, thus once they die, it’s meaningless.

Before dying, they must choose a successor properly, but dictators never seem to reach a pleasant end.

“Next question. A question from Kentaro, a Japanese exchange student at the Moscow Military Academy. This could lead to some political issues.”

“What’s that about?”

I feel quite tense regarding the Japanese.

If they are from their intelligence agency, they might try to discern Russia’s intentions.

This isn’t something we can casually say in the Duma. The Tsar can’t come off as pathetic. Well, this is unavoidable.

“Anna-chan, it’s a sensitive issue since the Russian Union sells arms to China. How do you view the Sino-Japanese War?”

Well, that is indeed a sensitive issue.

Asking this conveys a potentially anti-Japanese stance.

Japan would likely wish to raise objections about this but is holding back for now.

“The war between China and Japan is a matter of great sensitivity for us in Russia, given that we share borders with Japan through the Manchurian Railway. The Duma is discussing this war between Japan and China every day. It’s something to inquire about in the Duma, but if I must respond, I’d say that both nations are likely pursuing their respective just causes in this war, right? As Tsar, as a saint, as the Byzantine Emperor, as the Ataman of the Cossacks, and as the Great Khan of Mongolia, I cannot take the side of either party. I will remain neutral on this matter. We sell weapons at the request of China; if Japan also wishes to purchase weapons, I am open to selling them anytime. However, to add a word, history is ultimately recorded by the victors, is it not?”

Even if you call them invaders, if they win and gain legitimacy and authenticity, who is there to question that?

Additionally, I know you have invaded under the guise of liberation, but since we’re allies, I will excuse it under the pretense of neutrality. That too is my meaning.

“And next, we have another Japanese correspondent. A letter from Shota of an organization called Japan-Diaspora. Um, he says ‘I love Anna-chan!'”

“Anna-chan daisuki! Just hearing that gives me goosebumps all over.”

Oh dear, it’s not exactly comforting to know that the diaspora has spread to Russia. Still, I should respond, right?

“I never expected to be so popular among the Japanese. Even if I am a foreigner, if I am favored by the Tsar, there is no issue whether you’re Russian or Japanese, is there? I welcome all foreign friends who appreciate me. Shota-kun? Thank you!”

“Well, and….”

Alright, let’s see what the next question is.

Somehow, Anna’s expression seems slightly awkward as she’s handling the questions.

 

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