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* * *

Russia’s intervention had always been a concern for Poland since the early days of the war.

Well, that’s logical. Even though Russia has been looking after Poland thus far, wasn’t it Poland that even resorted to terrorism against the Tsar extending a hand now?

If they were to settle in and protect Poland from Germany, that would be a nuisance as well.

But now, that Russian intervention had to be considered.

“Your Excellency.”

“What is it?”

“A rally urging Russian intervention has broken out in the East.”

“What situation are we in right now?!”

Simigwi felt as if his head was about to explode.

The East was influenced by Russia since it was bordering them.

While the old oppressive Russia was one thing, the current Russia has been supportive towards Poland, and because of that, pro-Russian Poles had increased in the East.

They began to protest just as the Communist German army had started to enter western Poland.

But the situation was far from good.

According to intelligence, it was said that French troops, now designated as People’s Army, were soon to arrive as well.

Could they truly manage that?

Currently, Poland and the German Empire were massing a force of 900,000, but even though the number sounded impressive, the actual combat-capable troops weren’t that many.

“Will Russia really intervene?”

Russia had built fortifications along the border, considering the possibility of Poland falling to Communist Germany.

The implication of this was that, even though Poland seemed likely to fall, Russia would not intervene.

“Russia hasn’t gone to war with Communist Germany yet. It seems the Communists have taken advantage of this.”

“Still, not yet. If we’re going to request support from Russia, we haven’t even begun.”

Simigwi couldn’t give up regardless.

If he were to die in Warsaw, so be it. Dragging Russia into the conflict felt like inviting a tiger in to catch a fox.

However, the situation grew worse by the day.

The armored division of Communist Germany, which had been painstakingly created by taking tank technology from Austria and Poland through agents, was no joke.

The armored wave of the People’s Army active in Dunkirk was more than Poland could handle, and the bombers of Communist Germany were no different.

Yet, surrender was not an option.

Now he knew how the British army had been slaughtered in Dunkirk.

Even the British troops that had attempted to surrender were said to have been mostly killed except for a few who had survived from ‘getting fed up with killing imperialists.’

There was no choice but to fight.

The victory at Dunkirk had prevented British troops from landing but had, on the other hand, ignited Poland’s resolute defense.

Just when Simigwi thought he would rather die than call for Russia, the situation worsened and the pro-Russian Poles cultivated by the Okhrana, much like the German Communist Party had nurtured the Polish Communist Party by infiltrating Poland, began to act.

“Please, may the army of the Saint save Poland!”

At first, the pro-Russian forces cried out for Russian intervention, but as the German People’s Army stomped across the Eastern regions, the Easterners turned their heads towards the East.

Now they wished desperately for Russia, who had shown them favor until now, to protect them.

“The Polish people are calling for us! Let’s protect them from Communist Germany!”

The formidable White Army of the Russian Republic finally started to invade Eastern Poland.

Simigwi, who was doing everything possible to keep the last of the Polish forces in the West against the Communist German army, finally realized Russia’s intentions.

“I was deceived!”

Although he realized it late, the deed was done, and the Russians claimed it was a special military operation to protect the East at the behest of the Polish people.

“We will take care of it.”

“Do you have the ability to protect it?”

Even in the West, they were on the brink, and the Russian troops that came in to protect the East could not be opposed.

* * *

Very good news arrived at the National Duma.

Eastern Poland had been occupied without any resistance.

This happened while Simigwi was gathering even the dwindling forces to fight the German People’s Army.

Unable to manage a two-front war, Simigwi did everything he could to tear into the Communist Germans while trying not to provoke Russia in order to at least keep the West secure.

“Your Majesty, congratulations! We have occupied Eastern Poland without any resistance!”

Ungern laughed heartily as he congratulated me.

Frankly, I didn’t expect this either.

They were not at war yet, but it was almost as if they had divided Poland into East and West.

Moreover, it seemed that the Communist Germans were creating concentration camps everywhere in the occupied western regions under the pretext of converting the Polish populace.

At least in the East, it seems they had no intention of oppression.

“These guys are capturing Polish intellectuals and officers in the name of ‘re-education.’ If you ask me, it’s merely a cover for oppression.”

“Yes. There are already countless dead. It seems the last of Simigwi’s Polish forces are holding out.”

That side was likely considered done for.

Wow, this is how amazing communism is.

Their actions are heinous, yet they manage to package it all as liberation and re-education.

I believe communism, in that sense, has surpassed the Colonial Empire.

The packaging is top-notch, but the actions are utterly vile.

“When they are finished, Poland’s government will effectively be finished as well. How unfortunate.”

“Seeing Simigwi not requesting intervention from Russia until the end is quite pitiful, to be honest.”

Well, he did his best as a double agent, after all.

It seems the Communist Germans are suffering more losses here than on the Western Front unexpectedly.

“That’s good. Now we can set up a pro-Russian monarchist government in Poland, claiming it’s due to the fall of the Polish government.”

Then, I’ll become the queen of Poland under the Dual Monarchy.

And since Vladimir is currently with the White Army, I’ll ensure he leaves a good impression by making him shine this time around.

“Preparations have already begun.”

Savinkov proudly stated.

“It’s truly a relief that Britain and France have ended up like this. Had they been stable, they would have protested immediately.”

Would Britain and France have allowed us to take Poland if they were doing well? No way. They would have probably caused a ruckus.

But now, Britain and France are in dire need of Russia’s help.

Given that they can’t even assert themselves with Turkey, the answers are already clear.

“Ha ha ha! The Communist Germans and French Commune will run rampant.”

“What can cockroaches do in a frenzy?”

But there’s one thing that I regret.

It’s that we couldn’t conquer all of Poland, and currently, the West is being absorbed by Communist Germany much like in the original history.

I find that a bit unsatisfactory.

“While it’s regrettable that we couldn’t conquer the essence of Poland in the West, there’s nothing we can do.”

Not being able to take the West is a bit disheartening.

Well, the West is indeed the heartland of Poland.

Of course, Eastern Poland has developed in its own right due to exchanges with Russia, but still, one cannot overlook the areas under Communist German control.

They are places where industrial capacity can be pumped.

“Nonetheless, due to Dunkirk, it seems the Polish army has destroyed many Western industrial facilities through urban warfare in every spot the German army occupies. Probably, the Communist Germans won’t be able to use those areas right away.”

Oh, really? That’s good news.

We need to strip it away before they can make use of the Polish territories.

After all, Poland won’t be able to hold out much longer.

The evidence for that is the countless intervention requests that have kept coming from the German Empire.

Additionally, there will surely be resistance emerging in Poland.

Since the East is set up by us under the condition of protection, there wouldn’t be any resistance attacking the Russian troops.

“The massacre of British troops has ironically become a nuisance for the Communist Germans. What’s the response from Churchill?”

Curious about how my inquiry into India with Churchill had turned out, I asked the Prime Minister.

I suggested separating them when India gained independence, but how would that stubborn Churchill respond?

After all, calculating that England was in a bind, unable to act one way or the other was troubling.

On the flip side, I was a little concerned about how things would go if Churchill refused, but I hadn’t made any unreasonable proposals that would keep England’s face in mind.

“England, having to call the colonial troops home, proposed to discuss it later, but they didn’t outright refuse.”

“That’s to be expected. They probably find it hard to refuse proposals they like. As for the Low Countries… Hmm. Luxembourg has been annexed by Germany.”

While the situation with India could be considered unavoidable for Britain, once Britain pulls out, our Reds will eagerly tear through and enjoy the Low Countries.

Seeing this, it seemed like things were shaping up just about right.

It looks like France aligning with Germany led not only to the Reds but also allowed for some reward in the form of tearing apart the Low Countries.

Looking at the report sorted out by the Prime Minister, the situation in the Low Countries looked quite entertaining.

Technically, this situation is merely being sorted out, as we are on the brink of war, but the information sent by Okhrana had passed through the Duma for examination.

Politics is done in the Duma. Information sent by Okhrana must be reviewed by the Duma to deal with it.

“Yes. Alsace-Lorraine has been established as a joint governing territory ruled by the Communist Germans and the French Commune, and communist regimes have emerged in the Netherlands and Belgium as well.”

Well, that was to be expected. The Low Countries have been torn apart on all sides.

It seems like they’ve split the North and South properly, unlike in the original history.

“Hmm, Wallonia has been integrated into France.”

Wallonia, so in other words, Southern Belgium has been annexed by the French Commune.

Wasn’t this originally a French-speaking area?

Well, anyway, ignoring Alsace-Lorraine and capturing Southern Belgium isn’t too bad.

Our dear Goebbels has turned France, which is sure to be a defeated nation, into a victorious nation instead.

“It seems they must have given a proper carrot in order to draw France in.”

In short, Flanders and Brussels have been bundled together to establish the People’s Republic of Flanders in Northern Belgium.

The Netherlands has established the People’s Republic of the Netherlands.

France has strangely become a victorious nation instead of a defeated country.

Britain has lost its entire army and is currently fighting only due to Churchill’s pride. They probably wish to negotiate with Germany.

In a way, this is essentially a victory for France, which will want to rationalize even at this point.

But then, what is this?

Queen Wilhelmina has sent me a letter directly.

“Queen Wilhelmina, who fled to Britain, sent us a personal letter expressing her intent for a resolute defense against the enemy.”

A personal letter from Queen Wilhelmina. Why is that old lady sending me a letter? Do I really have to confirm this myself as well?

“Perhaps it would be better for you to confirm this directly.”

“I figured since a monarch of another country sent it, it would be best suited to pass it on to Your Majesty.”

It’s not that I didn’t understand that. It’s just that it feels beneath me.

A small nation like the Netherlands. They even tried to do something with Germany and ended up failing.

How dare they think they can be compared to me? I could simply discard it at the Duma level.

Regardless, it’s a letter from Wilhelmina.

She must have been quite anxious, as she seems to have sent it in Russian to accommodate us as best as possible.

Dear something, peace something, adorned with all sorts of decorations.

If I were to boil this down to one word, it’s quite simple.

‘Help me.’

In plain terms, it was a begging for help.

And I find this quite annoying.

“Isn’t this ridiculous? If she truly wanted to resist to the death, she should have stayed in the capital and fought to the end.”

That’s my train of thought.

Having participated in the Allied Forces, if it’s her own doing, she ought to fight until the end.

Even Stalin, although he had a plan to flee, stayed in Moscow and won the battles.

Of course, I must consider the state’s class, but still, it’s quite infuriating.

Denmark, having been a swift conquest, is somewhat understandable, as they’ve tried to avoid provoking the Communist Germans from long before, but the Netherlands truly irks me.

Weren’t these the same guys who tried to profit from the Dutch East Indies even amid the reconstruction of WWII?

These guys are absolutely disgusting.

If they were truly intent on fighting to the last, they should have fought fiercely to the death like Poland.

“What is it that they can even say, declaring a resolute defense to their people after participating in the Allied Forces, only to flee in the end? Just ignore them.”

The Japanese are outright lunatics, but it seems these folks have a touch of psychopathy as well.

Look at them asking for help from Russia after they lost trust in Britain!

Those kinds of people ask for help? Just ignore them.

If there’s a chance to help, we should secure their East Indies.

When the Allied Forces completely collapse, that’s when we can boldly shout for colonial liberation.

Not a red-style revolutionary liberation, but if we could gain independence seriously without a revolution, the colonies would likely choose our side.

That’s my current thinking.

It’s now time when colonial liberation has become an unavoidable time.

De Gaulle and Pétain seem to have tried to hold on somehow, but if they wish for support from Russia, they’ll have to relinquish the colonies.

As for Turkey, they are merely recovering land from the Ottoman era, so that’s alright.

I just had a wonderful thought.

“Now, can’t we do as we please?”

“What do you mean?”

In essence, it merely means it’s the age of Russia now.

“Now, the great powers lack the capability to manage colonies. Isn’t that right?”

At the very least, it means we can exert some pressure now.

 

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