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* * *

Burgundy, this is a matter that should be decided based on the post-war situation.

“Are you thinking of separating Burgundy?”

“Isn’t it inconvenient for Germany to be too big?”

Of course, as I said earlier, we must bind them under the same economic sphere, but later Germany might challenge Russian hegemony.

However, it also doesn’t feel right to elevate Free France as a victorious nation.

Currently, Free France’s situation is just bickering with locals in Algeria. Snatching territory after the war feels a bit much.

Honestly, I don’t think Southern Germany will cross over to the Danube.

But if Hitler insists on wanting that share, I can’t help it.

“Would it be better to independently establish Burgundy?”

In the future, the Kaiser would likely not complain about this.

What the Kaiser desires is for France to weaken.

If Burgundy is still independent or does not follow the central government, there’s a chance it could become even more so right now.

“Are you talking about Burgundy?”

“Yes. It means that formally we would treat it as a buffer zone.”

After all, Larocque and the French exile government lack the capacity to restore the mainland on their own.

Isn’t it enough to give them the mainland in exchange for a piece of Burgundy?

“We should also look into the circumstances of Burgundy. Of course, this is merely one of the variables. If conditions allow for Burgundy’s independence, then that’s what we will do.”

We don’t know how the war situation will unfold.

This isn’t something that can solely be solved from our own standpoint.

But you know what? I like creating a new power dynamic.

If possible, I’d like to make Wilhelm II’s proposal align with my wishes. Doing it the way I desire would be nice.

“If, in such an environment, Larocque or the Algerian exile government were to protest…”

Yes. If there is resistance in such an environment.

That wouldn’t just be something to overlook.

“Larocque has outlived his usefulness, so we ought to deal with him, and we must consider the fate of the exile government as well.”

Larocque has received our covert support one way or another.

Despite the hardships endured after France became a Commune, we cannot dismiss the infiltration stats of the single-tool Okhrana that we’ve had.

What goes on beneath the surface cannot be blocked, even by the Commune.

And to a small extent, the naval forces of the exile government are assisting.

I can’t be a benevolent character like a protagonist in a novel.

I would integrate Europe under our sphere of influence, but those who could challenge Russian hegemony must be cut off.

If I could simply draw maps, I would.

While lost in thought, I suddenly looked up at the sky.

The bright blue sky was being blackened by our air force’s planes.

On the ground, countless tanks and infantry were marching in an orderly fashion toward the Communist Germany mainland.

It’s one thing if they are the enemy, but seeing our troops, especially the Russian army, brought a rather strange feeling.

Looking at this, wouldn’t the enemy start withdrawing their forces, too?

I turned my gaze to Mikhail Drozdovsky, who was assisting me on the side.

“The pressure from Sudetenland should ease soon, right?”

Once we break through to the mainland, that is bound to happen.

If they were to abandon Berlin and try to take over the Danube Federation until the end.

No, that wouldn’t make sense. Who would be foolish enough to let their home be seized while trying to invade another country?

“If we enter the German mainland, won’t they have to defend their own Berlin?”

The pressure should ease.

The Kaiser of Germany is begging me, and the pressure from Sudetenland is failing due to the appearance of the White Army.

Now the initiative of this war lies with Russia.

Unless Churchill suddenly awakens while holed up on the island, flailing his belly while rallying up the British Commonwealth youth and sweeping across Europe, this will all come to an end.

This is what you could call a case of reaping without sowing.

“Is there no news from Yugoslavia?”

“They are already being pushed from the northern front and are moving towards the east.”

“Hm. Then that’s fortunate.”

“More interesting news just arrived a moment ago.”

“What is it?”

At my question, he tilted his head, as if unsure about sharing this too, before managing to bring it up.

“Benito Mussolini’s Red Army has been defeated by the Greek Army.”

What? Benito Mussolini’s army? No way, where and how did this happen?

Suddenly, where did Greece pop up from?

“Where did Greece suddenly come from?”

“Benito Mussolini attacked Greece to aid Yugoslavia.”

Just like how Japan in the original history did something lunatic-like to open up a new front to solve dire situations, where did the madness of attacking Greece come from?

Did they really mobilize their navy and botch the landing too?

“What a remarkable person. Continuously opening fronts like that.”

“They attempted a surprise landing and also attacked from Albania, but the Greek army repelled Mussolini’s assault.”

What on earth makes the Italian army so weak?

Or is it simply a series of unfortunate blunders for the opposing country?

Or perhaps they’ve been more divided than expected since Ethiopia?

“Then, will they withdraw from Greece?”

“Given the situation, if it continues this way, it would be risky even for Mussolini. They’ll be desperate to break through Greece.”

They must. If they don’t, it would be the end for Mussolini.

From our perspective, Italy must hold out until Haile Selassie receives Mussolini’s surrender in Rome. That would be an epic scene.

But really, after all that struggle to conquer Greece, will they have any strength left?

Turkey is definitely eager to gnaw at Greece.

In the original history, they had Italian support, allowing them to hold out longer. In this history, the Turkish War of Independence surely turned Anatolia into a bloodbath.

Of course, there must be a strong lingering resentment toward Greece.

If they want to legitimately take Greece in this war, it would definitely lead to a head-on collision with Italy, who has taken Greece.

Hmmm. This could be interesting.

“Hmmm. I see a new future ahead.”

Now I even have expectations for Italy.

I wonder which country will block their path next.

It might be good to move Spain, which could be called the dagger now.

“What future do you see?”

“It seems Italy will likely get blocked by the Turkish army next. Or maybe by the Bulgarian army.”

Of course, Turkey is no ordinary opponent right now.

Still, with Ethiopia, France, the Danube Federation, and now Greece blocking their path.

That makes for a total of four blockages. One more and they’ll achieve a fivefold blockage.

If they manage to reach a fivefold blockage, I might feel sorry enough to overlook Mussolini as a condition for regime change.

“Puhahat. This time they’ve been stopped by Greece, so that might be true.”

At this level, it seems reasonable to call it sheer coincidence, even by the time of the Great War.

Honestly, if they would just refrain from starting wars, I could see Mussolini as quite a decent leader for Italy. Why’s that Spazio Vitale bothering me? Tsk tsk.

“Well, Italy will just be Italy, I suppose.”

You can simply define it this way. Italy did its Italy thing.

There’s really no other way to describe it.

From now on, I think I can stop thinking too much about Italy.

It’s true that Italy’s southern front could have been helpful when France flipped out, but right now, ignoring Italy seems plausible.

What we need to do remains simple.

We just need to advance into the German mainland and seize Berlin.

Having not seen it firsthand due to the warfare, I heard that the Perun Project’s experiments have concluded. If occupying Berlin proves difficult, we could just drop a nuclear bomb.

This means we’ve already achieved everything we need. Even if losses grow beyond expectation, we’ve secured an absolute weapon to win.

However, the war situation isn’t unfavorable, and now we might as well ride the wave of steel.

While we press forward without thought, it’s only the French that are left ketchuped due to the difference in weapon quality.

Alright then, it’s time to keep moving.

“Alright, let’s continue the advance.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

First, we’ll have to beat up Communist Germany. Right now, we must hit them before they can reorganize.

After that, we should decide how to divide the map.

* * *

Turkey, Ankara

Turkey’s President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was keeping a close eye on the war’s developments.

After all, depending on how this war unfolds, it could either secure as much of the territory from the Ottoman era as possible or lead to ruin.

From the looks of the Empress of Russia, they didn’t seem likely to lose, but still, you never know.

Fortunately, at present, both Britain and France can only watch without daring to meddle in whatever Turkey decides to do.

With the ones holed up on their island and the remnants of Algeria, now claimants to “official territory” of the French Commune, Turkey is no longer under threat.

Although Turkey regards the French Commune as an enemy, they still recognize it as the official government of France.

That would allow for future exploitation.

“Sir, our forces are now attacking the eastern part of Yugoslavia alongside the Bulgarian army. It seems they’ve pulled troops away from their attack on the Danube Federation.”

Hearing Ilyinuy’s report, Kemal nodded, seemingly satisfied.

Of course, Serbia, the trigger for the Great War, isn’t as powerful as one might think.

They’re just a bunch of nuisances with nothing to their name.

I can understand the Empress of Russia’s perspective.

But in this war, Turkey must definitely aim to punch above their weight.

“That’s fortunate. Then should we go for Greece next?”

Kemal turned to focus directly on Ilyinuy.

Yes, Greece. Those greedy ones trying to realize the Megali Idea with the backing of Britain and France.

If Russia, claiming to be the successor of Rome, were to join hands with Greece, dreaming of the Megali Idea, it would be catastrophic. Thankfully, that did not occur.

How could Russia, as the ‘spiritual descendant’ of Rome, sit back and observe as the Greeks recover Anatolia?

Now, I had plans to at least shrink Greece’s territory after this war, but at an opportune moment, some extremely good news arrived.

“Yes. Italy’s Mussolini has been repelled while attacking Greece.”

Italy’s defeat at the hands of Greece.

“Could it be that Italy is actually quite weak??”

Although the words didn’t come out, Turkey’s army had engaged in battles with the Italian army while supplying the Ethiopian forces with Russian supplies in North Africa.

Though they were driven back at that time, the battles were small-scale and had potential, yet I hadn’t anticipated such a thing.

If Ethiopia, France, Austria, and now Greece all faced failures.

“I can’t say I’m feeling otherwise.”

“What about the British forces in Africa?”

“I believe they’ve packed up and left. Most of Egypt has fallen, and currently, only the suddenly ascending Ethiopian forces are facing the Italian army.”

Italy hadn’t achieved entirely negligible outcomes.

Under the pretense of liberation, they attacked British-controlled Africa and pushed into Egypt.

Of course, the British merely evacuated in order to defend the mainland, so it isn’t exactly a glorious victory.

In reality, Italy’s North African forces came to a halt while trying to attack Algeria’s French exile government, and they’re currently in a stalemate there.

But Kemal noticed something different. Yes, the formidable British have retreated entirely.

Have they given up on defense even for Suez?

Or perhaps they are putting their faith instead in Ethiopia and themselves, but then Kemal suddenly felt a slight twinge of greed.

“What if we claim Italian North Africa for ourselves? We could access it by land. Isn’t it feasible for us to reach Egypt now?”

Recovery of the Ottoman territory. It might actually be possible.

“Sir, what about the British?”

“The British have been too greedy while stuck on that island. It’s about time we dismantle that era. Those pirates can’t defeat Russia, and now they won’t be able to do anything against us.”

Those pirates were just meant to defend their home. How much chaos have they spun yet?

“Indeed. That seems to be the case.”

Of course, Russia might intervene if Turkey grows too powerful, but I think we could trade some shares over the Suez Canal.

It isn’t exactly gluttony.

I plan to grant independence as desired in Egypt and also consider implement policies like Palestinian autonomy attempted by Britain.

At the very least, I want to display a distinctly different approach from those filthy pirates.

“Having suffered up to now, Italy will certainly go all out to conquer Greece, as there’s geographical reasoning behind it. So we shall advance into Egypt.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Ilyinuy bowed his head and exited the office.

As I quietly watched Ilyinuy’s retreating figure, Kemal smiled contentedly.

The day will come when he will witness the downfall of those damned British and French during his lifetime.

Could this be a sign from the Saint? Going against the Saint may result in a dire fate.

At the very least, Turkey must avoid being overly greedy.

“And speaking of which, a naval battle is on the horizon.”

Not long ago, we received a request from the Black Sea Fleet to join forces, so Turkey sent a fleet out.

I had no idea we would unite with what was once a rival fleet, but it’s reassuring to have them as allies.

Though I do have concerns about the stark disparity in military power.

It seems like Russia is sending various supplies toward Constantinople and Pontus, but what specifically is beyond my understanding.

For now, we can only observe.

 

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