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Ah, with Britain and France in such a state, it might not be impossible. Anyway, Britain basically only has its navy left, and whether France is even intact is questionable.

What is Britain even doing now that they can’t send out their army? Japan seems perfectly poised to be ambitious.

At this rate, they would never dare to open a front against Russia.

“Should we protest to Japan?”

Protest to Japan?

No, that doesn’t feel right. Why should we? They haven’t done anything to us. If they attacked Northern Manchuria, we could protest and give them a proper beating, but that’s not our issue.

It would just lead to Churchil and Pétain losing more hair.

I waved my hand dismissively.

“No, there’s absolutely no reason for us to protest. It’s not our colony, and those guys aren’t our colonizers.”

If France clings to Russia, the relationship between the powerful and the weak will completely reverse.

Moreover, with things heading this way, Japan might want to nibble at the British Malaya or India. It might just go that way.

That’s why Churchill is losing his hair.

But is that really our concern? Nope.

The current state of matters with Britain and France engaging Japan could, hmm, potentially be entertaining.

I don’t intend to support Britain and France until they hit Japan from behind.

Wait a minute. This could be an opportunity for us, right?

Since we’re thinking of hitting Japan anyway, if we do what Britain and France ask, they’ll have to watch their backs in post-war dealings.

“Wait, this actually presents an opportunity for us.”

“Indeed. They will have no one else to rely on but us.”

They’ll probably beg Russia to hit Japan.

Even if the colonies must be let go, there’s a big difference between them relinquishing them and Japan seizing them.

By helping Britain and France, we’ll come out ahead in the post-Europe war lot.

And we’ll make Churchill conform to our order.

“Of course, we will have demands, but.”

“They won’t have the audacity to refuse our proposal.”

Though I haven’t really thought out what that proposal would entail yet.

“Goebbels will slowly start showing signs of distress.”

“He’s been shouting from Berlin insisting he’ll hold out.”

Just like Stalin.

Goebbels took exactly the Stalin position.

But Stalin’s Soviet Union at least had people farming the land and a Winter General in place.

What does Communist Germany have?

Does it have vast land like the Soviet Union or an overflowing population?

Germany does have a decent population, but it suffers from a blender experience in the Sudetenland mixer. Given this, facing off against Russia, which has already surpassed 200 million in population, how would it fare?

Even the French Commune has been entrenched in the Sudetenland.

While their tanks get shot down left and right here, the disparity in weapon quality remains stark.

It’s not like we can even compete with tanks considering how this side has powerful air support combined with well-researched tank doctrine.

Germany has no means to endure this.

On the off chance that we notice something peculiar, our Communist Germany has set up defenses centered around Berlin with an eye toward urban warfare.

“Communist Germany has set up defenses around Berlin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. In the meantime, they have worked hard to fortify their defenses. However, it seems some of the troops that were engaging in the Sudetenland have moved west.”

West? Hm, I’m not quite sure about that.

In any case, if Goebbels continues to hold out, we too should be prepared for considerable casualties.

No matter how good our weapons are, if they throw their lives at us, we’ll surely take losses.

Still, that’s within our expectations, and with overwhelming firepower, Germany will eventually fall.

Since we’re currently overwhelming them in terms of quantity and quality, I’ve heard the exchange rate is pretty favorable.

It’s obvious that significantly more of Communist Germany, which has a smaller population than us, would end up dead.

“But so what? They’re still beneath us. They’re being pressured from the east and the south; what are they going to do?”

That’s right. In the end, they’ll collapse.

Now what will those desperate ones do?

The German Empire Army is certainly making good use of the dissent within the German People’s Army.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Already, air-defense coalition forces are flocking from all directions. There’s not a single intact city left in Germany.”

I received several photos of cities that have been bombed. And indeed, it’s true.

The cities grotesquely reveal their insides, with smoke billowing from every corner.

If we only had time, rebuilding would be possible.

But before that, Berlin will likely fall, and Goebbels will either be captured or make a run for it.

“Everywhere has fallen due to the bombings. This must be chiefly chalked up to Britain’s efforts.”

I take a certain delight in Churchill fawning over me, his junior by a decade.

“Your Majesty, but doesn’t this get a bit dangerous?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Goebbels is no ordinary figure. He took over Karl Liebknecht’s position and swiftly dominated the Communist Party. In later years, foolish individuals may come to venerate him. We must not leave him to die in Berlin.”

If capturing him is impossible, then we should at least give him the opportunity to run.

Doing so could lead to a chance to capture him down the line.

In the worst-case scenario, simply killing him and depositing a dummy might work as well.

“Your Chief of Staff has the right of it. It’s best if we capture him, Your Majesty.”

“There’s that method we used when capturing Stalin during the Tsaritsyn battle. We deliberately opened the path for him to flee.”

I hold no confidence that Goebbels would simply escape based on this.

The Red Front states are not solely made up of Germany.

They might flee to the Commune or Rome, resisting right to the last for the world revolution.

If they flee to the Commune, it makes it all the more tricky to seize Paris.

“Ah. I know.”

“Prepare an alternative for when they pass away. You should select someone who can pass for Goebbels.”

We can’t let Goebbels become a figure of idolization among the unseen communists later on.

However, capturing the real body could also be one way of proceeding, so should I send in the Okhrana?

“Certainly, Your Majesty.”

“Still, we must prepare. Infiltrating with the Okhrana to capture him if possible is one method.”

The Okhrana has skills in infiltration as well.

Wasn’t it just using the Okhrana that captured Trotsky?

There’s certainly potential.

If the security is too tight, we could always use a substitute.

So, to counterattack,

it would be better to have other nations involved.

We need to show Communist Germany overwhelming military power with a socialite party.

“If Bulgaria or Turkey could join our side, that would be beneficial.”

“I hear they’re still occupied with conquering Yugoslavia.”

Hmm, still conquering Yugoslavia.

“Now, Yugoslavia is left with only Belgrade.”

Yugoslavia has been pushed back to the point where only Belgrade remains.

The Yugoslav ambassador is desperately pleading for some form of truce, but sadly, I have no intention of being lenient.

I can allow royal exile, but we must showcase what destruction looks like.

Most of all, it seems Bulgaria or the Danube Federation has a vendetta against Yugoslavia.

“They’re not accepting a truce or ceasefire, so they must be trying to endure somehow.”

“What were the terms of the truce?”

“The Yugoslav side demands a return to the territory prior to the Great War.”

Return to the territory prior to the Great War.

In other words, they mean to give up all the lands that could have been Yugoslavia.

But can they truly afford to do so?

There’s karma involved here, and we surely need to demonstrate what happens to nations that instigate war during this conflict.

“Not an unconditional surrender but a return to the territories prior to the Great War? Goodness.”

“They said they would continue to fight to the end if we don’t accept.”

What nonsense is this? Are they messing with us?

If they don’t accept this condition, it’s clear they’ll fight to the bitter end, no matter what!

Or maybe they’re just going to endure until public opinion turns. It seems like it’s one or the other.

“Hmm. It seems it’s the military side of Yugoslavia, not Alexander, thinking this way.”

“Yes. They are quite arrogant. However, the Bulgarian army is pressing so hard that we’ll hopefully receive good news soon.”

Wasn’t it agreed that Bulgaria would throw their weight in with the Danube Federation?

It’s said Bulgaria has been fighting hard in this war.

Indeed, the Prussians of the Balkans.

But we cannot afford to be tied to them.

“In the end, they have no choice but to collapse, but we can’t stay confined to Belgrade. We must at least encircle them and move the rest of the troops back.”

And Belgrade will probably not come out intact.

Regardless, it’s one of the sites I’ve chosen to nuke.

“Yes, Your Majesty. So, will we finally use new weapons on their cities?”

“Say that we can permit royal exile. But let’s firmly state that there will absolutely be no truces or negotiations.”

There won’t be any country left, so I can allow an exile.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Strangely enough, I find them detestable.

We should really let them face obliteration.

Well, the Danube Defense Army will focus their main efforts against Germany, so beating up Yugoslavia is gonna be the work of the Balkan nations.

In the future, won’t Yugoslavia become the classic example of “Don’t be a nation people will hate?”

* * *

Yugoslavia, Belgrade

King Alexander I of Yugoslavia has repeatedly requested a truce from Russia, only to be met with rejection each time.

He even begged to return the territory to the state prior to the Great War, implying a willingness to concede anything, but Moscow refused to respond, citing the Tsar’s presence at the front.

This, despite being a military condition, means they currently cannot even present an outright surrender.

Yugoslavia’s military influence had significantly increased under the leadership of figures like Milan Nedić instead of national defense.

They understood they had no choice but to surrender, but having already engaged in a war and expecting the armies of the Danube Federation and Bulgaria to spread out the coalition forces of Germany and Italy, they clung to a desperate hope for defense.

However, contrary to the military’s hope of claiming “we will receive a truce,” there is no way the coalition powers will accept such a proposal.

While Russia makes all sorts of excuses, it ultimately means they plan to throw Yugoslavia to the Danube and Bulgaria.

The only harvest, if there is one, is the royal exile.

Even that, they say they’ll accept only if they don’t undertake any unnecessary actions.

“Russia can accept royal exile but finds it difficult to preserve national bonds. They say Bulgaria and the Danube Federation are hoping for the destruction of our country.”

Prince Pavle spoke to the king, his face filled with despair.

This was virtually the end of the line.

“So, it’s really over.”

King Alexander I took a deep sigh, looking exhausted.

This is a stern warning that they will not let it slide.

The royal family is being told to do as they please, whether that means abandoning the country or otherwise.

It’s too difficult to salvage the nation at this point.

But the military isn’t suggesting that everyone capitulate either. They are taking a hardline stance.

“It seems so.”

“Did we really do so wrong?”

Alexander I’s hands trembled uncontrollably.

He was enraged by the absurd reality and terrified of the external pressure promising to destroy this country.

Yet, in international society, everything is decided by power.

What happens if they tear Yugoslavia apart and devour it?

“The coalition powers have already classified us as an axis of evil from within. A dirty nation trying to instigate war despite being a minor country.”

Truth be told, during the Great War, it was Russia that supported Serbia that made this situation so.

But simply pointing to the Sarajevo incident wouldn’t encapsulate all that led to this fate.

Moreover, ultimately, the world is run by the strong.

What difference does it make if the United Russian Republic is different from that Russia of the past?

“But we still have our own grounds for defense, don’t we? By that logic, how many nations should fail to exist?”

While he’s more upset than ever at Pavle, who essentially runs the country for him,

this is merely a means of venting frustration.

In any case, Yugoslavia currently stands on the brink of defeat.

If this were at a time when they were winning, things might be different.

They foolishly declared that they would demonstrate to Russia the value of Yugoslavia.

“Are they perhaps trying to set an example against us?”

“What should we do then?”

What should be done?

To speak frankly, there seems to be no way out. Really.

The military remains adamant, and an unconditional surrender isn’t feasible at this time.

The country was creeping closer to collapse.

“We have no other options. It seems the royal family ought to go into exile.”

“Is exile the answer?”

“Yes. The royal family should consider going into exile.”

To suggest they should go into exile is essentially meaning to abandon the nation,

to say that they must leave this country. The royal family will never be able to escape this responsibility.

“Even while the country is collapsing?”

“No matter how much the country crumbles, at least one piece of land must remain.”

Pavle has now thrown in the towel.

There was absolutely no way to revive the situation now.

“The Sarajevo incident was certainly a blunder. No, if only we had followed the wishes of the Austro-Hungarian Empire back then, this wouldn’t have spiraled so far.”

Isn’t the Danube Coalition currently waging an all-out assault based on that premise?

Even though Russia was behind it during the Great War, there was no need for war at all.

After all, what did Yugoslavia gain once they became a nation?

 

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