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I subtly pretended to speak with authority as I checked the soldiers’ expressions.

The Tsar is at it again. Or maybe it’s, “Oh wow, Ana-chan!” kind of reactions.

I wondered which reaction it would be.

“Your Majesty!”

“I will ensure victory for my mother Tsarina!”

“Long live the Russian Republic! Tsar Your Majesty! Long live!”

Just as expected.

There were still soldiers willing to throw their lives away for me like fools.

I briefly caught a glimpse of an Asian soldier in the back shouting in Japanese, “You’re the best! Ana-chan!” but I wanted to believe that there wouldn’t actually be any Japanese here to fight all the way over.

Or is that a possible scenario?

If you think about it, China is a savage hell right now.

According to the Northern Manchuria governor, there are deserters feeling disillusioned about the war. I wonder if any of them came to Russia.

Well, who cares. The more fools are willing to die for me, the better for me.

Now, it’s not just the common soldiers to worry about.

The army doctors and nurses have been doing fine until now.

Without them, the injured soldiers wouldn’t have been able to get back and fight.

“Doctors and nurses, you’ve worked hard. Without you, we would have had casualties among even these heroes.”

“No, it’s just our duty!”

Right. It’s a given.

But image-making is an important virtue.

“With you coming all the way to the frontlines to care for the soldiers, their morale will surely not drop! Hahaha!”

“Though I can’t directly engage like during the Red-White Civil War, I must do what I can.”

That Goebbels guy yapped about caring for the people yet hid in bunkers and ran away. It’s hilarious.

Ungern is energetically bashing Goebbels.

Yeah, that makes sense. If that guy had come to inspect the frontlines directly, maybe we wouldn’t have had as many surrenders.

But, I don’t know about that guy, but he could very well get killed by bombardment when he steps outside.

Considering that point, I understand his part.

“Your Majesty. The Yugoslav royal family has requested your assistance for their asylum in Sweden.”

Yugoslav royal family fleeing to Sweden?

Looks like they are really ready to give up their country.

“I’m amazed they’re asking a country that will erase their own from the third country. Let’s accommodate them. Isn’t their desire to preserve their lives commendable?”

“But it seems the king has no intention of coming out.”

“Hmph. That’s quite infuriating.”

How dare he say he won’t come out at this time?

It seems he intends to stay until the end, becoming a symbol for the Serbians while taking a nuclear hit from me.

But I have no intention of letting it slide.

I think it would be good to send the Okhrana to Belgrade.

“Let’s send Spetsnaz from Okhrana. We must capture the king alive.”

Spetsnaz. A term that refers collectively to special forces.

My Russian Spetsnaz are comprised largely of those who were active in Okhrana, specialized in infiltrating and capturing people.

That’s exactly what they were made for.

So it’s time to put them to use. Disgracing. Who are we going against now?

“How about threatening him instead? Tell him that if he doesn’t come quietly, we’ll block his escape route.”

That’s a good approach, but I don’t think it’s the best.

“We can reserve that for after the capture fails. A king disappearing without a word one day. Wouldn’t that drive the Serbians to despair just by that?”

At least it wouldn’t be too late to capture him after this fails.

Honestly, blackmail might cost less, but if we drag him out with threats, there could be all sorts of tricks behind the scenes.

Being compelled to flee due to Russian threats.

The nation’s on the brink of collapse, and a suddenly disappearing king. Which looks better?

Of course, from our perspective, the latter is way more entertaining!

“Indeed, that makes sense.”

“Then please proceed with that.”

We’ll have to bear the risks if it fails, but who cares! Drop the nuke!

History is written by the victors.

There are plenty of people in the world, so we can always make a fake Alexander and make him cross-dress then make him a gay.

After that, we can drop the nukes.

First, let’s wipe Italy off the map and then drop bombs on Yugoslavia and France.

* * *

Underground bunker of the War Office in London, UK

Recently, Winston Churchill had become a hermit, only listening intently to outside news, and he was aghast at the news that all of Germany had fallen into Russia’s hands.

Crash!

So much so that he dropped the vodka bottle he was holding and shattered it.

One of his staff members, who had grown used to the situation, couldn’t help but snicker even in the serious circumstances.

“Germany has fallen into Russia’s hands.”

In this war, the neck of the Red Front has been effectively severed.

So, who will be the master of German territory now?

“It’s said they will return the homeland to the Kaiser. However, since the Danube Federation’s goal in this war is also the liberation of Germany, they surely won’t refrain from taking southern Germany, right?”

Upon Mosley’s words, Churchill nodded heavily.

That can’t be wrong.

“That’s likely. The Kaiser, with his symbolic stature, led the Junker officers under the communist regime to surrender without even putting up a fight.”

This time, the existence of the Kaiser in Germany wielded quite a bit of power.

If there had been no Kaiser and honestly no way out, the Junkers would have fought on under the communist regime, whether they lived or died.

But, the Kaiser with legitimacy comes along with the Russian army.

“Oh dear, our Kaiser! It can’t be helped; we must surrender.”

There’s no way around it. The opponent being the Kaiser and the German Empire, surrendering shouldn’t come with much pressure. Of course, even without the German Empire, Russia would have won anyway. But regardless, it was evident that the war had become easier.

If the Allies’ offensive had succeeded and communist Germany had been pushed back, there would have been many who would have surrendered to the Kaiser anyway.

“Hmph. We can’t let this continue as it is.”

“Pardon?”

“Palanghe Spanish troops are crossing over the Pyrenees, and the Ethiopian Army has landed on Italian soil.”

It’s clear that in this war, Russia is going to win.

The Italian forces will face an unprecedented humiliation of surrendering to an African army. France will be beaten from all sides too.

The Free French government in Algeria?

Indochina is being torn apart by Japan, and those incompetents manage nothing, just struggling to handle the local Algerians.

But the British Empire isn’t one to speak from a higher ground either.

The British Empire’s bombings no longer yield much effect.

Germany has crumbled. Then, what about France? With the combined power of French and surviving communist Germans, continuous bombings will only result in losing the air force.

Yet they can’t just sit idle.

“If this goes on, there won’t be much left for us to do in this war. We’ve lost a lot, but can’t seem to gain much.”

“Do you have any good ideas?”

At this point, there’s only one.

One last blow. The final push of the remaining forces of the British Empire.

If we take this one blow, it might just be enough.

“Currently, the French Commune is likely defending against Russian attacks in the East and blocking the Spanish army in the West. Since they’ve taken damage against Russia in the war, I think the North will be left vulnerable.”

Churchill scanned the northern part of France on the map with his eyes.

What if Britain were to take that northern region?

If they gather all remaining troops and launch one strike, it could be possible.

“It will be so.”

“Let’s gather all remaining troops.”

Let’s gather as many British troops that returned from withdrawal operations and the Commonwealth forces as possible.

As a last gamble, we’ll occupy northern France and politely ask—no, beg for territory from Russia in the future.

After all, the Tsar and I have a bond (we’ve met once) from the Red-White Civil War, right?

“Are you planning an amphibious operation solely by ourselves?”

“At the very least, we need to have our forces pushed into the future lands we wish to acquire, right?”

Churchill replied resolutely to the astonished Mosley.

This really will be the final gamble, the last operation in this war that Britain can undertake.

In the original history, Britain was supposed to receive overwhelming support from the United States, but in this world, America is pouring all its efforts into taking down island nations in the Far East and barely managing to import aircraft.

In short, Britain had to conduct an amphibious operation alone.

It’s not impossible by numbers.

If the Commune’s soldiers are dispersed, there’s a good chance.

The British forces on the homefront and the Commonwealth armies, along with mercenaries from Ireland brought under the condition of ceding Northern Ireland—can all be utilized.

“Then, where do you think would be best?”

Noticing that he couldn’t stop the Prime Minister, Alan Brooke cautiously asked.

“If we were to proceed with an amphibious operation, where do you think would be best?”

“The Prime Minister prefers Normandy and Brittany, so we must pick these two as candidates. The issue, though, is how deeply we can push the landed forces in.”

No matter how one looks at it, it never seems favorable to dive deep into the mainland.

Had the Dunkirk evacuation gone smoothly, we could have possibly made greater advances into France.

Churchill licked his lips in regret.

Well, it can’t be helped. If it had been that way, he wouldn’t have had to come up with such a plan in the first place.

“Anyway, just occupying the North should be enough for us.”

Just the North. Taking that region, which we’d seized during the Hundred Years’ War. And if we have to decide, considering the British forces’ circumstances…

Alan Brooke pointed to the far western tip of France on the map—Brittany.

“Then, wouldn’t Brittany be better?”

“Brittany? How so?”

“Our reconnaissance aircraft have reported that Brittany has a favorable coastline for an amphibious landing. There are no fortifications. At this point in our situation, there’s nowhere else to successfully launch an amphibious operation against France.”

We’ll finish it in one amphibious strike.

Not a bad strategy. While Brittany sounds good, Churchill also had his eyes on Normandy closer to Paris.

Perhaps, if everything goes very well, it could be leveraged.

“Then, what about Normandy?”

“Neither good nor bad. It’s just so-so, but there are fortifications there, and the French Commune forces could divide their troops and come this way. So, if you choose between Brittany and Normandy, landing in Brittany and then advancing to Normandy would be preferable.”

At this point, launching an amphibious operation for the British army is a risky gamble.

Yet, there won’t be an opportunity to execute this plan if we don’t act now.

“It means it will become troublesome.”

Then, deep aspirations won’t work, and it’s best just to settle for occupying the North.

“First, after we land in Brittany, we will secure supply lines with our navy and, based on the Eastern front’s situation, decide whether to advance further.”

Alan Brooke drew a line with his finger from Brittany to Normandy.

With the Commonwealth’s strength concentrated on defending the British Isles, there are soldiers with spirits gathered.

“They will already assume we are stuck in our homeland. So, do you think it’s possible we could get to Normandy after landing in Brittany?”

If we are to go, we must do so in one shot.

Occupy Northern France in one go and inevitably make it part of the British Empire’s territory.

The citizens would surely accept this.

“If the situation on the Spanish front and Russian front intensifies during a moment of carelessness, it could become possible.”

“We must make it happen. Do you understand?”

This matter would determine the standings of the British Empire in the aftermath.

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

Churchill’s eyes gleamed with intelligence sharper than ever.

Mr. Gallipoli? Mr. Dunkirk? Not this time?

In this operation, he will become a war hero who ends the war by striking the back of the French Commune with an axe.

And he will deliver divine punishment to the French who dared betray the mighty British Empire.

Free France? What is that? Is it food?

* * *

Meanwhile, the Spetsnaz that invaded Belgrade were shocked.

Infiltration was ridiculously easy.

I don’t know if it made a difference who showed up since they were already surrounded.

“Hah, is the security so lax for those just defending in Belgrade?”

“They must have relaxed as the siege thinned.”

“Gosh. Poor wretches.”

“It seems their surveillance of the king is also quite lax.”

Belgrade was nothing but despair.

Yugoslavia, isolated among great powers. With only Belgrade remaining, facing the collapse of their nation, the citizens had no vitality in their eyes.

The military forces were the only ones stirring.

“Well, the military dominates, so that makes sense. With soldiers scarce, they can’t afford to spare any to fight against a mere puppet.”

Fortunately, Belgrade was bustling with defense preparations, yet no one recognized the Spetsnaz disguised as soldiers.

“Who goes there!”

Breaking into the king’s office was not difficult at all.

At most, there were only one or two soldiers armed; they were no match for them.

“That’s not something you need to know. After all, you will soon be a king of a ruined nation. You’ve overstayed your welcome.”

A Serbian with too much of a say.

The Spetsnaz felt indignant at these Yugoslavs. They wouldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for Russia’s help during the Great War, yet during the Civil War, they didn’t even show their faces, and they were utterly infuriating.

Especially since Spetsnaz members had entered through Okhrana during the Red-White Civil War period, they understood that pain better than anyone else.

In fact, if we really pushed the issue, who helped whom here, so what does it have to do with Yugoslavia! But Russia, as the Slavic elder brother, naturally helped! By contrast, Serbia didn’t lend a hand when Russia was in trouble.

Of course, it’s incensed.

Alexander realized who had sent these rude Spetsnaz due to their remarks.

“Was it the Tsar of Russia who sent you?”

 

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