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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Litvinov, met once again with Japan’s Foreign Minister, Dogo Shigenori.

It seemed Japan had no intention of showing genuine goodwill for the mediation previously requested, likely to solidify the justification for war.

“We, Russia and Japan, have been allies for a long time. Our mother, the Tsar, properly ceded leadership in the Far East to our ally, Japan. Furthermore, all of China’s interests were also entirely handed over to Japan. This is the outcome of our continuously improved relations since the Russo-Japanese War.”

“Indeed.”

Dogo Shigenori simply bowed.

At this point, there was no other way forward. All he could do was bow and bow again.

“Recently, Europe has declared decolonization. We will form a government composed of local colonists and inherit the powers of the colonial government to liberate Asian colonies as well. Japan must withdraw its troops as soon as possible for this to be achievable.”

Decolonization declaration. Does that mean they intend to relinquish their colonies?

This was undoubtedly shocking even for Japan, a major power.

Those greedy European powers, if they let go of their colonies, would never tolerate Japan holding onto theirs.

Right now, Japan could not expand the front any further.

It was already pushing its limits. What then, what could they possibly do?

They could only hope for Russia to mediate the war with the United States.

“At least we are doing our utmost.”

“And after several inquiries, our mother, the Tsar, has considered China’s situation and provided agricultural tools and pesticides. They say those pesticides were used to confine and kill Chinese civilians, which inevitably affects our mother, the Tsar’s reputation.”

As children, how could they stand by and watch the reputation of their mother be tarnished by the Japanese?

At least they had been given an opportunity by their mother, the Tsar.

Right now, Russia was saying this.

“We are also discussing this issue at Imperial General Headquarters. If only the war with the United States can be concluded, we could also end the withdrawal from the colonies and the war with China, hopefully.”

Litvinov frowned at Dogo Shigenori’s excuses.

Requesting mediation while trying to persuade like this? It was truly absurd.

“Do you think our Russia is joking around? Your country must show sincerity first if you want to persuade the Americans! No matter how strong our Russia is, America is a tough opponent. The land of North America is rich, and the power that comes from it is stronger than all of Europe combined. You started a war against such a nation. Shouldn’t it be normal for you to first bow down and come to us?”

Of course, the comparison with Europe was made without including Russia, which had rapidly emerged as Europe’s strongest nation.

“I will request a response from our homeland. Please, just a little longer, bear with us.”

Bowing, Dogo Shigenori felt something strange about the atmosphere in Russia.

It felt like a final ultimatum before war. He couldn’t quite understand why, but that was the impression he got.

What on earth were the fools at Imperial General Headquarters planning?

Given Russia’s reaction, they could easily declare war on the empire. Why are these fools only continuing with the war?

He had to hear the response from Imperial General Headquarters, but there was little expectation left.

He had heard that Russia had weapons powerful enough to wipe out cities. What would happen if such a thing were to fall on the Empire’s homeland?

It seemed fleeing might be a better option.

Meanwhile, in the Forbidden City’s Imperial General Headquarters, they were incensed by Russia’s response.

“Are the Russians looking down on us just because they have become the dominant power in Europe?”

“That’s right. We are the proud soldiers of the Empire that led to victory in the Russo-Japanese War.”

The Imperial General Headquarters, still living in nostalgia from their victory over Russia, boldly faced this newfound behavior.

“But didn’t Russia have a weapon that could destroy a city-”

“Does Russia, which has to rebuild Europe, have the capacity to wage war against the Empire? City-destroying bombs? Such a thing couldn’t possibly exist. The victorious Russia must be exaggerating.”

They could not trust it unless seen with their own eyes.

Tojo Hideki and the hardliners at least viewed it that way.

“We must at least withdraw from the colonies. The European war is over, so if we show our sincerity, wouldn’t they continue exporting resources to us?”

Withdrawal from the colonies.

However, that wasn’t an easy option.

Because it had already been announced back home that the Empire acquired the colonies at the request of the European powers.

This had allowed for the mapping of this brutal war to be further advanced.

“Weren’t we already told we would grant independence? Then wouldn’t we be able to grant independence afterward?”

“That way, it’s impossible to work.”

Truly, this was like closing one’s eyes and pretending.

However, the hardliner Tojo Hideki had ample arguments to make as well.

“Is there any alternative? The train has already left. We either gain everything or lose everything. If we stop the war now, will our colonies accept it?”

Having received the colonies from the great powers and winning successive victories in China, the colonists on the home front naturally anticipated favorable outcomes in the Pacific war against the United States.

The invincible Imperial Army was sure of it!

However, to tuck tail now was out of the question.

“If by any chance Russia invades, we cannot withstand the front line.”

“Even if you yell at us, you haven’t threatened war. And we have the Governor-General of Southern Manchuria.”

The renowned strategist who obliterated 2 million, Mutaguchi Renya.

There remained 200,000 troops from the Southern Manchuria Governor-General’s Office.

These troops were equipped with the latest weapons (Russian-made) and should be enough to halt Russia’s advance.

Originally, Russia also had its own European issues, so it could potentially lead to circumstances like during the Russo-Japanese War, and Southern Manchuria had fortified many positions in case of a counterattack from China, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

“Now that our mediation has effectively failed, let’s provide an appropriate response to Russia and recruit more troops from the Qing army. They’ll have to serve as our meat shield. Quickly settle matters with China.”

The opinions among the dispatched troops were varied, but they ultimately leaned towards quickly finishing off one front.

They could clean up China quickly and then make suitable gestures to grant independence to the colonies afterward.

Meanwhile, during this time, Emperor Puyi of the Qing Dynasty was in contact with the Okhrana.

“As you know, Your Majesty, Japan is well aware that it cannot win this war and will drag the Qing Dynasty along until their defeat. Now that the European war is over, countless offspring of mothers will begin to exterminate the savage monkeys who have tarnished their mother’s reputation. At this point, Your Majesty will need to cooperate with them to avoid being implicated as a war criminal afterward, so that we can retain even a little of this Qing territory.”

“What should I… do?”

Puyi was not a fool.

Although he was the puppet king of a nation established by Japan, Japan had gone mad to the point of no return, and as the Qing Dynasty was raised by the crazy Japanese, it would fall with their defeat, putting Puyi’s life in jeopardy.

All Puyi wanted was to at least maintain his life, regardless of the title.

Thus, he needed to accept the proposal from the currently strongest nation in the world, Russia.

“We will contact you on schedule, so please attack the Japanese troops stationed in the Qing Dynasty from within. Since they are a puppet army, we do not expect you to obliterate them, just enough to divert their attention.”

“I will do so.”

With this opportunity, he would definitively cut ties with Japan.

Puyi’s heart was filled not with the blood of the Daiching Gulong who had conquered the Central Plain in the past—no, it was instead filled with the will to survive.

Meanwhile, at this moment, Mutaguchi Renya, whom the Imperial General Headquarters had left as a variable in Southern Manchuria, was indulging in extravagance and pleasure.

While Japan’s main forces were decimating China, and clashes with European powers were happening in the Pacific, the Southern Manchuria Governor-General’s Office remained entirely under Mutaguchi Renya’s control.

“Come, let’s drink a toast for the future of Southern Manchuria today as well!”

With nothing to do, he had to solidify his title as the Shogun of Southern Manchuria while partying daily with his idle subordinates.

The upper waters must remain clear for the lower waters to be clear. Beyond loyalty to Mutaguchi Renya, the morale of Southern Manchuria’s military had dwindled with the absence of combat, and since Russia was an ally, they saw it merely as a time for revelry.

“But is this really okay?”

A young staff officer watching Mutaguchi Renya and Tsujin Masanobu enjoying themselves asked with a troubled expression. But Mutaguchi Renya shook his hand.

“What’s the alternative? Do you want to plunge into the bloody chaos of China instead?”

“That’s not it, but…”

As the saying goes, people flock together.

While the truly insane Japanese generals were over at Imperial General Headquarters, Mutaguchi Renya had similar-minded subordinates appointed as officers in Southern Manchuria.

Satisfied with his role as the Shogun of Southern Manchuria, Mutaguchi Renya used the excuse of this indulgence to target the Imperial army stationed in China.

With a face full of despair and sorrow, akin to a downtrodden ethnic minority, he knocked back a drink and boldly declared.

“If they had entrusted me with the war earlier, we wouldn’t have ended up like this. I don’t understand how the Empire ended up in this shape. The Imperial Army present in China sees only the Chinese as pieces of meat. That’s not the army of the Empire. It’s the army of demons. As the elder brother of Asia, they have deteriorated. Do you understand the meaning of this?”

If the Imperial General Headquarters were to hear such treachery, they would surely denounce him, for he was spouting nonsensical ideas.

“Only we, the true samurai army armed with the Yamato spirit, remain true. Do not forget this. The reason why the China Expeditionary Force could advance thus far is indeed thanks to our Southern Manchurian army’s defeat of 2 million coalition forces. While the Imperial General Headquarters is declining, we alone uphold the true spirit of Japan! Now! Let’s each have a drink! Long live the Empire of Japan! Long live His Imperial Majesty! Long live Southern Manchuria! Long live the Empire of Japan!”

Some officers questioned whether that was right, but they all raised their glasses with a “Whatever, who cares?” attitude.

“Long live His Imperial Majesty! Long live Southern Manchuria! Long live the Empire of Japan!”

The Southern Manchurian army, claimed to be an elite force that had defeated two million foes (or so they claimed), was indeed crumbling.

* * *

Moscow, Russian Republic

As American card payments began and visions of Europe’s future being restored with money filled the air, the Rome Treaty Organization was freshly ignited with new agenda.

In attendance was me, the Tsar of Russia, inheritor of Rome.

“That America is helping with our post-war recovery as a neighbor; we must surely support their war efforts in return, right? Furthermore, Japan, despite us civilizing them, continues to colonize countries like the Korean Empire, and even now, is mercilessly slaughtering both soldiers and civilians in China. As a civilized nation, we absolutely cannot condone this.”

This is barbarism and tyranny.

The leaders of the great powers, who had begun to spin their sweet washing machines promising aid to the colonies, nodded in agreement and ground their teeth.

While it was amusing to watch, if they could do it merely by spinning washing machines, it would surely be a lucrative investment.

And I too declared war as the Emperor of Rome within the Rome Treaty Organization.

“Now, as we seek to liberate colonies qualified to become members of the international community, they are shamelessly mocking us, seizing colonies, oppressing, and plundering resources. This is tyranny, and it is barbaric! They are returning to the era of lawlessness that has long been past! They are oppressing China and the colonies that have taken steps toward civilization! This is no mere European issue for the Rome Treaty Organization, which has civilized the world! We cannot remain idle and watch as Japan attempts to take the world back to the past! We will punish this barbarism! We will fight!”

The now-coerced or voluntarily joined fan club of Anastasia among the member nations also agreed with my declaration, resulting in overwhelming support for war against Japan.

Domestic reactions were equally strong.

“How dare those Japanese disregard our mother Tsar’s benevolent proposal?”

“Let’s take revenge for the Russo-Japanese War this time!”

“Let’s show those monkey bastards on the islands what it means to be in the land of the Saint!”

The over 200 million members of the Anastasia fan club gave substantial support for the war against Japan.

Post-Civil War, Russia had always been a just state under the rule of the Saint, proud of its heritage as the third Rome.

Holding onto the role of a nation that protects justice globally, Japan, which colors peace with blood, was simply unacceptable to the Russian people, and they suggested taking this opportunity to fully wash away the humiliation of the Russo-Japanese War.

And I too decided to take direct action.

Of course, this time I would not lead the charge but fulfill the role of a totem designed to boost the morale of the White Army from the Yusupov Palace they had set up in Northern Manchuria.

Gregory Semenov, skilled in the Far East, would serve as the Supreme Commander for the war against Japan, alongside the equally active Roman von Ungern as Vice Commander, with an army totaling over 1 million troops from the treaty’s ground and air forces joining the Eastern forces for a southward advance.

“Your Majesty, the Rome Treaty fleet is reportedly sailing over the Indian Ocean into the Pacific.”

Before heading to Northern Manchuria, I received news of the treaty fleet from Admiral Kolchak.

“Hmm, so naval battles are upon us, huh?”

“The treaty fleet under the command of the White Fleet’s Kuznetsov and the British Home Fleet’s Charles Forbes will engage in a decisive battle against America’s Nimitz fleet in the Pacific.”

That shouldn’t be too hard.

America was already slowly pushing Japan out of the Pacific, wasn’t it? Considering the original history, it should be entirely feasible.

“After establishing naval and air dominance, we can easily strike the Japanese archipelago.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The end of Japan is drawing near.

Unlike the original history, where the Korean Liberation Army declared war on Japan with only a few hundred members, this time the Balhae Army would regain the Korean Peninsula directly.

“Then, please officially declare war on Japan through the imprisoned Foreign Minister Dogo Shigenori.”

Japan, by now, must be fighting its last stand in China.

I wonder if I should feel sorry for them.

 

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