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The Republic may have been established, but it seems they’re still clinging to their imperial title as their own emperor. Plus, there’s really no need for Semenov to suggest that position to me.

Israel could simply secure a spot in Rehe Province with the borders of Korea and Southern Manchuria, throwing in a bit of the original Inner Mongolia territory to coast along.

And for East Asia, they could just set up another economic organization to unify everything.

In the original history, Korea received substantial support from the United States precisely because North Korea still existed, which might be for anti-communism purposes.

While there wouldn’t be any division here, some effort is required to aid in national reconstruction.

Since they also have the image of a saint, they’re now helping a nation that just liberated itself from colonial rule. That should suffice.

“It might be good to have the Treaty Army occupy various regions of China. With the justification of assisting in the future autonomous governance and security of Chinese territories, that should be enough. Chief of Staff, please prepare.”

With requests for support from Mao Zedong and warlords from the National Government starting to cling to this side, stationing troops shouldn’t be too difficult.

Of course, although they’re called the Treaty Army, those who are somewhat perceptive would recognize that post-new treaty, it would seem like China is falling into the hands of the Western barbarians, much like the Qing Dynasty.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“We must constantly keep them fighting among themselves.”

To prepare for that time, the Treaty Organization needs to intervene significantly in this war.

For instance, we could tear things apart first, and when those guys claim to unify later, should one side show signs of collapsing, the Treaty Army would intervene immediately.

If that happens, China will never reunite again.

Moreover, the forces used for that intervention will be Korea and Israel. So, we’ll need a new international organization.

We can’t just include countries that aren’t even part of the Roman sphere in the Rome Treaty Organization. They can be left as partner nations, but we need to create a new international organization for Israel, Korea, and Mutaguchi’s Japan.

Of course, we should establish ties with the Treaty Organization. That way, no matter what happens in the future, we can remain at ease.

I doubt the member states of the Rome Treaty Organization will oppose this either.

If we leave some influence over China, we could suppress its growth.

In the end, one day, the divided regions of China will no longer view each other as targets for unification.

“What about world unification? It might be possible at this point. That way, we wouldn’t have any wars.”

Semenov is going on again about world unification.

The United States is in a position to purchase our nuclear arms, so why not consider world unification? But who knows what the future holds for a unified world?

Humans develop in competition.

Without a rival on a national level, human civilization cannot progress further.

If we are to unify the world, it wouldn’t be bad to do so at the peak of human civilization.

Of course, by then, I’d likely be dead, but who knows who will undertake the unification when that time comes and whether anyone will even think about unifying.

Honestly, having become a superpower, it’s not that I don’t secretly wish to give it a try.

As I said before, I’m not without ambition.

If I genuinely want to prevent nuclear war, unification is the answer, although that may involve a considerable amount of bloodshed in the process.

Especially if I need to conquer the entire United States.

But even in my current position, I’m tempted to do something, and could I refrain from corruption after achieving world unification?

Even so, I’m bound to die eventually.

Humanity’s scientific civilization has yet to advance to the point where it can handle the entire world.

Rather, if that were to happen, Russia, which should support the world, might crumble from within.

Europe would fall apart as well. It would decline even faster than Rome did.

Indeed, I don’t wish for such a future.

“World unification is just nonsense. Unless there’s some system capable of governing the entire world, something equal to humans must emerge for proper management.”

In fact, I have already said something to Tesla.

I feel he might live longer than the original history, so I should make the most of him until his last breath.

With Russia already entering the age of wireless revolution, if Tesla struggles a bit more, the route to scientific advancement will likely speed up.

For example, I’ve handed off information about transistors. I believe he’ll handle it well.

Eventually, we should also pursue the Ogass project.

We need to ensure it has concrete realism compared to the original historical Ogass project.

If a complete Ogass project leads to the establishment of an electronic government in the future, the world can truly be bound together.

At the very least, I should prepare that foundation.

“It might be hard to see in our time.”

“That could be. Anyway, we must finish things by tearing China apart. We should support Mao Zedong and the Qing Dynasty, but just barely prevent unification.”

For the world to be at ease, both China and India need to be divided.

And with Turkey, the troublemaker in the Middle East, the United States will have less influence on Middle East issues than in the original history.

As I get excited thinking about how to split China apart…

“Your Majesty, Soong Mei-ling of the National Government has sent you a letter.”

“Is it that Churchill again or Wilhelm? Does that woman and everyone just love sending letters?”

Soong Mei-ling is quite a well-known name.

It’s only natural for the wife of Chiang Kai-shek, a figure with the capability to unify the world, to be recognized. Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, she’s received praise for representing China during congressional speeches in the U.S.

She also appealed for an expansion of U.S. support. She participated as an interpreter for her husband during the Cairo Conference.

In the original history, she supported the Korean Independence Army and the Korean patriotic group alongside their families, and she was even awarded honors by the Republic of Korea.

Her allure is so potent that she has captivated both East and West.

Mikhail Borodin, a Soviet adviser, fell for her, and even American generals and military attaches recognized her charm.

It’s astounding that even Churchill referred to her as an attractive woman.

But no matter how many photos I look at, I just can’t see the appeal.

Isn’t she three years older than me? Yet unfortunately, I haven’t aged, and for a woman in her late forties—that’s somewhat lacking, isn’t it? Surely among female figures, I must be the most beautiful.

But that’s besides the point. The letter reads thank you for the support but…

[On behalf of the hundreds of millions of Chinese people, I extend our gratitude to the Emperor of Russia. We are-]

There’s so much fluff in the wording, but ultimately, they just want to be recognized as the legitimate government of China and to ask for help in rebuilding the nation.

But really, why should I care?

Their request to recognize them as the only legitimate government in China means they’re declaring China as theirs and setting up a unified government.

If a superpower like Russia acknowledges this, so too will the Rome Treaty Organization, and in effect, the other divided warlords will also have no choice but to submit to Soong Mei-ling’s government again.

But is there any reason for me to concede?

It’s quite pitiful to see warlords assuming they can behead this woman—who killed their husbands—while still begging recognition for themselves.

While helping Korea was a noble gesture, I can’t deny that for Korean interests, they merely assisted as a counter to Japan; it wasn’t one-sided goodwill.

Unlike the Emperor Wanli, who poured endless support into Joseon despite it not being invaded.

Thus, there’s no reason for me, as a Russian, to accept this now.

There’s really no need to interpret this and reply seriously. I’ll just glance at the surface and send an innocently naive response.

“Thanks to the requests for support from Mao Zedong, who is the successor of Chen Zhongming, a friend of Russia, and the assistance of the Qing Dynasty in repelling Japan, you have nothing to thank us for. I simply hope that in the future, you will cooperate well with Mao Zedong and the Qing.”

That should suffice.

It’s clear that I won’t recognize you as a government.

It would appear that the National Government has essentially dealt a big blow to unification.

But if Soong Mei-ling acts more aggressively than I expect, she could become a hassle. Should I deal with her too?

Soong Mei-ling and Dairi. These two are dangerous at present.

However, assassination isn’t necessary.

Having already killed Chiang Kai-shek, the dispatched troops have also faded, and they’re barely holding off the National Government’s army.

How many people would think Japan would resort to assassination during such times?

* * *

The situation of the Chinese National Government is not very good.

Though things improved significantly after the Japanese army swiftly fell to the Treaty Army, just dealing with the Japanese troops in the south is still overwhelming.

Furthermore, with warlords now separated from each other unlike before, it’s even more challenging.

“Right after my husband dies, it ends up like this. Dairi, is there any way out?”

“Sadly, unless the Führer had properly organized things after the war, it’s tough right now. The damage from the war is just too significant.”

At least during Chiang Kai-shek’s lifetime, they were coerced by his leadership, but with the heavy damage from the Japanese soldiers, once he died, it all fell apart too easily.

At this point, recognition from a superpower is necessary.

“Has the Tsar of Russia sent a reply?”

“He sent one, but…”

Dairi hesitated to finish her thought.

Realizing it wasn’t particularly good news, she checked the Tsar’s response.

The content was painfully obvious.

“Cooperate well with the Qing Dynasty and the formation of the provisional government? What nonsense is this?”

Especially since there’s the traitor Wang Jingwei in the Qing.

To suggest cooperation with them is absurd.

It’s an act that absolutely cannot be accepted.

“According to the intelligence released, it seems the Treaty Army has recognized the Qing Dynasty and the provisional government in Shanxi. I believe the Okhrana, referred to as the Tsar’s shadow, has even set branches with the provisional government and Qing.”

As likely expected of someone feared as the most dangerous person in China during Chiang Kai-shek’s reign, Dairi’s skills are exceptional.

In the original history, she engaged in infiltration against the opposing forces of the National Party in China and substantially contributed to the victory in the war before dying in an aircraft accident in 1946.

In this timeline, she helped Soong Mei-ling assume the role of acting Führer after Chiang Kai-shek was assassinated by Xianyu and essentially played the role of the second-in-command.

“What about the United States? If it’s the United States, they might acknowledge us to balance against Russia.”

Unlike in the original history, Soong Mei-ling hasn’t made any speeches in the U.S.

The urgency in China’s situation and the unpredictable conditions on the way to America made that impossible.

Above all, she didn’t expect America’s divisions to be resolved quickly.

Even now, if relationships with the United States can be reinforced, no matter how prominent the Rome Treaty may be, it would be hard for them to ignore it.

However, Dairi didn’t see that as a good sign.

“The United States is solely focused on capturing Japan, and they won’t intervene to prevent their relationships with European countries from deteriorating.”

In any case, the United States is a white nation.

There’s no way that nation would ever recognize the unification led by the National Government, which would damage relationships with European countries.

Soong Mei-ling grimaced at that response.

“Damn it. This is the last hope.”

“Perhaps the Rome Treaty is intending to divide us to make us independent.”

Divided? Just after barely stabilizing the mess that Mao Zedong created, we unified once again.

We absolutely cannot be divided again at this point.

“Is there no way?”

“Given this situation, we must at least salvage whatever remains. The Japanese army has essentially been defeated by the Treaty Army, so before Russia makes its move, you need to take control of the warlords.”

There are still some warlords remaining.

While most of Shanxi was lost, the remnants include Yan Xishan of Shanxi, Li Zongren of Guangxi, Long Yun of Yunnan, and Ma Buqun of the Northwest.

If they control the northwest, at least the north is somewhat secured.

While the situation with the provisional government and Qing must be accepted, they need to secure the others.

Only then can they build strength to recover the mainland in the future. But whether they have the power to unify now is the crucial question.

“Is that the answer? Is it feasible within our capabilities?”

“Capture Long Yun, Li Zongren, Ma Buqun, and Yan Xishan. Then, send troops to each warlord to force them into submission.”

“How can we summon them?”

Will they come just because they’re called?

Doesn’t it seem suspicious? They will surely know we could be trying to kill them.

But Dairi confidently shook her head.

Well, the Tsar had sent them a very good gift to bring them.

“Use the response sent by the Tsar. If we say we must unite again to counter this division in China, it might be possible.”

Though they’ve fallen apart into warlords again, they are still Chinese.

Wouldn’t they react to outside efforts to divide them?

If that’s the case, then they’ll respond to Soong Mei-ling’s call.

“But our military isn’t that substantial.”

“Regardless, it’s a region maintained by warlords. If we gather the key figures and show they have our military support, it’s likely we can stabilize things again.”

Once the warlord leaders are captured, they can absorb the territories.

After that, even Russia won’t be able to do anything about it, so they can negotiate or whatever once that point is reached.

If the Treaty Army is already rampaging through Central China, they’ll need to move quickly as well.

“Yeah. Let’s take care of it before the Treaty Army moves.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Alright. Isn’t the Tsar a woman?

I’ve heard that the empress who arose in times of chaos has reunited the divided Russia and elevated it to its current status.

Then, there shouldn’t be any reason she can’t do it herself.

 

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