---

* * *

“They say the largest city in Rehe Province is Qingdao. I know it may not mean much, but how about we make this place the new Jerusalem? Many intellectuals here, like Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion, are set to join the new Eastern Israeli government. This is my compensation for the promise made with you, the Jews. Just as you helped with the development of Northern Manchuria, we will also actively cooperate with urban planning for this new Eastern Israel.”

“Of course, this is also a huge benefit for Russia. By placing Israel here in Northern China, we aim to minimize China’s influence south of the Great Wall.”

“The Jews will cultivate the city in their own way and truly be reborn as Eastern Israelis. Isn’t that just splendid?”

“First, we should hear the reactions of the Jews.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Chaim Weizmann bowed his head.

I can’t help but think that Weizmann might become president again, but that is now beyond my control.

So, with Israel joining us in this manner, they won’t be playing alone in Asia after all.

“I’m sorry about the relocation of Palestine. It has also become part of Turkey, and if we had made that the new Israel, conflicts would have persisted. Still, later we will establish an economic organization different from the Rome Treaty in Asia. If they join it, the new Israel will soon strengthen its national power.”

“Thank you for even this much.”

Right. If they are grateful to me, that suffices.

So, does this mean our multi-national presence will consist of Mao Zedong’s Eastern Autonomous Region, Puyi’s Qing, and Eastern Israel in China?

There’s still Xinjiang left, but I plan to hand that over to the Uyghurs.

There’s no reason to include minorities in the Chinese autonomous governance. Thus, having Israel here means the Uyghurs can gain independence while Tibet also remains independent.

This seems like it could get quite interesting.

Indeed. Since we are on the topic, let’s hand Xinjiang over to the Uyghurs.

I exclaimed from the Far East Treaty Corps command center in the Forbidden City, hoping for success for the intellectuals like Einstein heading to establish the Israeli government.

“I will hand Xinjiang to the Uyghurs.”

“But Xinjiang is Chinese territory. Are you sure?”

Wasn’t the Qing Dynasty the one that shaped the map of Xinjiang? If the Qing is still around, we just need Puyi’s permission, right?

“Technically, it was Qing’s land that affected Xinjiang. If the Qing king Puyi were to grant Xinjiang to the Uyghurs, who would dare object? After all, the warlords in that region are primarily Uyghurs. From the warlords’ perspective, the Uyghur warlords are not much different from Han warlords, but the Uyghurs indeed dominate Xinjiang. So what’s the current situation in Xinjiang?”

I started to think it might be wise to hand everything over to the Uyghurs right away. Or perhaps install military governance and transfer authority to them.

“The warlord of Xinjiang, Sheng Shicai, is at odds with the Eastern Turkestan’s Elyhan Tore.”

“Eastern Turkestan, you say?”

“They are a faction that rose to fight for Uyghur independence. They are seeking to expand their influence towards China, and our Duma is currently aiding Eastern Turkestan. However, the National Duma is occupied with post-war recovery in Europe and is not actively involved here.”

So, Eastern Turkestan. I can’t recall the details, but weren’t they fighting against the Nationalist forces with Soviet support?

Our Duma is indeed helping, after all.

Whether it was the Soviets or the Russian Republic aiding, it’s all the same thing.

“I believe Sheng Shicai of Xinjiang is fighting with support from the National Government, but his oppressive policies have hindered his dominance.”

I heard he was also conducting purges.

Well, if that’s the case, it would be best to get rid of Sheng Shicai.

Even if the National Government provided backing, where did those support supplies come from? Ultimately, they all came from our resources.

“Send in the Treaty Army to enforce the treaty stating that the fight in the land recognized by the Qing will not be tolerated. Also, declare that Eastern Turkestan will be granted full independence for the entirety of Xinjiang. Tell Sheng Shicai he can quietly go into exile and we’ll let him be.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

That should be enough on the Uyghur issue.

What would the current National Government do if the Uyghurs gain independence?

Originally, Mao Zedong, who was to annex Xinjiang, is now merely the chairman of the Chinese autonomous government.

The National Government wanted to, but they couldn’t because of us.

And although it’s somewhat delicate to consider that Sheng Shicai initially received Soviet support, now that the Uyghurs have risen, he seems to have allied with the National Government.

But that’s really none of my concern.

I began to draw lines on the map of China laid out on the table.

Separating Manchuria, also separating Inner Mongolia, splitting the Qing and Northwest warlords, as well as the Xinjiang warlords and Uyghur independence.

“I will also talk to Ma Bufang, who joined the National Government, and preserve the position of the Northwest warlords. This way, let’s keep Northern China under our influence.”

Beneath that, warlords from the National Government are also divided.

On the surface, it looks like regional autonomy but Northern China will all fall under our influence. After all, there’s already the Treaty Army, so we can do as we please.

It will be merely a pretense of regional autonomy.

“Then, if we put the National Government and the Southern Chinese warlords under regional autonomy, they will fight each other.”

“That’s likely. Regional autonomy isn’t led by anyone in particular. It merely exists among equal states, and the Northern Chinese warlords are merely close to us. The Southern Chinese will tear each other apart.”

They’ll gnaw on each other. That is the future I wish for.

Decades of warfare and mutual destruction while they engage in a civil war for unification of Southern China, but each time they fail due to foreign intervention.

And from that civil war, we can reap the benefits of war in Korea. It’s a perfect scenario.

Indeed, that’s how China should fight. Don’t you agree?

* * *

Xinjiang

Sheng Shicai, who was fighting the Uyghur forces in Eastern Turkestan, almost fainted upon hearing of the Treaty Army’s entry.

“Why do the Treaty Army have their eyes set on Xinjiang?”

“The Rome Treaty Organization exists not just to fight Japan. It is here to maintain peace in China.”

“In that case, shouldn’t we deal with the Eastern Turkestan rebels? Why are we in conflict here?”

“The King of the Qing granted management rights over Xinjiang to the Uyghurs, so it rightfully belongs to them. That’s just the facts. The Xinjiang warlord lacks legitimacy.”

“Ugh.”

I didn’t know how to counter that statement; I couldn’t think of a reply.

After all, Sheng Shicai did occupy Xinjiang by force and suppress the Uyghurs.

“Of course, I’m aware of the circumstances regarding the Xinjiang warlord government supported by the National Government, but hasn’t there been long-standing hostility due to oppression of the Uyghurs? Nonetheless, the Rome Treaty Organization has its governing history, so if the president of Xinjiang goes into exile in Russia, he will undoubtedly enjoy wealth and glory.”

Exile to Russia.

Sheng Shicai had invested greatly in developing Xinjiang. Of course, this was only possible with Russian support, but still, he had built his own kingdom.

However, due to a policy failure, a rebellion arose, and the Rome Treaty, centered on Russia, switched to supporting the rebels.

Rather than dying resisting to be king in a backward region, wouldn’t it be better to live luxuriously in a superpower like Russia?

“Really?”

“Is there any reason for us to lie to the president? We’re merely suggesting a peaceful resolution. Rather, that option would be better than being a king in a place like this.”

“I’ll accept.”

Though the National Government initially aimed to support the Xinjiang warlords and suppress Eastern Turkestan, even that failed due to the intervention of the Treaty Army.

“Unification of China is now completely over.”

There would be no opportunity ever again.

Soong Mei-ling couldn’t help but lament.

In effect, Northern China had practically fallen into the hands of the Treaty.

Moreover, Tibet was guaranteed independence in the name of the Rome Treaty Organization, thus preventing any warlord from daring to touch Tibet.

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, the Far East International Military Tribunal was established.

The tribunal was conducted in the second-floor auditorium of what was one of the few buildings still standing in Tokyo, the Imperial Japanese Army Academy.

In fact, the US military had originally aimed to charge Mutaguchi Renya as a war criminal, but found his actions too questionable to label as such. Additionally, Mutaguchi Renya, who had joined the Treaty Army early on, attended as a witness rather than a defendant, since the Chinese side, despite suffering significant defeats, ultimately bowed to the pressure of the Treaty Army.

“I have always been proud of the Empire and of myself as a citizen and soldier of the Empire, but due to the Imperial General Headquarters’ oversight, Southern Manchuria only served as a supply base, and I knew nothing of the war situation. No matter how high my merits were, could I have predicted to be so shut off from reality? In seeing the scenes of countless extermination facilities and dead Chinese people after belatedly surrendering the dispatched troops, I captured 2 million Chinese soldiers, yet viewed this battle solely as an honorable fight. The Empire has declined this much, and the words that I had Her Majesty the Emperor’s permission filled my eyes with tears. Such actions are inhumane. Even now in the facilities of Unit 731, set up away from my sight, the bodies of various dead Chinese still remain, which is truly a horrifying affair.”

In contrast to the emaciated war criminals who couldn’t even eat properly for a long time, Mutaguchi Renya, who had recently gained some weight thanks to the Treaty Army, spoke with an undisguised disappointment towards the Imperial General Headquarters and the Emperor, listing the numerous atrocities he had witnessed.

Of course, the side of the Imperial General Headquarters, particularly Tojo Hideki’s faction, was in an uproar.

“You, the traitor of the Empire!” “Aren’t you a traitor speaking out now?!” “Commit seppuku!”

“Seppuku is what you should do! Since when has the Empire been this barbaric! To put the Emperor forth to keep me in check, killing countless Chinese people while fearing for your own neck and refusing to surrender when you knew how many of our people died?! Truly lamentable!”

As a traitor, Renya raised his voice in protest, intimidating the furious war criminals of the Imperial General Headquarters.

When Tojo Hideki tried to retort, the US military’s military police shut his mouth.

“Then, was the witness against the war?”

The American chief judge, making a grim face, posed a pointless question during this staged trial to Renya.

“Indeed. I was against the start of the Sino-Japanese War from the beginning. However, they insisted on commanding me to destroy the Chinese forces despite my meager troops. I had no choice but to comply. Until then, I was unaware that it was the Imperial General Headquarters and the Emperor’s desire to enjoy killing those people. If I had been as barbaric as them, would countless subjects and soldiers from Western Japan have followed a mere governor of Southern Manchuria like me?”

Following Renya’s testimony, the trial proceeded smoothly.

Needless to say, Emperor Yasuhito was sentenced to death by hanging, and the surviving royals were reduced to lifelong confinement in the independent Ezo Republic.

Among the high-ranking officials of the Imperial General Headquarters, while some planned the attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequently advocated for improving relations with the US before retiring, Yamamoto Isoroku, who actively participated in the trial, was sentenced to 25 years in prison, while most, except for a few like Dogo Shigenori, were hanged.

In the original history, there was Nazi Germany, and the US, exercising leniency towards Japan to counter communism, but there was no reason for such leniency here; everyone was caught.

And in Eastern Japan, some pro-American factions who advocated for reconciliation with the US, along with Japanese Americans, established a new government, appointing Shidehara Kijuro as the cabinet president, while the Supreme Commander was none other than MacArthur from Washington, thereby establishing the Kanto Republic.

In this process, a small number of Japanese protested, appealing for the Emperor’s clemency, but the US military suppressed them, and most Japanese had long turned their backs on the hell that unfolded in China, resulting in little backlash.

* * *

Washington D.C. of the United States.

I entered the capital of the United States alongside the Russian delegation.

Upon arrival, both I and the Russian delegation were dumbfounded.

Countless American flags and garlands of the Rome Treaty fluttered from streetlamps and buildings. Many Americans were waving the stars and stripes, the Russian flag, and garlands.

“Welcome, Your Majesty, the Emperor of Byzantium!”

“You look incredibly young, just as the rumors say! A true saint!”

“Your Majesty, please wave your hand this way just once!”

My popularity in America showed no signs of waning. Indeed, these folks were absolutely wild.

Eventually, I waved and smiled at those asking me to wave, and they erupted into cheers as if they had gone mad.

Then, as I took in the sight of the city of Washington, I was struck by its pristine beauty.

Before the Sino-Japanese War, it wouldn’t have been surprising to consider it the capital of a country it was at war with.

In retrospect, Washington bore no traces of war; my previous life was nothing more than a child’s play fight.

So this was America.

In my previous world, I led a life of mediocrity, never having even stepped foot in Japan, let alone America.

Yet here, MacArthur himself had invited me.

Was MacArthur just an ordinary figure?

Wasn’t this the very same person who enabled a grand counteroffensive with the Korean Army and UN forces during the Incheon Landing?

To see such a figure in person was quite the experience.

I wasn’t the only one either, you know? For instance, the Prime Minister came directly to Washington to converse with Huey Long.

“It’s an honor to meet the Emperor of Byzantium, as I have only heard tales of you. I am Douglas MacArthur, the Chief of Staff of the US Armed Forces.”

Douglas MacArthur warmly welcomed me, which was unexpected.

The Chief of Staff of the US Armed Forces.

Was he in charge of all branches—army, navy, and air force?

Wasn’t it essentially a US-style shogunate mistakenly labeled as a presidential regime?

I half-expected him to approach with suspicion and gravitas, questioning if I was truly the Emperor of Eastern Rome, but instead, he was quite cordial.

In any case, formalities were in order.

“Ah, it’s an honor to meet the hero of America.”

“But to think you’d be so youthful.”

Even MacArthur seemed to be taken aback by my youthful appearance. Well, that made sense. After all, I still looked to be in my early twenties.

“Are you surprised?”

“Well, how could I not be? However, you must be over forty by now.”

Forty. Forty. MacArthur’s statement hit me hard.

I suddenly felt a surge of irritation.

 

---