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“Negotiate with the Emperor of Vietnam and select a leader on your own. We’re busy sorting out the weapons to hand over to the new Vietnamese army, so don’t disturb us like Indonesia did. Whatever you choose to do, just don’t cause us trouble. Figure it out yourselves.”

It feels strangely empty, more than I expected.

I can’t believe how easily these guys are backing off.

With diminished energy, Ho Chi Minh eventually went to Bo Dai and demanded his abdication.

“This position was never one I wanted, and I couldn’t do anything as I wished; all I get is hatred from the people. I will abdicate, so do as you please.”

“Excuse me?”

Why is the Emperor suddenly saying he wants to step back?

Looking closely, there’s not a trace of deceit in his expression.

As if he’s reached enlightenment, claiming he doesn’t need this position. Gazing at that face, I found myself feeling a strange sort of tension in Ho Chi Minh’s chest.

“I said it wasn’t a desired position. The High Commissioner also said the government could transfer power to a chosen leader, so proceed.”

The Emperor declared his intention to abdicate, and he then left for France with the High Commissioner, securing his later years.

The Vietnamese Nationalist Party safely received the transfer of power.

However, there’s a problem.

“Didn’t we also fight for independence? Why is it that Ho Chi Minh receives the power to govern?”

In the original history, Ngô Đình Diệm, the first president of the Republic of Vietnam, revolted against Ho Chi Minh.

He had originally followed the same path of independence in this world as in history, decorating the end of French colonial rule and intervening directly in the High Commission to help establish Vietnam’s political system.

“Are you asking for help to establish a pro-American government?”

As someone who ultimately became an incompetent, corrupt dictator, he didn’t accept Ho Chi Minh and contacted the United States.

* * *

Moscow Tesla Research Institute of the Russian Republic

I’ve been quite busy lately.

There was the royal event of Vladimir and Friederike’s wedding.

Both imperial families celebrated greatly, and a Dual Monarchy between Germany and Russia was established.

Though the Rome Treaty Organization was at the same framework, rendering the Dual Monarchy somewhat meaningless.

Germany still maintained its outdated monarchy, which was a necessary issue for reform.

Due to the revolution, Germany missed the era of reforms because of the Reds taking over the mainland, so we must rely on Russia now.

“And now, it’s about Tesla.”

Perhaps the most important aspect is indeed Tesla.

Regrettably, on the day he created the transistor, Nikola Tesla collapsed.

At his age, it wasn’t surprising, but he insisted he could continue to endure and kept giving orders even while lying down.

And I visited the lab to see Tesla.

“So, this is the transistor.”

The development of the transistor was underway. What would later be called the Tesla Transistor was being created.

Seeing it with my own eyes, I truly felt I had contributed greatly to history.

Of course, it was roughly a year ahead of the original timeline, but at least I had proposed many ideas, and now, this Moscow Tesla Research Institute has numerous scientists belonging to the Rome Treaty Organization.

With these people, the future will likely develop even faster.

Perhaps, in the world I came from, by 2024, it might contain even more.

The field of space development would take off even more.

“Yes, this will be my final masterpiece.”

“Not the Wardenclyffe Tower?”

Ultimately, while the Wardenclyffe Tower consumed a massive amount of money, achieving it proved difficult.

You could say it was a technical limitation, or perhaps not economically feasible either.

Instead, Russia coined the term Wardenclyffe Revolution and developed the draft for wireless communication technology, which would constantly propel human civilization forward.

In the midst of this, developing the transistor is astonishing.

“Ehehe! This all thanks to Your Majesty. Thanks to your support, I could conduct research as I desired until my last breath.”

Research until death.

Anyone hearing this would think I was exploiting him as a grad student! Yet, I originally wished for scientific advancement to surpass the original history, and Tesla desired to continue research until his death.

I made significant investments in this and, though some claimed Tesla had mental issues, I generously supported him.

That has yielded sufficient return.

I am satisfied with that level.

“Now various things like calculators and radios will develop further, becoming easier and smaller to use, applying to computers developed by Konrad Zuse and Colossus from England, thereby advancing even more.”

Germany’s Konrad Zuse developed the Z3 computer after moving to Russia, and England developed Colossus while at war with Communist Germany.

Colossus is particularly classified, but I acquired it after appropriately blackmailing Churchill in various ways.

Since we’re basically all one big family now, what’s the importance of confidentiality? As a result, with the development of transistors, even more and newer things will be created.

So indeed, Tesla achieved a truly great accomplishment.

Currently, Russian scientific development is almost solely due to Tesla.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I praised Tesla’s contributions wholeheartedly.

“Ehehe! But it’s not over yet. I will certainly show you the advancement of human civilization that Your Majesty desires. This cradle of humanity, Earth, will undergo a profound change before Tesla passes away. Under the wireless revolution, no European nation will find it easy to escape the Rome Treaty.”

That might be true. Being bound together, breaking free alone means you need to establish an independent system.

That will be challenging, indeed.

“That’s enough. I heard a Nobel Prize is also to be awarded. Doctor Tesla will leave his name in human history. Perhaps for thousands of years, across both East and West, many rising and falling civilizations will be overshadowed by Doctor Tesla’s advancements.”

Looking at the past is good, but reality and the future are important too.

No, rather, reality and the future are continuously progressing at this moment.

The past will merely be forgotten in the annals of history.

Now, this momentwill undoubtedly become history, but it is a time with more developmental possibilities for humanity than any other.

“You flatter me. cough cough.”

“Doctor’s name will long linger in the far future. It will remain attached to every electronic device.”

Tesla Radio, Tesla Computer, Tesla Refrigerator. I plan to put his name on all sorts of electronic devices.

First, should I rename the company to Tesla Electronics?

“Have you seen the future?”

“I haven’t seen the future. But I will make it happen.”

With my authority, I’ll slap the name Tesla on everything, won’t I?

Romanov and Tesla. Those two names will be linked.

In the distant future, could they become like Samsung and LG in Europe?

“What an honor.”

There’s really no honor in that.

Humans expect rewards for their work.

I’m developing missiles as well. Though you can’t omit Romanov’s name from the arms business, the descendants of Goddard will be adequately supported with pensions for their living.

“Even so, don’t push too hard. I don’t want to hear later that the saints worked Doctor Tesla to death.”

I want to push harder, but isn’t he over 90? There’s a chance he could die if I push him too far.

I can’t risk the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Thus, I promised to continue supporting Tesla’s development and left the institute.

“Hm. If computers are developed, what about the internet?”

Surprisingly, Korea has played a role in the history of the internet too.

Once computers develop a bit more, it might be good to discuss the internet as well.

That internet development will later be useful for the Ogas project.

Having moderately comforted Tesla, I arrived at the Duma, where the members were diligently producing things for me to grade.

Having banded together under the Rome Treaty Organization, Russia now had more tasks to handle.

Naturally, the volume of assignments coming from the office piled up like mountains.

I simply graded with mindless determination, like a hamster tirelessly running on a wheel.

Then I suddenly turned my attention to the prime minister.

“What about Vietnam?”

“The Emperor granted Ho Chi Minh the authority to establish a new government.”

So, in the end, Ho Chi Minh is receiving power?

Then what will happen to Ho Chi Minh now?

“Hm, Ho Chi Minh isn’t a Communist, right?”

If Ho Chi Minh isn’t a Communist, that’s not too bad.

There’s no need for us to move troops again. We should consider that Vietnam might fall under America’s influence.

Since Vietnam was a colony, we still need to observe, and seeing as we’ve consented, the U.S. will likely try to bring Vietnam under their influence.

“Yes. They have formed a national party called the Vietnamese Nationalist Party, similar to our Roman Nationalist Party, adopting a modified capitalism.”

“Quite an appealing group you must have.”

“Yes. They seem to be rather knowledgeable friends.”

The members of the Roman Nationalist Party were thrilled, but regretfully, I didn’t find it looking too good.

Ho Chi Minh seems to be reaching out for help, almost like he’s sending a love call.

Since we’re tied together by the Rome Treaty, it’s like we’re burdened with France’s affairs, and Ho Chi Minh’s actions appear to be asking for assistance from the colonial government. Ugh.

“Such an annoyance.”

This is how humans behave. When seizing power, they choose what they need.

Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh originally chose communism in history, but in this world, rather than opting for a punishing communism, they’ve selected strange political systems like benevolent modified capitalism or soft autonomy that’s conducive to seizing power.

“However, there’s a problem.”

“What is it? From what I see, the High Commissioner’s office seems to be withdrawing safely.”

Looking through the grading papers, the colonial government of French Indochina, the current Indochina Municipal Commission under the Rome Treaty Organization, is sequentially withdrawing its government, military, and bureaucrats.

At least, judging by the situation so far, Vietnam won’t pull any stunts like Indonesia.

“The problem is that it seems Ngô Đình Diệm has contacted the United States.”

Ngô Đình Diệm was indeed the first president of Vietnam in the original history. A freedom fighter who initially did fairly well but ultimately became corrupted.

Afterward, the leaders of South Vietnam are often re-evaluated unfavorably.

Now he has revolted against Ho Chi Minh, which ultimately indicates ambition. Hmm.

For now, there shouldn’t be any issues with other colonies.

In Africa, I plan to apologize for your colonial rule and properly support them to establish a government before handing it over to Ethiopia. But is Vietnam a problem?

“Strictly speaking, this isn’t our concern at all.”

“Excuse me?”

What should we think about this? We did grant them independence, after all. If a civil war breaks out, it’s their own fault.

I believe we don’t need to support or intervene in any fighting.

“We promised the United States that we would hand Vietnam over.”

Colonized nations don’t care what the United States does.

Vietnam is, at this point, a decolonized nation.

“Exactly.”

“Neither Ho Chi Minh nor that Ngô whatever? is particularly communist. It’s ultimately a power struggle.”

Honestly, I don’t understand why there’s so much fighting for power.

Can’t they just be a bit smooth about it? Given the situation, it would be unreasonable not to unify after just gaining independence, and seeing them act like this makes me feel utterly hopeless.

Yet, this is why we are outsiders. We’ll leave behind the facilities you plundered and let you figure it out! Then we’ll quietly back away.

Now that something might happen in Vietnam, intervening would be inappropriate.

“Yes.”

“We don’t need to concern ourselves. We handed it over and what happens if Vietnam falls under America’s influence isn’t our business.”

Seriously, is there any need for us to do more? There isn’t. Korea has taken a route different from the original history, and Vietnam can do the same.

I have no desire to go to a country without a Communist party and cause chaos.

What’s more important is China. Why does China matter?

Right now, it is dressed in soft autonomy, but the country is divided. While it survived thanks to supplies from the Rome Treaty, they’ve gained nothing.

They’ve risen to the status of a victorious nation, but because there’s no legitimate government, they’re just a victorious nation without any reparations.

Thanks to this, various self-proclaimed governments are springing up.

Of course, strictly speaking, Japan has no capability to provide reparations anymore, so they just made an excuse. But regardless.

In this situation, I distributed some of the weapons from the Indochina Municipal Commission, which is withdrawing, to each warlord.

Especially the weapons from the Japanese era, as there are many leftovers left by the Japanese army dispatched to Indochina; it’s perfectly suitable for handing over.

At the very least, I am going to incite a civil war in South China during my lifetime.

The Qing Dynasty. Yes. It sounds a bit strange, so let’s call it the Qing Dynasty again; it’s completely under our influence, and the Manchu nation has no capacity for unification and seems to maintain the status quo. Zhang Xueliang in Shandong can’t build any unifying power there, and Xinjiang has turned into Turkestan.

Well, Mao Zedong is claiming he will achieve unification under soft autonomy!

And the Zhonghua Confederation is developing with our support in this landlocked nation, greatly influenced by Russia, and they also can’t unify.

Yes.

I intend to deliberately stick a pin in the South China conflict to ignite fighting among themselves.

The damage already done from the Sino-Japanese war was beyond repair, but I need to incite more fighting and reduce their numbers further. The rich resources of that continent are somewhat concerning.

I will never allow China to unify, and I will strip this land of anyone who might potentially unify in the future.

That’s all I’m focused on.

However, it seems that world affairs are not as easy as that.

“Your Majesty, Ho Chi Minh from Vietnam has contacted us.”

Ho Chi Minh himself has approached us!

Hmm, is this really happening?

 

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