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* * *

Central China Unification War

In that case, it kind of makes sense, but…

If you ask if this is really correct, it gets a bit tricky.

Do they not have any thoughts? Do they not realize who is currently protecting the Qing Dynasty?

There’s the Rome Treaty Organization, and the UN Peacekeeping Forces…

Ah, that was the problem.

China doesn’t have a legitimate, leadership-based government at the moment. Hence, it hasn’t joined the UN.

In other words, it can’t receive help from the Peacekeeping Forces. Moreover, it’s also possible for us to speculate on how long we won’t intervene in China.

There’s no justification for it.

While intervention might be possible through banditry, if we suddenly intervene while pretending to do all sorts of good things under the decolonization declaration, that would be quite inappropriate.

“There are currently no signs of an invasion, but there are disturbances at the border.”

So they want to devour the rich Qing Dynasty, huh?

It seems there are already disputes among the Southern China governments.

“They are requesting to sell weapons.”

If they have an abundance of weapons, it wouldn’t hurt to hand them over, but we also need to be prepared for the possibility of war.

In that case, we need to get Israel involved as well.

The folks in Southern China who want unification will not sit idly by.

The Qing army is certainly thinking of completely changing to have a more Western vibe.

Even if it’s not to the level of the Rome Treaty, we still have to differentiate ourselves from Southern China.

We must divide as much as possible in every field.

If Southern China invades, Shandong will also be a target.

If the autonomous governments in Northern China join the Asian Cooperation Organization, the folks in Southern China will have to work even harder.

Before the Rome Treaty Organization gets fully involved, we might take the initiative to control Northern China.

It’s dangerous for the Rome Treaty Organization to intervene directly. Besides, there’s no proper justification for it. Even if they do, it wouldn’t lead to the kind of pacification in Southern China we desire, alongside the US, through peacekeeping forces.

But even so…

“We are in desperate need of weapons right now. At least until the Qing Dynasty fully regains stability, don’t we need to strengthen our own national defense?”

“Well, at least you do have some thoughts. Anyway, we plan to tie Northern China and Israel, Balhae, and Japan together through economic security.”

“Yes. Since we can’t just rely on the Rome Treaty, we need to protect ourselves too, to ensure the Tsar is satisfied with the Far East’s security, right?”

“With Vietnam already being a hassle, then if the Qing Dynasty fortifies itself, we would have nothing to lose. Selling weapons should be simple enough.”

For now, let’s set up a weapons factory in Korea or transfer some technology there.

After all, a war is bound to break out. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Qing Dynasty to purchase weapons from Korea, and the same goes for other warlords.

Let’s make the most of the war special.

Looking at the growth of the Qing Dynasty now, they should have enough money to buy weapons.

However, since Qing is still part of China, the war will continue, so their growth might be slower compared to other Asian nations.

I was wondering if I should visit the Shandong Autonomous Region but decided against it. They’re already in a position to request help from Russia through the Qing Dynasty, so there’s really no need to drop by.

Originally, I was supposed to treat Mao Zedong as a representative for China, then pass through the Qing Dynasty on the way to Israel.

If I go to Shandong, I would have to visit all the Southern China governments, which is out of the question.

Next up, it’s finally Israel.

Eastern Israel was developing so quickly that it made one wonder if it was built on Chinese land.

Personally, I heard that the Rothschilds were keeping an eye on it and providing support, as one could see all Chinese-style homes being wiped away, replaced by Western-style buildings.

Seriously, everything that didn’t look like it had cultural value was cleared out.

There’s still a long way to go, but many of the crowd here welcomed me warmly.

The flags of the Zionist Republic and Russia waved together.

“Welcome, Tsar.”

“It’s been a while, Dr. Einstein.”

“Thanks to your concern, we were able to establish our nation quickly in Israel.”

I am a Tsar who keeps his promises. Naturally.

But you know, just because you provide support doesn’t mean everything goes perfectly.

If the foundation is rotten, the Chinese would probably have maintained the status quo by using whatever they had while barely scraping by with what Russia gave them.

“How can it be that I’m to thank for this? It’s entirely because the Jews worked diligently and earnestly to build the nation.”

People who can’t do it with money won’t do it at all. Just look at Afghanistan—despite the US pouring in funds, they ended up corrupt and lost power to the Taliban.

The Jews really put in considerable effort.

“Thank you once again.”

“Coming to Israel is not merely to see a Far Eastern country. Now that Israel is a part of Asia, I hope it can also join the Asian Cooperation Organization.”

It’s somewhat different from the Rome Treaty Organization.

If the Rome Treaty Organization is seen as Europe united in true sense, the Asian Commonwealth is literally the organization itself.

It’s just mutual cooperation.

It doesn’t have the same level of cohesion as the Rome Treaty Organization.

“So when you say the Asian Cooperation Organization…”

“It’s also called the Asian Commonwealth. It’s about shared economic development and security. Of course, it won’t be directly managed by the Rome Treaty Organization. Asian countries will take turns chairing it, and the Rome Treaty Organization will be a partner nation of sorts. Since Israel came from outside, it means I’m notifying it to specially cooperate with other countries.”

Everyone is in a position where they depend on us, so we are forming an organization by grouping those Asian nations together.

Mao Zedong, the Qing Dynasty, and Balhae already somewhat understand, and I emphasized this differently for Israel, as they are an immigrant nation and still don’t know the circumstances.

Of course, we will be manipulating the Asian Cooperation Organization like a hidden power for a while, but once the Asian countries stabilize, we plan to hand over control.

Israel wouldn’t dislike that either.

As long as there’s a Qing and a unified government, there’s no immediate danger to Israel.

However, to maintain their nation, cooperation with neighboring nations is essential for Israel.

Having just been established recently, they need to keep peace with their neighboring countries.

Honestly, there’s also concern that a war like the Middle East conflict might break out here given the original history.

* * *

Balhae Federation, Seoul.

Around this time, Mutaguchi Renya from the United Japanese States, hearing that the Tsar is coming, formed a delegation with pro-Russia members of his cabinet, like Tsarina Anastasia, to visit Balhae.

Naturally, since this was a visit by the United Japanese States, regarded as the successor of the Japanese Empire, the Balhae Federation government also took it sensitively.

The Asian Allied Forces are an allied force, and although the Tsar’s itinerary was tangled up, resulting in Japan’s delegation coming all the way to Seoul, they were once the invaders who tormented the Korean Peninsula.

However, having already done hero cosplay and installed a Joseon monarch, Mutaguchi Renya had to sincerely apologize officially to the federation’s Prime Minister Ahn Chang-ho without any more fuss.

This was broadcasted across Balhae via the radio and television installed by Russia.

“The previous imperial government and the Imperial General Headquarters caused terrible harm to Joseon – no, Balhae. Because we claimed to be the first to modernize in Asia, we not only failed to assist our neighboring country, Joseon, but tormented them endlessly. The concept of Japan and Korea being one was merely words. The moment war broke out, we plundered and suppressed Balhae people. The morally decayed Imperial General Headquarters and the Imperial family confined me to Southern Manchuria to keep me in check, which is why I had no idea about these matters. Had I known, I surely would have taken up arms long ago to liberate the suffering Balhae people. Even though all the parties involved have passed away, I feel so ashamed as a proud samurai of that empire, armed with the Yamato spirit. As you know, the Japanese archipelago has turned to ashes, and I lament that there is no way to compensate materially for the Balhae people. I, Mutaguchi Renya, Prime Minister of Japan, sincerely apologize and will work until the day I reach my grave for the improvement of relations between Japan and Balhae and ensure that future generations do not forget this past. Just as the Edo Shogunate normalized relations with Korea after the Imjin War, our United Japanese States will prioritize relations with Balhae and put in the necessary effort.”

Even though Mutaguchi Renya may not have been inclined, he had to normalize relations with Balhae based on his experience in the Asian Alliance.

With Russia backing Balhae, and Japan also relying on Balhae, Russia wanted Balhae and Japan to restore diplomatic relations.

Meanwhile, as Prime Minister Mutaguchi and the Japanese delegation bowed their heads to sincerely apologize, Ahn Chang-ho was left astonished and at a loss for words.

“Prime Minister Mutaguchi, you are well-known even in Balhae. Please raise your head. We were the victors, and the imperialist Japanese Empire has disappeared. Now there’s a newly established Japan under your leadership, isn’t there? I’ve heard that you did not persecute our Balhae people even when you were in Southern Manchuria. Please do raise your head.”

“Indeed. Prime Minister Mutaguchi Renya was at the forefront in raising the army to bring down the Japanese Empire. The United Japanese States is different from the Empire, isn’t it? The peaceful times between the Korean Peninsula and Japan have lasted longer than the times of conflict. We also hope for a friendly relationship with your Japan.”

“I have heard that the current monarch of the United States is referred to as the former king. As someone from Balhae, I fully understand that Japan is making efforts to improve its relations with us.”

Balhae, unlike its original history, had directly reclaimed the Korean Peninsula and intervened in the US-Japan War, maintaining its status as a victor.

In fact, due to America’s wrath, the numerous Japanese imperialists and the Emperor who constituted the previous imperial faction were all branded as war criminals and hanged, while Balhae held no significant ill-will towards Mutaguchi Renya’s Western Japan.

Of course, we are different from the Japanese Empire! No matter what, human feelings exist, so it couldn’t be that easily forgotten.

The name Mutaguchi Renya was also famous on the Korean Peninsula.

The greatest general in Japan, who repelled 2 million Chinese warlords.

He governed the Joseon people who migrated to Southern Manchuria without discrimination (if anything, it was just carelessness in governance) and became a tragic figure who ended up in charge of supplies due to political reasons within Japan.

He even had a Balhae concubine, showing his affinity for the Balhae people.

Upon realizing his own country’s rot, he was the one who properly rose up.

While it may not be on the same level, there is an opinion that the rise of the Southern Manchurian army is similar to the Wihwado Rebellion that destroyed Goryeo, and Balhae people felt a fondness for such Mutaguchi Renya.

Some generals like Lee Beom-seok, who returned quickly without any tanks after stationing only a part of their army in Vietnam, swiftly obliterated the Chinese army, and although they were from the same nation, they recognized the decay and rose justly, thus valuing Mutaguchi Renya highly.

“How do you find our army, Prime Minister? They’ve all undergone Russian-style training and defeated the corrupt Imperial supporters’ army.”

“How can I assess the army of a nation that suffered while I was a part of the invading nation? However, if I may share one piece of advice, the most important thing in an army is not just the weapons; it’s the will to fight. A strong mental fortitude. No matter how good the weapons are or how many there are, if the soldiers hesitate and waver, can they win in a war? My Southern Manchurian troops once obliterated the Chinese army, which was filled with Yamato spirit, in a single battle. The Balhae army reclaimed the land with an indomitable spirit yearning for their nation. The capabilities of the Balhae army are already sufficient.”

In the original world, this would be an unquestionable absurdity.

But this was happening in this world.

Mutaguchi Renya was soon regarded as the most friendly Japanese person in Balhae.

And shortly afterward, the Tsar of Russia visited Seoul.

* * *

Balhae Federation, Seoul.

In Israel, I took a special flight to Korea.

As soon as I stepped off the plane near Seoul, I felt a strange emotion.

Finally, I found the heartland of my dreams! A homeland that’s different from original history. A unified Korean Peninsula, undivided, along with Southern Manchuria.

Unlike the original history, which was torn in half and faced a bleak future, I was now in a nation with a population that far surpassed 30 million!

The initial thrill surged forth, yet unexpectedly, I wasn’t deeply moved.

Perhaps it’s because I’m in Anastasia’s body, so I might be settling in more as a Russian than as a Korean, or maybe it’s because seeing a Korea that differs from history also plays a role.

Since it’s named Balhae, it feels unfamiliar too.

“The cities are surprisingly decent for a former colony. Of course, they are far behind Russia.”

“Well, the Governor-General’s Office of Korea surrendered ridiculously.”

In response to Maria’s statement, I replied lightly.

It’s probably thanks to the imperialist Japan.

I heard that until the time of Ishiwa Kanji, they were trying to take full integration through ‘Japan-Korea’ unification while suffering losses, developing the infrastructure of the Korean Peninsula.

With the easy surrender of the Governor-General’s Office, all the infrastructure left by the Japanese Empire still remains intact.

Besides, there shouldn’t even be a Korean War.

Developing Korea once was so severely loss-ridden, and seeing the imperialist faction that spent far more money, committing war crimes, is just odd.

In this place, unlike the original history, it seems that in the future, the nationalism and pro-Japan sentiments will strongly clash.

– I mean, unless you’re talking about individual cases like Teacher Mojeonggu, how many people would actually lean toward Japan?

As of now, Japan is in a situation inferior to Balhae, being a former colony after all.

It’s all thanks to Lemay.

“Welcome to the visit of Tsar.”

“Hail, Empress Arasa!”

“Hail to the friendship between Balhae and Russia!”

Workers, students, and Confucian scholars alike welcomed my visit.

Children also stared at me with curiosity.

“Is that person really reaching 50 years old?”

“That’s why they call her ‘Ana-chan.’”

“She’s truly a saint, isn’t she?”

Whoever said I was 50, step forward!

In my view, we ought to change the standards of this world.

Age should be determined by appearance and youth. I look like I’m in my early twenties. If I force myself to drop it, I could even claim to be a late teenager.

This body is in the prime of youth, so 50 is a no-go.

I can call myself an eternal saint and Ana-chan.

Putting on a carefully painted smile, I met with Ahn Chang-ho and other Korean government officials.

“It’s truly been a long time. A proper nation has been established now.”

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s support for our Balhae.”

I had heard that from all over, which had practically worn my ears out, but as it’s my native country, it wasn’t unpleasant to hear.

* * *

 

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