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* * *

Russian-occupied Northern Manchuria, Harbin

The ethnicities settled in Northern Manchuria were not solely Jews. There were also the indigenous Manchu people, a small number of Han Chinese, and recently, Koreans who had become a major ethnicity in Manchuria.

Moreover, in this place, members of the Provisional Government, originally belonging to the Shanghai Provisional Government, were secretly forming their government underground.

The Korean Provisional Government established in Harbin was a significant provisional government with its own Prime Minister, even though it was not recognized anywhere and was still a very minor power that could not be revealed.

“Your Majesty, is there anything uncomfortable about your living conditions?”

Ahn Chang-ho, who had been elected as the Prime Minister of the Harbin Provisional Government due to an unusual turn of history caused by Anastasia, carefully asked the man before him.

“Should I expect a comfortable life in the land of others when I am a royal of a fallen nation?”

The man’s name was Prince I-gang.

He was the son of the weak emperor Gojong, the last emperor of Korea, and a noblewoman of the Jang family when Korea still existed as a country.

After the fall of his nation, he lived under the watchful eye of the Japanese and around this time, he had fled to Southern Manchuria under a disguise, only to hear that Mutaguchi Renya, the commander of the Manchurian Army, was sending Irregulars to Northern Manchuria.

Subsequently, by contacting independence activists from the Asian Cavalry Division working with Mutaguchi Renya, he barely managed to move to Northern Manchuria.

“Ahem. Now that the Harbin Provisional Government has been established, we should grow our power with your Majesty as the focal point.”

“Hahaha. Don’t talk nonsense about being a focal point. I’ve heard that support for the royal family in Joseon is declining, if nothing else.”

Indeed.

Currently, the only successful aspect of Japan’s administrative policy in the Korean Peninsula was the demotion of the royal family.

This was directly initiated by the Japanese homeland, fearing that Koreans would unite around the royal family like the Russian Empress.

It became widely known that the royal family had sold out the country from the time of the previous government, and with the disappearance of Prince I-gang, support for the royal family in Korea took a nosedive.

“Your Majesty.”

“Oh, I’m not expressing discontent. It’s just that our royal family did wrong by the common people. What the Japanese spread is not historically incorrect.”

Though the expression was somewhat too blunt, the rumors spread by the Japanese government weren’t entirely baseless.

However, I-gang was still a descendant of the Korean royal family.

He wanted to maintain at least a semblance of conscience among the royal family members who had sold their country to the Japanese and collaborated with them while being satisfied with their titles.

“I do not long for the revival of the empire. However, in order to reclaim my country and for the independence of Korea, I am willing to face the Japanese forces, even if it costs me my life.”

“Thank you for such words, Your Majesty. The Koreans in Manchuria will not waver.”

“However, is it not true that the establishment of the provisional government was not permitted by the Empress of Aras?”

To speak frankly, on the surface, it appeared as if they were merely a group of Koreans who had migrated to Northern Manchuria.

While Ahn Chang-ho and the members of the provisional government claimed that they had established a government, I-gang wondered whether one could truly call a government that was recognized by no one a provisional government.

“There are rumors that once the development in Northern Manchuria progresses to a certain extent, the Empress of Aras plans to make an inspection. Although she cannot go directly to Moscow, if she comes to Harbin, we can make contact then, can’t we?”

Contacting the Empress of Aras.

I-gang had heard that the Empress was a formidable woman and the hero who ended the Civil War in Russia, but the idea of meeting her was somewhat daunting.

Though he admired the fact that, unlike the Korean royal family, her country had not only been reclaimed but was even developing, it was still a separate issue that Russia was an ally of Japan.

“I hear that Aras is an ally of Japan; will they accept us?”

It seemed a bit delicate to call it an ally. At least on the surface, it appeared that Japan and Russia were cooperating with each other.

After all, even though Russia had been defeated in the Russo-Japanese War, after the enormous civil war across the East and West, it was a rising dragon, and Japan probably did not want to provoke Russia into instigating a second Russo-Japanese War.

At least in Harbin, he had been able to establish himself with the help of Jewish capitalists who, like him, had lost their country. That was fortunate.

“Can’t we use the justification?”

“Justification?”

“As of now, the Empress of Aras proclaims herself a constitutional monarch, but her influence as the one who directly led to the victory of the Civil War is comparable to that of an absolute monarch. If we can persuade her, we may be able to have our provisional government recognized.”

Though she publicly functioned as a constitutional monarch, Ahn Chang-ho, who had been staying in Manchuria for a long time and observing the Russian situation, believed that the Empress’s influence reached from that Europe to the Far East.

If that were the case, it was almost indistinguishable from an absolute monarchy.

“Justification. Hmm. What do you think, Prime Minister Ahn?”

The members of the provisional government exchanged smiles.

The justification was ample.

“The Empress of Aras is called a saint and is the Heavenly Emperor of Europe. The Empress accepted the support request from the legalist government led by Chen Zhongming against the pro-Japanese regime. If she truly saw Japan as an ally, she would not have done so.”

During his endeavors to establish a provisional government in China, Ahn Chang-ho learned that Russia had supported the legalist government opposing Duan Qirui’s pro-Japanese Beiyang government, providing military advisors and weapons.

If he cleverly utilized this, it could be possible to receive assistance.

“I’ve heard that both Aras and Japan are selling weapons to the forces they support; isn’t that a sign of mutual interests?”

“That could be the case. However, regardless, the external justification for Aras supporting the legalist government ultimately comes down to righteousness. Moreover, since the Asian Cavalry Division includes many Koreans, and the Russian government seems willing to accept Koreans coming to Northern Manchuria, it’s not entirely impossible.”

“It would be a gamble.”

“After making contact, should there be a possibility of failure, I will have it arranged for you to take refuge in the United States with that Woonam (I Seung-man).”

One must be prepared for contingencies.

If he could not win the Empress of Aras’s heart in any way, then ultimately, I-gang would also find himself in a precarious situation.

After a moment’s contemplation at Ahn Chang-ho’s words, I-gang shook his head.

“No, I will handle that myself.”

“Are you serious, Your Majesty?”

“Since I am labeled a traitor of the royal family, I must at least struggle in some way. If the Empress of Aras comes to Northern Manchuria, I will meet her directly.”

The royal family had sold out their country to Mongolia, betrayed Mongolia by establishing the Double-Star Provincial Government in Goryeo, and then stabbed Goryeo in the back by establishing Joseon, only to now sell their country to Japan, earning the infamous title of a traitorous royal family.

At the very least, for the sake of Korean independence, he must try to persuade the Russian Empress, throwing his life away like a straw.

* * *

Moscow Kremlin

After signing the air defense agreement, I had a deep conversation about the suppression of the Kurds with Ilyinuy as promised.

“First of all, we cannot assist directly.”

That was a truly shocking declaration.

The allied country had already supplied the Kurds with weapons, yet they would not assist in suppressing them? Ilyinuy seemed astonished and stared at me.

Isn’t it ridiculous that we would let the Kurds use weapons we provided to kill our troops?

Therefore, we cannot help directly.

Why would we intervene in someone else’s war without gaining anything?

Of course, that said, we couldn’t let Turkey feel slighted. So, I brought up the paratroop division as planned.

“Then, how will you assist us?”

Ilyinuy’s face showed signs of irritation.

His expression seemed to say he wanted me to get to the point quickly.

Alright, I shouldn’t drag this out.

“We’re thinking of providing more weapon support and trying new challenges.”

“What do you mean by a new challenge?”

“It’s related to the military.”

“Are you saying this will be direct from the Tsarina?”

What, is he surprised about something?

Even though I look like this, I’ve fought with a gun since Yekaterinburg. Of course, though it’s a bit ridiculous, considering my situation, do you think going to a place where bullets are flying is easy?

Especially in this era? And I was just a sheltered flower who wasn’t even in the military?

But if I can, I can definitely catch the Kurds in Ararat.

“I just brought up this plan.”

As I nodded towards Baron Beria, he pulled out the paratroop plan from his coat.

The cunning plan of using transports to drop troops after ensuring air superiority.

In Ararat, there’s no need to grab air mobility; they have no anti-aircraft.

The Kurds don’t even have aircraft.

Even if they did, it would be over if Turkey received Russian fighter support.

“Hmm, descending via parachute from an aircraft. Not bad.”

“Yes. How about trying this in combat with the Kurds?”

Ilyinuy’s eyes sparkled with interest as he skimmed through the plan.

“It looks good, but will this be conducted jointly by both nations?”

Of course.

Creating a paratrooper division would also be beneficial for the war.

Secure air supremacy and deploy the paratrooper division to seize the German territories before others to bring the war to a swift conclusion.

“Wouldn’t that be good? We also require experience to operate this division, and we can’t engage in separate wars. We’ll need your support.”

The paratrooper division would be helpful when waging war against Greece too.

“Certainly, if we send troops to the mountains and attack from below to perform a diversionary tactic, there’s a possibility.”

However, there may not be many Kurds left anymore.

According to incoming intelligence, the remaining Kurdish forces seemed scattered, engaging in guerrilla warfare in the mountains.

“This method should be the best way to minimize losses. After all, we, Russia, are your ally.”

“Paratroopers are quite marvelous. Hmm, sounds good.”

Before returning, Ilyinuy deliberated with the White Army on several matters.

Military information sharing related to the paratroop division, documents concerning combat with the Kurds, etc.

Under the leadership of the White Army, a military pact was concluded with Turkey.

It would be great if the fight with the Kurdish factions in Ararat prolonged a little longer. Now, that should suffice for Turkey.

There still remained someone in Russia who hadn’t left.

Miklós Horthy.

For some unknown reason, he had not returned and stayed behind with the Hungarian officials.

It seemed he personally had something he wanted to discuss.

“Regent, what brings you to not have returned yet?”

“O omnipotent Tsar of Russia.”

“Do you have something to say?”

What was with the theatrics?

I don’t dislike flattery, but I’m curious why Horthy is acting like this.

In response to my question, Horthy cautiously opened his mouth, as if to get to the main point.

“Isn’t it dangerous to keep Romania in the air defense agreement?”

“Hmm. Why do you say so?”

“Romania will do anything for practical benefits. Haven’t they just recently taken Transylvania by siding with the negotiating countries?”

“I believe that issue has already been settled.”

I don’t care much for grudges.

Transylvania was quite a big piece to take from Hungary, but given the air defense agreement, I find it hard to say.

“There’s a fundamental problem.”

“A fundamental problem?”

Yes, what could it be?

“I’ll be direct.”

“Yes, please do.”

I also like to be straightforward.

What complaints does our Horthy have?

To restore Austria-Hungary as I envisage, I must at least turn Horthy into a pro-Russian figure.

He needs to receive assistance for himself.

As for Romania, I have my concerns there too.

To be honest, Romania is a rather unstable country.

After all, he abandoned his wife, whom he married out of love, to be with the Jewish Magda Elena Răpescu and divorced his wife to live with her.

As a result, Ferdinand I excluded his scoundrel son from the line of succession and made Mihai, the son of Carol II, the crown prince.

Carol II, believing that his son Mihai I ascending to the throne was unreasonable, pressured his son and went to the extent of snatching the throne away.

Unless something unexpected occurs internally, Carol II could easily snatch back the throne given to his son Mihai I, and if a war unfolds strangely, Mihai could potentially seize the Romanian power with support from communist forces. Conversely, through a historical alteration, Mihai I could retain the throne while Carol II might switch allegiance to the communists.

Though monarchy and communism can’t coexist, one must consider the potential for a father and son to ally with the communists for the sake of their own thrones.

Yet, I have issues with correcting Romania’s internal affairs myself.

Although different circumstances, Romania had switched sides and fought against Nazi Germany alongside Soviet troops, hadn’t it?

Even if I prepare everything, I must think about the possibility of Hungary getting in trouble.

 

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