LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 69
* * *
Throughout the Great War (World War I) and the Red-White Civil War, France, an ally of White Russia, was filled with anxiety over whether Poland would conspire with Germany to attack Russia.
If Russia, tasked with the Eastern Front, faltered, those Reds—Germany and Poland—could turn their sights on France.
“Seeing that she’s survived, the Saint must be a true Saint.”
“How could such barbaric things happen in this era?”
“Are we going to have to deal with Germany’s arrogance when fighting against them?”
“Comrades, shouldn’t we cooperate with Germany now more than ever?”
“What cooperation with Germany? That’s like grazing on grass… Huh? That guy’s a Red!”
Meanwhile, the communist forces in the Commune, who had been cooperating with the German Communist Party, quietly argued that Russia needed to sever ties during such tumultuous times, but that was sheer nonsense.
And in fact, the unexpected actions of the communist party members dispatched to Poland began to give headaches to the Communist Germany, who were already displeased with the situation.
“Tch. If you’re going to intervene, at least do it successfully.”
“How foolish are those Polish guys?”
“I don’t get why the communists even acted that way.”
“Comrade General Secretary, Poland has lodged a formal complaint.”
“We’ll simply deny it.”
Due to the failed greed of the local communist party member, Communist Germany was branded as the evil mastermind behind Poland’s efforts to assassinate the Tsarina.
The German Communist Party protested that it was not their doing, but no country was willing to believe Germany anymore.
“Hahaha! While this incident is unfortunate, didn’t we manage to properly showcase our Communist Party’s resolve to that woman in Moscow? Hahaha!”
Even Mussolini in Italy, who was on the same side, believed it was Germany’s action and sent a letter to Karl Liebknecht, the General Secretary of Germany, expressing the spirit of the Communist Revolution.
And then—
“The National Liberal Austrian Workers’ Party hereby declares! We shall oust those Serbian Reds who humiliated us in Sarajevo, liberate Germany from the scourge of communism, and exterminate the Red plague that threatens us from Italy!”
“““Hitler! Hitler!”””
In Austria, Adolf Hitler raised the banner of the National Liberal Austrian Workers’ Party, calling for the extermination of communism.
Initially weak, his movement rapidly gained support from influential German expatriates who had fled to Austria due to the threat of Reds.
* * *
Upon my return from Poland to Moscow, I was greeted by the visibly angry subjects of the United States.
It seems news had spread like wildfire.
After all, there were quite a few foreigners present at the event. There must have been Russian reporters among them.
While I spent time coordinating and making agreements in Poland, they likely made it back to Moscow before me.
“How dare those Polish scum threaten His Majesty!”
“They must be punished immediately!”
“I’ll take up arms myself!”
Many people were waving the flag of the United States, calling for the overthrow of Poland.
Had I arrived just a little later, the Duma may have crumbled under the pressure of the subjects and initiated a ‘special military operation.’
Anyway, it was quite amusing to see how furious subjects calmed down, while looking at a newspaper that had fallen on the street on my way into the Kremlin amidst the chaos caused by Poland’s barbaric acts.
[Poland responds to the Tsarina’s olive branch with bombs!]
[Does Poland desire war with Russia?]
[Is Poland a lackey of Germany?]
Hmm, these provocative headlines suggest that war could happen at any moment. But it shouldn’t.
If we were to go to war with Poland now, it would be troublesome for Russia.
Britain, being a kingdom, wouldn’t say much if we dealt with Poland because of this incident.
For now, I decided to take a look at the military situation.
Indeed, the developments in the military occurred as I had anticipated.
“Your Majesty, General Anton Denikin insists that a ‘special military operation’ is needed for the arrogant conquest of Poland—”
“The White Army agrees. We must reconquer the insolent Poland!”
“The Tsarina is Russia itself. How dare they throw bombs at her! Poland must be erased from the map!”
A special military operation, which had been utilized once before in Turkey, seemed to have stuck with Anton Denikin.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that this ‘special military operation’ could turn into a joke due to me.
Rumors were swirling that I had intentionally gone to Poland to create a justification for war.
“Not at all. We won’t touch Poland. Poland will serve as a fine meat shield to block Germany.”
No, I’m serious. I have no intention of going to war with Poland.
There’s bound to be an opportunity later; why would I fight Poland now?
If I get greedy for Poland now, it would complicate a potential war with Communist Germany.
“Then, are you saying you plan to overlook Poland?”
“I never said that I would overlook them.”
When have I ever said I’d overlook Poland?
I too am uncertain about how long this situation will last.
In gaming terms, I’m currently losing lives one by one. I could genuinely die from the next bomb.
Going against Poland now would only complicate matters on multiple fronts.
“Then.”
“Let’s practice restraint for now. It would be much more advantageous to turn Poland into a meat shield for the nation that attempted to assassinate a foreign monarch than to accidentally reignite a war and gain sympathy for Poland.”
There were many articles praising me for showing restraint towards Poland when I looked at the newspaper.
That’s right. We can’t go to war with Poland.
Well, it’s not all bad. Once we consume Poland, the communists will incite a revolution from within Poland during our war with Communist Germany.
For now, maintaining a good image will serve us well. When Poland acts up again in the future, we can deal with them then.
Moreover, even if there’s a justification for war, what could Britain possibly do after we take Poland? They might think, “Oh, they’ve taken Poland again, let’s stir trouble with Russia.”
“How unfortunate.”
“There’s a saying in the East: ‘A dog that has served its purpose will be eaten after the hunt.'”
“Are you saying you will take Poland then?”
With great difficulty, I managed to quell the military’s plans for the conquest of Poland.
If I hadn’t intervened today, Anton Denikin’s forces might have been the first to initiate the special military operation on the Polish border.
And as I was pondering whether to stretch my muscles in the Kremlin, a pile of grading papers caught my eye.
Ah, do I have to do all of this?
Can’t someone just handle this? I could just grab my stamp and make quick marks.
Ever since I discovered the oil field in Surgut through my decree, this has become all the more apparent.
“So, besides these grading papers, is there any news?”
“Not nothing. Here it is.”
Prime Minister Alexander Krivoshein handed me a newspaper.
It was an American newspaper. Upon closer inspection, it was focused on Communist Germany.
“Hmm, did American journalists go to see Communist Germany directly?”
The Americans went to get a glimpse of the world’s first communist state.
This is quite… Hmm, how should I put it? Pathetic.
[This is the reality of communism! Meeting German Workers!]
The reality of communism.
Images of factory workers captured by the journalists in Germany.
On the surface, they seem to be smiling, but I also see soldiers who appear to be political officers lurking behind them.
I can see some workers on the verge of tears. In this era, there shouldn’t be any digital manipulation.
If they’ve seen the Soviet Union, shouldn’t something have changed?
Did they only differ from the Soviets in the revolutionary aspect? It looks more like a German version of the Soviets. If I had to choose, I’d think Communist Germany is better than Russia.
So I felt a little tighter in my seat.
But Communist Germany doesn’t seem very stable. Is it that they’re reflecting the Soviet’s model of terror politics by the political officers?
Of course, there might be some zealots dyed in red saying “Ahahaha communism is great,” but they probably didn’t make it into the paper.
Still, the mere existence of such a newspaper suggests that the state of Communist Germany isn’t exactly great either.
“I wonder if they learned anything from Lenin.”
If they did learn, they wouldn’t be in this situation.
No, perhaps this is coming out precisely because they did see Lenin.
I expected it, but after a successful revolution, I thought they might view communism in a better light than the Soviets.
“I suppose they’re Reds anyway. They may feel some pressure from Your Majesty’s Russian Republic.”
“Really?”
Our existence is evidently tormenting Communist Germany.
Indeed, if the White Army wins—no, if it hadn’t been for the Soviets, there wouldn’t even be a German Free Socialist Republic.
Looking at what Wilhelm II was doing, it seems a communist revolution is likely brewing.
“Moreover, I’ve heard that there’s been a significant outflow of manpower from Austria and East Prussia. They’ll have to intensify their controls to prevent people from fleeing.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
If they want to receive German immigrants, it would make sense for them to advertise their anti-communist propaganda while evoking nostalgia for the era of the German Empire, and then people would naturally swing to Austria, a Kaiser nation.
This might lead them to mobilize the People’s Army to secure their borders.
The People’s Army that “safeguards (surveils) workers” may emerge like this, right?
“The invincible Red Army that protects (monitors) the workers.” Wouldn’t that be the slogan?
Oh, there’s no need to even say it. It’s already on the actual newspaper posters.
It may not be the Army of Workers, but it looks like they’ve created something called the “People’s Self-Defense Force.”
Already, you can see posters for the People’s Army on the front page of the newspaper.
Following the notion of “The Red Army is the strongest,” they might be intensely emphasizing “The People’s Self-Defense Force is powerful.”
It’s probably to circumvent the conditions of the Versailles Treaty.
Even though they’ve loudly proclaimed the abrogation of the Versailles Treaty, having revolted, they’d have some discretion when it came to building an army.
Here, they must have some issues with weapons too.
Our one-armed fellow treats Russia as a weapon factory and has diverted everything that way, so we’ve taken all of it for ourselves.
Anyway, they’ll surely transform into the People’s Army in due time.
To prepare for a world revolution, they will diligently prepare their form of communist reforms.
While I’ve already taken the lead on things Lenin or Stalin might have done, Communist Germany is an entirely new entity that didn’t exist before.
The Weimar Republic was essentially different from today’s German Free Socialist Republic, so let’s put that off for now. However, I don’t know much about Karl Liebknecht.
What’s a soon-to-be-dead man doing out there anyway?
It seems Germany has fully entered a phase of control.
“And the one You Majesty wishes for has arrived in Russia.”
“Who is it?”
“It’s someone named Robert Goddard, and just a few days ago, Igor Sikorsky entered Russia.”
Oh. Already? That’s pretty fast.
Beria really knows how to get things done.
“That’s good. That guy Beria is really doing well with his work.”
With him as our dog, he’s proving to be quite useful.
I’ll have to deal with him if he pulls any more psycho antics, but at least for now, he’s doing fine. I like what he’s doing now.
I wonder if finding Trotsky is still a bit of a stretch.
“What about Trotsky?”
“It seems it might take a bit of time.”
At this point, that guy won’t flip to become Trotsky.
If it were Trotsky, I feel like he’d pull off some comeback.
However, for Beria to follow Trotsky, who would be endlessly chased by the Okhrana after leaving his assured rise in Russia, just doesn’t make sense.
If that were the case, Robert Goddard and Igor Sikorsky wouldn’t have safely made it to Russia.
“Let’s check in with those two for now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Well then, let’s meet Robert Goddard, who will provide the weapons to conquer Germany in the future.
* * *