LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 81
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Putting a novelist in charge of the Ministry of Culture and Arts and promoting it heavily.
This had a significant impact on neighboring countries.
The new Tsar is said to be enamored with arts like novels and paintings.
As for France, it’s the area where Ivan Bunin had briefly exiled, and they’re already congratulating him on becoming the minister of culture.
Many German artists have also sought refuge here.
Of course, in Communist Germany, my father was in quite a state, but they claimed the Tsarina was so lost in her passion for art that she was neglecting state affairs. They spouted nonsense.
These idiots don’t even realize that power lies with the National Duma.
“Well, it’s not bad.”
This looks good.
Still, Russia is thirsty for talent.
While the development in the arts is one thing, this country surely needs more scholars, right?
I said I lean towards the arts, but that doesn’t mean I want to spend money on it.
But still, Gabriele D’Annunzio from Italy. I never expected he would come to Russia.
This guy is practically the father of Italian nationalism.
In other words, he could be seen as the precursor to our Mussolini’s fascism.
He’s quite an impressive figure. He dropped propaganda materials in Vienna during World War I, and it seems he got angry when Italy didn’t receive the promised territories. The citizens of the city-state Fiume supported him, proclaiming him “Duce.”
Later, Mussolini made use of that.
This guy is a real Roman fanatic; he tried to Romanize Fiume, creating tribunes and dictators, even designing a national flag and currency.
He reportedly absorbed the troops that came to suppress him.
However, by 1921, he was absorbed into the Giolitti cabinet, which marked his end.
I don’t know much about this guy, but I have some passing knowledge and some from the Okhrana.
If he had ruled all of Italy, he might have truly established the Roman system.
In this history, has Italy fallen into communism and fled to Russia?
That’s why I wanted to see him.
I wanted to hear the whole story.
I personally welcomed this Italian hero at the Kremlin.
“It’s astonishing to meet the hero of Italy.”
“Ah, it’s an honor to meet the Emperor of Rome. I never imagined the Emperor would know of me.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go as far as to consider it an honor. Due to our experience with the civil war, we’re selective about our exiles. I came across your name and wanted to see you.”
“Is that so?”
Above all, I thought he might know a bit about the situation in Italy.
Currently, Italy is virtually isolated, having teamed up with Germany.
Since I can’t push the Okhrana in here, I need to gather information from exiles.
From the looks of it, the current Italy didn’t suit him very well.
“Does Communist Italy also suppress artists?”
I need to ask this directly.
“Not only that, they’re outright wiping everything away. That idiot Mussolini claims he’s going to recreate the glory of Rome! But true to his communist revolution, his actions are just the very definition of a red! No, he’s a fool who is neither this nor that.”
“Isn’t it normal for communists to act differently in public and in private? Anyway, welcome. What do you intend to do in Russia?”
I don’t know his works, but I heard he’s deeply into Orientalism.
But looking at his history, being a soldier wouldn’t have been such a bad option.
No, if that had been the case, he would have been painted as a war criminal without question.
“I plan to live for a while by writing. Until the fall of the communist regime, there’s no way Rome will be restored.”
“I see.”
I’ve heard he has a taste for women, but will he really just write?
!!
An interesting thought crossed my mind.
If this guy survives until World War II…
What if he bests Mussolini’s Communist Italy and is sent back as the new Duce of Italy?
“Russia embraces diverse literature, from Russia and Germany, to broadly include things from the East. Please contribute to the development of literature in this country.”
“Sure, that’s not difficult.”
“Do you have anything you want to say?”
He seemed to have a lot on his mind and was hesitating.
“I’ve heard there’s a party called the Roman Nationalist Party.”
The Roman Nationalist Party.
That phrase almost made me lose my composure.
The Roman Nationalist Party. What on earth is that party about?
The face of the Baron Beria beside me contorted into a strange expression.
I wondered something, so I subtly tilted my head toward Baron Beria to lower his head my way.
“The Roman Nationalist Party. What kind of place is that?”
“Well, that is…”
Baron Beria spoke about the Roman Nationalist Party, and as I listened, I was appalled.
The Roman Nationalist Party.
It was a party founded by members of the White Army.
They announced they would recover Constantinople and proudly claim to be the legitimate heirs of the Eastern Roman Empire. In reality, it was nothing more than a fan club for Anastasia in the traditionalist royal court supported solely by my authority—the Romanov family.
If I put it nicely, it’s a royalist political faction. If I put it bluntly, it’s just an old man’s idol fan club for Anastasia.
Surprisingly, it’s also quite a powerful group. They probably took that name to catch the Roman spirit, and perhaps that’s why the party is unexpectedly large.
The founder was Roman von Ungern-Sternberg. If he founded it, rather than simply being a Roman fanatic, he’s likely a supporter of the Tsar who transferred power to the National Duma. He might have been trying to create a royalist faction.
Considering they are from the White Army, they certainly have a reputation for catching reds. Hmm.
I wonder if it’s because many military personnel came from the anti-red civil war period, but the name Roman Nationalist Party was reportedly strongly recommended by General Semenov, a close friend of Ungern.
These damn White Army members are doing useless things!
I had that thought for just a moment, but yeah. Well, Russia is currently caught up in Roman nationalism and the spirit of Romans. It’s not bad at all.
In my original world, Russia had the Soviet reverence. This Russia will now connect back to Byzantium and the Roman spirit.
As long as it doesn’t morph into Nazism like the Nazi Party, it’s all good.
Gabriele D’Annunzio is waiting for my response.
I can’t pretend not to know, so I smile knowingly.
“Ahem. Yes, a party like that does exist.”
“Can I join the party? If Russia is the true heir of Rome, I’d like to become a member.”
This guy still has the Roman zeal in him.
I wonder if it’s because we own Constantinople.
“Yet, you aren’t even a Russian citizen, are you?”
“I’ll acquire Russian citizenship if you wish.”
“You’d give up your Italian citizenship?”
“At least not the current Italy. That red Italy cannot be considered a descendant of Rome, no matter how I look at it. Instead of witnessing that, I ought to gather an army to march into Rome when everyone in Fiume supports me.”
Sure, that’s a reasonable perspective.
But I’m still curious as to how Italy is really functioning.
For this guy to say that and come to Russia…
“You seem to harbor deep grievances.”
“The current General Secretary of Italy, Benito Mussolini, claims that the general secretary is the Duce. He praises me.”
Looks like he put on a show to get out of Italy.
What on earth is Mussolini thinking?
He must have given up on that red Italy.
“What happened to the Pope?”
“Mussolini seems to avoid touching the Pope, keeping the Papal States separate.”
So, this is the Vatican state coming out in 1929 actually released earlier?
“Has the Vatican gained independence?”
“Mussolini recognized the independence of the Papal States. He said they would consider it a de facto territory, calling it the Papal States.”
“Hm.”
It seems they made more concessions to the Papal side than in the original history.
The treaty signed on February 11, 1929, between the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy, Benito Mussolini, and Pope Pius XI.
Isn’t this at least five years sooner?
Saying they would acknowledge the Papal States suggests that taxes would be directed that way as well.
No, but how is Mussolini’s Communist Italy operating?
“Of course, it’s not formally recognized by the Pope. The Vatican has still called it the Vatican’s prisoner. They criticized Mussolini as ‘a red invasion.’”
Red invasion.
Does this world’s Pope not recognize either the Kingdom of Italy or Communist Italy?
The Vatican’s prisoner, red invasion.
It seems that the history of 21st-century Italy will have much more recorded.
“It seems the Pope hasn’t recognized it.”
If that’s the case, would it turn into a situation where the Pope recognizes it only in 1929?
Given that Red Italy has been established, it might be different from before.
“Of course. Mussolini seems to have compromised with the Pope for domestic and foreign affairs and is trying to give maximum convenience to the Papal States.”
Is the population of Italy fully embracing Mussolini’s policies?
“Are the Italian people accepting Benito Mussolini?”
“Yes. They praise Secretary Mussolini, claiming he will revive Rome. Unlike Germany, he spared the monarchy for now, so he managed to persuade the royalists too.”
I see. After all, the Italian people are on Duce’s side anyway. The Papal States are inconsequential.
So they can just acknowledge it in a token manner.
Is Mussolini more stable than Germany?
Well, he did leave the monarchy alive unlike Germany, and with much dissatisfaction towards Britain and France, he probably mixed pleasing words with communism to gain support from the populace.
So.
What he sparked was merely something resembling fascism dressed up in communism within the Italian Socialist Republic.
Communist Germany likely accepted Italian-style communism, or at least maintained the charade of communism.
I don’t know if communism and Rome can truly coexist, but given the current state, it feels like it might spark another World War II.
An interesting thought struck me.
D’Annunzio is one thing, but there are many angles to exploit with the Papal States.
After dealing with Red Italy, it might be good to leave the governance of Italy itself to the Papal States.
If, by the 21st century, only the Papal States remain on the Italian peninsula?
There could be thoughts of Papal reverence or something.
Or perhaps it would be amusing to revive the Papal States while handing Italy over to Gabriele D’Annunzio.
“Very well. Join the Roman Nationalist Party. But you must also do much for Russia if you gain Russian citizenship.”
“Is there any doubt about that?”
Having expressed my intent to join the Roman Nationalist Party after gaining Russian citizenship, I’ll have to pay attention to him too.
Alright, this person is acceptable at this point.
Besides him, another figure like Enrico Fermi has also arrived.
Isn’t he one of those who participated in the Manhattan Project?
It seems he too has fled from Mussolini’s communism to come here. I should position him in the Russian Academy of Sciences. Ah, should I connect him with Einstein?
“Our Russia is becoming quite a haven for immigrants.”
After D’Annunzio intoxicated with Roman zeal left, Baron Beria spoke with a surprised expression.
“Is that so?”
“Honestly, Russia isn’t quite a nation that would attract exiles yet, is it?”
What a brazen fact he just spat out!
“Ultimately, isn’t it a reflection effect? Since the communist revolution erupted here, wouldn’t they want to come to a strong anti-communist nation that has driven communism back?”
That’s how people are, isn’t it?
They want to laugh at communists and say, “We’ll go to Russia, the one who crushed communism!” and so on.
“So, is there another agenda to discuss?”
“Yes. The physicists, led by Dr. Einstein, have requested to meet Your Majesty today.”
“Well then, let’s meet with them.”
I wonder why our beloved Einstein wanted to see me.
I’m trying to connect him with Enrico Fermi, and this is perfectly timed.
* * *
Since I first saw him when he fled, the second time meeting Einstein revealed his splendid features.
“Alright. Dr. Einstein. What would you like to say?”
“Your Majesty. Thanks to your consideration, I’ve been able to settle down sufficiently in Russia.”
I worked extremely hard for Einstein’s sake.
I supported him in every way possible. To make a good impression, I honored scientists and even created the Russian Academy of Sciences.
“Is there something you wish for?”
“Your Majesty has mentioned that you are also accepting exiles in the arts.”
“That’s right.”
Indeed, that’s why many have been moving to Russia.
To aid in the exile, it was rumored from the Okhrana that those artists who went abroad to escape the oppression of Communist Germany might send their members to assassinate them.
“What about physics? Isn’t that also important?”
Of course.
Aren’t you getting the answers just by looking at how I’ve been treating you with utmost respect?
But what could he be trying to say? Shouldn’t he be dropping hints about nuclear power too?