Rasputin of the East

＜ Episode 69 >

German Empire, Berlin.

“Bismarck, was it you?”

The Kaiser of the German Empire, Wilhelm II, muttered softly.

‘What is diplomacy? Diplomacy is a good treaty with Russia.’

So, was he reborn in Russia, or did he try to reproduce his relationship with his father, with Nicky there?

Others call him Napoleon, but Wilhelm II saw Bismarck in him.

previous.

The highest level of information requested by the German Imperial Intelligence Service along with the French offensive plan.

Already the empire has reached its limit, and the pressure from the communists is growing.

If the war ends, it is right to do it now.

Last fall’s harvest was shattered, and oil was scarce.

Especially if Russia wants to end the war.

No, Wilhelm II should have rather hoped that the man would be Bismarck’s second coming.

I hope to show you again the generosity that was shown in the War of Bou and France.

“Ludendoroff.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How long can the empire last?”

“your majesty?”

“How many months are left until those communists tear the empire apart, until all the troops of the empire are consumed and the enemy can’t be stopped?”

“…If you squeeze everything, I think it will be possible by the end of this year.”

“The French and British offensive will not continue until the end of the year. The Balkan army, which is now rampaging in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, will have its limits without the full-fledged support of the Russian army. They counterattack when they reach their limit. Negotiations should begin while occupying even an extra span of territory. So, at the latest, it means you have to start negotiating before the leaves fall.”

“your majesty. The current army is…”

“You don’t have to block all areas. Only attack areas that appear to be recaptured.”

It’s just a fight to get at least one more tile to be used in the negotiation, so rather than losing both while trying to get two tile, why not give up one and definitely get one.

“Is the Bayern-class service far away?”

“It is believed that the battleship will be available for commissioning by June.”

At present, Kaiser Marine’s all power was devoted to the construction of a Bavarian class. Because all of the ships were sunk, or the Bavarian class was the only hope in the state of destroying trade.

Of course, considering the possibility that he would be taken away by the indemnity box, he was heartbroken to death, but the collapse of Austria-Hungary raised his awareness.

If we don’t stop the war right away, it will be a total annihilation. And those mobs will take the crown.

It cannot be left alone.

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Meanwhile, Ludendorff also shook his head frantically.

‘Maintaining the Polish Front, we must retreat the entire army to Warsaw without delay. It is impossible to maintain Hungary on the Balkan front, and there is already a limit to protecting only key points including Vienna. After all, is it only the Western Front?’

Giving up to benefit from the Eastern Front, there was only one answer in the end.

Consuming either the French or British offensives, or blocking both, was not an option in the first place.

“I will thwart the French offensive. The British have already done enough damage… and the soldiers are slowly reaching their limits.”

From a military standpoint, it would be right to beat the British army, which is a real threat, rather than the French army, which has an illusory goal anyway, but from the point of view of the German army preparing for negotiations, there was no need for that, and the manifestation effect was important.

“Secretary Zimmerman, negotiations should be able to start between June and July.”

“I will ask the U.S. government to mediate.”

“To do so.”

***

Britain’s past movements have been consistent with only one thing.

Safety in India and the mainland.

As Germany built the Daehan Fleet and competed with Britain in naval warfare, it kept Germany in check, and when Belgium was invaded, the safety of its homeland was in jeopardy.

The Russians occupy Constantinople, take Jerusalem, and hold Russia in check as Persia and even the entire Middle East and the Suez Canal are at risk.

France, Germany and Russia.

Britain’s foreign policy has never changed, but the opponent has changed.

If there is one thing that Britain can never give up on, second only to the security of the mainland, it is India.

Safety on the mainland is still good. Of course, it was threatened once, but since Germany’s defeat is already a known fact, it can be done somehow if you are desperate and modernize the navy from now on.

Even if the naval business costs a lot of money, if you tighten your belt, you may be able to do something.

But not India.

Britain could not give up India even if London burned down.

Britain, like the United States in the 21st century, had a huge financial burden. It was the fate of the hegemon.

However, the US has enormous resources and domestic market, but the UK has to import a considerable amount of resources as well.

Thus, Britain had only one lifeline, India.

And Suez is the only way to maintain that India.

Therefore, for Britain, the problem of the Suez Canal was a serious problem that it could be said that the existence of the country was divided, and it was an ally and a war, and it was an area that everyone had to leave and protect.

So Britain could not leave Russia alone. What if the Russian fleet exits the Black Sea or departs from the Balkans and blocks the entrance to Suez’s Mediterranean side? What if the Russian army from Jerusalem attacks Suez in front of you?

It is half a year long before Britain plunges into a state of collapse when the Suez Canal is blocked.

In addition, India itself could be threatened in Central Asia and the Indian Ocean, as well as Persian oil, which is essential for naval maintenance. If this happens, the British Royal Navy will also be scrapped.

In a situation where the fate of one’s own country is literally left at the fingertips of another country, Russia, an unpredictable, tyrannical state, it is natural for survival to try to overcome the situation.

Although that’s not Russian.

“no.”

So I am not guilty of this.

“It’s a huge amount on our side, and just as the Suez Canal is a lifeline for you, the life of the Empire depends on whether or not this debt can be forgiven somehow.”

“We can’t bear all of that. Count. If it’s our debt, how can we reconcile it, but that’s not it either.”

That said, Russia’s number one creditor is actually France, not Britain.

“But isn’t the British Empire responsible for such an increase in national debt? Wasn’t it Britain that blocked the neutral waters and caused a war with the Ottomans to block the last remaining Black Sea route, effectively blocking the home country?”

I managed to break through the Black Sea-Gibraltar route, but it didn’t provide enough relief from inflation and financial hardship. This is because, in fact, it has not been long since the route has been normalized, and the fuel cost has skyrocketed beyond comparison with the original history. Keeping the national debt at the 27 billion level is also a miracle that Stolipin rolled to death. Right now, there are far more munitions printed by Russia than in the original history, but isn’t that all money?

Even the budget that comes to the Ministry of Home Affairs right now is quite plentiful, but in the end, it’s all about warfare.

“We, the British Empire, will collectively purchase the surplus agricultural products and other goods of the Russian Empire in gold, and why not take measures to suspend and cancel the debt the Russian government owes to the British Empire.”

Certainly, if Britain and France bring gold or foreign currency to buy our grain, raw materials, and military supplies, what can we do with immediate hyperinflation?

Britain gets its debts forgiven, France… Would you agree to handing over debts to Germany at the end of the war? First of all, I don’t think France will ever miss a chance to tempt Germany.

It hurts to think about the debt we owe to the United States. What should I do with the prohibition law when I return? What would you do if you had to pay the state tax?

***

“Prime Minister! Resign!”

Japanese Prime Minister Shigenobu Okuma glanced at the men who stormed into his office in awe.

“Count Gonnohyoe Yamamoto, Captain Makoto Saito.”

Humans who had resigned due to the Siemens incident (a very large military corruption case related to the navy) shamelessly pushed their faces into the Prime Minister’s residence. What does this mean?

“Isn’t it the Prime Minister who insisted on sending a navy to Britain? But what was the result? Four battleships and four battlecruisers, a vast naval force and countless men are torn in the cold Mediterranean waters! The absolute responsibility for the current situation rests with the Prime Minister, who in the end violated control and forced the dispatch of troops despite the opposition of the Navy. It is not enough to immediately apologize to the soldiers who broke up the ship and became in trouble, but in accordance with the will of Heika Tenno, our navy will not hold any further responsibility if the prime minister resigns and the cabinet is dissolved. If you feel ashamed, resign immediately!”

After hearing Makoto Saito’s passionate speech, Prime Minister Okuma opened his mouth.

“Did Admiral Heihachiro Dogo agree?”

“This is the general will of the Navy. The cause of this defeat lies in the violation of the Cabinet’s prerogative, and therefore the entire responsibility rests with the Cabinet and you, this is the Navy’s ultimatum. Dismiss the cabinet and resign within today.”

Or maybe even a harpoon. Saito immediately walked out the door.

“Saito.”

“Yes, Minister.”

“Is it true that the Army guys smelled it?”

“Yeah, that’s why we retired, aren’t we moving?”

“Tsuk, this is what happens when so-called democrats form a cabinet and intervene in the military.”

The Navy needed to avoid responsibility for the rout.

Annihilation in a situation of numerical superiority, where the enemy ship could not sink a single scale.

Of course, in terms of performance, the Navy knew that it was a self-evident result in the end, as it was a situation where the opponent would have to be tripled.

And in order to avoid responsibility, the Navy decided to shift this responsibility to the cabinet of the pro-British prime minister.

At least for this moment, there were no factions or factions. In hindsight, isn’t it the fault of the cabinet for forcing an expedition that the navy opposes?

***

Empire of Japan, Ministry of the Army, Tokyo.

“Navy guys?”

“You must move now!”

“The cause is first in favor of the navy. The fact that your Majesty remains silent even when the navy is raging like this means that your majesty has also decided to support the navy.”

“Then you mean we should just watch the naval bastards form a new cabinet on their own?”

“There is no way, but it will be difficult right now.”

“What is it?”

“I ask, who stood out the most in this war?”

“Yeah, of course, the old country……”

“Yes, I am the commander of the Interior Forces, Earl of Vostok.”

Yamagata Arimoto looked around.

The old man, who deserves respect in the army, said quietly.

“Terauchi, let me ask you one question, the Russian Empire’s Interior Army is the most elite unit that simultaneously performs counter-intelligence and espionage. What is the most similar organization of our army?”

“Isn’t that the military police?”

“Yeah, the military police, the military police have the authority to crack down on naval bastards, and above all, an elite unit that is loyal only to Tenno Heika, isn’t it wonderful to see?”

“That means…”

“With the military police as its parent, the Japanese Empire should also form its own internal military force, which would significantly shake the position of the navy. It would be optimal if the imperial family was appointed as the commander, but of course the actual command should be exercised by the army.”

“By the way, I have some good friends. They are a faction that says that we should improve the constitution of the Imperial Army by imitating the Russian Empire’s internal affairs army.

“Oh, you mean those war officers? Yes, you can use them.”

“I think Captain Kaninnomiya Kotohito would be suitable as the commander.”

In the conference room where all the generals of the Japanese army had gathered, the structure of the organization was being formed.

And a similar situation was happening in the Navy.