The Last Scion of a Fallen Dynasty
The remnants of a ruined empire. ***
In Russian North Manchuria, specifically in the city of Harbin, the settlers were not only Jewish refugees. There were the indigenous Manchu people who had always lived on this land, a small number of Han Chinese, and Koreans—who had recently become one of the major ethnic groups in Manchuria. And here, in the shadows, the key figures who should have belonged to the Shanghai Provisional Government were secretly establishing their own administration.
The Korean Provisional Government established in Harbin had yet to receive recognition from anywhere. It was still a fragile force that could not yet reveal itself openly. Nevertheless, it was a genuine provisional government, complete with its own prime minister.
“Your Highness. Are you experiencing any discomfort in your daily life?”
An Chang-ho, who had been elected Prime Minister of the Harbin Provisional Government thanks to the butterfly effect of history that Anastasia had set in motion, asked the man before him with careful politeness.
“As a member of a ruined imperial family, living on foreign soil that is not even my own country, would I dare hope for a life of abundance?”
The man’s name was Yi Kang, Prince Imperial Ui. He was the son of the weak-willed Emperor Gojong and his concubine, Lady Jang, back when the Korean Empire still existed as a sovereign nation. After the fall of his country, he had lived under Japanese surveillance. Around this time, he had escaped to South Manchuria under a false identity, only to learn that Mutaguchi Renya, commander of the Manchurian Railway Army, was sending Korean dissidents to North Manchuria. He then made contact with independence activists connected to the Asiatic Cavalry Division who dealt with Mutaguchi, and barely managed to reach North Manchuria.
“Ahem. Now that the Harbin Provisional Government has been officially launched, we can build our strength around Your Highness as its central figure.”
“Hahaha. Don’t speak such nonsense about me being a central figure. From what I hear, even if everything else in Joseon is uncertain, support for the imperial family has plummeted.”
It was true. Among Japan’s policies for governing the Korean Peninsula, the only one currently showing any real success was the systematic demotion of the Yi royal family. Fearing that the Korean people might rally around the former royal house the way the Russians had rallied around their empress, the Japanese homeland had personally orchestrated the campaign. Rumors had spread among the people—some true, some exaggerated—that the Yi family had sold out the country even during the previous dynasty. On top of that, Prince Yi Kang’s sudden disappearance had caused support for the royal family within Korea to collapse vertically.
“Your Highness.”
“Ah, I am not simply venting my discontent. It is because our imperial family has done so many unforgivable things to our subjects. The rumors the Japanese have spread are not entirely historically inaccurate.”
Though his wording was rather blunt, the rumors disseminated by the Japanese government were not entirely baseless. Even so, Yi Kang was still a descendant of the Korean imperial house. Among the royal relatives who had helped ruin the nation, sold it to Japan, and were content to remain as the Yi royal family, he at least wanted to preserve some shred of conscience.
“I do not dream of restoring the empire. However, to reclaim my country and achieve Korean independence, I am willing to grind my body to dust if that is what it takes to stand against Japan.”
“Hearing Your Highness speak such words will ensure that the Koreans in Manchuria do not waver.”
“But tell me this. The establishment of this provisional government—was it not done without the permission of the Russian Empress?”
Strictly speaking, they appeared outwardly to be nothing more than a group of Korean settlers who had migrated to North Manchuria. While An Chang-ho and the other officials insisted that a provisional government had been formed, Yi Kang wondered whether an administration recognized by no one could truly be called a government at all.
“There is a rumor that once the development of North Manchuria reaches a certain stage, the Russian Empress herself will come to inspect the region. We cannot go to Moscow directly, but if the Empress comes to Harbin, could we not make contact with her then?”
Contact with the Russian Empress. Yi Kang had heard that she was a woman of great courage who had personally ended the civil war and become a hero of Russia, but the idea of meeting her made him uneasy. Unlike the Korean imperial family, she had reclaimed her country and was even developing it further—an achievement worthy of admiration. Yet that was separate from the fact that Russia was Japan’s ally.
“I heard Russia is Japan’s ally. Would they truly tolerate us?”
The relationship seemed somewhat ambiguous to call them true allies, but at least on the surface, Japan and Russia appeared to be cooperating. After all, although Russia had been defeated in the Russo-Japanese War, it had risen like a dragon after its massive civil war spanning East and West. Japan, for its part, would hardly want to provoke Russia into a second Russo-Japanese War. The fact that they had been able to settle here in Harbin at all—with the help of Jewish capitalists who had also lost their homeland—was already a stroke of good fortune.
“Could we not make use of justification?”
“Justification?”
“As you know, although the Russian Empress calls herself a constitutional monarch, her influence—having personally led the White Army to victory in the civil war—is said to rival that of an absolute monarch. If we can persuade only the Empress, we may be able to gain recognition for our provisional government.”
Outwardly it was a constitutional monarchy, but having spent a long time in Manchuria observing Russian affairs, An Chang-ho believed the Empress’s influence reached from Europe all the way to the Far East. In practice, it was little different from an absolute monarchy.
“Justification, you say. Hmm. What justification do you see, Prime Minister An?”
An Chang-ho smiled faintly. There was more than enough justification.
The Russian Empress has accepted a request for support from Chen Jiongming’s Constitutional Protection Government, which opposes the pro-Japanese regime.
If she truly regarded Japan as an ally, she would not have done so.
Furthermore, the Asiatic Cavalry Division contains a significant number of Korean soldiers, and the Russian government continues to accept Korean refugees entering North Manchuria.
“The Russian Empress is called a saint and is also the heavenly ruler of Europe. She accepted Chen Jiongming’s request for aid against the pro-Japanese regime. Had she truly considered Japan a genuine ally, she would never have done that.”
An Chang-ho, who had studied Chinese affairs in preparation for establishing a provisional government there, had learned that Russia was supporting Chen Jiongming’s Constitutional Protection Government against the pro-Japanese Duan Qirui’s Beiyang Government, even sending military advisors and weapons. If they used this cleverly, they might be able to secure assistance.
“I heard Russia and Japan are selling weapons to the factions each side supports. Isn’t that simply because their interests align?”
“That may be part of it. However, the public justification Russia uses for supporting the Constitutional Protection Government is ultimately ‘justice.’ Moreover, given that the Asiatic Cavalry Division already includes many Koreans and the Russian government continues to accept Korean settlers in North Manchuria, it is not entirely impossible.”
“It will be a gamble.”
“In case of failure after making contact, I will ask Woo-nam (Syngman Rhee) in America to prepare a place of refuge for Your Highness as a contingency.”
They had to prepare for every possibility. If they failed to win over the Russian Empress in any way, Yi Kang himself would be placed in a dangerous position.
At An Chang-ho’s words, Yi Kang pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
“No. I will handle that matter myself.”
“Your Highness will do so personally?”
“Since I am already being called a traitor to the nation by my own royal family, I must at least struggle with all my might. If the Russian Empress comes to North Manchuria, I will request an audience with her directly.”
The Yi royal family had sold the country to the Mongols, then betrayed the Mongols by offering the Ssangseong Prefecture to Goryeo. They had then stabbed Goryeo in the back to establish Joseon, and now had sold the country to Japan. They truly bore the stigma of a royal house of traitors. In that case, at the very least, he alone should throw his life away like a handful of straw to persuade the Russian Empress for the sake of Korean independence.
***
Moscow, Kremlin Palace. After concluding the Anti-Comintern Pact, I kept my promise and engaged in a deep discussion with Ismet Inönü regarding the suppression of the Kurds.
“First of all, we cannot provide direct assistance.”
It was a truly shocking declaration. For an allied nation that had supplied weapons to the Kurds to now say they would not help suppress them—Inönü stared at me in disbelief.
Well, of course. It would be ridiculous if the Kurds used the weapons we gave them to kill our own soldiers. That was why we could not help directly. Why would we jump into another country’s war when there was nothing to gain?
Still, Turkey might feel slighted, so I brought up the plan I had prepared in advance.
“Then what kind of help are you offering?”
Irritation began to show on Inönü’s face. His expression twisted as if to say, “Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.”
Yes, dragging it out too long would be unwise.
“We will provide additional weapons, and there is something new we would like to attempt.”
“Something new to attempt?”
“It concerns military matters.”
“You wish to speak of it personally, Your Majesty?”
Why does he look so surprised? Even if I look like this, I fought with a rifle from the very beginning in Yekaterinburg. Of course, my body is basically a candied hawthorn skewer, but even taking that into account, does he think it’s easy for someone to walk into a hail of bullets? Especially in this era? Especially when that someone was a sheltered greenhouse flower who wasn’t even a female soldier? Only someone like me could do it. So if he trusts me, he will be able to subdue the Kurds on Mount Ararat as well.
“I simply brought up this plan because I thought of it.”
When I nodded while looking at the Black Baron, he took out the airborne troops proposal from his coat.
It was an ingenious plan to drop troops from transport planes after securing air superiority. Since Mount Ararat had no anti-aircraft guns, there was no real need to fight for air control. The Kurds had no aircraft either. Even if they did, simply providing Turkey with Russian fighter planes would suffice.
“Hmm. Parachuting down from airplanes. Not a bad idea.”
“Yes. How would you feel about testing this once in battle against the Kurds?”
Inönü scanned the proposal, his eyes sparkling with interest.
“It doesn’t seem bad. In that case, would both nations operate this together?”
Of course. Creating an airborne unit would be useful in war as well. We had to seize complete air superiority, deploy airborne troops, occupy German territory faster than anyone else, and end the war overwhelmingly.
“Wouldn’t that be ideal? We also need experience to operate this unit, but we cannot start a war just for that. We will need your country’s cooperation.”
It would also be helpful during a war with Greece.
“Certainly, if we drop troops onto the mountain and launch a pincer attack from below, it would increase our chances.”
By now, not many Kurds remained anyway. According to incoming intelligence, the remaining Kurdish forces had scattered across the mountains and were waging guerrilla warfare.
“Wouldn’t this method minimize our losses? After all, Russia is Turkey’s ally.”
“The concept of airborne troops is truly fascinating. Very well.”
Before returning, Inönü held several consultations with the White Army staff. They shared military intelligence regarding airborne operations and data on fighting the Kurds. Under the White Army’s leadership, a military agreement was signed with Turkey.
It would be nice if the fight against the Kurds on Mount Ararat dragged on a little longer. Now then, Turkey was settled. There was still one person who had not yet left Russia—Miklos Horthy.
For some reason, he had remained behind with Hungarian officials instead of returning home. It seemed he had something he wished to say personally.
“Regent, why have you not yet returned?”
“O all-knowing and all-powerful Tsar of Russia.”
“You have something to say?”
Why is he flattering me so much? I don’t particularly dislike flattery, but when Horthy does it, it makes me curious.
At my question, Horthy carefully opened his mouth as if getting to the main point.
“Would it not be dangerous to include Romania in the Anti-Comintern Pact?”
“Hmm. Why do you think so?”
“Romania will do anything for practical gain. Did they not join the Entente and seize Transylvania?”
“I believe that matter has already been settled.”
I disliked holding grudges. Transylvania was indeed a rather large chunk taken from Hungarian territory, but when considering the Anti-Comintern Pact, it was questionable.
“There is a fundamental problem.”
“A fundamental problem?”
Yes. What could that be?
“I will speak plainly.”
“Please do.”
I quite liked the phrase “speak plainly.” What complaint did our Mr. Horthy have? To rebuild Austria-Hungary as I desired, I needed to turn Horthy into a pro-Russian faction at the very least. I had to help him gain strength for his own sake as well. As for Romania… I was somewhat uneasy about them too.
Honestly, Romania was an unstable country. After abandoning the wife he had willingly married and taking up with the Jewish woman Magda Lupescu, he divorced his wife and lived with her. Because of this, Ferdinand I had removed his scoundrel of a son from the line of succession and designated Carol II’s son, Michael, as crown prince. Then Carol II pressured his own son Michael I after he ascended the throne, claiming it was unfair, and eventually seized the crown back. If nothing unusual happened internally, Carol II might once again steal the throne from his son. And if the war took a very strange turn, Michael could receive support from communist forces, overthrow Carol II, and seize control of Romania. Conversely, due to changes in history, Michael I might keep the throne while Carol II, with communist support, switched sides. Although a monarchy and communism could not coexist, both father and son might join hands with the communists for the sake of their own thrones. Yet it would be problematic for me to directly intervene and fix Romania’s internal affairs. Although the circumstances were different, in actual history, had Romania not switched sides and fought alongside the Soviet Army against Nazi Germany? Even if I prepared everything, I had to consider the possibility of being pushed back all the way to Hungary.