Revolution's Heart #7: Germany's Thrashing Grows Ever Fiercer
Germany's desperate struggles were growing fiercer. Supplies of oil and wheat from the Soviet Union had begun to flow in. No, it wasn't struggling anymore. Vitality was returning to Germany's near-dead body.
Naturally, Britain, France, and America vented their fury at the Soviets' moves. "If you don't join the fight now, there won't be any soup left for you," they warned. The so-called "humanitarian aid to Poland" meant nothing. If that logic held, even neutral Netherlands wouldn't have faced a naval blockade. Of course, the Soviets simply ignored them.
From the start, the Soviet Union was born from the Tsar's foolish provocations, steeped in Pan-Slavism and constant military saber-rattling. What did they have to gain from war? The Soviet people had no intention of gaining anything in the first place. In truth, the Soviets were anti-war by nature. And no matter how much they barked, as long as Germany survived and Korean Empire troops were deployed to the Soviets, those powers had no choice but to offer appeasement to a Soviet still locked in a ceasefire—not an armistice. The Korean Empire whispered that truth in their ears. And it was exactly that.
America's intervention had clearly tipped the scales of the war further toward defeat for Germany. But that didn't mean Britain, France, and America could abandon the two-front war. The world wasn't just about outcomes; there was such a thing as process. America still hadn't deployed a proper army, and all three nations were democracies. Naturally, with people being slaughtered, they couldn't escape the pressure from the masses demanding a ceasefire. Especially under Wilson's Democrats? They couldn't afford whispers that they hated soldiers and were shoving them all into the meat grinder.
In the midst of that, attacking a potential nation that could create a two-front war? Impossible. What diplomatic disaster would that be? As war weariness piled up and widows multiplied, they'd face coercive ceasefire demands from potential recruits. It was the same now, with America's blood transfusion hooked into France and the Soviets' into Germany.
But with both Germany and France in a loser's resurrection match, neither could commit to a half-baked agreement proposed by Britain, America, or the Korean Empire. Britain and America just needed to achieve their rough goals, but for France and Germany, this war was one they had to win. Germany had to protect the homeland from France, which wished for its destruction at any cost. France had already reserved massive payments to Britain and America down the line.
That sloppy agreement, that meaningless truce, that insulting ceasefire would turn France into slaves. They'd probably demand all French colonies, including Algeria. Then Britain would reign supreme. Naturally, France couldn't afford a ceasefire—they'd stand and die first. A ceasefire meant America might not care, but war-weary Britain would surely cut a shady deal with Germany and bail.
Britain's ongoing pro-German moves had long been the decisive reason France needed total victory. A sloppy ceasefire? It wouldn't be France and Britain vs. Germany—it'd be France vs. Germany and Britain. From France's view, Britain had already achieved its goal of crushing its great-ocean rival, Germany. The problem was, Germany also had to defend the homeland from that intransigent France. They couldn't surrender either—just ceasefire if they must.
What would France demand? Even if Britain said, "We've declared war on France for you, surrendered with face-saving terms, we'll cut reparations and grant concessions," Germany would reply they could ceasefire but not surrender. Impossible without Britain declaring war on France for them.
It was a dead-end situation all around. In that sense, Britain had found a solution fairly quickly. Because they realized the key player held that key right in the heart of London.
"Lord Arthur, I've brought a guest this time."
"Heard he was returning soon, so I hurried to fetch him."
"Asking him to wait for his ship turned out to be this ship."
Summoning the wartime prime minister to London. Now he couldn't run.
"We're acquainted, aren't we?"
"Pleased to meet you. Congratulations on becoming prime minister. Shall I call you Prime Minister Clemenceau?"
"A bit disappointing, actually. I assumed if you came all the way to Europe, you'd visit Paris too."
"How could I intrude so boldly?"
"Is that so? You're welcome anytime. Great France always welcomes the Korean Empire."
"Thank you."
Why do only fat pigs and black widows like the Rothschilds keep showing up? Isn't there a pure, innocent maiden type around? Personally, that Victorian maid at the hotel was right up my alley. French maids are too blatant.
The discussion itself covered the broad outlines of the post-war naval arms limitation treaty. With no room for debate, the three sipped tea, coffee, and liquor quietly as they talked.
"Ah, may I ask one thing that's been on my mind?"
"Of course, what is it?"
"At present, is the Russian army... ah, excuse me, the Soviet army really in such disarray?"
"They see the army itself as a remnant of the autocracy's rotten habits."
"…"
Words beyond reply. One side was a parliamentary nation that rose against that autocracy; the other was the revolution itself, smashing those habits outright. If only that revolution hadn't happened now! Sadly, France knew all too well how much of a mess post-revolutionary armies could be.
"We're advising no opening of hostilities, no end to them, nothing at all. The army isn't fully disintegrated, but honestly, don't expect much."
The current Russian army was the very one that mutinied against the Tsar. And an army without strict obedience isn't an army. Especially now, with the revolutionary Soviet Empire trying to abolish ranks altogether. Anarchists were gaining ground. They were social democrats, revisionists, communists—all skeptical of war. Anarchists went without saying; social democrats prioritized proper state-building; revisionists wanted the Soviets different from the Paris or Bavarian Communes; communists just hated war with Germany outright. Germany was a target for revolution, not war.
The silver lining: nationalists and militarists were mixed in too, so the army hadn't collapsed completely. Ironically, even those nationalists opposed opening hostilities.
"They think dragging it out favors them—how do you refute that?"
"…"
Truth be told, this was largely the Korean Empire's fault. The blueprint we'd shown was enough to give even the fiercest Kazakhs and Kazakhs pause. Our forces deployed to the southern and central fronts weren't something those Central Asians could ignore. That's why the doughty warriors asked our intentions before stirring rebellion at home. Our tanks might not push to the northern front, but they could certainly flatten them Ponzi-style. And those were prime nationalists and militarists.
World revolution, state power—who cared? They just wanted to belong to a strong nation!! Above all, they yearned to serve in a strong nation's mighty army. If it was the Soviet Union instead of Russia, that was fine enough. As long as the Soviets didn't grovel to Germany post-armistice, they were ready to serve faithfully. Ironically, they were the farthest from pro-German capitulation in the Soviet Union. They wanted their new homeland to defeat Germany. But with the Soviets in such dire straits now, ceasefire made sense for the moment. Two fronts or not, their own state was too wrecked.
"Outrageous."
"If war breaks out now, it'll just be Germany and the Korean Empire fighting on Soviet soil. Surely that's not what you want?"
"How much will it cost? Half of Russia?"
Ignoring France's outburst, I turned to Arthur and Britain.
"That's why please hold off on persuading the German military to reopen the eastern front."
"What do you mean? Are you talking German surrender? No generals have been swayed yet."
"Since all you gentlemen are here, I'll say it: we'll withdraw from Japan per the post-war arms treaty."
"…?"
"America demanded it strongly. It violates the treaty's purpose. They want no rivalry in the Pacific and expressed deep concern over our actions in Japan."
Silence. The colonial issue was a powder keg for both nations. Especially now, reliant on American aid. The problem: the Korean Empire had to be the detonator. That way, they'd be too busy clashing with America over it to touch my precious Soviets. Otherwise, they'd keep shoving the Germans onto the eastern front.
"Just that. America might use it to demand Irish or Algerian liberation from you—telling you as allies in advance."
Of course, that wasn't it. America would demand all their global colonies, not just home turf. And Britain and France knew it.
"I see. So that alliance nears its end."
"Truly regrettable. My country thinks it's excessive meddling too."
"I've heard you oppose colonies, Lord Clemenceau. Am I right?"
"Yes. Honestly, uncomfortable talk."
"But crucial. Demanding Ireland's liberation because it's a colony—that's America. Same for Japan."
I knew. During World War I, America, Britain, and France had a massive headache: America's constant self-determination push. Britain and France had always clashed with them over it. I just needed to shove their backs into fighting America on it.
"Fundamentally, I oppose what America calls colonial rule. So at their demand to liberate Japan, we will."
"But where does colony start and not, in your view?"
"As allies, I want clarity on how far America will push liberation."
"So the Korean Empire can give America a proper answer. If liberating, we need to know from what."
"Are Ireland and Algeria mainland or not, in America's eyes? As allies, I'm curious. Because Japan is in that position for us."
"Personally, I don't see Japan as colonial, but we'll act as America demands. They're spilling blood for us. But I can't dodge the question."
Arthur chose his words carefully.
"Personally, I don't consider any place the sun touches a colony. But autonomists and separatists' demands are real."
"We're considering maximum autonomy: parliaments, armies too."
"As a Briton, no discrimination. All His Majesty's glorious territory and subjects."
"I see. Then Japan isn't Korean territory, Japanese aren't Korean citizens—so maybe colonial status fits. Understood."
"No, think nothing of it."
The Supreme Leader said little after, promising to station troops on the German border, then left. Because this hot potato wasn't thrown at Britain.
'Algeria is France's mainland.'
America hadn't even demanded Algerian liberation yet, but France was already aflame. Because Clemenceau had drawn the line that America's self-determination didn't apply to Algeria.
France had long treated Algeria as homeland: seats in parliament, conscripting natives. But those natives got no voting rights, no citizenship. That was the problem. Ironically, Britain's claim of giving colonies citizenship, suffrage, autonomy—making them "not colonies but homeland"—was a bombshell to France, which gave nothing. It screamed, "Isn't Algeria just a plain colony?"
France desperately needed America's reply: "Algeria has seats, so not a colony."