Lenin's Nationalist Embrace
Stand up, you too. Unlike the orthodox Marxists who proclaimed Leninist communism as scientific and saw only the vanguard as capable of revolution, Lenin believed even bumpkins could spark change if backed by the vanguard. He was willing to shake hands with nationalist rabble.
Ireland and Scotland: "Where the hell did those hicks get machine guns?!" Du-du-du-du.
Barcelona and Navarre: "A republic in great Spain? No way!" Dudada-dadada.
Lenin demanded only armed revolution against oppressors in exchange for support, and they gladly took the hand of Lenin and the Internatsional. The Balkans were no exception.
Despite opposition from the Socialist Party and the Fascist Party to the Italian government's idiotic Libya invasion—like what the Italian government was doing now—the invasion happened anyway, and the Fascists were furious.
How could we fail even to stop a war? Sending troops to that damn desert. Next, they'll invade Egypt and cry for the rebirth of Rome? That's not ordinary madness. Why not invade the Balkans too while they're at it? Make a Greco-Roma.
As the Fascists grew disillusioned with impotent socialism, Lenin—who they'd once rejected—extended a hand. Go ahead, make revolution. You wanted to rebuild Italy? Do it.
Yeah, that's right. Duce, who was wondering if he should rally comrades and march on Rome, fully agreed that Italy needed rebuilding first before any Roman revival. He steeled himself to liberate Italians from Austrian oppressors amid the general uprisings in the Balkans. Even from Italy's false Duces.
"Their revolutionary zeal seems broken."
The Supreme Leader gazed at a now-quiet Southeast Asia on the map, as Korea and Britain began military training.
Just gain independence later, why not? In an era soon coming where sovereignty would be somewhat recognized even with mere independence. Isn't that enough?
I get it, more or less. But don't misunderstand: I truly understand them to their bones. More than they expect from me. Hell, after all that oppression, plain independence might not satisfy. How heartbreaking, miserable, and exhausting to live without ever snorting in defiance.
Not necessarily revolution, but raised on oppression—naturally, they'd want to oppress some inferior neighbors nearby. Why wouldn't I understand? I get it completely. Sometimes I want to mindlessly bully the Japanese too. I just can't tolerate it.
Southeast Asia—Indochina Peninsula—is far more ethnically diverse than the Korean Peninsula. Drop a hasty revolution there? With my name on it? Instant Rwanda, killing fields.
Sure, I have no right to meddle in their mutual slaughter, but I can't accept rumors that Korea and I were behind the massacre. Why should I be treated like America stirring coups and banana republics in South America? One Coffee Republic in Taiwan is enough for me.
Compared to Communist China trying to fill all Southeast Asia with their durians, Korea knows contentment.
"Your Excellency, war has finally broken out in the Balkans."
?
"Not revolution, but war?"
"It seems the balance of power collapsed due to successive revolutions. Reports say Bulgaria is heading for Constantinople."
"Balance of power, balance of power... Balance of power,"
This is hilarious.
"The Foreign Minister's postscript suggests Austria and the Ottomans can't exert strength due to circumstances, and that's the cause."
Recent Italian invasion of Libya. That shattered the balance in the Balkans between the Ottomans and Austria-Hungary, letting small Balkan states make expansionist moves against the Ottomans.
Balance of power... I don't buy it much. To me, it's nonsense politicians spout to reassure their people.
Rights and duties eventually find compromise, a balance. But power is energy itself—motive or combustion—with inherent dynamics. It's structured so one side must collapse.
Why do politicians cry balance of power? They don't want the masses knowing their world could crumble tomorrow.
"Just ignore it. Since when did we care about world history? If the former Sultan requests asylum, we'll take him."
Sure, I get it. I'm doing the same. No need to announce an impending world war. It's not even certain intel.
All I can do is hold military parades to steadily heighten global tension and lay the framework for a wartime economy.
So what caught my attention wasn't Mussolini starting the fire, but where the fire came from.
Did it really come from there? The Mussolini I know was a clear idol with limits.
Flip flip.
"More importantly, is it confirmed that this Mussolini guy got funding from Lenin, formed a private organization, and set fire to the Istrian Peninsula?"
"According to our intel network, yes."
"I see."
Then it must be. Still, there were better allies. I'm inwardly disappointed. No matter how urgent, allying with nationalism in socialist garb?
"Your Excellency, are you alright?"
"Fine, as expected."
"You look unwell."
"My stomach's always bad."
When I was young in my past life, I tried nation-building too, so I know. Nationalism leads to a loose people's republic, never a Soviet empire.
Even called a one-nation socialist, revisionist, isolationist—why would I purge and reject nationalism of the same stripe?
I advocated civic nationalism and covertly supported international socialism, but from the moment I became leader of Korea, I never tolerated ethnic nationalism.
Because Korea was an Empire.
Just look at nationalists I know: Tsars, Emperor Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un's three generations. Chest swells just thinking.
To build capitalism—the golden rule sprouting from socialist soil and spreading infinitely later—I had to scrape off the grime first.
Fail that, and it's Slave System 2.0: Korean not the common tongue but noble speech, sun at noon, people baking in the heat, praying for that Korean sun to set.
From every corner of the Empire, trash would rise thinking it's their time. Society's refuse never reveres the noonday sun tolerating their existence; they fear only the dawn sun that will burn them all someday.
Even without me, even without Korea. Someone else, some future America, would do it.
So this is identity, faith, a hobby.
As the leadership dispersed into the dark night, the Supreme Leader awoke in his office.
"Mussolini Duce, Mussolini."
He wasn't Duce yet, but to me, he was.
Reading up, the incident unfolded like Old Coup Incident 2.0.
The Supreme Leader reached across the desk. Setting aside the Ottomans, Austria's weakness stemmed from that guy—he stroked the photo.
Kill him?
I hated those burying my dear Comrade Lenin before his time.
But Lenin probably wouldn't want that. He'd ask them to join the revolution instead.
Hm, no money given, no joining—just overt meddling would hurt pride.
But I want Europeans slaughtered like dogs in trenches, reaping their karma. Unlike Comrade Lenin.
That's how it'll go easier.
Join? Absolutely not. East-West World War? Hard pass.
Money? Already giving. In exchange for "supporting" German tech.
Truth is, like Europeans not treating Easterners as human, I wasn't treating current Europeans as human.
Vampires, werewolves, cannibals—what's the difference? They don't see Easterners as conversation partners; talking meaningfully is pointless. Even Confucius avoided those shitting by the road.
So as an Easterner, can I do nothing to Mussolini? No way.
I specialize in leaving foes worse than dead without effort.
"Those eyes... they always give me chills. So cool."
"...I told you to make some noise when you approach."
"How could I in the master's paper abode?"
Rubbing her cheek calmly on my thigh, she spoke.
"Like you seized Japan, do you plan to seize Italy?"
"Hardly. I'm just tossing a headache to Italy and Duce."
"Duce?"
"Means leader. Solve this, and he'll become Duce—no, he deserves to be in that instant."
If not, it'll sever his political life in one stroke.
The Supreme Leader's eyes fell on a letter from the Papal Court, not yet escaped Italy to form Vatican City.