Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Deep into the Night (2)
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There's an old saying: even if you take the wrong road, as long as you end up in Seoul, it's fine.
Whether you walk, ride in a car, take a ship, or fly in a plane. No matter the path, as long as you reach your destination.
And that's how I'd sum up my plan in one sentence.
"Even if it's roundabout, let's save Russia first."
If Russia loses the Russo-Japanese War as in the original history, it would only create the trigger for Britain to turn Germany into a full-fledged enemy.
Once the bear falls, the wolves start looking bothersome next.
So the Russian Empire couldn't afford to show its weakness just yet.
Russia needed to maintain the image of a menacing brown bear that could lash out southward at any moment.
And above all, it had to keep bickering and clashing with Britain.
Because I wanted to prevent Britain from forming friendly ties with Russia and France—at least not an alliance, but even neutrality would do.
In simple terms, I wanted to stop the birth of the Entente Powers.
'But France and Russia, the original trio's founding members, are already allied.'
Plus, France was completely at odds with Germany, and Russia couldn't fully reconcile unless Germany ditched Austria-Hungary, even if temporary cooperation was possible.
So Germany's only option was Britain.
Britain wasn't on anyone's side yet.
Of course, in the original history, Anglo-French talks should have been emerging around now, but France's political circles were still in chaos, so there were no signs of it.
Not that I hadn't half-expected that when I detonated the Dreyfus Affair bomb in France.
'Even in the original history, Britain hesitated to join despite the Anglo-French and Anglo-Russian Ententes when World War I broke out, holding to neutrality against France and Russia's pleas.'
Britain only committed after Germany invaded Belgium, whose independence they guaranteed, realizing war was inevitable.
Even without Belgium, they wouldn't have just watched Germany swallow France whole—they'd intervene somehow.
Still, to France in dire straits, Britain's actions must have seemed utterly ridiculous.
'That's why Britain gets called a nation of traitors.'
These tea-drinking bastards only care about themselves; loyalty's not in their vocabulary.
Even in World War I, Britain prioritized its own troops' safety, earning distrust from its allies.
Anyway, the moment I met Edward VII, I sketched out the broad plan.
It had three phases.
First phase: Instill in the British the fear that Russia could win against Japan.
This was done when I first met Edward VII, bragging like "Look how smart I am!" and blabbing about the Russo-Japanese War.
Whether he took me seriously or not didn't matter.
What mattered was that he'd heard it.
Second phase: Support Russia so it doesn't lose to Japan at least.
In the original history, Russia loses 100% on both land and sea.
Even if they dragged it out to bankrupt Japan, with the "Bloody Sunday" time bomb ticking inside Russia, victory was near impossible.
If Russia lost, I'd end up with nothing—not even breaking even, just smoked herring.
So Russia couldn't lose to Japan, even if it ended in a draw.
Sea was one thing, but land at least.
Russia on land, Japan at sea.
The balance the British love so much.
But with no guarantee Russia would play along, I had to go negotiate myself. Trading with Finance Minister Witte achieved my goal. Phase two complete.
And the grand third phase.
Sowing discord.
"The Russian Empire? Why bring up Russia here?"
"A few months ago, I visited Russia with Prince Heinrich. His wife, Princess Irene, wanted to see her sister, Empress Alexandra. I ended up tagging along."
I continued in a hushed tone, as if revealing a great secret.
"And when we had an audience with Tsar Nicholas II, he quietly asked Prince Heinrich to sell German weapons to Russia."
"What?"
"Wait, hold on. So the German weapons found in Far East Russia recently were really sold by Germany?!"
Arthur Balfour shot to his feet, blurting it out in shock.
Britain had apparently already detected German weapons flowing to Russia.
'Makes sense. British and Japanese spies are rampant in Russia right now.'
No problem. Balfour's reaction suggested he didn't know the details.
So I nodded as if confirming his words and pressed on.
"Yes. You already knew."
"Don't tell me this was your doing too?"
'Yeah, that was me too.'
...But I wasn't idiot enough to say it.
This had to stay hidden.
"No, Your Majesty. I opposed it."
I lied straight-faced, mixing in a bit of truth.
"But you know how the Kaiser feels about the Japanese. Especially then, with the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, he lost his reason..."
"That Kaiser would totally do it."
"Makes sense..."
The Marquess of Lansdowne and Chamberlain nodded as if it rang true.
In fact, Wilhelm II had shouted he'd support Russia against Japan when the war broke out.
Of course, he didn't actually help. Just shouted.
"But odd. The Junkers allowed arms sales to Russia?"
Edward VII eyed me suspiciously.
True, they hadn't welcomed it at first—Chancellor von Bülow, Chief of Staff Schlieffen, all opposed.
'Good thing Waldersee unwittingly helped me.'
Waldersee ended up retiring from Inspector-General of the Third Army, heading to Hanover as inspector, probably from sheer rage.
Whatever, the old man's irrelevant. Edward VII buying my story was what mattered.
"Witte made it happen."
"Witte?"
"Yes, Russia's Finance Minister. He convinced the Tsar to buy from Germany. The Far East army wasn't in fighting shape against Japan."
"Hm. Not something Nicky would think of."
"But why Witte?"
To Chamberlain's question, I sighed as if troubled.
"The Bezobrazov faction. Despite Witte's opposition, they pushed reckless expansion for personal gain, spiking tensions in the Far East. So weapons as a fallback. If war's inevitable, prepare."
"Bezobrazov... Yeah, that explains Witte."
"Witte promised cheaper grain to Germany in exchange. Swore the weapons would only be used in the Far East."
Of course, no such promise or oath.
Witte just dealt with me.
"Those terms? Junkers might accept..."
"But Hans, why tell Britain now? Betraying Billy?"
I shook my head at Edward VII.
"No, Your Majesty. It's better for the German Empire."
"Better?"
"Russia will be Germany's enemy someday. Why help them? And they're upsetting Far East balance now."
"True."
The word "balance" had every balance-obsessed British uncle nodding.
"But Witte's doubling down on defense with German arms. That puts Japan, already likely to lose, in a worse spot. If Japan suffers a big defeat..."
"...Russia comes to the sea. Damn it, we must stop that!"
Admiral Fisher bellowed roughly, forgetting the high company.
No one stopped him.
No British here wanted Russia at sea.
Plus, I'd already planted the Russo-Japanese War seeds.
This had to land.
"Admiral Fisher's right, Your Majesty. We must stop it at all costs!"
Arthur Balfour, already shaky as PM over Dreadnought, pleaded desperately with Edward VII.
Yeah, if Russia won and bears hit the sea, Balfour wouldn't just worry about politics—his life.
This was survival thrashing.
"I have a way."
"A way?"
"If war breaks out, I'll persuade the Kaiser to pressure Russia into negotiations."
"Baron, you mean mediate the Russo-Japanese War?"
I nodded to Chamberlain.
"Yes. Russia concedes a bit, but key is keeping them off the sea, right?"
"Ho. Tell me more."
"Give Russia northern Manchuria in exchange for withdrawing from Korea and Liaodong Peninsula."
I pitched to Edward VII and the British government exactly what I'd proposed to Witte—word for word.
Double-dealing.
Balfour's specialty.
Unlike the McMahon Declaration or Balfour Declaration that'd later bloody Palestine, mine satisfied everyone except doomed Japan.
"Northern Manchuria... But will Russia abandon Lushun, their ice-free port? Isn't expansion all for that?"
Lansdowne said.
But he was gravely mistaken.
Russia didn't obsess over ice-free ports as thought.
It was a misconception hardened during the Great Game between sea power Britain and Russia.
'Russia pushed into the Far East and Primorye for furs anyway.'
Vladivostok and Lushun were mere byproducts.
And Russia's foreign trade hub was land routes, not sea.
Land trade dominated imports; sea routes mostly for exports.
'That's why Witte could neatly ditch Lushun. Too far from home to hold long anyway.'
Of course, no need to enlighten the British.
Better they stay deluded.
"I have that covered, Marquess. No worries there."
"Then I approve. Can't erase Russia's Far East influence entirely, but it serves British interests."
"But will Russia accept German mediation?"
"Exactly, Minister Chamberlain. That's why I'll ask America to mediate."
"America... Smart choice. They have Pacific stakes too."
"But first, settle Venezuela."
I said.
"If Britain agrees, I'll go to America myself, wrap Venezuela, and mention Russia too."
"You personally, Hans?"
"Yes. As I said, I want to befriend Britain. It's best for Germany."
"But Anglo-German alliance talks are dead."
Chamberlain said skeptically, scarred by past Anglo-German alliance flops.
But then and now differed.
No me then; me now.
"I'm not pushing immediate alliance. Start with small cooperations, build goodwill step by step. Good for Britain too, no?"
"Hm..."
Alliance could wait.
British neutrality in the World War was win enough for Germany.
"So you agree?"
"If it's best."
After brief talks with the others, Edward VII took my hand.
Of course, Britain had no real choice now.
Phase three complete.