The Roasted Chestnut's Dream (1)

Generally speaking, war is the fastest way to ruin an economy. Citizens die by the millions. Land is devastated, human hearts are desolated, and factories grind to a halt—that is the reality of war.

During the Great War of our original history, Germany, France, Great Britain, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire all suffered such staggering casualties and spent so much money that post-war reconstruction was an uphill battle. Of course, they managed to rebuild by taking out massive loans from the United States, but... once the Great Depression hit America, every single nation that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had relied on those loans saw its economy collapse in an instant.

In this timeline, France, Germany, and Russia have not only lost millions of lives, but their own territories have also become active battlefields. Reconstruction will undoubtedly be an agonizingly difficult task.

Yet, one man's crisis is another's opportunity. In the history of my previous life, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as global superpowers on the back of World War II. Similarly, South Korea and Vietnam leveraged the Vietnam War to establish themselves as undeniable regional powers in East Asia.

The ultimate beneficiary of this current war was, naturally, the United States.

"An order for five battleships from Great Britain?"

"T-This is insane!"

"Another oil order just came in from France!"

By selling vast quantities of war materiel to both Great Britain and France, American industrialists were raking in unimaginable fortunes. Europe was at war? Well, America was just as busy, if not busier. In fact, its factories were running even more furiously than they had in the original timeline.

In the original history, the United States had sold supplies only to the Allied Powers, including Great Britain and France. But this time, they were selling to both sides—the Crusaders and the National Revolutionaries alike.

"A war broke out in Europe? So what? That's Europe's problem."

"Exactly. Under the Monroe Doctrine, we just need to maintain our hegemony over the Americas."

Although America's potential to surpass Great Britain as a global superpower was blossoming much faster than in the original history, its isolationist sentiment was, paradoxically, far stronger. One only had to look at the ruined states of France and Germany to see why. The American public had grown quite comfortable watching the house next door burn while pocketing the insurance money.

Yet, even in this climate, there were those who recognized America's latent potential and pondered its future role as a global superpower. One such man was a young politician just beginning his career: Franklin D. Roosevelt.

"Haha, Representative Roosevelt! I've never seen such a boom in my entire life! Even in the days of Carnegie and Morgan, it wasn't like this."

"I doubt we'll ever see a boom like this again."

"Indeed. I'm actually worried about what will happen once the war ends."

Exactly. The real problem would arise after the war. The conflict had caused America's productive capacity to explode. Historically, the Great Powers had sought colonies for one primary reason: to secure markets. They needed places to dump the massive surplus of industrial goods rolling off their factory lines. And the great war raging in Europe had created a market so colossal that mere colonies paled in comparison.

But what happens when the war ends? It would be equivalent to losing the single largest export market that sustained the nation's entire economy.

...Indeed. What happens to us when the war ends? We've already tasted this prosperity. Can we truly go back to the way things were?

The war had whipped isolationist sentiment into a frenzy. But could America truly remain confined to its own hemisphere? At this point, Roosevelt was still a young, novice politician, roughly the same age as Shtal. He wasn't yet in a position to draft concrete blueprints for America's global standing, but he could vaguely sense the path ahead.

America must expand across the entire globe. No, before long, the American people themselves will be the ones demanding it.

The United States had grown far too large to be contained by the Americas alone! To ensure he wouldn't forget these fleeting thoughts, Roosevelt scribbled his stray ideas into a notepad. Those scribbles outlined a vision far more ruthless and terrifying than the America of the original history.

The age of ideology had arrived. One only had to look at the war between the White Army and the Black Army. Of course, the geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia and the Balkans were significant catalysts. But was that all? The way the war was unfolding, and the very reasons it had started, were far too complex to be dismissed as a mere "clash of interests." People were fighting for their nations, for their respective "-isms." A new era had dawned.

What, then, of the United States?

Waging war under the pretext of spreading democracy... yes, that would be perfect.

Open wide, folks. Here comes democracy!

Next in line was Japan. Although the conflict was grand enough to earn the title of a "world war," the actual battlefields were confined to Europe. What was there for Japan to do?

"Haven't our shipyards received requests to build battleships and warships?"

"Yes, and we have received technical assistance from the British!"

Much like the United States, Japan was reaping massive profits by selling war supplies to Great Britain. But that wasn't all. Thanks to the spectacular blunder committed by Winston Churchill, the Royal Navy was temporarily paralyzed. Consequently, Great Britain desperately needed someone to manage and protect its colonies in the East.

"We have received an offer of massive loans and support from Great Britain."

"Whatever for?"

"It seems... Great Britain wants us to take over the defense of the Far East, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific."

"So, we are to act as the landlord's bailiff? Well, it is not a bad deal for us."

"Indeed. They have also requested that we send mercenaries to India."

"Excellent."

Great Britain had essentially outsourced the management of its colonies to Japan. Thanks to this, Japan succeeded in completely recouping the astronomical debts it had incurred during its rapid modernization and its two major conflicts, the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War. On top of that, it secured a proud position ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠among the global Great Powers.

And then, they received a decisive proposal from Winston Churchill.

"He wants us to seize the Manchuria railway on behalf of the Russian Black Army?"

"Yes. The proposal came through Minister of the Navy Kato."

The eyes of Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu burned with raw ambition. As a politician from the military and cabinet factions, Okuma had never possessed any notable achievements. He had ascended to the premiership simply because he was a safe, unoffensive compromise candidate. To make matters worse, his recent, reckless demand for the entirety of the Shandong Peninsula had triggered a massive wave of anti-Japanese sentiment, causing Japan to lose its hard-won influence in China.

For a man in Okuma's precarious position, there was absolutely no reason to reject Churchill's proposal. It was a golden opportunity to redeem his past blunders and secure his place in history!

"There is no reason to refuse. Contact the Army immediately. We move!"

With the Great War in Europe as their springboard, Japan would rise like the morning sun. It had to. Their imperial ambitions were now stretching toward the vast expanses of Siberia!

In truth... absolutely no one in the Japanese cabinet believed, at least for now, that their ambitions should extend to the conquest of the entire Chinese mainland. Although the Empire of Japan had become the preeminent power in Asia, they were still ill-prepared to wage a full-scale war against China. After all, China was a territory that Great Britain and the United States watched with hawk-like vigilance. They absolutely, positively must not poke the sleeping giant.

But that is precisely what happened.

"At last, we can reclaim Manchuria, the ancient territory of China!"

"Yes, President!"

"Hehehe. If this operation succeeds, I can finally realize my lifelong dream."

"You can cast aside a paltry title like 'President' and become the true ruler of the Middle Kingdom, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty? Hahahahaha! You're promoted!"

This was because Yuan Shikai, whose pride had been utterly shattered by Japan, was harboring the exact same thoughts. If the West boasted the invincible German Army, the East had the invincible Imperial Japanese Army. Compared to the Japanese, the average Chinese forces were so pathetic they could barely be called an army. However, the Beiyang Army, which Li Hongzhang and Yuan Shikai had painstakingly built up since the late 19th century, was a different breed entirely.

Even as the Qing Dynasty crumbled, it possessed vast wealth, and it poured an astronomical amount of money into the Beiyang Army. The Beiyang infantry was equipped with cutting-edge weaponry that made even the Western Great Powers do a double-take. And though their history was marred by defeats against foreign powers, they were elite troops nonetheless. Having learned bitter lessons from their past beatings, the Beiyang Army was no longer a ragtag mob wrapped in expensive gear.

Furthermore, by crushing minor Chinese warlords, the Beiyang Army had amassed invaluable combat experience. There was no force on the Chinese mainland stronger than them, and they were the only army capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Japanese.

Thus, the Beiyang Army and the Imperial Japanese Army marched toward Manchuria, shouting nearly identical slogans.

Commander-in-Chief Zhang Zuolin of the Beiyang Army set out from Beijing! Simultaneously, Commander-in-Chief Yamanashi Hanzo of the Japanese forces marched out from Gyeongseong in Joseon! Both moved swiftly to seize control of the Manchurian railway. But instead of the Russian Black Army, who had long since fled, they ran directly into each other.

""What the hell are you doing here?""

It was only natural. Winston Churchill had made the exact same proposal to both China and Japan. Chinese President Yuan Shikai and Japanese Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu had resolved to enter the conflict for the exact same reasons. Both leaders were desperately seeking a way to overcome their respective domestic political crises. And to top it off, their grand strategies were identical: they both needed to seize Harbin, the starting hub of the Russian-owned northern Manchurian railway!

Naturally, when Zhang Zuolin and Yamanashi Hanzo came face-to-face in Harbin, both generals were utterly dumbfounded by the impossible situation.

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"The Japanese are poised to strike Harbin at any moment!"

"Dammit! We might stand a chance in a single battle, but if this escalates into a full-scale war, we can never defeat Japan! For now, do not provoke them."

"The Chinese forces are attempting to enter Harbin."

"Why on earth are they here? While an immediate engagement would result in our overwhelming victory... I worry about the conflict escalating."

Fearing a wider conflict, Zhang Zuolin and Yamanashi Hanzo maintained a tense, indefinite standoff over Harbin. The agreements Winston Churchill had forged with the Chinese and Japanese governments were, after all, strictly secret treaties. They had to be. If London ever found out what Churchill was plotting in the Far East, his position as Governor of Weihaiwei would be the least of his worries. This time, it wouldn't end with a mere demotion; he would be utterly ruined.

Since both China and Japan had their own shady motives, they had readily agreed to the secrecy. Consequently, neither nation had any idea why the other was suddenly threatening Harbin. Yet, neither side could afford to back down. The Russian-owned northern Manchurian railway and the promised Shandong Peninsula were prizes far too valuable to abandon.

Having followed the exact same path, the Chinese and Japanese forces were bound to reach the exact same conclusion.

"Those wolves are trying to swallow the Manchurian railway whole! Attack Harbin immediately!"

"Sir? But... isn't there a risk of this escalating into a full-scale war?"

"It doesn't matter! We have Great Britain backing us. Those bastards are backstabbing us without a shred of justification. Even if a skirmish breaks out, there is no way they will dare to declare a full-scale war."

It didn't even matter which side said it. Whether it was the Chinese or the Japanese, they spoke different languages but acted in the exact same manner. In any case, a fierce firefight erupted in Harbin between the forces of Zhang Zuolin and Yamanashi Hanzo.

The first day of battle ended with a slight advantage for the Japanese. In terms of pure combat capability, the Japanese military held a natural superiority over the Chinese. For the Beiyang Army, simply holding the line was a commendable feat. But Yuan Shikai, desperate to secure the northern Manchurian railway, flew into a towering rage upon hearing the news.

"Those bandits have finally lost their minds! How dare they target Harbin?!"

"They must be colluding with the Japanese!"

"If they want a fight, we will give them one. Send the entire Beiyang Army to Manchuria!"

If one had to judge who was more desperate, it was undoubtedly Yuan Shikai. Not only was his military strength inferior to Japan's, but Chinese public opinion was also burning with fierce anti-Japanese sentiment. Throwing caution to the wind, Yuan Shikai poured his entire army into Manchuria. No matter how elite the Japanese forces were, this was still the mid-1910s. Faced with China's overwhelming numbers, the Japanese troops in Harbin had no choice but to retreat.

"That psychopath Yuan Shikai has completely lost his mind!"

"Prime Minister, what are your orders?"

"What else? We can never abandon the Manchurian railway. To Manchuria!"

"F-Fuck... these absolute lunatics! How could they take it this far?! I am completely fucked."

Faced with an escalation he had never anticipated, Winston Churchill ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt a full-blown panic attack coming on.

And... in a tragic kingdom nestled in the Far East, eyes were also turning toward this unprecedented crisis—a Sino-Japanese War that had broken out at least twenty years ahead of schedule. Though widely criticized as incompetent and greedy, Gojong remained a symbol of independence, a living icon to the people of Joseon.

The now-aged Emperor Gojong of Joseon, formally known as King Emeritus Yi Hyeong of Deoksugung Palace. Do not underestimate him simply because history deemed him weak. No matter how incompetent he might have seemed, he possessed the sheer political survival instincts of a man who had worn the crown since boyhood. Gojong, who had spent his life constantly plotting escapes to the Russian legation, opened his eyes wide, sensing the final, ultimate opportunity of his lifetime.