NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19
* * *
Soviet Moscow
Around this time, in Moscow, the Soviets were holding protests against the Bolsheviks.
They couldn’t stand it anymore as the Bolsheviks treated the people with force while banning private property and cramming peasants into collective farms.
It was entirely different from the various reforms being carried out by the Princess.
The Soviets demanded obedience from the peasants, suppressing them violently and implementing a reign of terror.
If the White Army was as hopeless as in actual history, then who knows.
Surprisingly, even among the Soviet people, there was the option of the Princess’s White Russia rather than the Bolsheviks.
Even if that wasn’t the case.
The leftist workers went on strike and protested upon realizing that the Bolsheviks, whom they had trusted, were worse than the Princess.
“What are the Bolsheviks doing?”
“It would be better during the Tsar’s time!”
“You’re banning private property? Who do you think you are?”
“Cut down on the war already!”
Strikes followed by protests.
The people of the Soviet Union felt that things were indeed worse than during the Tsar’s reign.
No, rather, the Princess’s Russia, which seemed to follow in the Tsar’s footsteps, was treating workers far better than the Soviets.
This only compounded their sense of betrayal.
Isn’t it really the case that the Bolsheviks were only out for power, instigating the workers just as the rumors of White Russia said?
The protests were intensifying, and amidst the ongoing vicious cycle, the Soviets had to make a decision.
The problem was that Trotsky was in a position to make that decision.
“Comrade Trotsky. The size of strikes and protests is increasing.”
“Crush them all! Show them what happens! What is the Cheka doing?”
Trotsky became more radical as time went on.
Crush them all and show them an example.
Wasn’t this just a reappearance of Bloody Sunday?
Even the Tsar wouldn’t have done this much.
Trotsky’s aides thought the same way.
Of course, there were justifications for Trotsky’s actions.
If he let it go unchecked, there was the chance of counterrevolutionaries intervening from behind. At worst, just like Lenin and Trotsky did, they might start a new revolution among themselves.
That revolution would be influenced by the Princess, and Russia could revert to that damned imperialist era.
“Couldn’t that be too radical?”
“Don’t you understand yet? If we don’t get through this crisis, we’ll end up just like the Tsar! That woman, referred to as Catherine the Great, is shaking us from within!”
Trotsky was anxious.
How could the people, once they tasted revolution, remain complacent?
Thus, there was only one answer.
“I’m itching for a revolution.”
“Then die!”
Naturally, the Bolsheviks armed themselves to prevent the onset of revolution.
They needed to carry out a reign of terror, even if it meant shedding blood, for a while.
Once the workers were subdued, they would implement their reforms, topple the disorderly Princess, and establish a true workers’ state.
That was the answer.
“Comrade Trotsky seems too hasty.”
“What can we do? The Princess knows our weaknesses too well.”
From the very start, the Princess was aware of the Soviets’ weaknesses.
She explained and implemented policies that the Soviets could have undertaken themselves directly in front of the people.
Of course, how much reform could a country in civil war achieve?
While the extent of those reforms across vast Russia remained uncertain,
Stalin, who was meticulously observing the situation in Russia, understood well.
‘What a terrifying woman.’
The reforms were meant to shift public sentiment back to the imperial family, but the Princess’s reforms were aimed at targeting the Soviets.
The Soviets had already promised the people reforms several times and tried to implement them.
Yet it seemed like the Princess had taken the Soviets’ plans and spiced them up just enough to implement reforms of her own.
Unlike the Soviets, who were reviled for banning private property, the Princess recognized private property and declared reforms based on it.
It felt like she was saying, “If I do this first, what can you do about it?”
Now whatever they do, the Soviets have a hard time losing the label of following the Princess. This was shaking the very foundation of the Soviets.
This was bad news for Stalin, who once aspired to be the top dog of the Soviets.
He had to catch the Princess somehow.
He needed to sweep away those reactionaries and ensure the people followed the Soviets.
Of course, it was a long road ahead, and for now, he had to gauge Lenin’s intentions.
“So, does Comrade Lenin also agree with Trotsky’s approach?”
“For now, he aims to retake Ukraine.”
“Ukraine?”
“We need to redirect the internal dissatisfaction outward.”
Is that what it was?
Comrade Lenin was beginning to crumble.
He was now urgently concerned about keeping power.
Yeah, that makes sense.
It’s only natural.
The very existence of the Soviets was in jeopardy.
To lose power here was too obvious; not only would Lenin face judgment from the people, but the entire Communist Party would.
In other words, for the Soviets to lose power now would mean death.
They could end up receiving the same treatment the Tsar did.
Still, Stalin felt relieved.
If Lenin and Trotsky managed to appease the people’s grievances while just serving as meat shields,
Wouldn’t the Princess have unintentionally helped him?
‘An opportunity is coming to me.’
The pressure from the Princess turned into an opportunity for Stalin.
He felt that opportunity might come sooner than expected.
To do that, he needed to win over the party’s executives.
“Stalin. Don’t you think Comrade Lenin is becoming too anxious?”
As he was checking Trotsky’s movements, Voroshilov said this to Stalin.
Yeah, they must have seen it.
Lenin and Trotsky had become too radical.
At this point, Stalin had to set the stage.
He needed to gather those who would ally with him and clearly filter out those he would need to purge later.
He needed to prepare in advance.
“Hmm. While it’s too radical, retaking Ukraine is indeed something we have to do.”
“Does that mean you agree?”
“I don’t know. It’s the right time to retake it, but if we’re to shift public discontent outward, we should strike somewhere else. But in doing so, wouldn’t the people bleed? So, I don’t know.”
“Comrade Lenin should have kept you by his side instead of Trotsky.”
Voroshilov and the other party executives sighed at Stalin’s lament.
This isn’t what we fought the revolution for.
They might say that protecting the Bolshevik regime was unavoidable, but this isn’t the revolution the party executives wanted.
Was there any difference from the Tsar?
“I thought we’d do anything under the red flag.”
“What can we do? We must trust Comrade Lenin.”
Stalin smirked inwardly.
For now, he had to feign compliance and follow along.
And when Lenin and Trotsky had finished their tasks and were about to crumble under the unbearable grievances of the people,
He would step in.
He would oust Lenin and Trotsky with a new revolution.
* * *
The Soviet Union was writhing in pain.
According to news gathered by the Okhrana, which had joined the Russian Empire’s public order office, Trotsky’s military reforms were being stymied by Stalin as he had anticipated.
Originally, while the White Army would be fighting over dominance, they would have rebuilt the military and pressured the Whites with an army of five million.
But at the moment, that was obstructed.
Whether Stalin believed they couldn’t mount an attack due to the need to build their own power, he was nonetheless opposing Trotsky’s plans.
There were plenty of justifications.
Failed attacks on Yekaterinburg, the White Army’s joining of the provisional government in Southern Russia, and the frustration of reforms were causing discontent in small towns that faced the oppressive rule of the incapable Communist Party, leading them to flock to the Whites.
Stalin’s side aimed to carry out reforms before building an army.
Maybe they could afford to take a little more time.
Unlike actual history, the White Army here had united their military excluding the Baltic and Finland, and under the support of the great powers, White Russia was rapidly growing.
Pyotr Wrangel was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the “Liberation Army,” uniting the military forces of Southern Russia, the Cossacks, and some Siberian Whites, and slowly began to advance westward.
Of course, he had emphasized that they wouldn’t engage in battle yet.
Cities wanting to free themselves from the Bolshevik oppression welcomed Wrangel’s army. And with no notable battles happening, Trotsky only ended up being more agitated.
On the other hand, the White Army under Pyotr Wrangel was increasing in number daily as cities joined White Russia.
And Anton Denikin’s army had yet to make a move.
They said they needed to secure that area due to Ukraine.
The German support, which had become a double agent for Britain, was magnificent.
It was as if they had no pride as Germans, yielding fully to whatever the British and French demanded.
Along with technical support.
Thanks to this, if the reality I was facing was like a typical noble’s territory in a fantasy world, it would feel like I had even used cheat codes.
Honestly, it’s suspicious all around.
Germany, not an ally but an original enemy, treating us this well?
It seems illogical.
Wouldn’t it be better for them to plead with the British to counter the Reds themselves?
What could they be thinking?
“A new railway network is being established around Yekaterinburg.”
Recently, Kolchak, who had become a representative in the Duma, reported this.
Yeah. Yekaterinburg now functions as the capital.
The types who would bomb terrorist attacks across White Russia saying, “I hate the Bolsheviks, but I hate you too!” have disappeared.
Historically, the White Army couldn’t even manage a proper unification and at their peak couldn’t even reclaim Tsaritsyn. There had been plenty of leftists, Bolsheviks, and non-Bolshevik leftists terrorizing and tormenting the Whites from behind.
Whether it was that they felt good about what I was doing or if White Russia had grown to the point where that sense of rage could be adequately channeled, or perhaps it was just that the Reds were half-witted as they behaved obnoxiously in the far east.
“The railway network is like blood vessels in the human body, circulating blood through the vast territory of Russia. Its center would be the heart. This Yekaterinburg must become that heart.”
While it was civil war and unavoidable,
Isn’t it about time a somewhat decent character showed up?
It was tough dragging half-smashed Russia up all by myself.
Though the nobles carrying out reforms and the civic representatives in Yekaterinburg held multiple minister positions right now,
I hoped that when the provisional government properly established the government, they would bring in some talents. But wouldn’t everyone be dead by then?
“Still, the influx of German weapons and goods is staggering.”
“Isn’t that good for us?”
Was the German Empire trying to take advantage of us for something?
They even plopped entire factories in Yekaterinburg and Southern Russia as well as Central Asia.
Even munitions factories.
Were the Germans always this generous?
Did they agree to give reparations through this?
Yet, even so, it wouldn’t make sense for them to distribute everything so freely over national pride. Especially in defeat, why go through all this trouble?
“Your Highness. Germany is helping us produce tanks on site.”
This time, Mikhail Drozdovsky said excitedly.
This guy has long been obsessed with tanking—
What? They’re going to help us produce tanks?
“What?”
Those guys are going to make tanks?
No, wait a minute, there’s no way the Germans are doing this out of pure goodwill!
Why would the Germans say they would help us produce tanks?
Didn’t they just recently fail to produce tanks and lose? Or am I wrong?
“Do you know why they’re helping?”
“The reason is that the ‘Kaiser’ sees you as resembling Princess Luise and wishes to support you generously, but due to the British and French eyes, they wish to keep it a secret.”
No, that’s obviously suspicious!