Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Decorations, casualty compensation, post-war settlements.

While I was wrestling with paperwork on all sorts of issues - from Korean administration, Manchurian reconstruction, taking over Qing Dynasty's rights, to establishing East Asian diplomatic relations after the Russo-Japanese War.

My cousin Willy didn't seem to be an emperor who took state affairs seriously.

"Last time he toured Tangier riding a white horse with the sultans, and now it's a military parade?"

Was it after mother's birthday? I wondered why Minister Giers, already old and unwell, had become even more gaunt, and it turns out they were doing such brazen things while we were preoccupied with the Qing Dynasty.

The Morocco Crisis.

The subject: Morocco.

The content: The sovereignty of the sultans.

Germany's true intention: Provoking France.

France, naturally, strongly objected.

Even I have numerous security personnel and control forces following me whenever I move due to potential assassination risks, so why does our cousin Willy keep personally traveling to Morocco to lead the sultans in such provocations?

The reason is simple.

Germany is like us, Russia. They have almost no colonies.

Naturally, they can't establish a colonial economy and are trapped in the European market. Willy, a latecomer to colonialism, tried to package this as "Germany's superior morality in helping poor subjugated peoples." Beyond sour grapes, it's like trying to make others' ripe grapes sour too.

Based on this moral superiority, Germany supported the independence of weak nations, indigenous states, and sultanates in the Middle East and Africa.

Conversely, France is similar to Britain. First of all, they have an enormous number of colonies.

Independence? Neutrality? Looking at Haiti's independence from France in 1804 a century ago shows France's reaction to such words.

The newly independent nation of Haiti, composed of former slaves, faced international isolation, export-import bans, and despite barely gaining independence from colonial rule, had to pay reparations to their former ruler while still being economically exploited.

For France, independence is unthinkable.

For Germany, seeing those colonial empires living well and prospering was enough to make their stomach twist like a rope in pain.

Up to here, okay. It's nothing new for them to growl and criticize each other, and we could just maintain our isolationism.

But this time, they crossed a line.

"Germany has mobilized their reserves!"

"Even in the new year, French troops haven't taken leave! It's been six months already!"

"Oh no, French forces are moving troops to the German border!"

Beyond the usual verbal exchanges - like the German Foreign Minister saying they'd gladly ally with those uncivilized sultans, or the French Prime Minister declaring they won't tolerate the sultans' collective actions - the two countries finally moved their armies over pride.

Troops were deployed to the borders. By European standards, this is a clear signal of war.

In other words, the Franco-Russian alliance would automatically take effect.

"Are you all mad? Haven't you learned anything from watching our country's war? Moving troops to the border over mere sultans? Is war someone's pet dog's name?"

If they had at least kept it to a small-scale local conflict in Africa among themselves, fine. Then the Franco-Russian alliance would be limited to Europe, causing us no harm as they squabbled among themselves.

However, France went ahead and deployed forces to the Alsace-Lorraine border.

Germany, having occupied Paris just 35 years ago, wouldn't back down from such a show of force.

Yet seemingly unable to grasp the point of my words, Maurice Bompard, the French Ambassador to Russia, earnestly made his request.

"Your Majesty, please move the Warsaw Military District!"

"Ha! You want me to move this country's largest military district? For something like this? How lightly do you regard our alliance!"

"Last month, German Chancellor Count Bernhard von Bülow declared he would not shrink from war! If this isn't a threat of war, what is?"

Well, that's because Foreign Minister Théophile Delcassé flatly rejected talks with Germany.

"Enough. If you're trying to use Russia to intimidate Germany to gain negotiating leverage, I refuse."

While Germany clearly started the trouble by meddling in Morocco, wasn't it France that escalated the situation?

'This can't be their true intention. Both countries must want to avoid war.'

Delcassé's rejection of dialogue? Count Bülow's war declaration? It's bluffing. Anyone can see this wasn't planned or prepared.

Then it should normally end with just threats fizzling out...

Something I knew was twisted.

First, the fact that the two countries have been bickering over this Morocco issue for seven months.

And.

"The newly appointed British 'Plenipotentiary' Ambassador, Arthur Nicolson."

The fact that Britain chose this timing to send a new ambassador.

"...You weren't sent just to make greetings."

"Indeed, I came for negotiations."

"Ambassador, if this is about Morocco, don't even bring it up. I'm sick of it."

"No. I'm here to negotiate ending disputes regarding Persia, Tibet, and Afghanistan."

"..."

Something, something I didn't know was happening behind the scenes of the world.

==

While countless countries participated in the Great War, the main camps were the Entente and the Alliance.

The foundation of the Entente name comes from the Franco-Russian Alliance, Anglo-French Entente, and Anglo-Russian Agreement.

It means Britain-France-Russia became one team through agreements.

The Alliance's foundation is based on the secret alliance between Germany-Italy-Austria-Hungary Empire that they've renewed every 5 years since 1887 until today.

However, now when there isn't even an Anglo-Russian agreement yet, and the Great Game is still ongoing.

France thought:

"If we leave things like this... Russia, preoccupied with Asia, might not renew the alliance?"

"When Germany's High Seas Fleet is completed, they'll take all our colonies! We need to quickly make additional naval treaties with Russia!"

"We won't yield an inch! If we back down here, the humiliation from 35 years ago will repeat!"

Four years ago, in their urgency, they made an agreement with Britain, who they'd been like cats and dogs with for hundreds of years since the Hundred Years' War...

And of all things, that Britain doesn't get along with their ally. No, beyond not getting along, they supported Japan who was at war with Russia.

Britain and Russia.

Yes. France cannot hold hands with both countries simultaneously.

If Russia had lost the Russo-Japanese War, they might have abandoned expansionism and imperialism and yielded to Britain, but Russia overwhelmingly defeated Japan.