Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Quickly grasping this meeting's purpose, Witte sat in a chair saying:

"...Well I've long thought the Philippines was a new state name of the United States."

"Hahaha! Korea? I'll have to start by learning how to write this place name in Russian!"

Amid ongoing peace negotiations between Japan and Russia. Back-channel talks between America and Russia also began.

The beginning of the Witte-Taft Secret Agreement.

==

In September, with the Treaty of Portsmouth announced to the world, the Russo-Japanese War completely ended.

When given a glimmer of hope, 'possibility of survival,' they willingly accepted even poisonous clauses while actively engaging in negotiations.

The point of not being completely excluded from the continent.

And the point that Russia didn't oppress or take revenge on Japan but left minimal partnership possibility was important.

Korean semi-independence, military restrictions, massive reparations, transfer of various rights.

If they fought with their backs to the wall, we carried out the same style of threats at the negotiating table.

"If war resumed again I really couldn't have endured."

Then we might have lost reason and started by bombarding ports.

Though we welcomed the war's end smoothing our insides this way, other powers' public opinion seemed somewhat different from ours.

Though the overwhelming victory was surprising to them, in the end Russia's victory was the expected outcome. Japan's victory would have been against the odds.

Just look at Britain and America - public opinion was mainly 'Isn't beating yellow people natural?' based on racial theory.

Many military observers also criticized Japan's tactical level differences multiple times.

At this I made one promise. When they're stuck in trenches themselves in a few years, I'll watch with both eyes open how well they fight.

"Minister Giers. How are British movements?"

"They'll likely react when we try to properly enter Qing. Honestly at this point there's nothing they can do, right?"

"True, it's not like they'll fight instead of Japan."

Perhaps because Japan collapsed unexpectedly greatly? For breaking splendid isolation, Britain still has no reaction. I see it as a lull.

'It'll be hard to completely oppose. If they do the Far Eastern structure will spread in all directions.'

Germany liking Russia's southward advance.

France observing.

Britain opposing.

This formula applies exactly the same not just in the Far East, but in the Balkans and West Asia.

Pan-Slavism spreading in eastern Balkans.

Ottoman Empire defeated in Russo-Turkish War.

Here too Britain detests it while France closes eyes and Germany gives standing ovation calling the Ottoman Empire an infidel 'evil'.

So I believe if this structure doesn't spread toward Europe at least, Britain will stop at accepting Far Eastern hegemony or light checks.

America? America already 'Monroe-d' out of the Britain-America-Japan trilateral diplomatic alliance themselves.

The evidence is another draft brought by Witte who was sent to conduct peace negotiations.

"War Secretary Taft is coming as special envoy?"

"Then we'll probably make a proper secret agreement. The content being, if our empire guarantees their sovereignty over the Philippines, they'll also guarantee Russian Empire's sovereignty over Korea and Manchuria."

"They abandoned Britain and Japan."

"Were they ever one?"

"Guess not."

Russia boldly pulled out a secret agreement with the country of Monroe Doctrine that couldn't even present a business card of isolationism.

'The original history's Katsura-Taft Agreement became like this.'

Whoever becomes East Asian hegemon, they just don't want their own rice bowl taken.

Comprehensively concluding, I evaluate that I achieved Far Eastern hegemony stably compared to what was quite a difficult war.

There's no immediate military threat, and with Japan the shield blocking Russia on the frontlines gone, no power dares point fingers.

Korea is independent only in shell and will undergo Russification over quite a long time, and the East Asian trade market between Japan-Russia-Qing has also newly opened.

Maybe this can somewhat rival Western Europe's growth for the next 20 years.

Having overcome one bout of measles, considering war clouds don't hang like in the Balkans or Europe, it might be even more stable.

While checking things gained, lost, and needed to do one by one after the war's end like that.

From some day I was caught in quite a strange emotion. More precisely, it would be accurate to say I noticed my state.

The one who noticed my state faster than anyone was Witte who handles practical affairs meeting faces daily without missing a day.

"Your Majesty, do you have some worry?"

"Does it look that way even to the Prime Minister?"

"Great matters always follow after such a serious atmosphere. You'll order me anyway so please speak comfortably."

How should I express this.

No, exactly what do I want to do now?

Yes, this is a will that I know very well from countless studies but am experiencing for the first time.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

I know it so well academically but actually feeling it for the first time, I'm confused by this subtle emotion.

After briefly pondering how to verbally convey this feeling, this sensation, to the Prime Minister before me, I decided to speak as directly as possible.

Continue reading stories on empire

"Witte."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Do you know what I want to do now?"

"I don't know."

Witte's impassive face like he was confident nothing would surprise him whatever orders came down. He seemed to have steeled himself.

"Until now I've thought Britain, France, Germany, even America were dirty imperialists. I thought they abandoned human nature and were desperate to fill their selfishness while enslaving other peoples."

Did grandfather's extreme hatred of the slave system of serfdom pass down to me too?

I thought this country with me as Tsar was different from them, at least not building a colonial empire.

In other words, I prided myself that my moral sense was nobler and more modern than those dirty imperialist rulers.

"But you know what? Do you know where my desire points now?"

"...I don't know."

To Witte who seemed a bit more tense than before, I honestly spoke the feelings I felt.

"Right now I want to. 'Guide' that Qing."

"..."

"Do you understand?"

After beating the enemy in war, a bigger spoon than others is placed in my hand.

The appetizing Chinese continent lies before my eyes.

The fundamental ideology of all powerful nations in this era.

Imperialism.

Like the Japanese Empire in the original history.

I too was not free from desire like the flow of the times.