章節 3: Contact Incident (2)
The Gonan Incident.
Later known as the Otsu Incident, this wasn't just a simple assassination attempt.
It was an attempt by Tsuda Sanzo, a Japanese police officer, to slash and kill Russia's future ruler who came as a state guest.
In other words, this wasn't an attack by communist terrorists or anti-government forces.
It could be plainly seen as the Japanese Empire attacking the Russian Empire.
To this, I added one nasty background detail.
"...Is this how my grandfather also died? To such blind weapons?"
"Your Highness..."
"What became of the people's will back then?"
"Based on the confessions of those caught at the time, they were all exterminated."
"Yes, that's right."
It was our father who carried out the revenge against those revolutionaries.
Ah, what an appropriate incident to express the Tsar's rage.
Both personally and nationally, if we were to read a declaration of war in Moscow tomorrow, the whole world would nod and agree, 'Indeed, these monkeys deserve to die!'
Regardless of race, that's how the times are. Both the Japanese Empire and Russia are absolute monarchies. Except for America, all other great powers are in an era of monarchs.
But they tried to kill the crown prince, and with a sword when he was unarmed, by a police officer?
Even if you blamed Japan as being behind it, they'd have nothing to say.
For just a sword mark on my forehead, I got quite a good hand.
"Your Highness, the Japanese side wants to board the ship for treatment and apology-"
"Tell them I've collapsed."
Immediately returning to the cruiser Memory of Azov using treatment as an excuse, I pondered the broader situation from my narrow cabin.
The Russian and Japanese Empires. What exactly is the power balance between these two countries?
First, Russia. With decades of military buildup, they can instantly mobilize an army of 3 million and have the world's third-largest naval force.
Meanwhile, current Japan... Before the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, they haven't received technology transfers. They're even struggling with building their own cruisers.
Of course, this is just on the surface, and considering that the Russian Empire's military power is concentrated in Europe, war is nonsensical.
Even winning wouldn't really be winning.
Instead, threats are possible. For example, harassing them over Korea or Qing matters.
'But this too would likely end up being mutually destructive.'
The antagonism between Russia and Japan in the Far East might cause miracles like those other islander friends far away wearing kimonos and dancing the Cossack dance in banquet halls.
While that sight would be quite impressive, we can't strangle the empire's lifeline just to see it.
Therefore, I have no intention of escalating this incident. Nor should it be escalated.
But that's just rational talk.
"We must be full of emotion."
It's not just an assassination attempt but an attempt on a crown prince state guest? Moreover, the victim crown prince and Greek prince subdued him, and the attacker was a police officer?
No country in the world would just say 'Oh dear! Fighting would do us no good, so let's forget about it!' and let this slide.
If they did, World War I wouldn't have happened.
"Your Highness, it's the Admiral."
"Admiral Romen? Come in."
As I gave permission, Romen Nikolai Nikolaevich entered.
He was the leader of the six ships deployed for the world tour and the person responsible for my safety.
"Your Highness, are you alright..."
"Admiral, there's nothing to worry about. Just a slight cut on my forehead."
"The physician said if it had been deeper near the head, it could have been life-threatening."
"But it wasn't."
"Your Highness. I heard you staggered back..."
"That was just to show them I was hurt."
Why would I stagger when I didn't even lose much blood?
I used the excuse of being physically and mentally weakened from shock, but I heard Prince Takehito was causing a fuss among his aides, worried I might die. That's exactly the reaction I wanted.
"I guarantee this incident won't affect the Admiral."
"My family, despite appearances, are all generals residing in the capital. Don't worry about me."
Ah, right. Being assigned to my world tour, of course he'd be from a good background. Wasn't Admiral Romen's father a major general?
"More importantly, I have something to ask. You said you'd put me in charge of contact with the Japanese side instead of your aides..."
"Ah, that."
My aides. That is, the few people who stuck close to me during this trip, playing with me when bored, reading books together, and eating meals together.
'While they're from noble or high-ranking families... well.'
The first problem with the original history's Nikolai.
He's too nice.
No, beyond nice, he's a pushover.
Such a pushover that he's easily swayed by those around him, to the point of standing by when Prince George, who saved his life, was framed and expelled from Russia.
I understand. Having no friends since childhood, being educated alone instead of at school, and his father nearly killing the social scene by banning parties and festivals. He must be starved for human affection.
However, the hikikomori who mocked this frustrating history from his room didn't need friends.
"They're just around my age, so it feels a bit delicate for them to get involved in such a big incident. Since this concerns my safety, it's more appropriate for the Admiral to step in, don't you think?"
"About that, you added strange requests. Telling me to act furiously angry and like we might leave immediately..."
"Exactly. I don't want to appear magnanimous. I want to leave room for this incident to grow."
"Your Highness, the Far East is currently in a very delicate situation. China and Korea are in turmoil, and we've only expanded to the Far East for half a century."
"I know, I know well. But that's just the realistic view."
Admiral Romen spits out exactly what I was just thinking about.
However, again, that's just pure reason talking.
"I am the Crown Prince of the Russian Empire. And that Crown Prince nearly died."
"...Do you want war?"
"Come now, surely I'm not that crazy."
"Then perhaps showing magnanimity might not be bad for future relations in Asia."
"Sigh, what to do when you can't understand."
Seeing Admiral Romen's persistent attempts to persuade me, I decided to drop the pretense of noble blood with a sigh.
"Admiral Romen."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I want to extort money. Understand? I want to receive massive compensation from this Japanese Empire."
Getting slashed and just laughing it off?
Even insurance fraud while lying down wouldn't be enough, what's this talk about being a pushover?
"So, you're telling me to go out there now as your representative and extort money from them-"
"Yes. That's right."
Still, it wouldn't look good for a crown prince to directly demand money face to face. So you, as a military man, go threaten them.
While mentioning war and such.
I know. I know, Admiral Romen knows, and Prince Takehito knows too.
That Russia has just started basic construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and doesn't have the power to send large-scale forces to the Far East.
But, but what if Russia really declared war?
When relations between Russia and Japan are already bad because of their poking around in Korea?
'And that's where the Admiral comes in as representative.'
Just sit there and keep demanding four dollars. They'll apologize at first and then jump around, but I don't think I'll accept.
Because while I might be an unremarkable, weak crown prince, my father is quite different.
"...Well, can you do it?"
"I, I should first inform St. Petersburg-"
"Hey now, why are you like this? This happened in Otsu, why bring in the imperial capital?"
"..."
I don't want to pass this up to the higher-ups, and I want to settle this here, but if it doesn't end here, things won't just get a little bigger, they'll get absolutely massive.
Admiral Romen, who had been staring at me for a moment without answering as if questioning my sincerity.
I asked back instead.
"Can you do it?"
"...Yes."
When speaking this directly, I immediately get the answer I want.
"Now then, go intimidate that fearful country. What I want is written on the paper I gave you earlier."
"Hmm..."
Though Admiral Romen tilted his head slightly until the moment he left, not fully understanding, it's fine.
True to his military family background, his eyes looked quite sharp under his deeply worn hat. His appearance made him perfect for the job.
And originally, the main duty of military men in this era is extortion.
I had no doubt about his success.
==
The day of the attempted assassination of the Russian Crown Prince.
"F-Fucked! This is really... fucked!"
After Tsuda Shinzo was arrested, Takehito remained at the scene, trembling uncontrollably.
This wasn't just because of the assassination attempt.
Unlike his father, he had... The Crown Prince who had openly shown goodwill, saying the peace in the Far East was all thanks to Japan, including Korea, suddenly changed.
His body staggering and head covered in blood...
'F-Father said he was right.'
Several interpreters at the scene approached Takehito, repeatedly confirming the Crown Prince's final words.
Who was the Crown Prince's father, Alexander III?
A war monarch known for continuously expanding the Russian Empire's territory and a soldier to the bone.
Known to be two heads taller than normal people, even in his homeland, there's a famous story of him single-handedly lifting a train roof to save his family.
It was shocking enough that the innocent Crown Prince had changed, but if this incident reached the Tsar's ears?
'...It could lead to war.'
Though as a prince he didn't know much about diplomacy or politics, having been in the military, he knew one thing for certain.
If they fought Russia, the Japanese Empire would be split into as many pieces as there are islands.
They assigned six iron ships just for the Crown Prince's journey, but what if the European Baltic Fleet and Black Sea Fleet came?
"Ah, aah..."
This was beyond what a mere prince could handle. Though it had already left his hands, the problem might be unsolvable even for those in higher positions.
Such an incident had occurred.
All because of one policeman selected from the Moriyama Police Station for security.
"Uwaah, aaaah!"
Though he couldn't understand why such a bastard was recruited to wear a police uniform and swing a sword, Prince Takehito felt his head hurt more than Crown Prince Nikolai who had been slashed.
After shouting in rage and his head clearing somewhat.
Seeing the sword stuck in the rickshaw, he realized this wasn't the time to be shouting here.
He needed to find the Crown Prince who had returned to his ship instead of his lodgings right after the incident.
He had to meet him, whether to beg until his fingerprints wore off or to wail.
'The incident mustn't grow bigger. If it does, I won't be free from responsibility either!'
It should end at the Crown Prince's level at least, it shouldn't involve the higher-ups, meaning Alexander III.
The moment he goes berserk, the incident will instantly reach Tokyo.
So he had to meet the Crown Prince before anyone else.
He needed to at least check if he was alright.
However, when Takehito arrived at Shiga Port, who he met wasn't the Crown Prince.
"A-Admiral. Is the Crown Prince alright now?"
"He collapsed as soon as he reached the deck. It seems the tension released once he reached safety. The physician says the shock was not small, so we don't know when he'll wake up..."
"Ah, aah..."
"From now on, I, the Admiral leading this fleet, will endure anything to fulfill the Tsar's protection orders."
"What do you-"
"Therefore. Get off the deck. This is my final warning."
Clear hostility.
The eyes of Admiral Romen that Takehito saw were full of determination to do anything for the Crown Prince's safety.
Crown Prince Nikolai who had completely collapsed and sailors guarding the deck in full armor.
Takehito wished he had been slashed instead.
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