Chapter 170:


    Chapter 170


    Roosevelt seemed to be anxious.


    [Comrade Stalin, when did you seed in creating that amazing weapon? Is your previous promise to join the war against Japan still valid? How much has the Soviet Unions diplomatic position changed from before?]


    Hahaha President Roosevelt, I only want to maintain a good rtionship with my best friend, America.


    [Unfortunately, America may find it hard to think of the Soviet Union as a friend anymore. Friendship sadly, friendship is only possible when the powers are simr, dont you think? If the Soviet Union can destroy America at any time]


    But I had no intention of turning against America.


    America was still the worlds strongest power, and only America didnt know that.


    Even Roosevelt, who had some idea of Americas tremendous national strength, couldntpare the economic scale of America and other countries urately.


    The countries that started the world war.


    That is, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, plus China and Japan, couldnt match Americas economic scale.


    In the actual history of 1945, America alone ounted for nearly half of the worlds GDP.


    Now, if the Soviet Union, which had received a lot of aid from America and inted its weight enormously, were to be added to the rest of the great powers, it might barely catch up with America.


    America still boasted a formidable economic power without any loss of territory, and the Soviet Union didnt need to antagonize America and pursue hegemony.


    Do you think so, President Roosevelt? The Soviet Union will never destroy our good friends, the Americans. No matter what weapon we have, that will not change. If I order an attack on America, my subordinate General Zhukov might stage a coup! Hahaha!


    [Hahaha Why is that?]


    Thats because he has be a body that cant live without Coca-C. Many of the Soviet people will be like that. We have focused on the military industry, so we need the wonderful things that America makes. A war with America would be tantamount to starving our people to death!


    [Hahahahaha! That was very funny this time. Anyway, I understand what you said, Comrade Stalin. It would be nice if the Soviet army could help us as an ally to finish off Japan. It seems that the blood of our American youth would flow less.]


    It wasnt a joke.


    Roosevelt didnt have to ask, Japan had to be hit anyway.


    To expand our influence in the Far East and tear apart the puppet states in the future.


    Of course. The Soviet army is always ready well, but its inevitable that we need a month of maintenance after a huge war. I promise you. The Soviet army will definitely join the war against Japan!


    [Im d to hear that, Comrade Stalin.]


    If you want, the Soviet Union is willing to transfer technology to America rted to weapon development.


    [Is that really?!]


    Roosevelt seemed to jump out of the phone.


    In the actual history, the Manhattan Project hadnt even seeded in the nuclear bomb experiment yet.


    In that situation, he would offer to teach the secret of the nuclear weapon that couldnt be bought with any money.


    He would want to get it even if he had to sell his soul.


    But I knew.


    When the Manhattan Project would seed, and how much it would cost.


    Of course! But it may take a little time for our researchers to organize the relevant data. We need a lot of things to rebuild the ruined country and revive the nation


    [gulp.]


    I heard Roosevelt swallow his saliva. He seemed to want to change the subject, but it didnt matter.


    I want to offset the payment for the lend-lease materials and get some economic aid, is that possible?


    [Well ahem Ill consult with them.]


    I hope to hear the results of your consultation soon. There was an opinion in our Politburo to transfer the actual weapon, but I dont know what will happen


    [Ill let you know very soon! Very soon! Well then]


    He must have rushed to convene a cab meeting.


    Molotov, who was standing in front of me, looked at me with a look of doubt.


    Of course, he didnt know the situation between them and us.


    The Manhattan Project ah, this is Americas nuclear weapon development project. Anyway, theyve roughly made more than half of the progress.


    The first nuclear test, <Trinity>, was in July of 1945.


    It was January of 1944 now, so the project that started in June of 1942 had literallye halfway.


    The money spent on this Manhattan Project was only 2 billion dors.


    It was a huge amount of money, equivalent to 30 trillion won in current value, but the amount that the Soviet Union had received from lend-lease was much more than that.


    In the actual history, it was 11 billion dors, and here, although it wasnt exactly counted, it was much more since we received it much earlier.


    It was something we could pay off and get away with for only a fifth of the price!


    Of course, the actual Soviet Union postponed the payment and ran away. That also contributed to the deterioration of the smiley diplomatic rtions.


    Roughly speaking, this would be the case. We would not pay the lend-lease payment, receive a lot of aid, rebuild our economy, make a ssh, and influence the international rtions reorganization, in exchange for giving America a little early nuclear weapon.


    It was a pity to lose the status of the only nuclear weapon possessor, but anyway, America could develop nuclear weapons on its own.


    I wanted to hand it over quickly before the rice cake in my hand broke.


    Anyway, well just have to stall them while we give it to them. Right?


    That thats true, but


    Molotov seemed to be hesitant, but he seemed to ept it.


    Honestly, it was better for the Soviet Union, which had fought a huge war, to find a diplomatic solution rather than a direct confrontation with America.


    Even if we boasted loudly with nuclear weapons, if we loaded them on bombers and went to the American continent, the Soviet Union would be beaten up like Germany!


    Lets ask for a big amount of aid. 40 billion dors for 5 years! Something like that.


    Really? Can we ask for that much?


    Well, lets bluff at first. Say that this one can blow up a city worth billions. Hahaha! Even if we eat half of it, its a profit for us, right?


    Half thats still 20 billion dors, Comrade Stalin.


    America can afford that much. Now, isnt it time?


    The time was pointing to four oclock. Molotov still seemed to be wavering, but I knew the rough numbers.


    The Marshall n was 13 billion for 4 years


    It was the amount of money that America spent to put Western Europe in its palm.


    China ate 6 billion dors of that.


    Even if the 40 billion was just a bluff, we could still suck up all of Americas foreign aid with half of that!


    If we could get this money from America, rebuilding our devastatednd and rising to the top would not be a dream.


    We had taken over Germany and France, and half of Italy and the Low Countries, as well as the Balkans and Turkey, were under the Soviet sphere of influence.


    If we sprinkled half of the aid money under the Soviet name in this sphere of influence we could literally create an iron curtain.


    From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic


    Huh? Stettin?


    Oh, never mind.


    Winston Churchill had used that phrase in his famous <Iron Curtain> speech in the actual history. He said that the Soviet influence had spread from Pnd to the Balkans!


    But now, that iron curtain would be the English Channel and the Pyrenees, and the Tiber River***!


    Ha, I felt like I was flying.


    Especially when I thought of where I was heading.


    Molotov arrived at the destination and bowed briefly to me before entering the room. I headed to a small door a little away from that door.


    Inside, there were people I had specially invited.


    Ah, Zhukov, Beria. Basilievsky, youre here too? Sit down, General Chuikov.


    Yes, Comrade Stalin.


    This sight you wont see it again even if you pay money. Look at it a lot now. Ehehehehehe


    The room was small and cozy. There was a big and soft-looking chair in the middle, and four chairs were lined up. Facing one side of the room with a ss window.


    What is this?


    Ah! Dont worry. They cant see us from over there.


    Through the ss window, I could see Molotov sitting down. Their voices were yed back to this side through the microphone.


    Who is that?


    Hes the Japanese ambassador, Naotake Sato. Hahaha he begged for an interview with Minister Molotov


    A white-bearded Japanese with a friendly face and half-bald head sat down, sweating profusely. Molotov refused to shake hands and started talking bluntly.


    What is your purpose, Ambassador?


    Well its nothing but the reconfirmation of the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact. The term of the treaty is five years


    The Soviet Union has no intention of renewing the current Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact.


    He seemed to have expected it, but he was shocked by hearing it directly. Sato gasped and coughed. Molotov didnt bother to wait politely, but he was still blunt.


    The Soviet Union has been seriously threatened by Japans imperialist expansion in the Far East. The Japanese Empire joined Germany, which invaded the Soviet Union, and formed the Axis alliance, andmitted acts of aggression that vited internationalw.


    Gulp, gah wait just a moment!


    "Japans crimes against humanity in China, Korea, Manchuria and elsewhere are well known. The Soviet Union can no longer tolerate these war crimes, and Japan wants to propose the following treaty.


    The Japanese Empire can agree to extend the mutual non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. The deadline we propose is four weeks from today."


    Molotov threw a heavy pile of paper on Satos desk.


    Sato had no time to argue about the diplomatic rudeness. He hurriedly looked at the treaty, wondering what the Soviet Union was demanding. He sighed and put down the treaty.


    All the colonies and inds upied by war on the continent, Taiwan, Ryukyu no, Okinawa, Sakhalin, the Kuril Inds, Hokkaido this is practically leaving only the Japanese maind, isnt it?


    Read more.


    and for the other inds and territories, they will follow the decision of the trusteeship authority. In other words, any part can be decided by this trusteeship authority, right?


    In other words, yes.


    The trusteeship authority consists of ah, the Soviet Union, the United States, China, Britain


    Yes.


    Sato pushed the treaty slightly toward Molotov with a trembling wrist.


    But Molotov pushed the treaty back to Sato.


    Read more.


    When he snapped his fingers, the guard who had been standing still like a lead doll put a ss of water in front of Sato.


    Sato still shakily picked up the ss and gulped it down. His hand trembled and water droplets sshed on his cheek and chest, but he seemed to have no room to care about that.


    Next chapter.


    !


    Now his hands, eyes, and teeth began to tremble. Molotov seemed to be interested in the sight of his teeth ttering and his pupils shaking.


    The abolition of the emperor and the international trial of the war criminal Hirohito! What is this! This is an outrageous demand! This is not interference in internal affairs?


    Ambassador Sato, you have two choices.


    Let me hear them.


    Molotov rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and began to read. Sato, who looked like he was about to jump out of his seat with a flushed face, and Molotov, who only said what he wanted without caring, made aical contrast.


    Your protest is meaningless. The Soviet Union has no intention of changing the treaty it rmended, regardless of any measures taken by the Japanese Empire. And personally, to you


    All you have left is your personal dignity. I advise you to keep it.