I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 721 Why Don’t You Become the Tsar?

For most Koreans, merging with Russia is the best option for Goryeo.

At the very least, Goryeo should cling to Russia's thighs, just like the Kingdom of Bulgaria and the Kingdom of Romania in the Balkans, and become Russia's most loyal allies in East Asia, in order to ensure Goryeo's long-term interests.

For Li Tuo, the fact that his proposal was rejected and love turned into hate was not enough to turn him against Russia, at least this reason was unspeakable.

What really made Li Tuo resentful was that Goryeo gained almost nothing in the world war except for hundreds of thousands of well-trained troops.

As an ally of Russia, not to mention the Kingdom of Bulgaria, given the relationship between Boris and George, Li Tuo could understand how George took care of the Kingdom of Bulgaria.

Although the Greek Kingdom was driven out of the Asia Minor Peninsula, it was due to the Greeks' own reasons.

At the Paris Peace Conference, the Kingdom of Romania gained Transylvania and Transcarpathia, doubling its land area.

Referring to what the Romanian Kingdom had gained, it would not be excessive for Goryeo to ask for Germany's privileges in the East, right?
Russia did not support Korea's request because Japan also demanded Germany's privileges in the East.

This is the real reason why Li Tuo defected to the British.

Li Tuo has received a promise from the British that if Goryeo and Russia cut ties, Li Tuo will receive support from Britain.

Through Guchkov's secret police, George also learned a mystery: Li Tuo himself may have lost his fertility.

After learning about this situation, Li Tuo's abnormal behavior finally had a reasonable explanation.

There are three unfilial acts: not having descendants is the worst.

Especially for a king.

One of the important reasons why the relationship between Alex and the Russian aristocracy was irreconcilable was that the hemophilia Alex carried contaminated the royal genes.

After Li Tuo succeeded to the throne, he made his younger brother Li Eun the crown prince.

Born in 1897, Lee Eun is 23 years old this year and also served in the Russian Army as a member of the Gaoil Corps.

Unlike Li Tuo, Li Eun, who was educated in Vladivostok since childhood, still has deep feelings for Vladivostok.

Li Eun did not approve of Goryeo's lawsuit against Russia. Because of a fierce quarrel with Li Tuo, Li Eun was placed under house arrest by Li Tuo.

On July 7, a group of Goryeo military officers came to the prince's palace where Lee Eun was under house arrest and asked to see Lee Eun.

The officer in charge of guarding the prince's palace was also a member of the Gaori Corps.

After learning the officers' purpose, the officers guarding the prince's palace took the initiative to open the palace gate. A group of people came to Li Eun in a mighty manner and demanded that Li Eun ascend the throne immediately.

Although Li Eun opposed breaking with Russia, he did not want to rebel against his brother.

The military officers forced Lee Eun to wear the yellow robe without any explanation, and escorted Lee Eun to Gyeongbokgung Palace, forcing Lee Tak to pass the throne to Lee Eun.

"Are you going to oppose me too?"

Li Tuo never expected that even Li Eun would rebel.

Li Yin had no way to defend himself.

A Goryeo officer suddenly pulled out a gun and shot at Li Tuo. Li Tuo was hit by six bullets and fell in a pool of blood.

Before anyone else could react, the officer turned the gun toward his own head and pulled the trigger.

When the news reached Constantinople, George had a new understanding of the madness of the Koreans.

This is not surprising.

When Nicholas was assassinated in Japan, a completely unrelated Japanese committed suicide in front of Nicholas' residence in order to obtain Russia's forgiveness.

The Koreans and Japanese have their own understanding of sacrificing one's life for a just cause.

The same thing can lead to different conclusions in the eyes of different people. There are a thousand Shakespeares in the eyes of a thousand Hamlets.

When power changed in Goryeo, George saw people dying for their country, but Vasily saw people wearing yellow robes.

It turns out that a coup can be carried out this way!

At the end of July, the Russian military continued to hold military exercises in Rivne.

In addition to the Russian army, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece all sent troops to participate in this year's exercise, and George also came to Crimea to preside over it in person.

In last year's confrontation exercise, the Amur Military District and the Warsaw Military District won the final victory, which made Vasily very dissatisfied.

Andrei did cheat. Relying on his special relationship with the Amur military-industrial system, the equipment of the Amur Military District's participating troops was more advanced than that of the Balkan Military District.

George introduced new regulations this year, requiring all participating troops to use weapons and equipment of the same model.

Vasily held his breath and was determined to avenge his previous defeat in this year's exercise.

However, the Balkan Military District’s opponent this year is the Warsaw Military District. If Vasily wants to seek revenge on Andrei, he will have to wait at least until the year after next.

Although there was competition between Vasily and Brusinov, Andrei, Ruzynski and others, the relationship between them was still very good.

On the day of arriving in Rovno, Vasily took the initiative to hold a banquet and invited Brusinov, Andrei, Ruzysky, Peter and Kolchak respectively.

After Li Tuo's death, Li Eun succeeded to the throne and became the King of Goryeo.

"Li Tuo is a complete lunatic. I've known for a long time that he's not normal."

Vasily took the initiative to bring up the topic.

Brusinov and Andrei approved.

Luziski has no feelings at all, who is Li Tuo?
During the World War, there were too many princes in the Balkan war zone. Ruzynski only joined the Balkan Legion in the later period and did not know Li Tuo at all.

Peter and Kolchak were not concerned about Korea either. During the exercise, they planned to advise George to strengthen the Russian Navy's dominant position in the Mediterranean.

Although Russia has gained access to the Atlantic Ocean, it is difficult for the Russian Navy to gain an advantageous position against the Royal Navy.

In East Asia, the dominant position of the Russian Navy has also been strongly challenged by the US Navy.

Compared with these two regions, the Mediterranean is related to Russia's core interests and must ensure its dominant position. After the end of World War II, Russia announced a new shipbuilding plan to release a smokescreen.

Peter and Kolchak felt uncomfortable because outsiders didn't know what the new plan was about.

There are no battleships in the new plan, and there is only one aircraft carrier. The several 10,000-ton warships that have been built are all auxiliary ships such as transport ships and hospital ships.

"Impossible, it's not the Grand Duke's turn to decide on this matter."

Brusinov is not optimistic.

The navy wanted battleships, and the army wanted new armored vehicles.

Compared with battleships, cheaper armored vehicles have to be replaced in batches.

"The people in the State Duma are all rubbish!"

Peter swore loudly.

"If only the Grand Duke were the Tsar—"

Vasily sighed softly.

Brusinov and Andrei exchanged glances, but no one spoke.

After Lee Eun ascended the throne, the group of military officers who forced Lee Eun to ascend the throne are now all nobles.

Even the officer who killed Li Tuo and then committed suicide was posthumously conferred the title of earl, and the title was hereditary.

During the imperial era, Vasily's title was Duke.

Based on the achievements of Brusinov and others, if it were still the imperial era, they would all be qualified to be granted the title of duke.

Who doesn’t want to get a hereditary amulet for future generations?

George arrived in Rivne three days later.

The exercise went smoothly, with the Balkan Military District and the Caucasus Military District emerging as winners, while the Amur Military District and the Warsaw Military District, which had performed well in the previous exercise, were badly ravaged.

Vasily was very proud and showed off to Andrei in person.

There was no trace of shame on Andre's face.

Vasily was curious, is he so disrespectful?

Vasily soon found out why Andrei was shameless.

This spring, the Amur Military District made adjustments and concentrated its best officers and soldiers into the Vladivostok Armored Division, which did not participate in this year's exercises at all.

George had to let Andre know the seriousness of the consequences of this behavior, so Andre punished himself by drinking three glasses of wine at the celebration party.

No more, any more and George's sister will get angry.

"Shameless! Despicable! Shameless!"

Vasily started cursing, saying what relatives or not, he had no shame at all.

Andre smiled. Now he feels sad?

After last year's competition, the Ministry of National Defense issued an official document to promote all the winners of the competition, leaving the military commanders speechless.

Not only should we not stop this, but we must also support it with all our tears.

George reiterated that the principle of conscription is based on personal wishes, and if one wants to stay in his or her place of origin, personal decisions must be respected.

The commanders felt a little relieved. If this was the case, there would be a lot of room for maneuver.

Although raising the Ministry of National Defense is a good thing, not everyone wants to be the last one in the line.

After the end of the World War, officers above the Constantinople Division could form a division.

Although they are all generals, they can only be department heads in the Ministry of National Defense and do some clerical work, but when they are transferred to local areas, they become powerful provincial governors.

This is not a difficult choice.

On the last day of the exercise, George called Vasily over and reminded him not to go against the trend.

George knew all about Vasily's little tricks and really thought that the secret police under Guchkov were freeloaders.

Vasily also married George's sister, who had shares in Yuriev's family business. Even if Vasily did not hold any public office, Vasily's children would not have to worry about their livelihood just by relying on the dividends from the family business.

The Tsar is so good, why not just not be one?
"If you want to be Tsar, I don't mind you taking the throne."

George used his ultimate move. Whoever wanted to be the Tsar could do it, but George definitely wouldn't do it.

"Come on, I don't have that ability."

Vasily knew his own weight.

Prince Suvorov's influence existed only in the military, and to a large extent it had been replaced by Grand Duke Yuriev.

Being an emperor is certainly fun for a while, but look at what happened to the kings of various countries in the world wars.

In the Russian Empire, Nicholas' family is still missing.

Kaiser Wilhelm II went into exile in the Netherlands, spurned by all Germans.

As soon as the old emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire died, the empire fell apart, and now Austria has become a third-rate country in Europe.

The Ottoman Empire was even worse off. Just after driving out the Italians and Greeks, before Muhammad VI could breathe a sigh of relief, the Ottoman Empire fell into civil war.

Mehmed VI is currently in the UK. He wrote a letter to Mustafa Kemal, voluntarily giving up the throne and hoping to return to Ottoman life.

Unfortunately, his letter fell on deaf ears and received no response.

(End of this chapter)