Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 68 Change of Offense and Defense (4)

In a situation where even the slightest hope of reversing victory and defeat had disappeared, the government couldn't stop the falling bond prices.

"7% interest, no, 8%! Selling at a loss!"

"Get lost! You buy a lot!"

Imperial Headquarters also no longer put strategies and tactics on Itō's desk.

Instead, they brought up different talk.

"Prime Minister, we must agree to an armistice now to save the remaining troops."

"What could be more important than human life?"

"That's right. First we must save people according to the law."

Those who had proudly presented operations pledging sacrifice and driving reserves into hell now worry about human lives. It wasn't even funny.

As even Imperial Headquarters completely turned to war impossibility, Itō became increasingly isolated.

Then one memory flashed through his head.

The proposals he made to the Tsar based on latitude during their talks.

'Back then. Should I have accepted it back then.'

Since his Crown Prince days, he had consistently not shown great greed toward Korea.

If they hadn't drawn swords, they might have been able to swallow more than half of Korea without shedding a drop of blood.

But what meaning do such assumptions have now?

For him who started and lost the war, all that remained was to surrender and gloriously burn away.

"...Foreign Minister Takaaki."

"Yes, Prime Minister."

"Prepare surrender negotiations."

"Understood."

Already beneath the surface, talk must be going around about the cabinet after his departure.

Probably Saionji Kinmochi, President of the Privy Council, would be likely.

The final role of one of the greatest monsters in Japanese politics, a four-term prime minister, was now just to endure all shame and humiliation and vacate his position.

==

When the archipelago began realizing reality one by one and collective depression lowered the temperature by about 1 degree.

All of Russia shook at Japan's official surrender negotiation proposal.

"We won! We won!"

"The war is over!"

"Long live His Majesty the Tsar!"

No longer the past of repeated decision victories and defeats even with that barbaric Ottoman Empire.

If he could go back to St. Petersburg 10 years ago, he would want to shout with all his might to those who mocked him.

That he was right.

That he finally did it.

If you have two eyes, open them properly and see!

The achievements accomplished by this Nikolai Christianovich Bunge! The finally proven results!

But he was too old. No, his era had ended long ago.

He was just an old man forcibly causing trouble by squeezing into the flowing next generation.

Nevertheless, Bunge now.

"Hu, huhuh!"

Was happy. Laughter came out. He couldn't hold it back.

Ah, perhaps. Really perhaps his entire life was for this moment?

Though his body had aged shabbily, now he felt he could finally spread his shoulders proudly.

"Haa, haa."

Though the sound from his throat wasn't loud, it felt like Bunge's loudest scream since birth.

"Haa... bureaucrats..."

"Yes, we're all here!"

"Chairman, please speak!"

Bunge thought. He hoped they could taste even a fragment of this ecstasy he felt.

This was probably something only a tiny minority could taste even betting their life like himself.

In that sense, he was blessed.

"...This is. My life..."

Were his ears this dim before? Their mouths keep moving but he can't hear well.

Ah, now no lingering attachment, regret, anger or slightest disappointment remained in his life.

"Keek, played well... Then farewell..."

'I go first.'

Did his mouth move when he spoke his last words?

He didn't hear the sound.

Ah, is that because my ears are deaf?

Ah I don't know.

Relieved.

Truly relieved.

So very relie-