I Became the Last Princess of the Brown Bear Kingdom

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Tsaritsyn

Stalin probably never expected this.

That the princess herself would lead the White Army.

But, I had to do it.

Because the morale of the White Army must be lifted.

Of course, if those guys find out, they might be eager to kill the princess, but as long as they’re holed up in Tsaritsyn, they won’t know until we gain the upper hand.

“Are you saying the princess personally came here?”

Krasnov, who was in charge of the siege of Tsaritsyn, showed me the respect due to royalty.

I wonder how history is turning.

Pyotr Wrangel also arrived in Tsaritsyn leading Anton Denikin’s army.

This was possible because the Czechoslovak Legion and the great powers had set up a communication network.

If we can lead the Tsaritsyn battle to victory, it will connect to Southern Russia, which could press the Soviets harder compared to actual history.

“The defense of Yekaterinburg has been entrusted to General Gaida, so it’s all right.”

Gaida’s Czech Legion should be able to sufficiently defend Yekaterinburg.

Moreover, surely even Lenin wouldn’t have anticipated that a seventeen-year-old princess with no blood on her hands would personally intervene.

So this battle is important.

We’ll crush the butcher Stalin and retake Tsaritsyn.

Maybe in this timeline, Trotsky will become Lenin’s successor.

“Princess, the enemy’s defenses are solid. Quite solid. We have besieged them, but…”

“Of course. Those guys will gamble everything on this. They can’t let Southern Russia connect with Yekaterinburg.”

Krasnov’s words were correct.

They’ve dug trench lines in that city and deployed troops.

Trench warfare is long and tedious attrition.

As long as the attack goes on, it’s a drag for the attackers, but for the defenders, it’s not bad as they can grind down their enemies.

In actual history, it wasn’t until later that the White Army weakened during Stalin’s cosmic defense that they managed to retake Tsaritsyn.

I don’t know if Stalin engaged in trench warfare back then.

At a time when the White Army couldn’t conquer, Kolchak’s White Army couldn’t link up with Southern Russian White Army.

“How about reinforcing the siege and urging them to surrender?”

“No. We can’t draw out the Tsaritsyn battle for too long. Waiting for them to self-destruct through siege only gives the enemy time.”

“Then there’s no encouragement to surrender?”

“Our side’s situation is too urgent for that. We need to inflict as much damage as possible with our military capabilities before they come to their senses.”

No way could Stalin accept a proposal for surrender.

I suspect that by now, he might be in a fierce argument over who will succeed Lenin and Trotsky.

Considering he’s in a much worse position than the Soviet Union.

In tough situations, power disputes are bound to arise.

At least, he might think he can lead this Soviet better than you.

It was Lev Trotsky who initially organized the Red Army.

Trotsky may indeed be behind the attack on Yekaterinburg.

In actual history, the execution of the Romanov family has remained controversial.

Whether heavyweights like Lenin or Trotsky ordered it, or whether it was planned independently by the Ural Soviet.

However, given the current situation, I wonder if a guy like Trotsky is issuing commands from the shadows.

At least, Stalin seized the moment like a fox and quickly eliminated Trotsky before rising to the secretary position.

If Trotsky was responsible for the attack on Yekaterinburg, then the battle of Tsaritsyn would mark Stalin’s debut.

Not a chance.

In this history, Steel Mustache shall not live long as a great leader of the Soviet Union.

I’ll let that butcher from Georgia meet his end.

“Then.”

“Let’s smash the trenches with tanks.”

“But, our army still needs some time to learn how to use tanks. So using them right away…”

That is true.

The Soviets in this era likely won’t have anti-tank guns given their defeat and deteriorating situation. Just pushing tanks in will likely cause them to crumble.

“After all, they are flying the Russian flag, right?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s make use of the British and French volunteer troops. We can have suspicious Russians who are proficient in English and French fighting.”

The British and French forces were assigned to train the White Army’s tanks as “volunteers.”

However, in this battle for Tsaritsyn, the White Army still lacked training to properly use the tanks provided.

The enemy likely wouldn’t even see the British and French soldiers inside the tanks.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any forces aiding the enemy, and lacking weapons means they have no means to counter the tanks. Suspiciously familiar Russian soldiers are operating the tanks while trampling through trenches.

After all, they were sent here for this very purpose.

As long as they don’t realize they are foreign troops, the Bolsheviks won’t be able to sway public sentiment.

Alright, now the time has come.

“Right now, Tsaritsyn is suffering from the red plague! O great White Army of newborn Russia! Cross over the filthy Bolshevik trench lines and liberate Tsaritsyn!”

The march of the White Army began.

With tanks leading the way, infantry followed behind to provide support.

The tanks, created during World War I—the British MK series and the French Renault FT—proudly took the lead, treading their endless track towards the trench line.

Kururuun

Feels like I’m looking at the grandfather of tanks or something.

I stepped in to witness it for myself.

Look at how heavily it rolls.

During this time, the tanks were designed to lower their machine guns to wipe out enemies in the trenches, effectively cleaning up trench lines.

During World War I, thanks to the development of tanks, Britain and France earned the title of tank pioneers.

Along with extensive combat experience having faced great wars.

The hastily formed enemy has no way to defeat them.

Kururuuruun

Listen to that rumbling from the endless track.

It’s heavier than the modern tanks I know, and just by rolling in, it seems like it would destroy the entire road.

“Does the princess have a good understanding of tanks?”

Some British and French folks who brought the tank division as ‘volunteers’ stared wide-eyed while asking.

I have no idea who they are, so I shook my head in negation.

“No. Not really. But at least I can tell that tank seems like it will protect our infantry.”

What do I know, anyway?

I’m just acting based on what I’ve heard somewhere.

To lift up the Russian White Army by the scruff, the Tsaritsyn battle must end in victory.

“Considering that, your understanding of tanks seems rather high.”

Not necessarily, though.

“Well, it makes sense to lead with a tank that can withstand better than a fragile human who’s destined to die easily.”

“I hope you will win this civil war, Princess. My superior, Marshal Philippe Pétain, also hopes the White Russia will come out on top.”

What? Philippe Pétain?

“May I ask your name?”

“I’m Captain Charles de Gaulle.”

What is this guy doing here?

And a captain, too?

Looks like the chaos of World War I was indeed severe.

The officers who crossed from Britain openly argued their tanks’ greatness and made it clear they intended to turn this favor on its head after the civil war.

Guess they really are the allies, huh?

Either way, they’ll drag this civil war on for a long time.

Those drained from the great war won’t expect any crumbs while they confidently ignore it.

Charles talked about tanks for a while then went off to ride a French tank.

“The reactionaries are marching in to occupy our workers’ city! Hold back the enemy!”

“Our Yekaterina is watching over us! Let’s liberate the city and dedicate it to the Tsarina!”

Among the White Army ranks, I was already seen as the Tsarina.

Not every White Army member is a monarchist like that. My past actions must have shone quite brightly.

Calling me Tsarina, huh.

If it’s Yekaterina, isn’t she the famous Empress of Russia?

I’m not well-versed in the specifics of her accomplishments, but I’ve heard mixed reviews—some good, some bad. Guess they’re trying to attach some moniker to me.

“Your expression seems uncomfortable.”

Kolchak, who was appointed as the temporary commander of the Yekaterinburg and Siberian White Army and followed me, was cautiously observing me.

“I’m not a Tsarina yet. I don’t know if the Empire will be restored by the end of this war. It could turn into a republic or a moderate socialist state instead of those Bolsheviks. Or it could be the United States.”

After the civil war, who knows what Russia will become.

Right now, the White Army is focused on defeating the Bolsheviks with me as the central figure.

If there are indeed some broken-heads wanting to feel the nostalgia of the Empire, I can just set up the Duma and step back.

All those possibilities aside, I’ll have to decide if I escape to another country or become a mere puppet Tsarina. Or perhaps I could just live comfortably somewhere under a title of a duchess.

“What they need right now is a Tsar. Even if the Empire doesn’t exist at the end, it’s beneficial for morale to accept whatever they choose to call themselves.”

“Is that so?”

“Even if they ruin the country, the existence of a Tsar is still an important symbol for them.”

Let’s see how things are unfolding.

Dododododod…

The tanks crossing the trenches began to wipe out the reds that had merely been holding defenses with machine guns.

Yeah, this is it.

Look at how quickly the trench is being blown open. It’s truly something to behold.

“What the heck is this!”

“The princess brought something strange!”

“Stop them! Stop them!”

It’s hard to see, but those reds seem to be having a tough time holding back the tanks as they stride right through.

This kind of thing is best witnessed up close.

Should I go and follow them?

“Absolutely not. Just coming this far means you’ve done enough.”

Kolchak vehemently tried to dissuade me from going.

I, the idol and mascot of the White Army, cannot go to that place.

True, when he heard I fought in trench warfare, he was frothing at the mouth.

Whatever his internal thoughts are, he can’t afford for me to collapse, being the focal point of the White Army.

“Princess! The trench line has been breached!”

Why is it this easy?

I thought there’d at least be a few days of gory battles, even while betting on the winning side.

To my knowledge, the Tsaritsyn battle ultimately ended in Stalin’s successful defense.

Just later in the red and white civil war, they barely managed to break through.

It simply isn’t that easy to breach Tsaritsyn.

Seems like united strength and the warlords are a different matter.

Moreover, the Bolsheviks had already taken a beating at Yekaterinburg. Their morale must be utterly shot.

The princess stands at the forefront.

Just this fact alone made our combat capability strikingly different from actual history.

If British and French tanks, experienced from fighting the Germans in the hundred days, join in, this is a given.

But, they’re pushing way too easily.

Wait, could I revise this strategy?

They’re falling way too easily.

Is it too much to claim I stake my life on restoring Tsaritsyn for the White Army?

“No, wait.”

If Trotsky really is in charge of the attack on Yekaterinburg…

He’d likely suffer a political blow.

In the meantime, could Stalin break through?

If the attack on Yekaterinburg had succeeded and dismantled my power, stopping the Southern Russian White Army from Tsaritsyn could have been a breeze.

However, the attack failed, and instead, I advanced towards Tsaritsyn.

Yes, I’d be handing Stalin a justification for himself.

A bit of a gamble, but…

Just as Germany dropped Lenin into Russia, what if I could force Stalin to withdraw to Moscow?

Since Stalin, having been defeated, would aim to fight Trotsky for power.

It might be amusing to have them gnaw each other apart while I drive Stalin back to where he came from.

“Princess?”

“The Bolsheviks defending Tsaritsyn are insiders in a power struggle with Trotsky among the Bolsheviks.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. A former Bolshevik freed from the red plague told me.”

“A former significant red? Then he must be eliminated.”

Indeed. Normally, killing is the way to go.

I’d find it enjoyable to be the one to end Stalin myself.

However, killing him now would make him a martyr.

Because in the final battle—the time to reclaim Moscow—if I caught him now, he could incite Lenin and Trotsky to rally sentiment.

“Wouldn’t it be better to spare him and let them quarrel internally?”

“Are you saying to let him go?”

“Let’s pretend to open up the road toward Moscow. Letting them feel there’s a path as they kill those who resist lets them get the impression that they could retreat to Moscow.”

“Sad to say…”

It is indeed unfortunate. I get that. I need to look further into the future.

“The reds expelled from Yekaterinburg are behind Trotsky. And he’s failed, having joined forces with us, so our strength has only surged, right? They advanced with that might, didn’t they?”

“So you’re saying Trotsky, unable to suppress us, might try passing the blame for the loss in the Tsaritsyn battle onto Stalin.”

“Yes. While those two fight amongst themselves, we fortify control over Southern Russia, Siberia, and the Far East.”

Now, you butcher.

I’ll spare you this once, so do please kill off that bespectacled fellow yourself.