45 – The Eye of the Storm (4)
The capital of the Russian Empire, Petrograd.
Alexander Gabrilovich Sviatopolk-Mirsky was a seasoned Bolshevik who had also participated in the 1905 revolution. Like most renowned revolutionaries, he could not avoid having his name on the Okhrana’s watch list. In 1908, Sviatopolk-Mirsky had to leave Russia to escape the pursuit of the secret police.
But his long exile was over.
Sviatopolk-Mirsky remembered Lenin’s instructions as he adjusted his clothes. There were three main instructions:
1. Secure channels to bring speeches, writings, and correspondence of Bolsheviks abroad into Russia.
2. Consolidate the laborers and party organization to control the leadership of the Social Democratic Party and Menshevik forces dominating the revolutionary movement.
3. Temporarily cooperate with the German Empire to obtain the funds, information, and diplomatic support necessary for the Bolsheviks’ propaganda activities.
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Sviatopolk-Mirsky understood his respected comrade Lenin’s instructions as desperate measures for the socialist revolution.
“Although he looks like an ordinary doctor, he’s actually a German spy. You can’t judge a person by appearance alone.”
Sviatopolk-Mirsky looked at Anton Kazimir Dilger, the American who had accompanied him, once again. Although the man had American nationality, his loyalty was much closer to a homeland beyond the Atlantic. Sviatopolk-Mirsky knew that besides Anton, there were several German spies who had entered Russia with plausible identities.
“Let’s go to the weaving factory in Viborg for now. There are plenty of patients that the teacher wants there.”
“That’s convenient.”
The man smiled brightly.
With the facade of an American medical volunteer, it was difficult for even the notorious Okhrana to hinder the movements of this American. Of course, Anton’s real purpose was not the treatment of patients, but to spread dangerous code language. While it was true that he would provide treatment, it was merely a disguise to make contact with people.
Thanks to posing as Anton’s assistant, Sviatopolk-Mirsky was able to move around Petrograd quite comfortably. If he had come alone, he would have had to hide like a rat to avoid the sticky eyes of the Okhrana.
Upon arriving at the weaving factory, the two men had a short conversation with the factory owner and agreed to set up a temporary clinic to check the health of the female workers. The factory owner was not averse to examining the workers for free, as it was no surprise that in Petrograd, where there was an excess of labor, those who couldn’t work would be discarded.
However, they accepted the American doctor’s proposal because of the uneasy atmosphere that was beginning to permeate the factory area. They were concerned that if they didn’t accept, it might lead to a repetition of the turbulent events of 1905.
Considering the situation, it was a good investment for the business owner to show compassion and appease the workers’ dissatisfaction. Even if the police or the military were to suppress the workers’ demands, it would still result in losses as the factory would not be able to operate.
When it was lunchtime, the female workers gathered in front of the makeshift clinic. Most of them were young girls, their faces pale and gaunt, evoking sympathy.
“Teacher, my menstrual cycle has been irregular lately. Is that okay?”
“It’s probably because you haven’t been getting enough sleep. It should be fine.”
Anton replied naturally with a gentle smile. As a fairly good-looking doctor, he engaged in conversation with the female workers, who laughed and shared various stories. Anton listened to their concerns while providing appropriate responses.
Around the end of the lunchtime consultations, Siyapnikov asked Anton.
“You haven’t mentioned the ideas you were thinking about, Teacher. Why is that?”
“You never know who might be a provocateur.”
“Do you suspect there might be a provocateur among the female workers?”
Siyapnikov was also somewhat suspicious, but he couldn’t easily imagine that young girls in their teens or early twenties would become agents of provocation.
“Anyone can be a provocateur. Haven’t we seen seemingly noble priests involved with Okhrana?”
“Well, that’s true, but those girls…”
“In a place where resources are scarce due to war, even a piece of bread can buy a girl’s virtue. How are things in Petrograd?”
Siyapnikov found it difficult to argue against that statement.
Anton wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and continued speaking.
“We must always be suspicious and doubt. Otherwise, it becomes difficult to fulfill our mission.”
Siyapnikov remained silent for a moment before speaking.
“Did you receive such education, Teacher?”
“I did, indeed.”
Anton replied as he took out a cigarette from his coat pocket.
Strictly speaking, the East German intelligence agency did not have a systematic program for training agents.
Honestly, it was absurd to think that a newly established organization like theirs would have a proper system for agent training. The talent pool of the East German intelligence agency relied on external sources such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the military, and academia.
But Anton didn’t reveal such facts. He intentionally manipulated his image to portray Germany as a country that thoroughly prepared even the smallest details. By doing so, he reduced the risk of Bolsheviks striking from behind because they would perceive this side as strong and impervious.
They quietly observed the female workers in the textile factory, focusing solely on providing medical assistance. The nearby factory owners, who had been silently watching their actions, also thought that they weren’t as dangerous as they seemed and requested medical support.
Anton responded positively and started spending almost every waking moment busy, except for brief moments when he had meals.
“Teacher, if we keep going like this, we’ll die before we even have a chance to start a revolution.”
Shiyapnikov made a dying sound. Working 18 hours a day was an unimaginable forced march. Even for someone with strong bones like a laborer, the only thing that could come out of their mouth in such labor-intensive conditions was a foul smell. Working 18 hours a day was something only possible in the early days of the Industrial Revolution in England.
“Just hold on a few more days. It will get better.”
Anton comforted him.
“Hmm.”
They silently observed the workers and steadily gathered information. Thanks to the business owners’ positive view of their activities, charitable relief supplies provided by the nobles also arrived frequently. Among them were luxurious white bread and coffee.
However, medicine hardly came in.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that even if you were dying of thirst, it was almost impossible to find medicine in Petrograd.
Given the circumstances, Anton, who only brought a single bag, could only make diagnoses and hardly provide any medication.
By the time the afternoon consultations were over, one of the business owners who had asked them to treat the workers came to express his gratitude.
“Thanks to you, doctors, our faces are much better.”
“No, it’s all for the Lord.”
Anton portrayed the image of a faithful believer. He even drew the sign of the cross in the Orthodox Church style, as he had learned from Shiyapnikov.
Surprised by his appearance, the business owner grabbed his hand.
“I thought you were from America, how come you believe in our Orthodox faith?”
“I learned it from my neighbor who immigrated from Russia. When I heard it, I thought it was a really good saying, so I came to the headquarters of the Orthodox Church to help people and also to find my own path of faith.”
“Oh, I see.”
The bourgeoisie in Russia were not as active in religion compared to the nobility, but that was a relative concept. The loosely religious followers in Russia, where religion had become a part of daily life, were on par with the most fervent believers in secularized Western Europe. It was not surprising that they still believed in the divine right theory that only worked during the absolutist era in Western Europe.
“If I had known you were such a devout person, I would have helped you a lot. I’m sorry about that.”
“No, it’s alright. I’ve been doing just fine.”
“Don’t say that. How about coming to our local gathering?”
“A local gathering?”
“Yes. It’s a place where people who are curious about the happenings in the world often gather. Since I owe you a favor, it would be impolite if I didn’t treat you to a meal.”
“Well, then let’s do that.”
“I’ll send a carriage tomorrow afternoon.”
Anton readily agreed.
After the business owner shook hands and left, Shatov asked curiously,
“Why did you invite people who didn’t even want to spend a penny on the factory workers, Teacher?”
“Maybe I got curious about who I am.”
“Hmm.”
“Well, it worked out well. Now I have a chance to meet the capitalists in Russia.”
“They are the ones who have benefited the most from the system. Is there anything interesting to see if you meet them?”
“They have a lot, so they have a lot of complaints. I heard that the Russian government’s tax rate is 90% these days. Even the royalists who used to shout ‘Long live the Tsar!’ have changed their minds, but the money-hungry bourgeoisie, of course, will be even worse. If you feel a slightly hostile atmosphere there, it might be good to stir things up a bit. At least among the privileged bourgeoisie, there must be some people who would do anything for money, right?”
Looking at it from a different perspective, it made sense.
“It’s not entirely wrong. Hmm.”
Siyapnikov felt a sudden surge of caution as he observed the American before him, instinctively sensing his intention to exploit Russia’s vulnerabilities.
If they were to turn Germany, a nation filled with dangerous individuals, into an enemy, it seemed unlikely that they would be able to withstand a socialist revolution and establish a socialist state for long.
“I should make a remark to Comrade Lenin when I report the progress,” Siyapnikov thought to himself.
He scratched his chin and helped Anton tidy up the luggage.
*
The capital of the Russian Empire, Petrograd.
Although all the ministers of the government opposed Nicholas’ visit to the front lines in Charr, they could not break his determination. On the contrary, it was Alexandra, the only one who could resist him, who encouraged his visit.
The aristocrats felt extreme unease about this situation. Did the Charr family not feel the same sense of danger as sitting on a powder keg?
The journey to the front lines was undertaken by Chief of Staff Yanuskevich, his aide-de-camp Duke George Mikhailovich, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Duke Alexander Mikhailovich.
The highest authority was completely entrusted to Alexandra.
However, this decision had a detrimental effect on an already unstable regime. Alexandra, though not extravagant or licentious as known to the public, possessed all the conditions that made her an enemy of the Russian people. She was of German descent, and Germany happened to be the enemy of the Russian Empire in the war.
Just as the French people harbored resentment towards Marie Antoinette for being an Austrian princess during the time of the Great Revolution, Alexandra had an unavoidable fate of being the enemy of the Russian people.
Furthermore, Rasputin, whom Alexandra favored, also became a problem. He was a person disliked by everyone, from loyal Orthodox believers to non-believers, from high-ranking nobles to the lower classes of workers and peasants. It was even more peculiar that people liked Alexandra, who endlessly cherished and protected such a person, making her position even stronger.
Although Alexandra had a kind and gentle nature, she did not possess the dignity befitting a ruler. She could not confront the nobles and courtiers who showed negative emotions towards her in the palace, nor could she stand up to them directly.
This vulnerability made Charrna mock her and gossip about her in social circles.
Alexandra herself did not believe she could bear this heavy burden. She discussed her concerns with her closest confidants, but unfortunately, most of them were either highly incompetent or had a bad reputation.
The Russian upper class, witnessing this situation, grew to despise and ridicule her even more.
Wherever they went, Anton and Siyapnikov could hear subtle complaints about Charr and Rasputin.
“Is the meal to your liking?” they asked as they joined the dinner table.
The entrepreneur who invited him asked,
“You seem to be fitting in well. Thank you for treating us to a wonderful meal.”
Anton replied with a smile.
Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, a light conversation was taking place. A young woman at the dining table spoke to Anton.
“Excuse me, but you mentioned that you came from the United States, didn’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What is America like? I heard that everyone has cars and mansions, and there are no poor people. Is that true?”
Most of the attendees turned their gaze towards Anton at the young woman’s question. They were also interested in stories of the free New World.
“hahahaha. That’s an exaggeration. There are poor people everywhere. They also have orphanages and homeless shelters.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s just that there are more opportunities to make money there, I suppose.”
“Is it because it’s a good land where oil and gold are found everywhere?”
One of the entrepreneurs asked.
“No. It’s because the taxes are low. In the United States, you only have to bear about 10% tax rate, so it’s great for doing business.”
Everyone’s mouths dropped open at his words.
The tax rate, which was unimaginable in Russia, plagued by a deadly 90% tax rate.
“I heard it was very low, but I didn’t expect it to still be that way.”
“What about Germany? You must have visited other countries on your way here, right?”
“It seemed to be going fairly well. I took a passenger ship from the United States to Germany. They have both exports and imports, so, well, it’s not bad, right?”
The expressions of the people who heard his words stiffened slightly.
It was hard to just let it go when people said that even though America was an enemy country, they were still managing their economy fairly well through trade. After the war, in Russia, luxury goods like sugar and coffee became hard to come by, and prices noticeably rose. Even the wealthy bourgeoisie couldn’t help but feel the discomfort in such an environment.
“It’s a bit envy-inducing. If only our country had such prosperity.”
Someone was about to say something, but their spouse poked them in the side, silencing them.
“Well, it’s not like they’re saying anything outrageous. Just leave them be.”
“That’s true. Isn’t it a fact that that strange charlatan Rasputin completely ruined the country?”
Anton pretended not to understand their conversation.
“Rasputin? Ah, I’ve heard of him in America too.”
“He’s known in America as well? That’s interesting.”
“I’ve read an article in an American newspaper about Rasputin having relations with the Empress and the Grand Duchesses. I think it mentioned something about an illegitimate child. Of course, it’s probably just a rumor.”
Anton openly voiced an absurd rumor.
“If it was published in an American newspaper, there must be some reason, right? It’s quite unfortunate.”
“hahahaha, that’s not likely. But still, they’re part of the Romanov royal family.”
Anton tried to smooth things over as he continued to butter them up.
“I’ve heard stories about the Empress, but also about the Grand Duchesses and the illegitimate child? Ha, that madman really was insane.”
“I wonder what the imperial family is up to.”
People accepted Anton’s words without any suspicion. The perception that if it was Rasputin, such things were possible, helped spread the rumors.
As the meal was coming to an end, Sipyagin spoke to Anton on their way out of the mansion.
“Teacher, it did seem to have some effect, as you said. But doing it this way will slow down progress too much.”
“hahahaha. Just wait and see. Once it starts spreading, the rumors will spread quickly. How about your contact with the members?”
“It will take some time due to Ohlana’s surveillance.”
“When contact is made, please ask for the production of counterfeit bills. In order to spread leaflets on the streets of Petrograd and Moscow, you need to prepare thoroughly.”
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“Do not worry.”
Anton nodded and continued walking steadily.