Korchev's words also made Rovca's heart grow heavy. In truth, any nation would remain wary of its neighbors, especially small and weak countries with powerful neighbors.
Take the cluster of small states surrounding the Far East Empire. The reverse was also true: since the decline of the Far East Empire in modern times, it had developed even stronger misgivings toward the small countries around it.
Take Japan today. For most of ancient Far East Empire history, it had clearly looked down on that island nation, yet now it had become the Far East Empire's greatest external threat.
As Germany's neighbor, Yugoslavia faced a vast disparity in national strength between the two countries, and they were not even of the same people or language. All of this would deepen Yugoslavia's fear of Germany.
The Yugoslavs themselves lacked a sense of security. From a historical perspective, they had also been ruled and oppressed by the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire because of their weakness.
So even if Germany brought Yugoslavia under its rule and treated the Yugoslavs equally, the Yugoslavs likely would not trust Germany in the short term.
Not to mention that Germany treating the Yugoslavs equally was fundamentally impossible.
Rovca said to Korchev, "We Yugoslavs will keep your warning firmly in our hearts, sir. Yugoslavia's independence and self-strengthening will never be entrusted to the charity of the strong."
Korchev said with a genial smile, "With such understanding, I believe the future of the Yugoslav nation will be bright."
"Just like the Soviet Union's development today, we too used our own hands to build the greatest nation in human history."
Time entered April 1938.
At this time, the Far East Empire's war had entered a new stage. Thanks to the Far East Empire's efforts in total resistance, Japan's war