Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 18 Colorless King (5)

The time when barley briefly piles up in warehouses before leaving, and wheat takes its place.

The Duma voting began, not by revolution from below but by orders from above.

Meanwhile, Nikolai diligently received successor education, but even with accelerated learning, he couldn't be seen as a mature monarch overnight when successor education typically takes 8 to 15 years.

Rather, many believed this was why parliament was established. They thought the Tsar recognized his own inadequacies and created parliament as a substitute.

Parliament, the State Duma, formed by local city Dumas gathering to create its head.

Parliament can propose new bills, essentially policies.

If the Tsar approves them.

Though the Prime Minister system hasn't been implemented yet, parliament can demand minister replacements.

If the Tsar permits it.

Parliament can demand administrative audits from judicial institutions.

If the Tsar agrees.

Parliament can even amend fundamental laws with two-thirds majority approval.

If the Tsar doesn't oppose.

Of course, they must pass the Senate before reaching the Tsar.

Regardless of their party's foundational ideology, all pledge loyalty to the Tsar. They all appeal to the people that they can best assist the young Tsar.

'We too must ultimately imitate England. Constitutional monarchy is the only way to both unify the nation and ensure everyone lives well-fed and prosperous!'

'We never intended to be satisfied with just an advisory role. We must secure power before the Tsar awakens to it!'

However, perhaps because Alexander II's death wasn't long ago, there were surprisingly few so-called revolutionaries calling for abolition of the class system or socialism.

It was also too early in the current Tsar's reign for the empire to accept such groups into the light.

"Let's see, the Democratic Party has the largest influence?"

Originally in history it was the 'Constitutional' Democratic Party, but they seem quite cautious still, naming themselves Democratic Party without 'Constitutional'.

Established by Pavel Milyukov, with quite a few intellectuals involved.

Looking through the main figures listed in Okhrana's report, Nikolai discovered several familiar names.

"Duke Georgy Lvov. His family was completely ruined and became debtors during his father's time due to the abolition of serfdom."

In a way, a man who overnight became the eldest son of one of the empire's poorest families from its highest position.

That past apparently hasn't left him, as he's said to wield influence almost matching co-founder Milyukov.

"Vasily Alekseyevich Maklakov. Still an unremarkable lawyer, but this future leader of liberals also belongs to the Democratic Party."

While the Democratic Party generally carried a socialist scent with claims like wealth redistribution, it mostly consisted of supporters of constitutional liberalism and constitutional monarchy.

They actually fought with the White Army supporting the imperial family during the Civil War, so they can't simply be called revolutionaries.

"Idealists. They're closer to dreaming idealists."

Still, with quite liberal party leanings, even large businessmen like Konovalov joined.

Ivan Konovalov, chairman leading manufacturing companies and connected to various businessmen, joined the Democratic Party as a strong supporter.

The Progressive Party has a similar character. Reading through their names, Nikolai summarized them in one word.

"Bourgeois party. Capitalists who believe their very activities are progressive."

Though there are many intellectuals here too, Nikolai assessed that the Progressive Party alone would struggle to secure many seats.

'This is still a country of farmers. How could the bourgeoisie expect to get votes?'

So this Progressive Party is expected to secure a minority of seats centered in cities through paying massive taxes.

Then those likely to oppose this Progressive Party would be the Labor Party.

"Originally named the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party... They dropped all the front words too."

If the bourgeoisie swept urban votes through massive tax payments, the remaining votes belong to this Labor Party.

Despair.

Because sometimes people need to hit rock bottom to face reality.

When those screams of despair spread across the empire, that will mean appropriate preparations are complete.

Preparations for reform.

==

Why did Russia become the Socialist Soviet Union?

Lenin? Did 120 million subjects agree to socialism just because one person named Vladimir Lenin appeared?

Future studies presented various analyses.

That they had to choose between imperial rule or socialism at the time, and everyone bet on the new ideology.

That the lack of basic education and the main intellectual class representing the people all leaned toward socialism.

Or that the medieval imperial system couldn't keep up with rapidly spreading capitalism since the 1860s, widening the gap.

The previous me thought these were all correct and somewhat rational theories.

However, after acquiring all this background knowledge and actually looking at reality, there's quite a gap between theory and reality.

First, the word that first comes to mind with socialism: workers.

'It was strange. This country is 90% farmers. Even though this decreased, it wouldn't easily fall below 80% farmers even entering the 20th century.'

Logically, isn't it strange that this keyword 'labor' exists when urban workers were only 7% of the total population in 1899 when protests surged?

Of course, there weren't few rural workers with less urbanization, but they ultimately belonged to rural society.

Quite different from the socialization of means of production and self-liberation shouted in the Soviet Union.

I've pondered this issue for the past 5 years. Why were they more imperial-friendly the further from the capital, closer to the Far East?

Why did the relatively wealthy European land quickly cooperate with communism during the Civil War?

How did imperial subjects easily accept 'revolution' that overturned everything when they didn't even know what this communism was?

Since my crown prince days, I tried solving problems step by step from theory while grasping the empire's reality, but it wasn't easy.

However, now that father has passed and I've become emperor, I see the problem. No, I feel it on my skin.

For imperial subjects of this era, communism was, very simply put, land.

The Soviet Union's call for shared means of production meant giving land to farmers, not giving factory shares to workers.

The land reform continuing since Alexander II's time is still sluggish and not properly achieved even after 30 years, so they thought it wasn't that it couldn't be given, but that it wouldn't be given.

There's land right before their eyes.

That land clearly has an owner.

But they won't give it to me.

Oh, but communism says they'll give it using any violent means and methods?

Actually, while the core of grandfather's reforms was 'class', class and land cannot be separated in Russia.

Just like how Duke Lvov lost all his land and property and now begs for votes from farmers his family once employed.

Now the harvest is completely finished.

The election will end soon too.

Parliament will start with the dreams, hopes, and expectations of countless people.

Forgetting all my long musings, I want to ask that parliament just one question.

"Can you give land to the imperial subjects?"

Quality land enough to fairly satisfy all farmers within current laws, at that.

If you don't have that ability...

That will be the day you face the wrath of both Tsar and people.