Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 6 One-Eyed Parrot (1)

August. During a few days of rest after returning, I thought about what had come into my hands.

"Soon to be deposited: 15 million yen."

Since Russia hasn't yet reformed its currency from silver to gold, the value conversion might be slightly off, but the yen notes' convertibility is close to the gold standard.

'1 yen approaches the value of 0.75g of pure gold.'

It gets complicated if we consider currency credibility, but with other countries including the US prohibiting gold exports, we can only calculate roughly.

'US 1 dollar is about 1.7g of gold.'

Then the income coming into my hands within 4 years is... 26.5 million dollars.

The reason I'm calculating this headache-inducing math is...

"Ho ho, I heard Your Highness received that, enormous consolation money."

Because of this gentleman. The aristocracy's heretic, Leo Tolstoy.

A man with outstanding imagination, bouncing thoughts, and equally peculiar actions.

Everyone said not to meet him, but that cursed curiosity about historical figures finally made me allow a meeting with him.

"I created a relief organization this year-"

"I know. Created because a poor harvest is expected this year. No rain in spring and rivers flooded in summer, so famine is about to come."

With wheat harvest due in September, this gentleman abandoned his writing and is preparing relief activities centered on the Samara region, seeing the obvious coming famine.

"But I thought the Count disliked the government and Orthodox Church?"

"What does that matter when people are starving to death? Isn't it all about surviving?"

Good humor. No wonder they call him a heretic when he's so brazen. I can see why he'll be excommunicated next year.

Still, thanks to him, I remembered something.

'The Russian famine. It continues until next year.'

Obviously. When this year's harvest fails, people starve until next year's harvest.

All I know is the single record that 'hundreds of thousands starved to death.' I didn't know the detailed circumstances.

"Ho ho, I pride myself on running it more cleanly than any relief organization. Planning to request external aid including from America, and even secure loan support."

"Truly thorough."

"How can relief work not be thorough? It's what must be done."

Actually, the largest relief efforts are being carried out in the Tsar's name, but excluding that which feels half-mixed with government.

'Though I don't doubt his sincerity since he's using his private funds...'

The problem is that even with the large sum received from Japan, it would melt away like spring snow once used to feed hundreds of thousands of people.

I naturally expected people would rush to me once I got a large sum.

I had been thinking about various uses over the past few months, and concluded it should be used for the Far East...

"Are you really having difficulties?"

"No, no. Must be done. But isn't our Count doing what the state should?"

"Ho ho, someone has to do it, right?"

Distrust not even hidden. No wonder he can proclaim this famine damage is the Tsar's and Orthodox Church's fault.

Looking at me with clear eyes at over seventy, he's truly one of a kind madman. Indeed, writing while facing walls seems not a job for humans.

As our conversation diverged, I kept thinking.

A large sum not planned in the state budget.

Moreover, the last private property I, as Crown Prince, could have.

'I can't just throw all of this into relief activities.'

Perhaps it's fortunate it's coming in 4-year installments.

"Ah, right. If the consolation money comes over several years, you can issue appropriate bonds to pull in funds early, so don't worry!"

Damn. How much does this gentleman know? Wasn't he half-expelled from society?

'But it's a shame to give up on the Far East.'

The Far East is quite promising land. Rich in resources, vast territory, and barely pays taxes.

The only drawback? It hasn't been long since it came into our hands, so security isn't yet guaranteed.

A vast land where free trade with America is possible through Vladivostok port, with nomadic, Korean, and Chinese immigrants gathering rapidly.

This organization, which spent years crushing urban leftists, should have disappeared after completing its mission...

'Instead it grew stronger even with no revolutionaries.'

Born from the Tsar's anger upon ascending in '81, the organization became a tool for strengthening Interior Ministry power.

Now insufficient with just the left wing, the Okhrana pressures even local autonomy under the logic of crushing corruption.

My grandfather, Alexander II, created regional elected governments (Zemstvos) and city council Dumas.

Truly essential institutions for vast Russia.

Creating these, he guaranteed press freedom to reduce corruption since monitoring numerous regions was difficult.

The effect was remarkable - corruption decreased while tax revenue increased, local infrastructure construction exploded, and most importantly, primary education was properly implemented.

But father castrated this press function.

He crushed anti-government press using the Okhrana and arrested all who hindered national unity.

Grandfather reformed, father counter-reformed.

While grandfather championed autonomy and freedom, father demanded unity and obedience.

Religious censorship revival, anti-Semitism promotion, non-Russian persecution, university autonomy suppression, nationalist policies, military and civil servant wage cuts, noble tax increases, luxury culture prohibition, etc.

Though not completely, I somewhat understand. Grandfather's reforms ultimately brought his death.

Still, the power strengthening and subsequent ruling stance seems excessive.

While those who dare oppose the Tsar's power have disappeared from within the empire day by day, the pressure in this giant rice cooker grows stronger. It wouldn't be strange if it burst anywhere anytime.

Returning to the beginning, why is Russia growing externally rather than declining?

"Your Highness Crown Prince."

The reason is simple. Because of gentlemen like this before me.

"I wonder if I'm just wasting the Finance Minister's busy time."

"Your Highness, I am not the Finance Minister."

"Since you're already taking over, no need to deny it."

If the neighbors have Bismarck, we have someone who plays above Bismarck's head.

The Railway Minister who will become Finance Minister next year at age forty-three, trying to wake sleeping Russia.

The source of his power is solely the Tsar, not status, faction, or background.

His civil service ability goes without saying, and his background in physics, mathematics, development, and invention is incredibly brilliant.

To him, I explained the connection between this year's expected poor harvest and Far East development.

"Hmm..."

Additionally sharing what Count Leo Tolstoy came and said, but the minister's contemplation lengthened.

"Since no immediate new budget allocation is needed, there's no great burden. Also, it's a one-time policy that will end within 3 years at most. What do you think, isn't Far East development something we've been doing since grandfather's time anyway?"

"Your Highness, do you know what it means to fill the Far East with people?"

Is there any special meaning? Just making it more like our territory, a livable place, instead of neglecting it like now.

Using even my personal money.

"As Far Eastern population grows, more army and navy must be stationed. Insufficient administrators must be dispatched and problems between ethnicities will increase. Diplomatic friction will maximize needless to say, and since the Far East barely collects taxes, the deficit will grow exponentially."

"Uh..."

"The empire is continuing gradual reform by somehow dividing and saving limited resources. But now you're saying to pour more national power into the Far East? Just to listen to Count Tolstoy's proposal? Your Highness, is it really land worth that much? Do we have any reason to do so?"

Though momentarily flustered by Finance Minister Witte's almost pleading questions, this wasn't something I brought up lightly either.

"Finance Minister Sergei Witte, Far East development is as important as reform."

"Far East development won't be too late after the Trans-Siberian Railway is completed. No, rather that would be the right time."

"Yes, yes, I agree. It's inefficient to develop that vast land without rails, so we should build internal strength and increase influence after the transcontinental railway is completed. But..."

4 years planned for Amur River section completion.

Minimum 11 years for Lake Baikal southern bypass section.

And about 25 years at this rate for single track completion.

"I cannot wait for that."

"...Your Highness."

The world won't wait for us to complete those thousands of kilometers of railway.