Reincarnated as Nikolai II - Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Return to Orbit (4)
And Nicholas, who quietly observed all this.

“…With the Great War approaching, it’s better for reason to be paralyzed now.”

He saw this only as a means to minimize wartime social confusion.

To him, popularity had no value beyond or below that.

==

Forcibly selling Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The next day, the colony Bulgaria notifies by telegram ‘We’re declaring independence’.

Seeing others helping themselves one by one, the Kingdom of Greece went ahead and swallowed Crete Island.

With people watching their country being driven out of Europe in real-time, internal chaos was inevitable.

So when Italy drooled over Libya with fork and knife in hand, Mehmed VI’s resistance was an unavoidable choice to maintain the empire.

I’m not sure how to take the fact that there were more people who disappeared without a trace during battle than casualties on both sides in the first clash, but there’s practically no direct impact on us.

Looking into the details, it makes sense.

“More die from retaliatory executions than combat deaths. Also, both sides have more sick people due to poor medical care.”

“Well, they’re living earnestly.”

The Sick Man of Europe versus Europe’s Cripple. A battle of two proud fools.

Just reading the observers’ reports makes one sigh ‘This is war?’ at how ridiculous it is.

Unlike Japan which fought mobilizing a million men betting the nation’s future, it would be stranger for the world to be shaken by such a war playing around with just a couple of divisions.

While the neighboring Balkan nations watch this small-scale confrontation with keen interest due to their regional proximity and shared concerns, from our more distant perspective it appears more like children squabbling in a playground – hardly the kind of serious, full-scale warfare that truly threatens to reshape the geopolitical landscape.

Thus my attention was focused on other matters rather than such things.

“Asset price crashes will be unavoidable. No, each battle’s victory or defeat will raise and lower the rear area’s finances. However, the empire will be more free from those effects.”

“Our empire? Why is that?”

“…Because we’re still less developed.”

It’s preparation for the war that’s about two and a half years away.

During the Russo-Japanese War, the government bore the war’s impact, not the imperial citizens.

As it was an expeditionary war, civilians didn’t feel the reality, and above all, the war period was short.

However, the coming war isn’t something the government can handle just by taking some preemptive measures.

So now it’s time to start more concrete preparations by mobilizing experts from each field.

“The renowned economist, State Councilor Ivan Ozerov is preparing an ‘Economic Mobilization’ policy. The plan is for female workers to fill the gaps if conscription is implemented.”

“Here’s the ‘Military Economic Outlook’ report by Senator Vasilii Grinevetskii, head of Moscow Technical School. The content prioritizes quantity and speed of production over cost savings in the military industry.”

“Agricultural Minister A.A. Rittikh’s report on the disaster when agricultural exports are temporarily cut off-”

“Metallurgist and industrial administrator Aleksandr A. Baikov’s wartime fuel and raw material supply measures-”

“Report on consumer goods supply reduction upon war outbreak…”

“Actual military capability level of Finnish forces…”

“The Resource Research Committee with A. E. Fersman and 100 scientists presenting measures to lower resource import dependence through domestic resource survey and development…”

People often hold misconceptions about Russia, dismissing it as an ignorant or backwards nation. However, this perception largely stems from observing the general population, whose educational opportunities have been historically limited by imperial and later Soviet-era restrictions. These limitations were often deliberately imposed to maintain social control, rather than reflecting any inherent capabilities of the people.

As one would expect from a nation of such magnitude and historical significance, Russia’s intellectual and academic elite operate at a level that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with their Western European counterparts. The country’s universities, research institutions, and technical academies have consistently produced brilliant minds across numerous fields.

In fact, when it comes to fundamental disciplines, Russia’s contributions often surpass those of many Western nations. The country has demonstrated particular strength in pure sciences like mathematics and physics, sophisticated social theory development, and the intricate field of political engineering. This excellence is evident in Russia’s historical achievements in fields like space exploration, theoretical physics, and mathematical theory – areas that require deep foundational knowledge and innovative thinking.

‘Originally in 1915, Russia would only belatedly introduce various measures to maintain the empire after war broke out.’

Agriculture had already been declining for 17 years since the late 19th century. With export routes blocked by the Great War on top of that, Russia couldn’t help but fail.

At that time, all fields – political, economic, industrial, technical, scientific – made various attempts to fill this agricultural gap.

Thanks to those efforts, they maintained the Eastern Front for 3 years despite all internal chaos.

Trying to do this before war breaks out has turned my desk into a battlefield of papers, making even another Mir Reform seem easier.

[After Italy, now the Balkans?]

[Continued challenges toward the Ottoman Empire.]

[Formation of Balkan Alliance.]

When they draw the world’s attention is our opportunity. We were advancing slowly but surely.

“Child labor cannot be allowed under any circumstances, even in wartime.”

“Prepare retaliatory taxes for companies that don’t participate in the war effort.”

“Let’s reactivate the closed Ural iron mines that had no productivity.”

There were very weak and seemingly trivial steps, but we tried to advance ahead of others.

Thus we quietly spent another year in contrast to the noisy Balkans.

Just because we were silent doesn’t mean the world was quiet.

Now Albania, the weakest Balkan country with no distinct history, gained independence.

Though uncertain how long it would last, when asked for recognition, France and Russia together recognized Albania as a proper state.

The Qing Dynasty, the frontline of our Russian imperialism, completely collapsed and was succeeded by the Republic of China.

However, the Republic of China only inherited the shell, unable to actually govern, and the Warlord Era was in full swing with regional warlords growing their power.

Emperor Mutsuhito who used to give me generous pocket money in my childhood died and was enshrined as Emperor Meiji.

Japan, still unable to escape the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War like historical Russia.

Even amid rising internal dissatisfaction, they grandly held Yoshihito’s enthronement ceremony.

I sincerely congratulated them by sending Tsesarevich Mikhail.

Though not even 10 years had passed since they warred with us, Mikhail was reportedly treated, no, served exceptionally well.

Though pretexts overflowed if I wanted to intervene, I never turned my eyes outward.

Thus the new year dawned.

Time remaining until the Great War.

Just 1 year.