Reincarnated as Nikolai II - Chapter 230

Chapter 230: Birth of the Post-War Economy (2)
“Military reduction is unavoidable. With ships already on the docks, large-scale reduction is the only answer for the army.”

“Though the construction market is growing through Polish reconstruction industry, this too is temporary. The reconstruction boom will end within 5 years.”

As finances grew, there were many places they went out to.

The welfare system caring for casualties absolutely can’t stop, and veterans must be treated well too.

The speed of workers increasing is faster than industry growth. With female workers increasing during the war period too, if they can’t accommodate them all, it might lead to labor value collapse through supply-demand imbalance.

If the purpose of Kokovtsov’s first term was victory, his second term was development.

‘To other countries it might look like an endlessly growing nation, but to my eyes it’s just a time bomb.’

Though those Western countries might be able to move slowly crawling along the bottom like flounders through long-established colonial empires, the empire is like a tuna swimming across the ocean.

Meaning this country’s deformed economy dies the moment it stops growing.

Because they lack targets to pass deficits onto, markets to forcibly sell all bad inventory to.

“Food prices in Europe rose nearly 2.3 times in the 7 years since 1913.”

“But they’ll slowly fall over a long, long time soon, right?”

“Exactly. Just as after ’97, grain prices will continue a long-term decline. This too should be seen as temporary special demand.”

Nevertheless, the outlook for Kokovtsov’s second term wasn’t entirely dark.

“In other words, it’s very expensive now. Right, Stolypin?”

“Saying it’s expensive means our empire’s products are selling very well. Just like before ’97.”

“Britain lost a quarter of the wealth they built over generations in 4 years. France’s territory is devastated and Germany is on the verge of starving to death.”

“Our production will endlessly increase through fertilizer and tractor supply.”

Though the empire’s economic timer is running, there are many factors to extend that timer’s time.

“Ministers, and all officials gathered here. While all of Europe is busy with reconstruction and recovery now. Our final chance has come. To escape being an agricultural nation and develop into an industrial nation, we’ll naturally need to sell agricultural products.”

“If agricultural products sell well, won’t agriculture lead the empire?”

“That’s just temporary traction, in the long term all countries will aim for agricultural self-sufficiency. So agricultural prosperity will last 10 years at most, 5 years at shortest.”

After the emergence of fertilizer, food self-sufficiency isn’t such a difficult task.

Even a small country like Ireland might succeed in self-sufficiency.

However, now…

“Seems we’re the only country with intact farmland in Europe.”

They are the supplier, landlord, and distributor.

Russia – a country that held 40% of world wheat exports and half the grain market even before the war.

During the war period, while our country raised agricultural efficiency, Germany, France, and Britain’s agriculture all completely collapsed.

And now the empire seeks to completely escape into an industrial nation.

Then Kokovtsov has one thing to do.

Serve a grand last supper while food prices are high, then use that money for industrialization.

“Well, let’s feed all of Europe until they’re full.”

Even those Western countries surely can’t dare refuse this proposal.

==

At a glance, the current imperial government’s economic policy might not look very different from the Soviet Union’s 1920s policies.

A structure of the state seizing farmers’ profits and using that money to run industry.

However, while the Soviet government ran this structure domestically, the key difference was that the imperial government had the power to run such a structure internationally.

“We’ll connect Polish railways right away! No, just send it to the Baltic Sea right now! We’ll pay immediately!”

“…Aren’t you paying reparations in kind because you have no money?”

“Just give it first!”

Anyway, Germany couldn’t refuse this as a country where 400,000 starved to death during the war period and all soldiers suffered from hunger.

Britain was a country whose wealth rapidly flowed out of the mainland during the war period.

However, having already industrialized, this island nation was a long-standing food importing country, and with poor finances, they had no choice but to import cheap Russian products.

And France…

“…The northern industrial zone all flew away, so we need to build this.”

“Won’t domestic agriculture all die if we import Russian products? Moreover, we’re not even allies anymore, is there reason to buy?”

“But, it’s cheap right? Agriculture isn’t even 20% of our total industry, we have to think about the other 80%!”

Though they were the only Western country capable of agricultural self-sufficiency, they had to accept it inevitably for reconstruction.

And so, like the late 19th century, Russian agricultural products in the 1920s spread extensively overseas.

They sold well. Very well at that.

And those profits gained through the procurement system…

“Five-Year Plan.”

“…Got the minister position young and went crazy? No matter what, it’s impossible within 5 years.”

“Minister of Finance, if it’s not done in 5 years, we can submit a second Five-Year Plan. Then I’ll change the title to <First National Economic Development Five-Year Plan>.”

“No matter what, the imperial citizens won’t be able to follow such an excessively radical plan! No? Even businesses won’t be able to follow!”

Though Stolypin pushed away the paper while pointing out clearly foreseeable harm…

The new Minister of Industry just crossed out the title and pushed it back.

<First Getting Rich First Plan.>

“…What’s this?”

“I understand your concerns. If the state exploits all profits through the procurement system like this, farmers’ dissatisfaction will pile up, and moreover when agricultural prices fall later and agriculture faces crisis, the accumulated dissatisfaction from that period will burst.”

“So, just changing the title changes the result?”

“Using agriculture as a foundation to grow heavy industry, and letting agriculture also receive benefits from this heavy industry again. The big industries help the late-coming industries first, that’s what I mean.”

“…It sounds very radical and leftist. No, it even seems like industrial development is just an excuse.”

“Aren’t all state policies like that? Appeasing the left with welfare and using industry to control the right.”

“…”

Though Stolypin didn’t agree to this plan until the end…

“Let’s try it.”

Kokovtsov passed it.