Reincarnated as Nikolai II

"But why. The military is all loyal to me now."

The most important 'why' is missing.

I am Tsar receiving loyalty from all military districts and generals with just bloodline inherited from father yet I overturn my own support base? Lacks persuasiveness. Read the latest on empire

"...Because you desire stronger loyalty."

"Think I might stage a guard coup?"

"..."

"I'm joking. Lighten your expression."

Why stop answering well? Makes me really look like someone crazy for power trying to stage a guard coup.

Nevertheless I felt interest seeing Kuropatkin whose eyes weren't dead though showing fear like trembling aspen.

'Military reform was planned. Just not now.'

The sweetness of Qing's prosperity has barely touched our tongues - like honey that's only reached the tip of the spoon but hasn't yet dissolved in tea. How can we pour precious gold into military coffers when we haven't even savored the first taste of abundance?

Looking at this nation's armed forces with clear eyes, the truth reveals itself plain as dawn: when a country's purse holds more dust than coins, its military naturally reflects that same emptiness. Like a farmer trying to grow crops in barren soil, you cannot harvest strength from the seeds of scarcity. The simple reality echoes in every empty arsenal and worn-out boot - a poor country inevitably breeds a poor military.

I know well what Kuropatkin did during his 1898 commander reforms.

What he really wanted to do was change officer education and reform lower ranks.

But lacking money, just massaged some top brass personnel and stopped at abolishing field unit corporal punishment and improving field kitchens.

The reason his reforms failed is very simple.

'Because agricultural reform was in full swing.'

Then no one had room to listen to requests for money from military.

I was thinking of implementing military reform earliest 2 years, latest 4 years after war's end.

From then slowly send old rice worms home and push up lower ones to be somewhat usable in great war.

And in my plan, Kuropatkin wasn't there.

The Aleksey Kuropatkin I know is Russo-Japanese War defeated general, incompetent commander.

However proving he didn't rise from lieutenant to general for nothing, running at once he says.

Please save him.

'This one should be politician not soldier?'

This level of intuition, decisiveness and bold execution. And survival instinct.

Catching and coming about plans I haven't even concretized yet? This alone isn't ordinary person's category.

Incompetent as commander but frighteningly quick-witted general.

Briefly recalling reforms he tried in '98, though not field commander material, don't think entirely incompetent.

"Come to think of it, first long-term non-commissioned officer system was proposed by you Kuropatkin too..."

"Yes."

Extended officer education from 2 to 3 years too. Built 7 military schools too.

Rest about food, clothing, housing failed due to budget shortage but somewhat effective.

Bought land for 1.5 million rubles and built training camps.

Created logistics officer education course too.

Also contributed to normalizing salary, housing allowance, improving promotion system and raising soldiers' moral level through reading and games.

At this point my question changes.

How did this bastard come to be known as Russia's incompetent commander?

Let's take contemporary US military as example.

During Great War US military thought 'Wow, old continent armies all dying. We should change our military too' and passed National Defense Act in 1916.

Rough contents include various things like state can mobilize industry and conscript trucks or cars in war, but most core was concretizing Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).

Leonard Wood who argued necessity of this bill and created background became known as US military founder, military reform thinker just for that.

Meanwhile Kuropatkin?

'Evaluated as lacking leadership, indecisive, unable to adapt to fear of danger and constant changes in field.'

This is evaluation as field commander.

But looking at his ideology?

"Military district logistics rely heavily on that province's zemstvo. Then what about wartime food?"

"Forget zemstvos and everything. Absolutely factory canned food! Must only feed canned food!"

"Won't morale drop feeding only that tasteless canned food?"

"Just give vodka too."

Pass. Proper Russian Imperial Army General. Knows our country's military too well?

Vodka and canned food. Won't spoil, easy to supply, and can avoid diseases like mass food poisoning.

"Finally General Kuropatkin opposed Russo-Japanese War. Even though even Witte here acknowledged war's necessity."

Called for anti-war but overwhelming victory in war. Think Kuropatkin's position must have shrunk quite a bit.

"...Then didn't know Far East situation well. Thought delaying action and attrition warfare would be only strategy but had no confidence in empire's supply capability."

"Is that so."

This is same as original history. Know Kuropatkin as almost only Russian army general who opposed Russo-Japanese War.

What should I do with this one.

Hope he doesn't go blabbing everywhere like he did to Witte if sent away like this.

Perhaps. Though don't know probability but maybe Kuropatkin was actually destined to make name as military administrator?

Actually, isn't having that much reform spirit remaining in such beggar military proof he's not star general?

"General Kuropatkin."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You're right. I planned to reorganize military. And you weren't in that place."

"...I was merely lacking."

Pretending to accept calmly. This one is closer to opportunist than loyal soldier.

In that sense he couldn't fail to see opportunity lying before him now.

"The '98 reforms. Do them again."

"Your Majesty, difficult to insert spending not in existing budget like this."

Sure enough Witte's whining springs out.

Somehow feel Witte brought Kuropatkin wondering if money might leak somewhere.

"First military academies. To 4-year education. Gather schools scattered nationwide and start education again. If you perform this well will entrust other military reforms too. How about it?"

"...What happens if I fail?"

"Would be hard for you to stand before me again."

"Life or death..."

No I didn't say I'd kill you. Just retire and rest at home if incompetent. What would I gain killing old men loyal to me.

"...Will try with chance given again."

"Good, discuss rest with Witte again."

Kuropatkin resolutely accepted my proposal.

Russian Empire's incompetent commander, Aleksey Kuropatkin.

Will be able to confirm whether real history is correct, whether he was ill-fated figure.