Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Witte's 8-year term as Prime Minister ended.

Personally, I invited him to a light dinner to reminisce about the past days, and officially gave him a grand send-off.

Of course, the empire's second-in-command couldn't clear his desk overnight.

He would now gradually fade away as Chairman of the State Council and State Duma Senator.

"To former Prime Minister Witte who worked hard."

"Cheers."

Clink

Though even a light glass of wine isn't considered alcohol in this country, for some reason the new Prime Minister merely touched it to his lips.

Second Prime Minister. Vladimir Kokovtsov.

A figure who was also Prime Minister in 1911 in original history - if Witte was second-in-command, he who worked as third-in-command became the next Prime Minister.

My private meeting with the new Prime Minister naturally started with Witte as the topic.

"Sergei Witte. If he wanted, I could have given him higher titles and gifts, but he refused everything."

Since we did land reform, he couldn't receive land.

Having helped reduce nobles, he wouldn't take noble pension either.

For the next cabinet's sake, he adamantly refused positions with real power.

All he got was an empty Count title.

Though he has bureaucrat pension, it was utterly shabby for the retirement of the empire's second-in-command.

But if Witte himself wants it that way, what can we do?

It's not like we can secretly stuff things in his pockets by force.

Giving him wealth here in the name of helping would only insult his convictions.

"Without Witte, I might still be a Tsar struggling with reforms. Maybe still unable to escape the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War."

"To that extent?"

"You who watched from beside know better than anyone. Witte was unparalleled fortune for the empire."

Perhaps father's greatest gift to me. That was Witte.

How do this country's Finance Ministers all turn out to be great chancellors like Bismarck one after another - I really don't know either.

After praising Witte's achievements for a while and the mood lightened somewhat, I changed topics.

"Kokovtsov, do you remember the mobilization orders from four years ago?"

"I remember."

"Yes, I too can't forget the shock from then. Troop transport by rail was a mess, stockpile status wasn't clear, and we had neither prepared tactics nor grand strategy."

"..."

Though Kokovtsov seemed flustered at the suddenly emerging negative reflections, I'm not exaggerating at all.

My only thought then was that we absolutely must not go to war.

"Even I as Tsar wouldn't dare speak of mobilization orders again. It was utterly disappointing."

"...I apologize."

"Why are you apologizing? I'm just saying that's how I felt."

Did I not know it would be like this? Just seeing reality with my own eyes was a bit grim.

If this existence called Russia hadn't twisted the great axis of history externally, exactly 4 years remained.

Witte, genius of internal affairs and great chancellor, has left.

Though he left voluntarily as an aged and stagnant figure, internally I didn't hold him back either.

This must also be one reason he decided to clear his desk.

While Witte trusted me, he was also someone who doubted until the end.

When policy finance was introduced, he watched me more than anyone, eyeing suspiciously whether new reforms might be tools for strengthening the Tsar's power.

Even when I carried out fair purges of zemstvos, though he didn't block it, he monitored whether this was a tool for weakening local power and strengthening imperial authority.

Even when the Russo-Japanese War broke out. He feared non-pragmatic orders might come from my mouth.

That's who Witte was.

A person who faithfully followed my guidance while trusting me, but always had his own standards.

Witte is a loyal subject. Because Witte is a man who maintained stability and balance of power in the imperial era while holding his own convictions.

However. He is completely unsuited as a wartime Prime Minister.

Kokovtsov. How about you?

"Land reform. I prepared alone for 4 years after ascending. War with the Japanese Empire? I prepared for over 10 years minimum since Crown Prince days."

"Indeed, Your Majesty with foresight did so."

"I'm not seeking praise. Another preparation time has arrived. However, this time I can't do it alone."

"...Preparation for what?"

The purges I barely carried out in the past with proper justification and fair standards.

But I declare that now I can grant incomparably more power than then.

Nevertheless, what's coming is difficult for me alone.

Taking farm tools from imperial citizens' hands needs just one imperial decree, but distributing farm tools is extremely difficult even with dozens of decrees - it's the same principle.

"War."

"..."

At another mention of the word war, Kokovtsov quietly raised his glass and drained the remaining wine clean.

Recently, Egypt's Prime Minister was assassinated for taking Britain's side.

How long has it been since Bulgaria's independence when Albania rises up for independence?

France occupied Casablanca and Oujda, Morocco's 1st and 2nd cities.

Germany increased requirements of the Fleet Act legislated in 1904 for 60 ships once more. Seems they're wary of Britain's Dreadnought appearing.

Signals are sent daily from all directions.

But we've become numb to these signals, living daily like safety insensitivity syndrome, without grasping even a bit of the horror of war that may or may not break out. Find more chapters on empire

However, I know.

At this rate, war will break out.

Because European history hasn't changed much still.

"...The Balkan War?"

After keeping his mouth shut for a while, Kokovtsov pointed to the Balkans where most conflicts break out.

The Dual Monarchy and Romania's Magyar, Romanian peoples.

From annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina to Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, northern Greece's Slavic peoples.

Additionally Ottoman Turkish people. Albanian people close to Slavs.

Finally Germanic people.

In an era where nationalism rises as a topic, Kokovtsov first thought of the Balkans.

"Though highest probability. The Balkans are just the Balkans. Weak."

If conflicts were just Balkan internal problems, I wouldn't even think of preparing.

Instead, I would have focused only on the empire's internal growth and Asian conquest as we have these past years.

But that Balkan peninsula is a swamp. And they won't die alone either.

"We must face Germany and the Dual Monarchy. At least assume this and prepare."

Tiresome repeated conflicts.