Reincarnated as Nikolai II

As with Otto von Bismarck’s Three Emperors’ Alliance and later the Dual Alliance, Franco-Russian Alliance, Anglo-French Entente, and Anglo-Russian Agreement.

European diplomacy can be summarized in a single word: ’balance’.

If one stands out, others rush in to smash their head with a hammer.

If word spreads that someone struck gold, others immediately jump into competition.

Perhaps this European diplomatic history has continued since medieval times when popes excommunicated overbearing kings.

Unlike East Asia, there seems to be more of this tendency since ethnicities and languages weren’t historically clearly distinguished.

Anyway, in this era where everyone acts like they’re the guardian of balance, peering here and there, increasing military expenditure is in a way logical.

European countries’ military spending has increased 50-80% from five years ago to this year.

The military industry hasn’t just developed some rifles and increased types of military supplies - the scale itself is different.

The navy has become incomparably more expensive since the 1906 advent of HMS Dreadnought changed the paradigm.

It’s no wonder Germany’s state shakes every time they revise the Naval Law after the Dreadnought’s appearance.

The army too has passed the era of simply putting rifles in standing army hands.

Europe, having tasted mobilization of the three countries - France, Germany, and Russia - learned that ’Ah, mobilizing the army also costs tremendous money.’

Before the Morocco Crisis, no country in the world normally maintained weapons to equip these conscripts.

They just kept outdated pre-discharge equipment or lower quality items for show.

Improvement of cast iron and pig iron cannons, iron-clad steam warships, more expensive gunpowder infused with sulfuric acid, technology-intensive engines switching from steam to oil, growing caliber guns, steam turbine ships, submarines, airships, airplanes, automobiles.

All these changes accelerated entering the 20th century, so we can’t think in terms of late 19th century military spending.

Truly a one-time Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) in history.

Your next chapter is on empire

Diplomatic changes followed as well.

Even looking back at the Morocco Crisis, didn’t they immediately draw weapons when words failed?

Naturally, the signal that ’war could break out at any time’ was continuously implanted in Europeans’ minds.

Thus unlike before when they just beat down one who stood out, now they thirst for alliances even in peacetime.

Military budgets swell across continents as nations rush to modernize their arsenals and strengthen their forces. Diplomatic missions close their doors with shocking frequency, embassies emptying one by one like autumn trees shedding leaves. Colonial powers dust off old maps and make veiled references to "spheres of influence," while smaller nations eye their borders with growing unease.

A cascade of provocations and counter-provocations gains dangerous momentum, each response larger than the last. The diplomatic machinery that has kept the peace for generations groans under the strain. Elder statesmen and veteran negotiators work frantically behind the scenes, but no one can say with certainty how much longer these time-tested channels of communication will hold. Like worn brake pads on a heavy truck descending a mountain road, they may still slow the descent - or they may fail altogether.

Last year, British Secretary of State for War Richard B. Haldane failed in negotiations to reduce naval competition with Germany.

Early this year, many countries criticized the Dual Monarchy’s unlimited arms exports (mainly to Germany), but they didn’t even listen.

And, I.

Put this Europe’s surface tension to the test once again.

"The Russian Tsar declares increased Black Sea Fleet deployment!"

"When did they prepare? This couldn’t happen so suddenly!"

"W-we’re increasing too! Announce plans to reinforce the Royal Navy with 23 dreadnoughts and 7 battle cruisers by 1914!"

"Eh, damn you’re increasing too? Hey, we’re also introducing 15-inch guns! Revise the fourth Naval Law revision!"

France’s new non-rigid airship against Germany’s Zeppelin L1.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, 36,000 tons, hinting at 1914 completion before even her maiden voyage.

And in response, the 32,000-ton displacement Bayern-class battleship.

Then angrily increasing the construction plan to four final Queen Elizabeth-class ships.

"All Europe is military."

Germany, catching up to two-thirds of British naval size while unable to give up on the army, had been pouring 60% of the national budget into the military for several years.

Britain was covering battleship costs with long-term bonds on top of national taxes, but regardless, the fact remains their dreadnought fleet was built on a mountain of debt.

German military spending, less than 30 million pounds in my early reign, has now exceeded 100 million pounds. Britain must be similar with 80 million pounds defense spending plus bonds.

If asked whether we’re different, not much.

[Your Majesty, when I first became Finance Minister, military spending was exactly 60 million rubles. But now that it’s exceeded 1 billion rubles, I must express concern about whether this is clearly excessive budget-]

Even Witte, having served minimum two years as senator, picked up his pen at home, so we’re certainly also at the forefront of this arms race. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

An era when everyone uses the gold standard as common sense.

Inflation doesn’t reduce spending and deficit burdens.

Rather, enormous interest follows behind the military spending item.

"By Kaiser’s order! Increase service period from 2 to 3 years to fill 810,000 troops!"

"What? You increased? We’re increasing too! Expand conscription targets! Increase exactly 40% to fill 850,000!"

"Introducing 104 155mm heavy field guns!"

"Introducing 400 150mm artillery!"

News making each country’s command’s eyes increasingly bloodshot pours in monthly.

Though not everything appears in civilian newspapers, this competition was clearly intensifying.

To the extent that, led by Germany, all considered ’preventive war’ as an option at some point.

Unable to continue competition at this rate, they talk of making an immediate judgment.

’...Is Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg’s preventive war theory really the only answer?’

’Chancellor Heinrich recently argued we must give up military competition with Russia...’

’As an island nation we only built up navy. We absolutely can’t afford to build up army too now.’

The Great War is often called an unprepared war.

However, what was unprepared was only the five-year long war - everyone had long prepared for war itself, squeezing national coffers.