Reincarnated as Nikolai II

He’s right. If Western Europe’s Great War changes to Eastern Europe’s Great War, it might be better to withdraw.

"Of course, even with just a slight signal, France will use death-defying effort to enter German territory. No, from the start it would be difficult for enemy main force to leave the Western Front."

So Kuropatkin reassured me not to worry much about that part.

While I looked at the two fronts strategically from Germany’s position, Kuropatkin thoroughly viewed them politically.

Who was right would have to be seen with time.

Time flowed and mid-August, already over 2 weeks since war’s start.

On the Western Front, border battles between France and Germany were in full swing.

Battle lasting about 10 days from August 14 to 24.

"...Didn’t Belgium buy enough time? Disappointing."

France’s border was broken.

"Enemy is trying to occupy Paris to avoid two-front war!"

"British Expeditionary Force (BEF) organization is delayed. British forces currently landed in France are barely 30,000."

"France is requesting pressure beyond Poland to Berlin. Looks like they’ll keep retreating!"

For some reason, it was becoming a day where I thought Kuropatkin might be right.

==

"The strait is closed. Though the Ottoman Empire hasn’t joined the war yet, it seems a matter of time."

"Germany must have instigated it. We must stop price increases somehow. Understand? Must stop it even if we have to point swords."

The Black Sea problem.

"Minimum 4 months construction needed for frontline railway supply. If needed, we might have to tear out existing rails and build new ones."

"Send engineers along with railways. Probably field soldiers absolutely can’t normalize railways in time."

The supply problem.

"Factory owners show great resistance to putting female workers in factories. There’s no small discord over wages, women’s unions, discrimination."

"Send Finance Minister Stolypin. Whether lying down before protesters like last time, or sitting on mats in winter square for impromptu discussion, this person should handle it well."

The labor shortage problem from conscription.

"Monopoly companies show resistance to government control-"

"At this rate, fuel price increases are inevitable this winter, possibly impacting civilian heating-"

"With military controlling transport, agricultural product prices differ up to 4 times by region. Future price control won’t be easy-"

And countless other problems proliferating as soon as war started.

Though I steeled myself knowing what was coming, facing them one by one, nothing’s easy.

’Former Prime Minister Witte controlled the empire in even worse conditions. I too must naturally do what must be done.’

Just one month.

Compared to the Russo-Japanese War lasting 8 months while supplying over 7,000 kilometers away, the empire has barely fought 30 days of war.

Nevertheless, to prepare for long-term war, Kokovtsov must completely remodel the empire from industry to civilian economy. Nothing was easy for him.

It might still be fine for now. Citizens’ dissatisfaction not knowing war’s fear can be suppressed with patriotism for a while.

However, after exactly one year at this rate.

"...I might have to print rubles with my own hands."

To handle soaring government spending, the empire might have to destroy monetary trust built since the gold standard with its own hands.

Can’t reduce spending. Just imagine if we couldn’t even pay soldiers’ wages.

Forces heading to battlefield are mostly in their 20s. Fresh graduates who just started families and entered society.

The head of a family with no accumulated wealth goes to war and the state doesn’t give money?

’Not enough making widows, want to starve them to death too?’

Far away on the front lines, French forces are blocking German forces and German forces are blocking Russian forces?

Falling living standards without even implementing rationing economy yet, rising prices, intensifying inflation, recent jumping logistics costs, sharply declining food production, scarce consumer goods.

These were all what Kokovtsov had to block - the whispered threats in darkened corridors, the carefully worded memoranda that concealed daggers between their lines, the subtle power plays masked as innocent suggestions during cabinet meetings. Each attempt as dangerous as any assassin’s blade.

Though bullets don’t hit the body, though one doesn’t collapse bleeding on the spot - the wounds are deeper, invisible to the eye but no less fatal. They come in the form of calculated slights, of political alliances shattered in an instant, of trust corroded slowly like metal in acid rain. The victim remains standing, smiling even, while their influence and authority seep away like blood from an unseen wound.

Sometimes for bureaucrats, a few numbers written on documents can be more frightening than swords before their eyes.

Sure enough, as foreign investment funds drain like ebbing tide with war’s start, already parts of the empire suffer from financial contraction.

Must inject taxes here too to prevent bigger dams from breaking.

Though winning the war so far.

Though imperial army’s valor is listed in newspapers daily.

’...At least Britain and France have accumulated money and ports to import materials from outside.’

In contrast, Kokovtsov felt powerless with hands and feet tied.

The Black Sea’s key ports, Rostov-on-Don and Odessa, are doomed at this rate.

Military monopoly of railways will be difficult from September too.

Though we temporarily handed railways entirely to them now, railways are the empire’s blood vessels.

Moving rural food to cities, bringing city necessities to rural areas - it all means railways.

Russia with no small rural population compared to France or Germany must pay the price the moment this blood circulation blocks.

If blocked in fall, cities starve in winter, and rural areas go bankrupt before spring comes.

There’s only one way to solve this.

"...Wish they’d return quickly."

Quickly devour that Poland and strike the Ottoman Empire.

Then reclaim that Black Sea and allocate some railways to civilians for food transport.

There was no other way.

Harvest time is approaching.

Though harder than last year, we’ll somehow endure fall.

But winter. Ah, winter is different. At this rate, this winter portends terribly cold and hungry days.

"Prime Minister!"

"What now? Where’s the problem this time?"

"Ah, no, I wanted to report that the previously fixed urbanization rate and agricultural proportion have meaningfully changed..."

Right, still getting some good points with conscription in millions.

Kokovtsov didn’t know whether to laugh at this.