Reincarnated as Nikolai II

A Tsar who hastily ascended and barely began successor education without even holding his father's funeral after returning.

Though Witte's recent gazes at me seem unusual, this is how most people in this country view me.

Perhaps because of this, pressure from surroundings has intensified quite a bit this year.

"Nicky."

"Oh, Mother? What brings you to my study..."

"Since you're so reclusive, I came directly."

For example, relationships that even I as Tsar can't help.

"Sigh, where did my obedient son go, leaving only this workaholic?"

"Well, since I'm still in a position of learning work-"

"Even that has limits!"

A woman whom even liberals and hardcore capitalists who wanted to overthrow the empire wouldn't dream of assassination attempts due to good public sentiment - that's my mother.

The relationship between that eastern ideology, her nature, and genetic imprinting makes me an overwhelmingly inferior party.

"Weren't you resting at Anichkov Palace?"

"Yes, after your father died, I wanted to rest comfortably. It was also consideration in its way."

"Consideration?"

"Consideration for the new empress. But I didn't expect that position to still be empty even after returning."

"Ah."

Marriage is important in its way... but now isn't the time when mere marriage is important. The empire is now standing at the peak of turbulent golden age-

"Nobles, bureaucrats, even relatives came running to me saying the Emperor won't hold his coronation."

"Haha..."

This is truly unfair. The fantastic attention-grabbing of parliament and press has created such turbidity in just half a year that citizens can't tell who's good and who's bad.

Is there any reason to steal attention back by grandly holding weddings and coronations here?

When waves surge above water, it's better below surface.

"That girl back then. Yes, why haven't you met Alix?"

"Mother, you also said Alix was somewhat concerning. She's not even Orthodox."

"That was because I didn't know you wouldn't meet anyone!"

I could only shrink at the high pitch striking my face.

But I couldn't answer here by arguing with Mother "Actually, I thought Alix had high probability of becoming a cultist follower so there was no reason to take such risk."

"At this rate your brother Mikhail will marry first! Mikhail who just had his coming of age ceremony!"

"Oh, does Mikhail have a woman?"

"Son!"

Though I'm truly sorry for being such an unfilial son, not now. Now I can't wastefully spend money and time, nor draw attention.

Rather, better to remain unknown about me.

But Mother's will was firm.

"I won't say much. Whether you learned homosexuality in the military or came to like foreigners in the Far East as rumored, it's not my business. If you still won't meet anyone, I'll arrange meetings myself."

"What? What rumors are those? And what do you mean arrange?"

"If there's no woman you want domestically, we must find an empress even if we have to search all European royalty."

"Wow..."

Lost for words at the powerful will felt on my skin. Feels like rebutting here would only be disadvantageous.

"No? Just openly-"

"Th-three years!"

"What?"

"I'll do it within three years. If not by then, Mother can arrange it."

"Hmm. Including wedding?"

"...Including wedding, three years."

Though the number three years doesn't seem to please her either, this time I didn't back down.

'Even if I can't do it in three years, I can find a way then.'

For now, just not now.

"...Fine. I hope to hear good news within three years from today."

"Yes."

Mother, whose power-filled steps belied her age approaching fifty, left the study immediately.

She disappeared leading numerous court ladies.

"Sigh... Marriage, this too is a problem if anything."

No, then have the state create an environment for marriage! If the State Duma just made a law saying "Ah, the Tsar's marriage is a national celebration so strikes and protests are banned for now," I'd marry right away. No? I'll even set up a harem.

"Your Majesty, Director of Okhrana. May I enter?"

"Ah, come in."

A new person enters less than a minute after Mother disappeared. Though I couldn't rebut Mother, this is my reality. The life of an endlessly working dog.

"I've come to report results."

Director Sekherinsky gently handed me documents from an envelope.

"Black marks are accidental deaths. Red marks are those who had to die publicly."

"Good, your skills haven't gone anywhere."

"However, over 200 new newspapers were established last year alone. There's considerable concern our activities might be reported."

"That's fine. We must accept that much."

There's a list I gave the Director when ordering him to expand Okhrana.

People to find.

People to kill.

People to surveil if difficult to kill now.

Or people to watch out for.

"Vladimir Lenin... traveling right now. How lucky."

"He seems someone you're quite interested in. Well, his brother was suspected of plotting to assassinate the previous Tsar."

"If he left for Western Europe to meet Russian exiles, further pursuit would be difficult."

"We assigned two agents to track his movements, but significant results seem unlikely."

"That's fine then."

I definitely thought Lenin would be serving hard labor in Siberia for anti-Tsar activities during this period, but he's not in the country.

'Is this also a change if anything.'

Then does this mean I can't read the Russian version of Capital written under the pseudonym Vladimir Ilyich? I rather enjoyed reading that.

"Since he's not yet a socially influential figure... kill him immediately if he returns."

"Understood."

"How's journalist control?"

"We're hitting them fairly regardless of party."

How much can newspapers sell in illiterate Russia? Anyway, recently established newspapers are all operated with backing.

There was concern all parties might turn against the Tsar if suppressing after giving press freedom... but the current State Duma is too busy fighting among themselves to care about such things.

'Human psychology is truly ridiculous. They endure their own pain when others are beaten too.'

When their newspaper is hit by Okhrana, they stay quiet if the opposing party is hit too.

"Let's just set guidelines for the press. Don't intervene too much, just teach the lesson that crossing lines brings punishment."

"Understood."

"You may go."

I tried giving the Director work by designating several names from the list as examples, and his ability is better than expected.

"Okhrana should be sufficient at this level. What's next..."

My desk resembles a battlefield daily with so many ordered tasks and ongoing projects.

Looking through them one by one carefully, documents submitted by the Foreign Ministry catch my eye.

Perhaps thinking I wouldn't know, it carefully listed current situation in Joseon, personnel relationships and basic information about the country, but reading through roughly:

[Joseon's king stays in Russian legation without returning home]

Such was the content.

"Oh..."

I thought the Far East would be peaceful for a while after good agreements and withdrawal with Japan.

Without my knowledge, another spark was being kindled in the Far East.

==

Actually, Nikolai himself had no small stake in this incident.

Agwan Pacheon.

An incident clearly showing modern Joseon's chaos that one couldn't miss unless they slept extraordinarily well during Korean history class.

The incident began when a pro-Japanese cabinet led by Kim Hong-jip and Heungseon Daewongun seized power during the Sino-Japanese War.

Oh? Wasn't Joseon a country where royal commands were absolute?- If you think this, it's not wrong. Joseon was an absolute monarchy like Russia.

However, this was only superficially so, and in reality during this time Yi Hui (Gojong) was under confinement. Ministers and father imprisoned the king and seized power.

While Nikolai thought "Ah, fortunate if the Russo-Japanese War happens just a bit later" and hurriedly left the Far East since the Sino-Japanese War ended early compared to original history, the Joseon left behind was different.

The Russian Empire led friends Germany and France to drive Japan back to its islands at once. Where did the status of Imperial Japan that seemed about to swallow Qing go, as 200,000 Japanese troops had to pack up overnight and return to their island country.

Now, logically the next step should be coming to Joseon to rescue the imprisoned king, sweep away that pro-Japanese puppet cabinet and form a pro-Russian cabinet again... surely that should happen but...

"Why, why aren't they coming!"

"What, they're stopping here? Russia just leaves that pro-Japanese cabinet alone?"

A situation arose that bewildered even pro-Japanese factions who were despairing at Japanese-style development becoming an overnight dream.

Russia isn't coming down.

"Minister Weber! What is this about! Didn't Governor Sergei say he would lead tens of thousands of troops south anytime!"

"C-calm down! Major Nammanri! It must be because the Tsar passed away recently. Surely the Crown Prince will give orders!"

"Aish! One month. If nothing happens after waiting one more month, I'll lead rescue attempts myself with my 800 soldiers!"

"My word!"

Then several weeks later. An escape plan for Gojong was actually implemented, mobilizing Court Minister Yi Jae-sun, Court Attendant Im Choi-su, Colonel Yi Do-cheol and other Jeongdong faction officials and foreign personnel.

However, perhaps too hasty an attempt, the plan to escape to the American legation was caught midway and this only accelerated the momentum of Eulmi Reform while strengthening surveillance.

In truth, the pro-Japanese faction implementing Joseon's Eulmi Reform was equally uneasy.

"W-was cutting His Majesty's topknot going too far?"

"What does the Japanese side say?"

"No particular instructions or response. Just word that we're doing well came back. Yugong, any news from up there?"

"Rumors have spread to the south that the world changes overnight. Something seems to be happening but."

"Hmm... You don't know either."

Though Kim Hong-jip acted like there was no tomorrow, he was actually among those trembling most in fear.

'Already mounted the tiger's back. Now death comes the moment I try to get off.'

Just that the mounted tiger wasn't moving at all.

When Lady Min died by Japanese assassin's blade at night, Kim Hong-jip also felt great guilt, but seeing Imperial Japanese forces marching victoriously to Liaodong afterwards, he changed his mind.

Ah, now isn't the time to be in despair. This country too must hurry to become wealthy and strong like that country.

Directly experiencing Japan's power, all of Joseon finally entered his view. How weak and rotten this country was.

Many helmsmen but the ship sails aimlessly on vast seas, so at least he must stay sharp.

Yes, if needed he would use even the enemy's power that killed Queen Min.

So Kim Hong-jip resolved and seized power.

Just until Crown Prince Nikolai showed his face in the Far East again.

'Though rumors among people of him single-handedly stopping hundreds of thousands of troops might be false... the fact remains he saved Qing.'

So Imperial Japan must have panicked and fled back to their island signing a treaty in one day.

In other words, if Russia comes south, Japan cannot help the pro-Japanese faction.

The hierarchy between the two countries was clearly established two years ago.

"But why aren't they coming..."

This frustration of Kim Hong-jip was equally felt across the sea in Japan.

However, Prime Minister Ito knew slightly more detailed circumstances.

"They truly had no interest in Joseon. How perplexing."

Though sending anyone from that Amur Governor-General's Office could have taken Hanyang long ago, there's no response even after two years passing.

"Russian Emperor... Nikolai."

But confirming the other's true intentions, Ito's room for maneuver also became more restricted.

In other words, does this mean his talk of going to war during their previous meeting was also genuine?

Another wave strikes this complex yet calm-before-storm political situation in Joseon.

"The king and crown prince secretly left the palace riding court lady palanquins!"

"Where did they go?"

"They headed to Jeongdong!"

"Jeongdong means... the Russian legation!"

It was Gojong's escape from Gyeongbok Palace.