Reincarnated as Nikolai II

If the United States takes this Gyeongbu Line, it might not be a landmine, but it could be an uncomfortable thorn in their side.

’Or maybe not.’

Actually, I don’t even expect that much.

Since we who anticipate war with Japan can’t build the Gyeongbu Line anyway, we can give it away like a gesture of goodwill to those who envy the Manchurian railway.

"Whether Minister Giers gets permission from Joseon or not... ask Ambassador Tower if they’re interested in constructing the Gyeongbu Line."

This much of a mouthful should stop their complaints.

There’s no need to get involved in unnecessary disputes before determining victory or defeat with Japan.

==

The State Department, which had feared that Qing would be swallowed up by Russia’s southward policy, could only raise question marks over their heads at the sudden proposal for Joseon railway construction.

"...They’re giving away the construction rights to the Gyeongbu railway, which will become Joseon’s backbone, so easily? After all, Joseon’s railway will connect not only to Qing through Manchuria but all the way to Europe?"

"It must be due to lack of capacity, right? The Russian Empire is about to complete the Trans-Siberian Railway, so they probably lack the resources to build another railway."

"No, that’s not it."

Like any country, when starting the gold standard, both the country itself and observing neighbors become desperate to increase trade.

In ’97, when Japan followed Russia in adopting the gold standard, America’s Asian trade only grew year after year without exception.

Even during the ’96 panic, trade with China and Japan grew by nearly 10%.

Secretary of State John Hay couldn’t understand Russia’s intentions for suddenly offering this gift after taking some criticism.

’What is it? There must be a reason they’re giving this away so easily.’

Or is it like Germany, which gave the Samoa Islands to the United States in January this year, thinking it’s better to be generous? But wasn’t Joseon supposed to be Russia’s next front yard after eating Manchuria?

"Looking at my records, I see that Minister Allen once tried to obtain the railway connecting Joseon’s port Incheon with its capital."

"In the end, Russia built it now. And Japan wanted the Gyeongin Line so badly."

"Yes, even that short railway had quite significant interests because Joseon is so small. But a railway connecting Joseon’s largest port and capital? Isn’t it strange that they’re giving this away so easily?"

For any country, colonial railways are core interests that can’t be taken lightly. Railways make money as long as there’s population, regardless of resources.

’When the Joseon Emperor left home and returned, the concession France received was exclusive bidding rights for the Gyeongui Line (Pyongyang-Hanyang). That’s what Russia’s greatest ally received.’

The French company Feveslille (Compagnie de Feveslille) had obtained the construction rights by investing enormous sums.

"One thing is clear anyway. Whether it’s the Tsar’s order or Minister Giers’ initiative, the Russian Empire is trying to show a pro-American stance."

Unlike their previously neutral relationship, the current imperial government clearly doesn’t antagonize America entering the Asian market.

In this atmosphere, Russia might not try to monopolize Qing or Joseon.

For now, since they’ve received something, the U.S. State Department decided to refrain from criticizing about Manchuria.

John Hay couldn’t even imagine "a decisive war between Russia and Japan over Asian interests" in the near future.

It was the limitation of hikikomori thinking stuck at home.

==

The State Duma, changed to elections every two years. The political world that had been like a quiet lake with last year’s first peaceful autumn and purge.

So what did the imperial government do during this time?

"I appoint Finance Minister Sergei Witte as Prime Minister."

"I shall burn this body to serve Your Majesty!"

The imperial government implemented the prime minister system at this time when resistance from the Duma would be minimal.

The prime minister system was implemented by the strong will of the Tsar, who had been overworked for the past 6 years. The prime minister is naturally appointed by the Tsar and serves an 8-year term.

Perhaps because seats increased from 200 to 450, Duma members fortunately didn’t strongly oppose the implementation of the prime minister system.

So who would they choose in the State Duma lower house?

"Here is Speaker Alexander Guchkov, who will serve a 2-year term!"

"Conservative Party! Conservative Party! Conservative Party!"

They elected a lower house speaker to work with the prime minister.

The first speaker was elected as Guchkov, the Conservative Party leader, after the Democratic Party, which had been the largest party, was pushed aside.

In particular, Guchkov’s Conservative Party had quite broad inclusiveness, being the only right-wing party except for progressive bourgeoisie.

It incorporated various ideologies including the Trade and Industry Party, Law and Order Party, Constitutional Monarchist Legal Alliance, Kaluga’s ’For the Tsar’s Order’ Party, etc., which stemmed from one common purpose shared by the Conservative Party leadership including Guchkov.

’We must never let the reds take power.’

’Whether it’s bureaucrats’ reform or whatever, the Democratic Party and Labor Party are crazy people who want revolution, not reform.’

The reason they didn’t strongly oppose the implementation of the prime minister system despite having complaints - it was because they feared the country might split in two if a leftist government took power.

To summarize briefly, they were a party that wasn’t as ideologically strong as the Labor Party or Democratic Party, but instead absorbed various minor parties under the spirit of constitutional monarchy alone to win the speaker position.

When the Democratic-Labor alliance was destroyed and conservatives began to dominate.

The Labor Party, which had been suppressing even strikes and demonstrations on their own due to the Tsar’s purge, began to gradually reveal their instincts that they had been holding back.

"Strike after so long! Strike!"

"We don’t want to work with industrialists who don’t care about our health!"

"You have lots of money! Didn’t you say we’re like family! Let’s share a bit!"

However, even the MPs at the top of unions and strikes had learned some tact through years of politics, having grasped the Tsar’s ’invisible hand’ theory.

"I heard equipment companies received more policy funds than their annual sales. Let’s grow the strike in that direction."

"Ha! Construction industry with the highest labor costs will fail? Impossible under the current Tsar’s reign! Go on general strike!"

"For munitions factories... how about keeping quiet for a while? If you don’t want to die."

The Labor Party learned for the first time through the recent purge that mindlessly making demands would lead to abandonment in Mother Russia’s political world. In the frozen land where even gypsies gave up on survival, abandonment means death.

In other words, regardless of party, everyone must clearly recognize that they are ultimately imperial citizens and Russians.

Lastly, those who belonged nowhere despite being a new minor party.

’Beren and Children’ still shouted today.

"Don’t protest, just move! With your worker level here, you can live luxuriously in the Far East!"

"The Progressive Party and bourgeoisie are stupid! What? Policy funds are sweet? The Amur Governor-General’s office is throwing around even more money right now!"

"You should give up the illusion that the Far East will always be open. The upcoming tremendous boom in the Far East will be a party only early birds can enjoy!"

They remained unchanged Far East enthusiasts even after the purge.