Reincarnated as Nikolai II

"Hahaha! Nikolai Bunge! You crazy bureaucrat!"

Is he an ill-fated reformer destined to fade into history, or a madman who postponed even death while harboring original sin and stubbornness?

It’s too early for a posthumous evaluation since Bunge hasn’t died yet, but he’s certainly someone who will be recorded in detail by future generations.

"Ah... How long has it been since I laughed so heartily?"

At this point, with the Trans-Siberian Railway nearing completion this year, all I wanted from the Amur Governor-General’s Office was just maintaining the status quo.

That meant I thought the Amur Governor-General’s Office’s work was done after just receiving reports on Roman’s fortress construction.

However, Bunge apparently thought differently.

"Do you see? These numerous business plans and reports? The madness of a senile old man at eighty?"

"...Isn’t this the harmful effect of excessive autonomy?"

"No, no, Count Dashkov, that’s not it."

Looking at these plans set up by Nikolai Bunge, one country that benefited from last year’s Boxer Rebellion comes to mind.

The Japanese Empire. That country that enjoyed war special demand when troops were sent to Qing during the Boxer Rebellion.

’Even though they only fought what amounted to a few months of playing house war, they say the economic effects were quite good.’

But Bunge wouldn’t have made such a gambling move just looking at that.

"I’m dying to meet Professor Bunge right now."

How far did that undead specter look ahead?

The export to Qing that became a blue ocean after the import of modern weapons was banned with the signing of the Treaty of 1901?

The Russo-Japanese War that would break out soon and the hundreds of thousands of troops that would be stationed in Manchuria afterward?

Or Korea? Did he even consider the armament of Korea, positioned as a neutral country?

’If it was just at the level of stockpiling inventory, I wouldn’t have thought he was looking so far ahead...’

If that were the case, it would have just been enough to fill Manchuria’s finances once when the Russo-Japanese War broke out.

However, Bunge is even willing to hand wads of cash to military companies from the powers, including the United States, calling them to Manchuria if needed.

Because he plans to not only properly feast on the war special demand that will break out in Manchuria but also monopolize the aftermath.

This requires three certainties as foundation.

"First, the certainty that a major war between us and the Japanese Empire will break out within a few years."

Without that, conversely, Manchuria’s economy would become extremely depressed and unable to play a role beyond being a post station where railways pass through.

"Next, the certainty that there will be places to sell weapons to after the war ends, whether it’s Qing or Korea. That is, Qing must continue to survive while remaining chaotic, and Korea must also become armed."

From here is the chilling fact itself. The warlords of China were such major customers of Manchurian industry in the original history that it wouldn’t be wrong to consider them a main pillar of the Manchurian economy.

"Lastly, the certainty that we won’t be satisfied with Manchuria after our overwhelming victory and will expand."

If there’s an ambiguous treaty ending the war midway or a situation where neither side wins or loses, such modification becomes meaningless.

Frankly speaking, how good could the quality of weapons produced there be? After the Russo-Japanese War, we could just leisurely operate the Moscow Arsenal and send weapons by train.

Nevertheless, Bunge bet everything in the Far East on the military industry and war special demand.

"Hehe, this crazy old man."

The deeper you read, the more profound each calculation becomes.

"As soon as war breaks out, temporarily eliminate tariffs with America and greatly increase payment amounts. If we can make American cargo ships come and go through Vladivostok port..."

Just looking at this one thing shows it. Naturally, if American civilian ships frequent the port, Japan’s standing fleet and West Sea fleet won’t easily wage commerce destruction warfare or launch surprise port bombardments.

"But isn’t this an uncertain plan?"

"That’s right. America might reject even duty-free exports or conversely supply materials to Japan. However, if he prepared dozens of such plans, wouldn’t some of them work?"

Truly, one could say Bunge bet everything.

If he had been in my era rather than my father’s era... Would Chairman Bunge’s life have been different?

No, perhaps he changed like this precisely because he hit rock bottom.

"I remember that time. When I had just ascended to the throne and was overwhelmed, Professor Bunge came and asked to be sent to the Far East. I was dumbfounded. I thought what could he possibly do if he went there."

"Did you know the Far East would grow so rapidly even then?"

"I didn’t expect it. Even appointing Roman as the next Governor-General was only hoping for solid defense, not growth."

Anyway, as long as I stay in St. Petersburg, I can’t be closely involved in affairs at that Asian end. Nor is it worth it.

However, paradoxically, when I returned, this old bureaucrat who had left finally became tainted with madness.

Power? Wealth? Honor? No. Such shallow motivations couldn’t produce such pure madness.

"Putting it nicely, he wants to prove something, and putting it harshly, he wants to mock everyone."

"That’s a rough way to put it, but you seem somehow pleased."

"Of course I’m pleased! Who wouldn’t applaud his passion?"

From the start, it’s extraordinary that an old man who could die any time shows such boldness.

And above all.

"Moreover, he’s acting according to what’s close to a perfect answer."

Even I’m not confident I could submit a better answer than this.

No, probably none of the empire’s 120 million citizens could attempt such an adventure as Bunge’s.

Nikolai Christianovich Bunge, you madman who denies your own bureaucratic past and tries to make even my new era look shabby.

I think I somewhat understand why even death avoided him.

==

The 20th century began.

Despite the new year dawning, Britain is pouring massive budget into the Scorched Earth operation in South Africa that started last year.

The Scorched Earth operation involves destroying water, food, animals, plants, tools and all infrastructure - it shows how obsessed those pirate bastards are with colonial control.

Of course, this fact wasn’t widely known externally, as Britain proper was preoccupied with Queen Victoria’s death at age 81 in January and the ascension of a new king.