Sweeping reforms

After Mikhail succeeded to the throne and became the new tsar, he was called Mikhail II, in accordance with custom.

Mikhail I had been the first tsar of the Romanov Dynasty, reigning from 1613 to 1645.

The civil war had ended, and a new tsar had ascended the throne. This meant that the turmoil throughout the Tsarist Russian Empire was about to end.

The people no longer had to worry that the entire empire would collapse, step by step, amid the civil war.

Countless people rejoiced at the news. Everyone was also full of expectations for the new tsar.

After all, when Grand Duke Mikhail had been governor of the Don River region, the territory under his rule had developed extremely rapidly.

The people's standard of living had also improved significantly.

Everyone hoped Mikhail could give them all a good life.

The pursuit of a better life was in everyone's nature!

On June 19, the day after his accession, Mikhail summoned the senior officials of the Tsarist Russian Empire.

Now that he was tsar, Mikhail could finally make the entire country develop according to his will. He could carry out sweeping reforms throughout the country.

The Tsarist Russian Empire faced many problems: corrupt administration, a weak military, backward industry, and transportation, education, and healthcare systems that lagged far behind those of the powerful Western nations.

The Tsarist Russian Empire was one of the world's great powers, and ranked relatively high among them.

But in essence, the Tsarist Russian Empire was an agricultural country through and through.

Although it had a certain industrial base, that base was extremely backward and lacked a coherent system.

At this time, the Tsarist Russian Empire could still gain an advantage in war by relying on its sheer size, particularly the strategic depth provided by its vast territory and the huge pool of recruits provided by its enormous population.

But as technology continued to advance, weapons, equipment, and tactics were also changing.

Numerical superiority would no longer play such a great role on the battlefield.

That was why the Tsarist Russian Empire would suffer defeat after defeat in the wars to come.

There were five and a half years left until the war with the Japanese. There were only a dozen or so years left until the First World War.

Mikhail hoped that, in that time, the Tsarist Russian Empire could undergo a transformation that would shed its old body and be reborn.

If so, perhaps future wars could have entirely different outcomes.

The Tsarist Russian Empire could truly become the hegemon of the European continent.

Of course, there was still a long road to travel before that goal could be achieved.

There were also a great many things the Tsarist Russian Empire still needed to change.

"Gentlemen, I have decided to move the empire's capital from Petersburg back to Moscow!"

Making Moscow the capital of the entire empire once again was the first order Mikhail issued after becoming tsar.

The senior officials of the Tsarist Russian Empire could not help but break into discussion.

Although they had long known that His Majesty the Tsar had this intention,

they had not expected His Majesty to issue the order outright, without leaving any room for a transition.

"Your Majesty, Petersburg has been the empire's capital for nearly three hundred years. The people have grown accustomed to it being the capital. If we make a change rashly, I'm afraid it will cause unrest.

"Could we proceed step by step?

"For example, we could first elevate Moscow from a secondary capital to one of the empire's capitals. Petersburg and Moscow would both serve as capitals, under a dual-capital system.

"After some time, we could establish Moscow as the empire's sole capital."

That was the suggestion of Plehve, the minister of the interior.

Quite a few senior imperial officials agreed.

But Mikhail rejected it without hesitation.

"Gentlemen, there is no need to discuss this any further. My mind is made up!" Mikhail's stance was absolutely firm.

He intended to use this order to establish his supreme authority.

Seeing this, the other senior imperial officials had no choice but to give up trying to persuade him.

After all, Mikhail had only just won the civil war and enjoyed immense prestige. No one in the country dared oppose him.

The ministers saw no reason to incur Mikhail's displeasure over this matter.

Of course, moving the capital would inevitably affect many people's interests.

But as long as the ministers could keep their positions, their interests would not be harmed.

As for the others, even if their interests were harmed, it was no concern of theirs.

Petersburg had been established as the capital during the reign of Peter the Great.

Back then, Peter the Great had established Petersburg at the mouth of the Neva River to make the empire pay attention to naval development and seek a good ice-free port. This had also greatly strengthened the Tsarist Russian Empire's control over the northern region.

But for the same reason, the Tsarist Russian Empire's control over the south of the empire had grown increasingly lax.

Unlike the remote Petersburg, Moscow lay at the center of the East European Plain.

This was where the Tsarist Russian Empire's center ought to be from now on.

Especially when facing threats from Europe's many great powers, the Tsarist Russian Empire needed to focus its main efforts on the European continent.

"Gentlemen, I intend to reform the imperial cabinet. Previously, the cabinet abolished the post of chairman of the Council of Ministers, and each minister reported directly to the tsar.

"Although this strengthened the tsar's control over the cabinet, it also left him facing a heavy burden of state affairs.

"Therefore, I intend to establish the post of imperial prime minister, who will be responsible for handling day-to-day administrative affairs. The prime minister and the deputy prime minister will both report directly to the tsar.

"In addition, the empire's cabinet ministers may also report their work directly to the tsar!"

Mikhail continued.

Establishing the post of imperial prime minister would indeed weaken the tsar's control over the cabinet.

But Mikhail did not want to spend his future surrounded by tedious state affairs.

He only needed to keep hold of the overall direction; he could leave the rest to the ministers below him.

Attending to every matter personally would only work him to death.

Besides, he had also created the post of deputy prime minister to divide the prime minister's power and prevent him from holding sole sway.

After Mikhail announced this reform, the senior imperial officials were all tempted. Every one of them could not help breathing faster.

Previously, the Tsarist Russian Empire had no post of prime minister or chairman of the Council of Ministers, so none of them had entertained any thoughts about it.

But now that Mikhail was establishing the post of prime minister, the ministers naturally all wanted to fill it.

"I hereby appoint Plehve as imperial prime minister!" Mikhail announced to the gathering.

Interior Minister Plehve's face lit up with wild joy. He had not expected such a windfall to land on his head.

It seemed that arresting Finance Minister Sergei Witte earlier had indeed been a wise move!

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will certainly handle administrative affairs well on your behalf!" Plehve declared at once.

A flicker of disappointment passed through the eyes of Pobedonostsev, director of the Orthodox Affairs Administration.

He had undoubtedly had designs on the post of prime minister as well. But unfortunately, Mikhail had chosen Plehve.