Cleaning Up Official Corruption

Mikhail II, tsar of the empire, appointed new cabinet ministers, causing quite a stir throughout the Tsarist Russian Empire.

Every change of cabinet was bound to affect the political situation throughout the Tsarist Russian Empire.

The newly appointed cabinet ministers would become the top leadership of the entire Tsarist Russian Empire.

They would decide the future course of the Tsarist Russian Empire.

Although Mikhail was young, he had already established his own authority throughout the Tsarist Russian Empire. He had even reached the point where his word was almost as good as gold.

This had strengthened the tsar's power to an unprecedented degree.

After the meeting, Mikhail asked Plehve, Pobedonostsev, and Stolypin to stay behind.

"Gentlemen, I'm sure you all know the state of the empire's officials at every level, even better than I do.

"Officials like Sergei Witte can be found everywhere in the Tsarist Russian Empire.

"The entire officialdom of the Tsarist Russian Empire has rotted to the core.

"If this continues, the entire Tsarist Russian Empire will have no future.

"I hope that, starting now, we can change this completely!"

Mikhail spoke to them with a grave expression.

Plehve, Pobedonostsev, and Stolypin all understood Mikhail's determination and knew that his position on this issue was already very firm.

"Your Majesty, I will do everything in my power to advance this matter. The corruption in the empire's officialdom will be thoroughly rooted out!" Pobedonostsev promised.

Mikhail nodded. He still trusted Pobedonostsev's character.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, particularly the police at every level, is probably also one of the worst-affected areas. Whether we are cleaning up official corruption or arresting members of the Bolshevik Party, we will need the cooperation of the entire police force.

"I hope that we can begin by cleaning up the police force throughout the country!"

Stolypin made his suggestion.

Mikhail nodded repeatedly. He admired Stolypin for spotting the main problem at once.

The police force under the Ministry of Internal Affairs bore a heavy responsibility.

But among the current police personnel, there were also many corrupt individuals.

It was simply unrealistic to rely on these people to protect and support the Ministry of Supervision in cleaning up official corruption nationwide.

Therefore, the police force had to be cleaned up first, and even its personnel had to be replaced on a large scale.

"Do you have any suggestions?" Mikhail asked.

"Your Majesty, I hope to have the army's support. A considerable number of officers and soldiers leave the army every year. I hope to bring the best of them into the police departments.

"That way, we can both reinforce the police force and inject fresh blood into it.

"Once the police force has been cleaned up, we can then undertake a large-scale cleanup of official corruption across the country!"

Stolypin offered his suggestion.

Stolypin also understood how important cleaning up official corruption was to the Tsarist Russian Empire.

In another timeline, he had also pushed hard to clean up official corruption.

Mikhail nodded and adopted Stolypin's suggestion.

"In the second half of this year, after the empire's war with the Ottoman Empire ends, a large number of officers and soldiers will leave the army. The Ministry of Internal Affairs can take them in then.

"Cleaning up official corruption will be a long process.

"I know very well that it will be difficult to see results in a short time.

"So the Ministry of Supervision need not rush.

"It would be best to gather evidence first and make the necessary preparations.

"Once everything is ready, pull those officials out by the roots!"

Mikhail instructed them.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Pobedonostsev replied.

Pobedonostsev was also very pleased that Mikhail understood the cleanup could not be rushed and had to be advanced step by step.

The Tsarist Russian Empire was a vast empire. If they rushed, they would only plunge the entire empire into chaos.

That would undoubtedly be highly detrimental to the Tsarist Russian Empire in its current state.

"Your Majesty, how should Sergei Witte be dealt with?" Plehve asked.

Mikhail thought for a moment, then made his decision.

"Put Sergei Witte on public trial! Let the people watch the entire trial, so the people of the empire know how determined the empire is to clean up official corruption, and so those officials know what will happen if they can't keep their hands to themselves!" Mikhail said.

Mikhail was clearly going to use Sergei Witte to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.

Under Nicholas II, Sergei Witte had wielded immense power and could be called the foremost figure in the imperial cabinet.

But now, he would be tried before everyone's eyes and then hanged on the gallows.

It was easy to imagine what a tremendous shock this would cause the people and officials throughout the Tsarist Russian Empire.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Plehve nodded.

"Also, there is no need for the empire to strike everyone down with the same blow in this cleanup. The past offenses of the empire's current officials can be overlooked. However, they must voluntarily turn themselves in to the imperial Ministry of Supervision and the supervisory bodies at every level.

"They must also hand over eighty percent of the funds they embezzled.

"That way, they can be exempted from punishment.

"But if they offend again, they will all receive the maximum punishment.

"This will count as giving them a chance.

"If they are afraid they won't be able to keep their hands to themselves, they can voluntarily resign after turning themselves in."

Mikhail continued.

Mikhail knew very well that this cleanup would send heads rolling throughout the Tsarist Russian Empire.

There was no telling how many officials would be hanged.

Of course, this would also inevitably make the people clap their hands in delight.

But such a vast empire also needed officials to administer it.

That was why Mikhail was willing to give them a chance.

Moreover, if the funds these officials had embezzled could be handed over, they would undoubtedly greatly bolster the empire's finances.

The empire's annual revenue was currently only 1.5 billion rubles, or a little over 160 million pounds when converted.

The Tsarist Russian Empire was poor, one of the poorest among the great powers.

Life was even harder for the common people.

But that did not mean the Tsarist Russian Empire truly had no money.

It was simply that vast amounts of wealth were in the hands of nobles, bureaucrats, landowners, and merchants.

Ordinary people lacked clothes to cover their bodies and food to fill their bellies, and every year, no one knew how many starved to death.

If the wealth in the hands of those corrupt officials could be gathered together,

then there would be sufficient funds to advance the coming industrial development, transportation development, and even agricultural reform.

Rather than let those corrupt officials squander the people's lifeblood, it would be better to use it to build the nation.

That would also allow the Tsarist Russian Empire to accelerate its various development projects and rapidly grow stronger.

Plehve, Pobedonostsev, and Stolypin all understood what Mikhail meant.

They also supported Mikhail in doing this.

A tsar who used the ill-gotten gains of those corrupt officials to build the nation, rather than for personal pleasure and extravagant indulgence, was definitely a good tsar, a tsar beloved by the people!