Railways to Open Within Five Years

"The Trans-Siberian Railway the empire is building concerns the empire's control over Siberia and the Far East. It even concerns the empire's national security.

The Japanese have increased their troop presence on the Korean Peninsula, seriously infringing on the empire's interests there. On the one hand, that was because the empire was in the midst of a civil war at the time, and the Japanese saw an opportunity. On the other hand, the Far East is simply too far from the empire's heartland, whereas it is right on Japan's doorstep. That is why the Japanese have nothing to fear.

If this situation remains unchanged for too long, then once the Japanese have finished their preparations, they will certainly launch larger-scale provocations against the empire in the Far East, or even start a war!"

Mikhail informed the empire's senior officials, his expression serious.

The senior officials all looked somewhat astonished.

Although the Tsarist Russian Empire was known as a giant with feet of clay, it was also called the "steamroller"!

Even among the world's great powers, it was unquestionably a powerful nation, and not one that pseudo-great powers like the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy could compare with.

As for the Japanese Empire, although it had defeated the Great Qing Empire, made enormous strides in development over the past few years, and had the backing of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets, the world's hegemon,

the Japanese Empire's foundations were too shallow. It simply could not compare with the Tsarist Russian Empire.

It certainly could not become a threat to the Tsarist Russian Empire in a short time.

Mikhail also knew what these senior officials were thinking. He knew they did not take the Japanese seriously at all.

"I know everyone may find this hard to believe. But we have to prepare in advance.

The people of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets are giving the Japanese so much support precisely because they want to use them as cannon fodder to contain the empire's development.

By defeating the Great Qing Empire, the Japanese have already successfully taken the first step.

Over the years, they have accelerated their military expansion and preparations for war.

Although there is still a tremendous gap between Japan's overall strength and the empire's, the empire's territory is simply too vast. The empire's main forces are all in Europe, while the Far East is not only sparsely populated but also has few troops.

If the Japanese seize this opportunity to wage war on the empire, can the empire's army make the journey of ten thousand li to the Far East?

In particular, with the Trans-Siberian Railway still unfinished, can the empire send hundreds of thousands of troops to the Far East and ensure their logistical supplies?

Perhaps someone will say that we can still transport troops and supplies to the Far East by sea.

But don't forget that the people of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets are backing the Japanese.

They control the Suez Canal and other important sea routes.

If they close the canal to the empire and refuse to let its warships pass through, then the imperial navy will have no choice but to go around the Cape of Good Hope! After traveling ten thousand li to reach the Far East, how much fighting strength will the imperial navy have left?

All these years, the Japanese have been pouring their energy into developing their navy.

What's more, none of us can guarantee that the navy of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets won't intervene directly in the war.

But if the Trans-Siberian Railway is completed and opened to traffic, our troops can be transported to the Far East in an unending stream by rail. Even if the railway's transport capacity limits the number of troops we can send,

Japan is only a small country to begin with.

As long as the empire deploys a sufficient force, it will be enough to defeat the Japanese!"

Mikhail reminded them.

The expressions of the empire's senior officials could not help but grow grave.

"The Trans-Siberian Railway must be completed as soon as possible. Otherwise, the threat the Japanese pose to the empire will only grow!" Prime Minister Plehve said.

The other senior officials all voiced their agreement.

None of them could tolerate the empire being defeated by a small country like the Japanese Empire, even if Japan was already considered an emerging power.

If the Tsarist Russian Empire were defeated by the Japanese, it would be an enormous humiliation.

"Your Majesty, if we are to accelerate construction of the Siberia Railway, it will require a massive investment. The production capacity of our steel mills will need to be expanded further. We will even need to import more machinery and equipment from abroad."

Duke Khilkov, the minister of transport, reminded him.

Building the Trans-Siberian Railway was already a major undertaking for the Tsarist Russian Empire.

To ensure that the project could be completed smoothly, the Tsarist Russian Empire had even been forced to borrow money from foreign countries.

Of course, that was because the Tsarist Russian Empire's finances could not support such a large project.

But this timeline was different. Investigating corrupt officials across the country could bring the Tsarist Russian Empire a large sum in revenue. Besides, Mikhail would not desperately squeeze out wealth as other tsars had. Instead, he would put the imperial family's wealth toward building the country.

Thus, the shortage of funds troubling the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway was not an unsolvable problem.

"The imperial treasury will increase its investment in the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway going forward. In addition, the imperial family will provide part of the investment. The Imperial Ministry of Finance and the imperial family will take shares in a railway company, which will be responsible for building the Trans-Siberian Railway and operating it afterward," Mikhail said.

Finance Minister Rostovsky had no objections.

Although His Majesty the tsar was now spending money like water,

this was clearly beneficial to the Tsarist Russian Empire, so of course he would give it his full support.

Besides, Mikhail was no iron rooster that would not part with a single feather; he had even brought out the wealth accumulated by the imperial family.

Thus, the imperial treasury naturally had to give its full support as well.

Duke Khilkov nodded repeatedly. As long as the funds were available, construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway could be accelerated further.

"Moreover, we captured more than three hundred thousand prisoners of war during this civil war. Most of them are strong and able-bodied.

The army will select a group of qualified soldiers from among them.

The empire will not release the remaining prisoners of war so easily.

All of them will be put to work on upcoming railway and road construction.

They will be released after they have worked at the construction sites for ten years."

Mikhail continued.

None of the senior imperial officials objected.

If these prisoners of war could serve as free labor, that would undoubtedly further reduce transportation construction costs.

At the same time, with so many laborers joining the work, construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway would also progress much faster.

"Besides the Trans-Siberian Railway, construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway and the South Manchurian Branch Line must also be accelerated.

I hope these railways will be ready to open to traffic within five years!"

Mikhail laid out his demand.

Duke Khilkov's expression immediately turned serious. Getting the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Chinese Eastern Railway, and the South Manchurian Branch Line ready to open within five years was no easy task!

But His Majesty the tsar had already made this demand clear.

And he was giving railway construction substantial support in both funding and manpower.

Therefore, Duke Khilkov also knew that he had to fulfill this demand.

"Your Majesty, I will do everything in my power and make every effort to ensure these railways are completed within five years!" Duke Khilkov replied.