The Tsar Is Little Father

It was already June 1898. If the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Chinese Eastern Railway and the South Manchurian Branch Line could be completed and opened to traffic within five years, that meant they would be operational by the middle of 1903.

That would leave more than half a year before the outbreak of war in 1904.

Of course, Mikhail could not count on the Japanese to dutifully wait until 1904 to start the war, as they had in the other timeline.

Perhaps, once they noticed that construction on these railways had sped up, the Japanese would accelerate their preparations and start the war ahead of time.

But no matter what, the Tsarist Russian Empire could not go wrong by speeding up railway construction.

Moreover, before the railways were completed, Mikhail would send more troops and transport more war supplies to the Far East in advance, making preparations for the war.

The navy, for example, could speed up construction of the Lüshun naval base and strengthen its defenses, turning the whole of Lüshun Fortress and the surrounding area into an impregnable stronghold.

At the same time, the navy could also send more warships to the Far East in advance.

That would undoubtedly serve as a major deterrent to the Japanese and force them to invest even more in their military.

It might even push the outbreak of war back a little.

The longer it was delayed, the more favorable it would be for the Tsarist Russian Empire.

Once the Tsarist Russian Empire had completed its preparations and the railways were operational, the Japanese would be deluding themselves if they thought they could defeat it in the coming war.

Besides the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Chinese Eastern Railway and the South Manchurian Branch Line, Mikhail also called for faster construction of railways and roads across the East European Plain. He wanted railway and road networks essentially in place within the next ten years, improving transportation across the plain.

This was not merely for the development of the Tsarist Russian Empire's industry and economy, but also in preparation for war.

Once a world war broke out in the future, the Tsarist Russian Empire's troops would be able to deploy rapidly along the railways and roads, and their logistical supplies would be assured.

This would greatly strengthen the combat power of the Tsarist Russian Army.

With the army also set to undergo reorganization, Mikhail believed its combat power would certainly be no weaker than the Germans'.

When the time came, the course of the war would probably be entirely different.

But without convenient transportation, there was simply no way to realize such a strategic vision.

Large-scale railway and road construction did require a great deal of financial resources, materials and manpower.

But none of these were a problem for the Tsarist Russian Empire.

The corrupt officials' assets, combined with the imperial family's wealth, could ensure that transportation construction continued.

The Tsarist Russian Empire's large population could also provide an ample labor force.

On June 29, Mikhail once again summoned the imperial prime minister, Plehve; the imperial finance minister, Rostovsky; the interior minister, Stolypin; and the imperial minister of agriculture, Plesk.

The Tsarist Russian Empire had a total population of nearly 130 million, the vast majority of whom were peasants.

The empire's Ministry of Agriculture was chiefly responsible for agricultural production and the peasants.

This made Plesk, the newly appointed minister of agriculture, a man of considerable power and influence in the Tsarist Russian Empire.

The Tsarist Russian Empire had abolished serfdom as early as 1861.

However, the land had to be redeemed, and the price was extraordinarily high.

As a result, even though the serfs had obtained land of their own, they had to shoulder enormous debts. With interest added, many had still not paid off what they owed more than thirty years later.

On top of that, agricultural taxes in the Tsarist Russian Empire were high, further increasing the burden on the peasants.

It could be said that the Tsarist Russian Empire's peasants were living in deep water and scorching fire.

Every year, to pay their taxes and repay their debts, many peasants had to sell large quantities of grain, leaving them without even enough to feed themselves.

As a result, quite a few peasants starved to death every year.

Mikhail knew full well that for the Tsarist Russian Empire to become truly strong and prosperous, its peasants had to become prosperous first.

So Mikhail had to solve this problem.

"Gentlemen, I have decided to lower agricultural taxes starting this year. The agricultural tax on each mu of land will be ten percent of its yield. The Ministry of Agriculture will draw up the relevant tax amounts based on conditions across the country.

"Furthermore, I have decided that, effective immediately, all peasants' land debts will be forgiven. They will no longer have to repay what they still owe.

"In addition, using the empire's current cultivated land and agricultural population as a basis, determine how much land can be allotted to each peasant.

"All surplus land will be brought under state ownership, and the imperial government may provide funds to purchase it. However, the price can only be one-tenth of the market value! This includes surplus land belonging to landlords and others. Peasants with little or no land may receive land free of charge. Moreover, when distributing the land, its fertility must be taken into account to make the distribution as fair and equitable as possible.

"I hope that, starting this year, the peasants who make up the vast majority of the empire's population will all have enough to eat. This winter, no one will starve or freeze to death anymore!"

Mikhail announced his agricultural reform policy with a solemn expression.

The assembled imperial leaders were stunned.

They had long since guessed that His Majesty the Tsar would surely reform agriculture.

After all, a great power could never be an agricultural country.

But they had not expected His Majesty to be so radical.

"Your Majesty, I fear this will provoke fierce opposition throughout the empire. Implementing the reforms will meet with enormous resistance," Prime Minister Plehve said, deeply concerned.

The other ministers nodded repeatedly as well.

Most of the land, particularly the fertile land, was controlled by bureaucrats, landlords and nobles.

His Majesty the Tsar intended to buy this land for just one-tenth of its market value and distribute it among the peasants. How was that any different from outright robbery?

"No matter how great the resistance, the reforms must be carried through. If they are unwilling, I believe everyone has ways to make them cooperate with the imperial government.

"No matter who is involved, whether nobles, landlords or bureaucrats, they are all to be severely punished.

"They are obstructing the empire's development. They are committing treason.

"Perhaps they have ties to the Bolshevik Party, or are Bolshevik Party members themselves!"

Mikhail intended to brand those who opposed him as Bolshevik Party members by force.

The imperial leaders understood what His Majesty the Tsar meant.

They knew this would certainly cause considerable turmoil. But His Majesty the Tsar was resolute, and they had no way to stop him.

Sure enough, as soon as the empire's agricultural reform policy was announced, it met with fierce opposition.

Of course, those who opposed it were all vested interests: nobles, landlords, bureaucrats, merchants and others who owned vast amounts of land.

The impoverished peasants, however, were overjoyed.

They affectionately called His Majesty the Tsar their "Little Father" and held him in even greater love and reverence.

For a time, Mikhail's support in the Tsarist Russian Empire soared through the roof.