Never Let Mikhail Become Tsar

"The Bolshevik Party blew up the tsar? What evidence is there that they did it? Besides, would they have the nerve?"

Grand Duke Nicholas expressed his doubts.

Quite a few other senior figures in the Tsarist Russian Empire had similar doubts.

Although the Bolshevik Party had gradually grown stronger over the years,

as long as its leaders' brains were still working, they should have known that assassinating the tsar was absolutely unacceptable to the empire.

Once the Bolshevik Party crossed that line, it would inevitably face an all-out crackdown by the Tsarist Russian Empire.

There would be no place left for the Bolshevik Party anywhere in the Tsarist Russian Empire.

"We found things like Bolshevik Party pamphlets among the killer's belongings at the scene," Interior Minister Vyacheslav Plehve replied.

"That doesn't prove anything. If someone wanted to frame the Bolshevik Party, it would be all too easy. All they'd have to do is plant a few things connected to the party," Finance Minister Sergei Witte also questioned.

"Gentlemen, according to the latest evidence we have, the killer was in close contact with Bolshevik Party members for more than a year. It's even very possible that the killer had already joined the party," Vyacheslav Plehve continued.

At once, the empire's senior figures were all left speechless.

Many of them even wondered whether the Bolshevik Party really had done it.

Had the Bolshevik Party really gone mad?

But Grand Duke Nicholas still didn't believe it.

Or rather, deep down, he was unwilling to accept such an outcome.

"Gentlemen, I can only say that Mikhail is too cunning. Perhaps he planned all of this long ago. For example, he could have sent someone to join the Bolshevik Party and then assassinate His Majesty the Tsar. That way, he could pin all the blame on the Bolshevik Party and clear himself!"

Grand Duke Nicholas was clearly determined to sink his teeth into Grand Duke Mikhail and not let go.

The other senior imperial figures couldn't help frowning.

Although Grand Duke Nicholas's claim was somewhat far-fetched, they had to admit it was indeed possible.

Even if none of them currently had conclusive evidence to prove it.

But if His Majesty the Tsar really had been blown up by someone Grand Duke Mikhail sent,

then letting Grand Duke Mikhail inherit the throne would be a joke.

"Gentlemen, this is a real headache!

But I must remind everyone that without conclusive evidence, we cannot stop Grand Duke Mikhail from inheriting the throne.

What's more, Grand Duke Mikhail has a powerful army at his command.

If this matter isn't handled properly, I'm afraid civil war could break out across the empire, or it could even split apart.

When that happens, the entire empire could collapse as a result!"

Konstantin Pobedonostsev, director of the Orthodox Affairs Administration, warned.

The senior imperial figures all grew serious.

"Gentlemen, I propose that the imperial army enter a state of emergency from this moment on. If His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Mikhail acts irrationally, we must be able to respond!" Acting Minister of War Lieutenant General Kuropatkin proposed.

The other senior figures of the Tsarist Russian Empire agreed with him on that point.

It was always wise to be prepared for the worst.

Besides, as senior figures in the Tsarist Russian Empire, they all knew something of the conflict between Nicholas II and Grand Duke Mikhail.

The meeting produced no result, and they could only adjourn for the time being.

Konstantin Pobedonostsev asked everyone to go back and think carefully about how to get the Tsarist Russian Empire safely through this crisis.

However, after everyone else had left, Grand Duke Nicholas approached Finance Minister Sergei Witte.

"Your Excellency, I believe we must stop Mikhail," Grand Duke Nicholas stated his goal bluntly.

"Your Imperial Highness, how are we supposed to stop him?

Under the Law of Succession to the Throne, Grand Duke Mikhail is first in line, ahead of Your Imperial Highness.

We can't have Your Imperial Highness bypass Grand Duke Mikhail and inherit the throne!"

Sergei Witte had quite a headache.

"Your Excellency, you are the cleverest man in the empire. I believe you will surely find a way.

If Mikhail becomes the new tsar, I can't speak for the others, but Your Excellency certainly won't come to a good end.

For one thing, Your Excellency is a trusted confidant of His Majesty the Tsar. Mikhail will never trust you.

For another, Your Excellency's wealth is known throughout the Tsarist Russian Empire.

And Grand Duke Mikhail is known for his hatred of corrupt officials."

Grand Duke Nicholas looked as though he had Sergei Witte in the palm of his hand.

Indeed, Sergei Witte's expression was very grim.

The two points Grand Duke Nicholas had listed were indeed his Achilles' heels.

He knew full well that if Grand Duke Mikhail inherited the throne,

then, vast as the Tsarist Russian Empire was, he probably would no longer have a place in it.

Apart from fleeing into exile overseas, he had no other choice.

"Your Imperial Highness, perhaps we can put Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna on the throne. After all, she is His Majesty the Tsar's eldest daughter. Although she has no right of succession under the current Law of Succession to the Throne,

we can forge an order from His Majesty the Tsar.

We can tell the public that His Majesty hadn't had time to issue it."

Sergei Witte had thought of a good idea.

Grand Duke Nicholas's eyes immediately lit up.

He knew full well that if he tried to bypass Grand Duke Mikhail and inherit the throne, he would inevitably face considerable resistance and had virtually no chance of success.

But putting Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna on the throne was a different matter.

The grand duchess was, after all, His Majesty the Tsar's eldest daughter.

Among the senior figures of the Tsarist Russian Empire were quite a few trusted confidants of Nicholas II, like Sergei Witte.

They were equally worried that they would face a reckoning after Grand Duke Mikhail inherited the throne.

This would undoubtedly win the whole plan more support and greatly increase its chances of success.

Grand Duke Nicholas also thought of one more thing.

Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna was only two and a half years old.

A child that age would be nothing more than a puppet, even if she became tsar.

Perhaps he could even seize this opportunity to gain real control of the entire empire.

Then, when the time was right, he could have his niece killed.

When that happened, wouldn't he be able to become the true tsar?

Of course, the most important thing for now was still to stop Grand Duke Mikhail. He absolutely could not be allowed to become tsar!

"Your Imperial Highness, we need support from more people. The attitudes of General Kuropatkin and General Nikolai Obruchev in particular are very important on the military side.

Grand Duke Mikhail certainly won't stand by and watch his right to the throne be taken away. He will surely rise up and fight back.

When that happens, everything will be settled by force!"

Sergei Witte warned.

Grand Duke Nicholas nodded repeatedly.

"I'll have a proper talk with the minister of war and the chief of the general staff!" Grand Duke Nicholas knew he had to persuade both Lieutenant General Kuropatkin and General Nikolai Obruchev.

Otherwise, they wouldn't stand a chance.