Reincarnated as Nikolai II

First, I knew I was wrong without even hearing it from Anna.

"Nikita just wants acknowledgment from his father. Why won't you understand that!"

"...I just meant to be firm."

"Weren't you firmly trying to cut ties with your child? You know he respects you more than anyone."

"...Sorry."

Abolition of bureaucracy-centered state administration.

Dispersal of power.

Separation of civil servants and politicians.

The changing role of Tsar accordingly.

All this process was perhaps for the perpetuity of the Romanov family, furthermore for Nikita, I thought.

'The Tsar's role must change with the times.'

Looking to the future, I see democratization as an unstoppable tide sweeping across nations - a powerful force of modern times that even I, despite my position, cannot resist or turn back. Like a river carving its path through stone, it shapes the landscape of power inexorably.

I have chosen to seek legitimate authority by voluntarily relinquishing certain powers of my own accord. This calculated step back from absolutism may preserve what is most essential about the monarchy.

But I cannot and will not follow the path of King Taejong, who ruthlessly eliminated all his powerful supporters and family connections to secure his son's reign. His brutal purge of those who helped him rise to power left a bitter legacy.

If I were to attempt such dramatic consolidation of power through violent purges in this modern era, it would hollow out our nation from within. We would be left with nothing but an empty facade - a country devastated and drained of its vitality, its institutions and society shattered.

So the Tsar's power will decrease in my era regardless of Nikita's capabilities.

'Perhaps I won't be able to finish it all before dying. This country is already too dependent on me and filled with my color.'

So this work must start now.

I believe this without doubt.

[Finance Minister Pyotr Stolypin Contacts Conservative Party? To Take Party Leader Position?]

[Ministers Give Successive Speeches at Peterhof Palace. Cabinet's Duma Taming.]

[Weakening Boundary Between Legislative and Executive. One-sided Bureaucrat Tyranny!]

[State Duma Loses Tsar's Protection.]

"...Kokovtsov! Where is the Prime Minister now! Call him immediately!"

A few days after officially predicting bureaucracy's fall, when I opened newspapers to see the direction of public sentiment.

I couldn't help but call out Kokovtsov's name though he wasn't around.@@novelbin@@

Appearing from somewhere, Kokovtsov quickly ran and showed himself before me.

"Prime Minister, what is this now? Duma suppression? Party taming? Countdown?"

Bureaucracy is a relic of the old era becoming obsolete with the flow of times.

The Duma with legitimacy should take power serving public sentiment.

Therefore, the current excessive separation of executive and legislative is not good.

I expected such a very rational and natural flow of thought.

Naturally, I thought imperial citizens would understand my intentions since a sufficiently educated generation had risen.

"Your Majesty." Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

"Why? Now those who aren't even elected representatives handle the Duma like a toy? Just what happened!"

"Compared to bureaucrats who raised the empire this far, Duma representatives are just rabbits. Mixing these two groups ultimately means creating superiority."

"That might be true in practical work, but could bureaucrats enter parliament overnight! Like this... isn't it just strengthening bureaucrats' power!"

Yes, it might be different if bureaucrats truly transformed into representatives.

I knew parties would try to have many bureaucrats join to run state affairs.

However, I didn't want such unbalanced and one-sided violence.

"Your Majesty, this is just a very natural result. If Minister Stolypin runs for election right now, who would dare be his opponent? He is a leading figure among leading figures who led the empire's growth for decades. And what bourgeois could oppose Minister Jugashvili who successfully spearheaded heavy industry development? Everyone will open their wallets, call his name, and hand over power to him. The empire's citizens will make it so."

"..."

"Duma representatives who just played with laws are no match for bureaucrats. Because they are those who haven't shown anything, achieved anything."

I... didn't want this.

'They're this unmatched? Rather than bureaucrats attaching to the Duma, representatives attach to bureaucrats to survive?'

More precisely, I thought power would gradually shift to the Duma and they would take power.

Like this, anyone can see it's just system change for strengthening power.

Just as the Nazis gave power to the Führer through votes, at this rate bureaucrats will only emerge having absorbed the Duma's legitimacy and power.

"...Did you know it would become like this?"

"All bureaucrats ultimately just receive Your Majesty's will anyway. What would change in the end?"

Nothing changes in the end.

Meaning the Tsar's power remains solid.

Though Kokovtsov seems to speak with loyal heart, it sounds different to my ears.

"Now please tell me who you will appoint as my successor. I will prepare everything."

"..."

Whether bureaucracy or parliamentary cabinet system, all power ultimately belongs to the Tsar anyway.

Tsarism cannot disappear from this country.

==

In the 21st century, it's common sense to think economic development is part of democratization.

Indeed, the observation that market economy development forms a crucial foundation for democratization holds substantial merit. History shows how economic liberalization often creates conditions that foster democratic transformation - as wealth spreads, education increases, and a middle class emerges demanding political representation.

It's common sense logic that authoritarianism opposes free economy, and this is a fact proven multiple times by the Western world that achieved industrialization first.

It's the same even without the industrial age where business-capital-labor connectivity increased.

The history of the Republic of Venice, which established itself as the center of European economy during medieval and Renaissance times through spices and finance, proves this.

Free market trade has consistently proven to be a powerful engine of national development, creating wealth, spurring innovation, and raising living standards across society. The exchange of goods and ideas naturally erodes authoritarian constraints.

Democracy becomes an essential element in economic development.

"Immobility? Our bureaucrats only work as much as ordered from above?"

"I graduated university during education suppression, survived during purges, contributed to Far East development, and went through two wars! Factionalism? Vertical hierarchy? Could that have been possible if stuck on such things!"