Reincarnated as Nikolai II

While it takes a long time to convince one person alone, they say it's as easy as eating cold porridge to make a fool of someone when three people gather.

The Great Depression countermeasure plan, initially known only to a few including Kokovtsov, was gradually becoming known to more people with Stolypin at its center.

Nevertheless, top secret remained top secret.

Still, Stolypin couldn't widely spread word of this unprecedented crisis that even he hadn't experienced or could fully grasp.

The mere fact that the Russian Empire 'knew about' the Great Depression could become dangerous.

'If such a global crisis comes, it wouldn't be strange to be pointed to as the mastermind.'

Thus, unless someone possessed both loyalty and expertise, Stolypin didn't invite anyone to this secret plan.

However, such secretive behavior always comes with consequences.

"This is political retaliation! Beyond labor market suppression, it's a shameless act of the state blocking industrial growth!"

"Our Minister Jugashvili seems to need to watch his words."

"Since you're coming at me like this, with seemingly no way back, what's stopping me from cursing more severely?"

Sure enough, today too someone with complaints against him emerges.

The opponent was Joseph, Minister of Industry and once a competitor for Prime Minister. He had finally risen up.

"Does the cabinet intend to turn everyone into enemies? When we agreed that day to control the Duma, I at least thought the Prime Minister was someone with his head on straight. I thought you could distinguish between what can and cannot be touched!"

"Then are you saying I've become corrupted by power before even completing one year in office?"

"Can you say you haven't?"

...It's not easy indeed. However, Stolypin, having tasted the sweetness of power, felt the presence of an even greater power closer than anyone else.

Thanks to this, he wasn't blinded by power.

Though he's fighting the Duma over tax increases, lost the military's support over the budget, and various regulations are causing industrial indicators to collapse, he hasn't gone mad.

From his mouth came only the ritualistic excuses he had made dozens of times before, like vending machines increasing in recent downtown areas.

"It's the law to store grain in good years to prepare for bad years. This is absolutely necessary for the fiscal soundness of the imperial government."

"Ha! You think others haven't fought wars! Prime Minister Kokovtsov paid off all those debts in just 6 years before stepping down! It's been long since deficit spending ended, so what era are you living in!"

There's only one case where the government shows behavior contrary to good economic conditions and indicators.

That's when preparing for war, just as all of Europe did in 1913.

Unless it's an arms race like that time, there's no reasonable reason for the government to suppress the market and ruin the economy to this extent.

However, there is no war. Jugashvili's knowledge and common sense built over decades were telling him that war cannot happen now.

"If you continue to reject all policy financing plans and prevent factory construction like this... Our alliance is over. I believe you know better than anyone how much the Duma is waiting for this."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Contrary to this, when Stolypin showed no emotional change until the end.

"Tsk!"

Jugashvili clicked his tongue as if he didn't want to deal with him anymore and left the room.

Only after the angry footsteps disappeared in the distance did Stolypin let out his held breath.

"Sigh, knowing the truth makes it more frustrating."

He loosened his tie and released the tension in his upright posture.

But that didn't remove the frustration in his chest, just like the Minister of Industry.

He can't speak of it.

Even to cabinet members, he absolutely must not show any hint.

'I'd like to tighten the neckties of those who visit as much as my own frustration.'

He is an appointee elevated by the Tsar, not an elected official chosen by imperial citizens.

Naturally, his priority is not the immediate empire but the distant future empire that the Tsar envisions.

So he must forget all these complaints and protect the empire from the Great Depression, but...

"At this rate, the Duma and some officials might join hands to try to cut off my limbs."

The atmosphere is not normal.

Unlike the United States, this empire doesn't have a completely separate organization adjusting interest rates.

There isn't even a vice president to replace the president, let alone the presence of house and senate speakers to check power.

Unlike typical great powers, this country's prime minister can wield absolute power.

While this structure might have been essential for predecessors who grew through endless reforms, now it was painting Stolypin as a power-mad dictator.

'It's fortunate that I still have the support of first-generation officials, otherwise it wouldn't be strange if something went wrong with state affairs.'

How long can he hold out? More precisely, how long will those who don't know the inside story just watch his tyranny solely because he's 'the Prime Minister appointed by the Tsar'?

The Conservative Party increasingly turning their backs on him.

Breaking connections that had continued since his days as Finance Minister.

His reputation falling from reformer to dirty old man.

The cooperation and coalition he had achieved with the Duma and officials was already crumbling because of him.

By this point, all the empire's misfortunes were becoming Stolypin's fault.

The reason stocks are falling. The reason fuel costs, food costs, and housing costs are rising. Veterans being laid off from jobs and companies that nobly sacrificed during the Great War collapsing.

Everything is becoming the incompetent prime minister's fault.

'Ha! Me, incompetent!'

It feels like a lie that until just last year when he took office, he was evaluated as the only official who could succeed the lineage of Witte-Kokovtsov.

As the Tsar said, if they properly prepare for the Great Depression, this hardship will eventually see the light, but human hearts don't work so precisely.

Perhaps even he isn't certain whether this depression will come with 100% probability, or if they can properly prevent it even if it does come.

As uncontrollable anxiety and worry only grew day by day.

"Minister Beren Volkov. W-what is this?"

"Hm? I thought you knew, didn't you know? The military is planning to contact President Chiang Kai-shek soon. The Foreign Ministry will only assist with this. No, but how could the Prime Minister not know?"

"No, I knew we were moving in that direction..." Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire