Forcibly Rising to Create a Storm (2)

Background, faction, social position, and ideology.

Can an individual win elections and stand out even among election winners without these component factors listed?

No. I firmly believe not.

Especially in Russia, living in an era lagging even behind the 19th century, I believe these four components define an individual no matter how outstanding their personal abilities.

But mutant albinos who even change their skin color exist everywhere, it seems.

"...Beren? That Chief Aide Beren Volkov I know?"

The name occasionally heard faintly now reaches me clearly.

"Beren Volkov is indeed the officer Your Majesty met during military service. Currently commanding highest popularity in the Duma with a third of headlines filled with him. Confirmed he was properly elected from the Far East."

"Proper election my foot, even the voting place was all parade grounds."

Clearly when I last saw him, he was happy saying a wealthy civilian was better than a penny-pinching soldier.

"That guy had such talent? Did he give lots of lectures or something?"

"There are critics and opinions that he'll flare up then quickly fade."

"What does Count Dashkov think? As Imperial Household Minister, you should have good eyes for people."

Count Dashkov, who achieved many merits in grandfather's era and assisted father, maintains the longest ministerial position moving between palace interior and exterior. No one else has met such diverse people.

"...In my view, he's an agitator."

"An agitator? Why?"

"He lacks ideological foundation and wields cross-party popularity, but these are mere followers, not fundamental backing."

"So just someone with many fans?"

If even Count Dashkov says so, Beren Volkov's name must certainly be inflated.

Nevertheless, I don't see that inflation as mere illusion.

"Then why did such a proposal pass both houses and reach my desk?"

[State-Led Land Development Project]

Already staying up all night worrying how to handle farmers, and now who came up with 'a plan to maximize farmers'? And it's someone I knew?

"No, sigh... Fine. Let's say it passed the lower house. It could. But how did it pass the upper house?"

Logically, among 25 upper house members, was there no one who pointed out this proposal's problems?

"The current upper house is closer to a collection of different fields than divided by factions. Military-background senators would have agreed just seeing Representative Beren's origin, then labor-friendly ones, farmer-friendly ones, those believing rumors of Your Majesty's personal relationship with Representative Beren, and those who just passed it not knowing well. Especially for some reason, even university senators with liberal tendencies cast votes."

"..."

Is Beren a soldier? No. He's discharged.

Then is he a liberal? No. That bastard didn't earn money competing in free markets but through military supplies.

Pro-imperial? He must be, but he's not particularly a man of conviction. During military service, he openly approached me as Tsesarevich saying "Ah, I want to eat crumbs falling from high people's pockets too." So I kindly sent him to the Far East.

Then what were the State Duma bastards thinking casting approval votes for a proposal from an independent representative from Asia?

'They could cast without thinking. Let's say they did it to recruit Beren Volkov.'

But the real problem is.

"...Count, just three proposals have reached my desk."

One is to increase terms to two years instead of annual elections.

Second is to increase State Duma seats to 450.

Finally, this State-Led Land Development Project.

Land reform, I told them to bring plans. Because I knew they couldn't do it anyway.

'Perhaps they hastily passed even this with elections approaching?'

That makes some sense if so. Since they couldn't reach agreement among themselves anyway, they just submitted a proposal per Tsar's request regardless of feasibility or business value.

'Though it's vexing they submitted without even tasting it...'

But I can't ignore it either. After all, I said with my own mouth I'd seriously consider proposals from parliament and acted like I'd pass most things.

"What should I do with this."

I silently glare at these documents whose title I dislike while tapping my fingers on the desk.

"The Beren I know... couldn't have known and did this. But he wasn't one to rampage like a crazy colt either."

If he was, could he have risen to Chief Aide? He would've hit promotion ceiling at major and discharged.

"Your Majesty, shouldn't we at least conduct business feasibility review for show?"

"The result is set. There's absolutely no business feasibility."

Because this too was something similarly done in original history.

When they absolutely couldn't increase productivity per land through mechanization, farm equipment, or fertilizer supply, the empire's second-best measure was increasing farmland.

'Attempted Siberian farmland reclamation. Tried handling population density too by relocating millions, but created more chaos when migrants returned.'

Siberian cold isn't something to rashly tackle with half-hearted development.

Anyway, our country isn't one that can't be self-sufficient, so there's no need to obsess over more farmland.

Agriculture is more than sufficient, even excessive, breaking export records annually.

"Currently workers are mostly daily or manual laborers."

"I understand workers recently flooded in with construction boom including railway works."

"Right, and those works are all carried out as state projects. Meaning workers could be left hanging when construction ends."

So, I wanted to convert them from simple construction workers to factory workers.

And I thought that preparation must start now and is only possible through private capital growth.

'It's all connected like a spider web. Creating middle class, land reform, export diversification, domestic market activation, improving labor conditions and national development.'

But here suddenly the state steps in to conduct farmland reclamation projects?

That's completely collapsing everything and regressing 30 years.

This project should have been done in grandfather's era releasing serfs, doing it now is perfect for ruining the country's future.

"What will you do? We must give an answer to the Duma first. If you'll oppose, you must do it now."

"Sigh, first call Witte."

"Saying to call the Finance Minister means..."

"I know nothing, but Finance Minister Witte and officials oppose in outrage, accordingly the Tsar requests reconsideration once more. The next election starts soon anyway, this much should do."

"Friction between officials and Duma could intensify."

"Additionally tell Witte Minister to go meet him."

"Who do you mean?"

"Who else, Beren Volkov."

Officially to hear the original planner's views and detailed plans, actually to send Witte to check if Beren is that soldier Beren I know.

"Making Witte Minister who'll take hits instead of Your Majesty meet the perpetrator directly, I perfectly understand Your Majesty's orders."

"Hmm?"

"I shall withdraw now."

Though slightly strange, Count Dashkov left like that, and I fell back into contemplation at Beren's unexpected appearance.

'Did this bastard exist in original history Russia?'

Even I who prided myself on knowing Russia-specific history had to review my memories again at Beren's sudden rise in the Duma.

However much I try to recall, the name Beren Volkov never appeared in history books even once.

"To have such agitation ability but no records..."

Then he must have been buried in the military indeed.

It was a moment newly confirming just the positive function of the military.

==

"...Fucked."

That day after giving a boastful speech, enjoying ecstasy with eyes closed.

Beren's smile didn't last long.

"Now then, let's vote!"

"Nothing to see! Though points needing supplementation are visible, I agree with the fundamental content!"

"Unconditional approval!"

"Ten points... ten points!"

"Uh, what?"

Because he really didn't expect it to go to voting right there.

Still, until then he maintained composure thinking 'No way'.

102 votes for, 77 against, rest abstaining.

Until it really passed majority.

"Today we've taken a monumental step toward land reform!"

"Beren! Beren! Beren!"

"Ah, no wait-"

They pass it by railroading an immediate vote like this?

Shouldn't we all split four-five ways and fight again about expert opinions and financial issues?

'Why? Why on earth is this passing!'

When it actually passed, his hands trembled involuntarily and he couldn't smile.

Though confirming his influence was good, from now he'd have to take responsibility too.

In truth, the common feeling that something must pass before next election.

And psychology of 'this is better at least' passing a proposal neither radical nor particularly harmful or coercive, but Beren never considered such things in the first place.

He just thought if he made this much name, Governor Sergei couldn't help but give him a spot at the port.

Labor and human rights? He's the most anti-labor and human rights oppressing military background himself.

Capital? Though he befriended wealthy bourgeoisie, this too was just wondering if anyone might invest in the Far East, no greater greed.

Liberalism based on rule of law, checks and balances, and separation of powers?

What's that you bastards. Will that bring even one more ship to Vladivostok port?

The only ideology-like thing Beren knows is the State-Led Free Market Economic Development System-ism he directly observed rubbing shoulders with in the Far East.

Actually he doesn't know well even that state-led whatever ideology. He just thought "oh I see" since smart people like Chairman Bunge were pushing it.

Still pretending to have something, he just changed one character from Professor Bunge's "State-Led Urban Development Project" to "State-Led Land Development Project".

"Haha! Today His Majesty officially ordered business feasibility review! How can we just pass this joyous day? Representative Volkov, let's celebrate together!"

"Hoho, going that way would just end up at taverns. Instead, I've rented a hotel banquet hall, let's go there."

"No! Teacher! Thousands of St. Petersburg workers will gather this evening! Please give them a hopeful speech!"

"Ah..."

Only then did Volkov feel this wouldn't end at Governor Sergei's level.

'C-Crown Prince!'

No, now His Majesty the Tsar. This proposal would reach his desk.

And that means.

"Representative Volkov, do you have a moment?"

"...Uh, could you be-"

"Right. I'm Finance Minister Sergei Witte."

Someone sent by the Tsar would come looking for him.

"I sincerely want to hear our expert's views, rushed here in one breath. Please, I hope you'll spare some time."

Witte's words breaking off suggested he was about to cut off Volkov's limbs right now.

"Ah..."

"Let's go somewhere and have a proper talk."

Witte looked desperate to hear Beren's views.

Or just wanted to kill him.