Methamphetamine or Vitamin? (2)

As Duma blazed with land tax, administration quietly brought out policy finance.

Though exact budget not yet public, moves from last year's gold standard to Imperial Industrial Bank to policy finance. Capital people didn't miss this either.

Situation where Duma claims leftist policies, administration tries implementing rightist policies.

Seeing series of events comprehensively, people naturally thought:

"Seems quite twisted between State Duma and government."

"Already rumors rife about bureaucrats and representatives worse than cats and dogs, wonder if empire might split in half."

"Wonder if young Tsar knows this division."

Anyone can see high officials' direction including Witte firmly set.

Only rightist economic development.

Minister Witte's interest only in national development like pig iron, steel, coal.

Meanwhile State Duma's direction though slightly different by party ultimately focuses on people's livelihood not state.

Seemingly natural difference. Appears only as difference between representatives elected by imperial citizens and bureaucrats risen through individual ability.

However ministers knowing true inside thought completely differently.

'Is Tsar trying to strike down all nobles this chance?'

'Though can't easily think of weakening own support base politically... current empire can do that. Still none will challenge Tsar's power.'

'By now seems like picking policies just to taste.'

Can rural nobles transform to capitalists selling family property and moving to cities for capitalist development like that Germany?

Probably possible. Having inherited assets through generations, some nobles have plenty opportunities to board changing times' flow.

But those who can't. That is, those insisting on medieval property multiplication remaining in countryside not selling land obviously would collapse at this rate.

"At this rate seems quite many provincial nobles will collapse every tax payment..."

"Though their resistance will be fierce, probably head to Duma before heading to Tsar."

Fallen nobles already not rare existence in empire.

Wasn't Democratic Party, Duma's first party, filled over half with intellectual class from fallen noble background?

Those fallen to bottom were ones trying to head back to power's center under pretext of liberalism.

But not all nobles who'll fall or weaken can quickly transform to liberals and do politics like them.

"Hasn't Count Dashkov heard hints about current situation from Tsar?"

"He's not one to tell all plans. Even asking advice briefly, ultimately I can't know true heart."

"If Imperial Household Minister doesn't know means no one in palace knows."

"Rather Finance Minister, aren't you one Tsar cherishes?"

"...Cherishes."

Witte briefly drinking tea quietly watched water trembling on teacup.

"I'm not Finance Minister appointed by His Majesty. More precisely just received previous Tsar's grace."

"What about that?"

"Always feels like His Majesty testing me. Would give more authority and voice if pass, but might be replaced that day if fail."

Finance Minister. That position said to take most weighty duty among ministers.

Yet Witte couldn't dare claim approached Tsar's grand plan.

"Recently sent unheard person under me."

"Ah, must be one His Majesty personally selected."

"Pyotr Stolypin, majored agriculture at St. Petersburg University, sent to use well when reforming land... that friend quite radical too."

Though not outwardly shown, Witte thought Tsar's moves quite radical too.

"How's that friend's ability?"

"Though old-fashioned unfitting reform, ability good. Yes, can't deny His Majesty's appropriate personnel appointment."

Not just Finance Ministry? Right now Tsar's obsession with one engineering officer met in military during crown prince days famous in army.

Though unconfirmed, said stalked whole year and half finally giving medal sending to Far East.

Witte once worried reforms might collapse losing Tsar's protection now gone.

Now Witte. No, not just him but many bureaucrats all captured by similar thoughts.

"Even sitting as minister don't know where empire heading."

"Same for Duma representatives. Though believe they have decision rights, ones not knowing actual destination."

"Only His Majesty. Only he knows."

But funnier point is, this isn't action for mysticism or strengthening imperial power like other monarchs.

'Though seemingly impulsive like child at glance, Tsar firmly holds at least one direction.'

Just Witte felt like puppet performing under that plan.

Yes, perhaps this natural logic in imperial structure.

Power holder has no reason persuade people below.

Nevertheless, this fact hit too strongly for him always leading reforms.

To Witte looking empty despite taking more work than ever, Count Dashkov slowly opened mouth.

"But still. I think now better compared to previous times doing nothing."

"..."

"Isn't Minister same? Empire's time stopped like hardened mud becoming brick. For decades at that. Compared to that now? This stirring I feel on skin. I missed that."

"Is that so."

That... is right. Previous Tsar gave no orders for any change except Trans-Siberian Railway.

Just bureaucrats trying somehow jumping here and there within given authority.

"So isn't better to try something then regret?"

Witte quietly nodded.

"Perhaps as Minister says His Majesty might want sweep away nobles. Then we should sweep them. At least that better than era doing nothing."

"Is that really it."

Finance Minister Sergei Witte. Many previous finance ministers and reformers before him collapsed to nobles' opposition.

Could really massacre them like this by Tsar's order.

"Minister's reforms need nobles' power?"

"Not that."

"Then fine. Don't think complicated. Perhaps Minister needs Duma's power?"

"That too unnecessary."

"We need His Majesty Tsar, not others."

Somehow Witte's heart seemed lighter with Count Dashkov's short questions.

"And that same for this empire."

Is that so? Really does this empire not need Duma or nobles?

Just need only His Majesty?

Disappointing Duma and retreating nobles. And advancing Emperor.

Then... Witte thought better bet everything on Tsar.

Even if doesn't know where heading himself.

==

"Declaring again in this place, I didn't speak of base plan stealing from haves sharing from jealousy! Just saying must stop situation where only haves can live land! Where poor become poorer!"

"Right!"

"When famine comes wealthy buy more land. And when spring comes next year they rent land to those who sold them land. Conversely when farming goes well, fruits only go to wealthy landowners. How was famine just 6 years ago? Landowners walking starving villages made whole village serfs! To that dark time of liberation some 30 years ago!"

"Insult to previous Tsar!"

"Treason, treason!"

"Trust respected Duma representatives will judge well what's for empire."

"Will vote immediately!"

Must conduct land measurement survey once every five years and pay tax determined then annually.

Part where policy slightly modified since if doing land tax once every ten years originally, gets complicated with land transactions meanwhile and might need pay massive tax at once.

But big framework unchanged.

Tax bomb package for major landowners, provincial nobles.

"Announce passed with 128 votes for!"

Delivery decided before spring comes melting ground.

Like other taxes, agricultural country Russia collects most taxes between late summer and fall.

"But land transactions will be huge from spring this year."

"Because must pay tax even just having without buying, selling!"

Whether properly implemented from this fall indeed wasn't Duma representatives' concern.

Important was they finally succeeded what they believe justice.

Landowners under 10 desyatinas don't pay tax.

Meanwhile tax increases exponentially as exceed certain land.

This law had loophole namely company law.

This bill hitting land tax if not fundamentally independent farmer applies differently for companies.

If nobles all establish companies changing poor farmers to employment form story different, but naturally would these nobles do that?

For them 'employment' only existed hiring servants and attendants.

Originally poor farmer employment all middleman stewards' role so nobles almost never directly faced poor farmers.

News clearing minds though no direct relation to farmers well farming own land in countryside.

Golden opportunity to buy land even pulling loans for poor farmers.

Land tax like thunderbolt for provincial nobles.

Hopeful news for imperial Finance Ministry's budget already contracted by policy finance.

"Land tax arising from possession plus stamp tax arising every land transaction?"

"Will day come again when empire collects stamp tax like this year?"

"Might be hard even buying back Alaska?"

Then how about Progressive Party and capitalists casting opposition votes in Duma?

"Land tax? What about that!"

"Industrial bank, isn't this just state lending at low interest regardless of credit!"

"Pull maximum! Put even underwear as collateral get money!"

Though shouted opposition in Duma, actually didn't much care whether introduced or not.

That measly land tax just pay little done with, more importantly no capacity care with eyes turned to that blind money, policy finance.

Duke Georgy Lvov shouting approval beside Beren most pleased with passage.

House Lvov collapsed with serfdom abolition.

Probably when this land tax introduced, nobles indiscriminately borrowing from noble bank buying land will collapse like his house.

'...You too finished.'

Said beautiful woman's enemy is fellow woman, wealthy noble's enemy fallen noble?

Duke Lvov practically leading liberals smiled fishy at obviously incoming fallen nobles.

"Fall hurts more flying high."

Time nobles who rejoiced could buy more land during famine experience hunger.

Will realize now must labor earn money not just breathing quietly earning money.

That's what land tax is.

Icarus's wings flying not knowing sky high naturally melt closer to sun.

"Huhu, wonder what next bill should be."

And now this country's sun is Duma.

Nobles' collapse will prove this.