The Banquet (part 2)

"Revolutions are the locomotives of history."

~ Karl Marx

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Moving further into the room, Nicholas took a deep breath. He knew he was being watched from everywhere. He knew every word of his had to be measured and thought out many times in advance.

In fact, he could already hear people talking about him in the tables. Gossips were already born and Nicholas had to stay away from them.

Luckily, no one dared to oppose Nicholas directly tonight, in his own Banquet. But he could still feel the apprehensive and scrutinizing looks.

...

After leaving the ministers' table, Nicholas walked to the officers' one.

Nicholas had composed most tables himself. And he made sure to put his potential future allies and reporters on the same table to have them establish contact and relationships.

Same with Mendeleev's table. He knew Mendeleev would take care of the talk for him.

Nicholas spotted Alexei Brusilov. The man who would later create the Brusilov Offensive. One of the most successful major offensives in the First World War.

"Major General Brusilov, your reputation precedes you. I've heard about you all the way to the Winter Palace." said Nicholas while keeping a flattering smile on his face.

Brusilov bowed slightly and responded.

"Your Imperial Highness, it is an honor to be here tonight. I am humbled by your kind words."

Nicholas smiled and gestured to a quieter corner of the room. Then he said:

"Come, let us speak freely. I am curious to hear your thoughts. You've seen firsthand the challenges in Caucasus. What do you think the future holds for our country?"

When he heard that question, Brusilov paused on his steps and started sweating profusely.

'Shit. Is this a trap question? I haven't done anything to offend the Tsarevich or the Royal Family, have I?' How the hell am I supposed to answer this damn question now?'

In Russia, generals and officers would usually overestimate their own armies. That's how corrupt the Russian system was at the time. And even if the Tsar knew they needed modernization, the low-ranking generals usually didn't make any negative comments so as not to antagonize the bureaucrats, or worse, their superiors.

That's the exact situation Brusilov found himself in right now. He saw his whole life and career flashing before his eyes.

But after a while of contemplating he came to his senses.

'They wouldn't dispose of a recently-promoted General just like that would they? And I don't think I ever offended the Tsarevich in any way...'

With that thought, Brusilov mustered his courage and responded, choosing his words carefully.

"Your Highness, the Caucasus has opened my eyes to many things. The men, they are resilient, but we face many challenges.

Logistics, equipment, and the adaption of..."

Brusilov gulped at this moment

"...modern tactics weigh heavily on our ability to secure lasting stability."

Nicholas kept staring at him so Brusilov quickly continued

"The Prussians and the French are evolving their doctrines. If we don't adapt, we may find ourselves outnumbered in future conflicts."

Nicholas smiled and leaned forward, saying:

"Very well, General Brusilov. I like honest men.

And what would you do if you were given the means to modernize our forces then?"

Brusilov got confused once again.

'Why would His Highness care about the opinion of a relatively small character like me? What is his goal here?'

Brusilov decided to just follow Nicholas' script at the moment. Not that he had other choice.

He puffed his chest upward and responded:

"First, we must invest in education and training. Not just for officers, but for almost every rank. The days of blind obedience are fading. A modern army needs soldiers who can think on their feet.

Second, our cavalry, though proud, must adapt. The era of massive charges is waning. We need mobility and precision, not just bravery."

Nicholas nodded firmly.

"Bravo! You speak as you've seen the future, Brusilov.

One more thing. Where do you see yourself in the future?"

Brusilov flinched and thoughtfully responded:

"I will serve the Tsar whenever I'm needed, Your Highness. But if I am being honest, I hope to one day contribute to the reforms I believe are neccessary."

Nicholas gave a last polite smile, and then said

"You will, Brusilov, you will. You now have my trust."

After this last sentence, he left, leaving Brusilov flabbergasted in his own place.

After that, Nicholas went to meet Colonel Alexander Svechin. He considered his theories to be very important for the future of Russia and Svechin's words further convinced Nicholas that the Colonel was someone the Russian Empire could use very well. His loyalty to the Tsar was unquestionable since after the damn Communist revolution, he escaped from Russia and become an èmigrè.

Unfortunately, Nicholas didn't have the power to carry Svechin to the forefront right now, but he forged his name deep into his memories and included him into his future plans.

After that, he met two of Russia's most loyal officers. One was the Cossack officer, part of the Tsar's most loyalist troops, Alexei Kaledin, one of the leaders of the future White Army. Nicholas treated this man in the best way possible, as he knew he would become his most loyal sword later on.

The other was Mikhail Alekseyev. He had an uncanny organizational talent.

But the best thing about him is that he was a staunch loyalist to the Tsar. In fact, he was a key figure in organizing the White Army in the original timeline.

'Alekseyev will be the brain.

While Kaledin will be the sword of my army.

They will cut down all the corrupt nobles and bureaucrats regardless of rank.

When the day comes, I will make sure these two have enough power and influence to not be afraid of carrying out my dirty deeds.' Nicholas thought. For a moment, his eyes went red but he recomposed himself quickly.

'Not now. Not now. It's not time yet... Everything in its own time.

Then, Nicholas exchanged some more plesantries with the other young officers. After that, he moved towards the intellectuals, which he was making an effort to empower...