Troublesome uncles

In the days surrounding the funeral, Nicholas stayed at Anichkov Palace on Nevsky Prospect, receiving foreign monarchs.

This exquisite Baroque palace was where the late Tsar spent his childhood.

First, King Alexander I of Serbia visited, followed by King Ferdinand I of Romania. Nicholas found himself almost dizzy from the series of formal meetings and ceremonies.

It was only a few days after Emperor Alexander III's funeral that Nicholas began to gradually resume his normal life and work.

"I remember my father mentioning a report on the Murman expedition in his final days. Do you know where that document is?" 

On that Friday, when Sergei Witte came to present his first report to Nicholas, the young Tsar brought up a matter of concern.

"I read that report to the late Emperor; it was about the site selection for a new naval base."

"Yes, but the previous Tsar did not return that report to me," Witte's response surprised Nicholas.

"But I remember my father making annotations on it."

"Yet, I did not retrieve that report."

"Well, that's fine. I'll have someone find it later."

"Your Majesty, do you also agree with building our naval base at Murman?"

"Not entirely."

Since Russia's defeat in the Crimean War in 1856, the navy had been languishing. It wasn't until 1885 that Alexander III proposed an ambitious plan to modernize the fleet.

However, given the persistent financial deficits of the Russian government, the limited naval budget was mostly spent on importing modern battleships and constructing some outdated armored cruisers domestically.

What astounded Nicholas even more was that Russia's hypothetical adversary was the British Royal Navy.

Although Britain was indeed Russia's greatest geopolitical rival, given Russia's current national strength, Nicholas couldn't see the urgency in implementing such a lofty plan.

"Not entirely? Your Majesty, have you considered constructing the naval port at Libava? That location is simply terrible and won't benefit Russia at all."

Witte, forthright as ever, immediately discouraged Nicholas. Their relationship had grown close over the years, nearly akin to friendship.

Libava, now known as Liepāja, is a port in western Latvia on the Baltic Sea, an ice-free port under the jurisdiction of Riga.

Murman refers to the future Murmansk naval base in Russia, located on the coast of the Barents Sea in the Arctic Ocean, also ice-free year-round.

"I'm not thinking about the suitability of the naval base but rather about the increase in military spending and considerations of war and peace. Military spending places a significant burden on the finances and taxes of the people."

Nicholas's thoughtful response earned Witte's respect.

"Your Majesty, your father was hailed as the 'Peacemaker,' and this honor should be continued. Peace is genuinely precious," Witte, from his position as Finance Minister, agreed with Nicholas. "Any potential war would destroy the favorable situation the late Emperor strove to maintain."

Although Russia remained backward, seeds of resurgence existed within its underdevelopment.

Currently, Europe was gradually emerging from the economic depression of the 1870s, entering a new period of capitalist economic prosperity.

In the later years of Alexander III's reign, especially after 1890, despite the financial crisis caused by the poor harvest of 1891, Russia's industry began to flourish, riding the wave of the global economic upturn, entering a phase of construction, expansion, profit-making, and reinvestment.

If limited funds were not invested in national production but wasted on military expenses that offered no economic benefits, Nicholas believed that Russia would likely fall behind in the post-1900 era due to financial constraints.

"Yes, my thoughts align with my father's. He often spoke to me about the sacrifices of the Russo-Turkish War. Therefore, for the site selection, I will issue a decree designating Murman as the main base for our fleet. However, I believe the naval shipbuilding plan doesn't need to focus on purchasing foreign ships. If necessary, investing in the industrial sectors that can support shipbuilding would be better."

Witte nodded repeatedly, but he ultimately advised Nicholas not to act hastily.

"Why?"

"Given that Your Majesty, your father has only been dead for a few weeks, such a decree would undoubtedly cause dissent among the princes."

Witte referred to Nicholas's Romanov relatives.

Nicholas's uncles were referred to as "Your Highness" by their titles. During Alexander III's lifetime, his direct relatives, like the heir to the throne, were elevated to "Grand Duke Your Highness."

Regarding the issue of the naval port's location, there were two factions: one supported large-scale construction at Libava, and the other believed Murman was superior.

Witte and Nicholas favored the latter, but the former had substantial supporters.

Admiral Alexei Alexandrovich was a proponent of building a port at Libava. This person was Nicholas's uncle Alexei, the one who had taken the then-heir Nicholas on a night out that ended in them losing contact.

It was well-known that a new Tsar's accession, especially one so young and inexperienced, would tempt many political figures to try to share the Tsar's power. Many Romanov relatives had such intentions.

Even the Dowager Empress Maria was among those who wielded some of Nicholas's power. As the Tsar's mother, her status was significant, and she had a close relationship with Alexei.

So Witte worried that issuing a decree now might cause internal strife within the royal family.

"You are indeed right."

Nicholas nodded in deep understanding.

In the past few weeks, although his uncles had sworn allegiance to him, their behavior didn't seem entirely sincere.

In terms of family hierarchy, Nicholas was a junior. In terms of age, he was a young Tsar. Speaking of experience, his uncles Vladimir, Alexei, and Sergei had either served in the military for decades or held high-ranking positions as governors.

Thus, their words and actions hadn't yet treated Nicholas as the Emperor of the Russian Empire, but rather as their nephew "Nicky."

"You're right, Witte. I will issue the decree at a more appropriate time."

After this, Witte reported to Nicholas on the recent government affairs.

However, Nicholas's mind had already begun to plan how to "get rid" of his troublesome uncles.