I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 500: No one can leave until things are clear today
During the Russo-Japanese War, St. Petersburg once demanded that Nicholas abdicate and transfer power to the State Duma.

After Stolypin dissolved the State Duma, the rumor spread that Nicholas abdicated and George ascended the throne.

Although St. Petersburg is a bunch of old stubborn people, rumors are able to keep up with the times.

George has no right of inheritance, which is George's biggest amulet. Under normal circumstances, no matter how outstanding George is, he will not pose a threat to Nicholas.

After all, this is an extraordinary period. If George raises his hand, the situation will be hard to predict. It is possible that the Guards will stand on George's side.

Russians worship heroes, and the Cossacks' admiration for the strong is particularly serious. They don't understand whether George has the right of inheritance. As long as George can lead them to victory, George will gain their loyalty.

From this perspective, Stolypin's request to send all the "homeless people" around St. Petersburg away as soon as possible was also a preventive measure.

Stolypin believed in George's loyalty to the empire.

But loyalty is a double-edged sword. To replace Nicholas as Tsar and lead the Russian Empire to a higher peak requires an equally high level of loyalty.

"We can use these veterans to increase the development of Siberia."

The Imperial Chief of the General Staff, General of Cavalry Vladimir Sukhomlinov, disagreed.

"If we want to resettle these veterans in Siberia, we will have to increase investment in Siberia, and the implementation will not start until next spring. The most critical problem now is that the veterans cannot wait until next spring, and their patience has been exhausted."

Stolypin did not want to hand over all of the hundreds of thousands of veterans to George, but he had to do so considering the financial situation of the empire.

If the naval reconstruction plan is not launched this summer, we can increase the efforts to develop Siberia.

It is impossible now. Lack of money is only one reason. Sending veterans to Siberia in the freezing winter is tantamount to sending them to their deaths.

This was the first time George attended the Royal Council as an official member since he became an adult.

Unlike previous small-scale meetings, all the royal ministers were present this time, including many new faces that George was unfamiliar with.

For example, Sukhomlinov, who participated in the Tenth Russo-Turkish War, served as chief of staff, deputy commander and commander of the Kiev Military District from 1899, and served concurrently as governor-general of Kiev, Volyn and Podolia from 1905. He was awarded the rank of cavalry general in 1906 and was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army at the beginning of this year.

Deputy Army Minister Alexi Polivanov also participated in the Tenth Russo-Turkish War. He served as Chief of the General Staff in 1905 and Deputy Army Minister the following year. When the Second State Duma was dissolved, Polivanov was implicated because of his close relationship with Social Democratic Labor Party members. Fortunately, with the protection of Nicholas the Younger, Polivanov was able to remain in office.

Oscar Enqvist served as the commander of the cruiser division in the Second Fleet led by Rozhdestvensky. After the Second Fleet encountered the Combined Fleet, Enqvist witnessed the tragic situation of the main fleet and, despite the protests of his officers, announced to the cruiser division to give up the fight and ordered all ships to follow the flagship "Oleg" to Manila. "Oleg" was detained by the US military in Manila and was not released until the end of the war.

What’s funny is that after the war, not only was Enqvist not held accountable, but he was also appointed Deputy Minister of the Navy because he saved some warships.

There was no other way around it. In the Russo-Japanese War, capable naval commanders were either killed or captured. If Kirill had not been expelled from Russia for marrying the Queen's sister-in-law, he might have been appointed Deputy Minister of the Navy.

Sukhomlinov and Stolypin argued fiercely, but neither could convince the other.

Nicholas sat in the main seat like a puppet, with a dull look in his eyes and not saying a word. He was already accustomed to this scene.

No wonder St. Petersburg is inefficient.

Any policy introduced by the country will have its pros and cons. Some people will definitely benefit and some will suffer. This is inevitable.

If it's other issues, that's fine.

The vagrants around the Imperial Village have already begun to besiege the Imperial Village. Now they are still wasting time on arguing, and the problem remains unresolved.

George didn't know what to say.

George, the person in charge of the military reform, did not say anything, and little Nicholas and Alexei did not express their opinions either. The three of them are the three giants of the military, and Sukhomlinov has to stand aside.

Sukhomlinov and Stolypin finally got tired of arguing, and both looked at Nikolai, waiting for Nikolai to arbitrate.

"George, you will preside over the next meeting—"

Nikolay is anxious to see his son and will wait even if the sky falls. Sukhomlinov and Stolypin visit George.

“I have just returned to St. Petersburg a few days ago. Can anyone tell me how long ago the veterans around St. Petersburg began to gather?”

George took his time.

Sukhomlinov and Stolypin looked at each other.

The Russian Empire and Japan signed the Treaty of Portsmouth on September 1905, 9, and began disarmament at the end of that year. It has been more than three years now.

George had to admit that these important ministers of the empire were really generous.

Hundreds of thousands of veterans gathered around St. Petersburg, and they were able to hold out until now, which even George found incredible.

George used to think that the Koreans and Japanese were the most tolerant.

Now it seems that the Koreans and Japanese are far inferior to the Cossacks.

“Karl, watch the door. No one is allowed to leave until a decision is made today!”

George fights magic with magic.

The ministers and officials live in luxury and have good food and clothing, and they are not cold or hungry. The life and death of veterans has nothing to do with them.

Not only will George not let anyone leave, he will also not allow anyone to send food to you, so that you can also taste the feeling of being hungry.

"As ordered!"

Mannerheim stood at the door, looking majestic.

"George——"

Little Nicholas hadn't had breakfast and his stomach had been growling with hunger. He was completely dumbfounded.

"This is a serious matter and we have to be careful."

Alexei was in a hurry to go to the toilet, and the chair seemed to have spikes on it.

Sukhomlinov and Stolypin were arguing until their mouths were dry and they were at a loss as to whether to advance or retreat.

"I didn't say it was imprudent, but if we keep arguing here, who's going to solve the problem?"

George didn't waste his time talking to these people. Since Nicholas had given the power to George, George had to live up to Nicholas' trust.

"Then what do you think we should do?"

Alexei could hardly hold it in any longer.

"The most important thing now is to send all the veterans around St. Petersburg away. We still have five months to discuss what to do with the veterans next year."

George compromised, saying, "If you want to argue, you can do it slowly. Just deal with the matter at hand first."

"Row!"

"agree!"

"We should have done this a long time ago!"

The imperial meeting, which was as chaotic as a vegetable market just now, reached a consensus in an instant.

(End of this chapter)