Reincarnated as Nikolai II

In late October, as the German fleet's mood heated up, unable to endure the active naval blockade, and.

In November, as the final Somme offensive proceeded before winter.

"Phew..."

"You've arrived!"

"Yes, it's been a while. Have you all been well? I haven't been."

"...You must have suffered!"

"Being stuck in the rear made me realize. I'm truly meant for the field. The General Staff was like Sodom and Gomorrah of the human world where all sorts of scheming, political maneuvering, and what might be called fraud coexisted with good and evil. This smell, this air, this vigor. Ah, I missed it. I really missed it."

Aleksei Brusilov returned to the Southern Front.

==

A system like a nation's set format.

And ideology with logical consistency that makes everyone have unified judgment.

System and ideology.

These two things, which a ruler must never waver from, are in an inseparable relationship.

Looking at our Russian system, it's imperialism based on class, and while there's been some departure from bureaucratism recently due to the State Duma's influence, it remains authoritarian and highly vertical.

This "vertical" doesn't mean there's blue blood like in medieval times or still differences in human rights.

It just means a structure has been completed where natural innovation and reform from below are difficult to occur.

When I discover these structural defects, sometimes even I think:

"Hmm... Maybe I should have killed fewer liberals during the Great Purge."

Although they were anti-state and anti-government, they were fresh water for the stagnant empire in their own way.

It's regrettable every time I think about it, but I end up rationalizing that I had no choice then as it was early in my reign. It's also irreversible now.

The past is the past, and what I need to think about is the future ahead.

For now, the change in system is sufficient with just incorporating the State Duma into the cabinet.

Changes in bureaucracy are inherently more viscous than honey, and in severe cases become hardened resin or amber. Once it stops, it stops - it can't change rapidly.

Even the current pace of change must feel fast to the bureaucrats who were responsible for this massive empire. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

If we can't touch the system right now, then we should at least touch the ideology...

Here again comes the question I've had countless times.

What is the empire's current ideology?

With a monarch present it's not a republic, and we have voting so democracy? But since bureaucrats are the social elite class, is elitism or chosen people theory the main ideology?

In terms of political ideology, absolute monarchy would be correct, but current Russia isn't quite at the level of feudal era monarchy.

"In conclusion, there isn't one. It can't be explained by just one thing. It's just ambiguous, close to a mishmash. While I'll need to change it slowly going forward, this is dangerous indeed."

Yes. Current Russia has no ideology that can define its identity except Tsarism, which delegates overwhelming authority to the Tsar.

Strictly speaking, the people aren't loyal to the Romanov family, but to the Tsar.

The State Duma and bureaucrats equate the Tsar's existence with the state and take its necessity for granted.

However, the moment the Great War ends.

That is, the moment we begin living in an era built upon numerous deaths, the world will be caught up in all sorts of ideological wars.

Just as a mentally ill patient might make an extreme choice due to depression, some nations will become obsessed with extremism after the war,

Those who lack even the ambiguous courage for such extreme choices will just fall into chaos with all sorts of ideologies and politics running rampant.

"My empire isn't urgent yet, but I can't be at ease."

Having worried about this for quite a while, I once asked Kokovtsov this question:

"Why are you loyal to me?"

"Why such a sudden question?"

"Just be honest. I want to hear a logical answer, without flattery."

"If that's the case, hmm... Perhaps because from the moment I was born as an imperial citizen in this country, I've never imagined any other choice? I think my loyalty was innate."

"...I see."

Kokovtsov's answer was a precise theory that struck at this empire's weakness.

Because there's still no ideology that can replace the Tsar, imperial citizens are naturally loyal to me.

Conversely speaking.

When the Tsar's ability is exhausted.

When an ideology appears that can replace Tsarism.

When that ideology gains more popularity than the Tsar.

Whether a red revolution or a brown revolution, the possibility isn't zero.

Of course, I know. That my achievements have objectively surpassed Peter the Great and I'm already a living great person.

But that doesn't mean I can create a history-defining ideology like Marxism from this position.

Rather, I tend to be wary of ideologies that claim to have answers like math problems.

However, one thing must be made clear.

Governance cannot exist without ideology.

The absence of ideology divides a nation.

Unlike medieval times, it's not that one must receive loyalty because they're Tsar. One is Tsar because they receive loyalty.

One is king, führer, duce, or caudillo because they receive loyalty.

If the problem has been thoroughly chewed, savored, and clearly grasped, return to the beginning and.

Ask a slightly more progressive question.

"What ideology is needed and suitable for this country?"

Colonial imperialism at the extreme of vulgar capitalism?

Or Tsarism that binds the empire as one while reigning over it?

Neither.

Times have changed.

When the Great War ends, both will become nothing more than relics of a bygone era that should be stored away in museum warehouses.

Nevertheless, when thoughts reach exactly this point.

"Sigh, I don't know. Should I kidnap some promising dictators?"

One realizes it's not easy to cut and paste any ideology to fit this country's shape.

I still didn't have an ideology I could conclude was the 'answer.'

Perhaps as a ruler governing the empire long-term, I should gradually knead and change the system and ideology to suit the times.

After all, there's no one but me who can bring new ideology and system to this country.

"Pan-Slavism must be abandoned now. Just looking at Serbia's state, this can't be used anymore."

This too can't help but be anachronistic, having been created in the 1830s to counter the Ottoman Empire.

"Still, it's a shame to completely abandon this ideology that spread even to the Balkans over about a century, so if we modify it just right for our empire..."

Considering the era, state, race, ethnicity, post-war circumstances, international situation, and relations with other countries.

"This is indeed the only option."

The ideology that will represent Russia after the Great War is one.

"National self-determination."

This is a mutation of Pan-Slavism.