Reincarnated as Nikolai II-Chapter 229: Birth of the Post-War Economy (1)

It was something Nikita was always grateful for - that his family was truly harmonious.

"Anna, were you waiting? Go ahead and eat."

"Come earlier next time."

"Ahem, sorry."

Though his father married very late, he still had three children, and unlike those distant island cousins whose three generations were broken, their relationship was very good.

Perhaps because grandfather would always have meals with family when he returned from work, father too would always gather the family in one place when evening came.

"Nikita, how are your Tsarevich lessons?"

"Though I learn every day, it’s difficult every day."

"Well, that course is quite vast. Moreover, it’s basically a 15-year course..." Your next chapter awaits on novelbuddy

"Couldn’t you reduce it a bit?"

"Hmm."

Having just tried whining a bit, Nikita was slightly taken aback when Nicholas suddenly put down his spoon and fork and wiped his mouth.

"Well, I was just saying..."

"Nikita."

"Yes, Father."

Looking around at the whole family, Nicholas soon looked at his children and said.

"In case you misunderstand, I’ll say this - Nikita, you can never become an absolute monarch. Tsarism ends with my era."

"Dear!"

"Anna, wait."

Just because he whined a little, suddenly being told he couldn’t succeed his father - even the usually calm Nikita couldn’t hide his expression this time.

Though his mother shouted what nonsense is this from the side, it didn’t reach Nikita’s ears.

Why else was he studying so hard day and night like this?

Why couldn’t he play when he wanted to play, rest when he wanted to rest?

All to not bring shame to father’s reputation.

Wasn’t it all to succeed his father?

Nikita tried hard to infer Nicholas’s intentions based on the knowledge he’d worked to learn.

"...Are you implementing constitutional monarchy?"

"Well, we’ll implement a system that suits the times. But it definitely won’t be like now."

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"Why? I’ve grown up perfectly as your son. I’m better than my peers and work harder than anyone. Are you saying someone like me... is unqualified?"

And so. For the first time, Nikita talked back to his father.

Though he was the parent Nikita respected endlessly, though he was the father all imperial citizens praised.

Nikita felt like his bloodline wasn’t being acknowledged.

"Are you trying to make Dmitri and me compete now?"

"You competing with a fifteen-year-old brother?"

"Or what am I failing to do? What more must I do for father to acknowledge me?"

To Nicholas’s eyes he was just an eighteen-year-old child who needed protection, but in this moment Nikita felt his entire life was being denied.

At this rebellion that wasn’t quite rebellion, Nicholas looked at Nikita’s eyes filled with will, sighed, and...

"Do you dare think you could replace me?"

Briefly set aside his role as father and changed to Tsar.

"Dear."

"Anna, just a moment."

Even Anna sensed she couldn’t stop the conversation between father and son at this moment, and no longer interrupted.

"Nikita."

"...Yes, Father."

"I love you all and want to do anything for you. But at the same time, I am the Empire’s Emperor, the Tsar responsible for hundreds of millions of subjects."

Nikita knows too. Though he hasn’t experienced it directly, isn’t this why he worked so hard, knowing through his head and knowledge how heavy father’s position is?

"And I dare declare, no one can handle this position. Not you. Not my brother Mikhail. Not any Grand Duke."

Contempt. In this moment, Nikita felt like his whole body would stick to the floor under the contemptuous gaze of the Blood Tsar.

"Nikita, I lost my father at twenty-four. From age five, I strived alone to become suitable for the Tsar’s position, and after waiting four years, I cleaned up the empire. I carried out numerous reforms and two wars. I erased three hostile empires from world history and accomplished 200 years worth of reforms in 20 years. Could you do that?"

"...It seems difficult."

"Indeed. Even I’m not confident I could do it again."

Even Nicholas was just struggling to make the best choices somehow in distorted history, and didn’t want to pass excessive burdens to his children.

Unlike Nikita who was set to inherit his father’s empire from birth, for Nicholas, power throughout his life was ultimately a means, not an end.

"However, since you were born as my eldest son, you should enjoy appropriate rights too. Dmitri, the same goes for you."

"Yes, yes!"

"Stop playing around, and please stop following Mikhail. Before I send you both to the army even before your coming of age ceremony."

"Ah, understood!"

Having finished what he wanted to say, Nicholas looked to the side, discovered Anna glaring at him, and fixed his gaze on his plate.

"...I’ll see you later."

"Ahem."

"Papa, when are you eating? I’m hungry."

"Oh my, Sasha. Are you hungry?"

Though Nicholas soon diverted the conversation as if his youngest’s whining was a helping hand...

’Can I... not become father?’

Nikita couldn’t escape from the earlier conversation.

==

During Kokovtsov’s time as wartime Prime Minister, when victory was certain and the post-war structure was gradually revealing itself, he had one mission.

It was the problem of creating jobs for millions of veterans and rear workers to stay in cities.

The Great War certainly caused many changes befitting its massive battles.

It made shell production reach 40,000 tons per day in the munitions industry and affected seemingly unrelated areas like sound equipment and radio industry development.

Now the war was over.

Industrial capacity had endlessly expanded during the war period, and the labor market had infinite supply.

’If left alone, these young people will pick up plows again.’

Before this industrial capacity falls again.

Before the youth return to the fields.

Kokovtsov must guide the empire to an even higher place.

It meant they must truly escape being an agricultural nation and be reborn as an industrial nation.

"Female workers have already established themselves centered on the textile industry during the war period. Even the phenomenon of handicraft and light industry industrialists preferring cheaper female workers over male workers is occurring."