Ch.144Tsarina is Building a Car (2)

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“Ahem. No. Aleksei Gastev is the one leading a worker support movement related to this road construction project.”

Well, at least he’s being helpful somehow.

The Roman National Party does worry me a bit, but power lies with the State Duma, not with the Tsar.

If workers start protesting against me later, I can just blame it on the State Duma. That’s all there is to it.

Still, I shouldn’t give Socialist Germany any excuses.

They’d have plenty to say if we mistreated our workers.

“I suppose he means they should work diligently like machines. But if they’re working like machines, they should be paid accordingly.”

“Of course. We’re not forcing them to do anything, and we’ve arranged night shifts and rotations.”

Good. That doesn’t sound bad. As long as there are no complaints, it should be fine.

They’re even working night shifts for 24-hour full operation.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll handle it properly.”

I really don’t know much about this field.

There’s not much I can specifically mention besides giving a word of encouragement to work hard.

Later I can say on the radio: “I apologize for the thoughtless Tsarina. If you’re struggling, please express your complaints openly and demand improvements. If there are corrupt bosses who don’t pay wages, report them to the Kremlin Palace.”

That should work, right?

“I feel quite sorry for the workers.”

Even though the State Duma is handling it, this is a historic construction project, isn’t it?

It’s natural to repair roads that were destroyed during the civil war. But since Russia has already experienced one revolution, we have to be mindful of the workers.

“You mentioned acquiring an automobile company for the people, but roads would be an issue, wouldn’t they?”

“Pardon?”

Why is that coming up now?

Ah, I was muttering out loud. Ahem, that’s a bit awkward.

The acquisition isn’t even confirmed yet.

If it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to approach Rusovalt instead.

“This is a propaganda poster designed by Aleksei Gastev.”

Right. I wonder what kind of propaganda poster would prompt this discussion.

When I received and looked at it, my head started spinning.

It showed oddly shaped men and women praying before a goddess who resembled me.

And it said:

“‘Since the Tsarina is bestowing automobiles upon the people, shouldn’t we properly build roads? Workers! Roads are the lifeblood of Russia, and your automobiles will run on them, so let us build roads to repay the Tsarina’s grace!'”

Could this really be the reason for all this?

In a nutshell, that’s what it is.

Since the Tsarina promised to provide automobiles, they need to build roads to drive those automobiles. That’s the intention reflected here.

Of course, it’s not just my devoted followers who are participating.

This is screwed up.

I was planning to make some money behind the scenes, but now what happens?

If I don’t commit to actually manufacturing automobiles, isn’t this heading for disaster?

Later they might say, “What was the Tsar doing while we were building roads?!”

That would make me really sad.

Should I just say I’m making armored vehicles to prepare for the rasputitsa?

Aleksei Gastev. This guy makes me want to drink tea.

“It would be dangerous if you can’t produce automobiles.”

“Have you acquired Rusovalt yet?”

I haven’t done it yet, but hmm.

Prince Yusupov will surely handle it well.

“I’m working on it, but if that doesn’t work out, I’ll have to invest in that direction. I need to meet the people’s expectations, but is this Aleksei Gastev really reliable?”

Isn’t he the one orchestrating all of this?

I’m truly disappointed.

Without him, there wouldn’t be this pressure. Isn’t he the one who’s been pushing for road construction everywhere?

“He does have a slight red flavor to him, but since our United States operates under modified capitalism, it should be fine.”

“Hmm. I’m still concerned about the workers. It’s not like we’re growing people in fields. If workers complain about the road construction being difficult, make improvements.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Of course, even though I say this, the Soviet Union did use manpower crudely to stop German forces as if people grew in fields, but still, we can’t underestimate the working class.

After all, it’s people who do the work.

And Imperial Russia collapsed due to complex reasons, but ultimately a revolution broke out because workers were oppressed.

Even if we improve worker welfare now, we fundamentally need to increase the population.

Especially after experiencing a civil war.

In this era, population directly translates to national power.

Particularly now that we’re focusing on worker welfare, we should increase our numbers to prepare for future wars.

Of course, even if the birth rate rises now, assuming the Second World War happens around the same time as in original history, these children won’t be usable as soldiers, but they could run factories, couldn’t they?

Should I start dropping hints about this?

“By the way, even if the road construction is going well, aren’t we losing manpower?”

“That’s right. After all, people are the ones doing the work.”

“Shouldn’t we also encourage childbirth?”

Let’s drastically increase the population.

If a great war breaks out, the casualties might be as high as in the original history, or perhaps less.

So it’s better to start increasing the population now.

“Ah, you needn’t worry about that. The birth rate has been increasing recently.”

“Is that so?”

Hmm? Perhaps now that the civil war has been resolved and the country is becoming more livable, people are thinking about having children?

“Naturally, population increases when living conditions improve, and Your Majesty deserves much credit for that. However, what’s concerning is the unexpectedly high preference for female children.”

Prime Minister Krivoshein said with a pleasant smile.

My credit is significant?

Honestly, I was just trying to bring up the topic, but it felt awkward to tell people to have children when I’m not having any myself.

But the birth rate is increasing because of me? Surely they’re not having children in my name, are they?

Wait, what did he just say? They prefer female children?

“Female children?”

I interrupted the Prime Minister.

Preferring female children—isn’t that quite unusual?

“Well, Your Majesty is a woman, aren’t you? Naturally, many people want to have daughters who will follow in your footsteps.”

Hey, that’s not right. It was possible for me, but not for ordinary women.

I’ve heard some women are joining the military to be like me.

At this rate, we might have so many women that we’ll need to expand the women’s military units.

No, that’s going too far.

“Ahem. So the population is increasing?”

“We had significant casualties during the civil war, but we’re recovering.”

Recovering, he says.

That means people are quite dedicated to making babies.

It feels a bit lewd, which is somewhat uncomfortable.

“Isn’t that too fast?”

“Those children will eventually become workers for our United States, won’t they?”

That’s true. When they grow up, they’ll become workers.

The preference for female children is concerning, but population growth is a good thing.

My influence has naturally led to this. Not bad.

“I see. It seems like there will be many Anastasias across the country.”

“Hahaha. At this rate, we might become the Holy Anastasian Empire.”

Ungern is spouting nonsense again.

A Russia full of girls named Anastasia.

Ah, that’s a bit much.

“Even so, that’s going too far.”

Of course, this is just a joke, so let’s move on.

If it were really true, wouldn’t that be serious?

While wanting a girl doesn’t guarantee having one, my existence has clearly changed Russia significantly.

The image of the Bear Country might completely change.

“Seeing how quiet Socialist Germany and Italy have been recently, they must be focusing on their internal affairs. While they build their strength, we must also build ours, as Your Majesty suggested.”

That’s right? Socialist Germany and Socialist Italy have been quiet.

The only recent news was about Germany boasting about subjugating Britain, wasn’t it?

“Are they really being quiet?”

“Yes. According to reports from Poland, they’re also implementing new economic policies and focusing on internal strengthening. However, Italy’s General Secretary has been proclaiming that they only need to subjugate Russia now, and has been promoting the greatness of the Italian Communist Party in Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, and other regions.”

Italy, huh? Are they already eyeing the Mediterranean?

They’ll turn Yugoslavia into a communist regime and bring it under their influence, and even for Italy, they could probably handle Albania somehow.

And Greece… well.

Greece isn’t on our side to begin with. Looking at history, didn’t Italy make a mess when dealing with Greece? Wasn’t it Germany’s job to handle Greece?

Right. Let’s leave that alone.

If Greece becomes a communist regime unlike in history, we can justifiably confront them without hesitation.

Having subjugated Britain and promoted communism, Socialist Germany must also be focusing on internal consolidation and strengthening.

Especially since the Anschluss was blocked, Socialist Germany must be preparing to somehow crush Austria.

“So that’s why we’re rushing the road construction.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Railways alone have limitations. As you said, those Germans are openly criticizing us, so their intentions are clear. Therefore, the State Duma believes we need to implement internal reforms more radically to avoid falling behind them.”

Yes. Roads ultimately activate transportation networks, and when transportation networks are activated, the economy grows more significantly than in current Russia, which primarily moves around railways.

It’s an obvious advantage, but even in America, they say most milk, vegetables, fruits, and clothing are transported by road.

In that context, how much worse must it be for Russia with its vast land and outdated road infrastructure?

Infrastructure needs to be activated.

In the world I lived in before everything collapsed, a Russian friend who had naturalized to Korea said something like this:

It was so underdeveloped that it was like a cold Africa with nuclear weapons.

We must ensure that such a future doesn’t happen.

“Just because there’s no war doesn’t mean we’re not fighting Germany. They’ve already targeted us multiple times, so we must counterattack.”

“You’re absolutely right. Before war, we’re in a systemic competition with Germany. And with war on the horizon, we must win this competition.”

“What about confronting them during the Great Depression?”

The State Duma is now united in anti-communism without me even having to mention it.

Yes. The Great Depression is the key issue.

When the Great Depression hits, we can’t fall behind Socialist Germany.

When other countries are plummeting, we need to show growth.

We need to prove that modified capitalism, not communism, is right.

At that time, merely maintaining the status quo won’t prove that our system is superior.

Let’s not just rely on resources and population while showing a backward image. Let’s demonstrate strength that doesn’t lose to Germany.

Conveniently, Germany is now the epitome of communism. It has become the home of communism, and unlike in the original history, its status is lower, so there’s nothing we can’t do.

Something occurred to me, and I clapped my hands.

“Then I should contribute too. Despite appearances, I personally participated in the Moscow urban construction project.”

“Your Majesty, surely you don’t mean…”

What I want to say is simple.

I just want to show myself casually appearing at the construction site.

Just doing that would make everyone ecstatic, wouldn’t it?

This can be promoted as “An Emperor close to the people!”

So I confidently raised my hand and spoke.

“I want to show myself participating in road construction labor.”

But the reaction wasn’t good.

Everyone had a face that said, “No, this isn’t right.”

“During the Moscow urban construction, it was unavoidable for public sentiment, but road construction concerns Your Majesty’s dignity.”

“No, wait, I’m just being a figurehead.”

I’m just a figurehead.

It’s like when a famous actress suddenly appears in an advertisement.

What’s the problem?

“Your Majesty, if you do that, the State Duma will be criticized by the people of the United States.”

“The State Duma will be criticized?”

Why would they be criticized?

Even if there’s criticism, wouldn’t it be like, “Wow, look at the Tsarina doing that? That’s a bit off-putting.”

Couldn’t such comments arise?

Why would the State Duma be involved?

“People would surely cause an uproar, asking what the State Duma is doing to make the Tsarina work.”

“Is that how it would be perceived?”

Hmm, is it because I’m like an idol?

Maybe if an idol I liked was doing labor, I’d feel uncomfortable too.

“Even when you personally visited the construction site during the Moscow reconstruction, and when you distributed rations to children who lost their homes in the civil war, there was much talk from the White Army side.”

I see. So there were similar reactions before.

The White Army soldiers are those who fought alongside me, so it makes sense.

They probably feel uncomfortable seeing the Grand Duchess they placed on the throne doing service work.

“Then I have no choice.”

I have no choice. Actually, I wanted to ask if the State Duma members could participate directly.

But these people have a lot to do, so it can’t be helped.

In the end, everyone dissuaded me, so nothing came of it.

I think I need to create some justification for this.

It’s a precaution in case the automobile business fails.

With appropriate encouragement, I can say, “I started the automobile business because you were building roads.” That should work, right?