I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 49 Trans-Siberian Railway

Chapter 49 Trans-Siberian Railway
  Don't look down on these 11.7 people. This is the result of 300 years of Russian immigration efforts.

In 1598, during the era of Tsar Boris Godunov, Russia defined Siberia as a place of exile. From then on, Siberia became a "bag of sins."

In 1760, Russia promulgated the Administrative Exile Law, which legally gave village communities, landowners, and nobles the power to exile erring serfs to Siberia without trial.

These methods did not effectively increase the population of Siberia. By 1850, the population of Siberia as a whole was only 217 million. Specifically, the population of Eastern Siberia was only a pitiful 1.56.

In order to attract Russians to actively immigrate to Siberia, the Russian Empire formulated preferential immigration policies, not only providing 100 acres of land to new immigrants, but also setting up a 20-year tax holiday, which was later increased to 30 years.

The land allocated to the new immigrants can also be purchased at a price of 3 rubles per dessiatine and becomes the private property of the new immigrants.

The temptation of land is far less effective than war. In 1860, Russia forced the Qing Empire to sign the "Continuation Treaty" and forcibly ceded about 40 square kilometers of territory east of the Ussuri River. The people living on this land also became Russians. As a result, Siberia's population exploded, reaching 7.

This situation did not last long. By 1869, the population of Eastern Siberia declined instead of increasing, from 7 to only 6.79.

At that time, Russia had entered the Asia II era. In order to increase the population of Siberia, Asia II exhausted all efforts and exiled all prisoners to Siberia, including the assassins who assassinated the Tsar.

This can also explain why Russia only executes an average of a dozen people every year.

Because most of the prisoners were exiled to Siberia.

After learning about the situation in Siberia, George was completely moved.

George originally planned to go to Europe when he came of age.

But after fully understanding the strength of his European father-in-law, George had given up this idea.

Then you can only go to the United States.

Although the relationship between the United States and Russia is not bad now, George hates the United States from the bottom of his heart. If George goes to the United States, George will be very unhappy.

Looking at it this way, Siberia actually looks pretty good.

It’s better to have fewer people, and the territory is huge. The total area of ​​Eastern Siberia is 412.28 million square kilometers, which is 7.5 times the size of France.

It is larger than the British Isles, equivalent to about 17 United Kingdoms.

In the next few decades, the Qing Empire would be turbulent, with constant wars, people displaced, and people in dire straits.

George didn't even talk about creating a paradise for the Chinese in Siberia. Even if he only gave them a little living space, he didn't know how many lives could be saved.

Thinking of this, George finally knew why he traveled to this era and to Russia.

This is the wheel of fate.

With a purpose and motivation, George came to Gatchina Palace. He was not in a hurry to tell Nikolay a joke, but went to the study to look for information about Siberia.

"Do you really want to be the governor of Siberia?" Nicholas was dumbfounded. He was really reluctant to let George go that far.

By the time Nicholas becomes Tsar, George's brothers will be old. At that time, George can choose positions such as Governor of Moscow, Governor of Warsaw, and Governor of Kiev.

Siberia is too far away from St. Petersburg. One is in the easternmost part of Russia and the other is in the westernmost part.

If George goes to Siberia, Nicholas will miss him.

"Don't talk nonsense, Siberia doesn't have one governor, there are two -" George corrected habitually. The entire area of ​​Siberia is 1322 million square kilometers.

“Yeah, there’s going to be a third one soon—” Nikolai spoilers again.

In another time and space, in 1884, Russia added the Amur Governorate in Siberia, which included all the land captured from the Qing Empire through previous wars.

This agenda is currently being discussed at the State Council. After Yasan returns from vacation, Nicholas will attend the State Council with Yasan. The news in this regard is very good. Once again George hated his age.

If George was not ten years old now, but twenty years old, then George could apply to serve in the Far East.

Regardless of whether Ya San agrees or not, Maria should be very happy.

Of course, ten years old is better than ten years old.

Growing up with Nikolai will give George greater freedom when Nikolai comes to power.

Going to the Far East now, what George can do is very limited. At least Yasan will not give such an important position as governor to a young man like George.

Nikolai is different.

Nicholas himself is a brat, so what right does he have to dislike George?
  "The key to developing Siberia is not immigration, but transportation." George didn't know when the Trans-Siberian Railway was started, and it certainly doesn't exist now.

Traffic conditions in Russia are terrible, and the railways only extend eastward as far as Chelyabinsk.

Under such circumstances, it is surprising that immigration to Siberia would be effective.

Immigration is not exile, no matter how you describe it, immigration is just a matter of bringing a family with you. If transportation is inconvenient, very few people will go to Siberia.

"Someone proposed to build a railway from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, but it was unrealistic and there were many opponents." Nicholas knew everything about George and had no precautions.

There is nothing to guard against. One is an uncle and the other is a nephew. They are both members of the royal family. Their fate is closely linked to the empire. Can George still rebel against himself?
  It’s certainly not the case if you turn against yourself.

But what if the Russian Empire was overthrown -

No one can say what will happen in the future.

"Who made the suggestion?" George was curious. This man had some discernment.

"An official from the Southwestern Railway Administration seems to be named Sergei or something. That's right, it's Sergei, Sergei Witte."

This was the second time George heard the name.

Sergei Vitt was one of the most powerful people in the Asian and Nepali eras, and he served as Prime Minister during the Nepali era.

The Holy Brotherhood, which once caused trouble for George, was founded by Witte at his initiative.

The Southwestern Railway Administration is not a government agency, but a private railway company, so Sergey Witte is not an official now, but an employee of the private railway company.

"He is right, such a railway should be built." George is not opposed to the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. With the railway, it will only take 13 days from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.

In addition to land, you can also take a boat from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.

However, taking a boat is very slow and takes up to two months.

Even from Odessa, which is the closest to Vladivostok, it takes a full 40 days to get to Vladivostok.

"Everyone knows that it should be repaired, but where will the money come from?" Nicholas also knew that it should be repaired, but unfortunately he couldn't.

George raised his eyebrows.

Ask George to build the railroad. George doesn't know how to build it.

Let George make money, and George will be very good at it.

(End of this chapter)