ISoTL Chapter Fifty-Six (Patreon)

“The goal for the 1841-1845 Five-Year Plan was an expansion to twenty million desyatina of farmland and a quadrupling of livestock primarily focused of sheep and draught animals,” Carl Hehn reported. “As mentioned in the report, that goal was exceeded. Twenty-six million desyatina of farmland is currently being used, the sheep herds have been increased to a total of twenty-eight million head, and the number of draught animals have quintupled, largely thanks to the expanding dairy program. Oxen are less efficient than horses and dairy-breed oxen even more so, but pulling a reaper or a thresher they are a vast improvement over the traditional methods. If factory space for the required machinery can be allotted, the proposed goal for the 1846-1850 Five-Year Plan is an expansion to sixty million desyatina of farmland. I would suggest additional surveys regarding possible use of pasture land and irrigation expansions before deciding on livestock targets. Lastly I propose a set of experiments regarding arctic farming, specifically the viability of cultivating pasture fields for the reindeer herds.”

“What crops will you be focusing on?” Alexander asked.

“While much of the land will continue to focus on essentials such as grains, fodder, legumes, and linen, growth will allow us to substantially more room for specialization as well,” Hehn stated. “Workers at the Department have devised seven types of basic fruit and seven types of basic vegetables. The goal is to have each of the seven types and at least one type of exotic fruit and one type of exotic vegetable available for consumption at any given point of the year in any given settlement by 1850. Additionally we hope to continue the work started in the 1841-1845 Five-Year Plan by growing the Korean Tea and Silk Industries, with the ultimate goal of replacing all major foreign importations. We have not yet set a goal for that date due to the unpredictable nature of fads, noble preferences, and changing tariffs.”

“See to it that you produce enough to satisfy current Russian demand by 1850,” Alexander ordered. “If the nobles will not buy it, we can sell it cheaper to our people.”

“Yes, your Imperial Highness, though that may come at a loss.”

“On that note I have good news,” Hess spoke up. His voice was weak, still recovering from illness. “At a conservative estimate, new mining in Alaska will bring in a net of six to eight million rubles of gold and silver this year."

Alexander turned to his former tutor. He was not alone.

“And to think,” von Stieglitz said, “it cost us but eight million rubles to buy the place.”

“How has settlement progressed?” Alexander asked.

“The population has increased to fifty-eight thousand,” Arvid Adolf Etholén reported. The last governor appointed by the Russian-American Company, Etholén had been kept as a local expert. The man had lived in the Americas since 1818, which was more than anyone else could claim. “We can accommodate two steamships at a time now.”

“How many migrants can you take each month?”

“Six thousand.”

Less than Alexander would like, but an acceptable number. The issue would be ensuring security, but that could be solved by deploying two cavalry regiments in the first batch of immigrants.

“We will revisit the Alaska Situation in a year’s time,” Alexander decided. “For now the priority will be mines and infrastructure. Food can be supplied by steamship. Muravyov, what can you tell me of the army?”

Muravyov straightened. His medals shifted, jingling lightly against his chest. “As we all know, the aims of the last Five-Year Plan have been met,” the Infantry General declared. “We possess a standing army of 100,000 and reserves of 410,000 that can be mobilized within three months. Our standing army and reserves are fully equipped, though the reserves have do not have the latest models of weapons. In the next five years we plan to equip the infantry reserves with bolt-action rifles and the artillery reserves with rifled, breechloading artillery. We plan to double the standing army and the reserve infantry, and quintuple the reserve artillery. Research budgets regarding further arms development are to be increased as well, with special attention being payed to the promise of a self-loading gun.”

“Is there truly a need for so large an army?” Haass asked. “The financial cost alone will be astronomical. Even were every man to be a private, salaries alone would stand at a hundred-twenty million rubles. As it is–”

“Six hundred million rubles,” Muravyov interjected. “For the entire budget. Men, equipment, supplies, housing, training–all of it.”

Haass’ eyes bulged.  Odoyevsky paled. Even Alexander stared. Yet von Stieglitz, the man of accounts, the man with a heart of iron and a pocket hungry for gold, seemed almost bored by the number. “We can afford it,” he said. “Do you know how much Saint Petersburg spends on tea? On silk? On sugar, tobacco, and spices? All of that can be bought from the British, or from us. We need but one international incident, one instance of British liberalism stepping too far, and all the money the nobility spends on their luxuries will flood Siberia rather than London.”

“And if nothing happens?” Odoyevsky asked.

“Then we find something to sell,” von Stieglitz replied. “We have guns, food, and steel. There are plenty of places that need one, and some that need all three.”

“Baron von Stieglitz,” Alexander decided, “effective immediately you are the Director of Internal and External Trade for Eastern Siberia and Russian America. You are to create a Five-Year Plan for Comprehensive Development.”

“Your Imperial Highness,” von Stieglitz bowed his head, unable to hide his grin. For once Alexander couldn’t fault the man. If he was right (and the damnable man was) Eastern Siberia would have a standing army to rival that of Britain or France by the start of Crimea. Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand . . . even the Dutch East Indies if he wished . . . all would fall to Russia as her Pacific Hegemony emerged.

So long as they could still afford the navy.

“What does this allow for Lazarev’s budget?” Alexander asked.

“Eight hundred million rubles,” von Stieglitz rattled off.

Larazev’s grin could have been seen from the moon. “With that,” the aging Admiral promised, “I will build you a fleet to claim all seven seas.”