Chapter 40 Sweeping Reforms

Dressed in his usual uniform, Alexander walked along the hallways on his way to his office. Rolan was escorting him and can’t help but notice something odd in his gait.

“Sir, did you trip or something?” Rolan asked with his head cocked to the side.

Alexander halted his step as he turned around to face Rolan and simply shook his head. “No.”

“Hmm…” Rolan hummed, seemingly not convinced, then noticed something reddish spot on his neck.

Alexander noticed it and quickly hid it by straightening the collar that framed around his neck.

“I see…I see…” Rolan’s mouth made a somewhat meaningful smile. At his expression that looked like he had guessed. Beads of sweat formed on Alexander’s forehead.

“Why are you grinning Rolan?”

“Nothing…I was just thinking your grace had so much fun last night.”

“You really are an observant fellow, Rolan? Because if you hadn’t noticed I would have you fired.” Alexander jested to which Rolan let out a chuckle. “Anyways, did the ministers arrive?”

“Yes, sir. They are waiting for you in your office.” Rolan informed and they resumed walking.

Upon entering his office, ten ministers donned a military jacket and greeted the young prince with a bow.

“Good morning Your Majesty, we hope the day is treating you well.” They intoned as Alexander walked over to his desk.

“I am having a great day,” Alexander said, sitting on his chair. “At ease ministers,”

Upon his orders, the ministers gathered in front of his desk carrying brown manila envelopes.

“Let’s get started, what’s on our agenda?”

Prime minister Sergei nudged someone on the arm, Alexander glanced at the man, it was the Minister of Agriculture.

The minister who got nudged quickly came to attention and walked forward to hand a manila envelope to Alexander.

It was thick, probably a hundred pages. So he didn’t bother opening it instead he asked the Minister of Agriculture.

“So what’s this about?”

The Minister of Agriculture cleared his throat before speaking. “Sir it’s a land reform bill that was passed by the Imperial Council with an overwhelming majority vote.

“Explain it to me.”

The minister nodded, “Yes, Your Majesty. The Imperial Council had been trying to find a way to distribute the lands in a better way. Since the lands that have been distributed to the commoners were way too small for them to have a sustainable income. We hope that with this amendment, the lands that are being distributed for the commoners would help the economy and livelihood of the people, which in return would strengthen our empire.”

“How?” Alexander replied.

The Minister of Agriculture spoke again. “Most of the lands were controlled by the landlords, that’s over 100 million hectares of land. The bill proposed that the state we buy twenty percent of those lands each year then sell it at an extremely low price to the farmers who worked them.”

“So basically, this is a land redistribution right?”

The Minister of Agriculture nodded. “Yes Your Majesty. With this bill, our agricultural productivity will increase, strengthening food security and lessening poverty for rural households, and facilitating industrialization for your planned infrastructure bill by feeding the cities.”

Alexander’s lips curled into a smile as the effect of the agrarian reform satisfied him.

As he remembered, there was a time when the peasanty demanded land. So the Imperial Council prioritize them first huh?

“In that case, I shall sign the bill.”

By signing the bill, Alexander, the head of state of the Ruthenia Empire, effectively made the new land reform law passed into effect.

Since the Imperial Council had worked hard for this and are expecting immediate results, Alexander grabbed a pen and signed the document.

With that, the bill has passed and became a law.

The Minister of Agriculture smiled after seeing that document was signed.

Alexander returned the manila enveloped to him which the Minister of Agriculture received warmly.

“Okay, who’s next?”

“Sir!” Vladimir Borisov, the Minister of Finance raised his hand and walked forward. “This is a new tax legislation, also passed by the Imperial Council.”

Alexander received the brown envelope and he started perusing it. Since it deals with the tax, Alexander couldn’t just sign in carelessly, he has to study and understand the content first.

The new tax bill was proposing a new unified tax system and the rates are determined by the income bracket of the citizens. The new tax bill hoped that doing so will enable the government to tax more fairly.

Alexander stood up and took a look out the large windows of the office. He watched the snowflakes fall on the ground and swayed by the wind.

Alexander nodded in approval.

“Okay…I shall sign it.”

He opened the envelope and took the document inside. Then signed it carefully.

Just like before, he returned the manila envelope to the Minister of Finance who received it with a bright smile.

He scanned the room and asked the question. “Any other bills that require my signature?”

“Y-yes Your Majesty…we have been trying to draft that for a long time. We hope that this will put an end to the outdated educational system and teach students a more modern method…”

Alexander shifted his attention to the Minister of Education. “Go on…”

“Yes, Your Majesty. So the education reform is a comprehensive plan to plan to reorganize the education system in Ruthenia Empire. In our old education system, only the nobles or the elites are eligible to pursue education, the commoners and peasants aren’t. With this reform, we will be empowering the Article 14 about education, science, and technology, arts, culture, and sports, where the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.

Our new education will be composed of five levels. Primary education K-6, lower secondary education; junior high school 7-10, upper secondary education; 11-12, vocational, and lastly tertiary level; which is separated into three parts: undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral. From K-12, education for the mass will be free, and is eligible to apply for school vouchers and scholarships to help them pursue higher education. We are also coordinating with the private schools about the implementation of the new standardized education system. That’s all, Your Majesty.” The minister of education concluded.

Alexander smiled after hearing that. It’s been their main agenda to change the education system of the Ruthenia Empire ever since the daily meeting with the council of ministers started. The population of the empire is at 160 million people yet most of them are illiterate. No one can build a modern economy with a crumbling infrastructure and illiterate people. Though there has been a word from his ministers that giving the common people access to education will bite him back in the end. He’d say ‘it’s bullshit’ he’s not scared of the people who are thinking, in fact, he appreciates it. Even if they were enlightened of their tragic fate as a common people since the foundation of the empire, that’s up for them to speak up against the government. It is their rights that he promised to them after all.

Alexander grabbed the pen and signed the education reform bill. The new education system will start in the next school year.

“Is there anyone else?” Alexander asked.

No one voiced out or raised their hands. Alexander returned to his seat and propped his chin up with his hand.

“Okay, now that’s settled, let’s talk about my infrastructure bill? Sergei, what’s the progress?”

“The voting will start in four days sir,” Sergei said. “The Imperial Council who are working on your bill will give us a copy two days before the voting, that’s for you to see the amendment in the bill.”

Alexander nodded, acknowledging the bureaucratic process. His eyes flickered to the Minister of Internal Affairs. He has something to talk to him about. But before he can open his mouth, Sergei interjected.

“Sir, you also have to check the budget for each ministry, or else we won’t be able to pass it to the Imperial Council and risk a government shutdown,”

“Is that so?” Alexander tilted his head to the side, pondering. When there was no legislative body, most budgets are approved by the ruling monarch, i.e., him. Now that there is one, each ministry will have to present its budget to the Imperial Council for their approval. Having a government shutdown in his first term would be humiliating. “Very well, give it to me by tomorrow.”

The ministers bowed their heads in unison.

His gaze is back into the Minister of Internal Affairs. “What’s the progress with the Black Hand, Sir Kaniv? You only have seven days left.”

“We are tracking the trail now as we speak Your Majesty. We assure you that we will catch them before new years eve,” Kaniv answered, sweating.

“You better be,” Alexander said coldly. “Or else you’ll lose your position as my minister of internal affairs.”

“I am fully aware of the ramification of my position if things aren’t done in an intended way, Your Majesty.” Dmitri bowed solemnly.

“Excellent…now set that aside. How about we conduct our daily meeting?”

The ministers agreed and began their session which lasted for over two hours.

Once the meeting was concluded, Alexander promptly left his office and asked for Rolan who were standing idly by the door since his boss entered.

“What is it, sir?”

“Get the car ready, we’re going somewhere.”

“Where is it, sir?” Rolan asked.

“The Central Bank of St. Petersburg.”