Reincarnated as Nikolai II

In an attic room lit by a single candle, with just a bed and a desk standing alone.

One man was on the verge of completing a book he had been writing for a long time.

The book's content explained the creation, relationship, and downfall of imperialism and capitalism based on Marxism across ten chapters.

A book that perfectly and logically explained the 300-year dirty history from the dawn of industry in the 17th century through the 19th century.

This book could be considered the final chapter of his previous three works.

Written in '99, "The Development of Capitalism in Russia" addressed Russia's wrong development path.

Written in '02, "What is to be Done?" discussed how to deal with wrong choices and the direction the people should take.

Published in '09, "Materialism and Empirio-criticism" corrected miscellaneous pseudo-misunderstandings about Marxism and philosophical contradictions between idealism and materialism.

And in these times when the world groaned under imperialism.

The man firmly believed this book would explain the great war and the resulting suffering of workers.

The title was "Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism."

Colonial exploitation by imperialist nations.

Stepwise explanation and end of finance capital.

Combination of Marxist political economics theory and philosophy.

Centered on these three points, it starts with Chapter 1 about production and monopoly, through Chapter 8 about capitalist parasitism and decline, to Chapter 10 determining the position of these empires that will vanish into history.

Imperialist nations must lead each other to destruction through economic-instinctive hostility.

While numerous challenges and victories would overturn history, the conclusion converges to one.

Capitalism and imperialism are one body, destined to meet their end.

From this perspective, this war too was just part of imperialism's downfall, and the man saw nothing particularly surprising about this unprecedented great war in history.

After all, both imperialism and capitalism were just different ways of creating and dividing 'classes', ultimately just different means of dividing into rulers and ruled.

"In the end, it's just dirty greed trying to exploit not only their own citizens but other nations' people too..."

So this war isn't between the Alliance and the Entente.

It's the result of a collision between the excessive greed of those who want to rule and the flow of an era that doesn't match it.

Russia, which was once his homeland, is no different.

No, this country awaits an even faster doom than any other empire.

Because they neither extended their life by exploiting other countries, nor did their bourgeoisie and imperialists unite-

[Russia. Great Purge After 17 Years.]

[Okhrana Attacks Capitalists.]

[Kokovtsov: Market Monopolies and Cartels Must Be Controlled.]

"...Huh?"

Imperialism... purging capitalism? This, this doesn't fit the theory.

According to his conclusions drawn from reflecting on 300 years of history, imperialism and capitalism became more unified over time, not massacring each other.

"B-bourgeoisie purge should only be possible after the final chapter when communist revolution occurs?"

Yet it doesn't seem like all the newspapers are lying.

Unless newspapers with different political leanings are all spewing the same lies as if by agreement, this is clearly reality.

"Is imperialism... checking capitalism? Or subjugating it?"

The man, who had no logic to interpret this situation, couldn't speak for a while and just stared at the newspapers for a long time.

Then picked up his pen again.

[Chapter 11. An Extremely Exceptional Case.

Sometimes, imperialism driven to extremes shows rare cases of purging parasitic domestic capital even while clashing with other imperialism-]

It seemed the new book by the renowned Marxist author, Vladimir 'Ilin', would need more time until deadline.

==

Self-proclaimed Russia expert Winston Churchill had never taken his eyes off Russia since the war began.

No, rather, he watched Russia with even sharper eyes after the Western Front intensified.

'You're pulling out of the front? Now after eating Poland and Constantinople? You think that's possible?'

Although London and Paris stirred whenever Beren Volkov acted up, Churchill became more convinced each time.

If they were really going to end the war, they wouldn't have shouted so loudly and openly about it.

That was just pathetic struggling and bluffing hoping their allies would listen, not any kind of warning.

"Who are you trying to fool. If you end the war here, you'll have to turn France and Britain into enemies too amid worsened relations with Germany?"

That country has historically had a fear of being excluded from the great world called Europe.

While offensives might slow, they won't break the alliance.

[Russia Establishes Anti-Corruption Investigation Agency]

[Okhrana Moves on Tsar's Decree.]

[625 Guilty Verdicts. Just the Beginning?]

Uh... Still, the alliance won't break.

"T-that's right! Russian cartels have been famous all along! Because the state didn't discipline them during growth, they ran wild not knowing how high the sky was!"

[Is This Decree the Emperor's Wealth Redistribution Order?]

[State Duma Proposes Bill Banning Bourgeoisie from Political Advancement]

[Minister Stolypin: The Market Belongs to Everyone.]

"The Blood Tsar was actually referring to that Red Tsar?"

No, this isn't right. There's no way an empire's emperor could be a communist.

"Then this must be filling state coffers! Even our British Empire nobles gather donations tactfully, why would they be different? That's it! Securing war funds while placating citizens with anti-corruption!"

Right, that makes sense. I saw it coming when that country maintained an oversized army that didn't match their status. The Kokovtsov cabinet must be creating an atmosphere of fear to raise taxes and recover corporate profits.

[Prime Minister Kokovtsov Announces All Recovered Profits Will Be Used as Policy Funds for Nurturing New Industries.]

"...Mother."

Damn it, I don't know anymore.

I don't know how those frozen land's capitalist bastards were so tactless they got purged, and I don't know the intentions of the Tsar and Russian government trying to cause rear-area confusion during wartime.

No, now.

"...They really won't pull out, right?"
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I don't even know if they still have the will to fight.

While knowing alliances don't break so easily.

While believing Russia won't easily throw off their obligations and duties.

"Hey you bastards... Why now of all times when the Somme and Verdun battles have broken out."

Churchill couldn't help but tremble seeing Russia spilling its own entrails when it should be fighting and bleeding at the front lines.

What country in the world conducts purges during wartime.

Capitalists' cartels and monopolies? Isn't that why the Kokovtsov government used such monopoly systems carefully in the rationing economy?

But after using them well, now they're cutting open their belly.