Chapter 31

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 31: The First Day of the Prince Regent

"Being a good person is hard, being a good man is even harder. Being a prince regent… is incredibly difficult."

A study in Redel-Catherine Manor was transformed into an office, where Leader One sat every day worrying.

The desk was piled high with files, and with no one to assist him, his Prussian Prime Minister had taken sick leave.

Catherine was quite intelligent, but a bit scatterbrained.

Her greatest skill – killing.

Her second greatest skill – leading a group of people to kill.

She had mediocre political abilities, although Catherine had good learning abilities and could improve over time, Leader One needed someone experienced to assist him now.

Leader One assigned her the position of Commander of the Prussian royal family guard and Director of the Royal Affairs Office.

These two positions, important as they may seem, are currently rather idle, Catherine can only busy herself in the office by running errands such as serving tea and water.

In order to handle the overwhelming government affairs, Leader One needs a Prussian Prime Minister, a parliamentary secretary, a Cabinet Secretary who also serves as the chief assistant for national affairs, along with 14 Cabinet Ministers and their supporting secretaries and assistants.

Originally, Prussia had such a team, but after the political upheaval, they all fled. Either they were loyal to the previous king or Prince Wilhelm, upon seeing Regent Redel stepping in, they resigned for various reasons.

As a result, Prussia is in a paralyzed state now. Trivial matters that should have been handled by others have piled up on Prince Regent Leader One’s desk.

The various factions that supported Leader One’s rise to power are now urging him to fulfill his previous promises.

"Shouldn’t I get the national institutions up and running first? How can anything be accomplished in this chaos?"

"Fifteen Cabinet Ministers, and fourteen have fled. Can this country still function?"

"Aren’t you all trying to make me a puppet? You should place your trusted allies in the Cabinet positions, why are there vacancies for Cabinet Ministers with no solutions in sight?"

Leader One ranted in his office, but he could only vent his frustrations here, never letting his lack of a team and trusted allies be known.

Leader One actually has his own team. He has been planning a coup since he was 16 years old, quietly gathering supporters. His original plan was for something that would happen over a decade later, when Leader One’s trusted allies would mature as well.

Now… we have no choice but to face the music.

Leader One beckoned, and Catherine walked over with a tea cup and teapot in hand.

"Go write the appointment letters. Minister of National Defense Marshall Steinmetz, Chief Secretary of the Ministry of National Defense Ron, promote them to brigadier generals. Moltke to brigadier general, entering the General Staff Department. Hans to lieutenant colonel, entering the General Staff Department. And you, Catherine, join as well in the General Staff Department."

"Change the Prussian Education Department to the Ministry of Education and Science. Mr. Humboldt will be the Minister of Science and Education."

Catherine reminded, "The Mr. Humboldt who founded Berlin University passed away in February this year."

Leader One replied, "I know, not that Humboldt, but his younger brother Alexander Humboldt, who is also a very knowledgeable and talented individual."

"Appoint Liszt as the Minister of Finance. He is capable but too idealistic. Arrange for him to see a therapist."

"The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister, go find Karl’s uncle."

"Then the Minister of Industry went to the Prussian Engineering Institute to see who wants to work there."

"The Minister of Interior… promoted the Minister of Internal Affairs in Berlin City."

"Just find some useless ministers and let the parliament suggest candidates for me to decide."

After instructing the appointment of various department ministers, Leader One asked Catherine to tidy up the messy official documents on his desk.

Originally, the Prussia Cabinet Office and Parliament were located in Potsdam City. Leader One moved them all to Berlin, into the Berlin City Palace, a grand building built by Frederick the Great in the city center.

The various departments’ trivial documents were sent to their office desks to be handled once the ministers took office.

Now, the mahogany desk was empty, and Leader One sat back on his sofa, taking a deep breath.

"Feels good~"

I am here to be the prince regent, not a nanny or head steward. Let me tackle some national affairs.

From busy morning to afternoon, Catherine finally finished running errands and came back. She and her knights had become messengers, which made some Magic Energy Knights unhappy. Catherine calmed everyone down before returning to see Leader One.

"Is there any national matter for me to handle?" Leader One asked leisurely while drinking tea.

Catherine asked, "How serious do you mean?"

Leader One replied, "The extremely serious kind."

Catherine said, "There are twenty thousand demonstrators in Königsberg due to a massive decrease in agricultural production. They are demanding tax reductions. You can choose to use violence to suppress them, or use stronger violence to suppress them."

Leader One responded, "Let them protest, order the local garrison to show restraint."

"But what if they escalate?" Catherine asked.

"Deal with it when their protest reaches a scale of one hundred and fifty thousand people, until then, ignore them," Leader One instructed.

Regarding the agricultural products and tax issue, Leader One actually had a way to solve it. However, he currently lacked control and credibility in the country, many policies couldn’t be implemented, let alone addressing the urgent needs of farmers and Rural Junkers.

Lowering taxes is not possible, and providing disaster relief is also not possible because Prussia doesn’t have any money to use. Prussia also lacks credibility to issue bonds, so the problem of decreasing agricultural production and farm taxes cannot be solved in the short term or long term.

The only thing Leader One can do is not send troops to suppress, he is powerless in any other way.

As a prince regent, he has a good reputation among the people in Berlin area.

However, the people’s support is very weak, in this era, the old powers are too strong, so the public can only act as a bystander.

First, Leader One needs to strengthen his position as prince regent, and constantly increase his authority and reputation.

Second, slowly insert his own trusted people into the Cabinet, General Staff Department, and parliament, gaining control gradually.

Third, slowly achieve some political achievements, improve Prussia’s poor financial situation, establish a strong national credit, make foreign countries think Prussia is reliable, make the people, nobles, and capitalists believe in the credibility of the current administration, in order to borrow money through issuing bonds.

Then Leader One can pursue his grand plans.

Leader One trusts Catherine completely, he shares his grand plans with her without reservation.

"During the Industrial Revolution, military reforms were made, land reforms were carried out, a second religious reformation took place, there was a movement for intellectual liberation, nobility power was restricted, a constitution was established for Prussia, laws were made to protect workers’ rights, comprehensive insurance for work-related injuries and unemployment was introduced, emerging businesses were nationalized, Junker land became state-run farms, national infrastructure was developed vigorously, serfdom was completely abolished, a comprehensive healthcare system was established, compulsory education for six years was made available to all, gender equality was promoted, universal suffrage was granted to citizens, and the status of science was elevated…"

"Which do you think I should do first?"

Catherine thought for a moment.

"Your Highness, I believe we should first build your mausoleum."

Leader One: ???