Chapter 47, Enemy in the Parliament

"Where will the money come from?"

Finance Minister Pavel Lissitzan issued a soul-searching question.

It was hard to determine exactly how poor the Tsarist Government was, but it was certain they had no money to repair the Siberian Railway.

As early as 1891, the Tsarist Government had organized road experts to initiate the Siberian Railway survey plan. Indeed, it was initiated by Nicholas II after he survived an assassination attempt in Japan.

Although Alexander III was a peace advocate among the Tsars, he was also a good father. Had it not been for transportation limitations, the Russo-Japanese War would probably have started right after the end of the Anglo-Russian War.

Whether out of immediate anger or prior preparation, the Siberian Railway plan had commenced.

The survey results were terrifying, starting from Moscow, traversing vast pine forests, crossing the Ural Mountain Range, and passing through the vast permafrost of Siberia before finally reaching the Pacific Ocean.