Melbourne having seen how things went decided to.... propose a different bill.
He entered the parliament .
First the house of commons has to approve it, then the house of lords and then it will pass onto queen victoria for royal assent.
So, he proposed the bill.
We won't go into the details of the bill but in general is like this.
It contains a dual-pronged approach, penetrate russia as well as to support the domestic steel industry
The espionage component details a covert network of operatives that, after some training will be ready to infiltrate Russian society and gather intelligence.
The proposal seeks funding to propel this covert initiative forward promising to find out the secrets of the russian steel so that it can be made locally and cheaply sold to the british citizens.
And while all that is happening, lets cut back to Alexander.
-Romanov Company Headquarters-
"Your highness, the steel is a huge succeses, we have captured the entirety of the british market bringing us significant fiscal revenue.
Al though the deman for steel in the british empire isn't that large its predicted to grow significantly in the coming years, not only in britain. But in prussia, france, belgium, and various other german states, if we can seize those markets as well the revenue will be insane"
"Thanks pavlov, but do we have the means to increase the supply? We are already constructing new steel plants but the issue is finding skilled workers. It takes a lot of time to hire and train them, unless we can solve this problem it will be difficult to drasticlly increase steel production in a short period of time."
As Alexander said that he frowns.
The even though the profits are great he still wants to seize as much of the market as possible before the other nations get the means to mass produce high-quality steel,
Especially the british.
They can easily catch, and surpass the russian empire in steel production, after all.
They have great foundation, since thats where the industrial revolution started in the first place.
'Maybe I should ask my father to set up schools? But would he even agree?'
---
"No.
What do you think you are doing? Do you want the peasents to rise up after teaching them? Its better to keep them ignorant."
"But we are lacking workers, right now all the other powers are reseaeching ways to produce high quality steel, and if we don't seize as much of the market as possible we will end up making much less money in terms of profit then excpected, by establishing schools we can mass produce skilled workers, allowing us to rapidly increase our production of steel, and if necessary sell it for even cheaper to absolutely crush any competition."
Nicholas, heaving heard his sons convincing words is deep in thought contemplating.
First its railways then schools, what next? Abolishment of serfdom? This cannot do but what his son does make sense. He is struggling in making a decision, and Alexander, sensing this adds.
"You have 10% share in the company, and the profits are already substantial, imagine how much money will be made once our steel production satisfies demand, not only can the costs of establishing schools be recouped but your return on investment will be 2, no 3 times larger."
These words are enough to finally push Nicholas I into agreeing to Alexanders Proposition.
"Fine, I will set up schools. You can even draft the what kind of school curriculum they will follow on couple of conditions.
First, the language that can be taught will only be Russian, English, French, Latin, Greek.
And second, the schools must not contain anything bad that targets or denounces the monarch or the monarchy."
Hearing his fathers conditions Alexander would have still adhered to them even if his father hadn't mentioned them. After all, he is gonna be the tsar in the future after the death of his Father, denouncing the monarchy is like pointing a gun at his own head, utterly Foolish.
"Thanks father, I will make sure to not dissapoint. I will present you with the school curricilum as soon as possible."
Alexander is really happy, he pulled out every excuse he could to cinvince his father to set up an education system, even though it will take time before the first bach od workers are ready it will be a lot more efficient if he cpuld just hire them directly, all they would need is a bit of guidance and then they'll be ready.
---
"I see... They will be taught how to read and write in russian, arithmatics, theology, gymnastics, geometry, history, philosophi, humanites..."
"This won't do. The amount of subjects is insane, learning how to read and write in russian, arithmatics and theology are enough. No more subjects can be added."
"Got it father, So when will the schools be set up?"
"churches and abandoned builsing after a bit of renovation can be converted into schools, if there is no other option one will be constructed. The most time consuming part will be finding the teachers but i'm sure some can be found before the renovations are complete, give or take 3-4 weeks."
'So basiclly a month huh...
Thankfully it will be easier to fins teachers in the easier since those that have learned arthimatics or anyother subject can teach it to others.'
"The nobles are also complaining, but since the schools will only be teaching in cities and those that are not serfs it was easy to quiet them down"
Why would they risk displeasing the tsar over a minor issue that barely affects them whatsoever? So long as the peasents are kept ignorant and tied to their land, with the nobles keeping their privileges they are fine with basiclly anything.
"I see..., anyways father, I must go now."
"Indeed also don't forget,"
"Hm?"
"Stay safe."
Aldxander, looking it at his father, and his father at him smiles.
"I will."
Alexander leaves the room, Feeling the guilt for what he might commit in the future,
But he steels himself.
Knowing full well that he cannot afford himself to be careless.
[End of Chapter]
A/N lets gooooo!
Another chapter, took me a while to write since school is a bi** it drains me of all my energy.
Anyways, good day.