Russia, St. Petersburg.
By the end of October, St. Petersburg had begun its descent into winter. The northern winds howled, and temperatures plummeted.
In the wake of devastating losses during the war, Russia's economy found itself in dire straits. Essential supplies were prioritized for the military, inevitably affecting the populace's daily life. Food prices soared, and fuel became increasingly expensive. To finance the enormous military expenses, the Tsar's government resorted to extensive borrowing and the reckless issuance of paper currency, leading to a devaluation of the ruble. The living conditions of the people in St. Petersburg and across Russia grew ever more precarious. Countless Russians succumbed to starvation and freezing temperatures, unable to afford basic necessities.
However, Tsar Nicholas II, affectionately dubbed 'Little Father' by the Russian populace, remained oblivious to their plight. His focus was solely on the military and the war. To him, the suffering of the people was inconsequential; winning the current conflict was of paramount importance for the future of Russia.
Although Tsar Nicholas II possessed mediocre abilities, he was remarkably experienced in quelling civil unrest, often issuing cold commands that led to the bloodshed and demise of countless Russians.
In an unremarkable cottage on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, a group of individuals conspired in a dark, squalid room. Among them, the most conspicuous figure was Ulyanov, who passionately expounded his views to the others.
"Comrades, the Tsar's regime has increasingly lost the people's favor. He has embroiled our nation in an imperialistic war, bringing endless calamity to both the country and its citizens. In the recently concluded southwestern campaign, the southwestern army suffered a catastrophic defeat, losing over a million troops. This means that we have now lost more than two million lives in this conflict. Two million families have been shattered. Yet the Tsar appears utterly blind to this reality, relentlessly mobilizing more young men to the front lines to perish. The war has rendered the people's lives unbearable, and their anger has reached a boiling point. If we can unleash this fury, it will erupt like a volcano, capable of toppling the Tsar's tyrannical rule!" Ulyanov exclaimed, his face alight with excitement.
"Indeed! Comrades, this presents us with an extraordinary opportunity. The Russian Imperial Guard First Army, stationed around St. Petersburg, has been deployed to the front lines. The defenses surrounding the city are perilously thin. If we seize this moment to instigate a rebellion, victory will be within our grasp!" Joseph interjected, equally exhilarated.
As Ulyanov's envoy, Joseph had maintained contact with the Germans. Following the decisive victories on the Eastern Front, he had returned to Russia, convinced that the moment had arrived to launch an armed uprising, one that could finally dismantle the Tsar's regime—a goal they had long pursued.
"Is it not too rash to initiate an armed uprising? Will the people truly support us? If we fail, the consequences could be dire," Gaminyov, seated beside Ulyanov, furrowed his brow in concern.
"There will be no failure! The people's anger has simmered for too long; this time, we shall prevail. Moreover, if we do fail, we can always flee Russia," Joseph replied nonchalantly.
For these leaders of the Russian Bolsheviks, fleeing the country had become second nature, a skill they had honed through experience.
The other Bolshevik leaders turned their gazes towards Ulyanov, awaiting his final decision.
In this timeline, Ulyanov and his associates had garnered substantial support from Germany, rapidly expanding their influence and establishing themselves as the dominant faction within the Bolsheviks, wielding considerable power. Compared to another timeline, their strength and authority were markedly greater, allowing them the opportunity to instigate a rebellion within the first year of the war.
This was primarily due to the unprecedented and catastrophic defeats Russia had faced in the conflict, which created an opening for the Bolsheviks to act sooner than in other scenarios.
"Joseph, can we maintain open lines of communication with the Germans?" Ulyanov inquired.
"Leader, we have consistently kept in touch with the Germans. They have just provided us with two million marks in financial support, along with a cache of weapons to aid our uprising," Joseph informed.
Many Bolshevik leaders gasped at the news of further financial assistance from Germany. Their own circumstances were already dire; otherwise, they would not have joined the Bolsheviks. Thanks to German support, their living conditions had significantly improved; without it, they would have faced even greater hardships.
"Is it wise for us to continually rely on German assistance? After all, they are our adversaries," Gaminyov remarked, frowning.
Ulyanov's eyes narrowed slightly, perceiving Gaminyov's words as a challenge to his decision to accept German aid. But who else, besides the Germans, would offer them support? Ulyanov recognized that the Germans had their own ulterior motives in aiding Russia. Nevertheless, as the adage goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Leveraging German power to overthrow the Tsar was an excellent opportunity that Ulyanov was determined not to squander.
"We are merely utilizing the Germans. Once we have toppled the Tsar's regime, we will no longer need their support," Ulyanov replied, his expression impassive.
Seeing Ulyanov's displeasure, Gaminyov fell silent. The Bolsheviks had become increasingly monolithic under Ulyanov's leadership, with little room for democratic discourse.
"Since the time is ripe, let us proceed boldly! The success of our revolution in Russia hinges on this moment!" Ulyanov declared.
"Yes, Leader. We shall surely succeed," Joseph and the others responded, their faces aglow with excitement as they envisioned the moment when they would become the rulers of Russia.