Though they hadn't received a deadline from the Emperor for submitting plans, newcomers to politics wouldn't bend their beliefs.
However, that's not to say they didn't notice the quite different atmosphere from last year.
An unprecedented number of newspapers circulated the streets, and even illiterate workers couldn't help but know what was happening at the Tauride Palace.
Who proposed what motion, who became a national politician overnight with bold statements, who from the opposing party strongly objected.
One day, two days, and before long, eight months.
"Didn't the Tsar say he'd implement it right away if we brought plans? How long are we just going to keep making plans?"
"They said just over 100 votes would do it! Are you saying not even half of these proud Duma representatives have their heads on straight?"
News pouring out seven days a week without rest. Imperial subjects are buried before they can distinguish right from wrong in this unprecedented flood of information.
One day, two days, as days of just waiting continue, expectations naturally break.
"...We must choose now."
"Distinguishing friend from foe is meaningless. Now we must join hands even with enemies."
"Right. The recent atmosphere among the imperial family and bureaucrats isn't normal either."
Public sentiment growing not just tired but deflated. Those feeling this most keenly are the Duma representatives with two months until elections.
"Tsk, having Duma elections every year is strange too. Next time we should change it to every four years. How can we properly give opinions when swept up by ignorant masses like this?"
"Land reform, who knew we'd waste a year on just this one agenda?"
"That means this one agenda can be said to control the fate of all parties going forward."
If there's any fortune, it's that wealthy farmers, who could be considered local ruling powers, were half-excluded from the Duma.
Even the Progressive Party's bourgeoisie don't much like wealthy farmers making fortunes sitting around while they struggle.
"Duke Lvov, have you decided?"
"We'll join hands with the Labor Party. Chairman Milyukov has agreed."
"The Labor Party... certainly joining forces with them could win the next Duma vote."
The Democratic Party with 63 seats and Labor Party with 38 seats could achieve a majority if combined.
'The moment we join hands with the Labor Party it's over with the wealthy Progressives... but this is the best option. In the current atmosphere, it wouldn't be strange if the Tsar changed his words anytime.'
Of course, there's no guarantee all representatives will vote unanimously.
"We need to bring more from the independents and moderates."
"Who do we have?"
"Just one person. Don't you think of him immediately? That noisy fellow recently."
"That person... his origins are a bit..."
"We have no choice. No one stirs up the Duma these days like him."
The very eye of the storm who jumped into meetings late and started taking them down one by one.
"Beren Volkov."
"Rumor has it he served in the military with His Majesty the Tsar..."
"Isn't that why he went to the Far East and succeeded?"
"Whatever the case, he's no ordinary person."
If they can just bring him in along with joining hands with the Labor Party, the achievements of land reform would be entirely theirs.
Before the approaching election, straight beliefs and ideology are all unnecessary.
'It's not too late to think after winning next election. That much compromise is possible, right?'
They had truly become politicians.
==
Recent headline-maker every time he opens his mouth, Beren Volkov - how did he become a star representative in the Duma split into parties like drought-stricken land?
'At first, yes. It was because of those Labor Party bastards.'
The ones most mindlessly opposing this land reform - the landless Labor Party.
These potential traitors fundamentally didn't match with Beren.
"Woo! So what does land reform have to do with us!"
"Just take it all! Take everything! Can't stand this collective farm nonsense anymore!"
"Reform labor laws instead! No land reform before that!"
They were just opposing for opposition's sake. Beren, quickly tainted by the Duma, couldn't stand it.
"You idiots, no wonder you get fired from jobs like cutting off your own fingers!"
"W-what? What do you know! I worked 15 hours in factories since age 11!"
"Right, I understand you're stupid. Don't you know Chairman Bunge's Factory Law of '84? 15 hours at age 13? Maximum is 8 hours, what freezing 15 hours?"
"That 8 hours is just on paper, where actually does under 8 hours!"
"There is?"
There really is. Because some old man who seemed to have a grudge from arrival forcefully pushed social security systems and labor laws right in Governor Sergei's face.
"...You're saying there really is?"
"Where I lived, minors rarely work in the first place. At most they learn by watching for education. Anyway since there's insurance, you can live off industrial pension even if you lose fingers, so less wages are fine."
"Wh-where did you live?"
"Khabarovsk."
"More! Tell us more about the situation in Khabarovsk!"
Though leftists were just vermin to be swept away for him who was a born soldier, for some reason their eyes lit up whenever he opened his mouth.
Then the Progressive Party started attacking Beren.
"Tsk, they're poor because they're stupid and don't work hard. How dare you discuss labor law reform when you don't even know about industry and economy?"
"Do you know how many workers I have under me? I'm planning to open a warehouse business at the port as big as this palace next year?"
"...Y-you were an industrialist too?"
Yes, until here was still fine. To them, Beren was an outsider and not a representative belonging to their party anyway.
However, when the Duma naturally started fighting over Beren Volkov's stories at some point, the situation changed.
"See! In the Far East companies already mandatorily provide insurance!"
"Ah, no that's split between workers and company..."
"Come now, we gathered for land reform ordered by His Majesty the Tsar! Refrain from other topics! But, Representative Beren Volkov, do they really give land free in basic desyatina (1.092 hectares, about 3,000 pyeong) units in your region?"
"Usually 3 desyatinas, but if you reclaim well and pay taxes they give more..."
"Kya! One free desyatina was indeed too little! From now on minimum 3, no? If paying taxes faithfully we should give more too!"
"Y-you crazy bastards! We can't even give 1 desyatina and you talk about 3!"
When one side says something's impossible, the other side pushes back using Beren's words as evidence.
Until here could have been dismissed as "Far East specificity" and concluded.
The real problem was that Beren himself jumped into that mess.
'Logically, would Governor Sergei give port land if I return after a year with no achievements? That man who budgets tightly even with overflowing money?'
Achievements. Beren had to show he worked somehow, whether through promotion or influence as the governor said.
And nothing beats getting in newspapers as proof of working hard in the Duma.
That's when it started. Beren pretending to be crazy and stirring everyone up as an independent.
"Young representatives might not know, but representatives my age should remember the 1880s when salt consumption tax and poll tax were abolished. Yes, it was a very innovative policy. However, when taxes became insufficient, stamp duty arose on purchasing stocks, bonds, real estate. Today I dare to propose reform of this stamp duty!"
"Reform stamp duty? What connection does that have with the state distributing land-"
"Of course there is! Tax arising when purchasing land, stamp duty! We must increase that stamp duty and additionally impose holding tax every 10 years of possession!"
"I agree!"
"Labor Party representatives, let's support him with standing ovation!"
Now more and more in the Labor Party rise to applaud Beren's speech instead of fighting back and forth.
"But isn't that too oppressive a policy? Paying tax just for 'holding' even without produce..."
"In exchange! Of course to prevent double taxation we must abolish transfer tax!"
"Dear Progressive Party comrades, I declare Beren must surely be more progressive than us!"
"Right, why should the state take money I want to give my children that I earned with blood and sweat! Beren, continue!"
Perhaps due to consciousness of being fellow industrialists, even the Progressive Party that bought votes with taxes praises Beren.
"Furthermore! This will activate land transactions that barely occurred across the empire. Isn't this following the principles of liberal markets, free capitalism?"
"My word, to think even of stabilizing land prices."
"A market without government intervention! Indeed Beren must be a liberal like us!"
Whether his claims would be realized or not, even Beren doesn't know. He doesn't particularly hope for it either.
'Before that, the situations in the Far East and here are too different... but, that doesn't matter.'
He'll return next year anyway. Instead, before returning he'll firmly plant that Far East in their heads. No, furthermore he'll plant fantasies about the Far East in imperial subjects.
By this point, even Beren himself was almost enjoying it.
That superiority when those fighting back and forth applaud in agreement whenever he opens his mouth.
That pleasure when those claiming to represent millions send gazes close to blind faith beyond agreement.
That electrifying feeling striking his head through his spine was a factor making Beren stir up the Duma more and more.
Before long, his influence was transcending parties.
"Stop making outrageous claims and boldly reveal your beliefs! Which party do you support?"
"Ah, which party? But tell me. Have you served in the military? I proved my loyalty to the state serving 15 years active duty."
"Eek! Don't change the subject!"
"He's unserved! Unserved in military!"
"You were a draft dodger?"
"No! I served in the military! I served!"
"What are the reporters doing! Quickly write down that representative's name first!"
The ecstasy when everyone rushes to bite at young representatives who dare challenge him when he points fingers.
Feeling the weight of words he couldn't feel even in the military's hierarchical society, Beren felt like he was addicted to some unknown substance.
Today too he stands from his seat and briefly closes his eyes. Already he feels the atmosphere heating up among surrounding followers.
Even before opening his mouth, the whole building is filled with goodwill and expectation.
"Respected representatives, and all who listen to my words. Today I wish to solemnly declare one thing in this place."
The near-silent stillness contrasts with when he first entered Duma meetings, whether they like him or not.
"The time has come to report land reform plans to the Tsar. For those suffering even in this moment, this can't be delayed anymore. So, I wish to present one solution here. Namely, national land reclamation projects."
Even Beren who slightly dipped his feet in business knows nothing about how massive this proposal would be or how feasible.
Just that it sounds plausible and has content no one would dislike is the key.
"Representative Beren. Is, is this already implemented in the Far East too?"
"There reclamation is already meaningless. Well, it's a region where farmers don't pay taxes in the first place."
"F-farmers don't pay taxes?"
"That's not the important part. To explain further, what was the original purpose of establishing the Peasant Land Bank? Wasn't it for farmers lacking credit to purchase land? In other words, the Peasant Land Bank was originally to increase farmers' farmland!"
"Correct!"
"Well said!"
"Then if we reform nationally through this Peasant Land Bank? If the overall market pie grows so we all avoid red faces?"
"...Indeed."
"That's plausible."
Though there are doubters who are uncertain, those favorable to Beren from before raise their voices together without questioning.
'Ah, what will tomorrow's newspaper headlines be? Already looking forward to it.'
Beren Volkov basking in applause and ecstasy.
Today too he stirred up parliament.
So what's the specific plan? Eh, that's for smart bureaucrats like the State-Led Free Market Economic Development System-ists to make. Beren didn't know such things.
What if it passes like this? In a Duma split not even half but quarter by quarter, how could that happen?
Then conversely if it doesn't pass?
If it doesn't pass that's fine, nothing particularly regrettable. Today's proposal was just an idea that flashed before blacking out drinking yesterday anyway. Rather, if it falls through he could gain sympathy by being forcibly criticized.
Though Beren also recognized the unknown emotion rising inside as his speaking rights increased, he hadn't completely fallen to it yet.
'Right, this much is enough.'
No matter how good this opium-like feeling is, it won't be better than port rental business permission.
Doing this much, Governor Sergei will have to permit port rental business.
However, Beren didn't know how much karma he had accumulated meanwhile.
"...What did you say?"
"I said we want to recruit Representative Beren to our Democratic Party. If needed, we'll allocate several seats."
At some point, people seeking him increased not just during day but night too.
"How many did the Democratic Party offer? Four seats? Five? You're a born capitalist. We'll even invest in your business!"
"In-invest?"
"Workers nationwide deeply sympathize with your opinions. Please make it a good place to live like that Far East!"
"No, I'm not sure it's that good to live there..."
The port rental business Governor Sergei promised. He came running thinking only of that...
But the unknown spark in his heart keeps growing.
Beren who shook the Duma began shaking himself at some point.