Moving the army in Russo-German borders:
Prime minister ordered the army to go back to mainland fearing a German invasion.
The Lahorian battalions were ordered to go back to mainland. Only one battalion left behind to supress revolts.
Most army was concentrated in Lwow. Lwow was in a central position, and it was the city nearest in Russo-German border.
Russian army concertrated near Russo-German borders. Only Rome was subdefended. Military generals believed that keeping Rome in a Russo-German war was almost impossible under these circumstances. The most important in this hypothetical war was to keep oil under any cost possible.
Governmental programs and internal policies:
Governenmt gave many permissions to new business. Grocers, markets, banks and other services start to appear throughout the empire. Tsar ordered to fund the extension of the program to Siberia. We could fund research later.
The export program seemed to be a failure in the beginning. Only a mediocre deal was signed with Mughal empire.
Ironically, the best trading partner of Russia was Germany.
Treasury was dangerously low. The urbanisation and infrastructure programs were too expensive. Nikolas was sure that these money were well-spent. However, it was unavoidable to increase taxes. Mukden was chosen, as it was a city with great tax-giving ability to save the fiscal balance.
The new administrative center was ready at last. The project was planned before civil war, but continuous turbulence didn't allow it to proceed properly.
Government was at last able to fund scientists with 10% as it promised before elections and released Mukden from the urgent tax policy.
Congress of Gao:
A new world Congress was held to discuss balance of the world.
The congress decided that Lahore should be given back to Mughal Empire. Nikolas could do nothing but to agree.
Fins requested indepedence from Russia. Again Nikolas could do nothing but to agree.
Ottoman empire requested Constantinopel. Well, that was unacceptable and Russian diplomats did whatever they could to avoid a new global war against Russia.
Russian espionage and diplomacy money paid off. Our diplomats persuaded Spanish about our claims. Konstantinopel was under Russian control for centuries and almost never ottoman.
Fun fact all Germany's rivals were dead, while all Russia's rivals were alive. So instead of limting Germany, this congress would limit Russia. However, global war was avoided and leaving away these territories would help the Russian economy.
German aggressions:
Although Russia was neutral in German actions, Russian leadership watched German moves with great interest. Germany was the most dangerous enemy of Russia and a German-Russian war was almost a certainty. The only question was when.
Bismark conquered the last French city. Unfortunately, French were too weak and Russian help was almost useless. After that, Russia was Germany's next european target. Russian spies informed that Germans considered Russia their greatest rival from now on. Tensions were common.
Russian and German epsionage were the most funded espionage programs in the world. Spies from sides tried to infiltrate the other. Fortunately, Russians had the advantage in these spy battles.
Then they conquered South Italy.
Germany was a high militarised nation. Tsar felt that Russia should do something to compete Germany.
British and Russian empires decided to sign a mutual military cooperation pact. It is later know as "allies" or "entent" in honour to the fallen France. The objective was to control German imperialism.
Russian spies continued to operate in German occupations.
Their next target was Ottoman Empire. So Russia had some more time.
People had their own agenda being indifferent in the games of the powerfull states.
Other events:
A new state was formed in the new world, United States of America. Unfortunately, no good deal was possible.
Mughal peoples started to believe that they are a great nation. These ideas spreaded in Russia as well.
Russian army tries a coup d'etat!