Date: March 20th, 1905 – Belgrade, Kingdom of Serbia
Nearly two weeks had passed since Petar had issued his first significant directives concerning the army's equipment. The initial flurry of meetings had subsided, replaced by a surface calm in the palace routines. But beneath that calm, Petar was a coil of restless energy. He had set timelines, and the first of them – the report on the soldiers' boot situation – was fast approaching. He had made it clear he expected results, not excuses, and he used the intervening days to ensure his ministers understood he wasn't a monarch who forgot his commands. Subtle inquiries through Colonel Mišić and brief, pointed reminders during routine encounters with General Stefanović served to keep the pressure on.
While the cogs of military bureaucracy presumably ground away at the boot problem, Petar turned his attention to another critical area: the reports on Serbia's industrial capacity and raw material wealth, which Prime Minister Pašić had delivered a few days after their initial meeting. These documents, compiled from various ministries, were far less inspiring than even the most sobering military assessment. They painted a picture of a kingdom overwhelmingly agrarian, its limited industry mainly consisting of small-scale workshops, flour mills, breweries, and the state-run arsenal at Kragujevac, whose limitations General Putnik had already outlined.
Petar spread the reports across the large table in his study, alongside the detailed kingdom maps. Alex Volkov, an engineering student passionate about Roman infrastructure, looked at the data with a different eye than King Petar might have had a month ago. Where the reports listed modest coal deposits in one region, or traces of copper ore in another, Alex saw the potential seeds of power plants, smelters, and factories. Where they described forests, he envisioned timber for construction, for railways, for a shipbuilding industry on the Danube, however small.
The documents confirmed Serbia's reliance on exporting raw agricultural products – grains, livestock, plums for the famous slivovitz – and importing most finished goods, from machinery to textiles, even basic tools. It was the classic economic model of a less-developed nation, vulnerable to fluctuating commodity prices and the industrial might of larger powers.
"This," Petar muttered to himself, tracing a finger over a section detailing the meager output of the Majdanpek copper mine, "is not the foundation of an empire." Majdanpek, he knew from Petar's memories and Alex's historical reading, had ancient Roman workings. The irony was not lost on him. Rome had exploited these lands for their wealth; now, in the guise of a Serbian king, he dreamed of doing so again, but for a new Roman ideal.
The reports on raw materials were particularly frustrating. They often mentioned "known deposits" or "traditional extraction areas" but lacked detailed geological surveys, quantified reserve estimates, or serious economic feasibility studies for larger-scale exploitation. Coal was present, but the quality varied, and extraction methods were primitive. Iron ore existed, but not in easily accessible, high-grade seams near existing infrastructure. The potential for hydroelectric power from Serbia's many rivers was entirely unmentioned, a concept still in its infancy globally but one Alex knew held immense promise.
"We are sitting on potential wealth, however modest, and treating it like a peasant's vegetable patch instead of a national resource," Petar said aloud to the empty room. His engineering mind craved data, efficiency, and planned development, and the current state of affairs was anathema to him.
He began making his own notes, cross-referencing the resource locations with the maps, sketching potential railway lines that could connect mines to rivers or Kragujevac. He considered which industries would provide the most immediate economic and military benefit. Steel was paramount. An army marched on its stomach and boots, but fought with steel. Serbia currently imports all its quality steel. If he could develop domestic coal and iron production, even on a small scale initially, and establish a modern steel mill, it would be a game-changer. It would lessen reliance on foreign powers and provide material from rifles and artillery to railway tracks and factory machinery.
A specific, albeit ambitious, long-term project began to crystallize in his mind: a vertically integrated industrial complex. Coal and iron mines are connected by rail to a central steel mill and metalworking facility, perhaps near Kragujevac, to supplement the existing arsenal. It was a vast undertaking for a country like Serbia, but it was a concrete goal, something to work towards.
His deliberations were interrupted on the morning of March 22nd. Colonel Mišić announced that General Stefanović, the Minister of War, sought an audience to deliver the requested report on the boot situation. Lazar Paču, the Minister of Finance, arrived with him, a clear sign that any proposed solutions would have budgetary implications.
"Your Majesty," General Stefanović began, a sheaf of papers in his hand and a somewhat forced smile on his face. "We have completed the review of the army's boot procurement and supply as you commanded."
"Excellent, Minister," Petar said, his gaze steady. "I trust you have concrete proposals for immediate improvement." He gestured for them to be seated.
Stefanović cleared his throat and began to read from his report. It was, Petar quickly discerned, a masterclass in bureaucratic obfuscation. It detailed existing procedures, acknowledged "minor logistical challenges," cited the "commendable durability of domestically sourced leather under normal conditions," and concluded with a request for a significant increase in the budget for footwear, without offering much in the way of reformed processes or guarantees of better quality.
Petar listened patiently, his expression hardening with each passing paragraph. When Stefanović finished, Petar was silent for a long moment, his eyes boring into the War Minister. "General," he said, his voice dangerously calm, "this report is… unsatisfactory. It identifies problems I already pointed out, and its primary solution appears to be a request for more money to continue doing what has not been working well enough."
Stefanović flushed. "Your Majesty, the Quartermaster's Department assures me they are doing their best with the current budgetary constraints and supplier landscape…"
"Their best is not good enough, and neither is this report," Petar cut him off, his voice rising slightly. "I asked for a review of the entire process. I asked for options for new suppliers and stricter quality control. I asked you to explore enhanced domestic production. This report offers platitudes and a bill." He tapped the offending document with a dismissive finger. "Where is the analysis of alternative tanning methods to improve leather durability? Where is the comparative study of boot designs used by other European armies in rugged terrain? Where is a proposal for a pilot program to establish a dedicated army workshop for boot repair and perhaps even small-scale production of higher-quality officer-grade boots, to build expertise?" Alex's practical mind was supplying these questions, things a career bureaucrat like Stefanović might never consider.
Lazar Paču interjected, his tone dry. "Your Majesty, such detailed investigations and new initiatives would require upfront expenditure and specialist personnel we may not possess."
"Then we find the personnel and allocate the expenditure from less critical areas!" Petar snapped, his patience wearing thin. He stood and walked to the window, looking out momentarily before turning back. "Gentlemen, let me be clear. I am not interested in why things cannot be done. I am interested in how they will be done. The Serbian soldier deserves to march on sound feet. It is a matter of national pride and military necessity."
He fixed his gaze on Stefanović. "Minister, I want a new report within one week. This time, I want actionable plans, not excuses. I want proposals for at least two new potential foreign suppliers with samples of their wares and price lists. I want a preliminary feasibility study for establishing a central army cobbling workshop with modern machinery, focused initially on high-quality repairs and officer boots, to expand. And I want a clear outline of new, stricter quality inspection protocols for all footwear procured by the army. Is that understood?"
General Stefanović nodded mutely, visibly cowed by the King's uncharacteristic anger. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Minister Paču," Petar continued, his tone slightly softer but firm, "I expect you to support Minister Stefanović in finding the most cost-effective way to achieve these goals. Perhaps shifting funds from ceremonial expenses within the War Ministry's budget? Or by finding efficiencies in other areas of government procurement? I am open to suggestions."
Paču inclined his head. "I will consult with the Minister of War, Your Majesty." He didn't sound pleased, but he also didn't argue further.
After they had departed, Petar let out a long breath. This was exhausting—like trying to turn a battleship with a canoe paddle. The inertia of the existing system and the ingrained habits of mind were formidable obstacles. He realized he couldn't do this alone. He needed people around him who were not just competent but also dynamic, forward-thinking, and, above all, responsive to his vision.
He summoned Colonel Mišić. "Mišić," he said, "you have served in this army for many years. You know its officers, its workings. I need men who are not afraid of change, who are intelligent and driven. Within the officer corps, even within the civil administration, are there individuals – perhaps younger men, or those whose talents have been overlooked – who fit that description?"
Mišić considered this carefully. "There are always men of talent, Your Majesty. Some are more… visible than others. Identifying those who combine talent with true loyalty and a modern outlook requires careful observation."
"Then observe, Colonel," Petar said. "And discreetly bring any names you deem worthy to my attention. I am not looking to build a faction, but rather a corps of capable individuals dedicated to strengthening Serbia. The old ways are not sufficient for the future I envision."
Mišić nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I understand, Your Majesty."
Peter knew he was asking much of Mišić, placing him in a potentially delicate position. But he trusted the Colonel's discretion and judgment more than anyone else in his immediate circle.
For the rest of the day, Petar found his thoughts returning to the industrial reports, to the dream of Serbian steel and Serbian factories. The confrontation over the boots had been a minor skirmish in a much larger campaign. To truly transform Serbia and lay the foundations for an empire, however distant, he needed to unearth and harness all of its potential – its people, its resources, and its latent industrial capacity. The task was daunting, but each small victory, each problem tackled, however frustratingly, brought him a step closer. The forging was a slow, laborious process, demanding patience he sometimes lacked, but also a relentless, unwavering will he rapidly discovered within himself.