Russia has just embarked on the path of accelerated progress. But the historical paths are too diverse. There are too many problems to be solved, and the most difficult of them is the “peasant question.” And here all reforms are hampered by a very strong enemy - the hydra of the bureaucracy. Mikhail II has a terrible shortage of two main components - time and a team of like-minded people. Which way to go - Peter the Great? Ivan the Terrible? Or Stalin, who was born not so long ago? Or will Mikhail be able to find his own path?