On the night of October 21, 1904, the Russian Baltic Fleet mistook some British trawlers at Dogger Bank for an Imperial Japanese Navy force and fired on them. This caused a diplomatic crisis, that broke down and ballooned out of control, until we had the World War on our hands. France was forced to choose a side, Germany was eager to expand into Russia, and it ultimately led to the fall of the Tsar in 1907. But what if Russia had been more careful with its response? What if war was avoided? Would there be another trigger for a similar war around the same time? I think so. Europe was a powder keg waiting to blow.
Regardless, I doubt it would be any less bloody. Something Napoleon knew already, never invade Russia in the winter. The Empire finally fell from inside troubles, and possibly could have withstood the invasion and the Revolution individually. However, when both occurred at the same time, the Tsar and his forces were overwhelmed. If nothing forced an outside war, I could see Imperial Russia lasting at least a couple more decades.
Regardless, I doubt it would be any less bloody. Something Napoleon knew already, never invade Russia in the winter. The Empire finally fell from inside troubles, and possibly could have withstood the invasion and the Revolution individually. However, when both occurred at the same time, the Tsar and his forces were overwhelmed. If nothing forced an outside war, I could see Imperial Russia lasting at least a couple more decades.