Struggle in Russia

Nesselrode immediately said: "Your Majesty, it will take time to get through Austria and get them to agree to your request. As the most important ally of our country, the long-term friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries is to safeguard our interests. and the cornerstone of regional balance.”

"We must fully consider the long-term interests. If our relationship with Austria becomes tense, the unity of the Holy Alliance will no longer exist. It’s worth the candle!”

Nesselrode is telling Nicholas I not to pick sesame seeds and lose watermelons, but the question is, are Austria really watermelons, and are Wallachia and Moldavia really sesame seeds?

If these words were not told to Nicholas I, but to the generals of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of the Navy, this group of militant madmen would definitely slap Nesselrode in the face. It's just that these words still have some effect on Nicholas I, because he really attaches great importance to the Holy Alliance, but the effect is not as great as Nesselrode imagined.

Because Nicholas I immediately asked again: "I mean to let the foreign ministry do more work for the Austrians, which will not hurt the traditional friendship between the two countries and let the Austrians understand that Russia has won in Wallachia and Moldavia. The special status is actually good for them too!"

Well, Nesselrode is a little speechless. This kind of sincere words can only deceive ghosts, unless the Austrians are the products of inbreeding marriages like their emperors, they will believe your evil. But Nesselrode really didn't dare to reject Nicholas I directly, because he knew that His Majesty hated being rejected the most, especially being rejected by his courtiers, which would make him very angry, because this guy's idea is—the emperor Responsible for giving orders, courtiers are responsible for execution, never tolerate bargaining by courtiers!

Those who dared to fight against him were basically kicked out of the court, or simply sent to Siberia to repair the earth. Nesselrode didn't want to be ruined because of such a trivial matter, and he wanted to be prime minister for a few more years!

So he replied decisively: "Your Majesty, if you must do this, then I will fulfill your wish. But I must remind you that this will greatly damage our relationship with Austria, and it is very likely that our alliance will The breakdown of the relationship..."

"In addition, I am very worried that the Habsburg family will talk too much on this matter. You know, they have brain problems and can't tell good from bad. I doubt that they will viciously spread rumors to attack you and damage your reputation. Good reputation in Europe...”

This is Nesselrode's trick. What did Nicholas I value most in his life? In addition to imperial power, it is a matter of face. This is his Achilles' heel, if he knows that he will be ashamed and unable to hold his head up in front of the royal families of European countries, then he will naturally give up the idea.

It has to be said that Nesselrode really knew Nicholas I very well, and immediately he saw the hesitant and tangled expression on Nicholas I's face, obviously the face problem made him hesitate.

After a while, Nicholas I said: "Prime Minister, are you sure they will talk like a gossip?"

Nesselrode lowered his eyelids and replied honestly: "It's very possible, because the Habsburg family has a criminal record in this area. Their poor IQ can't tell good from bad, they are completely self-centered, and they are especially good at prevarication. Blaming a friend..."

Every time Nesselrode said something, Nicholas I hesitated even more. In the end, he was really entangled. If Nesselrode and Nicholas I continued to chat alone, he would really Will dismiss this idea, and even condemn Prince Alexander Gorchakov for his bad idea.

No way, this is the huge difference between being by the emperor's side and not being by the emperor's side. No matter what the situation is, Nesselrode can respond immediately, but Duke Alexander Gorchakov has nothing to do.

Of course, it is not really impossible, because there is an old saying that goes well, that is to know yourself, know your enemy, and win a hundred battles. Alexander Gorchakov really couldn't go back to St. Petersburg to personally convince Nicholas I, but he knew what tricks Nesselrode would play to fool Nicholas I.

After so many years of confrontation, he really knows the tricks of this German fox so well that it is naturally impossible not to respond. And Alexander Gorchakov's response method is also very ingenious, just find a few people who can persuade Nicholas I and support Austria to pay the price to do the work.

For example, Ivan Paskovich, as the father of Nicholas I, his personal relationship and influence with Nicholas I are unprecedented, and this old illiterate has great influence on Wallachia and Moldavia. Intrigued, actively seeking to become a military commander to intervene in the Wallachian Revolution.

If he knew that after intervening in the Wallachia revolution, Russia could completely liberate it from the Turks, then he would definitely be interested in being the liberator of Wallachia and Moldavia, just like Nicholas I It's a good face, he is definitely not willing to miss this opportunity since he dreamed of getting the title of prince.

So Alexander Gorchakov, while advising Nicholas I, also wrote a letter to his cousin Mikhail, asking him to do Paskovich's work and let his father do it son.

So just when Nicholas I was hesitating and Nesselrode was about to laugh out loud, Paskovich rushed to ask for an audience.

"My commander, why are you here suddenly?"

In public, Nicholas I would naturally not call Papa Paskovich, but my commander. Of course, this is also a great honor.

"Your Majesty, I have come to consult you about Wallachia and Moldavia. Wallachia's clowns have been arrogant for several months. This is a great provocation to the empire. Teach them a lesson, more and more clowns will follow suit to provoke us in the future! This will never be allowed! I solemnly ask you, let me lead the boys to Bucharest immediately, let these mobs know the majesty of Russia Absolutely no blasphemy!"

Nicholas I was very happy, he liked the old minister who decisively defended Russia's dignity like Paskovich, so he pointed to Nesselrode next to him and said:

"I am discussing this issue with the Prime Minister! Prince Alexander Gorchakov proposed a package plan to completely solve the Wallachia and Moldavian problems. He believes that we should put pressure on Austria and let Austria agree that our country will What do you think of the special dominance of Lachia and Moldavia?"

Naturally, Paskovich would not object, and he replied loudly: "That's right! That's how it should be done! Only when Wallachia and Moldavia are completely under the effective control of the empire can we have Maybe educate them well and let them know what rules are! I agree with this plan!"