Struggle in Russia

Nikolai Milyutin's head was full of question marks, he didn't understand why Count Rostovtsev suddenly started to pay attention to Nesselrode's life and death. You must know that Count Rostovtsev doesn't like that old guy, and thinks that the old guy is quite in the way. It is precisely because of his existence that Nicholas I's conservative rule has become as stubborn as an iron bucket. Has the painting style changed?

Count Rostovtsev did not answer Nikolai Milutin's doubts, but said to himself: "If Nesselrode falls, who is more likely to succeed as Prime Minister?"

Nikolai Milutin was taken aback for a moment, the jump of this question is too big, right? Has the family not fallen yet? What's the use of thinking about it?

Count Rostovtsev gave him a blank look: "My friend, you must have a longer-term thinking, don't always be attracted by some superficial phenomena of the moment, you need to see farther! Otherwise, you will never be able to If you look at the overall situation, you will be led by the nose!"

Nikolai Milyutin was full of slander in his heart, because before when he was thinking about the future, Count Rostovtsev would say that he was too ambitious and told him to move forward step by step. Now that he is at ease, the other party said that he has no long-term plans and vision. It is up to Count Rostovtsev to say both pros and cons, he is wrong no matter what!

So he didn't bother arguing anymore, because he knew that he would never be able to argue with the other party, one thing more would be better than one thing less!

"Tell me, who do you think will be the first candidate to succeed the Prime Minister?" Count Rostovtsev asked again.

Nikolai Milutin sighed inwardly, and replied with some reluctance: "Probably one of His Majesty's most trusted confidants!"

This answer is actually not an answer, because Nicholas I's prime minister must be his most trusted person, so answering like this is tantamount to no answer. However, Count Rostovtsev didn't care, and said with a smile:

"Indeed, the new prime minister must be His Majesty's most loyal confidant... Then do you think the new prime minister will have one heart with us?"

Nikolai Milyutin was taken aback for a moment, and then came to his senses. He frowned and replied, "Count, you mean that replacing Nesselrode may not be beneficial to us, right?"

Count Rostovtsev smiled slightly and said: "Of course, look at the ministers that His Majesty has reused, whether it is Menshikov, Chernyshov, Ordov or Uvarov, who are these people? One willing to reform?"

Nikolai Milyutin was silent about it. Indeed, there is almost no reformist in the current cabinet. Nesselrode is indeed old-fashioned, but a new prime minister may not only be old-fashioned but thorough. Conservatives, I am afraid that the political atmosphere will be even more suffocated at that time.

Immediately he blurted out: "That's why you want to save Nesselrode! Is that so?"

Count Rostovtsev gave him another look: "Who told you that I wanted to save that German guy?"

Nikolai Milyutin was stunned for a moment, unable to turn his head around. He didn't understand what was going on with Count Rostovtsev. Since he didn't want to save Nesselrode, why bother talking about it?

"One conservative and one more conservative, it doesn't do us any favors whoever is on stage, so the best thing to do is..."

Nikolai Milyutin interjected, "Ask them to leave together?"

Count Rostovtsev shook his head and said, "My friend, can't you be more insightful? If we can easily let them leave together, why don't we stay dormant?"

Nikolai Milyutin stopped talking immediately, and asked after a long while with a look of contemplation, "Count, can't you just solve the mystery?"

Count Rostovtsev shook his head again and said, "My friend, if I'm not around in the future, who will easily solve the mystery for you? Can't you think about it?"

Nikolai Milutin was speechless again, knowing that it was impossible to expect the count to speak well, so he could only try his best to guess his thoughts, hoping to guess right by chance.

"From what you're saying, I don't like Nesselrode, nor do you like His Majesty's loyal lackeys, and then it's impossible to let them all out. The only thing I can do is to try my best to guide Nesselrode Die, to achieve some of our goals, right?"

Count Rostovtsev smiled, patted him on the shoulder and said, "I like the word guidance, but do you think Nesselrode will accept my guidance?"

Nikolai Milyutin was immediately speechless, because how could such an old and cunning fellow as Nesselrode be willing to be manipulated by others? At least he hadn't seen that old guy being easy to deal with.

[Did I guess wrong? 】

Nikolai Milyutin was immediately at a loss. Countless thoughts ran through his head, and he couldn't grasp any clues.

Four or five minutes passed like this, and Count Rostovtsev next to him let out a long sigh: "My friend, when will you be more confident?"

Nikolai Milutin couldn't laugh or cry immediately, knowing that he had been fooled by Count Rostovtsev again, this old fox always took pleasure in teasing him, it was really too bad.

"It is very difficult to guide Nesselrode, an old and cunning fellow," Rostovtsev finally became serious, and said solemnly: "It is better to force him than to take the trouble to guide him!"

"Forcing him? How?"

Nikolai Milutin felt that it might be more difficult to force that old fox than to guide him. That old guy is hard to obey, okay?

"It's not as difficult as you imagine!" Count Rostovtsev replied confidently, "As long as we follow the trend and push him into a desperate situation, it will be fine."

Nikolai Milyutin still couldn't imagine what kind of desperate situation could make the old-fashioned Germans submit.

"Hurry up!" Count Rostovtsev seemed lost in thought, muttered: "Menshikov and Chernyshov have already assisted us once, we just need to let the military start a bigger carnival Enough!"

[A bigger carnival? 】

Nikolai Milyutin couldn't understand what Count Rostovtsev was talking about more and more. He just wanted to ask, but the count rushed ahead instead: "Nikolai, your brother Dmitry What have you been up to lately?"

Nikolai Milyutin was stunned again, not understanding what Count Rostovtsev was doing when he asked this. Could it be that Dmitri had something to do with forcing Nesselrode?

But before he could figure it out, Count Rostovtsev had already ordered directly: "Help me make an appointment with Dmitri, I need to have a good chat with him..."