Struggle in Russia

According to Nicholas I's instructions, the British and French ambassadors to Russia immediately received a stern note from the Russian Foreign Ministry, warning them that cooperating with the heretics was a betrayal of Christ and would be punished most severely.

In addition, an urgent order was sent to the Black Sea Fleet night and night. According to Nicholas I's order, the Black Sea Fleet must come out in full force and confront the British and French combined fleets head-to-head to show Russia's fearless momentum.

As a result, the situation in the coastal areas of the Black Sea is naturally becoming more and more tense, and it looks like a big war is imminent.

It's just that neither Russia nor Britain and France are really ready to turn their faces and fight. In a sense, Nicholas I's guess is correct. Britain and France are just putting on a show. The dispatch of the fleet is just to cheer up Turkey, so that Turkey will be firm and tough to the end.

The so-called joint exercises are just for show, more of a situation. But their goal has basically been achieved. Turkey has taken such a booster. After the British and French combined fleet arrived in Istanbul, the whole country was boiling. The Sudan, which was a bit shrunken for a while, was just like taking Dali Pill. Dare to stare at a polar bear.

More importantly, although the Russian side reacted in a targeted manner and looked quite scary, the Russians did not really choose to go their own way. After a lot of flabbergasting, they returned to the negotiating table, which seemed to be quite rational .

Anyway, Britain and France judged that Russia may not be ready for war, and they still intend to gain a vote at the negotiating table. Now that we can talk, let's continue to talk about it. Anyway, it's always good if we don't use force.

After Nicholas I discovered that Britain and France were also willing to negotiate, he further believed that they had seen through their dioramas, and felt that Britain and France were just setting off smoke bombs to scare people. Just take one step to put pressure on the negotiating table, maybe they will be frightened, and then the goal will be achieved!

It should be said that both sides made correct predictions, but at the same time they both made wrong predictions. Both miscalculated the other party's psychology and thought the other party was bluffing.

In this way, even if they returned to the negotiating table, naturally nothing could be discussed.

Li Xiao personally went to Istanbul again, and after a detailed discussion with David Lebouf, he immediately discovered that the new negotiations would definitely not be fruitful. The only function is to kill time, so he immediately returned to Bucharest and told Alexei and Demirit not to think too much, hurry up and prepare for war!

The January of 1853 passed so unremarkably. When Britain, France, Russia and Turkey spent time meaninglessly at the negotiating table, Wallachia's preparations for war also entered the final sprint stage.

First of all, the new volunteer army was officially declared into the army,

The formation of this 40,000-strong force can only be described as rapid.

In just two months, this army was fully equipped from scratch, as if it had grown overnight.

Not only is it quick to form an army, but the most important thing is that the combat effectiveness of this army is not bad, and it may even be stronger than the average Russian army. The main reason is that the officers of this unit are almost all veterans who have been on the battlefield.

Especially the officers, almost everyone has participated in more than one battle, and many of them are well-known battle heroes.

The problem of the strength of the officers is easy to handle. Under the supervision of these elite officers, even the serf soldiers can give a special appearance. What's more, most of the soldiers of the Volunteer Army are also veterans who have been on the battlefield, and they only need a little grinding to take shape.

Anyway, Leonid was very satisfied with his soldiers. When Duke Mikhail threw him to the volunteer army at first, he was full of opinions, and at one point he didn't want to come at all. Later, it was Duke Mikhail who gave him a strict order, ordering him to go, so he reluctantly took office.

He had thought his army would be a rabble of stragglers. Who would have thought that he would receive an unexpected surprise on the first day when he arrived in the new unit. Almost all the officers from his original unit were transferred here, and these officers who advanced and retreated with him instantly wiped out most of his grievances.

Then, when he found that his soldiers were all veterans, and their equipment was almost the same as the original army, all his resentment naturally disappeared completely.

Resurrected with full blood in an instant, he immediately rolled up his sleeves and started working, re-training soldiers and re-sharpening tactics. He used every minute and every second, wishing that one day could be used as two days.

Ordinarily, Leonid should be happy if he was happy and satisfied, but after he personally inspected the Volunteer Army, he immediately found Alexei and Li Xiaoxing to question him:

"Why is Leonid's troop equipment so much worse than other volunteers? You are so blatantly fooling me!"

To be honest, Li Xiao and Alexei didn't expect that Duke Mikhail was so angry because of this. If they had known earlier, they would have told the old man that it was completely unnecessary, because it had nothing to do with them!

"Duke, it's really not that we treat them differently!" Li Xiao patiently explained, "It's your nephew Leonid's strong request! He doesn't like new weapons!"

"Bullshit!" Prince Mikhail snorted coldly, not believing it at all: "How could Leonid be so stupid, he put a new weapon and don't want it, use a broken one? You think I'm stupid!"

Li Xiao replied dumbfoundedly: "Of course you are not stupid, but I really don't know if Leonid is stupid. Anyway, when we replaced his troops with new weapons, he strongly opposed and disdainful." It’s completely unnecessary to say that, and that Alexey and I are prodigal sons! Alexey, tell the prince whether I’m telling the truth!”

Prince Mikhail immediately turned to Alexei, who nodded quickly: "Andrei didn't lie, Leonid really said so."

Now Duke Mikhail was depressed immediately, because he couldn't figure out why Leonid was so stupid? Can't you see the benefits of the new rifle? Instead, he would definitely want a new type of rifle, the more the better.

It's just that the expressions of Li Xiao and Alexei don't seem to be lying, and considering that his nephew's brain circuit is really a bit strange sometimes, it is possible to say such a thing.

Duke Mikhail sighed suddenly, and said sullenly: "Okay, I won't pursue this matter. But you must provide me with 100,000 of your new rifles, and I will be of great use!"

Hearing this, Li Xiao and Alexei almost vomited blood, not to mention 100,000 new rifles, even 50,000 they didn't have!