Struggle in Russia

If anyone is most anxious about the current situation, then it must be Nesselrode!

The old Prime Minister is like an ant on a hot pot these days. He is really anxious and bubbling. He can't wait to pull Nicholas I's ears and pour in the harsh words. Unfortunately, he can't talk about Nicholas I's ears. ears, and no one is willing to listen to his "nonsense".

Whether it's the State Council, the Cabinet, or the big bosses of other departments, almost every Nesselrode encounters a hard or soft nail, which is a shame.

Anyway, looking around, he seemed to be the only one in St. Petersburg who saw the danger, and he was the only one who was nervous, which made him look out of place.

Finally Nesselrode fell ill again, this time out of anger, because Nicholas I directly bypassed him and ordered the Foreign Ministry to deal with the French ultimatum coldly.

Obviously, Nicholas I was telling him not to be troublesome, otherwise he, the foreign minister and prime minister, would be done to the end.

Nesselrode, who was angry and anxious, was depressed, so he could only retreat to his lair silently, watching the crowd around him wantonly laugh at his timidity. That taste is really uncomfortable!

He really wanted to shake his fist and yell at these fools: "You will soon see how wrong you are!"

It was indeed very soon, just one week later, at the request of Napoleon III, the Senate passed the decision to sever diplomatic relations with Russia and declare war!

But when the thunder exploded over Europe, the Russians were still a little baffled, wondering if the French were crazy, and dared to stab them, did they drink too much?

On the day when he received the news, Nicholas I taunted France severely at the imperial meeting, and bragged to his ministers indifferently: "After cleaning up the Turks, let's go and teach the French a lesson, yeah It's time for them to relive the painful lesson of 1814!"

It's a pity that his words didn't finish. The next day, both the upper and lower houses of the UK passed the decision to sever diplomatic relations with Russia and declare war with an overwhelming advantage!

When the news reached the Winter Palace, Nicholas I panicked for the first time. This was probably the first panic since he learned of the sudden death of Alexander I. Yes, he can ignore French provocations, but he cannot ignore British warnings.

What's more, now that Britain and France are declaring war on Russia at the same time, this is an unavoidable super big problem. At least he is not arrogant enough to think that Russia alone can handle the two most powerful countries in Europe at the same time.

At this time he was in a hurry,

I'm a bit at a loss, and I don't understand why the British are going crazy. It's just a big and small thing, why did you blow it up?

"Gentlemen, the situation is very serious. The British betrayed their promise and suddenly announced that they have broken off diplomatic relations with us and are in a state of war. This means that we must face pressure from three directions at the same time. What do you think about this?"

Nicholas I first focused on Nesselrode. At this time, he finally realized how old the old prime minister was and how predictable he was. He felt that he should be the only one who could save the situation now. Maybe he could be like before. Also cast a little diplomatic magic to pull Russia and him out of that quagmire?

It's just that Nesselrode didn't intend to speak. He directly ignored Nicholas I's question, and just looked at the documents on the desktop with downcast eyes in a daze.

Nicholas I frowned, stared at Nesselrode and asked again: "Prime Minister, don't you have anything to say?"

Nesselrode slowly raised his head, and replied very dullly: "Your Majesty, I have warned you repeatedly before, but...the matter is irreversible, and there is nothing we can do now!"

Nicholas I became irritable immediately. He felt that Nesselrode deliberately challenged him. Didn’t he just reject some of your suggestions before? As for being so small-minded and caressing about every detail?

You old guy doesn't even look at what's going on now, is it time to care about such trivial things?

"Why can't there be anything you can do? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs doesn't have enough food, you should take active actions to try to restore the situation!"

Nesselrode sighed again, and said sullenly: "Your Majesty, what do you want me to do? The attitudes of Britain and France are already very clear. If you don't give them a satisfactory explanation, then you can only fight on the battlefield." Have you seen the real chapter? Don’t you think the declaration of war is just a joke and a play?”

Nicholas I was stunned by the question, because he really thought that the severance of diplomatic relations and the declaration of war between Britain and France were just another kind of bluff. He always thought that Britain and France would not dare to fight his army.

But Nesselrode's words punctured his delusional dreams. Declaring war is not a joke. No country would make such a joke!

"Then what do you think we should do?" Nicholas I asked sullenly.

Nesselrode sighed again, and replied: "Either you fully accept the demands of Britain and France, withdraw troops from Bulgaria, pay compensation and apologize, or you will mobilize the whole country to fight Britain, France, and Turkey. There is no third way. You can go!"

But Nicholas I didn't like these two ways. He didn't want to fight with Britain and France, and he didn't want to be ashamed to be subdued. He asked a little bit unwillingly: "Can't we try to negotiate and communicate?"

Nesselrode shook his head directly and said, "Impossible!"

These words directly destroyed the last luck in Nicholas I's heart. He knew that the situation was irreversible. After thinking for a long time, he ordered with a straight face: "Order the whole country to enter a state of full-scale war, mobilize the reserve forces and all reserve forces, especially It is Poland and other border areas that must be prepared to deal with foreign armed provocations!"

"Send more troops to Wallachia as soon as possible, tell Prince Paskovich and Duke Mikhail to win a decent battle or two as soon as possible, and try to force Turkey to surrender!"

Obviously, Nicholas I has already bet on the victory of Bulgaria. He believes that as long as Turkey is beaten down and forced to surrender, then Britain and France will have no way to continue clamoring and can only return to the negotiating table to end this farce.

This decision cannot be said to have a problem, but it is obviously a fluke, because as long as a normal person understands, Duke Mikhail has not been able to deal with the Turks in the past two or three months. Is it possible to let him open the situation so suddenly?

What's more, Turkey was inspired by Britain and France's declaration of war against Russia, and its morale will only be high and its will to fight will be stronger, so it will not be so easy to succumb.

Even if Duke Mikhail can win a few battles, as long as Turkey is not stupid, he will know that as long as he clenches his teeth and persists, Russia will have nothing to do. How can he succumb?