Struggle in Russia

Don't think that Peter Volkonsky is a weak sheep, and don't be fooled by his old and stupid appearance. None of these old guys who came over from 1825 are easy to get along with, even Peter Volkonski, who is getting worse every day, is now a wolf in sheep's clothing.

If you were fooled by his acting skills and thought he was really going to die with old Adlerberg, then you were tricked.

At his level, every step he takes is the result of deliberation, and he will never be so hasty, let alone have any kindness or enmity. Maybe he really hated old Adlerberg, but being in front of him by no means meant that he would take the initiative to do it.

This old thing is just testing. And the object of the temptation was Count Rostovtsev.

Peter Volkonsky, who is cautious by nature, will not believe that the relationship between him and Count Rostovtsev is so good that he entrusts his life. The count's sudden reminder and warning are a bit deliberate, so we have to guard against it. !

Count Rostovtsev replied indifferently: "I don't think this is a good idea. I have no interest in dealing with that count."

Peter Volkonsky asked with pretended suspicion: "Then what do you mean?"

Count Rostovtsev smiled faintly and said, "I sold you a favor, that's all. It's always good to have more friends in the court."

Peter Volkonsky asked again: "Just to make friends."

"Make friends," Count Rostovtsev said, looking into Peter Volkonsky's eyes, "I like making all kinds of friends the most. For example, I recently met another kid, Nikolai Milyutin. "

He paused slightly and asked, "Duke, have you heard of this gentleman?"

Peter Volkonsky naturally knew Nikolai Milyutin, but he didn't know why Count Rostovtsev suddenly mentioned that young man.

So he replied very cautiously: "Yes, he seems to be a good young man?"

"Yeah?"

Count Rostovtsev asked calmly, as if it was Peter Volkonsky who knew Nikolai Milyutin, and he had come to consult Peter Volkonsky for his opinion.

"Duke, you have heard that he is good, so maybe he is really good!"

Another slight pause,

Count Rostovtsev said: "So I am going to help this young man a little. It is said that there is a vacancy for the permanent deputy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Do you think he is suitable?"

[Running officer? 】

Peter Volkonski immediately breathed a sigh of relief. If he was a running official and it was an exchange of benefits, then he could relax. This kind of transaction has no future troubles, and everyone gets what they need, which he likes very much.

However, for the sake of safety, Peter Volkonski asked one more question: "Count, what is your relationship with this gentleman?"

Count Rostovtsev replied calmly: "After an old friend, the child himself is more up-to-date, and it is good to be able to send him a ride, and it would be nice to have a little guy in the Ministry of Internal Affairs who can help! "

Peter Volkonski nodded slightly, and continued to ask, "How can I help you?"

Count Rostovtsev replied: "Duke, you can just vote for him at the next imperial meeting to discuss candidates."

Peter Volkonski asked again cautiously: "Then we're even?"

Count Rostovtsev smiled and said, "Of course it's evened out!"

Nikolai Milutin kept opening the car window, looking at the Winter Palace outside. He was no stranger to this building, and he had entered it more than once. But today, for the first time, he felt the pressure brought by the imperial palace.

Earlier, Count Rostovtsev brought him very bad news. The count told him that Grand Duke Constantine was in great danger now, almost in jeopardy.

At first Nikolai Milyutin didn't quite believe it, because he didn't feel the atmosphere of danger at all. Everything seemed to be going well, and the newspapers were full of words praising Grand Duke Constantine's innovations, and he almost didn't praise the Grand Duke as the savior of Russia.

Administratively, it was also smooth sailing. He could do whatever he wanted in the Admiralty. Menshikov's disciples and grandchildren seemed to be discouraged, and they all became cowards, which made Grand Duke Constantine very happy.

Even Menshikov himself hid back to his villa in the country to stay out of the world, as if preparing to retire and spend his old age in peace.

Isn't that good enough? Not smooth enough?

"It went so smoothly, don't you think it's abnormal?"

Faced with Count Rostovtsev's rhetorical question, Nikolai Milutin was stunned for a while, but he still thought that even if the situation went too smoothly, it didn't mean that it must be in danger, right?

"You fell for Vladimir Adlerberg's trick."

Count Rostovtsev said so, but Nikolai Milyutin thought about it and couldn't figure out what kind of trick old Adlerberg had fallen into. It wasn't until Count Rostovtsev took out the third report and put the count's recent activities and arrangements in front of him one by one that he felt a little bad.

"If this is not a trick, then I would like to know why that old fox would spend money and rely on connections to speak well for Grand Duke Constantine. Do you think this is normal?"

【It's definitely not normal! 】

Nikolai Milutin knew very well that the old Adlerberg was a member of Crown Prince Alexander, and he was still a core member of the Crown Prince's party. It was impossible for him to say good things for Grand Duke Constantine without saying a word. No matter how you look at this strange move, it looks like a conspiracy!

"What exactly does he want to do?" Nikolai Milyutin asked anxiously.

Count Rostovtsev replied indifferently: "Praise!"

Nikolai Milyutin was stunned, and Count Rostovtsev continued to explain: "You should have noticed that recently, Grand Duke Constantine has been promoted as a pioneer of innovation, and has become a representative of Russian innovation... ...Do you think His Majesty is a person who likes innovation?"

Nikolai Milyutin shook his head. Count Rostovtsev said again: "And the most stupid thing about your grand duke is to make a big deal of himself to deal with Grand Duke Andrei Konstantinovich, and then ride a tiger to the ground, right?"

Nikolai Milyutin was a little confused, and asked foolishly, "Did Grand Duke Constantine do this?"

"Of course, otherwise, could the questioning be really caused by those old-fashioned shipbuilders who have never had a sense of existence? Let me tell you, it was all arranged by the Grand Duke without telling you, but he didn't expect to move The stone hit his own foot, and then Vladimir took the opportunity to give him a bad medicine, that old fox is the best at doing this kind of trick!"

Count Rostovtsev explained the reasons for one incident after another, which made Nikolai Milyutin immediately realize that something was wrong, and Grand Duke Constantine was about to be in trouble! !