Struggle in Russia

"Duke, how are you thinking?" Little Adlerberg asked with a smile.

Duke Dolgoruky really didn't want to talk to him, because the price this little fox offered last time was too outrageous, and he actually wanted to get involved in the third part, and he also wanted to put people in it.

Damn it, do you really think he wrote the third part? If you ask for the leadership of a department, why don't you just take over the third part!

What's more, Duke Dolgoruky doesn't have this ability at all, and even Pobedonostsev doesn't have this ability. If he had this ability, would he be forced to jump up and down by a group of reformists?

At that time, he also told little Adlerberg that these conditions were beyond his ability and simply impossible to achieve. It's just that the little fox didn't know why he didn't listen to his explanation at all. Instead, he insisted on the conditions and wouldn't let go.

Naturally, this round of bargaining has no results, and both parties can only shake hands and wait for the next round of confrontation.

However, Duke Dolgoruky did not expect that a new round of confrontation would come so quickly. Shouldn't the little fox be so impatient with his attitude at that time?

He looked at little Adlerberg suspiciously, but he couldn't see any clues. After all, the little fox and his son were both veteran officials, and their expression management was quite good.

In desperation, Duke Dolgoruky could only pretend to spread his hands and smile bitterly: "Your request is really beyond my ability. Even if I agree, I can't do it!"

Little Adlerberg said with a smile: "How could it be? Who doesn't know that you, Duke, have great powers, and such a trivial matter is just a piece of cake for you!"

Duke Dolgoruky couldn't help but wanted to vomit: "God did it so easily. If I were so awesome, I wouldn't have to grind my teeth with a little brat like you!"

He smiled bitterly again and said: "You think too highly of me. To be honest, your conditions are too outrageous. I can neither do it nor agree to it."

This was actually a showdown. Duke Dolgoruky told little Adlerberg that if he did not change his conditions and make concessions, there would be no negotiation at all.

Little Adlerberg naturally understood. In fact, he had long known that Duke Dolgoruky would not be able to agree to those outrageous conditions.

Yes, he also knew that those conditions were outrageous, because they had been discussed by father and son long ago. The reason why they put forward such outrageous conditions was actually to show off Duke Dolgoruky and let him know that if he didn't It's impossible to escape if you bleed.

It's just that the situation has changed much faster than old Adlerberg expected. The wind direction in the Winter Palace has suddenly changed significantly in the past few days. First, Nikolai Milyutin suddenly released a large number of young students who had been arrested for criticizing Nicholas I. Then Alexander II announced the appointment of Count Rostovtsev as chairman of the serfdom reform committee.

These two things seemed not necessarily related, but a sensitive old fox like old Adlerberg immediately realized that the reason why Nikolai Milyutin had such courage was probably Alexander II. Forced to surrender to the reformists, reform may be unstoppable!

In other words, conservatives like them will be marginalized in the future, and if he doesn't act quickly and make arrangements quickly before the reform is fully implemented, he may have a very difficult life in the future.

Moreover, the old Adlerberg also realized that Alexander II must make preparations in order to resist the pressure of the reformists. Most likely he will have to strengthen his support for Pobedonostsev and Prince Dolgoruky. After all, he only has a few confidants he can use. M..

This means that Alexander II is very likely to interfere in the conflicts between his confidants and try to adjust them. After all, in order to fight against foreign aggression, one must first settle the internal affairs. If there is no peace internally, how can he fight with the reformists?

Therefore, the old Adlerberg believed that Alexander II was likely to intervene in the conflict between Pobedonostsev and Duke Dolgoruki in the future. It is very likely that a big thing has turned into a trivial matter. In other words, if he doesn't hurry up, Duke Dolgoruky will be fine. In that case, wouldn't his work be in vain?

Time was running out, so he immediately asked little Adlerberg to act quickly, preparing to take advantage of Duke Dolgoruki before he could react. Then wouldn't it be great if he could earn a profit for nothing without having to put in any effort?

Little Adlerberg is actually a little embarrassed about the task assigned by his old father. It was you who scared people away by asking for high prices before, but now he cannot be seen through the truth and has to take advantage of it seamlessly. This is ridiculous...

Anyway, he was quite speechless. He could only try to maintain his expression while carefully testing Duke Dolgoruky's bottom line: "You think these conditions are outrageous? To be honest, you should know how serious and troublesome the matter is, no. To put it politely, if I fail to help you, I will get into trouble. Such a big risk should naturally have a high reward..."

While little Adlerberg was testing Duke Dolgoruky, the latter was also nervously observing little Adlerberg's expression while thinking about the reason why the little fox suddenly came to the door.

Everyone is a fox who has become a master, no one knows who is who! Duke Dolgoruki didn't think that little Adlerberg would be so kind and choose to show his noble hand. If he encountered a similar situation, he would never show his superiority and instead use all his strength to cut the knife, so something must have happened that he didn't know about, which prompted the little fox to change his mind.

It's just that Duke Dolgoruky has been severely suppressed recently. It is the norm in the officialdom to have a red top and a white one. Naturally, his well-informedness has been greatly affected. He either cannot receive a lot of information or has to compare it with others. A few days later, naturally he was not as sharp as old Adlerberg.

He could only deal with little Adlerberg cautiously: "As you said, if you help me with this, will I forget your help in times of crisis? But now I am really powerless. If you insist on those conditions, then I really can’t do it... Otherwise, you can go back and think about it..."

Little Adlerberg frowned unconsciously. He definitely couldn't go back empty-handed, but as long as he didn't leave, the other party would definitely realize that he could pay back the money. Wouldn't this let others see through the truth?

But if he really leaves, time waits for no one there. Once Duke Dolgoruky realizes that the situation is favorable to him, there will be nothing to do with them and his son later. What should he do? To go or not to go?