Struggle in Russia

Although Menshikov looked old and aged in his office, he looked quite different in public and in front of everyone.

The swollen and drooping eyelids stand upright, the cloudy eyes are deliberately widened, each hair is meticulously fixed in a specific position, and the slightly trembling old arms and legs also firmly support the heavy body .

As if walking on the parade field, Menshikov walked into the meeting room with a forward step, his head slightly raised, and his fake beard also raised, like a proud big rooster.

The arrival of Menshikov made the slightly noisy conference room quiet down instantly. Even Grand Duke Konstantin, who had criticized Menshikov before, couldn't help but straighten his back, throwing the previous slack into the sky.

Even the Grand Duke must admit that although old guys like Menshikov are becoming more and more stupid day by day, their military style forged by Nicholas I's military parade has a profound impact. The majesty and sophistication they displayed was refreshing.

Grand Duke Constantine felt that it would be more perfect if the majesty and sophistication were not just on the surface, but could penetrate deep into the bone marrow and spirit. It's a pity that most of these old guys are empty-handed.

"Meeting now!"

"What's today's topic?"

Menshikov glanced at the crowd and declared the opening of the meeting straightforwardly. He himself was nailed to the chair straight and straight, like a lion patrolling its territory.

This made Grand Duke Konstantin, who was so angry before and was going to take the opportunity to argue with Menshikov about being late, a little discouraged. Why is he being led by the old eunuch again, he should be the first to attack! If it can be the first to attack, it should make the old man very embarrassed, right?

However, Grand Duke Constantine's reaction was not particularly slow. Almost at the moment Menshikov finished speaking, he interrupted:

"Your Excellency, before the meeting, I must first emphasize to you the importance of keeping time! How can a soldier have no sense of time?"

"We waited for forty-one minutes. Do you know how much urgent work we need to deal with? Do you know how many scheduled trips we need to attend on time? If they are all like you, what else can we do! "

Grand Duke Constantine's reaction was not slow, but Menshikov didn't look old and incompetent, but his years of bureaucratic career had also trained him to be extremely capable of wrangling.

"My lord, first of all I apologize for being late."

"Secondly, I want to correct your statement. The concept of time is very important, but what is more important is to complete our work well. If the work is more urgent, such as emergency military affairs, this is a hundred times more important than regular meetings."

"How can we delay more important military work for routine meetings because of small losses? If we all work like this, our motherland will face great danger! What we have to do is not mediocre bureaucrats, but active Promising officials!"

"Only in this way can we live up to His Majesty's ardent hope!"

Menshikov said this lie without blushing and without beating his heart, and he carried forward the official thick black knowledge of an old minister to the extreme. Everyone present knew why he was late, but who dared to speak out? He, Menshikov, has been the Minister of the Navy for twenty years here, and he has a lot of prestige. Who would dare to assassinate him? And he won't admit it if he speaks out, instead he will reprimand the other party for being rude.

What's more, Menshikov knew that most of the people in this conference room were just like him, one way in front of people and another in back. Everyone has so many entertainment activities in the evening, why don't you take a nap to refresh yourself after work?

Grand Duke Constantine is so indifferent, the old eunuch is ashamed to say that he will not be a mediocre bureaucrat, but still active and promising? What the hell, who doesn't know that you are sleeping in the office? Who doesn't know that you go to work like a bug and go off work like a dragon.

Do you really think everyone is an idiot?

Others are afraid of Menshikov's prestige, but he is not. What's more, he is fed up with being delayed by the old man again and again. You think the Grand Duke is Hello Kitty, right?

"You're absolutely right," Grand Duke Constantine sarcastically said, "Some of us just waste our time in mediocrity. We hide in the office and sleep, while others wait for nothing, like this The bastards must not be tolerated! I must inform His Majesty and severely punish this kind of bastards!"

Menshikov's face changed suddenly, because this was a face-to-face slap. This was something he hadn't expected, because in his eyes, Grand Duke Constantine was nothing more than a little brat relying on his father's power to run amok.

What about the Grand Duke? Not the Crown Prince!

He Menshikov only recognized the emperor and the crown prince, and he only served them. The other princes and grand dukes should not make him bow down.

Therefore, Menshikov always has confidence when facing Grand Duke Constantine, and treats him like a brat. If the brat dares to go wild on his land, then he doesn't mind teaching the brat a lesson!

"I believe that there is no such person in the Admiralty as you mentioned!" Menshikov responded indifferently, "The people present here are all capable officials who have been handpicked by His Majesty and have been tested for many years. Possibly slack?"

"I've heard that some people are not very capable and show off, and they don't pay attention to veterans because of their prominent status. The teacher makes some messy little moves in private, and spreads some gossip. He has neither the quality of a soldier , and without the spirit of a soldier, it is simply useless."

"I can't stand such a person. I have to speak to His Majesty when necessary, and I must kill this crooked trend!"

At the end of the first round of confrontation, Grand Duke Constantine and Menshikov were considered a draw. The two disliked each other but could not do anything to each other—Menshikov would at most point at Sang Huai in response, but he dared not speak hard to Grand Duke Constantine. After all, they are close relatives, and this is Nicholas I's favorite son after all.

And Grand Duke Konstantin can't do anything about Menshikov's old fritters that don't eat oil and salt. After all, the other party is his father's confidant and a hero in 1812, and there are many party members who cannot be taken lightly.

More importantly, Grand Duke Konstantin also knew that his father and Menshikov's ideas were more similar in military and political terms. Menshikov's approach is more in line with his father's wishes. And his son has no advantage in this regard. The fact is that his father trusts Menshikov more.

Under such circumstances, Grand Duke Constantine was not sure about holding Menshikov. What's more, he is not a child, and it is impossible to delay the overall situation for a trivial matter.

So he silently held his breath, waiting for the next round of temptation and confrontation...