Struggle in Russia

After Wen Yan sent Nesselrode away, Nicholas I couldn't wait to order his servants to find the newspapers of the last two weeks. He wanted to see what great things Grand Duke Constantine had done. If it is appropriate, he is also willing to step in to put more pressure on Crown Prince Alexander and stimulate Alexander to perform well.

After only flipping through a few newspapers, Nicholas I's face became very strange, as if covered with a black veil. Looking at it further, his complexion is not much better than that of the bottom of the pot.

"Bastard!"

Nicholas I angrily tossed all the newspapers to the ground, and roared furiously: "You son of a bitch!"

Yes, Grand Duke Constantine, who was admired by Nicholas I before, has become a rebellious son. The reason is simple, the newspapers are full of news about that questioning.

Some lavishly praised this inquiry as a great victory for the steamship, and a fatal blow to the reformist party and the conservative party.

Others are praising Grand Duke Constantine's naval innovation plan, calling him the father of Russian naval innovation. It seemed that this questioning session was the stage he specially arranged for Li Xiao. With his support, Li Xiao seemed to be slashing and killing the conservatives, leaving Ye Luofei and his like to run for their lives in embarrassment.

More viciously attacked Menshikov, covertly referring to Li Xiao's victory at the interrogation meeting as a comprehensive blow to Menshikov's conservatives headed by Crown Prince Alexander.

These things made Nicholas I very angry. He knew about Grand Duke Constantine's naval reform plan, knew that his son had always supported steamships, and knew that he had specially arranged for that questioning.

Because before the start of the questioning meeting, Grand Duke Constantine had given him a special report, reminding him that this questioning will be a wonderful performance, which is specially dedicated to him.

This shows that this questioning was completely arranged by Grand Duke Constantine, and it was completely planned and implemented by him.

But Nicholas I really didn't like, or hated the result of this inquiry. Seeing all kinds of rainbow farts against Grand Duke Constantine and Li Xiao in the newspaper, he was so angry that Li Xiao's disgusting face almost drove him crazy.

Nicholas I couldn't help thinking about a question: What exactly does Grand Duke Constantine want to do? Is this kid crazy?

Nicholas I walked around the office a few times irritably, but it was of no use. Then he asked for some fresh air on the balcony, but even the cold air outside St. Petersburg, which was more than ten degrees below zero, could not extinguish the flames of anger in his heart.

He knocked the bell viciously, and summoned the servant: "Invite the Minister of Palace Affairs,

I have something to ask them. "

After a while, Peter Volkonski and old Adlerberg rushed over. Who told them that the emperor was in a very bad mood.

"His Majesty?"

Looking at Nicholas I with a dark face, even Peter Volkonsky felt a little uneasy, and really didn't understand what happened to the Supreme.

Nicholas I stomped on the scattered newspapers with his feet, and ordered in a low voice: "You all have a look!"

Peter Volkonski seemed to be at a loss and didn't know why, but old Adlerberg was like a mirror in his heart. He knew that his arrangement had finally worked!

Old Adlerberg knew that the effect was working, but the effect had not been maximized, and he had to continue to perform in order to put the coffin on Grand Duke Constantine.

The old fox immediately showed the same bewilderment and astonishment as Peter Volkonski, and then picked up the newspaper on the ground suspiciously and pretended to scan it. It's just that the former is more like old age and frailty, really unresponsive and doesn't know anything, while he is purely acting.

"Have you finished?" Nicholas I asked with a gloomy face, "Tell me what you think!"

Peter Volkonski lowered his head slightly, his eyes seemed to be full of confusion, as if he didn't understand the situation, and he seemed too old and unresponsive.

It took a long time before he said: "This is a political matter. As the chief minister of court affairs, I can only say that from my point of view, Grand Duke Constantine is too eager to show off. Although his original intention is to please Your Majesty, try to be a good son and Good prince of the empire, but too much is too much... I'm done talking."

Old Adlerberg was a little strange, because according to his estimation, Peter Volkonski should pretend to be dumb as before, and say nothing. But just now he just said it, and he said it in a reasonable and reasonable way. Is this his true level?

Yes, Peter Volkonski's answer is quite beautiful, and he can give full marks. Why do you say that? Because the minister of court affairs is different from the general ministers. According to the ancient Chinese saying, the minister of court affairs is actually equivalent to the emperor's chief eunuch and chief minister of the internal affairs office, and they are all ministers who serve the emperor personally. And the prime minister like Nesselrode and other ministers belong to the foreign ministers.

There is still a big difference between inside and outside. The ministers are the people around the emperor, in charge of all aspects related to the court, they can be said to be the emperor's private servants. Therefore, it is generally not suitable for them to intervene in matters of major national policies, because that is the business of foreign ministers.

But the question asked by Nicholas I today belongs to the obvious authority of foreign ministers. After all, it is the affairs of the Ministry of the Navy, and it also involves the issue of storage positions. As a minister next to the emperor, it is very taboo to speak casually on this issue.

What if the Grand Duke Constantine is really the successor in a few years, and let him know that you, a courtier, let him wear shoes, how can you mess around?

So the old Adlerberg's first reaction was that Peter Volkonski would pretend to be stupid. At this time, it is wrong to say more, and it is the best choice not to say.

So why did Peter Volkonski get full marks for his answer? The reason is that today, the question about Grand Duke Constantine is actually not the best answer, on the contrary, it is very bad.

Because Nicholas I was obviously very angry with Grand Duke Constantine, and was quite dissatisfied with this son. At this time, as the emperor's private servant, you don't speak to your master, but instead avoid the issue and defend Grand Duke Constantine. Isn't this on the wrong team?

Nicholas I could tolerate his private servants playing sloppy eyes between Grand Duke Constantine and Crown Prince Alexander, but he would never allow himself to be sloppy. Otherwise, there is a problem with loyalty, and then he is not worthy to continue to be the Minister of Palace Affairs!

Therefore, Peter Volkonsky had to answer, and he could only answer from the perspective of Nicholas I. But at the same time, he can't blindly slander and attack Grand Duke Constantine, he must leave room for tact. Obviously, his answer just now is perfect!