Struggle in Russia

What Nikolai Milyutin said is correct. Alexander II would definitely want to maintain the status quo if possible. After all, he is not a serf. He doesn't have to worry about food, drink, or playing with girls. How can he free the serfs and ruin his own job?

Count Rostovtsev naturally also knew that a thing like the Tsar would never move without being whipped with a whip. Even the whip was not very effective, and he had to put a gun to his head before he would move.

It's just that Count Rostovtsev knew that haste makes waste, and he must not be pushed too hastily by Alexander II, otherwise he may really have a rebellious mentality and jump over the wall in a hurry.

So he replied very calmly: "I told you not to rush, just wait slowly, haste makes waste!"

Nikolai Milyutin looked at him and pondered for a while. To be honest, he really didn't want to wait for him. He always felt that it was too passive. He was already impatient, so he couldn't bear it at this critical moment.

"But Count Uvarov and the others have obviously begun to make preparations. What if they continue to put pressure on His Majesty?"

Count Rostovtsev looked up at him and replied: "That's what I want!"

This answer confused Nikolai Milyutin. In his opinion, the collusion between Count Uvarov and his gang was very powerful. If they suddenly launched an attack, there would be no way to stop them. Wouldn't everything be over?

It's just that Count Rostovtsev has no intention of explaining at all. No matter what he says, he just wants him to wait.

On the other side, Count Uvarov was a little proud. Not everyone could win the Order of St. Andrew. It was the highest honor. There was a time when he thought that the most he could get in his life would be the Order of Alexander Nevsky. As a result, Alexander II suddenly threw such a big cake to him, and he was knocked unconscious and couldn't find the north and south.

This huge joy made Count Uvarov ecstatic, and also caused his judgment of the situation to be biased. He couldn't help but despise Alexander II a little, and thought to himself: How about it, you are not afraid, knowing that we people That’s awesome! Let’s see if you can still pretend to be stupid in the future. Now you can’t just pretend that you don’t know and won’t see us anymore!

Count Uvarov was already confused, thinking that Alexander II was afraid of the conservatives who had united, so he had to appease his leading brother. This shows that Alexander II is nothing more than a paper tiger!

If it had been Nicholas I, he would have filmed the third film without even saying a word. The military police would have come to arrest the person or directly sent the army to the scene to rectify the situation. How could he possibly issue medals! It's quite possible to get a one-way ticket to hell.

Since he felt that Alexander II was weak and could be bullied, Count Uvarov naturally hoped to strike while the iron was hot and completely eliminate the reformists in one go, so he simply continued to exert pressure to force Alexander II to make greater concessions!

Count Uvarov's heart was pounding at the thought, because this idea was too tempting. Although Nicholas I had always insisted on conservative reactionism in the past twenty or thirty years, the conservatives still could not eradicate the risk of reform, and there were risks every now and then. Voices and initiatives calling for reform emerged, making him always as tired as whack-a-mole.

If it solves the problem once and for all, why not give it a try?

Count Uvarov decided to give it a try. In his opinion, the risk was completely worth it. He felt that Alexander II did not dare to do anything to him. After all, he was a veteran of three dynasties and had just received the Order of St. Andrew. Alexander The second generation can't slap himself in the face, right?

"Continue to act according to the original plan, and eradicate the free elements at once!" Count Uvarov made the decision without hesitation.

At the end of September, St. Petersburg already feels like winter. The nights are getting longer and the weather is getting colder. This makes people always have a hazy feeling of destruction, and always feel that rain is coming and something big is going to happen.

It was in this desolate environment that Grand Dukes Constantine, Nicholas and Michael arrived in St. Petersburg.

It can be seen that these three princes have suffered a lot. They all have sallow faces and thin muscles, covered with dust, and there is a sadness in their brows that cannot be healed.

Obviously, the sudden death of Nicholas I had a huge impact on them. As a czar, Nicholas I may have been hated by people, but as a father, he was still basically qualified. Maybe he had this or that problem, and sometimes he was like a irritable person. He educated his sons like a sadist, making them respect and fear him.

But both Grand Duke Constantine and Alexander II would admit that Nicholas I loved them and cared about them very much. Even if the way he cared about them was very problematic, caring was caring and it couldn't be faked. They really felt it. . uuread a book

The three princes were all deeply saddened by their old father's death, and wished they could have gone with him.

When they arrived at St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral, the three brothers cried loudly as they looked at the huge coffin placed on a pedestal covered with red tapestry.

The arrival of the three brothers naturally alarmed Alexander II. In fact, he knew the itinerary of the three brothers, especially Grand Duke Constantine. The moment they arrived in St. Petersburg, Duke Ordolph's spies reported to him. Got this news.

This allowed him to wait for his brother calmly in St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral. Watching Grand Duke Constantine, who had been resisting him, cry into tears. For some reason, Alexander II felt as if his heart was being beaten by a pair of invisible hands. He rubbed it with his big hands, and he burst into tears in an instant. He stepped forward to save his three younger brothers and joined in the crying procession.

This scene was a bit touching. The members of the Normanrov family who witnessed all this, as well as other ministers who came after hearing the news, all lamented the deep brotherhood. Compared with the chaos when Paul I died tragically, and the turmoil when Alexander I suddenly passed away, this situation at this moment is in line with royal magnanimity!

"Dear Your Majesty, my brother, as your loyal brother and subject, I swear allegiance to you. I will use my flesh and blood and sword to safeguard your dignity until death!"

After the scene of brotherhood and brotherhood ended, Grand Duke Constantine immediately knelt on one knee in front of Alexander II and declared his allegiance.

This move caught Alexander II off guard. He really didn't expect that his brother, who had always been at odds with him, would give in so easily. To be honest, all the methods he had discussed with his staff had failed. .

This made him feel happy, a little regretful, and even felt unreal...