Chapter 104 I Think

When Paul Fedorovich Sheremetev said this, he secretly laughed in his heart. For a top bureaucrat like him, if he wants to fool things, there are ten thousand high-sounding excuses. Putting it all aside can make Nicholas I think that he has really tried his best.

So is the Ministry of Finance really out of money?

In fact, whether there is money is relative. For the current Ministry of Finance, money may be tighter than it was a few years ago, but if you want to say that there is no money for a cable telegraph project, that is pure nonsense.

For Sheremetev, the function of the Ministry of Finance is that whoever he wants to give money to will have money, and whoever he does not want to give money to will not get a penny.

Anyway, after saying what he said just now, Sheremetev didn't feel any disturbance in his heart. In his opinion, this matter is over. He doesn't believe that Nicholas I is willing to give the cable telegraph project a higher priority than threatening Turkey. priority.

It is certainly impossible for Nicholas I to give cable telegram a priority over Turkey, but Sheremetev also underestimated his master a little bit. Because Nicholas I was not so easy to be fooled, maybe he was easy to be fooled in other projects that he didn’t pay much attention to, but he was particularly difficult to be fooled in projects that he paid special attention to, and he hated courtiers’ prevarication the most To fool myself, I have to say that poor Sheremetev kicked the iron plate!

"No money?" Nicholas I snorted coldly, but he did not press or beat Sheremetev on this, but ordered lightly: "Then I will advance one million rubles as the start-up capital, and the financial When the Ministry has sufficient funds, just return it to me!"

As soon as this sentence came out, Sheremetev's face changed immediately, because he never expected such a result. Originally, in his and Uvarov's predictions, Nicholas I might check the finances. They may criticize him a few words, but they really did not expect that Nicholas I would pay the funds directly from his family!

In this way, Sheremetev is completely passive!

Why do you say that? Everyone here is not a fool, everyone knows that the Ministry of Finance must not be completely out of money, and someone's refusal to allocate funds is nothing more than deliberate mischief. But now Nicholas I directly bypassed the Ministry of Finance and paid for the cable telegraph out of his own pocket. What does this mean?

This means that Nicholas I paid special attention to this project, even if he paid for it himself! !

This is not of an ordinary nature, and in a sense it was Nicholas I's silent knock on those conservatives who did not like the cable telegraph project. It means: "You have all seen it, I attach great importance to this project, what to do next, you can figure it out yourself!"

It's going to be fatal if you look at it.

Anyone with a little official wisdom knows that Nicholas I is actually a little unhappy. Now he has emphasized the importance of this project again. If there are still people who can't see the situation clearly, then don't blame him for being ruthless next time. !

Sheremetev could naturally hear what Nicholas I meant, so his face immediately changed. It can be said that at this moment he was set on fire and obediently obeyed Nicholas I's orders. Let the cable telegraph give the green light, Uvarov's side is not easy to explain. But if Nicholas I wanted to do it, then Uvarov would be very unhappy, and he was very entangled for a while!

At the moment, he is looking at Uvarov frequently, hoping that the boss will express his opinion quickly and talk about what to do next, because he really can't stand it anymore!

Uvarov naturally saw Sheremetev's distress signal. In fact, he was also taken aback just now, because he didn't expect Nicholas I to do this. He will lead an army!

But Uvarov didn't hesitate for long. He knew that the only one who could change Nicholas I's attitude was him. He had to speak quickly. Immediately he stood up and said loudly:

"Your Majesty, I think that since the finances are tight, should the cable telegraph project be postponed? After all, you are still rebuilding the Winter Palace, and the funds are not abundant. Such a project will not be too late when the funds are abundant in the future."

Nicholas I glanced at him, as if it was not surprising that he stood up against him. He had known for a long time that Uvarov didn't like cable telegrams, and he had strongly opposed them before. He knew very well that the current situation was The earl's last resistance.

Nicholas I could understand the reasons for Uvarov's objection. As a very conservative tsar, he didn't like the endless new things. He felt that these things were the sugar-coated shells of the liberal devil. He would also ban all new things if he could. thing.

However, it is impossible to completely ban new things, and he has studied the cable telegraph carefully, and thinks it is still very useful, which will greatly strengthen his control over the country, so even if it is a new thing, he will Willing to support.

So Nicholas I understood Uvarov's worries, but he could not agree with Uvarov's approach. He actually came to this meeting today to unify his thinking and to tell the conservative faction to toss. Of course, in view of the fact that the conservatives are also loyal, he did not take particularly drastic measures to beat Sheremetev. Otherwise, do you think he, the tsar, really doesn't know Sheremetev's little tricks?

snort! He has a million ways to make Sheremetev cry!

It is precisely because Nicholas I understood Uvarov's difficulties that he adopted the softest beating method. He once again expressed his determination to engage in cable telegraphy. This is the last time he told the conservatives: "Stop making trouble." , do everything honestly and according to my wishes!"

It should be said that Nicholas I has given Uvarov and the conservatives a lot of face, but Uvarov still cannot accept it. He always believes that Nicholas I's decision is wrong, since it is wrong He was going to oppose it to the end, so Uvarov was on the bar with Nicholas I.

However, Nicholas I was still very calm. He was not angry, but replied with a pleasant face: "The cable telegram is very important, and it must not be delayed. Even if there is a problem with funds, it can be overcome. All departments should overcome the difficulties. It will be fine after a while!"

Nicholas I's answer made Uvarov's eyes dark again. He did not expect Nicholas I's determination to be so great. This posture must be done. This gave him quite a headache, but he also had a headache. Determined to oppose to the end.

So Uvarov bit the bullet and replied: "Your Majesty, I think..."