Chapter 176 Can't Figure It Out

If Gurko had known Count Kleinmichel's true thoughts, he might not be so disappointed at this time. When he walked into Nicholas I's study with Count Kleinmichel, a flame ignited in his heart, and he felt that today was his chance to make a big splash.

But the flame in his heart was extinguished in the next few minutes. Because not only Nicholas I in the study didn't give him a straight look, but Count Kleinmichel next to him didn't mean to speak for him at all.

In short, Gurko was a porter who foolishly moved a pile of files into Nicholas I's study and was foolishly kicked out again. The poor boy was absolutely disappointed.

It can only be said that he still doesn't understand the old Jianghu like Count Kleinmichel too much. The older Jianghu is, the less courageous he is and the more cautious he is in doing things. Like Earl Kleinmichel, it is easy to take one step and look at three steps. It is necessary to look at a person's words and deeds before and after.

If you don’t want Gurko, you don’t need to be too disappointed, because Count Klein Michel has noticed him and is willing to investigate him, which means that he still has a chance. The future Russian Imperial Field Marshal must be more patient now , the opportunity that belongs to him will always come.

Leaving Gurko aside, I looked back at Nicholas I's situation. After looking through the files, he frowned and asked Count Klein Michel: "Peter, what do you think of Berge's ability? Sample?"

This question was a bit unexpected for Earl Kleinmichel, because Nicholas I asked it very specially. Fleet commanders like Berge should generally ask whether he is competent or how he is doing. How is his ability?

Isn't it a bit late to examine the ability at this time! After all, this man is already the commander of the Black Sea Fleet. You should ask about his ability before appointing him as the commander!

If it was normal, Earl Kleinmichel would never talk too much about such a key candidate. One is that he doesn't want to offend people, and he is too lazy to get involved in such a big matter, so as not to be out of shape in the future. He takes the blame.

It's just that this time he swallowed his words suddenly, because he suddenly thought of Neridova's strange attitude just now, and she happened to come up to him when he was checking the files of the Black Sea Fleet. It's not such a coincidence!

Count Kleinmichel suddenly became more careful, knowing that the question asked by Nicholas I might be very involved, and it is best not to answer it casually.

After thinking for a while, he replied: "Compared with General Lazarev, he is of course much worse!"

This answer is more ingenious.

Berge's ability is definitely not as good as Lazarev's. This is recognized, so even if he says it, he won't offend anyone. So Count Kleinmichel avoided directly criticizing Berge, but at the same time he seemed to say something, how to understand it really depends on Nicholas I's mood.

Nicholas I pondered for a moment, and he seemed to understand the answer, because even he felt that Berkh was much worse than Lazarev. Don't think that Nicholas I was a bit annoying when Lazarev was there, but he knew that it was foolproof to hand over the Black Sea Fleet to Lazarev and he could be the treasurer. The old man would take care of everything.

But Berge was different. Nicholas I didn't worry about what kind of moth Berge was doing, but he felt that this man didn't know how to develop the fleet. Lazarev left a rich legacy, but Nicholas La I always felt that these inheritances did not become more after they were handed over to Berge, but stayed where they were.

Nicholas I didn't like this situation. Although he hoped that Berge would adhere to conservative principles, he also hoped that Berge could take the Black Sea Fleet to a higher level while being conservative.

But after such a long time, it seems that the Black Sea Fleet has not changed much? Even the reports of Muraviyov and Ilya this time mentioned many problems of the Black Sea Fleet, such as the messy defense facilities.

Nicholas I valued form the most. In his opinion, the poor defense facilities of the Black Sea Fleet could only show that Berkh was careless, and he hated careless courtiers the most.

It's just that Nicholas I was thinking, but he hesitated. After all, the relationship with Turkey is extremely tense now. Even he himself doesn't know whether extreme pressure will definitely work. He has actually made two kinds of psychological preparations. If you can't scare them, use force directly. And once there is a war with Turkey, the Black Sea Fleet must be very important. It would be a bit inappropriate to change at this time!

And he must also consider another question, that is, who to replace?

To be honest, Nicholas I really didn't know much about the navy, so there were not many admirals who could gain his trust. Menshikov, the minister of the navy, was a half-way monk. It is conceivable that he really didn't know how to dispatch Who is more suitable to replace Berge.

So after hearing Earl Kleinmichel's answer, Nicholas I sighed quietly: "This is really a big problem. Berge looked very suitable before, but now it seems a bit reluctant, but Who can take his place?"

Count Kleinmichel looked calm and calm on the surface, but in fact his heart was overwhelmed. Don't look at him as if he had teased Berge just now, but in fact the strength was negligible, and he didn't expect Nikolai I really thought of replacing Berge.

Because in his opinion, this is the whim of Nicholas I, just a momentary impulse. This state is too much, but most of the time Nicholas I himself denies himself again, and this whim will never be implemented.

But this time the whim was a bit fierce! In the past, Nicholas I would not be so hesitant, nor would he be so entangled. It can be seen that he was really dissatisfied with Berge's work.

Now Count Kleinmichel is very strange, because he has never heard of anyone coveting the position of commander of the Black Sea Fleet recently, nor has he heard of anyone offended by Berge, why is this small report so silent? The ground hit Nicholas I's heart?

Who is so high level?

Count Kleinmichel didn't mean to look up at the mountains. If he knew who was working hard behind the scenes, it would definitely be a double defense against the black hand behind the scenes. In case that guy didn't like him one day or coveted Where is he now?

Count Kleinmichel was thinking a little bit in his heart, and he had a little thought of sidestepping the most clichéd words from Nicholas I, to see who was so insidious...