Chapter 531 Emergency Situation (Part 2)

Count Rostovtsev said with a serious face: "Your Majesty is right. If we don't respond to the British and French responses in a targeted manner, we will be regarded as guilty and cowardly by the British and French. We have no guts to confront them head-on! In this way, we will be completely passive diplomatically, and we will never even try to negotiate with them fairly and reasonably at the negotiating table. Then we will get nothing!"

As he spoke, he also criticized Nesselrode: "Prime Minister, your proposal is tantamount to letting us surrender indirectly. It would not be in vain for all the previous efforts, and it will also make us the laughing stock of the whole of Europe!"

He said very firmly: "Even if we don't turn against Britain and France, we can't deal with this matter in such embarrassment. We have to make a firm response, and then we will see the reaction of Britain and France. If they are not so determined to agree with the heretics As a team, then in the face of our strong reaction, we will inevitably shrink back."

Nesselrode interrupted and asked coldly: "What if they must join the heathen? What are you going to do? Go to war? Earl!"

Count Rostovtsev replied calmly: "If they really choose this way, they don't necessarily have to go to war. As long as we show our strength, at least it won't make us completely passive at the negotiating table. Negotiations can continue! Of course, if His Majesty decides to use bayonets and cannons to liberate the Bulgarian brothers, I will not be timid. I will face the British and French guns and tell them with all my blood that the Russian soldiers have the confidence and determination to defend Russia's honor! "

These words not only made Nesselrode speechless, but also made Nicholas I very satisfied. He felt that Count Rostovtsev had spoken his heart: how could he be intimidated by Britain and France? Just shrink the eggs, isn't that telling the world that he is too scared to offend Britain and France? In that case, there will be nothing to talk about at the negotiating table!

According to Count Rostovtsev, a strong response to the actions of Britain and France may be a bit tense, but is the risk of misfires really that great?

I'm afraid not? Maybe after some operations, it is not impossible to scare Britain and France back. Even if they are not scared back, at least Russia will not be passive at the negotiating table, will not have no cards at all, and will not get anything in the end!

In view of this, Nicholas I resolutely said: "The Ministry of the Army and the Ministry of the Navy must immediately come up with relevant plans, engage in a countermeasure, and clearly tell Britain and France that we are not afraid of them, and Russia must not be humiliated!"

Nesselrode wanted to say something more, but Nicholas I directly gave him an order: "Prime Minister, you must respond immediately through diplomatic channels, and immediately send a note to the British and French ministers to express the strongest protest and warning. Tell them they're playing with fire! And we're not afraid to play with fire!"

Nesselrode suddenly had a bitter face, he didn't want to take this job at all,

He thought it was playing with fire, but Nicholas I had given orders, and he didn't agree.

The only good news for him is that Nicholas I did not bypass him and directly give orders to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would make him even more embarrassing as the prime minister, and he would handle the matter himself, preventing other militants from taking the opportunity to deliberately make trouble , at least he can control the intensity of the warning so as not to continue to add fuel to the fire.

He sighed and replied helplessly, "I obey, Your Majesty!"

Looking at the reluctant Nesselrode, Chernyshev was a little pleased. In his opinion, Nesselrode just toasted and refused to eat fine wine. He knew the will of Nicholas I on the Bulgarian issue. No disobedience is allowed, insisting on categorically contradicting yourself, what is this?

And what's wrong with cleaning up Turkey and liberating Bulgaria? If you can take the initiative to have fun, the army will be very happy, and naturally you will not forget you as the prime minister. But you want to break ground on the broad road where everyone gets promoted and get rich, that will give you a good look.

If you continue to be so ignorant, you, the prime minister, may really be doomed!

Thinking of this, Chernyshov decided to warn Nesselrode: "Prime Minister, what His Majesty told you is to warn the ministers of Britain and France, and you are not to be subdued. We are all watching, you can't lose The face of our Russia!"

What Chernyshev meant Nesselrode didn't understand. Looking at this formerly obedient and docile military minister, he was very angry. If it weren't for the generals of the army who had been jumping up and down to encourage Nicholas I, that tsar can be so stubborn?

In Nesselrode's view, the worst thing is this group of army generals who only want to make contributions and get rich. These short-sighted guys have long been dazzled by the so-called victories before. They really think that Britain and France are chickens and dogs, that they are the number one army in Europe, and that they can be invincible.

But in fact, the size of the Russian army is large, but its combat effectiveness is not the same as its size. Blindly launching wars and making enemies on all sides, do you have any trusted allies now?

Nesselrode was very anxious, but the current situation made him helpless, because he couldn't listen to what he said about the army and Nicholas I. They only remembered the brilliant victory in 1814 and the last time in 1829. He beat Turkey in 1848, but only remembered that he saved Europe in 1848. These have completely blown them away!

Nesselrode sighed in his heart, didn't respond to Chernyshov's provocation, and left with his head buried.

But in Chernyshov's view, he was timid and cowardly! Naturally, he became more and more complacent. After returning to the Ministry of War, everyone would say how soft Nesselrode was, not to mention how arrogant he was.

All this was naturally seen by several other people who just came out of the imperial study. Count Rostovtsev was silent and pretended not to see it, while Count Uvarov frowned slightly. I'm not interested in Chernyshev's arrogance and complacency, but I just feel that Nesselrode's basic situation is becoming more and more unstable, and it seems that I have to prepare early.

As for Duke Ordorf, he was very sober. First of all, he did not agree with Chernyshov's approach, and secondly, he felt that Nesselrode's opinion was not completely unreasonable even though he was conservative and seemed a bit timid.

After all, it is indeed a bit embarrassing to compete with Britain and France. Once they are misunderstood by Britain and France, the consequences will definitely be serious. Especially thinking about the recent letter from Prince Mikhail, it made him more and more worried...