Chapter 837 Temptation (Part 1)

After the reforms of Peter the Great, Mao Xiong did show signs of leaving Asia and joining Europe. All aspects of clothing, food, housing and transportation began to move closer to Western Europe. But, in the final analysis, Mao Xiong is still a different person. He has only learned half a bucket of water in all aspects. At the critical moment, the ferocity inherited from his ancestors will be exposed.

Just like now, anyone with normal nerves knows that there is no point in continuing to fight. What is there to persevere in such a losing situation? The key is to clear warehouses quickly and make a comeback.

But the furry bear is different. The bear can't put it down when it is put on its big shelf. When it is forced to panic, it even shows a fierce look and is ready to fight to the death.

Of course it's good to have this kind of determination, but you can't count on this to scare away the enemy every time, right?

In Li Xiao's view, making concessions now is the most reasonable choice. Temporarily stopping expansion in the Balkans is not a bad thing. You see why Austria turned against Russia. They are also jealous of this piece of fat.

Moreover, it is most beneficial for the European powers to restrict Russia to the Black Sea. After all, the bear is too big and ambitious. Who is not afraid!

"Anyway, if you ask me for my opinion, my opinion is to negotiate a peace as soon as possible. The sooner the better. If necessary, you can give up some of the interests in the Black Sea region. On the contrary, if you continue to grit your teeth and persist, it may lead to catastrophe!"

Duke Mikhail remained silent. Intellectually he agreed with Li Xiao's judgment, but emotionally he couldn't accept it. He asked incredulously: "Are you willing to sacrifice Wallachia's interests? "

Li Xiao spread his hands and said: "Yes, because if we continue to insist on our interests in Wallachia, we will suffer even greater losses. Then we will really have to let others slaughter us for our own flesh and blood!"

Duke Mikhail's eyes widened and he stared directly at Li Xiao. He always felt that the other party was not telling the truth, but he could not find any evidence.

After a while, he gave up this futile effort and said again: "What if they are not satisfied?"

"Then try to satisfy them!" Li Xiao replied nonchalantly.

Prince Mikhail was taken aback again, becoming more and more confused about someone's attitude. Could it be that someone really didn't feel sorry for him at all?

How could Li Xiao not feel distressed? He had built everything in Wallachia brick by brick, and now he was just giving it up. How could he be happy?

It’s just that no matter how unhappy he is, he knows that his arms can’t twist his thighs. To Russia, Wallachia is just sesame seeds and mung beans. It can be given up if necessary. You can’t pick the sesame seeds and lose the watermelon, right?

What's more, based on Li Xiao's understanding of Count Rostovtsev, that old fox, he will definitely not be satisfied with the current situation if he wants to prompt Russia to start reforms. For him, the situation in Russia was not critical enough or stressful enough to make the tsar restless, let alone make the tsar determined to carry out reforms.

With his style, he will definitely try to worsen the situation and put further pressure on him. Therefore, whether he is willing or not, he has no chance to make a move in this game. The only thing he can do is to help Duke Mikhail maintain the situation as much as possible. The status quo prevents the situation from collapsing all at once.

Sometimes Li Xiao wonders, what is Count Rostovtsev busy with in St. Petersburg at this moment? Are you busy designing conspiracies, colluding with party members, or are you still acting like an old hermaphrodite?

This thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly asked: "What's the situation in St. Petersburg?"

Prince Mikhail glanced at him and replied slowly: "I said everything is normal, do you believe it?"

"Believe it, why don't I believe it?" Li Xiao asked with a smile, "Everything is normal in St. Petersburg, everything is normal in the whole of Russia, everything is normal, but it is not normal here. How interesting is this!"

Duke Mikhail chuckled and said contemptuously: "It's normal here, at least that's what I said in the official document to His Majesty!"

Li Xiao smiled and said: "That can only be because the coalition forces are abnormal!"

Prince Mikhail was noncommittal;

Said: "But I heard that His Majesty commended Count Uvarov and awarded him the Order of St. Andre..."

He deliberately said that he stopped here, and then looked at Li Xiao and stopped talking. Not to mention that he would make people hate him more. However, Li Xiao was not anxious at all and replied casually: "That's good, Wu Count Varov's hard work and merits are great, and the new emperor will naturally be rewarded when he ascends the throne. A mere medal of St. Andre is not enough!"

Duke Mikhail said bitterly in his heart: "Damn little fox, you don't show any timidity at all, and I don't know where you have the confidence!"

He chuckled again and continued slowly: "I don't know why, but a lot of nobles who were friends with Count Uvarov ran to the entrance of the Winter Palace to spread out. I heard that your Majesty arrested a lot of dukes. Marquis, by the way, there are quite a few of you who seem to have very tense relations with you!"

Li Xiao rolled his eyes in his heart. He knew that Duke Mikhail was testing him to see his relationship with the reformists and to test his views on reform. To be honest, this is a bit boring, because everyone knows his relationship with Alexei. The dead father was the spiritual leader of the reformists. What relationship do you think he had with the reformists?

As for whether to reform or not, Russia is a mess and has such bad morals. If it doesn’t reform, will it just leave it in ruins and wait for death?

Sometimes he felt that Duke Mikhail was a little ignorant in politics, or too cautious. He obviously realized that the conservatives were probably at the end of their rope, and he also knew that he had to change boats quickly, but he could not do anything. But it is not easy to look forward and backward. No wonder the military always thinks that Paskovich is stronger than him. In a sense, it is true. Paskovich is reckless but his strikes are really quick and accurate, while Mikhail The Duke is a bit procrastinating.

For example, in the current war situation, Duke Mikhail clearly knows that the Austrians in Transylvania cannot really use force. In fact, they are just putting a bunch of people to contain and disgust Russia. If they are decisive enough, they can completely start from that direction. Not to mention too much about the deployment of troops, there will definitely be 50,000 troops.

If these 50,000 people had been sent to Crimea earlier, Kornilov would definitely not have been so passive. Maybe the defense line at Inkelman Mountain would not have fallen so quickly, and the coalition forces would have paid a heavier price.

But no matter whether he or Dmitry Milyutin and other generals lobbied him several times, this man could never make up his mind and still foolishly confronted the Austrians. Isn't this a desperate move?

Naturally, Li Xiao didn't have a good temper towards this guy's probing. It's obvious that I've long made it clear that he's a reformist, but you're still here to tempt me. Isn't this sick? !

"Brother Shen!"

"Um!"

When Shen Changqing walks on the road, whenever he meets someone he knows, he will say hello or nod to each other.

But no matter who it is.

There was no unnecessary expression on everyone's face, as if they were indifferent to everything.

To this.

Shen Changqing has become accustomed to it.

Because this is the Demon Suppression Division, an organization that maintains the stability of the Qin Dynasty. Its main responsibility is to kill monsters and monsters, but of course there are also some other side jobs.

It can be said.

Everyone in the Demon Suppression Division has a lot of blood on their hands.

When a person is used to seeing life and death, he will become indifferent to many things.

When he first came to this world, Shen Changqing was a little uncomfortable, but he got used to it over time.

The Demon-Suppressing Division is huge.

Those who can stay in the Demon Suppressing Division are all powerful masters, or those who have the potential to become masters.

Shen Changqing belongs to the latter.

Among them, the Demon Suppressor Division is divided into two professions, one is the Guardian Envoy and the other is the Demon Slayer.

Anyone who enters the Demon Suppression Department starts from the lowest level as a demon slayer.

Then he will be promoted step by step, and he is expected to eventually become a guardian envoy.

Shen Changqing's predecessor was a trainee demon slayer in the Demon Suppression Department, and he was also the lowest level among the demon slayers.

Possessing the memory of a previous life.

He is also very familiar with the environment of the Demon Suppression Division.

It didn't take long for Shen Changqing to stop in front of a loft.

Unlike other places in the Demon Suppressing Division that were full of chills, the attic here seemed to stand out from the crowd, showing a different kind of tranquility in the bloody Demon Suppressing Division.

At this time, the attic door was open, and occasionally people came in and out.

Shen Changqing only hesitated for a moment before stepping in.

Enter the attic.

The environment changes in vain.

The fragrance of ink mixed with the faint smell of blood hit his face, making him frown instinctively, but then relaxed it quickly.

There is almost no way to cleanse away the smell of blood on everyone in the Demon-Suppressing Division.