Struggle in Russia

Alas, Nicholas I had a headache. There was no good way he could only listen to Constantine to continue to sue Menshkov.

"I can't figure out why His Excellency acted this way. Our navy is the second arm of the empire. If this arm is not strong enough, how can we safeguard the interests of the empire ... Is the purpose of His Excellency the Prince to keep us behind forever Anglo-French, always look at their faces? "

Not to mention Nicholas I, Menshekov was also aggressive. He had also been misled so badly that Messadoff only told him small things like confession of corruption, without mentioning fierce things at all. This resulted in him being completely unguarded and being completely caught off guard!

In the face of Archduke Constantine's powerful offensive, he even seemed so powerless to argue: "This is a ghost ... a lie ... right ... all framed!"

The old **** stammered and retorted, "Your Majesty, I have no idea at all about this, it has nothing to do with me!"

He was just that none of the people present believed him, as long as his guilty conscience was not blind.

In the face of the eunuch's sophistry and denial, Grandpa Constantine did not make much of a quarrel, but just silently took out stacks of documents and placed them in front of Nicholas I:

"This is a document signed by His Excellency the Prince about the Fierce and other steam ships. From these documents, His Excellency you are not as ignorant as you said!"

Somenshkov's face was filled with soy-sized sweat beads, and when these documents were laid out, any of his sophistry seemed so weak.

It can be seen from these related documents that, according to the requirements of the Minister of the Navy, the maintenance and operating costs of steam ships have been artificially reduced to a minimum. Even the supply of basic spare parts cannot be effectively guaranteed, and other maintenance It can save the province.

Holding the documents in his hand, Archduke Constantine sternly accused: "According to these documents, all steam ships in our navy are in a state of lack of maintenance and neglect of maintenance. I would like to ask what kind of naval minister is so distraught Order to destroy our navy's equipment and property. This is Chi Guoguo's malfeasance! He should be dragged out and shot! "

Quiet in the conference room. Everyone, including Nicholas I, was taking turns to examine the documents provided by Archduke Constantine. These things were simply appalling, and even Nicholas I, who was determined to defend Menshekov, became angry.

"Prince, do you have anything to say about this?"

Asked Nicholas I coldly. Yes, the emperor was devoted to upholding traditions, to maintaining Russia's strong state since the great victory of 1812, to devoting himself to total power and doing everything.

But Nicholas I also did not like that his money was wasted. Steam ships are very expensive. Although there are not many steam ships in the Navy, not many do not mean that they can be treated casually. The money was all set aside from his treasury, and each ruble should be used to maintain equipment, not to watch them turn into scrap iron.

Even if Nicholas I did not like steamboats anymore, he could not allow his naval minister to treat precious ships as a joke.

"Your Majesty, I ..." Menshkov explained with embarrassment as he wiped the sweat on his face with a handkerchief: "These documents ... uh ... maybe ... there are ... for a reason ... "

Nicholas I stared at him fiercely, and asked, "Why?"

Menshkov made excuses for excuses, and only a moment later replied: "According to his subordinates, the focus of naval equipment should be traditional sail battleships, not unreliable steam monsters. So I spent part of my funds on sail battleships. Construction and maintenance ... "

Unmyshkov gave a glance at Nicholas I, and found that His Majesty was listening carefully, and immediately felt that he had a chance to save, and quickly and blindly said:

"But our navy funds are limited, and steam ships are particularly expensive. They are more expensive to build and maintain. In order to have more sailing battleships, I have to collect funds from all sides, so I have to cut off the expensive maintenance of steam ships. cost……"

Menshkov has begun to admire his anxiety. He was able to come up with such convincing reasons. He is really a genius!

Believe it or not, Meneshkov doesn't know, anyway, he doesn't care, as long as Nicholas I believes it will be. At least after his answer, His Majesty's face looked a lot better, which made the old **** relieved.

But the old **** was a little too happy, and Grandpa Constantine made enough preparations to make him cover up with such a poor excuse.

It was only in the tone of Menshkov that Grand Duke Constantine again embarrassed him: "Yes? Prince, can you point out that these" huge "funds that should have been used for the maintenance of steam ships were used for construction? Which sailing battleships have you got? You are so sure that you are so eloquent ~ www.ltnovel.com ~ There must be relevant evidence and data? "

Menshkov suddenly felt dumbfounded. He had ghost evidence and data. He just made an excuse just now. Those embezzled funds made a ghost sailing battleship, all in his pockets, OK?

"This ... this ..." Menshkov started to sweat again and thought about it temporarily. "The relevant evidence and data must be there, but I don't know that you, the Grand Duke, want to know, so I didn't bring it. How about I show you after the meeting? "

大 Prince Constantine smiled and waved, "No need for the prince. I have brought in the details of the construction costs of the Navy in the past five years, and you can tell us directly which ones are what you said!"

I said, Grand Duke Constantine beckoned to his deputy, and the latter immediately sent a thick stack of documents. Obviously, he was prepared, and he did not give the **** a chance to buffer counterfeiting.

Menshkov was dumbfounded and had no idea what to do. And Grandpa Constantine was too lazy to continue grinding his teeth with him, but introduced the relevant documents with confidence:

"Father and His Excellencies, I have studied the construction costs of the navy in the past five years in detail. All warships, including the sail battleships honored by His Excellency the Prince, have not been diverted from the construction costs of all ships. All passed by the State Council and allocated as much as possible ... "

Then, Grandpa Constantine looked at Menshkov with a sneer and asked loudly, "So I don't understand. The cost of maintaining the steam ships is not used for the maintenance of the steam ships, nor for the construction of new ships. So where did they go? "