Struggle in Russia

Not suitable for anyone.

This is actually what everyone in the imperial study was thinking.

It is also true that everyone trusted by Nicholas I is old and old and cannot be used.

And now those who can fight and are good at fighting are "too" young to be trusted by Nicholas I.

What's more, these young generals who are good at fighting, such as Baryatinski, may not be sure that they will be able to withstand the pressure of the British, French, and Turkish coalition forces.

Such a pull is naturally not suitable for anyone!

However, Nicholas I had no choice but to answer. With the temper of this tsar, he will never let it go.

Rather than being muttered by him in his heart, let's do what he wants!

This time Count Rostovtsev took the lead and said, "Your Majesty, I think Prince Menshkov is the most suitable candidate."

"He is experienced, loyal and reliable. He is also the Minister of the Navy. He is familiar with the situation of the Navy. No one is more suitable than him!"

Everyone was dumbfounded when he said this, because no one thought that Count Rostovtsev would recommend Menshkov, not that Menshkov was particularly inappropriate, but that Count Rostovtsev recommended him a little bit. strangeness.

how to say?

Count Rostovtsev would never recommend anyone casually. Especially when it comes to coordinating the overall command of the battle, he is even less likely to interrupt.

Usually, Xu Shujin did not say a word in Caoying, but today he took the initiative to recommend Menshkov, which is strange enough.

And many people in the royal study knew that Count Rostovtsev didn't really like Menshkov very much. And the two of them have absolutely no friendship at all. Suddenly you recommend the old eunuch. What's going on?

Others find it strange, but Nicholas I is not. He felt that it was too normal for Count Rostovtsev to recommend Menshkov, and it would be abnormal if he did not actively recommend it.

Because he has repeatedly stressed that candidates must be mature and reliable, which excludes Baryatinsky from being a young and strong faction. In other words, you can only choose from veterans.

And who is the only veteran who can carry a knife and gun? Among them, who is the only one who is truly reliable?

Although he didn't say it clearly just now, the hint was already obvious. Apparently only Menshkov!

Nicholas I spent a long time trying to figure things out there. In fact, he hoped that someone would come forward and recommend Menshkov. Now he only trusts the old eunuch.

And Count Rostovtsev was the first to stand up unexpectedly. Can you say that he can be unhappy?

Sure enough, he is the courtier he is optimistic about. He is very smart!

Nicholas I was very satisfied with the performance of Count Rostovtsev. He was even more satisfied that the reasons he came up with were very sufficient. As the old eunuch, the Minister of the Navy, he was not the superior of Kornilov and others. He was sent to coordinate. In the overall situation, Kornilov must not dare to have an opinion.

Moreover, the navy will not have any objection. On the contrary, it is very inappropriate to send an army general to Crimea, and the navy will be very unhappy.

Although the old man Menshkov is a bit stretched in the war, he is the best candidate to balance the forces in all aspects, not to mention Kornilov and Nakhimov in Crimea, these two A Nicholas I is still trustworthy, and there will be no problems with his ability.

According to his idea, let Menshkov take the lead, and then let Kornilov and Nakhimov assist, and Crimea should be considered safe.

Is it safe?

Count Rostovtsev did not think it would be safe, because although Menshkov was the Minister of the Navy, his level of the Minister of the Navy was a mess, and he was not recognized by the insightful people in the Navy.

People like Kornilov and Nakhimov don't actually like him. Sending Menshkov can only say that it sounds good in name, but in fact, it might have the opposite effect.

Moreover, Count Rostovtsev knew the old **** very well. Usually, if you don't look at him, he is like a pet dog raised by Nicholas I. But this old man is very serious about fighting for power and profit. Before that, his trip to Istanbul could not be completed, and then the war broke out. Although he was a high-ranking naval minister, he could only sit idle.

You want to say that he has no anger in his heart, do you believe it?

With his character, he must try his best to prove himself, I am afraid he is holding his breath to fight a victory, and let Paskovich, Duke Mikhail and the like see that Menshkov is not a wine bag and rice bag!

Just imagine, what would such a Menshkov do when he gained command? I am afraid that you will hold back your strength to fight to the death with the British, French and Turkish forces?

In this case, the question arises. Is it really okay for Menshkov to do this?

Can he really defeat the coalition with his level and strength?

If there is a mishap, isn't it dangerous?

Hey, Count Rostovtsev is just looking forward to danger, or that Menshkov will be defeated.

Just imagine, if Menshkov did not fail, how could it greatly weaken the strength of the conservatives, and how could it undermine the prestige and confidence of Nicholas I?

Count Rostovtsev calculated very clearly that it should not be a problem for UU to hold the Danube line at the level of Duke Mikhail. With the level of heavy fighting over there, it is not easy for Britain and France to open up the situation.

Moreover, listening to Duke Mikhail's battle report, he was also preparing to build large-scale fortifications, which would turn Wallachia into a group of fortresses.

In this way, it is even more impossible for the coalition forces to break through the defense line and inflict heavy losses on the Russian army.

On the contrary, there are many variables on the side of Sevastopol. First of all, Kornilov's troops are insufficient. Thanks to Paskovich, the losses of the Black Sea Fleet's naval infantry are relatively large, and the coalition's strength is relatively large. Mistakes can cause problems.

If Menshkov, a scumbag, was to take command of the overall situation at this time, think about how he would toss, it would be a fiasco, and as long as Seystopol fell, Nicholas I would die to save face. Character is bound to suffer.

At that time, Britain and France must be more and more unwilling to give up, even if Nicholas I wanted to negotiate with dignity to end the war.

Nicholas I can only survive to the end, or he can only break the undefeated golden mountain since he ascended the throne with a humiliating defeat.

As long as he loses, Russia's conservative forces will inevitably be hit hard. As long as he tries to sow discord, it is not a dream to reverse the balance of power between Russian conservatives and reformists.

Everyone in the imperial study, including Nicholas I, probably did not think that Count Rostovtsev was planning this. Even the always shrewd Count Uvarov didn't expect that at this moment, he has endless regrets!

He regretted that he was half a beat behind and let Count Rostovtsev take the lead. If he could recommend Menshkov first, it would definitely change the bad impression Nicholas I had on him...