Actually, this is not the first time that the Black Sea Fleet has undertaken this type of mission. Kornilov has done a big job before and almost caused an international dispute. This time, Menshikov could only use a trick.
Repeat the operation, or it may be said that Qian Donkey has no other solution.
Indeed, although the Turks are afraid of Russia, Bulgaria is really too close to Istanbul. Without this barrier, Russia can almost herd horses under the walls of Istanbul. For Turkey, this is not safe at all, okay!
The Turks meant to give Bulgaria a certain degree of autonomy at most, but they would never allow the Russian army to enter Bulgaria. Moreover, Bulgaria only had autonomy, and its national defense was still the responsibility of Turkey, which meant that the Turkish army still remained in Bulgaria.
This result is naturally far from the requirements of Nicholas I. Nicholas I's minimum goal was to turn Bulgaria into Wallachia and become an autonomous grand duchy. It would be better if the Russian army would be responsible for protecting it for a few years.
Now that he is not allowed to garrison for protection, the Turkish army still has to stay in Bulgaria. This is equivalent to a situational autonomy. This is very different from the gradual annexation of Bulgaria that Nicholas I wanted to achieve.
Of course it is impossible to agree.
Nicholas I, who felt that he had a great advantage and had no scruples, naturally put pressure on Menshikov and ordered him to make Turkey surrender as soon as possible.
At this time, Menshikov felt miserable but could not express it. Nicholas I ordered him to exert pressure at all costs, while Prime Minister Neserrodie told him that it was OK to exert pressure, but the negotiation must not collapse.
Because the empire's finances simply cannot afford to fight a war. If he provokes a war, he will bear the blame!
Although Menshikov is a bit old, he is not particularly confused. He still knows that Neserrodie's warning is powerful. And from his own wishes, he is not willing to actually start a war. After all, he is already old, and he is not
Twenty or thirty years ago, it was possible to ride a horse and carry a sword to open up new territories.
He is an old man who just wants to go back to the office of the Admiralty in St. Petersburg, sit by the fireplace and take a nap. In other words, if a war actually breaks out, he has neither the interest nor the energy to direct the battle, and naturally he will not receive any credit.
Moreover, if something goes wrong in this war, then he, the person who lit the fuse, will definitely take the blame. Why is Menshikov willing to do something that is all bad and no good?
You can imagine what kind of mentality this old eunuch has and what kind of work attitude he has. To put it bluntly, after arriving in Istanbul, he was more of a laborer. He just hoped that if the Turks suddenly surrendered, he would naturally be able to return to St. Petersburg for business.
, if Turkey did not surrender, he hoped that Nicholas I would become impatient and call him back to replace him with someone else to do this bad job.
After grinding for several months, neither of the two goals could be achieved. Although the climate in Istanbul was still relatively pleasant, Menshikov was upset! Especially with Nicholas I urging him day by day.
, it was simply annoying him, and he couldn't really go against Nicholas I's will. You can imagine how troubled the old man was!
In desperation, Menshikov's only way was to kick the ball. Didn't Nicholas I say that he didn't apply enough pressure? Well, wouldn't it be okay if he replaced someone else to apply pressure and get rid of this hot potato?
So the essence of ordering the Black Sea Fleet to do something was that Menshikov was trying to shift the blame. Because he felt that the Black Sea Fleet had already exerted extreme pressure last time, and the Turks did not give in at that time, so naturally they would not give in this time.
As long as he takes the medicine as ordered and takes it again, Nicholas I will have an explanation. It can be said that he has done his best, but the Turks are very stubborn.
Even if Nicholas I was dissatisfied with the result, the Black Sea Fleet would still be blamed. Who made this group of people not strong enough to put more pressure on the Turks?
And it won't make Neserrodie unhappy. Presumably the prime minister should be able to see his painstaking efforts and know that he has given enough face.
At that time, Tamenshikov left everything behind. If nothing else, he could at least buy himself some breathing time.
Menshikov's method of shifting the blame is very good. The only problem is that the Black Sea Fleet has just changed its owner. If it is the previous owner, he really cannot see through Menshikov's plot, and even if he sees through it, there is nothing he can do.
But Grand Duke Constantine was different! He was very familiar with the way of kicking the ball in the officialdom, so he saw through Menshikov's intentions at a glance and knew that this guy was pouring bad water on him.
Naturally he couldn't bear it!
Grand Duke Constantine knew very well that if he followed Menshikov's script, he would definitely not get good results. Not only would he be complained by his own father, but he would also face pressure from domestic hardliners.
Naturally, Grand Duke Konstantin was unwilling to bear this kind of blame, so it wasn't that he didn't want to go to Moldavia, but that he really had to make a trip to the Black Sea Fleet, because he suspected that if he didn't go, Kornilov
He and Nassimov just fooled around without thinking.
Because even if the outcome is not good, it is Archduke Constantine, the acting commander, who is out to take the blame, so what does it have to do with them?
The combination of several factors made Archduke Constantine unable to sit still. Even if he did not have much say in the Black Sea Fleet, he would not take the blame for no reason!
What's more, he feels that Menshikov's tricks are not all bad for him. Menshikov can kick the ball, so why can't he? Not only can he kick the ball, but he can also play dirty while doing so!
Grand Duke Constantine is going to take this opportunity to give Kornilov and Nassimov some say in regaining the fleet. If he can successfully transfer all the relevant responsibilities to those two people, he can naturally use this to ask questions after the incident is completed.
Responsibility, at that time were you still worried that you wouldn’t be able to get the right to speak?
Based on this, Grand Duke Constantine naturally refused to return to Chisinau first. He was holding back his bad intentions and prepared to take advantage of this opportunity to deal with Kornilov and Nassimov.
His movements were not that fast either. Without waiting for the next day, he quickly drove to Sevastopol in a light car that night. If he usually had this kind of energy when doing business, why would he be in this situation now?
However, his movements were not the fastest. Li Xiao had arrived at Sevastopol early before him. Any disturbance in Turkey affected his nerves. He knew how deep the water was...