Nicholas I suddenly stopped mid-sentence. He looked at Count Rostovtsev and Count Uvarov, and continued slowly: "The Prime Minister has worked hard these years. He has been working hard and without complaint. It may be inevitable that there will be some mistakes.
What do you think of the complaints?"
The words of Nicholas I sounded a bit scary at first, as if they were saying that Count Neserrodie was resentful and dissatisfied with the emperor. But Count Rostovtsev and Count Uvarov were both smart people, and their minds turned.
Then we know the true meaning of Nicholas I.
Obviously, what the tsar really wanted to say was that Neserrodie suddenly fell ill this time. Could it be that he was angry because of the previous conflicts with him about Turkey and Bulgaria, so he had no choice but to pretend?
Illness, in order to avoid his entanglement and express dissatisfaction.
In fact, many ministers know how to use this method, but Neserroddie has never used it before. Just because he has been around for so many years, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t use it. Maybe the old guy feels that this time things are too troublesome.
I have a headache and have to use this trick?
In fact, after Count Rostovtsev and Count Uvarov learned that Neserrodie had fallen ill, they immediately thought of this possibility. Put yourself in Neserrodie's shoes and think about it.
I thought, it's really possible for the old guy to do this.
It's just that Nicholas I asked them so seriously about who could be Neserrodie's replacement, which made them subconsciously think that Neserrodie might be really ill. Otherwise, there was no need for Nicholas I to be like this.
Is it good to mobilize troops and mobilize people?
However, when Nicholas I suddenly mentioned the topic of pretending to be ill, both Count Rostovtsev and Count Uvarov felt strange. They looked at Nicholas I with complicated expressions, as if asking:
Your Majesty, are you kidding us?
The behavior of Nicholas I is indeed a bit like teasing a boring person, because it is possible to joke about changing the prime minister casually? This kind of joke cannot be mentioned even in the most casual occasions, because once it is mentioned, it will appear that the speaker has no intention and the listener has the intention.
What if the person who heard the joke took it seriously?
That can really cause a big earthquake, so generally no ruler would joke about such a thing.
And Nicholas I's behavior just seemed a bit like a joke. Aren't you sure the authenticity of the news? You can't even be sure whether Neserrode is pretending to be sick. What kind of trouble are you asking us two to come over?
Faced with such a strange emperor, no matter which minister they are, they will be full of criticism, not sure what they are doing! That is to say, Count Rostovtsev and Count Uvarov have always been indifferent to joy and anger.
I can't tell anything from the color, and an ordinary minister would probably want to scold me on the spot.
Even so, the two of them looked at each other a little bit, feeling that Nicholas I was really not going anywhere!
Nicholas I also knew that what he was doing was a bit wrong, so he quickly smiled and said: "I just want to prepare in advance so that if the worst happens, I won't be in a hurry!"
Count Rostovtsev and Count Uvarov immediately understood Nicholas I's thoughts. I am afraid that the emperor was not sure whether Neserrodie was really ill or a fake one, and he did not want to go there openly.
Visiting, after all, once the relevant news gets out, it will cause an uproar, and maybe something will happen if nothing happens.
Thinking about it from the perspective of Nicholas I, it is indeed a bit of a trap. It is really difficult for him to make decisions without knowing whether Neserrodie is real or fake. If the old boy is fake, then of course it is nothing.
If it's a big deal, just give him a lesson or just let him go for a few days.
But if that guy is really sick, if we don't prepare in advance, we might be caught off guard, okay?
Count Uvarov immediately said: "Your Majesty, why don't I go to the Prime Minister's house to have a look?"
Nicholas I and Count Rostovtsev glanced at him almost at the same time, and their thoughts were almost the same: Hey, old man, it seems you are anxious too!
Count Uvarov was indeed anxious, because he had just realized how big of a mistake he had made. For such a big matter as changing the prime minister, although the tsar did need to consult other people's opinions, generally speaking, the correct consultation mode was
should be:
"Gentlemen, Count Neserrode is ill and may not be able to continue to serve as prime minister. Although his departure is a huge loss, all affairs cannot be left unattended. It is a top priority to select a new prime minister to replace him as soon as possible. You
He is my most trusted minister. Who do you think is more suitable to succeed Count Neserrode, Count XX, Duke XX or Minister XX?"
Do you see, this is the emperor's serious consultation attitude. He must first give a list of his favorite candidates. In other words, he first delineates the range of candidates, and then others can freely say who is more suitable.
Instead of just asking who you think is more suitable as prime minister, simply put it simply, if a ruler really consults his subordinates, then this or these subordinates may not be generally powerful and have the right to speak. This is almost the mark of a powerful minister.
match.
Otherwise, why would you allow the ruler to lower his noble head and ask you such a critical question? It's not because you are too heavy, too powerful, too prestigious, and that he has to be humble.
The question is, was Nicholas I such a cowardly emperor?
He is obviously not, on the contrary, he is the kind of emperor who wants to firmly hold all power in his hands and be dictatorial. If you make an emperor who is dictatorial suddenly become humble, can you imagine what you are like in his heart?
If you don't redeem or clarify things quickly, you can imagine how jealous he will be of you and how he will slowly deal with you.
Count Uvarov was not arrogant enough to think that he could compete with Nicholas I. On the contrary, he was very clear-headed and knew where his current status and everything came from. How dare he be defeated by this powerful minister?
Where is the scapegoat?
Naturally, he had to correct his attitude immediately and tell Nicholas I that he was really not a powerful official, but a loyal and non-threatening old dog. So he quickly went to grab a job!
It's just that he couldn't grab this job. After Nicholas I glanced at him, he said calmly: "There is no need to bother you, count. I have already ordered the crown prince to visit the prime minister!"
Count Uvarov immediately and respectfully replied: "I see, it is most appropriate for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to pay a visit. With His Highness' ability, I think there will be results soon. Your Majesty is indeed far more foresighted than I am!"