Count Uvarov was stunned. He had never thought of this reason at all. After all, normal people wouldn't think about it like that, right?
But, you want to say that Count Rostovtsev is abnormal, but what he said does make sense. The British Navy is indeed the only powerful one in the world, and it can defeat the navy of any country in the world, even the second largest navy in the world.
Together with Sanjia, they are probably no match for them.
But the British Army is another matter. It is definitely not the most powerful, and may not even be ranked among the top two in Europe. If they send a large number of soldiers to the Far East to cause trouble, they will inevitably be able to reduce their help to Turkey.
In this way, the pressure on the Russian army on the front line in Wallachia will definitely be reduced. From this perspective, what Count Rostovtsev said makes perfect sense.
But Count Uvarov certainly couldn't admit it! He immediately retorted: "Having said that, once the British army fully invades our country's Far East, who can guarantee that they will be driven away? In this way, the vast territory of the Far East is not
I can’t protect the same thing!”
Is this possible? Indeed, it is, but Count Rostovtsev believed that this was absolutely impossible. He smiled and replied easily: "Count, you may have forgotten what the environment is like in the Far East. It is desolate and uninhabited for thousands of miles.
It’s all normal. What’s more important is that it’s not suitable for farming there, and there is no output at all except forests and furs.”
"What's the point of the British spending a huge amount of money to occupy it? Moreover, the environment there is harsh and the transportation is inconvenient, so it is not suitable for large-scale garrison at all. And if only a small force is stationed, how can it occupy such a vast land?"
Count Uvarov was speechless again. Although he had never been to the Far East, he knew what the environment was like there. If you think about it, if the conditions were good, the mountains and rivers were beautiful, the people were talented, and the prisoners could be sent to that place. It is obviously a place with poor mountains and poor water.
It’s only suitable for punishing criminals!
What's more, saying that that hellish place in the Far East is poor and rough is just a compliment. It's simply not a place for people to live. The British would only covet those hellish places if they were crazy.
But if you ask Count Uvarov to admit that Count Rostovtsev is more reasonable, that is absolutely unacceptable, not to mention that this matter also involves personal economic interests. If you don't want to find a way to get some money for Nicholas I, this
The Tsar will definitely increase the war tax, but this is not just to dig into their pockets.
Although that damn place in Alaska can’t be sold for much money, it’s still a piece of meat after all, which can alleviate some of the pressure. Anyway, it’s better than asking them to pay for it right away, right?
Count Uvarov rolled his eyes and argued: "This is just your guess. The reality is that the British army has already invaded our country's Far East. If they don't plan to occupy it, why bother?"
This is a very good question, but it still can’t stump Count Rostovtsev. He replied to Count Uvarov in one sentence: “The British army also bombarded the Kronshtadt Fortress. According to your statement,
Is this because they are preparing to occupy it?"
Count Rostovtsev's words are a bit sophistical, but the truth is still tenable. The truth he wants to say is very simple: the British did something, but it does not mean that it is what you think it is.
.
The British Royal Navy bombarded Kronstadt and blocked the Gulf of Finland. Does this mean that they are preparing to land in St. Petersburg?
Obviously not. The British army is obviously posturing or openly exerting pressure. When a small group of British troops landed in the Far East, does that mean that the British want to occupy Russian territory in the Far East?
Obviously this is impossible. In a sense, this is also a posturing and a disguised form of pressure.
Faced with this kind of pressure, it is certainly possible to go to war and send troops to drive away the British, but that will involve paying a heavy economic price. Or people like Count Uvarov can find another way and simply sell this neglected area.
.
How should I put it, these two methods are too extreme, and they can be said to be transitional reactions. Count Rostovtsev thought that he could ignore the British at all. Don't they like to land in the Far East? Then let them do whatever they want.
Anyway, there is nothing in that damn place except wild animals and plants, and Count Rostovtsev still doesn’t believe that they will persist in being savages for a long time.
This truth is like window paper that can be broken as soon as it is poked. A shrewd person like Nicholas I reacted immediately. He did overreact to the news. In other words, he was misled by some courtiers.
how to say?
In his heart, he actually didn't care much about the situation in the Far East. Suddenly someone told him that he could sell it for money there, which would relieve the financial pressure. He was already overwhelmed by the heavy economic pressure, and he would naturally be moved.
It’s a barren land anyway, so just sell it!
What's more, the British have begun to send troops. If you don't sell, you may get a bargain for the British. It's better to stop the loss in time.
But Count Rostovtsev made it clear in a few words. The British invasion was not only a fiction, but at least it was thunderous but not rainy, and it did not constitute a threat at all. In this case, there was no urgency to sell Alaska.
Not as strong anymore.
Of course, Nicholas I did not say not to sell, and he could still consider it if the price was right, but judging from the news he received, the American offer was really unsatisfactory, so what can a little money do?
Count Uvarov soon realized his mistake and knew that this matter would definitely go awry according to the original plan, but he was quick-thinking! If his plan failed, he found another one, and he immediately said:
"Even if what you say makes sense, economic pressure is an unavoidable problem. Today's financial constraints have reached... to an unimaginable level. Only by finding ways to open source can we continue to fight, and selling Alaska can just relieve our pressure.
Unless you have a way to make money!"
Count Rostovtsev laughed, because Count Uvarov's words were too shameless. He had been talking about the British invasion before, but in the end it was not for money.
He replied slowly: "Of course I can't conjure up money, but I doubt selling Alaska will relieve our financial pressure as you said!"
Before Count Uvarov could interrupt, he directly asked the finance minister: "How big is our current deficit? Who else can tell me how much Alaska can be sold for? Is this money really enough to relieve our imminent huge pressure?"
The finance minister immediately stuttered, because these two questions are really difficult to answer...