After Wen Yan sent Neserrodie away, Nicholas I couldn't wait to ask his chamberlain to find the newspapers of the past two weeks. He wanted to see what extraordinary things Grand Duke Constantine had done. If appropriate. He was also willing to step in to put more pressure on Crown Prince Alexander and stimulate Alexander to perform well.
After just flipping through a few newspapers, Nicholas I's face became very strange, as if it was covered with a layer of black gauze. Looking further, his face was not much better than the bottom of a pot.
"Damn it!"
Nicholas I angrily threw all the newspapers to the floor and roared angrily: "This traitor!"
Yes, Grand Duke Constantine, who was admired by Nicholas I before, became a traitor. The reason is very simple. The newspapers are full of news about that inquiry.
Some people praised this inquiry as a great victory for steamship and a fatal blow to the conservative party of the reform party.
Others are praising the naval innovation plan of Grand Duke Constantine, calling him the father of Russian naval innovation. It seems that this question meeting is a stage specially arranged for Li Xiao. Li Xiao seems to be supporting the conservative They sent a massacre, leaving Yeluofei and his like to run for their lives in embarrassment.
Most of them viciously attacked Menshikov, covertly calling Li Xiao's victory at the interrogation meeting a comprehensive blow to Menshikov's conservatives headed by Crown Prince Alexander.
These things made Nicholas I very angry. He knew about Archduke Constantine's naval innovation plan, knew that his son always supported steam ships, and also knew that he specially arranged that questioning.
Because Grand Duke Constantine had given him a special report before the inquiry meeting started, reminding him that this inquiry would be a wonderful performance and was specially dedicated to him.
This shows that this inquiry was entirely arranged by Grand Duke Constantine and planned and implemented by him.
But Nicholas I really didn't like, or hated the outcome of this inquiry. When he saw all the rainbow farts about Grand Duke Constantine and Li Xiao in the newspapers, he became very angry. Li Xiao's picture The disgusting face almost drove him crazy.
Nicholas I couldn't help but start thinking about a question: What did Grand Duke Constantine want to do? Is this kid crazy?
Nicholas I walked around the office several times impatiently, but to no avail. Then he said that he could get some air on the balcony, but even the cold air of more than ten degrees below zero in St. Petersburg could not extinguish the anger in his heart.
He rang the bell fiercely and summoned the chamberlain: "Invite the ministers of palace affairs. I have something to ask them."
In a short time, Peter Volkonsky and old Adlerberg arrived quickly. Who asked the chamberlain to tell them that the emperor was in a very bad mood.
"His Majesty?"
Looking at Nicholas I with a dark face, even Peter Volkonsky felt a little uneasy. He really didn't understand what was wrong with this Supreme Being.
Nicholas I stomped on the newspapers scattered on the ground with his foot, and ordered angrily: "You all should take a look!"
Peter Volkonsky seemed confused and didn't know why, but old Adlerberg felt like a mirror, and he knew that his arrangement had finally worked!
Old Adlerberg knew that it had worked, but the effect had not been maximized. He had to continue to perform so that the coffin board could be put on Archduke Constantine.
The old fox immediately showed the same bewilderment and surprise as Peter Volkonsky, and then suspiciously picked up the newspaper on the ground and pretended to scan it. However, the former was more like an old and frail person who was really slow to react and didn't know anything.
, and he is purely acting.
"Have you finished reading?" Nicholas I asked gloomily with a tigerish face: "Tell me what you think!"
Peter Volkonsky lowered his head slightly, his eyes seemed full of confusion, as if he couldn't figure out the situation, and he seemed to be too old and slow to react.
After a long time, he said: "This is a political matter. As the chief minister of palace affairs, I can only say that from my point of view, Grand Duke Constantine is too eager to show off. Although his original intention is to please Your Majesty, he strives to be a good son and father.
He is a good grand duke of the empire, but his faults are worse than his faults... I’ve finished talking about the minor officials.”
Old Adlerberg was a little strange, because in his previous estimation, Peter Volkonsky would act dumb and say nothing as usual. But just now he did say it, and he said it well.
Reasonable, reasonable, and just right. Is this his true level?
Yes, Peter Volkonsky’s answer is quite beautiful, and he can definitely give full marks. Why do you say this? Because the minister of palace affairs is different from ordinary ministers. In ancient Chinese terms, the minister of palace affairs is actually
The eunuchs, the chief stewards of the emperor's chambers, and the stewards of the internal affairs department, who were equivalent to the emperor, were purely internal ministers who served the emperor personally. Prime ministers like Neserrode and other ministers were all foreign ministers.
There is a big difference between the inside and outside. The ministers are the people around the emperor and are in charge of all aspects related to the palace. They can be said to be the emperor's personal servants. Therefore, they are generally not suitable to intervene in issues concerning the country's major policies, because that is the external affairs.
Minister's business.
But the question asked by Nicholas I today clearly falls under the authority of a foreign minister. After all, it is a matter of the Admiralty, and it also involves the issue of the reserve. As a minister around the emperor, it is taboo to speak casually on this issue.
.
What if the person who succeeds to the throne in a few years is really Grand Duke Constantine, and he finds out that you, a minister, have worn small shoes for him, how can you still mess around?
So old Adlerberg's first reaction was that Peter Volkonski would pretend to be stupid. At this time, it would be wrong to say more. Isn't it the best choice not to say anything?
So why does Peter Volkonsky's answer get full marks? The reason is that today's question about Grand Duke Constantine is not actually the best answer. On the contrary, it is very bad.
Because Nicholas I was obviously very angry with Grand Duke Constantine and was quite dissatisfied with his son. At this time, as the emperor's personal servant, you did not speak to the master, but instead avoided the issue and defended Grand Duke Constantine. This is not
Are you on the wrong team?
Nicholas I could tolerate his personal servants playing tricks on Grand Duke Constantine and Crown Prince Alexander, but he would never allow them to play tricks on himself. Otherwise, there would be a problem with loyalty, and he would not be worthy of continuing to be the Minister of Palace Affairs!
Therefore, Peter Volkonsky must answer, and he can only answer from the perspective of Nicholas I. But at the same time, he cannot blindly slander and attack Grand Duke Constantine. He must leave room for tact. Obviously