Before I knew it, the first half of 1854 was over. In this year when the post-Nicholas I era had just begun, St. Petersburg seemed no different from the past few decades, but it seemed to be really different.
Different people have different feelings. For Li Xiao, St. Petersburg is still a city that makes him feel depressed. The climate and environment in high latitudes are very different from his hometown. Living here always feels strange to him.
"Whether it's eating or drinking, it's all bad, even sleeping is depressing!" he complained to old Igor.
The old housekeeper just smiled and said: "Maybe you have lived in Bucharest for too long. Compared with the cold St. Petersburg, it is indeed warm and humid there. It is a good place!"
Li Xiao knew that the old housekeeper was definitely not praising Bucharest. According to his speaking habits, after praising Bucharest for a few words, he would definitely start to criticize.
Sure enough, he immediately said: "Although the climate and environment there are good, it will never become the most important city in Europe. In Europe, only London, Paris and St. Petersburg are of decisive significance. If you just want to be a rich and idle person, you can
Possibility to settle in Bucharest.”
Li Xiao chuckled, how could he become a wealthy and idle man? With Alexander II's urinary temperament, he would not stop him from leaving as long as he wanted to leave. It would only cause his property to shrink significantly. For that Romanov family
How could you let a son of a bitch take away your property?
Unless he is willing to leave naked, he can only wallow in the quagmire of Russia, accompanying Alexander II and his clever or cunning ministers to play officialdom.
"As long as you understand this," old Igor said with a smile, "there is only one way for you to go now, and that is to fight them to the end!"
Li Xiao laughed bitterly in his heart again. What does it mean to fight to the end? It sounds like he is very powerful, but in fact, his current strength is not worthy of being Alexander II's opponent. Don't look at the tsar who has been very passive recently. It seems that
The level is just like that.
But Li Xiao himself knew that the main reason for Alexander II's poor performance was that his opponent was too strong. What level is Count Rostovtsev? This old fox had three dynasties and deceived Nicholas I.
It can be said that turning one's hands to make clouds and turning one's hands to make rain is not an ordinary power.
Moreover, he is surrounded by powerful teammates such as Nikolai Milyutin, Grand Duke Constantine and Grand Duchess Elena, as well as the support of public opinion that has been suppressed for nearly thirty years.
It would be amazing if Alexander II could handle such an opponent!
But if the opponent is replaced by Li Xiao, it will be completely different. Li Xiao does not have the status and sophistication of Count Rostovtsev, nor does he have particularly strong political allies. Only Alexei and Leonid have a few
What can a good friend do?
To be honest, if Alexander II could free his hands to deal with Li Xiao, he would be crushed to death with just one finger.
It's just that Alexander II couldn't make a move, so he gave Li Xiao the opportunity to jump up and down.
Of course, this opportunity is not unlimited. If Li Xiao cannot take advantage of the death of the reformists and Alexander II to develop and grow, then once the reform trend passes, Alexander II who is free will become very bad.
Provoked. Have you not seen how good this reverser was in history? Look at how he dealt with Grand Duke Constantine!
To be honest, Li Xiao is pressed for time and there really is nothing he can relax about.
He sighed and said to old Igor: "You don't need to flatter me. I am not qualified to fight with that person now. I am lucky to be able to protect myself!"
But old Igor shook his head and encouraged: "You are too self-effacing. I have seen you step by step over the years. We were so embarrassed in the past few years that we could hardly even eat enough.
But what about now? Not only did you take back the old master's property, you also gained a group of reliable friends, and even established good relationships with many powerful people. To be able to do this in a few years, I dare not say that it is unique, but it definitely counts.
It’s commendable! I believe that as long as you continue to work hard, sooner or later, even that person will not be your opponent!”
Seeing the confident look of old Igor, Li Xiao's feelings were very complicated, because he knew why the old man was so motivated. For him, his cheap old man was the most authentic tsar of Russia, and that throne should be
From their family.
In his eyes, Nicholas I and his son were just despicable thieves. His greatest wish in his life was to help Li Xiao get the throne back to appease his cheap father's spirit in heaven.
To be honest, Li Xiao didn't think much about the position of Tsar. Not only because he was familiar with history and knew that Nicholas I's succession to the throne was actually reasonable and legal. Who made his cheap man so wasteful?
In this regard, he didn't have much resentment towards the cheap uncle, let alone hatred. From the beginning to the end, what he wanted was to live comfortably and without looking at other people's faces, but the father and son never wanted to
Give him this chance.
When Nicholas I was here, he tried his best to suppress and prepare to steal his property, which made him intolerable. Although Alexander II did not take much action against him for the time being, judging from his performance after taking the throne, it was far from clear.
Far from being friendly.
Li Xiao almost couldn't attend the funeral of Nicholas I. Later, he reluctantly entered the venue as a member of the Romanov family. His position was in a corner, not even as good as a few distant relatives.
How could these practices have happened without the instruction of Alexander II, and Li Xiao also had a temper. As the saying goes, people respect me as much as I respect others. Love is mutual, and hatred is also mutual.
Do you think I can understand when you neglect me? Li Xiao is not one of those white-skinned fools from Europe in later generations. He believes in a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye.
Of course, this does not mean that he is the kind of narrow-minded person who will retaliate a hundredfold if he is a little wronged. He is not brain-cramped and will not overestimate his ability to provoke Alexander II just because of a little grievance.
He will only do his own thing honestly and slowly accumulate strength. If the time comes and there is a chance in the future, he will definitely show off to his cousin. If there is no such opportunity, he will just be honest and forbearance.
Will get hot-headed.
Just like now, even if old Igor keeps talking about regaining the throne, and will say a few words to Li Xiao from time to time, he will never be carried away. He really has this as his goal, and he will not