I have to say that the Chancellor of Finance is also an old fox. He knows very well that if he doesn't think of something, he will probably have a hard time today. If he doesn't sell Alaska, the conservative nobles can't spare him, but if they sell Nicholas I at a low price and don't do it, even he
He will not be spared if he continues to advocate the betrayal of Count Rostovtsev in Alaska.
In short, no matter what he does, he can't get anything good. He is simply not a human being inside and out. So, if he wants to pass the test, he has to find some strange tricks.
How to make a surprise move?
The first way he thought of was to retreat in order to advance. You conservatives are very awesome, and I can’t afford to offend you. But just because I can’t offend you doesn’t mean no one can offend you. I deliberately said I won’t sell it, so just go with it.
As for Nicholas I, go ahead and take the moral high ground first, and see if you can still attack me directly!
At that time, if I want to sell Alaska, you have to put in a good word for me, you have to help me fight Count Rostovtsev back, and you have to help me negotiate the price with Nicholas I.
Is this calculation shrewd enough?
But having said that, this trick does work. You can see that Count Uvarov was the first to bear the brunt of the worry. He immediately interjected: "Having said that, it is an indisputable fact that the current financial and economic pressure is huge.
If we don’t quickly find ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, I’m afraid our finances will be exhausted soon, and we will definitely be defeated by then!”
This is true. Russia's financial pressure was indeed so great that Nicholas I, who was always good at pretending and setting examples, began to pretend.
He had previously announced that the whole country should be strict about economy, be diligent and frugal, and prohibit extravagance and waste. He also pretended to order the queen to take the lead in setting an example and strictly control palace expenditures, and stopped all unnecessary salons and balls.
The third department was even ordered to patrol around St. Petersburg to arrest so-called wasteful people. This campaign was vigorous, and at first some nobles who went against the trend of committing crimes were indeed arrested.
But it soon changed. No one cared about the nobles who secretly held dances in the countryside, and no one cared about their three meals a day of delicacies from the mountains and seas. On the other hand, common people and serfs eating breakfast became a luxury.
is strictly prohibited.
This is purely funny. If you think about it, the aristocrats would not have any major problems if they ate one more meal and one less meal all day long. Even for them with fat stomachs and fat brains, eating less would be healthier for their bodies.
But the situation is different for ordinary people, especially those at the lower levels who do physical work. It is difficult for them to have a full stomach, but now their superiors even order them not to eat breakfast, saying that eating breakfast is too luxurious and is a waste.
This is so irritating, a typical carnivore’s bastard talk. Anyway, ordinary people have a lot of opinions on this. It’s just that due to the power of the third part and the strict order of Nicholas I, they dare to be angry and dare not speak out.
.
After all, for an emperor like Nicholas I, most of the campaigns he launched were pretentious and empty examples. They had no merit other than being good-looking. For example, he is still complacent about his frugal campaign!
Of course, it was just a show, but he also knew that the financial problem was imminent and he had to find a way to solve it. In principle, he agreed to sell Alaska, but he was blocked by Count Rostovtsev just now.
He must maintain his face and dignity... To be honest, he also thinks that Count Rostovtsev is a bit meddlesome. Ten million US dollars is not much, but it is small money! With this money, he can continue to compete with Britain, France and Turkey.
Otherwise, he really couldn't hold it any longer.
He can only hope that the Chancellor of Finance can be more powerful, and it is best to find a way to sell for several million more. If the price per square kilometer can be increased to 10 US dollars, he will accept it. By then, even Rostovtsev
The earl said that he would not care about Po Tian.
But who would have thought that the Minister of Finance was so incompetent that he was ready to give up. Suddenly, Nicholas I became a little anxious and angry. Fortunately, Count Uvarov stepped forward immediately, which made him feel a little more at ease.
"In view of such a severe financial situation, I think it is feasible to temporarily give up Alaska. Maybe the price of 10 million is indeed a bit low, but who can make a higher offer except the United States at present?"
As he spoke, Count Uvarov winked at the Chancellor of Finance, meaning that you should hurry up and join in the crying, otherwise I will see how I deal with you in the future.
Naturally, the Chancellor of Finance could not be stubborn, and immediately cried out with a mournful face: "What the Count said is absolutely right, this price is the highest currently, not to mention that even if other countries are interested but do not have the financial resources, they may not be able to withstand the pressure of Britain and France.
ah!"
Nicholas I immediately turned to look at Count Rostovtsev. Although he did not say anything, his meaning was very clear - Count, you see this is the situation. How about you be noble and stop blocking this matter?
Count Rostovtsev actually had no interest in stopping the sale of Alaska. He also felt that the land was worthless except for its size. However, Li Xiao wrote to him specifically mentioning this matter and begging him to disturb the sale.
He had no choice but to help out of favor.
What's more, he was also very interested in Li Xiao's subsequent operations, so he cooperated and tried his best to stop him. He was not afraid at all when facing Nicholas I, and asked two questions calmly.
First: "Are Americans really willing to pay 10 million US dollars to buy Alaska? What if they can't afford that much money by then, or are not willing to pay that much money at all, and ask for the price to continue to be lowered?"...
The Chancellor of Finance was stunned, because this question was really tricky, and he was overwhelmed at once. He knew very well how strong the will of the Americans was. I am afraid that they would not do it at all if they asked for ten million dollars. This was just his use.
It was just an excuse to convince Nicholas I, or a pie in the sky!
No one had pierced this point before. Of course he could deceive him as much as he wanted, but Count Rostovtsev pierced the window paper without mercy. If he foolishly guaranteed that he would be able to sell it at this price, would he have to pay for the price difference at that time?
money?
"This... this..." He replied hesitantly, "Who can say for sure about the negotiation? The price may be a little higher, but it may also be a little lower. We will continue to contact each other and negotiate slowly.
Only then can we know.”
Count Rostovtsev would not fall for this, and immediately retorted: "Then you mean that there is no bottom line of 10 million, and it is possible that there is not even 10 million, right?"
"Well……"
The finance minister was speechless, but Count Rostovtsev continued to press: "Let's put it this way, what is your bottom line for this, or how much do you plan to sell it for?".
Tinplate reminds you: Remember to collect after reading this