Duke Alexander Gorchakov generally agreed with Li Xiao's proposal. Even because of the Holy Alliance, Russia had no reason to help Austria in vain. Thieves all know that they can't do anything in vain if they don't leave empty-handed. Why did Nicholas I do so?
Don’t you understand this?
Anyway, Duke Alexander is completely unable to understand the brain circuit of Nicholas I. Doesn’t he understand what national interests come first? In his mind, he still naively believes that the Holy Alliance is really reliable and that Austria and Prussia are brothers.
In this country, if a brother is in trouble, he should help at all costs. He thinks that the uprising mobs all over the world are a serious problem for him and Russia.
This is simply speechless. Anyway, from the perspective of Duke Alexander, there is really no point in saving Austria. It is more beneficial to Russia to let Austria collapse. After Austria is finished, they will naturally be unable to continue to expand in the Balkans, or even maintain their existence.
Not too possible.
The vacuum left behind can naturally be taken over by Russia. Then things that generations of tsars have tried to do but failed to do will be easily accomplished. Isn’t this great?
Well, even if you, Nicholas I, have a head full of stones or water and insist on saving Austria, you can't do it for free! A movement of the army will cost more than ten thousand gold! Austria will always have to foot the bill.
Right? And since the Austrians have taken such a big advantage, they must give way to Russia on the Balkan issue!
Only by implementing these, saving Austria will not seem so useless, and it can barely be saved. But the problem is that Nicholas I did not have these ideas at all, and Neserrode clearly wanted to get it, but in order to protect his own diplomatic strategy, he strongly opposed it.
, always talking about the importance of the Holy Alliance, as if without Austria and this half-baked alliance, Russia would be destroyed.
This made Duke Alexander so angry that he was itching his teeth, but there was not much he could do about it. Why did Nicholas I fall under the evil spell of Neserrodie?
He could only give Nicholas I very restrained and covert advice: "Under the current situation, Austria is completely unable to effectively exert influence on Turkey. The situation in Wallachia and Moldavia is under the instigation and connivance of Britain and France.
There is a possibility of further deterioration.”
"Once this happens, our country's long-term interests in Wallachia and Moldavia will suffer a heavy blow, which will greatly damage our country's interests. Pressure should be put on Viana as soon as possible on this issue to force them to agree
It is urgent to adopt the same tone as our country."
The subtext of this statement is very clear, but it is really hard to say whether Nicholas I can understand it, so Duke Alexander can only hint: "In view of the chaotic situation in Austria, the possibility of total collapse of the country cannot be ruled out. Vienna
They urgently need our country’s assistance and are willing to pay all acceptable prices for our country’s generous assistance...”
This hint is already very explicit, almost shouting at Nicholas I: "Cut it! Cut it quickly! Don't hesitate and don't be polite!"
So what was Nicholas I’s attitude? Was he still so naive?
If you want to say that Nicholas I was really a naive and naive person, that would definitely be a lie. The reason why he cared so much about Austria and was willing to help his Austrian friends regardless of anything in return is very simple:
First of all, he is very afraid of revolution and regards revolution as the number one threat. He always feels that if the revolutionary masses can overthrow the rule of the Habsburg family today, they can also overthrow the rule of the Romanov family tomorrow.
He has a paranoia of revolutionary persecution, so when he hears about the revolution, he will put out the fire regardless of whether it is really helpful to Russia's national interests. As long as it can kill the revolution, he is willing to pay and pawn his pants.
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Secondly, he attaches great importance to the Holy Alliance and feels that as long as the Holy Alliance exists, it can contain the provocations of Britain and France and maintain the long-term peace and order of Russia. Since Austria is an important member of the Holy Alliance and is now facing life and death danger, it is natural to save it.
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Otherwise, would the Holy Alliance still be the Holy Alliance without Austria?
Based on these two items, Nicholas I was willing to help Austria suppress the revolution without any reward. But as Duke Alexander Gorchakov kept making suggestions again and again, some of them were very tempting.
The suggestion really moved him.
Yes, it is very realistic whether those who engage in politics are cunning or foolish. No one can resist the fatal temptation. For Nicholas I, there were not many fatal temptations, and there were only a few in total.
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He just wanted to realize his ancestors' long-cherished wish and conquer the Mediterranean to recapture Constantinople; he also wanted to liberate the Slavic and Orthodox brothers who were enslaved by the Turks in the Balkans and become a true saint.
This is what he wants most, and he is willing to sacrifice his life. But it is not easy to achieve these two things. He has tried several times, and although he has achieved certain results, he is still far, far away from his goal.
After all these years, he occupied part of Bessarabia and gave Wallachia and Moldavia a high degree of autonomy, but this land is still far away from Constantinople! And after achieving all this, he
If we want to take a step forward, we will face tremendous pressure from the entire international community.
Britain and France were strongly opposed and began to support the Turks. Austria, a small partner of the Holy Alliance, also began to complain. Not only did it not help, but it repeatedly held back, and even continued to express concern through diplomatic channels. In fact, it was also opposition to the matter!
Anyway, Nicholas I once felt that there was no hope of realizing his long-cherished wish in this life. But after Duke Alexander Gorchakov reminded him, he took advantage of the chaos in the country of Faop and other great powers to provide help.
It is not impossible to use this excuse to blackmail Austria into letting go!
If Austria gives in, it is really possible to send troops to Wallachia, truly cut it off from Turkey's territory, or even sign a garrison agreement to protect Wallachia.
Then he will slowly operate for a period of time to make Wallachia and Moldavia become part of Russia like Poland and Finland. Is he familiar with this operation? Once successful, it means that Russia is far away from Constantinople.
Much closer.
Moreover, there are similar Turkish vassals such as Bulgaria and Serbia on the future journey that can be operated one by one. If you name them one by one, aren't you getting closer to Constantinople?
At this moment, Nicholas I was really tempted. He was a little excited. He immediately summoned the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Count Neserrodie to the royal study and asked his opinion in detail to see if this could really be done.