Naturally, Yermolov also knew that a few words against Count Rostovtsev were of no use other than to satisfy his taste, and naturally enough was enough soon.
"Tell me, why do you come to see me?" Yermolov asked seriously.
This question amused Count Rostovtsev. He smiled and asked: "General, why do you think I came to you for something?"
Yermolov rolled his eyes at Count Rostovtsev, snorted and said: "You are definitely a night owl who has no good intentions. In 1826, you came to me and asked me to take care of the exiled Decembrists.
The result? I was quickly reported and lost my official position!"
Speaking of this matter, Count Rostovtsev's face tightened and he immediately explained: "General, I have explained to you countless times that it was definitely not me who reported you!"
Ermolov said angrily: "It's not who you are, how could such a coincidence happen!"
Count Rostovtsev sighed: "General, it is indeed not me. I have been looking for the person who reported you these years, but I can swear that it is definitely not me!"
Yermolov snorted again: "Swear, hum, then tell me who is the father who gave birth to a son without having sex!"
Count Rostovtsev sighed: "I don't know. The only thing I can find is that the person who reported you back then was you who personally reported it to His Majesty. You did it extremely secretly and no one knew about it!"
Ermolov rolled his eyes at Count Rostovtsev again, blew his beard and glared: "In other words, you haven't found anything after more than twenty years, right?"
Count Rostovtsev was a bit dumbfounded. He did not have the status he has now. He could not see the secret report in the third part, so he really did not know who made the report. Of course, he could also be sure.
The person who made the whistleblower at that time was probably not one of Yermolov's subordinates, and was probably not even an official in the Caucasus. It was very likely that he heard about Yermolov's sheltering of the Decembrists and then reported it to Nikolai.
I made a small report.
"Tch!" Yermolov turned his head in disgust and said disdainfully: "Of course I know it couldn't have been done by my boys. They are all good people and there is no way they could imitate someone else and betray their companions!
"
If someone else had made such insinuations or had something to say, Count Rostovtsev would have definitely exploded and let him know how powerful Rostovtsev’s iron fist was. But against this old man, he really could only smile bitterly, not for anything else.
, entirely because he has nothing but admiration for Yermolov.
Yes, despite the fact that the old man seemed so fussy in front of Count Rostovtsev, the old man never said anything bad about Count Rostovtsev when he was dismissed or after he was dismissed.
Well. He has always been so open-minded. Even if some of his friends or subordinates had suspicions about Count Rostovtsev for some reason, the old man always defended and explained Count Rostovtsev.
Tell me, can you hate such an old man? What if he made a few sarcastic remarks to his face?
"Forget it, I don't want to mention these old things anymore," Ermolov waved his hand and said, "You should tell me what you have come to see me for!"
"That's right!" Without waiting for Count Rostovtsev to speak, the old man added: "It's better to be a good thing. If something bad happens like twenty years ago, don't look for me. Most of my body is buried in the ground."
, but the bastards who can’t stand the third part will continue to toss!”
If it were someone else, I'm afraid he really wouldn't go to Yermolov when it comes to problems with the revolution or the revolutionary party. But Count Rostovtsev knows this old general too well, regardless of what he says.
It's a serious matter, but actually he means something different. He said he didn't want it, but actually he wanted it. The true translation of what he said just now is:
"The most important thing about revolution is to come to me. If I'm not afraid of death, what else do I have to be afraid of!"
Count Rostovtsev smiled and nodded, and said: "General, I came to you this time mainly because I want to talk to you about the issue of Grand Duke Andrei Konstantinovich."
Yermolov was stunned, because he thought that Count Rostovtsev came to him for something more important or dangerous. But a certain Grand Duke didn't seem that dangerous, right?
"His Royal Highness the Grand Duke is not dangerous, but I feel that some of His Majesty's actions towards the Grand Duke are really excessive."
Yermolov snorted and said contemptuously: "Isn't this normal? People in the Romanov family are not all so evil. They say they don't want to be the emperor and don't value the throne at all, but in their hearts
But my head longs to sleep hugging that stool."
Yermolov disliked Nicholas I very much and thought he was a hypocrite. Before he succeeded to the throne, he had a cold and contemptuous attitude towards the throne, which made the world think that he really didn't want to
It's like being an emperor. But what happens after becoming an emperor? He clings to this position tightly. Not to mention other people trying to get involved, even a second glance will make him furious.
This inconsistent performance made Yermolov particularly despised, and he would make some mocking remarks about Nicholas I whenever he had the opportunity.
Count Rostovtsev did not answer this question, because it was not easy to answer, and there was no need to answer it. As a confidant of Nicholas I, he had watched the emperor for more than 20 years, and he thought that he had a relatively good impression of Nicholas I.
thorough.
It is true that Nicholas I valued the throne more than anything else, but before he succeeded to the throne, he really did not think about becoming an emperor, and he really did not care much about the emperor's throne. This person was the kind of person who would refuse to let go once he had it.
What's more, his stubborn and rigid personality also required him to use the strongest stance to defend the throne of the Romanov family. In a sense, Nicholas I was also a helpless poor guy.
Count Rostovtsev directly stated his intention: "General, I hope you can go to the Black Sea to help take care of the young Grand Duke."
Ermolov was suddenly startled, looked at Count Rostovtsev again in surprise, and asked solemnly: "Why?"
Count Rostovtsev replied calmly: "Some things must be prepared in advance, otherwise you will be in a hurry when things happen!"
"Have you prepared early? What preparations?" Yermolov asked seriously.
Count Rostovtsev was still so candid: "Your Majesty's attitude towards revolution is established, and I guess it will never change much... And your Majesty's princes, please forgive me, whether it is revolution or
I'm afraid they will all be like their father in reforming..."