Count Rostovtsev listened very carefully to Dmitry Milyutin's analysis and judgment, and from time to time recorded some key judgments with a quill. However, for him, Austria's leakage from all sides was not a bad thing.
On the Austrian issue, he is actually more inclined to the opinions of Duke Alexander Gorchakov and Li Xiao. A weak Austria is more in line with Russia's interests. It is more beneficial to weaken Austria locally!
He even muttered in his heart: "I hope the Italians can be more powerful. It would be great if they could take the initiative to cause trouble. It would be best to drag the Austrian forces to the Apennine Peninsula, so that we can have more operations."
Space!】
As soon as this idea came up, there was no way to contain it. Count Rostovtsev pondered for a long time, and finally couldn't help but said to Dmitri: "My friend, if...I mean if...if Italy
For example, if the Kingdom of Sardinia suddenly declares war on Austria, what impact will this have?"
Dmitri's eyes widened and he asked in disbelief: "The Kingdom of Sardinia declared war on Austria? My God, how is this possible? Is Savoy crazy?"
Count Rostovtsev curled his lips and thought to himself: "Poor kid, you are still too naive politically. As long as you have enough interests, what's the point of going crazy? It's entirely possible to even make a deal with the devil!"
But he said: "My friend, I said, what if! What if the Kingdom of Sardinia does this?"
Dmitri pondered for a moment, and then replied with a stern face: "If the time is right, once the Kingdom of Sardinia declares war on Austria, it will have serious consequences...To put it bluntly, this may completely defeat the Habsburgs.
family, end their rule! It is very likely that the Austrian Empire will cease to exist. The order of the entire Central and Eastern Europe will be reshuffled!"
"As for the military, the Austrian army will be dragged on the Apennine Peninsula and will be unable to return home to quell the rebellion! This will put great pressure on them and Duke Paskovich!"
Count Rostovtsev nodded and asked: "Suppose, what if the Kingdom of Sardinia wiped out the main force of the Austrian army in Apennines? What would happen?"
Dmitri said seriously: "Then the Habsburg family is finished!"
Count Rostovtsev was satisfied. He liked the result a little, but he knew that this result would never happen. It was not that he despised the fighting power of the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Italians. It was that he knew that Nicholas I would never allow it.
Things like this happen.
Although Nicholas I's views on Austria have changed slightly now, this does not mean that he has completely given up on the Holy Alliance. This alliance is still very important to him for the time being and cannot be abandoned. And Neserrodie cannot
Just sit back and watch, that old fox will definitely go all out for this, even if it means risking his political life.
What's more, a rising Kingdom of Sardinia is not in Russia's interest. For the time being, this bastard country is closer to Britain and France and will not have any good feelings toward Russia, so it still can't let them get too proud.
And what Count Rostovtsev wanted to do was just to take advantage of them and let them stab the Austrians in the chest so that the Austrians would bleed more.
Dmitri seemed to have realized something. He knew that Count Rostovtsev would never make assumptions without reason. If he made assumptions, it meant some kind of signal.
It's just that Dmitry is still relatively practical. Although he doesn't like some of Nicholas I's policies, it doesn't mean that he will choose to use some extreme measures to stop them.
So he asked cautiously: "Count, have you received any news about any changes in the Kingdom of Sardinia?"
Count Rostovtsev looked at him and replied calmly: "I have received some news that the Kingdom of Sardinia seems to be trying to take advantage of the civil strife in Austria to unify the Apennine Peninsula."
Dmitri snorted and was shocked by the news. He blurted out: "Then we must be prepared. We must remind the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Navy to pay attention to the Kingdom of Sardinia just in case!"
Count Rostovtsev shook his head in his heart. Although Dmitri was outstanding, sometimes he was too simple and innocent. It can only be said that he still retained too many military habits. As a politician,
How can it be so simple?
Do you believe what others say? Then why do you need that thing on your shoulders? Is it just to increase the average height of human beings?
Politicians must maintain the good habit of independent thinking at all times. No matter what relationship they have with you or what they say, you have to think about it for yourself. Is there any problem here? Is it true? How can you be led by others?
Walking on the nose!
This is what Count Rostovtsev is most dissatisfied with Dmitri for the time being, but he is not in a hurry, because this habit has been formed by Dmitri for a long time, and it is impossible to change it overnight.
You try to use bloody lessons to make him understand what it means to think twice before leaping!
So Count Rostovtsev just replied calmly: "What's the use of reminding the War and Navy Ministries? Do you think Menshikov and Chernyshev will care about this? Or do you think both of them are
The kind of person who is particularly good at listening to other people's opinions? Not to mention that what we have now is just some gossip and gossip."
Dmitri refused to give up and said: "But we have to be just in case! What if something happens?"
Count Rostovtsev snorted contemptuously: "What if? Do you think Menshikov and Chernyshev care about what if? Don't waste time, my friend. You should focus on the Caucasus."
Let’s go to war, do a good job as chief of staff, and seize this opportunity to show off your abilities!”
Dmitri still refused to give up: "What about the Kingdom of Sardinia?"
Count Rostovtsev sighed leisurely: "I will remind your Majesty..."
Although he was a little hesitant, Dmitri finally chose to believe Count Rostovtsev. He never thought that Count Rostovtsev would not even raise this topic with Nicholas I, and even tried every means to instigate the Kingdom of Sardinia.
He will still be the one to take action.
Dmitri believed Count Rostovtsev and wholeheartedly planned the war plan for the Caucasus according to the count's instructions. He had no idea that at the same time Count Rostovtsev was contacting friends in Italy and France.
Begin to encourage the Kingdom of Sardinia to go to war with Austria in advance.
In fact, without the instigation of Count Rostovtsev, the Kingdom of Sardinia would have made the same choice, and his actions only greatly accelerated the process...