Chapter seven hundred and thirty fourth unbearable
What Nicholas I cared about was not money. From the moment he agreed to send troops to help Austria suppress the revolution, he was mentally prepared to lose money. Originally, according to his idea, if the situation in Austria was really bad, he would
The military expenditures on the border are too big to be compensated.
But what he knows now is that Schwarzenberg, under the guidance of Neserrodie, went around the docks and spent a lot of money to bribe his cronies, hoping that these cronies would help persuade him to give up asking for military funds from Austria.
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This made Nicholas I very angry. I feel that you Austria spend a lot of money and have the money to pay bribes, but you are stingy with paying me a dime for military expenses. Are you too stingy, or do you regard me as an idiot, or simply don't want to
Give me face!
Nicholas I was really angry and felt that Austria's actions were too unethical. He didn't believe every word Schwarzenberg said from the bottom of his heart.
Before, Schwarzenberg brazenly cried about his poverty in front of him, making Austria feel as if he couldn't get the blame out of his family. But you have the money to pay bribes without hesitation. What a fool you are!
Schwarzenberg also complained to him about how unprofessional Duke Alexander was and how anti-Austrian he was. Nicholas I believed it at first, but after seeing Schwarzenberg's praise, Nicholas I
I feel that it is precisely because Duke Alexander is too professional that he can't stand Schwarzenberg's behavior, so he has repeatedly tried to fight for the interests of Russia, otherwise he would have replaced him with a so-called "more professional" ambassador, such as Neserlo
Those so-called German elites recommended by Die, I am afraid that Nicholas I is still helping to count the money when he is sold!
If Schwarzenberg and Neserrode knew that the reason why they failed to open a breakthrough was that their little actions aroused Nicholas I's disgust, they would probably not be able to cry.
But no one would tell them this, for Count Rostovtsev and Prince Ordov were both against them.
"They have been very active recently?" Nicholas I asked dully.
"Yes, yesterday they visited Duke Ordov and Duke Menshikov, and Duke Ordov refused their bribe..."
Nicholas I was also filled with emotion when he heard this: "Alexei is indeed the Alexei I know. He can always adhere to his integrity, which is very good! Why did Alexander become so soft and accept money again?"
Count Rostovtsev replied seriously: "Prince Menshikov initially received one hundred thousand rubles, but he returned the check the next day after meeting with the crown prince!"
Nicholas I was very happy when he heard this: "That old guy still takes the initiative to refund the money? It seems that Sasha taught him a lesson! Huh, this old guy is getting more and more confused. He can receive whatever money he wants.
I don’t even know if I can’t accept the money!”
Count Rostovtsev was originally going to hide the fact that Menshikov returned the check, but he knew the temper of Nicholas I better. He would not only ask him to understand these situations, but also ask other people to understand. If
Let him discover that he deliberately concealed certain things, but it was self-defeating.
It would be better to make it clear and concise to further consolidate his trust. Anyway, Menshikov has lost points even if he bounced the check, so there is no need to rush it.
Nicholas I felt a lot better inexplicably. He probably felt that no one in Crown Prince Alexander would let him down, but he still asked uneasily: "The Austrians didn't want to go find Sasha?"
Count Rostovtsev replied: "Of course, but the crown prince refused their bribe!"
Nicholas I finally smiled. His biggest wish was that Crown Prince Alexander would have a prince. If the prince of a country can be bribed by petty profits, how can he inherit the great cause?
As the crown prince, he should be clear about the major and minor matters. There should not be any confusion on such a big issue of right and wrong. At this point, Nicholas I felt that Crown Prince Alexander was still reliable, which was also the most gratifying thing for him.
But if Nicholas I knew that Count Rostovtsev had concealed the real reason why Crown Prince Alexander rejected Schwarzenberg, he would probably vomit blood. If he knew that Crown Prince Alexander was only planning to blackmail the Austrians.
, if more oil and water are squeezed out, I wonder if he will vomit blood.
However, this really cannot be blamed on Crown Prince Alexander for being short-sighted or too small-minded. If we can blame him, we can only blame Nicholas I himself. Who made him trust Neserrodie with all his heart, and who made him have to maintain life and death to become more and more decadent and lonely?
What about the Habsburg family?
In the eyes of Crown Prince Alexander and most of the other courtiers of Nicholas I, since the emperor was bound to Austria life and death, what was the point of opposing it? Since Nicholas I had decided that he would always trust Austria in the end, then
Why should they interfere and make His Majesty the Emperor unhappy?
Why not symbolically block the Austrians and take advantage of the opportunity to get a vote? Anyway, their objections are useless and nothing will change!
This is the true thought of most of Russia's courtiers, including Crown Prince Alexander. Nicholas I has the final say in everything. He has already stated his attitude of protecting Austria to the death, so we can only follow the emperor's wishes.
What’s the problem with getting some benefits along the way?
This is the disadvantage of the monarch's arbitrariness and one person having the final say in everything. The people below have no chance to participate in the decision-making. Naturally, they have no intention of solving the monarch's problems, but are focused on making money and benefits.
Nicholas I couldn't bear the blame even if he didn't bear it, but he certainly wouldn't think so. He would only blame the people below him for not being loyal enough. For example, he vomited Menshikov sharply again, as if
Menshikov is so heinous.
"For those who can insist on integrity and can insist on safeguarding Russia's interests, we must reuse them! And for those who are in high positions but eat nothing all day long, we should also encourage them well. The country supports them and gives them such high treatment, isn't it?
Let them eat it inside and out!"
Count Rostovtsev exited Nicholas I's study with satisfaction, because this time he had basically achieved all his goals, basically solved the problems that old Igor was concerned about, and brought along Menshikov and others.
An old thing.
Especially the latter, he has successfully left the impression on Nicholas I that Menshikov and others are becoming more cunning as they get older, which is of great significance in dismantling their power!