Chapter 428： double governor

As for Karl Nescherroddy, Nicholas I arranged for him to act as the correspondent of the Russian Empire. The main task was to stabilize the Kingdom of Great Britain and make the Kingdom of Great Britain as neutral as possible.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid this will require some external force!" Karl Nescher politely responded to Nicholas I, the purpose of which was to allow Nicholas I to provide some funds.

After all, giving each other some "gadgets" between foreign ministers can also promote mutual friendship.

The use of personal friendships to advance diplomacy has long been the norm.

"You can choose a part of whatever you like! As long as you can achieve your goal!" Nicholas I naturally could hear what Karl Nescherrodie meant, and he immediately replied to Karl Nescherlodie, who was rich and powerful. .

"Yes! Your Majesty!" Karl Necherrodie responded with a slight bow to Nicholas I.

After explaining their respective tasks, Nicholas I waved to the three people present, suggesting that they leave.

Dolgoruko and Orlov left the Yekaterina Palace, while Karl Nescherrodie went to the Romanov family's collection storage room under the leadership of the palace director, where the Romanov family was kept. Treasures sacked from nations, the greatest of which is sacked from France.

When the Holy King Alexander I led his army to France, everything he went through was a mess.

With the exception of a small number of soldiers with military prestige like Sirte who were not looted by the Russian Empire, all the collections looted from various countries during the Napoleonic Wars all fell into the hands of the Romanov family.

It can be said that the collections owned by the Romanov family are among the best in the world.

The two collections that are taken out at random are rare treasures.

After the three ministers were outrageous, Nicholas I ordered the attache to call the Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire.

The Minister of Finance, who was called by Nicholas I from the Imperial Treasury, looked at the tsar in front of him with a look of horror, and respectfully praised Nicholas I: "Merciful Your Majesty, I don't know what you are calling me for!"

Looking at the finance minister in front of him, Nicholas I immediately asked about the current state of the empire's finances.

"The Empire's finances are currently in a good stage!" How dare the Chancellor of the Exchequer tell Nicholas I the truth, he can only pretend to be calm and say to Nicholas I.

"That's good! Your Ministry of Finance should issue bonds as soon as possible, and the war is about to start!" Nicholas I was not talking nonsense, and directly issued an order to the Minister of Finance.

"Yes! We will do it!" The Chancellor of the Exchequer, who had not yet reacted, responded casually. After a few seconds, the Chancellor of Finance who had recovered had a surprised expression on his face. He stared at Nikolai with wide eyes. I: "War... war?!!!"

"That's right! What's all the fuss about!" Looking at the startled Foreign Minister in front of him, Nicholas I showed a look of disgust on his face.

"But... yes" the Chancellor of the Exchequer raised his head and looked at Nicholas I hesitantly.

"But what?" Nicholas I's face showed obvious impatience. "Is there a problem?"

"No...nothing!" Nicholas I's attitude made the Minister of Finance dare not reveal the real situation of the Russian Empire, for fear that he would be thrown directly into Siberia by the angry Nicholas I.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer does not think that his weight in Nicholas I’s heart can be compared with that of the former Prince Menshkov. Even a person like Prince Menshkov who is deeply trusted by His Majesty has not been “removed” because of his ineffectiveness. , honestly stay at home and drink alcohol to relieve anxiety. (Unbeknownst to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Menshkov has received a new appointment and is leaving St. Petersburg.

Only when he can satisfy all the wishes of Nicholas I as much as possible can he sit more stably in this position.

"How about the issuance of 10 million rubles war bonds?" Nicholas I asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer with an index finger.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer swallowed a mouthful of saliva, gritted his teeth and struggled for a while and then responded to Nicholas I: "Of course!"

"Okay! Then issue 10 million rubles first!" Nicholas I smiled again.

Subsequently, the Chancellor of the Exchequer left the Catherine Palace on the orders of Nicholas I.

The finance minister, who had just walked out of the Catherine Palace, immediately recovered his sadness. He did not understand how he should contrive 10 million rubles for the tsar.

According to the current credibility of the Russian Empire and government finances, let alone 10 million rubles, even 5 million rubles is a difficult thing.

Not to mention, 10 million rubles simply cannot support the majestic blueprint of Nicholas I, and subsequent additions are a big problem.

Under the torment of Nicholas I, the finances of the Russian Empire gradually collapsed.

And Nicholas I knew nothing about the financial collapse, and no one dared to tell Nicholas I the real financial situation.

The deceitful court politics became the norm in Russian imperial politics, and Nicholas I, in the information cocoon, would never understand this.

Only those outside the cocoon can truly see what lies beneath the splendid facade of the entire empire.

...

Just when the finance minister was at a loss for the issue of bonds for the Russian Empire, Prince Menshkov, who returned to St. Petersburg from the imperial village, informed his wife of the news that he had been reused by the tsar.

Mrs. Menshkov smiled kindly at the corner of her mouth and said, "I just said that His Majesty the Tsar will definitely reuse you again!"

"Yeah!" Menshkov also sighed with emotion, and then added: "All this is thanks to Prince Dolgoruko. If it weren't for him, I'm afraid it would be difficult for me to reach His Majesty again. Not to mention Said to be appointed as the Governor by His Majesty!"

"You should thank him!" Mrs. Menshkov also nodded and responded to Menshkov.

"However, now I'm going to leave and go to Sevastopol! Thank you for your troubles!" Menshkov said with his hands drooping on his wife's shoulders.

"Your Majesty, you are leaving so soon? Did something happen?" Mrs. Menshkov looked at Menshkov in surprise and asked with concern.

"Your Majesty, I want to teach the Ottoman Empire a lesson as soon as possible!" Menshkov clenched his fists and said excitedly, "I can't wait to teach them a lesson!"

"Then be careful! Don't be as reckless as last time!" Mrs. Menshkov gently held Menshkov's hand and said warmly.

"Don't worry! Last time it was a political issue that I am not good at, this time it is a military issue that I am good at! I will not make the same mistake!" Menshkov responded firmly.

"In short, come back safely!" Mrs. Menshkov didn't care about military or political affairs, she only hoped that her husband and children would be safe.

"Don't worry! I will definitely return in triumph!" Menshkov responded impassively.

That afternoon, Menshkov left St. Petersburg in a horse-drawn carriage, escorted by a battalion of the Guards.

Menshkov in a carriage will travel all the way south to Odessa, the crown jewel of the southern Russian Empire, and then pass a warship docked in the port of Odessa.

Since Nicholas I gave Menshkov an urgent task, Menshkov and the Guards Cavalry Battalion did not dare to neglect at all. After more than a week, everyone who traveled day and night finally arrived at Ao. Desa.

Here, Menshkov met his "old friend", Lieutenant General Vladimir Kornilov, Chief of Staff of the Black Sea Fleet.

At this time, Lieutenant General Kornilov and his fleet just completed a round of inspections to the western part of the Black Sea, and are now replenishing fresh water and supplies needed for warships in Odessa.

Kornilov was a little surprised by the arrival of Prince Menshkov in Odessa, and he hurriedly asked Prince Menshkov's purpose for arriving in Odessa.

Menshkov naturally had no intention of concealing anything, and immediately said to Kornilov: "Your Majesty has appointed me as the Governor of Crimea and the Caucasus, as long as I am in charge of all wars in the Black Sea and the Caucasus! Lieutenant General Ernilov, now you and your fleet will fight under our command! Do you have anything to say?"

"My fleet and I are willing to follow the orders of His Majesty the Tsar to fight with you!" Lieutenant General Kornilov doubted that he was there, and immediately said to Menshkov.

"Okay! Lieutenant General Kornilov!" Menshkov nodded to Kornilov with satisfaction.

Immediately Menshkov began to learn about the situation of the Ottoman fleet in the Black Sea area from Kornilov.

Lieutenant General Kornilov immediately reported to Menshkov what he saw during his patrol in the western Black Sea. In recent times, the Ottoman Empire has also dispatched their sailing battleships as **** formations to the Varna area. Transport supplies and personnel with the Caucasus.

"Why not sink them? Your job as chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet is to sink these fleets!" Menshkov asked Kornilov in a stern tone.

"Your Excellency the Governor of the Customer Service, Governor Vorontsov once issued clear regulations to my fleet. Before receiving the order of the Governor! The Black Sea Fleet cannot act without authorization, otherwise it will be kicked out of the army forever!!" Ernilov responded to Menshkov.

"Vorontsov? He is no longer the Governor of Crimea! From now on, all orders will be obeyed by me, the orders of the pressure. Menshkov! Did you hear it?" Menshkov again Establish authority to Lieutenant General Kornilov.

"Your Excellency Governor Menshkov, please give an order! My fleet and I will turn into wolves on the Black Sea and completely shred the overstretched Ottoman Empire!"