Chapter 18 Tsar's Thoughts

On the southern outskirts of St. Petersburg, there is a peaceful and beautiful imperial village. If the Peter's Palace is the embodiment of Peter the Great's will, then the imperial village mainly reflects the ideals and tastes of Yekaterina II. In 1717, at Sally Manor, about 30 kilometers south of Petersburg, she was the wife and queen of Peter I. The construction of the summer villa built by Alexeyevna broke ground. In order to emphasize the significance of the new royal territory, it was soon called the imperial village.

In the following nearly two hundred years, the imperial village not only developed into the largest palace of the tsar, but also a school was built in the garden opposite the Catherine Palace. Pushkin was one of the first students here. The imperial village was finally closely linked to the name of Pushkin, Russia's greatest poet. As the cradle of his literary career, this land full of spiritual surnames bathed the poet and gave him endless creative inspiration.

Although over the past 200 years, I don't know how many Russian nobles have visited with the mood of pilgrims. The fame of the imperial village is not only because it is the golden and brilliant Catherine Palace; not only because there is an extremely luxurious "amber hall" here, but also because of Pushi Village. However, as the tsar's palace, there are indeed magnificent palace buildings here, which are prominent and respected.

As spread in the high-level aristocratic circles in St. Petersburg, "After receiving etiquette on January 19, the tsar did not dare to appear in his capital, or even dare to stay in St. Petersburg." The great, fatherly tsar took his family and hid in the imperial village.

"Immediately remove Kurobatkin on the spot! Lignevic, the commander of the First Army, will take over!"

When Vit entered the battle map room of the Catherine Palace, he heard the thunderous roar of Tsar Nicholas II. He had enough reasons to be angry. The failure of the Battle of Fengtian caused a heavy blow to him and Russia.

"Yes, Your Majesty! I absolutely agree with your decision!"

As soon as he stepped into the battle map room, Witt immediately followed the tsar's words.

"But Your Majesty, while pursuing the responsibility of Kurobatkin, we must see that it is his excellent work that allows the main force of the Manchurian army to withdraw to the front line of Tieling, and it is also thanks to this that the North Manchuria and the Far East do not fall into his own hands! What do you think? Sakharov!"

After making a guarantee for Kurobatkin, Witt voted for the question to Sakharov? Victor?? Vikdorović, who was the tsar's aide-general, the minister of the Russian Imperial Army, the chairman of the military conference and a member of the Yuanle Special Committee, was one of the cronies of the tsar, which was enough to influence the tsar's decision.

"Your Majesty, as the Duke of Witt said, it was Kulobatkin's urgent and decisive jump out of the encirclement of the Japanese army that avoided the collapse of the whole Far East war!"

The tsar, who was vulnerable to his influence, meditated for a while and asked.

"Lediger, how do you think we should deal with this?"

Le Tyger? Alexander? Fedovic first stood upright, glanced at Vit, and then replied.

"Your Majesty, I think General Kurobatkin should be removed from the spot. Lignevic, the commander of the First Army, should take over as the commander-in-chief of the Manchurian Army and the commander-in-chief of the Far East Army. At the same time, in view of Admiral Kurobatkin's understanding of the Japanese Army, he can take over the position of the commander of the First Army and continue to lead The First Army of the Manchurian Army continues to fight against the war!"

"Okay! That's it!"

After the initial anger, Nicholas II replied that Witt was not surprised by this result, just like Alexeyev, the former commander-in-chief of the Manchurian Army, who abandoned his troops and fled all the way back to St. Petersburg in the early days of the war, was just simple. It's just a dismissal after the investigation.

"Your Majesty, I think that with the failure of the Battle of Fengtian, it is necessary for us to recall the Second Pacific Squadron back home."

Prince Mikhail immediately said after the Tsar made this decision. Almost at the moment his voice fell, Prince Constantine also hurriedly continued.

"Yes, Your Majesty, there is no need to send the Second Fleet to the Far East to die!"

Constantine's words not only did not work, but also counterproductive. At first, it was Tsar Nicholas II who was desperate to send the fleet to the Far East, not to mention that he was not willing to give up the war. He still has the hope of recovering the war. Undoubtedly, he is more "optimistic" than these ministers and princes.

"Now the only thing that can save the situation is the Second Pacific Squadron led by Roth Jestervenski, and immediately ordered him to speed up his voyage to the Far East and defeat his own fleet! As long as we seize the right to control the sea, we can cut off the supply line of the army stationed in Manchuria, and Russia can win this war again."

Aware that Prince Constantine and most of the generals in the battle map were surprised, Jugula II quickly opened his mouth to explain.

"At least at that time, we will win the initiative of the battlefield, and then make peace with the "depretity" of Japan."

Whether it was to appease these generals, princes and ministers, or sincerely, the Tsar finally showed a trace of the idea of making peace.

"At the same time, we need to order Lignevic to gather and rest in the Songliao Plain around Siping. The terrain there is not conducive to the round-and-back attack of the Japanese army. Moreover, this area is rich in resources and is a famous granary in Manchuria. Moreover, there is the Songhua River in the waterway and the Middle East Railway on the land, which is extremely convenient for transportation. I think at least now we need You have to stick there! What do you think?

In the following meeting, Nicholas II kept giving orders when consulting the generals for advice, while Witt, more often as a bystander, he must talk about this matter with His Majesty alone. As Zhang Hao said, China needs to stage a drama with Russia. !

How many hours later, Nicholas II, who finished the meeting, looked up at Vit, who stood there quietly and watched the Tsar expressing his opinions there.

"Witt, what's the matter?"

Nicholas II didn't seem to realize that Vito had been waiting for him here until now.

"Your Majesty, it's a nice day today. I think we should go for a walk in the garden. What do you think?"

After giving a ceremony, Witt put forward his own suggestion to avoid those generals. The insiders of this matter must be controlled within the minimum range. Can he make a lot of noise before he signed the secret contract with Li Hongzhang. The world knows that the fewer people know, the more effective it will be. OK.

"Yes, what a nice day today! Yes, you should get some air!"

With that, Nicholas II walked outside the battle map, and Vit followed him. After the two arrived at the garden, when there was no one around, Vit said.

"Your Majesty, according to the report of the Governor-General's Office of Finland, Finland has been in a state of instability in more than ten cities. With the support of Japanese army spies, the "Active Resistance Party" has received a large number of explosives, rifles and bullets for its uprising. Now the Finns are changing from a docile subordinate nation that is grateful to His Majesty. A dangerous, dissatisfied and reading-seeking nation!"

Witt looked at His Majesty's expression as if there was no change. He knew that the change in Finland might be more caused by His Majesty's stupid policy in front of him, but in front of His Majesty, he could only blame himself, not on His Majesty's own mistakes that led to the change in Finland.

"Due to the incitement and support of Japanese spies, coupled with the instigation of insurgents, the current domestic situation is unstable. Now Russia can no longer concentrate all its human and material resources for war as in the past. The speed of sending troops to the Far East is not as fast as before. More troops are needed in China to maintain it!"

Of course, Nicholas II understood what Witt said, otherwise he would not have hid in the imperial village. Even now he is most worried about the domestic reaction after the news of the failure of the Battle of Fengtian. What do the consequences of the defeat of the Battle of Fengtian mean? Nicholas II is very clear that the defeat of the Battle of Lushun caused him to flee to the imperial village. For Russia, if there is no victory, Russia will fall deeper and deeper into full bankruptcy every month of the war. Nicholas II is very clear.

Fortunately! Fortunately! Thank you! In this war, the Russians have become accustomed to the defeat of the army. Nicholas II comforted himself so much in his heart. Even as a tsar, sometimes he must learn to use a self-deprecating view to comfort his wounded heart.

"Your Majesty, I heard that the Manchurian Army suffered a heavy loss!"

"We lost nearly 30% of the army, 40% of the cannons, 50% of the rifle, and 70% of the ammunition..."

Nicholas II's words completely stunned Vit. He imagined that he would suffer a heavy loss, but he never thought that the loss would be so heavy.

"Your Majesty, if the Japanese army continues to advance, does General Lignevic have the ability to stop the Japanese army's attack?"

Silence, Nicholas II did not answer him, but looked up at the clear sky and said.

"What a nice day today! Victor, do you want to go hunting tomorrow?

The Tsar's answer stunned Witt. He looked at the Tsar in surprise. It was hard to imagine that he could say such words and hunt at this time. Is this the only thing that is the most important thing in your majesty's eyes now?

"Your Majesty!"

Witt reminded him with a heavy reminder.

"Witt, sometimes we have to face the facts, but life always has to go on!"

Nicholas II looked at Vit with a smile and had an answer in his heart. Now Lignevic can't stop the attack of the Japanese army at all. Maybe, soon, he will lose the whole Manchuria and even the Far East, but what can he do?

"They want me to recall Rothjestvinsky, but they have never thought about it. Now for Russia, perhaps our only hope is that Rothstvinsky. Only when his fleet wins this naval battle can we have a chance. I will get a decent chance to end this war!"

At this time, His Majesty's face rarely showed a trace of heaviness. He never wanted to get the throne. Until now, even ten years later, he was not ready to be the Tsar, but he still wanted to be a good Tsar, but it was too difficult. He once tried hard, but the cruel reality gave him cruel. A fierce blow.

When the cold wind blew, the hidden pain in his neck reminded him of the knife that Tsuda said that he had cut down. When he was a prince, he visited the knife that was cut by him. It seemed that Russia must fight with the Japanese. But what about the truth?

Long before the outbreak of the war, he not only did not prompt Russia to declare war on Japan as speculated by the outside world, but also tried to avoid the outbreak of the war for Russia, and even chose appropriate compromises, including accepting Japan's request to withdraw troops from Manchuria. As a tsar, he understood Russia and understood Russia's strength, so he doesn't want to fight this war.

But in the end, I was greedy and destroyed everything. They used a sneak attack to prevent Russia from fighting a war that they were not ready for. Now for Russia, it can only continue to fight. Only by winning this war, Russia is likely to recover its decline in one fell swoop and revive its declining national fortune.

"Witt, do you know that the German General Staff has formulated a plan to unite the Austro-Hungarian Empire to help me suppress the revolution once civil strife breaks out in Russia?"

Saying this, Nicholas II said without sighing.

"But in decades, Russia has been a military policeman in Europe!"

In his memory, once Russia will make the whole of Europe tremble. Even after the Crimean War, those countries will respect the hard-stricken Russia. Russia is the roller of Europe. But what about now? An Eastern country has been able to challenge Russia's authority and cruelly smash Russia's last line of dignity to pieces.

"Your Majesty!"

In the face of His Majesty's heavy tone and the sadness between his words, Witt bowed deeply and said in a low tone.

"Russia is not Russia half a century ago!"

He pulled Vit to look at the Tsar, and then said.

"Your Majesty, we still have another opportunity. Yesterday, I met with Mr. Zhang Hao, the special envoy of His Majesty the Chinese Emperor. He conveyed to me the message from the Chinese Emperor. If there was no failure of Fengtian, maybe I would think it was an arrogant fantasy, but Your Majesty, for the Russian Empire now, what is this? Isn't it a better choice to try it?"

In Witt's view, in any case, I must encourage His Majesty to accept the Chinese people's advice this time. That suggestion is the best choice to save Russia's face. At least in Witt's view, it can prevent Russia from losing the last bit of his family.

"Oh? The Chinese who usurped the throne? Does he have any good advice?

Nicholas II did not have much affection for the Chinese who relied on the "revolution" to become emperor in China. In fact, he was even worried that there were people in Russia who followed the same. Like him, he relied on the revolution to subvert the Romanov Dynasty. When the Chinese Empire was established, the Russian newspaper only used a few words. Report.

"Your Majesty, now the Manchurian army is no longer able to stop the footsteps of Dashanyan. Maybe he will not only attack from the south to the north, but also from South Korea to the Far East, but we don't have enough strength to stop their attack in the whole Far East! If the Far East falls, maybe a revolution will break out in Russia because of failure!"

Witt said without worry. Zhang Hao said this to him yesterday, but he also learned from his own channels that long before the Battle of Fengtian, he said that he had envisioned winning a "se-style siege and anniten war" to create an opportunity to seize the Far East. Because of this, before the Battle of Fengtian, Witt I tried to end the war.

But the Tsar must persevere, not only for the "illusory victory", but for Russia's last effort. If Russia admits defeat, the price is not what the Tsar is willing to bear, nor can the Russian Empire bear.

"Maybe I can only pray for the help of the Three Emperors Alliance at that time!"

There is a hint of ridicule in Nicholas II's words. If Russia is really defeated, a revolution will be inevitable. At that time, he can only rely on his cousins to send troops to help Russia suppress the revolution.

"However, Your Majesty, if you are willing to end this war with a decent way, we still have a chance to accept the conditions of the Chinese people and let them end this war!"

"They... Chinese, we have entered their capital. Do they have the ability to end this war?"

Nicholas II asked rhetorically, five years ago, he or as his own commander-in-chief, ordered hundreds of thousands of troops to occupy the whole Manchuria in just ten days, and finally to their capital. How could the Chinese have the ability to help Russia?

"What's more, Witt, if I remember correctly, haven't the Chinese people always been half of my allies? How could they fall to us!"

"Your Majesty, there are no eternal friends between the country and the country. Only the eternal interests, which is the dilemma we are currently facing, will make the Chinese choose to be friends with us!"

In answering His Majesty's question, Witt also had a sentence in his mind, "What you can get from the loser who are facing defeat may be more than from the winner", which is the root of the Chinese people's willingness to take risks.

"Your Majesty, at least before Rothjestvinsky defeats the Japanese navy and General Ernestic to reorganize the army, the Chinese can give us time to breathe. For the losers, we don't need to abide by any treaties that have been signed!"

Vitter's eyes showed a cunning look. In fact, the reason why he didn't come to the imperial village to see the tsar at the first time yesterday was that he was thinking about the feasible surname in Zhang Hao's suggestion. From that point of view, for the Russians, it was beneficial and harmless.

"Oh? Witt, tell me what the emperor's conditions are!"

(to be continued)