Chapter 67 Nicholas's Return
Give to God what is God's, and to the Tsar what is the Tsar's.
All the glory of Little Nicholas comes from the empire. He wholeheartedly maintains the empire, a huge and complex system, and hopes that the Russian Empire will last forever.
George knew the future of the empire.
If we don’t take the initiative to do something, the good life of people like Little Nicholas will only have 30 years left at most.
Nicholas the Younger fled after the fall of the Empire and eventually died in France.
George now finally has a deep understanding of the stubbornness of the Russian aristocracy.
It doesn’t matter whether something is good for the empire or not, as long as it doesn’t follow tradition, it’s wrong.
The Germans will not stop launching a war against Russia just because the Russian nobles abide by the rules.
Speaking of which, George is actually very curious.
Germany and Russia have a very good relationship both historically and now. Germany is Russia's largest trading partner. Germany's imports from Russia account for more than 40% of Germany's total imports.
Exports to France during the same period accounted for only 4% of Russia's exports.
So what George is curious about is why in World War I, Russia and France were allies, but not Germany.
Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary formed the Three Emperors Alliance.
There is no answer to this question yet, and George needs to continue to observe.
The military doctor's question was answered, but little Nicholas didn't take George's advice to heart at all, let alone report it to the Tsar.
Through Nikki, George can also contact the Tsar.
But George didn't do this, the reason is just like little Nicholas said, George can only do what he should do now.
Then do what you should do well.
Nicola fulfilled his promise and resumed physical exercise with George after the beginning of spring.
George and Nicholas's military courses have also begun. Nicholas is as uninterested as ever, and George is deeply disappointed.
George thought that the general’s military lessons would teach him many ingenious strategies.
As a result, the general's course can be summed up in two words: courage and loyalty.
Yes, courage and loyalty are important, but not everything. Fighting to die bravely and living to defend the country are two different things.
The core of the general's teaching is brave death in battle.
George knew that everyone was mortal, but compared to dying bravely in battle, George wanted to live to defend the country and become a part of the country.
What makes George feel ironic is that the general's method is not to let himself die bravely in battle, but to let the soldiers die bravely and live to defend the country.
This——
I can’t say that this is wrong, I can only say that people who are different should not work together.
George hoped that the soldiers of the Guards could live well, so George made more clothes when making them. All soldiers of the General Regiment, whether serving in the 4th Company or not, had two sets of clothes.
The clothes must not be distributed in the name of George, but in the name of Nicholas.
"George, you don't have to be like this." Nicholas felt very sorry, because these clothes were all paid for by George, and Nicholas didn't spend a penny.
"No, it is necessary. We are one, and all the glory is yours." George didn't feel bad. If the empire could last for a few more years, George would be able to receive a few more years of salary and do more. A few years in the champagne business, a few more years of enjoying the privileges of being a super duke. So even if George spends too much money, in the eyes of others, George is safeguarding the interests of the entire aristocratic group.
If you don’t love the empire, why don’t you let me love you~~
"George is so good to me, I don't even know how to repay you." Nicholas was completely touched. His father was not as good to him as George was to him.
The Tsar also needs honor.
"If you want to repay me, when you become Tsar, let me go to Siberia to be the governor." George planted seeds in Nicholas's heart with a joking tone.
A lie will turn into truth if repeated a thousand times. George kept talking about the Governor of Siberia in Nikolai’s ears all day long. When Nicholas becomes the Tsar, the Governor of Siberia will be George’s and no one can take it away.
"When I become Tsar, the Governor of Siberia will definitely be yours, but I will not let you go to Siberia." If Nicholas had the ability, he would now be willing to let George serve as Governor of Siberia, and even Siberia can be given to George as a private territory.
Anyway, George doesn’t have a fiefdom now——
Speaking of fiefdoms, Nicholas knew what he should do.
When Ya Er was alive, he was planning to pass the throne to Ya San. He took Catherine and George to live in seclusion in France, so naturally he would not prepare a fief for George.
Now that Ya Er has passed away, George is alone in St. Petersburg without even a fief. Compared with other grand dukes, Nicholas feels that George is too pitiful.
The Grand Duke's salary does not account for a high proportion of the Grand Duke's income, and the income from the fiefdom is the bulk.
George didn't have a fief, and he spent money lavishly. He helped George spend money when he had nothing to do. Nicholas felt that he needed to help George get a fief, which was somewhat of a compensation.
At this time, Nicholas took the initiative to forget about George and his income from champagne.
Why don’t I say Nicholas is big-hearted.
George rarely returns to the manor since he entered the service. Nicholas often returns to Gatchina Palace. This is also George's suggestion.
The reason why George did not return to the manor was because he had no relatives in the manor. Even with his wealth, George had to work as a military dog in the Guards. George had nothing to worry about in the manor.
A mother is most afraid that her son will marry a daughter-in-law and forget her mother, and a father does not want his son to get stiff and leave home.
George suggested that no matter how busy Nicholas is, he should take at least one day every week to go back to Gatchina Palace to be with his family. It is best to go back to Gatchina Palace to eat with the Tsar and the Queen every day. A meal, so that Nicholas can be in the heart of the emperor.
Nicholas still attached great importance to George's suggestion, so the next day, Nikolai went back to Gatchina Palace to have breakfast with Ya San.
"How are you preparing?" Ya San asked casually at the dining table.
"The competition will start next week. All the winners will join my company. Constantine will definitely lose!" Nicholas was in high spirits, and his confidence surprised Ya San.
The probability of a scoundrel in the royal family was too high. Even if Nicholas could not be considered a scoundrel, he was mediocre and his qualifications were unremarkable.
For the Tsar, mediocre qualifications were not a serious problem.
Lack of self-confidence is fatal.
Russia is the country with the largest territory in the world, has the largest standing army in the world, and has the largest number of citizens in the world. The Tsar should be the most confident person in the world.
On the issue of population, the Tsar's views on India and the Qing Empire were similar. They were both colonization of the majority by a small number of people.
The Tsar had abolished the serfdom system and turned all serfs into free citizens. Therefore, in Yasan's view, the Russian Empire was the most populous country in the world.
Slaves are usually not included in population statistics.
(End of this chapter)