Chapter 625: Finished Together
The British overestimated their influence in the Balkans. The Russian Empire was the basis for the existence of the Balkan countries. Without the consent of the Russian Empire, no one could become the new king of the Kingdom of Serbia.
Nicholas couldn't care about Serbia at the moment. The Russian army was defeated miserably on the front line. Nicholas Jr. resigned, Warsaw fell, and there were rumors that Petrograd was about to be evacuated.
Nicholas hoped that Nicholas Jr. would stay in office. This decision was opposed by almost all the imperial ministers.
In the past year, the reasons for the defeat of the Russian army in the Russian-European theater were very complicated. It was unfair to blame Nicholas Jr. solely on him.
But as the commander-in-chief of the Russian-European theater, Nicholas Jr. is undoubtedly responsible for this.
Nicholas also wanted to imitate the Russo-Japanese War and take all the responsibilities on himself.
Archduke Paul Alexandrovich, who hurriedly returned from France after the outbreak of the war, reminded Nicholas that if he took responsibility, it would cause irreparable damage to his prestige.
Paul was the eighth child of Asia II and Queen Maria, the youngest son, only eight years older than Nicholas.
Paul had been in poor health since childhood, and suffered from asthma as an adult. He needed to recuperate in a warm climate, so Paul went to Greece in 1887, and the following year, he met Alexander, the eldest princess of George I of the Kingdom of Greece. Della is engaged.
The two lived a sweet life after marriage, but unfortunately, in 1891, Alexandra fell into a coma after giving birth to her son, Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, and died six days later.
In 1895, Paul met Olga Karnovy, a married woman, and the two soon had a child.
After Olga's divorce, Paul hoped to marry Olga, but Nicholas objected.
Paul did not listen to Nicholas's advice and insisted on marrying Olga, so he was expelled from Russia and all his property was confiscated.
After being expelled from Russia, Paul has been living with Olga in Boulogne-sur-Seine, France, near Paris.
In 1912, Nicholas finally relented, pardoned Paul, and recognized Paul and Olga's marriage.
Paul and his family returned to Petrograd only after the outbreak of the world war.
Nicholas still trusts his only biological uncle.
But the one who can really influence Nicholas is Queen Alex.
Queen Alex not only hoped that Nicholas would approve the resignation of young Nicholas, but also suggested that Nicholas personally serve as the commander-in-chief of the Russian army. She hoped that Nicholas would be like a real czar and let everyone "trembling" before him.
These are the original words in Alex's letter to Nicholas.
Alex also said to Nicholas: You are too kind, and they all take advantage of this. You can't go on like this.
The "they" here include not only little Nicholas, but also George.
Soon after the war broke out, rumors about George were spreading in Petrograd.
Some people say that George was watching jokes about Petrograd in Constantinople, some say that George wants to break up the soil in the Balkans and become king, and some even say that George is using the war to undermine Nicholas's prestige and then replace him. Gula, became Tsar of the Russian Empire.
Nicholas still trusts George.
Alex's trust in George is fragile.
Youdao is a man of three, and for the successive defeats in the Russian and European theaters, the victory in the Balkan theaters is particularly dazzling.
On July 3, Nicholas held a meeting in Petrograd, and George also wanted to attend.
George returned to Petrograd only on the night of July 2nd.
That night, Prince Yusupov Elston came to visit George.
Elston came to say goodbye to George.
Elston and his wife Yusupova are about to leave Petrograd for Crimea.
Elston’s reason was to go to Crimea to escape the summer heat.
This reason is a bit ridiculous, the summer in Petrograd is not hot either.
"I have spent most of the past few years in Crimea, and I am becoming more and more unfamiliar with the city of St. Petersburg - oh, this is no longer St. Petersburg, it is called Petrograd."
Ai Wolston did not hide anything and bluntly expressed his dissatisfaction with St. Petersburg.
"The difficulties are only temporary, everything will be fine."
George's words could not convince even himself.
“The real difficulties have just begun.”
As the most noble son-in-law of the empire, Elston is very smart and sees problems very deeply.
“If you can convince His Majesty not to serve as Commander-in-Chief, then everything may turn around - but how is this possible? Everyone knows that you are the most suitable candidate for Commander-in-Chief of the European Theater, but you Most unlikely. "
George was silent, this is a dead end, there is no solution.
At the meeting the next day, no one proposed that George be the commander-in-chief of the Russian-European Theater.
State Duma Chairman Rodzianko proposed to appoint Suhomlinov, who had resigned, as commander-in-chief.
This suggestion was opposed by everyone. Sukhomlinov is not qualified as the Chief of General Staff. How can he become a qualified Commander-in-Chief?
Chairman of the Council of Ministers Goremekin proposed that General Polivanov, who succeeded Sukhomlinov as Chief of General Staff, serve as commander-in-chief.
This suggestion was also rejected.
Polyvanov serves as commander-in-chief, who will serve as chief of general staff?
Chairman of the State Council Kulomkin proposed that Alexeyev, commander-in-chief of the Western Front, serve as commander-in-chief.
This was also unrealistic, as Alexeyev had just been defeated by Ludendorff.
"George, what do you think?"
Nicola took the initiative to ask George.
"General Ruziski might be able to." George was deeply impressed by Ruziski.
Nicholas was silent.
Ruzsky and Sukhomlinov have a very good relationship. Ruzsky is currently under investigation after being implicated by Sukhomlinov.
"In view of the current severe situation, I have decided to personally lead the army. Even if I die in battle, I will save Russia!"
Nicholas made up his mind.
This is a decision that makes everyone frown.
After the meeting, George took the initiative to find Paul, hoping that Paul could persuade Nicholas to change his mind.
“I have tried to persuade her countless times, but St. Petersburg is being controlled by a mysterious force, and we are helpless.”
Although Paul did not mention her by name, he pointed the finger at Queen Alex. .
George has one last hope, the Queen Mother Maria.
After the war broke out, Queen Mother Maria was either in London or Denmark and never returned to St. Petersburg.
George sent a telegram to Maria.
After the telegram was sent, it went into the mud and into the sea, and there was no news.
Little Nicholas entertained George and Paul at his home.
This was the first time that George saw little Nicholas in casual clothes.
Whether he was serving in the Guards or attending a royal banquet in the Winter Palace, little Nicholas was always in uniform and meticulous.
With a height of two meters and a handsome and upright military uniform, little Nicholas has always been considered the representative of the Russian military.
“Take off the military uniform and feel relaxed. I have completed my mission and it’s time to let it all go.”
Little Nicholas was disheartened and he planned to travel around the world next Nations.
“The war is not over yet, you cannot escape.”
Paul wanted little Nicholas to stay in St. Petersburg.
"What can I do if I stay in St. Petersburg?"
Little Nicholas smiled bitterly, drank the champagne in the glass, and suddenly cursed with red eyes.
“I knew it, I knew that woman would mess everything up! She is a spy for the Germans, planting eyes and ears in the base camp, stealing military secrets, you can imagine every sentence you said Are the words placed on that woman's desk the next day? She has no respect for me or you, and the same is true for your base camp, which is completely under her control-"
George knows Little Nicholas and Alex have great conflicts.
But I didn’t expect it to be so big.
One day in mid-May, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Gendarmerie Commander Zhunkovsky wrote a letter to little Nikolay.
Little Nicholas took the letter and asked Nicholas why St. Petersburg would know everything about what happened in the base camp.
Nicholas was speechless.
Little Nicholas then asked Alex to go to the Warsaw base camp to explain the matter clearly in person and "solve the problem within the family."
Nicholas agreed, but Alex did not agree to go to Warsaw because part of the letter was about Rasputin.
Little Nicholas once said that if Rasputin went to the base camp, Little Nicholas would hang him
Alexeyev also said that if the demon monk interferes with the military, Alexey Yev resigned.
Alex wrote a letter to Nikolai, in which he called Zunkovsky "my enemy" and asked Nikolai: When will you bang your fist on the table and reprimand Zhunkovsky? Kofsky and others?
"Nicky! Stop talking nonsense!"
Paul stopped it too late, George had already heard the most critical information.
"Am I talking nonsense? You have been in France all these years. What do you know! Do you know what we went through in St. Petersburg? Do you know the exact content of that letter? Let me tell you, what was stated in that letter is not true. , because the truth is ten thousand times more absurd than the content in the letter!”
Little Nicholas laughed wildly, tears flashing in his eyes.
Paul looked at George with worried eyes.
George tried his best to smile, with what little Nicholas just said echoing in his mind.
Every word you say will be placed on that woman’s desk the next day——
George was a little doubtful, did Alex really have that much energy?
But that’s not certain.
The Constantinople Base Camp has a complex staff, including those from the Amur Military District, the Navy Ministry, and the Balkan Theater, as well as liaison officers from various countries, military observers, reporters, and so on.
Although little Nicholas's abilities are not very good, his character is still good. George believes that little Nicholas will not lie about this kind of thing.
So, after returning to Constantinople, George will also start an internal investigation.
This does not mean that George has something shameful and he is worried that St. Petersburg will know about it.
If George had Alex’s eyes and ears around him.
There is no guarantee that there will not be intelligence personnel arranged by other countries, or even enemy countries.
"Just wait and see, that woman will destroy the empire and all of us will be finished!"
Little Nicholas was completely drunk.
(End of this chapter)