Chapter 654: Forced into the Palace
The so-called allies are those who are afraid that their brothers will have a hard time, and they are also afraid that their brothers will drive a Land Rover.
George knows this mentality of the French very well, because George is the same.
We are all members of the Caotai team, so don’t dislike anyone.
Even the French can see that the Russian Empire is in danger, but Nicholas and Alex feel good about themselves and think everything is under control.
The empire is not without loyal ministers. Rodzianko has reminded Nicholas many times since last winter to restrain Alex's behavior and ease the conflict between the Winter Palace and the Duma.
Interior Minister Protopopov, who was single-handedly promoted by Alex, was also a staunch supporter of Alex, but his starting point was different from Rodzianko.
Nicholas never liked the State Duma from the beginning, believing that the State Duma would distract the tsar's power.
The State Duma is indeed.
But the contradictions in the empire have become so acute that it is necessary to establish a State Duma and disperse power to all classes. Nicholas still insists on imperial power, which is going against the trend.
Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.
The Russian ruling class still did not understand the experience that the Chinese summed up in 600 AD in the 20th century.
This cannot be blamed on Nicholas, because the European elites have not understood this matter even in the 21st century.
Unlike Ferdinand, the French only hope that the Russian Empire can end the chaos and restore stability as soon as possible, and do not want George to become the Tsar.
George's ability has been fully proven in Amur.
If you can develop the desolate Amur into the second "St. Petersburg" of the Russian Empire and make George the tsar, the Russian Empire will become a nightmare for Europe.
Olga’s wedding will be held in Crimea in November. The royal family members have unanimously decided to force Nicholas to pass the throne to Crown Prince Alexei at Olga’s wedding. Mikhail oversees the country.
What surprised George was that when the Grand Duchess discussed this decision, they did not avoid Anastasia, the wife of Nicholas the Younger.
George was even more curious as to why the Grand Duchess from Germany agreed to let Nicholas abdicate.
“The princes took the initiative to make a compromise and would not abolish the queen——”
Anne smiled bitterly. She was also a participant in this matter. Like the Grand Duchess from Germany, she betrayed Alex.
George had known this would happen.
The Grand Duchess are not protecting Alex, but the overall interests of their group.
Alexei succeeded to the throne, and Alex was automatically promoted to the Queen Mother. This was a good thing for their group and the empire.
“Didn’t they promise you anything?”
George was curious. No matter who became the regent, he would win over George.
“Ha——”
Anne’s bitter smile instantly turned into a sneer.
“Does moving the capital to Constantinople count?”
Moving the capital——
Or move the capital to Constantinople!
George didn’t know what a clever idea this was.
But this is fine.
George's last trace of tenderness for the Romanov family also disappeared.
When the time came to the end of September, the British, French and German forces were exhausted, and the battles at the Somme and Verdun stopped almost at the same time.
The two battles combined caused a total of nearly 2.3 million casualties to both parties, and the battle lines basically remained as they were.
Zhilinsky knew how to be a good person, and would also send a copy of the battle report to St. Petersburg to Constantinople.
Brushinov remained silent for two months. At the end of September, he suddenly launched a fierce attack on the Austrian army entrenched in Slovenia.
Conrad was caught off guard and suffered losses of more than 200,000, of which nearly 170,000 were captured.
Italians and Austrians finally no longer have to torture each other in the Isonzo River Basin.
With the arrival of winter, progress was made on all fronts in the Balkan theater. Brusinov took the greatest credit, not only recovering Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also capturing Croatia and Slovenia. The Kingdom of Bulgaria was running out of civil affairs officials.
Polis came to Constantinople and wanted to grant Brusinov the title of honorary marshal and make Brusinov a duke, with the fiefdom of his choice.
Ferdinand, unwilling to be outdone, also wanted to grant Vasily and Andrei the title of honorary marshal.
Brushinov did not disappoint George. He was willing to accept the honorary title, but was unwilling to accept the title of the Kingdom of Bulgaria.
George did not go to Olga's wedding. The Balkan War Zone had a meeting at the end of the year and had no time to leave.
Nikolai also did not go to Olga's wedding because Alexei and the three princesses were sick at the same time, and Nikolai also had no time to leave.
George could only sigh, it is really not as good as God.
Although he failed to force Nicholas to abdicate through Olga's wedding, Mikhail did not give up his plan.
After Olga’s wedding, Grand Duke Nikolay Mikhailovich came to the Winter Palace carrying a joint letter signed by several grand dukes, asking Nicholas to remove Interior Minister Protopopov position and stay away from the Queen.
Grand Duke Mikhailovich was the eldest son of Nicholas I's youngest son, Mikhail, and Nicholas's uncle.
Grand Duke Mikhailovich told Nicholas that if Nicholas did not stop the queen's wrong behavior, the royal family and ministers would take action. Nicholas was surprised. He had not realized at this time that the situation had become so serious.
Nicholas handed Alex the joint letter from the Grand Dukes.
After reading the letter, Alex cried and said to Nikolai: We have been married for 22 years, and they have never accepted me and have always hated me. This is shameless and betrayal - my dear , you are too kind and too weak, God will help us, I am not afraid, let them scream!
Nicolas was indeed weak. He did not respond to the requests of the grand dukes in time, nor did he restrain his wife's behavior.
This is the worst possible outcome.
The princes could not wait for Nicholas's response, so they made a second plan.
The plan is to transfer Nicholas and Alex's Guards to Tsarskoye Selo, then arrest Nicholas, force Nicholas to abdicate, and exile Alex to Tsarskoe Selo. , imprisoned for life.
This time, 16 members of the public participated.
In order to prevent accidents, the 16 Grand Dukes decided to add Nicholas the Younger as regent and govern jointly with Mikhail.
For this reason, Nicholas Jr.'s brother Peter went to the Caucasus in person and asked Nicholas Jr. to return to St. Petersburg to take charge of the overall situation.
To the embarrassment of the grand dukes, little Nicholas did not want to be the regent, and he also opposed the grand dukes' decision.
Peter brought back a letter written by Nicholas Jr. to the Grand Dukes. In the letter, Nicholas asked the Grand Dukes what they wanted to do?
Now that the empire is in a state of war, the princes not only fail to perform their duties and act in unison with the outside world, but are brewing a coup. As a Russian, Nicholas Jr. cannot accept it.
George didn’t know how the princes felt when they saw this letter.
George was a little relieved about Little Nicholas's attitude, and he was finally not hopeless.
Little Nicholas' questioning did not change the attitude of the grand dukes. They had openly broken with Alex and there was no way out.
The situation in St. Petersburg is so serious that even the French ambassador to Russia has learned about the grand dukes' plan. It is impossible for Nicholas to not know about it.
Since November, Nicholas has never summoned any royal members. On New Year's Day, the Winter Palace did not even hold a New Year's celebration dinner, which was the first time in history.
On February 23 (February 10 in the Russian calendar), Nicholas' brother-in-law Alexander took the initiative to walk into the Winter Palace, representing the royal family and the State Duma, and issued an ultimatum to Nicholas.
The royal family and the State Duma hope that Nicholas will voluntarily abdicate, otherwise a coup will inevitably occur.
When Nicholas received Alexander, Alex was also present.
Before Alexander finished speaking, he was interrupted by Alex.
Alex roared angrily: Everything you said is a joke. Nikki is a monarch. How can he share the power given by God with others?
Alexander told Nicholas and Alex that all St. Petersburgers were tired of the current empire and that the empire urgently needed change to stabilize the situation.
Alex roared again: This is not true! The people remain loyal to the Tsar, only the traitors in the Duma and Petrograd are our enemies!
Alexander did not argue anymore and left the Winter Palace silently.
Nicholas didn't say a word from beginning to end, he kept smoking and his face was blank.
After Alexander left, Alex was still angry and chattering endlessly.
Nicola was silent for a long time, until the ashtray was filled with cigarette butts, Nicholas stood up and said: "We need George back as soon as possible!"
"No! We don't need it!"
Alex is stubborn. Since Rasputin's death, this woman has been crazy.
"Alexander exaggerated the danger. When he is more or less sober, he will know that I am right."
Later, Voyeko, the chief of guard in charge of the security of the Winter Palace, Her husband reported to Nicholas that someone might want to assassinate the queen.
Nicholas summoned Rodzianko.
Rodzianko revealed to Nikolai that some people believed that there were also German agents in the Winter Palace.
Nicholas was very angry. If Alex was a German spy, wouldn't Nikolai become the number one traitor?
Rodzianko hesitated: Your Majesty is a person who has undergone the anointing ceremony of God.
If God anointed you with God's protection, there wouldn't be so many tsars killed in Russian history.
Three days later, Alexeyev sent a telegram to George, asking George to go to St. Petersburg to attend a military meeting to discuss the 1917 battle plan.
This meeting was originally supposed to be held at the end of last year, but due to the continued deterioration of the situation in St. Petersburg, it was postponed until now.
Anne wouldn't let George go to St. Petersburg.
For George, St. Petersburg is dangerous now.
"Those people dare to kill even Nikki and Sani, will they let you go?"
Anne was resolute and sent a telegram to Ekaterina immediately.
Ekaterina is on her way.
“Even if it’s not for the sake of the children, please think about me. In all these years of marriage, I have never asked you for anything, just this once!”
George could only remain silent.
The person who knows George best is Ekaterina.
"If you are in Constantinople, Nikki and the children can live; if you go to St. Petersburg, you will die together."
Catherine did not mention Alex.
(End of this chapter)