CHAPTER 369: CHAPTER 364: MONARCH AND MINISTERS IN THE AMBER HALL

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Nesselrode, and the Minister of War, Prince Dolgorukov, were led by the military attendant into the Amber Hall, where walls of brown and yellow amber shimmered in the candlelight with various colors, inducing an involuntary sense of awe in those who entered.

Beneath the walls of amber was a throne made of pure gold (actually ninety percent gold mixed with silver, as gold that’s too pure cannot be shaped), inlaid with various gemstones. The candlelight reflecting off the gems and the golden throne imparted a mysterious sense of sanctity.

It was obvious that Nicholas I had deliberately ordered this throne to be moved from another palace to impress someone with its majesty.

As the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of War entered the Amber Hall, they were once again overwhelmed by the breathtaking grandeur of the place, more intense than during any previous audience with the Tsar.

Amidst the splendor of the palace, Nicholas I sat quietly on the throne, saying nothing.

At this moment, Nicholas I was adorned in a robe so luxurious it dazzled the eyes, holding a scepter carved with a double-headed eagle of ninety percent gold. The top of the scepter and the eyes of the two eagles were inlaid with a blood-red gem and four blue gems.

Such elaborate attire was rarely seen, even at grand celebrations. From the air in the Amber Hall, Carl Nesselrode, who had accompanied Nicholas I for many years, sensed a whiff of danger.

When his gaze moved from the throne down the steps, he noticed a familiar figure standing with head bowed at the foot of the staircase.

Just from the back, Carl Nesselrode identified the person as Count Orlov, who was in charge of managing the political police of the "Third Department."

Why was he also here! Could it be that His Majesty hadn’t informed him about the military campaign either?

Carl Nesselrode’s eyes showed a hint of confusion as he realized he could no longer understand the monarch Nicholas I, whom he had served for more than twenty years.

Every time he thought he understood this monarch well enough, Nicholas I would always give him a "surprise."

"Minister Carl Nesselrode, Minister Dolgorukov, come here!" The voice of Nicholas I, loud and tinged with authority, rang out in the hall.

Carl Nesselrode and Dolgorukov slowly approached the foot of the steps to stand beside Count Orlov.

The entire Amber Hall fell silent once again. After a while, a crisp sound echoed from the throne. With his head bowed, Carl Nesselrode guessed it was probably the Tsar tapping his scepter against the throne, a method he always used to exert psychological pressure on them.

After the crisp sound reverberated for a considerable time, Nicholas I spoke once more: "What exactly has happened recently with the Ottoman Empire? Is there anything you’ve concealed from me?"

"Your Majesty, I was just about to report to you..." At this point, Carl Nesselrode could only explain the situation concerning the Holy Judgment of the Ottoman Empire to Nicholas I.

Upon hearing Carl Nesselrode’s response, anger welled up in Nicholas I, and he sharply demanded, "Since your Ministry of Foreign Affairs has long known about this matter, why didn’t you report it to me earlier!"

"I deserve death," Carl Nesselrode offered no defense.

When the monarch distrusts you, any explanation will seem like a feeble excuse. It’s better to admit one’s fault honestly.

In Europe, rarely does anyone get killed for angering the Emperor or King, especially in the case of renowned noble families, where the worst outcome is often just exile to a freezing land (Siberia).

If they endure the harsh frost of the frigid land, when amnesty is granted a few years later, those politically exiled can return to St. Petersburg.

Furthermore, Carl Nesselrode believed his "crime" wasn’t enough to warrant exile to such harsh lands.

At most, it was a "benevolent" deception, aimed at preventing Nicholas I from waging war.

With the Russian Empire’s economy already in turmoil, and considering the ongoing incidents this winter of serf deaths from freezing and rebellions in various regions, rashly deploying the military would only exacerbate the economic crisis.

He chose to withhold information from Tsarskoye Selo to use this time lag for the Russian ambassador in the Ottoman Empire to apply pressure, thereby nipping the risk of war in the bud.

Now it seemed he had failed, and the Tsar would inevitably proceed with military action against the Ottoman Empire.

Thinking of this, Carl Nesselrode silently mourned twice for the Minister of Finance.

With such a monarch, even the most adept financial minister would be helpless.

"No other explanations?" Nicholas I scoffed, looking at Carl Nesselrode at the foot of the steps.

Nicholas I, having learned from Count Orlov about Carl Nesselrode’s painstaking efforts, had already forgiven Carl Nesselrode’s presumptuous actions. Remembering how the old fellow had accompanied him since his ascension to the throne, he couldn’t help but feel a touch of compassion.

The monarch is also human, with emotions and desires.

"No explanation can excuse my deceitful behavior towards Your Majesty!" Carl Nesselrode retreated in order to advance, saying to Nicholas I, "I hope Your Majesty will report my dismissal from the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs!"

"When things come to a head, you think of running away!" Nicholas I said sternly to Carl Nesselrode, "I tell you, don’t even think about it!"

Subsequently, Nicholas I turned his gaze to the Minister of War, Prince Dolgorukov, and said kindly, "Your Highness, your family has served the Romanov Clan for quite some time, hasn’t it?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Dolgorukov straightened up proudly and replied, "My ancestors have always followed the past emperors in battle, and I am fortunate to have been chosen by Your Majesty to serve as the Minister of War!"

"Then why did you deceive me!" Nicholas I questioned Dolgorukov.

Compared to Carl Nesselrode, Prince Dolgorukov was more composed and unhurried; his family had followed different Tsars in numerous campaigns, and at most, the Tsar would only strip him of his position.

Dolgorukov replied fearlessly to Nicholas I, "Your Majesty, our finances can no longer support the Empire’s high-intensity warfare! Our army faces severe corruption issues, and rashly sending troops might have serious consequences."

"Silence!" Nicholas I shouted furiously at Dolgorukov, "I won’t allow you to slander my loyal army; ours is an army that saved Europe!"

"Your Majesty, that was decades ago!" Even with these words, there was no fear on Prince Dolgorukov’s face, and he emphasized, "For decades, our army has decayed to a certain extent! The urgent matter is not to rush into war with the Ottoman Empire!"

"Believe it or not, I’ll remove you from your position!" Nicholas I yelled at Dolgorukov.

"If Your Majesty thinks I’m unfit to be Minister of War, then please remove me from my position!" Dolgorukov replied to Nicholas I without backing down.

Nicholas I and Dolgorukov were at an impasse for a long time, ultimately ending due to Nicholas I’s concession.

"I have summoned you to ask whether the Russian Empire should send troops to dismember the Ottoman Empire!" Nicholas I inquired of the three people present.

Having experienced both Carl Nesselrode and Prince Dolgorukov, Nicholas I also began to have doubts about sending troops.

Is what I am doing right or wrong?

"No, we shouldn’t!"

"No, we shouldn’t!"

"Yes, we should!"

The first two "shouldn’t" came from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of War, and the "should" came from Count Orlov.

They all spoke from their respective positions.

"Why shouldn’t we?" Nicholas I asked Carl Nesselrode seriously.

"Your Majesty, besides the military issue just mentioned by His Highness, our financial and diplomatic situations also prevent us from taking such actions!" Carl Nesselrode said to Nicholas I, "If we march into the Ottoman Empire, how will the Kingdom of Britain’s interests in the Ottoman Empire be handled, and how about the French Empire’s interests? How will the Austrian Empire view us?

Admittedly, the Russian Empire isn’t afraid of them, but we cannot simultaneously be at odds with two countries!"

Carl Nesselrode’s warning immediately brought Nicholas I to his senses; even if he could disregard the French Empire’s attitude, he couldn’t ignore the Kingdom of Britain’s stance.

Especially given that the Russian Empire’s navy couldn’t war with Britain, and relying on naval support for supplies, the army simply couldn’t afford to offend a naval power.

"Then what should we do?" Nicholas I subconsciously asked Carl Nesselrode.

"The army should halt its advance, stationing all troops in the Duchy of Wallachia, and send an envoy to pressure the Ottoman Empire!" Carl Nesselrode proposed a solution: "Demand that the Ottoman Empire High Gate dismiss the Pro-French Faction and hand over the rights to Holy Judgment to us! This way, the Empire can gradually devour the Ottoman Empire, reducing it to our protectorate! Meanwhile, cut some benefits to the French Empire and the Kingdom of Britain."

Carl Nesselrode hoped to gradually annex the Ottoman Empire using a ’boiling frog’ strategy, turning Constantinople into a Free City under the Russian Empire’s control, a process that would take about half a century.