CHAPTER 373: CHAPTER 368 "THE MEDIATION MASTER" MENSHIKOV

Lord Seymour’s latest report shifted from a previously pro-Russian stance to sternly criticizing the ambitions of the Russian Empire.

Lord Seymour’s shift from "pro-Russian" to "anti-Russian" vividly illustrated what it means to sway with the general line’s oscillations.

This time, Lord Seymour recorded his conversation with the Russian Empire on February 21st once more, and evaluated: "If a monarch so firmly believes that his neighboring country is about to fall, then he must know in his heart that he can control the timing of its downfall."

The second report was again sent from the embassy in St. Petersburg, and Lord Seymour knew it was time to distance himself from Nicholas I.

In a situation where the British Cabinet had clearly determined its strategic intent, accepting bribes from the Empire was nothing short of courting death.

Thus, Lord Seymour ordered his wife to return to the Kingdom of Britain, and she looked at Seymour with a face full of reluctance.

For many days, everything at the Catherine’s Court fascinated this lady.

"Go quickly!" Lord Seymour impatiently waved his hand and said, "If you don’t go, I fear you’ll get me thrown into prison!"

"Why?" The lady inquired softly into Seymour’s ear with a look of confusion: "Weren’t you ordered to accept bribes from Nicholas I!"

"Now, the United Kingdom has changed its strategy!" Lord Seymour replied to his wife in a similarly low voice.

"Ah!" The lady exclaimed, instinctively asking, "Is war about to start?"

"No! I don’t know!" Lord Seymour shook his head and replied, "I’m afraid the dignitaries in London haven’t even considered this issue yet; they can only take it one step at a time!"

"Will you be in trouble!" The lady grabbed Lord Seymour’s arm nervously.

"No! I won’t!" Lord Seymour shook his head, then placed a hand on the lady’s shoulder and said earnestly, "However, you must leave as soon as possible!"

"Yes! I understand!" The lady nodded to show she understood.

On February 28th, the lady boarded a steamship heading for London to leave St. Petersburg.

At the pier of St. Petersburg’s port, Lord Seymour waved farewell to his wife.

When Lord Seymour returned to the embassy, he found a fellow dressed in the Guard Army uniform standing at his door.

"And you are?" Lord Seymour asked the officer in front of him curiously.

"By order of His Majesty Nicholas, I invite you and your wife to visit Catherine Palace!" The officer responded with a stern face and meticulous tone.

"Unfortunately! Due to some matters, my wife had to return to the Kingdom of Britain!" Seymour responded to the officer, his tone slightly apologetic.

The officer cast a surprised glance at Seymour, then said to him, "If that’s the case, would Ambassador Seymour please head to Tsarskoye Selo!"

"Very well!" Lord Seymour nodded to the officer in response.

Under the officer’s guidance, Seymour rode a convertible carriage adorned with the emblem of the double-headed eagle.

The carriage took Lord Seymour all the way to Catherine Palace.

Seymour once again met with Nicholas I, who was accompanied by a burly, rugged-looking white-haired old man, seemingly a close confidant of Nicholas I.

"Let me introduce Prince Menshikov to you. I am about to send him to negotiate peace with the Ottoman Empire!" Nicholas I introduced Menshikov to Seymour.

"Hello, Prince Menshikov!" As Seymour extended his hand, he suddenly thought that this was the same fellow who mediated the war between Prussia and Austria more than two years ago, and now he’s going to the Ottoman Empire for mediation.

Menshikov still wore an arrogant expression, extending his hand for a light shake with Ambassador Yimo, then quickly releasing it.

"A fellow with a more independent spirit than others!" Seymour assessed Menshikov’s character from his actions, thinking that such a person being able to exist in the Saint Petersburg Court was indeed exceedingly rare.

All senior officials close to the Saint Petersburg Court were, without exception, servants of the Tsar, working hard under the Tsar’s lash.

Only a few renowned noble forces could avoid being lashed by the Tsar.

"Your Majesty, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going first!" Menshikov slightly bowed to Nicholas I in response.

"Sigh! Go on, go on!" Nicholas I sighed, waved his hand, and allowed Prince Menshikov to leave.

Watching Menshikov’s departing figure, Seymour grew curious.

"Sigh! Prince Menshikov is an excellent general, but he is not an excellent politician!" Nicholas I muttered to Seymour.

"Your Majesty, will you let him..." Seymour inquired of Nicholas I.

"Let’s not talk about that, let’s not talk about that!" Nicholas I quickly changed the subject, not wanting Seymour to realize that he had no one left whom he could trust.

The evasive look in Nicholas I’s eyes and his way of diverting the topic made Seymour certain there was something going on.

For now, it was better for Seymour not to delve deeper.

After Nicholas I and Seymour both sat down, Nicholas I immediately asked, "How is the Kingdom of Britain deliberating on my proposal?"

Faced with Nicholas I’s inquiry, Seymour could only vaguely reply, "Your Majesty! The United Kingdom must go through layers of review, so this process may take a little longer!"

"You really are troublesome!" Nicholas I complained, "Can’t you all delegate everything to your Queen like we do in the Russian Empire? That would improve your efficiency! This constant back-and-forth is simply a waste of time!"

Inwardly despising Nicholas I, Seymour’s face still wore a friendly expression as he spread his hands and scoffed, "Your Majesty, there is no other way! Such is the speed of the United Kingdom!"

"Alas!" Nicholas I sighed once again, then adjusted his posture and said to Russell, "You must be quicker!"

Afterwards, Nicholas I revealed a new division plan to Seymour once more.

This time, Nicholas I didn’t even bother to pretend. He told Seymour that he intended to place the Ottoman Empire under his protection, granting it autonomy similar to Poland, while also giving the Danube Duchy, Serbia, and Bulgaria the status of independent states, placing them under his protection as well.

Nicholas I’s actions were a blatant announcement to the world that they intended to completely occupy the Ottoman Empire.

Lord Seymour was increasingly disgusted by Nicholas I’s greedy demeanor; it seemed this Tsar had poured thirty-plus years of accumulated arrogance onto the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire.

Moreover, Nicholas I claimed his decisions had already received support from the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia.

In other words, the United Kingdom might be facing not just the Russian Empire alone, but the Russian Empire along with the German Confederation.

For the United Kingdom, this was like a bolt from the blue.

With smug satisfaction, Nicholas I said to Seymour, "When I say how the Russian Empire will act, so too shall the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. What serves the interest of one nation must necessarily serve the interests of the other two as well; in the matter of Turkey, the interests of the three countries are aligned."

Seymour didn’t know how Nicholas I could grandly proclaim that the interests of the three countries were aligned with such pretentious rhetoric.

For now, all he could do was take the stance of "better safe than sorry," considering both the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire as part of the adversarial camp.

"You should join us quickly; if we can coordinate, nothing in this world can stop us!" Nicholas I even boasted to Seymour.

With a heavy heart, Seymour returned to the embassy in St. Petersburg.

That night, Seymour once again penned a letter indicating that a union of Russia, Prussia, and Austria might be imminent, hoping London would quickly investigate whether such an alliance was genuine.

If the alliance of the three countries were true, the Kingdom of Britain would need to consider finding another strong ally.

The French Empire would undoubtedly be the best ally.

Of course, Lord Seymour was unaware that the French Empire had already reached some consensus with the Kingdom of Britain.

On March 1st, Lord Seymour’s third letter departed from St. Petersburg en route to London.

Meanwhile, the sixty-five-year-old Tsar’s envoy, Menshikov, also departed from St. Petersburg, heading to Sevastopol to review the troops before putting psychological pressure on the Sultan, thus successfully preparing for negotiations with the Sultan and the High Gate.

In fact, the Tsar sent him with more than just a negotiating mandate; Menshikov’s full title was the "Full Authority Envoy for War and Peace," meaning he held responsibilities for both peace and war.

Menshikov departed from St. Petersburg and, after a week’s journey, arrived in Sevastopol.

At the Sevastopol Fortress, Menshikov boarded the steam warship "Thunderbolt" to review the navy fleet.

On land, Paskievich West, after receiving the review orders from Nicholas I in St. Petersburg, also conducted a grand military review in the border area between the Wallachia Duchy and the Ottoman Empire.

The 140,000-strong Russian Imperial Army formed a vast line of soldiers, and many Ottoman Empire soldiers, witnessing the scene, thought the Russian Empire was about to launch an attack on Bulgaria, causing unrest within the Ottoman military.

The naval and land reviews further intensified the already tense situation in the Near East; everyone was making final preparations.

Ottoman Empire capital, Constantinople

The French Embassy to the Ottoman Empire was about to welcome an old friend.