Struggle in Russia

Nicholas I's greatest weakness in his life was that he cared too much about his external image. From the bottom of his heart, he wants the world to think that he is the most sacred, authoritative and wise king in Europe. In order to maintain his image, he can deceive himself and others, and he can also frantically threaten those countries that despise him.

All in all, Nicholas I was a complete individualist, completely centered on the individual. Such a person will be nervous when he hears any news that damages his personal prestige, and he will immediately whitewash some small things against his will, such as Li Xiao's problem.

When Grand Duke Constantine said that foreign countries would use this to attack him, Nicholas I immediately hesitated. In his eyes, although Li Xiao was annoying, he was just a fly, at most he could be regarded as a disease of ringworm and scabies, and it was not worthwhile to gain his own good reputation just for this itchy skin.

What's more, as long as Li Xiao stays in Russia for a day, as long as Nicholas I is the ruler of Russia, Li Xiao won't be able to fly out of his palm, and there will be plenty of time to slowly concoct him in the future!

Besides, Li Xiao had already bowed his head and subdued, which was a sigh of relief, and Nicholas I was much more comfortable. After this gust of wind has passed, after the idiot Mesadov is cleared up, and someone more reliable will manage that bastard, there will be more opportunities to beat him.

Thinking of this, Nicholas I softened his tone: "It also makes sense. If this is the case, we should punish him according to the circumstances. Let him go to the various naval regiments to do a deep self-criticism, and then fine him half a year's salary as an example to others!"

Now even Grand Duke Constantine curled his lips in his heart, and his father's discretion is beyond discretion. This is to humiliate Li Xiao in public and deduct his salary. It is basically a double punishment, okay?

However, Grand Duke Constantine didn't say anything, because he didn't have any friendship with Li Xiao, and being able to cooperate was a matter of interest, which didn't mean he liked Li Xiao and didn't think Li Xiao was his own. He didn't care what punishment Li Xiao received, and he even wished that Li Xiao would be unlucky. Anyway, as long as he fulfilled the promise when the deal was concluded, he would not help fight for the rest.

Li Xiao's matter has also been preliminarily resolved. According to Nicholas I's wishes, this imperial meeting can be successfully concluded. But just as he was about to announce the end of the meeting, Grand Duke Constantine jumped out again.

"Father, I have one more thing to report to you!"

Nicholas I frowned slightly. To be honest, he felt that he had pampered Grand Duke Constantine enough today. He felt that Grand Duke Constantine should be content and grateful, and should not continue to bother him. How can you still get ahead?

However, in order to persecute Alexander, Nicholas I carefully concealed his emotions, and he continued to ask pleasantly, "What's the matter?"

Grand Duke Constantine showed anger on his face, and his tone of voice also revealed anger. He took a deep breath and said solemnly:

"Father, during the interrogation of Messadov, this scum confessed to some other crimes, including a year ago when this person was the head of naval logistics, he used shoddy goods to cause the failure of the fierce ship."

Intense number?

Nicholas I was so confused that he had forgotten about the Fierce. Because the Fierce is really insignificant to him, there is no need to remember it at all. After a long while reminded by Grand Duke Constantine, he remembered the accident on the Fierce.

"Replace high-quality anthracite with coal gangue that is almost incombustible? The boiler water provided has not been up to standard for a long time? Are the pipelines also made of shoddy materials?"

Nicholas I is still a little baffled, and in his opinion these are still trivial matters. Grand Duke Constantine put this kind of trivial matter in the imperial meeting and said, is it too fussy and inappropriate.

This kind of thing, you, the grand duke who likes steamships, can solve it yourself, what is there to make a fuss about?

Even Nicholas I felt that Grand Duke Constantine was a bit indiscriminate,

I feel that this son may have been spoiled too much by him recently, shouldn't he be beaten to prevent him from being too inflated?

It's just that what Grand Duke Constantine said next made Nicholas I aware of the danger immediately!

"According to Mesadov's account, these actions against the Fierce were all carried out by Prince Menshikov himself after he learned that the Fierce was about to participate in the long-endurance race. That is to say, in order to win that race, Myanmar Prince Shkov resorted to dishonorable cheating!"

Only then did Nicholas I realize that the knife of emotion was still aimed at Menshikov! Feeling that his son didn't intend to let Menshikov go at all, he was going to chase after him!

In an instant, Nicholas I regretted it a little. Although he wanted to persecute Alexander, he had no real intention of sacrificing Menshikov. The problems found out from Mesadov before, such as corruption, did not implicate Menshikov too much to be honest. At most, it is not an exception to drink three glasses of wine as a fine, and it will be over after scolding the old eunuch.

But now, Menshikov personally ordered cheating, which is a major event that undermines the construction of the navy, and it can be put on the line.

Suddenly Nicholas I had a headache, why didn't he see these materials? If he had known that there was such a huge thunder inside, he would definitely beat Grand Duke Constantine in advance, so that he would not take the initiative to detonate it. But now Lei has been ignited, it's a bit late!

Nicholas I glared at Aldorf unhappily, feeling that the old duke was too weak in his work. Why is this dangerous item not mentioned in the interrogation materials fed back from the third part? Catch him off guard!

[Oldorf is indeed not as good as Benkendorf. If Alexander was still there, he would definitely not let me be so passive! 】

Nicholas I sighed in his heart, and missed the dead Benkendorf more and more. Without him, the efficiency of the third part was not as good as before, which really made him unhappy.

It can only be said that Aldorf is too pitiful, and the third part is not as powerful as before, but it is not because he is much less capable than Benkendorf. He and Benkendorf are actually on the same level.

The reason why the third part is not so good is actually that Nicholas I had too high expectations for it. He really thought that the third part was omnipotent, but in fact it was impossible.

In the early years, when the third part was just born, this new thing was relatively unfamiliar to the majority of ministers and nobles, and everyone was not familiar with his working methods. If there is no defense, it is naturally impossible to guard against.

But these years, along with everyone's open and secret struggle with the third part, the level of struggle of the ministers and nobles has been greatly improved, and their vigilance against the third part has been greatly improved, so the third part is naturally less efficient than before.

In addition, Nicholas I himself interfered with the operation of the third part, which also greatly reduced the efficiency of the third part. The many hills and bureaucracy made the third part dull and bloated, and most of the resources were wasted needlessly.

Moreover, Nicholas I employed people only on the principle of loyalty, and it was not satisfactory for businessmen to run business with echoers, sycophants, and loyal dogs. Grand Duke Constantine deliberately misled again this time, and the third part can only detect the ghost...