On November 23, 1861, along the cold Nevsky Prospect, a long line of Cossack cavalry escorted carriages passed, passing by several inconspicuous-looking black carriages. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

There were times when things were not very remarkable, just as it was never imagined that a Panamanian crisis could lead to a war between two empires, and that most of Europe was now embroiled.

Just a week ago, Russia made its first public statement of support for China's actions in Panama, which was a disguised statement, and at the same time, no one could have imagined that the Russians would not only cross the Caucasus into Persia, but also cross the Caspian Sea into Persia, although they kept saying that they were "protecting Persia", but in fact, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Russians were aiming at British India.

Russia could declare war on Britain at any moment!

Almost every diplomat in St. Petersburg believes that it is only a matter of time, after all, they have seen the growing ties between China and Russia over the past period, and that Russia has sent hundreds of thousands of troops to the Caucasus and elsewhere.

In contrast to the old Russian armies of the Crimean War, none of these armies are now equipped with the most advanced breech guns.

Russia will declare war on Britain!

It was in the midst of this vicissitude that Count Alexandre Vanevsky, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, quietly arrived in St. Petersburg, and almost no one knew when he arrived, and now, for the outside world, he was supposed to be on vacation with his mistress.

Who would have thought that he would come to St. Petersburg quietly. Not to mention other countries, Duke Gorchakov, who was the host of the Foreign Minister of the Russian Empire, was also taken aback when he learned the news.

The essence of secret diplomacy lies in secrecy. And this time Alexander undoubtedly did it, and the whole world did not know that he was in Fort St. Pecian.

What is he doing here?

In addition to himself, since he is the host, Duke Gorchakov only knows a little bit of information.

Mystery, this is the heart of Alexander's secret visit.

Alexander, who was sitting in the carriage, was silent. He sat motionless, wearing a black coat with a single row of buttons and a dark gray hat with a hard brim almost rolled up, his eyes staring unblinking.

There are a lot of questions on his mind right now.

What exactly will the Russians decide, will they come to an agreement with France, as they think, and finally make France a participant, or even a leader, in this feast.

"Of course,"

Alexander thought again.

"The Chinese will certainly not be happy to see France dominate all this, after all, they have invested so much power, and now that the Russians are involved in the war, they all need French power, which gives France the capital to sell at a price." Moreover, in the ensuing negotiations, France's dissatisfaction can be fully demonstrated. Don't shake hands too tightly. No smile. ”

Except for Alexander and Duke Gorchakov, there were no high-ranking officials or generals here, only two confidants appeared, because this was at Alexander's request, so Duke Gorchakov had to do a good job of secrecy. Even the next meeting will not be to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the official residence of Duke Gorchakov, but to a palace on the outskirts, where they will talk.

As for what to discuss?

For Duke Gorchakov, he only knew that the two countries were negotiating on the current situation!

"Emperor Napoleon III must not be able to control his greed!"

Thinking of the judgment of the previous Chinese envoy, now Duke Gorchakov feels that this possibility exists, why did Russia join it? It is because the Chinese contain the power of the British, not only contain their power at sea, but even they deliberately create a situation - the Chinese may launch an attack on the British mainland at any time, and it is this situation that makes Russia see the opportunity - the British will not be able to free up in the next two to three years, which means that Russia can attack its weakest link.

In fact, at the beginning, Russia did not feel that the Chinese had a chance at all, but with the development of the situation, Russia could not control the hostility towards Britain that had been suppressed since the Crimean War, especially the revenge, which made Russia make a decision, but in other words, the desire for revenge of the whole country made Russia make the current choice.

Russia will soon declare war on Britain!

At that time, Russia and China will become allies, tearing apart Britain's world order and fighting for Britain's colonies together, and for Russia, at that time, Russia's century-old dream is very likely to be realized in the process.

Now it seems that the judgment of the Chinese is accurate, once "the appearance of the British paper tiger is exposed, then the whole world will become their enemy", and now France may really be ready to intervene as the Chinese judge!

But are the French now ready to help the British, or are they ready to join this new alliance?

For today's reception, Duke Gorchakov was prepared. He knew that no matter how France chose, for Russia, Russia did not have much choice, and Russia would either sink or rise again in the process of the fall of Britain!

France, how will it choose?

From time to time, Duke Gorchakov squinted at Alexander, looking at the illegitimate son of the Emperor Napoleon, and he had an extremely complicated feeling.

What choice will the France represented by this man make?

Will he be an enemy of England, like Napoleon, or, like the Third, a friend of England?

But in any case, one thing is for sure, and now, in the next few days, what happened in St. Petersburg will go down in history. The same must be true of everything that will happen in the future.

The history of mankind, the history of the world, is likely to change radically in the next few hours or days!

Thinking of this, Duke Gorchakov's heart immediately surged with emotions that had never sprung up before, and this emotion was more of a sense of mission and responsibility.

"What is the situation in Paris now? What opera is popping there right now? ”

Duke Gorchakov asked with a smile, in order to break the silence that had made him feel somewhat oppressed. Although his heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of mission and responsibility, he found that the pressure was very different today than in the past.

It also made him realize that the next negotiations were likely not as smooth as he thought. More importantly, it is still uncertain what the French will choose now.

"Paris is still the same as it used to be, with the latest operas being staged every day in the opera houses."

Alexander turned his head slightly to the interlocutor, and now he wanted to talk about the opera, but reason told him that he could not do so, for he had a more important mission.

"His Majesty the Emperor is in good health!"

"Very good."

Then the two of them talked there, but they could both sense that the other's mind was not in Paris, nor in St. Petersburg, and it seemed that they were now so affected by each other's thoughts that they had no interest in everything around them.

After all, the responsibility on their shoulders is too heavy now, even as nobles, they have no interest in everything else, and what is more important in their hearts now is to fight for more interests for each other's countries in the next negotiations.

Alexander glanced nonchalantly at the window. Many Russians could be seen on the sidewalk, those in fur coats, and he could not help but think of his father's defeat in Russia that year, it was these "gray cattle of the tsar" that came like a tidal wave that defeated the French, and in the Crimea, despite the victory of France, the "gray cattle of the tsar" still impressed him.

Now, these "gray cattle of the Tsar" are about to fight for their interests once again at the call of the Tsar, and how will France maximize the benefits of this war?

He also thought of the Chinese, and the reason why this negotiation was kept secret and even needed to avoid the Chinese was that Alexander hoped that before that, a consensus could be reached with Russia, and only then could the Chinese, who now occupy the initiative, make concessions.

After all, Chinese...... Just the Chinese!

French...... What is their attitude now?

Thinking of the activities of British diplomats in France over the past few months, Duke Gorchakov pondered silently, knowing that his task today was not only to negotiate with the French, but also, through negotiations with Alexander, to find out what the French were seeking.

However, now it seems that Alexander, this illegitimate child, has long been fully prepared, and he even uses deliberate cold talk to cover everything.

What is certain is that the next negotiations will definitely not be so smooth!

"Okay,"

Duke Gorchakov thought,

"That's not bad! At least the initiative is still in our hands! ”

Yes!

The Sino-Russian alliance is the biggest initiative! Now no matter how France chooses, for France, the initiative is not in their hands, because, it is impossible for France to send troops to Asia beyond the Chinese, and as for the Crimean direction, now, it is no longer a few years ago!

If the French and the British try to open a new battlefield there, then Russia will definitely make them pay a heavy price!

As for Turkey, when the Indian problem is resolved, Turkey, as well as the entire Balkans, will be finally resolved!

Still, he said:

"A few days ago, our ballet company received an invitation from Paris to go to Paris next month to perform for His Majesty the Emperor, and I think it will undoubtedly contribute to the friendship between Russia and France."

Of course, if war had not broken out at that time, this sentence would have been also a temptation.

"Really?"

Alexander asked rhetorically, calmly.

"Maybe, who knows? I'm looking forward to seeing their wonderful performances again......"

As diplomats, they all knew that each other's every sentence smacked of temptation, and Alexander did not directly crush the other party's hopes, but gave him an ambiguous answer, which was a polite answer and, of course, uncertain.

The uncertain answer made Duke Gorchakov's heart tighten:

"Damn, it seems that today's negotiation will definitely not be easy!"

The thought brought tension to him. He began to think about the negotiations that should begin soon. Considering that in the negotiations it is quite possible that some concessions will have to be made. So it's a concession because, in these negotiations, the huge advantage is actually not on his side.

The real advantage is on the side of the French!

For China or Russia,

What will be done, it doesn't matter. Important, very important, what France will do.

If France were willing to be their ally, then they would have won the war, but if France had become an ally of England, it would have been more difficult for them to win!

Yes, although it is extremely difficult for the British to defeat the alliance between China and Russia, Duke Gorchakov, as a diplomat, is also well aware that it is also very difficult for Russia and China to completely defeat each other, which means that in the future, they will have to negotiate a solution.

"Unless France is on our side!"

Duke Gorchakov thought so in his heart, but the French would definitely have an offer!

What will the French offer?

And now Duke Gorchakov is more worried about what choice the French will make, whether they have come to give Russia an ultimatum, or has Russia indicated that they are interested in joining it?

Several carriages galloped along a road covered with snow and ice, escorted by Cossack cavalry, and finally stopped in a palace in the middle of the snow.

"This palace,"

After the carriage had stopped, Duke Gorchakov said in an extremely solemn tone.

"It is the Tsar's Tsar's Tsar's village and His Majesty's summer residence......"

Undoubtedly, this was to tell Alexander that His Majesty the Tsar attached great importance to this meeting, and after saying this, Duke Gorchakov added:

"His Majesty the Tsar has designated this palace for the reception of dignitaries from the French Empire."

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