On June 28, 1914, 30 kilometers outside St. Petersburg, the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland is a dense forest, which is the summer residence of the Tsar, covering an area of thousands of hectares, famous for its beautiful fountains and sculptures, known as the Versailles Palace of Russia.

The most famous building of the summer palace is the Amber Hall, which was given to Tsar Peter the Great by the King of Prussia in the 18th century, and was made of six tons of amber, twelve times more valuable than gold, and decorated with diamonds, silver, and rubies in great luxury. In the midday sun, this psychedelic amber room shines brightly.

The Royal Symphony Orchestra played Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Overture, and the water column of the fountain rose and fell with the music, sometimes rising to the sky, sometimes bowing its head and flowing lightly, and the seamless coordination made the crowd marvel.

Like all scholars, Nicholas II and his wife were very keen to hold large banquets, receptions and mass events to prove the strength of the country and the love of the people. Ambassadors and their wives, Russian court nobles, and members of the royal family gathered here, and at this time, the four princesses of the tsar became the focus of the banquet. Of course, Rasputin, with his chest-length beard and a solid gold ruby cross, was also bound to be a heavyweight guest.

Since successfully predicting that the crown prince's condition would improve, Rasputin's claim to have relieved his hemophilia through divine powers, his position in the court has risen dramatically. The last time he was sent from the court to Siberia, after returning Rasputin was no longer a guy who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun, he began to strike mercilessly at his political opponents, including the Russian Foreign Minister and the Prosecutor General of the Supreme Council of the Orthodox Church, and other high-ranking officials were toyed with by him.

Empress Alexandra personally toasted him: "Dear Prophet, this glass of wine represents the respect that Your Majesty and I have for you, as well as for our devotion to God. ”

Rasputin took it with a smile and drank it all: "Your Royal Highness, the piety of you and Your Majesty, God has received it!" He will bless Russia and His Majesty!. ”

"Prophet, I only hope that God will bless my poor little Alexei, he is still a child!"

"Yes, God will see a mother's tears, rest assured, Your Highness the Queen!"

"May God bless my daughters to marry a good man and at the same time have good luck and be free from the curse of the royal family through the ages!"

Hemophilia spreads throughout the European courts, as is the case in all countries, and the tradition between European royal families can only be intermarriage between royal families, even if you marry a nobleman without royal blood, it is a very humiliating thing. Archduke Ferdinand, Crown Prince of Austria, who married Sophie, Countess of Bohemia, had already shaken the whole of Europe, and he was almost deprived of the emperor's inheritance because of this.

"Your Highness, you can rest assured that they will marry into the royal family, marry a husband who loves them, and their children will no longer be plagued by hemophilia! God loves Russia and loves you and Your Majesty even more! Rasputin's blue eyes were deep and mysterious, and it was easy to believe his words.

In fact, Rasputin's attainments in hypnotism were among the best in all of Europe. When he stared at others, he had already used powerful psychological cues.

The queen's heart is finally a little lighter, her love for her children is not lost to any ordinary people, and her relationship with Tsar Nicholas II is also very deep, which is very different from the most ruthless imperial family of the Eastern court.

"Your Highness, please don't leave so soon, God tells me that there will be very huge changes in Europe in the next two days, and Russia will also be involved!"

"Oh my God, are we going to war with the Germans?" Alexandra immediately became nervous.

The tension on the European continent is not a day or two, especially the Germans' demand for living space is very loud, Wilhelm II directly and explicitly declared: "The era when others compete for the sea and land, and Germany can only look up to the sky is over!" ”

And the living space that the Germans valued was precisely the Balkan Peninsula, and the tsar claimed to be the protector of the Slavs, and the tension between the two sides was no longer a matter of a day or two.

"Yes, Your Highness, an earth-shattering event will happen in the Balkans, the whole world will be changed, and Russia will not be left alone, please prepare for war as soon as possible!" Rasputin's tone was so categorical that the queen did not dare to slack off.

The actual situation is that a few days ago, Rasputin received a secret telegram from China, and Yan Weifan, the chief treasurer of the Jin merchant "Dade Tong" ticket number who had been in charge of personal contact with him, told him that the saint from the East had received God's will, and that there would be a great change in the Balkans, and Europe would be drawn into war. The reason why Rasputin was told was to let him inform the Tsar and his wife in advance in order to show Rasputin's divine powers.

Rasputin had already revered the Oriental saint he had never seen before, so he naturally didn't dare to hesitate at all, and relayed the news to Queen Alexandra during the banquet.

Not long after, Tsar Nicholas II summoned Rasputin in his office.

"Honorable Prophet, do you think that a major event will take place in the next few days that will affect the whole of Europe?"

"Your Majesty, it's not that I think, it's God's will, it's he who told me that a big event is going to happen in the Balkans, and there will be royal blood staining the Balkans!"

"Royalty?" Nicholas II suddenly became nervous: "Is my little Alexei in danger?" ”

"No, God told me, it's not the Russians who shed blood! God asked me to convey to Your Majesty that you should be ready for war! ”

"Beloved Prophet, how big will the war be? Can it be finished in six weeks? Will France and Germany be involved? Or is it only Russia and Austria-Hungary that are at war? ”

"Your Majesty, the scale of the war will be greater than all previous wars, and every man and woman in Europe will not be spared! God, out of favor for Russia and the Romanovs, let me convey to you in advance??? Thank God, Your Majesty! ”

Nicholas II was very embarrassed, it was not that he did not prepare for war, but it was really the inefficiency of Russia's political axe, in addition to the conscription work was done in a good way, other including the deployment of troops, the supply of weapons, and all strategic materials such as military rations, medicines, and clothing, Russia did not lack anything.

Trapped by the backwardness of the domestic industrial system, some time ago, Russia tendered all over the world for the purchase of one million Mosinagan rifles, three thousand two-wheeled Russian machine guns with shields and two front-door guns, as well as matching ammunition. These weapons are so-so in the face of a medium-sized war, and they are stretched thin in the face of a large-scale war. Compared with Russia's 3.6 million standing army, 1 million rifles is undoubtedly a drop in the bucket, and once the war starts, the loss and consumption of weapons will be even more amazing, at present Russia wants to increase the standing army to 6 million, if it really faces a big war, then 10 million rifles can only meet the consumption of front-line troops for a year. As for heavy weapons, Russia's shortage was even greater, and Russia had little preparation for other supplies needed for later supplies.

The whole of Europe knew that war would be inevitable, but no one could say how big it would be, most of them thought it would be no more than six weeks at most, and that the political axe was characterized by a perfunctory approach to officials, who used any possible excuse to make money, and who could delay a day when they got down to business. The tsar was also distressed, if he launched a general mobilization in the country and allocated all the necessary materials according to the need to start a large-scale war, then I am afraid that the war had not yet broken out, and the domestic uprising had already destroyed the tsarist regime.

Therefore, including the tsar, it is also counted as two days a day, and the ferocity of the shouting is actually a fake trick.

When the Tsar was in a dilemma, the court lady, Countess Anna, rushed in like crazy, holding a telegram in her hand: "Your Majesty, an urgent telegram from the embassy in Sarajevo, the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince Ferdinand and his wife, their fate is currently unknown!" ”

Nicholas II jumped up from the throne: "My God! Is there really royal bloodshed? Prophet, does this mean that the war has begun? ”

Rasputin didn't react at all, he had long believed that this was something that was inevitable. The prophecy of the Eastern saint has never been wrong, and this time it will be fulfilled.

Rasputin nodded, "Your Majesty, you must believe that God is omnipresent!" Once again, my prophecy has been verified, Russia and the Romanov dynasty will face an existential war, Your Majesty, prepare for everything! ”

Nicholas II patted his head, walked around the house, and cursed in his mouth: "Damn, these damned ministers, the preparations for war have not been made until now!" Weapons and ammunition have not been delivered, and there is not a single reserve of supplies, so if there is a war now, will my loyal soldiers fight with hoes? ”

Rasputin smiled indifferently: "God's love for you is beyond your imagination!" He is already in distant China, ready for you with all the supplies you need, all you need is write a check! ”

At this moment, Rasputin silently said in his heart: "Great Eastern saint, my master, your humble servant has fulfilled your heart's wish according to your will!" All that I have is from your gifts, and I will live forever and forever as your most godly servant! ”

Nicholas II took a few long breaths of the air outside the window, and after calming his mood, he said to Countess Anna: "Inform the Minister of Foreign Affairs to invite Chinese ministers and business representatives to the summer palace, and I will personally summon them??? No, it's an invitation to a dinner party at the Summer Palace, go ahead, and issue a formal invitation in my name and that of Her Majesty the Queen! Words must be humble and courteous, and may those Chinese really provide what we need??? Also, inform the French ministers and representatives of the banks of France that they should prepare a check for two billion gold francs, which they have an obligation to do as allies! Otherwise, even if the Germans hit Paris, the Russian warriors would stand by and watch??? Damn the French, borrowing their usury again! ”

On a Russian summer night, the stars are like jewels on a black velvet blanket, and the beauty is dazzling.

Princess Olga and her sister Tatyana are looking at the stars at the window.

Tatyana smacked her tongue and said: "Sister, you don't want to go against Rasputin in the future, his prophecy has been verified today, Archduke Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo, his divine power is not something you can fight against!" How can you stand up to God's messengers? ”

"Sister, don't you think it's strange? If Rasputin has divine power and is a messenger of God, then why would the distant Chinese cooperate so skillfully! The weapons and ammunition, food, military uniforms, war horses, rubber wheels including carriages, which Russia lacks, can be provided by the Chinese in unlimited quantities? Isn't that too suspicious? You know, the models of those weapons are tailor-made for Russia, and no other country will buy them except Russia! ”

Tatyana frowned: "Sister, do you mean to say that Rasputin will have colluded with those Chinese long ago?" They used Rasputin's divine power to predict what was coming, while the Chinese produced according to the needs of Russia, and then the two sides divided up those profits? ”

"Isn't it? Isn't that reasonable? ”

Tatyana shook her head and said, "However, Rasputin has never been to China, how can he collude with the Chinese?" ”

Oliga poked her sister's forehead with her slender jade finger: "What are you thinking about in your little brain all day long?" Just because Rasputin hasn't been to China doesn't mean that the Chinese won't come to Moscow or Petersburg to find him! As long as this greedy guy receives money, he will do things for the Chinese! ”

"However, this time is a good thing, the Chinese have prepared the materials we need, we will not be caught off guard when the war breaks out, Rasputin has made a great contribution to Russia this time!"

"Yes, you're right! But our Romanovs are too dependent on Rasputin, and my father and mother take his words as God's will, and this guy is constantly interfering in Russian politics, which is a dangerous signal! Origa said worriedly.

Tatyana's pretty eyes blinked a few times: "Sister, if you become a tsar, it must be the second Catherina!" ”

Origa took down an English book from the bookcase: "This is a medical technique written by a Chinese, just translated into English." In his book, he argues that hemophilia, which is widespread in European courts, is a special genetic disease caused by intermarriage within the royal family??? Now, I'm really afraid to marry a European royal family and pass on this terrible disease to my future children! ”

Tatyana smiled: "Then you are like Archduke Ferdinand, looking for a husband who has no royal blood!" ”

Olga smiled bitterly: "It's a pity, I'm not Ferdinand, I'm not the crown prince, I don't have so much power to fight against the entire European royal family, and Russia doesn't have the guts to arouse the anger of the entire European royal family!" ”

Tatyana flipped through the medical book signed by the author of the book, Wei Ming, and couldn't help but be afraid: "Sister, do you think what this book says will be true?" ”

Oliga sighed: "I very much hope it's fake, but this Dr. Wei Ming, he is the inventor of amamsulfonamide, the hottest medical doctor in the world??? Now China is already a little terrible, and what is even more terrible is that Russia and the Romanov family have formed too much hatred with the Chinese! ”

(To be continued)