"Germany now has good relations with the Northeast, and according to the information received, the Northeast has provided Germany with some airship manufacturing technology, and at the same time allows it to be supplied with helium for filling airbags, and it is believed that it will not be long before Germany will have the first-class air force in Europe. Germany had tense relations with France, as well as with us, and even Britain did not want German airships to dominate Europe. So we are entirely up to the possibility of cooperation with the French, and even the British can be involved. Skobelev said his reasoning, and the people around him gradually showed a look of approval.

At this time, Mikhail Tarielovich Loris Melikov, who was sitting on the side, suddenly spoke: "Your Majesty, the old minister currently lives in Nice, France, and has contacts with some high-ranking French officials. ”

The joint development of airships with France and even other European countries was one of the reports submitted by Skobelev at the beginning. And the attitude adopted by Army Minister Milyukin at the meeting today is exactly what Skobelev advocated in his report to the North-Eastern Autonomous Region. Skobelev, who was originally attending the meeting, thought that no one in the DPRK and China would agree with his opinion, and then time and space changed, and at today's meeting, Milyugin changed his previous silence and took the initiative to mention a strategic change in the northeast, but he did not expect to win the approval of most of the people present.

Skobelev was not happy, but sighed secretly, because he understood that the empire, from the tsar to the courtiers, was frightened by the fierce and seemingly never-ending attacks in the northeast. The agreement to study airships with the French was only the beginning of a change in attitude from the initial arrogance of the war to the current fear of the Northeast. When he originally put forward his opinion, Skobelev himself had already thought about the reaction of the DPRK and China. But now it seems that everyone accepts Milyugin's argument, and those who raise the question of denial are not denying the policy of de-escalation per se, but the feasibility of the minutiae. Skobelev felt a little lost, and the empire seemed to have lost its blood.

Alexander III stood up, walked up to Melikov, and said gratefully: "The old general has worked hard. ”

"Your Majesty is polite, these are all things that a minister should do." After saying this, Melkov coughed uncontrollably, and looked as if it was very difficult to breathe.

Everyone shook their heads, they didn't expect the empire to have reached this point. After much discussion, there was not much out of the ordinary, and after some decision, Alexander III finally made a decision. The Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich was ordered to go to the front of the labor army, along with the director of the Russian Imperial Cavalry School, Vladimir Alexandrovich Sukhomlinov. Ordered the imperial uncle Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich Jr. to lead his son Nikolai Jr. to the northeast to participate in negotiations. Ordered the Imperial Brother Grand Duke Vladimir to accompany Mikhail Talilovich Lloris Melikov to France to participate in negotiations on the development of airships, and at the same time to strive for a closer alliance between the two countries, and to promote the research on airships and anti-aircraft weapons that had been carried out by the private sector of the two countries. The emperor's younger brother, Grand Duke Sergei, together with the Minister of Internal Affairs, was ordered to jointly promote the construction of the follow-up works of the Trans-Siberian Railway. The Minister of the Navy, together with Yevgeny Ivanovich Aleksayev, was ordered to be responsible for the Navy's warship construction program for the next two decades, with the goal of 19 first-class battleships, 4 second-class battleships, 25 cruisers, and various other ships. The army also made a decision to reduce the military strength of the Far East front after negotiations with the Northeast, shift the focus from eastward expansion to westward expansion, and then promote Great Slavism and march into Poland in order to create pressure on Germany.

The policy of the rest of the part also included the strengthening of relations with the Qing Dynasty, relations with Japan, relations with Siam, the strengthening of the actual occupation of the occupied territories of Kazakhstan and other states of Stan, and the strengthening of penetration into Mongolia, especially the Outer Mongolian region.

The meeting lasted from morning to dark, and when the ministers were hungry and dispersed, everyone seemed to be still in a dream. Surprisingly, Alexander III did not make arrangements for Skobelev, while he was still living in the estate of Milyugin. On the carriage back to the manor, Skobelev finally couldn't hold back, and asked Ilyugin, "My lord, it's good that the imperial policy has changed, but ......"

Milyugin's originally closed eyes slowly opened at this time, and then said, "Are you worried? ”

Skobelev nodded, "There are too many changes, not to mention the rest, how to solve the funds?" Whether it was airships, or building ships, or even the war against Poland to the west, and the continued construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Even with a reduction in forces from the Far East, the Empire's finances could not bear such a heavy burden. ”

Milyugin smiled, and said with a cold light shining in the corners of his eyes: "There will be funds." ”

Skobelev always felt that there was something in Milyugin's words, and with a murderous aura rushing to his face. He thought about it for a while, and suddenly his expression changed greatly, and said, "Your Majesty wants to ......."

"Recently, the empire has been in turmoil, and someone should always be responsible for this." Milyukin snorted and said: "Since the reform of the first emperor, the empire's finances have been steadily increasing, although it has been fighting against the northeast all the year round and building the Trans-Siberian Railway, but the reason why the finances are not enough to make ends meet is not only explained by the above two points. You and I understand, and Your Majesty also knows that there are too many people who are stretching their hands to fiscal revenue, and it is time to rectify it. ”

Skobelev didn't say anything more, just sighed, the current situation of the empire, this is also no way. In fact, no one is cleaner than anyone else, but His Majesty is short of money, and the empire's finances are almost bankrupt, and there will always be losers and victims in this political struggle. Skobelev was not a soft-hearted man, otherwise he would not have the title of butcher. However, people who kill their own country, even if they are not good people, will not feel too good in their hearts.

"You should also prepare, Your Majesty should reactivate you in two days, but you can't go to the Far East. With Dragomilov over there, sending you there again will only make the command at the front more confusing. ”

"I understand!"

"His Majesty intends to turn the goal of the army to the west, and the current commander-in-chief of the Warsaw Military District is General Joseph Vladimirmirovich Gurko, and in two days, when His Majesty's order comes, you will report directly to him."

Although he still couldn't let go of the war in the Far East in his heart, Skobelev also knew that Milyugin was right, and if he went to the Far East, it would only make the command of the Russian army in the Far East more divided and chaotic.

"When negotiations with the Northeast are made, I will bring back your descendants from the Far East, and they will be the main force against the Poles in the future."