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St. Petersburg in December is already icy and snowy. Tsar Alexander II, like other tsars, at this time, would leave the Winter Palace and go to the outskirts of Tsarskoye too much. Wait until the spring flowers bloom before returning to the Winter Palace. Even now that Russia is facing a serious crisis, this has not changed. The Russian ministers had to travel in a carriage to Tsarskoye to report to Tsarshire Alexander II.

After the end of the war with the Chinese Empire, Tsar Alexander II removed the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Duke Volkonsky, from the post of commander-in-chief, and let Duke Gorchakov, who had been transferred from commander-in-chief of the Russian army to foreign minister, continue to serve as commander-in-chief of the Russian army. Tsar Alexander II seems to have thought that Duke Gorchakov did better than Duke Volkonsky when he was in office. And the post of Foreign Minister left by Duke Gorchakov was still held by the former Foreign Minister, Count Neschel Rodie. Although, the eastern strategy proposed by Count Neschel Rodie was the main culprit for the series of crushing defeats that led Russia. However, Tsar Alexander II could not have found a better foreign minister.

Two days before Christmas, Russia's Foreign Minister, Count Nesherro Die, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Duke Gorchakov, and the political adviser Zhukovsky, traveled to Tsarskoye to report to Tsarsy Alexander II on the grim situation facing Russia. There is no doubt that the time has come to decide the fate of Russia in the current crisis.

Although, the war between Russia and the Chinese Empire ended. But. The Ottoman Turkish Empire in the south took the opportunity to launch a war that plunged the entire southern part of Russia into flames. Because a large number of troops were lost in the war with the Chinese Empire. The Russian army is now simply unable to withstand the offensive of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. It was defeated by the Ottoman Turkish Empire, not to mention the loss of troops, and also lost a large amount of territory.

"Damn, how did it come to this? We already have more than a million troops deployed in the south, why can't we resist the attack of the Ottoman Turkish Empire! Tsar Alexander II gasped and was furious. You know, in order to defend against the attack of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. He had to grit his teeth and agree to the harsh conditions put forward by the Chinese Empire, and paid a lot of money to end the war. The army was then moved to the south, where it was prepared to defeat the offensive of the Ottoman Turks. But. In exchange, it has failed again and again. Now, even the whole of southern Russia is in the midst of war. This result was simply unacceptable to Tsar Alexander II.

"陛xià. Although the number of troops at the front is large. However, most of them were new recruits, did not have much experience, and could not compete with the Ottoman Turkish Empire in terms of combat power. What's more, the troops at the front lacked weapons, we didn't even have enough rifles, and had to share one rifle for two. A lot of soldiers. You need to wait until your comrades are killed before you can pick up your weapon and continue fighting. And the Ottoman Turkish Empire was better prepared than we are. So for a while, the situation could not be reversed! The commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Duke Gorchakov, said with his head bowed.

"Damn! So what do we do now? Will it be possible to reverse the situation until the whole of Ukraine has been occupied by the Ottoman Turkish Empire? Tsar Alexander II roared like an angry lion. Ukraine is the breadbasket of Russia, and if Ukraine is lost, it will become a big problem for the Russians to even have enough to eat, let alone continue to develop and strive to become a world hegemon.

"Your Majesty, we need to buy enough weapons from abroad. However, the finances are already on the verge of collapse, and there is simply no extra money! Parliamentary adviser Zhukovsky said. The war that has lasted since last year and the large-scale conscription have long since brought down Russia's already weak finances. You know, even the war reparations paid by Russia to the Chinese Empire are gold stored by the imperial family!

"Money doesn't necessarily mean you can buy weapons. Previously, the British were able to provide us with weapons, but as the war between China, France and Spain against the United States became larger and larger, the British had already shipped all their weapons and equipment to the United States in order to support the Americans. We don't get even a bit. Said the Foreign Minister, Count Niechel Rodie.

"What about the Kingdom of Prussia? They had just defeated Austria and didn't need so many weapons, maybe we could figure something out of them. Alexander II asked. King Frederick of the Kingdom of Prussia. William IV was his uncle. After defeating the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia officially became one of the major powers in Europe. The military strength of the Kingdom of Prussia is strong, and in terms of the weapons and equipment of the army, it is even more world-class. If weapons can be obtained from the Kingdom of Prussia, it will also be a very good supplement for Russia.

"Your Majesty, we have sent someone to contact the Kingdom of Prussia. However, the Kingdom of Prussia could not give us many weapons, and they also consumed a lot of weapons and ammunition in the war with the Austrian Empire. In addition, relations between the Kingdom of Prussia and the Empire had always been unpleasant. Whether they will be able to sell weapons to us, it is difficult to say! Foreign Secretary Count Nesher Rody said with a wry smile.

In fact, relations between the Kingdom of Prussia and Russia have always been very tense. Previously, in order to balance Europe, Britain began to encircle Russia after the collapse of the First French Empire. And the Kingdom of Prussia was close to Britain, so relations with Russia were not good. Moreover, among the many German states, Russia supported the Austrian Empire. This was an obstacle to the Kingdom of Prussia, and if it had not taken advantage of the large-scale war between the Chinese Empire and Russia, the Kingdom of Prussia would have defeated Austria and seized the leadership of many German states.

The Kingdom of Prussia now has taken over the leadership of many German states and has become the ruler of the northern German states. A mighty German empire was about to take shape. Once the Kingdom of Prussia completes the unification of Germany, both Russia in the east and France in the west will become enemies of the Kingdom of Prussia because of their geographical relations. The Kingdom of Prussia was afraid that Russia would be beaten as badly as possible by the Ottoman Turkish Empire, so how could it be possible to sell weapons to the Ottoman Turkish Empire and let them defeat the Ottoman Turkish Empire?

Therefore, it is very difficult for Russia to get weapons from the Kingdom of Prussia! Count Neschel Rodie did not say it explicitly, but he did not want to attack Alexander II. Alexander II, who had just succeeded to the throne, was still too immature in dealing with these difficulties.

Sure enough, after listening to the words of Count Nesherro Die, Alexander II frowned. He knew that the current situation was indeed very tricky. But what does it take to break the game?

Duke Gorchakov and others also did not say a word. Although, they know how to solve the problems they are facing. However, they knew that what they thought was the best thing to do would most likely be denied by Alexander II. When the time comes, it may also incur the wrath of Alexander II.

Alexander II thought about it for a while, but did not come up with anything good. So, I had to turn to the ministers for help.

"Do you have any good ideas? Say it all! Alexander II said.

Duke Gorchakov and the others looked at each other, and in the end, it was Duke Gorchakov who spoke hard.

"Your Majesty, to solve the problems we are facing now, the main thing is to solve the problems of elite soldiers and weapons and equipment. As long as these two problems are solved, it will be a matter of time before we defeat the offensive of the Ottoman Turkish Empire! Duke Gorchakov said.

"Of course I know both, but how do I solve it?" Alexander II asked impatiently.

"Your Majesty, other countries, maybe there is no way. However, there is one country that can easily help us solve this problem. It's just that we're afraid we're going to have to pay a big price! ”

"Which country?" Alexander II frowned. But then he guessed the country that Duke Gorchakov was talking about.

"Damn, you mean the Chinese? You asked us to ask the Chinese for help? How is that possible? "Alexander II almost jumped. If it weren't for the Chinese Empire, Russia would not have lost millions of square kilometers of territory, nor would it have lost millions of elite troops, his father Nicholas I would not have committed suicide, and Russia would not have fallen to the current level.

Alexander II set himself the goal of one day to defeat the Chinese Empire, take revenge, and bring back the humiliation that the Chinese Empire had inflicted on Russia. Now, he wants him to put down his body and plead with the Chinese Empire, which makes him even more uncomfortable than killing him.

"Your Majesty, we are not asking the Chinese for help, this is just a transaction. During the war, the Chinese captured more than 800,000 of our elite soldiers. If we can redeem all those soldiers, it will undoubtedly be a huge force that will help alleviate our current predicament. In addition, the Chinese have captured a large amount of weapons and equipment on the battlefield, it is useless for them to take it, if we can buy it, the Chinese should sell it to us! Adviser to the Government Zhukovsky also said.

Tsar Alexander II's face was still a little unpleasant. However, he is not a fool, and he knows that this may be the only solution to these crises in Russia! (To be continued......)