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Nicholas I was a typical dictator. From childhood to death, he always loved the army, and almost reached the point of madness. His qiē activities, including daily life, are meticulous and precise. He put a burden on his shoulders that he could barely bear for 30 years. He adopted a purely militaristic and bureaucratic approach to rule. He was surrounded by military personnel, and in the latter part of his reign there were hardly any civilian assistants. He sent special envoys to various parts of Russia on special missions, and most of these envoys were generals who followed him. But behind this iron discipline lies extreme corruption and chaos. Nicholas I, who tended to go beyond formal channels in the conduct of state affairs, hated most of all delays in deliberations, consultations, or other procedures, severely weakened the role of the Council of Ministers, the Council of State, and the Senate, relying more and more on a special bureaucracy under his direct and absolute control that could carry out his intentions immediately. He often made use of special committees outside the normal state apparatus, which were always composed of a few of his most trusted aides.

Nicholas I was a staunch defender of absolute monarchy, and did his best to eradicate any signs that might endanger his rule. After the suppression of the Decembrist uprising, Nicholas I carried out a large-scale manhunt on the territory of Russia. Unable to trust the aristocracy and always suspected that the nobles and high-ranking military officials were planning a coup d'état, he turned his attention to the bureaucracy, the merchants, and the free peasants, hoping to win their support and consolidate the foundation of his rule. Nicholas I set out to solve the problem of serfdom, and a series of decrees reduced the burden on serfs. And carefully worked out measures for the reform of the serfdom system, but these measures were never implemented.

In domestic affairs, Nicholas I, in addition to consolidating imperial power. It can be said that there is basically no achievement. Despite this, Russia was still on the rise, its economy was growing, and in 1837 the country's first railway was built. Nicholas I became the first train driver in Russia: at the ceremony of the opening of the railway, Nicholas I personally boarded the train, poured a few shovels of coal into the furnace and sounded the whistle. Slowly pull the train off the platform.

In diplomacy, Nicholas I returned to the idea of using the Holy Alliance as the diplomatic fulcrum, intensifying the suppression of revolutionary movements in Europe. It was during the time of Nicholas I that Russia received the title of 'European gendarme'. Russia in two wars against Turkey, 1806-1812 and 1828-1829. Dealt a heavy blow to the Ottoman Empire, and Turkey was in decline. At the request of Russia, the Russian emperor became the protector of all Christians in Turkey, and the Ottoman Turkish Empire was also forced to recognize the independence of Greece in 1830. At the same time, Serbia, Moldavia and other places were given broad autonomy. Nicholas I planned to organize a large-scale military operation. Defeat Turkey outright. For this reason, he also enlisted Queen Victoria of England to divide the patient's property. Russia's aggressive expansion momentum aroused discontent and suspicion among the European powers, who feared that a strong Russia would pose a threat to Europe, so France and Britain colluded and began to isolate Russia politically.

"Your Majesty, China, Britain, France, and Spain have taken control of the Canal Development Company, and they have refused Russia's accession, rejected Russia's demands in an unreasonable manner, and excluded us from the gate of the Canal Development Company. on this. There is no other way. "The Russian Foreign Minister, Count Nesherro Die, bowed his head and reported to Tsar Nicholas I about his trip to Paris. Of course. Count Niechel Rodie did not think that his trip to Paris was without what it seemed, at least he saw another enemy who posed a great threat to Russia. This time he returned to St. Petersburg in order to convince Tsar Nicholas I to change the direction of Russia's expansion.

"Damn the British and French, soon, Russia will make them pay for their shamelessness." Tsar Nicholas I said with some annoyance. He believed that the main reason why Russia was not able to join the canal development company was that France and Britain were playing tricks on it, and they wanted to trap Russia on the European continent. However, he had already decided to launch a new attack on the Balkans soon, completely defeating the Ottoman Empire and snatching the Balkans from the Ottoman Empire. In this way, Russia's influence will be able to expand directly to the Mediterranean coast, and the next step will be to expand directly to the Middle East.

"Your Majesty, the reason why we were not able to join the canal development company this time is mainly because the Chinese are obstructing it!" This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Niechel Rodie. He knew that Tsar Nicholas I had never looked up to the Chinese Empire, but he had to remind the Tsar to do so. Otherwise, a unified and growing Chinese empire will certainly become Russia's mortal enemy.

"Chinese? Those guys with pigs' tails in the back of their heads? Are they capable of holding back Russia? Tsar Nicholas I was in disbelief. Until then, Nicholas I's eyes had been on Europe, which was the center of the world. As for the rising Chinese Empire, he did not pay much attention. Although even great powers such as Britain were defeated by the Chinese Empire several times, Nicholas I believed that it was simply that Britain was too weak in the East. Moreover, the British army was a little too rubbish, and if it had been replaced by Russia, it would have won an overwhelming victory. Therefore, the foreign policy of Tsar Nicholas I was still to give priority to expansion to the west and south.

"Your Majesty, the Chinese Empire is not the same as the Qing State as we know it. The Qing Dynasty was decadent and backward, and its army was low, so it did not pose any threat to Russia at all. However, the Chinese Empire was different. Now the country has completely occupied the South Seas, and also owns China south of the Yangtze River, and has become a huge empire with a population of 200 million. Moreover, their industrialization was very fast, and the industrialization process was even higher than that of the empire. The armament used by the army is also very advanced, especially the navy, and their new warships are even more powerful than the advanced warships of the British Navy. This empire has been thoroughly developed! Count Nesherro Dieh reminded.

Tsar Nicholas I's expression was a little shocked, apparently unable to accept the words of Count Nischer Rodie. For him, this is completely fantastical. With a population of just over 60 million, Russia has become almost the hegemon of Europe, although it has not industrialized. He was a little afraid of the power of a powerful empire with a population of 200 million and an industrialization process higher than that of Russia. Wouldn't that show that even Russia was no match for the Chinese Empire?

"Count, are you sure what you say is true, is this country so powerful?" Tsar Nicholas I asked with a frown. Even now, he thought Count Nischel Rodi was joking.

"Your Majesty, what the minister said is true. After arriving in Paris, I sent people to the port of Le Havre to see the Chinese warship, a powerful steam-powered warship with a displacement of up to 5,000 tons. Not a single warship of the Russian Navy is capable of fighting against it. Count Niechel Rodie said solemnly.

Tsar Nicholas I nodded, although Russia's strength was the army, but the Russian navy, known as the largest number of navies in the world.

"In other words, will this country pose a serious threat to the empire in the future?" Nicholas I said.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Although Russia did not yet have a border with the Chinese Empire. But, as far as I know, soon the Chinese Empire will launch a final assault on the Qing state, which is entrenched north of the Yangtze River. Although the Qing had an army of millions of men, I estimate that the Qing were no match for the Chinese Empire. The Qing will definitely be defeated by the Chinese Empire, and when the time comes, after the Chinese Empire has unified China, it will border Russia in Siberia and Central Asia. Our two countries will have the longest border in the world. Count Nischel Rodie said with some concern.

Nicholas I's expression began to grow solemn, it is not a good thing to be neighbors with a powerful country. There are almost no big countries around Russia, they are just small countries. The only great power was the Ottoman Turkish Empire, but if it were not for the support of Britain and France, the Ottoman Turkish Empire might have been defeated by Russia long ago.

"Your Majesty, in Paris I met the Emperor of the Chinese Empire. The emperor of the Chinese Empire was only in his thirties, very young, and had a very strong personality. Once he unifies China, China will certainly soon reveal a strong intention for foreign expansion. Now, almost the entire East is occupied by the Chinese, and the direction of their expansion, apart from India, is probably only Central Asia and Siberia, and we have to guard against it! Therefore, the empire must strengthen its forces in the Far East, and send people to contact the Qing state, support the Qing state, and even send troops to join the war between the Qing state and the Chinese empire. It would be best if it could help the Qing to defeat the Chinese Empire. When the time comes, the empire can use this as an excuse to demand that the Qing state cede Xinjiang, Mongolia and Northeast China to the empire and establish a yellow Russia. In addition, the ice-free ports we need are easier to find in the East. As long as we can defeat the Chinese Empire, all our demands may be met! "Count Niechel Rodie began to sell his strategy in the East. (To be continued......)