At a time when China, Austria and Prussia were in trouble over the distribution of Russia's war reparations, the atmosphere was very solemn in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Tsar Alexander II sat on the throne, his face gloomy and silent. Russia was once one of the most powerful empires in the world, and even Napoleon the Great, who swept across Europe, suffered a great loss in Russia, and eventually led to the collapse of the Empire. But now, at the Istanbul Peace Conference, Russia is about to be slaughtered by the members of the Eurasian military alliance, and this is a complete shame for Russia.

The territorial claims of the three countries of China, Austria and Prussia have already been sent back to Russia one step ahead. It was after reading the demands of the Central Austria-Prussia that Alexander II did not know what to say.

"Damn the Chinese, damn the Turks, damn the Prussians! One day, great Russia will let them repay the humiliation that has been inflicted on Russia today a thousand times over! Alexander II said through gritted teeth.

China demanded the acquisition of territories east of the Volga, south of the Don River, north of the Caucasus Mountains. The Ottoman Turkish Empire demanded the acquisition of all of Ukraine and southern Belarus, plus the territories of Poland and the Baltic coast, which were to be ceded to the Kingdom of Prussia under secret treaties. Half of the remaining Russian territory was ceded out. Moreover, almost all of these regions are densely populated areas of Russia, where industry and agriculture are relatively developed. After losing these territories, what is left of Russia? I'm afraid it's hard to be self-sufficient in food!

"Your Majesty, the telegram sent back by the Count of Nesherro Die, if we do not agree to their request. The Chinese and the Ottoman Turkish Empire would have been under military control in Russia. In that case, we won't have a chance to turn over. Therefore. Now it seems that we have agreed to the demands of the Chinese in addition to them. There is no other choice! "said the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Duke Gorchakov. After Russia's complete defeat and all the country's territory fell under the control of the Asia-Europe military alliance, he, the commander-in-chief, has also become a bare-bones commander.

"Damn." Alexander II cursed. He naturally knew that the Chinese Empire and the Ottoman Turkish Empire had nothing to fear. After all, if the military continues to be under military control, it will inevitably be Russia that will not be able to bear it first. If the war could have ended earlier, Russia would have been able to recuperate and regain its strength earlier. Otherwise, once Russia is ruined by the Chinese and Turks, it will not be a good place. If you want to recover again, it will be even more difficult. However, the loss of so much territory at once still made Tsar Alexander II very unwilling.

"Your Majesty, now we have no choice but to agree to the conditions of the Chinese and the Turks. Wait until the next war, let's look for another chance! With the contradictions between the Chinese and the Prussians, it will not be long before a new war breaks out between them. When the time comes. It is the opportunity for Russia to re-emerge. The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army, Marshal Wittgenstein, also said.

The Russian* military generally believes that this time the Russian enemy is too strong, and choosing to fight with China, Austria and Prussia at the same time is simply an act of seeking death. No matter how strong Russia is. Nor is it an opponent of the three great powers. Therefore, this battle is not that Russia is too weak, but that the enemy is too strong. If I could do it all over again. The Russians certainly would not have chosen this way.

Although, Russia lost a lot in this war. But they didn't lose all their money, they still had a chance. China and the Kingdom of Prussia have already exposed too many contradictions at this peace conference. It is only a matter of time before the next big war breaks out. Therefore, Russia believes that in the next war, if Russia can seize the opportunity, it will still have a chance to rise again. Even if it can't be restored to its pre-war status, it will definitely not become a defeated country and be slaughtered by others as it is now.

Alexander II nodded, agreeing with the same view. That's why he asked for secret peace talks with the Kingdom of Prussia, in order to preserve Russia's vitality as much as possible for the next war. But now, the Chinese Empire and the Ottoman Turkish Empire seem to have sensed the Russians' intentions, so they have spared no effort to weaken Russia, which undoubtedly makes it much more difficult for Russia to re-emerge.

It was at this time that a military supervisor walked into the office and handed a telegram to Duke Gorchakov. After Duke Gorchakov read the telegram, his whole face became very ugly. When Alexander II saw such a scene, he immediately had a bad premonition in his heart.

"What's wrong? Your Excellency the Duke, is there any bad news coming from Istanbul again? Alexander II asked.

"Your Majesty, the three countries of China, Austria and Prussia have proposed the amount of war reparations to be paid by Russia!" Duke Gorchakov said.

"How much war reparations do they demand from Russia?" Alexander II's heart tightened. Previously, the member states of the Asia-Europe Military Alliance made the Kingdom of Italy pay as much as 1.46 billion Chinese dollars in war reparations, and France paid 4 billion Chinese dollars in war reparations, which made Alexander II very nervous. What would Russia do if he was also required to pay so much war reparations?

"Your Majesty, they demanded that we pay four billion Chinese dollars in war reparations. The Kingdom of Prussia helped us in our efforts, but we were not able to succeed. The attitude of the Chinese and Turks is very resolute! Duke Gorchakov said with a dejected expression.

"Four billion Chinese dollars? Those damn guys, why don't they rob them! Alexander II roared at once.

Duke Gorchakov and Marshal Wittgenstein, were silent.

Aren't the Chinese Empire and the Ottoman Turkish Empire robbing exactly? Even faster than a robbery. All of a sudden, Russia was required to pay 4 billion yuan in war reparations, which was enough to bankrupt Russia's reparations.

Alexander II was a little desperate, if Russia had to pay so much war reparations, then I am afraid it would have to smash the pot and sell iron, and it would have to bear huge reparations for a long time to come, and it would be impossible for Russia to rearm and war. Russia's re-emergence in the next war is nothing more than an unrealistic dream.

"It's over, it's all over!" Alexander II actually shed a tear from the corner of his eye. He was mourning for the great Russia, the once mighty empire that had become like this.

"Your Majesty, we still have a chance, Russia hasn't lost yet!" Duke Gorchakov persuaded.

"We can't take out the war reparations of four billion Chinese dollars at all, this will crush Russia, and we will never have a chance to rise again!" Alexander II roared madly.

After the last time the Chinese cavalry looted the royal village and robbed the royal family of its wealth worth two or three billion yuan, Alexander II immediately sent someone to count the remaining wealth of the royal family. However, the final result made him very disappointed. The ultimate wealth of the royal family is only worth 2 billion Chinese dollars. Originally, Alexander II thought that the war reparations would be up to one billion Chinese dollars, and the remaining one billion Chinese dollars could be used for recuperation and military development. But now, that's not enough!

"Your Majesty, we can think of a new way for money." Duke Gorchakov said.

"What's the solution?" Alexander II immediately asked, he was now like a drowning man grasping at a straw. Duke Gorchakov's words rekindled a glimmer of hope for him.

"Your Majesty, although our government has no money. However, there are a lot of rich people in Russia! We can do something about it! A hint of murder flashed in Duke Gorchakov's eyes.

"You mean to go down to those big nobles and big landowners? No, they are the basis of Russian rule, and to attack them is to dig your own grave! Alexander II shook his head repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, we have no other way. These big nobles and big landowners did not contribute much in this war. On the contrary, it was the ordinary people who became the mainstay of Russia. If Russia wants to make a difference, it is impossible to rely only on these big nobles and big landowners, and we have to change our thinking. What's more, if we attack these big nobles and big landlords, we should be able to raise enough funds for war reparations and subsequent arms development! Duke Gorchakov said. Although, he is also a great nobleman, but he came up with this idea for Tsar Alexander II, then Alexander II will definitely not take his family.

"Your Majesty, if Russia wants to rise again, it will need to make a lot of changes. It is far better to rely on the broad masses of the people than on the greedy and rotten great nobles and landlords. In addition, the big nobles and big landowners almost control the economic lifeblood of the country, and we can get enough money from them, which is what Russia needs most! Marshal Wittgenstein also said.

Duke Gorchakov and Marshal Wittgenstein were both nobles, but also military men. This defeat became a shame that they could not wash away. They also want to do everything in their power to win the next war. As for the rest, it can be discarded. So, this time they set their sights on those big nobles and big landowners.

The expression on Alexander II's face kept changing, as if wondering if this was possible. He was reluctant to attack the big nobles and large landowners, because that would cause unrest in Russia. But as Duke Gorchakov said, without this, Russia has no chance.

Therefore, Alexander II nodded anyway and approved of the construction of Duke Gorchakov for their establishment. (To be continued......)

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