The third more

With the hum of a steam train and a steam locomotive made of steel and screws slowly approaching the platform, the French delegation finally came to an end of their long and boring journey.

All had the fatigue of the long journey on their faces, and although the train provided luxurious rest bedrooms, Dekaz still spent several sleepless nights with the sound of the steel tracks moving forward.

At this time, the platform was crowded with personnel of the Russian Foreign Ministry, who cautiously greeted the special train full of the French delegation.

Even there was a certain uneasiness in the air.

Foreign Minister Dekaz had just stepped out of the train and stepped on the soil of St. Petersburg to take a deep breath of fresh air.

He has not yet set his sights on the diplomats who are not in the right mood, and he is still thinking about what to negotiate with the Russians next.

Before he could speak, Dekaz heard the unfortunate news from his entourage sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The Tsar was assassinated on the way to the Winter Palace and is now in the hospital, seemingly unknown. Therefore, it is hoped that Foreign Minister Dekaz will temporarily stay in the hotel arranged by the Tsar, and the time of the meeting will be temporarily postponed. The Hermitage apologizes for the postponement of the meeting and asked us to pass it on to the French delegates. ”

This is definitely terrible bad news for France.

Upon hearing the reply of the entourage, surprise flashed across Foreign Minister Dekaz's tired face, but he quickly regained his composure. I thought it was just a simple negotiation. But I didn't expect another sudden incident in the middle. It seems that the idea of successfully ending the loan problem is about to be postponed again.

He touched his shoulder with some trepidation—the shot at the Winter Palace still remembers vividly. If he had been hit at that time, I am afraid that my life would have to stay in this cold frozen soil forever.

He looked at the gloomy face of the Russian, and an idea suddenly popped into his mind, and he said to the Foreign Ministry personnel, "Wait, I am going to meet Prime Minister Gochakov now." Prime Minister Gochakov should be fine. ”

The Foreign Ministry was about to refuse his request, but Foreign Minister Dekaz did not hesitate and said firmly, "I have important matters to discuss with him, and this is related to the safety of the Tsar." I have come to negotiate with you on behalf of His Excellency President Napoleon, and if you refuse, you are rejecting the French proposal. When the time comes, let the Tsar know about your slackness, and guess what will happen. ”

The personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

A stalemate formed on the platform.

In the end, Earl Andrew, who was the receiving minister, nodded and agreed.

He said cautiously, "Now that Prime Minister Gochakov is in the hospital, we will send someone to inform him." If Prime Minister Gochakov agrees, we will proceed with arranging an impromptu meeting to meet the request of the French representatives as much as possible. But if Prime Minister Gochakov does not agree, then I am sorry and can only ask Minister Dekaz to postpone the date. ”

The Foreign Ministry of Dekaz nodded, and he stood in front of the carriage waiting for a reply from the Foreign Ministry. He didn't go anywhere until the other party had not answered.

He stubbornly stood by the platform and didn't take a step.

Dekaz took out his pocket watch at any time and kept counting the time. Two hours had passed, and the other attendants had waited here with him for two hours. In the end, they waited for Earl Andrew, who returned, and at the same time brought him good news.

"Prime Minister Gochakov was willing to have an impromptu meeting, right in the Winter Palace. So please come over early, the time is pressing. ”

The meeting was so hurried that it didn't even have time to set up a conference room, but in a small living room in the Winter Palace. With the exception of Gochakov and Foreign Minister Decaz, there was no third party involved.

Of course, there is no need for translation.

Now the Winter Palace is in chaos, and Gochakov, as the political backbone, must suppress all possible rebellions. And if you don't know how to set up a new tsar.

The anxiety on the Prime Minister's face had not yet fully subsided, and he hurriedly sat down opposite Foreign Minister Dekaz. And whispered, "I'm very busy right now, what's the long story short." ”

Dekaz was very simple and straight to the point, "I know that the tsar is still lying in the hospital, and the whole political center of St. Petersburg is in a mess." In fact, we are only here to solve the problem of the frequent assassinations of Tsar Alexander III. ”

Prime Minister Gochakov frowned, and his hands were rubbing unintentionally. I can't believe that a man from a free country should say that he wants to be the uneasy factor for the Tsar to resolutely affect political stability?

Foreign Minister Dekaz said, "Presumably, the inefficient police departments are already overwhelmed by this time, right? Relying on them is estimated that it will be difficult to catch the attackers, so why not restore your Oprychniki system? Those with brooms and hanging dogs' heads, Ivan the Terrible's guards. Emulate their system. ”

Gochakov's expression was stunned, he hadn't heard anyone mention any historical stories in the dust corners for a long time.

The Oplishniki Guards were founded in February 1565 by the first Tsar Ivan the Terrible in response to the domestic and foreign security environment, at a time when the country under Ivan the Terrible was transforming from Muscovy to the Russian Empire. At the same time, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a neighbor to the west, had long coveted the territory of Tsarist Russia in its early years, and urgently needed an army under the orders of the royal family to protect its security.

These guards formed the secret police of the Tsarist era, and there were institutions for arrest, reconnaissance and interrogation. Their power was the same as that of the KGB, except that one was the sword and shield of the party, and the other sniffed out and eliminated traitors.

"Everyone believed that the appearance of Oprychniki was the ultimate cause of the discord, but the Guards played an active role in helping Ivan the Terrible to concentrate his efforts on challenging the old aristocratic structure and establishing the capacity of the new local government. The traditional martial arts culture and tenacious national character have made Russians more fond of iron-fisted rule and strongman politics. This is for the future of Russia, and for the future of the tsar. To say in private, these rebels are crazy people who will dare to kill the Tsar's entire family in the future. ”

Although this organization existed for only seven years in history, it laid the foundation for the centralization of power by the Tsars. This is particularly true in the suppression of rebellions and the elimination of traitors.

Now Alexander III faced almost the same situation as he did then, with aristocrats seizing power, rebels in abundance, and a tsar who could not grasp real power.

In the living room, only Foreign Minister Dekaz was talking incessantly, and looking at this scene, Gochakov suddenly felt a little ridiculous. The Russian Empire, which is a tradition of autocracy and imperial power, would be ridiculed for asking French people who advocate freedom and human rights to educate themselves on how to strengthen centralized power.

And Dekaz's remarks at this time were all Napoleon's words and deeds.

In his dealings with the Slavs, he knew how to deal with the masochistic tendencies who longed to be ruled by a powerful monarch.

Foreign Minister Dekaz was explaining to Gochakov that there was no need to reason with a herd of Slavic grey animals, and that those who did not obey were to be whipped and driven forward.

Ignoring Dekaz's unintentional irreverent remarks, Gochakov pondered his words.

"You're saying that if Tsar Alexander III wants to set up a similar body to deal with all kinds of assassinations against the Tsar in the country, and to maintain security in the St. Petersburg region, these scattered assassins tend to hide among the population, so you must build a team with great power. This includes the possibility of interrogating any civilian. ”

"The situation is so dire that Alexander III probably wouldn't mind building a secret and loyal army to keep him safe," said Foreign Minister Dekaz. The casual arrest of any Russian citizen who might be an enemy, and the covert resolution of one's own political opponents, requires the help of such a team. ”

And then, Dekaz revealed a secret that shocked him even more.

"Just ten years ago, Napoleon had established a similar national gendarmerie for political reasons, using dictatorial means to deal exclusively with the royalists and stabilize the republican rule. The means are all the same, people don't think about the cruelty of the process, they just want to see the final outcome. Whether the tsar is blown up, or the rampant anarchists hang themselves on the gallows, this is the choice you are facing now. We have dealt with the enemies of the republic with a single fire, and you can use similar means to defeat the enemies of the Tsar. ”

Dekaz smiled and said, "Think about it, France still wants to cooperate with St. Petersburg for a long time, and we don't want His Majesty the Tsar to be unable to cooperate with France and Russia because of this assassination." ”

At this time, Gochakov was already deeply attracted by the content of Foreign Minister Decaz, and he fell into deep thought, considering the feasibility of the plan.

It is impossible to rely on an incompetent police department to deal with emergencies, so the Tsar needs a strong team that can help him deal with the hidden crises and affairs around him. This is the urgent task of Gochakov.

And to be able to perceive their plan in advance, to crush the assassination plot in the cradle, such a thing as today will never happen again.

Foreign Minister Dekaz further demagoguery, "Yes, for example, this body can be called the NKVD, or the National Security Council. Let him sound more upright. You can try to accept my proposal. ”