Struggle in Russia

So Nicholas I had a headache, and he had no choice but to listen to Constantine continue to accuse Menshikov.

"I can't figure out why His Excellency is acting like this. Our navy is the second arm of the empire. If this arm is not strong enough, how can we safeguard the interests of the empire... Could it be that His Excellency's purpose is to keep us behind forever? Britain and France, do you always look at their faces?"

Not to mention Nicholas I, Menshikov is also a little confused. He was also misled before. Messadov only told him to confess to corruption and other trivial matters, and he didn't mention the fierce number at all. This caused him to take no precautions at all, and was completely caught off guard!

In the face of Grand Duke Constantine's powerful attack, he even seemed so powerless to defend himself: "This is nonsense...a lie...yes...it's all a false accusation!"

The old eunuch retorted stammeringly: "Your Majesty, I don't know about this at all, and it has nothing to do with me!"

It's just that none of the people present believed his words, anyone who wasn't blind could see his guilty conscience.

Facing the sophistry and denials of the old eunuch, Grand Duke Constantine did not engage in much verbal disputes, but silently took out stacks of documents and placed them in front of Nicholas I one by one:

"This is the document related to the Fierce and other steam ships signed and sealed by His Excellency. From these documents, Your Excellency, you are not as ignorant as you said!"

Beads of sweat the size of soybeans were all over Menshikov's face. When these documents were laid out, any of his sophistry seemed so powerless.

From these relevant documents, it can be seen that according to the requirements of the Secretary of the Navy, the maintenance and operating costs of steam ships have been artificially reduced to the minimum, and even the supply of basic spare parts cannot be effectively guaranteed. It is even more economical.

Grand Duke Constantine held up the documents in his hand and complained sharply: "According to these documents, all the steam ships in our navy are in a state of lack of maintenance, neglect of maintenance and close to scrapping. I would like to ask, what kind of navy minister would be so frantic to go down It is Chi Guoguo's dereliction of duty to order the destruction of our navy's equipment and property! It should be dragged out and shot!"

It was very quiet in the conference room. Everyone, including Tsar Nicholas I, was taking turns reviewing the documents provided by Grand Duke Constantine. These things are simply appalling, and even Nicholas I, who wanted to defend Menshikov, became angry.

"Your Excellency, do you have anything to say about this?"

Nicholas I asked coldly. Yes, the Emperor was obsessed with tradition, with keeping Russia strong since the great victories of 1812, with totalitarian rule and everything.

But Nicholas I also did not like his money wasted. Steamships are very expensive. Although there are not many steamships in the navy, it doesn't mean that they can be treated casually. The money was all allocated from his treasury, and every ruble should be used to maintain equipment, instead of watching them become scrap metal.

Even if Nicholas I didn't like steamships, he couldn't allow his Minister of the Navy to treat precious ships as a joke.

"Your Majesty, I..." Menshikov faltered as he wiped the sweat off his face with a handkerchief in embarrassment, "These documents...uh...maybe...there are...there are reasons... "

Nicholas I stared at him fiercely and asked, "What is the reason?"

Menshikov searched for an excuse, and answered after a long while: "According to my subordinates, the focus of naval equipment should be traditional sailing battleships, not unreliable steam monsters. So I will use part of the funds for sailing battleships." Build and maintain..."

Menshikov glanced at Nicholas I secretly, and found that His Majesty was listening carefully, and suddenly felt that he still had a chance to save him.

Hastily said nonsense again:

"However, our navy funds are limited, and steamships are very expensive, expensive to build and even more expensive to maintain. In order to have more sailing battleships, I have to collect funds from various sources, so I have to cut off the expensive maintenance of steamships cost……"

Menshikov began to admire his quick wit. He could come up with such a convincing reason. He is really a genius!

Menshikov didn't know whether others believed it or not, and he didn't care anyway, as long as Nicholas I believed it. At least the His Majesty's face looked much better after he finished answering, which made the old eunuch heave a sigh of relief.

It's just that the old eunuch was happy too early. Grand Duke Constantine had made sufficient preparations, so how could he let him use such a poor excuse to cover up the past.

As soon as Menshikov's tone fell, Grand Duke Konstantin launched another attack: "Really? Your Excellency, can you point out that these 'huge' funds that should have been used for the maintenance of steam ships were actually used for the construction of steam ships?" What sailing battleships have you bought? You are so sure and convincing, you must have relevant evidence and data, right?"

Menshikov was immediately dumbfounded. He had some ghostly evidence and data, and he just made up an excuse just now. Those embezzled funds built a ghostly sailing battleship, all of which went into his pocket, okay?

"This... this..." Menshikov began to wipe his sweat and thought about it temporarily, "there must be relevant evidence and data, but I didn't know that you wanted to know, His Excellency, so I didn't bring it. , How about I send it to you for a review after the meeting is over?"

Grand Duke Constantine laughed and waved his hands: "No need, Your Excellency. I brought the details of the navy's construction costs for the past five years. Just tell us which ones you said are the ones you said!"

As he said that, Grand Duke Constantine waved to his adjutant, who immediately delivered a thick stack of documents. It was obvious that he had come prepared and did not give the old eunuch any chance to falsify.

Menshikov was dumbfounded and didn't know what to do. And Grand Duke Constantine was too lazy to continue grinding his teeth with him, but introduced to the relevant documents confidently:

"Father, and your Excellencies, I have studied the construction costs of the navy in detail for the past five years. All warships, including the sailing battleships that His Excellency admired, did not have a single ship's construction costs that were embezzled. All construction costs They were all approved by the State Council and allocated in full..."

As he said that, Grand Duke Constantine looked at Menshikov with a sneer, and asked loudly: "So I don't understand. Those expenses for maintaining steam ships were not used for the maintenance of steam ships, nor for the construction of new ships. So where did they go?"