Struggle in Russia

Nesselrode was really impatient, otherwise he would never have said such cheap words. It's just that it's useless for him to get angry in a hurry, because who made his disciples and grandchildren so weak at all?

Anyway, a group of people held back for a long time, but they couldn't think of any good solution, but there were a lot of bad ideas. It made Nesselrode dizzy and dazed, but he was not pissed off. All in all, this meeting had nothing to gain except making him feel like a pig raiser.

"My friend, you shouldn't ask your subordinates, that's meaningless!" Cartier Caputistrias said to Nesselrode with a smile.

Nesselrode glanced at Cartier Caputistrias, who was ten years younger than him, and didn't understand why the youngest son of the former foreign minister said that.

The name Cartier Caputistrias is very long and difficult to remember, because he is not a Russian name, but a Greek name. His father is the former Russian foreign minister Ioannis Caputistrias. Before 1822, the old Caputistrias and Nesselrode served as Russian foreign ministers together, and the relationship was very good.

It's just that in 1822, the elder Caputistrias had to resign from his post as Russian Foreign Minister and went into exile abroad because he supported and incited Greek independence and committed international outrage. Of course, this is a very official statement. In fact, this person is still secretly receiving funding from Alexander I and Russia, is active in the Balkans, and is still carrying out the Greek independence movement.

And this group of advocates of the Greek independence movement headed by the old Caputistrias has a very good relationship with Russia, because Russia is their behind-the-scenes boss. The later Greek independence movement flourished almost with the single-handed support of Russia and finally won.

It's just that when Greece was about to win independence and was about to succeed, the British saw that Greek independence had become inevitable, so they changed their previous opposition and neutral attitude and began to actively support the Greeks. And after the success of Greece's independence, it cleverly snatched food from the tiger's mouth and made Greece fall into its arms.

To be honest, this made Russia very embarrassed. After decades of hard work, it paid a huge price, but when the fruits of victory were reaped, the British took the lead. Tell me, what is the mentality of the Russians?

Anyway, the relationship between Russia and Greece has cooled down immediately since then, and it will never go back to the past. Even the pro-Russian faction like Caputistrias did not mix well, such as his youngest son Cartier. Although Caputistrias settled in Russia, his influence is really mediocre.

Because Nesselrode and old Caputistrias have a very good relationship, and they had a happy cooperation back then. Originally, old Nie was also an outsider, so he still took good care of this old friend. Although there was no way to change Nicholas I's dislike of the betrayal of the Greeks, he still hired Cartier Caputistrias as a senior adviser.

"Why do you say that?" Nesselrode asked.

"It's very simple. Since His Majesty has already made a decision, it is useless for you to make any futile resistance," Cartier Caputistrias analyzed slowly: "You know his temper best. He is self-willed and arrogant. Arbitrary, no one can persuade him! If you want him to be satisfied, you have to touch his hair!"

As he said that, Cartier Caputistrias sighed and said, "Don't fight against him, there will be no good results!"

"So you shouldn't go to those guys to discuss countermeasures today! There are so many people, can you guarantee that everyone is really with you? That His Majesty heard it, and the consequences are very serious!"

Nesselrode's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately came to his senses. Indeed, he was confused today, and this matter was indeed too hasty. Just like what Cartier Caputistellas said, there is no need to hold any meetings, let alone ask for opinions. This will only make people spread gossip, and there will be a hundred disadvantages and no benefits!

But now it's too late to think about it, the meeting has already started, presumably people who really have two hearts have already started spreading gossip. This made him even more depressed, and he couldn't help but wonder if he was really old, and he would make such a low-level mistake!

"My friend, don't be depressed!" Cartier Caputistellas quickly comforted: "Things are not as bad as you think! Although there is no benefit in holding that meeting, the disadvantages are not particularly great!"

Nesselrode was immediately confused. Could it be that spreading gossip to the ears of Nicholas I made that majesty unhappy, and the harm was not serious enough?

"The worst thing you can do is hold a public meeting to ask for opinions, but the luckiest thing is to hold a public meeting to ask for opinions!" Cartier Caputistellas replied a little inscrutable.

Nesselrode is even more confused. What kind of argument is this?

Cartier Caputistellas explained: "Gossip is unavoidable in a public meeting, which is really bad. But even if there is some gossip in a public meeting, it is not particularly lethal! Even if that majesty knows it, it means that you It’s just that you have grievances and don’t want to advance his decision-making. It’s not that you suspect that you have two minds and are going to play tricks behind your back!”

Nesselrode immediately realized that with the energy of the third part, even if his subordinates were tight-lipped about gossip, what was said in this meeting probably could not be hidden from Nicholas I. On the contrary, this kind of open attitude avoids the worst situation. Opening up is at most a matter of resentment, and opening up behind the scenes is properly harboring evil intentions.

Even if Nicholas I knew about the former, he would be taught a lesson at most, but his status was safe. As for the latter, it is definitely a matter of attitude, and it is a taboo of Nicholas I. If you can't handle it, you will lose your official hat!

Thinking of this, Nesselrode was both scared and thankful, saying that it is too difficult to be an official in Russia, not only the subordinates are difficult to deal with, but the boss is even more troublesome.

Nesselrode sighed, feeling empty in his heart, and really wanted to just hang up the crown and forget it. Anyway, after being the prime minister for these years, he should have earned enough, and his meritorious service has basically come to an end. ?

Since Nicholas I didn't want coordinationism and didn't care about the life and death of the Holy Alliance, why was he in a hurry alone? Why don't you just resign and go home for a few days to spend your old age comfortably!

"It seems that my era is coming to an end!" Nesselrode let out a long breath and said displeasedly, "Rather than staying here to be hated by others, it's better to retire with a good reputation!"