Struggle in Russia

Nikolai Milutin was stunned, wondering what Count Rostovtsev meant by looking for Dimitri Milutin. Although his brother is also inclined to carry out reforms, he is not radical. It is absolutely unrealistic to expect him to help deal with the old stubborn or Nesselrode.

Nikolai Milutin asked suspiciously, "Count, what exactly do you want to do?"

Count Rostovtsev naturally knew what Nikolai Milutin was struggling with, and comforted him softly: "Don't think too much, I just want to chat with Dimitri and ask him something!"

Nikolai Milutin naturally wouldn't believe it, but since Count Rostovtsev had already said so, he naturally wouldn't make false statements. This count's reputation has always been very good. What's more, even if he doesn't come forward to help make contact, Count Rostovtsev must find a way to chat with Dimitri.

"Okay, what time do you think is more suitable!" Nikolai Milutin sighed.

Count Rostovtsev said with a smile: "The sooner the better, just tonight!"

【So anxious? 】

Nikolai Milutin felt more and more unusual. He really wanted to ask Count Rostovtsev what he was up to right away, but his intuition told him that it was useless to ask. It would be better to honestly inform Dimiter. , and finally ask Dimitri for clarification.

When Dimitri learned that Count Rostovtsev was invited, he was also stunned, because the count had always disliked receiving guests, and there were only a handful of people who could be guests at his house. Especially asking him to go out of nowhere, I always feel a little uncomfortable!

Of course, he still went, because it was impossible not to go, the earl's face was too great, so he couldn't do it!

Dimitri walked into Count Rostovtsev's mansion full of apprehension. Looking at the unpretentious residence, he couldn't help but sigh a little. When the civil and military courts of the whole dynasty admired the extravagance of the French court nobles, they all competed to spend a lot of money on extravagant At that time, the residence of Count Rostovtsev was really shabby.

There are no imported furniture and luxury goods, not even a pair of famous paintings. It looks like the country residence of an ordinary squire. Such a decoration is actually the residence of the most powerful nobleman in the empire. Who would believe it!

The silent officials led Dimitri into the living room, and after a while, Count Rostovtsev strolled over.

"Welcome my friend!"

Count Rostovtsev gave Dimitri a light hug, and there was no more hospitality, just a cup of black tea and a small plate of snacks.

It's just that Dimitri didn't mean to be underestimated. Instead, he seemed a little honored, because he heard from his colleagues who were once entertained by Count Rostovtsev that they didn't even have black tea or snacks when they came. .

"My friend, I know that you are busy with business, so it would be presumptuous to call you here suddenly, but I have some questions that I must ask you clearly, and I hope you can clarify my doubts!"

Naturally, Dimitri said humbly: "Don't dare, it's my honor to explain your doubts to you, and I must know everything without saying anything!"

Count Rostovtsev nodded and said, "Very well, my question is very simple, my friend, has the Crown Prince paid attention to military affairs recently?"

As one of Crown Prince Alexander's military attachés, although Dimitri is not particularly close to Crown Prince Alexander, some of the crown prince's dynamics are still clear, but he doesn't understand why Count Rostovtsev suddenly started to care about the crown prince's military affairs opinion?

Dimitri thought about it for a while, and didn't feel that these things needed to be kept secret, so he replied 1510: "The crown prince is actually not very interested in military affairs, and you should know the reason..."

Speaking of Dimitri smiled awkwardly, the reason is naturally the personality of Crown Prince Alexander. Because he really doesn't look like the son of Nicholas I. Compared with the old man with a military style, Crown Prince Alexander is very handsome and romantic.

Not longing for the rigid military life, the crown prince is very much like his emotional teacher, more like an elegant nobleman.

If he hadn't received the strict education of Nicholas I since he was a child, the crown prince would probably hate the military and hate his father like Frederick the Great, and he might have a farce of running away from home.

It's just that Nicholas I and Zhukovsky watched him too closely and kept polishing his personality, so even if he wasn't interested in military affairs by nature, he still had the temperament and style he should have. It's just that this is all acquired. Once there is no pressure from the old father, he may look different.

Therefore, Crown Prince Alexander is not very interested in the military. Generally, he will never get involved in military affairs unless he is required to come forward as the Crown Prince. So being an attendant military officer for him is a bit boring to be honest, I can only do things step by step, and there is not much room for development.

"Sure enough," Count Rostovtsev sighed, "Your Highness is still the same, so has Prince Menshikov been with him a lot lately?"

Dimitri thought for a while and replied: "Not much, Menshikov is also an old fox. Although he cooperated with His Highness last time to help him resist the provocation of Grand Duke Constantine, he was very careful after that..."

Yes, Menshikov is very smart. He knows that although he can cooperate with Crown Prince Alexander to fight against Grand Duke Constantine, he must not get too close to the crown prince. After all, he is Nicholas I's dog first, and now the old master He is still alive, so he hugged the little master's thigh, isn't that a way to die!

Count Rostovtsev nodded again, and asked again: "Where is Prince Bariatinsky? What has he been up to recently?"

Dimitri became more and more inexplicable. Why did Count Rostovtsev keep asking about the movements of the people around Crown Prince Alexander? What the hell was going on? Could it be that the earl wanted to play against the Crown Prince's people?

Dimitri rubbed the back of his head and felt that this guess was unlikely, because if Count Rostovtsev hadn't spoken good words for Crown Prince Alexander in the last imperial meeting, the Crown Prince might have suffered some crimes.

So Count Rostovtsev should have no malice towards the crown prince, but why would he inquire about the movements of the people around the crown prince?

After thinking for a long time, the tangled Dimitri finally gave Count Rostovtsev the answer he wanted: "Prince Bariatinsky has been paying attention to the situation in Ukraine. Prince Il Gorchakov's movements are very concerned..."