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Sunset, inside the Winter Palace, the office of Tsar Nicholas I. Tsar Nicholas I sat behind his desk with a blank face. No one knows what he's thinking. Perhaps, he is still digesting the news that the Foreign Secretary, Count Niechel Rodie, brought to him just now! The expeditionary force of up to 600,000 people, led by the famous general of the Russian army, Ivan Murphy. The reinforcements led by Marshal Paskovich were actually wiped out by the Chinese in just one week. Is this another joke from God to the Russian Empire?

The atmosphere in the whole office is quiet and a little scary. Crown Prince Alexander, Foreign Minister Count Nesherro Die, and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, Duke Gorchakov, stood quietly in front of their desks. The faces of the three of them were also very ugly, and they didn't know what they were thinking. However, they may also know very well that the current situation is extremely bad for the Russian Empire. The total annihilation of 600,000 troops, combined with the previous loss of 200,000 troops, was enough to break the Russian Empire. Although the newly recruited millions of troops are still training, they are not even fully equipped with weapons, and their combat effectiveness has not yet been formed. Therefore, in this war, Russia has already lost and can no longer fight.

"Is the news confirmed? Is this true? Ivan. Did Marshal Paskovich really lose all the way? It was a long time before Tsar Nicholas I asked.

Foreign Minister Count Neschel Rody glanced at the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, Duke Gorchakov. After all. Such a military situation should have been reported by the military to Tsar Nicholas I. However, because the telegraph line at the front was cut off. The military does not know anything about the front line.

"Your Majesty, according to the information obtained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this should be true. We have confirmed with the former Minister to China, Putiyatin, that the major newspapers of the Chinese Empire have reported on this matter. Various cities in China have also launched related celebrations. If it's a rumor. Then, there is no way for the Chinese to end up at all. Said the Foreign Minister, Count Niechel Rodie.

Suddenly, the face of Tsar Nicholas I became very ugly. Originally. He also had a glimmer of luxury, believing that this was a rumor spread by the Chinese and wanted to shake the military heart of the Russian Empire. But now it seems that the Russian expeditionary force was really annihilated. Tsar Nicholas I. I can't believe this is happening. That's an expeditionary force of 600,000! How could it be wiped out by the Chinese in just one week? To know. The strength of the two sides is equal! Could it be that the Chinese Army has become so strong? Even if it is 600,000 pigs, the Chinese will not be able to catch them in a week!

"Damn! How so? Why is this happening. How could my army of 600,000 be defeated so quickly? Tsar Nicholas I roared angrily, like an enraged lion.

"Your Majesty, because the telegraph line has been cut off, we don't know exactly what's going on ahead. Although, for this fiasco, I was also very surprised. But. What we have to think about now is how to end it! The commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Duke Gorchakov, reminded. The crushing defeat of the Russian expeditionary force undoubtedly proved it. Russia had already lost the war. Next, whether to continue the fight or make peace with the Chinese is still up to Tsar Nicholas I Rana to decide.

Tsar Nicholas I's eyes flashed with anger, but he suppressed it. He knew that Duke Gorchakov was telling the truth, and what was now in front of him was how to clean up this mess. The annihilation of 600,000 people will cause great turmoil in Russia! The relatives and friends of these 600,000 people could include almost the entire population of the Russian Empire. How to appease these people is a big question. In addition, after the loss of these 600,000 Russian troops, the military strength of the Russian Empire was severely weakened, and it was almost impossible for Russia to resist the attack of the Chinese Empire before the new recruits had formed combat effectiveness. These are the problems that Tsar Nicholas I needed to face and solve. It can be said that these problems are enough to make him anxious.

"Father, the nobles may find it difficult to accept this failure. Coupled with the fact that the empire is now conscripting and levying taxes on a large scale, it has caused dissatisfaction among the nobles. Crown Prince Alexander also said. In order to fight against the Chinese Empire, Tsar Nicholas I announced the conscription of one million troops, and in order to raise military expenses, he increased taxes and made the whole territory of Russia miserable. Those poor serfs are already living hard enough, and continuing to raise taxes is almost forcing them to a dead end! In addition, unable to raise money from the serfs, Tsar Nicholas I had to turn his attention to the wealthy nobles, which made the nobles even more dissatisfied with Tsar Nicholas I's policies. The whole of Russia, so to speak, is already turbulent. The crushing defeat of the Russian expeditionary force this time most likely planned these contradictions.

"Damn it!" The thought of these problems gave Tsar Nicholas I a great headache. He had no idea that things would turn out the way they were. Although he knew that the problems in Russia were very strict now, especially serfdom, which restricted Russia's development. However, he did not dare to carry out reforms, for fear that they would cause turmoil in the Russian Empire, which would weaken the strength of the Russian Empire. Nicholas I pinned his hopes for a solution to this qiē problem on foreign wars. If Russia can defeat the Chinese Empire, it will not only receive a large amount of territory from the Chinese Empire, but will also receive a large amount of war reparations. All this will solve the problems that the Russian Empire is now facing. However, the Russian expeditionary force failed, although Russia still has the strength to fight again, but if the war continues, the Russian Empire, which has lost a large number of elites, may not be able to win, but will make the Russian Empire pay a heavier price because of the continuous war.

"Well, Alexander, tell me, what should we do now?" Tsar Nicholas I rubbed his aching head, and at this moment, he looked so tired.

"Father, I think we should find a way to stabilize the current front. Then, through diplomatic means, he resolved the contradictions with the Chinese Empire and ended the war as much as possible, even if it cost him. Only by keeping Russia will we have a chance to turn defeat into victory. If this war continues, we will lose everything. And, most importantly, we need to reform the serfdom that is now in the Russian Empire. Serfdom had already severely restricted the development of the Russian Empire. If Russia was to become a strong state, it had to abandon serfdom. Crown Prince Alexander said excitedly.

Tsar Nicholas I listened to Crown Prince Alexander with a blank face, and he knew that what Crown Prince Alexander said was the truth. However, Russia has its own problems! If serfdom is reformed, it will inevitably lead to contradictions among the aristocracy. You know, those serfs were in the service of the aristocracy. Without the support of the nobility, the rule of the Romanov dynasty would be unstable.

Nicholas I was the third son of Emperor Paul I. Because his eldest brother Alexander I died without a male heir, his second brother, Grand Duke Konstantin, renounced the right to inherit the throne and was made emperor of Russia. After succeeding to the throne in 1825 by suppressing the Decembrist uprising by aristocratic officers with liberal ideas, he intensified his repression of liberal ideas and revolutionary movements by establishing the Third Office of the Secret Police. Suppression of the Polish uprising of 1830.

Although Nikolai knew the need to reform the backward serfdom, he limited the reform to what did not conflict with the interests of the aristocracy. Currency reforms, codification and reforms in the management of state-owned serfs were carried out. Externally, he continued to promote the purposes of the Holy Alliance, and cooperated with Metternich to suppress liberal and nationalist movements in Europe.

All this has caused a large number of problems in Russia. Now, it is even more necessary for the Russian Empire to solve it.

"Well, let me think again! That's it for today! Tsar Nicholas I said.

"Father...... Crown Prince Alexander had to say more, but Nicholas I waved his hand. So, Crown Prince Alexander reluctantly left the office of Tsar Nicholas I.

"Alexander, perhaps, you are right. But this war, we have already lost. Someone has to be responsible for the defeat of this war! "Tsar Nicholas I was not a fool. Of course, he knew very well what the specific situation in Russia was. He also knew that if the news of the annihilation of the Russian expeditionary force came, it would inevitably cause great turmoil in Russia. The disgruntled aristocracy, and the oppressed serfs, would rise up against the Romanov rule over the Russian Empire. When the time comes, their rule will most likely be overthrown. This kind of thing is very common in Europe.

"If anyone is to blame for the defeat of this war, then I will bear it! The future of the Russian Empire, it's up to you. "Tsar Nicholas I, after writing this letter to Crown Prince Alexander, took poison. He knew that the current situation was already very critical, and only if he died could he ease the contradictions at home and leave enough time for Crown Prince Alexander to resolve these contradictions in Russia. (To be continued......)