The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1434 The Lion Opens Its Mouth

"Your Majesty the Tsar"

George Villiers was about to speak when Nicholas I spoke angrily.

"How dare you come! Do you want to deceive me again? I think you don't want to live anymore."

Hearing the Tsar say this, George Villiers felt relieved.

Because if the Tsar really wanted to kill himself, there would be no need to waste time talking to a dead man.

"Your Majesty, this is all politically necessary. I think you should understand. I really came here for peace this time. Please believe me.

Your country needs peace, and I am the man who can bring it to you."

In fact, Nicholas I did not want to continue fighting. To be more precise, Russia could no longer fight.

Although Russia seemed to be winning, winning, winning, winning, this victory was worthless. The rotten land it conquered not only failed to provide economic value, but also required a large amount of funds and troops to maintain it.

Moreover, this victory is not as glorious as it sounds. Since the beginning of the war, the military losses of both Russia and Turkey are almost the same. This is the most unacceptable point for Nicholas I.

Of course, the Ottoman side did not count the losses of temporarily recruited local militias, but the Russian side also did not count the losses of the Balkan resistance forces that cooperated with the Russian army.

The loss of nearly 300,000 people was painful even for Russia. This was only the loss of manpower, and the loss of logistics materials and personnel was even more difficult to count.

The biggest economic impact was not the British embargo or the hoarding by domestic profiteers, but the war taxes.

To understand how harmful war tax is, just look at the three taxes in the late Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, before the war, Russia itself was experiencing civil unrest, including the Polish rebellion, the Cossack rebellion in southern Russia, and the Imam Shamil rebellion in Chechnya in the Caucasus.

The rebellion itself will affect local tax revenue, and suppressing the rebellion itself is a considerable expense.

This does not mean that Russia's economy is completely ruined. In fact, Russia's foreign trade volume and trade value have both hit record highs this year.

However, the ones who benefited the most were industrial and commercial capitalists and the dignitaries in charge of related matters, which led to dissatisfaction among other factions in Russia.

This series of wars consumed all of Russia's accumulation since the end of the Anti-French War, and even left it with a debt of tens of millions of rubles.

Without the Austrian Empire's backstop, Russia's situation would be even worse. Although Constantinople was within reach, Nicholas I had to consider the present.

Since they failed to capture Constantinople in one fell swoop, the most sensible decision would have been to temporarily secure the captured land, and then develop it in preparation for the next Russo-Turkish war.

In fact, Nicholas I had originally thought so, but the British suddenly changed their minds, which led to the prolongation of the war and caused Russia to suffer heavy losses in subsequent wars.

"You want peace, fine. I want all the land in Northern Thrace."

The Tsar made a huge demand right from the start, which was exactly what George Villiers had expected.

"Your Majesty, what you cannot get on the battlefield, you cannot get at the negotiation table either."

Hearing this again, Nicholas I felt his blood pressure rising rapidly, but he still suppressed his anger.

"So what do you want? Wait until we conquer all of Northern Thrace before we talk? No matter what, I've got Bulgaria."

Nicholas I slammed the table, stood up and looked George Villiers in the eye.

(At this time, Bulgaria refers to the plains of northern Bulgaria, and the south is called Eastern Rumelia or Northern Thrace.)
In fact, from the Tsar’s words, George Villiers understood the other party’s bottom line.

"Your Majesty, Bulgaria can certainly be ceded to your country." "Secretary! Write this down!"

Nicholas I smiled unconsciously, and seeing this, George Villiers also smiled and said.

"But we have a condition. Both sides need to sign a ten-year ceasefire agreement."

"Ten years!? Impossible!"

Nicholas I subconsciously refused. Ten years was too long for him. At the same time, he immediately became alert. Could this be another new trick of the British?
"What do you want to do?"

Facing the Tsar's angry questioning, George Villiers quickly waved his hands and said.

"This is just for the sake of peace. Your country and the Holy Alliance have gained enough in this war.

Moreover, the Greeks have been sitting still. If we both lose in Eastern Rumelia, will the Greeks take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Istanbul?"

"Huh, isn't that what you get on the battlefield?"

Nicholas I asked in return, and George Villiers answered calmly.

"But when that time comes, will they hand over the spoils?"

Nicholas I froze for a moment. He was indeed worried that this might happen. Otto I's so-called Greater Hellenism disgusted Nicholas I, and he even felt that it was a conspiracy against him.

"We have sufficient evidence to prove that the Austrian Empire is the biggest financial backer behind the Kingdom of Greece."

The British would not let Austria off so easily. George Villiers took out a top-secret document and placed it on the Tsar's desk.

"This is the information we collected. You can take a look at it."

Nicholas I picked up the documents on the table, and George Villiers said while the iron was hot.

"I must remind you that Otto I and Joseph I are cousins."

After hearing this, Nicholas I became furious as George Villiers had expected, but what happened next was not what he had expected.

"Franz is still my son-in-law!"

Although a little surprised, George Villiers did not panic. He had already prepared his speech.

"But this is related to the interests of the country after all."

"Don't even think about separating us. Our alliance is unbreakable! You are not qualified to negotiate with me unless you let Victoria come.

Go talk to my Foreign Secretary.

see a visitor out! "

Nicholas I finally remembered that negotiation was not his forte and that such matters should be left to professionals.

George Villiers wanted to say something else, but the Tsar's guards would not give him the chance. George Villiers had no choice but to leave.

However, in his opinion, the problem should not be serious. After all, Russian Foreign Minister Nesherlov was a thorough pro-British, and many secrets about Russia came from his mouth.

However, George Villiers miscalculated. It was true that Nessellov was pro-British, but he was not stupid. Completing the Tsar's mission was his top priority.

"Ten years is not enough, five years at most. In addition, you will have to compensate us for 1 billion rubles in military losses."