I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 625: Finished Together

The British overestimated their influence in the Balkans. The Russian Empire was the foundation for the existence of the Balkan countries. Without the consent of the Russian Empire, no one could become the new king of the Kingdom of Serbia.

Nicholas had no time to take care of Serbia at the moment. The Russian army suffered a disastrous defeat on the front line, Nicholas the Younger resigned, Warsaw fell, and there were rumors that Petrograd was about to be evacuated.

Nicholas wanted Nicholas the Younger to remain in office, a decision opposed by almost all the ministers.

The reasons for the Russian army's defeat in the Russian-European theater over the past year are very complicated, and it is unfair to blame Nicholas the Younger alone.

But as the commander-in-chief of the Russian-European theater, Nicholas the Younger is undoubtedly responsible for this.

Nicholas also wanted to imitate the Russo-Japanese War and take all the responsibility on himself.

Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich, who had hurried back from France after the outbreak of war, warned Nicholas that if he took the responsibility, it would cause irreparable damage to his prestige.

Paul was the eighth child and youngest son of Alexander II and Queen Maria, only eight years older than Nicholas.

Paul had been in poor health since childhood and suffered from asthma as an adult. He needed to recuperate in a warm climate, so Paul went to Greece in 1887 and got engaged to Alexandra, the eldest princess of King George I of Greece the following year.

The two lived a sweet life after marriage, but unfortunately, in 1891, Alexandra fell into a coma after giving birth to her son Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich and died six days later.

In 1895, Paul met Olga Karnovich, a married woman, and they soon had a child.

After Olga divorced, Paul wanted to marry Olga, but was opposed by Nicholas.

Paul did not follow Nicholas' advice and insisted on marrying Olga, so he was expelled from Russia and all his property was confiscated.

After being expelled from Russia, Paul and Olga lived in Boulogne-sur-Seine, near Paris, France.

In 1912, Nicholas finally relented, pardoned Paul, and recognized Paul and Olga's marriage.

Paul and his family returned to Petrograd only after the outbreak of World War II.

Nicholas still trusts his only uncle very much.

But the one who really had an influence on Nicholas was Queen Alex.

Queen Alex not only hoped that Nicholas would approve the resignation of Nicholas the Younger, but also suggested that Nicholas himself serve as the commander-in-chief of the Russian army. She hoped that Nicholas would be like a real tsar and make everyone "tremble in fear" in front of him.

These are the exact words from Alex's letter to Nicholas.

Alex also said to Nicholas: You are too kind, and they are taking advantage of it. You can't go on like this.

The "they" here includes not only little Nicholas, but also George.

Soon after the outbreak of war, rumors about George began to spread in Petrograd.

Some said that George was watching the joke of Petrograd in Constantinople, some said that George wanted to carve up land in the Balkans and become a king, and some even said that George was using the war to attack Nicholas' prestige and then replace Nicholas to become the Tsar of the Russian Empire.

Nicholas still trusts George very much.

Alex's trust in George is fragile.

As the saying goes, three people make a tiger. Given the successive defeats of Russia and Europe in the theater, the victory in the Balkan theater is particularly eye-catching.

On July 7, Nicholas convened a meeting in Petrograd, and George was also going to attend.

George did not return to Petrograd until the evening of July 7.

That evening, Prince Elston of Yusupov came to visit George.

Elston came to say goodbye to George.

Elston and his wife, Yusupova, were about to leave Petrograd for the Crimea.

Elston's reason was to go to Crimea to escape the summer heat.

This reason is a bit far-fetched, the summer in Petrograd is not hot.

"I have spent most of my time in Crimea in the past few years, and I am becoming increasingly unfamiliar with the city of St. Petersburg - oh, this is no longer St. Petersburg, it is called Petrograd."

Elston made no secret of his dissatisfaction with St. Petersburg and expressed it bluntly.

"The difficulties are only temporary, and everything will be fine."

Even George himself couldn't be convinced by his words.

“The real difficulties have just begun.”

As the empire's first son-in-law, Elston is very smart and has a profound view of things.

"If you can convince His Majesty not to serve as the commander-in-chief, then everything may be able to turn around - but how is this possible? Everyone knows that you are the most suitable candidate for the commander-in-chief of the European theater, but you are the least likely."

George was silent. This was a dead end with no solution.

At the meeting the next day, no one proposed that George be appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian-European theater.

State Duma Chairman Rodzianko proposed to appoint Sukhomlinov, who had already resigned, as commander-in-chief.

This suggestion was opposed by everyone. If Sukhomlinov was not qualified to be the Chief of General Staff, how could he become a qualified Commander-in-Chief?
The Chairman of the Council of Ministers Goremykin proposed that General Polyvanov, who succeeded Sukhomlinov as Chief of the General Staff, be appointed Commander-in-Chief.

This suggestion was also rejected.

If Polyvanov is the commander-in-chief, who will be the chief of the general staff?

State Council Chairman Kulomkin proposed that the commander-in-chief of the Western Front, Alexeev, be appointed commander-in-chief.

This was equally unrealistic, as Alexeev had just been defeated by Ludendorff.

"George, what do you think?"

Nicholas took the initiative to ask George.

"General Ruzeski might be able to do it." George was impressed by Ruzeski.

Nicholas remained silent.

Ruzynski and Sukhomlinov had a very good relationship. Due to Sukhomlinov's involvement, Ruzynski is currently under investigation.

"In view of the current serious situation, I have decided to lead the army myself. Even if I die in battle, I will save Russia!"

Nicholas made up his mind.

This was a decision that made everyone frown.

After the meeting, George took the initiative to find Paul, hoping that Paul could persuade Nicholas to change his mind.

"I have advised countless times, but St. Petersburg is being controlled by a mysterious force and there is nothing we can do."

Although Paul did not name anyone, his criticism was directed at Queen Alex.

George still has one last hope, Queen Mother Maria.

After the outbreak of the war, Queen Mother Maria was either in London or in Denmark and never returned to St. Petersburg.

George telegraphed Maria.

After the telegram was sent, it became like a drop in the ocean and there was no response.

Little Nicholas hosted a dinner for George and Paul at his home.

This was the first time George saw little Nicholas in casual clothes.

Whether serving in the Guards or attending royal banquets in the Winter Palace, little Nicholas was always dressed in military uniform and was meticulous.

With a height of two meters and a handsome and upright military uniform, little Nikolai has always been regarded as the representative of Russian soldiers.

"Take off the military uniform and feel relaxed. I have completed my mission. It's time to let go of everything."

Little Nicholas was disheartened and planned to travel around the world.

"The war isn't over yet, you can't escape it."

Paul wanted little Nicholas to stay in St. Petersburg.

"What can I do if I stay in St. Petersburg?"

Little Nicholas smiled bitterly, drank the champagne in the glass, and suddenly started cursing with red eyes.

"I knew it a long time ago. I knew that woman would mess everything up! She is a German spy, planting spies in the base camp to steal military secrets. Can you imagine that every word you said was on that woman's desk the next day? She has no respect for me or you, and your base camp is the same. It is completely under her control-"

George knew that there was a big conflict between little Nicholas and Alex.

But I didn't expect it to be so big.

One day in mid-May, Deputy Minister of the Interior and Commander of the Gendarmerie, Junkovsky, wrote a letter to little Nicholas.

Little Nicholas took the letter and questioned Nicholas why St. Petersburg knew everything that happened in the base camp.

Nicholas was speechless.

Little Nicholas then asked Alex to go to the Warsaw headquarters to explain the matter in person and resolve the problem "within the family."

Nikolai agreed, but Alex disagreed to go to Warsaw because part of the letter was about Rasputin.

Nikolai once said that if Rasputin went to the base camp, Nikolai would hang him.
Alexeev also said that if the evil monk interfered in the military, he would resign.

Alex wrote a letter to Nikolai, in which he called Junkovsky "my enemy" and asked Nikolai: When will you be able to scold Junkovsky and others by banging your fist on the table?
"Nikki! Stop talking nonsense!"

It was too late for Paul to stop it, George had already heard the most crucial information.

"I'm talking nonsense? You've been in France all these years, what do you know! Do you know what we went through in St. Petersburg? Do you know the exact content of that letter? I tell you, what is stated in that letter is not the truth, because the truth is ten thousand times more absurd than the content of the letter!"

Little Nicholas laughed wildly, tears glistening in his eyes.

Paul looked at George with worried eyes.

George tried to force a smile, and little Nicholas' words just now echoed in his mind.

Every word you say will be placed on that woman's desk the next day -

George was a little skeptical. Did Alex really have that much power?

But you never know.

The Constantinople headquarters had a complex personnel structure, including personnel from the Amur Military District, the Navy, the Balkan theater of operations, as well as liaison officers from various countries, military observers, journalists, and so on.

Although little Nicholas's abilities were not that great, his character was still okay. George believed that little Nicholas would not lie about such things.

So, after returning to Constantinople, George also had to start an internal investigation.

This does not mean that George has done anything shameful and is worried that St. Petersburg will find out.

If George had spies planted by Alex.

There is no guarantee that there may not be intelligence personnel arranged by other countries, or even enemy countries.

"Just wait and see, that woman will destroy the empire and all of us will be doomed!"

Little Nicholas was completely drunk.

(End of this chapter)