I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1377 Convergence
Twenty minutes later, Kishchenko left the cabin with a heavy heart.

He had just seen the original of "Paul's Curse".

It is said that Tsar Paul wrote it in his own blood on the corner of his robe as he lay dying, and then tucked it into the cushion of his chair. Later, a servant of the Gatchina Palace discovered it while being ordered to burn the furniture and secretly handed it over to an officer loyal to Paul.

This was all fabricated by the security bureau, of course.

After Alexander I ascended the throne, he dismissed a large number of the servants from the former Gatchina Palace. Several of them died in recent years due to various accidents.

The security agency then selected one person from among them and pinned the blame for "bringing out Paul's blood letter" on him.

If anyone were to suspect anything, investigating this person's past would certainly reveal no flaws. Furthermore, the fact that he drowned accidentally would only fuel suspicion that the Tsar ordered his silencing—in reality, he had simply drunk too much and accidentally fell into the river.

Paul's death was already shrouded in mystery, and many people who saw the blood oath immediately believed it, even giving it the name "Paul's Curse".

With the help of this substance, Chadov's "revenge faction" grew rapidly. Now, the weekly secret meetings even require a lottery to determine the participants, so as not to attract too many people and be discovered by the secret police.

It wasn't until Kishchenko, the leader of the "liberal reformists," heard about this and eventually found him.

Chadov originally didn't want to deal with these noblemen, but "that gentleman" thought it was possible to cooperate with them, which led to today's scene.

Yes, according to Joseph's plan, by repatriating prisoners of war from the "revenge faction," "liberal reformists," and even the "anti-war faction" back to their home countries and providing them with various forms of financial assistance, they were to help them take root and flourish in Russia.

To avoid arousing the suspicion of the Russians, the Security Service did not get deeply involved, and all the funding came from Olivier, the owner of the Donbas ironworks.

Only "that gentleman" is a security agent.

Now, after more than half a year of brewing, both the "revenge faction" and the "liberal reform faction" have gained considerable influence. Under instructions from Paris, "that gentleman" has begun to advance the second step of his plan—

By uniting the forces of all factions, they presented the Tsar with a great gift.

In the howling winds of the suburbs, Kishchenko, his footsteps echoing through the snow, suddenly turned his head and asked, "You used to serve in the Guards?"

"No, in the Novgorod Legion."

"You're all veterans, right?"

"There are indeed many."

Kisshchenko said excitedly, "We need the bravest people. Join us!"

Chadov stopped in his tracks: "What are you planning to do?"

Kishchenko hesitated for a few seconds, looked around in the snowstorm, and then lowered his voice and said, "'Paul's curse' gives us the best reason."

“We will gather like-minded guards and quickly seize the Peter and Paul Fortress, and then the Winter Palace.”

The Peter and Paul Fortress, located at the mouth of the Neva River, is St. Petersburg's largest arsenal. Controlling it would allow for artillery bombardment of much of the capital and cut off external reinforcements from entering the city.

Chadov scoffed and continued walking forward: "It's impossible. We've discussed it repeatedly."

Kishchenko said with some smugness, "You probably don't know our strength..."

"Hmm, let me guess. Several hundred guards, some of whom may even be officers."

“We are confident we can persuade more of the Janissaries…” “Alexander can mobilize tens of thousands of troops at any time, including elite cavalry and artillery,” Chadov said. “You will be defeated within hours.”

As a junior officer who had only served as a second lieutenant, he certainly couldn't have made such a detailed deduction, but Joseph was very clear about it.

Historically, during the Decembrist Revolt in Russia, St. Petersburg did not even have a Tsar. Even so, the insurgent officers, having assembled over three thousand soldiers, marched into Senate Square in St. Petersburg, only to be quickly surrounded by tens of thousands of conservative troops, ultimately suffering a devastating artillery bombardment and declaring defeat. [Note 1]

Now that Alexander's power is secure, neither Constantine nor Nicholas, who are eligible to succeed him, have any intention of staging a coup. A rebellion launched by a few thousand young soldiers would be suppressed in at most half a day.

Not only would it not cause any real harm to Russia, it could even help Alexander I boost his prestige.

Kishchenko frowned: "Then what do you suggest we do?"

Chadov, recalling "that gentleman's" words, asked, "Do you know anything about the area near the Dnieper River?"

"I'm not quite sure about that."

"The military settlement system has driven everyone there crazy. The Cossacks are also harboring great resentment due to the continuous erosion of their autonomy and the huge casualties on the battlefield."

Chadov glanced at the minor nobleman: "There are many officers who share your thoughts."

"Only by gathering all these forces together can Alexander possibly take your demands seriously."

The "military settlement system" he mentioned was the latest system that Count Alakcheyev suggested the Tsar implement in order to solve problems such as insufficient manpower and difficulties in logistical supply during two-front warfare.

All serfs in the "garrison area" will be incorporated into the "standing army," receiving military training in peacetime and cultivating the land in their spare time.

The villagers were strictly managed according to military standards, and all the harvested grain was handed over to the state, while their food and clothing were provided by the state.

According to Arakcheyev, this would ensure both the amount of training and logistical support from the garrison during battles, making it a perfect solution.

However, the serfs found that after a whole year of farming, they received no reward whatsoever. Moreover, while they had previously only been exploited by landlords, now they were also subject to military officers. Previously, only a small number of people were needed to fight, but now not a single one could escape.

Who can bear this?
As a result, small-scale serf riots never stopped.

Historically, the Decembrist uprising in St. Petersburg is more famous, but in reality, the most violent uprising was in the "Southern Faction" of the Decembrists—that is, in the areas now located in the upper Dnieper River—which lasted for several years.

Kishchenko frowned. "You mean, we should cooperate with those villagers and Cossacks?"

“They number in the tens of thousands, but lack experienced officers to command them,” Chadov said. “In any case, it’s better than you dying in St. Petersburg.”

……

In Notre Dame Square, Paris, France, with the blessing of three cardinals including Beaumont, Joseph placed a ring on Alexandra's ring finger.

Archbishop Beaumont smiled and gestured, "You may kiss the bride now, Your Highness."

As the two young people embraced and kissed, the entire square erupted in thunderous cheers.

[Note 1] In November 1825, Tsar Alexander I died suddenly. Due to the publication of the secret agreement by his successor Constantine not to inherit the throne, Russia was temporarily without a Tsar. The Decembrists took advantage of this opportunity to launch a military coup.

(End of this chapter)