In the late autumn of 1658, Moscow.

There is no peace at all. Although the reform measures implemented by Patriarch Nikon with the support of the Tsar were implemented. Many leaders of the old etiquette were judged and executed, many nobles in Moscow did not obey Nikon, and the undercurrents were still surging in this seemingly peaceful city.

However, for the Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the second Tsar of the Romanov family, he was more concerned about the Tatars in Crimea. Especially when winter is approaching, we should strengthen our defense against the Tatars. After all, in the past few hundred years, the Tatars in Crimea will always attack Russia, capture Russians, Ukrainians, and then sell them to the Turks. This slave trade, and even the most important source of wealth for the Crimean Tatars.

"Your Majesty, another piece of information is coming."

“Where did it come from?”

“From Crimea.”

"Is there any movement in the Tatars there?"

"From ten days ago, the Tatars began to assemble again."

"They must have wanted to take advantage of the arrival of winter to attack us and inform the fortresses in the south to prepare."

Poland and Russia did not sit idly by the Tatars in the face of constant harassment. They also frequently used military means to counterattack, and they received help from Zaporozhe and the Don Cossack respectively. However, due to national strength, they were really unable to fight against the Tatars who had the support of the Ottoman Empire alone.

Although their ability to take the initiative to attack was still insufficient, Russia built a large number of fortresses and fortresses in the southern area close to the Tatars, organized local militias to garrison, and sent a certain number of patrols to patrol the border. These measures effectively curbed the Tatar invasion. In the past few decades, the number of robberies and success rates of the Tatars have dropped significantly; even if they are captured, they will often be rescued by local garrisons. Of course, Tatar invasions have occurred frequently afterwards.

"Yes, Your Majesty,"

The attendant general replied.

The evening party held in the Kremlin was colorful when the attendant general left the Kremlin and conveyed the Tsar's orders to the south.

At the evening party, the band kept playing dance music. Among the cheerful dance music, countless men and women danced gracefully in the hall of the palace, and the music of the dance music kept circling here.

Although for many nobles, they agreed that Moscow was the third Rome, the heir to the Byzantine Empire, and was higher than Byzantine, and this was even the reason for their conflict with the Patriarch Nikon, because the latter wanted to reform the religious rituals of the Moscow Church in accordance with the Byzantine method, which was unacceptable.

However, the court etiquette and music of Rakshasa undoubtedly came from Byzantium, from Eastern Rome, and formed a sharp contrast with Western Europe. Of course, when the dance music was played, all the guests, regardless of grade, began to take rhythmic dance steps. The scene seemed very grand. The glass hanging of the Ming Dynasty reflected the light of about one hundred candles even more dazzling. Under this light, the lacy skirts of women and the Byzantine robes of men were dazzling.

Such a dazzling event is rare even in Moscow!

However, Alexey, as the Tsar, did not participate in the dance. He just quietly admired the performances of these nobles, generals and their wives. For him, this was just a personal performance for him.

As the Tsar, he was a powerful character, completely different from his cowardly father. Alexey was a decisive person. In the past decade, he has implemented a series of measures to consolidate centralization and promulgated the 1649 Code. He also began to improve government agencies, established secret yamen, grain yamen, mercenary cavalry yamen and other government departments, established statistics offices, and established a complete tax system in various parts of Russia.

Russia is becoming increasingly powerful in his hands, but this does not mean that he has no concerns.

“Tartars…”

Once again, Alexey talked about the enemies in the south, but only he himself knew that the Tatars he talked about were not the Tatars in Crimea, but the Tatars from the East, occupied Volga and even conquered the Cossacks!

"They may be Russia's biggest enemy."

Alexey murmured to himself.

"One day, they will surely invade Russia, and maybe more fortresses should be built to prevent their attack..."

Just as the Tsar was talking to himself, Earl Miloslavsky, who had just arrived at the palace, got off the car and saw sentries walking quietly in front of the palace, carrying their guns on their shoulders. Their breastplate reflected the light of torches.

When Count Miloslavsky entered the palace, the soldiers and civilians gathered together in the hall to chat.

"Earl," said to him as soon as Earl Naresh saw Earl Miloslavsky,

"The Tatars in Crimea are gathering again, and they are expected to attack us in the winter."

"Then just inform the garrisons and fortresses in the south and strengthen their defense. Even if they succeed, they cannot pass through the fortresses. They will repel them a few more times and let them suffer more losses. They will naturally learn from their lessons."

Count Miloslavsky said.

"But what about the Qing Dynasty Khanate? They are all Tatars, just like the Tatars in Crimeans. Will they join forces with the Tatars in Crimeans?"

Earl Naresh looked at the other end of the hall and said softly.

"Your Majesty is worried about this."

“It’s really worrying!”

Miloslavsky nodded.

"The connection we have always maintained with the Tatars since the invasion of the Volga River seems calm, but in fact, they are our enemies, even the most dangerous ones."

"Yes, Mir, they are certainly our most dangerous enemies, and everyone is convinced of this, but the question now is, how can we eliminate the threats from the Tatars to us?"

Count Naresh said softly.

"This is what the Tsar is most worried about."

Worry, how could the Ross, who had been ruled by the Tatars, that is, the Mongols for hundreds of years, not worry about those Mongols?

Although Europeans use "a Russian put aside a Russian, his body contains a Mongolian soul." Only Russians know how the Mongolians in their bones came from.

The Mongols used their butcher knives to rule for hundreds of years. Therefore, they had vigilance and fear from the Mongols and Tatars from the bottom of their hearts.

“I brought good news,”

Miloslavsky smiled,

"Good news, what kind of good news?"

"Have you heard of England?"

Miloslavsky pretended to be mysterious.

"England? What's wrong with England?"

For the Russians of this era, Western Europe is a distant world, and their understanding of Western Europe is nothing more than limited to merchants and weapons.

That's all.

Of course, this does not mean that they do not envy Europe. In fact, in this era, the Russian court was filled with merchants, scholars and military officers from Europe.

It was the Europeans who brought new weapons to Russia, and the new combat theory made Russia become stronger quickly.

Moreover, Russia's learning of Western Europe has never stopped. As for the later reforms of Peter the Great, it was just that this learning reached its peak.

Without the active learning before, how could Peter the Great go to Europe as a member of the mission when he was young?

Even now, in the Russian court, which he considers himself the heir to the Byzantine Empire, he has been deeply influenced by the Western European court, such as the ongoing dance party.

"A big thing happened in England, and the army of the usurper Cromwell was defeated by an army from China. Those Chinese were only a few thousand."

Miloslavsky said.

"What I am very sure of is that those Chinese are the Chinese who Dorgon and the others are afraid of. If we can contact them, I believe we can definitely get rid of the threats from the Tatars."

For the Russians, there is no difference between Mongolians or Jurchens in their eyes. In their eyes, those people are all Tatars, all Tatars who bring them painful memories and change their souls.

"You mean we send envoys to China?"

Count Naresh asked softly

"It's not like China, but like England. After all, it's too far for our people to go to China. It's better to go to England. There are Chinese missions there, which is more convenient."

Miloslavsky said it seriously.

"At most, we can meet the Chinese people in just one month, and all the problems will no longer be problems."

This is definitely good news.

For Russia, this means that they can completely get rid of the threats from the devils from the East, of course, the premise is that the Chinese are willing to help them...

But the only problem is,

"But how could those Chinese, respected Count, be willing to help us?"

Count Naresh asked back.

"I think there is no reason for them to help us, if I remember correctly, a few years ago we seemed to have had something unpleasant with them in Siberia."

The so-called unhappiness refers to the fact that in the distant Yakutsk, they had encountered a conflict between the two sides.

However, for Russia, the conflict does not seem to exist. Even if they suffer losses, after all, Russia's expansion in the East has always followed a principle: take advantage of it and retreat when it is hard.

"Those are already things in the past."

Miloslavsky said seriously.

"Since the king of England can win the support of the Chinese, I think we can win the support of the Chinese like the English. Of course, we may pay some price, but I believe that those prices are undoubtedly worth it."

Although for Miloslavsky now, he had no idea what the price the English paid to win China's support. Of course, in his opinion, as long as the threat from the Tatars could be eliminated, everything would be worth it.

"But you must first convince His Majesty the Tsar! Dear Earl, does His Majesty need the help of the Chinese?"

The threat the Tatars brought to Russia is obvious to all. But it does not mean that His Majesty the Tsar would agree to win the support of the Chinese.

Especially when this kind of help comes at a certain price, for Russia, they have nothing to give to the Chinese.

Gold or silver. Russia itself is not enough.

"Your Majesty will definitely agree."

Miloslavsky said with great confidence.

"After all of us know that relying solely on ourselves is difficult to resist Dorgon's attack. The reason why they keep peace with us now is just to prepare for a larger-scale attack in the future. There is no peace treaty in the eyes of those barbarians."

The Russians are hostile and afraid of the Tatars in their bones. It is precisely because of this that they are vigilant enough to Dorgon and never dare to underestimate his threat.

Especially now, even the Cossacks have surrendered to them. It has to be said to be a heavy blow to Russia.

"If we cannot win an ally before they tear the peace treaty, then in the future we will definitely regret our choice today. So..."
To be continued...