Marshal Jomini shifted his gaze from the soldiers outside the window to the royal butler.
"Yes! What is going on? Why are the streets of St. Petersburg full of soldiers?"
Grand Duke Constantine felt a little uneasy in his heart, and his keen intuition told him that something big seemed to have happened here.
"Marshal, Grand Duke!" The royal butler pondered for a moment, and then Constantine and Jomini said: "The situation here is very complicated, and it will not be clear for a while! You will know everything when you arrive at the palace!"
After saying that, the royal butler turned his head towards the car window.
Seeing that the royal butler was unwilling to tell the truth, Constantine and Jomini did not continue to press him. With some doubts in their hearts, they soon arrived in front of a Baroque-style palace in Tsarskoe Selo.
The carriage slowly stopped in front of the palace gate, and the royal butler said to Jomini and Constantine with a respectful look: "Marshal, Grand Duke! We are here!"
Jomini and Constantine stepped off the carriage, stepped onto the steps of the same palace, and met an old man in military uniform at the gate of the palace. He seemed to be standing here specifically to greet them.
"Your Highness (the Duke is also called Prince, and can also be called Your Highness)/Duke Golitsyn!" Marshal Jomini and Grand Duke Constantine bowed to the veteran nobleman in front of them with serious faces.
"Grand Duke Constantine, Marshal Jomini!" Duke Golitsyn also showed a solemn application on his face, "I am here to greet you by your Majesty's order!"
"Sorry to trouble you!" Grand Duke Constantine immediately responded to Prince Golitsyn.
"It's my duty, don't dare to refuse at all!!" Duke Golitsyn responded humbly, and then respectfully said to Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini: "Please come with me!"
Under the leadership of Duke Golitsyn, Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini arrived at a gate with guards deployed on both sides.
At this time, Grand Duke Constantine still didn't know about Nicholas I's condition. He pointed to the door in front of him and asked Duke Golitsyn: "Duke Golitsyn, why did you bring me here! Shouldn't we?
Heading to the lobby?"
"Grand Duke Constantine, His Majesty is in this room!" Prince Golitsyn said as he ordered the two guards to open the door.
After hearing Prince Golitsyn's order, the guard gently opened the door.
Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini, who were standing at the door, suddenly felt a wave of heat hitting their faces, and then the voice of Duke Golitsyn came to their ears: "Please!"
Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini entered the room without any hesitation. Duke Golitsyn, who followed Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini towards the bedroom, paused briefly in front of the two guards, and then
He gave them a look calmly, and the two guards nodded in understanding.
After Prince Golitsyn entered the room, the bedroom door was closed again.
When Constantine and Marshal Jomini entered the room, they immediately saw Nicholas I. At this time, Nicholas I was lying on the sofa next to the fireplace. Although the bedroom became extra warm due to the roaring burning of the fireplace,
But Nicholas I's face was still pale.
"Father/Your Majesty!" Seeing Nicholas I like this, Marshal Jomini and Grand Duke Constantine couldn't help but quicken their pace and came to Nicholas I.
"You are back!" Nicholas I, who was lying on the sofa, glanced at Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini with a forced smile on his face.
"Father, what on earth is going on?" Grand Duke Constantine walked up to Nicholas I, held Nicholas I's hand and said urgently: "What on earth happened while I was away?
How did you become like this!"
"Nothing!" Nicholas I responded shaking his head to Grand Duke Constantine.
"I don't believe it!" Grand Duke Constantine still stubbornly asked Nicholas I: "Father, what happened during this time?"
"It's really nothing serious!" Nicholas I still shook his head. He didn't want his son to worry about his own safety.
"Then what's going on with your body!" Grand Duke Constantine said to Nicholas I.
"Recently, due to the temperature, I occasionally feel cold!" Nicholas I explained to Grand Duke Constantine: "It will be fine after a while!"
"Is it true?" Grand Duke Constantine did not believe what Nicholas I said. He turned his eyes to Duke Golitsyn, and his eyes seemed to be asking Duke Golitsyn whether his father's words were true.
"Your Majesty, what you said is indeed true!" Prince Golitsyn responded confidently.
"Okay!" Grand Duke Constantine warned unconsciously, "Father, you'd better rest more, otherwise..."
"Okay! Let's not talk about this!" Nicholas I interrupted Grand Duke Constantine, and then asked Grand Duke Constantine with a straight face: "Constantine, what are you doing?
How could you say that to an imperial marshal in Crimea? Who gave you the right to question a marshal who has made great military exploits for Russia? Who do you think you are? A tsar?"
"I know I was wrong!" Grand Duke Constantine responded to Nicholas I with his head lowered.
"Idiot!" Nicholas I cursed angrily, and then pointed at Marshal Jomini and said to Justice Constantine: "The person you want to apologize to is not me, but Marshal Jomini!"
"Marshal, I was wrong!" Constantine turned around and apologized to Marshal Jomini, "I shouldn't have said those words. I know I was wrong! Please forgive me!"
After speaking, Grand Duke Constantine bowed to Marshal Jomini sincerely.
Marshal Jomini hurriedly rescued Archduke Constantine. He told Nicholas I that Archduke Constantine had done nothing wrong. As a Frenchman, he should not have overly interfered with the Russian army, regardless of the French victory.
, or Russia wins, it will be something he does not want to see, so please allow Nicholas I to resign from the title of Chief of General Staff and Military Advisor of the Russian Empire.
Faced with Marshal Jomini's request, Nicholas I rejected it without hesitation.
He told Jomini that now is the time for the Russian Empire to employ people, and Jomini must not leave.
"Your Majesty, it is enough to have Commander Gorchakov in the Crimean Peninsula!" Marshal Jomini replied to Nicholas I.
"You mean Gorchakov can help Russia win this war?" Nicholas I asked Marshal Jomini.
Marshal Jomini was silent. As a famous general, he had his own arrogance. He himself could not defeat the French army, so how could Gorchakov win?
What's more, he has already seen Gorchakov's fighting skills.
To be honest, if the Russian Empire and the French Empire could start from the same starting point in terms of equipment, then Gorchakov might become a decent commander.
Unfortunately, the French Empire lagged far behind the Russian Imperial Army in terms of equipment and logistics.
The Russian army, which was lagging far behind in the field of rifles and artillery, was unable to cause much substantial harm to France.
Therefore, it is very good for Gorchakov to be able to hold on to the existing city.
Looking at the silent Jomini, Nicholas I immediately understood what Marshal Jomini was thinking. He once again asked Marshal Jomini what he thought about this battle!
"Your Majesty, I think it is time for the Russian Empire to seek peace!" Marshal Jomini responded to Nicholas I.
"Okay! Got it!" Nicholas I responded to Marshal Jomini calmly, and then he turned his attention to Grand Duke Constantine: "What do you think?"
"Father, I think Marshal Jomini is right!" Along the way from Perekop to Moscow, Grand Duke Constantine saw a lot of things that he could not see before, and heard many sounds that he could not hear before.
, he also realized that the entire Russian Empire was like sitting in a crater, and if he was not careful, he would repeat the mistakes of France, so his thoughts gradually began to change.
"Yes!" Nicholas I also nodded calmly, "By the way! You should still have the terms of that little bastard Jérôme Bonaparte!"
Marshal Jomini hurriedly handed Alexander II's autographed letter to Nicholas I. Nicholas I opened the envelope and carefully reviewed the contents of the letter.
Alexander II's letter not only mentioned Jérôme Bonaparte's conditions, but also proposed to Nicholas I that the French Empire and the Russian Empire should negotiate the best peace as soon as possible, even if they lose some of their benefits.
After reading the letter, Nicholas I felt angry and also felt lost.
With his strong self-esteem, he will never allow himself to fail, and he will also never allow anyone to go against his will.
Now the French Empire has dealt a severe blow to his face, and his generals and ministers are also constantly violating his will.
Marshal Jomini, Orlov, Dolgorukov, and his two sons all overtly or covertly tried to persuade him to negotiate peace as soon as possible against his will.
Am I really going to be a shame to the entire Romanov family?
Nicholas I was thinking uneasily, and at this time he seemed to have seen Jerome Bonaparte's proud face.
No! I will never allow it!
Nicholas I roared in his heart, and he turned his attention to Duke Golitsyn. He believed that this family, which had been loyal to the Tsar for generations, would definitely be on his side.
