Chapter 1221: Saving face
St. Petersburg, Winter Palace.
The Tsar did not know that the Europeans were already in a frenzy over the Polish issue at this time. Along with the spring breeze came the news that the Poles had launched a rebellion because of their refusal to convert and that the British fleet had entered the Baltic Sea.
The Russians could hardly believe their ears. First of all, not many senior Russian officials thought that the conversion would cause rebellion. After all, they had had many successful experiences before.
And if Austria can do it, why can’t Russia?
Another factual basis is that the Poles in Russian Poland have suffered a heavy blow. Their leadership and grassroots organizational structures have been severely damaged and cannot be restored at all in a few years or even more than ten years.
Even civilians were expelled and massacred by Russia under the pretext of a great plague. In theory, they could only be at the mercy of others.
Secondly, the British fleet entered the Baltic Sea, which shocked the Russians even more. Denmark and Britain have a feud, and theoretically it is impossible to allow the British to pass through the Denmark Strait.
The Swedes call themselves the "Hegemon of Northern Europe", and the Baltic Sea is their foundation. How can they let others get involved?
However, the reality is that the British fleet entered the Baltic Sea unimpeded under the banner of nonsense.
Although the banner of maintaining free trade is ridiculous, the British are the largest importer of Russian timber, and Libava is indeed an important timber distribution center.
The families of many high-ranking Russian officials are involved in the timber business. In addition to the timber business, they also have many unclear and unexplained relationships with the British.
You must know that Britain is the world's largest economic power at this time, and it knows very well that money moves people's hearts.
As a result, a very strange scene occurred. A group of senior Russian officials actually defended the British behavior, believing that it was the army's dereliction of duty and the navy's incompetence, so the British were needed to help maintain order.
"Your Majesty, the top priority now is to find out the truth. We cannot be blinded by temporary words!"
An old minister said sadly that listening to his words and looking at his "form", it can be said that he is loyal and sincere.
"You retire."
Nicholas I didn't like to see civil servants in the first place, and he was even more angry at this time. He spoke very directly and ended the political career of the other party in one sentence.
"His Majesty the Tsar."
Nicholas I waved his hand impatiently, and two palace guards quickly "helped" the old man out.
Although Nicholas I behaved relatively calmly, he had already begun to curse in his heart.
The population of the entire Russian Poland is only more than 4 million, and the Russian garrison alone has 80,000 troops. Coupled with the local police and noble armed forces, the total military strength is 100,000.
At this time, the nominal number of troops stationed in Russian Poland was 80,000, but the actual number was only about 50,000. Incomplete staffing and logistical lag were old problems of the Russian army.
Coupled with the fact that some noble officers deliberately falsely reported their numbers and took advantage of their pay, the huge Russian army always seemed under-strength.
Nicholas I could never imagine why there was a rebellion in Russian Poland and how those trashes lost Poland.
One hundred thousand people, even to suppress the 1830 Warsaw Uprising, Paskevitch only used 120,000 people.
And the 1830 uprising was not an uprising of farmers, workers, and craftsmen, it was a real uprising of aristocrats and soldiers.
Nicholas I was very conservative, and he had a natural admiration for nobles and soldiers.
In the eyes of the tsar, these were the two most noble people. As for serfs, workers, and craftsmen who relied on grotesque skills to make a living, they were completely out of his sight.
However, what is ridiculous is that at this time, the army led by the Russian nobles is being tortured by the mud-legged people he despises.
“Why did the Poles rebel?”
Nicholas I turned to Prime Minister Chernyshev and asked that Russian civil servants were very unpopular, especially the position of the head of the civil service.
"Great Tsar, it may be that your orders have aroused the wrath of the Poles."
Facing the aggressive Tsar, Chernyshev made a gaffe and expressed his thoughts.
The scene suddenly became eerily quiet, and everyone was sweating for the Prime Minister.
The Tsar's voice sounded again.
"I ask you why the Poles rebelled! I have clearly ordered the seizure of the Polish weapons!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the tsar did not think that his decree was wrong.
But another question came to mind, that is, they did collect weapons from Polish civilians in accordance with the Tsar's order, and even sparked several small rebellions.
However, because the rebellion was not large in scale, it was not reported.
This was Europe in the 19th century, and it was basically impossible to rebel with swords and spears.
The Russians' weapons collection policy is actually very effective, but they would not know that in addition to the boxes of weapons shipped by the British by sea, the border with Prussia and Austria is also a hardest hit area for smuggling.
The most dangerous place is the Lodz region. Russia has always wanted to attract high-quality immigrants from Western Europe, so it opened the mutual market in the Lodz region and treated the Prussians very favorably.
But what they don't know is that most of the Prussians who like to run to Lodz Town are New Prussians, that is, Prussian Poles.
In addition to normal trade, this group of people came to Rhodes Town to set up a lot of brotherhoods and secret societies.
The most terrible thing is that many of these Prussian Poles have received military training in Prussia, and a considerable number of them are non-commissioned officers who are not valued.
If this group of people had not infiltrated all day, the Polish uprising at this time would never have been so big, at least it would not have been so smooth.
Facing the questioning of the Tsar, Prime Minister Chernyshev did not know how to answer.
First of all, the Tsar cannot be wrong, and secondly, he is not wrong, and the officials responsible for the confiscation are not wrong. The confiscated weapons and equipment are piled up in the warehouse and prepared to be presented to the Tsar on his birthday.
At this time, no matter whose fault Chernyshev answered, he would be the one to take the blame.
So Chernyshev wanted to bypass the Tsar's question and directly provide a solution to the Polish problem.
"Your Majesty, our troops in Poland are stretched thin, and Governor Venbetrovsky is even more derelict in his duty. Not only did he lose Warsaw, but he has not even contacted St. Petersburg until now.
I think Venbetrovsky misinterpreted your meaning and provoked the rebellion. Russian Poland lacks a general who can coordinate the overall situation. I recommend Marshal Paskevich.
In addition, the international situation is also very unfavorable to us. Instead of running around to attack the enemy, it is better to suspend the action of religious conversion, appease some people to divide and disintegrate them, and then annihilate them one by one."
In fact, there is nothing wrong with Chernyshev's plan. First find a scapegoat, then use both kindness and force, and then defeat them one by one.
However, this was very harsh in the ears of Nicholas I at this time. Suspending the action of religious conversion, wouldn't that be equivalent to admitting failure?
"That won't work!"