"Finally arrived!"
Standing in the fine drizzle, Prince nshikov held a naval telescope, observing the misty city ahead. Through the telescope, Constantinople seed as if it were right before him, close enough to touch with a re stretch of his hand.
We must conquer this place, allowing Ro’s flag to once again flutter over Constantinople.
Gazing at the distant Constantinople, nshikov silently vowed to restore Ro and fulfill the dreams of past Tsars.
No one had ever been this close to this dreamlike city before.
However, nshikov seed to have forgotten that the Ro he envisioned wasn’t coveted by the Russian Empire alone.
In the distant lands, the Ottoman Empire also declared itself to be the Roman Empire.
Despite the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, tternich continued to proclaim in London that the Austrian Empire inherited the universal values of the Roman Empire.
Of all the Ros, the third Ro of the Russian Empire had the least legitimacy, rely claiming it by marrying a fallen Byzantine Empire princess.
Yet, now it was the era of 19th-century imperialism where all legalities had to give way to the naked force of rifles and cannons.
The title of the Roman Empire was no exception; those with stronger military power were considered Ro, a consensus among late-stage drears of Ro.
After observing Constantinople for a long ti through the telescope, Prince nshikov redirected the telescope towards a nearby port and, putting it down, pointed to the port and said to the Black Sea Fleet Chief of Staff, Admiral Vladimir Korolev beside him, "Do you see that? That’s the target you need to destroy! You must understand it thoroughly."
Admiral Korolev, just like Prince nshikov, picked up the telescope, and after careful observation, revealed a defiant face, saying, "Your Highness, with due respect! The warships in that port hardly pose a threat to the mighty Russian Empire."
"Of course, I understand the level of the Ottoman Empire Navy. I am asking you to destroy the warships in the port and the port’s structures as much as possible, weakening the Ottoman Empire Navy’s potential strength. Only then can we complete the landing mission at minimal cost!" Prince nshikov stated while walking slowly into the ship’s cabin.
Korolev followed Prince nshikov into the cabin.
Under nshikov’s leadership, Korolev arrived at his room within the ship.
Upon entering the room, a conspicuous map was hung near the porthole, showing the Ottoman Empire.
nshikov took the map down and placed it on the table, while Korolev leaned closer to the wooden table.
"Look, the Ottoman Empire Navy is here and here!" nshikov pointed to the locations of the ports where the warships near Constantinople and Sipuno Port were stationed on the map and said to Korolev with a serious tone, "These two locations are where the Ottoman Empire ships are anchored, especially Sipuno Port, where a large number of the Ottoman Empire’s ships are parked. Once war breaks out, the Imperial Fleet must destroy Sipuno Port first, thus crippling most of the Ottoman Empire’s naval forces to prepare for our landing!"
"Understood!" Korolev replied ticulously to nshikov, "The fleet is already equipped with the latest model shells. Even against naval powers like Britain and France, we have confidence to defeat them!"
The new shells Korolev referred to were explosive shells, which could significantly enhance the fleet’s destructive capabilities.
Previously, naval battles mainly involved cannon shooting, with ship crews occasionally using rifles to shoot at each other.
Ship-to-ship attacks were far inferior to the bombardnt of port cities.
Now, with explosive shells, the lagging Russian Empire’s ships had more destructive power over the Ottoman Empire’s outdated ships and could inflict greater damage on port cities.
"Your fleet must conclude the battle quickly! Don’t leave ti for either the British or French fleets to intervene!" nshikov reiterated to Korolev.
Although negotiations were still ongoing, nshikov needed to pre-arrange for the potential breakdown of talks.
nskikov was well aware of the gap between the Russian Empire’s fleet and the Anglo-French fleet.
He wished to avoid large-scale conflict with Britain and France unless absolutely necessary.
The Russian Empire was currently harboring contradictory diplomatic ssages.
It wanted to secure control over Constantinople and the Balkan Region, yet did not want to excessively offend Britain and France.
Under such conflicting thoughts, nshikov even adopted the mindset of a Showa Staff Officer.
nshikov believed that Britain and France would concede to the conditions proposed by the Russian Empire and that the Ottoman Empire would agree to his terms.
Once the Ottoman Empire agreed to his terms, it would no longer concern Britain and France.
This would be a matter between Russia and Turkey alone.
Even if the negotiations break down, as long as Russia can quickly eliminate the Ottoman Empire’s fleet and land in Constantinople, Britain and France will certainly recognize the Russian Empire.
In Prince nshikov’s script, the Russian Empire will march from one victory to another, ultimately advancing into Constantinople.
"Understood!" Admiral Korolev responded with equal gravitas.
Just as nshikov wanted to discuss unexpected issues facing their surprise attack on Sipuno Port with Korolev, a warship appeared through the porthole of the steamship.
Seeing this, nshikov hurriedly put away the map and headed to the deck.
Korolev followed nshikov to the deck.
"I am Grand Admiral Mahmoud of the Ottoman Empire Navy! Is Prince nshikov onboard?" a fluent French voice ca from the warship on the left side of the Russian Imperial steamship.
"I am the Tsar’s Envoy nshikov!" nshikov also responded in French.
"Then please, let the envoy of the Russian Empire co aboard our ship! I will lead the envoy to Constantinople!" Mahmoud shouted to nshikov.
"No need!" Prince nshikov glanced at the crew beside him and said to Mahmoud on the Ottoman warship, "I trust my crew to safely take to the port!"
The Ottoman Empire warship Mahmoud was on fell silent for a mont, then continued to call out, "Since the envoy is unwilling to co to our fleet, we shall personally escort the envoy into the port!"
"Old fox!" nshikov muttered, understanding that Pasha Mahmoud did not want them to see the situation at the Ottoman Empire’s port.
"Thank you very much!" nshikov, even though he understood Mahmoud’s intentions, had to agree to Mahmoud’s escort request.
As the Russian Fleet, which had unruly demands that nearly led to war, entered the port, the covert battle between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire had already begun.
Under the escort of the Ottoman Empire warships, nshikov entered a port near Constantinople.
nshikov and his team carefully disembarked from the Russian Imperial steamship fleet.
Although a light rain still fell over Constantinople today, the crowded port was filled with people welcoming Prince nshikov’s arrival, including Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs, and others.
Among these people, so were motivated by their Eastern Orthodox faith, while others sought independence for their nations...
Though detested by the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire was welcod by many Balkan nations.
These people sincerely hoped for the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, so they could finally embrace liberation.
However, despite the warm welco, their fundantal demand for independence remained unchanged.
If the Russian Empire sought to replace the Ottoman Empire’s ecological position with its own occupation, these people, who welcod the Russian Empire, would imdiately turn into the vanguard against it.
Seeing the scene before him, nshikov couldn’t help but smile. He gently waved his hand, and the cheers from the Balkan nations for nshikov grew louder.
Surrounded by the Balkan ethnic communities, nshikov entered the Russian Embassy in the Ottoman Empire.
Having already received the news of nshikov’s arrival in Constantinople, the Ottoman High Gate couldn’t help but feel nervous after seeing Prince nshikov warmly welcod.
The Ottoman Cabinet convened once more, with all mbers, including the religious leader of the Peace Sect, attending the eting.
During the eting, they debated whether to take action against the Russian Empire’s demands, which split into three factions. The hardline faction included the religious leader of the Peace Sect, forr Pri Minister Rechid, among others. The appeasent faction, opposing the hardliners, was represented by Muhammad Ali and Rifat Pasha, among others. Lastly, the moderate faction included Grand Admiral Mahmoud Pasha, Rumiliwa’s highest officer Omar Pasha, and Commander-in-Chief Reza Pasha.
The hardliners proposed rejecting all requirents imposed by the Russian Empire, asserting that as long as the Ottoman Empire maintained a firm stance, Britain and France would not sit idly by.
The appeasent faction advocated for reasonable concessions to Russia, stalling if possible. If the Russian Empire’s demands were excessive, they could relay the conditions to Britain and France and then deliberate on other matters.
The moderates did not favor the hardliners’ warmongering but also showed approval for appeasent.
As long as they weren’t held accountable, they were content.
After nearly a day of discussion, the appeasent faction, led by Muhammad Ali, suppressed the hardliners led by Rechid.
After the eting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Effendi, following the Pri Minister’s orders, invited nshikov to attend a welcoming ceremony specially prepared for him two days later.
nshikov did not et with Fuad; instead, the ambassador in the embassy accepted the Foreign Minister’s invitation on nshikov’s behalf.
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