Witnessing the significantly diminished anger of Nicholas I, nshikov finally breathed a sigh of relief. He understood that maintaining a golden silence had allowed him to narrowly escape the first day unscathed.
Next, it depended on how nshikov would explain (or shirk responsibility) to Nicholas I.
If he managed to pass the bla successfully, nshikov could escape unscathed, but he certainly couldn’t count on retaining his dual governorship of Cria and the Caucasus.
If he failed to pass the bla, nshikov would be awarded a one-way ticket to Siberia, specially prepared by Tsar Nicholas I.
Although Nicholas I, as the leader of the Russian Imperial nobility (Tsar), would not easily confiscate the properties of erring nobles like the Great Eastern Empire, exile to Siberia was an essential asure.
When the Decembrists attempted a palace coup and were defeated, Nicholas I also executed only the ringleaders and exiled the rest to Siberia.
However, they were escorted step by step by specific personnel to Siberia, resulting in many deaths along the way.
The mistake nshikov made was much smaller than that of the Decembrists, so he could take a special carriage to Siberia (if nshikov failed to shift the bla).
"Your Majesty! I am a sinner of the Russian Empire!" nshikov began by humbling himself and admitted his mistakes to Nicholas I.
"I did not ask whether you were guilty! I asked what exactly happened to Sevastopol!" Nicholas I sternly questioned nshikov, "A force of 70,000 couldn’t defend a small Sevastopol! What exactly is your role as governor?"
"Your Majesty, the Anglo-French allied forces were simply too nurous!" nshikov imdiately cast the first bla at England and France: "They deployed nearly 200,000 troops (an exaggeration) in Cria, and our forces were no match for them!"
When nshikov ntioned "200,000," Nicholas I’s face also showed a shocked expression, his thoughts still lingering in the Napoleonic Wars where he had no concept of industrial mobilization, making it hard to imagine how the Allied Forces maintained such a large army for distant warfare.
Thus, Nicholas I subconsciously refused to believe nshikov’s words, "nshikov, you are at least considered a soldier! Do you know what it ans to maintain an army of 200,000? Moreover, Britain and France’s logistical support relies on mariti transport!"
"Your Majesty, I dare to swear by my ancestors that everything I said is true!" nshikov hastily explained, "The logistical transport of the Allied Forces indeed relies on mariti routes, their fleets are so nurous... It’s like a giant city floating on the sea... When my officers saw their fleet for the first ti, they were already..."
At this point, nshikov stopped speaking, knowing that so words should not be spoken further.
"Already what!" Nicholas I loudly yelled, "Are your soldiers still the empire’s soldiers? Where has their bravery gone?"
"Your Majesty! I assure you, every one of my soldiers is the best!" nshikov quickly defended his subordinates.
"Then why did you lose Sevastopol in just over a week?" Nicholas I questioned nshikov.
nshikov continued to tell Nicholas I about the Battle of Alma, but focused on the initial stages and how his forces repeatedly resisted the British assaults.
In nshikov’s account, the Kingdom of Britain’s army was akin to the reincarnation of Napoleon’s forces, and the Russian Imperial Army, with its indomitable spirit, repeatedly resisted the British attacks, inflicting heavy losses on them.
"Since you claid to be in a stalemate with the British forces, how was your position broken through?" Nicholas I questioned nshikov.
"Your Majesty, it’s because I trusted Admiral Kiriyako too easily!" nshikov advantageously shifted the bla to Kiriyako: "When I received Kiriyako’s ssage, three regints stationed on the ’Telegraph Hill’ heights had already retreated; I had no choice but to follow commands and withdraw the main forces!"
In his view, if it wasn’t for Kiriyako being taken out in one wave by the French Army on Telegraph Hill, he wouldn’t have chosen to retreat.
"Where is Kiriyako now?" Nicholas I gritted his teeth and asked nshikov.
"Your Majesty, I’ve heard Kiriyako has already been captured by the French Army!" nshikov replied to Nicholas I.
"Didn’t you say Kiriyako retreated? How was he captured?" Nicholas I questioned nshikov.
nshikov then continued to narrate to Nicholas I about the subsequent battle for the Sevastopol Path, also bringing in the backing of Mikhail Gorchakov’s brother.
[PS: Prince Old Gorchakov, after being shot multiple tis and falling from his horse, died from excessive blood loss during treatnt at a dressing station, retrieved by his subordinates.]
"In that battle, we and the French had engaged in a strategy of pieceal reinforcent! Since our soldiers were far inferior in weaponry and equipnt, so..." nshikov explained to Nicholas I the reasons for the failure.
"Weapons! Weapons!" Nicholas I repeated twice, then exclaid in frustration, "I refuse to believe that without weapons, my army cannot fight! nshikov, tell what’s going on with their weapons?"
"Your Majesty, after the failure of the Sevastopol Path contest, I led the remaining Russian Army at the Kach River and encountered the British Fourth Division! After a battle, we managed to seize so weapons from them. (The Russian Army was in collapse at that ti.)" nshikov explained to Nicholas I, "Through testing, we found that the weapons the Allied Forces were generally prepared with had a range 2-3 tis longer than ours, which ans they could shoot at us before we even got close, and when we entered their range, they could shoot at us a second ti! Our soldiers have to endure two rounds of shots from them before we can retaliate!
Our morale was significantly diminished after these two rounds of shooting."
"Do you an to say you were afraid of the Allied Forces’ rifles and thus did not dare to lead the troops back to Sevastopol? Am I right?" Nicholas I questioned nshikov.
"Your Majesty! I am not afraid of death!" nshikov shouted to Nicholas I, "But more than death, I fear failing to accomplish the task you have entrusted with!"
"Hmph!" Nicholas I snorted coldly and sharply said, "You still rember the task! If you truly understood it, you should have led the troops back to Sevastopol, not let Sevastopol fall to the Allied Forces! (Nicholas I pointed outside the palace) Look at how England and France are rejoicing now!"
"Your Majesty! Forgive my frankness!" nshikov spoke humbly yet firmly, "The fortress of Sevastopol is dood, and the ti the Anglo-French forces have left us is inadequate for us to reinforce Sevastopol! While I can lead the troops to relieve the siege, even so, we would still lose Sevastopol... only to increase the casualties... I withdrew to Perekop equally to prevent the connection between the Cria Peninsula and the Russian Empire from being severed!"
"So! I should thank you then!" Nicholas I sarcastically said to nshikov.
nshikov raised his head, straightened his chest, and replied to Nicholas I, "Your Majesty, I know that in your eyes I am already a failed general! I am willing to accept any punishnt from you!"
Nicholas I looked at nshikov standing below the steps and for the first ti saw this once-favored official, now a disgraced one, had aged beyond recognition.
Does he really want to punish him?
"nshikov!" Nicholas I called out softly to nshikov with a complex expression.
"Your Majesty!" nshikov bowed in response,
"Go ho!" Nicholas I sighed, waved his hand, and said to nshikov.
"Thank you for your rcy!" nshikov bowed to Nicholas I once more and then left the Amber Hall.
After nshikov left, only Nicholas I remained alone inside the Amber Hall.
After a while, Nicholas I rose from the throne and went to the window.
Gazing through the glass at the descending sunset in the distance, he felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness.
Could it be that his Empire would gradually decline like the setting sun outside the window? No! I will never allow this to happen!
Nicholas I’s eyes beca exceptionally sharp, and he clenched his fist with determination.
For the future of the Empire, he must resolutely fight against England and France!
"Father!" Suddenly, a voice ca from behind Nicholas I.
Startled by the familiar voice, Nicholas I turned to the crown prince behind him and asked, "What’s the matter?"
"Do you have any matters that need attending to right now?" Alexander II cautiously inquired.
He clearly rembered his father saying he was going to "interrogate" nshikov, but now, he couldn’t see nshikov’s figure. Was the interrogation already over?
"It’s over!" Nicholas I shook his head and said to Crown Prince Alexander, "I’ve already sent nshikov ho! From now on, nshikov can never set foot in Tsarskoye Selo again! Do you need anything?"
Nicholas I’s words relieved Alexander II; regardless, his father did not impose severe punishnt on nshikov.
According to the current analysis by the Ministry of War, the fall of Sevastopol is already inevitable, and nshikov bears only a small portion of the responsibility!
"My teacher wishes to et with you?"
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