Marcel Yale’s contempt for the Russian people’s spirit of resistance both enraged and somewhat resonated with Herzen.

After all, compared to the French people who had expelled two generations of kings, the Russians were far too docile—so docile that any local bureaucrat could oppress them to death.

Sometimes Herzen even thought that if the Russian Empire’s people could be like the people of Paris, then the Tsar’s officials wouldn’t dare to oppress them so recklessly.

Unfortunately, the people of the Russian Empire utterly lacked the spirit of resistance seen in Paris. Constantly oppressed by the Tsar and his cohorts, they had long been accustomed to enduring passively.

It was precisely because of this that Herzen believed that a genuine revolution had to be achieved by a small group of people—this elite class needed to use unconventional means (assassination, explosion) to eliminate the Tsar. Then, they could capitalize on the interregnum between the old Tsar’s death and the new Tsar’s accession to seize control of St. Petersburg, thus pushing a regional revolution into a revolution across the entire Russian Empire, ultimately establishing a brand-new Russian Empire with a constitutional monarchy.

Only in this way could the Russian Empire truly break and then stand anew.

Of course, although Herzen himself believed the Russian Empire still needed a Tsar, it didn’t need a Tsar like Nicolai I or Alexander II. What it needed was a Tsar completely supported by revolutionaries, preferably a Tsar from a branch of the Romanov family.

Anyone who had experienced the power of the Tsar wouldn’t honestly relinquish the power in their hands.

Meanwhile, Herzen also thought that having a branch of the Romanov family become Tsar could significantly reduce local resistance.

After all, the succession of the Romanov family was already full of bloodshed and conspiracy. Paul I and Peter III—they were all overthrown.

Therefore, even if they eliminated Nicolai I, as long as they could endorse a new Tsar, the local areas would choose to continue observing due to the new Tsar’s accession.

By that time, they would just need to slowly clear away the diehard elements to complete the reform of the monarchy.

However, all these thoughts were merely Herzen’s wishful thinking.

Having been deeply influenced by the anarchism of this era, he pinned all his hopes on the fantasy of a small number of people using terror attacks to remove the leadership and thus change the entire system.

He clearly forgot that the reason a leader had power was that his actions aligned with the interests of the entire system. If the leader chosen by the system didn’t align with those interests, the leader would perish.

If Herzen’s desire for a constitutional monarchy aligned with some of the aristocracy’s wishes, his desire for a constitutional socialist state did not align with the will of the entire Russian aristocracy.

The vast majority of the nobility were unwilling to lose their privileges. Even if Herzen established a new empire, they would overthrow it.

Of course, at the time, Herzen was unaware of these matters and wasn’t even hopeful of their success.

"Indeed, our organization has many nobles inclined toward revolution, including some who are commanders in the Guard Army." Herzen replied to Marcel Yale.

"Commanders of the Guard Army?" Herzen’s answer caused Marcel Yale to slightly change his opinion of Herzen.

If this organization indeed had the Guard Army involved, then it could indeed trouble the Tsar to some extent.

"Yes!" Herzen replied to Marcel Yale.

"Alright! You’ve proven your worth!" Marcel Yale replied to Herzen with a condescending tone: "I am willing to represent the Intelligence Bureau to cooperate with you!"

Marcel Yale’s lofty attitude, as if he were dispensing charity, made Herzen feel a bit uncomfortable. He immediately retorted, "How does your France plan to cooperate? Are you saying your France is ready to send troops to attack St. Petersburg?"

"No, no, no!" Marcel Yale shook his head and replied to Herzen: "The Russian Empire is just too vast. My monarch will not repeat past mistakes! Therefore, we won’t send troops directly to attack St. Petersburg!"

"Then what do you plan to do?" Herzen asked Marcel Yale once again.

"Mr. Herzen, I would like to ask you something first! What is your position in your organization, and can you represent your organization in deciding certain matters?" Marcel Yale asked Herzen with a serious expression, "If not, then please bring someone who can make decisions for your organization to talk to me. My time is precious and I do not wish to engage in meaningless conversations!"

Herzen paused for a moment before raising his head to ask Marcel Yale, "Minister Marcel, could you please come with me to a place?"

"Paris, or..." Marcel Yale asked Herzen in a voice devoid of warmth.

"Near the Bois de Boulogne!" Herzen replied to Marcel Yale.

"Alright then!" Marcel Yale said, standing up to Herzen.

Herzen and Marcel Yale left the cabin. Marcel Yale boarded Herzen’s carriage and set off, quickly leaving the Bois de Boulogne. They then sped along, passing a large wheat field, and arrived at a village on the outskirts of Paris.

At this moment, the chimney smoke slowly rose above the village, Herzen and Marcel entered the village and arrived in front of the only castle within its center.

"Lord Marcel, this is it!" Herzen said as he opened the car door and got out.

Inside the carriage, Marcel Yale glanced up at the somewhat aged castle through the window before also jumping down from the carriage.

The two of them came to the castle entrance together, and Herzen gently knocked on the door.

After a short while, a butler wearing a black coat appeared in front of Marcel Yale.

"Mr. Herzen, the Duke is currently resting!" The butler said respectfully to Herzen.

"This is a guest from the Tuileries Palace!" Herzen introduced Marcel Yale vaguely: "He is here to discuss some matters with the Duke!"

The butler glanced at Marcel Yale, who still wore a mask, nodded, and responded, "I will go inform the Duke immediately!"

After speaking, the butler turned and left.

Watching the butler’s departing figure, Marcel Yale was somewhat curious about what kind of person this Duke really was.

After a while, the old butler reappeared in front of Marcel Yale, saying to Herzen and Marcel Yale, "The Duke is now awake!"

Marcel Yale and Herzen both entered the castle and saw the so-called Duke sitting on the couch in the castle.

"Your Grace!" Marcel Yale bowed respectfully to the elderly man whose temples had already turned completely gray.

Judging from the Duke’s facial features, this elderly man was at least a full cycle older than Herzen.

"Mr. Marcel, there’s no need to wear a mask here! We are not enemies." The Duke responded to Marcel Yale in a gentle tone.

Upon hearing this, Marcel Yale simply removed his mask, and the Duke examined Marcel Yale with curiosity before nodding and saying to him, "You are younger than I imagined!"

"You are also much older than I imagined!" Marcel Yale replied.

"Oh? In your mind, what image should I have?" The Duke asked, looking at Marcel Yale with interest.

"Young, full of passion!" Marcel Yale answered decisively.

For only the young have the momentum to break everything; the elderly find it hard to muster the courage to overturn everything and restart.

During the Decembrist revolt back then, it was a group of young people who formed the revolutionary group together.

"Indeed! The courage young people have is something most elderly cannot possess!" The Duke nodded with heartfelt agreement, "Just like back then."

The Duke spoke as he fell into memories of the past.

The once clear memories were gradually becoming blurry, and some of those people were no longer alive.

Thinking of this, Duke Golitsyn’s eyes involuntarily grew a bit moist.

Marcel Yale quietly watched as the Duke became lost in his memories, waiting until the Duke’s emotions had calmed somewhat before he spoke mildly, "Your Grace, I think it’s time we talk about collaboration!"

"Indeed, we should talk!" The Duke nodded, then said seriously to Marcel Yale, "However, before collaborating, I believe we should spend a little time understanding each other. I wonder if you are willing to listen to the story of an old man who is about to leave France?"

Marcel Yale hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, "Of course!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The Duke began to tell his story. His name was Mikhail Andreyevich Golitsyn, born into a noble family with a history of over two hundred years. The first ancestor of their family once followed Peter the Great into battles, and his forefathers also served Empress Catherine. Even he himself had briefly participated in the Russian Army during the reign of Holy King Alexander I, following the Russian Army into France.

It could be said that they were loyal subjects of the Tsar generation after generation. As for why Duke Golitsyn became the way he is now, according to his own description, his transformation resulted from following Alexander I into France (though Duke Golitsyn did not consider this a problem; he viewed it as the beginning of his transformation).

When Duke Golitsyn, who was deeply influenced by Enlightenment ideas, entered France, he was immediately captivated by French thought. Upon entering Paris, unlike most French officers who pursued gold and silver treasures, he transported cartloads of books back to Russia.

It was at that moment that Duke Golitsyn’s thoughts began to change.