Facing Nicholas I’s sudden inquiry, Duke Golitsyn was initially taken aback, and then he quickly pondered the answer Nicholas I desired.

As a duke swiftly promoted by Nicholas I, and also a potential rebel, Duke Golitsyn sensed that Nicholas I’s sudden question was both an opportunity and a crisis.

With a slight misstep, he might lose the position he had worked so hard to obtain.

So, after thinking for a moment, Duke Golitsyn smiled and said to Nicholas I, "Your Majesty, this question is indeed too difficult to decide!"

"Duke Golitsyn, go on! No matter what you say, I will absolve you of any guilt!" Nicholas I made a gesture of magnanimity towards Duke Golitsyn.

"Your Majesty, I believe we should engage in dialogue with the French Government!" Duke Golitsyn said to Nicholas I.

Nicholas I’s expression showed a trace of displeasure; he did not understand why this minister, whom he had personally promoted, would also choose negotiation.

Does he not know my intentions?

Just as Nicholas I was feeling that Duke Golitsyn was becoming ’insufferable’, Duke Golitsyn continued, "However, such exchanges must be conducted without sacrificing national interests! If we agree to these terms, the Tsarist Government’s dignity will be utterly lost.

Therefore, I believe the Imperial Government should negotiate, but not under these conditions.

As long as the Crimea Peninsula still has a sufficient number of troops, the French Government will fear us, thus conceding more to us..."

Duke Golitsyn spoke eloquently, and almost every word pierced Nicholas I’s heart, which was unwilling to negotiate (more accurately, unwilling to pay any price).

Standing by, Marshal Jomini, upon hearing Duke Golitsyn suggest deploying another 100,000 troops to Crimea, couldn’t help but rise to remind Duke Golitsyn that the Russian Empire’s finances were no longer sufficient to dispatch 100,000 troops to St. Petersburg.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to donate 500,000 US Dollars for the future of the Empire!" Duke Golitsyn immediately presented himself as "taking the lead for the nation" to Nicholas I, and did not forget to involve the nobility of St. Petersburg in the donation: "I believe every patriotic nobleman should donate more or less! Only then can they be considered true patriots!"

After speaking, Duke Golitsyn bowed to Nicholas I.

Nicholas I was deeply moved by Duke Golitsyn’s sudden donation of 500,000 US Dollars to support the Imperial Government’s wartime actions.

He realized he had not misjudged Duke Golitsyn. Although he had occasionally made inappropriate remarks in some instances, his love for the Russian Empire and the Tsar was expressed through concrete action.

Unlike some nobles, who are constantly scheming to get close to him, when asked to donate even slightly, they choose to evade and shirk.

These damned vermin seem to have forgotten that everything they possess was granted by him, the exalted Tsar, and with just a word, all their wealth, honor, and status would be mercilessly stripped away by him.

"For the time being, military expenditures are not an issue!" Nicholas I said coldly, "I have already sold Alaska to the Government of the United States of America for 10 million US Dollars. In the short term, we will not lack money!"

(Historically, it was 7.5 million US Dollars, but in this world line, it’s 10 million US Dollars. Apart from lobbying by the Tsarist Government, the United States itself was in a predicament targeted by England and France, eager to strengthen ties with the Russian Empire. Thus, the United States acquired Alaska for 10 million US Dollars.)

Marshal Jomini opened his mouth to say something, but found himself unable to speak.

After all, he couldn’t possibly tell Nicholas I to stop pouring money into Crimea, a place that is nothing but a bottomless pit.

Nicholas I was probably unwilling to listen to any other opinions now, even if those opinions were correct!

"Very well! Let’s do as you suggest! Whom do you believe can serve as our negotiator this time?" Nicholas I asked Duke Golitsyn with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I believe..." After thinking for a moment, Duke Golitsyn responded to Nicholas I, "I believe Envoy Gorchakov and Minister Nesselrode can both serve as diplomats this time!"

Hearing the names of Nesselrode and Envoy Gorchakov, a look of disgust flashed in Nicholas I’s eyes.

To be honest, Nicholas I did not like either of these two, one for daringly speaking truth to power (Envoy Gorchakov), and the other for secretly colluding with Alexander behind his back after the war began.

However, despite Nesselrode and Gorchakov being disliked by Nicholas I, he couldn’t help but admit that they were indeed suitable diplomatic candidates.

"Let’s do as you say!" Nicholas I nodded with a smile, and then ordered Duke Golitsyn, "Go and notify the two of them to come over!"

"Yes!" Duke Golitsyn saluted Nicholas I and left.

When Duke Golitsyn closed the door, the two soldiers guarding the door exchanged a silent communication with him.

Duke Golitsyn slightly shook his head, signaling them to abandon the action and leave.

The two soldiers guarding the door sighed and continued dutifully watching over the room.

At the moment when Duke Golitsyn was leaving, Nicholas I once again asked Jomini and Constantine about the attack on Kronstadt by the British and French Navy and the Kingdom of Sweden joining the war.

Jomini and Constantine recounted all the details they heard from Ivanov Gorchakov to Nicholas I.

"So, France’s goal is indeed to negotiate peace with us?" Nicholas I slightly frowned after hearing from Jomini and Constantine.

"It seems likely!" Jomini also responded somewhat uncertainly.

"Then perhaps we can have France loosen their conditions a bit!" Nicholas I was somewhat tempted.

If the Russian Empire could end the war by paying a small price, or none at all, he would have no objection to ending it.

After all, Nicholas I himself was not someone overly stubborn (or rather, he had an ambivalent attitude towards this war in the first place).

If the costs borne by the Russian Empire exceeded the costs of negotiation, Nicholas I would of course consider the issue of peace talks.

"I’m afraid we’ll only know for sure when the specific negotiations occur!" Grand Duke Constantine replied to Nicholas I.

A while later, Envoy Gorchakov and Nesselrode, led by Duke Golitsyn, came to Nicholas I’s room.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty!"

Envoy Gorchakov and Nesselrode greeted Nicholas I in unison.

Nicholas I nodded with a smile and then informed them of France’s willingness to negotiate peace and the leak of the Anglo-French Fleet’s strategic targets.

"What do you think?" Nicholas I curiously asked.

The experienced Nesselrode provided Nicholas I with an opinion that matched his intentions, stating that the Russian Empire should negotiate for peace but should not delay blindly and indefinitely.

Otherwise, the Tsarist Government’s authority would diminish.

At that time, the Tsarist Government might fall into turmoil.

Envoy Gorchakov, however, gave a different answer, believing that the Russian Empire must surrender, and if it could surrender without paying a price, all the better.

If it had to surrender at a cost, the Russian Empire must do so with the courage to cut losses decisively. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Only in this way would it be the best choice for the Russian Empire now.

Of course, this courage was unacceptable to Nicholas I.

"Your Majesty, I think Jerome Bonaparte would still hope for successful peace talks! We can seize on this and have them concede a bit." Gorchakov confidently said to Nicholas I and pointed out that the best thing for the Russian Empire to revise was the issue concerning the Black Sea.

Nicholas I asked why Gorchakov said the best point to revise was the issue concerning the Black Sea!

Gorchakov told Nicholas I that the Russian Empire’s interests in the Danube Duchy and the privileges of the Eastern Orthodox Church in the Ottoman Empire were the trigger for the entire event.

The French Empire would certainly strive to protect their own and Austrian ally’s rights. Now, although the Russian Empire hadn’t been defeated, it was close to it (Nicholas I was almost infuriated), so the Russian Empire must make concessions on the Danube and Eastern Orthodox issues.

As for revising the issue of the Black Sea, Gorchakov believed that the ones most enthusiastic about demilitarization there were not France, but Britain.

Thus, the demand by the French Empire to revise the Black Sea files was likely due to the Kingdom of Britain (Jerome Bonaparte: What?), and as long as they could work on the French Empire, the issue concerning the Black Sea could be resolved easily.

"Your Majesty, if the war ends now, our people might have a moment to breathe before winter comes!" Envoy Gorchakov earnestly said: "The war has already brought too much inconvenience to our people, and in many regions, the people are full of complaints because of the war.

If this situation continues to worsen, we might face a Pugachev-style rebellion..."

Though Nicholas I did not like Gorchakov’s remarks, nor did he like the man himself, he had no choice but to confront what he was saying.

"Nesselrode!" Nicholas I addressed Nesselrode with a hoarse voice: "Do you have anything to add?"

Nesselrode paused for a moment, then shook his head and said to Nicholas I: "Your Majesty, Envoy Gorchakov spoke very well and there’s nothing more I need to add!!"

"Then it will be you who take the lead in this negotiation, with Gorchakov assisting you! I hope the two of you can work together to use your eloquence to gain more benefits for the Empire!"