Upon hearing Nicholas I’s words, Duke Golitsyn felt a tinge of emotion within.

However, emotion aside, to allow the Russian people to free themselves from the tyrant’s rule like the French people, Nicholas I must become the sacrifice of a new era.

Nicholas must die, for Mother Russia needs to live.

"Your Majesty, thank you for your trust in me! I will do my utmost to serve you!" Duke Golitsyn said firmly to Nicholas I, standing tall.

At this moment, still unaware that the greatest traitor was by his side, Nicholas I ordered Duke Golitsyn: "Very well! I just have an assignment for you to complete!"

Duke Golitsyn immediately saluted Nicholas I.

Nicholas I told Duke Golitsyn that since the head of Russia’s Third Hall, Orlov, had gone to Crimea, he wished for Duke Golitsyn to temporarily take over as the highest officer of the Third Hall and root out the traitors lurking within the Russian Empire!

"This..." Duke Golitsyn feigned hesitation.

"What is it?" Nicholas I asked Duke Golitsyn kindly: "Is there something you can’t talk about?"

"No... no!" Duke Golitsyn first shook his head and then, as if making a significant decision, replied to Nicholas I: "Your Majesty, please allow me to refuse this position!"

A look of astonishment appeared on Nicholas I’s face as he asked with confusion: "Why would you refuse?"

"Your Majesty! You’ve already entrusted me with the heavy responsibility of commanding the entire Tsarskoye Selo Guard Army! Now you want to give me the Third Hall as well; it’s really against the regulations!" Duke Golitsyn answered Nicholas I.

"Regulations? The entire Empire’s regulations were established by me. If I can establish them, I can also abolish them!" Nicholas I paused, looking at Duke Golitsyn, and continued: "I understand your concern. You’re worried I’ll suspect you because of holding too many positions, right?"

"I dare not, Your Majesty! Your magnanimity is unmatched, even by the Volga River. How could you suspect me over this?" Duke Golitsyn flattered Nicholas I, bowing his head.

"Then what are you worried about?" Nicholas I asked Duke Golitsyn with a gift.

"Your Majesty, I have no worries!" Duke Golitsyn cleverly said: "If Your Majesty insists on me taking the position, then please allow me to resign from this position!"

"You..." Nicholas I, exasperated, pointed at Duke Golitsyn, then started coughing violently. Seeing this, Duke Golitsyn hurriedly patted Nicholas I’s back gently.

After the coughing fit finally stopped, a smile appeared on Nicholas I’s face as he said: "Fine! Mr. Golitsyn, I won’t pressure you!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Duke Golitsyn seemed to sigh with relief.

"However, you need to recommend a suitable person for me who can quickly find out exactly how many rebels there are in St. Petersburg!" Nicholas I said to Duke Golitsyn with a sinister expression: "I want to hang them one by one!"

Thus, Duke Golitsyn recommended to Nicholas I, Viscount Nikolai Orlov, a member of the Orlov family.

"This person is a member of the Orlov family. Is he truly trustworthy?" Nicholas I asked Duke Golitsyn with a frown.

"Your Majesty, although he’s part of the Orlov family, he doesn’t have a good relationship with Count Orlov!" Duke Golitsyn responded to Nicholas I: "Moreover, this Viscount Orlov once worked in the Third Hall for a period, so he’s very familiar with it."

"Then why did he leave the Third Hall?" Nicholas I curiously asked.

"Your Majesty, he personally prefers military life, so he applied to leave the Third Hall to work in the army!" Duke Golitsyn responded to Nicholas I.

"The military, huh!" With fondness still for the Russian Imperial Army, Nicholas I nodded at Duke Golitsyn and asked: "Which unit did he work for?"

"He once served in the Guard Army..." Duke Golitsyn answered.

"And now?" Nicholas I continued to ask.

"Now he has left the military!" Duke Golitsyn responded.

Upon hearing that Nikolai Orlov was now a "freelancer," Nicholas I’s expression immediately shifted from appreciation to detachment.

In his view, anyone who couldn’t endure military life lacked the ability to accomplish great things.

Noticing the change in Nicholas I’s attitude, Nikolai Orlov hastily added, "Viscount Orlov wanted to stop the corruption in the army, which he couldn’t tolerate, and was thus ostracized by his peers, prompting his resignation. At that time, he had already held the rank of Major General."

Nicholas I’s mind immediately conjured up the image of a righteous soldier. He smiled and responded to Duke Golitsyn, "If my father were alive, he surely would have greatly admired this type of officer!"

The father Nicholas I referred to was, of course, Tsar Paul, who was killed in a conspiracy.

The death of Tsar Paul not only had a profound impact on Holy King Alexander I but also deeply affected Nicholas I.

One of the reasons Nicholas I was so fond of the military was precisely because of Tsar Paul.

"Your Majesty, do you mean..." Duke Golitsyn did not quite understand Nicholas I’s intention.

"Then let’s give him a try!" Nicholas I responded to Duke Golitsyn, "If it doesn’t work, we’ll choose someone else."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Duke Golitsyn, despite feeling ecstatic inside, maintained a calm demeanor in his response.

Subsequently, Nicholas I asked Duke Golitsyn to bring Nikolai Orlov to see him without delay. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Upon receiving the order, Duke Golitsyn left Tsarskoye Selo and took a carriage to Viscount Nikolai Orlov’s residence.

Upon hearing of Duke Golitsyn’s arrival, Viscount Nikolai Orlov immediately went out to greet him.

After meeting in a room, Duke Golitsyn promptly requested that he accompany him to meet Tsar Nicholas I.

"Your Grace, is it time to act?" Nikolai Orlov asked Duke Golitsyn in a low voice.

"No! It’s still early!" Duke Golitsyn shook his head and responded softly, "We must wait for Nicholas I to redeploy a troop to Crimea before launching the uprising! By then, the whole of St. Petersburg will be under our control!"

"Then why enter Tsarskoye Selo now?" Nikolai Orlov inquired in confusion.

"Nicholas I has already discovered our theft of weapons from the arsenal. He’s ordering a thorough investigation!" Duke Golitsyn told Viscount Nikolai Orlov.

"I understand!" Nikolai Orlov replied seriously.

"Understand what?" Duke Golitsyn looked bewildered at Nikolai Orlov, puzzled by how he knew before he had even explained.

"Aren’t you here to arrest me?" Nikolai Orlov responded to Duke Golitsyn.

"Who said that?" Duke Golitsyn looked at Viscount Nikolai Orlov with a mix of amusement and bafflement, then informed him about recommending him to Nicholas I.

"What? To take charge of the Third Hall??!!!" Nikolai Orlov exclaimed excitedly to Duke Golitsyn.

"Exactly! You must present yourself as having an irreconcilable feud with (Count) Orlov, while..." Duke Golitsyn said to Nikolai Orlov one word at a time.

"Alright! I understand!" Nikolai Orlov nodded and then asked again, "How should we investigate the theft from the arsenal?"

"This matter can be pinned on any organization; after all, there is more than one group in St. Petersburg eager for the Tsar’s demise!" Duke Golitsyn told Nikolai Orlov, "What you need to do is use every means possible to force them to admit that the arsenal theft was their doing! If necessary, you can even capture the spies from Britain and France lurking within the Empire..."

"Isn’t France currently collaborating with us? Would it cause problems if we hand them over to the Tsar?" Viscount Nikolai Orlov asked Duke Golitsyn, with a worried tone.

"What could possibly go wrong?" Duke Golitsyn was indifferent to France’s attitude. "Do you really think they would break with us over one or two agents?

Nikolai, remember that our relationship with France is not that of comrades! If Nicholas I himself is a sickly tiger, then France and Britain are two robust adult tigers.

We are just a young tiger, our goal is to quickly kill the sick tiger and absorb its strength to intimidate these two robust tigers of England and France."

"Can we really manage to intimidate them?" Nikolai Orlov worried that England and France would seize the opportunity.

"How is our current situation any different from France’s during the Great Revolution? Once we achieve victory in St. Petersburg, people across Russia will follow suit in opposing their lords! In this way, we"ll have tens of millions of like-minded comrades! With the support of these people, we can negotiate with England and France!

As long as we endure the initial phase, Russia will become stronger and stronger in our hands. By then, England and France will no longer be able to intimidate us," Duke Golitsyn painted a beautiful strategic blueprint for Nikolai Orlov: "As enlightened Slavic nations, we will also bear the responsibility of inspiring other Slavic nations, and even the task of enlightening all European Monarchies. (The unique, mysterious confidence of the Slavs, believing they are Europe’s saviors. Nicholas I’s alliance of monarchs, Duke Golitsyn’s revolutionary coalition, and later the Soviet Union all held this view.)"

Nikolai Orlov was evidently moved by Duke Golitsyn’s splendid vision, nodding and saying to Duke Golitsyn, "I’ll follow your lead!"