Just as Duke Golitsyn was intensively planning his coup, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nesselrode and Gorchakov were approaching the Crimean Peninsula under the escort of tens of thousands of Russian troops, braving the severe cold.

Both Nesselrode and Gorchakov understood that if the peace talks failed this time, the troops accompanying them would be immediately engaged in the battle sequence.

Moreover, the finances of the Imperial Government would gradually deteriorate in war. The 10 million USD obtained by selling Alaska seemed a lot personally, but in terms of this war, it was merely a drop in the bucket.

Once the war restarted, the Imperial Government would have to find every possible way to endure the severe winter.

Otherwise, the Russian Empire might witness a Pugachev-like uprising flourishing across Russia by the spring of next year.

However, compared to the worried Gorchakov and Nesselrode, the Russian Army stationed in the Crimean Peninsula did not feel the approaching storm of crisis at all,

Those in Bakhchisaray and Simferopol had already enjoyed nearly a month of peaceful life, with their weary bodies and collapsing wills slowly recovering in the long-lost peace.

However, the issue of shortages of supplies in the Russian Army still had not been properly resolved; instead, it became even more difficult due to the sudden blizzard some time ago.

This forced the Russian soldiers to endure hunger and severe cold, with several soldiers of the Russian Imperial Army dying on the streets every day due to various issues. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

However, compared to the nearly 180,000 Russian troops, these soldiers were obviously insignificant.

And positioned opposite the Russian Empire, neither the British nor the French Army suffered severe combat attrition as in history due to Jerome Bonaparte’s preparations of cotton clothing in advance.

Instead, they seized this opportunity to continuously reinforce their troops in Crimea.

In mid-October, nearly 20,000 French soldiers and over 10,000 British soldiers landed in Sevastopol.

The number of French troops in Sevastopol exceeded 100,000, equivalent to about one-fifth and a half of the entire standing force of France.

Alongside the large number of soldiers arriving in Sevastopol, there were many engineers coming from afar. They followed Jerome Bonaparte’s orders to reach Rimia with the aim to construct a small railway from the north shore of Sevastopol to Alma Heights.

If the peace talks faced failure (which was actually predestined to fail), Jerome Bonaparte would use this short-distance railway to transport large quantities of supplies and siege cannons, hoping to conquer Bakhchisaray and Simferopol as quickly as possible.

To complete this railway construction, the southern residents of the Crimean Peninsula (whether they were Tatars, Greeks, or Slavs, all were workers in Jerome Bonaparte’s eyes) were forcibly mobilized by Jerome Bonaparte. Tempted by the French currency with Napoleon’s portrait (referring to the new Bank of France notes), the southern residents gradually accepted this employment relationship despite their initial reluctance.

At the very least, working for the Anglo-French army allowed them to earn some money. Previously, when they worked for the Russian army, not only did they not receive any payment, but their money was also taken away by the Russian army.

As for the Russian Imperial Army, whether they were Tatars, Greeks, or their Slav compatriots, as long as they didn’t have power behind them, the Russian army would treat them all the same by plundering.

The Anglo-French forces also plundered, but compared to Russia, their methods were much more civilized.

From mid-October to late October, a nearly 10-kilometer railway began construction with the joint effort of almost 50,000 residents of the Crimean Peninsula, at a pace of 800 meters per day.

During the railway construction period, the Cossack cavalry stationed in Bakhchisaray often rode horses to observe the bustling construction site from afar.

The Cossack cavalry, who had never seen a railway, were very curious about why the Anglo-French army was laying wood (specifically sleepers) and steel on the ground.

So, the nimble Cossack cavalry disguised themselves as ordinary people and sneaked into the crowd constructing the railway to inquire.

After gaining some information about the railway, the Cossacks quickly left and reported this news to Alexander II.

Upon receiving the news, both Commander Gorchakov and Alexander II showed an unpleasant expression when they heard that Jerome Bonaparte was constructing the railway intensively.

They knew Jerome Bonaparte’s aim in building this railway was to deal with them more swiftly in case negotiations broke down.

Yet, they could do nothing because if they chose to attack the railway, it meant the Russian army completely tearing faces to fight against England and France.

Attacking England and France in such brutally cold weather was akin to seeking death.

Moreover, Alexander II himself had high hopes for the peace talks with the French Empire.

He would absolutely not allow anyone to undermine the grounds for peace talks, so from the time news from Alexander II arrived until construction was completed, the Russian Empire was in a state of marginal tension.

When the railway from Sevastopol to Alma was completed, nearly 20,000 soldiers of the French Army were stationed in the Alma region to guard against a surprise attack by the Russian Empire.

After the railway was completed, the Third and Second Divisions, located in the Inkman Mountain and Fedorovskaya Ridge areas, received orders from Jerome Bonaparte to move and station near the Alma River and Kach River to prevent the Russian Empire from taking risks to sabotage the railway along the line.

Some of the supplies originally stored in the Sevastopol warehouse were transferred via railway to Alma Heights.

After everything was prepared, Jerome Bonaparte wrote an invitation letter to Alexander II, who resided in Bakhchisaray, hoping that Alexander II could arrive at Alma Heights and accompany him to the railway’s completion ceremony.

Receiving the letter, Alexander II felt an indescribable sense of humiliation. The words of Jerome Bonaparte in the letter exuded an air of superiority, as if the entire Crimea Peninsula was already subdued under his hand.

Nevertheless, humiliation aside, Alexander II still wanted to see how much transport capacity the railway built by the French could bear.

After all, knowing oneself and the opponent is crucial to achieving victory in every battle.

Thus, Alexander II, Gorchakov, Count Orlov, and Ivanov Gorchakov left Bakhchisaray.

When Alexander II arrived near Alma Heights, it was the commander of the First Division, Conrobel, who greeted him.

"Your Highness!" Conrobel said respectfully to Alexander II.

"Where is His Majesty Emperor Jerome now?" Alexander II immediately asked Conrobel.

"Your Highness, please follow me!"

Under Conrobel’s guidance, Alexander II met Jerome Bonaparte.

At this time, Jerome Bonaparte was standing at the railway terminus, directing the workers responsible for loading and unloading work. Beside him stood Richard Metternich, the Austrian ambassador to France, and several officers dressed in Austrian Imperial uniforms.

Why are they here?

Alexander II looked at Richard Metternich with a hint of puzzlement and tension in his heart.

In Alexander’s eyes, the French Empire and the Austrian Empire were as close as could be, leading him to suspect that if peace talks failed, the Austrian Empire might follow the French Empire’s lead and attack the Russian Empire from the Danube Duchy.

Thinking of this, Alexander II’s heart grew even more tense. Standing next to him, Gorchakov and Orlov, upon seeing Richard Metternich, also turned exceptionally solemn.

Meanwhile, Richard Metternich and the Austrian Imperial officers beside Jerome Bonaparte also realized the unfavorable situation when they saw Alexander II.

Richard Metternich quickly turned his gaze to Jerome Bonaparte, who still looked at Richard Metternich with a relaxed smile and asked calmly, "Mr. Richard, why are you looking at me that way?"

"Your Majesty, why is Crown Prince Alexander present here?" Richard Metternich inquired with an exceptionally serious expression.

"Alexander being here is nothing out of the ordinary!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged in response to Richard Metternich.

"The French Empire and the Russian Empire are at war. Aren’t you afraid..." Richard Metternich couldn’t help but say.

"Afraid?" Jerome Bonaparte displayed a slight sneer, "Why should I be afraid? Could the Russian Empire actually defeat us? Even if they manage to defeat us once by chance, won’t they inevitably be brought down by us afterward? This war is not merely a conflict between armies but a contest of comprehensive national strength!"

Hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, Richard Metternich was left speechless.

Indeed, as Jerome Bonaparte said, even if Russia manages to defeat France and seize the terminus momentarily, they could never drive the Anglo-French out effectively. England and France, with their mobilization capabilities exceeding the Russian Empire’s several times over, would inevitably revitalize and defeat the Russian Army.

"Your Majesty, would standing with us provoke a misunderstanding from Crown Prince Alexander?"

Once more, Richard Metternich worried, fearing that his presence might lead to a conflict between the Austrian Empire and the Russian Empire.

"Misunderstanding what? Do you expect the Russian Empire to shake hands with you after the war?" Jerome Bonaparte furrowed his brows and asked Richard Metternich.