After getting the answer from Gorchakov, Alexander II became even more troubled.

In the following days, Alexander II worked even more diligently on constructing fortifications. Bastions and trenches appeared around the city of Bakhchisaray, turning the entire Bakhchisaray into a hopeful fortress to defend against the attack of the French Empire.

However, this fortress of Bakhchisaray, strengthened by Alexander II, had a fatal flaw compared to the historical Sevastopol Fortress, which was that Bakhchisaray, deep in the interior, could not rely on maritime transport for supplies like Sevastopol could, and could only depend on supplies from within the Russian Empire.

This meant that if the road to Perekop was cut off, all logistics supplies in the Bakhchisaray region would be completely finished.

To prevent the Anglo-French Alliance Army from cutting off the logistics of Bakhchisaray, the best method was for the Russian Empire to possess a troop strong in both combat and mobility.

This troop would take on the role of a firefighting team, being dispatched to problem areas wherever issues arose.

However, the Russian Empire did not have such a troop. The Zuav Corps in the hands of the French or the Scottish Rifle Corps in the hands of Britain both outmatched the Russian Empire in terms of mobility and combat strength.

Therefore, Alexander II had to choose a clumsy but extremely effective method.

This method was to reduce the stationed troops in Bakhchisaray while stockpiling enough grain in the Bakhchisaray area.

Only in this way could the Bakhchisaray area hold out for a year and a half, and they would be able to achieve victory.

Alexander II firmly believed that as long as the Russian Army held on, England and France would inevitably encounter major problems domestically.

However, caught in a Showa Staff Officer-like delusion, Alexander II forgot that the Russian Empire was a more fragile country than England and France. Even without Duke Golitsyn’s rebellion plans in St. Petersburg, the Russian Empire’s endurance was still shorter than that of the Anglo-French Army.

On Alexander II’s command, the original 80,000 Russian soldiers stationed in the Bakhchisaray area were reduced to only 50,000.

Nearly 30,000 troops were transferred to Simferopol, while the supplies transported from Perekop to the Bakhchisaray area still remained at 80,000 quota.

The original 50,000 Russian troops in Simferopol received only enough supplies for 60,000 people after the increase in troops by 30,000.

Even so, this did not account for the routine embezzlement by officers. If everything was accounted for, each Russian soldier would only receive a fifth of what was due to them.

The arrival of the Bakhchisaray Russian troops made the already difficult life of the Simferopol Russian troops even more straitened.

The saying goes that kindness in small amounts leads to hostility in larger ones. Facing worsening conditions, the Simferopol Russian troops immediately directed their anger at the Bakhchisaray Russian troops.

In just two days, multiple violent brawls and robberies occurred in Simferopol, and Alexander II had no choice but to personally go to Simferopol to resolve the conflict.

Under the mediation of Alexander II, the originally set quota of 80,000 Bakhchisaray Russian troops had to allocate a quota for 10,000 to the Russian troops stationed in Simferopol.

At the same time, the Simferopol Russian troops also took a step back and ceased conflicts with the Bakhchisaray Russian troops.

An incident caused by supply issues seemed to have been resolved by Alexander II using a method of punishing both sides equally, but from the perspective of the Russian troops in both regions, this method was very unfair.

Nevertheless, the conflict between both sides remained within controllable limits.

In early November, a sudden blizzard lasted for several days, covering the entire land with a thick silver coat.

Alexander II’s plans also had to be put on hold due to the blizzard. After the blizzard ended, Alexander II received a message from Perekop.

The delegation representing Tsar Nicholas I had already reached the north shore of Perekop and was expected to arrive in Bakhchisaray the next day.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s set off!" Alexander II was eager to meet with the delegation sent by Nicholas I.

"Your Highness, we should wait quietly here for Minister Nesselrode to arrive!" Ivanov Gorchakov, serving as Alexander II’s adjutant, softly advised Alexander II. He did not want any accidents to happen to the powerful post he had just secured.

"I’m not afraid, what are you afraid of?" Alexander II chastised Ivanov Gorchakov.

"Yes, Your Highness," Ivanov Gorchakov had to agree to Alexander II’s request to go to Perekop.

On that morning, Alexander II and Ivanov Gorchakov led a group of soldiers, majestically heading towards Perekop.

That afternoon, Alexander II and Ivanov Gorchakov arrived in Perekop and met with Minister Nesselrode and the delegation he led.

"Your Highness!" Nesselrode immediately greeted Alexander II.

"Minister, you’ve worked hard!" Alexander II said to Nesselrode.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Nesselrode and Alexander II began to converse. Alexander II asked Nesselrode whether his father, Tsar Nicholas I, was willing to accept the conditions proposed by France.

Nesselrode informed Alexander II that Nicholas I was initially somewhat resistant to the conditions proposed by France. However, after persistent efforts (Gorchakov’s face showed a slight disdain), Nicholas I was willing to make concessions on some conditions.

Subsequently, Alexander II inquired what conditions Nicholas I was willing to concede. Nesselrode pointed out that Nicholas I was willing to make concessions on issues regarding the Danube and the Eastern Orthodox Church within the Ossman territories, meaning the Russian Empire would renounce its claim over the Danube River, and similarly, would relinquish some of its protective rights over the Orthodox Church in Ossman lands, entrusting their safety to the hands of England, France, and Austria.

"So, my father is unwilling to give up the navigation rights in the Danube River Region and the Russian Empire’s dominant rights in the Black Sea Region!" Alexander II responded to Nesselrode.

"Your Highness, the Empire has made an indelible contribution to the development of the Danube, so His Majesty is reluctant to give it up easily. (Frankly speaking: the benefits that exclusive navigation rights to the Danube bring to Russia make Nicholas I hesitant to let go!)" Nesselrode gently said to Alexander II, "And the Russian Empire losing its preeminent rights in the Black Sea Region would mean losing the future of the Russian Empire!"

If we fail to pass this hurdle, what future can there be!

Silently, in his heart, Alexander II lamented, then raised his head again to inquire of Nesselrode: "Minister Nesselrode, how confident are you in achieving peace!"

"Your Highness, I can only say I will do my best!" Nesselrode replied to Alexander II.

"Alas!" Alexander II sighed, knowing that the question he just asked was indeed somewhat demanding, "Alright! You’ve also been working hard all day, so I won’t disturb you anymore!"

With that, Alexander II left Nesselrode’s room.

That evening, Envoy Gorchakov knocked on Nesselrode’s door.

"Deputy Envoy Gorchakov, is there something you need?" Nesselrode asked Gorchakov.

"Minister Nesselrode, can you tell me, how confident are you in winning this battle!" Envoy Gorchakov asked Nesselrode seriously.

Nesselrode paused for a few seconds, then turned to Gorchakov and said: "Come in."

Gorchakov entered the room, and Nesselrode closed the door again.

"Do you want one?" Nesselrode, sitting on the sofa, pointed to the cigar box on the table and asked.

"Please, I’ll have one." Gorchakov replied to Nesselrode.

Nesselrode nodded, handed Gorchakov a cigar after opening the box, then prepared one for himself and lit it.

He then handed the matchbox to Gorchakov, who also took out a match, struck it gently, and as the phosphorus on the wooden match head began to burn, quickly lit his cigar with the burning match.

After a while, the room was filled with choking white smoke, and the two men enshrouded in the smoke wore expressions of deep satisfaction.

Seeing the cigar was halfway finished, Gorchakov asked: "Minister, you haven’t answered my question yet!"

"Mr. Gorchakov, can’t you wait a bit?" Nesselrode asked leisurely.

"As long as you’re willing to let me keep smoking, I don’t mind waiting a while!" Gorchakov took a deep puff and exhaled in a releasing manner.

"Then forget it!" Nesselrode replied, promptly putting away the cigars, "These are the finest Havana cigars!"

"So they are Havana Cigars!" Gorchakov comprehended with a look of realization, "It must have cost you a lot!"

"Nothing much!" Nesselrode shook his head and transitioned into the main topic, "Didn’t you just ask me how confident I am in facilitating this negotiation? Let me tell you, the current confidence is only..."

Saying so, Nesselrode slowly raised three fingers toward Gorchakov.

"Thirty percent? Isn’t that too low!" Gorchakov frowned slightly and asked Nesselrode.