With a thrill of secret delight, Duke Golitsyn maintained a contemplative expression on his face. After a moment of silence, he inquired of Nicholas I which Guard Division was to be dispatched to the Crimea Peninsula.

With a snort, Nicholas I replied to Duke Golitsyn, saying that the responsibility of dispatching a Guard Division to Crimea was that of the Governor of St. Petersburg, and it should not be questioned of him. (In reality, this was the responsibility of the Minister of War. However, the former Minister of War, Dolgorukov, had already been precisely imprisoned, and a new Minister of War had not yet been appointed. Thus, the current functions of the Ministry of War were handled by Duke Golitsyn.)

Hearing that Nicholas I was delegating the power to dispatch the Guard Division to him, Duke Golitsyn, although internally thrilled, maintained an impassive demeanor as he "pleaded guilty" to Nicholas I.

"Alright! Go and act quickly!" Nicholas I waved his hand and replied to Duke Golitsyn with this line.

Shortly after Duke Golitsyn left, Nicholas I, after coming to his senses, muttered to himself, "Have I given him too much power?"

After thinking for a while, Nicholas I decided that once Duke Golitsyn resolved the issue of the Guard Division, he would retract part of Golitsyn’s powers.

As for why he must wait for the resolution of the Guard Division issue to delegate powers.

It was because Nicholas I was a face-loving monarch; he would not grant power with one hand and retract it with the other due to suspicion.

However, at that moment, Nicholas I did not realize that he had already lost his last chance to turn the tables.

Meanwhile, Duke Golitsyn, empowered by Nicholas I’s authority, left Tsarskoye Selo once again in his carriage, this time heading to the Russian Empire’s Ministry of War. It was only through the Ministry of War that he could truly redeploy troops loyal to Nicholas I from St. Petersburg.

When Duke Golitsyn’s figure appeared at the gates of the Ministry of War, the members there looked at him with uncompliant expressions.

From the care given by Prince Dorogorukov, Duke Golitsyn was considered the mastermind behind Dorogorukov’s arrest and imprisonment.

Facing the glare of the Ministry of War members, Duke Golitsyn’s face flickered with an expression of disdain because, no matter how dissatisfied the Ministry of War was with him, they did not dare to act against him.

Otherwise, Dorogorukov would not have been so easily captured and imprisoned by Nikolai Orlov.

Duke Golitsyn cleared his throat and issued Nicholas I’s order to continue dispatching troops to the Ministry of War to those present.

Many within the Ministry of War were surprised by this order, as they could not understand why more troops were being sent to Crimea when the Neselrode Mission had already dispatched a contingent.

Your Majesty Nicholas I, are you not afraid of being pounced on by traitors?

"Why aren’t you quickly preparing the Guard Army roster!" Duke Golitsyn ordered the Ministry of War with a stern face.

"Yes!" Though internally resistant to Golitsyn’s command, the Ministry of War did not dare to defy him.

Over two decades of Nicholas I’s autocratic rule had dismantled originally proactive departments, leaving only submissive slaves.

Subsequently, Duke Golitsyn entered the Minister of War’s office alone.

Sitting in the office, after waiting quietly for nearly half an hour, the list of St. Petersburg Guard units was delivered to Duke Golitsyn.

With the list in mind, Duke Golitsyn ticked off all the regiments loyal to the Tsar, selecting a total of six Guard Legions, enough to form a Guard Division.

"These will do!" Duke Golitsyn handed the list to the current secretary of the Ministry of War.

The secretary glanced at the list, nodded, and assured Duke Golitsyn, "Alright! I’ll prepare immediately!"

"Thank you for your hard work!" Duke Golitsyn nodded to the secretary in response.

As the machinery of the Ministry of War began to hum, the soldiers of the six Guard Legions selected by Duke Golitsyn were swiftly assembled into a Guard Division.

And on the afternoon of the third day following the order’s issuance, they departed St. Petersburg by train for Moscow, from where they were to proceed on foot to the Crimea Peninsula.

Having executed all these actions, Duke Golitsyn felt the time for a coup had ripened; he convened at his estate all members of the Loyalty Association in St. Petersburg (except for Viscount Nikolai Orlov of the Third Hall).

"Our country and nation have constantly endured pain and misfortune! These trials stem from some nobles without limits and others from the lofty Imperial Family. However, I believe that neither the nobles nor the Imperial Family are the source of our misfortune; the source of Russia’s suffering and misfortune lies in this country’s system.

...

The time for reforming the Russian Empire has come; we must seize this opportunity and take action! With our power, overturn the system causing our country’s and nation’s misfortune, allowing our subjects to live under a free sky!" Duke Golitsyn passionately declared to those gathered at the estate.

The members of the Loyalty Association immediately applauded Duke Golitsyn’s speech.

Subsequently, Duke Golitsyn reaffirmed the necessity of establishing a constitutional monarchy in the Russian Empire, promising the members of the Loyalty Association that upon the coup’s success, all participants would attain commensurate stature.

After Duke Golitsyn finished his speech, the applause was even louder than before.

Obviously, the vast majority of those within the Loyalty Association were not saints without desires; they may have joined the Loyalty Association in their youth due to a surge of passion.

However, over time, as their enthusiasm gradually cooled by worldly matters, their hearts were left with nothing but naked interests.

Of course, the loyalty of those present was not entirely dictated by interests.

Otherwise, they would have long defected and become traitors.

Those with a remaining trace of passion might not serve the association unconditionally as before, but their service comes at a much lower cost than those without any belief.

After speaking, Duke Golitsyn immediately called over a few of the most important members of the association alone.

They were commanders of the Guard Legion stationed in St. Petersburg, and in this coup plan, they would serve as the main force of the entire coup.

"You are responsible for the security around St. Petersburg’s central square! Make sure not to let too many people gather there! We can’t guarantee whether more of these people are loyal to the Tsar or to us!"

"You are responsible for the area around the Winter Palace! Once actions begin at Tsarskoye Selo, immediately detain the Princes and Princesses still residing in the Winter Palace! Remember, don’t let anyone escape!"

"And you, you are responsible for the Ministry of War and the prison! Do not let Dolgorukov escape!"

...

Duke Golitsyn assigned specific tasks to each of them, and the individuals, upon receiving their assignments, nodded in understanding.

Once all the tasks were fully assigned, Duke Golitsyn then informed them that the coup would take place at midnight tonight and hoped they would return to their respective divisions to await the start of the operation.

The soldiers nodded in understanding, then each shook hands with Duke Golitsyn and departed. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Duke Golitsyn returned to the hall and informed those present that the coup would begin the next day, hoping they would be well-prepared.

One by one, those in the banquet hall bid farewell to Duke Golitsyn, and until it was empty, Duke Golitsyn once again went to a room.

The figure of Nikolai Orlov appeared in the room, and Duke Golitsyn hurriedly asked Viscount Nikolai Orlov about the progress of their affairs.

Viscount Nikolai Orlov told Duke Golitsyn that he had sent trusted aides to monitor some who might defect during the banquet.

"That’s good!" Duke Golitsyn nodded with a smile and then replied to Nikolai Orlov, "They will never know that our action is in fact today!"

"Indeed!" Nikolai Orlov nodded in agreement.

That evening, Duke Golitsyn, as per usual custom, went to Tsarskoye Selo to meet Nicholas I.

"Golitsyn!" Nicholas I greeted Duke Golitsyn with a smile.

"Your Majesty, what are your instructions?" Duke Golitsyn promptly responded to Nicholas I.

"Are you interested in serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs?" Nicholas I asked Duke Golitsyn.

"Minister of Foreign Affairs? Isn’t that a position Mr. Nesselrode holds?" Duke Golitsyn responded regarding Nesselrode.

"Nesselrode is aging!" Nicholas I sighed as he replied to Duke Golitsyn, "He may no longer be able to fulfill the duties, so I hope you can take on the position!"

"Me?" Duke Golitsyn shook his head and replied to Nicholas I, "Your Majesty, I am afraid not! I have never engaged in any matters related to foreign affairs! How could I possibly be fit for this position!"

"Even if you haven’t, there’s no need to worry!" Nicholas I reassured Duke Golitsyn, "With the willingness to learn, there is nothing that cannot be mastered! I am confident that you can take on the role!"

"What about the Governor of St. Petersburg..." Duke Golitsyn tentatively inquired.

"After you take the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, you can step down as Governor!" Nicholas I responded casually to Duke Golitsyn, "Also, Tsarskoye Selo doesn’t need so many soldiers guarding it now! Just leave a few to watch over it!"

After Nicholas I finished speaking, Duke Golitsyn immediately understood that Nicholas I was indeed trying to undermine his power.

Otherwise, how could a Governor of St. Petersburg possibly serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs?