Faced with Duke Golitsyn’s command, Nikolai Orlov’s face showed a trace of reluctance.

The issuer of the command, Duke Golitsyn, noticed Nikolai Orlov’s resistance to the order and casually asked, "What’s the matter?"

"Mr. Golitsyn, I believe as long as those nobles do not insist on opposing us, we need not take action against them!" Nikolai Orlov responded to Duke Golitsyn.

"Citizen Orlov!" Duke Golitsyn replied sternly to Nikolai Orlov: "I ask you, why do we need to eliminate the tyrant Nicolai?"

"To build a brand new Russia!" Nikolai Orlov answered without hesitation.

"Exactly! Our goal is to build a brand new Russia, where everyone can live proudly on this land!" Duke Golitsyn nodded and continued to Nikolai Orlov: "However, to achieve these things, it is essential to liberate those serfs bound to the land! Turn them into true free citizens, but to transform them into free citizens we must abolish the inherent privileges of the nobility in our country!

Once we abolish these rights, we will inevitably face opposition from the nobles. Those who oppose us will try every possible way to sabotage our plans, preventing us from establishing our footing in St. Petersburg and Moscow!

Any trace of weakness and they will transform into wolves biting us viciously.

By then, forget about preserving the achievements of the revolution. Even our lives may not be secure.

Therefore, we must learn from the Public Security Committee of the past and make those who attempt to overturn the fruits of our revolution feel fear. Only this way will they learn to respect!"

"But, constant slaughter is not a long-term solution!" Nikolai Orlov reminded Duke Golitsyn.

"Long-term?" Duke Golitsyn shook his head with a bitter smile: "We are attempting a path Russia has not tried in thousands of years. Instead of focusing on the future longevity, consider our current situation!

Think about the outcomes of the First Republic and Second Republic of France!"

At this time, Duke Golitsyn’s thinking was roughly the same as Lenin after seizing power; he was not considering the future, but exerting all efforts to maintain and prolong the lifespan of the regime.

As long as this regime can endure, then it holds endless possibilities.

Conversely, if the continuity of this regime becomes a luxury, then what is the point in discussing the future and longevity?

[PS: Here’s an interjection, during the debate between Ms. Luxembourg and Lenin, Ms. Luxembourg pointed out the issue of the vanguard’s corruption proposed by Lenin.

Lenin did not directly refute the issue, because in Lenin’s view, the vanguard must first be capable of seizing power before they can become corrupt.

A paper organization that cannot even seize power is not worthy of discussing the so-called corruption.

After the success of the October Revolution, Lenin maintained a "surpassing the Paris Commune counts as success" optimistic spirit regarding how long the nascent Soviet regime could endure.]

Nikolai Orlov thought of the former First Republic and Second Republic, one lasted 7 years (ending with Napoleon’s Wu Yue coup), the other lasted less than 3 years (ending with the 1851 coup).

Even France struggled to establish a republican regime; no need to mention the Russian Empire.

"I understand! I will carry out your requirements!" Nikolai Orlov nodded and responded to Duke Golitsyn.

"As long as you understand!" Duke Golitsyn smiled and nodded to Nikolai Orlov.

Afterwards, Nikolai Orlov took leave from Duke Golitsyn. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Meanwhile, Duke Golitsyn moved from the Ministry of War to the entrance of the Winter Palace. The guards responsible for the Winter Palace quickly bowed to Duke Golitsyn upon seeing him.

"How are Prince Dorogorukov and the Empress doing?" Duke Golitsyn asked the guards.

The guards told Duke Golitsyn that during this period, both Prince Dorogorukov and the Empress’s family had been very friendly, seemingly understanding their current situation!

"Very well, I now wish to meet them! Open the door!" Duke Golitsyn responded to the guards.

The guard hurriedly opened the door, allowing Duke Golitsyn to enter the Winter Palace.

Afterwards, under the guard’s lead, Duke Golitsyn arrived at the room where the Empress’s family was located.

At this time, the Empress was sitting upright on the sofa, with Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich and Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich seated on either side of her.

The arrival of Duke Golitsyn prompted the three present to hurriedly rise from the sofa.

"Your Majesty the Empress, how have you been feeling recently?" Although Duke Golitsyn no longer held any respect for the Empress of Nicholas I in his heart, he still addressed her formally as the Empress.

"Duke Golitsyn!" Alexandra Feodorovna smiled bitterly at the corners of her mouth. After gracefully saluting the regicide who could decide their life and death, she said, "Everything’s fine, except for not being able to go out!"

"That’s good to hear!" Duke Golitsyn nodded, then turned his gaze to Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, saying, "Your Majesty the Empress, may I have a private word with Grand Duke Nikolayevich?"

Hearing that Duke Golitsyn wanted to speak privately with her son, Feodorovna was instantly flustered, fearing that her son would be killed by Duke Golitsyn like his father.

"Governor Golitsyn, the whole Russian Empire is yours now! Can you spare my poor child?" Feodorovna pleaded with Duke Golitsyn in a beseeching tone.

"Your Majesty the Empress, Russia is no longer anyone’s Russia but belongs to all the Slavic nations!" Duke Golitsyn replied. "Moreover, I do not mean to kill your son; I genuinely wish to speak with him!

If our conversation goes well, you can gain a certain degree of freedom!"

"Mother, I want to talk to Duke Golitsyn!" Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich also spoke to Feodorovna.

"Then..." Feodorovna hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Then you may go!"

Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich and Duke Golitsyn left Feodorovna’s room and went to a spacious guest room in the Winter Palace.

As soon as he entered the guest room, Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, with a gloomy face, shouted at Duke Golitsyn, "Duke Golitsyn, what is going on with you? Why haven’t you declared me the Tsar of the Russian Empire? Don’t forget, you achieved everything you have now because of me!"

"Citizen Nikolayevich!" Duke Golitsyn responded to Nikolayevich, enunciating each word: "Thank you very much for your contributions to the revolution! However, I regret to inform you that you cannot become the Tsar of the New Russian Empire!"

"What????!!!!" Upon hearing the news, Nikolayevich’s face showed a mix of seriousness and frustration. He grabbed Duke Golitsyn’s collar and yelled, "Say it again!"

"I regret to inform you, after careful consideration, you cannot become the Tsar of the New Russian Empire!" Duke Golitsyn replied calmly.

"I will kill you!" Grand Duke Nikolayevich shouted at Duke Golitsyn through gritted teeth.

"Even if you kill me, you still can’t become Tsar!" Duke Golitsyn’s face showed no hint of fear, "Moreover, if I die, the entire Romanov family will go down with me! Are you really willing to sacrifice your own life alongside this old man who barely has a few years left?"

Duke Golitsyn’s words made Nikolayevich slowly lower his hand; he did not want to sacrifice his precious life for an old man with little time left.

"Grand Duke Nikolayevich, you should consider yourself fortunate!" Duke Golitsyn coldly said to Nikolayevich: "I did not treat you like the Republic treated the Duke of Orleans!

Otherwise, we wouldn’t be talking here, but on the execution ground!"

"Are you planning to establish a republic on Russian land?" Grand Duke Nikolayevich asked Duke Golitsyn dejectedly.

"No! Russia will still have a monarch!" Duke Golitsyn shook his head and replied to Nikolayevich: "The citizens of this land are not yet accustomed to life without a monarch; I need to find them a monarch!"

"My thoughts align with yours; I can become the new monarch of the Russian Empire!" Grand Duke Nikolayevich tried to offer himself.

"Your Highness, let me tell you again!" Duke Golitsyn emphasized: "You have lost the eligibility to be chosen as a monarch!"

"Besides me, who else are you considering? Mikhail?" Grand Duke Nikolayevich asked.

"Your Highness, we will inform you after the new Tsar is selected!" Duke Golitsyn responded in a cold tone before turning and leaving the room.

"Bastard!" Grand Duke Nikolayevich couldn’t help but curse.

Afterward, Duke Golitsyn left the Winter Palace to visit Crown Prince Alexander’s residence in St. Petersburg.

There, he met Crown Prince Alexander’s wife, Maria Alexandrovna.

At that moment, Maria Alexandrovna was clutching the future monarch Alexander III with one hand and Alexander III’s brother with the other, anxiously looking at Duke Golitsyn. She couldn’t understand what Duke Golitsyn was doing here.

"Your Highness, may we have a private conversation?" Duke Golitsyn bowed to Maria Alexandrovna.

"Of course," Maria Alexandrovna nodded, then ordered her servants to take the two princes away.

Following that, Duke Golitsyn said to Maria Alexandrovna, "According to the unanimous decision of the Constitutional Committee, your son will be chosen as the new Tsar of the Russian Empire."