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Chapter 1328: The Overwhelmed Tsar

A few young officers immediately sprang from their chairs as if they had seen a ghost.

Only the brown-haired young man who had earlier tried to pull Kishchenko away snatched the pamphlet, turning to toss it into the fireplace.

Kishchenko didn't stop him, instead saying with a dismissive tone, "Burn it. It's just a few pieces of paper. Its spirit will be etched into everyone's soul, sooner or later."

"Are you insane?" The brown-haired young man froze, looking flustered. "If the Secret Police see this, you'll be thrown into prison immediately, and the entire Kishchenko family will suffer for it!"

Kishchenko's gaze swept over everyone. "You've all read Radishchev's book. Ordinary people endure torment and hardship, while a few in power live in boundless luxury."

Radishchev was a contemporary Russian Enlightenment thinker who wrote *A Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow*. Through detailed observations of Russia's lower-class life, he exposed the darkness of Tsarist rule, once directly stating, "The Tsar is the number one criminal, his hands stained with blood."

The book was immediately banned upon publication, and Catherine II sentenced him to death, later commuting it to exile in Siberia. However, Paul I pardoned him after ascending to the throne.

"Deep down, you all know this can't go on! The whole of Europe, led by France, is vigorously developing industry and growing stronger, while we are rotting away!"

"What we need now is—"

Kishchenko had intended to say "a revolution," but seeing the alarm and evasion in his friends' eyes, he hesitated and rephrased: "It's learning from France. And all of it must begin with the rights and freedoms of every individual."

"Come, join me, and let's do something for this country."

That night, the young officers returned home with bowed heads, but they soon locked their room doors and nervously took out the Declaration of the Rights of Man that Kishchenko had given them, poring over it.

Not a single one of them reported it to the Secret Police.

Over ten days later, the number of people gathering in the secluded tavern had doubled, all young nobles in their twenties.

Enlightenment thought was already "fashionable" among the youth of that era. Now, Kishchenko further embellished his accounts of how powerful France had become after implementing the Declaration of the Rights of Man, sparking the thought in everyone present: 'We must change Russia.'

What these young officers didn't realize, however, was that there was no fertile ground in Russia for the implementation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man.

Russia's foundation was still Serfdom, its industry hadn't taken off, and the power of the Old Nobility controlled every aspect of the country. Even if a few passionate young nobles wished to enact change, they would be ruthlessly suppressed by the old aristocratic families.

This was also Joseph's reason for sending Kishchenko and his ilk back to Russia—such drastic changes, lacking a proper foundation and understanding of gradual progression, would only devolve into riots and needlessly deplete Russia's national strength.

Nearly a hundred radical Liberal officers like Kishchenko had returned to Russia. Even if only half of them dared to take real action, it would still represent an incredibly formidable force.

In just over a month, the activities of various "Declaration of the Rights of Man study groups" had expanded throughout Saint Petersburg.

The Winter Palace.

Russian Finance Minister Vasilyev strode into the great hall, bowing to Alexander I. "Your Imperial Majesty."

The latter nodded to him. "Ah, you're here."

"I need you to swiftly allocate an emergency fund of 350,000 rubles to the Sestroretsk Armory. Additionally, the garrison in Poland requires an increased military budget of 800,000 rubles."

Sweat immediately beaded on Vasilyev's forehead. He hastened to say, "Your Majesty, that is quite a substantial amount. You know, the grain subsidies in Saint Petersburg are also set to increase by ten percent starting next month—"

Arakcheyev, standing nearby, immediately interjected, "Count, the Poles have been restless lately, and General Kutuzov is preparing for war. Moreover, much of the military expenditure from the previous conflict with the French remains unfulfilled."

The Finance Minister asked, bewildered, "But why does the Sestroretsk Armory need such a large sum?"

"Steel prices have been rising lately. They need to expedite the production of Percussion Cap Muskets for the Western Army, and the front lines also require some artillery reinforcements."

Vasilyev frowned. "Those ironworks in the south have been raising their prices since last year. We cannot idly stand by while such profiteering harms national interests!"

Alexander I replied, "Count Orlov has already investigated. The price increase is due to a shortage of workers and equipment maintenance."

'Yes, Orlov is Nikolai Rumyantsev's man. And the latter is now a major shareholder in the Donbas Ironworks.'

'In truth, even if Rumyantsev didn't interfere, Prince Yusupov, the primary shareholder of the ironworks, wouldn't allow any irregularities to be uncovered.'

Vasilyev bowed to the Tsar, stating helplessly, "Your Majesty, the treasury simply doesn't have that much money right now—" Alexander I immediately waved a hand. "Then reduce the grain subsidies, or impose a temporary tax. You decide."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Finance Minister lowered his head, then hesitated. "Perhaps we could seek aid from the British?"

Alexander I gave him an exasperated look. The Foreign Minister had already raised the matter with the British a few days prior, only to be met with a flat refusal—Britain's finances were not particularly robust at the moment either.

After the Finance Minister departed, Arakcheyev resumed their earlier conversation. "Your Majesty, two more legions from Tambov and Alatyr can be dispatched to Poland."

"This way, General Kutuzov would even have enough troops to occupy Warsaw."

Alexander I nodded. After suffering a disastrous defeat on the Western European front, he certainly needed some victories to placate domestic sentiment.

Just then, War Minister Vyazmitinov entered the great hall with a panicked expression, hastily saluted, and urgently reported, "Your Majesty, news just arrived from Transcaucasia: an Ottoman army is gathering in southern Azerbaijan—"

Arakcheyev immediately frowned. "What do they intend to do?"

Vyazmitinov ignored him and continued, "Furthermore, Mirza's Army has also appeared near Zanjan."

Alexander I's face immediately darkened.

Yes, at the onset, when Russia decided to join the Anti-French Coalition, Joseph had sent Archbishop Talleyrand to the Ottoman Empire to discuss deploying troops for a diversionary action.

However, Salem III only finally resolved to act after the Anti-French Coalition had been defeated.

Subsequently, Talleyrand traveled to Tehran with the Persian envoy, persuading Persia to also join the conflict.

Joseph knew that the Persians had always superficially conceded to Russia, secretly accumulating strength while awaiting an opportunity for a counterattack.

Historically, they had continued to vie with Russia for Transcaucasia until the mid-19th century.

As expected, upon learning that the main Russian forces would be tied up on the Western front, Ali Shah immediately set aside his grievances with the Ottomans and decisively joined the "Anti-Russian Coalition."