CHAPTER 367: CHAPTER 362 "CHRISTMAS IN CONSTANTINOPLE

The Military Attendant carrying the orders of Emperor Nicholas I departed Tsarskoye Selo on the evening of the 23rd without alerting others, after a long and urgent journey of two days and nights, finally arriving at the Bessarabia border stronghold of Kishinev on the morning of the 26th. This place would become the future capital of the Republic of Moldova.

On May 28, 1812, the Russian Empire, after securing yet another victory over the Ottoman Empire, forced the Ottoman Empire to sign the Bucharest Treaty, incorporating the territory between the Prut River and the Dniester River into Russia’s domain. Bessarabia was also established as a province under the administration of the then Holy King Alexander I, to satisfy the local people’s "urgent" religious needs and to strengthen control over this area. The Emperor of the Russian Empire deliberately allocated funds to Bessarabia to construct Eastern Orthodox churches in the Kishinev region and dispatched a bishop to preach, while also stationing a large army.

The few garlic-shaped structures originally in the Kishinev area were not demolished; however, now, few believers of the Peace Sect were willing to stay in an Eastern Orthodox country.

After more than 40 years of integration and military garrison by the Russian Empire, the rebellion in Bessarabia was even less than in Crimea.

The Fourth and Fifth Corps were spread across the vast land centered in the Kishinev area, with the corps headquarters stationed within the city of Kishinev.

On the day of the Military Attendant’s arrival, General Gorchakov, who commanded the Fourth and Fifth Corps, was attending a service in a bishop’s cathedral in the Kishinev area with his wife.

During this rare leisure time (at other times, Gorchakov was busy trading army supplies), his wife had traveled all the way from Moscow and St. Petersburg to see him, so naturally, Gorchakov was attentive.

To satisfy his devout Eastern Orthodox wife, General Gorchakov specifically informed the local church of this visit in advance and donated 50,000 rubles to the local church for worship expenses.

After receiving rubles from the "Vassal Emperor" of Bessarabia, General Gorchakov, the local church naturally became even more attentive.

The bishop of the church personally appeared to officiate the service for General Gorchakov’s wife.

In the middle of the service, an officer dressed in a black, single-breasted military uniform came rushing in.

The sudden commotion interrupted the service for the bishop and the wife, and the same was true for Gorchakov, whose expression turned displeased.

Fortunately, the bishop was an understanding priest, and the expression on the officer’s face indicated that something serious must have happened in the army. He calmly nodded slightly at General Gorchakov and his wife.

"What’s the matter?" Gorchakov’s face still bore a displeased expression.

If his officer couldn’t provide a reasonable explanation, Gorchakov would surely not let him off the hook.

The officer approached Gorchakov, leaned in, and whispered, "General! A man claiming to be His Majesty the Tsar’s envoy is at the headquarters! He says there is an urgent matter he wishes to see you about! We couldn’t understand the situation, so we dared to disturb you!"

"Tsar’s envoy?" Gorchakov’s face showed surprise. He couldn’t understand why His Majesty the Tsar had sent an envoy.

Generally speaking, if His Majesty the Tsar wanted to convey orders to him, he only needed to notify the Ministry of War, which would then issue orders to Gorchakov. Sending an envoy to deliver the orders personally seemed rather cumbersome.

"Let’s go! Show me!" Gorchakov replied to the officer.

He then turned and apologized to the bishop, "I’m truly sorry! There is an unexpected incident at the camp that requires my attention!"

"It’s nothing!" The bishop expressed understanding towards Gorchakov’s actions.

Afterwards, Gorchakov left his wife at the church to continue worship, while he returned to the camp to see what the so-called envoy was made of.

Leaving the church, Gorchakov ordered the nearby soldiers to bring his chestnut Mongolian horse, which was tethered in the church’s backyard stall.

The soldiers quickly got into action, and Gorchakov’s horse was promptly brought before him.

Looking at the robust Mongolian in front of him, Gorchakov gently patted its face. The Mongolian seemed to respond affectionately, nuzzling Gorchakov twice.

Gorchakov placed one foot on the stirrup, held onto the arched ring of the saddle with both hands, and leaped onto the horse.

With his feet in the stirrups, Gorchakov tightened his grip on the reins and gently nudged the horse’s flanks.

Receiving the cue, the Mongolian horse neighed and galloped towards the camp with a loud swish.

The cavalry tasked with escorting Gorchakov back to camp could only follow behind in a trail of dust.

After nearly five minutes of galloping, Gorchakov finally moved from the center to the edge of the city.

Not far from the city’s edge, there was a series of encampments. That was the site of a regiment of the Fourth Corps and also the command post for the Fourth and Fifth Corps.

Though it was December, and there was no snow in Bessarabia, it was still quite cold. The piercing cold wind on Gorchakov’s face made him exceptionally alert as he rode, pondering the intentions of Nicholas I.

Gorchakov speculated that it might be because Carl Nesselrode and others no longer held the trust of Emperor Nicholas I, prompting Nicholas I to bypass them and deliver orders to him personally.

Thinking of this, Gorchakov’s mind became continuously active.

If Carl Nesselrode lost the Emperor’s favor, then his position as Foreign Minister wouldn’t last long, and his own brother could ascend.

Indeed, Gorchakov’s brother was Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov, the future Foreign Minister of the Russian Empire.

Currently in the Austrian Empire serving as the Russian Empire’s Envoy to Austria, having been crowded out of St. Petersburg’s core circle of power due to Carl Nesselrode’s difficulties.

Once Mikhailovich assumes the position of Foreign Minister, the Gorchakov family will gain even more political resources.

With a heart filled with anxiety and excitement, General Gorchakov arrived at the entrance of the headquarters, handed over his Mongolian horse to the soldier guarding the door, and gave some instructions.

Gorchakov entered the headquarters and saw a young military attendant.

The military attendant also spotted Gorchakov, quickly stood up, and with a delighted expression said to Gorchakov, "General!"

"The envoy has had a hard journey!" Gorchakov smiled kindly, invited the military attendant to sit down, and then inquired, "May I ask how do you prove that you are the envoy sent by His Majesty the Tsar? If not, then..."

Gorchakov paused, his expression shifting from kind to stern, his voice taking on a murderous tone, "Otherwise, it means you are a fake envoy!"

Faced with Gorchakov’s doubts, the military attendant showed no sign of panic and nodded slightly towards Gorchakov.

This composed demeanor was something not easily cultivated by an imposter, and Gorchakov’s doubts were half-dissipated.

"General, please look!" The military attendant then took out a dagger from his pocket.

Gorchakov saw the dagger taken out by the military attendant and was momentarily lost. This was the one he had seen back in His Majesty the Tsar’s collection room.

At this point, Gorchakov was ninety-nine percent convinced.

Immediately following, the military attendant took out a folded letter, and upon opening it, one could see the Imperial Crown and Imperial Shield emblem engraved on it.

Gorchakov instantly recognized the seal on the letter as being imprinted by the Tsar’s personal state seal.

Now, Gorchakov was entirely convinced that this person in front of him was not an imposter.

"What are His Majesty’s orders?" Gorchakov asked the military attendant.

"His Majesty hopes that General Gorchakov would send the 38,000 men of the Fourth and Fifth Corps as the vanguard to the Danube Duchy. After controlling the Danube Duchy, advance towards Constantinople..." The military attendant relayed Nicholas I’s orders in full.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will not disappoint His Majesty’s trust!" Gorchakov immediately assured the military attendant.

"I wish you success, General!" The military attendant replied to Gorchakov, "I should also be on my way!"

With that, the military attendant stood and left.

Seeing this, Gorchakov wanted to keep the military attendant but was immediately explained to by the military attendant that he needed to inform Prince Paskevich to mobilize an additional 92,000 men for support.

Seeing the military attendant had pressing tasks at hand, Gorchakov did not insist on keeping him. Instead, he offered him a gemstone seized from a wealthy businessman in Kishinev as an apology and ordered a detachment of cavalry to accompany and protect the military attendant on his way to Poland.

After the military attendant left, Gorchakov swiftly ordered his cavalry to notify the surrounding regiment commanders to attend a meeting.

On the evening of the 26th, all the regiment commanders of the Fourth and Fifth Corps were assembled in Gorchakov’s headquarters.

Gorchakov conveyed Nicholas I’s orders to them, and upon hearing that the orders were directly from the Emperor, they eagerly expressed their willingness to make a significant effort.

Some of the commanders even shouted, "Let’s capture Constantinople in 1853."

Gorchakov commanded the regiment commanders to assemble and set off on the morning of the 27th, and they all individually assured they would follow General Gorchakov’s orders.

After the meeting, Gorchakov returned to his residence in Kishinev and informed his wife about the upcoming advance.

Upon hearing that Gorchakov was leading troops to the Danube and nearing Constantinople, his wife understandingly expressed that she would return to Moscow the next day.

On December 27, 1852, the Fourth and Fifth Corps under the lead of General Gorchakov, artillery general, advanced towards the Danube in Bessarabia Province.