North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 268 Huge Rewards

Faced with his future father-in-law's questioning, Azu replied in a deep voice, "Duke, in the near future, I will have enough strength to establish my own country...!"

"Establish a nation...!"

Upon hearing this, Duke Joseph was immediately shocked and swallowed hard: "Li, are you serious?"

Ah Zu nodded calmly: "I always keep my word!"

"When I become the master of the new country, I will marry Sisi in the most glorious and grand manner...!"

“In the future, whether I am a king or… an emperor, I believe that although Sisi is not my only one, the status of a queen or empress should not be a disservice to her at all…!”

Duke Joseph stared at Azu in utter shock, and it took him a long time to realize what he meant: "Li, how long exactly is the 'near future' you're talking about?"

"Sisi is 16 years old now. Youth is fleeting, and she can't wait much longer!"

Azu replied, "Within three to five years, I will establish my own country and marry Qianqian!"

"Three to five years... well, by then Sisi will be around twenty years old. Although she'll be a bit older, it's still acceptable!"

In this era, the average lifespan was already short, and girls, whether royalty or commoners, generally got married before the age of eighteen.

If you wait until you're twenty to get married, you'll already be considered an old maid!
"Of course, all of this is predicated on the premise that you can actually become a king, or even... an emperor!"

Azu calmly smiled and said, "Duke, I have achieved what I have today in just four years."

"With my current foundation, would it be difficult to build a country in another three to five years?"

“That’s true…!” Duke Joseph nodded in agreement, “Li, you are a young man who is good at creating miracles. If I didn’t think highly of you, I would never have allowed you to date my Sisi!”

Azu raised an eyebrow: "So, Your Grace, you agree?"

Duke Joseph pondered for a moment: "My agreement is not enough!"

"Li, you also need to find a way to persuade Sissi's mother and the Bavarian royal family...!"

Azu replied, "I will continue to find a way to marry the Duchess. As for the Bavarian royal family... hehe, once I have enough power and status, they will probably be eager to marry Princess Sissi to me as soon as possible...!"

"You and the Duchess are doing this because you love your daughter dearly, and I need to win your support and blessings with sincerity. As for the Bavarian royal family, they only consider political interests... Therefore, the so-called royal family is actually the easiest to deal with; it's simply a matter of providing them with enough benefits."

"Hehe...!" Duke Joseph smiled broadly and patted Azu's shoulder heavily: "Li, you see everything very clearly...!"

But Azu didn't expect that without his intervention, Xixi alone could basically persuade her mother!

……

That evening at dinner, when Azu and the Duke's family sat around the table, the Duke and Duchess, who had already reached a consensus, looked at Azu across from them with serious expressions.

Duchess Ludovica said solemnly, "Count, although we no longer oppose your relationship with Sissi, even if it is a secret engagement, it must be legal and legitimate, and everything must be done in accordance with Christian rites and requirements...!"

"Wow……!"

Before Ludovica could finish speaking, Sisi couldn't help but cheer, then jumped up and hugged her mother and father's faces, kissing them repeatedly.

Then, like a swallow returning to its nest, she rushed into Azu's arms!
Azu gently put his arm around Sisi's slender waist and nodded to the Duke and Duchess, saying, "Of course, everything is at the Duke and Duchess's disposal!"

Nene, who was already engaged to the Austrian Emperor, looked at her sister and future brother-in-law with envy, smiled and stepped forward to kiss Sisi's cheek.

"Sisi, congratulations! Your wish has come true, and you've finally come together with the one you love!"

A group of younger siblings also rushed up excitedly and surrounded Azu and Xixi, cheering and jumping for joy.

The entire restaurant was filled with an atmosphere of joy and excitement.

Duke Joseph also looked at his second daughter and prospective son-in-law with a smile.

The Duchess, however, looked grave and couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.

"Sigh... Joseph, I don't know if Sissi will regret her choice today... or if we will regret it too...!"

Duke Joseph took the ivory pipe from his mouth and laughed, "We'll talk about the future later."

"At least the carefree, unrestrained, and innocent Sisi from before is back... At this moment, we should bless them and be happy for them...!"

……

Three days later, in the local chapel closest to Posenhofen Castle, witnessed by the local priest and Joseph's family, Azu and Sisi completed a simple yet solemn engagement ceremony.

In the presence of the priest and everyone else, Azu and Xixi signed their names on the marriage certificate.

Then, they exchanged engagement rings.

Having made preparations in advance, Ah Zu personally placed a custom-made, large red diamond ring on the ring finger of Sisi's left hand.

A six-carat red diamond ring shone brightly on Sisi's slender ring finger.

At the same time, Duke Joseph also symbolically provided Sisi with a generous dowry list.

In return, Ah Zu received a dowry ten times the size of her original dowry.

This dowry, if converted to US dollars, is worth well over a million dollars.

Even in the lavish and extravagant European courts, this dowry would be beyond imagination, absolutely extravagant.

Even Nene, who was engaged to Emperor Joseph I of Austria, did not receive a dowry worth half a million dollars.

In any case, Ah Zu is using both tangible and intangible methods to make up for the regret of not being able to hold a grand engagement ceremony.

……

After the solemn yet simple engagement ceremony, Azu finally became Princess Sissi's fiancé, and Sissi finally became his fiancée.

When the ceremony ended and the two were finally alone, Azu said apologetically, "Sisi, I'm sorry. For the sake of your family and the royal family's reputation, we can only get engaged to you in this low-key way. I'm sorry you had to suffer this injustice..."

Sisi's eyes sparkled, and she shook her head with happiness: "As long as I can be with you, I don't care about anything else. I'd even elope with you. Let alone an engagement ceremony!"

Ah Zu, his eyes brimming with love, pulled her into his arms: "Sissi, believe me, in the near future, when we officially get married, I will make you the happiest, most dazzling, and most enviable bride in all of Europe, in the whole world!!!"

"Mmm...!" Sisi's pretty face pressed tightly against Azu's chest: "I believe you can do it! Even if you can't, it doesn't matter... I am already the happiest woman in the world... *sob*!"

What a naive and devoted silly girl!

Ah Zu embraced her and kissed her deeply…!
In mid-September 1853, just before winter arrived, Azu and his party finally set off again, embarking on their journey to St. Petersburg.

Despite Sisi's strong insistence, she was determined to stay with her fiancé this time.

No matter where she is, she has decided that she will never leave Ah Zu's side again.

The pain of unrequited love was too much for her; she no longer wanted to experience that torment day and night.

……

By the time the group finally arrived in St. Petersburg aboard the "Guilin" train, it was already late September.

To welcome the Count of Goldberg, Foreign Minister Karl Nesselrod personally went to the port to greet him, arranged by the Tsar.

As the fast armored cruiser "Guilin" slowly docked in the port of St. Petersburg, escorted by two armored frigates, a chorus of clear, loud, and resounding military music immediately filled the dock.

Ah Zu held his fiancée, Princess Sissi, with his left arm. She wore a platinum princess crown, a multi-layered pleated silk petticoat, and was elegant and graceful.

On his right arm was Mrs. Victoria, who was dressed in a simple red cheongsam made of oriental silk and wore gold-plated high heels, and was incredibly graceful.

When the Count, arm in arm with two stunningly beautiful women, slowly disembarked from the ship, Foreign Minister Karl Nesselrod and others who came to greet him couldn't help but hold their breath for a moment!
The two women that Ah Zu was holding hands with were absolutely gorgeous!
Even though he was used to seeing all kinds of stunning beauties in the Russian palace, Foreign Minister Karl Nesselrod couldn't help but marvel at the Count of Goldberg's incredible luck with women.
"Ahem...!" The Imperial Foreign Minister coughed twice, composed himself, smiled, took two steps forward, and shook hands with Azu.

"Your Excellency Earl of the Goldberg, welcome to the Russian Empire's capital, which has traveled a great distance to visit you in person!"

Accompanied by a loud, stirring, and grand military band, the Imperial Foreign Minister, on behalf of the entire Empire, warmly welcomed the distinguished guests from afar!
Azu returned the greeting with a professional smile: "Your Excellency Foreign Minister Nesselrod, I never expected you to come and greet me in person. I am truly unworthy of such an honor..."

Foreign Minister Nesselrod laughed, “I came from the Winter Palace to the port, a distance of less than a mile!”

"The distance between the Earl of the Gold Mountain and San Francisco is well over ten thousand miles... Therefore, it is only right to welcome His Excellency with the highest honors!"

With just one simple sentence, Azu immediately began to look at this Imperial Foreign Minister with new respect!

No wonder he's the Foreign Minister; his words are truly masterful!

……

After inspecting the guard of honor of the Russian Empire, Azu boarded the imperial carriage reserved for the emperor.

Pulled by four pure white horses, without a single stray hair, the royal carriage sped leisurely along the wide streets of St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg, a city that Peter the Great designed from its inception to resemble the imperial capital of his vision.

Therefore, the roads here appear exceptionally wide.

The buildings here are exceptionally magnificent and imposing. Compared to Moscow, the former capital of the empire, St. Petersburg, inside and out, exudes... well, it should be described as opulent and sophisticated!
This was the empire's window to the whole of Europe, and a model city for the empire to learn from Western Europe.

Moreover, the city was inhabited mostly by nobles and the upper class, with no trace of the ubiquitous, extremely impoverished serf class of the Tsarist Russian Empire.

It can also be said that this is a magnificent city built with the sweat, blood and lives of serfs!
It looks glamorous on the outside, but inside it's blood and piles of bones!
Just like Tsarist Russia, a vast empire that appears powerful on the surface!

……

Soon after, the royal carriage stopped in front of the Winter Palace, which was even more magnificent, grand, and elegant.

Here, Azu and his group once again witnessed the magnificent grandeur of the Tsarist Russian Empire's ceremonial guard!

At the same time, deafening cannon salutes resounded across the vast square!
Pairs of beautiful young women presented bright bouquets to the delegation led by Azu.

Squads of infantry and cavalry, dressed in bright and shiny armor and riding imposing tall horses, passed in front of Azu one by one for inspection!
……

After a lengthy and grand welcoming ceremony, led by a group of Royal Guards, Azu met the frail and elderly Tsar Nicholas I in the Grand Hall of the Winter Palace!
At this time, Nicholas I was nearly sixty years old and seriously ill. Azu knew at a glance that His Majesty the Tsar did not have long to live!
Beside the Tsar sat the Crown Prince, Alexander II, dressed in military attire!
It was this 35-year-old crown prince who seized a vast territory of China, amounting to one or two million square kilometers... But that's another story.

As for Victoria and Sisi, they were welcomed into the inner court by court ladies and received personally by the Empress and the Crown Princess.

"Your Excellency Earl of Gold Mountain, welcome...cough cough...!"

Nicholas I, who sat high on the throne, hadn't even finished speaking when he covered his mouth with a handkerchief and burst into a series of violent coughs.

The foreign minister standing beside Azu couldn't help but whisper in his ear, "Your Excellency, I am very sorry, His Majesty has been unwell! In this season of autumn and winter, His Majesty's condition has worsened... I hope you can understand...!"

Azu nodded calmly: "His Majesty is unwell, yet he still insists on receiving me, a guest from afar. It is truly touching!"

It took Nicholas I a long time to stop coughing.

And through the silk scarf covering his mouth, Ah Zu could clearly see the mottled bloodstains.

Nicholas I managed a weak smile: "I'm sorry, Earl of Goldberg, forcing you to face this frail old man...!"

"Your Majesty is too kind. Please take good care of your health!" Azu said solemnly. "If Your Majesty is unwell, the meeting can be postponed. I am not in a hurry!"

Nicholas I waved his hand weakly: "It's nothing, it's just an old ailment! It won't get better anytime soon, but it won't kill me either!"

"Count, you are not in a hurry, but I am very eager to meet with you in person!"

"Oh...?" Azu asked knowingly, "Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?"

Nicholas I nodded to his foreign minister, indicating, "Karl, explain the Empire's current situation to the Earl of Goldberg... ahem...!"

So the Foreign Minister, sitting next to Azu, explained everything to Azu in a calm and unhurried tone.

"Your Excellency, you should be aware of the urgent situation facing our Tsarist Russian Empire!"

"The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, which the Empire adheres to, are vying for the key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem."

“Napoleon III of France coerced Haussmann into handing over the keys to the Catholic Church.”

"And our empire is also putting all its pressure on the Ottomans, demanding that they hand over the keys to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the Orthodox Church!"

"This is one of the root causes of our conflicts with Britain, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire."

The Foreign Minister paused for a moment, then continued, "And then, it's our empire's struggle for control of the Black Sea and the straits!"

The so-called straits are the Bosporus Strait and the Dardanelles Strait, which control the Black Sea's access to the Mediterranean Sea.

Whoever controls these two straits will completely control the only passage from the Black Sea to the open ocean, and its strategic significance is self-evident.

These two straits had been under Ottoman control for centuries.

Now, the Ottoman Empire was becoming increasingly weak. Extremely sharp conflicts arose between the Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and Britain, the United States, and Austria over control of these two straits.

Having explained the second root cause of the war, Foreign Secretary Nesselrod continued: "As for the third root cause of the war, it is the British Empire's suspicion that we are advancing into Central Asia and attempting to threaten India's strategic intentions."

"And Austria and the Ottomans fear that our empire will occupy the entire Balkan Peninsula!"

The Foreign Minister said in a deep voice: "Because of these three reasons, the contradictions between the Empire and Britain and the United States, and between Austria and the Ottoman Empire, are now completely irreconcilable!"

"War is now unavoidable!"

Foreign Minister Nesselrod continued, “Just two months ago, 80,000 Imperial troops crossed the Prut River and occupied the two principalities of the Danube (later Moldova and the surrounding area).

"The Empire's Black Sea Fleet also blocked the Ottoman fleet in the port of Sinop."

"With the strength and firepower of the Imperial Black Sea Fleet, it can annihilate the Ottoman fleet at any time!"

"Currently, the Empire and countries such as Britain and France are engaged in frequent negotiations."

"Britain, France and other countries strongly demanded that the Empire withdraw its troops, both the army and the navy."

"The Empire's demand is that the Ottoman Empire must not allow the British and French fleets to pass through, nor allow them to enter the Black Sea and interfere in the situation in the Black Sea and the surrounding area!"

"Right now, neither side is willing to show weakness, and neither side is willing to give in."

"War is imminent!"

After patiently listening to the introduction, Azu couldn't help but ask, "Your Excellency, I've come here solely to discuss the acquisition offer for Alaska!"

"Neither my California nor America has any connection to any of this!"

"Personally, I have little interest in getting involved in such conflicts between great powers!"

"So why are you explaining all this to me?"

"Cough cough...!" Nicholas I, barely managing to stop coughing, interjected, "Count, although we are so far apart, I am very clear about your status, influence, and strength in America!"

"Although the Russian Empire is powerful at present, it is almost in a disadvantageous position of isolation and helplessness!"

Nicholas I stared at Azu and said, "Count, I am also very aware that within the United States, war is also imminent due to the controversy over slavery and its abolition!"

"I suggest that you, Earl, if you could represent America and declare that you stand with Tsarist Russia in our war against Britain, France, and the Ottomans...!"

"Then, in the equally impending American Civil War, we, Tsarist Russia, will resolutely stand with the Federal Government and with the abolitionist movement!"

"Heh heh...!" Nicholas I chuckled. "As for Alaska... that insignificant land, if you, Earl, are willing to wholeheartedly support my empire, what's wrong with giving it to you?!"

Azu now fully understood why His Majesty the Tsar had given him such an extraordinary reception.

The Foreign Minister personally greeted them, and the welcoming ceremony was magnificent... This was not the welcoming of an earl or a local leader of the United States, but the welcoming of a representative of a great power!
By doing this, the Tsar was showing Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire, and other countries that Tsarist Russia was not without friends!
At this moment, Azu deeply felt that this old and dying Tsar was indeed mature and shrewd in his political methods.

It was just a simple welcoming ceremony, which both pleased the distant guest, Azu, and at the same time demonstrated to countries such as Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire... It was simply killing two birds with one stone!
If countries like Britain and France were unaware of the truth, they might genuinely believe that at this crucial moment, the United States sending representatives to visit Tsarist Russia was a sign of taking sides, and that in a future war, it might very well side with Tsarist Russia!
Azu knew perfectly well that at this crucial moment, his visit had been used ruthlessly by the Tsar!
However, Ah Zu did not show the slightest displeasure on his face; instead, he still wore a faint smile.

“Your Majesty, you should be very clear that my visit this time can only represent California and Huamei Industrial!”

"I do not represent the United States, nor have I received authorization from the President or Congress... therefore...!"

Before Azu could finish speaking, Nicholas I gently shook his head: "None of that matters! Your Excellency, as I have said, I am very aware of your status and influence in America!"

"As long as you personally express your support for Tsarist Russia, even if the US Congress and President are unhappy, they will have no choice but to accept it!"

"At least in America, no one dares to openly stand against you!"

"As far as I know, everyone who dared to openly oppose you, Earl, has completely disappeared... Am I right, Your Excellency?"

Nicholas I said weakly, "Even just a verbal statement, even just verbal support, is extremely important for the current empire!"

"Of course, it would be even better if we could provide substantial support!"

Azu pondered for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty, what do you mean by substantial support?"

"Ammunition, ammunition, warships...!"

Nicholas I continued, "Count, our people have had the privilege of personally experiencing the large quantities of arms and warships you sold to Prussia and Austria!"

"It must be said that the weapons and warships produced in California are far ahead of their time, extremely powerful! No weaponry produced by any other arsenal in the world can compare with them!"

"If the Earl is willing to provide the Empire with a large amount of military equipment and warships, I can give you all of Alaska!"

"At the same time, my empire is also rich in gold. I believe you, Earl, will be very interested in the arms-for-gold trade!"

"There are also penicillin and artemisinin, which are needed in large quantities during wartime and can save the lives of countless soldiers!"

Nicholas I, his cloudy eyes fixed on Azu, said, "Your Excellency, if you are willing to support my empire, I can guarantee you will receive a tremendous reward!!!"

"Your Majesty, I must admit, the terms you have offered are very attractive!"

Ah Zu replied calmly, "Of course I believe I will be greatly rewarded!"

"However, I also believe that I will pay a huge price at the same time...!!!"

(End of this chapter)