Chapter 1367: Resolving the Crisis

Councilor Naleishi glanced at Osilev and sighed.

Although Elizabeth I was the Empress, she had no way to vote in the Upper House.

Even with the vote of Osilev, the Speaker of the House of Lords, the gap could not be closed.

In this way, Councilor Naleishi only had five votes; he needed at least two more to win this motion by a narrow margin.

Councilor Naleishi's expression was dim; he did not hold much hope for this.

He looked at the two neutral councilors; these two councilors usually chose to abstain on most motions.

Facing the currently powerful Dolgorukov Family, he presumed these two councilors would not risk offending them to go against them.

"Right, let's vote." Dolgorukov smiled slightly.

In his view, they were bound to win this vote, and there was not the slightest suspense.

"Very well, now, those who agree to deny Boerniefu the title of Count, please raise your hands," Elizabeth I said indifferently.

Dolgorukov raised his right hand without the slightest hesitation; after he raised his hand, five people immediately followed suit and raised their right hands.

Dolgorukov looked at Councilor Naleishi with a beaming smile, his eyes full of mockery.

Councilor Naleishi looked at Elizabeth I and, seeing her expressionless face, could not discern anything.

Sighing, although Elizabeth I was ostensibly the ruler of Tsarist Russia, she had been propped up by her own family and the Dolgorukov Family.

The power in her hands had long since been hollowed out significantly.

Elizabeth I, he feared, would not be able to help.

"Six votes against; those in favor, please raise your hands," Elizabeth I said softly.

Dolgorukov sneered and said indifferently, "Is there even a need to vote? Naleishi, do you think it's still necessary?"

Naleishi's face was gloomy as he stared at the mocking expression on Dolgorukov's face.

Unwilling to give up, he raised his right hand, and the members of the Naresh Faction also raised their right hands.

Osilev was certainly in favor of this decision, and at this moment, he also raised his right hand.

Naleishi scanned the room and saw only five votes; he mocked in his heart that it was just as he had expected—they had five votes, while Dolgorukov had six.

Naleishi looked at the two neutral councilors and, seeing them unmoved, knew they had definitely chosen to abstain on this motion.

Dolgorukov laughed: "It seems the result is already very clear; these two councilors have announced their abstention."

"We have six votes against."

"Five votes in favor."

"Please, Empress, announce it quickly; Boerniefu cannot be titled Count."

Elizabeth I smiled slightly, looked at the two councilors, and said indifferently: "Have you chosen to abstain?"

Dolgorukov frowned slightly: "Can't the Empress see? They haven't raised their hands, so they must have abstained."

"Announce it quickly!"

Hearing this, a look of anger stained Osilev's face, and he immediately said: "Dolgorukov, you are too presumptuous! The Empress is still here—it is not your place to point fingers!"

Dolgorukov's face turned cold, and he snorted, but he did not speak.

Osilev was ostensibly still the Speaker of the House of Lords, the hero who eradicated the Traitorous Official Menshikov, and the meritorious official who insisted on supporting Elizabeth I's rise to power.

With such merit, he could not afford to have a falling out with him yet.

Elizabeth I ignored their squabble, looked at the two neutral councilors, and spoke once more: "Two councilors, please tell me, are you abstaining?"

Dolgorukov snorted; he did not believe these two councilors would dare to offend him for the sake of the currently disadvantaged Naryshkin Family.

Naleishi also held no hope; the Dolgorukov Family was too powerful now, and it was already a stroke of luck that they could sit in these positions—for such small families, remaining neutral was the way to survive.

But at the very next moment, Dolgorukov and Naleishi, the two opposing councilors, looked at the two councilors in disbelief.

"What!"

"Do you know what you are doing? You are casting votes in favor!"

Seeing the two councilors raise their right hands, Dolgorukov and Naleishi were completely plunged into disbelief.

They immediately came to their senses and looked at Elizabeth I, who was sitting at the head of the table, seeing the smile hanging on her face.

They understood everything in an instant.

It was her, it was she who was behind this!

This woman!

Dolgorukov realized it, but it was too late, and he could only sit down helplessly.

Naleishi was still in shock, not expecting that Elizabeth I had already won over those councilors to be used for her own purposes.

Now she was even going to support a councilor from their family; she was going to...

"Seven votes in favor, six votes against; this motion... is passed," Elizabeth I said with a faint smile.

"Boerniefu is titled Count, but Naleishi, the Poland of today is not just us," Elizabeth I said with concern.

She spread out the military report, which stated that the Polish Dynasty no longer had the ability to resist, but now, Prussia and the Ottoman Empire were both fighting for Polish territory within Poland.

Frederick II was not yet a cause for fear, but the Ottoman Empire, with Hamid leading troops to intercept our army in Poland, was now about to form a pincer movement with Prussia.

By that time, our army would be trapped within Poland and unable to reinforce Austria and France.

Seeing this war report, the councilors fell into a calm.

Naleishi also understood why they had to give the noble status of Count to Boerniefu on their side; it was not just to support his own family to contend with the Dolgorukov Family.

It was also to make Boerniefu better serve Tsarist Russia.

The Ottoman Empire was still an Absolute Monarchy; although there were signs of decline, they had deep ties with Longyan and possessed excellent military equipment.

Currently, the Duchy of Austria could not spare more troops to besiege Prussia because of the Longyan army landing.

Although Prussia was in the most wretched state now, if they were to stake everything on a single throw and open a battlefield with them in Poland...

At that time, Prussia would unite with the Ottoman Empire, and in this place of Poland, Prussia could retreat to defend and advance to attack.

But they, Tsarist Russia, have always been trapped on this continent of Poland, still blockaded by Longyan.

"Councilors, the current situation is very unfavorable for our Tsarist Russia."

"Do you have any Method?" Elizabeth I asked with a worried look on her face.

She knew almost nothing about marching troops or fighting wars and still had to rely on the Naryshkin Family, who had experience in this regard; she looked at Naleishi.

Naleishi looked at the map and analyzed the current war situation; in fact, the current situation was that without foreign aid, Tsarist Russia could not face a war against two countries for a long time.

Although Prussia's territory was almost entirely lost, Frederick II was a troublemaker; who knew if he would launch a crazy retaliation in Poland after occupying it?

At this moment, Naleishi saw a small country on the map of Europe, pondered for a moment, and said, "Your Majesty, I have a Method to resolve the current crisis."

"However..."