Saint Petersburg.
Winter Palace.
Catherine II reclined sideways in an exquisitely carved armchair, glanced at the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, and wearily held out one finger.
Her health no longer allowed her to preside over state affairs. Only an envoy from a major power like the United Kingdom could receive a brief audience with her.
Zubov immediately "translated" for her. "Mr. Fox, Her Majesty believes one month is enough time for your country to evacuate all its citizens from Tehran."
"No, you know Persia is mountainous everywhere. The war will also affect travel." Fox said, "It will take at least three months to reach Ahvaz."
Catherine II waved her hand impatiently.
Zubov followed up, "Then that settles the matter."
Fox frowned and said in a grave voice, "Your country's invasion of Persia has already affected our trade in the Persian Gulf. If any more British citizens die because of this war, I cannot guarantee that Parliament will not decide to intervene in the situation in Persia."
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Catherine II's lips. In a slurred voice, she said, "I am tired."
Russia and France now worked closely together, and trade between them was rapidly increasing. The Central Asian battlefield also involved French interests—Cotton. All of this made her far less concerned about the attitude of the British than before.
"Wait." Seeing that things were going badly, Fox had no choice but to play his trump card. "I have heard that your country intends to expand cotton cultivation in Central Asia." Thanks to the large number of Shap Signal Towers already built by Prussia and Austria, he had received intelligence sent from Saint Petersburg while still on the road. And an undertaking as major as expansion in Central Asia could hardly be hidden from British