Vorontsov and the other Russian ministers immediately lowered their heads and stood to one side, too frightened to even breathe loudly.
Alexander I merely waved a hand dismissively. "What are you so nervous about? I'm serious."
He rose from his broad upholstered chair and looked at Count Arakcheyev. "At present, near Tbilisi, whose military strength is greater, the Ottomans' or Persia's?"
As the most responsible official on the War Committee, Arakcheyev knew every frontline report by heart and answered at once, "Your Majesty, it is the Turkic Army at Chalka, with more than thirty thousand men. A few months ago, they also obtained a batch of excellent cannon from Europe.
"Now, only the last line of defense remains on the southwestern side of Tbilisi."
Alexander I nodded and instructed Vorontsov, "Give Tbilisi to the Ottomans. Then give the entire area from Kartli to Imereti to the Persians.
"However, we must retain control of the area north of Gori."
Vorontsov was stunned by this, but his eyes soon lit up.
Tbilisi lay in central Transcaucasia. It was also the largest and most prosperous city there, commanding vital military routes. It could be called the very essence of Transcaucasia.
Kartli and Imereti, meanwhile, both lay in western Georgia, in West Georgia—they outwardly submitted to East Georgia, namely the Kingdom of Kakheti, but in their hearts, they had always leaned more toward the Ottomans.
The Tsar would give Tbilisi, which the Persians were determined to seize, to the Ottomans, while allowing Persia to control West Georgia, over which the Ottomans claimed sovereignty.
Once Russia's influence withdrew from Transcaucasia, Persia and the Ottomans would soon go to war.
No matter which side emerged victorious, first, neither would harass Russian territory again in the short term. Second, the victor would surely exhaust a great deal