The answer from Minister Carl Nesselrode made Nicholas I somewhat pensive. He was not unaware of the mess within the army, nor did he lack the desire to reform the Russian Imperial Army.
However, the interest groups involved with the army were too many and too widespread, and it required determination to take the risk of undermining the foundation of the army to solve the problem.
The reason Alexander II was able to reform was predominantly because the French Empire and the Kingdom of Britain dealt a heavy blow to the Russian Imperial Army in the Balkan Region.
This shook the foundations of the Russian Imperial Army, prompting the ambitious within the army and the Tsar himself to resolve to reform. In a way, the Crimean War accelerated the pace of Russia's industrialization.
If the Russian Empire hadn't faced defeat, its superstructure would not have been renewed.
Expecting the subjective initiative from a decaying regime is undoubtedly a daydream.
