As Tsarevich Aleksei returned to Russia, the looming dynastic crisis outweighed the country's grave financial problems and widespread corruption. Peter had received regular reports from Tolstoi on the course of Tsarevich Aleksei's journey back to Russia, but they were kept very secret. The diplomats recorded much talk about the tsarevich, but most did not know exactly where he was until he actually appeared in Moscow at the end of January 1718. The talk which the other diplomats recorded was not encouraging from Peter's point of view. The Imperial ambassador Pleyer was the most thorough in recording the support for the tsarevich. Pleyer's “confidant” told him in December, 1717, that Peter had said to Menshikov that he would take revenge on the emperor for harboring the tsarevich, to which Menshikov replied that revenge would have to wait, since after the recent victories over the Turks the emperor was too strong. Supposedly, Peter grabbed Menshikov and said that he was in league with Aleksei and the emperor. Menshikov threw himself at his feet and said that he seemed to be unfaithful whatever advice he gave. The rumor was that Menshikov would go to Karlsbad to persuade the tsarevich to return. As the year drew to a close, there was still no news, though in fact Tolstoi and Aleksei had reached Breslau and were about to enter Poland on the last leg of the journey home. By mid-January they were at Riga, where Weber spoke to Aleksei with the permission of Tolstoi.