considering that offense is the best form of defense, kolpakovsky suggested to his superiors in february 1865 that russia should go beyond defending its border and move in force into xinjiang's border area then seize the chuguchak, kuldja and kashgar areas. these could then be colonized with russian settlersall to better protect the romanov empire's other domains. the time was not ripe for such an adventure, however: as foreign minister gorchakov noted, such a breach of neutrality would be not a good thing if china eventually recovered its rebel provinces.