Each national Orthodox Church normally enjoys a form of independent status and looks to the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople as First Among Equals when there is a dispute. The Moscow Patriarchate's "reach" is largely limited to the nations of the former Soviet Union, and even that is currently in dispute.
My guess would be the payola trail does not lead to Russia but leads to China. China would have the most to gain from watching all of us kill each other.
Your theory is very attractive in its simplicity, but it is off the mark in its assessment of the Orthodox Church and the role of the Moscow Patriarchate.I know what you're detailing with regard to the loose structure and relative autonomy and such. Be assured that during the end of the 18th century, the Russians were using their church to influence the Orthodox in the Ottoman Empire. China was not in the picture back then at all.