Red Moscow

The box fell into silence.

Not long after, Sokov suddenly saw Bashilashvili picking up an ivory chess piece and tapping it gently on the chessboard, with a thoughtful expression on his face. Seeing this, Sokov asked curiously: "Bashilashvili, what are you thinking about?"

"General Sokov!" Bashilashvili said with a serious expression: "I think what you said makes sense. If the Amber Room is never found again, then our descendants will only see replicas based on historical documents and materials. The Amber Room."

"Yes." Sokov nodded and asked, "Do you have any ideas?"

"Speaking of imitation, this may not be a business opportunity for us." Bashilashvili said: "Maybe we can undertake this project..."

"Bashilashvili, I think you are mistaken." In fact, Sokov once considered taking over the work of imitating the Amber Room, but after careful consideration, he found that there was no feasibility at all, because such a large project would definitely It is left to important state-owned units to complete. It can be said that it is extremely difficult for private individuals to take over this business. Therefore, when he heard that Bashilashvili had this intention, he specifically reminded him: "Replicating the Amber Room is definitely a huge project, and it will take at least ten years to start. Not to mention that our country is now Private enterprises are not allowed to exist. Even if they are allowed, do you think you have such technology?"

"General Sokov, you are right. To imitate the Amber Room will not only take a lot of time, but also require proficient professional skills. If I were to do this project, I really would not have the ability to complete it." Bashilash Willy had such a clear understanding, which surprised Sokov, but then he heard the other party say: "Although I don't have such professional skills, I know who has such abilities."

"Who?" Yakov heard Bashilashvili say this and immediately asked instinctively: "Who has such ability?"

"My friend Sharap." Bashilashvili replied: "His ancestors are from the nobility of Königsberg, and their ancestors have been dealing with amber for generations. If he comes forward to undertake the project of imitating the Amber Room, I think it is Totally doable.”

"Bashilashvili, I just told you that private enterprises are not allowed to exist in our country." Sokov reminded Bashilashvili again, "Even if your superiors really plan to imitate the Amber Room, you do have the professional skills." technology, but it is impossible for such a project to fall into your hands."

Bashilashvili laughed after hearing this: "General Sokov, it all depends on people. I think if we want to quickly gain a foothold in the country, we need to take on more large projects like this. As long as one is completed, It will be very beneficial to us in the future. But the premise is that we need you two to give us a few nice words."

"It's okay to put in a good word for you." Sokov didn't think Bashilashvili had the ability to replicate the Amber Room, but seeing the other party's sincere attitude, he simply wrote a blank check: "But whether he can win the project or not, We need to see if you have such strength.”

"Bashilashvili, do you have any ideas?" Yakov could see from the tone of Bashilashvili's words what the other party seemed to have on his mind, so he asked tentatively: "If such a big project is handed over to Are you really sure you can complete the mission?"

"I think it shouldn't be a big problem."

Hearing Bashilashvili's question, Sokov shook his head slightly. He remembered that the imitation of the Amber Room seemed to have started in the mid-1970s, and it took nearly twenty years until it was completed in 1995. For a person like Basilashvili who needs strength but not strength, and technology but not technology, it is simply a dream to undertake such a project.

"Can you solve the technical problems?" Yakov asked.

"I said, I don't have the skills in this area, but my friend Sharap can do it."

When Sokov heard Bashilashvili mention the name Sharap again, he couldn't help but ask: "Bashilashvili, I wonder where your friend named Sharap is now, is he still in Fengtian?" Other cities?”

"Not even here." Unexpectedly, Bashilashvili replied unexpectedly: "He is on this train."

"What, he is on this train?" Bashilashvili's words surprised Sokov and Yakov, and Yakov immediately said: "Then can you ask him to come over?"

"Of course." Bashilashvili nodded and said, "I'll go call him now."

After Bashilashvili left, Sokov smiled and said to Yakov: "I didn't expect that Bashilashvili's city is quite deep. He returned home this time and took a companion with him. tell us."

"Yeah, I always thought he was alone, but I didn't expect that he actually had a companion."

Not long after, Bashilashvili walked into the box with a short, bald man, and introduced to Sokov and Yakov: "Two comrades, generals, let me introduce to you. This is Sharap, he’s from Königsberg.”

"Hello, Sharap!" Sokov said politely as he shook hands with Sharap, "I heard that you have done some research on amber."

Hearing Sokov's question, Sharap grinned and immediately replied: "Yes, Comrade General, my ancestors have been dealing with amber for generations, and we are considered an amber family."

Sokov thought that the ownership of East Prussia had been quite complicated over the past few hundred years. It had been under the jurisdiction of Poland and Lithuania, and finally it was officially placed under the jurisdiction of Germany. However, in the near future, it will officially become the territory of the Soviet Union and will be From Koenigsberg to Kaliningrad, he cautiously asked Sharap: "Which country are you from?"

In response to Sokov's question, Sharap was silent for a while and said hesitantly: "I should be considered a Prussian."

"Mr. Sharap," Yakov asked with a smile as he shook hands with Sharap, "can you tell us about the origin of the Amber Room."

"General Yakov," although both Sokov and Yakov met Sharap for the first time, it was obvious that the other party had already learned accurate information about the two of them from Bashilashvili. It can be seen from the fact that he can accurately distinguish Sokov and Yakov: "If you are interested, I can talk about it."

"Wait a minute, I don't have any tea here." Yakov stood up and walked to the door, shouting to the box next to him: "Major Bezikov!"

Upon hearing Yakov's shout, Bezikov immediately walked out of the box and asked Yakov respectfully: "Comrade General, what are your orders?"

"Bring us some cups of tea."

"Do you need any sugar?"

"Just put two sugar cubes in each cup of tea." Yakov said: "It's too sweet, I can't stand it."

After Yakov ordered Bezikov, he returned to the box. Seeing Bashilashvili and Sharap sitting down, he said to Sharap: "Mr. Sharap, please tell us about the Amber Room." s story."

Sharap nodded and began to tell everyone the story about the Amber Room: "King Frederick I of Prussia liked amber very much, because at that time amber was a symbol of luxury and could reflect his identity, and his private warehouse contained a large number of Amber. In 1709, the king had a sudden idea and decided to use the amber to build a house made of amber at the Potsdam Palace on the outskirts of Berlin. This is the origin of the Amber Room.

At that time, the most famous architects in Prussia were responsible for building the Amber Room. They spent 5 years building an Amber Room with an area of ​​55 square meters, all walls and pillars made of amber, and weighing six tons. But in 1713, Frederick I passed away, and at this time the Amber Room only completed the general framework and was not fully built. The succeeding King of Prussia, William I, was not as fascinated by amber as his predecessor, so the project was no longer continued. "

When Sokov heard this, he couldn't help but be surprised. The Amber Room of Feelings was originally built by the King of Prussia for fun, and was not a gift specially prepared for the Tsar.

It was obviously the first time for Yakov to hear such a statement, and he couldn't help but ask: "Mr. Sharap, wasn't the Amber Room a gift from the King of Prussia to the Tsar? Why did it become his creation in your mouth?" Where are the toys for yourself?”

"General Yakov, don't be anxious, listen to me slowly." Sharap continued: "In 1716, Peter the Great learned about the treasure of the Amber Room. He loved amber and contacted William I through diplomatic channels. Discuss and ask him to give the Amber Room to him as a diplomatic gift.

But the Amber Room was so big that if you wanted to transport the Amber Room from Berlin to Russia, you could only dismantle it into parts. But even so, the parts of the Amber Room occupied 18 large boxes, and eight carriages were hired to transport them to St. Petersburg. But when they were about to be assembled, Russian craftsmen discovered that the amber was incomplete and missing some key parts. Therefore, the assembly failed, and the amber materials were left idle. It was not until 1745 that Prussia sent the remaining parts of the Amber Room to Russia, giving hope of rebuilding the Amber Room.

At this time, the Russian Tsar had become Queen Elizabeth I. She ordered people to assemble these amber parts and finally settled the Amber Room in Tsarskoye Selo. After Catherine II came to the throne in 1762, she expanded the Amber Room and inlaid solid gold leaves and various gemstones on the surface and inside of the Amber Room, making this art treasure even more beautiful. , wonderful. Since then, this work of art has been treasured in Tsarskoye Selo, today known as the Catherine Palace. "

As soon as Sharap said this, Bezikov came in carrying a tray with four cups of hot tea: "The tea you asked for is here."

Yakov stood up, took out the hot tea from the tray one by one, put it on the coffee table, and then said to Bezikov: "Thank you, Comrade Major. It's okay here. You can go back."

After closing the box door, Yakov heard Sharap saying: "But I just heard Bashilashvili say that the Amber Room was robbed by the Germans. What on earth is going on?"

"Mr. Sharap, let me explain it to you." Yakov said to Sharap: "As you said, the Amber Room is an art treasure. Before the war broke out in 1941, the relevant parties also organized experts and scholars and famous craftsmen, carried out a large-scale renovation of the Amber Room. But soon after the renovation project was completed, the war broke out, and the war soon burned to St. Petersburg.

In order to prevent our country's cultural relics from falling into the hands of the Germans, the relevant parties moved the art treasures in Tsarskoye Selo. But the Amber Room is too big, and the amber siding is very fragile. There is no way to move it to remote areas like other collections. The artworks in the Amber Room can only be copied and hidden on the spot without any treatment. transfer.

After the Germans occupied Tsarskoye Selo, they immediately carried out large-scale plunder, and the Amber Room that could not be transported naturally fell into their hands. In order to snatch the Amber Room away, the German army violently dismantled the Amber Room, packed it into 27 wooden boxes, moved it to Königsberg, and put it on display there..."

After listening to Yakov's story, Sharap sighed softly: "General Yakov, it would be such a pity if the Amber Room is really missing."

"Basilashvili just said that your family has been engaged in amber-related work for generations." Yakov looked at Sharap and asked: "If the Amber Room is really not found, the superiors plan to make a copy of the Amber Room. , do you think you have the ability to complete this work?”

On the way to Sharap's box, Bashilashvili briefly introduced the situation to him, so he knew how to answer Yakov's question: "General Yakov, copying the Amber Room is not a simple matter. I I have just roughly calculated that even if I have enough professional manpower and can get the full support of your relevant departments, it will take eight years at the fastest to complete the replica of the Amber Room."

"What, it takes eight years?" Yakov said with shock after hearing this: "I thought it would take at most half a year to complete the copying work."

After hearing this, Sharap couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "General Yakov, replicating the Amber Room is a huge project. It took eight years to complete this replica work, which is considered very fast."

Unlike Yakov, Sokov thinks Sharap's words are relatively reliable. Replicating the Amber Room is indeed a huge project, requiring staggering amounts of time, manpower and material resources. If Sharap can recruit enough professionals to carry out this great project, it is entirely possible to complete it within eight years.

Seeing that Yakov seemed to be preparing to make things difficult for the other party, Sokov quickly came out to smooth things over: "Yasha, according to Bashilashvili, Mr. Sharap is a professional in this field. He said it will take eight years. I think he This statement is very reliable, so please don’t embarrass him anymore.”