Shadow of great britain

The grandeur of the Winter Palace lies not only in its exterior decoration, but also in its exquisite interior decoration.

Arthur's riding boots stepped on the mirror-like marble floor. The colorful and golden patterns shone like gems in the sun. He lowered his head to see the glittering brilliance of the golden chandelier hanging high in the dome. He raised his head to see the endless corridor of the Winter Palace covered with gorgeous velvet carpets. Guarding both sides of the corridor were the palace guards in neat ceremonial uniforms.

The carefully ironed dark green dress, with gold-lined collars and cuffs, and the imperial badge on the chest shining. From the style of their uniforms, it can be seen that all the palace guards are from the Preobrazhensky Guards, which Russia is proud of.

This guard unit was founded by Peter the Great in 1683. It was originally composed of Peter the Great's childhood playmates in the village of Preobrazhenskoye. When he decided to launch reforms, the regiment naturally developed into a testing ground for Peter the Great's military reforms and became the Tsar's direct guard unit.

Peter the Great's reforms soon paid off. This group of Peter the Great's childhood friends made great achievements during the Northern War between Russia and Sweden. In the Battle of Poltava, they successfully contained the main attack of the Swedish army, which was twice their strength, with solid fortifications and tenacious fighting will, and laid a decisive foundation for Russia's final victory.

In addition, as Peter the Great's most trusted unit, the Preobrazhensky Guards also shouldered the task of eliminating dissidents and attacking political enemies for him.

This tradition was also preserved after the death of Peter the Great. In 1762, the commander of the regiment, Grigory Orlov, and the soldiers swore allegiance to Catherine the Great, escorted her into St. Petersburg, and quickly controlled the key locations of the capital, overthrowing her husband, Peter III.

In several palace coups in the 18th century, this unit could be seen everywhere, and the fact that it stood firm in the ever-changing Russian political arena made the Preobrazhensky Guards' position in the Russian army more and more critical.

But as the old saying goes, if you walk by the river, you will get your shoes wet.

In 1825, some officers of the Preobrazhensky Guards joined the Decembrist uprising. After the uprising failed, although Nicholas I did not disband the regiment directly due to the history and important status of the regiment, the multiple functions of the Preobrazhensky Guards were separated by the Tsar in the name of reform.

The Preobrazhensky Yamen, which was responsible for monitoring and punishing dissidents for the Tsar, was incorporated into the newly established Third Bureau. The "Emperor's Guards" and "Russian Janissaries" that used to have great power now only had military and ceremonial functions.

However, Arthur felt that they had nothing to complain about. After all, their fate was much better than the real Janissaries of the Ottoman Empire's Sultan's guards.

You know, the Janissaries who launched a rebellion against reform eight years ago were killed by Sultan Mahmud II, and even their unit numbers were permanently cancelled.

Of course, the Tsar was more merciful than the Sultan, perhaps because the Preobrazhensky Guards' resume was not as "glorious" as the Janissaries.

After all, in the history of the Ottoman Empire, the Janissaries participated in 25 large and small rebellions, seven of which deposed the Sultan, and there were as many as three Sultans who died in their hands.

Although Mahmud II carefully planned and created a "happy event" to lure the Janissaries into open rebellion by means of fishing enforcement, this style of doing things was indeed not kind.

However, as soon as the Sultan threw the bait, the Janissaries took the bait one after another. This is enough to show how lawless these Sultan's personal troops who once made great contributions to the Ottoman Empire are now.

Arthur's horse boots fell on the carpet, and the crisp footsteps echoed in the corridor. As the members of the delegation approached, two guards quickly walked to both sides of the gate and turned to face the guests with precise movements. Their movements were as if they were carefully calculated, smooth and without a trace of delay.

The ceremonial knives in the hands of the guards were raised high, and then put down together, drawing a dazzling arc of metal light.

The silver-white and gold-inlaid double-opening doors with dazzling golden light slowly opened like dominoes.

The golden decorations were more dazzling under the refraction of the sun, and there were two guards guarding behind each door.

They stood on both sides of the door frame with their heads held high, looking straight ahead. But when Earl Daramo and Arthur stepped into the threshold, their heads turned slightly, and their jaws lifted slightly like a machine, until they formed a 120-degree angle with the red carpet. They leaned forward, raised their hands to salute, and followed the steps of the delegation like clock hands.

Every time Arthur walked through a door, this step would be repeated. The uniform movements of the guards created a solemn and solemn atmosphere.

Every few steps, a tall Corinthian marble column could be seen standing. The column was inlaid with green malachite and precious red jasper. The gorgeous decoration showed the wealth and authority of the Russian Empire.

As if it was calculated in advance, the roar of salutes sounded outside the Winter Palace at the right time.

19 salutes. According to diplomatic etiquette, this is the weight that an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary should have.

However, this is usually the welcome that ambassadors can enjoy when they first arrive.

But the Tsar insisted on choosing this ordinary day to welcome Count Dalamo with such grand etiquette again. Whether this was more about friendship or more about intimidation, only he himself knew.

However, most members of the mission were not in the mood to think about it that much at this time.

People like Colonel Stewart and Counselor Sir John Lipton, the military attache stationed in Russia, are relatively calm after seeing them before. As for the young man who was just promoted to first secretary not long ago, although he can't be seen from his expression. There were some fluctuations in his heart, but if you look at his pair of gloves that were heavily wet, you can tell how excited and nervous this kid is.

The roar of the salute illuminated the side face of Sir Arthur Hastings, the white gloves holding the sword given by the king, and the red, white and blue three-color rice ribbon wrapped around his arm. The royal emblem on the chest shines brightly, and Jazz's black high boots match well with Cannon Fire Sky.

Passing through the line of sight of the Preobrazhensky Guards infantry, bathing in the sunshine of the Winter Palace, the most eye-catching focus in Russia, the silent and crisp footsteps in my ears, all of this, It seemed as if it had been blended into Arthur's blood.

What does power feel like?

this……

That's what power feels like.

The only regret is...

The salute outside the window,

It wasn't for him.

The only sound that sounded for him was the gunfire from the Tower of London.

Only the curses in Fleet Street,

for him,

There are only church bells.

Arthur couldn't help but think of the past, the morning he stood in court, and the sermon called "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

Perhaps, this can also be regarded as a kind of reincarnation.

The attendant who led the way stood in front of the last door, then stepped aside.

Immediately afterwards, a court official wearing a palace dress came forward respectfully and said in fluent French: "Your Excellency, Count Dalamo, your arrival is an honor for us. Please follow me into the audience hall, Your Majesty. Already waiting."

After he finished speaking, he waved gently, and the guards behind him stepped back a few steps, using precise steps to make way for the audience hall.

Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, "Anna the Terrible" Anna I, "Holy King" Alexander I, huge portraits of the Romanov dynasty czars with black backgrounds lined up in a row, filling the walls of the audience hall.

However, in the center is naturally the supreme ruler of the Russian Empire today.

And sitting under that giant portrait is the prototype character of this portrait:

By the grace of God, Emperor and Dictator of Russia, Ruler of Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod, Tsar of Kazan, Tsar of Astrakhan, Tsar of Poland, Tsar of Siberia, Tsar of Crimea Tsar Sonnes, Grand Duke of Pskov, Grand Duke of Smolensk, Lithuania, Volyn, Podoria and Finland, Estonia, Livonia, Courland and Semigalia, Samogihi Bialvesto Dukes of Russia, Karelia, Tver, Ugra, Perm, Vyatka, Bulgaria and other places, Grand Dukes of Nizhny Novgorod, Chernihiv, Rostov, Yaroslav, all Ruler of the North, lord of Imeredia, Kartli, Georgia and Armenia, hereditary monarch of the Selgasian states and other mountain towns, and hereditary monarch and owner of other territories, the Iron Emperor' Nicholas I'.

The Earl of Dalamo stood up straight, bowed slightly to the Tsar, and said in elegant French: "Your Majesty, with the gracious permission of your government, we have been ordered to come to pay homage. On behalf of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you. I offer you my highest respect. At the same time, according to the instructions of my government, I must submit to you an important letter of credence personally written by our foreign minister.”

After saying this, he turned around and nodded slightly to signal Arthur beside him.

Arthur understood and immediately took a step forward, holding in his hands the letter of protest that was decorated with a crimson envelope, a blue ribbon and a paint seal.

Count Dalamo took the credentials, took two steps forward, raised his hands to his chest, and handed the credentials to the chamberlain standing under the tsar's seat.

The chief chamberlain took the letter of credence, bowed his head slightly to show respect, then turned around, climbed up the steps, and placed the letter of credence on the golden tray in front of the tsar.

Nicholas I raised his eyes: "I will read your country's letter carefully and reply to it. However, your Excellency the Ambassador..."

He paused slightly, his eyes swept over everyone present like a sharp blade, and he said in an unhurried tone: "I hope the content of this letter can meet my expectations for your country's consistent friendly relations."

Count Duramo bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, our country has always cherished the friendly relations with your country. However, our government believes that certain current events require your Majesty's attention and careful consideration. Regarding this point, the letter stated detailed our position.”

The Tsar did not respond immediately, but lightly tapped the armrest with his finger. His sharp gaze made people dare not look at him. Although Count Duramo was not afraid of his gaze, the medal and honor came first, so he had no choice but to Control your temper and maintain dignity and respect as much as possible.

Everyone present knew exactly what was written in the letter of credence.

Generally, in order to avoid embarrassment and cause some unethical problems on occasions like this to express protest, most monarchs will choose not to appear and leave the issue to the Foreign Secretary to deal with.

But today, Russia's Foreign Minister Nesselrod just stood beside the tsar and said nothing.

Obviously, as Pushkin said, in the field of diplomacy, he is just a supporting role.

Count Daramo's clever answer did not satisfy the Tsar. Today he wanted to ask Count Daramo why. He wanted to see if the British attitude was really what they thought they were. So determined.

He knowingly asked a question that Count Duramo did not want to answer directly: "What does the content of the credentials say?"

"It is related to some controversial issues that occurred in the Ottoman Empire."

"What specifically? Is it about the restless Egyptian pasha Muhammad Ali, or something else?"

"Your Majesty, specifically, the letters of credence refer to certain recent agreements between your country and the Ottoman Empire. Our Government, out of deep concern for the peace and balance of power in Europe, deems it necessary to express certain opinions on this ”

The Tsar's eyes became sharper, and he said in a slow tone: "Balance of power? I would like to hear your country's definition of this word. Is it the independence of the Ottoman Empire, or the free passage of certain countries' fleets in the Black Sea? "

These words were like sharp arrows, piercing Earl Durham's core. He knew that a positive response would likely anger the tsar, making it even more difficult to keep the conversation within the bounds of politeness. However, silence is definitely not an option, because it would be tantamount to directly conceding to Russia. If the news spreads back to China, it will inevitably make the newspaper reporters in London's Fleet Street have to listen to the news.

At this delicate moment, Arthur coughed slightly, attracting the Tsar's attention.

He bowed his head slightly in humility, and then said in a calm and clear voice: "Your Majesty, our government is well aware that the agreement between your country and the Ottoman Empire involves your country's core interests. We have no intention of interfering, but we only hope that in some specific actions Both parties can maintain communication to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.”

This work is compiled and uploaded by Liujiu Book Bar~~

Nicholas I narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he was examining every word of Arthur: "Communication? You must be the Sir Arthur Hastings who just arrived, right? It seems that your country sent a An articulate cultural counselor came to help me understand your concerns.”

Arthur smiled slightly: "Your Majesty, my responsibilities do include cultural exchanges, but culture and diplomacy are closely related. Britain and Russia have always resolved differences within the framework of peace and cooperation, and we hope to continue this tradition."

The Tsar tapped his knuckles on the armrest, and the sound echoed through the silent audience hall.

He looked at Count Dalamo, with a hint of teasing in his eyes: "Very good, as expected of the cultural counselor. Your Excellency, it seems that your young colleagues know how to speak better than you."

Nicholas I stood up, and the Guards behind him straightened up.

He walked down the steps and glanced at the British mission again: "Now that the credentials have been handed in, I will consider the contents. But I must remind you - Russia's interests, especially the security of the Black Sea, will never allow any threats!"

Such strong words instantly caused the members of the mission to widen their eyes. Due to their diplomatic qualities, no one became angry on the spot, but this did not prevent them from accumulating a lot of anger.

Count Dalamo's lips trembled twice, as if he wanted to say something.

But before he could speak, a familiar voice sounded next to him.

Arthur said: "I fully understand your proposition, but the first- and second-class battleships currently being built on the slipway of the Petersburg Shipyard would be overkill if they were only used in the Black Sea. If you are willing to clarify the facts, I believe that both I and Count Duramo will be happy to explain to His Majesty the King and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your behalf why you want to build so many warships.”

Nicholas I's heels landed on the ground and he stared at Arthur for a long time: "You asked me why I built so many warships?"

Arthur said without giving in: "Your understanding is very correct."

The Tsar smiled and said: "What I want is that no one will dare to ask me such a question again."

Arthur took a deep breath, although he had already heard from Talleyrand that certain diplomatic situations could be very embarrassing.

For example: Napoleon heard that Talleyrand was preparing to rebel, so he rushed back from the battlefield and lost his temper and made all kinds of dirty words to him. Or maybe he was a guy like the Tsar who spoke very softly but couldn't show his flatness.

But after all, I heard that if I actually met him, I would still inevitably want to clench my fists and punch him in the face.

Professional matters should still be left to professionals. Although Napoleon was capable of fighting, he made a mess of diplomacy, probably because he also liked to make nonsense everywhere. If these guys hadn't been taught a lesson afterwards, they might still think what they said sounded cool.

The relationship between countries is indeed based on real interests, but this does not mean that they are all real interests. After all, you cannot guarantee that the representatives of each country are rational. If you encounter a situation of indecision, which side is more important? It all depends on political leanings and personal grudges.

Arthur then asked, perhaps because it was the first time he encountered this kind of thing. Nicholas I's attitude made his tone a lot stiffer: "What about your relationship with Vlach in Moldavia?" Where are the garrisons of the two principalities? According to the previous "Quhitaya Peace Treaty", the war between the Ottomans and Egypt has ended. Are your troops planning to stay there for Christmas? "

When Nicholas I heard this, he couldn't help but turn his eyes to Count Daramo aside: "Who is more representative of Britain, you or Sir Arthur Hastings?"

Count Daramo knew that this question was not only a provocation, but also a direct test by Nicholas I of the British position and the coordination within the mission.

He remained calm and his tone was still elegant, but it had a subtle edge that was hard to detect.

"Your Majesty, Sir Arthur Hastings is an indispensable member of our mission. His insights not only reflect his personal wisdom, but also reflect our high concern for your country's affairs. As for who is more qualified? On behalf of the UK, there seems to be no need to discuss this issue – all statements are within the scope of the authority of His Majesty’s Government.”

He paused for a moment, adjusted his tone, and continued: "However, Your Majesty, if you would rather hear specific opinions from a young cultural attaché, I am willing to continue to listen as an observer."

After hearing this, Nicholas I raised a sneer on his lips.

He slowly leaned back in his seat and was silent for a while, then turned his eyes to Arthur: "Sir, it sounds like your boss trusts your performance. So, can I understand that those sharp questions just now also come from The official position of the British Empire?”

Arthur knew that this was no longer an occasion where diplomacy could hide it.

He took a gentle breath, adjusted his stance slightly, took a step forward, and looked directly at the Tsar, but maintaining just the right polite distance.

"Your Majesty, every question I have just raised is rooted in realistic observations and deep concern for the situation in Europe. They are not meant to offend, but to gain a clearer understanding of your country's true intentions in regional affairs. I personally Maybe it's just the cultural attaché, but our mission as a whole is to make the relationship between your country and Great Britain more transparent and stronger."

Nicholas I's eyes narrowed slightly. He did not answer immediately. Instead, he habitually tapped the armrest slowly with his fingers, and then stood up.

His tall figure cast a shadow, as if the air in the entire auditorium froze at his movement.

"Transparency and solidity?" he repeated: "Young man, I appreciate your candor. But in Russia, these two words usually mean different things. I can tell you that Russia in Moldavia has the same relationship with Vara The garrison in Guia is to ensure order in that land. As for whether Christmas will be celebrated..."

He paused slightly, neither admitting nor denying, but at least his tone had softened a lot: "That depends on whether that land still needs Russian order."

Nicholas I then turned to Count Dalamo: "As for the other issues mentioned in this letter of credence, I will read it carefully and make a decision. But please tell your foreign minister that Russia does not welcome any form of interference. , especially trying to interfere in Black Sea affairs. Similarly, Russia will not interfere in the affairs of other countries at will. If the situation in the Ottoman Empire stabilizes, I will withdraw from Moldavia and Wallachia soon."

After saying this, Nicholas I stood up and left the audience hall under the attention of everyone.

As soon as he left his sight, the chamberlain, wearing a red dress and golden epaulettes, came over.

"Dear members of the British Embassy, ​​Your Majesty specially invites you to attend the banquet held at the Winter Palace tonight to express his respect and friendship for your country. Please allow me to arrange a place for you to rest and tidy up, and then we will A servant will lead you to the banquet hall."

Count Dalamo breathed a sigh of relief, and his eyes swept through the accompanying members of the British mission, and finally stopped on Arthur's face: "Your frankness is indeed surprising sometimes, but maybe it is this This kind of frankness can achieve unexpected results in some situations. But you have to remember that the Tsar is a man of unstable temperament, and some of your words today are still ill-considered."

Colonel Stewart also winked at Arthur, and finally waved his fist lightly at him. It was obvious that this die-hard hawk of the Royal Navy liked Arthur's forthrightness just now.

As for Sir John Lipton, who was also the counselor, he frowned slightly. As an English gentleman trained through Oxford classical education, he always felt that Arthur's wording was too imprudent and bold.

As for the other first-class secretaries who had just come to their senses, most of them were on Arthur's side. This is not because they think Arthur's response is outstanding, but simply because they think the Tsar's condescending attitude is too irritating.

Everyone likes strongmen, but they also don’t like that the object of strongman’s coercion is themselves. If strongmen must be on the opposite side, they will naturally support those who dare to stand up to them on their behalf. And Arthur undoubtedly played such a role today.

Arthur was not too excited about Earl Daramo's praise and reminder. He just nodded slightly and said calmly: "Sir, my job is to promote cultural exchanges, but since it involves national interests, I am willing to do my best and will never let Britain suffer because of my personal gains and losses. The education I received at the University of London, my experience in Scotland Yard, my identity as a British knight, everything does not allow me to make such a move."

"You... Although this is indeed the original intention of our founding the University of London..."

Earl Daramo smiled slightly, with a hint of relief in his tone, but also a hint of complex emotions: "Your personality is indeed very similar to mine, but Arthur, you have to pay attention, this is not Britain but Russia. Your speech just now has successfully attracted the attention of His Majesty the Tsar. If you insist on doing this, you have to be very energetic. I hope you can still maintain this calmness at tonight's banquet, future exchange activities, and various cultural salons."