Shadow of great britain

The cold wind passed through the streets of Moscow, whistling and sweeping up the untrampled snow on the corners of the street, which filled the air like white smoke. The horses' hooves stepped on the frozen soil, making a dull sound, and the creaking of the wheels continued all the way to the distance. The main buildings of several cathedrals in Moscow were vaguely visible in the winter mist, and the magnificent architectural lines looked solemn and depressing against the low clouds.

Gogol curled up in the corner of the carriage, wrapping his slightly thin coat tightly. Although it was not cold inside the carriage, he never pulled his hands out of the pockets of his coat, and his fingertips trembled slightly. He looked through the window and fell on the main building of the university that was gradually approaching, his eyebrows were tightly knitted, and the expression on his face was an expression of anxiety and uneasiness that could not be concealed.

"What if Maksimovich is unwilling to help?" Gogol thought silently, and the cold face of the Minister of Education and the vague reply of the Kiev School Supervisor emerged in his mind. The tone of rejection and the words of evasion came like a tide, making his chest feel uncomfortable.

Just then, his eyes were attracted by another carriage outside the window. The carriage followed closely behind his carriage, occasionally closing the distance with him, and then slowly slowing down, like a hovering shadow.

Gogol's brows frowned even tighter. An inexplicable irritation surged in his heart, and this feeling of being stared at made it difficult for him to calm down.

Who is the owner of this carriage?

Arthur Hastings!

That troublemaker!

When he thought of this guy who had pretended to be an imperial envoy in Druisk, Gogol's mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.

Gogol was not afraid of Arthur, even though this guy had pulled off his hood.

However, being associated with such a troublemaker would undoubtedly add variables to his situation.

Arthur had promised him that he would help Gogol speak in front of the Minister of Education Uvarov and praise the newly written "History of Little Russia" to the sky.

But now it seems that no matter whether he has ever spoken well for Gogol, at least judging from the current reaction of the Ministry of Education, which has not made any move, the Minister of Education Uvarov obviously did not take this matter to heart.

The value of this British knight is not as high as he imagined, or he can't even do a small thing like bragging.

If not, Gogol would not have braved the cold wind and snow to come to Moscow for activities on a family-friendly festival like Maslenitsa.

He thought that perhaps his friend, Mikhail Alexandrovich Maksimovich, a professor at Moscow University, was the one who could help more.

Although both of them are Little Russians, Maksimovich's luck is obviously much better than Gogol.

After graduating from Moscow University, this guy stayed at the school as a lecturer in botany and was promoted to full professor at the age of 27.

Gogol worked hard for the position of associate professor at Kyiv University, but what about Maksimovich? This young professor who turned 30 in September this year was nominated by Kyiv Inspector Bradkai as a candidate for the first president of Kyiv University.

Gogol was extremely jealous of Maksimovich's good luck, but their friendship eventually diluted the jealousy.

And in the final analysis, Gogol was more angry than jealous.

Because Bradkai used Gogol's lack of achievements in history as a reason to inform him that he could not get the chair of world history.

But on the other hand, Bradkai gave Maksimovich the chair of the Department of Literature at Kyiv University, and the reason was simply that Maksimovich wanted to go.

Indeed, Maksimovich was a very good professor of botany.

Moreover, he was also a very good researcher of Little Russian folklore, collecting and compiling a large number of Little Russian folk songs and legends. If they did not have such a common interest, his relationship with Gogol would not be so close.

However, is it enough to be a professor of literature at Kiev University with just a collection of Little Russian folk songs and a book of Ukrainian folklore notes?

Or, the Kiev inspector thought that Maksimovich's two natural philosophy works, "Systematic Classification of Russian Plants" and "Botanical Notes", were written in a very beautiful style, so they could also be included in the scope of investigation for literature professors?

Isn't this a double standard?

Gogol was very dissatisfied with this.

He thought about it at home and thought that it might be his resume that ruined the matter.

Maksimovich was a professor at Moscow University after all.

What kind of university is Moscow University?

It is one of the top two universities in Russia, and its status in Russia is equivalent to that of Oxford University in Britain and Berlin University in Germany.

And what about Gogol?

He was just a lecturer at the Patriotic Noble Women's College.

Perhaps in the eyes of the Kiev inspector Bradkai, the Patriotic Noble Women's College is an enlarged version of a monastery girls' school. It is mainly used to train noble women to learn court etiquette, language skills, and artistic accomplishment. Cultural knowledge usually only exists as an auxiliary course.

How good can the history knowledge of noble ladies be?

Aren’t they studying cultural courses just to read a few fashionable French novels?

In such an environment, how good can the cultural course lecturers of girls’ schools be?

As the saying goes:

You can’t grow orchids in the wild, and you can’t become Homer if your eyesight is too good.

Thick hair can’t prove evolution, and a straightforward personality can’t play Caesar.

You can’t surpass Carter if your lust is too thin, and you can’t learn Dumas if your love debts are not too few.

Those with narrow minds should not enter the Tower of London,

Alas! The Great Emperor of the French Republic, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte!

Could it be that there really is a woman in the women's college who is "climbing out of the mud but not stained, washing the water without being a monster", who is dedicated to studying knowledge and ignores the weird people around her?

Why don't I believe it?

Gogol's thoughts were as chaotic as the winter snow in Moscow.

He rubbed his forehead, trying to wake up from the endless distracting thoughts.

However, the shadow of the carriage outside the window still lingered, adding a hint of irritation to his heart.

"Arthur Hastings..." He snorted in his heart: "What on earth does this guy want to do?"

The carriage gradually slowed down, and Gogol saw through the window that the main building of Moscow State University was close at hand.

The moment Gogol opened the car door, a familiar voice came from behind.

"Mr. Gogol, it seems that we are traveling together again today."

Gogol turned around and saw that it was Arthur. He wore his usual irritatingly confident smile, and a few unmelted snowflakes hung from his cloak.

Blackwell followed closely behind, and the sinful private secretary changed his face to a stern face, as if the sky was falling and he had nothing to do with it.

"Mr. Hastings, your interests are really broad, from Druisk to Petersburg to Moscow University. What noble cause are you planning today? I remember that you have always wanted to meet Mr. Pushkin? Why are you If you don’t follow him today, why should you follow me?”

Arthur didn't care about the little Russian's cynicism. Instead, he spread his hands generously: "I'm here to visit my old friend Colonel Shubinsky. It has nothing to do with you. It's you, Mr. Gogol. It seems that you It’s for more important things.”

"Colonel Shubinsky?" Gogol looked at Arthur suspiciously. Perhaps because he was thinking too much, he accidentally let it slip: "You don't want to go to Moscow University's Chancellor Golitsyn through him?" Duke? Could it be that you also plan to make a fortune in the Ministry of Education..."

As soon as Gogol finished speaking, he suddenly realized that something was wrong with his words. He paused suddenly, his eyes averting slightly, as if he had been shaken by the cold wind. He cleared his throat quickly, trying to cover up his gaffe with words.

"What I mean is...Mr. Hastings, as a diplomat, you must be busy with your affairs. There must be something important about your appearance here today, right?"

Arthur smiled slightly, with a hint of cunning in his eyes. He knew that Gogol wanted to trick him, just as he also wanted to trick Gogol.

He raised his head slightly, and his tone became particularly calm and precise, as if every word had been carefully considered.

"Mr. Gogol, I am honored by your concern for me. As you know, the current relationship between Britain and Russia is at a delicate stage of development. Britain has always been committed to promoting a global vision of peace and prosperity, and cultural exchanges are undoubtedly The best bridge. As a cultural counselor, I often feel a heavy responsibility - how to ensure that the ideas and creativity of the two countries can complement each other instead of being blocked by the barriers of language and stereotypes..."

"Okay, okay!"

Gogol heard Arthur speaking in an official tone and quickly interrupted him. As a small civil servant who once served in the local government office, Gogol knew that if these guys were to have a long talk, it would not be just one or two. It'll be over in an hour.

He took off his hat and said goodbye to Arthur: "In that case, I wish you all the best in your career of promoting global prosperity."

Arthur watched Gogol's back disappear into the streets near Moscow University, with that signature smile still on his face.

He shook the snowflakes off his cloak, and just as he raised his pipe, he saw Blackwell taking the initiative to light the fire for him.

Seeing him being so polite, Arthur couldn't help but ask more: "What do you think of what I just said?"

Blackwell replied without changing his expression: "Great."

"You're lying."

"What if?"

Arthur stared at Blackwell, who was as silent as the Sphinx, and sighed helplessly: "Well, at least honesty is better than stupidity. Henry, let me tell you, what I just said is not good at all. Remember, long conversations are not conducive to solving problems, just like floor-length skirts are not conducive to walking.”

"Is that so?" Perhaps because he wanted to make Arthur angry, Blackwell pretended to be enlightened: "In that case, why did you say that?"

Arthur glanced at Blackwell, who was unaware, and repeated it again: "Because lengthy conversations are not conducive to resolving matters. Keep this in mind, you will be able to use it one day, especially when you are facing someone It’s Fleet Street in London.”

Check out the 16-9 book bar to see the correct version!

Arthur took out a small piece of paper from his pocket, with an address written on it - 25 Tver Avenue, Moscow.

But unfortunately, Arthur deceived Gogol. He came here not to find Colonel Shubinsky, but to find a Moscow college student he met in Leipzig - Herzen.

Of course, this is not because Arthur does not cherish the great friendship between the Russian gendarmes and Scotland Yard, but because Shubinsky went to Petersburg to pay New Year's greetings to his mother-in-law. The two made an appointment to have a good gathering at Shubinsky's family manor after he returned from Petersburg in a few days.

Tver Avenue is not too far from Mokhovaya Street, where Moscow State University is located. It is only about half a mile away, and it takes less than ten minutes to walk.

The main reason why Arthur got off the bus in front of Moscow State University was to see if Russia's highest university was as outrageous as Herzen said.

According to Herzen's description, since several student movements took place at Moscow University, Nicholas I regarded it as a thorn in his side. In order to educate these restless college students, the Tsar sent Russia's most skilled warriors. The writer Major General Pisarev served as the superintendent of Moscow State University.

After Pisarev took office, there was almost no day without tormenting students.

He first required the students to collectively wear uniforms and sabers, euphemistically calling it: militarized management and enhanced discipline.

Then during the Chinese New Year, students were ordered not to wear military sabers because they were worried that students who had been poisoned by liberalism might use military sabers as weapons.

During his four years as superintendent, the most bragging achievement was not how many scientists, philosophers, and writers he produced.

It was because of a few poems and articles that dozens of students were sent to the Caucasus for military exile, and because of a bust, several Polish students disappeared without a trace. As for those students who were expelled and persuaded to withdraw, there is no need to record them here separately.

Later, I don’t know whether the Tsar felt that Pisarev had gone too far, or whether he was completely disappointed with the actions to correct Moscow University.

All in all, the rector of Moscow State University was replaced by Prince Sergei Mikhailovich Golitsyn.

Speaking of Duke Golitsyn, Blackwell may be more familiar with it than Arthur, because he is Miss Anastasia's uncle and one of the five dukes of the Golitsyn family.

Although there are many duke titles in Russia, no matter how many titles they have, the fact that the Golitsyn family can have five dukes in one generation is enough to illustrate their power in Russia.

As one of the oldest and most prominent families in Russian history, the Golitsyn family originated from the Gediminas dynasty of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

The ancestor of the Golitsyn family was Narimantas, the second son of Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, and their surname also originated from the Lithuanian word "Geleìs", which means iron gloves.

Would it be more effective to hold Moscow State University with iron gloves than to use the long knife of Pisarev, the commander of the 2nd Grenadier Division?

Then Arthur doesn't know.

At least in the opinion of Herzen, a student at Moscow State University, the iron gloves may be much gentler than the long sword, but when compared with the Superintendent Hastings of the University of Göttingen, they are simply incomparable.

After all, Superintendent Hastings is a serious expert scholar who understands both academics and management. He never interferes in things that should not be done, but is not ambiguous about things that should be done by him. Most importantly, his relationship with the students is The relationship is still very close.

Look how happy Bismarck is sitting next to Superintendent Hastings.

As for the Iron Glove, it's really hard to describe.

Herzen felt that he was simply not a normal person. He thought it was unreasonable and could not stand it when a professor suspended classes due to illness, so he stipulated that if a professor suspended classes, the teacher in the next class would take over.

This rule seems reasonable at first glance, but in practice it often happens - Father Ternovsky, the theology professor, has to give clinical lectures on gynecological diseases in the hospital, and Professor Richter, the obstetrician, has to Let’s talk about how the Virgin Mary became pregnant and gave birth to Jesus without fertilization.

Our classes at Moscow State University are so cool!

Herzen stood on the second floor of his mansion and couldn't help but sigh.

However, although there are always some unhappy things in college, he still misses college life and his classmates.

After graduation, everyone went their separate ways, some went to Petersburg, some went to the local government, and some, like him, became a civil servant in Moscow.

As for the rest...

They were exiled.

Although it has only been less than a year, Herzen feels that he has become a lot more sophisticated.

Maybe I shouldn’t say sophisticated, because most people call this maturity.

There is no way, as a civil servant working in the Moscow Land Office, it is really difficult for you to remain mature.

However, he still has an immature side occasionally.

For example, a few days ago he had a quarrel with the editor of "Moscow Telegraph" Polevoy.

Polevoy scorned Saint-Simonianism, saying that those who believed in Saint-Simonianism were insane and that their vision was an empty utopia and was detrimental to national development.

Herzen accused Polevoy of becoming the kind of backward conservative he himself had been opposing all his life.

These words obviously hurt Polevoy's heart. He shook his head and said: "One day, there will be a young man who will repay you for your lifelong efforts and hard work. He pointed at your nose and sneered: Go away, You are already a laggard.”

Although Herzen did not agree with Polevoy's views, he felt ashamed for making him sad.

Generally speaking, a prominent figure like Polevoy would not care about the opinions of young people, but he valued the opinions of young people and was willing to befriend a penniless ordinary student like him.

This made Herzen feel a little guilty.

He looked at the people walking up and down the street carrying gifts, and considered whether he should buy something to apologize to Polevoy.

But the young man's donkey temper made him a little embarrassed. He always felt that apologizing was like admitting defeat to the other party.

or……

Should we wait a few more days? Wait until he calms down, then we can get back to normal, and no one will talk about Saint-Simonianism anymore, as if this had never happened?

Herzen was thinking about how to deal with interpersonal relationships, when suddenly, a maid in her forties gently knocked on his door: "Master, is Sir Arthur Hastings here?"

"Sir Arthur Hastings? I don't know this person, did he find the wrong person..." Herzen paused, and he opened the window and looked in front of the door.

Arthur, who was leaning on a cane, found this drinking buddy who had met him once, and politely took off his hat and greeted him: "Unfortunately, Alexander, it seems that you and I have no mother-in-law to meet, and no one to arrange a blind date for us."

"Herzen Family Mansion on Tverskoi Avenue in the center of Moscow"