Shadow of great britain

Diecott, I'll be in the Caucasus soon!

In terms of seniority, the Moscow Company, founded in 1557, is undoubtedly the earliest overseas chartered company in British history.

But unfortunately, in terms of performance and strength, the old Moscow Company is far inferior to the young handsome guy.

As overseas chartered companies founded in the 16th century, whether it is the East India Company, the Levant Company, or the West India Company and the African Company, which were established later, they all left the Moscow Company behind by more than one position.

The biggest reason for the company's poor operating conditions is certainly due to the mistakes of the company's management, but it also has to take into account the complex business conditions and changing government policies in Russia.

The Moscow Company had to deal with the "red eye disease" in the parliament who were jealous of their wealth, and at the same time, they had to be terrified to guard against the Tsar's withdrawal of the privileges granted to them.

But even if they were cautious, they still couldn't avoid being stretched.

Compared with the East India Company, which was not terminated until the end of the 18th century, the Moscow Company was fiercely attacked by Parliament for its monopoly on whale oil and whale fins as early as 1628. This collective suppression of the Moscow Company by British foreign traders lasted for 70 years until 1698 when the Moscow Company was completely deprived of its trade franchise with Russia by Parliament.

To make matters worse, with the death of Tsar Mikhail I in 1645, the Moscow Company's century-long trade privileges in Russia also came to an end.

After losing so many privileges, even though the Moscow Company had the first-mover advantage of being the "first foreign company to enter Russia", they were still squeezed by the Dutch and British counterparts.

If it were the heyday of the Moscow Company, the Moscow Company's headquarters in Moscow, the "Moscow Hall", would be the location of the British embassy. Even if he was the ambassador to Russia appointed by His Majesty the King, he had to give the company some face just because he had to live in the Moscow Club when he arrived in Russia.

Why did the successive ambassadors to the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople always stand up for the Levant Company at critical moments and argue with the Parliament and the Ottoman government for the interests of the Levant Company, even if it was unreasonable?

This is because the salaries and living expenses of the successive ambassadors to the Ottoman Empire were not paid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but by the Levant Company!

And this treatment not only covers the ambassador, but also includes the two consuls under the ambassador.

Back then, our Moscow Company also had such a generous time.

If we go back 150 years, as the agent of the Moscow headquarters of the Moscow Company, Martin Huening would never let Arthur control him like this.

Unfortunately, that is all in the past.

Business should be done in a practical way. Nowadays, the Moscow Company is no different from other companies engaged in import and export trade in Russia, except that it has a well-known brand, a long history, and a wide network of relationships.

They once laughed at the Levant Company for being a group of grocers who resell seedless raisins, but now, they are a group of poor people who can't even catch up with the raisin sellers.

Because the royal charter of the Levant Company was not lost until 1825, it lasted 127 years longer than the Moscow Company.

When Huening thought of this, he couldn't help but sigh.

Sir Arthur Hastings spoke, and he put pressure on the Moscow Company in the name of the king and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If he refused rashly, there would be no need to think about it. The consequences would most likely be very serious.

The word "help" used by the Sir was still euphemistic. Even if he directly "ordered", what would happen?

The Sir was willing to help the Moscow Company get the license, which was considered a kind person, because he could use another reason to threaten the Moscow Company.

The British cultural counselor may not be able to help the company with the Russian government, but he can definitely do bad things for the company with the British government.

If Huening refuses to help the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then don't blame the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for asking the Commercial and Trade Committee to hold the Moscow Company's neck in the UK's import and export license.

After all, they are very skilled in playing this trick, because the company was bankrupted by Parliament once before.

In front of this set of combined punches, let alone the lame Moscow Company, even the East India Company, a British strongman weighing more than 200 pounds, was defeated by Parliament, right?

Martin Huening was silent for a long time, then raised his head with a look of helplessness and fatigue in his eyes: "The company does have several trade routes from the Caucasus to Persia, but those trade routes are basically not used now, and even when these trade routes were most active in history, it was not our Moscow company that used them, but the Levant Company."

"Levant Company?"

Arthur was just trying to cast a wide net, like looking for a needle in a haystack, to mobilize all his forces to "rescue" Sir David Urquhart, but he didn't expect that this unintentional act would actually allow him to dig out a clue.

Where is the headquarters of the Levant Company?

Constantinople!

What is Sir David Urquhart's position?

Former First Secretary of the British Embassy in Constantinople, now Consul of the Embassy in Constantinople.

If the Levant Company knew how to get to the Caucasus, then Sir David Urquhart would probably be able to find out from them.

That is to say, the route he took to enter the Caucasus is very likely to overlap with these trade routes.

Arthur quickly asked: "Are the trade routes you mentioned by land or sea?"

"There are both land and sea routes, but that was in the 16th century."

Xiuning patiently explained: "When the company first opened up this trade route, our original intention was to find a trade route to China. Our first exploration was to open up the northeast route from the Arctic Ocean to China, but this attempt failed. So we turned our attention to the south and sent an expedition team to explore the coast of the Caspian Sea, and finally arrived at the Bukhara Khanate in Central Asia. Although the results of this expedition did not meet the company's psychological expectations, we were surprised We found that the British goods carried by the expedition were very popular in Persia. Therefore, the company changed its trade target from distant China to the closer Persia.

After that, we carried out six exploration missions of the Persian route across the Black Sea. However, when we finally determined a Persian route with considerable efficiency, the Ottoman Empire and Russia were at odds, so the Ottoman Turks blocked this precious waterway that we had spent a lot of effort to explore. Therefore, we could only set our sights on the exploration of land trade routes, although we finally explored the land trade route through the Caucasus. However, the Persian land route requires crossing the Caucasus Mountains, and we must also pay attention to the tribal mountain people and Cossack looting, this business takes a long time, is costly and risky, so every time we conduct Persian trade, the company is very cautious. "

"So that's the case." Arthur nodded slightly and said, "But what does this have to do with the Levant Company?"

"You should know that the Moscow Company is the oldest overseas chartered company in Britain. Therefore, when the Levant Company was established, it poached many of our agents and apprentices, so the Persian trade route that we spent a lot of effort to open up naturally fell into their hands. The Levant Company mainly engages in Mediterranean trade and has a great influence in the Near East. In addition, they hold Austria The privilege granted by the Sultan of Osman, so it is more economical to trade with Persia by sea or land than us. The Moscow Company spent a huge amount of manpower and material resources to obtain the trade route information, and they just took advantage of it. "

Arthur stood up immediately after hearing this: "Does the Moscow Guild Hall keep the drawings of these trade routes?"

"Of course they did, but I guess they are in a box in a storage room. If you want them, I will ask someone to look for them as soon as I go back today, and send someone to your house tomorrow morning."

If it were other issues, Arthur certainly wouldn't mind waiting one more night, but when it came to his political future, he really didn't dare to neglect it.

After all, the Moscow Company's previous experience was right in front of him. If he didn't work harder at this time, who knew if he would be sent to India to "open up trade routes", and when he came back, the achievements he had accumulated over the years would definitely be taken away by others.

"No need, I'll go to the guild hall with you now. This trade route map must be delivered to Count Daramo as soon as possible, and not even a night can be delayed."

...

Knock, knock, knock!

Herzen, who was sleeping, heard a hurried knock on the door.

Then, the door was pushed open, and the butler led a sturdy man to guard the door, with anxiety written all over his face: "Master Herzen, my master, your dearest friend, Ogarev has been captured!"

Herzen recognized the man, he was Ogarev's messenger.

"Why, was he captured?" Herzen was half asleep and half awake, he jumped off the bed, touched his head, and tried to figure out if I was dreaming.

"The chief of police brought police officers and Cossacks to arrest him at night, just two hours after you left. They searched for some letters and took away Nikolai Platonovich."

Herzen's mind suddenly became clear. He was still lamenting the bad luck of "Moscow Telegraph" and Polevoy with Ogarev yesterday.

Who could have thought that this bad luck would befall them today!

Herzen quickly recalled the recent changes in Moscow, and carefully recalled the recent words and deeds of their small group.

No mistakes in one poem, one post, one content, one 6, one book, one bar, take a look!

He couldn't figure out what the police station was based on. In recent times, Moscow has been very calm except for the closure of "Moscow Telegraph".

Ogarev had just returned to Moscow a day ago. What was the basis for the police to arrest him?

And why did they only arrest Ogarev and not me?

Herzen walked back and forth in the room, and anxiety almost filled his brain.

The arrest of Ogarev and the arrest of Polevoy shocked Herzen in completely different ways.

Although the latter was very kind to him, the aura of the editor-in-chief of Moscow Telegraph and the words he used to describe himself as a senior told Herzen that they were from two different generations.

But Ogarev was his classmate and close friend, and a part of his daily life.

When the iron hand of the Tsar touched the people around Herzen, he truly realized what the Russian autocracy was.

What should I do?

I should do something, at least I can't just stand by and watch.

When Herzen thought of this, even though his mind was in a mess, he immediately put on a coat and walked out of the house.

Before leaving, he did not forget to instruct the servants: "None of you should tell my father about what happened today."

Although Herzen was full of enthusiasm, the cold wind on the streets of Moscow soon woke up this headless fly that was running around.

He only now remembered that at this time, he should go to a powerful friend with a certain social status to inquire about the news.

The first person Herzen thought of was Zubkov, the first secretary of Moscow, but as soon as he took a step, a second choice quickly popped up in his mind.

Or...

Should I go to Sir Arthur Hastings to ask?

Although Zubkov is closer to the truth of the matter, it is also possible to alert the enemy. After all, he is the secretary of the Governor-General Duke Golitsyn. Who knows what he is thinking?

As for Sir Arthur Hastings, the British diplomat has no conflict of interest in this matter. Moreover, he even came to remind me a few days ago that I should be careful in my recent actions.

Even if he doesn't know the inside story, he may be willing to help find out indirectly.

Even if he couldn't find out, he certainly wouldn't betray us, the college students who had invited him to drink in Leipzig.

Herzen still remembered that night, Arthur and he, Bismarck and other students were arm in arm, holding a bottle of wine in one hand, singing "Marseillaise".

Herzen made up his mind and ran all the way to the old house of Duke Golitsyn at the end of the street.

Suddenly, a black and gold-painted four-wheeled carriage appeared at the corner of the street. The wheels slowly stopped and a hat stretched out from the window.

Arthur's head came out next.

He seemed to be in a very good mood. Not only was there a smile on his face, but he even whistled a whistle that was not in line with his stable status.

"Alexander, where are you going? Do you need me to give you a ride?"

Herzen was stunned for a moment, then looked around, walked up quickly and whispered: "Sir Arthur, unfortunately, you have predicted the development of the matter."

"I predicted it?" Arthur said in astonishment: "Alexander, what stupid thing did you do?"

"I would rather be the one who made the mistake." Herzen said anxiously: "Do you remember Ogarev? It was Ogarev from our group, the Herzen-Ogarev group. He was taken away by the police today for some crime he committed."