Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

After Kray defeated the unlucky General Scherer, the Russian and Austrian armies are currently converging.

In the past few days, the Russian infantry columns have also moved very quickly. They continued to march on April 3rd because they did not know the situation in Verona. The troops moved very quickly, and two days later the Austrian army and the French army fought in this area.

After April 5th, the weather was obviously much better, and the carriages and ox carts brought by the Austrians also pulled up the Russian infantry who had fallen behind and brought them to Vicenza.

When Suvorov arrived here, he first received the news of General Kray's victory that night, and then the next morning, when the Russian column was about to enter Verona, he met Solovyov who came back to report.

Verona is also a good place. It is considered a relatively wealthy city in northeastern Italy. Even in the Roman era, this place was already a big city.

Suvorov's station was placed here in the city hall. He didn't need too much space to arrange a headquarters for himself, and even laying a blanket on the ground was not a problem.

After arriving here today, the soldiers of the two columns of the Russian army finally found a place where they could rest well.

In the marching plan for the next few days, the coalition forces' actions were not as fast as before the confluence. After the rapid march, Suvorov also believed that the troops could slow down their marching speed now.

As for the reason, it is estimated that the French army's corps on the Italian peninsula, mainly in two directions, had been defeated by the main force of the Italian corps in front of them. The coalition forces had a great advantage in manpower and had formed a strategic advantage. The soldiers' physical strength should not be consumed in this way.

Even if they had 25 years of military service, there were many veterans who had served for a long time in the Russian army. Slowing down the marching speed was conducive to maintaining the physical strength of these experienced veterans. When they really had to fight in the future, their physical strength also needed to be allocated.

However, those veterans got such a chance to rest and they were all feasting. After all, the enthusiastic local citizens had prepared the things they had brought out when they entertained the Austrian army for the Russian army.

"Let them have some fun today, we'll go visit the ruins of the Roman theater."

Soloviev also left the men of the Jaegers Company to guard, he rode to the ruins of the theater, and walked with several officers.

"When was this theater built?"

"It is said that it was during the Nero period, before the era of the 'Five Good Emperors', and plays were performed here."

A lot of weeds have grown on the theater, and no one has come to clean it up, and the degree of weathering is also quite serious.

Of course, if the buried part is dug out, it looks very complete, which is very different from these exposed ones.

"These stones are also a bit old, but..."

Soloviev also saw some stone carvings with crosses engraved on them, but the original statues were destroyed, so he knew that in the early Christianity, it was probably during the reign of Emperor Theodosius that the edict prohibiting paganism was issued, and coupled with the complete division of the Roman Empire, the church occupied a dominant position during this period.

It also caused many places to enter the "Dark Ages". When the Roman Empire was still dominated by polytheism and the religious tolerance during the Constantine Dynasty, science and culture were still prosperous. The sculpture art of this period was still very developed. When the Eastern Roman Empire began to be dominated by Christianity, there were several religious conferences that led to the Great Schism of the Eastern and Western Churches. There were very few statues left at this stage, and even the Roman emperors could only use mosaics to show their faces.

After that, it was even worse. The faces of some emperors were like cartoons in the Middle Ages. It was not until the Renaissance that the sculpture art was picked up again.

However, it was obviously not okay to say this in front of a group of devout Orthodox generals. In the future, when he marries a wife, it is estimated that she will be a noble lady who is a devout Orthodox believer. Some words cannot be said casually.

The generals were still visiting the ancient monuments. At this time, Solovyov met Arkady, the son of Marshal Suvorov. He did not have an entourage and walked on the street by himself.

"Arkasha, you are also visiting this Italian city?"

"Yes, Misha, are you back from the theater?"

Soloviev nodded, and then said: "Several generals are still there. I came back to the street to see that Italy's handicraft industry is still very developed. Do you want to buy some things and bring them back as souvenirs for my family in the future?"

"I think so too, but you know, my father, Alexander Vasilyevich, has always lived a simple life. I just want to show my sister if there is anything she likes."

Speaking of which, he received a salary as a servant, and his sister and brother-in-law often gave him pocket money. The old marshal's temper was caused by his son-in-law embezzling family funds without his permission.

"I want to change a pair of leather boots. I've worn this pair for a whole winter. I rode horses frequently so they didn't break. If I stand guard at the gate of the Winter Palace like before, I'm afraid I'll have to change several pairs just walking back and forth."

The two of them walked together and saw the developed handicraft industry in the cities in northern Italy. There are many handicraft workshops in Verona alone, and craftsmen making leather shoes and blankets are everywhere on the streets.

And they are very enthusiastic about the arrival of Russian soldiers. When the French were here before, although the officials paid for their meals, the soldiers had to pay for a few pizzas?

This kind of thing also happens among the Austrian army. On the contrary, the Russian army has always been considered barbaric. Even the Cossacks who have always had a bad reputation and suppressed the Poles in the Braga district of Warsaw are still big bosses from remote villages. Serf soldiers, as long as you can figure out a price for them, they will definitely pay.

One good thing about Italians is that you can seal their mouths, even if they can't understand what you are saying, but as long as they can move their hands, they can definitely make gestures.

"These two young masters look like decent people at first glance. Come and take a look at the fine silk and satin!"

"Your boss, are you still selling silk here?"

"Before the war, we stocked up a lot of goods. When the Austrian master was here, our business was doing pretty well. In the past few years, the war has been going on, and the business is almost gone. In the past, we could still collect some talers. Now the banknotes produced by these French guys are almost turned into waste paper!”

As soon as the boss met the two young Russian officers, he began to complain, saying that his silk fabrics produced in Como, Italy, could never be sold because of the war.

"If there is no war, won't you be able to sell your things? This silk is different from other fabrics. There are always masters willing to buy it. You can also wait until there is no war and take all the goods you have to Venice. Or sell it in other cities? Is that what I’m talking about, boss?”

"You are right, but I have almost lost all my money. Where can I pay for the freight?"

"When the French were here, didn't they publish notices? Look at the French characters on this wall. We still speak in French. This is to stabilize prices and ensure market supply. What about all the shops? We are not allowed to close down, or else we will have to collect customs duties?”

"This is a rule set by the tax collectors. Don't you know that those French and Austrian soldiers are not interested in my silk shop? It's not like the mercenaries used to make flowers for themselves. It's time to get dressed. The official is still here. Look, I’m going to buy some fabrics for my wife, children, and sweethearts. But how many high-ranking officials can come to this place in Verona? It’s just this business. It’s not as good as one day. How much money was earned in the early years? Now I’m almost paying for it, this tax man.”

"Why are you talking like a thief?"

"That is to say, you two young masters are both from Russia. They say that all Russians are barbarians. I don't think so. Aren't you very good? There were two officials in my shop just now. I bought some ingredients to give to my mother-in-law at home."

"Just those two? Are ordinary troops so wealthy these days?"

As for the military salary paid by Tsar Paul, although it was a lot more than the original basis, no one who was an official or a soldier could afford it without some financial resources.

Maybe Paul's bunch of reforms can suppress the vampires who drink the blood of soldiers, but corruption in materials is a traditional skill of the European armies.

Of course, during the expedition, this kind of thing was beyond his control and he couldn't find out.

Arkady wanted to go back to find his follower and buy some materials for his sister, so he encouraged Solovyov to buy some too.

Solovyov is very rich, and he can even sign a check for the boss to go to Vienna or Venice to cash it. When there is no telegram for cashing, he has to rely on the contacts between various banks, but if he wants Connecting them into a network is still a bit difficult.

Even if telegrams can be sent in the future, banks everywhere will have to have reserves. Anyway, the way money circulates is still very different.

"You want to buy some good materials for your sister, but why do you want me to pay for it together with you?"

"I came from a special channel, Misha, you are already famous in the palace!"

Solovyov knew something was wrong as soon as he heard it. Among the royal aunts, none of them kept their mouth shut, or their maids and maids talked about him wearing women's clothes in the studio. Shake your arms out!

He wants to draw a line with Alexander Golitsyn, and his orientation is a bit problematic, but the fun is still great.

But that's fine, no one will spread the "tiddy news" about him and the ladies. Anyway, he didn't do anything, so nothing will happen if he spreads it.

Of course, it is still necessary to buy some silk fabrics for my stepmother and sister. His luggage was all put together with Marshal Suvorov's.

As long as the old marshal's behavior toward his subordinates didn't cross the line, he wouldn't care.

Because these materials are close to the place of origin, the quality is even better than what you see in Petersburg.

If I go to Milan in the future, I may have to meet someone better.

It was indeed a prosperous place. Anyway, they had a good chat with the boss, so they each bought some.

Of course, Solovyov actually had a good idea of ​​whether this man was a profiteer or not. Tax collectors are so cruel, even more ruthless than Americans in collecting taxes in the future. When meeting a tax collector with evil intentions, It's not finished until you squeeze out the last bit of oil and water.

Fortunately, this boss accepts Austrian money and French money. The commodity economy in these places is indeed very developed.

It’s no wonder that when Paul, the tsar, was still the crown prince, he took advantage of the travel reward given by the queen when he gave birth to an heir, and later secretly visited many places in Europe in the name of “Count of the North” to learn about urban management and various administrative methods in Western Europe. Highly recommended.

Of course, he didn't see the tax collectors either. They are like birds all over Europe. They are just like treacherous bankers and loan sharks. It's all snobbery and sin.

Now that the commodity economy is so developed and has even touched the doorstep of the industrial revolution, who would still want to live in frozen Russia and engage in feudal serfdom?

Russians who have gone abroad often have this idea when they come back. It is no wonder that there are so many skilled Russians among them, and they have an absolute advantage among all kinds of foreign players.

After returning to the city hall, Suvorov also summoned these officers and expressed that he would leave a small number of troops here to support them. After a day's rest, the large troops would march towards Brescia at a slow pace within 3 days. Complete this march with the Austrian troops.

It should not be difficult, but General Rosenberg raised some other questions: "Marshal, the road ahead is easier. We are marching on the road, but we need to give the soldiers a night. They are getting used to the new boots. Some of these boots were bought with their own money, and some were issued by the Austrian friendly forces. They must wear them when they are on the road tomorrow. "

"No problem, we'll leave an hour later tomorrow morning, but we have to hurry up on the road, which is about 6 versts. If any group arrives late, they can still find apartments like today. There are small towns along the way. , there aren’t that many guest rooms for you, and when you get to Monte Carlo, you have to pitch a tent there, but Brescia is in the hands of the French.”

"Your Majesty Marshal, the weather is getting better now. Let's take Brescia back from the French, so won't we have an apartment to live in?"

When Miloradovich said this, everyone nodded. After all, in every Italian city they passed through, there was no need for the Austrian government to speak. The Italians always provided them with good supplies, including bread, salt, red wine, and Meat and cheese.

This is the wonderful experience of Russians in Italy. Some people think that life here is still very good, and even dilute their homesickness.

It would be great if I could settle in Italy in the future!

After arriving in Verona, Solovyov wrote a letter home. After reporting that he was safe, he also mentioned what he had seen in Italy, but he didn't know how long it would take for the messenger to be delivered.