Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

Chapter 258 025 Soloviev’s Strange Haiti Proposal

Bolivar and Del Toro were invited by Lucien to attend a salon at his official residence, and were introduced to Napoleon’s friends.

Soloviev told his friends about this, and it always worked.

Pierre was on his way back home, but at this time his other friend, Karl von Nechelrodie, came to Paris.

"Karl, you are coming from The Hague at this time. Are you going to serve as a secretary at the embassy in Paris?"

"No, it's September now. I want to take advantage of this time to return to St. Petersburg as soon as possible."

"Go back and report your work in The Hague to the emperor?"

"That's right. And the Batavian Republic, let's call it this name. You have to know that the Dutch government is actually a mouthpiece for the French. I am just issuing visas and handling some daily affairs there."

"This is what a secretary should do, but you trust that Austrian too much."

"I admire his talents very much, Misha, you can't deny this."

"But the Austrians will only serve the diplomatic interests of Vienna after all. You are an excellent diplomat, Karl, don't let personal interactions lead you emotionally."

"You used to not be led by emotions or personal feelings. It seems that you have something to worry about in Paris."

Nesserrodie is a smart man. He often communicates with Solovyov and knows his thoughts.

"Yes. It's not just a woman's problem. I proposed to an Italian girl and was rejected."

"I know about this. She is willing to be your lover, but not your wife. The relationship here is very complicated. The wife of Prince Peter Bagration, her stepfather Count Lita, is from the Visconti family. And your 'Jungle Goddess' is also from the Visconti family. It's no wonder. And you are not a German. It's not easy to marry a Catholic girl."

"But this is not a personal emotional concern, but a very complicated process. France is preparing to sell Louisiana."

"I learned this from the French ambassador in The Hague. So what?"

"Except for a few small islands, the French colonies in America are now shaking. Karl, don't blame me for being too talkative or nosy at this time. Can you believe what I say?"

"You are very foresighted in what you say. If His Majesty Paul listens to you, maybe now."

Nesherrodie is also a former attendant officer that Paul likes very much, but he has switched to the track of diplomats.

"But don't talk too much about this, Karl. The French in Haiti will soon face a disaster."

"Why do you think so? We heard that although the Saint-Domingue expedition failed, the rights of the French in the area will still be protected."

"I don't believe it, because I know what kind of brutal behavior some places with undeveloped wisdom will commit."

"It's conceivable."

"But there is another point. General Hannibal is also black, but he has received a complete education, and the blacks in Haiti may kill all the white people left in the area."

"Will it be like this?"

When Nechelrodie heard this, he was also quite surprised.

The Hague is different from Paris. It is difficult to block the news here. Before Britain and France declared war again, the news that the French were in a bad situation in Haiti was repeatedly transmitted here. Nechelrodie knew the latest news.

But he would not have thought that a massacre would happen.

"I don't think General Dessalines would take such action."

"But in Saint-Domingue, I think you should read the previous report. When I was in Paris, I knew that before General Leclerc's despicable act of luring Loudouville to death, there had been many feuds between blacks and whites in Haiti."

And Haiti is the place where fan behavior is most likely to occur, including massacres for political purposes.

The blacks there retain too many primitive superstitious remnants, especially voodoo.

And it is really hard to imagine what the blacks who are released without sufficient education will do. After all, people's imagination is still limited.

"If that's the case, there is such a possibility."

"France can no longer guarantee the safety of their colonists and local expatriates, but there are hundreds of Poles there who have taken refuge with these blacks. I think they are dangerous Polish nationalists. For these people, I think we should still take a heavy blow."

"Are you kidding? If we send a squadron to Saint-Domingue, it will be very troublesome. And the emperor will not agree. Our status is not enough for him to issue an edict, and it will cost the treasury money."

Nesherrodie's mind is very clear, and he has always been very steady when doing things, instead of Solovyov's unrealistic ideas.

"But this will bring benefits to the territory in North America. Maybe we can get some people out of Haiti through some means."

"That requires not only warships, but also troops and transport ships."

"This action is just a 'special operation'. Those Poles are dangerous elements themselves. If they dare to take action, we can bombard Port-au-Prince."

"Crazy idea, but our level is not enough to do this."

"We can't let civilization and order collapse, but we can take some protective measures. Our emperor likes to play the role of 'Messiah' the most."

Although Alexander's personality is a mystery, there are still some rules for what he does.

After hearing this, Nesherrodie probably understood Solovyov's idea.

"Just move the French there, where are you going to send them?"

"This time, it won't be like Fyodor Fyodorovich fighting pirates in the Mediterranean, taking all the French women kidnapped by pirates to Crimea, but these French people will go through the Spanish territory to Fort Ross."

"Your idea is a bit troublesome."

"But it's reasonable. We need to save these people and their property, but the relationship between Russia and France has become impossible to be an alliance because of Count Alexander Vorontsov's tactics. This is a goodwill to the French, but we can't just hand these people over to them. We can only take some measures in that small base in Upper California."

Nesherrodie didn't even notice that there was a Fort Ross, and now this place is not called this name.

"This is my blind spot, Misha."

"But now you know that the Spanish control there is very weak. We can get food and seeds from New Spain, as well as tools, and open up a settlement there."

"What should we do with Spain?"

"I have a complete set of plans. I met two interesting Criollos from Caracas in Paris before."

"They are Creoles, right?"

"Yes, that's what they say in Spanish."

"You saw them and had this idea. It must be like this, Misha. Your brain is different from others. You always like to win by surprise."

Nesherrode has now taken over Solovyov's plan and is listening to his continued explanation.

"According to what I know, whether it is New Spain, Granada or La Plata, there are many remote places in these Spanish viceroyalties that are not effectively controlled."

"So, you have this idea."

"Carl, you don't like military life and turned to be a diplomat, but diplomats also need to know geopolitics. If we can control San Francisco Bay and establish a trading post with stable relations with the locals, it will be of great benefit to controlling the entire North Pacific in the future."

"You are really ambitious. It's not that simple to control so many places."

"We have come here and should not retreat. Moreover, the British have been entering our sphere of influence and maliciously competing to acquire various furs."

Soloviev's idea is still very spectacular, and Fort Ross and Hawaii were both established by the Russians first. One was abandoned because it could not supply food, and the other was ruined by the Americans.

In addition, Alexander himself was not enthusiastic about the interests in the Pacific.

Nesherrode wanted to take Soloviev's plan to St. Petersburg. In fact, time was tight. Although Alexander was ambitious and liked to pretend to be the Messiah, he might not agree to some things.

"You have to consider all the problems, Misha. Although I will present your plan and memorial to the emperor in the end, of course, I have to explain these problems. You have a grand plan, and you should have thought about it for a long time. Maybe you had this idea when you lived in Laundry Lane. And I want to convey your opinion, but I don't know much about your ideas."

"Yes, although we are friends, our political views are very different."

Even Nesherrode firmly opposed the abolition of serfdom, while Soloviev had actually freed the serfs.

"Tell me about the whole plan so that I can have a general understanding. After all, this is just a strategic plan and does not involve domestic institutional issues. You are still an active soldier, but we are all diplomats."

"Well, when we were all with Emperor Paul in the past, I saw his reply to the petition of the Aleuts in the American territory. If it is limited to the north of 50 degrees north latitude, it is obviously not realistic to have a supply point there. We can focus on California, which is the land under the sun, and the Spanish control over it is actually out of control."

"So you want to rescue thousands of French people and open up a new territory here."

"In fact, the Spanish governors in New Spain or other places are not in the mood to take care of these things. What they need to worry about more is the armed uprising of the native Criollos or the British invasion of the Caribbean, which will shake Spain's rule in the local area. They have no intention of paying attention to a piece of scrap land that does not produce precious metals, and may be more concerned about the benefits they can grab."

Soloviev always thinks far ahead, and Nesherrodie likes this about him.

"There are not only French people but also Spanish people on the entire island. Do we need to take them all away?"

"If necessary, I can board the ship halfway to help the commander of the Baltic Fleet to complete this operation."

"I think you are also a suitable candidate, but the news will be slow to come back."

"It doesn't matter. Although I've been here with my lover and children these days, considering the importance of this matter, I may have to set off with the fleet."

"Then you have to wait for news in The Hague or Oldenburg. Before the fleet sets out for Santo Domingo, it will have to replenish in Copenhagen, and you will have to meet them on the way."

"That's no problem. You should believe me. Even if the fleet arrives in Portsmouth, I can find a way to board the ship at the British naval base."

He is still very courageous, not to mention that the official document sent by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Count Morkov can confirm that at least Russia and France are at peace before he sets out.

If this action can be successful, it can also ease the relationship with France. No matter which side Russia leans to, it can also buy some time to confuse the judgment of all parties.

What's more, although Alexander's character is unpredictable, he is willing to play the role of a "messiah" and rule and save other countries in the posture of a savior. And exploring the former Spanish territory in the Caribbean is indeed useful.

This also reflects the existence of the Russian Navy. In the era of sailing warships, the long journey would be more troublesome.

However, the Russians are good at traveling long distances, and the preparations for this trip must be very thorough. The fleet must reach the Danish Strait before the Baltic Sea freezes.

The whole idea itself is very bold, and it is precisely because of this that Nesherrodie needs to pay more attention when he reports back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After all, the Russian Foreign Minister is a Pole, and there are more than 800 Polish legions in Haiti who have defected from the French army, which is an unstable factor.

In addition, Solovyov also has to talk to Silvia. She has also temporarily left the Charlotte Palace recently and asked Prince Borghese and his wife to live their newlywed life. She will stay in the official residence rented by the prince before, while managing the house and resting.

"I don't think it will be too soon. At least before the baby is born, I will not leave Paris and will stay with you."

"Michele, the baby will be born in winter, and you will be fine here then."

"When Octavia was born, I was not with you and your daughter, although there were many factors."

"It doesn't matter."

As he said this, he still held Silvia's hands.

"Forgive me, if it can be done, the child will grow up slowly, but I will not be around."

"You go, France and Russia, the relationship is not that good, before you went to Italy, when we first met, you were fighting the French."

She actually knew it well, but because of the protection of Prince Borghese and his wife, she would be fine.

"And if I go this time, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to come to Paris on the way back. The British will block the port tightly at that time. To return to Paris, I may need to choose another way."