Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

Chapter 28 028 Mr. Langeron, the man who can complain the most in France

Count and wife Stroganov lived at No. 17 Nevsky Prospekt, which was also convenient for working and raising children. In Petersburg and Moscow of this era, there were no traffic jams, which was a bit abstract for postmodernism in 1797. Pedestrians on the streets, horse-drawn carriages and Guards cavalry patrolling on horseback are the mainstream, and there are also private transportation and public transportation systems.

The city of Petersburg is actually a newly built city after Peter the Great ran away from the Swedish "lumberjacks". It has a relatively short history until now, but because of this, the city has accumulated relatively few problems in history. , many places were rebuilt after the fire of 1736, coupled with the expansion of the city and the increasing planning of palaces, housing and various buildings, the city was still very trendy in this era.

In particular, many buildings during the Queen's period still have a typical Rococo style. Solovyov himself also liked this style of architecture.

Today, when he was on the street, he saw Madame Le Brun walking along the causeway.

"Bon après-midi, madame." (Good afternoon, madam)

"Bonjour, Capitaine." (Good afternoon, Captain)

In fact, Solovyov is also curious about one question, which is why Mrs. Lebrun and Julie are so friendly to him. This is different from the situation of ordinary customers and collaborators, and every time they meet, they are at her customers' homes, and it is not convenient to talk. There is no one here now, and even the patrolling police are far away. It was under this circumstance that he decided to raise this issue.

"Madame, I think that apart from that incident, I'm sorry, Madame, I think that apart from that incident, I'm sorry." I'm sorry, you and Julie seem to treat me differently than other customers or partners.)

In response, the lady responded with a polite smile: "Capitaine, vous et mon frère vous ressemblez un peu. ?" (Captain, you and my brother look somewhat similar. Just like he looked when he was sixteen. Are you sixteen this year?)

The reason is so simple. It’s no wonder that the way Julie writes to him sometimes sounds like asking for help. It turns out that she is really like a child and her uncle. The homophone is "old uncle, old help", but in Petersburg , and did not have the opportunity to show the breadth and depth of Chinese.

However, in terms of age, Julie is actually one year older than Solovyov. However, whether Solovyov himself was hit by a flowerpot or not, he is really handsome. At the same time, he is also young and mature, with a bit of a young man. Lively and playful, otherwise you wouldn't be a young man.

It’s no wonder that today’s aristocratic young men and ladies in Petersburg are generally precocious, not to mention the girl in No. 7 Million Street who is communicating with the cavalry officer. She is very cunning. In terms of emotional issues, there is no difference from Julie, who is a bourgeois commoner, but she is just a little more cunning than simple and naive.

The countess was proud of having hooked up a handsome cavalry officer, whose wealth and status were similar to her own. Such a good match was the result of free love. If it worked out, she didn't want to trouble the emperor to choose another one for her. . It’s not like everyone. After Marshal Suvorov’s daughter married into Count Zubov’s family, although the Queen’s favorite family respected this aunt, they were afraid that she would tell their dear aunt directly in a letter if they wanted to discuss anything. ’s father, then all the secrets will be exposed, regardless of whether it is gossip or anything else.

As for Solovyov, although he is a bit younger, he is very polite to everyone. He is like this, and the superiors all feel very comfortable when they see him. Ladies, even if he later went to Million Street 3 on duty No., the "old witch" didn't cause any trouble for him except for her harsh words.

Mrs. Lebrun came to the causeway just to relax. After all, her daughter might really go on a blind date in a while. The young painter was coming from Rome for a visit. There were no French people outside Italy at the moment. It was too popular, but there was no obstacle to arriving in Russia.

Otherwise, there would not be many officers from France in the Russian army. It is common practice for foreigners to serve in the Russian army. Even the duel was introduced from Western Europe. The local people are simple and honest, and they also I never thought of solving problems this way. In the past, everyone from masters to serfs used the law to solve problems.

Then, Solovyov saw a French officer who was obviously dressed differently from the Russians. He complained in his heart that this French general was still wearing a pre-1789 outfit, as if he wanted everyone to know that he was from France.

In contrast, Mrs. Lebrun and Julie, who always wore beautiful straw hats, were not so conspicuous. After all, there were many ladies who wore gorgeous clothes, and the fashion that came from France could be boasted among the women in Petersburg.

Men, on the other hand, were not too used to such clothes.

This gentleman was only 34 years old, but he was already a general. His promotion speed in Russia was no slower than in France. He even had the opportunity to fight against the Turks and volunteered to go to Austria. He participated in the battle with the French Republic Army in the Austrian Army, so he had many opportunities to be rewarded.

This gentleman was the magical troll Count Langeron who served in Russia for decades and complained about various Russian masters in his notes and autobiography.

Now he is in St. Petersburg, and because of the rotation system of the military meeting, he came from the Ufa Musketeers stationed in Little Russia. He has nothing to do today, and he is walking on the streets of St. Petersburg without even an adjutant, just walking on Nevsky Avenue.

He is really a maverick. Solovyov is too close to him, so he can't avoid him. According to military regulations, he should salute his superior.

"Hello, General."

"Are you a captain of the Pavlovsky Regiment? At this age, you look like a girl, and you are pretty!"

This guy speaks Russian with a French accent, but the amazing thing is that people can still understand him.

It's no wonder. If you can't command Russian soldiers in Russian in Russia, this officer is indeed a bit bad. He has always been a big hater. He criticized Lavoisier's discovery of oxygen. He was very respectful to Marshal Suvorov. Even Marshal Kamensky, the old rival of the old marshal, praised him as a famous general, but he couldn't help but complain about this "cannibal". However, his notes have not been published yet, and I don't know what he usually complains about.

For Solovyov, he directly commented that a captain was as handsome as a girl.

Of course, this captain was too young, and he did find some flaws.

"General, you shouldn't judge a person based on his appearance."

"Oh? You do arouse my interest. Since you are from the Pavlovsky Regiment, you must have some skills. It's a pity, Your Majesty. Hasn't your regiment commander been appointed yet?"

"Never. It's even more strange here. I am the captain of the newly formed Jager Company, but there is not a single Jager."

"Then you are the 'little inventor', right?"

"Yes, General, I am Captain Solovyov of the Pavlovsky Grenadiers."

"It's very straightforward. If all Russian officers are as smart as you, plus those tenacious soldiers, they can get through even if there is no road."

It seems that he should have chatted with Suvorov in the past. After all, the old marshal still praised his country's soldiers.

Otherwise, this sentence could not be expressed in another form by his Russian translation.

Of course, he had a strange accent, and he was not aware of it until Pushkin visited him. He wrote it down for the first time.

After all, it is rare to hear Russian with such a strange accent that people can understand.

"And you, Captain, what are you laughing at?"

"What you said does make sense, but I have to say that you haven't introduced yourself yet!"

"Ahem, I'm just too curious about you and forgot to explain who I am."

"I can't just call you General. You look like a Frenchman. I can't call you 'General Bonaparte'. He is very famous here!"

"Please don't compare me with that islander. I am General Alexander Louis Andre de Langgeron, the leader of the Ufa Musketeers."

"But you call me that, but it's not in the Russian way, General."

"What a kid, you are quite clever!"

Langgeron likes to spray people, but when he is complained by the kid, he shows his generosity as a superior and doesn't make trouble for Solovyov.

"General, I used to be an adjutant, and my father was also an adjutant before he retired."

"So, this is a kind of family 'craft'?"

"You can say that!"

After all, Mr. Langgeron is a foreigner, and he is not in charge of the certification of the nobility. He doesn't know that this is the ancestral skill of the Solovyov family. He has to be smart, otherwise it will be difficult to survive in such a circle.

"Well, Captain, our meeting here today is also a kind of fate. I would like to chat with you and listen to what the young people in Petersburg think. For example, the new gun you presented to the emperor."

"This is a secret. Although there are rumors, it must be kept secret from unrelated people."

After listening to this, Langgeron did not start the complaining mode. He was a sharp-tongued person. He had seen too many bragging officers in the past. Here he actually met a kid with a lock on his mouth, and he choked him back directly.

"Anyway, it's all about the chasseurs. The most important thing is to shoot accurately, not to shoot quickly! Those Prussians, who practiced cleaning rods with rifles all day long, and didn't practice shooting or bayonet fighting, will be punished sooner or later! Poor King Frederick, he has only been gone for eleven years, and the Prussians have become like this. You won't see such a bad scene in any country in Europe!"

This guy was still complaining about the current Prussian army, and he seemed a little contemptuous.

"So, General, what about other countries?"

The two turned from Nevsky Avenue to the vicinity of the Green Bridge, and they chatted as they walked.

"Which country do you want to ask about?"

"I want to have some common sense. What if I become an adjutant or have the opportunity to become the 'first major' in the future?"

"Well, I am still a little ambitious. What I want to say is that Austrian soldiers are good soldiers. The hussars and Hungarian soldiers are all good."

"But, these are all Hungarian specialties?"

"Yes, the combat effectiveness of the Austrian army needs suitable generals to let them play out. These old men may be heroes in their time, but they don't have a full grasp of 'divide and conquer'. No wonder they were defeated one by one."

"Are you talking about the situation in the Italian war from 1796 to 1797?"

"In the war reports of both sides, the loss figures were hidden, or the number of enemies annihilated was exaggerated. It can also be seen that Bonaparte's army acted very quickly. , and this is why he always gets the upper hand. This guy is really good at it. I have a lot of experience in marching, but I am not sure I can run as fast as him! "

"I am afraid that the French have adopted some special methods, such as putting the baggage troops"

"Ahem."

"Sorry, General, I forgot that you are also French. But there is an old saying among our superiors here, that foreign officers are just here to serve, but for Russians, this is our home, and we will always be here."

"Ah, don't worry, I won't be like those Germans, who will go home after working here for a few years."

What he said is true. Many of the French officers who came to exile have stayed in Russia, and from the perspective of professionalism, his seven years of service are much better than some Russian generals who are not very smart.

After all, these French officers brought with them some of the French summary of military science over the years, especially General Vauban's methods of attacking and defending cities. Although the Russian army had some knowledge of it in the past, except for a few commanders, they were all fighting stupid battles. Their arrival was considered to have supplemented a lot of content.

At the same time, the newly built fortresses and various fortresses in the western border area were also expanded and strengthened.

Langgeron has been talking nonstop. He has always been known for his witty humor and sarcastic comments. It is no wonder that he has a "dumb" evaluation of the British army. He is a Frenchman, and even if he changes his nationality, he cannot avoid this point.

As for the evaluation of the armies of various countries, in addition to his high evaluation of the French army system, Russian soldiers and some generals, the rest of his complaints are wonderful.

"I think it's wonderful that you can speak so civilizedly about the evaluation of the armies of various countries, just like the Zaporizhia Cossacks writing to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. I have learned a lot from you."

"Ah, really, Captain, you are speaking from the heart, not like a compliment."

"That's true, General."

"I really hope that the officers under my command who only know how to charge and shout 'Ura' can be as smart as you, and use their courage to exchange some brains, which is actually not a bad thing."

This day is really wonderful. At afternoon tea, we were still discussing art sponsorship. When it was almost time for dinner, we met this "No. 1 troll in France". Even in terms of the ability to complain, General Bonaparte is not as good as him. After all, this guy has a rich vocabulary, and the general from Corsica mainly expresses abstraction.

Even General Langeron said that he has been in St. Petersburg this month, and if there is a chance, he can come out and talk more.

Well, this guy who loves to complain but has a good heart is still very suitable to ask him for advice.