Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

Chapter 366 008 Problems Brought by the Golovkin Mission

Teaching Nicholas has become a more important task for Soloviev since returning to Petersburg.

In this case, as a teacher, he still needs to be self-disciplined. Since he pointed out those problems, he must not go to Madame Recamier at least for the recent period of time.

However, coming to the palace and being Nicholas's teacher, it is difficult to avoid contact with Louisa.

Recently, she returned to the Winter Palace with her daughters and raised five daughters in the Queen's bedroom. Nicholas and Mikhail's teaching place happened to be in Constantine's Marble Palace, which is not far away.

These two brothers-in-law like their sister-in-law very much and are willing to play with their nieces, so in addition to the strict courses, they also have to arrange leisure time for them.

"Just be kind and ask Misha and I to go to the palace."

"Okay, but you two have to pass a test. You can't fall behind in the lessons I taught you in the past week."

Nicholas and Mikhail were very obedient. They also knew that with Solovyov as a teacher, the courses were still quite relaxed. Although there was a lot of content, there were more fables, so it was easier.

However, the test question required Nicholas to write a short essay, and Mikhail was relatively relaxed because he was young.

Although Nicholas was stubborn, he still wrote it down seriously.

This involved a story, that is, "Chu people learn Qi language", but when Solovyov asked the question, he added Paul's instructions in German.

Solche Schlingel wie die deutschen Prinzen (Don't let my son become a German prince)

Soloviev had been on duty in the palace for a long time and was impressed by the nine children raised by Paul in the palace. The smartest one was undoubtedly the second princess. Elena, who married to Mecklenburg, was also roughly the same in terms of knowledge.

As for Alexander, he was very impatient. Even if he was asked to "learn a foreign language", he might still be very good in socializing, which also confirmed his diplomatic ability.

But when it comes to knowledge, it is obviously not.

As for Nicholas's essay, Soloviev still put a lot of effort.

"Well, it's interesting. Your Highness, I don't object to your idea. People are born with brains, which are also used for thinking and guiding their bodies how to work. This idea is very interesting."

The essay written by Nicholas is his understanding of this story.

Of course, the content this time can basically achieve the purpose.

After all, the original text is relatively short, and it is a bit difficult for children of this age to write more extended meanings.

But a stubborn child like Nicholas can still complete the writing smoothly, and it doesn't take long.

In short, a child can still be taught.

As for Mikhail's task, it is much easier. After all, the two children are two years apart.

In short, when Tsar Paul was still alive, the birth plan of the couple seemed to be completed in a two-year cycle.

"That's good. You have completed the homework and tests I assigned. It just so happens that the emperor wants me to go to the Little Winter Palace for advice, so I can give you a holiday in the afternoon."

Then came the cheers of Nicholas and Mikhail. Children of this age are energetic and playful.

Solovyov was summoned to the Winter Palace because of the Golovkin mission. Alexander had a bad temper, and he had always had a bad relationship with Alexander Saltykov. He was indeed very dissatisfied with the unfavorable results of the mission of this "Humphreysky" father-in-law.

So, he thought of Solovyov. After all, he was an expert on Eastern issues and a genuine China expert in Petersburg. He even completed many translations and writings.

Even if he was young, he was only a colonel of the Guards. At this level, he should not be able to join the core decision-making circle. However, Golovkin's mission to the Qing Dynasty failed, and he was needed to analyze the current situation.

As for the Little Winter Palace, he was also familiar with this place, but because he had been away from home or in the Guards for a long time, he no longer took on the task of guarding the Winter Palace, so he was also far away from the core circle of the Tsar.

This is a good thing. In recent years, the disputes between various factions in the court have become more and more intense. The conservative nobles have indeed exerted pressure by being defeated by France in the Battle of Austerlitz.

For Alexander himself, he had to abandon some liberal ideas, make concessions on the issue of liberating serfs, and prepare to replace a group of people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Czartoryski's Polish plan seemed to be over. The next people to take office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were relatively conservative aristocratic bureaucrats. Although Russia's attitude towards Europe remained unchanged in foreign policy, the voice of the peace faction was strengthened.

"Your Majesty, Colonel Solovyov has been ordered to come."

"Let him in and get Count Golovkin's report."

Alexander was discussing with Speranski about the change of power and responsibility of the court system. Should they adopt the Bourbon French style court ruling or maintain the status quo and govern the vast territory of Russia separately according to the usual administrative governor and military governor.

He did not expect that this issue would take so long to discuss that it exceeded the schedule.

This was done with the cooperation of Speransky, an outstanding administrative secretary. You can imagine how many administrative and judicial issues were involved.

Speransky temporarily retreated, just to find Count Golovkin's report.

And Solovyov will now face questions from the Tsar himself.

"His Majesty."

"Sit down and talk, Solovyov. I think you should know something about Count Golovkin's mission, right?"

"Your Majesty, are you referring to the process of this mission or the final result?"

"I think it's both. Before departure, you seemed not to be optimistic about this mission to China."

"Indeed, although our country and China have had frequent exchanges of territory and bilateral trade in history, when sending envoys, we must also consider that when European countries visited China's capital in the past, diplomatic etiquette has always been the focus of both parties. The current Emperor Jiaqing is the son of the former Emperor Qianlong, and he should have seen the diplomatic disputes caused by the Macartney Mission. "

"Huh? So what do you think? I have read Count Golovkin's report. He claimed that he encountered obstruction from the local military governor in Ulyasutai because of the issue of kowtow."

Alexander said this, Solovyov thought for a moment and gave his answer.

"We need to see what is stated in the report."

Speransky soon returned, holding the report from Count Golovkin's mission.

"Since this count has 'completed' his mission, Your Majesty, I think there is something strange. Why is he stranded in Irkutsk and not coming back?"

"Colonel, Count Golovkin has not given his reasons in this regard."

Speransky said this, and Solovyov also frowned. Obviously, the failure of this mission should not be entirely the responsibility of the Qing Dynasty. Golovkin, who has been in Europe for a long time and is accustomed to European diplomatic rules, although he got After following the instructions of Alexander and Czartoryski, he could meet the Chinese emperor and perform the grand ceremony of kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times. However, a problem arose. There was obviously something wrong with Golovkin's understanding.

The statements in the report are similar to Macartney's original "mission notes", in which he wanted to clear away his own responsibilities.

However, Solovyov also got a glimpse of the problem. Golovkin obviously did not kowtow to the portrait of Emperor Jiaqing in accordance with General Ulyasutai's request at General Ulyasutai's station.

"This is entirely a problem caused by miscommunication between the two parties, Your Majesty. But Count Golovkin's subsequent claim to mobilize the troops of the Siberian Governor-General to take action in the Amur River Basin is inconsistent with our country's current foreign policy."

"Indeed, our relationship with China is mainly about maintaining bilateral trade."

After Alexander determined the situation, it was actually very clear that he was not willing to disperse Russia's military power when the situation in Europe was so tense.

In particular, Russia has always been highly vigilant against the Ottoman Empire and the Persian Qajar Dynasty. Regardless of whether it was Russia or the Persians who fought in the past, or the Ottoman Empire's current interference in the internal affairs of the two Balkan vassals, Russia's military power will be shared.

Not to mention that France is still in the west. Although Austria has surrendered to France, Russia has not yet made any intention to armistice with France, let alone an agreement.

These questions are relatively basic. What's more important is that the distance between China and China is too far, and the cost involved is extraordinary.

In addition, during the Qianlong period, the Qing Dynasty still gave people a strong feeling, which led European countries to generally be relatively cautious about the Qing Dynasty's policy, which was mainly a trade issue.

That is to say, the British do not understand the rules and still want land. In fact, in terms of free trade, except for the British who are restricted to Guangzhou, other countries can also do business outside Guangzhou. Except for Kyakhta Port, Russian merchants have no business in Kazakhstan. There is also a trade route in Bian, and in addition it also has warehouses near Beijing.

The British are still very jealous of this last one.

As for the Qing Dynasty's current desire to control Russia through the Kyaktu port, it is not that the Siberian governorships of Russia can be restrained in terms of rhubarb and tea, but that these places in Siberia are relatively dependent on trade with the Qing Dynasty.

But Count Golovkin's report, held in hand, is not the same.

In Solovyov's report, he also saw territorial claims in the Amur River Basin, which were even more ridiculous than the use of troops.

During his tenure as Foreign Minister, Czartoryski always made such unrealistic demands.

"Your Majesty, if we really want to 'cede territory', the Chinese Emperor will not accept it. Our Foreign Minister, with all due respect, does not know anything about the situation in China, nor does he understand what should be done in the current diplomatic situation. What kind of attitude should we adopt towards the Chinese emperor? It can even be said that if the Kyaktu port had not been open to trade, what attitude would it have towards us? I'm afraid there will be disastrous consequences. Emperor Jiaqing, who was revealed from the report, well, it should be said that he is not as wise as the late old emperor, and after this mission, if Governor Ulyasutai gives the emperor The memorial presented contains a report that is unfavorable to us, so Kyaktu’s trade will also be affected.”

After all, tribute and mutual trade can be regarded as a high-level form of diplomacy with oriental characteristics.

Soloviev's concerns were not without problems. The expedition team near Guangzhou had a smooth business in Guangzhou in the first stage, but the Governor's Office of Guangdong and Guangxi soon issued instructions not to allow Russia to trade in Guangzhou, claiming that this would affect the mutual trade in Kyakhta.

At this time, Alexander, Solovyov and Speransky did not know about this situation, but Solovyov's analysis was indeed something that Emperor Jiaqing and the Governor's Office and the Governor's Office could do.

In addition, in Guangzhou, the British always did not abide by the rules, which also led to the Qing Dynasty's poor impression of "British barbarians", and it was inevitable that it would affect Russia and other European countries' trade with China.

Therefore, Guangzhou was always strictly managed.

As for the British causing trouble in Guangzhou, the Governor's Office of Guangdong and Guangxi also received reports of related conflicts, ranging from provoking trouble, trade disputes, disputes on going to certain occasions, and the activities of warships and merchant ships at sea. In short, it was very troublesome.

"It seems that there is no way to solve this problem."

"If necessary, someone who knows the rules should be sent to China, but it should be after a period of time. I think it is more appropriate to send an envoy on the 20th anniversary of the current emperor's accession to the throne."

Emperor Jiaqing became emperor in 1796 when Emperor Qianlong abdicated, so it would be more appropriate to send an envoy after 1815.

After all, the Golovkin envoy's statement this time was even worse. The new emperors of both countries ascended the throne and came to congratulate.

No matter how you look at it, it's a signal delay, which is really not funny, and the reason is even a bit absurd.

I really don't know how the Poles arranged it. In short, Czartoryski always attracts Solovyov's contempt.

At this level, he can't understand the international situation to some extent. It should only be a matter of time before he steps down as foreign minister.

Because of Russia's series of diplomatic failures, the journey of Count Stroganov, deputy foreign minister to London, should end here.

"Your idea is good. The journey to China is so long, and Golovkin's mission was such a failure. We have to wait for a suitable time for our next action."

Also, Alexander had an idea.

"Soloviev, are you willing to go to China as an envoy?"

This is a good job. Others should not be able to do it. As long as they don't learn from Shen Weijing, the big liar, they can still do it according to the rules.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to go to China as an envoy, but our country's foreign policy may also change at that time."

"That's right, Soloviev. There is no war now. Your task is to educate Nikolai and Mikhail."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I am willing to serve Your Majesty and the princes."

"You can leave."

After Alexander's summons were over, he could finally move on to the next topic.