Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

When Adela came to Speransky's office, she could feel that there were documents everywhere and they were a little messy.

Although the partitions were still very neat, she had seen her brother arrange the files neatly when he was working at home with so many files.

The reason is simple, because around the two czars, Paul and Alexander, they have to behave very well, especially since Solovyov is also a soldier.

As for the problem here, Adela probably also knew that Solovyov had described Alexander's desk in the Little Winter Palace.

Documents must be neatly stacked and folded in a highly consistent shape.

Although Alexander allowed his ministers to adjust their sitting postures, the table never changed.

Seeing Speransky like this, she couldn't help but start to help clean while saying hello.

"Mikhail Mikhailovich, my brother asked me to bring over all the translated documents for your reference. But what you have here is so unsightly. It looks very messy. You need someone. Can I help you sort it out?”

Adela is a guest, and she is very young, barely a few years older than her own daughter. Although her eyebrows are smooth and she is prettier than many young girls without having to dress up carefully, her eyes are very sharp.

This girl could somewhat make Speransky's heart flutter, but considering that Adela was still a young girl waiting to be married, and he was a widower who had been widowed for many years, this was not very suitable.

He thinks so himself, and it has to do with the fact that he has been very busy at work.

I have already owed a wife, and I don't want this to happen again.

But he didn't resist. After Adela came over, she obviously helped Solovyov organize documents and files at home. She was also quite skilled in her skills. She could roughly tell it just by looking at the title.

"You should be able to remember all the files, right?"

"Yes, Adela, what you are holding in your hand is an inspection document on the construction of the local Duma, which can be used to replace the local noble meeting."

"Including Count Stroganov, um, I mean the meeting of nobles of old Count Alexander?"

"I have this idea, but it depends on the emperor's wishes. What, Adela, are you interested in these? Girls are rarely interested in politics. You are the adopted daughter of Count Sergei, that is, Misha’s sister. He is a soldier. Although he is interested in politics, he deliberately stays away from it. This is very interesting. Have you heard anything from him at home? "

"Brother Mishka has some research on the British Parliament. He sometimes writes political jokes. But after Pasha and Lisa were born, he did less of this kind of thing."

"Since you know his views, you must have tried to understand them?"

"Sometimes in the salon, you will hear things you don't want to hear. Mikhail Mikhailovich, but I think it is always necessary to regulate the parliamentary system. Some people do use their aristocratic status to A lot of lawless things were done, not only against civilians and serfs, but also..."

Adela thought for a while, but still decided not to talk about it. Although the matter of Mrs. Praskovya Musina-Pushkina was well known in the aristocratic circles of the two cities, how could she be able to survive after being deprived of her family? to this point.

"Adela, it's just you and me here. It doesn't matter if what you are saying is something that everyone knows. After all, there are always some people like this here. Misha is very smart, he knows but is unwilling to say it."

At this moment, Adela was still arranging the documents neatly for Speransky. After hearing this, he also said: "Some people with noble status are always misappropriating property, even if there is a will. And His Majesty’s edict is also difficult to stop.”

"It is indeed true, so there should be legislation. The trust that Misha established is good. This time I am going to convene a group of economic experts for the financial industry and ask the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice to jointly discuss legislation."

It didn’t matter if he didn’t say it clearly. Speransky felt that this girl was very smart. She and Solovyov were masters, servants and siblings, and they were young and beautiful. Even those young ladies from Petersburg’s upper class and social ladies were not necessarily the same. Better than her.

He still remembers that when he came down from a secret committee meeting, his old boss Kochubei joked to him, saying that although Solovyov was not like Prince Alexander Kuragin, he paid great attention to quality.

Look at Adela again. For such a girl, Solovyov really regards her as his sister. He should teach her a lot on weekdays and study by himself.

If she was not housekeeping at home, but went to the salon with her family, there might be many dandies pursuing her, and then she would be slapped in the face.

After all, these gangsters really can't hold much in their heads.

"That's good. What if there was a civil code from my brother and uncle?"

"I am also considering this, but there are some ideas that may be shocking to Russia. Adela, you are a French girl. You have seen Paris when you were sensible, but now you are in Russia."

These two people were strange. Adela's hands never stopped, while Speransky was reading a new document.

"Here we come to the point. If we want to protect our property, I think it will be good for the nobles. Your brother likes to cut sausages and infiltrate bit by bit. Prince Alexander Saltykov will probably use a bunch of fancy words to distract his opponent. Forget about Count Nesherrodi. Your brother is friends with him. Have you noticed his situation?"

"According to my brother, everything is fine except that he blindly worships Metternich."

"This is probably the problem. In our diplomacy in Europe, we naturally have to be close to Berlin and Vienna. However, the other party's attitude depends not only on the monarch, but also on these ministers. Although I have been in the Ministry of Justice, I also know their situation. This Metternich is a difficult guy to deal with, and he will attack any political opinion he disagrees with."

Speransky is considered to be an open liberal, Solovyov is a hidden liberal, and as for Stroganov and the Tsar himself, it is even more lively.

On the contrary, Russia, which seems to be the most autocratic, has now become the base camp of liberals.

Speransky chatted with Adela again. After reading the three documents in his hand, it was Solovyov's turn to translate the manuscript.

"Adela, what are the contents here?"

"It is the experience of the merchant group's visit to China, and some collected information, including the appointment and dismissal of his officials by the Chinese emperor, two essays by students taking the civil service examination, and some notices. There is a key article in it, which is the edict of the Chinese emperor allowing our merchants to operate in Guangzhou after offering the "tribute". The note below says that it should be sent to Guangzhou quickly through the postal system."

"Is this true? I have to take a look. It seems to be Golovkin's problem, otherwise there would not be so much trouble."

Speransky had received a letter before, which was handed over to Alexander I by the French missionary of the Jesuit Order in Beijing.

Although he is only the acting Minister of Justice now, his actual official position is still the Deputy Minister of Justice. In fact, in the administrative system, he is already second to none.

In the upcoming committee reform, Alexander has already nominated Speransky to be the Secretary of State, but the parties involved don't know it yet.

He is still looking at these translated manuscripts. Solovyov's translation is fine, and he even compares the names of the official positions, which makes it easier for Russian officials to read.

"Misha is indeed talented in this area, but I don't know what these Chinese characters mean?"

Speransky doesn't understand Chinese, and he is also puzzled by the string of abrupt words.

"It's my brother's signature. He calls himself this. It should be the translation of his current position into Chinese. I just don't know why it's so long."

"Maybe he has some sense of humor. He has always been like this."

After all, not everyone can write such a title. It is simply a pre-translation of the Qing Dynasty's translation of the British army's positions during the Opium War.

Second rank, Minister of Sanzhi, Assistant to the Minister of the Imperial Guard, Second-class General, Second-class Brave Baturu.

This string is long enough, Speransky is a little dizzy, anyway, he can't understand it.

"Misha wants to give me this document. Should I submit it to the emperor?"

"That's what I mean. But it's okay for you to work at home. If you work in front of His Majesty, he will pay attention to details. My brother has his sister-in-law to take care of him. He is usually very careful. But you are like this, which really makes people worry."

"Yes, it seems so. When His Majesty is working, the documents are always very neat."

In fact, Speransky also knew it.

"How about this? I'm helping with the housekeeping. Moscow is sending relatives to help. These days I have to help my sister-in-law deliver gifts to relatives to Moscow. When the relatives are familiar with the family affairs, I should go to my brother. Really, Brother Mishka is good in everything, but he likes to flirt with women. Well, that's probably it. I told him at that time that I would come to help you clean the room. You actually need a private secretary, just like Mr. William Pitt Jr."

"Good girl, you still know Mr. Pitt Jr."

"Brother showed me his profile card and said that this guy's constituency is actually Appleby. I don't know what he means, but that's it. And you should eat on time."

Adela took out the pocket watch from her arms. This was Solovyov's birthday gift to her this year. It was very exquisite and inlaid with turquoise.

It is indeed rare for a girl to pay so much attention to time.

As for her liking the housekeeper so much, it is also a strange thing that she has not married yet.

However, Speransky did not ask in detail, but felt that he had fallen into the rhythm of this girl.

Adela looked at the time and then showed it to Speransky.

"It's time to eat. Adela, if you have nothing to do, you can eat here."

"Well, I see you are like this. If you go back and tell your brother, he will be worried. You know? He looks tough and ruthless when fighting outside, but he is actually a thoughtful person at home."

"This is not surprising. I am a civil servant and work eighteen hours a day. Doing things is one aspect, but there are also some things that cannot be said."

"Sometimes you overlook some details, Mikhail Mikhailovich, such as cuffs and the position of the medal. Because you are so talented, you may forget some places, which is inevitable. After all, many of my brother's friends are like this."

Speransky just smiled, and he did not take any further action.

As for the rest of the things, it was simple, just eating.

Soloviev was also strange at home. Normally, Adela would go to deliver a document, even if she started from the manor, and she would be back in the afternoon.

If she was in a hurry, she would ask the driver to speed up, and she didn't come back until the evening that day.

"Adela, what did you do today?"

"I completed the task you assigned, brother. It's just Mr. Speransky. He is indeed very capable, but sometimes he likes to ignore some problems. I helped him clean the room, organize the documents in the office, and have lunch. In the afternoon, I helped him organize the library. I came back after finishing all the work."

"Ah, this is interesting. No wonder you have been away for so long, but Adela, what do you think of him?"

"You mean"

"It's Mikhail Mikhailovich. He is also a famous figure, and he is the de facto Minister of Justice. He is a favorite of the emperor and so talented."

"I am now I haven't thought about this yet. Brother, don't always think about me getting married. There are still many things at home that I am worried about. You asked me to go to General Yermolov before. The fat general is a good man, but he is always worried that he has little property and will treat the girl who may marry him badly. As for other people, it's the same. Brother, if you really want me to choose a husband, you'd better wait and see. "

"You really don't consider it?"

The brother and sister like to observe details. Solovyov can find that Adela is interested in Speransky, at least admires his talent. In this regard, Adela probably only has similar expressions towards himself and Count Pavel.

But he and Count Stroganov are both married people. Besides, he is Adela's brother. If Adela looks at Count Pavel, she is probably still crazy about him - there is no more handsome middle-aged man in Petersburg than that count.

The only problem is that Speransky looks too old. At the age of 37, he looks like a ginger stick. He can't send a chariot yet.

As for this matter, let's wait and see. (End of this chapter)