Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

On the afternoon of the return of Grand Duke Constantine, Tsar Paul heard reports from the Grand Duke himself and Komarovsky in his office.

"Now that this is the case, I think the facts are clear. However, before our generalissimo comes back, we still need to convene a military committee. Constantine, you need to bring your adjutants to participate, and we need to discuss the situation in Italy and Switzerland’s gains and losses. In addition, in the coming spring, a review military exercise will be conducted at the Gatchina training ground according to the battlefield layout. "

Let’s not talk about whether Tsar Paul’s prescription was correct, at least there was nothing wrong with his diagnosis of the problems in the army. If he was not born into the Russian royal family, but into an ordinary aristocratic family, he might have grown up to be an expert in organizing army troops, and his performance after going to the battlefield still had to be determined.

In this regard, he must be better than the Crown Prince Alexander. His heir is a long-sleeved person who is good at dancing, which is different.

As for the specific arrangements for the adjutants' places to go, they must also be arranged at this time.

Solovyov did not expect that he would be picked out first and stand in front of the Tsar.

"During the battle to cross the Po River, you jumped into the river to save Constantine without risking your own life. You didn't take your own life seriously!"

"Your Majesty, there was no time to think at that time. When those Italian boatmen attacked us, it was very sudden. When His Highness fell into the water, he was also in danger with one against two. As for the credit, more credit belongs to the Cossacks, who found a way to use The noose pulled His Highness and me up."

"Well, that's true. These Cossacks are all good. They will all be rewarded when the army returns home."

Although Paul was always surrounded by a group of jesters in the court, he still preferred to listen to the truth, and Solovyov was still very honest in front of him.

"As for you, Captain, you can't go unrewarded for your merits. Kutaisov, is there any precedent for an 18-year-old officer being promoted to major in the past?"

Kutaisov didn't expect that he still had something to do here, but as the Tsar's closest confidant, he, a guy who had been captured from Turkey, had to deal with such things, so he had to bite the bullet.

After all, Prince Saltykov went to the Diplomatic Academy to become a permanent affairs officer, so he had to attend to everything.

"I think so. A soldier who is so young, even if he is not a high-ranking noble, can hold a higher position because of his military exploits."

"Well, well, that's it. I wish to use you as an example of a loyal young officer, Major Solovyov."

Although the formal appointment has not yet come down, the Tsar himself is still very effective when speaking in the office. This is not talking nonsense after being drunk (of course Paul himself has always been self-disciplined and is unlikely to be drunk) or being happy while walking. A reward will be given.

"And where you want to go, I have already thought about it, and you will serve as the battalion commander of the First Battalion of my Guards Regiment. Although the commander of this battalion is often a colonel or even a general, I don't like that very much. Talyzin’s arrangement in the regiment, even though he is Prince Kuragin’s cousin.”

Paul himself did not know that Guards Lieutenant General Pyotr Alexandrovich Talyzin, whom he regarded as a confidant and the leader of the core regiment of the Guards, had actually participated in the conspiracy against him. among.

As for the 1st Battalion of the General Regiment, the soldiers can be said to be the best of the best. The requirements for daily service are very strict. The Tsar himself may be a little tolerant of the soldiers, but he is extremely strict with the young officers. This position is a hot butt position.

But Solovyov had no right to refuse, and the Tsar himself even began to write down the appointment in French. This was an irrevocable order.

"The best young officer has made four meritorious service on the battlefield and commanded the troops to capture the enemy's commander-in-chief alive. This is enough. When I was 18 years old, I could not do anything in the palace! Where are you going? What also serves as a role model for them is that you are the last official 'disciple' of the Generalissimo, and others will not reveal your identity."

After Paul said this, he obviously did not intend to let Solovyov go elsewhere. In the Guards Regiment, the officers of the 1st Battalion of the General Regiment had already changed a batch, and the soldiers were all selected by Paul himself. These Guards The soldiers are loyal, but the officers are young aristocrats who are always undisciplined. For them, participating in social activities in Petersburg and pursuing noble ladies and beautiful girls may be business.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I, Guards Major Mikhail Solovyov, am at your disposal at any time."

"But use your head, like some people, who are willing to use their own lives to defend their emperor. Now go and get the uniform of a major of the Guards, and ask the regimental adjutant, Captain Algamakov, to go with you I'm afraid he was very envious when he saw you like this! When I promoted him to be the adjutant of the legion, he was crying all the time and couldn't even say a word."

Truly a typical Russian chameleon, Solovyov left the Tsar's office, and under the leadership of the captain, went to the military quarters of the Guards Regiment to change into clean clothes. It was still very important to keep his disguise tidy. There were not a few people coming to the dance at the Winter Palace in the evening.

You also need to wear medals and rings awarded by Tsar Paul for those who have made military achievements. Even some soldiers and servants will receive this ring. Even the loyal old servant of the Grand Marshal has received one as a reward to the Grand Marshal.

"It looks good, Misha. Except that you are too young, you became a major of the Guards at the age of 18. It seems that there is no difference between you and other Guards battalion commanders. Our previous unlucky battalion commander lost his position in front of the emperor because he did not pay attention to his appearance. That is to say, he was expelled from our "His Majesty the Emperor's Guards Regiment" and became the battalion commander of the Grenadiers Regiment."

"To the regiment I came from?"

"That's it, Misha."

The captain was very active when he spoke. He was still satisfied with the position given to him by Paul. As adjutants of the Guards Regiment, he and his brother could freely enter and exit the defense zone of the Guards in the palace and all areas except the Tsar's own bedroom.

"He is so unfortunate, knowing that the emperor has the strictest requirements for regulations."

The Tsar himself is an expert in this area. He is familiar with all military regulations and judicial provisions. If he falls into his hands, he can be transferred horizontally. It was the unlucky battalion commander who had served well in the past. The Tsar took into consideration that he had never made any mistakes in the Guards and got rid of him. If it were someone else, direct dismissal would be the least serious.

And Solovyov looked in the mirror himself, looking at the uniform of the major of the Guards, as well as the newly changed boots and military cap. After taking a shower, it would be better to put on some men's cologne - of course, he loves cleanliness, which is an important reason why Paul always chooses him.

He has not done his homework in this regard. From the first time he was seen by the Tsar, he was favored by the Tsar who was a bit of a clean freak. Appearance is still very important.

As for when they met the Dolgorukov brothers again in the palace, they also smiled when they saw this person.

"Misha, you have made it big. Now you can wear the uniform of a major of the Imperial Guards. Not bad, really good."

The hussar looked at his friend's clothes and turned back to talk to his brother.

"Biejia, we can't compare to him. He really earned his honor on the battlefield."

The two princes, one is a major general of infantry and a general of chamberlain, and the other is a lieutenant colonel of hussars, but both of them got to the top by virtue of their prominent family background and their fathers being close ministers of the Tsar himself.

Unlike the ordinary noble children who just get by, they are both very motivated and are very popular in social circles, but they both maintain the elegant demeanor of young masters.

"It was really hard to go out this time. We fought for half a year, but I don't know what to say about the stupid Austrians. If our Grand Marshal, Alexander Vasilyevich, wrote to the emperor to tell him what our allies did, it would be even more exciting! But he has always only cared about the current war situation and was unwilling to interfere too much in the affairs of the court. The written reports he wrote are still in the headquarters in Prague. Really, when Your Highness comes back."

"Don't say anything if you have any, but I heard that you are very proud over there."

Hussars are still a bit unserious. Officers of this type of army are more or less easily led astray. Prince Mikhail Dolgorukov mentioned the few days when Solovyov had a good time in Milan.

"Although I am a little proud, it is a long-term thing. The girl is not bad, but unfortunately she is from the branch of the Duke of Visconti. Her status is not comparable to that of a son of a squire like me. Besides, we can go to many places in our lifetime, but I don't know if I can go to Italy again."

"I just know what Italian girls are like?"

"Very good, but you still need to go to Italy and experience it yourself. I remember you went to Greece. What is it like there?"

"I traveled to Greece. When I was in Laconia, some old Greek soldiers there said that they were my father's subordinates there. They surrounded me and told me a lot. But I didn't experience what Greek girls are like. After all, it's all rural, and there is no dancing. There are no meetings or receptions, and you won't meet noble ladies. The girls you meet are all from the village, and their big feet are so impressive. "

"Achilles was shot by a poisonous arrow, and you can find the prototype?"

"You said that, but you can come to the Guards, and we will have more opportunities to meet in the future. After all, the grenadiers are not under the jurisdiction of the Guards headquarters. If there is anything, we will call you. After all, the emperor has assigned you to the 1st Battalion this time, which is the core team of the Guards. You really have to do a good job. "

The pressure is still not small. The daily task of the 1st Battalion of the General Regiment is to guard the palace. This kind of service is performed most by the 1st Battalion among all the regiments, and there is little time for rest.

"That's it, but who's coming to the ball tonight?"

"His Highness's return is like a 'small triumph', and all the nobles in Petersburg will be there. Even your father and stepmother will come, and they'll feel honored to see you like this. Your father, Sergei Osipovich, is a good manager, and our partnership is profitable. It's not easy to find someone like him who can talk and make good connections in Moscow."

"That is our family's 'family craft'. My grandfather and four brothers serve Prince Menshikov, so we still have to pay attention to this aspect. However, my father always said that although I am smart, he is not But I can’t learn his skills. If I want to add a younger brother, I can learn his skills.”

"But how old was he at that time, and you didn't think about it?"

"It can't be helped. Since I have embarked on the path of becoming a Guards officer, I have to stay in the military camp."

"That's natural, and you are welcome to join our Guards circle. Who could have imagined that such a day would come."

There are still many things that these two brothers can find out about in the palace, especially since they know the situation around the crown prince best.

It's not because of the Crown Princess, Solovyov doesn't have the courage now. After all, Alexander is destined to be the future Tsar. Tsar Paul loves him very much, but it depends on Alexander to continue.

The elusive personality of the crown prince really needs the help of these two good brothers he met in the salon.

Moreover, even those who don’t nap in history class and diligently search online should know that Paul’s two sons became czars, and there will be Nicholas I in the future.

If he could get it right, he might, like Count Bobulinsky's sons, get a long-term meal ticket to prosperity in Russia.

But at this time, he also thought that Tsar Paul was assassinated because he was "unpopular", and then Alexander came to power.

How did this “unpopularity” come about? From his perspective, although Tsar Paul was eager for quick success and strict in enforcing the law, he would remove officials from their posts at every turn. Even Generalissimo Suvorov was first demoted and then appointed, and was promoted to the pinnacle of Russia's commander-in-chief status.

He is not really "unpopular", at least in the circle Solovyov has entered now, whether nobles or civilians, officers or soldiers, and even serfs and Cossacks in the countryside, all love the tsar.

It was not staged, but a spontaneous endearment.

Of course, in the far east, it is impossible to know so much about the assassination of Tsar Paul. Knowing this matter already surpasses most people in terms of knowledge reserve.

It is also unlikely that Major Solovyov of the Guards knew that the commander and adjutant of the regiment were members of the conspiracy group, although they have not yet joined the gangs of Count von Palen and Count Zubov.