Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

The remaining noble officials to be dispatched will also need to be confirmed after the New Year.

The banquet was a joyous occasion.

Moreover, Emperor Jiaqing also noticed that the Russian delegation's guests did not discuss the dumplings at all.

After all, Russia also has Piroshki, which might even be filled with sweet peppers.

As for the vinegar, there's nothing strange about it; after all, Europeans get jealous too.

European vinegar, while also fermented, has a slightly different process.

Besides, Europeans also use their vinegar as a dipping sauce, so it's a kind of convergent evolution, convergent evolution.

After the banquet bestowed by Emperor Jiaqing, we will watch a play at Changyin Pavilion.

This performance is the Three Kingdoms play that Solovyov had previously proposed, a serialized version.

However, the Jiajing edition has 240 chapters, the Mao edition has 120 chapters, and with the surrounding legends and stories, it would take at least seventy or eighty scenes to film.

If we were to reconstruct the history, from the Daoguang era until before the eight model operas, there were already dozens of plays about the Three Kingdoms, and there were even innovations in modern times.

However, the final level of this skill will depend on the quality of the scriptwriting.

If it were to be shown in Europe, they might even have to film some Western-style plays.

However, there was no cultural exchange at this time, and the people were not very familiar with each other.

Although the Qing Dynasty had many flaws and was subject to much criticism, it did maintain a certain level of contact with Europe when it was at its peak. However, during the decline of the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods, the number of missionaries and translators was severely insufficient, which contrasted sharply with the increasing volume of foreign trade.

The outflow of silver was only the beginning at this point.

Therefore, in the Qing Dynasty, the material life was not too far worse than in the later period of Qianlong's reign.

After Emperor Jiaqing personally reviewed the script, the new play, adapted from the imperial plays performed during the Qianlong era, was staged at Changyin Pavilion.

If the script is included, the time would be far too long.

During festivals, it's also important to select a few locations.

So, in today's drama, the final result drawn was...
"Ganlu Temple!"

In fact, the story mentions Ganlu Temple from beginning to end, from the beginning when Liu Bei crosses the river to the end when he returns to Jingzhou.

There's quite a bit of drama involved here.

Emperor Jiaqing was also curious to see what other tricks Solovyov could pull.

As for the stage, a table was first set up to represent that Liu Bei had come by boat.

"What a beautiful river view!"

Well, if it were placed in the future, it would be "a dragon and a phoenix bringing good fortune".

As for the Three Kingdoms plays from the Qianlong era, there were also Kunqu opera versions.

Kunqu Opera is relatively elegant in comparison. Qinqiang Opera, for example, sometimes sounds like an argument, and the cursing is quite harsh, even though it has been modernized.

But it wasn't as cringeworthy as Lüju opera, which even featured the empress making pancakes.

No wonder Emperor Jiaqing opposed the vulgarity of Qinqiang opera; if he had seen "Guo Opera," he would probably have been shocked.

What are these things? Is Yang Silang shaking cockroach antennae over there?

Sometimes, the art that the masses love, after finally breaking free from its old ways, gets ruined again.

As for Jiaqing's subsequent performance, he believed that Solovyov had indeed mastered the skill and even possessed some appreciation for it.

"If Suo Qing were to perform on stage, what would that be like?"

“Your Majesty, this platform is a bit too large. I have read Ouyang Xiu’s articles and naturally understand the reasoning behind them.”

What was the final fate of Li Cunxu, the man who "captured tigers and leopards"?

If Li Keyong knew, he would prepare a thousand arrows for him.

It wasn't exactly embarrassing for Emperor Jiaqing to be advised by a foreign official.

Moreover, the other party's statement was already very subtle for a foreigner.

It doesn't explicitly say where it is, but it's actually Ouyang Xiu's "New History of the Five Dynasties".

As for the "Old History of the Five Dynasties," Emperor Zhangzong of the Jin Dynasty banned this book in the north. It was actually salvaged from the Yongle Encyclopedia during the Qing Dynasty.

The most valuable information that could be extracted from the Yongle Encyclopedia is actually found in the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries).

Moreover, the person in charge of copying the Yongle Encyclopedia was responsible for making the copying of the Yongle Encyclopedia, and also had to check other places to see what references were used.

The damage caused by the Yongle Encyclopedia may have been more serious than that caused by the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), which at least had its own separate volume. The Yongle Encyclopedia was simply copied from other books. Many of the original books were complete, but they were eventually scattered, and the Qing Dynasty scholars still had to make changes to them. Aside from the emperor possibly getting angry and ordering him to be executed, even the Qing scholars themselves were afraid and deliberately altered the text.

Old Ji also stuffed a lot of things into the parts that Emperor Qianlong wouldn't personally review, which is how some books were finally allowed to pass the test.

For works like the Old History of the Five Dynasties, which Emperor Qianlong himself did not order to be revised, but were revised by scholars in the Imperial Library, it is quite remarkable that most of them have survived.

There are still quite a few missing, but this is already more than enough.

Solovyov and Jiaqing were actually starting to talk about Li Cunxu, which was quite interesting.

As for the matter of Emperor Jin Zhangzong, Solovyov spoke without any reservations.

"The rise of the Qing dynasty outside the Great Wall was quite different from the southward advance of the Jin army."

As for this, we should follow Jiaqing's point of view and say that after Wanyan Aguda's death, even Emperor Taizong of Jin could not control his subordinates, which naturally brought about problems.

The Jin dynasty often failed to grasp the situation and treated the Southern Song dynasty as an easy target, ultimately leading to its complete annihilation.

"I also feel that Emperor Zhangzong of Jin's decision to ban one book while allowing another is inappropriate. If there are any errors or omissions, where can they be corrected?"

Incidentally, Emperor Jiaqing himself also mentioned that Emperor Qianlong had received a fake "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" painting.

Solovyov and Songjun had mentioned this before when they were at the Wuying Hall.

"That's inevitable. There are many categories among antiques. For example, some things look different in the previous dynasty and in the present dynasty. They may all be the same color, but the current ones are brighter and more vibrant, while some old pieces may not have the same luster."

Moreover, many of these technologies were eventually passed down.

Some techniques that were once lost can be revived by following certain processes, and some can even be developed.

For example, Ru ware was only successfully reproduced after the 50s.

Using agate would be quite difficult.

"What Suoqing said is about investigating things to gain knowledge, which can be called science. If we can open the kiln and make Ru porcelain, it may not be a bad thing."

However, Emperor Jiaqing himself preferred things that were rather formal and orderly. If the glaze of Ru ware could truly be recreated, it would naturally be a fortunate event. But Solovyov was there explaining science to him, and he was making porcelain.

"If His Majesty wishes to improve the kilns in Jingdezhen, we may be able to produce something new. As for tea making and silk reeling, machines can be used, and they can also be used for spinning in the future."

"If machines replace all human labor, many people will be idle and unable to make a living. Eventually, this will lead to unforeseen changes. Although you, Suo Qing, have lived abroad for a long time and are dedicated to the affairs of China, you do not truly understand the Celestial Empire."

When chatting with Solovyov, Jiaqing was able to relax and be at ease.

He envied the Tsar for having such a talented minister who was both a scholar and a warrior, and also very refined.

Compared to Fukang'an, who loved collecting animals, and Hailancha, who had killed countless enemies, Suoqing, though a Russian, was far too civilized and refined.

Even Mingrui, who covered the army's retreat and died in the Burma campaign, could probably only be compared to him in temperament, but they were far apart in their hobbies.

Of course, if Solovyov had been in the Qing Dynasty, he would probably have continued to be a cunning merchant, or he would have had to take the imperial examination route and wait for the right time to rise in the ranks.

Moreover, in the Qing Dynasty, officials naturally had to be more disciplined.

If you were to be targeted by an imperial censor, it would be a serious matter.

Solovyov felt that although Emperor Jiaqing was somewhat mediocre, he did have a lot on his mind.

Just as Wilhelm II wanted to raise workers' wages, Emperor Jiaqing also felt that using machines might lead to unemployment.

It can be seen as different manifestations of autocratic monarchy at different times; Prussia's constitutional government was just a constitution in name only.

"Your Majesty, if we have machinery, we can naturally gain more profits. Although we are a million canal workers whose livelihood depends on us, having a million people in one place inevitably consumes too much labor. If we can open up more land, and have workshops and factories, and the grain harvest is plentiful, then the country will be prosperous and the people will be happy."

Emperor Jiaqing listened and found it reasonable, but he did not accept it entirely.

In fact, Solovyov was doing the same thing in Russia.

He felt that if Russia had been given a different Emperor Jiaqing, who sat on his kang (a heated brick bed) as a ruthless machine for reviewing memorials (a war-damaged version, naturally inferior to Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong), perhaps Russia wouldn't have had so many problems.

Emperor Jiaqing's temper was much better than that of the emperor in his own prison; such an emperor was bound to win the love and respect of his ministers.

Paul's bad temper, on the other hand, would be more suited to renovating the Qing Dynasty, and he'd probably get used to killing people in a different environment.

Alexander, before the end of the war, was quite wise in diplomatic matters.

If there's no war and he's not allowed to engage in diplomacy, he'll start choosing difficult options.

With the prestige of defeating Napoleon, Alexander only needed to grit his teeth and be determined to carry out reforms, and no one would dare to stop him.

Then, he started to leave the game running in the background.

Even conservative imperialists like Arakcheyev sometimes felt anxious and helpless when they saw this situation.

Your Majesty, at least choose a path! Don't just stand there idling!

Even the idea of ​​having children has become less appealing since he broke up with the Polish woman.

If it were Emperor Jiaqing, even if he were still AFK, he would still see the situation and resolve it.

The song playing in Changyin Pavilion above describes how they have arrived at Ganlu Temple, where Qiao Guolao, the foremost Shu musician of Wu, is advising the Emperor.

At this crucial moment, Jiaqing and Solovyov's conversation finally came to an end.

However, while Solovyov was humming, the sounds of the stringed instruments and erhu above him were quite loud.

Unfortunately, there are no sound systems available now, so many of the singing styles are simply shouted out.

If you've listened to old records, you'll know that this happened to early artists when they first encountered recording equipment.

As for those singing on stage, they can only watch the excitement.

There's someone humming in the audience.

However, Solovyov's singing style, because of his voice, was somewhat seductive.

There's nothing we can do about it; he likes to play female roles, and that's just the nature of his voice.

As for the performance, the main attraction was the lively atmosphere.

The play had reached this point, a reunion drama watched during the Lunar New Year. In the end, no one was hurt, except that Zhou Yu got angry again.

He wasn't really that angry this time, but when he angered Zhou Yu a third time and then Zhuge Liang went to mourn him, he was finally confirmed to be dead.

Therefore, it is also suitable for performances during holidays and festivals, and Solovyov was quite satisfied after hearing this.

Ney was at the envoys' table, watching the fight in the back and finding it quite exciting. He also thought Zhang Fei's performance was impressive; he seemed like a fierce general.

In reality, he was, after all, a notary by training, so he was somewhat educated and frequented the theater.

After reading the general content translated by Nan Mide, I understood the meaning of today's play.

This is somewhat related to the alliance, so trade should be easier to discuss in the future.

In this way, although the Chinese emperor often allowed him to stay in a villa during the few months he was in Beijing, he did not receive him very often.

However, under the emperor's orders, his subjects treated him quite warmly, much better than Macartney's situation.

Moreover, Nan Mide also discovered that Ney was a decent person. Although he was an old subordinate of Napoleon and Moreau, he was at least a notary and a "cultured man" rather than a pure soldier, and he was the kind of person who would risk his life in battle.

As a result, the royalist missionaries also developed some acquaintances with the Imperial Marshal.

Everything went so smoothly, which was unexpected.

The envoys from various European countries had little to say except to complain about Beijing's location in the south, which made it even colder.

When entertaining guests, they serve only the freshest goods available in the market.

In addition, the gifts bestowed by the Qing emperors during these days were often very precious items used exclusively in the imperial palace.

The hospitality is so attentive; if an embassy is established in the future, the treatment might not be so generous.

In their view, apart from the Qing emperor's willingness to sign the latest trade treaty with them, there was not much difference between them and the missions sent to the Tatar emperor in ancient times.

But in a few days, they will find out what the final contents of the treaty that Emperor Jiaqing is going to give them will be.

At this moment, Solovyov was still taking advantage of the encore performance to mention his plans for returning home to Jiaqing.

It's like using the name of the Qing Emperor to go back and appease Ryukyu, and then negotiate with the Japanese. If that doesn't work, then resort to force.

Even Emperor Jiaqing thought he was too bold; how could such a thing be mentioned?

However, Solovyov was always bold; he planned things out before revealing them.

This time, it was to discuss with the Qing Dynasty emperor what to do on the return journey, and to come up with the plan in advance. (End of this chapter)