Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

When the topic of North American colonization, especially on the west coast, came up, Solovyov became quite animated.

However, as the governor of Crimea, he couldn't possibly go there.

If the colony is to be developed, it is essential to establish good relations with the local natives.

The Russians' missionary tendencies were relatively weak, only compared to those in Western Europe.

In places even more primitive than grassland tribes, missionaries are very useful. As long as they have some skills, they can quickly establish themselves in the tribes.

As long as they don't slack off like they do in Beijing, it will always be effective.

Of course, there was also some element of the show's effect, namely that the Russians were still at war with some indigenous tribes in the northwest region.

Lazarev's elder brother was currently active on the west coast of North America and in Kamchatka, but he would not be able to report back to the Minister of the Navy until he returned to St. Petersburg at the earliest.

Solovyov, sitting here, actually has his own understanding of what needs to be done in Russian North America.

After the reception in Tsarskoye Selo ended, the Solovyov family left Alexander Palace and prepared to go to the villa arranged for them in Tsarskoye Selo.

The reason they didn't go to their own estate was because it was too far away, and the Empress Dowager had too many activities there recently. It was also impossible to commute between St. Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo, and the current trains didn't have the ability to run in both directions and guarantee punctuality.

Solovyov had no time to mourn the death of General Konovnitsyn before his son came to visit him at home.

“Petya, sit there. Your father was a good comrade-in-arms who fought alongside us throughout the entire game. Due to my personal schedule, I was unable to visit your home to pay my respects.”

“Mikhail Sergeyevich, this is the reason I have come to you.”

Solovyov's lips curled up like a fox's.

There were simply too many Decembrists, and he didn't have a list in hand. Even those who studied this probably didn't have the ability to remember all the more than one hundred who were sentenced, the more than two hundred who were not actively involved and therefore acquitted, and the dozens who participated but were only given lenient treatment.

Unless this person has direct internet access in their mind and can look up all these people's names one by one.

Pyotr Konovnitsyn was the eldest son of the late general, and for Solovyov, he was also the son of a comrade-in-arms from Borodino.

"Alright, Mishka, this is a matter for the children. I think you should know that Lisa can get engaged when she's a little older."

"Lisa is still too young."

"But she looks older than girls her age, especially in height."

Solovyov looked at Katya, then at himself. It seemed that neither he nor his wife were very tall, but their eldest daughter was quite a height.

Although she's only fourteen now, if she still has some childishness and the mischievousness of a child her age, people would probably believe she's eighteen.

“Well, there are bound to be some issues. Petya, we need to think about this. We'll consider it when my daughter is of the right age. You can still come to my house, just like before.”

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Mikhail Sergeyevich, but I have some questions about what you mentioned in your manuscript."

"Katya, did you show my manuscript to Petya?"

"Yes, the young people in St. Petersburg all say that your manuscripts are a treasure trove of knowledge. Among the unpublished content, there are bound to be some insightful observations."

"Which part are you looking at?"

"There are poetry sections, historical research on the Cossacks and the Golden Horde, and commentary on British workers."

Solovyov had always stayed away from the several coups that occurred in St. Petersburg. When Paul was assassinated, he had left the Tsar's side and been transferred to the Crown Prince's office. He did not do much, only followed Alexander's instructions and eventually suppressed the rebel resistance.

The troublesome thing is that Alexander's ambiguous attitude led to his father's death.

In the future, Solovyov himself stayed away from any political conflicts in St. Petersburg, whether they were reformist or conservative backlashes.

In addition, his principles in doing things, and the fact that he would borrow his manuscripts when guests visited, earned him a good reputation among all factions.

Arakcheyev was less a member of the conservatives and more a lackey of the Tsar, carrying out his will.

He believed that Solovyov's approach would enrich the country and strengthen its military, so he did not interfere with him.

Even if he modified the military settlements into something that would confuse Arakcheyev himself, the count wouldn't care what he did.

Someone like Balasov might have manipulated things because Solovyov was also a favorite of Solovyov and because of his marriage ties with Speransky.

However, considering the royal family's attitude and the fact that the future heirs all had good relationships with him, Balasov couldn't do anything but watch the Solovyov family wander around, including Pasha and the Seventh Princess in the greenhouse, where the children, not knowing any better, started kissing.
As for the liberal and radical officers, they always treated him as one of their own.

However, he never made a public statement, and the manuscripts he kept at home could only be borrowed here and could not be taken out.

After seeing these contents, Konovnitsyn Jr. was probably able to deduce that he was a member of the Salvation League.

According to people in St. Petersburg, he is probably a relatively moderate member of the Northern Association, whose main focus is on advocating for a constitutional monarchy. However, some radical elements might pose a threat to their senior.

It would be a shame to send all these people to Siberia; they might be able to play a better role elsewhere.

For example, the North American colonies and the Gambian trading posts, in addition to other Russian territories acquired in exchange.

Solovyov was somewhat driven by personal motives here, not only for his daughter's lifelong happiness but also out of a sense of responsibility to his old comrade's son.

In addition, Miloradovich is also involved. Although Solovyov and Bagration spent more time together, there was a bond between them when they were brothers.

Moreover, it is indeed a waste to send valuable talents to Siberia to dig potatoes, work as loggers and miners.

Being a construction worker is still at least a skilled job.

Those December lads, their family background speaks for itself.

Solovyov didn't say much; they were all either rich or noble, or at the very least, their families had served in the military for generations.

He naturally had some things to consider, but he casually asked young Konovnitsyn, "What do you think His Majesty should do if he wants to develop the American territories?"

"Your Majesty, do you intend to develop the Americas?"

“Yes, the American Territory. If the tax rate hadn’t been so high, the Americans probably wouldn’t have become independent by now. Petya, I’d like to hear the opinion of a young person like you.”

“Mikhail Sergeyevich, if it were up to me, it would be better to settle the freed serfs there, form villages and towns there, and then establish reliable alliances with those native tribes.”

"If that's the case, then we'll probably need to send people there to manage it. These officials nowadays are unwilling to go to Siberia for their posts, even though the profits from trade with the Chinese emperor could help them get promoted."

He was right. Solovyov's brother Vasily had gone there, and Speransky had just returned from there after ending his semi-exile.

The climate in the American Territory was probably better, because the Spanish outposts near Roseburg were now in disarray, with many areas actually being encroached upon by Native American tribes, and even the Russian outpost in Roseburg expanding, buying land from Chief Seattle, and engaging in tribal trade in the Northwest Territory.

Their territory expanded, trade increased, and their population grew, with even expelled indigenous tribes coming to live there.

This all needs to be managed, but very few nobles in St. Petersburg are willing to visit this place.

Solovyov asked Konovnitsyn the question, and he answered quite readily.

"If someone really needs to go, it might be a good option."

"But you also have to consider my daughter. Russian girls, after they get engaged, their hearts go with their fiancés, and they don't know where they'll go next."

Solovyov said this with the consequences in mind.

Little Konovnitsyn had not yet noticed his attitude, but indicated that he was willing to go to those places.

If we were to reconstruct history, the sons of the generals who participated in the war in 1812 would generally have been placed under house arrest or exiled to the Caucasus. However, Konovnitsyn the Younger was very unlucky, as he died of cholera on his way back from the Caucasus.

If he had gone to Siberia, his situation would have been even worse than it was then.

But going to the Americas is a long journey.

However, the area does need to be managed, and may even require a military presence.

Russia's colonial activities in the Americas have historically involved relatively little armed conflict. Although there have been conflicts with the indigenous peoples, they have not been as violent as those of the Americans, who frequently engaged in large-scale battles during their westward expansion.

Overall, the arrival of Europeans, especially the most unethical of the British, was a testament to their actions. They even took care of the Iroquois tribal alliance, which was on the same side as them, by allowing them to seek refuge in Canada. Their future misdeeds are another matter, but for this time they were relatively considerate.

The presence of troops was primarily to guard against westward-migrating tribes. It's important to know that the Sioux people migrated from the Great Lakes region, and their former adversaries were likely quite powerful, forcing them to retreat to the sacred mountain of Lakota.

Fights are inevitable, but if the other side wants to smoke, that's another matter.

"No matter where we go, I will take good care of Lisa. You can rest assured about that, Mikhail Sergeyevich."

“I’m not that much older than you. If I had married earlier, Pasha would probably be about your age.”

Well, this brings us to his impressive achievements outside the marriage. He had several children before getting married, including Polina's second son, Giuseppe.

Indeed, they are about the same age as him, or even a bit older.

Solovyov stroked the teacup himself. It was a gift from the Jiaqing Emperor, and he used it with great care when serving guests.

“Petya, don’t tarnish your father’s reputation. He was a hero; French cannonballs wouldn’t make him flinch. We went through Borodino together until we went abroad to fight, when I led my troops alone to the Prussians. If you fail in this one thing, if you back down in the face of difficulties, as the son of General Konovnitzen, and possibly my future son-in-law, you must uphold your honor for both families, do you understand?”

He now understood what Andrei meant by the old duke's attitude.

"Don't worry, Mikhail Sergeyevich, I will continue down the path I have chosen."

"Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back; you have to take responsibility for what you do."

Solovyov patted him on the shoulder, put the teacup down, and didn't say anything more.

As for the remaining time, it was Katya, his "little mother-in-law," who gave him instructions.

There's no way around it; Katya's age is probably considered older than many generals' sons, and calling her "auntie" would make her seem old.

She's only 31 years old, and looks like she's in her early twenties. If it weren't for having so many children, which makes her look fuller, especially her impressive bust, she would probably look even younger.

Solovyov didn't notice that his wife had a lot of complaints about her future son-in-law.

Katya gave him many instructions, but Solovyov ignored them.

However, the proposals given to Alexander also included exiling political prisoners to the Americas, and he even considered New Zealand.

Because the status of New Zealand is still very unclear.

Although the British claimed it as their colony, only a small number of people actually went to the island, and they often couldn't do much about the Maori.

It will take another ten years or so to control that area. First, a treaty will be signed, and then several decades will pass before the Maori people are forced to retreat back into the mountains.

Solovyov didn't care what the Tsar's attitude was when he saw the proposal.

He still has a lot to do, and the more troublesome thing is that all the older generation's great-aunts are coming back this year.

The three daughters of the next generation who were to get married were also unable to return because the eldest daughter married Crown Prince Pedro, who was busy establishing the country in Brazil. Given the long distance and this situation, he was unlikely to be able to come back.

Gustav V and Constantine's daughter did not join in the fun.

The other two sisters couldn't come back either. Among the twins, Polina was also preparing for a blind date, but her progress was being slowed down by her younger sister.

This is probably the most complete group of my aunts we've ever had when they came back; who knows what will happen in the future? (End of Chapter)