Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 151 008 Alexander asked Solovyov to organize a military band
Solovyov had a very strong skill, which was that he was like a song-ordering machine. Maria was always pestering him to help her with playing some musical instruments and singing, and he also tinkered with the music scores himself.

Because of this, Alexander felt that he could not be prevented from sitting there doing nothing, so he called him over.

Count Stroganov had not been at the palace for the past few days, so Solovyov had been unable to discuss dangerous matters with him.

But if Alexander assigned him a task and summoned him at this time, the other party would always know that he had the ability, but what was he going to do?

"Soloviev, I've known for a long time that you can do anything, but there is one thing that I need you to manage now."

Alexander was sitting behind the desk. Fortunately, he was not wearing sunglasses, otherwise he would have looked a bit like Commander Ikari.

Solovyov felt that doing some things was not a bad thing. While working for the crown prince, he could also take a look at what was happening to facilitate his investigation.

"Your Highness, what are your orders?"

"I remember you helped Maria memorize music and folk songs. I think you should understand music, right, Solovyov?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"I want to set up a military band in the Guards, and I want you to go there and see it."

Solovyov laughed inwardly, but could not show it. He always claimed that I had received professional training and could not laugh. At this time, he could only bow to show his agreement.

"I am very happy to serve Your Highness. However, forming a military band is not only about playing music on formal occasions, but also involves performances."

Alexander didn't like to talk too much, so when Solovyov was about to start his extra-long chant, he would be interrupted.

"Okay, go ahead and do this job."

He knew that Solovyov had composed a "French-style" song before, and for some reason it was named "Bayonet Advance", so he knew that this guy with more comprehensive abilities could still do something in this area.

The Crown Prince was famous for his love of ostentation and enjoyment, so it was no wonder that his interests were so different from those of Louisa, who lived a simple and quiet life.

So he wanted to set up a military band. The official military band of the Russian Imperial Army did not appear until 1882. Anyway, it was all done during the "Alexander" period, and it was not very famous. Solovyov was most familiar with the Red Banner and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Russian music groups.

But if he is asked to do this job, an officer who has fought in wars should do it. If someone else is asked to do this, he might be asked to let Zhang Fei do the embroidery.

He still accepted the mission, but this was to go out and do activities instead of staying in the palace.

Alexander's adjutant was not subject to so many restrictions and was relatively free to move around. It was precisely because of this that he was able to go out and meet Count and Countess Stroganov.

"That's about it. The first task His Highness gave me was to form a military band."

The Earl also shook his head after hearing this. He and the Crown Prince were good friends and he had seen this prince do things on a whim many times.
"I can help you with this, but for the military band, the training must be in accordance with the emperor's requirements, and the annual vacation is limited. The band members have many performance tasks and personal social activities. I'm afraid some people don't want to go."

By the way, it must also be strictly regulated according to the requirements of the military.

"It's not like they are being asked to go to the battlefield. Their duties are definitely different. But I came here because I have something else I want to say."

"What do you want to say?"

"I think someone might be plotting something in Petersburg, but if I want to investigate, my personal strength is not enough."

Count Stroganov had heard rumors, but they were not clear, and he was not a secret policeman. Moreover, he and his son were trusted by the Empress and Tsar Paul, and this honor would also continue to the heirs of the Russian royal family.

"Don't be impatient. If someone really wants to murder the emperor, or if something serious happens in Petersburg, many people will be sent to the guillotine!"

The Count said this more or less casually, as he was a former Jacobin.

"I just felt it from the personnel arrangements of the guards officers around the emperor. Logically speaking, it is impossible to transfer me out because my qualifications are not enough. Moreover, the security work around the emperor has always been arranged directly by me. That day in the Little Winter Palace, when Count von Palen and General Tarejin asked the emperor to close the trap door leading to the queen's bedroom, I became suspicious."

After hearing this, Stroganov became more cautious. Originally, when the two of them were chatting, they were in a small reception room in the name of appreciating art works without their entourage.

"If you suspect me without any reason, you might be accused of making a false accusation. Misha, what should you do if that happens?"

"That's why I want to investigate. You are His Highness's confidant, and I want to seek your help."

Count Stroganov also felt that something was wrong with the current situation. Various rumors were circulating in the social circles, and so many coups had taken place in Europe in the past decade or so. It was not surprising that an assassination or even a coup d'état would occur in St. Petersburg, and there were precedents.

The count himself was actually opposed to the coup. He advocated that Russia should gradually carry out all-round political reforms while ensuring the stability of the government. If this could not be done, Russia would one day become like France.

"Don't worry. If you hand it over to Prince Kurakin, he may not accept the case unless my father comes forward. Let me ask the servants in the mansion to inquire. But on your side, I remember that you have a few trustworthy Guards officers around you. How about looking for them?"

"I think so too. If something really happens, I don't know which of the five major guards regiments will be in trouble."

Since Peter the Great, it has been very important to win the support of the Guards officers and soldiers in St. Petersburg, but Paul is a bit different. He is very popular among the soldiers.

Count Stroganov's idea was to tell Alexander at the right time and to investigate it carefully.

He did not know that Count von Paalen had tried to sow discord in front of Alexander many times, but never showed his hand, because most of the confidants around Alexander were the sons of some of Paul's confidants and old friends. If these people knew about it, the old fathers who did not participate in the conspiracy would probably get information that would endanger their old friends and monarchs through their sons. The Stroganov family had a high status in Petersburg, and even if their current positions were not taken into account, they could be guaranteed to be wealthy and idle for more than a hundred years, and they would not be involved in such a conspiracy.

Solovyov, for his part, was against the conspiracy, and the count himself was taking the rumors into account.

What he thought of was that there must be sufficient evidence before he could present it to let Paul and Alexander know about the incident.

The investigation was secretly launched in Petersburg in February 1801. The count himself would attend a reception of Count von Palen. He often participated in such activities on weekdays, and rarely talked to the count. He would observe from his actions in social occasions.

As for the specific actions, the servants of the Count's Mansion could often meet people from Count von Palen's Mansion on the streets of St. Petersburg. It was impossible for the conspiracy group to conspire in dark corners with just a few people every time. They might still have to hold a banquet. As long as they knew who came, they would be able to grasp some of the situation.

It is possible that some of the Guards officers got drunk, but they knew who Solovyov's acquaintances or friends were, so they would be more careful, after all, he had just done it once in Peterhof Palace last time.

Solovyov also has to pay attention to the situation these days and complete this ostentatious task given to him by Alexander.

Count von Paalen's secret operation has now begun to recruit young officers to participate in the operation. Their ultimate goal is to launch a surprise attack on Paul himself on March 3th of the Julian calendar. However, many of the newly recruited officers do not know that what they are going to do in the end is regicide, and those who had previously recruited generally believe that it would be more appropriate for Paul to abdicate.

The count now realized how powerful his eloquent mouth was, as he had brought Count Panin into the conspiracy. Once he changed his position, it would not be easy for von Paalen to be a non-stick pan, so he had no choice but to decide to do it himself.

Now he recruited two commanders of the Guards Cavalry Regiment, but he did not realize that there were many children of nobles in the regiment. Their fathers were brought up by the two old marshals Suvorov and Kamensky. These two people had been enemies all their lives, but these generals were generally extremely loyal to the Tsar.

Among them was a poet named Davydov, who had just joined the Guards and met the young Count Bludov in a cafe, which happened to be downstairs from Solovyov's house.
Sometimes, Solovyov himself would come to the cafe, but he preferred lemon soda and would always drink two large glasses in a row at the bar.

He saw the young Davydov sitting at the table behind him, talking to a friend.

When Solovyov's attention was focused, he heard some clues: "Recently Uvarov and Yankovich de Miliyevo"

Although he heard the content intermittently, it still made him alert.

"Davydov, I didn't expect you to be here. How about going to the Horse Guards?"

"I'm fine Major Solovyov, where are you now?"

"Some time ago, I was in the First Battalion of the Pu Regiment, where I had the important responsibility of protecting the emperor. Now, His Majesty has transferred me from the New Palace to serve as an aide-de-camp to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"That's good. It's hard work to march in formation in front of the emperor all day. You've been the commander of the First Battalion the longest, and you can be transferred out. Others are more likely to be caught with minor problems."

"Don't dare to neglect it! Davydov, you just mentioned the two commanders of the Guards Cavalry Regiment. What did they do?"

"They have been visiting Count von Paalen's house quite often recently. Sometimes we can see General Tarezin and some other people. We are curious about what they do all day long."

Solovyov knew the answer, but for now it was just a guess after he quickly went through all the known information in his mind. That is, these people from the Guards went to Paul's trusted ministers without reporting it in advance or afterwards. There must be some ulterior motive.

In this case, we need to collect evidence later.

"Who knows, sometimes the old guys want to party."

"Perhaps so, but you are an expert in translating oriental literature here, and we should discuss oriental poetry. The poems of the female poet you translated are very interesting."

Solovyov himself had forgotten this. He was the famous "Hussar Poet" in Davydov's poems. He was both literary and martial. Although his appearance was a bit rough, his poetry level was not low.

He still had to deal with it here, after all, his home was upstairs. In fact, these four floors were his own place, and it was not far from the Mikhailovsky Palace.

Many officers from various guards regiments come here to drink coffee or tea.

".So that's it. I can explain the general meaning to you. Chinese characters are very wonderful. Although they are difficult to master, they can have many wonderful meanings when used."

"If I have the chance, I will definitely visit you for advice."

"Davydov, you probably don't need to come to my house, because you are downstairs in my house now."

Davydov himself did not expect this. After all, few people knew what Solovyov's private life was like. Even if they knew where his home was, it was probably the old house in Laundry Lane as he had mentioned before, just west of the Moika Canal.

"So that's how it is. Then it will be easier for us to visit them!"

"But I have a stepmother and younger sister at home, and women are easily disturbed. My stepmother is pregnant again recently."

Although Davydov looked so rough, he was very polite and understood what he meant when he heard this.

"I know that sometimes the women in the family also need a quiet life. If there is a chance in the future, we can organize a literary club. Although you are doing translation work, your choice of words is very exquisite. I hope that when there is a chance, you will also come to our place to participate in activities."

There were many liberal and enlightened young aristocrats in Davydov's society. In the later period of the literary society, Pushkin also joined the society after graduating from high school.

"But I have a lot of work on hand. If there is an opportunity, I will go, and maybe I can bring some real works."

(End of this chapter)