Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 156 013 Alexander's acting can win an Oscar

Count von Paalen thought a lot after he came back. He did realize that the 3rd Battalion of the Semenovsky Regiment was on duty on March 11, but the security mission of the Winter Palace was the 3nd Battalion of the Semenovsky Regiment. Although the count could influence the actions of the 2rd Battalion, there were no officers placed in the 3nd Battalion.

After all, arranging the royal family members in three palaces led to a strange phenomenon, as if the sons had to move out of the family when they reached adulthood. It also increased the security cost, as the three main regiments of the Guards needed to be stationed in three places to stand guard.

Then, because of the duty and command relationship, Count von Paalen himself noticed that he could not control the three palaces no matter which night it was. What's more, the Ismailov Regiment commanded by Grand Duke Constantine was a unit he managed and trained himself. No one from the conspiracy group could successfully intervene, but they only invited a few young officers to participate.

That's it, he also felt it was more appropriate. After all, there were two battalions each in the Semenovsky Regiment and the Putin Regiment, and they had already convinced the officers.

According to the latest memorandum, the conspirators need to guard against mainly the various Guards Cavalry Regiments and the Izmailov Regiment. The Guards Chasseurs and Guards Grenadiers outside the city, as well as the Pavlovsk Regiment inside the city, seem to be out of focus.

In this situation, the two main guards regiments had to be controlled. In addition, the soldiers were not allowed to know any details of the conspiracy. The remaining officers went to Paul's bedroom and forced him to sign the abdication decree. However, most people were unaware of the regicide, and even the Zubov brothers had not made up their minds to do so.

The planning on March 3th was mainly carried out in General Tarejin's apartment.

"We have now entered the final stage. The tyrant has discovered our actions. We should have taken action earlier today, but His Highness said that there is a performance in the palace today."

"Damn it, you're not going to do this just because there's a performance?" said Vladimir Iashvili from Georgia, a man with a reckless personality who might do anything terrible.

"That's what the Crown Prince said. We can't take any action today. Besides, the troops on duty today are all loyal to the tyrant. It's not easy to mobilize them."

"Even tomorrow, the 1st Battalion will be stationed in the palace as guards. It won't be easy to get them out!"

General Bennigsen was very calm. Now these officers were going to enter the Mikhailovsky Palace during the coup. They were equivalent to "commandos" and had to be divided into two groups.

"General Bennigsen, since you have raised this issue, there should be some solution."

"There is a review every morning at the Mikhailovsky Palace. It is always the 1st Battalion that carries out the mission. Wasn't it always like this when the kid battalion commander was here?"

After Bennigsen said this, Count von Paalen confirmed how to transfer the soldiers of the 1st Battalion.

"Pyotr Alexandrovich, you are the commander of the regiment, so you must send an adjutant for this."

"That's easy to do. As for using the fire alarm to attract the guards' attention, have you considered not to wake up the tyrant himself?"

"That is indeed a problem, but the previous alarm bells did not sound that loud in the bedroom, so it required servants and guards to remind us."

These people had been in the palace for a long time. The Mikhailovsky Palace's preventive measures were modeled after the Winter Palace's security measures. Even someone as hardworking and vigilant as Paul only heard one of the three alarms, which proved that it was still feasible.

As for other details, they are still plotting, but the final attack will be based on the call time in the invitation sent by Count von Paalen.

At the same time, Alexandre was at the concert hall at Kilometer 50, accompanying Paul himself to watch Madame Chevalier's performance.

He himself had a fierce ideological struggle. Some people in St. Petersburg were planning a coup, no matter what form it took, and people around him advised him not to get involved.

Although Paul had a bad temper and often scolded his sons, he still explained important matters very clearly, and many rumors were so absurd.

Even Alexander himself felt that Count von Paaren's actions were a means for the favorite to alienate him and his son in order to benefit himself.

His position now is like that of Crown Prince Alexei. Although he has never had any intention of rebelling, it is inevitable that he will be used as a signboard by others.

But confessing it at this time would also involve great risks. Alexander always started his performance like this when the situation was unclear.

"Today's performance was good. I think we can do it again in the future."

Paul's mood today was not bad. He had just issued an order to appoint a new Metropolitan Bishop Ambrose of St. Petersburg, which caused another rumor that Paul was preparing to dissolve his marriage.

Solovyov was at the door of the concert hall and he could already hear people whispering.

This statement is extremely absurd. When Queen Elizabeth wanted to marry her lover, even though her position was so stable, she ultimately failed and could only arrange a secret marriage.

No matter how much the Orthodox Church must obey the monarch, and the church has always had a good relationship with Paul, this practice still sounds incredible.

From his position, he could see Alexander accompanying Paul to watch the show. Louisa came here with her husband today. With her slender figure, the bulge in her belly could already be seen.

Paul has always been good to his daughter-in-law, because she might be the new heir, which made him very satisfied. In his mind, he now thought of the story of Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great told by Solovyov.

He did think of testing his son's true attitude towards the so-called conspiracy.

"Alexander, I won't hit Louisa with the cane, and don't worry."

Alexander couldn't believe this, but considering that Paul sometimes didn't play by the rules, his mind was working fast.

"Our family has always been harmonious, polite and orderly. Father can rest assured."

"What if something else happens?"

"I don't think so, Father. And appointing the Archbishop is just a normal personnel arrangement, but someone has been spreading rumors, trying to alienate you and Mother, as well as me and Constantine."

After hearing this, Paul felt relieved. Even if Alexander really knew about the conspiracy group, he would not take the initiative to get involved.

And there is one thing that no rebel can solve: the soldiers of the Guards are loyal to the Tsar himself, so even if some officers rebel, there is no need to worry too much.

Moreover, there were soldiers on duty and male servants in the inner chambers in the bedroom. As long as the door was locked, it would not be easy to get in for a while. He stood up and looked at the queen and his son with his arms folded. This was a strange posture. He usually stood like this when he was expressing dissatisfaction.

This caused fear among the queen herself. The rumor that the archbishop had been replaced was indeed very scary. The atmosphere in the court had been unstable for a long time since some rumors began to appear at the end of 1800. There were various rumors about deposing the queen and the prince, and dismissing court officials, which made everyone feel insecure.

But Paul had not issued an arrest warrant for a long time, and he also summoned back several generals and senior civil servants who had been exiled.

Alexander also began to doubt. Although the wording of the arrest warrant sounded very much like Paul's oral order, it was only stamped but not signed, which seemed like a divisive ploy.

At the same time, it was also an open conspiracy. No matter what, as long as he expressed his position, it would be very embarrassing for Alexander, and he could not take the initiative to reveal it. The cunning von Paalen had temporarily passed the test with Paul through his own excuses.

But the Queen and Constantine didn't know what had happened between Paul and Alexander, and Alexander's expression was very natural, as if nothing would happen.

Paul was used to it. He was slandered every day when he was the crown prince, and it was the same after he became the Emperor of All Russia. As a monarch, he had never lived the same way as he did in Gatchina. These rumors now seemed to be destroying his family.

After the performance in the concert hall, the adults among the royal family sat in the banquet hall in the palace. The family would have dinner together at this time, and only after dinner would they return to their sleeping places.

"I am asking you to swear today that you will not take part in any conspiracy."

After Constantine heard this, he was extremely angry: "Father, we are all your children, how could we be involved in the conspiracy? No matter what, I will not join the conspiracy!"

Paul did not say anything, as his second son always had a hot temper. The two half-grown girls, Maria and Ekaterina, could not believe their ears, what conspiracy was actually going on in the family.

Juliana next to Constantine didn't say anything. Alexander and Louisa were sitting opposite her. Before they could speak, they saw that the queen was starting to cry.

"How can you think like that? You are the monarch, and we are your family and your subjects."

Of course, the acting skills of these people, except for the grumpy Constantine, can be nominated for an Oscar.

Alexander's performance was very calm. He calmly swore an oath to his father.

"Father, I will not participate in any conspiracy against you, not to mention how stupid it is."

He did not go into further details, but this natural expression shows that he is indeed an excellent actor.

Paul believed that he would not take part in the conspiracy, while von Paalen believed that Alexander would join them.

Alexander really didn't want to get involved in the conspiracy, and he was also at the gambling table. Even Count Stroganov and his son had no idea what this actor was going to do.

This kind of speculative idea is incomprehensible to people around me and is indeed interesting.

"What on earth is your Highness doing there?"

"I don't know. His Highness said he would not participate in the conspiracy. Your Majesty should believe him."

For Alexander, as long as the order of succession did not change and he was still the crown prince of Russia, it didn't matter. And even if something really happened, he would just have to follow this path.

This kind of speculative mentality really makes it difficult to understand his actions. He has always been good at socializing in social occasions. Even Louisa, who is beside him, can't guess what her husband is going to do.

For example, two days ago when she was changing clothes, I touched her belly and started to say some sweet whispers.

Paul was satisfied with this and asked everyone in the palace to go to bed.

"Your Majesty, is this all right?"

"I think there is no problem. If something happens, I don't know whether this scene of the play will continue to be performed or the next scene will be performed."

Paul himself is also an actor. The whole family was testing each other at the dinner table today. After all, conspiracy is something that, as long as it is poisoned by power and wealth, any family will face the danger of being separated.

As for how the series of palace tragedies that occurred in the past will turn out in St. Petersburg, no one knows now.

Alexander and Louisa's carriage returned to the Winter Palace, and Constantine also returned to the Marble Palace. They all went to bed at 10 o'clock in the evening. This was the last arrangement of the day. The new day would come in a few hours, and it would be March 1801, 3 (Russian calendar).

What will eventually happen will be revealed at this moment.

"The tyrant still didn't realize what was happening in the end."

Count von Paalen also had a sly and strange smile on his face. He now held the highest power among the civil officials. He would also go to the palace tomorrow morning to bring the latest report on the international situation to Paul himself.

Paul had just approved the order for the Cossacks to march from Astrakhan to Central Asia and India, but the specific action had not yet been launched, and the Cossack Hetman Orlov was still on standby at the new station.

At the same time, Count von Paalen was also very confident. After all, Alexander's lack of opposition was a silent support, and at least they could take action.

The important goal is to transfer all the guards of the Guards, and the final time for action will not be decided until the night of March 3. This scene will only happen after everyone in the palace has gone to bed.

The last big drama of Tsar Paul's era is about to begin.

After Alexander returned to the Winter Palace, he also ordered the general on duty, Prince Bagration, to come to the Winter Palace in the afternoon, and he had to bring his family with him.

Solovyov still had to convey the order late at night, but he also reminded Bagration to bring the mahjong set into the palace and present it to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

(End of this chapter)