Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 160 Petersburg Unlimited Fighting Tournament (I)

After returning to the Winter Palace, Alexander had been sitting on the recliner in formal attire, while Louisa was in the bedroom entertaining the older and younger children. However, everyone was wearing formal attire, except for the "little fairy" who was pressed on the bed by Natalia and Natalia II and was being watched by everyone. At this moment, Louisa was stroking her belly and imparting her experience.

The husband of the "little fairy" was playing mahjong with three officers of the Semenovsky Regiment at this moment. However, these three men were the regiment commander, the battalion commander and the adjutant of the regiment, all of whom were in the core command and key departments.

Bagration happened to be a man with excellent physical strength. After marching for several days in a row, the soldiers were tired, but he was still full of energy. When he was at home, it was always his wife who begged for mercy first. The same was true when playing cards. He even promised that he would have a good time today and would not leave the table until he had played well.

"Prince, but this also requires eating, drinking, defecating and urinating, you..."

"I am a reasonable person. Listen carefully. No one will bother you if you go to the bathroom during the break. But if you find an excuse to run away, don't blame me for being rude!"

What's more, playing mahjong is so much fun! After playing mahjong for more than ten rounds, they almost forgot how big a deal they were going to have to do today. After all, Bagration's stakes were not small, and if they won, they would make a lot of money.

You have to know that although this prince was not wealthy, Paul gave him a lot of rewards, helped him buy a house and marry a wife. The cash in the "little goblin"'s dowry alone was 20 silver rubles. The couple would never lack money in their lives. The main problem they faced was gambling debts.

But at a time like today, he gambled so big because Alexander told him something in advance.

Some officers of the Semenovsky Regiment will definitely be involved in the conspiracy, but they should not all get involved, otherwise it will be difficult to resolve the situation.

The Crown Prince himself has made up his mind that the winner takes all.

These guys couldn't walk far even when going to the toilet because they were being watched in the palace. Although the garrisoned troops were all from the Semenovsky Regiment, when it came to obeying orders, they had to listen to the orders of the crown prince himself.

"Sashka, no matter what, from tonight until March 3, you have to be more careful. If Count von Paaren really wants to take action, no matter what the final result is, someone will inevitably take risks."

Count Stroganov the Younger was by his side at this time. Although he had never led troops, he had a clear mind and was well aware of the interests involved.

"Will anyone take such a risk?"

"This is exactly what we are all worried about. His Majesty did not immediately arrest anyone suspected of treason, and he only severely reprimanded you without taking any substantive action. This is because although His Majesty knew that someone was plotting, it involved many problems. Maybe he was unwilling to believe that his close ministers were plotting a rebellion, or he was afraid to act rashly, or maybe His Majesty wanted sufficient evidence. In any case, it gave the people who really wanted to rebel an opportunity. At this time, Your Highness must not panic."

At this point, Count Stroganov knew about Alexander's problem, but he still wanted to analyze it, fulfilling his responsibility as a friend and subject.

Alexander still didn't explain clearly, but his attitude would also depend on what was going to happen in the Mikhailovsky Palace.

"If a rebellion really happens, we will have no choice but to mobilize troops. Solovyov, what should we do if something goes wrong? You have experience working for the Grand Marshal, so I would like to ask for your advice."

"It will be easy then, Your Highness. I will find Prince Bagration and ask him to mobilize the troops as the general on duty. In addition to the Guards Chasseurs, the 2nd Battalion of the Semenovsky Regiment on duty at the Winter Palace, the Pavlovsk Regiment, and the Guards Artillery Battalion will all be mobilized."

"Why is there a Guards Artillery Battalion? Do we need artillery to suppress the rebellion?"

Alexander's own military branch was artillery, and he thought Solovyov was making a fuss out of nothing. Wasn't it just suppressing a rebellion?

"Your Highness, if there really are rebels, they will either hold the monarch hostage or rely on the palace to resist. In such a hurry, they don't have many people, and I'm afraid they will really use the Mikhailovsky Palace as a fortress. At this time, if the emperor is kidnapped, what should Your Highness do? Should you send troops to attack the city, or should you submit to orders? Although with Your Majesty's character, I'm afraid he would rather die than live in disgrace, but Your Highness's status is also very important!"

Solovyov usually doesn't talk, but when he does say a few words on politics, they are always for the greater good.

"Misha, I've only heard you talk about leading troops, but I've never heard you speak like this."

"Your Highness, if you listen to what I want to say, it would be fine. If not, just treat it as a breeze passing by your ears and ignore it. But I also want to say that saying this at this time is risky, so please don't punish me, Your Highness."

"It's already this late, there's nothing wrong with speaking, just go ahead and speak, there are only three of us here now."

Alexander suddenly perked up. He was an emotional political animal and an excellent actor. Solovyov knew what kind of person he was, but he had to speak because this was too critical a time.

"Your Highness needs to make preparations in four aspects. Not taking action before is to make a decision at the last moment. It would be best if His Majesty is still alive and the coup fails. This way, everything will be safe and sound, and His Majesty can continue to implement the new policy. The more thoroughly the new policy is implemented, the better. I have also spent some time with His Majesty, and I saw that he offended the master, but he still had the support of the people. In this way, when His Highness succeeds to the throne in the future, he will have the support of the nobles and the people. The throne he sits on at this time will be the most stable."

"Well, that makes some sense."

Alexander himself had read the list written by Paul, and Solovyov was naturally on it. He had not expected that this guy would stand guard and protect Paul, and even start planning things for him. It was really interesting. He had also thought that Paul's reforms had offended the nobles, and that he would be supported by them when he succeeded to the throne. After all, he could not be worse. Alexander's usual attitude was still friendly to the nobles.

"The next scenario is that your majesty is kidnapped by criminals, but there is still room for maneuver. At this time, your highness will also need to mobilize troops to surround the center of Petersburg. If the coup plotters only hold the emperor hostage and force him to abdicate, as long as your majesty is still alive, there is room for maneuver."

What Alexander hoped for most was the first one mentioned by Soloviev. Since both of them were difficult to figure out, one had a bad temper and the other was elusive, when it came to the succession, although a big pie was drawn and he was a sure successor, there were still risks. If Count von Paalen really made trouble and forced Paul to sign the abdication decree, and Alexander could succeed to the throne, he would be able to immediately take control of the supreme power, which would be the greatest benefit to him personally.

As for the New Deal and constitutional reform, they have to be put on hold. Alexander wants to do it, but he also has to observe the situation.

Solovyov would not analyze it in such detail, but just left the topic here, but the next two situations were more dangerous.

"But this is also a coup. If something we don't want to see happens, like someone wants to kill the king, what should we do?"

When Stroganov heard this, he stood up and said, "No one in Russia has done this for a long time. Misha, it's unlikely, right?"

"Your Highness, what do you think?"

"Let's think about it here. The favor that the emperor showed to Count von Palen was like raising a dog. If the dog is well fed, it will have feelings for him, right? I think it's unlikely that he would commit regicide. It's impossible."

"Your Highness, you overestimate these idiots. They say they are doing this for the country, but they are all acting in their own interests. Since Peter the Great, which emperor has not compromised with them? Although there have always been wolves that cannot be fed, there have been some who have killed people in order to please their new masters. This is what I am worried about."

"You said there are four scenarios, and the first two aren't that bad. If something like this really happens, what should we do?"

It is true that Alexander was an actor, but he was unwilling to dirty his hands, nor did he want blood to stain the throne again, especially his father's blood.

"At this time, if these conspirators are really bold and dare to do such a thing, Your Highness will continue to rule according to the succession law. But what I am worried about is that these people are plotting to make a military rebellion. Once this happens, if Your Highness is unprepared, the autonomy will definitely not remain in your hands. At that time, you will be nothing more than a piece of meat on the chopping board, at the mercy of others. These people will do whatever they want. Therefore, what we have to do our best to avoid now is this situation, which is also the most unacceptable one among the four outcomes that I want to talk about."

"So what's next?"

"This is the last resort under all odds. Your Highness, why did I say to mobilize the artillery? Since it's a coup, there must be someone plotting to mobilize the army, especially the Guards and the garrison in Petersburg. Von Paalen is the military governor of Petersburg. If a coup is to take place, it is most critical to seize the garrisons in two areas: the Guards and the troops stationed in the city, and the garrisons outside the city."

Alexander was not completely unaware that the garrisons around St. Petersburg consisted of three major parts: the Guards, the St. Petersburg Garrison and the Vyborg Garrison. This was the closest one, and there was also a naval fleet and Vyborg Garrison nearby.

However, in the March weather in St. Petersburg, the Kronstadt fleet did not have enough time to mobilize troops and travel by boat, so they were definitely not among them.

"You mentioned the garrisons on both sides. What should we do at a time like this?"

"Your Highness will go to the banquet tonight and should meet the old count and General Kutuzov."

"Yes, you don't want me to mobilize the Vyborg garrison, do you?"

Alexander could command the Semenovsky Regiment, but when von Paalen came to him, he didn't know which of the four battalions of the regiment was controlled by the coup plotters. After all, he didn't want to know about the coup, nor did he want to be complicit. If a coup really happened, he didn't want to commit regicide, and he wanted to ensure that his hands were clean.

"Although the Vyborg garrison is small, it has some combat effectiveness. The Guards Cavalry in the city must also be controlled. In addition, there are the Pavlovsk Regiment, the Izmailov Regiment, the Guards Chasseur Regiment and the Guards Grenadier Regiment. Of course, artillery is also needed."

Solovyov simply did not analyze the consequences. Everyone knew that at this time, mobilizing the army would mean a big fight, and the result would be that the winner takes all, and the loser would be left with nothing.

"The Guards Artillery Battalion has 36 cannons, including the powerful Unicorn Cannon and the easy-to-mobile Cavalry Cannon. When mobilized, the cavalry cannons should be used to block the Ares Square and several main intersections leading to the Mikhailovsky Palace. They should also guard various intersections to cut off any possibility that the rebels may mobilize their garrisons. At this moment, Your Highness only needs to coordinate and drive the Guards and nearby garrisons into the city. These rebels, no matter how powerful they are, will not be able to escape."

"To mobilize the army, we need the general of chamberlain on duty. At this time, Prince Bagration is in the Winter Palace. He can mobilize three of the five regiments of the Guards outside the palace at any time, as well as the Guards Artillery. As for the garrison in Petersburg, after the Guards Cavalry blocks the road, we need your Highness's order to mobilize all the musket regiments to let them know who is plotting a rebellion. At that time, it will be time to bring the troops to the city and decide the outcome. However, no one wants this to happen in the end."

At this time, Alexander not only nodded, but also made up his mind at this critical moment.

"When the time comes, you, the attendants and adjutants, will have to pass on the orders. But since you are smart, you should stay with me and assist Prince Bagration in the coordination. What if the rebels want to go to the Marble Palace?"

Alexander knew his second brother Constantine best. He had no interest in the throne, but if he was taken hostage, it would mean that the command of the Pavlovsk Regiment and the Izmailov Regiment would also be in question.

"If Your Highness can trust me, I will go to the Pavlovsk Regiment now. The officers and veterans there are all selected from the Moscow Grenadiers. Then I will take the order of the general on duty and Your Highness's warrant to find the regiment commander, Colonel Tsverenev. I used to be with the emperor, and now I am with Your Highness. If I say anything, he will still believe it."

"That's it. You must block the intersection of Mars Square and not let any rebels come out from there. Also, after you finish this matter, you must go to Constantine and ask him to mobilize the Izmailov Regiment. If anything happens, no soldier can move without my order, and no soldier in the Mikhailovsky Palace can be released!"

Then, when their plans were almost complete, there was a noisy sound on the road of Million Street. Alexander could clearly see that several royal carriages came from the intersection of Ares Square on the east side of Million Street.

Everyone knows this, something must have happened.

(End of this chapter)