Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 258 025 Solovyov's Strange Haiti Proposal

Bolivar and del Toro were invited by Lucien to attend a salon at his official residence, where they were introduced to Napoleon's friends.

Solovyov told his friends this, and it always worked.

Pierre was about to return home when another friend of his, Karl von Nesselrode, arrived in Paris.

"Karl, you are coming from The Hague at this time to serve as secretary at the embassy in Paris?"

"No, it's September now. I want to take advantage of this time and return to Petersburg as soon as possible."

"Will you go back and report your work in The Hague to the Emperor?"

"That's right. And let's call it the Batavia Republic. You have to know that the Dutch government is actually a mouthpiece for the French. I'm just issuing visas and handling some daily affairs there."

"That's what a secretary should do. But you trusted that Austrian man too much."

"I have great admiration for his talents, Misha, you can't deny that."

"But the Austrians will ultimately only serve the diplomatic interests of Vienna. You are an excellent diplomat, Karl. Don't let personal relationships lead you astray."

"You weren't one to let your emotions or personal feelings get the better of you in Paris. It seems like you have something on your mind."

Nesherrode was a smart man. He often corresponded with Solovyov and knew what he was thinking.

"Yes. It's not just about women. I proposed to an Italian girl and was rejected."

"I know about this. She is willing to be your lover, but not your wife. The relationship is very complicated. Prince Peter Bagration's wife, her stepfather, Count Lita, was born in Visconti. And your 'Jungle Goddess' is also from the Visconti family. It's no wonder. And you are not a German, it is not easy to marry a Catholic girl."

"But this is not a personal sentiment, it's a complex process. France is preparing to sell Louisiana."

"I learned this from the French ambassador in The Hague. So what?"

"Except for a few small islands, the French colonies in America are now in turmoil. Karl, don't blame me for being nosy or interfering at this time. Can you believe what I say?"

"You are very prophetic. If His Majesty Paul listened to you, maybe now..."

Nesserrodie was also a former aide-de-camp whom Paul liked very much, but he switched to the diplomat track.

"But don't talk about this any more, Karl. The French in Haiti will soon encounter disaster."

"Why do you think so? We have heard that although the Saint-Domingue expedition failed, the rights of the French in the area will still be protected."

"I don't believe it, because I know how cruel some places with undeveloped minds can be."

"I can imagine."

"But there is another point. General Hannibal is also black, but he received a complete education, while the blacks in Haiti may kill all the white people left there."

"Will this happen?"

Nesherrodie was also quite surprised when he heard this.

The Hague is different from Paris. It is difficult to block news here. Before Britain and France declared war again, news of the French's unfavorable war in Haiti was repeatedly reported here. What Nechelrodie knew was the latest news.

But he would never have thought that a massacre would happen.

"I don't think General Dessalines would take such action."

"But in Saint-Domingue, I think you should read the previous reports. When I was in Paris, I learned that before General Leclerc's despicable act of luring Loudouville to death, there had been many feuds between blacks and whites in Haiti."

Moreover, Haiti is a place where fan behavior is most likely to occur, including massacres for political purposes.

The black people there still retain too many remnants of primitive superstitions, especially voodoo.

It is really hard to imagine what the black people who were released without receiving sufficient education would do. After all, human imagination is limited.

"If that's the case, then there is such a possibility."

"France can no longer guarantee the safety of its colonists and expatriates there, but there are hundreds of Poles there who have taken refuge with these blacks. I think they are dangerous Polish nationalists. I think we should still deal a heavy blow to these people."

"Are you kidding? If we send a squadron to Saint-Domingo, it will be very troublesome. And the emperor will not agree. Our status is not high enough for him to issue an imperial decree, and it will cost the treasury money."

Nesherrode had a clear mind and was always steady when doing things, unlike Solovyov's wild ideas.

"But it will benefit the North American territories. Maybe we can find some way to get some people out of Haiti."

"That requires not only warships, but also troops and transport ships."

"This action is nothing more than a 'special operation'. Those Poles themselves are dangerous elements. If they dare to take action, we can bombard Port-au-Prince."

"It's a crazy idea, but we are not at the right level to do it."

"We cannot let civilization and order collapse, but we can take some protective measures. Our emperor likes to play the role of 'Messiah' the most."

Although Alexander's personality is a mystery, there are some patterns in what he does.

After hearing this, Nesherrode probably understood Solovyov's thoughts.

"You just moved the French there. Where are you going to send them?"

"This time, we will not take all the French women abducted by pirates to Crimea, as Fyodor Fyodorovich did when he fought pirates in the Mediterranean. Instead, we will have to take these French people through the Spanish territory to Fort Ross."

"Your idea is a bit troublesome."

"But it makes sense. We need to save these people and their property. However, the relationship between Russia and France has become impossible to be an alliance because of Count Alexander Vorontsov's tactics. This is a goodwill gesture to the French, but we can't just hand these people over to them. The only way is to take some measures in that small base in Upper California."

Nesherrodie had never noticed the existence of Rossburg, and now the place is not called this name. "This is my blind spot, Misha."

"But you know now that the Spanish control there is very weak. We can get food and seeds from New Spain, as well as tools, and open up a settlement there."

“What about relations with Spain?”

"I have a whole set of plans, and I met two interesting criollos from Caracas in Paris."

"Creole?"

“Yes, that’s what they say in Spanish.”

"You came up with this idea when you saw them. It must be like this, Misha. Your brain is different from others. You always like to come up with unexpected solutions."

Nesherrode has now also taken over Solovyov's plan and is listening to his further explanation.

"According to what I know, whether it is New Spain, Granada or La Plata, there are many remote areas in these Spanish viceroyalties that are not effectively controlled."

“So, you have this idea.”

"Karl, you don't like military life and became a diplomat, but diplomats also need to know geopolitics. If we can control San Francisco Bay and establish a trading post with stable relations with the locals, it will be very beneficial for controlling the entire North Pacific in the future."

"You are really ambitious. It's not that simple to go to so many places."

"We have come here and should not retreat, and the British have been entering our sphere of influence and maliciously competing to acquire various furs."

Solovyov's idea was still very spectacular, and both Fort Ross and Hawaii were established by the Russians first. One was abandoned because it could not supply food, and the other was ruined by the Americans.

In addition, Alexander himself was not enthusiastic about interests in the Pacific.

Nesserrodie had to go to St. Petersburg with Solovyov's plan. In fact, time was tight. Although Alexander was ambitious and liked to play the messiah, he might not agree to some things.

"You have to consider all the issues, Misha. Although I am the one who will present your plan and memorial to the emperor in the end, of course, I have to explain these issues. You have a grand plan, and you must have been thinking about it for a long time. Maybe you had this idea when you lived in Xiyi Lane. I want to convey your opinions, but I don't know much about your ideas."

"Yes, although we are friends, our political views are very different."

Even Nesherrode was firmly opposed to the abolition of serfdom, while Solovyov had actually freed the serfs.

"Please tell me about the entire plan so that I can have a general understanding. After all, this is just a strategic plan and does not involve domestic institutional issues. You are still an active military officer, but we are still diplomats."

"Well, when we were all with Emperor Paul, I saw his reply to the petition of the Aleuts in the American territories. If we limit ourselves to the north of 50 degrees north latitude, it is obviously not realistic to have a supply point there. We can focus on California, which is the land under the sun, and the Spanish control over it is actually out of control."

"So you want to rescue a few thousand French people and open up a new territory here."

"In fact, the Spanish governors in New Spain or elsewhere were not in the mood to care about these things. What they had to worry about more was the armed uprising of the local Criollos or the British invasion of the Caribbean, which would shake Spain's rule there. They had no intention of paying attention to a piece of marginal land that did not produce precious metals. They were probably more concerned about the profits they could gain."

Solovyov always thought long term, and Nesherrode liked that about him.

"There are not only French people on the entire island, but also Spanish people. Do you want to take them all away?"

"If necessary, I can go aboard and help the commander of the Baltic Fleet to complete this operation."

"I think you yourself are a suitable candidate, but the news will be slow to come back."

"It doesn't matter. Although I am here to accompany my lover and children these days, considering the importance of this matter, I may have to set off with the fleet."

"Then you will have to wait for news in The Hague or Oldenburg. The fleet will have to resupply in Copenhagen before setting off for Santo Domingo, and you will have to meet them on the way."

"That's no problem. You should believe me. Even if the fleet arrives in Portsmouth, I can find a way to board the ship at the British naval base."

He was still very courageous. Moreover, the official document sent by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Count Morkov confirmed that before he set out, at least Russia and France were at peace.

If this action is successful, it can also ease the relationship with France. No matter which side Russia leans towards, it can also buy some time to confuse the judgment of all parties.

What's more, although Alexander's character is unpredictable, he is willing to play the role of a "messiah" and rule as a savior to save other countries. Moreover, exploring the former Spanish territory in the Caribbean is indeed useful.

This also reflects the existence of the Russian Navy. In the era of sailing warships, the more troublesome thing was the long distance.

However, the Russians are good at traveling long distances, so preparations for this trip must be very thorough. The fleet must reach the Danish Strait before the Baltic Sea freezes.

The whole idea itself was very bold, and that was why Nesselrodie needed to be more careful when he went back to submit his report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After all, the Russian Foreign Minister is a Pole, and there are more than 800 Polish troops in Haiti who have defected from the French army, which is an unstable factor.

In addition, Solovyov also had to talk to Silvia, who had recently temporarily left the Charlotte Palace to live out her newlywed life with Prince and Princess Borghese. She wanted to stay in the official residence that the prince had previously rented, while managing the household and recuperating.

"I don't think it will be too soon. At least before the baby is born, I will not leave Paris and will stay by your side."

"Michele, the baby will be born in the winter, so it will be better if you are here then."

"I wasn't with you and your daughter when Octavia was born, although there were many reasons."

"It doesn't matter."

As he spoke, he was still holding Sylvia's hands.

"Forgive me, if this trip can be made, the child will grow up slowly, and I will not be around."

"You go ahead. France and Russia don't have such a good relationship. When you went to Italy and we first met, you were beating up the French."

She actually knew it well, but because of the protection of Prince and Princess Borghese, she would be fine.

"And if I go there, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to come back to Paris. The British will block the port tightly. To get back to Paris, I may need to choose another route."

(End of this chapter)