Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 285 052 Moscow, Moscow, this ground is safe

"Misha, your idea is very good, so I also hired an engineer to carry out a comprehensive transformation of the coal mine."

Count Bobulinski is now truly middle-aged, and the handsomeness of his youth has long since disappeared with time. Now he wears a top hat and this kind of outfit.

Well, he did want to find some people to fill his coal mine with rubles.

As for whether it is a great auk or a penguin, it is no longer important. In the St. Petersburg Zoo, it is obvious that artificial breeding of great auks is very successful. They build nests and lay eggs on artificial platforms next to the aquarium. The number of this population is also quite considerable.

Moreover, if they cannot catch any fish outside, the keepers will prepare some for them when they come back. Based on the judgment of zoologists, we also have a rough idea of ​​what flavors these animals like.

Even if St. Petersburg were to find cod and sardines in the deepest part of the Baltic Sea, other methods would be needed.

Moreover, if too many are raised, troubles are inevitable, and some of them will have to be released into the wild in the future to increase the population in the wild.

Otherwise, I would also like to have this seabird which tastes so delicious.
Those sailors were terrifying enough. They would eat anything, including the Steller's Sea cow. The Russian sailors happened to encounter them when the population was at its lowest.

Let’s not worry about the seabirds for now. The trip from St. Petersburg to Moscow will take several days, and we can’t go there on horseback.

It would be much better to ride in the same carriage with the count than with his servants and luggage, and the journey was so long.

"You haven't been back to Moscow for some time, have you?"

"It's been seven years, and it's been a while since I was recommended to General Grushetsky's residence."

"If you have no place to live in Moscow, you can come to my house."

"Thank you. I think I have some friends on Arbat Street. It shouldn't be difficult to rent an apartment, especially for a short period of time."

"Ah, you must have thought of something."

"I even thought, Alexey Grigorievich, that you ought to live in Moscow, too, instead of living in the country all the time."

"No, life in the country suits me better."

Bobulinsky's temporary residence in Moscow was at the Khovansky estate, also on Arbat Street.

However, he had no idea that his youngest son, who had just been born, would be the future owner of this mansion.

As for why Solovyov did not live with the Count's family, it was because he had some things to do and really needed to act alone.

The enthusiastic count always took good care of his guests, and it was not good for him to let him know too much.

After all, he is the uncle of the current Tsar, and is not involved in political issues and struggles. He is a rich and idle man.

According to the plan, Solovyov also needs to visit the home of Prince Menshikov, his grandfather's former benefactor. However, he doesn't know who the housekeeper of the Menshikov family is now. In his memory, it was his old uncle who was in charge there.

After all, his old father was the younger one among his brothers of the same generation. He was the late-born son of his grandfather, and was able to get a manor and more than a hundred serfs because of the favoritism of his brothers.

In fact, their family's property at that time was not as much as when they were in power. As for his age and seniority, I am afraid that some people of similar age would have to call him uncle when they see him.

However, most of them are not in Moscow either.

The owner of the place where he lived was a sixth-rank civil servant, but his family was very wealthy and built such a mansion at No. 53 Arbat Street.

For Solovyov, the reason why this place is famous is that Pushkin and Goncharova got married in this apartment, but at that time the apartment was rebuilt after 1816, and they rented the second floor.

The reason why it is a familiar landmark is that Pushkin’s memorial is located in this building.

Although he was only staying there for a short period of time, the lease was for one month and the rent was 240 rubles, but it was settled in silver rubles.

When Pushkin lived here, he used paper money to settle accounts. The redemption level was different, and prices and appropriate inflation had to be taken into consideration.

By the way, Solovyov was very familiar with Pushkin's mother-in-law, the confused little cat at Louisa's door, and he often asked Louisa to cover her with a quilt and take care of her.
As for Davydov, they had even more interactions, and they had met a few days ago. In fact, he was also familiar with many of the honorary members and older members of the literary society he participated in.

There was even a Fyodor Tolstoy, the elder brother who almost killed Pushkin, who was once his subordinate and served as his deputy in duels.

From this perspective, I am afraid that I will become the best poet in the future - Big Brother! The characters in that series will always be there no matter what happens.
Although it was a bit out of place, he also liked this building with a blue exterior. As for the interior decoration, it was quite different from the places he had visited before.

The style in Moscow is probably like this. The bedroom is also fine, and the floor is being installed outside.

All in all, the atmosphere felt a bit strange.

But he usually only came here to rest and visit some important people, such as Prince Sergei Menshikov.

Apparently the prince preferred to live abroad, as his grandfather had always transferred his property abroad, and even his children often lived in Saxony and Berlin.

He seldom visited the estate in Moscow, but recently, as the situation in Europe was not peaceful, he also set out from Dresden and returned to Moscow.

Solovyov did not see him in Dresden because he was traveling in Holland at the time, and only his eldest son Alexander was being educated at the university in Dresden.

They are often abroad, which is the authentic life of the Russian nouveau riche. The old nobles also like foreign countries, but many of them still live in the country to show their hospitality.

It is not known whether anyone is currently taking care of the estate in southwest Moscow or where they live.

With this in mind, Solovyov decided to visit his cousin Nikolai, who was currently living in Moscow instead of in Ryazan.

After all, the nobles either spent the winter in Moscow, or some chose to spend the summer in the nearby countryside.

When he saw Nicholas, he was also surprised by such a large family.
"That's not surprising, Misha. I retired at the rank of second lieutenant, and you're only 23 years old, and you've become a regiment commander. You're the most promising person in our family who's joined the army. If my sons join the army, I wonder what great things they'll accomplish."

"But you have so many children, too, Nikolai."

"Ah, you're not married yet, but if you were married, you would have many children."

Baron Nikolai Soloviev, a retired second lieutenant, will have three sons and five daughters, not all of whom are born yet.

As for his son Veniamin, he would become a Decembrist in the future and participate in the Chernigov Regiment's uprising as the chief staff captain of the Chernigov Regiment, while his other son Vselov would become a general.

The two nephews looked chubby, but when they saw their uncle, they were surprised that there was such a handsome uncle in the family.

He came in a military uniform and had medals on his head, so at his age he could not be mistaken.

"Kolya, your sons all look fine."

"I just remember that you were often sick when you were a child, but you were also very stubborn. Maybe it was because of your stubbornness that you became what you are now."

"It may also require some luck, Kolya. And it will be difficult for our family to get rid of the impression of 'profiteers'." Speaking of this, it is indeed the most difficult sutra for the Solovyov family.

"Don't talk about that. Why did you rent a house on Arbat Street for a month?"

"I brought a follower and a maid with me. Your place is not very big. How can we squeeze in?"

Nicholas also knew that his cousin had always been rather eccentric. He had been like this since he was a child. After he went to serve in Moscow and then to St. Petersburg, they rarely saw each other, but the difference was not much from when he was a child.

"Yes, I am not like you. When I was in the Imperial Guards, I had a village rewarded by the Emperor."

"But there is only one place, and the current market is very good."

"Let's not talk about this for now. Uncle Sergei must have something to do if he wants you to come."

"Has Sergey Alexandrovitch been at his estate in Moscow lately?"

"You mean the prince? He is indeed back, but he rarely sees visitors. But Uncle Fyodor's grandson, our cousin Vasily, is there. If you go to see him, you will naturally be able to see the prince himself."

"Well, you are more familiar with Moscow and Ryazan. My father and I have gone to Petersburg, so naturally we are not that familiar with it."

"But Uncle Sergei is really capable. I heard that he has three more brothers and sisters?"

"That's right. Anton is a very smart boy."

"You were the one who delivered the baby. I think you should become a doctor."

"It's better to be in the army. Don't let me go to the hospital. I was injured in the leg during the Battle of Novi. After being in the hospital, I don't want to go there again."

Nicholas knew what his cousin was thinking, so he didn't ask any more questions and asked his wife Maria and the servants to prepare dinner.

"If you don't stay here, you have to stay and eat. I see this friend from Italy is so big and strong, he must be an excellent Italian strongman, and he should have a good appetite."

"Thank you, sir, but I think so."

"It doesn't matter. In our Solovyov family, although the food is very ordinary, everyone will like the atmosphere here."

Speaking of which, Belzoni also felt that the meals at his boss's house were sufficient, but the more precious dishes were rare.

Many Italians still have some basic requirements for diet, but for Adela, this is good. After all, when she was at her relatives' house, she often didn't have enough to eat.

Then, the Nicholas family was surprised to see the completely opposite way of eating.

Although Belzoni was a big guy and usually ate like a wolf, he didn't dare to act rashly at his boss' cousin's house. Instead, he tried his best to ensure that he was like a gentle strongman when eating.

But Adela was different. She had plenty of borscht and bread. The way she ate didn't seem like her petite and cute self.

Solovyov had never noticed it before, but Adela's eating was really eye-opening.

"Well, Adela, are you satisfied?"

"Thank you very much, ma'am."

"This child speaks Russian quite well, Misha. You must have taught her, right?"

"Sister Maria, I did teach her, otherwise why does it sound like our old family?"

At this point, the adults at the table burst into laughter, and the children joined in the laughter.

"When will you return to Liangzan?"

"After finishing my work here, I'll go back."

"We're going hunting again in the fall. You can come with me."

Speaking of hunting, Solovyov remembered that if he wanted to hunt wolves, he might also need to have the wolf's perspective.

As for where their home is, it is actually very clear, it is in Lanenburg in Ryazan.

This place used to be the site of a huge Menshikov estate, which is why the Solovyov family settled in Ryazan instead of anywhere else.

At the same time, Ivan VI was once imprisoned here, and it is also the location of the station where Leo Tolstoy's life ended.

The huge estate belonging to the prince was finally nationalized, but the Solovyov family became registered nobles in the local area and was included in the Velvet Roll.

"Just don't make me fire my gun. I've hunted enough game."

"It doesn't matter, just come to our place and enjoy the food, the scenery in the countryside is still beautiful."

"Yes, it's much better than Petersburg. I can even meet a lot of interesting people."

As for the visit to Prince Menshikov, it had to be postponed. Prince Sergei's son would be a big trouble in the future, and he had not yet returned from Dresden.

However, since war is about to break out, it seems that all the Russians will have to return to Russia and cannot all live leisurely in Europe.

Europe will eventually become a battlefield. As for that prince, if he becomes a close minister of Nicholas I in the future, it will be a big trouble.

From some perspectives, the operation of the Crimean War had a lot to do with him, and it was very reckless.

Although this war may not necessarily break out in the future, we still have to take into account that some people are prone to getting high scores.

If he had not attacked blindly, Nicholas I and Alexander II would not have looked for redress elsewhere.

Of course, although Alexander is not confident about having a son now, Louisa is still very young and they can still try.

If successful, perhaps that embarrassing problem can be avoided, but you can't count on this and need to do more preparation.

As for returning to Ryazan, they will also have to take good care of the manor in the countryside. After all, their family's main industry is still in Ryazan.

It is indeed a coincidence that the current leader of the Ryazan nobility is Count Ilya Rostov.

The last family among the main characters is located in the countryside of Ryazan.

(End of this chapter)