Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

It wasn't just about household matters; Solovyov knew very well that many important things would happen in the coming year.

He wasn't even the first to appear; he appeared later in the timeline.

He has only recently moved away from the children's table, but thanks to his repeated victories on the battlefield, he has finally earned himself a very high position.

Alexander the Great was capable of expelling Jesuits, but Emperor Jiaqing did not. He even assessed the skills of several missionaries before deciding to retain a few of them.

Of course, the Tsar's side wasn't lacking in talent; quite a few engineers came to Russia from Britain to make a living after the war. The Jesuits' skill set might not even be as comprehensive as Solovyov's alone.

In addition to the secret societies, Freemasons, and other associations within Russia, the Tsar, given his authority in defeating Napoleon, could theoretically have used drastic measures without being condemned.

However, Alexander's personality led him to be unwilling to offend anyone, and after returning, he even fell into mysticism.

Even Louisa hadn't seen the Tsar in person for several months. He always locked himself in his room, and when he finally met his wife and daughters again, it felt strange.

Louisa felt once again that she had become her husband's mistress. Although she was now his favorite, given her physical condition and their shared feudal superstitions, she would not try to have another son.

In fact, the secret edict of succession to the Russian monarchy had already been sealed in the Winter Palace at this time. However, it was not displayed on a plaque, but was placed in a safe in the Tsar's bedroom, with Nicholas's name written on it.

Even Nicholas was unaware that Constantine had secretly abdicated the throne. He thought his second brother had done so before him, and even when he was about to get married, he was advising his second brother to find a noblewoman of equal status to marry and have an heir.

The second brother is not like the eldest brother. He does have sons, but they are all illegitimate and would not serve as gatekeepers for the Winter Palace.

Alexander, like the prisoner, only had daughters, even his mistresses.

The Polish woman gave birth to five children for him, and his other mistresses also had children, including the French actress Miss George, but without exception, all of them were girls.

Solovyov was aware of this issue of inheritance, but he was unwilling to get involved.

Firstly, it follows the order of succession, with the younger brother succeeding the elder brother and males taking priority. In the end, Nikolai, who married first, always got married before Mikhail, and as long as he was willing to work hard, he would definitely have a son.

The relationship between these four brothers is different from that of ordinary imperial families. There are six sisters among the four brothers. Constantine is more than ten years older than Nicholas. Even if the succession is in order, Nicholas can still smoothly succeed to the throne, but it will take some time.

The Luo family was known for its longevity. Patriarch Feodor, the father of the first Tsar Mikhail, lived a very long life, which was largely due to Boris Godunov sending him to a monastery to become a monk, resulting in his disciplined and ascetic lifestyle.

However, once this dynasty began, no one lived past the age of 67.
Collateral relatives may have long-lived members, but that's how it is in the main family. There are also several who died violently, including one who was blown up and another who ate a family bucket of meat, which has led to many stereotypes.

Just wait and see. Nikolai and Mikhail are still young. Once they get married, he'll probably be taken to be intimate with his wife and have lots of kids first.

Furthermore, with Solovyov getting involved, is the matter of establishing a successor something to be taken lightly?
If you don't believe me, ask that tutor Wang who always used the "old minister is muddle-headed" suicide rhetoric to leave Emperor Kangxi helpless.

There's no need to worry about that. However, Solovyov received a report from the Royal Society, from the Dutch East Indies, that there had been several large-scale volcanic eruptions in recent years. Coupled with the periodic decrease in solar activity, the weather was destined to be bad starting in 1816.

But what's absurd is that Russia had a year with favorable weather and was even hotter than usual.

The places outside of Russia suffered the most, especially in Western Europe and New England in North America.

That year, Queen Elizabeth II and Archduke Charles, who had traveled to Spain, were on their way to Madrid after collecting and burying the remains of the Bourbon royal family in Paris. Although they were having a great time in Spain, the Spanish colonies were in utter chaos.

Although there isn't much going on in Europe anymore, there are still stories to tell in the Americas and Asia.

After returning to St. Petersburg, Solovyov was finally able to have some peace and quiet and didn't have to leave the country for several months.

First, I need to help my second sister find a blind date, then I need to do my homework for my second brother Anton to see if he really likes Miss Yurieva, and finally, my sister-in-law is getting married in the summer.

The main tasks were probably to build railways in Moscow and St. Petersburg, improve water transport within the country, emancipate serfs, build factories, plan land use, and update agricultural technology.

He has so much to do.

And regarding his trip abroad, after he returned to St. Petersburg, the Tsar had already raised some issues.

Yes, Alexander is back to work. After a period of seclusion, he returned to the public eye in March. It's just unknown when he will do so again.

"Solovyov, how was your trip to the Netherlands?"

"This is my first time going deep into the Netherlands. I was fighting in Belgium, so I only saw some canals. It's a very beautiful place."

"How are the negotiations with the King of the Netherlands going?"

"King William agreed to allow our fleet to stop at the Cape Colony and to provide us with supplies and necessary translators in the Dutch East Indies."

"Yes, it's not like you have to handle everything. You're the head of the mission, and the important thing is diplomatic work. Besides, I heard you can't understand the southern dialects of China."

"That's right, your majesty."

"There are also things that you, Solovyov, cannot do."

"I can't take my wife's place and share her pain."

Alexander couldn't help but give a wicked smile upon hearing this.

"Europe has just restored peace, and now we need to focus on the places we have acquired. It is unlikely that the British will give Martinique and Guadeloupe to us; they will eventually return them to the French. But the remaining places, at the mouth of the Gambia River and Dakar, Bioko Island, and St. Louis in the Indian Ocean, will allow us to develop trade with India and even China."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"But we don't want war now. Europe should have peace, to lick its wounds for fifteen to twenty years, and then have a longer period of peace."

"But in our south, Your Majesty. While we were at war with Napoleon, the Ottoman Empire had already regained control of Greece, and the resistance could only break up into smaller groups and fight the Turks as guerrillas. In addition, the Shahs of Persia are also restless, and we cannot expect them to abide by the peace treaty we have signed."

"Although I haven't assigned you a position, you speak like a foreign minister. I think you'd be perfectly capable of replacing Neserrodie."

"Your Majesty, Karl has done a good job; he has been able to carry out your diplomatic intentions." Solovyov couldn't help but praise Alexander; the Tsar was a man who cared about his image and needed someone to flatter him.

"So you can't?"

“Your Majesty, military personnel are prone to being somewhat arbitrary in diplomatic situations. Moreover, having served as the acting Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, I am bound to have a habit of issuing orders. Although this does not affect my journey to China, it is clearly inappropriate for the position of Foreign Minister.”

"You're being asked to be the Minister of War? You're an excellent soldier, but someone has reported your friend Prince Gorchakov for embezzling military funds as the new Minister of War."

“But this trip of mine may take a year. Your Majesty still needs someone who can stay in St. Petersburg to oversee the work for an extended period.”

"We'll discuss your position after you return. For now, you are a State Councilor and a member of the Military Commission."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Alexander was quite satisfied with Solovyov's subservience. Marshal Suvorov was a master of abstraction, Kutuzov was a genius at feigning ignorance, Bagration was always furious, and Barclay was always indecisive. Solovyov, on the other hand, did not pose too many problems.

However, one point needs to be noted: Alexander knows that he married his adopted sister to Speransky. Now, should he send Speransky back to St. Petersburg to take up a post, instead of appointing him as governor of a small place like Penza?

However, Solovyov was an infantry general with outstanding military achievements, which inevitably attracted criticism from others.

Yes, the Tsar also needs to consider this.

"Now there is another problem, which is that we need someone to serve as ambassador to China."

It seems that the Tsar himself has forgotten Solovyov's earlier warning.

Therefore, he could only emphasize it again.

“Your Majesty, if the Chinese emperor were to allow it, he would no longer be the Chinese emperor. Their diplomatic system is still stuck before the Treaty of Westphalia. They maintain a tributary relationship with their neighboring countries. The fact that we have received some preferential treatment this time and finally agreed to 'tribute' at sea is already a 'favor.' Although it is an inappropriate analogy, it is like Your Majesty granting the Duke of Moldavia some privileges, or the special relationship between the Ottoman Sultan and some vassal states.”

Alexander had some preconceived notions about the East, but he still asked Solovyov to come up with some solutions.

"In that case, diplomatic negotiations are necessary. And we need to speak with the Chinese emperor himself. Our recent diplomatic failures have all been due to our inability to meet with the emperor, or even being blocked on the way. The authority of the Chinese emperor is supreme, just like Your Majesty's authority."

A few words of praise are harmless.

Alexander finally understood, so he didn't insist.

Having an embassy would be a successful diplomatic effort.

But if trade can be initiated and relations between Russia and China can move towards becoming friendly nations, then the mission will have been accomplished.

The Tsar himself was still selecting state gifts for the Jiaqing Emperor and the Chinese imperial family.

After discussing diplomacy, he curiously inquired about some Chinese customs and political systems from Solovyov.

"Gifts must always be prepared for the Chinese emperor, the empress, and the crown prince."

"Your Majesty, perhaps the emperors of China are not quite what we imagine."

"no the same?"

"Yes, they are still using the same secret edict system as Peter the Great, unlike the previous emperor who had a stable law of succession."

"I see, I thought it was the same as ours. So how should we arrange it?"

“We can prepare gifts for both the emperor and empress, but we also need the ‘approval’ of the Chinese emperor to give any other gifts.”

"That makes some sense. What do you think of this panoramic painting?"

Alexander was referring to a panoramic painting, but it was actually just a drawing, which could certainly be completed before the trip.

The three paintings depict Borodino, Leipzig, and the Russian army entering Paris.

Solovyov was involved in all three events. Except for the second one, which was chosen to highlight the autocratic monarchs of the three Holy League states, the main battlefield was chosen, and he was present everywhere.

The Battle of Bettina was too late, but Solovyov didn't want to be the scapegoat.

He also had to show the Tsar some contents of official documents, which naturally required the Tsar's consent, even though Solovyov was the only one in the St. Petersburg high command who was familiar with both classical and vernacular Chinese.

Alexander's goal was clear: as long as it wasn't too shameful, even if it meant making an envoy kneel before the Chinese emperor, he would be happy as long as the matter was accomplished.

His vanity and desire for flattery are reminiscent of the characteristics of Chinese emperors and Golovkin's defeat.

If it weren't for the war, and Solovyov being in the Guards, sending him there would probably have saved a lot of trouble.

That's what the Tsar thought, but not Solovyov.

Golovkin's mission was a complete disaster, with both sides pushing each other to their limits. Emperor Jiaqing was unaware of what had happened in Kulun. Even if his mission had cleared up the misunderstandings, the mission would not have been successful.

Now, however, if the British take a suicidal approach and the Russian delegation behaves well, their impression will obviously improve.

Sometimes, it's all about comparison.

Besides paintings, two sets of jeweled chess sets were carefully selected for the Chinese emperor, along with a set of mahjong made by the Russian court jewelry factory, and a large number of other rare and precious items. A complete set of toy soldiers, mosaics, palace eggs, various clocks, and miniature paintings were also prepared for the young princes and grandsons.
Solovyov also discovered that Alexander was very curious about the unknown, which explains his mystical tendencies.

But with his dedication and his earnest and respectful words during his mission, there shouldn't be any major problems. (End of Chapter)