Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

It took several days just to move and resupply the supplies.

Solovyov's mission departed much later than Amherst's mission. By this time, the British had probably already arrived in India, and Lord Amherst was likely discussing with the head of the East India Company how to meet the Chinese emperor.

Russia, on the other hand, does not have this concern.

Because Solovyov himself had already discussed this issue with the Tsar on the battleship "Grace" before leaving Kronstadt.

Alexander had already written the secret edict, because Constantine had renounced his claim to the throne. After Alexander, Nicholas and his sons born to his spouse would inherit the throne, followed by Mikhail.

Solovyov is now aware of this edict.

And just now, Alexander emphasized it again.

"Your Majesty, you are telling me this now? I don't know what you mean."

“You should know very well, Mikhail Sergeyevich, I believe you are capable of doing many things well.”

The Tsar's use of such an honorific title on Solovyov, who was four years younger than him, made Solovyov feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Seeing his reaction, Alexander continued, “It’s clear that Russia has considered what it needs and what it doesn’t need. I can see from your lessons for Nicholas that you are very clever, subtly guiding him towards becoming an enlightened ruler rather than indoctrinating him. In this respect, you’ve done a better job than Mr. Rakharp, who always speaks of noble things, and he does it in a very interesting way. You, on the other hand, have always guided Nicholas. He’s simple-minded but resolute, which is perfect for ruling in your way. He needs intelligent, thoughtful, loyal, and risk-taking people around him.”

"Your Majesty, I must say, you have seen through my intentions."

Besides his long-term mutual affection with Louise, he also had two lovely daughters among Alexander's other five daughters.

This was probably the only thing Solovyov could hide from Alexander, and be able to keep it a secret for a long time.

“That’s good. I sometimes think about constitutional monarchy, so I let Novolisitsev do it, but he always goes for the British constitutional system.”

"Your Majesty, Russia is a large country, while Britain and France have relatively small territories, but they are not without the potential to implement constitutional monarchies. Like in the Roman Empire, the Senate could always play a role when the commander was young, but then the army would oppose them. Like..."

"It's another story about the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. I know you are very learned. If you weren't a general or a noble merchant, you should have been a scholar."

"But I cannot become a writer, Your Majesty. Although I enjoy appreciating poetry, I am inept at creating it, and I always paraphrase others' work rather than plagiarize it as my own."

“You are a noble person, but you and I sometimes have the same problem, which is universal love. It’s the same with children. Nastya is my youngest daughter, but she is too young and will not get married until her sisters’ marriages are settled.”

"I also thank Your Majesty for your favor."

"Yes, you deserve it. And you're only 35, even younger than many generals, and you're already an infantry general. Sometimes I wonder what kind of achievements you'll make in the future, and how you'll be rewarded?"

Last year, Solovyov finally defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Bettina, but the pursuit to Paris was not rapid; he only managed to force Napoleon to accept Alexander's terms.

“Your Majesty, I would like to find a quiet place to be with my family and watch my children grow up. Since I got married, I have had very little time to spend with my wife and children.”

"If it were the Grand Tutor, I would give him a book and let him read it carefully and understand its spirit. But you have read too many books and cannot understand the spirit of the book. I can only grant you this request. After you return from your mission, you will be appointed."

This appointment was actually a way to send Solovyov to a region as governor, which was one of the puzzles that Alexander often used.

He really loves being a riddle-maker. "Experiencing the spirit" means giving 10 rubles, or sometimes more, to the guardian who raised him.

Because nobles always lived beyond their means. Unlike monarchs who owned the entire country, they always lived extravagantly and had huge expenses. Moreover, the old tutor had a blind son to support.

Alexander had already roughly arranged Solovyov's "appointment," which was in Crimea.

But when Solovyov returns from his mission to China, he will bring back a series of diplomatic terms from Tsarist Russia and the Qing Dynasty, the "Third Rome" and the "Second Alexander," which is what Alexander hoped for.

"Your Majesty, I am aware of your arrangements."

"Please invite your wife over; I also have some expectations for you."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Solovyov summoned Katya, who had been the Empress's lady-in-waiting for a very short time.

“Countess, I am entrusting Count Solovyov to you. He can make his own decisions on important matters along the way, but he needs to follow your arrangements in his daily life. You must be responsible for your husband’s health.”

"Your Majesty, including... he's always so benevolent. I'm hoping that during this trip, I might have a beautiful encounter."

"Katya, I've heard that Chinese women are very conservative and adhere to a set of etiquette norms for Eastern ladies, so you don't need to worry about that. However, if he dares to have contact with other women, you have the right to punish him. Of course, Countess, what about your housekeeper?"

“Rima is an exception. If it weren’t for keeping an eye on this gluttonous guy, I wouldn’t have resorted to such methods.”

Well, Solovyov actually knew that Katya was genuinely good to him, and that Mihrima was wholeheartedly serving her master. If she didn't get married, it would be a waste of her life.

However, as the housekeeper, and actually a family member, Mihrima was thus placed into the household by Katya.

"Alright then, this method is very effective. As long as nothing particularly troublesome happens, this girl can keep an eye on him. I'll give you two the authority to control him and also to punish him a little."

Solovyov, though sandwiched between two beauties, felt no happiness whatsoever, while Alexander grinned wickedly.

The Tsar was happy to watch this spectacle; others could only watch with envy, but what did the person who actually experienced it feel like?

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. We will take good care of him; there are still many things to do along the way."

Before the fleet officially set sail, Alexander received a fast-paced report from the sea.

That was the Queen of Portugal, who died in a monastery in Rio de Janeiro.

Since the Portuguese royal family is far away in Brazil and has not returned to Europe, it is necessary for ambassadors from various countries to attend the funeral.

However, the Russian embassy has always been in Lisbon, where Karl Neusherrodie's father served as a diplomat.

In Brazil, someone needs to be specially present.

Solovyov's mission along the way included transporting the Russian governors stationed on several islands to their designated locations. Additionally, he was tasked with using the speedboat to travel to Brazil for the funeral of the Queen of Portugal.

However, the Queen of Portugal actually died earlier, because the wind delayed the delivery of the message.

Alexander also entrusted this matter to Solovyov.

The fleet that set sail was also the powerful force that the Russian Navy possessed at this time, including three battleships such as the "Grace" battleship, as well as six frigates and mainly twelve clipper-bow merchant ships, which was the core of this "tribute".

The places the fleet would pass through along the way, considering the route, although it was a great voyage in the age of sail, might seem somewhat foolish many years later.

Because Solovyov was on a ship in the Baltic Fleet, the Second Pacific "labor camp" fleet was quite foolish, but it still managed to reach its destination, got beaten up, and sank into the sea.

This is also due to Russia's long-standing lack of naval control and overseas supply bases. Solovyov always has to make many arrangements in order to confront the British, rather than focusing his attention on the Far East in the future.

He was well aware of this as well.

So along the way, there were several resupply stops, and meetings with the deputy envoy in London, as well as envoys from various countries who needed to hitch a ride.

Because the diplomatic negotiations with Russia were led by Prince Saltkov Jr., but the plan was devised by Solovyov.

The idea of ​​traveling by sea was proposed by Russia, and it wasn't just Russia that would come to "pay tribute," but also the countries that had intermarried with Russia.

However, the scholar-officials on the Qing Dynasty side were able to understand that this was not a marriage alliance, but a normal intermarriage between the various states of China during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

It wasn't until the establishment of unified dynasties that things changed. Relations with nomadic peoples resulted in marriage alliances and betrothal gifts being the norm for foreign relations.

Regarding the relationship between Liao and Western Xia, there was also the case of a Liao royal woman marrying the ruler of Western Xia.

Not at all surprising, when the Qing Dynasty heard that these relatives were bringing tribute, they knew it was a big deal.

Furthermore, those countries also needed to update the map database for the Jiaqing Emperor, which included:
Kingdom of Württemberg

Grand Duchy of Baden

Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schvilin

Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar

Grand Duchy of Oldenburg

瑞典王国
荷兰王国
Two more Swedish ships will join the fleet en route, carrying "tribute" from the Swedish king.

The Netherlands, having just married a Russian Grand Duchess, also wanted to join in. Moreover, the Netherlands had always maintained ties with Japan, and Solovyov had traveled a long way to visit Japan and test the shogunate's attitude.

With such a big commotion, how could France be left out?
However, Mr. Talleyrand was clever; he did not intend to provoke the British and thus worsen France's diplomatic situation.

But Russia was also Catherine's mother country, and such a powerful nation could not be offended.

So Talleyrand took the opportunity to reclaim some of France's colonies, especially several trading posts in India and islands in the Indian Ocean, many of which had been occupied by Britain. Considering that the islands were all French property, the British were already having a headache dealing with the French militia on Bourbon Island.

The French returned to receive the tribute ships themselves, but only sent the Brest frigate "Medusa" and two cargo ships to join the tribute fleet, but only to deliver supplies, and set sail with the Russian fleet.

Yes, he did put some thought into that.

As for Talleyrand himself, as Prime Minister in Paris at the time, he was indeed a little uneasy being stared at by a group of Imperial Marshals.

Although Davout is ruthless, as the new Minister of War, he still gives the Prime Minister some face, unlike Ney and others.

Ney, in particular, was always resentful of his previous defeats, and he was well aware of what Talleyrand had done during the first fall of Paris.

Therefore, Talleyrand didn't want him to keep hanging around him, so he sent Ney onto the ship.

This is where things get interesting. Ney's title was Prince of Moscow, and also Marshal of the Empire.

The French representative is of a higher rank than the Russian representative.

Solovyov was exactly one rank lower; he was a count and an infantry general.

But it's better for Ney to come than for others. Although he's reckless, he's a good person, and it's pleasant to get along with him.

He had heard that Solovyov's housekeeper was a good cook and even came aboard the ship to eat for free.

However, considering Mihrima's current status...
Solovyov looked at Ney and also felt a little strange.

“You want to have this meal, but you can’t come often, since we’re on two ships and you have a French frigate.”

"It doesn't matter. I know about your situation. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager even told me to get along with you. She said you are very easy to get along with."

"Yes, Your Highness, how are you in Paris?"

"She always misses her brothers and sisters, especially Her Majesty the Tsar. Her sisters can come to Paris and keep her company while they travel. But signing those documents is a real headache for her. It's hard to believe she's Catherine the Great's granddaughter; Her Majesty must be very good at handling state affairs."

But this is Ney's idea, which doesn't match the facts. Even the most diligent Tsar was Paul, and there probably won't be another Tsar like him in the future.

Nicola may be diligent, but he probably doesn't have the same energy as Paul.

“That’s your opinion, but we’re going to travel together now. The British might be surprised when they see this. They’ll be astonished that Russia has such a fleet capable of long-distance ocean voyages, and that we can also have a strong supply capacity through our allies.”

He still couldn't forget about dealing with Britain. Solovyov's attitude will likely be heard by Talleyrand when Ney returns to Paris.

Intelligent people know what to do. (End of Chapter)