I am a literary giant in Russia

Chapter 102 Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night

Normally, Mikhail would have avoided participating in the Petrashevsky Group activities as much as possible. Although it was essentially a study and discussion session for a group of passionate young people, even if some of them genuinely wanted to turn certain ideas into reality, they ultimately didn't actually do it.

Therefore, from a legal perspective, this group of people did not actually commit any substantive crimes. If it was only a crime of thought, then who in this world has never committed a crime?
However, one point is very important: the law has never been as just as it is advertised, especially in Russia today, where authoritarianism and severe punishments are prevalent. In fact, after their arrest, the young people of the Petrashevsky group were interrogated in turn.

During this process, they met some of the Tsar's most trusted generals, a characteristic of Nicholas I's rule, who heavily relied on military generals and at one point did not have a single civilian official by his side.

For these military generals, their way of dealing with problems was roughly like this: "Your Majesty, why are you wasting your breath talking to these people!"

General Dubert, the head of the Third Bureau's intelligence agency who was in charge of the interrogation, held a simple view: "Since they have been arrested, they are criminals! Sentence them as soon as possible!"

So, although some expressed remorse during the interrogation, and many more insisted that what they hated was not Nicholas I's government, but the terrible serfdom, they were all sentenced to death.

Of course, after reviewing the interrogation report, Nicholas I basically understood that this group had no intention of overthrowing the Tsar's rule, which posed no threat to him, given his absolute power. At the same time, like many great figures, Nicholas I, while autocratic, still preferred to cultivate an image of an enlightened monarch among the people.

Therefore, he decided to grant leniency and change the death penalty to exile. However, in order to make an example of these young people and deter other intellectuals who were not thinking clearly, the fake death penalty incident occurred.

This is like the Russian version of 'He should thank us for this!'

However, now Mikhail can't escape. Even if he committed the crime early and might not be affected, he still has to consider Demi and Old Do. But after calming down and thinking it over, Mikhail realized that there was indeed a way.

To be cautious, one should employ the Thirty-Six Stratagems, with the best option being to retreat. To be reckless, one should simply have a strategist enter the game, using their own reputation to try and influence the group, telling them that the time is not yet ripe and they should lie low and wait for the right moment. Once the opportunity arises, they should strike like a dragon and seize the throne from the Tsar!
To be honest, the latter part is pure boasting. Admittedly, this was a period when new ideas were flourishing everywhere, but the root cause of these ideas was that the social and class contradictions in those European countries had developed to that extent. So why did Russian intellectuals accept these sets of ideas?

Because St. Petersburg has also developed to this point.

So what kind of lives do ordinary people in the wider regions of Russia lead?

Let alone now, even back in 1869, when Bakunin, the mentor of Russian revolutionary youth and a universally worshipped idol, issued a call in Geneva: "Quickly abandon this doomed world, abandon these universities, colleges and schools... go to the people!"

This call received an enthusiastic response from countless ambitious young people. They gave up their city lives and went to the countryside in groups. They wore peasant clothes, spoke peasant language, lived peasant lives, spread knowledge to peasants, taught peasants to read and write, relieved peasants' pain, and carried out revolutionary propaganda.
However, they were not understood by the farmers, and many of them were even betrayed by the farmers they had helped, and handed over to the local police.

I won't go into the reasons for this yet, but in short, Mikhail will most likely still go to the Petrashevsky group's activities, but before going, Mikhail really needs to prepare himself mentally.

Since the banquet that day, Mikhail had been dealing with a series of matters. First, he went to work at the publishing house, and then he took the opportunity to discuss things with Nekrasov and Panayev, who were also handling certain matters. After that, he invited Belinsky to his office.

On this ordinary day, everyone was busy in the morning, so when Mikhail sat in his office chair waiting for Belinsky to arrive, the sunlight streaming in from the window and falling on him was already the dim, golden light of dusk.

Mikhail was still deep in thought, his fingers interlaced, while Nekrasov and Panayev, sitting at the desk, looked rather preoccupied.

Just as Belinsky was supposed to arrive, Panayev, the oldest but rather impatient of the group, spoke up: "Mikhail and Nikolai, can we really convince Vesalion to go for treatment and recuperation? Especially at the end of this year, I reckon he'll be even more reluctant."

“We’re just letting him know, not saying we’re going to send him over right now. And you see, thanks to our efforts recently, our magazine is indeed on track, and we’ve received enough submissions to keep it running. Besides, there’s Mikhail in the picture.”

After saying these words to Panaev, Nekrasov looked at Mikhail in the dim sunlight.

But before Mikhail could say anything, there was a knock on the door, and then Belinsky walked in. Unlike his previous enthusiastic demeanor at work, Belinsky seemed to be forcing himself to stay awake, coughing incessantly and hunching over, probably because he was feeling unwell again.

Even so, after greeting Mikhail and the others, Belinsky quickly asked, "Gentlemen, has something important happened that brings us here? Is our magazine facing some difficulties again?"

"No, dear Vesalion."

Seeing that Belinsky immediately became worried, Nekrasov quickly said, "Our magazine is very good, sales are rising, and we expect the next issue to sell even better. Besides, we've already finalized the articles for the next issue, so there's absolutely no need to worry about this now."

This is certainly not a lie. During the promotional phase, the latest issue of "Modern People" magazine had already received 1,500 subscribers.

With the release of the first issue and the gradual spread of positive word-of-mouth, sales in bookstores and other places have reached a considerable number, in addition to the existing subscribers.

Perhaps because the novel is published in serial form, the number of subscribers has grown quite rapidly. In less than a month, the number of subscribers has increased from over a thousand to nearly two thousand five hundred, and this number is clearly not yet at its limit.

It's worth noting that one of the best-selling magazines in St. Petersburg, "The Fatherland Chronicle," has only 3,500 subscribers after years of building its reputation, and that number already covers almost all families in St. Petersburg who have a need for literary reading.

Mikhail and his team have only just taken over the magazine, and their achievements are already quite remarkable.

The most obvious manifestation of this was that before they even took over, the number of subscribers to "Modern Man" had already plummeted to only a few hundred.

To some extent, it was indeed Mikhail and his colleagues who revived "The Contemporary," Russia's earliest literary magazine.

And this is just the number of subscribers. Many people don't actually have the habit of subscribing to magazines. Instead, they go to the bookstore every month to browse before deciding whether or not to buy one.

Based on this calculation, the current retail price is one ruble and fifty kopeks. With the number of subscribers and additional monthly sales, the monthly sales revenue could very well reach six thousand rubles.

It sounds incredibly high, but after deducting printing costs, advertising costs, and royalties for staff and authors, the remaining amount probably isn't that much. Of course, it's still very profitable. In the normal historical context, Nekrasov's success in the publishing industry not only allowed him to live in a large villa and enjoy all sorts of exquisite food, but also gave him a large sum of money, enabling him to travel abroad whenever he wanted and even sponsor others.

In later generations, literary magazines would be lucky if they didn't go out of business, let alone make a lot of money.

In short, judging from the current situation, Mikhail, as one of the main bosses of "Modern Man", is making a lot of money. It is estimated that in another two or three years, he will be able to live in a big villa and eat whatever he wants.

So, back to the present, although Belinsky smiled with pleasure upon hearing this, he still emphasized: "That's good, but we should also consider the long term. So what do you want to discuss with me? If it's not something urgent, just let me go!"

I need to go back and continue writing! I still have a lot of work to do!

Perhaps due to some excitement, after saying these words, Belinsky suddenly coughed violently, and it took him quite a while to stop. Although it was not obvious what was wrong, judging from the severity, Belinsky probably had a metallic taste in his throat.

Mikhail: “.”

Suddenly I feel like I've really become a capitalist, and a heartless one at that.
Seeing Belinsky's expression, Mikhail exchanged a glance with Nekrasov and the others, then stopped trying to hide his feelings and said in a gentle tone, "My dear Vesalion, we plan to send you to a suitable place for recuperation at the end of this year."

"I'm perfectly healthy, and where will this money come from? What if it's drawn from the magazine's finances and our magazine can't keep operating?!"

Before Mikhail could finish speaking, Belinsky, whose expression suddenly became somewhat flustered, resolutely refused.

But before he could say anything more, he couldn't help coughing again.

This is considered no problem?

Seeing this, Mikhail continued somewhat helplessly, "Vesarion, not now, but closer to the end of the year. By then, the magazine's situation will definitely be much better. And it won't just be us; I believe your other friends will also lend a hand."

As for the magazine's operation, you don't need to worry. With me here, you can rest assured. I can write poems and short stories that are good enough to be published in the magazine, even if I'm just writing them on the spot.

Knowing full well Belinsky's concerns, Mikhail, unusually, boasted a little. However, no sooner had he finished than Belinsky, seemingly still preoccupied with his work at the magazine, seized the opportunity to say:

"Really, Mikhail? If you can really do it, why don't you write one now? The magazine needs a heavyweight article for the next issue. If you can't, then forget it."

Mikhail: “?”

Are you still thinking about magazine articles? Belinsky, you rascal.
After hearing Belinsky's slightly evasive words, Mikhail felt a bit helpless and picked up the pen and paper that were on the table.

Upon seeing his actions, the three people present were stunned. They wanted to say something, but after opening their mouths for a long time, they still couldn't utter a single word. So they just stared blankly at Mikhail, who was bathed in the dim sunlight, writing something with a quill pen.

Due to the dim lighting, they couldn't quite make out Mikhail's face, but they were still involuntarily drawn to his every move. After an exceptionally brief yet seemingly endless period, as if an eternity had passed, Mikhail finally stopped. As he handed the paper to the slightly trembling Belinsky, Mikhail's somewhat blurry face stirred, and he spoke:
“My dear Vesalion, I’ve heard you say a lot of discouraging things because of illness and time. Now that you have the opportunity, you should be more careful, otherwise how can you see a brighter future?”

Hearing Mikhail's words, Belinsky seemed to nod slightly, but his gaze was still drawn more to the words on the paper. In such a short time, it seemed he could only write one poem:
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Old age should burn and roar at dusk;

"Rebuke! Rebuke the passing of the light!"

What attitude should the elderly and frail have towards life?

Belinsky was certainly not very old, but in an era when average life expectancy was generally low, coupled with his frail health, he may have had some pessimistic thoughts in the middle of the night.

But thinking about Mikhail's previous poem, this one might have a different meaning.
However, Belinsky didn't have time to think about that at the moment. After a moment of shock, he continued reading:
"Although wise people understand the rationale behind darkness when they are dying."

Because their words did not unleash lightning, they
And it did not enter that good night gently.

The raging man seized and sang of the soaring sun.
They understood, but it was too late; they made the sun grieve along its journey.

And it did not enter that good night gently.

A serious person, nearing death, sees through dazzling vision.

Blind eyes can shine with joy like shooting stars.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

You, my friend, are in that sorrowful height.

Now curse me with your tears, bless me. I beg you.
Do not go gentle into that good night.

"Rebuke! Rebuke the passing of the light!"

(End of this chapter)