Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

Chapter 286 053 Only the Menshikovs are qualified to be thieves

Soloviev also had to attend an academic conference at Moscow Imperial University. Although it was related to paleontology, this aspect was not his main business after all. He only attended the conference as a fan.

The paleontological research of this era was somewhat based on the map. The introduction of these Permian and Mesozoic paleontology was all based on known organisms, not on those big reptiles.

Here, he could only listen and even fell asleep easily.

To visit Prince Sergei Menshikov, he still had to go to the manor.

Even though their property was confiscated many times, including the property of the first-generation prince himself and the dowry of his daughter Alexandra, they were still very rich.

Speaking of which, Peter the Great also needed this thief back then.

He once had some feelings after the death of the Swiss Lefort he trusted.

"I only have one hand left. This is a thief, but also a loyal man."

However, because Peter the Great received more and more accusations in his later years, he would not release Menshikov abroad regarding his collusion with foreign countries.

As for the transfer of property, the four brothers of the Solovyov family were the ones who handled it, and they almost lost their heads.

Afterwards, Menshikov's story was that he supported the Tsar twice after the death of Peter the Great, and then was exiled to Siberia during the coup, and eventually died of smallpox.

Such a powerful official was able to build a church in exile and be buried in Siberia.

But no one would have thought that with the violent flooding of the Northern Sosva River in the exile area, his tomb could no longer be verified.

The Menshikov family restored their noble status during the reign of Queen Anna, but they no longer had the glory of the past.

However, during the reign of Nicholas I, Prince Sergei's son once again had an important position in the court.

But this time, it was even more negative than the previous one.

Prince Menshikov also has a lot of property overseas, all in the Netherlands and the UK, but it has not been completely eaten up by Western European bankers.

After all, the British also know that the fallen nobles, as long as they are not eradicated, will still have a chance to make a comeback in the future. Things like eating up the whole family should also be considered in different situations.

Like some things in the 21st century, even the most greedy Jewish bankers can't help but ridicule them for not paying attention to business reputation at all, and their eating is ugly. If they want to take away customers' money, they can't use such an open method.

And this part of the money was taken back some time after the second generation of princes came back, before Solovyov's grandfather died. As for how much property Menshikov has overseas.

Except for Prince Sergei himself, there may not be many people who know.

When I came to the Cheremushki-Znamenskoye Manor, the door was also closed, which was very different from the situation of General Apraksin's house full of guests.

In Moscow, the nobles are still known for their hospitality, especially the old nobles who often hold grand banquets and dances at home, which are even more grand than the originals they imitated from France.

Prince Alexander Kurakin's pomp shocked his French friends.

Not to mention Count Stroganov, whose family is now the richest in Russia. When they were in France, their pomp was already luxurious enough.

In the future, the way French dishes are served will have a Russian style, and this pomp has also been brought to Paris, which can be regarded as a reverse output of culture.

Solovyov also met another cousin Vasily at the manor. He had some time at this time because the master was walking in the garden.

Perhaps Russian masters like to play a band in the garden, and then he goes for a walk.

"Misha, I remember the last time I saw you was when I arrived in Ryazan. You were 5 years old that year."

"Don't always look at me when I was a child. I have younger brothers and sisters."

"Yes, Uncle Sergei has been married twice. My aunt is still very young and has several younger children."

"How are you now?"

"As for me, I am still the same. Your grandfather has a title, and my grandfather is the butler. He does not hold a position and can only be regarded as a registered noble."

There is no way, he said it very clearly.

But Vasily can still enjoy many privileges here, after all, the master is often not in Moscow, and even often not in Russia.

That is, the Solovyov family, the branch that serves as the butler for Prince Menshikov, has been loyal and reliable for generations, otherwise the theft incidents in the Tavrid Palace in the past would definitely happen.

"Misha, do you want me to inform you?"

"Don't worry, we can talk. My father gave me the old house in Petersburg."

"But you haven't married yet. When will you get married?"

Soloviev was a little embarrassed when it came to this question. After all, he was rejected when he proposed to Sylvia, but he had two daughters with her. As for Her Majesty the Queen and Polina, his "aunt", they also had a child.

However, he did not get married, and he might not have such plans for the time being. Obviously, he had a lot of things on his hands.

This is different from when he was in the palace. He came to Moscow to finish the canning factory and the fountain pen factory, and also to move part of the pencil factory in Count Bobulinsky's estate to Ryazan or somewhere else.

As for why it is not Moscow, it is also very simple. If the French come in 1812, it is hard to say whether someone will set a fire.

It is more convenient to disperse around Moscow.

Of course, he did not plan to arrange the direction of the main gate of Mozhaysk. He arranged it to Tula, Ryazan and Simbirsk.

In this case, he is afraid that he will have to visit several benefactors who have helped him. The letter of recommendation that allowed him to go to the Moscow Grenadiers was the beginning of his rapid rise.

"So you are back to do things! In addition to housework, there are also tasks assigned by the emperor. But if you need help to open a factory, I can find a way."

After all, Vasily still has some face in front of the prince, and the management of this estate has always relied on him.

"No, everyone in our family knows what Peter the Great said."

Vassily thought this was boring, but at this moment, the tea he made was almost ready.

"Come and try it, this is black tea from Ceylon. Uncle Sergei said you like this when he wrote to me."

This father still cares about where his eldest son goes.

Especially, this is in Russia.

"I am very tight on time. After this matter is done, I have to go to Smolensk to take office, so I don't have so much time to take care of these things."

"By then, someone will come from Petersburg. Just do what you should do."

"That makes sense."

After he chatted with Vasily for a while, Prince Sergei Menshikov came back from his walk.

"Sir, this is my cousin Mikhail, the son of my uncle Sergei."

"Ah, that's the promising boy who is by the emperor's side. Well, he looks good."

The prince was still wearing a wig. He was more curious about Solovyov's hair. He knew it was real.

"You still have your hair, Misha."

"Yes, but it's time to cut it off when you go to Smolensk."

As for the hair cut, Solovyov will leave this braid that is neither long nor short to Louisa.

"This hair looks good, why do you want to cut it?"

"Because the latest regulations require it, so I have to cut my hair too."

"Yes, you are a soldier, and it's not my father's era now."

They chatted for a while in the courtyard, mainly about what happened in Moscow and St. Petersburg recently. This kind of meaningless conversation is more common in the salons in St. Petersburg.

"This is also a political barometer. I just returned to Moscow recently, and my son will return to the court to serve next year. In your opinion, which one is better, the Guards, diplomats, or court attendants?"

"If it is my personal opinion, Sergei Alexandrovich, the tasks that diplomats have to undertake at this stage will be very heavy, which is not suitable for novices. Moreover, our diplomats will inevitably be influenced by some foreign friends abroad. In the court, it is relatively idle, and the Guards are not the same as they were during the time of Emperor Paul."

"But when you were Emperor Paul, you were a battalion commander in the Putin Regiment."

"At that time, there were many service requirements, and it is actually the same now, and you have to bear a lot of responsibilities."

Soloviev's goal is to let Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov go to the inner court, so as to avoid him from entering the army. No matter in the army or the navy, this person's market is not very good.

But he didn't know that this Menshikov went to the Guards from the inner court, and his resume when he was a middle and lower-level officer was also quite brilliant.

But he was not suitable for the higher positions. He served as an aide-de-camp to the Tsar, and then went to the navy during Nicholas's time.

Then, this person's suppression of technology due to personal grudges would also cause huge troubles.

And his title was there. Even if Solovyov held a high position in the future, he would probably have to fight with him.

However, there was also a vicious rumor that his biological father was the Swedish general who slept with Arkady Suvorov's ex-fiancee. Although this was nonsense, in Russia, rumor-mongering was a daily routine.

For example, some fathers in the subspace often appeared.

"It's better to go to the inner court. If you go to the Guards, you will be transferred again. If I entrust the Volkonsky family, it may be more troublesome."

The prince's conversation was not like a typical member of the Menshikov family, but a foreigner's posture, although he spoke Russian and even some local dialect.

It was in line with his origin. After all, Alexander Danilovich was born in a humble family. This was the third generation, so it was not surprising to say such words.

As for the Volkonsky he mentioned, it was actually General Peter Volkonsky, the nephew of the old commander Solovyov, and Alexander's aide-de-camp and senior staff member.

Solovyov actually didn't want to have a close relationship with the Menshikov family. After all, this family always had strange things happen, and he was already in St. Petersburg, so he was still a little distant from the Moscow nobles.

Plus, the Menshikov family is not the kind of family that is enthusiastic about entertaining guests, so the farther they are from here, the better.

This meeting was just like that, and cousin Vasily did remind him of some small things.

"Misha, I understand your thoughts. You don't want to have too much to do with this place. If the people that Uncle Sergei knows can still help you, then this is not the case here. You have to remember that the masters and young masters that our family has served for three generations are the most loyal thieves of the emperor, not just the first generation of princes."

"I know, so I have to go back to Moscow. The journey is short, and it is not suitable to stay here for a long time."

"I won't keep you here either. Go to Kolya. His wife has good cooking skills. You are closer cousins. Did you go to his house before you came?"

"I went. To be honest, our family has always been prosperous."

Speaking of which, the two oldest of the four Solovyov brothers have no offspring, and one of them has even remained unmarried for life, so the remaining two brothers still have a special interest in adding population to the family.

It is also because of this that there are so many descendants of Fyodor without titles. Although there are many people in Solovyov's branch, they are not as numerous as them.

Then, their status is not high. They are always doing the work of manor housekeepers, but they manage money at a higher level. Fyodor is in charge of the inner house and has not taught his descendants much.

Vasily himself, the woman he married now has given birth to eight sons for him, and this sister-in-law is still pregnant.

Before leaving Menshikov's house, Solovyov also visited these nephews and nieces.

Speaking of which, if the conscription office comes, they will cry, they are all good materials.

But it is hard to say whether their ambition is here.

After all, only Sergei and Mikhail father and son can really get medals from the Tsar. The rest of the people have no military rank higher than captain, and they all retired and went home.

"Misha, if you come to Moscow again, please write me a letter."

"I know, Vasya. But who knows if I can come to Moscow?"

Vassily fed his horse and sent him away from the luxurious manor.

How luxurious is it?

A manor that is often uninhabited. After Sergei Menshikov bought it in 1783, it took more than ten years to build a luxurious classical palace. Anyone who sees it will be shocked by the luxury of the manor owner.

This is probably the consistent characteristic of the Menshikov family.