Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

On the same day at the Tsarskoye Selo High School, Nicholas received his final exam results with a big smile on his face.

After cutting his hair short, he doesn't look so feminine, which may have something to do with his tall stature and big build.

"Sasha, what are you doing?"

Nicholas caught Pushkin, a boy who was even more naughty than himself and often got into trouble. However, because he was good at writing, had a sweet mouth and knew how to handle things, even the boss would not give him too severe a punishment after giving him a lesson.

The principal even allowed him to engage in literary creation, but it would not give him extra points in the final exam.

"I'm writing a poem. This poem is for every student, but..."

"Let me see, Sasha, you are really a genius in this area. The boss said that you are very talented in literature. Compared with you, his ability is really not enough."

Because Nikolai said it himself, and everyone knew that Solovyov had a good relationship with him.

Pushkin smiled after hearing this and said, "Your Highness, the Count is quite capable. Whether he is translating or creating, his level is quite good. If you evaluate me like this, I don't deserve it."

However, these guys probably didn't realize that the Pushkin that Solovyov was talking about was the complete form that was famous in the literary world, and the one in front of them was just the child prodigy in his initial stage.

However, his poems were indeed so good that even Nicholas wanted to read them.

"That doesn't sound good, Sasha. The title is still for all classmates and friends."

The first batch of students of the Imperial Village Lyceum were not only classmates but also close friends. Nicholas was obviously not happy after reading Pushkin's poem.

"Isn't this good?"

"No! Sasha, come and listen to what you wrote."

Комужизнасподстаростьденьлицея

Торжествоватьпридетсяодному?

Несчастныйдруг!средьновыхпоколений

Докучныйгостьилишний, ичужой,

Онвспомнитнасиднисоединений,

Закрывглазадрожащеюрукой

Пускайжеонсотрадойхотьпечальной

Тогдасейденьзачашейпроведет,

Какнынея, затворниквашопальный,

Егопровелбезгоряизабот.

(Which of us in old age, on that school anniversary,

Will you celebrate alone?

Unfortunate friend! Among the new generation,

He would be an annoying guest, superfluous and strange,

He will remember us, the time we spent together,

I closed my eyes with shaking hands...

May he then, even with sorrowful joy,

Spend the day with a cup of tea.

As I am today, your treasured captive,

Spend the day without worries or troubles.)

Pushkin thought there was nothing wrong with being read aloud by the Grand Duke, but Nicholas himself was dissatisfied with the style of the poem, and it was considered a "public execution" of Pushkin among his classmates.

Although the two of them had a good relationship, even if it was to restore history, Nicholas was willing to promote Pushkin as a great poet in the court on the premise that he "admitted defeat", but their concepts were still different as always.

"Kolya, you have to tell me what's wrong."

"I don't know which unlucky person among us will be the last one to do this, but it sounds very sad anyway. The boss also wrote a poem, but he always modestly said that it was a collection of his works, called 'Wait for Me'. Although the style of that poem is also a bit sad, it is not like yours. No, no, let's forget about this poem."

However, Pushkin still refused to agree to Nicholas's censorship of his books and newspapers and expressed his protest.

"Creation is free. You can't just ban poetry just because of the atmosphere! I can't accept such authoritarian behavior!"

Although he protested, he was young and short, so he was lifted up like a chicken.

That’s right, the complete Nikolai was two meters tall, and Pushkin was never even taller than 1.66 meters in his life. What’s more, Nikolai was three years older than him and grew faster, so he was just picked up.

The height difference is so exaggerated that it's like Xiao Si jumping up and hitting Yao Ming's knee, and it looks a bit funny.

The students on the side all burst into laughter. The contrast of this scene was too obvious.

However, Nicholas never took the initiative to beat people. Instead, he would do it for defense. After all, Pushkin was too impulsive. He might just hit him with the head, which would cause trouble.

Although it was just a fight between children, Nicholas was still a grand duke after all, and Queen Maria was known for her favoritism towards her sons, even when there was a dispute among their companions.

"Okay, Kolya. I think everyone should record this poem. Sasha's poems are not good in style, but the writing is also beautiful in words."

Seeing someone coming to pass the stairs, Nikolai also threw Pushkin to the ground.

This kid is really tough, and he has a good relationship with Nicholas. If anyone wants to fight with him, the two grand dukes will definitely come forward to mediate.

These two brothers are tall and strong. Even if they are not dukes of the royal family, they are still two very intimidating little giants.

It may be enough to just "convince people with reason" by "swinging words".

However, although they have the capital to be "school bullies", they are still relatively peace-loving.

After seeing this, Gorchakov honestly copied down what Pushkin wrote and put it in his notebook.

This poem may not have become as famous as other poems after it was written, but it was preserved until Prince Gorchakov, the Prime Minister of the Empire, died at a ripe old age in 1883, when it was finally discovered among his belongings.

"We should preserve it, and maybe take it out as a souvenir in the future."

This little boy with glasses is a peacemaker among his classmates. He obviously has the talent of a diplomat and his social skills are top-notch.

"Yes, it should be a memorial."

As they were talking, the bells in the church in Tsarskoye Selo began to ring.

"What's going on?"

Nicholas knew that something big must have happened, but he had been in class these days and the school management in Tsarskoye Selo was very strict. Although he and his brother Mikhail could live in his brother and sister-in-law's Alexander Palace, they had always attended school in Catherine Palace. He still knew nothing about what happened in St. Petersburg.

Just as they were preparing to take their final report cards and go home temporarily, a cavalry officer of the Guards arrived at the Tsarskoye Selo High School on horseback.

"What are you doing here, Lieutenant?"

"I am here to convey the order conveyed by the Grand Tutor. The Emperor has received the declaration of war from the French Emperor. The French army is ready to cross the Neman River. The war has already broken out."

"What?"

The noble children of the Tsarskoye Selo High School who heard this in the garden corridor were also shocked. War had actually broken out at this time. The French were going to launch an "all-out offensive" from the Baltic Sea to Ruthenia, and the entire western border of Russia might soon be attacked.

"Sir, are you sure this is true?"

Since this officer was the messenger of the Guards who stayed behind, he naturally knew Grand Duke Nicholas. He didn't think much of it when the Grand Duke grabbed his collar, and immediately replied, "Yes, Your Highness, the war with the French has broken out. The Emperor is mobilizing the army, and there is a special order that students of the Imperial Village High School are not allowed to join the army without special approval."

After all, the oldest among these children is Grand Duke Nicholas himself, and the youngest has not yet celebrated his 11th birthday.

"It's nothing. Students still need to study hard here. If there is a war."

Nicholas actually wanted to go very much, but with his identity he couldn't run away secretly. As for his classmates who wanted to serve in the army, that was definitely not possible.

Although there were people in Russia, from nobles to commoners and even serfs, who secretly joined the army, in places with strict discipline, even if they had such an idea, it would be difficult to escape.

After the officer who delivered the message left, everyone looked at the two grand dukes. After all, if they wanted to solve this problem, they would probably be the two of them who could make the decision.

"It's difficult. I know my brother's temper very well. Although he is easy to talk to, even if we petition him, it will probably be rejected. In this case, we should study hard. If we join the army now when we are about to graduate, no one will say anything."

Nicholas was relatively obedient. Apart from Peter the Great and Paul, there were probably no overly rebellious people in the Luo family who grew up in this land. However, their cultural level was average, especially the royal family that inherited the throne.

But they were always busy, so Pushkin turned around and encouraged Yesakov and Nikolai Rzhevsky who were determined to join the army.

The children of nobles in other places were probably the same as them, all thinking about defending the country and the Tsar.

However, Baron von Elsner, who was in charge of military studies at the Imperial Village Gymnasium, soon stood up against them.

"You 'generals', you're going to join the army before you even wipe your nose clean? What you need to do is study hard. I, as a teacher, have to go to the front line because I'm an active soldier, but you're not old enough! Anyone who dares to join the army secretly, just wait for me to come back and whip you with a whip!"

Even for Nicholas, this was a threat, because since the Queen Mother allowed Solovyov to let him experience the spirit of the Russian Guards, von Elsner, the engineer colonel, naturally had similar power over the students.

The only difference is that Russia is opposed to students joining the army secretly, at least that is the case in St. Petersburg now.

A place like Tsarskoye Selo, which is under the watchful eyes of the Empress Dowager and the Queen, is naturally closely watched. If it were a school in an inland city or one of the aristocratic families who hired tutors to teach their children, whether they could keep their children under control would be another question.

"But we just want to join the army! The French have already attacked us, and we can't study well here."

"I understand your patriotic enthusiasm, but in the future, Russia must become a civilized country. Your first task is to study hard and live up to the emperor and your parents. Only then can we teachers rest assured."

Having said that, it can be considered that they have been pinned down.

But the funny thing is, unlike Ichiro Hirata who was beaten by the instructor because he wanted to study hard, these guys were beaten because they still wanted to join the army.

Probably the only thing that was the same was that the instructor was still trying earnestly to reason with them at the beginning!

As for the Russians' enthusiasm for joining the army, although the news was not transmitted quickly, people from St. Petersburg and those towns, villages and manors along the way that had learned of the outbreak of the war had already begun to join the army enthusiastically.

The wealthy nobles have already started sponsoring armies and organizing militias, and some have even armed the serfs on their farms. The children of the common people are also eager to try.

After all, once you join the army, you will have the status of a master, and if you establish meritorious service, you will have the opportunity to move up.

However, in many places, because the masters did not behave like human beings on a daily basis, they still had to worry that the serfs would eventually be liberated by the French invaders.

But the situation in St. Petersburg was much better, and conscription was going very smoothly.

The original main force of the Guards, except for the guards who are usually responsible for the palace guard in the capital and a few mobile troops, most of them have followed the large Guards force to the front line, and now the conscription work here is going smoothly.

Even though the war had just broken out and there had been no active enlistment orders yet, many young noblemen had arrived at the doors of various departments, some submitting petitions and others bringing their own equipment, such as horses and weapons.

The most exaggerated one was probably a wealthy man like Prince Yusupov. As a nobleman ranked among the top in St. Petersburg and even in Russia, he was able to quickly invest a large amount of money to sponsor the militia.

With the amount of money Prince Yusupov's family spends, they can equip a division and equip it with artillery.

When the Grand Tutor Prince Saltykov saw this, he was also a little confused.

"It has come to this. If everyone is so willing to join the army, I think it should be fine."

Sergei Kuzmitch and Kochubey looked at him and also found him amused.

An army marshal has always been valued because of his status. No wonder some young people say that Russian generals are more powerful than marshals.

The social atmosphere changed instantly. Before the summer of 1812, young nobles were reluctant to join the army because their fiancées would ask them to retire from active service when they got married.

But now, the French are attacking and the country is in crisis. We can't afford to care about this matter.

Anyone who refuses to join the army at this time is definitely a coward!

While all this was happening in St. Petersburg, the situation for the troops at the front was probably quite different.

Barclay and Bagration are now faced with a huge number of enemies.

The enemy they faced was a French army that was at least twice as large as theirs. (End of this chapter)