shadow of britain

Chapter 617 The Devil Tempting People

On the table in the dining room of the mayor's house was a plate of thick rye bread, with a crispy crust, soft inside, and a fermented sour taste.

Next to it are thinly sliced ​​ham and sausage, bright in color and exuding a rich aroma of smoke and grilled meat.

There is also a large plate of baked potatoes, which are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with some onions and herbs, enough to whet your appetite.

A bowl of steaming milk porridge was served, with small pieces of butter and rich milk aroma floating in it, which looked warm and tempting.

In one corner of the table is sour cream, white as snow, with some pickled cucumbers and pickles next to it. This kind of sour side dish is a classic Russian breakfast combination, which can both whet the appetite and relieve greasiness. There is also a small plate of thinly sliced ​​cheese on the table, which has a strong milky aroma. It tastes very rich when eaten with bread and ham.

Of course, the most important thing is the pot of steaming black tea and the candied fruit that goes with it. Next to them, there is a small dish of sugar and a pot of milk for guests to add according to their taste.

Arthur took a sip of the tea, put down the cup, and savored the warmth and aroma of the tea. In his opinion, Russian tea was obviously superior to British tea in terms of taste and aroma persistence.

Neither Russia nor Britain is a tea-producing country, so the two countries basically purchase their tea through trade with China.

However, Russia mainly traded directly with China through land routes, which ensured the supply and quality of tea.

The UK, on ​​the other hand, relies on sea transport to ship tea from Guangzhou to major cities such as London. Due to relatively poor transportation and storage conditions, it is naturally difficult to maintain the quality of the tea in optimal condition, and the price of high-quality whole-leaf tea remains high all year round.

When Arthur was working as a foot patrol in Greenwich, he drank powdered tea (tea leaves) which cost 1 shilling per pound.

Even after he was promoted to inspector, he was only offered mixed tea (tea made by mixing tea from different producing areas in specific proportions and recipes) at 2 to 5 shillings per pound.

When "The Limey" got on track and the business with Rothschild began to show results, Arthur finally started to drink high-end goods such as Keemun (Qimen black tea) and Lapsang Souchong (Wuyi Zhengshan Xiaozhong), which cost at least 10 shillings per pound.

However, these high-end teas that are only available in the British upper class could actually appear in a remote town like Druisk. Arthur even found jasmine tea, which was very popular among British ladies, in a corner of the restaurant.

It has to be said that, at least when it comes to drinking tea, the Russians are indeed treated better than the British.

Arthur picked up a piece of candied fruit mixed with sour plums, almonds and orange peels, and asked Captain Hughette beside him in English with a strong Yorkshire accent: "Richard, I have always wondered why you ended up working for a Moscow company? Generally speaking, this is not a regular choice. How long have you lived in Russia? Four or five years? Or longer than that?"

Huette took a sip of tea, and a thick white vapor came out of his red nose due to the cold. He stared at the snowflakes drifting outside the window with calm eyes, as if he was looking back at the years that had already passed.

"Including this year, this is already my fifteenth year in Russia. When I was twelve years old, my father suddenly found me and told me that I didn't have to go to grammar school the next day. He knew a friend in a Moscow company and asked me to follow him as an apprentice. In fact, to put it bluntly, my family had no other choice but to let me go out and make a living. My father's business was not good, and my mother died early, and the family could not afford to raise several children. My younger brothers and sisters were still young, and I was the eldest in the family. As the eldest brother, I couldn't let those little brats take my place, right? It happened that the Moscow company provided an opportunity, so I had no choice but to go. At the beginning, I didn't think so much. What does a twelve-year-old kid know? I only knew that there was a company in Chelsea, London that would teach me some Russian and arithmetic so that I would be qualified to do something in Moscow or St. Petersburg. At that time, I didn't understand what business was all about. I only knew that making money could make life better."

At this point, Huet shook his head slightly, as if thinking about himself at that age.

"During that half year, I learned a lot of Russian and some superficial things, such as business negotiations and contract details. But everything was just superficial. The real experience starts from visiting those places. When I went to St. Petersburg, I knew how the real Russia worked. Those officials, businessmen and nobles, everyone had their own interests, and the game between them, the dirty dealings between these adults were far more complicated than I thought.

In the following years, I went to Moscow and Kazan, and it was the same. You have to learn the rules everywhere, and learn how not to let others see that you don’t fully understand these things. I am not the kind of person who can show off in the crowd, but you have to observe quietly, make the right choice, and seize the right opportunity. After a few more years, I learned how to deal with these people, what to say and what not to say, and what is hidden in the dark behind the business. ”

He continued casually, "Life in Russia is not easy, especially for someone with no background. I left home early, and the assessment of company agents is always strict. Russian businessmen will not have any mercy on you just because you are a child. So, here, you have to rely on yourself for everything. Spring, summer, autumn, winter, day after day, year after year, life is a grinding process. If you hadn't mentioned it today, I would have almost forgotten that this is the fifteenth year since I left home."

"Fifteen years..." Arthur repeated the number softly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the teacup. Although Hugh's words were simple, they were like an invisible thread, pulling at certain emotions deep in his heart.

Calculating the time, how many years has it been since he came into this world?

Arthur forced himself not to think about those things. He asked, "Have you been back to England in the past few years? London has changed every year. Paddington has a train, the new London Bridge is open to traffic, and theaters have opened one after another in the West End. As for the East End... the East End is still the same, but there are more and more illegal buildings."

Huett shook his head. "I haven't been back. Although the rent of employees in the Moscow company can be reimbursed by the company, the salary we spend is not much. Add to that the daily expenses here, if I have to go back to London every year, then one or two years of work may be in vain."

"You've never been back?"

"No. But I often write to my family, and my brothers and sisters also often write to me. My sister got married at the beginning of last year. My brother-in-law works for the railway company and is a respectable man. As for my two younger brothers, the older one is an honest man. He now works in the shipyard at the dock. I heard that he is doing a good job and will soon be promoted to foreman. But the younger one has never been smart. He is used to being idle and can't stay in any job for long. Two years ago, he got into a fight with others after getting drunk, which knocked out two of his teeth. In the end, he was arrested by the police and sentenced to six months of hard labor in prison."

Hugh couldn't help but sigh when he said this: "If my father were still alive, he would probably be able to discipline him. But since the old man passed away five years ago, he has become more and more lawless. My older brother is honest and kind, but he is totally useless in front of the younger one. My sister is also stupid. She knows that the younger one is a hopeless person, but every time the younger one comes to her sister to ask for money, she still gives it to him secretly!"

Although it was just a brief chat about family matters, one could get a glimpse into Huett's character.

This military police captain is an experienced, calm realist. He has reasons to switch to Arthur both emotionally and logically.

He came to Russia to make a living. If someone could offer him a higher salary and treatment, and take him back to London to give his disappointing brother a good kick, then Hugh could ignore all the company rules and the regulations of the Third Bureau. Arthur said at the right time: "As for your brother's problem, when I arrive in Moscow or St. Petersburg, I will write a letter to Inspector Radley King of Scotland Yard, and he will help him find a job. For Radley, this second-rate guy is not useless. Being able to get along with hooligans is sometimes a special skill."

Hearing this, Huett waved his hand and said, "Colonel, that's not what I meant. It's a good thing to help him find a job, but I always want him to turn over a new leaf and become a decent person."

"Well... that's a waste of good material."

Arthur rubbed his temple and said, "Well, since it's your request, I won't hand it over to Ridley. However, Tom's Crime Intelligence Center is not suitable for his wild nature, and Tom is not the kind of person who likes to get angry with others... As for Plunkett, the Ghost Team needs someone calm and composed... Why not just hand it over to Greenwich? Although Tony's temper is a bit violent, he is just right for disciplining second-rate people. Richard, I assure you that your brother will become a competent police officer. If he is still useless under Tony's discipline, he can only be sent to the editorial office of The Brit to serve tea and water."

After hearing what Arthur said, Hugh was silent for a while. He took off his hat and lowered his head. There was not much change in his expression, but in his deep calmness, there was a rare hint of gratitude.

"I'm sorry, Colonel. I've been working as a military policeman for so long that I don't even know how to say thank you. But don't worry, just follow me. Even if the French attack, I will ensure that you can reach your destination safely. This is what we agreed on before. Besides, I owe you a big favor."

"Richard, that's too polite of you to say that." Arthur smiled and picked up the teacup: "I thought we were friends for a long time."

Huett placed one hand on his chest and bowed slightly: "I feel extremely honored to be your friend."

At this point, Huette asked again: "But have you made up your mind? Should we go to Moscow first or go directly to Petersburg?"

At this time, Arthur was no longer in the impatient state of mind that he had been possessed by Elder a while ago. He was not in a hurry to make a decision: "It's still early, it's okay for me to go to St. Petersburg a few days later. Richard, which of the two cities do you think is more worth visiting, Moscow or St. Petersburg?"

"Well...it depends on what style you like. Russia is a country with a multi-layered lifestyle, and this characteristic is also reflected in the cities, with St. Petersburg and Moscow being the representatives. As the capital and trade center, St. Petersburg's lifestyle is closer to the West, and its culture is courtly and bureaucratic. As for Moscow, it is the old capital of Russia, and its culture is also aristocratic, and many Russian national traditions are preserved there. Generally speaking, it is much more difficult to get Moscow to accept new things than to get St. Petersburg to accept them. However, if you want to experience the authentic Russia, there is no better place than Moscow..."

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Just as Huette was about to continue his introduction, he heard footsteps. The gendarmerie captain immediately shut his mouth and looked coldly at the mayor's wife who walked into the restaurant.

The mayor's wife's eyes swept across the two of them, finally settling on Arthur: "Colonel, we need your help with something, why don't we find a place to talk alone?"

Arthur took a sip of tea and smiled, "No need, ma'am. Captain Huett is not an outsider. I have nothing to hide from him."

The mayor's wife heard him say that, so she asked the maid to pull out a chair for her. As soon as she sat down with her skirt lifted, she scolded him: "Colonel, you have nothing to hide from Captain Huett, but you are hiding something from me."

"Hide it from you?" Arthur's heart skipped a beat. He thought the matter was exposed. "Madam, although I dare not pat my chest and guarantee that I have never lied in my life, but I swear to God that I have never lied to any lady in my life. Yes, not even one."

Seeing his serious look, the mayor's wife smiled and said, "In that case, why didn't you tell me about the imperial envoy earlier? The news that Brigadier General Barkov arrived in Druisk today really scared Alexei so much that he almost fell to the ground. You know, the whole city is in chaos now. Everyone is worried that the newcomer is not as easy to talk to as you are."

"A new imperial envoy?" Arthur pretended to be confused. "Maybe he was sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. But I didn't know that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had sent people here. I thought this was just a routine local inspection by the Third Bureau."

"Those bastards from the Ministry of Internal Affairs are really a ghost!" Captain Huete chimed in at the right time, his voice low but full of anger: "They only know how to bully others all day long. What else can they do except to cause trouble for themselves? They don't care about local affairs at all, but they always like to make decisions. Every time they block the news, it seems that those of us who do things have to listen to them. Bullshit! Those people are just a bunch of corrupt pigs. They take other people's money, do their own evil deeds, and want to use the status of imperial envoy to pressure us. Brigadier General Barkov? I bet he is just a flatterer. No matter how high he climbs, he will only be a stupid donkey in the end!"

The expression on his face became even more severe, and he clenched his fists as if he wanted to break the table. "If it weren't for us who suppressed the low-level shitty things that group of people did, they would have caused unrest in the area a long time ago. These guys don't know their own weight, they really deserve to be thrown into the firewood pile!"

The mayor's wife felt more emboldened when she heard Hugh's curse.

She knew that although the brigadier general was one rank higher than the colonel, Colonel Hastingoff was, after all, a military policeman in the third bureau who could reach the ears of the emperor.

Not to mention a mere brigadier general, if things got serious, even if the governor of a province came, he would not dare to be too rude to the colonel.

Besides...

This colonel is so young!
Arthur extended his hand and pretended to teach Hughte a lesson, "Richard, that's enough. Although we do not get along with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we still have to maintain our dignity. By the way, ma'am, the new imperial envoy you just mentioned is called Barkov, right?"

"That's right, Colonel." The mayor's wife complained, "Although it may be inappropriate for me to say this, that gentleman is not a respectable and elegant person like you. He rushed into the city early this morning with a large group of Cossack cavalry, causing a commotion and panic in the city. He also said that all the officials in the city must be gathered within the time of a pack of cigarettes. If he finds that someone has not come after he finishes smoking, he will send a Cossack to give that person three whips."

Arthur stood up, straightened his clothes, and rolled up the distinctive collar of his tuxedo. "Oh? If that's the case, then I'm doomed to receive three lashes today. After all, I seem to be in the category of 'officials in the city', and he's probably finished smoking by now, right?"

The mayor's wife chuckled in her heart. She felt that the tactless brigadier general would probably be in big trouble today.

"How dare he!" the mayor's wife flattered, "Even the emperor may not be willing to whip you, and he, a Tartar barbarian, has such courage!"

Arthur wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up leisurely, and ordered Huette, "Captain, gather our men and follow me. After all, General Barkov's order is to gather all the officials in the city. You, me, and your gendarmes cannot be left out."

(End of this chapter)