shadow of britain

Chapter 640 Old Friends in Moscow

The cold wind blew through the streets of Moscow, sweeping up the untrampled snow on the street corners, which filled the air like white smoke. The horses' hooves stepped on the frozen ground, making a dull sound, and the squeaking of the wheels continued all the way to the distance. The main buildings of several cathedrals in Moscow were vaguely visible in the winter mist, and the magnificent architectural lines looked solemn and depressing against the low clouds.

Gogol huddled in the corner of the carriage, wrapped tightly in his thin coat. Although it was not cold inside the carriage, he never pulled his hands out of his coat pockets, and his fingertips trembled slightly. He looked through the window at the main building of the university that was gradually approaching, his brows knitted, and the expression on his face was an expression of anxiety and uneasiness that could not be concealed.

"What if Maksimovich is unwilling to help?" Gogol pondered silently, and the cold face of the Minister of Education and the vague reply of the Kiev school supervisor emerged in his mind. The tone of rejection and the words of evasion came like a tide, making him feel uncomfortable.

At this moment, his eyes were attracted by another carriage outside the window. The carriage followed closely behind his carriage, occasionally closing the distance with him, and then slowly slowing down, like a hovering shadow.

Gogol's brows furrowed even more tightly. He felt an inexplicable irritation in his heart, and this feeling of being stared at made it difficult for him to calm down.

Who is the owner of this carriage?
Arthur Hastings!

That troublesome ghost!
When Gogol thought of this guy who had pretended to be the imperial envoy in Druisk, the corners of his mouth could not help but twitch slightly.

Gogol is not afraid of Arthur, even though this guy once pulled off his hood.

However, being associated with such a troublemaker would undoubtedly add more uncertainty to his situation.

Arthur had promised him before that he would help Gogol speak in front of the Minister of Education Uvarov and praise the newly written "History of Little Russia" to the sky.

But now it seems that regardless of whether he had ever spoken well of Gogol, at least judging from the current silent reaction of the Ministry of Education, Education Minister Uvarov obviously did not take the matter to heart.

This British knight's worth is not as high as he thinks, or he can't even do a small thing like bragging.

Otherwise, Gogol would not have braved the cold wind and snow to come to Moscow for a family-friendly festival like Maslenitsa.

He thought that perhaps his friend, Mikhail Alexandrovich Maksimovich, a professor at Moscow University, might be the one who could help more.

Although both of them are Little Russians, Maksimovich's luck is obviously much better than Gogol's.

After graduating from Moscow University, this guy stayed on as a botany lecturer and was promoted to full professor at the age of 27.

Gogol worked hard for the position of associate professor at Kyiv University, but Maksimovich, the young professor who only turned 9 in September this year, was nominated by Kyiv Inspector Bradkai as a candidate for the first president of Kyiv University.

Gogol was extremely jealous of Maksimovich's good luck, but his jealousy was eventually diluted by their friendship.

And in the final analysis, Gogol felt more angry than jealous.

Because Bradley used Gogol's lack of achievements in history as a reason to inform him that he could not obtain the chair of world history.

But on the other hand, Bradkai gave Maksimovich the chair of the Department of Literature at Kyiv University, simply because Maksimovich wanted to go.

True, Maksimovich was a very good professor of botany.

Moreover, he was also a very good researcher of Little Russian folklore, and collected and compiled a large number of Little Russian folk songs and legends. If they did not have such a common interest, his relationship with Gogol would not have been so close.

But is it enough to become a professor of literature at Kiev University just by having a collection of Little Russian folk songs and a notebook on Ukrainian folklore?

Or did the Kiev Inspector feel that Maksimovich's two natural philosophy works, "On the Systematic Classification of Russian Plants" and "Botanical Notebooks", were written in very beautiful style, so they could also be included in the scope of the professor's examination?

Isn't this a double standard?

Gogol was very dissatisfied with this.

He thought about it for a long time at home and felt that it might be his resume that ruined the situation.

After all, Maksimovich was a professor at Moscow University.

What kind of university is Moscow State University?
It is one of the top two universities in Russia, and its status in Russia is equivalent to that of Oxford University in Britain and Berlin University in Germany.

And what about Gogol?
Just a lecturer at a patriotic aristocratic women's college.

Perhaps in the eyes of Kiev Inspector Bradkai, the Patriotic Noble Women's College is an enlarged version of the monastery girls' school. It is mainly used to train noble women to learn court etiquette, language skills, and artistic accomplishment. Cultural knowledge usually exists only as a supplementary course.

How well can a noble lady learn history?
Aren't they studying cultural subjects just to read a few fashionable French novels?

In such an environment, how high can the level of academic lecturers in girls' schools be?

As the saying goes:
You can't grow orchids in the wild, and you can't become Homer if you have good eyesight.

Thick hair doesn't prove evolution, and a straightforward personality makes him unsuitable for playing Caesar.

The desire is too shallow to surpass Carter, and the love debt is too shallow to learn from Dumas.

No narrow-minded man may enter the Tower of London,

Alas! Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French Republic!

Could it be that there really was a strange girl in the women's college who was "untainted by the mud, and yet elegant and coquettish", who devoted herself to studying and ignored the beautiful girls around her?

Why don't I believe it?

Gogol's thoughts were as chaotic as the snow in Moscow on a winter day.

He rubbed his forehead, trying to clear his mind from the endless distracting thoughts.

However, the shadow of the carriage outside the window could not be shaken off, which added to his annoyance.

"Arthur Hastings..." He snorted in his heart: "What on earth is this guy trying to do?"

The carriage gradually slowed down, and Gogol saw through the window that the main building of Moscow University was just around the corner.

The moment Gogol opened the car door, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Mr. Gogol, it seems we are traveling together again today."

Gogol turned around and saw that it was indeed Arthur. He was wearing his usual annoyingly confident smile, with a few unmelted snowflakes hanging on his cloak.

Blackwell followed closely behind, and the lustful personal secretary put on a stern face, as if the fall of the sky had nothing to do with him.

"Mr. Hastings, your interests are really wide-ranging, from Druisk to Petersburg, and then to Moscow University. What noble cause are you planning today? I remember that you have always wanted to meet Mr. Pushkin? Why don't you follow him today, but follow me?"

Arthur didn't care about the little Russian's sarcasm. Instead, he spread his hands generously: "I am here to visit my old friend Colonel Shubinsky. It has nothing to do with you. But you, Mr. Gogol, seem to be here for more important things."

"Colonel Shubinsky?" Gogol looked at Arthur suspiciously. Perhaps because he was thinking too much, he accidentally let out a message: "You don't want to go to see Prince Golitsyn, the dean of Moscow University, through him? Could it be that you are also planning to make a fortune in the Ministry of Education..."

As soon as Gogol finished speaking, he suddenly realized that there was something wrong with what he said. He paused abruptly, his eyes slightly dodging, as if he was shivered by the cold wind. He quickly cleared his throat, trying to cover up his previous slip of the tongue with words.

"I mean... Mr. Hastings, as a diplomat, you must be very busy. You must have some important business to attend to today, right?"

Arthur smiled slightly, with a sly look in his eyes. He knew that Gogol wanted to trick him, just as he wanted to trick Gogol.

He raised his head slightly, and his tone became particularly calm and sophisticated, as if every word was carefully considered.

"Mr. Gogol, I am honored by your concern for me. As you know, the current UK-Russia relations are at a delicate stage of development. Britain has always been committed to promoting the global vision of peace and prosperity, and cultural exchanges are undoubtedly the best bridge. As a cultural counselor, I often feel a heavy responsibility - how to ensure that the thoughts and creativity of the two countries can shine together, rather than being blocked by the barriers of language and stereotypes..."

"Alright, alright!" Gogol interrupted Arthur hastily when he heard him speak in an official tone. As a minor civil servant who once worked in the land department, Gogol knew that if these guys started talking at length, it would definitely not be over in an hour or two.

He took off his hat and said goodbye to Arthur: "In that case, I wish you all the best in your cause of promoting global prosperity."

Arthur watched Gogol's back disappear into the streets near Moscow University, his signature smile still on his face.

He shook the snow off his cloak and just as he raised his pipe, he saw Blackwell taking the initiative to light it for him.

Seeing him being so smart, Arthur couldn't help but ask, "What do you think of what I just said?"

Blackwell replied calmly, "Great."

"you are lying."

"if not?"

Arthur stared at Blackwell, who was as silent as the Sphinx, and sighed helplessly, "Well, at least honesty is better than stupidity. Henry, let me tell you, what I just said was not good at all. Remember, lengthy conversations are not conducive to solving problems, just like a long skirt that drags on the ground is not conducive to walking."

"Is that so?" Perhaps to annoy Arthur, Blackwell pretended to have suddenly realized something. "If that's the case, why did you say that?"

Arthur glanced at the uninformed Blackwell and repeated, "Because lengthy conversations are not conducive to solving problems. Remember this well, you will need it someday, especially when you are dealing with Fleet Street in London."

Arthur fished a small piece of paper from his pocket. On it was an address: 25 Tverskoy Avenue, Moscow.

But unfortunately, Arthur lied to Gogol. He came here not to find Colonel Shubinsky, but to find Herzen, a Moscow university student he met in Leipzig.

Of course, this was not because Arthur did not value the great friendship between the Russian gendarmes and Scotland Yard, but because Shubinsky went to Petersburg to pay New Year's greetings to his mother-in-law. The two agreed to have a good reunion at his family's estate after Shubinsky returned from Petersburg in a few days.

Tverskaya Avenue is not too far from Mokhovaya Street where Moscow University is located. It is only about half a mile away and takes less than ten minutes to walk.

The main reason why Arthur got off the bus in front of Moscow University was to see whether this highest institution of learning in Russia was as outrageous as Herzen said.

According to Herzen's description, since several student movements had taken place at Moscow University, Nicholas I had regarded it as a thorn in his side. In order to properly educate these restless college students, the Tsar sent Major General Pisarev, Russia's most warlike writer, to serve as the academic supervisor of Moscow University.

After Pisarev took office, there was hardly a day that he did not torment his students.

He first required the students to wear uniforms and carry sabers, calling it militarized management and strengthening discipline.

Then the following year, he ordered students not to carry sabers, because he was worried that students who were poisoned by liberalism might use sabers as weapons.

However, during the four years he served as school supervisor, his most boastful achievement was not how many scientists, philosophers and writers he trained.

Instead, dozens of students were sent to the Caucasus for a few poems and articles, and several Polish students disappeared because of a bust. As for those who were expelled and persuaded to leave, there is no need to record them separately here.

Later, it was unclear whether the Tsar felt that Pisarev had gone too far or he was completely disappointed with the actions to correct Moscow University.

In short, the rector of Moscow University was replaced by Prince Sergei Mikhailovich Golitsyn.

Speaking of Duke Golitsyn, Blackwell might be more familiar with him than Arthur, because he is Miss Anastasia's uncle and one of the five dukes of the Golitsyn family.

Although the title of duke is very common in Russia, no matter how common the titles are, the fact that the Golitsyn family has five dukes in one generation is enough to illustrate their power in Russia.

As one of the oldest and most prominent families in Russian history, the Golitsyn family originated from the Gediminas dynasty of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

The ancestor of the Golitsyn family was Narimantas, the second son of Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania, and their surname also came from the Lithuanian word "Geleìs", which means iron glove.

Would it be more effective to hold Moscow University with an iron gauntlet than with the long sword of Pisarev, the commander of the 2nd Grenadier Division?
Arthur didn't know.

At least in the opinion of Herzen, a student at Moscow University, the iron gloves might be much softer than the long sword, but when the two of them were compared with Hastings, the Dean of the University of Göttingen, there was simply a world of difference between them.

After all, Provost Hastings is a serious expert scholar who understands both academics and management. He never interferes in matters that he should not interfere in, but is very clear about matters that he should interfere in. Most importantly, he has a close relationship with his students.

Look, how happy Bismarck is smiling as he sits next to Provost Hastings.
As for the iron gloves, it is really hard to describe them in a few words.

Herzen thought he was simply not a normal person. He thought it was unreasonable for a professor to stop teaching due to illness and he always couldn't stand it, so he stipulated that if a professor stopped teaching, the teacher of the next class would take over the class according to the order.

This regulation seems reasonable at first glance, but in actual implementation, it often happens that Father Ternovsky, a professor of theology, has to give clinical lectures on gynecological diseases in the hospital, and Professor Richter, an obstetrician, has to talk about how the Virgin Mary became pregnant and gave birth to Jesus without fertilization.

Our classes at Moscow State University are so cool!
Herzen couldn't help sighing as he stood on the second floor of his mansion.

However, although there are always some unpleasant things in college, he still misses college life and his classmates very much.

After graduation, everyone went their separate ways. Some went to St. Petersburg, some went to local areas, and some, like him, became civil servants in Moscow.

As for the rest...

They were exiled.

Although it was less than a year, Herzen felt that he had become much more sophisticated.

Maybe it shouldn’t be said sophisticated, because most people call this maturity.

There is no way. As a civil servant working in the Moscow Land Department, it is really difficult for you not to mature.

However, he still has an immature side occasionally.

For example, the quarrel he had with Polevoy, the editor of Moscow Telegraph, a few days ago.

Polevoy sneered at Saint-Simonianism, saying that its followers were mentally ill, their visions were empty utopias, and were detrimental to national development.

Herzen accused Polevoy of having become the kind of backward conservative he had opposed all his life.

This obviously hurt Polevoy's heart. He shook his head and said, "One day, there will be a young man who will repay you for your lifelong efforts and hard work, pointing at your nose and sneering: Go away, you are out of date."

Although Herzen disagreed with Polevoy's opinion, he felt ashamed for making him sad.

Generally speaking, a famous person like Polevoy would not care about the opinions of young people, but he attached great importance to the opinions of young people and was willing to make friends with an ordinary student like him who had no money.

This made Herzen feel a little guilty.

He looked at the people coming and going on the street carrying gifts, and wondered whether he should buy something to apologize to Polevoy.

But the young man's stubborn temper made him feel a little embarrassed. He always felt that apologizing was like admitting defeat to the other party.

or……

Should we wait a few more days, until he calms down, and then we can get back to normal, and no one will talk about Saint-Simonianism anymore, as if it never happened?
Herzen was thinking about how to deal with interpersonal relationships when suddenly, a maid in her forties gently knocked on his door: "Master, is Sir Arthur Hastings here?"

"Sir Arthur Hastings? I don't know this man. Maybe he has found the wrong person..." Herzen suddenly paused, opened the window and looked towards the door.

Arthur, leaning on his cane, spotted this drinking buddy he had met once before, politely took off his hat and greeted him: "Unfortunately, Alexander, it seems that you and I are like each other, with neither a mother-in-law to meet nor anyone to arrange a blind date for us."

The Herzen Family Mansion on Tverskoi Boulevard in the center of Moscow

(End of this chapter)