shadow of britain

Chapter 643 Moscow University

"You are so interested in Moscow University. Why don't we go for a walk? Aren't you bored staying at home?"

"Is there anyone on the university campus at this time of Maslenitsa? Can we get in?"

"Don't worry about that. I know the old school janitor well. The students give him money for drinks, and he always accepts it respectfully. That's why he's often drunk more often than sober. We just need to give him fifty kopecks and let him buy a bottle of vodka, and everything will be fine."

Arthur smiled at Herzen's suggestion. Although he felt it was a little awkward, he was indeed curious about the atmosphere at Moscow University, especially after Herzen had described the conflict between students and professors so eloquently.

Arthur watched Herzen put on his coat with the help of the servant and asked, "You haven't told me how you escaped the punishment from the school."

"The old way."

Herzen spoke like a seasoned veteran: "The Dean of Academic Affairs later summoned me and other students from the Department of Mathematics and Physics who were involved in the Malov incident. I taught them to deny everything and admit only one thing: that we were also in the classroom of the Department of Political Science when the incident broke out. Other than that, don't say a word. But some students are timid, such as the fat boy from a Russian-German baron family who I took to the Department of Political Science to cause trouble. For such people, I can only encourage them more."

Blackwell asked curiously, "How do you encourage him?"

Herzen smoothed his coat and said, "I told that fat boy that if he lied to the principal and the dean in order to cause trouble, he would be put in solitary confinement for a few days at most. But if I find out that he talked nonsense in front of the dean and implicated other people, I will tell the whole class and make him live in unrest in school."

Blackwell couldn't help curling his lips when he heard this and said, "Now I finally understand why you can be friends with Sir Arthur Hastings. Your methods of doing things are exactly the same."

Arthur denied it flatly: "I never did this when I was studying at the University of London. This is Elder's job."

"Elder?" Herzen asked. "Elder Carter? The author of 'St. George's Flag Still Hoists'?"

"That's right." Arthur nodded. "He was a good guy like you. If something happened in the school, he would usually be responsible for 'persuasion'. Elder not only 'persuaded' in school, but also on the streets of London. He was a master of speaking and mediation."

Herzen had only met two other friends of Arthur in Leipzig, Heinrich Heine and Alexandre Dumas, so he could not help imagining Elder to be similar to them.

Although Heine and Dumas were not necessarily decent people, at least these two guys acted like literary masters in front of their little fans from Russia, and did not do much to lower their well-known reputation.

As Herzen put on his boots, he said, "You know what? You have been a supervisor at the University of Göttingen and a special representative of the state. This will bring you a lot of convenience at Moscow University."

Arthur asked, smoking a cigar, "Why should Moscow University respect the academic supervisor of Göttingen?"

Herzen explained: "The professors at Moscow University are mainly divided into two groups, and they are not on good terms with each other. One group is composed entirely of Germans, and the other is non-Germans. Generally speaking, I prefer German professors because most of them are kind and knowledgeable, such as: Rodel, Fischer, Hildebrandt and Heim, who was once the principal. But their common characteristics are that they do not understand or do not want to understand Russian, and they do not care much about students' learning. Their heads are full of Western employment ideas. Being a professor is just a decent job for them, and there is no other meaning. This group of people sticks to the rules, smokes cigars unrestrainedly, and wears cross medals on their chests, which they never take off no matter what the occasion. In addition, since most of these German professors teach in the field of natural philosophy, you know, they are all graduates of the University of Göttingen."

When Arthur heard Herzen's comments, he first glanced at the cigar in his hand, then looked down at the ribbon ring of the Order of Saint Anna on his chest, and jokingly said self-deprecatingly: "Although I have only been a school supervisor in Göttingen for more than half a year, I seem to have become a proud Göttingen native."

Herzen laughed and said, "I don't mean to ridicule you, but I am describing a group of people, so I have to find some characteristics, right? I dare to guarantee that you will be warmly welcomed by German professors when you visit Moscow University this time."

When Arthur thought about meeting this group of outstanding alumni of the University of Göttingen, the former dean felt a headache: "I remember you also mentioned another group of non-German professors?"

Herzen replied: "Non-German professors are the exact opposite of German professors. They know no language except Russian, except, of course, Latin, which is no longer used. In the minds of these people, national essence always comes first, and their thoughts are narrow-minded and shallow. With the exception of a few people, they have no status in the school. Although they do not smoke cigars excessively, they drink alcohol excessively."

Blackwell commented: "When you say that, it sounds as if Moscow University is nothing but chimneys and wine barrels."

"Then it seems that you have misunderstood." Herzen replied, "At least students are not allowed to smoke or drink. If the supervisor caught us smoking, we would inevitably be put in solitary confinement."

"If you're not allowed to smoke, you won't smoke?"

Herzen recalled the absurd things in the past with a smile on his face. "How is it possible? If you are not allowed to smoke, you can smoke secretly. When there is no class, everyone will find a place where no one is around, send someone to keep watch, and then take out a good cigar and smoke it beautifully. If you are unlucky and get caught, most German professors will pretend not to see it and pass by without even looking. But if you are caught by a Russian professor, it will be terrible. He will definitely send you to the school court."

Herzen, accompanied by his personal valet, led Arthur and Blackwell on the road. The four of them did not take a car, but chatted all the way, walking along Tverskaya Avenue towards Moscow University.

Before they even reached Moscow University, Herzen pointed to a building in the distance and said, "Do you see that building? After the Malov incident, the fat guy and I were locked up in the basement of that building. There were six people in our mathematics and physics department who were punished for the Malov incident. The basement was cold and dirty, and the only meals we had were water and bread allowed by the principal and the supervisor. But you know, we are all people with integrity, and we don't eat that."

Arthur raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you on a hunger strike?"

Herzen was quite proud: "Of course, for a week, we didn't eat any food provided by the school."

Blackwell exclaimed, "So how did you survive?"

Herzen couldn't help laughing when he thought of the old times: "Because every day after dark, classmates would secretly bring us food. Cheese, game, cigars, wine and liqueur, the food was even better than when we were outside. It was obviously confinement, but we ended up gaining a lot of weight during that time."

Blackwell asked in confusion, "Is there no one guarding the door of your detention room?" "Of course there is a sentry. Every time the classmates come to deliver food, he always grumbles a few words, but he is still happy to get some money. In the middle of the night, he will also howl: 'I am so sleepy, I want to take a nap.' Then he deliberately walks a little further away to let a few classmates in to see us. The six of us spent a week like this - eating and drinking at night, eating and drinking to our heart's content, and sleeping during the day to gain weight."

When Herzen mentioned this, he also said something more out of pride: "In fact, according to the school's order, I and another person could be released on Saturday. But I personally felt that this was an insult to me, so I insisted on being locked up with the others until Monday. This incident caused me to be scolded by my family, but I don't regret it, because after the Malov incident, I gained more love in the class than the criticism at home. I was originally recognized as a good student, and since this incident, I have been regarded as a perfect saint."

As Herzen spoke, he walked towards the guard room of Moscow University, took out some silver coins from his pocket and stuffed them through the iron window.

Arthur saw through the window glass that he had a few words with the red-nosed, white-haired doorman, and heard a few Russian words like "do me a favor".

The old doorman muttered a few words, and then saw Herzen smiled and waved at them, "Come on."

The four men passed through the gate of Moscow University without any hindrance.

Herzen walked with ease, as if he was extremely familiar with every brick and every iron fence here.

He led Arthur and Blackwell through the spacious campus. It was quiet and there were hardly any students to be seen.

"It's really deserted here during Maslenitsa." Arthur whispered, "It seems that the professors really value this period of rest."

Blackwell echoed quietly, "Same for secretaries, actually."

Herzen smiled and said, "If the professors and students hadn't been on holiday, how could the concierge dare to let us in so easily?"

At this time, they came to a slightly old building. Herzen gently pushed open a window and motioned for the two to enter.

The air in the room was a little stale, and a few dim lights came in through the heavy curtains.

A few people were about to climb through the window when they suddenly saw two old professors coming up the corridor with books in their hands.

When Herzen saw the two faces, he could not help cursing: "Damn it! It's those two freaks, Chumakov and Myakhov!"

Arthur and Blackwell hid in the corner and asked, "What's wrong? Are they the strict professors?"

Herzen shrunk his head and rolled his eyes. "In a way, it is indeed strict. Chumakov likes to mechanically apply the formulas in Puanso's Principles of Statics, adding and subtracting letters at will in the usual landlord style, taking squares as roots and X as a known number. Myakhkov teaches the most hardcore course in the world - military tactics. Since he often deals with heroes, he also wears the military outfit on himself. Look at him - buttons are buttoned up to the throat, and there is not a wrinkle on his tie. If you have taken his class, you will know that when he lectures, it is like shouting commands."

Herzen imitated his tone: "'Everyone! Attention, artillery!' If you were sleeping at this time, you would be scared to death by him, thinking that Napoleon had attacked Moscow again. Of course, I am not saying that he was commanding the artillery, but there was such a title on the handout. What a pity! The emperor did not inspect Moscow University, otherwise, if he saw Myakkov, he would definitely promote him to be the director of the school district."

Herzen's little jokes made everyone laugh.

Two professors passing by in the corridor heard the noise and couldn't help but frown and look out the window.

At this time, Arthur's top hat, which was used to show his British gentlemanly demeanor, became a problem.

Chumakov and Myakhkov saw a black hat swaying left and right by the window. The two professors looked at each other, tiptoed into the classroom, pushed open the window with a whoosh, grabbed several people by the collars and pulled them up.

"Which department are you from? What are you doing in school during the holidays?"

The experienced Herzen was not panicked. He turned his head and greeted the two professors respectfully: "Hello, professors..."

"Herzen? Didn't you graduate?"

Herzen was notorious among the professors at Moscow University. Although his reputation was not as bad as Bismarck's at Göttingen University, at least everyone remembered what he looked like.

Herzen explained, "I did graduate and now work at the Land and Resources Department. But today I had nothing to do, so I thought of bringing a friend to visit my alma mater. My friend is from another place and has always wanted to see what the number one university in Russia looks like."

Chumakov and Myakhkov looked disgusted. They thought the friends Herzen mentioned were country people from a small place.

"What's there to see? Moscow University is not a place where just anyone can come. You should leave quickly. If you don't leave, I will call the guards."

When Herzen heard that the other party was going to call the guards, he hurriedly stopped him and said, "You can't do this, Sir Arthur is..."

"Sir?" Chumakov frowned and looked at Blackwell and Arthur beside him: "Are you two knights?"

(End of this chapter)