shadow of britain

Chapter 646: Moscow has someone to help you
Although Arthur wanted to ask Huett to help him deal with Sir David Urquhart, who was traveling alone in the Caucasus, and the reporter from The Times who was traveling with him, it did not mean that his conversation with Huett was without reservation.

Although a bayonet can do a lot of things, it is not easy to rely on it with peace of mind.

Although this passage is often used to describe the military, it is also very appropriate when applied to Arthur's attitude towards Hugh.

Arthur was not sure whether Huett was really prepared to change his ways. Moreover, if the military police captain reported to the third bureau that "a British knight was in contact with the local mountain rebels in the Caucasus region", it would also be a great achievement.

If you put yourself in Arthur's shoes, if it was Count Benkendorf, the director of the Third Bureau, he would probably be very happy to reward Huett with the position of major or even lieutenant colonel for this news.

Moreover, going deep into the Caucasus region to gather information is a very dangerous job. If the offer is not high enough, how can it impress people?

Compared to the third game, Arthur's advantage is that he knows the movements of Captain Huett's family members.

Two younger brothers and one younger sister.

One of the brothers was an honest shipyard worker, and the other had just been recruited by Scotland Yard.

And Huette's brother-in-law, the railway company employee, happened to work for a company that was controlled by the Rothschild family.

So, in other words, for that matter alone, it's time for Huett to listen to offers.

Those who are familiar with Sir Arthur Hastings know that although this former richest citizen of Scotland Yard, a stock artist who made huge profits, and a well-known upstart in London politics has not changed his stubborn and accustomed frugality at all, and although he owns tens of thousands of pounds of property, his personal life is almost the same as when he lived in a one-room rented house in Greenwich and worked hard to earn a shilling a day.

If we must find some changes in him, it is nothing more than that the tobacco he smokes, the wine and the tea he drinks are much better than before, but he still doesn't gamble much, rarely spends money on women or vanity, has never bought a luxurious private carriage, and hardly ever hires any servants. He is completely a genuine York country bumpkin.

However, the Sir was as generous as ever in treating his friends. He paid for Elder's daily debts, the hundreds of pounds he lent to Disraeli when he ran for parliament, and the short-term working capital loans of Chopin during his exile in London. In addition to having their medical bills reimbursed after being beaten up by East End hooligans, Tom, Tony and many other police officers who had worked under him would also receive nutrition expenses paid privately by Mr. Hastings.

Especially the last point, Arthur could almost pat his chest and proudly announce to the police officers of Scotland Yard that half of the salary he received during his tenure as a senior police officer was spent within Scotland Yard.

Others include: special aid for young Italians, expenses for French royalist girls to restart their new lives, Hastings Scholarships awarded to students such as Bismarck who are at risk of dropping out of school, etc., all of which are talked about with relish.

If Hugh had worked at Scotland Yard, he would have asked no questions and never considered any second options.

After all, we, the Royal Police, have fired shots under the Tower of London.

Besides, did the Bureau not give you a share of the money Sir Arthur made from buying government bonds on the Stock Exchange during the London riot? Or what?
Are you not on the list of the 25 percent collective salary increase that the Jazz has negotiated for the bureau?
As a human being, you should act according to your conscience!
Stop playing those useless tricks. What is your identity, status, and rank? Do you deserve to have the same tricks as the Sir?
It's just a trip to the Caucasus, isn't it? What's the big deal?
Brothers, just follow the old leader!
But unfortunately, Hugh had never worked at Scotland Yard, so naturally he had no idea what level of prestige and credibility the name Arthur Hastings represented in Scotland Yard.

However, even if he had never worked at Scotland Yard, it would not matter, because he would soon enjoy the same treatment that Scotland Yard officers once enjoyed.

Arthur did not rush to make a request to Hugh, but instead took out his check folder from his pocket, took out a piece of paper, hastily added a few zeros, and signed his name.

Huette obviously did not expect Arthur's behavior. He was clearly talking about the Caucasus in the previous sentence, but before he could make things clear, he did this directly. This abnormal behavior made the gendarmerie captain couldn't help but back off in his heart.

"If you have any questions, just ask directly. No reward without merit. I haven't done anything yet."

Arthur waved his hand. "It's okay. You can take it. I just thought about it and it's really hard for you to do that. Let's just forget it. This money is not for you to go to the Caucasus to do business. I just arrived in Moscow and I don't know where the market is. I came here in a hurry and forgot to bring snuff. If you are willing, please help me buy some tomorrow. The rest of the money will be my thank you."

What kind of snuff can be sold for 5000 rubles?
In an ordinary Russian tobacco shop, snuff was only 40 kopecks per pound, and even the best Rabbi tobacco was only 2 rubles per pound.

A normal person would only smoke one or two pounds a month at most, and even a heavy smoker with a nose full of tobacco would not smoke more than four pounds.

Anyone could tell that Arthur's words were pure lies, and the 5000 rubles were simply a thank-you fee from him to Huet.

What is the concept of 5,000 rubles?
Huette's annual salary and allowances were about 450 rubles, and 5000 rubles was more than his salary for ten years!
Although he recovered the losses stolen by thieves for Arthur, even if he did not report those things, Arthur could find Colonel Shubinsky to help him, or even report directly to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the British Embassy. Therefore, recovering the losses is definitely not a credit.

As for helping Arthur escape from Druidsk, he can indeed be credited with a contribution for this matter.

However, he had originally expected that the reward he could get from this matter was that Arthur would help him reserve a place in the British Embassy, ​​and if one day he really saw no hope in the third game, he would have another option.

And these five thousand rubles...

Although it was just a thin piece of paper, the monotonous and boring series of numbers seemed more conspicuous than an elephant in Huet's eyes.

Arthur did not rush to ask Hughie, but lit his pipe and leaned back in the sofa, relaxing.

For the Jazz, there is a principle that must be followed when bribing others - the return you offer must far exceed the other party's expectations. Never think about lowering the price to pull each other back. Bribing can only achieve the best effect when you kill with one blow.

If someone thinks of one, you give him ten; if he thinks of ten, you give him a hundred.

No one can resist such temptation.

Of course, this method cannot be used frequently. It can only be used when you encounter a one-time task that cannot afford failure.

Not allowing failure means that it is best not to create any unpleasantness between you and the executor, otherwise unexpected situations may easily occur.

The one-time mission ensured that Arthur had enough financial resources to handle it.

And, apparently, there was an unexpected benefit to spending five thousand rubles today - his private secretary, Mr. Blackwell, was also watching.

Let this unmotivated boy see what kind of benefits he can get by working effectively under the knight. As expected, not only Huett's eyes were wide open, but even Blackwell's eyes were shining.

Since coming to Russia, it was the first time that Arthur found that his secretary was in such good spirits.

The usually calm military police captain couldn't help swallowing his saliva, and tremblingly stretched out his hand to slowly push the check on the coffee table back. The slow movement was as if he was pushing Mount Olympus instead of a thin piece of paper.

Hueth tried his best but still couldn't win because Zeus, the king of gods who lived on the top of Mount Olympus, took action.

Arthur blocked Hugh's hand and pushed the check back in front of him. He smiled, with a reproachful look in his eyes: "Richard, are we friends?"

"Of course." Hugh Te said without hesitation: "Of course we are friends. I have always been honored to be your friend, but..."

"Since we are friends, then do me a favor." Arthur's choice of words was very exquisite. The cultural counselor had studied the personal pronouns in Russian thoroughly. "Buying snuff is not a difficult job. If you are not willing to go this far, then I can only think that you do not regard me as a friend."

Huette was silent for a moment, but finally picked up the check and put it in his pocket. "Moscow doesn't have such expensive snuff, but I heard that the Circassians in the Caucasus are good at growing a kind of local tobacco. I can bring some for you later."

When Arthur heard Hugh Te bring up the Caucasus, he knew that the matter had been mostly settled.

Arthur spoke in Yorkshire English again, even using more straightforward words: "Are you suggesting that we could become partners?"

Hugh's hands were in his pockets. He seemed to have not yet recovered from his great happiness. "Companions? Isn't this a bad word?"

Arthur didn't like this euphemism, but he liked Hugh's answer.

If Huette is quick to admit that he is an accomplice, then this means two possibilities.

Or, he was an undercover agent sent by the Third Bureau, a shameful spy, because only an undercover agent would be so eager to show that he stood with everyone else.

Or, he is a complete money-grubber who can be bribed with 5,000 rubles and will tear up the agreement immediately with 10,000 rubles.

If it was the first case, Arthur would not talk to him about the Caucasus anymore, but would just make up some random nonsense to get by with him.

If it was the second case, Arthur would not feel particularly reassured if he was sent to the Caucasus. Therefore, in addition to the 5,000 rubles, Arthur had to start from other aspects, such as continuing to make a fuss about his brother, as a double insurance.

However, now that it has been confirmed that Hugh Te is not an undercover agent or a money-grubber, Arthur needs Hugh Te's clear guarantee.

Because according to his experience, if a person tells you in person that he does not belong to any party or faction, then you can clearly mark in your mind that he is definitely not your accomplice.

For such a big event, we must be from the same party.

Arthur asked, "The word accomplice may be a bad one. But, Richard, the situation in the Caucasus is complicated. You'd better think it through. If you don't want to put yourself in danger, don't ask. Once you ask about the matter, we will become accomplices. I said before that I am very grateful for your help in buying snuff. There is no need for you to get involved in this muddy water."

Huette had originally thought of changing his ways, and Arthur's five thousand rubles made him more determined.

Although he guessed that something big must have happened in the Caucasus, as Huette said, during his years as a military policeman, he always heard more bad news than good news.

He came to Moscow from London alone as a teenager. He had experienced the ups and downs in the business world with Moscow companies and had also been immersed in the officialdom of Tsarist Russia for many years. He was able to rise from a small clerk to a captain of the gendarmerie. He was not a cowardly person.

They are all young men under the age of 30. Arthur has ambitions, and of course he does too.

Maybe the word ambition is as bad as the word accomplice, so let's change the word. Richard Hughes also has ideals!
The greater the risk, the greater the opportunity.

If this matter is accomplished, it will probably be more than just a second-class secretary position and 5,000 rubles.

"Sir, don't worry. Now that I've said it, it means I've thought it through."

Arthur nodded slightly. "Okay, now that you've made up your mind, try to find a job in the Caucasus. It would be best if you can stay there for a few months. Before you leave, you can come to my place first, and we can talk about it in detail then. If you don't get the job, then we'll just consider it bad luck and forget about the Caucasus."

Huett stood up and said, "Understood, sir."

After saying this, Hugh took out a thick book from his briefcase and handed it to Arthur.

"What is this?" asked Arthur.

Huette opened the booklet, pointed to the list and address on it and said, "This is the 'Official Title List' that the Russian government prints every year. It records in detail the current official positions and detailed addresses of Russian government officials. I thought that after you came to Moscow, you would inevitably have to socialize everywhere. With this 'Official Title List', it would definitely be much more convenient for you to move around. I hope you don't blame me for acting on my own."

"What's wrong? Richard, you really helped me a lot."

Arthur patted Hugh's shoulder with a smile and said, "I have always thought that you are a capable person, and now I am even more convinced of this view."

Huette smiled softly when he heard this: "I heard that you went to Moscow University today? And with you was Herzen, a former student of Moscow University?"

Arthur didn't expect the news to spread so quickly. He nodded awkwardly and said, "Yes, I sneaked into the campus and was caught by two professors."

"This is also a kind of fun, but..." Huette paused: "You'd better be careful about Herzen. I'm not saying that I want to criticize your social circle, but I want to remind you that Herzen was once on the watch list of the Third Bureau and the police station. He is a very restless young man. You are already a celebrity in Moscow. If you often interact with that kid, it will easily cause unnecessary misunderstandings among the police and the gendarmerie. In other words, even if you really want to do something, you'd better keep a low profile."

(End of this chapter)