shadow of britain

Chapter 654 David Urquhart, I'll be in the Caucasus soon!

In terms of seniority, the Moscow Company, founded in 1557, is undoubtedly the earliest overseas chartered company in British history.

But unfortunately, when it comes to performance and strength, the old guy Moscow Company is far inferior to the young handsome guy.

All overseas chartered companies established in the 16th century, including the East India Company, the Levant Company, the West India Company and the Africa Company established later, have surpassed the Moscow Company by more than one position.

The biggest reason for the company's poor operating performance is certainly due to the mistakes of the company's management, but we must also take into account the complex business conditions and changing government policies in Russia.

The Moscow Company had to deal with the jealousy of their wealth in parliament, while also fearfully guarding against the Tsar's revocation of the privileges granted to them.

But even if they were careful, they still couldn't avoid being caught in a dilemma.

Compared with the East India Company, whose monopoly on India was not terminated until the end of the 18th century, the Moscow Company was fiercely attacked by Parliament as early as 1628 for its monopoly on whale oil and whale fins. This collective siege of the Moscow Company by British foreign traders lasted for 70 years until 1698 when the Moscow Company's trade franchise with Russia was completely revoked by Parliament.

To make matters worse, with the death of Tsar Mikhail I in 1645, the Moscow Company's century-long trade privileges in Russia came to an end.

After losing so many privileges, even though Moscow companies had the first-mover advantage of being the first foreign companies to enter Russia, they were still squeezed out by their Dutch and British counterparts.

If it was the heyday of the Moscow Company, its headquarters in Moscow, the Moscow Club, was the location of the British Embassy. Even if it was the ambassador to Russia appointed by His Majesty the King, when he arrived in this small piece of land in Russia, he had to give the company some face just because he had to stay in the Moscow Club.

Why did all the successive ambassadors of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire always stand up to speak for the Levant Company at critical moments, and argue with the parliament and the Ottoman government for the interests of the Levant Company, even if it was unreasonable?
This is because the salaries and living expenses of successive ambassadors to the Ottoman Empire were not paid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but by the Levant Company!
Moreover, this treatment not only covers the minister, but also the two consuls under the minister.

Back then, our Moscow company also had such a prosperous time.

If we go back 150 years, as an agent of the Moscow Company's Moscow headquarters, Martin Huening would never allow Arthur to control him like this.

Unfortunately, that is all old news.

When doing business, you should be practical. Nowadays, Moscow companies are no different from other companies engaged in import and export trade in Russia, except for their well-known brands, long history and extensive network of relationships.

Once upon a time, they laughed at the Levant Company as a group of grocers who resold raisins, but now, this group of poor people can't even catch up with the raisin sellers.

Because the Levant Company's royal charter was not lost until 1825, it lasted 127 years longer than the Moscow Company.

When Xiuning thought of this, he couldn't help but sigh.

Sir Arthur Hastings had spoken, and he was pressuring the Moscow Company in the name of the King and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If he had rashly refused, there was no doubt that the consequences would have been very serious.

The word "help" used by the lord was a euphemism. Even if he gave a direct "order", what would that matter?

The fact that the Jazz was willing to help the Moscow Company obtain the license was a sign of his kindness, because he could have used another reason to blackmail the Moscow Company.

The British cultural attaché may not necessarily be able to help the company with the Russian government, but he can definitely do bad things for the company with the British government.

If Xiuning refuses to stand up for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then don't blame the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for asking the Commercial and Trade Committee to strangle the Moscow company in terms of import and export licenses in the UK.

After all, they are very skilled at this because the company had been bankrupted once before by the parliament.

In the face of this combination of punches, let alone the lame Moscow Company, even the East India Company, a British strongman weighing more than 200 pounds, was defeated by Parliament, right?

Martin Huening was silent for a long time, then raised his head with a look of helplessness and fatigue in his eyes. "The company does have several trade routes from the Caucasus to Persia, but those trade routes are rarely used now. Moreover, even when these trade routes were most active in history, it was not our Moscow Company that used them, but the Levant Company."

"Levant Company?"

Arthur had originally intended to cast a wide net, like looking for a needle in a haystack, to mobilize all his forces to "rescue" Sir David Urquhart, but he did not expect that this unintentional act would actually lead him to a clue.

Where is Levant Corporation headquartered?
Constantinople!
What is Sir David Urquhart's job title?
Former First Secretary of the British Embassy in Constantinople and now Consul of the British Embassy in Constantinople.

If the Levantine Company knew how to get to the Caucasus, Sir David Urquhart would probably be able to find out from them.

In other words, the route he took to enter the Caucasus was very likely to overlap with these trade routes.

Arthur quickly asked, "Those trade routes you mentioned, are they by land or sea?"

"There were both land and sea routes, but that was in the 16th century."

Xiuning patiently explained: "When the company first opened up this trade route, our original intention was actually to find a trade route to China. Our first exploration was to open up the Northeast Route from the Arctic Ocean to China, but this attempt failed. So, we turned our attention to the south, sent an expedition team to explore the coast of the Caspian Sea, and finally arrived at the Bukhara Khanate in Central Asia. Although the results of this expedition did not meet the company's psychological expectations, we unexpectedly discovered that the British goods carried by the expedition team were very popular in Persia. Therefore, the company changed its trade target from distant China to the closer Persia.

After that, we conducted six exploration missions of the Persian route across the Black Sea. However, when we finally determined an efficient Persian route, the Ottoman Empire and Russia were at odds, so the Ottoman Turks blocked this precious route that we had spent a lot of effort to explore. Therefore, we could only focus on exploring land trade routes, although we finally found a land trade route through the Caucasus. However, the land route with Persia requires crossing the Caucasus Mountains, and we have to pay attention to the looting of tribal mountain people and Cossacks along the way. This business takes a long time, is costly, and has great risks. Therefore, every time we conduct Persian trade, the company is very cautious. "

"So that's how it is." Arthur nodded slightly and said, "But what does this have to do with the Levant Company?"

Xiuning said helplessly, "You should know that the Moscow Company is the oldest overseas chartered company in Britain. Therefore, when the Levant Company was first established, it poached many of our agents and apprentices. As a result, the Persian trade route that we spent a lot of effort to open up naturally fell into their hands. The Levant Company mainly engages in Mediterranean trade and has a great influence in the Near East. In addition, they hold the privileges granted by the Ottoman Sultan, so it is more economical than us to trade with Persia by sea or land. The Moscow Company spent a huge amount of manpower and material resources to obtain the trade route information, and they just plucked the peaches."

Arthur stood up immediately after hearing this and asked: "Does the Moscow Guild Hall keep the drawings of these trade routes?"

"Of course it was left behind, but I think it's in a box in some storage room. If you want it, I'll have someone look for it as soon as I get home today, and have someone deliver it to your house tomorrow morning."

If it was any other issue, Arthur certainly wouldn't mind waiting one more night, but since it concerned his political future, he really didn't dare to neglect it.

After all, the Moscow Company's previous experience is right in front of him. If he doesn't work harder now, who knows if he will be sent to India to "open up trade routes". When he comes back, the achievements he has accumulated over the years will surely be taken away by others. "No need. I will go to the guild hall with you now. This trade route map must be delivered to Count Daramo as soon as possible. Not even a night can be wasted."

……

Boom boom boom!
Herzen, who was sleeping, vaguely heard a hurried knock on the door.

Then, the door was pushed open, and the butler led a sturdy man to guard the door, his face full of anxiety: "Master Herzen, my master, your dearest friend, Ogarev has been captured!"

Herzen recognized the man; he was Ogarev's page.

"What? Were you caught?" Herzen was half asleep and half awake. He jumped out of bed and touched his head, trying to figure out if I was dreaming.

"The chief of police came with his officers and Cossacks at night, about two hours after you left. They seized some letters and took away Nikolay Platonovitch."

Herzen's head suddenly became clear. Yesterday he was still lamenting with Ogarev about the bad luck of the Moscow Telegraph and Polevoy.

Who could have thought that such bad luck would befall them today!

Herzen quickly recalled the recent changes in Moscow and carefully recalled the recent words and deeds of their small group.

He couldn't understand what the police department's basis was for doing this. Apart from the closure of the Moscow Telegraph, everything had been peaceful in Moscow recently.

Ogarev had just returned to Moscow a day ago. On what basis did the police arrest him?

And why did they arrest Ogarev and not me?

Herzen paced back and forth in the room, his mind almost filled with anxiety.

The arrest of Ogarev and the arrest of Polevoy had completely different impacts on Herzen.

Although the latter was very kind to him as a young man, the aura emanating from the editor-in-chief of the Moscow Telegraph and the language he used to refer to himself as a senior told Herzen that they were from two different generations.

But Ogarev was his classmate and close friend, a part of his daily life.

When the Tsar's iron hand touched the people around Herzen, he truly experienced what Russian autocracy was.

What should I do?
I should do something, at least not just stand by and watch.

When Herzen thought of this, even though his head was in a mess, he immediately put on his clothes and walked out of the house.

Before leaving, he did not forget to instruct his servants: "None of you should tell my father what happened today."

Although Herzen was full of enthusiasm, the cold wind blowing on the streets of Moscow soon awakened this headless fly that was running around everywhere.

Only now did he remember that at a time like this, he should go to a powerful friend with a certain social status to inquire about the news.

The first person Herzen thought of was Zubkov, the First Secretary in Moscow, but as soon as he took a step, a second choice quickly popped into his mind.

or……

Should I ask Sir Arthur Hastings first?

Although Zubkov is closer to the truth of the matter, he may also alert the enemy. After all, he is the secretary of Governor-General Duke Golitsyn. Who knows what he is thinking?
As for Sir Arthur Hastings, the British diplomat had no conflict of interest in this matter. Moreover, he even came to remind me a few days ago that I should be more careful in my actions recently.

Even if he doesn't know the inside story of the matter, he might be willing to help find out indirectly.

Even if he couldn't find out, he certainly wouldn't betray us, the college students who had once treated him to drinks in Leipzig.

Herzen still remembered that night when Arthur, he, Bismarck and other students were arm in arm with each other, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and singing the "Marseillaise" loudly.

Herzen made up his mind and ran all the way to Prince Golitsyn's old house at the end of the street.

Suddenly, a black and gold-painted four-wheeled carriage appeared on the corner of the street. The wheels slowly stopped and a hat stretched out from the window.

The next thing to come out was Arthur's head.

He seemed to be in a very good mood. Not only did he have a smile on his face, he even whistled, which was inconsistent with his steady status.

"Alexander, where are you going? Do you need a ride?"

Seeing this, Herzen was stunned for a moment, then looked around, walked up quickly and whispered, "Sir Arthur, unfortunately, you have predicted the development of the matter."

"Did I predict that?" Arthur said in astonishment, "Alexander, what stupid thing did you do?"

"I would rather be the one who made the mistake." Herzen said anxiously, "Do you still remember Ogarev? He was Ogarev from our group, the Herzen-Ogarev group. He was taken away by the police today for some crime he committed."

(End of this chapter)