Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 262:029 I can go directly to Martinique to look for my relatives
The voyage was smooth. Among the six Russian warships, four were 6-gun battleships, and the voyage was also extremely smooth. Even during the voyage in December 4, there were ocean currents and unusual trade winds accompanying their voyage. The entire fleet quickly reached Cape Verde from the coast of Africa. After replenishing supplies in this Portuguese territory, they continued on their journey.

If we only consider the voyage along the way, it is quite boring. There is a lack of entertainment on the ship, and the Russian Navy has not received such a long-distance sailing mission for a long time.

However, due to improved hygiene regulations and supplies, few people got sick on the road.

"Soloviev, this should be attributed to you. The army's sanitary regulations were considered very effective during Marshal Suvorov's expedition, ensuring the health of our soldiers, and were also extended to the navy."

Of course, this happened during the time of Tsar Paul. Rear Admiral Senyavin knew about it because he heard it when Paul angrily denounced the old men on the Naval Committee in front of him and praised him, a young officer who was the captain of a battleship at the time.

"But we also need to pay attention to hygiene. Also, drinking water must be safe. We should replenish fresh water at every supply point we arrive at."

Speaking of which, apart from the captains, Solovyov was actually the highest-ranking officer in Senyavin's expeditionary fleet. However, when he was in the meeting, he was the youngest one present.

"Supply is not a problem. If necessary, we can use the supplies on the supply ships. As for the lost supplies, the cash we carry is enough to buy supplies at ports along the way, especially Puerto Rico and Guantanamo, Cuba."

It was a bit strange what Senyavin said. After all, the names of these two Spanish colonies sounded a bit abstract when spoken by Russians.

After all, these two places will be under the control of Americans in the future, but that will be a hundred years later.

"These are not problems. We have plenty of medicines. If we want to deal with the tropical climate, we must also pay attention to safety. I think yellow fever and malaria are both caused by mosquito bites. We must ensure the safety of the entire fleet."

"You are the one who made the plan, but you need to work harder when it comes to execution. After all, we don't have any relatives in the West Indies."

Solovyov was also somewhat helpless. After all, it was he who proposed the plan, and he did have some relatives here.

Now, the cousin who didn’t meet my stepmother in France came to visit and went straight to Martinique.

France and Russia were still at peace, and now the Duke of Enghien had accepted the appointment of the Russian Tsar as the Governor of Rossbourg. He set out for the French colonies. As a member of the Bourbon royal family, whether to arrest him or not would actually be a dilemma for the governors.

However, Duke Enghien did not want to cause trouble, so he planned to go to the island under an alias. He also changed into a Russian captain's uniform and appeared in the battleship's dressing room.

"You're going to the island with me?"

"It's different from my real position. I can pretend to be your deputy. For example, how does the name Captain Louis Buffon sound?"

"He is still a Frenchman, but it can cover up some problems. After all, there are too many French officers in Russia. No matter whether they are royalists or those who came here to make a living before the war, there are too many such people and they cannot investigate them one by one. However, Your Highness, you should restrain your edge and do not show your noble temperament in front of those French people when you walk. It will be exposed immediately. Everyone knows the nobility and arrogance of the Bourbon royal family."

"My poor niece, too?"

"Besides being arrogant, she is also pitiful and sympathetic. But I do know that she is engaged and is about to get married."

"God bless you. Louis Auguste's spirit in heaven should be relieved that his only surviving daughter has found her own home and may even be able to find happiness. But who is the groom?"

"Can you keep it a secret? It's like I'm asking you to put away your temperament?"

"Of course I can keep it a secret, but you are also quite capable. You are actually with the usurper's sister. You can even let her bear your child."

"Ah, don't talk about this kind of thing. It will cause a scandal if it gets out."

"I know. I will keep this a secret."

The Duke was noble and arrogant, but also a more or less upright man, so he was unlikely to reveal other people's secrets.

"It is Archduke Karl."

"Ah, as expected. Only this brave knight is worthy of Marie Therese and can protect her safety."

Afterwards they stopped discussing these issues. Although gossip was sometimes interesting and everyone was willing to share it, some of it needed to be kept confidential.

Going to Martinique for supplies is also a necessary step, that's about it.

The Governor of Martinique was somewhat panicked when he saw so many warships flying the Russian flag appearing here.

"The other party is sending out flag signals, asking about our purpose. General Senyawen, you can reply to them that we are only here to seek supplies. How about sending a messenger?"

"I think a 'local' is needed at a time like this, Misha, and I think you would be a good fit."

"Well, I can go."

Solovyov had spent enough time on the boat; getting off would always give him some fresh air.

However, he took Belzoni with him and left Adela on the ship.

"Can we intimidate the enemy by bringing a strong man with us?"

"It is safe for him to go with me; but I do not know whether my bad reputation in Paris will spread to the West Indies."

"Don't be ridiculous, that's impossible."

But Solovyov's relaxed attitude also made everyone less nervous.

"Okay, you can go, but we just need to explain why we're here."

Admiral de Joyeuse is the current Governor of Martinique. He led the French fleet here. First, he had to transport the expeditionary forces to Saint-Domingue, and then he came here to serve as Governor. He gets along well with the locals.

Solovyov was brought before the admiral. Martinique was not a big country, so he was quickly taken to the Governor's Palace.

"Sir, what is the purpose of your coming to Martinique to request supplies?"

"Governor, we are going to Santo Domingo to protect our compatriots. Do you know what the situation is like there?"

"I can only say that it is very bad, but as far as I know, there are very few Russians in Santo Domingo, but you have dispatched so many warships on this trip."

"As the fleet commander of the Saint-Domingue expeditionary force, I think you should be well aware that General Dessalines is different from General Toussaint Louverture. The former does not have a high level of education and is not friendly to white people and mixed-race people." "I know this, so your goal is to maintain order and people's freedom?"

"But this is not an action with France as an ally. In the absence of any alliance between Paris and St. Petersburg, this is a special operation to avoid a humanitarian disaster. The original intention is peaceful, but when necessary, special military operations can also be launched to protect the safety of expatriates from various countries."

The admiral was confused by a bunch of new terms, but he was very experienced and knew that the other party was just talking about a harmless passage and requesting supplies.

"You can stop at Fort-de-France for supplies for a few days, but after that..."

"Thank you, Your Excellency the Governor. In addition, I have another request."

"Young man, don't stop talking midway and let an old man like me guess the riddle."

The other party spoke bluntly and gently, and Solovyov knew something was going to happen.

"My stepmother was born in the West Indies. She was a De Bruyne. Her name was . . .

"Oh? This is the surname of the council advisor here. I heard him say that his daughter was lost at sea. But he is not in Fort-de-France. If you want to find your relatives, you can go to Le Robert's plantation. He is a rich man who owns a sugar factory and plantations. If what you said is true, I think Mr. de Rivery will be very happy."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

"Don't be so polite. We are willing to do a lot for friends passing by, but if an enemy comes, we will still fight hard."

In fact, the distance from Fort-de-France to Le Robert is not far, and you can even make it in time for lunch if you set out in the morning.

However, the first thing to do is to let the supply ship dock and replenish fresh water and food, as well as local specialties, mainly coffee, cocoa and sugar.

In fact, this era should be the most prosperous period for plantations in the Caribbean. With wars, technological advances and competition from other colonies, local products could no longer remain popular, and they gradually became tourist attractions and holiday destinations.

Solovyov also had to return to the ship to report the results of the communication to Prince Enghien and Senyavan.

"This is good. We now have a reason to go to the island, but most people still have to stay on the boat."

"Dmitri, you also have to consider what to do if these sailors clamor for an exotic experience?"

"Then let them go to the island in batches, but they must come back on time. Otherwise, we will have to ask the French gendarmes and the garrison to capture them and bring them back."

Senyavan is a wonderful man. He has great prestige in the fleet and strong management skills. The sailors are very convinced of him.

As for the naval infantry on board the ship, they lined up at the dock and had friendly exchanges with the French garrison. Both sides behaved very steadily and nothing major happened.

However, Duke Enghien wanted to go to visit his relatives with Solovyov, just to watch the fun and not be afraid of trouble.

"Are you sure you want to go to Le Robert with me?"

"Of course I am. I am also curious about this. Who are your relatives? Besides, I don't have to worry about being recognized here. There will definitely be no one in Martinique who knows me. I can just pretend to be your deputy."

Being a deputy rather than an aide-de-camp, he must be a good goalkeeper.

"Well, Captain Louis Buffon, you can come with me, but you will also have Belzoni and Adela."

"You really favor that little girl and treat her as your sister?"

"That's right. Besides, it would be a good opportunity to broaden her horizons if she goes to the island with us."

If we talk about the island of Martinique, the most famous person is probably Josephine. Her home is in Les Trois-Illets, which is opposite Fort-de-France. Solovyov didn't know where the home of the "stepmother's cousin" he had been looking for was, and the old lady at home was still there!

It's just that on a tropical island, you obviously need to be careful of venomous snakes, especially the very poisonous vipers on the main island. Fortunately, they are not common and rarely appear in towns, but mainly in plantations and mountain forests.

No one would take the initiative to provoke these poisonous snakes, and this trip would be from the west side of the island to the east side, where there should be some plantations.

"It looks like a prosperous and wealthy island, Louis."

Prince Enghien still needed to adapt to his new role, and it was only after Solovyov called him several times that he responded.

"Ah yes, you are right, Michelle, but just as there are poisonous snakes on the island, the British may also be watching here."

"After all, it's a land of honey. But when I was in Paris, I heard that the wife of the First Consul didn't show her teeth when she smiled. Although there was a sense of mystery and special charm, I suspect that it was because she ate too much sugar on this island of honey that she got tooth decay."

He also reminded Adela who was eating candy: "So, you can only eat this piece of candy today, for the sake of your health and your good teeth."

Adela and Solovyov rode on the same horse. She sat sideways with her arms around his neck, making it impossible for Solovyov to ride too fast.

"Yes, sir, this is the last piece of candy today."

"Good boy, you can have two pieces tomorrow, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. And on this island, I think it's not just candy, there are also coffee, cocoa, and bananas."

Unfortunately, bananas were only introduced recently, but Martinique still has them. After all, it has a tropical climate, so it's not surprising that anything grows there.

Even if the four of them rode slowly on horseback, they soon crossed the hill in the middle and could see Le Robert in front of them.

This is the hometown of Solovyov's stepmother and the mother of his three new brothers and sisters.

Although the town doesn't look big, it has been newly renovated. The church has a white exterior wall, and the other buildings are also brightly colored.

Although this is a French colony and can be said to have more French style, it is also different because of the special island environment.

"Hey, Misha, we'll be there soon, do you want to come over and say hello?"

"There's no rush. I still have the keepsake with me, so it will be convenient for me to visit my relatives."

(End of this chapter)