The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1301: Chapter 172: Bird in a Cage (Part 2)

Ogarov revealed all he knew about the situation with the Constitutional Guard.

”Although Russia’s Constitutional Guard is part of the military establishment, it holds a very special place within our military hierarchy. This regiment was reformed from a Dragon Cavalry unit in 1815, right after Russia occupied Paris, so Alexander I tasked them with acting as military police among the Russian troops stationed in France. But after Tsar Nicholas I ascended the throne, this unit was transferred under the management of the Third Bureau. The Third Bureau’s ability to operate outside the law is largely due to the Constitutional Guard and a battalion of secret police acting as their enforcers. These Guards are completely independent of local governments, not subject to local control, and maintain direct communication with the Third Bureau.

If you visit Russia, you will undoubtedly notice a strange phenomenon, where every regional Governor and Prefect always has a Guard standing by their side. Do not assume these Guards are just attendants because of their lower rank. In reality, quite the opposite is true: these Guards coldly observe everything occurring before them and note many details that even local officials may not know. These observations about local situations and evaluations of local officials are sent via secret channels directly to the Third Bureau headquarters in St. Petersburg, where they are presented to the Tsar for review. And Shubinsky, he is one of these Guards, occupying a high rank as an officer in the Second District of the Constitutional Guard.”

”The Second District?” Arthur furrowed his brow: ”Is there a ranking system among the Guards? Are the Guards in the First District more formidable than those in the Second District?”

”No, no, you misunderstood.”

Beside him, Herzen offered an explanation: ”The Constitutional Guard is divided into six districts, each responsible for 8 to 11 provinces. For instance, the First District covers a vast region centered around St. Petersburg, including the Grand Duchy of Finland, Arkhangelsk, Smolensk, Novgorod, and Livonia. The newly established Sixth District is in charge of overseeing the Kingdom of Poland. Shubinsky’s Second District includes the governance of 11 provinces, such as Moscow, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Tula, Liang Zan, Orel, and Kaluga.

The Guard is structured in three tiers, with the highest level being the headquarters, the second tier being the regional office, and the third being the provincial office. The current Commander-in-Chief of the Guard is Count Benkendorf, who also serves as the head of the Third Bureau. The regional office commanders are typically Lieutenant Generals or Major Generals, while the provincial office commanders can be Major Generals or Colonels. Shubinsky is a Constitutional Soldier Colonel; if he were not placed in the Moscow-anchored Second District but rather in the Fourth or Fifth District, he would inevitably become the commanding officer for a province. However, that fellow dislikes harsh, cold regions and would rather endure frustrations in Moscow than be transferred away from this vibrant world.”

Herzen recounted his knowledge of the Constitutional Guard as if showing off, yet this unwitting indiscretion caught the attention of seasoned veterans.

Herzen seemed exceptionally familiar with Shubinsky, certainly more so than Arthur. Otherwise, how would details about Shubinsky’s workplace grievances reach his ears?

In Ogarov’s description, the Guards seemed almost omnipotent, receiving deference from even Governors and Prefects.

Yet, Herzen seemed to hold the Guards in low regard, with his remarks hinting constantly at mockery toward Shubinsky.

Arthur pretended not to notice the discrepancies, employing a more tactful approach to unearth crucial information: ”Are Shubinsky and his superior at odds?”

”It’s more than just odds, he’s insanely jealous of Volkov,” Herzen began, ”He frantically gathers evidence of students’ wrongdoing just to use them as stepping stones for his own promotion. Seeing Volkov ascend due to the Kritsky Affair, he wants to fabricate another incident among other students.”

”How do you know this?”

Arthur wished to probe further, but the Great Dumas intervened, stepping forward before him. This rotund man, feigning drunkenness, embraced his police friend and began nudging him towards the door with his weight.

The Great Dumas, bleary-eyed, prompted: ”Alright, Arthur, the show is about to start, you’ll need to accompany me backstage.”

Arthur understood the intention of the rotund man, although he couldn’t expose it directly, for revealing Dumas’s aim would effectively betray his own motives.

Helplessly, Arthur had to bury the question in his mind, offering a wry smile, ”Gentlemen, I suppose we’ll have to continue this conversation next time. But take my advice, you can drink, you can sing, but if you don’t wish to lower your voices, you should at least change the song. Though this is Germany, as you mentioned, there are still people downstairs eying your backs as their step up.”

With those words, Arthur hoisted the Great Dumas’s arm onto his shoulder, laboriously lifting the feigningly drunken man out while muttering curses under his breath, ”Alexander, you damn fat man, be thankful that the ’Turandot’ premiere isn’t held in St. Petersburg or Moscow. Otherwise, I’d surely toss you into the alley outside the theater. Spend one night there and you’re guaranteed to freeze into an ice sculpture.”

The Great Dumas shot back in low tones, undeterred, ”Hmph! Arthur, you damned British constable, even if I were to freeze into an ice sculpture, my talent would still radiate brilliance, melting the ice and snow of St. Petersburg and Moscow! Plus, I warn you, don’t drag me around as if I’m just a sack of potatoes. I am the pride of France, and not everyone is lucky enough to escort me!”