The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1384: Chapter 202: The Tsar’s Sugar-Coated Cannonballs (Part 2)

Stewart pressed on: ”What about the Russian troops stationed in the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia? The Russians claim these troops entered the Danube region to help the Ottomans mediate the war, but now that the war between the Ottomans and Egypt has ended, there’s no sign of any Russian troops intending to withdraw.”

The Earl of Dalhousie turned and instructed, ”Arthur, note this down. Today, I shall have a good talk about this matter with His Majesty the Tsar at the Winter Palace.”

Arthur jotted down the request casually, then raised his hand to start amending the protest declaration just drafted by the embassy secretaries: ”We believe that any country’s blockade of the Bosporus Strait, or restriction of its navigation freedom, is a grave violation of the principles of free trade. The implementation of this clause will cause regional unrest, affect the independence of the Ottoman Empire, exacerbate the tension of turmoil in the area, and trigger a series of diplomatic and military conflicts... how do you think this reads?”

The Earl of Dalhousie pondered over the statement: ”Write it that way. As for how it triggers diplomatic and military conflicts, I’m sure the Russians will send someone to investigate themselves.”

Just as the Earl of Dalhousie finished speaking, there was a knock on the meeting room door.

A young aide opened the meeting room door, first taking off his hat to salute, then anxiously hurried to speak: ”Your Excellency, someone has just come over from the Winter Palace.”

The Earl of Dalhousie stood up, put on his hat, and tidied his attire: ”Is it time to enter the palace for an audience?”

”It’s not about the audience.” The young aide was also apparently baffled by the news he had just learned: ”His Majesty the Tsar is asking if you have any free time after today’s audience, he wishes to invite you to a meal, and then confer upon you a medal. A brand new Saint Alexander Nevsky Medal, with a deep blue ribbon”

”A medal conferment?” The Earl of Dalhousie was initially stunned, then chuckled wryly: ”Saint Alexander Nevsky Medal, what level of medal might that be?”

’Russian expert’ Arthur explained to his mentor: ”Saint Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century Russian Grand Duke, renowned for defeating the invading Mongols and Teutonic Knights. This medal is the second-highest honor in Russia, only after the St. Andrew Medal, equivalent to our country’s Grand Cross of the Bath Medal, usually awarded to high-ranking military commanders or senior diplomats.”

The Earl of Dalhousie raised his eyebrows with a peculiar expression: ”It seems His Majesty the Tsar intends to use the medal to silence me!”

Right after he spoke, the young aide continued: ”It’s not just you; they said from the Winter Palace: Sir Arthur Hastings, Sir John Lipton, and Colonel Charles Stewart, who are also attending the audience today, will be awarded the third-class Vladimir Medal.”

Not only did the Earl of Dalhousie change his expression, but even the embassy members, who were just now criticizing the Russians, glanced at each other.

It is known that lower and middle-ranking Russian officers and civil servants have to diligently serve the Russian government for at least twenty years to earn the third-class Vladimir Medal. Yet, they were just sitting in the embassy doing nothing, and medals fell from the sky.

So, what’s the advantage of getting this medal? For the British, besides honor, it’s not of much use.

However, if they joined Russian nationality, this medal alone could immediately confer hereditary nobility title upon them.

Arthur had been officially working at the embassy for less than a month before he received this big gift package from the Tsar, which couldn’t help but make him sigh—no wonder everyone is scrambling to get into the Foreign Office.

With international allowances, food and housing subsidies, diplomatic immunity, an exalted status locally, daily salon banquets being considered diligent work, and having to withstand every ’soft spot’ test from the host country, including but not limited to beauty schemes, financial bribes, and medal bombardments.

For someone like Bismarck, who is determined to test his ’soft spots’ in the world of diplomacy, it’s really challenging to ensure they aren’t moved by such sincerity.

Unfortunately, most diplomats’ stances aren’t much more steadfast than the average person.

Perhaps for this reason, nations like to appoint individuals with distinguished backgrounds as diplomats, but at least these folks have seen and experienced much, and thus the cost to buy them off is far greater than for those from ordinary backgrounds.

For example, the Earl of Dalhousie, as one of the founders and chairman of the New Zealand Company, consistently ranks among the wealthy in Britain. The Earl’s annual income approaches 100,000 pounds, making it almost impossible to sway him solely with money.

However, the issue is, there is now a traitor of impure lineage mingling within the Russian embassy!

A filthy Yorkshire pig wallowing in the mud!

A bastard who received his diplomatic enlightenment from Talleyrand!

Moreover, almost driven back to a simple country lad’s life due to significant financial losses riding across Russia!

The Tsar, wherever he learned from, keeps arranging such fancy tricks, why not just dispense cash?

Silver rubles are the best, but paper rubles will do for a knight.

”Alright!” The Earl of Dalhousie spread his hands: ”Everyone gets a share, now no one can say anything unpleasant to his face.”

The embassy members, at this point, also kept quiet. While they might not particularly like the Tsar, everyone loves a medal.

What if, by accidentally saying something wrong today, the Tsar got angry and decided not to confer the medal on them?

Protests can wait for another day.

After today’s conferment ceremony, they could bring it up in a couple of days.

Of course, these were their inner thoughts, and nobody voiced those minor concerns publicly.

After all, the protest came as a directive from the Foreign Office back in Britain, and it indeed was a reasonable order. They equally didn’t want to offend Viscount Palmerston, the Foreign Secretary, who was being chastised by the Fleet Street media and mired in the Rus-gate whirlpool.

As the saying goes, ’True gold stands the test of fire, true friendship in adversity.’

For someone like Arthur, a mud-legged fellow, when else but now should he take action.

Not that the third-class Vladimir Medal is not good, but a career forged with medals could promote his advancement further.

For a York old farmer, having more medals could not change the fact that there wasn’t noble blue blood in his veins.

These myopic fellows only have eyes for these petty favors.

They don’t realize that if they could become ambassadors in the future, what they’d receive from the Tsar wouldn’t be Vladimir Medals but Saint Alexander Nevsky Medals like the Earl of Dalhousie’s!

Arthur stood up from his seat, set down his pen, cleared his throat, and glanced around the meeting room.

He could feel the subtle atmosphere shift—everyone was waiting for him to speak, and each gaze revealed a hint of ’there’s still hope’ relief.

”Your Excellency, if it’s possible, I would like to express some of our country’s views on Russia’s strategic directions to the Tsar before the conferment. Should the Tsar be willing to listen, we could take this opportunity to suggest he shouldn’t act too aggressively, especially concerning the Black Sea Passage; he must consider the reaction of European countries.”

The Earl of Dalhousie, watching Arthur, grateful for his protégé’s stepping forward at a crucial time: ”You truly are a forward-thinking young man, Arthur. Moreover, at critical moments, you’re always as dependable as ever. Great! Since you’re ready, we shall personally present our thoughts to His Majesty the Tsar. But mind the tone, it must be as tactful as possible. We must proceed with caution. We can’t let Russia think we’re openly antagonistic; even in protest, we must maintain diplomatic prudence and flexibility.”