The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1406: Chapter 210: Anti-Russian Faction and Pro-Russian Faction (Part 2)

But what no one expected was that the conclusion of this debate wasn’t because one side defeated the other, but because of an official document.

It turned out, after Tsar Nicholas I reviewed Bulgarin’s critical article, he immediately wrote a letter to Count Benkendorf, the director of the Third Bureau. The main content of the letter was: an article criticizing Pushkin’s works appeared in the ”Northern Bee.” The article’s inclination and purpose are clear, and such articles will surely continue to appear. Therefore, it is suggested that Bulgarin be controlled, strictly forbidding any further anti-Pushkin articles, and the magazine can be shut down if necessary.

Although Count Benkendorf was very reluctant, since it was the Tsar’s will, he had no choice but to convey this information to Bulgarin.

Bulgarin was equally shocked upon receiving this news.

As the editor of the Tsarist Russia Government’s mouthpiece ”Northern Bee,” Bulgarin always felt that his political stance had been well-tested and that he and the Tsar were on the same side.

He never would have imagined that Tsar Nicholas I would align his trenches alongside Pushkin’s.

However, although Bulgarin was silenced, he was the only one who received the Tsar’s decree.

So, thereafter, many still in the dark newspapers and magazines continued to publish content defaming Pushkin’s works. When Nicholas I, who personally served as the ”Pushkin Works Censor,” learned of this, he was naturally very angry. He directly issued a death order to the Third Bureau: if such articles appear again, severe punishment will be administered.

Since this order was issued, the voice criticizing Pushkin in the newspapers significantly diminished. Even if sporadic attacks appeared, they didn’t dare to speak too bluntly but instead mocked Pushkin in a roundabout, sarcastic manner.

Pushkin, however, did not tolerate these people and retaliated in the same sarcastic tone: ”What the Tsar likes, the lackeys do not.”

Because of this incident, even now, if Pushkin and Bulgarin were under the same roof or attended the same banquet, they never exchanged a word, each treating the other as if they were invisible.

However, these little amusements within the Russian literary circle only served as a diversion in life.

The most important information Arthur obtained was the Tsar’s mistrust of the British Whig Party Cabinet.

As a firm absolutist monarch, Nicholas I never had a positive view of the Whigs inherited from Cromwell, nor did he like the liberal tendencies of the Whig Party, specifically detesting the parliamentary reforms led by the Whig Party in 1832.

Compared to the Whig Party, Nicholas I clearly trusted the fallen Tories more, especially admiring the Duke of Wellington, known for his Royalist identity and glorious achievements.

And it was after learning this crucial information that Arthur slowly lifted his suspicion of Viscount Palmerston possibly colluding with the Russians.

Because at least from the recent diplomatic progress, the Tsar simply did not favor this British Foreign Secretary who once supported him on the Polish issue.

Therefore, Arthur believed that saying Viscount Palmerston was a Russian spy might be an exaggeration.

He wasn’t colluding with Russia, at most just with Mrs. Levin.

Furthermore, Arthur increasingly felt that the reason why the Tsar would give him the credit for withdrawing troops from Wallachia and Moldavia might also be due to these considerations.

Among the British delegation to Russia, primarily composed of Whigs, Arthur’s resume and experience were evidently the most Tory-like.

Even if you were to insist that Arthur was a Tory, it wouldn’t seem far-fetched.

At least two Tory Party leaders, Sir Peel and the Duke of Wellington, had both once hinted that Arthur could join their camp at the right time.

However, due to economic reasons, Arthur was not interested in a Lower House Member’s seat without a salary, nor was he willing to spend a large sum on election bribery.

Not bribing wasn’t because Arthur considered himself high and mighty, but because he didn’t have the financial strength back then.

Now, even though he has the financial strength, with Disraeli’s achievements setting a precedent, Arthur is really undecided about whether to make such a highly uncertain investment.

Of course, being a Lower House Member isn’t bad, but the income level and status of a cultural attaché evidently satisfied the knight more.

A great British Prime Minister, it’s enough to have Gladstone and Disraeli fill that role.

He would rather be a societal vessel to hold their wisdom.

Alas, who would have thought that this societal vessel would be made of pure gold?

Moreover, risking the wrath of Lord Brougham, Earl Dalhousie, and others to join the Tory Party seemed truly foolish.

No matter what, these individuals were Arthur’s mentors. If he hadn’t studied at the University of London but went to Cambridge or Oxford instead, could he have navigated officialdom so smoothly?

It was because of studying at the University of London that Arthur could triumph over current world-renowned figures such as Eld Carter, becoming a typical case demonstrating the excellent teaching quality at the University of London.

One must not forget one’s roots; this is something that Arthur always kept in mind.

That said, without the support of former superiors like Sir Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Hastings might now be a smelly patrol officer in London or a contract slave on some farm in North America.

His post and position at Scotland Yard were fought for by the Tory Party.

The broad horizons of diplomacy were called out by Lord Brougham and Earl Dalhousie.

He couldn’t offend either side, he needed to consider the sentiments of both, and balance everything, so Arthur could only remain nonpartisan.

If there was one person in British politics who truly made Arthur uncomfortable, it would be the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Palmerston, who was implicated in the Liverpool bombing incident.

How could it be that Palmerston did not collude with Russia?

The Foreign Secretary might not be colluding with Russia, but Arthur was indeed in contact with France!

Although Louis is just a small player now, what if, one day, he does become Emperor?

If in the future, this opportunity is caught, and Palmerston uses his alleged connection with France against him, what then?

Thinking of this made Arthur uneasy, prompting him to consider writing to the Great Dumas in Paris to help him arrange some offshore assets.

If something went wrong in the future, at least he wouldn’t end up homeless, having a place to stay, and occasionally visiting Great Dumas for handouts would mean he could live comfortably.

Arthur absentmindedly flipped through the diplomatic document in his hand, suddenly glancing at the urgent dispatch from Constantinople.

”Hmm? Someone from the embassy in Constantinople has gone missing?”

Blackwell immediately added upon hearing Arthur mention it: ”The document says missing, but in reality, there’s more information. Sir, do you remember the Sir David Eckett I mentioned earlier? The one who fought in Greece and later became an extreme anti-Russian supporter of the Ottoman Empire.”

”Is it him who went missing?”

Blackwell nodded: ”There are reports that Sir David Eckett made contact with Circassian leaders in Constantinople.”

”Circassians?” Arthur recalled: ”Natives of Circassia? Caucasus region?”

”That’s right. The message you brought back has been verified. The Russians are indeed reinforcing troops in the Caucasus region, trying to stamp out the resistance forces there. Sir David Eckett apparently took the initiative to contact the Circassians because he read your diplomatic report. The embassy in Constantinople said Sir David Eckett was suspended by the Foreign Office for leaking information to ’The Times’ without permission. During this time, he contacted the Caucasus Mountain People’s liaison in Constantinople and was invited to travel via the Black Sea to their fortress in the Caucasus region. The embassy dispatched personnel to intercept Sir David but ultimately it was too late.”

Even someone as audacious as Arthur was taken aback by David Eckett’s actions, jumping up from his chair: ”What? You say he sailed to the Caucasus? Doesn’t he know that the Russians have set up a strict naval blockade along the Black Sea coast? Although Chelskaya hasn’t been conquered by Russia yet, according to the treaty with the Ottomans, Russia has already claimed sovereignty over that region. Entering the country without any diplomatic notice, isn’t that damn smuggling?”