The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1440: Chapter 222: Connections to the Top_2

However, although the British shareholder Sir Arthur Hastings has not received even a single ruble from Russia, in front of Mr. Zubkov, he still had to appear magnanimous.

”If Charles knew there was such an avid reader like you in distant Russia, I’m sure he would be very pleased,” Arthur jested aptly: ”Perhaps I should gift you the specimens Charles sent me from South America, for you clearly would make much better use of them than I could.”

Upon hearing that Arthur intended to gift him the precious South American specimens, especially those rare species discovered by Darwin, Zubkov couldn’t help but grin with delight: ”You... I can’t lie and say I’m not interested in those specimens, but I can’t accept your gift freely. How about this, when you have time, you can visit me, as I also have a collection of rare Siberian animal specimens. If you’re interested in any, feel free to speak up, I won’t be stingy.”

Arthur indeed had a collecting hobby, but this old agent wasn’t particularly interested in animal specimens; he preferred collecting secrets that could be enjoyed in one’s mind.

Nevertheless, he still put on a facade of great interest.

”Though it may not be right to take what others love, but...” Arthur pretended to be in a dilemma as he inquired: ”I’ve always wanted to see the Siberian Tiger and Snowy Owl, and I’ve heard the Siberian Iris is exceptionally beautiful.”

Hearing this, Zubkov couldn’t help but nod at Arthur, his eyes revealing an ’Ah, you’re truly knowledgeable’ expression: ”I have both the Snowy Owl and Siberian Iris in my collection, but the Siberian Tiger...”

Arthur, seeing his reluctance, thought Zubkov unwilling to part with so much, quickly clarified: ”I’m not asking you for these things, I simply wish to see them.”

Zubkov waved his hands: ”No, no, no, I’m not refusing you. If I had a Siberian Tiger specimen, offering it would be difficult indeed, but the issue is worse than that, I don’t have a Siberian Tiger. However, I know who does; if you wish to see it, I can take you to his place. Mikhail Fedorovich Orlov has one, and though he’s unlikely to sell it if you want to buy, if you just want to see it, he certainly won’t mind.”

”Orlov?” Arthur, who was casually strolling moments ago, suddenly became alert upon hearing the name.

In Russia, there are many noble families, but only a few are at the pinnacle, and the Orlov family is among them.

It’s a distinguished family, holding equal importance with the Golitsyn family, and during the reign of Catherine the Great, the Orlov family was arguably the foremost in Russia.

The five Orlov brothers were instrumental in the coup that brought Catherine the Great to the throne, and Grigory Grigorievich Orlov and Aleksey Grigorievich Orlov among them were particularly intimate with Catherine, even to the point of sharing her bed.

Due to their meritorious service, the five brothers naturally prospered in their official careers.

Among them, one became an Admiral, one a Cavalry Admiral, one an Artillery Major General, and two Infantry Vice Admirals, and they held significant positions such as Ambassador to France, Home Secretary, Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, Governor of Moscow, and Chief Prosecutor among others.

The Orlov family’s influence in Russia is evident, and there was even gossip at one point that Grigory Grigorievich Orlov was the biological father of Catherine’s son, Paul I.

The Mikhail Fedorovich Orlov mentioned by Zubkov is, by his patronymic, the son of the fourth brother Fedor Grigorievich Orlov.

If other branches of the Orlov family were mentioned, Arthur might not be so familiar with them.

But this branch of the fourth brother’s, Arthur had investigated thoroughly.

The reason is simple, the fourth brother’s most accomplished son is Count Aleksey Fedorovich Orlov, the current Black Sea Fleet Commander who signed a secret treaty with the Ottoman Empire representing Russia.

This seasoned commander, who joined the Russian army in 1804, served as aide-de-camp to ’Holy King’ Alexander I, endured the defeat at the Battle of Austerlitz in the Napoleonic Wars, the bloodshed at Borodino, and the glory of entering Paris.

During the Decembrist uprising in Russia in 1825, Aleksey was the first to lead his troops to the Winter Palace for protection, being a Colonel of the Guard Cavalry Regiment at the time.

Furthermore, his presence could be seen throughout the Seventh Russo-Turkish War, suppression of the Warsaw Uprising, the cholera riots in St. Petersburg, and the Novgorod peasant uprising.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that if Tsar Nicholas I’s most trusted minister was Bendendorf, then Aleksey Orlov ranked as second.

Thinking of this, Arthur’s professional habit couldn’t help but kick in: ”That Mikhail, he and Aleksey Orlov are...”