The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1454: Chapter 228: Hutter’s Grand Gift: Who Put This Thing in Sir’s Study? (2)

But in Arthur’s view, the lack of pioneering spirit cannot really be blamed on these merchants, as they did not become wealthy due to such a spirit.

British merchants enjoy taking risks because many of them made their fortunes through overseas adventures.

When such stories of making windfall profits overseas become numerous, it naturally sparks the imagination of the next generation about the myths of wealth, prompting them to gamble their entire fortunes for a big win.

As for Russia, the experiences Russian merchants have drawn from wealth myths differ from those of British merchants.

In Russia, the path to wealth is not through adventure, but in ensuring never to oppose the government, but rather to cooperate with it.

Another accompanying creed is: when competitors are fighting for political power, watching from the sidelines is the wisest choice.

Can you blame them for being conservative?

Of course not.

Because they are evidently in the right.

If the Tsar wants to have a group of Russian merchants with British characteristics, he must also accept that these Russian merchants have the bad habits of British merchants.

Thinking only of the benefits without considering the drawbacks, where can one find such good fortune in the world?

If you want to gain substance from the Royalists while maintaining face with the Liberals, you’d better pray to have the ability not to die even after taking a bullet, like Sir Arthur Hastings.

However, although this is said, in commerce and culture, Russia has had a long-standing peculiar sentiment towards Britain.

The origin of this sentiment can be traced back to the time of Peter the Great. In March 1697, Peter the Great, who sought to initiate Westernized reforms, personally organized an unprecedentedly large delegation to depart from Moscow for a visit to Europe.

The official explanation for the delegation’s main purpose was to further consolidate and expand the alliance against the Ottoman Turkish Empire, but in reality, Peter the Great intended to personally investigate the ”European political life that he and his ancestors had never seen, and establish Russia’s political and military system according to the European model.”

To achieve this goal and to avoid unnecessary trouble, Peter the Great traveled with the delegation under the identity of a sergeant.

In early 1698, Peter the Great arrived in London and stayed in Britain for a long four months.

During this period, he not only visited various parts of the UK but also toured armament factories, workshops, schools, museums, naval bases, and attended parliamentary debates at Westminster Palace, deeply studying the British political system.

After leaving London, Peter the Great made special visits to important ports such as Portsmouth and showed a keen interest in introducing the British shipbuilding industry to Russia.

After his journey ended, the Moscow Grand Duchy, long inland-focused, suddenly developed an interest in the ocean and ports.

Two years later, to gain control of the Baltic Sea, Peter the Great declared war on Sweden, thus initiating the 21-year-long Great Northern War.

In the subsequent 100 years, the Moscow Grand Duchy transformed into a true maritime empire - the Russian Empire.

As for the diplomatic relations between Britain and Russia over this past century...

To say the relationship between these two countries stuck close together might be an exaggeration, but it is an indisputable fact that they often worked closely together in most instances.

Throughout the 18th century, Britain adopted a policy of wooing Russia and used its support of Russia to oppose certain major European powers.

To woo Russia, Britain even turned a blind eye to the fact that its ally Sweden was being beaten by Russians, as if they did not see the ”Anglo-Swedish Defense Treaty.”

And naturally, this century-long honeymoon period fostered pro-Russian factions and pro-British factions in both Britain and Russia, as well as a large group that made a living out of British and Russian trade.

80% of Russia’s iron, 58% of its hemp, and 60% of its flax were sold to Britain.

The British shipbuilding industry also heavily depended on Russian exports of raw materials such as iron, timber, hemp, and canvas.

The leader on the British side was undoubtedly the Moscow Company, which thrived from British and Russian trade.

Arthur sat in the grand chair of Duke Golitsyn’s old study, organizing his thoughts and the documents in his hands.

The flames in the fireplace flickered, casting a warm and solemn light over the study.

A knock on the door sounded outside, and Arthur extinguished his cigar in the crystal ashtray, slightly raising his head to say, ”Come in.”

The door was gently pushed open, and secretary Blackwell led a medium-built middle-aged man in a dark wool coat into the study.

He removed the black top hat from his head, revealing a lean yet capable face, with shrewdness reflected in his eyes.

Behind him followed a young assistant holding a small wooden box.

”Sir Arthur.” The middle-aged man slightly bowed: ”I am Martin Huyning, an agent from the Moscow headquarters of the Moscow Company. Thank you for receiving me in your busy schedule.”

Arthur stood up, nodded, and walked forward to shake hands with Huyning.

”Mr. Huyning, the name of the Moscow Company is renowned. Please, have a seat.” Arthur gestured for him to sit in the chair across the desk.

Huyning nodded slightly, removed his coat and handed it to his assistant behind him, sitting down with a somewhat restrained demeanor.

His assistant carefully placed the wooden box on the ground and stood by, waiting for instructions.

Arthur returned to his seat, placed his hands crossed on the desk, his gaze calm yet probing: ”So, Mr. Huyning, is this visit pertaining to commercial matters or something else?”