The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1457: Chapter 229: David Eckett, I’m Heading to the Caucasus!

In other words, the route he took to enter the Caucasus is very likely to overlap with these trade routes.

Arthur hastily asked, ”Are those trade routes by land or by sea?”

”Both land and sea, but that was already in the 16th century.”

Xiuning patiently explained, ”Initially, when the company was developing this trade route, our original intention was actually to discover a trade route to China. Our first exploration was to open up a northeast route from the North Pole to China, but this attempt failed. So, we turned our attention southward, sending expeditions to explore along the coast of the Caspian Sea, eventually reaching the Bukhara Khanate in Central Asia. Although the result of this expedition did not meet the company’s expectations, we unexpectedly found that British goods carried by the expedition were very popular in Persia. Hence, the company shifted its trade target from the distant China to the nearer Persia.

Afterwards, we embarked on six attempts to explore the Persian route across the Black Sea. However, when we finally established an efficient Persian route, the Ottomans, having soured relations with Russia, blocked this valuable route, which we had painstakingly explored. So, we had to turn our focus to exploring land routes. Although we eventually figured out the land route through the Caucasus, traversing to Persia overland meant crossing the Caucasus Mountains and taking precautions against marauding tribesmen and Cossacks along the way. Therefore, the business was time-consuming, costly, and risky, and the company was always very cautious whenever engaging in Persian trade.”

”So that’s how it is.” Arthur nodded slightly and said, ”But what does this have to do with the Levantine Company?”

Xiuning replied helplessly, ”You should know that the Moscow Company is Britain’s oldest overseas charter company. Therefore, when the Levantine Company was established, they poached many of our agents and apprentices, so the trade route to Persia that we spent great effort opening naturally fell into their hands. The Levantine Company mainly engaged in Mediterranean trade and had a significant presence in the Near East. Coupled with the special privileges granted by the Ottoman Sultan, conducting trade with Persia by sea or land was more economical for them than for us. The information on the trade routes that the Moscow Company obtained at great human and material cost was thus snatched by them.”

Hearing this, Arthur quickly stood up, ”Does the Moscow Club still have the maps of these trade routes?”

”Of course, but they’re probably buried at the bottom of some storage room box. If you want, I will have someone search for them as soon as I return today and have them sent to your residence by tomorrow morning.”

If it were any other matter, Arthur wouldn’t mind waiting another night, but when it came to his political future, he didn’t dare to delay.

After all, the lesson of the Moscow Company was right in front of him; if he didn’t act diligently at this time, who knew if he would be sent to India on a ’trade route expedition’, and by the time he returned, all the hard-earned achievements he had accumulated over the years would surely have been taken by someone else.

”No need, I’ll go to the club with you now. This trade route map must be sent to the Earl of Dalmo as soon as possible, not a night’s delay.”

...

Knock, knock, knock!

In his sleep, Herzen vaguely heard a series of urgent knocks on the door.

Immediately, the door was pushed open, and a manservant led a strong man to stand by the door, with anxiety written all over his face: ”Master Herzen, my master, your dearest friend, Ogarev has been taken away!”

Herzen recognized the man; he was Ogarev’s errand man.

”What, taken away?” Herzen, half-asleep, jumped out of bed, rubbed his head, trying to figure out if he was dreaming.

”Yes, the Police Chief came at night with officers and Cossacks to arrest him, just two hours after you left. They searched and took away some letters and also took Nikolai Platonovich.”

Herzen’s head suddenly cleared. Just yesterday, he was lamenting with Ogarev about the bad luck of ”Moscow Telecommunications” and Polevoy.

Who could have thought that today this bad luck would fall upon them!

Herzen quickly recalled recent changes in Moscow city and carefully reviewed the recent words and actions of their small group.

He couldn’t understand what the police based their actions on; recently, besides the investigation of ”Moscow Telecommunications”, everything had been calm in Moscow.

Ogarev had only returned to Moscow a day ago, what exactly did the police base their arrest on?

Additionally, why did they only arrest Ogarev and not me?

Herzen paced back and forth in the room, anxiety almost completely occupying his mind.

The arrest of Ogarev had a completely different impact on Herzen compared to Polevoy’s arrest.

While the latter was kind to him as a young man, the aura exuded by the editor of ”Moscow Telecommunications” and his condescending manner of speech were constant reminders to Herzen that they were of two different generations.

But Ogarev was his classmate and close friend, part of his daily life.

When the Tsar’s iron hand reached someone close to Herzen, he truly realized what Russian autocracy meant.

What to do?

I should do something, at least I cannot sit idly by.

As Herzen thought of this, even with a chaotic mind, he immediately threw on a coat and left the house.

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to instruct the servants: ”No one is to tell my father about today’s events.”

Although Herzen was full of righteous indignation, the cold wind on the Moscow streets quickly sobered up this headless chicken.

Only now did he realize that, at this moment, he should seek out a friend with power, influence, and standing in society for information.

Herzen’s first thought was of Moscow’s senior secretary, Zubkov, but just as he took a step forward, a second option popped into his head.

Maybe...

Should I first seek out Sir Arthur Hastings?

Though Zubkov was closer to the truth of the matter, he might alert others, as he was the secretary to Governor Duke Golitsyn; who knew what he was thinking?

As for Sir Arthur Hastings, this British diplomat had no conflict of interest in the matter. Furthermore, he even came to warn me a few days ago to be careful in my actions lately.

Even if he didn’t know the inside story, he might be willing to discreetly inquire for help.

Even if he couldn’t find out anything, he certainly wouldn’t betray our group of students who once treated him to drinks in Leipzig.

Herzen remembered how, that night, Arthur was shoulder to shoulder with him, Bismarck, and other students, carrying a bottle, singing ”La Marseillaise”.

With this resolution in mind, Herzen took big strides towards the old Golitsyn mansion at the end of the street.

Suddenly, a black and gold-painted four-wheeled carriage appeared at the street corner, the wheels slowly stopped, and a hat poked out of the window.

This was followed by Arthur’s head emerging.

He seemed to be in a good mood, not only wearing a smile but even whistling a tune unfitting for his composed persona.

”Alexander, where are you heading? Need a ride?”

Herzen was initially stunned at the sight, then quickly glanced around, and walked briskly forward to whisper: ”Sir Arthur, unfortunately, things have developed as you predicted.”

”Just as I predicted?” Arthur said in astonishment, ”Alexander, what foolish thing have you done?”

”I wish I were the one being foolish,” Herzen said anxiously, ”Do you remember Ogarev? The Ogarev from our Herzen-Ogarev group, he was taken by the police today for reasons unknown.”