The Shadow of Great Britain

Capítulo 1500: Chapter 247: The Power of the Tsar (Part 2)

Even the Tsar’s four confidants were not entirely genuine confidants, as one of them was an old friend of Arthur—the loyal Constitutional Soldier Colonel Shubinsky.

On the interrogation committee’s list, Arthur had good relations with both Chairman Duke Sergei Golitsyn and Colonel Shubinsky; with the former due to their close acquaintance from that famous Moscow University lecture, and with the latter, they shared a bond from their mischievous escapades together.

As for General Star, he was a straightforward veteran who participated in the Patriotic War of 1812. Arthur also recalled that when he first met Herzen in Leipzig, the young man mentioned that this enthusiastic old general had once covered for Moscow University students who supported the exiled student Sungurov, and helped pass on the donations collected for Sungurov from the students.

Judging by the fact that Herzen, Ogarev, and others continued to attend school and work without incident, it appears General Star never betrayed these young people.

Therefore, regarding this case, he might be inclined to show favoritism towards Herzen and the others.

Sure enough, when Arthur slightly turned the topic to the newly formed interrogation committee, the ladies shared an uplifting piece of news with him.

“Dear Catherine, do you know what happened yesterday at the interrogation committee?” Lady Zienski covered half her face with an ivory fan, her peacock feathered eyelashes fluttering under the candlelight: “I heard that yesterday, General Star drove his saber through the parquet floor, sending splinters flying higher than the dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral!”

Miss Semyonova’s gold-embroidered silk skirt rustled, as the ladies formed an even tighter circle in concert.

“My brother said that although the old general is advanced in age, his mind remains sharp. Like dissecting a quail, he split the case in half during the analysis. General Star, after reviewing the files, stated that the case involved two parts: those who read satirical poems mocking the Emperor at the banquet should be punished by the police. However, the involvement of others is unclear, and their so-called crimes only amounted to having foreign books, which is commonplace abroad. To convict them based on that is not only difficult but also absurd. Dear General Star brilliantly remarked—surely, we can’t destroy all the nests in the city just because sparrows eat the Church’s breadcrumbs!”

Lady Hoflina, upon hearing Miss Semyonova’s information, reciprocated by sharing her own insights: “I heard that when young Duke Golitsyn from St. Petersburg heard General Star’s words, he was furious, like a lynx with its tail stepped on. He argued that even if those youths were not involved with the satire, we cannot yet dismiss their connection to the arson. But can you guess how General Star responded?”

Arthur coughed repeatedly upon hearing this, his pale lips trembling into a feeble smile: “Don’t tease me any longer, if God intends to summon me soon, at least let me hear the end of this story.”

Lady Zienski also chided, “Mary, it’s impolite to tease a patient.”

Lady Hoflina smiled, “Alright, if it were anyone else, I wouldn’t oblige. But since you want to hear it, I’ll finish it in one go.”

Lady Hoflina sipped from her gilded porcelain cup, clearing her throat: “Upon hearing young Golitsyn’s defiance, General Star, constrained by the fact that he was appointed by the Emperor, resorted to sarcasm: I searched through the newly revised Russian Empire Code this year and couldn’t find a crime called thought arson. Unless you persuade the Emperor and Speransky to add it, I will not sign the verdict.”

“What was young Golitsyn’s reaction then?”

Lady Hoflina recounted the story with such vividness as if she had witnessed it firsthand.

“Young Golitsyn was so furious that his nose was almost crooked. He pointed at General Star’s nose, questioning whether his actions were meant to indulge the youth in emulating the Parisian mob, intending to be Russia’s Lafayette. In his rage, General Star drew his saber and pierced the floor. I swear by God, the saber landed three inches from young Golitsyn’s feet!”

Imitating the motion of a saber stab, the lady’s silver bracelet clinked against the silver teapot: “The old general unbuttoned his collar, revealing scars from battles with the French, saying: The French could not instill fear in me with their cannonballs, and now, are these youthful scrawlings in diaries supposed to be terrifying? Alexander Fedorovich, I’ve been to Austerlitz and Borodino, who knows how many times I’ve died with the late Emperor on the battlefield! Even Napoleon couldn’t force me to my knees, and you think you’re worthy of speaking on behalf of the nation to me?”

Lady Zienski couldn’t help but cover her mouth with her ivory fan: “It’s terrifying; could General Star really have done that? Everyone knows how gentle and amiable he is; he must have been enraged by Golitsyn.”

Miss Semyonova stirred the chilled tea with a silver spoon, the curve of her mocking smile reflected in the glazed teacup, supplementing her brother’s gathered details from the sidelines.

“If you ask me, young Golitsyn has contracted the capital’s bureaucratic vices in St. Petersburg. Did he forget? The sparrows of Moscow have nested atop the Kremlin’s dome. The birds here cannot be confined by iron cages. Once General Star lost his temper, the previously heated committee became as silent as a graveyard; some out of fear, others out of respect for the old general. Before leaving, General Star gave young Golitsyn a stern warning: Instead of destroying life, I suggest you propose to the Emperor to shut down all middle and high schools nationwide, so others won’t suffer. You may do as you wish, but I won’t commit such sins with you. From today, I shall never set foot in the committee again.

Even though Arthur had never met General Star, from this incident alone, one could tell he was indeed a valiant warrior.

Star’s bravery was not only reflected in his battlefield valor but in how this incident not only embarrassed the Third Bureau but also restored some pride for Moscow against St. Petersburg.

Moreover, since he was in the right, not only did the officials and their wives in Moscow support him, but once the matter spread, the city’s citizens would likely side with him as well.

After all, due to this series of events, the citizens had long been fed up with the extensive police crackdowns on arsonists and political offenders. General Star’s temper at the interrogation committee objectively vented the public’s frustration.

However, Arthur was somewhat worried that the old general’s conduct might have been overly bold.

After all, young Golitsyn didn’t just represent the Third Bureau within the interrogation committee; he also embodied the Tsar’s will, and publicly falling out with him was to some extent akin to challenging the Tsar.

Arthur softly asked: “He truly is an old hero, but given the nature of the Constitutional Soldier, he shouldn’t expect to avoid being reported to the Tsar for this disgrace to the Third Bureau.”

Lady Hoflina sighed: “Indeed. This incident was reported to the Emperor on the same day. When General Star went to the Kremlin to report, the Emperor questioned why he refused to continue participating in the committee. General Star provided his reasons, after which the Emperor promptly reprimanded: What nonsense! At your age, with your white hair, arguing with this young man, Golitsyn, are you not ashamed? I expect you to continue attending the committee as usual thereafter.”

However, General Star was unwilling to compromise, responding: “Your Majesty! Please take pity on my white hair. In all my years, there has never been a blemish on my record, never a deed done against the country and the people. Your Majesty knows my loyalty, my blood, and my remaining years belong to you. If permitted, of course, I would continue to serve you and Russia until I am laid to rest. But this matter concerns my reputation, honor; my pure conscience cannot allow me to remain in the committee, doing what young Golitsyn desires to accomplish.”