Chapter 616 True and False Imperial Envoy

In the early morning of Druisk, the air was filled with the smell of moist earth, and the quiet town ushered in a grand scene it had never seen before.

In the distance, dust was rising on the road outside the city, the sound of horse hooves roared, sweeping up the snow on the ground, and the team rushed towards the small town like a torrent.

The sound of the wheels intertwined with the neighing of the horses as they gradually approached the city gate. Even the villagers on the roadside stopped what they were doing and cast their eyes curiously at this spectacular team.

With the deafening sound of horse hooves, the first thing that caught the eye was a group of cavalry.

Their uniforms were mostly dark leather and coarse cloth, and their breastplates, shoulder armors, and leg armors shone coldly in the sun. The short bows, quivers, and pistols hanging on their waists exuded a calm intimidation.

Each cavalryman has a metal chain hanging on his chest, and the ornaments on his shoulders shine with gold and silver, as if to mark their identity and honor. Many people also had feathers on their hats, which swayed gently with the pace of the horses, exuding a wild and unruly temperament.

A well-dressed cavalryman walked in front of the team, wearing a fine leather robe embroidered with golden patterns, symbolizing his high-ranking status in the cavalry.

Citizens were standing on the street or leaning against the doorframes of their homes, discussing this famous cavalry team in low voices.

"Look at their costumes, they are so majestic!"

An elderly businessman who traveled all year round grabbed his neighbor, pointed at the cavalry, and whispered: "These are not ordinary cavalry. Look at the scimitars in their hands. These are Don Cossacks. I dare to fight with you." Bet, each of them is a murderous hero. Even the leather armor they wear is as hard as iron!

"I've heard about it, I've heard about it." A young carpenter interjected, rubbing the wooden box in his hand: "The Cossack cavalry, they are not ordinary soldiers. When fighting, they ride very fast and use scimitars. With one swing, the enemy can be chopped down like straw!"

"Yes, scimitar..." The old businessman nodded, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, as if he was recalling the past: "These Cossacks are not only good at fighting. They also have one of the best tempers, and they will draw their swords when they don't like people. You The look in their eyes was cold, and they didn’t look like they were easy to mess with.”

A woman next to her pulled her apron and interjected with a slight worry: "You said, these Cossacks came to Druisk, do we ordinary people have to be careful? I heard that the Cossack cavalry are all from Druisk. They are from the frontier, they are not afraid of anything, they might do something extraordinary."

She looked away from the cavalry and turned to her street shop, feeling a little hesitant.

"Don't worry, don't worry." A young man wearing oil-stained craftsman's clothes shook his head, with some comfort in his tone: "Our place is quiet, nothing big will happen. The Cossacks will all follow. If your Majesty’s warriors really come here, they will definitely head to the front line immediately and have no time to care about us commoners.”

"You mean we're going to war again? With whom? The French? The Swedes? Or the Poles?"

The citizens were still discussing in fear, but the leading cavalryman had stopped. He got off his horse, opened the door, and announced loudly: "The Imperial Envoy, Pavel Andreevich Barkov has arrived! "

Barkov stepped out of the carriage, and the air in the street seemed to freeze. people

They looked up at his gorgeous military uniform. The golden five-pointed stars and thick gold thread tassels flashed on the shoulder straps, symbolizing his noble identity and status that could not be ignored.

Barkov's temperament is cold and stern, and his steps are as firm as iron. He glanced around, all the street scenes seemed to fade into the background in his eyes, and only his presence occupied the entire field of vision.

The colonel's eyes swept across the streets of Druisk, with a stern expression on his face.

His arrival seemed to shock the whole street.

In front of this stern figure, the commander of the garrison, Captain Potemkin, seemed more and more uneasy. He hurriedly stood at attention, took a deep breath, stepped forward, and whispered: "Sir, the eighth-rank Army Captain Potemkin, respectfully I salute you." His voice trembled, and the awe in his words was palpable.

Barkov just glanced at Potemkin coldly, without much emotion in his eyes: "Potemkin? This name is really unpleasant. Are you the commander of the garrison here?"

"Yes, sir, I am exactly that." Potemkin lowered his head, almost bending to the ground, and his voice was so trembling that it was almost inaudible.

Sir, he has not said this word in a formal setting for several years, because in Russia, this title is only worthy of officials of fifth rank or above.

The five-pointed star on Barkov's shoulder and the gold tassel on his shoulder strap have already revealed his identity - Army Brigadier General!

This is an out-and-out fifth-grade official who has stepped into the threshold of a senior official.

Barkov did not respond, but took out his cigarette bag and turned around and walked towards the small hotel on the roadside. There was only one order left in the air that was enough to make Potemkin's liver tremble: "Gather all the officials in the city, big and small, and wait until I finish smoking." Bag of cigarettes before.”

…

The early morning sunlight shines into the house through the gaps in the curtains. Mayor Bakalkin and his wife are sitting on the sofa in the living room.

The mayor's wife glanced at the silver teapot sitting at the table, lifted up her complicated hairstyle, and said triumphantly: "Look, Alexey, our hospitality is really unselectable. Hestingov's Young man, I've been looking at you with admiration all the time. I know that if we serve him well, we will definitely be successful in the officialdom in the future."

She gently twisted the tea cup, her eyes full of pride and fantasy: "When he returns, he will definitely give you a high position. Not to mention being transferred to big places like Petersburg and Moscow, at least not like this in Druisk Even if you are transferred to the provincial capital to be the director of the tax bureau, it is a great opportunity for our family to find such a noble person. "

The mayor took a deep breath, all the fatigue in his body was swept away, and a somewhat vain light appeared on his face.

He replied in a low voice: "Yes, ma'am, look at his demeanor, it's really extraordinary. We only get this kind of opportunity a few times in our lives. I can't wait to see what he will do when he goes back." Find some kind of opportunity for me.”

When the mayor's wife heard this, she suddenly whispered to herself: "If you really become the tax director, it will not only be the benefits of promotion, but we can also make the family's business and industry more prosperous. Think about it, Isn’t this what we want?”

Madam completely entered into the fantasy, her eyes shone slightly, and she seemed to have planned her life for the next ten years in her mind - not to mention anything else, just the increasing number of real estate, the opening of business firms, and the palace-style official residence. , which made her intoxicated.

Suddenly, she frowned slightly, and while adjusting her too-gorgeous shawl, she whispered to the mayor: "Alexei, I'm thinking, it's not easy for us to get together with such an outstanding person as the colonel." Relationship, although it’s nice to get some help, but do you think it’s possible for us to develop it into a long-term relationship?”

"A long-lasting relationship?"

Bakalkin was not stupid. He immediately understood what his wife meant. He secretly looked at his daughter sitting in the living room far away. She was leaning against the window and looking down at a French book with a smile on her face. A bit thoughtful and anxious.

He opened his mouth and said, "It's really a miracle of God! I have never seen Marina study French so hard in my life."

The mayor's wife rolled her eyes: "I have told her to learn French and German smoothly before, but she just couldn't listen. You know, when I was her age, I was one of the most talented women in Vitebsk. . But as for our daughter, although she is beautiful, has fair skin, and has clear eyes, the only shortcoming is that she has been in a small place for so long that she has lost the concept in her head. Question. She only thought that marrying the postmaster would mean she would live a good life. After learning French and German, she would be able to stay in Petersburg and Moscow, which she cherished, and would not be left in the countryside like her mother. Now that she has met someone like Colonel Hestingoff, and sees that he only speaks German and French, it is difficult for her to chat with him, and now she begins to feel anxious!"

Bakalkin retorted: "Although Marina's German and French are rusty, she is not like those secular girls. Her temperament is unique and a bit unique. Even if she is placed in salons in Petersburg and Moscow, You have to take action. At least I took her to the banquet in the provincial capital and she didn’t lose anyone once. Even the Provincial Supervisor said, "I never imagined that a man as strong as a bear like me could give birth to a daughter as strong as a lark." Besides, people like Colonel Hestingoff don't seem to stick to details, said German and French. If you are unfamiliar, you can learn slowly. Besides, how can young people not like beautiful girls?"

The lady snorted and poured cold water on her husband: "It is said that men all like beautiful girls. But how can a young and handsome man like the colonel be only interested in Marina? Look at his demeanor, He has a bookish air, a bright future, and a sophisticated way of doing things. He can even talk about science and music. Who among the girls wouldn't want to get close to him? "

While listening, Bakarkin nodded noncommittally, but a trace of uncertainty flashed in his eyes: "It makes sense, and how can a person like the colonel only care about our family's business and promotion? However, I I think we should take it slow, we can't Too urgent. If this marriage can be achieved, our family's status will be different in the future. I will definitely not be able to become a sixth-grade official in this life, but if I can have a son-in-law who becomes a sixth-grade official, that will be fine. ...Or, let’s settle for the next best thing. What do you think of Captain Hute?”

"Captain Hute?" Madam recalled Hute's inhumane cold face: "Oh, I don't like it, but Marlena might be happy with it. This stupid daughter of ours always likes to put warm faces on her face. Cold ass, I was like this to the postmaster before, but now I have made progress as a military police captain!"

Suddenly, there was a rush of footsteps outside the door, and the servant hurriedly walked in, panting and reporting: "Master, the imperial envoy is here!"

"Colonel Hestingoff is up?" Madam quickly straightened her clothes and lifted up her skirt: "Take the hot breakfast in the pot to the dining room, and then make a pot of black tea that the colonel likes, with sugar and milk. Bring it over."

Bakalkin saw his wife getting up and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Of course I'm chatting with the colonel." She raised her eyebrows and said, "You don't understand. Men always like women who can talk to them about elegant topics. You also know that he is not an ordinary officer. I have to let him know that Druisk is not just a country woman. My temperament is different and is definitely not worse than those women who are high and mighty in Petersburg."

The servant heard this and said in a panic, "It's not Colonel Hestingov! It's Lord Pavel Andreevich Barkov! He just got off the car and is at the city gate. He ordered Po He summoned Captain Jin to gather all the city's officials, saying that if he couldn't see him within a cigarette break, he would send the Cossacks to "invite" the gentlemen over. "

"Balkov?" The mayor was stunned for a moment, and then almost shouted: "Sir!"

The mayor's wife frowned, with a hint of displeasure in her eyes: "Balkov? Don't we already have an imperial envoy? Why is there a new one?"

Her voice was impatient, and her slightly raised eyebrows showed that she obviously didn't like the news that disturbed her quiet morning.

The mayor was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, walking around in the living room with his hands behind his back: "Something is wrong! It's only been a few days, how come two imperial envoys came? Is there something serious? The old one hasn't left yet, and a new one has come. How can we deal with it?"

"How can we deal with it?" The mayor's wife sneered and pursed her lips slightly, "Isn't it just an imperial envoy? What's the big deal? Isn't Colonel Hastingov here? Alexei, you useless guy, with the colonel here, what can't be handled?"

The servant hurriedly explained : "Madam, it's not like that. The new guy is a brigadier general! A fifth-rank officer who is higher than Colonel Hastings!"

The lady didn't take this to heart at all. She still looked indifferent and continued to stroke her carefully groomed hair: "Brigadier general? So what? Although he is a brigadier general now, Colonel Hastings' talent is admired by even people in the palace. Although Colonel Hastings is young, his future is limitless."

However, how could the mayor dare to take it lightly?

After all, from a bureaucratic perspective, although Arthur is indeed young, the sixth rank to the fifth rank is a natural barrier, just like the ninth rank to the eighth rank.

No matter how promising Colonel Hastings is, he is still a long way behind the brigadier general.

The mayor hurriedly walked to the window, looking through the half-open window at a group of officials and guards running all over the street, and couldn't help feeling anxious.

"Let's go and discuss this with Colonel Hastingoff." The mayor frowned and whispered.

As soon as he said this, he felt that he had no confidence, but this matter was no longer something that could be dealt with with passion alone: ​​"I hope that the new envoy can be gentler for the sake of the colonel."