Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Solovyov's days in Constantinople were actually quite leisurely.

Because once he had arranged things, there were always civil officials below him to handle the tasks, so the workload as governor here was much less than when he was in Crimea.

While in Crimea, he had to inspect many places.

Incidentally, he also improved sanitation conditions in many cities, ensuring that drinking water must be disinfected and not connected to the city's drinking water supply through polluted water sources.

This was a general requirement. Solovyov knew that in this era, cholera, dysentery, and amoeba were all bad things. Nelson and Mrs. Hamilton, that despicable couple, the former was killed in the war, and the latter died from a disease caused by protozoa.

All these epidemic prevention measures will always be effective within the city.

However, he wasn't confident he could defeat Vibrio cholerae, as it was most likely from India.

Even his focus wasn't on fighting wars. Although the Persian Empire has always been unreliable, how unreliable could it be?

Then, he saw Zaza appear in front of him.

"What are you doing in Constantinople instead of disciplining your son with a belt at home?"

“Master, it was the young lady who sent me to deliver a message; it must be something very important. I am the servant that the young lady knows in Georgia.”

"What else could it be?"

Solovyov only anticipated that it was an urgent matter, but he didn't expect it to escalate into such a serious incident.

The Russian Embassy in Tehran was attacked, and all but the second secretary were brutally murdered.

"incredible."

"Master, what is it?"

"Zhaza, we can't stop for a second. Get the car ready, we're going to the ship to Crimea!"

Solovyov believed that military intervention was necessary, as the continued bloodshed in Tehran would only bring trouble.

Poor Nina, she became a widow less than six months after getting married.

Although he had considered having his second son Alexander marry Nina, Griboyedov beat him to it. The eloquent, handsome middle-aged man, who was also a cultured man, was too irresistible to the young noblewoman who was just beginning to experience love.

Moreover, Griboyedov wasn't as boisterous as Pushkin, who could have a passionate affair with the governor's wife or the governor's daughter wherever he went.

Such talent could also play a role in diplomatic affairs in the future. If it weren't for his long-term responsibility for diplomatic affairs with Persia, Solovyov would have recommended him as the ambassador to the United States, so as to establish an intelligence network in the United States and find out their attitude towards the Rocky Mountains.

Persia was another important direction, but Solovyov believed that in the long run, force would be necessary.

He never expected the Persians to be so audacious as to kill the Russian ambassador and wipe out the entire embassy, ​​including its servants and the Armenians under their protection.

It would take time for the news to reach Moscow, but Lisa was quick-witted enough to send the message to her father first while she was in Tbilisi. She also arranged for Nina to be sent to a quiet rural area to isolate her and prevent her from being upset.

Although it's called "tainted cotton," it can actually be reliable in crucial moments.

It's a pity she's a girl; otherwise, she might be more suitable to inherit the family business.

There was indeed one passenger ship that sailed from Constantinople to Crimea; it was operated by Solovyov's own shipping company and used a steam-powered paddle steamer.

It's rather rare for a man to ride in his own boat, but it's not surprising.

While still on the ship, Solovyov had already drafted a final solution to the Persian Empire.

It could be said that if Persia had agreed to this condition, it would have been on the verge of collapse.

Based on his experience over the years, Solovyov knew that there were serious religious and ethnic problems within the Persian Empire, and the sectarian issues alone were already quite serious.

It's hard to say what's behind this conflict with the Russian embassy.

Although Solovyov got along well with the Sultan of Oman, he also had to consider that the princes and sheikhs of the Arabian Peninsula were the "Aiyo Pengyou" type of people, unlike those of Mesopotamia and the Iranian Plateau.

Solovyov had little good impression of Iran and Iraq because of their backward customs on the Arabian Peninsula.

But this was the heart of ancient world civilization; civilizations stretched out in all directions, and even nomadic civilizations were civilizations.

This incident is indeed shocking.

All he wanted was to go to war, but the report sent from the Caucasus front by Paskovich was very unfavorable to his plan.

Paskovich believes that Griboyedov underestimated the diplomatic risks, and that the testimony of the surviving embassy secretary was also detrimental to Russia.

However, it must be considered that he was the only one alive in the entire embassy. It is difficult to estimate whether he was trying to exonerate himself or had other motives.

When Solovyov arrived in Crimea, Greg had just learned of the news.

The Black Sea Fleet was not in a hurry to fight; in fact, they hoped to maintain peace, given that the war with the Ottoman Empire had just ended.

Solovyov also stated that the Black Sea Fleet should be responsible for transportation, and if that doesn't work, he would start a separate Caspian Flotilla, since there are already some small boats operating there, and sending steamships from the Volga River to operate in the Caspian Sea would also be feasible.

The production cycle for a warship is rather long, and Persia poses no threat to Russia in this regard.

The remaining task was to ensure that the Ottoman Empire did not get involved.

In addition, the warlords and chieftains of the countries that had previously been on good terms with each other in the Indian Ocean region, as well as in Central Asia and Afghanistan, should also be informed.

Solovyov was unaware of Nicholas's attitude, as the Russian court was always slow to receive information.

Upon learning of the tragedy, Shah immediately began preparations, including bringing out the 88-carat "Shah Diamond," along with other jewelry that Nader Shah had acquired from India years before.

The Shah's plan was to send a Persian prince to St. Petersburg to meet Nicholas and use these priceless jewels to appease the Tsar's anger and delay the payment of war reparations.

His estimate was correct, but Solovyov arrived in St. Petersburg quickly and, without stopping at home, went straight to Tsarskoye Selo.

The Tsar often stayed here in the spring, and it would be more convenient for Nicholas to arrange accommodations here when he met with representatives from various parties.

Upon arriving at the palace, they first met Grand Duke Mikhail.

"How did you end up back from Constantinople?"

“Your Highness, regarding what happened in Persia, my daughter wrote me a letter. If Griboyedov and 38 embassy staff members died meaninglessly, it would be unfair to us.”

Mikhail was not surprised by Solovyov's words.

Solovyov had previously planned to conquer Persia, a plan that Marshal Suvorov had also considered, but it had never materialized. The wars against Persia always ended inconclusively for various reasons.

This victory at Paskovich in the Caucasus should have been a great opportunity. However, Constantinople was of greater importance, and the war ended hastily.

In early 1829, such a major event occurred.

Mikhail wasn't surprised. The teacher had to rush back despite the mess in Ukraine and Russia; he must have his reasons.

The bearded Georgian coachman and Solovyov's orderly were waiting outside.

After waiting in the reception room for a while, Solovyov finally saw Nikolai.

“Your Majesty, I have returned from Constantinople on matters concerning Persia.”

"Very well, a lot has happened in the past few months. What exactly is your opinion of Persia?"

"When the Persian envoys arrive, we'll see what conditions they offer to quell His Majesty's and the Russian people's anger."

Killing almost all of a country's plenipotentiary ambassadors is a shocking event in diplomatic history. It is unprecedented because the arrogant male goat of Khwarazm, who loved sweets, killed 499 Mongol merchants and then beheaded Mongol envoys.

But it's hard to say whether this will happen again in the future.

Here's the interesting part: Muhammad Sultan Khwarazm was ruling Persia at that time.

Future hostage situations will be a different matter altogether.

"You're planning to start a war?"

“Your Majesty, do not forget that when Rurik ruled Russia, it was still the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Ivan III married Princess Sophia. We not only have an obsession with Constantinople, but also with the inviolability of Rome’s dignity!”

As Solovyov spoke, he gripped the collar of his coat like a chosen father in the Senate.

This was the first time Solovyov had ever experienced such a thing as being possessed by a spirit.

“Alright, Mikhail Sergeyevich, you may attend when the Persian messenger arrives.”

Solovyov knew very well that the conditions offered by the Persians, even the cession of land, were meager gains.

When this unprecedented tragedy occurred, the Persians must have realized the consequences.

They couldn't even control their own nobles, and if they were allowed to take to the streets and be incited, the result would be devastating.

Just then, representatives of the Tatars and Kalmyks arrived at Tsarskoye Selo. Upon hearing the news, they also expressed that such a thing would have been absolutely intolerable to the great Genghis Khan.

Of course, there were also rulers like Batu Khan, who lost more than a dozen envoys before fighting Hungary again.

Nikolai was somewhat tempted after hearing the speeches of these nomadic representatives.

As Solovyov mentioned, if Russia wants to break the current strategic situation, it needs to advance towards the southern coast, from where it can threaten India and also Britain's maritime lifeline.

Moreover, the Persian Gulf has a natural advantage: it has turned the disadvantage of the Russian Navy having to take detours into the advantage of being able to operate openly in the Indian Ocean. On the contrary, the British, apart from the East India Company's squadron, have to draw troops from the mainland and various fleets to strengthen their forces.

His strategic vision also included oil and the use of land within the Persian Empire.

However, Nicholas also faced a challenge: many members of the Russian nobility opposed the southern campaign.

Although the Tsar ultimately had the power of decision, he still had to consider a series of issues.

When the Persian prince arrived, Solovyov sat to the side, watching the prince present the jewels.

It has to be said that the Persians gave too much this time.

The diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires alone, along with the finished jewelry, are already dazzling, not to mention something as large as the Shah Diamond.

It also bears inscriptions from two previous changes of ownership, which once shone brightly on the throne of the Mughal emperor.

(Shah Diamonds)
"Mishka, what a huge diamond."

"Katya, we didn't come here to admire jewels."

Solovyov's serious expression made the members of the Persian mission who noticed him somewhat worried.

If this fierce god were to take action, his own people probably wouldn't be able to stop him; dealing with the Turks would be far too easy for him.

"Your Majesty, we"

“If it were an ordinary tragedy, I might try to forget it. But this is not the case, Your Highness. You must know that this has offended the dignity of Russia, not only me as the monarch, but also my subjects, as well as the Russian army and navy.”

You absolutely must!

If Solovyov hadn't returned, Nikolai might have agreed; he wouldn't even have wanted war.

But Solovyov returned, strengthening the pro-war faction.

Moreover, this was the last chance for a group of veterans, apart from Solovyov, to make their mark on the battlefield.

Even Miloradovich, who had recovered from his illness, advocated for war after hearing about it.

"I personally have no intention of worsening relations with the Shah, but I also want to hear the opinions of my ministers."

This time, it was Solovyov's turn.

"Marshal Solovyov, a prince of the Threst class, heard about this and returned from Constantinople."

"Your Majesty, please allow me to speak."

Although there is a teacher-student relationship, they are still ruler and subject, so they should show proper etiquette in formal occasions.

“Your Highness, if the Persian Shah’s offense against Russia had merely involved killing the ambassador, perhaps the jewels could have quelled this heinous act. However, you have destroyed the embassy, ​​massacred the entire mission, killed the Armenians under his protection, desecrated and mutilated the bodies of the dead, and induced our surviving diplomats to give false testimony. His Majesty may be merciful, but your actions do not deserve even one act of leniency. Take your jewels back; instead of using them to bribe His Majesty, go back and raise your troops, prepare yourselves for the arrival of the Russian army, and be ready to face their wrath!”

"So what do you mean?"

"It's war, Your Highness. War!"

Solovyov rarely gets this emotional; he was clutching his collar as he mentioned "war."

War with Persia is now inevitable. (End of Chapter)