Chapter 225 Heading to the Caspian Sea, Drunkard Fleet?
Just after this farewell party, Keith left Russia the next day, and Charles officially became the British ambassador to Russia.
On Charles' third day in office, he finally took over what Keith left behind, mostly intelligence.
To his dismay, a person who was crucial to his trip was not in Russia at this time.
This person is the Deputy Minister of General Affairs Bestutev. If the agreement with the United Kingdom to protect Hanover is signed, the relationship between Russia and Prussia will become sensitive. care.
Although Charles and Bestutev have never met, they seem to have regarded the Deputy Minister of General Affairs as the target of wooing.
It can be said that whether he can complete the secret mission of this trip has a great relationship with Bestutev's attitude.
As for the Minister of General Affairs Vorontsov, Vorontsov is famous for his internal affairs.
Now that the matter of laying red bricks everywhere in Russia is raging, it is uncertain how the Minister of General Affairs will end.
Charles thought a little further. Perhaps, after this incident, Bestutev would replace Vorontsov as Minister of General Affairs. In this way, the threat to Prussia would be greater, but it would be more beneficial to Britain.
Can't wait, Charles wants to know where the Deputy Minister of General Affairs is, and he wants to see him immediately.
At this time, Bestutev was indeed not in Moscow.
It can even be said that he stayed away from Moscow.
This is unthinkable for a deputy general affairs minister who is mainly responsible for foreign affairs.
Accompanied by Bestutev was Army Lieutenant General Apraksin.
To shoulder the important mission His Majesty gave him, Bestutev understood the importance of this matter from the relaxed conditions His Majesty gave him.
Bestutev thought of what His Majesty said before leaving:
"The Volga River is the longest river in Europe, and it is also the longest inland river with the widest basin in the world. This river flows into the Caspian Sea from north to south."
"This river is important not only because of the vitality it brings, but also because it connects the Baltic Sea through the Volga-Baltic, the White Sea through the North Dvina, and the Sea of Azov through the Volga-Don. The Black Sea..."
Thinking of His Majesty's words, Bestutev couldn't help feeling overwhelmed, His Majesty's situation is really big.
His trip was to get through the Volga-Don River, and the appearance of the Deputy Minister of General Affairs was to show that he valued it. Russia has always wanted to go west to the Baltic Sea and south to the Black Sea, but no one has ever thought that the Black Sea can be passed through like this.
Although they all have to go through the Sea of Azov, Bestutev feels that this kind of alternative route is very worth trying.
Moreover, this can be said to be the first feat of His Majesty since he came to the throne. From the perspective of Bestutev, who is accustomed to formulating foreign policies, His Majesty's previous sales of newspapers and running schools can only be regarded as major achievements in internal affairs and people's livelihood.
Because only the Volga-Don Canal is dug, conflicts may arise in the process of leading to the Caspian Sea. When conflicts arise, how will His Majesty deal with them?
Will there be war?
Probably, yes.
Regardless of whether it will happen or not, Bestutev is willing to go here for the order of His Majesty and dig the soil for the first time.
In order to experience the Don River and the Volga River more clearly, Bestutev took the Don River waterway all the way, and did not go ashore until he had nowhere to go, accompanied by the lieutenant general and guard soldiers.
During this journey, Bestutev sighed endlessly.
He passed not only wide rivers, but also shoals and waste rivers. As he gradually came to the plains, the number of waste rivers began to increase until they were completely blocked.
When he came to the shore, Bestutev looked around and could still vaguely see the traces of artificial excavation. Bestutev couldn't help thinking that if Peter the Great had enough material and manpower to dredge the Don-Volga River, then It should be up and running by now.
But the fact is that since Peter the Great left, neither Catherine I nor Peter II, Empress Anna, or even Empress Elizabeth have ever visited here.
Until Your Majesty.
Bestutev took a look at the recruited soldiers, there were 2000 of them, His Majesty gave him half a year to a year, but at the same time gave him enormous power. In order to live up to His Majesty's trust, Bestutev did not hesitate to Use power sparingly.
Glancing at Apraksin, the lieutenant general was looking at him in distress.
If it weren't for His Majesty's order, he wouldn't have come to this kind of place. As a practical soldier in the military who intends to make contributions, Apraksin was quite trusted during Queen Elizabeth's time, and his status has always been relatively prominent.
Not only because of himself, but also because of his origin.
Apraksin's ancestor was Fedor Matveyevich Apraksin, who joined the Boys' Army formed by Peter the Great since he was a child.
Later, he participated in the second Azov expedition, led the construction of the Taganrog military port, and served as the head of the Naval Academy. When fighting against Sweden, he successfully commanded the army that defended Petersburg, and also commanded the Baltic sea battle and landing campaign. During the expedition to Persia, he served as the commander of the Caspian Sea Fleet, and later transferred to the commander of the Baltic Sea Fleet, a member of the Supreme Privy Council, and was the first to be awarded the title of Admiral of the Navy.
This is the highest rank in the Russian Navy issued by Peter the Great.
It was precisely because of Apraksin's relationship with the Caspian Sea Fleet that Bestutev asked His Majesty to let Apraksin go with him when he left Moscow.
After all, as far as he knows, the current Caspian Sea Fleet is no longer the Caspian Sea Fleet when it was first established.
Before 1722, although Russia had a long Arctic Ocean coastline in the north, it was impossible to break the ice at all, so Russia, which could not use the long northern route, was a substantially landlocked country.
It was not until September 1721, 9 that Russia gained access to the Baltic Sea after its victory in the Great Northern War with Sweden.
A year later, Peter the Great ordered the creation of the Caspian Fleet.
Russia, which had just become a coastal country, still lacked sufficient sailing experience. The early navy was more often drilled in the inland lake of the Caspian Sea. Then Peter the Great recruited 22000 infantry, 9000 cavalry and 70000 Cossacks, Tatars, and Karls. Maker soldiers.
The infantry and artillery were transported to the mouth of the Surak River by the Caspian Sea Fleet, and the cavalry entered Persia by land, and the war with Persia began.
This is the first show of the Caspian Sea Fleet.
This military action allowed Russia to gain control of the Caspian Sea coast between the cities of Durbent and Risht, but the Ottoman Turks refused to recognize Russia's possession of the Caspian Sea area. Later, the two countries signed the Treaty of Constantinople in 1724 after negotiation .
Turkey and Russia agreed to divide the northern and northwestern parts of Persia equally.
Since then, Russia has seized the land on the west and south coasts of the Caspian Sea from Persia, and the Russian fleet galloping in the Caspian Sea has naturally become the overlord of this region.
However, more than 20 years have passed since now, and the Caspian Sea Fleet has not fought a single battle. As far as Bestutev knows, it has become corrupt and dilapidated.
It's not so much the Caspian Fleet as the Vodka Drunkard Fleet.
(End of this chapter)
Just after this farewell party, Keith left Russia the next day, and Charles officially became the British ambassador to Russia.
On Charles' third day in office, he finally took over what Keith left behind, mostly intelligence.
To his dismay, a person who was crucial to his trip was not in Russia at this time.
This person is the Deputy Minister of General Affairs Bestutev. If the agreement with the United Kingdom to protect Hanover is signed, the relationship between Russia and Prussia will become sensitive. care.
Although Charles and Bestutev have never met, they seem to have regarded the Deputy Minister of General Affairs as the target of wooing.
It can be said that whether he can complete the secret mission of this trip has a great relationship with Bestutev's attitude.
As for the Minister of General Affairs Vorontsov, Vorontsov is famous for his internal affairs.
Now that the matter of laying red bricks everywhere in Russia is raging, it is uncertain how the Minister of General Affairs will end.
Charles thought a little further. Perhaps, after this incident, Bestutev would replace Vorontsov as Minister of General Affairs. In this way, the threat to Prussia would be greater, but it would be more beneficial to Britain.
Can't wait, Charles wants to know where the Deputy Minister of General Affairs is, and he wants to see him immediately.
At this time, Bestutev was indeed not in Moscow.
It can even be said that he stayed away from Moscow.
This is unthinkable for a deputy general affairs minister who is mainly responsible for foreign affairs.
Accompanied by Bestutev was Army Lieutenant General Apraksin.
To shoulder the important mission His Majesty gave him, Bestutev understood the importance of this matter from the relaxed conditions His Majesty gave him.
Bestutev thought of what His Majesty said before leaving:
"The Volga River is the longest river in Europe, and it is also the longest inland river with the widest basin in the world. This river flows into the Caspian Sea from north to south."
"This river is important not only because of the vitality it brings, but also because it connects the Baltic Sea through the Volga-Baltic, the White Sea through the North Dvina, and the Sea of Azov through the Volga-Don. The Black Sea..."
Thinking of His Majesty's words, Bestutev couldn't help feeling overwhelmed, His Majesty's situation is really big.
His trip was to get through the Volga-Don River, and the appearance of the Deputy Minister of General Affairs was to show that he valued it. Russia has always wanted to go west to the Baltic Sea and south to the Black Sea, but no one has ever thought that the Black Sea can be passed through like this.
Although they all have to go through the Sea of Azov, Bestutev feels that this kind of alternative route is very worth trying.
Moreover, this can be said to be the first feat of His Majesty since he came to the throne. From the perspective of Bestutev, who is accustomed to formulating foreign policies, His Majesty's previous sales of newspapers and running schools can only be regarded as major achievements in internal affairs and people's livelihood.
Because only the Volga-Don Canal is dug, conflicts may arise in the process of leading to the Caspian Sea. When conflicts arise, how will His Majesty deal with them?
Will there be war?
Probably, yes.
Regardless of whether it will happen or not, Bestutev is willing to go here for the order of His Majesty and dig the soil for the first time.
In order to experience the Don River and the Volga River more clearly, Bestutev took the Don River waterway all the way, and did not go ashore until he had nowhere to go, accompanied by the lieutenant general and guard soldiers.
During this journey, Bestutev sighed endlessly.
He passed not only wide rivers, but also shoals and waste rivers. As he gradually came to the plains, the number of waste rivers began to increase until they were completely blocked.
When he came to the shore, Bestutev looked around and could still vaguely see the traces of artificial excavation. Bestutev couldn't help thinking that if Peter the Great had enough material and manpower to dredge the Don-Volga River, then It should be up and running by now.
But the fact is that since Peter the Great left, neither Catherine I nor Peter II, Empress Anna, or even Empress Elizabeth have ever visited here.
Until Your Majesty.
Bestutev took a look at the recruited soldiers, there were 2000 of them, His Majesty gave him half a year to a year, but at the same time gave him enormous power. In order to live up to His Majesty's trust, Bestutev did not hesitate to Use power sparingly.
Glancing at Apraksin, the lieutenant general was looking at him in distress.
If it weren't for His Majesty's order, he wouldn't have come to this kind of place. As a practical soldier in the military who intends to make contributions, Apraksin was quite trusted during Queen Elizabeth's time, and his status has always been relatively prominent.
Not only because of himself, but also because of his origin.
Apraksin's ancestor was Fedor Matveyevich Apraksin, who joined the Boys' Army formed by Peter the Great since he was a child.
Later, he participated in the second Azov expedition, led the construction of the Taganrog military port, and served as the head of the Naval Academy. When fighting against Sweden, he successfully commanded the army that defended Petersburg, and also commanded the Baltic sea battle and landing campaign. During the expedition to Persia, he served as the commander of the Caspian Sea Fleet, and later transferred to the commander of the Baltic Sea Fleet, a member of the Supreme Privy Council, and was the first to be awarded the title of Admiral of the Navy.
This is the highest rank in the Russian Navy issued by Peter the Great.
It was precisely because of Apraksin's relationship with the Caspian Sea Fleet that Bestutev asked His Majesty to let Apraksin go with him when he left Moscow.
After all, as far as he knows, the current Caspian Sea Fleet is no longer the Caspian Sea Fleet when it was first established.
Before 1722, although Russia had a long Arctic Ocean coastline in the north, it was impossible to break the ice at all, so Russia, which could not use the long northern route, was a substantially landlocked country.
It was not until September 1721, 9 that Russia gained access to the Baltic Sea after its victory in the Great Northern War with Sweden.
A year later, Peter the Great ordered the creation of the Caspian Fleet.
Russia, which had just become a coastal country, still lacked sufficient sailing experience. The early navy was more often drilled in the inland lake of the Caspian Sea. Then Peter the Great recruited 22000 infantry, 9000 cavalry and 70000 Cossacks, Tatars, and Karls. Maker soldiers.
The infantry and artillery were transported to the mouth of the Surak River by the Caspian Sea Fleet, and the cavalry entered Persia by land, and the war with Persia began.
This is the first show of the Caspian Sea Fleet.
This military action allowed Russia to gain control of the Caspian Sea coast between the cities of Durbent and Risht, but the Ottoman Turks refused to recognize Russia's possession of the Caspian Sea area. Later, the two countries signed the Treaty of Constantinople in 1724 after negotiation .
Turkey and Russia agreed to divide the northern and northwestern parts of Persia equally.
Since then, Russia has seized the land on the west and south coasts of the Caspian Sea from Persia, and the Russian fleet galloping in the Caspian Sea has naturally become the overlord of this region.
However, more than 20 years have passed since now, and the Caspian Sea Fleet has not fought a single battle. As far as Bestutev knows, it has become corrupt and dilapidated.
It's not so much the Caspian Fleet as the Vodka Drunkard Fleet.
(End of this chapter)
