Chapter 175 Gurko (Part 2)

Why did Joseph Vladimirrovich Gurko, a cavalry officer, come to the Winter Palace to manage the archives? The reason is very simple, that is, this guy has a relationship.

All industries in Russia need relationships, without which it is really difficult to move forward. As far as being a soldier is concerned, after graduating from military academies, the children of nobles who have no relationship or are not very well connected will usually serve in the general army. Maybe it is a very dangerous place where they are ready to risk their lives, such as Wallachia, Moldavia or the Caucasus.

These places are dangerous and difficult, and if they fail, they will not be able to return. Even if he can come back with some military exploits, he can't compare with those noble children who are really related.

why? Because the sons and daughters of the dignitaries stayed in St. Petersburg, where the singing and dancing were in full swing, they were promoted to officials, and there was no need to go to the battlefield to fight their lives in the early stage.

For example, serving in the Ministry of the Navy and the Army Department, or guarding the emperor's palace as a guard of honor, or simply being assigned to senior generals or even the tsar or grand duke as adjutants and attendants.

Especially the last one, not only is it easy to get promoted, but it is also easy to gain the friendship of powerful people. This kind of advantage is really too great, far stronger than going to the front line to work hard in the early days.

It can almost be said that the senior generals with real power in Russia who are a little more decent now, nine out of ten, all took the latter route to the top.

This is quite unfair to those who fought their lives on the front line in the early days of their military careers. The more grassroots they participate in the battle, the more dangerous they are. The younger brother is promoted quickly. Tell me about normal people, who is willing to foolishly let their children go to the front line to work their lives early?

Let's put it this way, among the officers who graduate from the military academy in Russia every year, the first thing everyone does after graduation is to try their best to find connections, and even if they sharpen their heads, they have to stay in St. Petersburg, stay with the royal family or senior generals.

And Joseph Vladimirrovich Gurko belongs to this kind of person who has sharpened his head. It's just that his family's relationship is not particularly strong, and there is no way to stuff him with Crown Prince Alexander or several other grand dukes as an attendant (the attendants of Nicholas I basically don't need fresh graduates, most of them are senior generals) , I can only find him an errand in the Winter Palace, hoping that one day he will be favored by the tsar or the crown prince or several other grand dukes.

It's a sad story, I have to say, because not everyone makes it past the gates of being a librarian or archivist.

Knowing the traditions of the Russian army, Count Klemmicher immediately felt sympathy for Joseph Vladimirrovich Gurko, and immediately forgave the young man's recklessness in desperately seizing the opportunity. He knew that everyone who wanted to All the ugly ducklings who get rid of their fate must have this kind of hard work,

Because not everyone can stand up with Nicholas I salted fish like him.

"How is it, is managing files boring?" Earl Kleinmichel asked with a smile.

Managing archives is naturally boring, because Gurko, the archivist, can do nothing but guard the room, and he is not even qualified to look at the archives. This is an unlucky job that is boring to the point of being home. If you are in a daze every day, and if you continue to be in a daze, there is nothing else to do.

Count Klein Michel is already mentally prepared to listen to Gurko's complaints, because when he was sitting on the bench, his colleagues often complained and vented. Who hasn't complained when they are sitting on the bench? ?

It's just that Gurko was beyond Count Kleinmichel's expectations, because he didn't complain, but replied calmly: "I don't usually have a lot of work, and I have a lot of free time, so I can use it Come and study!"

Count Kleinmichel was surprised. He re-examined Gurko suspiciously, obviously suspecting that the little captain was telling lies and making a high-profile statement.

Because he knows the honorable class in Russia too well. There are many people who fight cocks and run dogs on the left and right, and there are not a few people who sing and dance to make peace in the wine pool and meat forest. There are not many people who can really settle down to read and study.

This has something to do with Russia's customs and national conditions. Historically, the Russians have been ruled by the Mongolian Tatars for many years, and there are nomadic habits from top to bottom. Drinking, grazing and hunting have become the standard for Russian nobles. Especially alcoholism, which is almost the beginning, up to the tsar, such as Peter the Great, down to the serfs, all of them are alcoholics. Coupled with the cold climate and environment, it is quite normal to drink a few sips when you have nothing to do.

This directly led to the confusion among the Russian soldiers and the rough and rough style. In the 19th century, the commanders-in-chief of the three armed forces were still illiterate. Tell me, how many decent Russians are willing to study?

So Count Kleinmichel asked calmly, "What kind of books do you usually read?"

He probably thought that if he asked Gurko a little, he would reveal his secrets, but he didn't expect that this man had read a lot of books seriously. Gurko replied without hesitation: "Recently, I am re-studying "On War". "The Science of Winning"..."

Gurko listed a series of military masterpieces in one breath, some of which even Count Kleinmichel was only known by his name but not his book. This made Count Kleinmichel more and more suspicious that the kid was lying, so he questioned him in detail if he couldn't tell.

Yes, although Count Kleinmichel is not considered a military genius or military expert, after becoming Nicholas I's aide-de-camp, he still forced himself to read a few more books. As a result, the military staff didn't know the fart, which delayed the country's major affairs.

Picking up the basic books he was familiar with, Earl Kleinmichel asked them one by one in detail, and this Gurko did have two brushes. He was really not talking empty talk, he had really studied it seriously. those books. So when he was asked, there was nothing that could confuse him, and if he asked by analogy and answered ten by one, his performance was outstanding.

This made Count Kleinmichel appreciate this young man even more, because among the younger generation, he has never seen such a learning spirit as Gurko, and it is worth giving this young man just for this. a chance.

Count Klein Michel became interested in talents, but he did not immediately recommend or praise Gurko to Nicholas I. As a prudent person, he decided to take a closer look at Gurko's work. Performance, if he is consistently so good, then he will try to promote this young man, on the contrary, if Gurko has a bad character or is just deliberately waiting for such an opportunity to perform, then he will pretend not to see it.