Chapter 605 I Think You Don’t Want to Make Progress!

In most cases, people, even evil people, are much more childish and naive than we give them credit for. In fact, we ourselves are the same.

——Dostoyevsky, "The Brothers Karamazov"

"The imperial... imperial envoy stayed in a small hotel for five days and five nights?"

The mayor was shocked when he heard the news. He was originally thinking about how to please the imperial envoy and let the imperial envoy see Druisk, which had taken on a new look under his governance.

But if the imperial envoy had arrived here long ago, then all the superficial work that had just been arranged would be meaningless.

When the mayor thought of this, he started sweating on his back in the cold weather. He couldn't help but lower his back a little, and poured tea for the old squire diligently: "Gregory Nikiforovich, what kind of temperament does the imperial envoy have?" What does the person look like?”

The old squire took the tea cup from the mayor's hand unceremoniously and took a sip of tea with a sarcastic sneer in his mouth.

He glared at the mayor, with a sense of superiority and disdain in his tone: "Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy? That Mr. Hestingoff, hum! Although he is dressed simply, he looks cooler than your mayor's uniform. . What does he look like? Let me tell you, his appearance is a textbook example of "don't judge a book by its appearance"!

The old squire paused and continued: "Look at his face, especially his eyes. It's like a knife in winter, so sharp that it can draw blood! His eyes are not only sharp, they are also kind. The power that can penetrate people's hearts, even a blind bear in the snow, It can't stop the piercing look in his eyes! His eyebrows are also thick, like two broomsticks lying across his forehead. It's obvious at a glance that no one dares to lie to him. The bridge of his nose is very straight, not as curved as some people's. He is bent and bent, as if he is always ready to collude with someone to make some small moves."

Even when describing Arthur's appearance, the old squire had to say something strange about the mayor.

However, Bakalkin did not dare to talk back to him at this time. After all, he still had to rely on him to understand the imperial envoy's preferences.

Seeing Bakalkin's apology, the old country squire snorted and continued with satisfaction: "The imperial envoy is a cavalry colonel. He is naturally tall and powerful, with a clear frame. His back is straight, and when he walks, it always seems like he is stepping on his feet. With It's something solid, with a steady pace, and every step gives people a sense of oppression that a Petersburg noble should have. Anyone who dares to show off in front of him will be locked up by him and sent to Siberia without even thinking about it. "

The mayor got an opportunity and hurriedly asked: "Is he a young man or a middle-aged man?"

The old squire closed his eyes and meditated and said, "He looks like he is in his mid-twenties."

The mayor was slightly relieved after hearing this. He smiled and said: "Hello young people, how good young people are! Young people are easy to get close to. It would be terrible if we send an old cunning guy!"

After hearing this, the old country squire couldn't help but widen his eyes: "Bakarkin! You still haven't listened to what I said. You think the imperial envoy is a fool without a city! If you dare to fool him, turn back. Something happened, don’t blame me for not warning you!”

The silent city judge next to him suddenly said: "Are you sure he is the imperial envoy? Could the twenty-five-six-year-old cavalry colonel be a liar pretending to be a liar? No matter how fast he rises, he will not be able to sit on the imperial envoy at this age. Such a location!”

When the old squire heard the judge questioning him, he recalled the old grudge the judge had made against his son-in-law in the morning. He sneered and said sarcastically: "Nikolai Ivanovich, if you bring out the "Ordinance on Promotion of Official Ranks", yes, that's right. , under normal circumstances it is impossible for someone to be in their thirties He became a cavalry colonel before. But does this mean that there are no cavalry colonels under the age of 30 in Russia? Idiot! If you really think so, you deserve to be promoted slowly according to the "Promotion Regulations" throughout your life. , went to a middle school, I haven’t learned much knowledge, but my head is full of rules and regulations. Do you really think that all promotions in Russia must be done step by step? Who dares to say that there is no young man with extraordinary talent and special status who can break through? Rules, jump over all obstacles There are not many people like Mr. Hestingoff in Petersburg and Moscow. He does not rely on rigid rules, but relies on strength! His family background may be better than you think. It’s profound. You just haven’t seen it.”

He twirled the tea cup between his fingers, as if he was savoring the taste, and as if he was preparing to hit Bakalkin's head with these words: "You are of this level, and you can actually doubt the imperial envoy. Let me tell you, If it was really a liar disguised as an imperial envoy, he would have been discovered long ago. Furthermore, if he was really a liar, then old man. I admit it too! A liar who speaks German and French, reads articles by Voltaire and Goethe, wears a gold-plated revolver in his waist, wears clothes worth eight hundred rubles, and wears a third round handkerchief. Badge. If this kind of person is a liar, I'm afraid even the emperor can trick him and reward him with a real cavalry colonel!"

The old squire's last words were provocative, obviously hoping that his words would make everyone aware of the seriousness of certain problems.

Although the city judge blushed at the refutation, he did not dare to argue with the old squire anymore.

Facing the pressure of Lord Hestingoff, whom he had never met before, the mayor couldn't help but feel palpitations.

Instead, the inspector, who had just calmed down, finally asked: "Since Mr. Hestingoff is so young, he must have strong support behind him, so how should we deal with it? According to you, he cannot be easily accepted. A role manipulated by people.”

The old squire snorted, and obviously these words made him even more proud: "You still underestimate him! This young man Hestingoff not only has a sharp vision, but also a very shrewd mind. He can see what officialdom is at a glance. His corruption and hypocrisy. Do you think he will bow to you local officials? He is attending a banquet in Petersburg. The people serving him tea and water are all high-ranking people that you can't even imagine! Whoever dares to underestimate him will be the first to fall! Now that he is here, you might as well act low-key from the beginning and don't even think about using it. Use those old-fashioned methods to leave a good impression on him. Otherwise, when he comes to trouble you, I’m afraid it will be too late to cry!”

The mayor carefully inquired: "Has Mr. Hestingoff told you what the purpose of his trip is? Is it to investigate the unfinished issue of the charity hospital church, or is it to sue some unscrupulous people here?" Diao Zhuang?”

The old squire put on the air of an eighth-grade civil servant and analyzed it seriously: "Bakarkin, you know why you have been stuck at the ninth-grade civil servant, while I broke through the natural chasm between the ninth and eighth grades and got mixed up. Is it a hereditary noble status?”

The city judge interrupted: "Isn't it because you took the initiative to apply to go to the Caucasus, a place where birds don't shit?"

"Fuck you!" The old squire was exposed and immediately became furious: "If you could get promoted by going to the Caucasus, then the Caucasus would have been overcrowded already! Sir, the reason why I became an eighth-grade civil servant was because I got involved in the officialdom Political sense and vision developed over decades!”

Mayor Bakalkin hurriedly stepped forward to calm the atmosphere: "You don't need to be angry with him. As you said, Nikolai Ivanovich got his head twisted while studying in a secondary school. Grigory Gory Nikiforovich, my dear old man, please give me some advice."

The old squire glared at the city judge and said reluctantly: "With your attitude, even if I didn't say a word, you wouldn't be able to find fault with me. But if you think that the official and the gentry are one, morality Ruisk has a problem, and I have to be implicated, so I still have to explain the key points to you."

The old squire coughed and continued: "A while ago, when I went to the provincial capital to attend a meeting of nobles, I went to the homes of some old friends to keep in touch. They told me a semi-public secret, which the emperor is currently considering. Revise the Civil Service Promotion Regulations.”

"The Promotion Regulations need to be revised?"

"Oh! Why are you just talking about such a big thing now?"

"Gregory Nikiforovich, can you be more detailed? What else is revealed?"

In Russia, official rank means a lot. From a practical point of view, Russia's inescapable poverty gave rise to Russians' pursuit of official positions. Anyone who does not have an official position will starve. Even lower-level administrative staff such as mayors and city judges, although they have escaped starvation, still have the need to obtain hereditary noble status.

In Britain, the status of hereditary nobility has increasingly become an honor and a false name to show worldly status, but even so, it can still attract people.

In Russia, hereditary nobility not only has a status, but also has various benefits.

A large number of tax exemptions, exemption from military service, freedom to buy and sell land and serfs, and crimes involving crimes will be transferred to aristocratic courts with more relaxed criminal proceedings.

Future generations can attend secondary schools, universities and military academies. If future generations enter the military, they do not have to start from scratch but start directly from junior command positions. If descendants with secondary or higher education choose to enter administrative agencies, they will directly skip the clerk stage and start with the rank of fourteenth-grade civil servant. And whether in the government or the military, the mandatory years for each promotion of a hereditary noble are at least three years shorter than that of an official from an ordinary family.

According to the 1827 Act, the government divided the origin of clerks into four categories.

The first category is people of hereditary noble origin.

The second category is the children of lifelong nobles, big businessmen, and missionaries.

The third category is the children of clerks.

The fourth category consists of persons who are not qualified to hold office as civil officials, but who were clerks before the enactment of the Act.

The number of years for these four types of clerks to be promoted to the fourteenth grade civil servants are: two years, four years, six years and twelve years.

Because of these benefits, Russian civil servants' desire for promotion continues to rise. Some officials' desire for promotion in order to obtain the title of hereditary nobility has even reached a pathological level.

Unfortunately, lower-level and mid-level officials in the civil service have a harder time getting promoted than senior officials, so every achievement in their career means a lot to them.

The old squire caught everyone's appetite and said slowly: "I heard that this time the "Promotion Regulations" will shorten the number of years for clerks to be promoted to the fourteenth grade civil servants..."

"ah……"

Everyone couldn't help but be happy.

"Don't worry! I haven't finished speaking yet."

The old squire cleared his throat: "Although the number of years has been shortened, after the promulgation of the new law, the prerequisite for promotion to the fourteenth-grade civil servant is that you must have received education above a junior school. If you have not attended a junior school, you must pass Examination, the main content of the examination is: essays, religious classics, general knowledge and subject knowledge. Moreover, officials must also be reclassified. Those who have received higher education are classified as Category I officials, those who have received secondary education are Category II officials, and those who have received primary education are Category III officials. In addition, officials in Category III are promoted. The examination for promotion of eighth-grade and second-grade officials to fifth grade must also be strictly implemented.

After the promulgation of the new regulations, the most popular category is the first category of officials. I heard that the first category of officials can be promoted according to the new regulations, while the second and third categories of officials can only climb the ladder one level at a time. But according to our situation in Druisk, there should be no one who takes advantage. But don’t be discouraged in a hurry. Lord Hestingoff’s inspection gives you a chance to take the last bus. "

The mayor, who was still frustrated just now, had a bright light in his eyes: "How can you say this? My dear Grigory Nikiforovich, at this time, don't show off!"

The old squire sneered, glanced at the mayor meaningfully, and continued: "Good news or bad news, which one do you want to hear first?"

"OK!"

The old squire coughed: "Lord Hestingoff's inspection should not only be to inspect the construction situation in Druisk, his tasks are far more than that. Have you forgotten the "Promotion of Civilian Officials" promulgated by the late Emperor Alexander I? And the Appointment Regulations? It clearly states in it: The appointment of all local officials shall be determined by the number of people needed in the region. At the same time, in order to respect those with ability, their suitability for a higher level shall be determined when necessary. level positions , but they are not allowed to be promoted higher than one level. Those who have made no achievements can be demoted to one level. Similarly, Lord Hestingoff's visit is not allowed to be promoted more than one level. On the surface, it should be just a quick visit. This is the last inspection of local officials before the new regulations are promulgated. We have many ninth-grade civil servants here. You officials, who usually don't get much attention, can just take the opportunity to lend a hand to them if they make him happy. , take a step forward and step onto the ladder of hereditary nobility.”

The mayor was overjoyed and said: "What about the bad news?"

The old squire slammed his cane on the floor and cursed loudly: "You left his old man alone in the hotel for five days and five nights, and his buttocks were frozen. Just now, you still want to make him happy?"