Chapter 4 Chapter Four

In August, 1809, Prince Andrew had arrived in Petersburg.The young Speranski's reputation was at its peak, and he was in full swing for social change.Just in August, the king overturned while riding in a four-wheeled carriage and broke his leg. He stayed in Peterhof for three weeks. During this period, the king only met with Speranski every day.At this time, preparations were being made not only for two such well-known and socially alarming decrees—the abolition of court titles, and for the examinations for eighth and fifth civil servants—but, besides that, preparations were being made for a whole national constitution, in which It stipulates that from the township government to the State Council, the existing Russian judicial, administrative and financial systems must be changed.The vague liberal ideals with which Emperor Alexander came to the throne were imminently being realized, and he aspired to realize them with the help of the following assistants: Czarizhsky, Novosilitsev, Kochubey, and Strow Garnov, he jokingly called these people comitedus alutpulique ②.

-------- ① Speransky (1772-1839), a Russian reformist political activist, wanted to make the Russian serfdom system meet the needs of capitalist development. He was expelled in 1812. ② French: Social Relief Committee. All of them are now replaced by Speransky in the civil service and Arakcheyev in the military service.Soon after his arrival, Prince Andrei entered the court as a senior chamberlain and took part in the activities of the Hajj.Twice the king met him without speaking a word to him.It had always seemed to Prince Andrew that the king hated him, that his face and his whole being were a nuisance to the king.The king looked at him with that cold, distant look which confirmed this surmise more definitely than ever before.The courtiers explained to Prince Andrew that the king did not value him because His Majesty was displeased with him—Bolkonski—who had not served since 1805.

"I know for myself that everyone feels good or bad about other people, but there is nothing we can do about it," thought Prince Andrei, "so there is no need to think about sending military orders to the king in person, but the thing itself is It will explain." He passed on the contents of his report to his father's friend, the old field marshal.The Marshal fixed an appointment, received him cordially, and promised to report the matter to the King.A few days later Prince Andrei was told that he should go to Count Arakcheyev, Minister of War. On the appointed day, at nine o'clock in the morning, Prince Andrew came to the anteroom to see Count Arakcheyev.

Prince Andrei did not know Arakcheyev himself, had never seen him, but everything he knew about him did not arouse his respect for the man. "He is the Minister of War, the agent of His Majesty the Emperor, and no one should worry about his personal qualities. He has been entrusted with my petition, so he alone can send it for processing," thought Prince Andrew. , waiting for Count Arakcheyev in the reception room among many dignified and non-important officials. During his tenure, mostly as aide-de-camp, Prince Andrew had seen many reception rooms of important officials, and the various features of these reception rooms were therefore perfectly familiar to him.Count Arakcheyev's reception room was very special.In Count Arakcheyev's anteroom, an expression of shame and deference was discernible on the faces of the less important officials waiting to be received in turn, and general embarrassment on the faces of the more important officials They pretended to be unrestrained, and they pretended to laugh at themselves, their own status, and the officials they were waiting for.Some were walking up and down thoughtfully, others were whispering and laughing, and Prince Andrei heard the "Sira (meaning power) Andrei" shouted at Count Arakcheyev. The nickname (sobriquet ①) and the sentence "Uncle will show you something" said to him.One general (a prominent figure), obviously aggrieved by the long wait, sat cross-legged alternately, smiling secretly contemptuously.

-------- ① French: nickname. But as soon as the door opened, there was an expression on everyone's faces-fear.Prince Andrew asked the watchman to report for him next time, but they all glanced at him mockingly and told him that it would be his turn in due time.After the adjutant had led the men in and out of the minister's office, an officer was let in through a terrible door, and Prince Andrew was greatly astonished by the officer's bowed dismay. different.The officer's interview lasted a long time.Suddenly there was a tiresome intermittent voice from behind the door, and the officer, pale and trembling, came out from there and walked past the reception room with his head in his arms.

Immediately afterwards, Prince Andrew was shown to the door, and the watchman said softly: "To the right, go to that window." Prince Andrew went into a simple but neat office, and at the table he saw a man of forty years old, with a long waist, a long head, short-cropped hair, and a deeply wrinkled face. , with green-brown eyes peeking out from under frowning brows, and a red nose half-hanging.Arakcheyev turned his head to him without looking at him. "What is your request?" asked Arakcheyev. "Your Excellency, I do not ... ask for anything," said Prince Andrew in a low voice.Arakcheyev turned to him.

"Sit down, please," said Arakcheyev, "Prince Bolkonsky." "I don't ask for anything, His Majesty the Emperor asked me to forward the submitted letter to Your Excellency..." "My dear, please note that I have read your report," Arakcheyev interrupted him, but the first few words were kind, and this time he did not look at his face again, his tone The son became more and more dissatisfied and contemptuous, "Are you proposing new military regulations? There are so many decrees that no one can implement the old ones. At present, they are all writing decrees, and writing them is easier than doing them."

"I have come to ask your Excellency what you intend to do with the papers you have submitted, at His Majesty's request," said Prince Andrei respectfully. "I wrote your report and forwarded it to the committee. I do not agree," said Arakcheyev, standing up and taking a document from his desk. "Look." He handed it to Andrey. Duke. A horizontal line written in pencil on the document paper, without capital letters, spelling mistakes, or punctuation marks: "There is no reason to copy French military regulations without abandoning military regulations."

"To what committee is the report sent?" asked Prince Andrew. "Transfer it to the Military Doctrine Committee. I recommend you to be a member. It's just that there is no salary." Prince Andrew smiled. "I have no such desire." "Commissioner without salary," repeated Arakcheyev. "I am very honored to have made your acquaintance. Hello! Say your name aloud! Is there anyone else?" he cried, bowing to Prince Andrew.