Why did Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko, a cavalry officer, come to the Winter Palace to take care of the archives? The reason is very simple, it's just that he has connections.
In Russia, every industry needs connections. Without connections, it is really difficult to do anything. As for soldiers, after graduating from military academies, aristocratic children who do not have connections or whose connections are not very strong will usually go to serve in the general army.
It is a very dangerous place where you are always ready to risk your life, such as Wallachia, Moldavia or the Caucasus.
These places are dangerous and difficult, and you may not be able to come back. Even if you can come back with some military exploits, they are completely incomparable to those noble disciples who are really connected.
Why? Because the sons of the nobles were promoted to official positions while staying in St. Petersburg, where singing and dancing flourished, and there was no need to fight on the battlefield in the early stage.
For example, serving in the Navy and War Departments, or serving as an honor guard guarding the emperor's palace, or simply being assigned to serve as adjutants and attendants to senior generals, even the Tsar or the Grand Duke.
Especially the last one, not only can you get promoted quickly, but it is also easy to gain the friendship of powerful people. This advantage is really great, and it is ten thousand times better than going to the front line to work hard in the early stage.
It can almost be said that most of the senior generals with real power in Russia who are somewhat decent now have taken the latter route to get to the top.
This is quite unfair to those who risk their lives on the front line early in their military careers. The more grassroots you are, the more dangerous it is to participate in the battle. It is easy to have accidents. It is easy to risk your life in exchange for military achievements, but it is not as good as working as a follower of a powerful figure in the military.
My younger brother will be promoted quickly. Tell me, who among the normal people would be willing to foolishly let their children go to the front line to work hard at an early stage?
Let's put it this way, among the officers who graduate from the military academy in Russia every year, the first thing they do after graduation is to try their best to find connections. No matter how hard they are, they still want to stay in St. Petersburg, stay with the royal family or high-ranking generals.
And Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko belongs to this kind of person who has sharpened his head. However, the relationship between his family is not particularly good, and there is no way to force him to serve as an attendant to Crown Prince Alexander or other grand dukes.
(The military attachés of Nicholas I basically did not want fresh graduates, most of them were senior generals), so they could only find him a job in the Winter Palace, hoping that one day he would be hired by the tsar, the crown prince, or several other grand dukes.
Fancy.
I have to say that this is a sad story, because not everyone can cross the dragon gate from the position of librarian or archivist.
Count Klemicher, who was well aware of the traditions of the Russian army, immediately sympathized with Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko, and immediately forgave the young man's recklessness in seizing the opportunity to enter the camp. He knew that everyone who wanted to
The ugly ducklings who escape their fate must have this kind of hard work, because not everyone can follow Nicholas I and make a comeback like him.
"How about it, is it boring to manage files?" Count Kleinmicher asked with a smile.
Managing files is naturally very boring, because as the file manager Gurko can't do anything except guard the room, and he is not even qualified to take a look at the files. This is an extremely boring and unfortunate job, day in and day out.
There is nothing else to do if you are in a daze and continue to be in a daze.
Count Kleinmicher was mentally prepared to hear Gurko's rants and complaints, because when he was on the bench, his colleagues often complained and vented among themselves. Who wouldn't be a little resentful now that they were on the bench?
?
However, Gurko exceeded Count Kleinmicher's expectations, because he did not complain about anything, but replied calmly: "The usual workload is not heavy, and there is a lot of free time, which can be used just right."
Come read and learn!”
Count Kleinmicher was surprised. He looked at Gurko again suspiciously, obviously suspecting that the young captain was telling lies and exaggerating.
Because he knows the aristocratic class of Russia very well. On weekdays, there are many people who lead cockfights and lackeys, and there are also many people who enjoy singing and dancing in the wine pool and meat forest. There are not many people who can really calm down and read and study.
This has something to do with Russian customs and national conditions. Historically, the Russians have been ruled by the Mongolian Tatars for many years. They have nomadic habits from top to bottom. Drinking, herding and hunting have become the standard for Russian aristocrats. Especially alcoholism, which is almost
This is the beginning. From the czars such as Peter the Great to the serfs, everyone is an alcoholic. In addition, the climate is cold, so it is completely normal to drink a few sips when there is nothing to do.
This directly led to the confusion and arrogance among Russian soldiers. By the 19th century, the commanders-in-chief of the three armies were still illiterate. How many serious Russians are willing to read?
So Count Kleinmicher asked calmly: "Then what books do you usually read?"
He probably thought that just asking Gurko would reveal his secret, but he didn't expect that this man had read a lot of books sincerely. Gurko replied without thinking: "I am re-studying "On War" recently. I also read it before.
After "The Science of Winning"..."
Gurko listed a list of military masterpieces in one breath, many of which even Count Kleinmicher had only heard of but never read. This made Count Kleinmicher even more suspicious of this boy.
He was lying. He couldn't tell, so he questioned her in detail.
Yes, although Count Kleinmicher was not a military genius or expert, he still forced himself to read a few more books after becoming Nicholas I's military attaché. He was afraid that as Nicholas I,
The military staff turned out to be ignorant and delayed national affairs.
Count Kleinmicher picked up the basic book he was familiar with and inquired about it in detail one by one. And this Gurko did have two brushes. He really wasn't just talking nonsense, he had really studied it carefully.
Those books. So when he was asked, there was nothing that could stump him. He could draw inferences from one fact and answer ten questions at a time. His performance was excellent.
This made Count Kleinmicher appreciate this young man even more, because among the younger generation, he has never seen anyone with such a learning spirit as Gurko. This alone is worth giving to this young man.
a chance.
Count Kleinmicher became interested in talents, but he did not immediately recommend Gurko to Nicholas I or praise Gurko. As a cautious person, he decided to take a closer look at Gurko's talents.
Performance, if he is consistently good, then he will try to promote this young man. On the contrary, if Gurko has a bad character or is deliberately waiting for such an opportunity to perform, then he will pretend not to see it.