Chapter 58 The Sharpest Sword in the Empire
It is tradition for members of the royal family to serve, but they usually only serve after they reach adulthood.
Nikolai is only 15 years old now, and Yasan is actually willing to let Nikolai join the army. He is also a wolf dad.
Christmas is the grandest festival of the year and the happiest time of the year. Gatchina Palace is decorated with joy and the festive atmosphere is everywhere.
Asan was quite nice to George. Knowing that George was alone in St. Petersburg, he called George to Gatchina Palace to spend Christmas together, and also prepared a Christmas gift for George.
Yasan prepared many gifts, which were placed on a long table, with names written on the gift boxes. George, Nicholas, Georgi, and Yasan's eldest daughter Xenia all had a share.
Xenia was only six years old this year. She later married her cousin, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich.
Xenia is a lively and cute little girl who cheered the first moment she saw the gift.
Nicola held Xeniya tightly, otherwise Xeniya would pounce on him.
"Come on children, these all belong to you -" The Tsar looked very happy today. She and Maria were dressed up to attend the banquet later.
The lady beside Maria was holding the three-year-old Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, the last tsar of the Russian Empire.
In 1917 Nicholas abdicated and passed the throne to Mikhail.
Mikhail did not want to take this responsibility, so the Romanov dynasty, which had been inherited for three hundred years, was destroyed.
The gifts prepared by Ya San are very thoughtful. The gift prepared for Nicholas is a scepter studded with gems. The gift prepared for Georgi is a model of a warship. The gift prepared for George The gift was a Cossack saber.
Under normal circumstances, it is impolite to open gifts in front of the owner. The royal family does not have this rule, so George also opened them with Nicholas and Georgi.
The saber given by the Tsar was definitely not the military standard. Like Nicholas's scepter, the scabbard was also studded with gems and there was a dove egg on the handle.
The size of the dove egg is smaller than the largest one on Nicholas' scepter.
George knew what Ya San meant and still liked the gift very much.
Xeniya got a music box, and when she opened it, melodious music came out.
Xeniya was very happy and hugged Yasam and said, "Thank you, dad——"
Nikolai and Georgi were also very happy. Georgi's model main gun could actually rotate. Nikolai and Georgi started playing with it with great interest.
Asan looked at Nicholas with disappointment.
George held the saber and hesitated whether to hang it now.
Asan came over to take the saber and put it on George's waist himself.
"After the New Year, Nicky will join the Guards." Ya San's height makes him feel oppressive at close range.
George nodded and said nothing. Ya San had said something similar during the enthronement ceremony, and George had already been mentally prepared.
But if Nicholas goes to serve in the Guards, then George won’t have to be Nicholas’ tutor.
"You too, want to join the Guards with Nicky." Yasan's words caught George off guard.
George is also ready to join the army as an adult.
Not to mention adulthood, at least it will take a few more years.
Joining the Guards at the age of ten feels almost like a Boy Scout.
"I know that you have been practicing riding and shooting this year, which is good. I hope that in the future, you can become the sharpest sword in the empire!" Ya San has high hopes for George, and hopes that George, his uncle , can protect my nephew. George held his chest up and raised his head. He was still wearing a Guards uniform, made of wool.
Nicholas was influenced by George and wore a Guards uniform, but Nikolai’s uniform was made of deer velvet
In terms of thermal insulation properties , deer velvet is definitely much better than wool.
But the price is also more expensive. A set of deer velvet uniforms costs more than five times that of a wool uniform.
Asan patted George on the shoulder without saying a word, his eyes and expression were still very satisfied.
George could definitely use deer velvet.
Although Ya San has never said it, Ya San also hopes that Nicholas and Georgi will not be as extravagant and wasteful as the queen.
Diligence and frugality are virtues at all times.
"You and Nicky will have to undergo military training for one or two years before joining the Guards——" Yasan was worried that George would be resistant, so he took the initiative to explain to George: "——You also know what has happened recently. , I don’t want Nicky to indulge in women’s sex prematurely, so you and Nicky need to join the Guards in advance.”
George is far more mature than San thinks, and he is interested in joining the Guards. Not only do I not resist things, but I look forward to them.
The Guards is the most powerful force in Russia. Since you have to join the Guards sooner or later, there is nothing wrong with doing it sooner.
It will take at least eight years for George to truly reach adulthood. During this period, it is unlikely that George will leave St. Petersburg.
Since he can't leave, George must find something to do for himself.
The Guards were a good choice. George also wanted to know why Russia, which shocked the whole of Europe by defeating the Ottoman Empire three years ago, suffered a complete defeat in the Russo-Japanese War just 20 years later.
After losing the ninth Russo-Turkish War, most European countries believed that Russia would never recover.
So after the Tenth Russo-Turkish War broke out, Britain and France did not immediately join forces with the Ottoman Empire to deal with Russia as they did in the Ninth Russo-Turkish War.
Germany and Austria-Hungary, Russia's two allies, did not send reinforcements to Russia like last time.
We are all waiting to see Russian jokes.
"You will join the Preobrazhensky Corps, a glorious unit with a long history and outstanding military exploits. General Pushrewsky and Colonel Leer will be in charge of your military courses. I hope you can become A qualified Guards officer." Ya San's requirements for Nicholas are not high, he is just a qualified Guards officer.
George is not the key, the key is Nicholas.
If Nikola can perform well, Yasan will definitely be happier.
If the performance is not good, Ya San will not be too disappointed. Ya San still knows very well what his son is like.
George is just an addition to Nicholas.
The Preobrazhensky Corps indeed has a long history. This army was founded by Peter the Great himself, and its name comes from the village of Preobrazhensky on the outskirts of Moscow.
This unit was originally just a pastime of Peter the Great, but as Peter the Great grew, this unit followed Peter the Great in his expeditions to the north and south, and made countless meritorious deeds. It is the oldest member of the Guards. One of the troops.
“Father, I also want to join the Guards——” Georgi looked helplessly. After George and Nicholas went to the Guards, Georgi was the only boy left in the Gatchina Palace.
"You can't do it, you're too young. In a few years-" Ya San spoke softly. At this time, he must have forgotten that George was actually the same age as Georgi.
(End of this chapter)