I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 58 The sharpest sword in the empire
  It is tradition for members of the royal family to serve in the military, but usually only after they reach adulthood.

Nikolai is only 15 years old now, and Ya San is actually willing to let Nikolai join the army. He is also a wolf father.

Christmas is the grandest holiday of the year and the happiest time of the year. Gatchina Palace is decorated with joy and the festive atmosphere is everywhere.

Ya San 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 a lot of gifts, which were placed on a long table, with names written on the large and small gift boxes. George, Nicholas, Georgi, and Yasan's eldest daughter Xenia all had a share.

Xenia, who was only six years old, later married her cousin, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich.

Xeniya is a lively and cute little girl who cheered the first moment she saw the gift.

Nicholas held Xeniya tightly, otherwise Xeniya would pounce on him.

"Come on children, these are all yours -" 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.

Nicholas abdicated in 1917 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 were very thoughtful. The gift prepared for Nicholas was a scepter studded with gems, the gift prepared for Georgi was a model warship, and the gift prepared for George 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 along 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's 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, hugging Yasam and saying, "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 in his eyes.

George held the saber and hesitated whether to hang it now.

Ya San 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 was also ready to join the military 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, hoping that his uncle, George, can protect his nephew. . George held his chest out 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 Nicholas'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.

Ya San patted George on the shoulder and said nothing, 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 Nikki to indulge in women’s sex prematurely, so you and Nikki need to join the Guards in advance.”

George was far more mature than Bia San thought. Not only did he not resist joining the Guards, but he was looking forward to it.

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 couldn't leave, George had to 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 3 years later.

After losing the ninth Russo-Turkish War, most European countries believed that Russia would never recover.

Therefore, after the outbreak of the Tenth Russo-Turkish War, 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 as they did last time.

They 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 Pushrevsky 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 were not high, he was 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 he doesn't perform well, Ya San won't be too disappointed. Ya San still knows what his son is like.

George was just an addition to Nikolai.

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 the north and south, and made countless meritorious deeds. It is one of the oldest units in the Guards.

"Father, I also want to join the Guards -" Georgi looked helpless. 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)