Struggle in Russia

Count Rostovtsev looked at Anton with a smile and said: "About Grand Duke Andrei and Count Speransky, I have explained the situation to them in advance, and they agree with me very much, thinking that you will come to Ukraine The job is very suitable and necessary, and they have no objection!"

Anton was taken aback by Count Rostovtsev again, because why didn't he know this? Could it be that the earl has already contacted them, when did this happen?

Anton didn't suspect that Count Rostovtsev lied to him, because this kind of thing couldn't stand the test at all, and he had worked with Count Rostovtsev for a period of time, and he also had some understanding of this person's work style, which was very solid. , There is absolutely no element of exaggeration or deceit, he is not that kind of big fool.

After thinking for a while, Anton replied: "If Your Excellency the Grand Duke and Your Excellency the Governor have no objections, then I am willing to come to Kiev to work, but before that, I will first complete the work in Wallachia. will report to you."

Count Rostovtsev smiled again, waved his hands nonchalantly, and said, "It's natural to have a beginning and an end. Besides, it will take some time for me to arrange your job transfer. You just need to work with peace of mind!"

Anton nodded, then stood up and bowed to Count Rostovtsev: "Then I have no other objections. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will work hard to live up to your trust."

Looking at the back of Anton leaving, Count Rostovtsev's expression was a little subtle, because he saw the vitality and confidence in the future from Anton, a feeling he hadn't felt from a young man for a long time.

Even his secretary Sergey, who he trained by himself, seems to be depressed, without any fighting spirit, and only wants to take the fastest shortcut and promotion at work, which is really embarrassing!

Count Rostovtsev was sighing secretly, when Sergey walked in again, he respectfully presented a stack of official documents, and then prepared to leave respectfully, but Count Rostovtsev stopped him:

"How are you thinking about what I told you last time?"

This question immediately made Sergey flustered, because he thought he had dismissed the matter, but who would have thought that Count Rostovtsev would suddenly bring it up again. This made him a little helpless and annoyed—he really didn't want to stay in Kiev!

"There's been a lot of work recently, I've forgotten about it, sorry!"

Count Rostovtsev glanced at him, not knowing that this was still perfunctory, but the count had no patience, because everything would be over soon,

Various personnel arrangements must be prepared in advance, where there is no time to procrastinate.

He said a little rudely: "Really? Then sit down and think about it. I'm not busy now, and I have enough time for you to think!"

As he spoke, Count Rostovtsev leaned back on the chair, resting his arms on the armrests and clasping his ten fingers alternately in front of his chest, in a completely relaxed posture. It seems to be telling Sergey that there must be a result today anyway, and there is no longer any delay.

Sergey was also confused, because he seldom saw Count Rostovtsev so impatient, not only impatient but also another inexplicable emotion, which made the hairs on the back of his neck All stand up!

Suddenly, the alarm bells in his heart sounded, and the first-level alarm sounded. He knew that if he continued to adopt delaying tactics, the consequences would be very bad. The consequences of offending Count Rostovtsev were all too clear to him.

But, he really doesn't want to stay in Kiev, okay? Even if Count Rostovtsev is very unhappy, he still wants to say: "I don't want to stay in Kiev!"

Faced with Count Rostovtsev's impatience and displeasure, Sergey could only bite the bullet and reply: "I still want to go back to St. Petersburg to do more important things. I feel that Kiev doesn't need me... I I feel like I can play a bigger role…”

He said this hesitantly, which shows how weak his own confidence is. Naturally, Count Rostovtsev did not believe such nonsense. His evaluation and feeling for Sergey became worse, but he still did not Losing his temper, he just said calmly:

"Go back to St. Petersburg to do more important things? So what is this so-called more important thing? Play a bigger role, tell me in detail how and where you plan to play a bigger role!"

Count Rostovtsev's calm made Sergey have an illusion. He thought that the count was not so angry and thought he still had a chance, so he mustered up his courage and said: "The core of our country is in St. Petersburg. Who has an advantage in St. Petersburg?" , who can control this country. I am more familiar with St. Petersburg, and I am familiar with the operation of every department there. In any department, I can easily get in and play a role in it soon..."

While talking about Sergey, he secretly observed the expression of Count Rostovtsev, and found that the other party seemed to be really listening. He felt more and more hopeful, and immediately stepped up his lobbying efforts with full firepower:

"And I'm not familiar with Kiev, so I can't exert influence here at all, and with all due respect, Kiev is not important at all. The battlefield for our decisive battle with Count Uvarov and his ilk is in St. Petersburg, and it is impossible to settle on Kiev. It is meaningless to avoid the important and take the light!"

Said that in the end even Sergey himself was convinced by himself. He felt that he was too smart and too reasonable. If he was Count Rostovtsev, he would be convinced.

It's a pity that Count Rostovtsev could be as shallow and ignorant as him. He just listened to Sergey's narration quietly, and then said calmly:

"You disappoint me, Sergey!"

This sentence alone made Sergey half-hearted, because it showed that Count Rostovtsev was not moved by him at all, and his efforts just now were completely useless.

The words that followed made Sergei even more frightened, and he could only hear him say: "What you said just now is nothing more than making excuses for your lack of fighting spirit, lack of fighting spirit, love of leisure, reluctance to work, and severe fear of difficulties."

Count Rostovtsev glanced at him as he said this, which made Sergey's scalp numb and his legs tremble. A look of complete disappointment.

What happened to the man who disappointed Count Rostovtsev? Sergey really didn't know the answer to this question, because everything that disappointed him was abandoned without exception and there was no good result...