21st Century Necromancer

There is so much to see in Saint Petersburg. As the capital of the Russian Empire for two centuries, it gathers the finest art and culture of the Russian Empire.

The Winter Palace, the most famous museum in the world; the former residence of Russia's great poet Pushkin; the Amber Chamber of Empress Catherine the Great... These are the must-see attractions people visit when they come to Saint Petersburg.

But the first place Chen Yu went after arriving in Saint Petersburg was unexpectedly the Decembrists Square.

"Husband, why is the first place you want to visit here?" Jounouchi Hiromi, holding her daughter, looked at the square covered in a layer of white snow in front of her and asked Chen Yu, somewhat puzzled.

Although nothing Chen Yu wanted to see was strange, Jounouchi Hiromi didn't find anything special about the square that would merit a special visit.

In response to Jounouchi Hiromi's question, Chen Yu smiled at her and asked back, "Wife, do you know why this place is called Decembrists Square?"

Upon hearing Chen Yu's question, Jounouchi Hiromi felt even more confused but still surveyed this seemingly ordinary square again, trying to find out what was special about it.

Decembrists Square is not very large, with a quietly flowing river by its side. Although not frozen yet, the falling temperatures in winter have slowed its flow, giving it an air of tranquility.

There are no particular buildings around the square; however, counting the Russian Navy Headquarters, it does have some significance, yet not enough to draw Chen Yu's special attention.

The circular lawn in the square is planted with many flowers and trees, which should be very beautiful in spring, but now in winter, covered in snow, there's really nothing worth appreciating.noveldrama

The only thing that might catch one's eye is the towering grand statue standing in the middle of the lawn.

"Is it because of that statue?" Naturally, Jounouchi Hiromi pointed to the only thing in the square that captured her attention.

However, Chen Yu shook his head, denying her guess: "That's the statue of Peter the Great. Although Pushkin once wrote a poem, 'The Bronze Horseman,' praising it, it is not the most famous feature of this square."

"Eh? This isn't the most famous feature? What really is famous here then? And Decembrists Square, what are Decembrists? I've only heard that Russia had an October Revolution, but was there a December Revolution too?" Jounouchi Hiromi had actually guessed long ago that the square's most famous feature must be related to its name, but she pretended to be ignorant, giving her husband a chance to shine.

True to her expectation, Chen Yu eagerly explained to her, manifesting a strong desire to perform.

"Indeed, in Russian history, there was a December revolt, but it wasn't called a revolution, it was called an uprising—the Decembrist revolt. It happened in 1825, almost two hundred years ago." Chen Yu held Jounouchi Hiromi's hand, strolling on the square covered in a thin layer of snow, narrating the story of the square to her: "Back then, Russia had just defeated Napoleon, who had swept over all of Europe, and the Russian Empire, governed by the two great rulers Empress Catherine the Great and Alexander I, was at its peak.

Against this backdrop, a group of young noble military officers, inspired by the democratic ideas brought by the French bourgeois revolution in Paris, realized the limitations of the Russian Tsarist autocracy on Russia's cultural and scientific development. They were eager to reform their country.

Thus, on December 26, 1825, the young noble officers intended to seize the chance during the uncertain succession of the new Tsar, Nicholas I, after Alexander I's death, to launch an uprising and overthrow the Tsarist autocracy.

On the morning of December 26, more than three thousand Imperial Guard soldiers, led by young noble officers, arrived here, surrounding the statue of Peter the Great and forming a phalanx. They shouted slogans like 'We demand a constitution' and 'We demand democracy,' initiating the uprising, hoping to change Russia's current situation.

The slogans of the young noble officers received support from the citizens of Saint Petersburg. Over twenty thousand residents of Saint Petersburg gathered here to watch, expressing their support.

However, the newly succeeded Tsar Nicholas I then mobilized a large army to brutally suppress the uprising. Loyal troops of the Tsar bombarded the entire square, driving more than three thousand Imperial Guard soldiers onto the frozen Neva River, but the ice was shattered by the cannon fire, causing many to fall into the icy water. Blood flowed like a river on the square, bodies were scattered all around.

After the uprising failed, the young officers leading the revolt were purged by the Tsar. The leading figures were hanged, and over a hundred participants in the uprising were exiled to Siberia, known as the Decembrists."

The story narrated by Chen Yu carried a tragic tone, which made Jounouchi Hiromi listen attentively and moved by the brave, fearless, and idealistic young people from two centuries ago.

Yet Chen Yu's story was not over. He continued with a tone of emotional recollection and admiration: "Those young noble officers did not choose to revolt for their personal gain, but with the noble ideal of wanting to reform their country, they plunged themselves into this uprising without hesitation.

And accompanying these idealistic young men were their wives.

Though they did not understand the careers their husbands and lovers pursued, due to love, they still unhesitatingly followed their husbands to Siberia, supporting them with love amidst the ice and snow.

One of the Decembrists' lovers was a French woman. This courageous French girl, upon learning of her lover's exile to Siberia, specially came to Russia to apply to the authorities for permission to go to Siberia to marry her lover.

However, even though this couple of different nationalities came together, a few years later, under the torment of cold, snow, and disease in Siberia, they eventually fell one after another on that desolate land.

Except for them, most of the Decembrists' wives chose to follow their husbands. If not for them bringing family and the solace of love to their husbands on the icy plains of Siberia, perhaps those Decembrists could not have endured until the amnesty thirty years later.

They were noble and filled with ideals, and their wives who followed them were likewise pure and dignified. They were truly great people."

As Chen Yu spoke, he also walked up to the bronze statue of Peter the Great, gazing at Peter astride a horse, brandishing a whip, with serpent under the horse's hooves. He couldn't help but murmur, "My dear Decembrists, we are going to Siberia..."