Yakovlev weighed the matter again and again, finally compromising: "That was more than twenty years ago, the French invaded Moscow, and because my family and I were slow to set off, we didn't have time to leave here before the French soldiers entered the city, so we were trapped in the city. However, although Napoleon occupied here, he was happy for not long, as fires broke out one after another in the city, the fire was so huge that it reddened the sky and even the governor's mansion became a sea of fire.
In order to extinguish the fire, the French conscripted all the men in the city, and naturally, I was among them. After fulfilling my duties as a fire brigade captain, I encountered a team of Italian cavalry near the Christ Crucifixion Monastery. I spoke to their captain in Italian about his family's situation. The Italians, hearing the familiar language of their homeland, agreed to report my situation to Duke Trelevitz and Marshal Mortier."
"So you met Napoleon?"
