Chapter 1350: Victory Day
At the same time, the Russian defensive line in Minsk began to crumble under wave after wave of assaults from General Wojciechowski's Polish left flank army.
Eager to wash away the shame of retreating prematurely the day before, the Parma artillery, under the command of their French captain, advanced to just over 500 paces from the enemy. Enduring intense shelling, they began to pound the Russian positions.
Before long, as a cannonball shattered a Russian military banner, a flood of Polish soldiers surged forward like a tide.
With a large number of troops redeployed, the Russian defensive line could no longer hold, and the breach quickly grew wider. By noon the next day, the entire southwest of Minsk was under Polish control.
Meanwhile, Yannick had been knocked unconscious in the early morning battle when his mount was hit, only just regaining consciousness now.
He groggily grabbed the military doctor, anxiously asking, "What's the situation... on the battlefield?"
His chief of staff heard the commotion and rushed in from outside the tent. "Are you feeling better, sir? The Russians we surrounded have surrendered, about three thousand of them!"
Yannick sank heavily back onto his pillow and let out a sigh. "We finally avenged them!"
The chief of staff continued, "General Madalinski is currently attacking Minsk, and it's said that Marshal Kościuszko himself has come to the front lines."
The chief of staff lowered his head. "2,300 men, Lieutenant Colonel. General Staff Headquarters has ordered us to return to Lida for rest and reorganization. Any soldiers still able to fight have been assigned to the Fourth Royal Infantry Regiment."
Yannick expressed some displeasure. "I'm not going to Lida..."
As he spoke, a weather-beaten officer in a wheelchair was pushed into the tent. The military doctor and guards inside immediately stood at attention respectfully.
Yannick turned his head with difficulty, his eyes widening in surprise. "M-Marshal!"
...
Kutuzov had a bad premonition about the war's outcome, but he never expected it to turn so disastrously.
Not only had the Semyonov Corps failed to be rescued, but thousands of soldiers from Tuchkov's Corps were lost, along with the Minsk defense line.
Under the Poles' fearless and relentless assault, Minsk only held for three days before its western side was breached.
Fortunately, Kutuzov had been preparing for a retreat, which allowed nearly 30,000 main Russian forces to escape to the other side of the Svislach River.
"General, the Poles have just occupied the West Bank of the Dnieper River," the chief of staff's voice came. "Their numbers are about ten thousand."
Kutuzov sighed and instructed the orderly, "Order the troops to cross the Dnieper River overnight. Have the troops in Braslav retreat as well."
After two months of fighting, he could clearly feel the formidable morale of the Polish army.
Under these circumstances, continuing to hold Lithuania would likely result in encirclement.
Now, the most logical strategy was to first retreat back home, establish defenses along the Dnieper River, and then formulate subsequent plans once reinforcements arrived.
On March 18, 1800, the Polish army finally reached the West Bank of the Dnieper River.
By then, the Poles had recovered all the territories previously occupied by Russia.
Stanisaw II personally held a memorial service for the fallen soldiers in Warsaw and declared this day "Victory Day" for Poland.
Inside Minsk.
Kościuszko listened to the thunderous cheers from the streets, motioned for his chief of staff to close the windows, and then turned to face the Polish generals before him. "There's no doubt the Russians will never abandon their invasion of our country. I know that nation well."
General Mokronowski stood up. "Marshal, a counterattack into Russia is indeed imperative. However, I believe the most critical task at hand is to secure the Gdańsk Corridor. As you know, most of our aid arrives via Gdańsk, and if the Prussians renege on their agreement, they could sever our connection to the port at any moment. Therefore, we should first control Tuchola before we can safely engage the Russians."
Tuchola, a city south of Gdańsk, was Prussian territory. Controlling it would provide ample protection for the Gdańsk Corridor.
Kościuszko glanced at him. "General, your idea is dangerous."
Mokronowski clenched his fist. "The Prussians brazenly invaded when we were at our weakest. This is their deserved punishment! Currently, Prussian military strength is at its lowest. We have a perfect opportunity!"
Madaliński quickly interjected, "In truth, our army has also suffered immense losses. Fighting Prussia would not guarantee victory."
The Polish army had fought heroically in reclaiming their eastern territories, but this also incurred heavy casualties. Currently, they had only just over 67,000 main combat-ready troops.
Mokronowski pointed out the window and declared, "Listen to the voice of the people! As long as the homeland needs us, we can conscript countless soldiers!"
Kościuszko raised a hand to interrupt him. "I don't want to hear about attacking Tuchola again. Our primary objective must be the East Bank of the Dnieper River."
General Madalinski cautiously reminded him, "Marshal, the Lithuanian Parliament seems to want to end the war as soon as possible, so they might..."
"They must comply with the General Staff's decision," Kościuszko stated, leaving no room for argument. "The Great Sejm will legislate in support of my proposal."
He himself was a senator in the Polish Upper House and wielded significant influence over the Lower House, the Chamber of Envoys.
The generals in the room offered no further objections—at present, the war against Russia was Poland's undisputed priority, and even if it weren't a decision made by a figure as prominent as Kościuszko, no one would dare to openly oppose it.
...
Switzerland.
Zurich.
In the Federal Assembly Hall, Swiss Speaker of Parliament Oberholzer surveyed the representatives from the thirteen cantons, who had finally gathered, and raised the document in his hand. "This is roughly it. This money will help us acquire a railway from Bern to Zurich, though we may still need to raise some funds domestically. This railway will better connect our central and northern regions, reducing the cost of transporting silk and wheat from the central cantons to Zurich by over 70%..."
Most of Switzerland's territory was mountainous, with only a small plain between the Jura Mountains and the Alps—this was Switzerland's economic lifeline.
And Bern was the most important city on this central-northern plain.
Gasseran, the representative from the Canton of Geneva, suddenly raised his hand. "Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your railway plan, but our cantonal assembly simply wants back the money it is owed."
Indeed, the "money" Oberholzer referred to was the payment for logistics supplies that various cantons had provided to French troops during their operations in Switzerland, totaling a substantial 6.7 million francs.
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