Chapter 653: The Outcome We Desire
Prince Poniatowski nodded almost without hesitation. "Of course, Your Highness, in Francs, naturally."
Poland was currently like an impoverished family of eight, with barely half a loaf of black bread to their name. Anyone who offered them a bite to eat would earn their immense gratitude; would they really complain if the meal was a little short on salt?
Moreover, the Franc was incredibly stable at the moment, circulating widely throughout the German and Italian regions. He'd even heard that Upper Hesse's recent steam engine transaction had been paid for with Franc banknotes.
That was a business worth millions of Francs, proof enough of the Franc's purchasing power.
"Then it's settled."
Joseph smiled, gesturing to the teacups on the table. "Please, try some of this 'Wuyi' tea, just arrived from the Far East."
"Oh, right, that matter about the Prussian officers we discussed earlier?"
Prince Poniatowski paused, a fleeting moment of conflict on his face, before a smile appeared, and he spoke:
"I will discuss it with them. They can be reassigned to recruiting offices to serve as drill instructors for new recruits, or something similar."
Was there even a question of which side to pick?
As for the few Prussian officers who had contributed to Poland, they could simply be compensated with high-level treatment.
The Prince took a sip from his teacup. The green tea, served without milk, made him frown slightly, but a unique, refreshing aroma immediately filled his mouth.
He glanced at the clear tea and asked with a touch of curiosity, "Wuyi?"
"It's a great mountain in the East, known for producing top-tier tea. Oh, and it's what we often refer to as Bohai."
"No wonder it's so fragrant and mellow. Thank you for your hospitality. However, this way of drinking it is quite unusual."
"Easterners prefer to drink it this way. In fact, they don't even add sugar." Joseph took a sip of his own tea and continued, "You mentioned new recruit training just now, didn't you? If I may be frank, the Prussian army's training methods are quite outdated."
"Hmm, perhaps I should help you establish another military academy..."
It took the entire morning for Joseph and Prince Poniatowski to finalize most of Poland's strategic matters.
They had a simple lunch at the Royal Armory. In the afternoon, the two of them went together to a hastily arranged war room.
In the hall, Berthier and other officers from the General Staff Headquarters, along with several high-ranking Polish generals led by Wacław Rzewuski, Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army, were already waiting.
Rzewuski, Kościuszko, and the others were dressed as diplomats or attendants, having evidently traveled covertly to France.
Without unnecessary pleasantries, after the officers rose and saluted, the meeting immediately began.
As the host of the meeting, Berthier stood up and stated:
"Currently, everyone here should be very clear about the situation on the Eastern Front."
"At the most optimistic estimate, Poland will face 100,000 Russian troops."
"More likely, between 120,000 and 150,000 Russian soldiers will invade the Eastern Front. At the same time, other nations may seize the opportunity to invade."
He had already been informed of the Crown Prince's discussions with the Polish Prince, so he simply didn't mention the Prussian army.
Upon hearing this, Rzewuski immediately looked worried and continued:
"The situation is indeed very grim. Currently, we are setting up defenses along the line from Volhynia to Minsk, and our main defensive strategy is to gain time..."
He was only halfway through his sentence when the French Crown Prince suddenly stood up and strode to the map of Eastern Europe hanging on the west wall of the meeting hall.
"Your Highness, what are you..." Then, under everyone's astonished gaze, Joseph grabbed a pen and forcefully drew a thick, black vertical line across the map of Poland.
The line ran through Minsk and Volhynia, like a knife gash, bisecting Poland.
He slammed his hand down on the right side of the vertical line, specifically the southeastern corner of Poland, and roared in a furious yet suppressed voice:
"Is this the outcome you wish to see?"
"Hiding behind the Volhynia defensive line, watching the Russians ravage your homeland, seize half of Poland's territory, enslave the Polish people on the West Bank of the Dnieper River and in Podolia, force them to kneel and call themselves Russians, and surrender their meager earnings to the Tsar!"
"Is this what you want?!"
A deathly silence fell over the hall. All the Polish officers, including Prince Poniatowski, lowered their heads, their hands trembling slightly.
"Answer me!" Joseph roared. "Do you only want half of Poland?!"
"No!" Kościuszko shot to his feet, his eyes red-rimmed as he declared, "We don't want to lose an inch of land! Even if I have to trade my life, I refuse to let the accursed Tsarist Russia set foot in Poland!"
The other officers also spoke up, their voices rising:
"It's our duty to protect Poland; we don't want to lose our homeland!"
"I only want a whole Poland!"
Prince Poniatowski also stood up, his expression agitated as he was about to speak, but then he faltered, his demeanor turning somewhat downcast:
"Your Highness, please believe me, no Pole wants to give up our southeastern territories."
"But Russia is too powerful, and we simply cannot stop them along the Ovruch or Mozyr line."
"My soldiers and I are not afraid of sacrifice, but we don't want to die in vain... Clashing head-on with the Russians on the eastern border would deplete our already limited military strength, and ultimately, we wouldn't even be able to hold Volhynia..."
As one of Poland's most brilliant generals, he had a very clear understanding of the two armies' strengths.
Historically, after Russia launched the Second Partition of Poland, the Lithuanian front in Poland's north lasted only 19 days before being routed, while the southern front, under Prince Poniatowski's command, resisted for one month and four days, before the Russian vanguard reached the gates of Warsaw.
Currently, although Poland's military strength had significantly improved compared to historical records, and they were better prepared, it was still impossible for them to defeat the Russian army on the barren and indefensible eastern border.
Joseph surveyed the angry and dejected Polish officers, and said, enunciating each word carefully:
"If you cannot hold the line, then we will change our strategy! We will make sure the Russians learn that Poland is unconquerable!"
Kościuszko, keenly perceiving the implication in the French Crown Prince's words, immediately looked up:
"Are you saying there are other tactics?"
Joseph nodded with certainty, stepped aside a few paces, and then gestured to Berthier.
The Chief of Staff approached the map and began meticulously outlining the operational deployment.
In fact, more than half a month ago, the French General Staff had already devised several operational plans suitable for Poland.
However, after reviewing these plans, Joseph was dismayed to discover that even the most optimal scenario would only allow Poland to resist the Russian army for three or four years, ultimately leading to a defense of Warsaw.
But that was not the outcome he desired at all!
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