Chapter 674: Burning Eastern Europe II
General Dombrowski, speaking in rather clumsy Polish, declared, "Every sacrifice is worth it. We will ultimately break free from Russian control and threats."
"Their bodies may fall, but their blood will congeal into the very soul of Poland. The homeland will forever be with them!"
He had attended military academy in Saxony since he was a youth—at a time when Saxony and Poland were still one country—and only returned to Poland four years ago. This meant his German was far more fluent than his Polish.
Historically, it was this very reason that made Prince Poniatowski distrust him.
However, Joseph knew Dombrowski to be a staunch patriot. He later joined the anti-Russian uprising led by Kościuszko and demonstrated immense bravery during the defense of Warsaw.
Thus, at Joseph's recommendation, Dombrowski was given significant responsibility in the Polish army, serving as the cavalry commander-in-chief for the Dnieper River Front.
Dombrowski pointed towards the narrow breastworks between two distant hills:
"If I am ever needed to stand and fight there, I will also use my life to block the Tsar's invasion."
Kościuszko nodded silently. Of the 50,000 Polish troops on the Mozyr defense line, a full 37,000 were recruits trained for less than four months. They would face the fiercest of the Russian attacks.
"Perhaps, we will all die in this war..."
Kościuszko seemed to feel the topic was inauspicious, so he looked up and gazed eastward:
"When do you think the Russians will launch their offensive?"
He asked this because Russia had sent a formal note to Poland five days prior—essentially an ultimatum—demanding that the Polish government immediately cease persecuting nobles and Polish Orthodox Christians, extradite the masterminds behind the "Targowica conspiracy" to Russia for trial, and abolish the clauses in the Polish Constitution that limited noble privileges, allowed commoners to freely purchase land, and permitted commoners to serve as officers.
The incident's origin was the Targowica town's traitorous conference being broken up, after which several members of the Potocki family fled to Russia. There, they accused the Polish parliament to the Tsar of unwarranted arrests and assassinations of domestic nobles, requesting Russian intervention to stabilize the situation in Poland.
This was exactly like the treasonous acts of the historical Targowica Confederation. However, thanks to the continuous suppression by Polish intelligence, these reactionary nobles failed to raise an army, and their influence was greatly diminished.
In fact, Potocki had already arrived in Petersburg earlier in the year, but at that time, Catherine II, swayed by Stanisław II's "charm offensive," had not actively prepared for war, so she had to temporarily suppress the matter.
According to the plan Potemkin left before his death, Russia was supposed to launch a full-scale invasion of Poland in the spring of next year.
However, when Catherine II learned through her intelligence network that Poland was furiously preparing for war, she immediately realized that her invasion plans could no longer be kept secret.
After discussing with her Russian generals, she concluded that it would be more advantageous to act sooner, while Poland's preparations were still insufficient.
And so, Count Potocki was brought out by the Russians to serve as the pretext for war.
"Who knows?" Dombrowski shook his head. "Perhaps next month, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps in the very next moment..."
Before he could finish, a warhorse galloped into view.
The horse hadn't fully stopped when the officer astride it hurriedly dismounted and addressed Kościuszko:
"General, the Russians have declared war! This very morning."
Kościuszko and Dombrowski exchanged worried glances. Before they could speak, the distant roar of artillery thundered.
Kościuszko placed a hand on the hilt of his saber and told the orderly beside him:
"Have the soldiers move into their defensive positions. Tell them not to be nervous; the Russians are still far away."
The scale of such a large-scale national war would be immense. Poland had deployed many forward outposts along the border, and the recent shelling was likely the Russian army clearing these peripheral defense points.
Poland's main defense line was still seven or eight kilometers behind them.
Kościuszko calmly continued to issue orders:
"Have the rangers report Russian movements to me at all times, paying special attention to the right flank. The terrain there is very suitable for Cossack cavalry sneak attacks."
Using Cossack cavalry for rapid maneuvers and then launching surprise attacks at the enemy's weak points was a common tactic among Russian commanders. Those who underestimated them always paid a heavy price.
"Yes, General."
The orderly departed, and Dombrowski, feeling uneasy, said:
"I'd better go personally and keep an eye on the right flank."
"No, leave it to Mochalawic," Kościuszko interjected, stopping him. "Your battlefield is not here."
The sudden Russian attack caused some panic among the Polish troops in Mozyr, but fortunately, Poland had made extensive preparations for the war, so the chaos did not last long. Large numbers of troops quickly deployed along the border according to pre-arranged plans.
Southeast of Mozyr, Zagazig Village.
This small village was located near the Polish border. Because of the impending war, the villagers had long since abandoned their homes and fled, and the village had now become part of the defense line.
Boom!
An artillery shell slammed heavily next to a dilapidated farmhouse, making the ground tremble.
Behind a broken window, Corporal Drasowitz glanced at the six or seven young men huddled together, some sitting, some standing, and sighed inwardly.
Although the squad leader hadn't explicitly said it, as the only veteran here who had fought in Slavonia, these new recruits were his responsibility to manage.
He used to be a bricklayer and didn't like speaking in public, but now he had to try and imitate the demeanor of a town official, speaking loudly:
"Oh, don't worry, the sound of the cannons is terrifying, but the shells won't hit us directly."
He thought for a moment, then pointed to a small fly on the wall that hadn't yet frozen to death:
"It's as hard as hitting that fellow with a pebble from fifty paces away."
The distant artillery fire remained intense, but seeing Drasowitz's relaxed demeanor, everyone looked up, their expressions visibly easing.
The corporal nodded in satisfaction, but in the next instant, there was another tremendous roar nearby, followed by the house shaking and fragments of wood and straw flying everywhere.
When the dust settled, they saw that one corner of the farmhouse, along with the adjacent pigsty, had been torn apart by a shell, leaving a pile of bricks and rubble.
Drasowitz quickly confirmed that no one was hurt, then awkwardly spread his hands:
"You see? I told you, even if it's very close, it won't hit us directly."
He then examined the house's shaky frame, frowning:
"Still, we need to get out of here."
Once the recruits had all exited the farmhouse, Drasowitz saw that the legs of the blond young man walking at the very back were visibly trembling. He stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder:
"Janek, be strong. There's really nothing to be scared of in war..."
The young man turned his head, grinning, with what looked like sparks dancing in his eyes:
"Mr. Drasowitz, I'm not scared! I'm absolutely thrilled right now!"
Comments