Chapter 682: Galloping Across the Vast Plains
If Drasowitz were still alive, he would surely have added with immense pride, "This is our most elite unit!"
He had been considered a veteran after just two months of "combat training" in Slavonia, and the Royal Third Division had participated in almost all the battles to suppress the rebellion, making their combat experience exceptionally rich.
Yannick watched the imposing soldiers in the distance and exclaimed,
"With them defending, the Russians will never break into Marycze Town!"
The Second Lieutenant beside him shook his head. "From their direction of march, they don't seem to be here for joint defense."
"Then where are they going?"
Beside the formation of the Polish Royal Third Infantry Division, General Kościuszko rode his horse, gazing out at the boundless plains ahead. He turned to Prince Poniatowski beside him and said,
"Given the soldiers' current condition, they'll reach Kiev in four days."
The Prince nodded, glancing towards Marycze Town:
"Our boys have truly amazed me. Mozyr was originally supposed to be used to lure the Russian army. I never imagined they'd make the Russians suffer so much at the first line of defense.
"Now, Marycze Town alone is enough to make the Russians desperate."
Kościuszko sighed, his expression solemn:
"But the casualties are also immense. In over ten days of defensive battles, more than 5,000 men have already been lost on the Mozyr front."
"Indeed," Prince Poniatowski nodded, recalling the war council held at the French Royal Armory that day. 'His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, was right; if we commit all our forces to defense, we are bound to fail in the end.'
As he spoke, he omitted the word "French" before "Crown Prince," implying a sense of kinship and shared purpose.
Kościuszko straightened his chest. "I, too, increasingly believe His Royal Highness's plan is the only one that can possibly save Poland."
The Prince looked at him and said, "I still think it would be better if I went. After all, even if I were captured, Catherine II would most likely release me."
Kościuszko didn't mock him for considering capture before the battle had even begun, for he knew full well that for him, this journey would only end in death or capture.
But he had to go.
"We've already discussed this. It's more suitable for me to go."
The Prince said nothing more.
His Majesty the King had previously gone alone to appease the Tsarina to slow Russia's war preparations, and his reputation within the country was now not very good. The Prince had become the only one capable of holding things together.
Furthermore, Kościuszko was indeed better at commanding battles that required improvisation than he was.
The two walked a considerable distance beyond Marycze Town before the Prince turned his horse back. As he departed, he earnestly made the sign of the cross on his chest and said to Kościuszko:
"May God protect you."
The latter made a similar gesture of prayer. "May God protect Poland."
"Come back alive."
"I will. You be careful too."
Prince Poniatowski turned and rode away, not looking back, afraid the soldiers might see his reddened eyes.
Kościuszko's troops marched for another day, and by the next morning, the main army was approaching the Mozyr border.
Kościuszko, who had entered a desolate wilderness, looked into the distance, then suddenly stopped. He spurred his horse onto a roadside mound and waved to the Polish soldiers before him, saying:
"Do you know what lies ahead?"
Everyone paused to look. After a moment, a Captain replied,
"General, if we march for about half a day more, we'll enter Russian territory..."
"Russia?" Kościuszko smiled and declared loudly, "When I was a boy, that was still Polish land!"
The soldiers instantly fell silent.
Kościuszko continued, "You may not yet know where we are going this time. I can tell you now: I will lead you back to our homeland.
"We are going to attack Kiev!"
The soldiers immediately looked at each other in dismay. The defensive battle at Mozyr had been so arduous, yet the General was going to launch a counterattack against Russia—no, against their Polish homeland!
Kościuszko pointed towards Marycze Town: "Tomorrow, Prince Poniatowski will feign being unable to hold on, luring the Russian army into a fierce assault on Marycze Town. And we will seize the opportunity, while the Russians' attention is focused there, to attack their supply lines to Kiev! We will make the invaders understand that Poles also have bayonets and cannons, and we will not let them bully us!"
This was the battle plan Joseph had devised for Poland.
The great Eastern European plains are easy to attack but difficult to defend. If Poland were to focus solely on defense, it would inevitably get drawn into a war of attrition with the Russian army.
Given Poland's national strength, they simply couldn't afford a war of attrition.
Therefore, he suggested that the Polish army should also use the vastness of the plains to launch a counter-offensive against the Russians.
Russia would habitually focus its energy on how to conquer Poland, just as it did during the "First Partition," completely neglecting to set up defenses.
However, when the Polish army suddenly appeared in Russian territory and galloped freely across the Eastern European plains, the Russians would immediately be thrown into disarray.
Of course, attacking Kiev was just the first step of the entire plan—this location was too close to the main Russian forces and had a significant garrison, making it unsuitable for a full-scale assault. However, it would be enough to tie down Morkov's corps.
Afterward, Kościuszko would lead his army to "dance" across the vast plains, following the script Joseph had given him.
The soldiers immediately erupted into frenzied cheers:
"Counterattack! Holy War!"
"Let those bastards know what's coming!"
"Retake Kiev!"
They were Poland's most elite troops, but they had previously been forced to watch raw recruits and enemies battle in bloody conflict while their commanders kept them in the rear. A surge of pent-up energy and frustration had long been building within them, with no outlet.
They had originally expected to be sent to defend Warsaw, but instead, they were going to beat the Russians on their own turf!
This news filled them with utter delight.
Once the soldiers had gradually quieted down, Kościuszko waved his hand again:
"Our mission this time will be extremely dangerous; in fact, there's almost no chance of returning alive. But we will win true freedom and dignity for our homeland! The invaders will be forced to retreat home because of our heroic fight!
"Will you face death with me?"
All the surrounding soldiers immediately let out a unified roar:
"Yes!!!"
...
Outside Marycze Town.
General Morkov, the Russian army's supreme commander, stood atop a granary, observing through his telescope as a squad of Russian skirmishers broke into the town center. Just one street away from the clock tower, large groups of Poles suddenly emerged from the surrounding rooftops, sealing off the intersection with a barrage of concentrated fire.
He immediately felt a wave of anxiety surge in his chest.
This small town was like a mortally wounded soldier, clinging to life, refusing to close its eyes.
"Damn it," he raised a hand, gesturing to his chief of staff. "Send the Kiev Grenadier Regiment into the attack. The clock tower must be taken before noon!"
"Yes, General!"
As the chief of staff was about to leave, a ranger galloped up to the granary, reined in his horse, and shouted:
"General, our supply convoy has been attacked by Poles in the northern suburbs of Kiev!"
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