Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 774 - 682 Galloping Across the Vast Plains

Chapter 774: Chapter 682: Galloping Across the Vast Plains

Chapter 774: Chapter 682: Galloping Across the Vast Plains

“If Delasovitz were still alive,” he would certainly have added with immense pride, “These are our most elite troops!”

After two months of “actual combat training” in Slavonia, he was deemed a veteran, and the King’s Third Division had participated in nearly all the battles of the suppression, accumulating a wealth of combat experience.

Yanick, looking at the dignified soldiers in the distance, exclaimed excitedly,

“With them joining the defense, the Russians will never dream of breaking into Marekai Town.”

The lieutenant beside him shook his head, “Judging by the direction of their march, they’re not here to help defend.”

“Then where are they going?”

Beside the ranks of the King’s Domain Third Infantry Division, General Kosciuszko rode his horse, looking over the vast plain ahead, and said to Prince Poniatowski at his side,

“With the soldiers in their current state, we can reach Kyiv in four days.”

The Prince nodded, glancing toward Marekai Town,

“I’ll hold this place until the day after tomorrow.”

“Our lads truly amaze me. Mozhili City was supposed to be the bait to lure the Russian Army. But to think they gave the Russians a hard time right at the first line of defense.”

“Now, just Marekai Town is enough to make the Russians resort to desperate measures.”

General Kosciuszko sighed solemnly,

“But the casualties are also very high. Over five thousand have been sacrificed in more than ten days of defending Mozhili.”

“Yes,” Prince Poniatowski nodded, recalling the meeting at the French Royal Armory Factory, “The Crown Prince was right. If we invest all our forces in defense, we are bound to fail in the end.”

He omitted the word “French” before “Crown Prince” as he spoke, suggesting they were all on the same side.

Kosciuszko puffed up his chest, “I am more and more convinced that the Crown Prince’s plan is the only one that might save Poland.”

The Prince looked at him, “I still think it’s better if I go. After all, even if I’m captured, Catherine II is likely to release me.”

Kosciuszko did not ridicule his concern about being captured before the battle since he was acutely aware that his own departure would result in either death or capture.

But he had to go.

“We’ve already discussed this, I am more suited to go.”

The Prince said no more.

Earlier, to delay the Russian preparation for war, His Majesty the King personally went to flatter the Female Tsar, and now his reputation at home was not very good. He himself had become the only one capable of taking charge.

Moreover, Kosciuszko indeed had better command skills for this kind of battle that required adaptability.

The two had walked far from Marekai Town before the Prince turned his horse and rode back; before he left, he earnestly crossed himself and said to Kosciuszko,

“May Jesus bless you.”

The latter also made the sign of prayer, “May Jesus bless Poland.”

“Take care.”

“And you as well.”

Prince Poniatowski departed. Kosciuszko’s troops marched another day, and by the next morning, the army had nearly reached the border of Mozhili.

Entering a wilderness, Kosciuszko halted suddenly, spurred his horse up a mound beside the road, and waved to the Polish soldiers ahead,

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“Do you know what lies ahead?”

The troops stopped to look, and after a moment, a Captain said,

“General, half a day’s march more, and we’ll be entering Russian territory…”

“Russia?” Kosciuszko smiled faintly and called out loudly, “When I was a boy, that place was still Polish land!”

The soldiers instantly fell silent.

General Kosciuszko continued, “You may not yet know where we are headed this time, but I can tell you now, I will take you back to our homeland.”

“We are going to attack Kyiv!”

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment. The defense of Mozhili had been so hard-fought, and yet the General was planning a counterattack against Russia—no, against the Polish homeland!

General Kosciuszko pointed toward Marekai Town, “Tomorrow, Prince Poniatowski will pretend he can no longer hold out, luring the Russian Army to launch a fierce attack on Marekai Town.”

“And we will take advantage of the Russians’ focus on that area to strike at the Russian supply lines in Kyiv! We will let the invaders know 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 vast East European plains were easy to attack but difficult to defend. If Poland simply kept to a defensive stance, they would inevitably fall into a war of attrition against the Russian Army.

Poland, with its national strength, could not afford such a prolonged conflict.

Therefore, he had suggested that the Polish Army should also utilize the breadth of the plains to launch a counterattack against the Russians.

Russia had previously been ingrained with focusing their efforts on how to conquer Poland, similar to the “one melon” strategy, without paying attention to setting up defenses.

And when the Polish troops suddenly appeared on Russian territory, galloping freely across the East European plains, they would be immediately thrown into confusion.

Of course, attacking Kyiv was only the first step of the entire plan—the city was too close to the main force of the Russian Army and had many garrisons, making it unsuitable for a full-scale assault but enough to constrain the Morcoff Army.

Afterward, General Kosciuszko would dance across the expansive plains following the script Joseph had given him.

The soldiers immediately erupted into a frenzy of cheers:

“Counterattack! Holy war!”

“Let those damn brutes know what we’re made of!”

“Take back Kyiv!”

They were Poland’s most elite troops, but until now, they had only been able to watch new recruits and the enemy fight bloody battles while they themselves, restrained by their commanders, had long been holding back their impatience.

They had originally thought they would be sent to defend Warsaw, but now they were going to pound the Russians on their own turf!

They were ecstatic.

General Kosciuszko waited for the soldiers to quiet down again, then raised his hand and said:

“Our mission this time will be extremely dangerous, and indeed, there is almost no chance that we will all come back alive. But we will win true freedom and dignity for our country! The invaders will be forced to roll back to their homeland because of our brave fight!”

“Are you willing to face death with me?”

All the surrounding soldiers immediately let out a uniform roar:

“We are!!!”

…

Outside Marekai Town.

The Russian Army’s supreme commander, Morco, stood atop a barn holding a telescope. As he watched a band of Russian stragglers enter the town center and come within one street of the bell tower, suddenly large groups of Poles popped up from the rooftops, blocking the intersection with intense fire.

He felt a surge of irritation swell in his chest.

This little town, frail as a threadbare soldier, simply would not close its eyes.

“Damn it,” he motioned to his staff, “send the Kyiv Grenadier Regiment to join the attack. The bell tower must be taken before noon!”

“Yes, General!”

Just as the staff officer was about to depart, he saw a Cavalry Scout galloping toward the barn, pulling up his horse and shouting:

“General, our supply camp in the northern outskirts of Kyiv has been attacked by the Poles!”