Chapter 684: The Storm is Coming
General Morkov appeared somewhat surprised. He quickly motioned for the cavalry messenger to approach and asked,
"What's the extent of the damage?"
"General, the Poles destroyed five wagons of grain and barley, along with seven ammunition wagons. The supply camp suffered over 200 casualties."
Morkov sighed in relief and smirked dismissively.
"These pathetic cowards can only manage small-scale raids like this."
The cavalryman hesitated before cautiously adding,
"General, based on reconnaissance from Kyiv, it appears the Polish forces there number over 10,000."
Due to the suddenness of the raid, Kyiv's garrison had failed to gather detailed intelligence on Kościuszko's troops.
In reality, the Royal Third Infantry Division alone exceeded 10,000 soldiers. Combined with the Royal Cavalry Regiment, five squadrons of hussars, the Warsaw Grenadier Corps, and others, the total force was approximately 17,000.
"That many?" Morkov narrowed his eyes. "What are the Poles trying to achieve?"
A nearby staff officer speculated,
"General, it's likely they've realized Mozyr is about to fall and are making a desperate attempt to delay our offensive by disrupting our supply lines."
Morkov nodded slightly.
"In that case, Mozyr's defenses must be exceptionally thin now.
"Today, no matter the cost, we must take Marecze. Tomorrow, we march on Mozyr."
A major general standing nearby pondered aloud,
"General, the Poles have been clinging stubbornly to their defensive lines, slowing our progress.
"Now that they've ventured out, we have an opportunity to annihilate these 10,000 troops near Kyiv. It would be far easier than fighting them behind their defensive positions."
Morkov hesitated.
General Suvorov's orders had been clear: swiftly seize the western banks of the Dnieper and form a pincer movement with the Lithuanian Front to threaten Warsaw.
His progress was already far slower than planned. With Mozyr's defenses weakened, securing it should be his top priority.
He turned to the major general.
"General Smirnov, you will lead the Ukrainian Corps and six squadrons of Cossack cavalry to join Colonel Chaperoff. Your mission is to hold back the Polish forces harassing Kyiv."
"Yes, General!"
Colonel Chaperoff commanded Kyiv's garrison, which still boasted nearly 4,000 Russian troops. Combined with Smirnov's reinforcements, they would have around 15,000 soldiers—enough to pin down the Polish forces near Kyiv.
Morkov turned to his staff officer.
"Pulldarev, deploy all the artillery into Marecze. I don't want this dragged out any longer!"
"Yes, General!"
"Once Mozyr is ours, we'll deal with that little rat in Kyiv."
Prussia, Potsdam
Prince Heinrich strode quickly into Sanssouci Palace's music hall, barely able to suppress his excitement.
He found Wilhelm II on the raised platform near the orchestra and approached to bow. Speaking in a low voice, he announced,
"Your Majesty, Russia has mobilized its forces."
Wilhelm's face immediately lit up. He gestured for Prince Heinrich to join him in a side room, unable to contain his eagerness.
"What's the situation?"
Prince Heinrich handed him a report.
"Your Majesty, 120,000 Russian troops have launched simultaneous offensives from Mozyr and Braslaw.
"The good news is that nearly all of Poland's forces are concentrated on the eastern front. Warsaw itself has fewer than 3,000 soldiers."
This was the result of Joseph's relentless push to strip Prussia of its military influence over Poland. Historically, Poland's army was riddled with Prussian officers, making troop movements an open secret.
Even now, Prussians in Poland continued funneling information to Potsdam, though they could no longer access core intelligence.
Wilhelm II clenched his fists in excitement.
"Excellent! When do you think we should deploy our troops? Immediately?"
"Perhaps we should wait a little longer, Your Majesty," Heinrich advised. "The more Polish forces the Russians deplete, the fewer soldiers we'll need to achieve our objectives. It would save us a considerable amount of money."
Prussia's economy was already the weakest among the great powers. After the resource-draining Silesian Wars with Austria, the treasury was in dire straits. Without Britain's £300,000 subsidy, even maintaining financial stability would have been difficult, let alone waging war.
Initially, Wilhelm II planned to invade Poland with 40,000 to 50,000 troops. But given Russia's overwhelming offensive, it seemed 30,000 would suffice.
Wilhelm nodded.
"Begin discreetly mobilizing troops along the border, at the appropriate scale. This time, we must secure the entire Greater Poland region, and most importantly, Gdańsk."
The Greater Poland region, encompassing provinces like Sieradz and Poznań, was among Poland's most prosperous territories.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Prince Heinrich bowed slightly, then hesitated before adding,
"There's one more issue, Your Majesty."
"Speak, dear uncle."
"The Catholic population in the provinces of Kulm and Nakło shows sympathy for Poland. As you know, whether advancing on Poznań or attacking Gdańsk, we must move through these areas."
While Prussia's official religion was Protestantism, the provinces of Kulm, Inowrocław, and Nakło—acquired during the first partition of Poland—remained predominantly Catholic. Religious loyalties hadn't shifted yet.
The "sympathy for Poland" was largely thanks to Mesmer.
Though he hadn't directly entered these Prussian provinces to preach the crusade, his speeches in neighboring Poznań had spread quickly among the Polish-speaking population.
Wilhelm frowned and instructed Heinrich,
"Send the secret police to deal with the instigators. I won't have such interference with our plans."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will handle it carefully."
Austria, Vienna
In Schönbrunn Palace, Emperor Francis II waved impatiently at Count Rheinfels.
"I don't want to see him. Find a way to send that man off."
The "man" in question was Polish Foreign Minister Szczęsny Potocki, who had come to request Austria's assistance in repelling the Russian invasion.
Historically, Austria's policy had always been to protect Poland's territorial integrity.
But this time, Francis II intended to join the feast himself.
Turning to his Minister of State, he asked,
"Baron Thugut, what's the status of our troop movements?"
The baron promptly replied,
"Your Majesty, eight regiments of the Royal German Infantry, the Krems Corps, and the Royal Vienna Cavalry Regiment—totaling 24,000 soldiers—have already reached Nowy Sącz…"
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