Chapter 674 Burning Eastern Europe·1
A city in northeastern Poland.
Vilnius.
On the high platform in the city center square, "Archbishop Mallu" in black robes held up the icon of the cross and said passionately to the thousands of people surrounding him:
"We will follow God's guidance, use our souls and firm faith as weapons to purify all heretics who dare to set foot here!
"His Majesty, the venerable and great Pope, received an oracle from God and ordered me to make this revelation known to everyone.
"People here, regardless of age or sex, can become holy crusaders if they want to from now on!
"Whether he holds a sword, a musket or a hoe in his hand, he will be bathed in the holy light of God and embark on the holy war to the east!"
A huge shout like a tsunami suddenly erupted in the square:
"Holy war! Holy war!"
"Drive out the heretics!"
Everyone's eyes were filled with fanaticism and piety, and as they listened to "Archbishop Mallu" convey the Pope's decree, the flames of holy war burned in their hearts.
Archbishop Felix Turski and several Polish high priests also stood behind the papal envoy Archbishop Marlu, keeping their hands folded in prayer.
Prior to this, they had accompanied the papal envoys throughout most of Poland to call on people to join the "New Crusade" against the Orthodox Christians.
Inspired by "Archbishop Mallu", the Poles donated enthusiastically to the army. Almost every town among the people spontaneously formed the so-called "Crusader Legion".
The Royal Ordnance Factory in Warsaw continuously transported brand-new flintlock muskets to various places and handed them over to these civilian armed forces.
Yes, since five months ago, this ordnance factory built with French assistance has been able to produce imitation Tula M1753 flintlock guns at a rate of 2,300 per month.
The reason why Charleville flintlock guns were not produced was that, in addition to clearing the relationship with the French ordnance factory, there was also a very important factor, that is, the captured Russian guns could be used to arm the Polish army after the war. There is no need to worry about ammunition supply problems caused by different models.
Of course, "Archbishop Mallu" is who Mesmer is pretending to be.
He conducted a month of "intensive training" in France and arrived in Poland with a complete set of forged certificates. Later, he was assisted by Sieyès, a high-ranking priest, but nothing went wrong.
Well, Sieyès was never very religious, so there was nothing against that.
While Mesmer was inciting "holy war" everywhere, two carriages were speeding towards the south of Karakow.
Just as the two vehicles arrived near the border between Poland and Austria, nearly twenty riders suddenly emerged from the jungle beside the road and surrounded them, some of whom were holding guns.
"What are you going to do?" a priest asked loudly as the window of the car in front opened.
Among the riders, there was a middle-aged man wearing a black cloak, short in stature and with stern eyes. He ignored him. Instead, he got off his horse and went straight to the car behind him. He knocked on the car door and said:
< br>
"Dear Archbishop Krasinski, where are you going?"
The car door opened, and sitting inside was Archbishop Krasinski of Kamenets.
"If you want to rob, you can take whatever you want here."
The man in the black cloak took out a document:
"I am Lieutenant Kalishdorf of the Committee of Freedom and Security.
"Let me tell you straight, the destination of your trip is Rome, right?"
Archbishop Krasinski took a deep breath and said:
"I have always believed that the members of the Baal League are the most loyal servants of God."
The Freedom and Security Council was formed based on the Barr alliance, so he was ready to give it a try.
Lieutenant Kalishdorf nodded:
"Yes, we are all the most devout believers."
"Then you shouldn't stop me." Archbishop Krasinski said, "You are from the intelligence agency. You should be able to see that there is something wrong with the special envoy." Kalishdorf looked down at the toes of his boots. Road:
"My task is to send you back to Kamenets, I have no control over other things."
Archbishop Krasinski raised his voice:
"The blasphemer, with his strange Italian accent and apparent unfamiliarity with the details of St. Peter's Basilica, dared to impersonate the papal envoy.
"I must go to the Pope for confirmation to reveal his true face!"
Kalishdorf said word for word: "You cannot leave Poland."
"Why? Did that liar give you a benefit, or do you also want to blaspheme God?"
Lieutenant Kalishdorf sighed and crossed himself:
“God will forgive me for waiting.
“Papal legates are not the only ones who can spread God’s revelation.”
"Are you crazy? How is this possible?"
"Because God will not give up on Poland. And the oracle about the Crusade and Holy War will make Poland more united and more courageous!"
Lieutenant Kalishdorf raised his eyes and said solemnly:
"I once escaped from the gunpoint of the Russians. I know how powerful Russia is. Now only the glory of God can unite us to resist the coming Russian army!"
"You are crazy! You are all crazy! This is blasphemy..."
"I follow the will of God and go crazy." Kalishdov interrupted him, "and you will be confined to Kamenets, or I will kill you right here."
He signaled to his men: "Drive the carriage back."
"Yes!"
In fact, half a month after Mesmer arrived in Poland, the Freedom and Security Committee noticed something was wrong with him - how could the group of fanatical believers in the Bal Alliance not see the authenticity of the papal envoy?
But they later discovered that the nationalist enthusiasm of the Polish people, which had been rising before, was stimulated by religious inspiration and burst out with unprecedented power.
Commoners and nobles put aside their differences and joined the same army. Lithuanians and Poles stopped fighting over local taxes and built fortifications together. Businessmen generously donated various supplies.
The country is rapidly shedding its former aura of corruption and malaise.
As a result, the Freedom and Security Council also joined in promoting jihad.
All border roads to the Holy See were blocked by them.
Anyone in Poland who questioned the "papal envoy" received warnings, and some stubborn priests were even secretly executed.
The whole of Poland is on fire!
……
October 15, 1792.
Eastern Voivodeship of Poland, Mozyr.
In front of the defense line of the Polish Dnieper Front, General Kosciuszko looked at the infantry company passing by in front of him and couldn't help but frown slightly.
In the group of soldiers just now, he saw at least five people walking smoothly, and more than ten people with their flintlock slings twisted into a ball.
He sighed, turned his head and said to the officer beside him:
"General Dombrowski, these young people...perhaps one-third will not survive until the end of the first wave of Russian attacks."
(End of chapter)