Chapter 675 Burning Eastern Europe II
Brigadier General Dombrowski said in very poor Polish: "All sacrifices are worth it, and we will eventually get rid of Russian control and threat.
"Their bodies may fall, but their blood will condense into the soul of Poland, and the motherland will always be with them!"
He had attended military school in Saxony since his youth - when Saxony and Poland were still one country - and did not return to Poland until four years ago, leaving him far more proficient in German than in Polish.
Historically, it was for this reason that Prince Poniatowski never trusted him.
However, Joseph knew very well that Dombrowski was a staunch patriot. He later participated in the anti-Russian uprising led by Kosciuszko and performed extremely bravely in the defense of Warsaw.
Therefore, at Joseph's suggestion, Dombrowski was reused in the Polish army and served as the cavalry commander of the Dnieper Front.
Dombrowski pointed to the narrow parapet between two hills in the distance:
"If one day I need to stand there and fight, I will also use my life to block the invasion of Tsarist Russia."
Kosciuszko nodded silently. Of the 50,000 Polish troops on the Mozyr line of defense, 37,000 were new recruits with less than 4 months of training. They will face the most ferocious offensive of the Russian army.
Yes, in order to complete the established combat deployment, this most important line of defense in the east can only be supported by new troops.
"Perhaps, we will all die in this war..."
Kosciuszko seemed to feel that the topic was unlucky, so he raised his head and looked east:
"When do you think the Russians will attack?"
The reason why he asked this was because Russia had sent a formal note to Poland five days ago. It was actually an ultimatum, requiring the Polish government to immediately stop persecuting the nobility and Polish Orthodox Christians and to remove those who participated in the "Tagovica Murder" The culprits were taken to Russia for trial. And, abolish the provisions in the Polish constitution that restrict the privileges of the nobility, civilians can freely purchase land, and civilians can serve as officers.
The cause of the incident was that after the traitorous meeting in Tagovica town was destroyed, several members of the Potocki family fled to Russia. They complained to the Tsar that the Polish Parliament had arrested and assassinated domestic nobles without reason, and requested Russia to send troops to stabilize the situation in Poland. .
This is exactly the same as the traitorous behavior of the Tagovica Alliance in history. However, at present, after continuous attacks by Polish intelligence organizations, these reactionary nobles have failed to mobilize the army, and their influence has been greatly weakened.
In fact, Potocki arrived in Petersburg as early as the beginning of the year, but at that time Catherine II was unable to actively prepare for war due to Stanislaw II's "emotional offensive", so she could only suppress this in advance. down.
According to the plan left by Potemkin before his death, Russia should fully invade Poland in the spring of next year.
However, when Catherine II learned through the intelligence system that preparations for war in Poland were in full swing, she immediately realized that her plan to invade Poland could no longer be concealed.
After discussing with the Russian generals, she believed that it would be more advantageous to take action in advance while Poland was not fully prepared.
As a result, Count Potocki was taken out by the Russians as an excuse to start a war.
"Who knows?" Dombrowski shook his head, "Maybe next month, maybe tomorrow, maybe the next moment..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw a war horse galloping towards him.
Before the horse came to a complete stop, the officer riding on it jumped off in a hurry and said to Kosciuszko:
"General, the Russians declared war! Just this morning."
Kosciuszko and Dombrowski frowned and looked at each other. Before they could say anything, they heard the roar of artillery in the distance.
Kosciuszko put his hand on the hilt of his sword and said to the herald beside him:
"Let the soldiers enter the defense zone. Tell them not to be nervous, the Russians are still far away."
The battlefield range of this large-scale national war will be very large. Poland has deployed many outposts along the border. The shelling just now should be the Russian army clearing these peripheral defense points. And Poland's main defense line is still seven or eight kilometers away behind that.
Kosciuszko continued to issue orders in an orderly manner:
"Have the rangers report to me the movements of the Russians at any time, especially on the right wing. The terrain there is very suitable for Cossack cavalry sneak attacks."
Using Cossack cavalry to maneuver quickly and then launch a surprise attack at the opponent's weak point is a common tactic used by Russian commanders. Anyone who despises them will suffer a great loss.
"Yes, General."
The herald left, and Dombrowski said a little uneasily:
"I'd better go to the right wing and keep an eye on it myself."
"No, just leave it to Mocharavec." Kosciuszko stopped him, "Your battlefield is not here."
The sudden attack by the Russian army caused a certain panic in Mozyr's Polish army, but fortunately Poland had already made a lot of preparations for the war, so the chaos did not last long, and a large number of troops were quickly deployed according to the advance arrangements. , a defense line was launched along the border.
Southeast of Mozyr, Zagazik Village.
This small village is located near the Polish border. Because of the war, the villagers have already abandoned their homes and fled. At this time, the village has become part of the defense line.
"Bang——"
A shell hit hard next to a dilapidated farmhouse, causing the ground to tremble.
Behind the rotten window, Corporal Drasovitz glanced at the six or seven young people sitting or standing huddled next to him, and sighed in his heart.
Although the squad leader did not say it explicitly, as the only veteran here who had gone to fight in Slavonia, he had to manage these new recruits.
He used to be just a bricklayer and didn't like to speak in public, but now he could only try to imitate the posture of the town officials and said loudly:
"Oh, don't worry. Although the sound of the cannon is scary, the shells will not hit us directly."
He thought for a while and pointed to a small flying insect on the wall that had not yet frozen to death:
"It's just as difficult as hitting that guy with a stone from 50 steps away."
The sound of gunfire in the distance was still intensive, but when everyone saw Drasovitz's relaxed look, they all raised their heads and looked much more relaxed.
The corporal nodded with satisfaction, but the next moment, there was another loud noise next to him, and then the room trembled and debris of vegetation flew everywhere.
When the dust settled, everyone saw that a corner of the farmhouse and the pig pen next to it had been torn apart by a cannonball and turned into bricks and stones on the floor.
Drasovitz quickly confirmed that no one was injured, and then spread his hands in embarrassment:
"Look, I said that even if we are very close, we will not be hit directly."
He looked at the crumbling frame of the house again, frowned and said:
"But we have to get out of here."
When the recruits all left the farmhouse, Drasovitz saw that the legs of the blond young man walking at the back were obviously shaking, so he stepped forward and patted him:
"Yannick, be strong. In fact, there is nothing terrible about war..."
The young man turned his head, grinning, and there seemed to be light dancing in his eyes:
"Mr. Drasovitz, I'm not afraid! I'm so excited now!"
(End of chapter)