Chapter 696 Bastion
Kovodejic looked at each other and swallowed his saliva, still extremely hesitant:
"Mr. Schumann, even if the sailors and workers were willing to defend Gdańsk, we don't have enough weapons."
Schumann smiled slightly: "Actually, you know, I also do some business that is not compliant. Please don't report me.
"The 'Fat Phils' parked in the port is my ship, and it contains weapons for sale to the Middle East. If necessary, you can ask my Persian buyers to wait."
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Kovodeich's eyes widened: "What a coincidence! Ah, can you tell me how much 'goods' are loaded on it?"
"3,500 flintlock muskets and enough ammunition to last four months."
This was naturally not a merchant ship destined for Persia, but one that Joseph had prepared for Gdansk and had been parked outside the port.
"God! Thank you for having mercy on Gdansk!" The look of fear on Kovodeich's face finally dissipated.
As a Pole and an investor in the port, he certainly did not want it to fall into the hands of foreigners.
Before, he was unable to resist and had no choice but to surrender. But now, he saw hope.
Romilev also looked at Schumann with great surprise and excitement.
He originally planned to take his 400 patrolmen to protect the port to the death, but he did not expect that the French would bring so many "surprises".
He remembered another thing: "Mr. Schumann, we also need some cannons. If you have them there..."
"I don't have a cannon."
Seeing everyone's disappointed expressions, Schumann immediately added: "But have you forgotten? There are many armed merchant ships here, and we can dismantle the cannons on the ships and use them."
Romilev frowned: "The ship owner will probably not be willing to lend it to us..."
Schumann looked at Kovodeich: "Please, in the name of the committee, compulsorily requisition all merchant ships in the port."
"How can this work?!"
"Tell them that any ship that contributes to the port defense battle can obtain tax-free status for one to three years. I believe they will be happy."
An hour later, patrols began arresting Prussians in the city.
At the same time, a large number of pamphlets were circulated throughout Gdansk about how Prussia had betrayed its promise and colluded with Russia to assassinate Poland.
At the end of the booklet, the Gdańsk Management Committee called on everyone to go to Warehouse No. 1 to sign up and guard the port together.
It also promised that those who were disabled during the battle could enjoy pensions in accordance with the treatment of the Polish regular army.
Naturally, the brochures were printed in advance and piled in the bottom warehouse of the "Fat Phils".
Almost instantly, the entire Gdansk was ignited with anger.
Both sailors and dockworkers cursed loudly the Prussians' shameless behavior and gathered in front of the No. 1 warehouse.
Many of them had actually wanted to return to Warsaw for a long time and participate in the battle against Russia. However, because Prussia blocked the road between Marienburg and Tuhel, they could only wait to land in Courland next time they went to sea. Traveling south and returning home.
Now, they can fight for their motherland in Gdansk!
Four days later.
Horn led the Prussian army, which was exhausted from the continuous journey, to Gdańsk.
The panic he expected from the Poles did not happen, and even the Prussians in the port did not show up.
He knew that there should be six to seven hundred Prussians working here or operating merchant ships. Soon, several cavalrymen returned to report that the city of Gdańsk was almost empty and that most of the contents of the buildings had been removed.
Horn squeezed the riding crop angrily.
He came as fast as he could, but the cowardly Pole still slipped away!
He exhaled. Although the unexpected windfall was gone, at least for capturing this important port, His Majesty the King would still award him with awards and rewards.
He turned to the officer beside him and said:
"Let the soldiers control the port. Pay attention to searching the warehouse, there may be things that have not been moved in time."
In a luxurious villa, Horn was discussing with his officers the deployment of the next attack on Kuyavi, when he suddenly heard the "rumbling" sound of artillery coming from the northeast.
He frowned and came to the window, and saw black smoke rising from the middle of the port. He immediately turned to the herald and said:
"Send someone to see what's going on?"
Before the latter left the temporary command post, a messenger rushed in and found Horn's attendant, out of breath:
"Report! There is a bastion on the east side of the Steprat Peninsula. We were attacked by intensive artillery fire from the Poles there and lost more than 40 people!"
This is because the Prussian army underestimated the Poles too much. They approached "Baron Lacoste's Manor" at will without much reconnaissance. As a result, half of the company was taken away by artillery in an instant.
Well, the sailors on the "Fat Fels" were very good at operating cannons. After all, they had studied artillery at the Paris Police Academy for more than a year.
These more than one hundred skilled artillerymen have suddenly become the core combat force in the bastion.
Horn's face suddenly darkened. He had never received information about the construction of a bastion in Gdansk before.
When he came to the Steprat Peninsula, he finally saw the beautifully built "manor" through the telescope, as well as the cannon ports protruding from the inner courtyard wall.
Schumann requisitioned more than 80 cannon from merchant ships docked in the port of Gdańsk.
Although these cannons are not easy to operate on land, they are better in number. Aim at a small area in advance and fire the cannon wherever the enemy appears. The efficiency is not low.
Horn immediately ordered two skirmisher battalions to attack the elaborately decorated fortress.
According to intelligence, there are only 400 Polish patrolmen in the port.
These guys who are between the police and the army are not very powerful in combat. Even if they are backed by a bastion, it is difficult to withstand the attack of thousands of regular troops.
However, when the Prussian soldiers finally got close to the bastion despite the bombardment of artillery, thousands of black gun barrels protruded from the outer wall of the bastion.
Although there was almost no volley, and there was not even much aim, the space in front of the bastion was very narrow, and the Russians who gathered here still suffered heavy casualties from the flying bullets.
Unlike field battles where infantry lines are required to increase firepower, there are no requirements for formations during fortress defense.
As long as you can use a flintlock gun, you can stand in a fixed position and fire the gun at will.
This is why Schumann dared to let the dock workers participate in the defense after simple training.
Horn watched his soldiers retreat and angrily asked his staff to mobilize the artillery to blast. Then he remembered that the entire artillery battalion was handed over to Hoppner...
It was not until half a month later that a dozen cannons were transported to Gdansk.
At the same time, news of the Prussian invasion of western Poland and Gdansk had also reached Warsaw.
(End of chapter)