Chapter 697 The Useless King
Warsaw.
Royal Fort.
Stanislaw II looked solemnly at the enemy invasion mark on the map, and murmured to himself extremely remorsefully: "Everything is as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince expected, we should follow his advice. That's..."
Royal Minister Mawachowski has just analyzed the current situation for him. According to the latest intelligence sent back to Warsaw, Poland is facing enemies on all sides - Russia in the east at the same time Attack on Lithuania and the west bank of the Dnieper River. A week ago, Prussia and Austria also declared war on Poland.
The Speaker of the House of Lords Stasitz next to him lowered his head and whispered:
“Yes, we believe in the covenant too much.”
If they could deploy it in Poznan With some defensive measures, it was impossible for the Prussian army to capture the three western provinces in just a few days.
What is even more serious is that the Lithuanian Army has been retreating steadily under the fierce attack of the Russian army Korezhennikov, and Minsk has shown a tendency to be unable to hold on.
After a while, the King of Poland sighed, looked at Mawachowski and said: "So, what is the recommendation of the military committee?"
"Your Majesty, there are 5 newly formed regiments in Warsaw." The latter said, "General Bilak needs at least 4 regiments to stabilize the defense line."
Bilak was the one who led the defense of Minsk commander.
Stasitz frowned: "In other words, we have no troops to send to the Western Front?"
"I'm afraid, that's the case..."
The Polish ministers in the room all looked sad. Poland has tried all its strength, but still cannot withstand the siege of the three major powers.
Could it be that the only outcome left is surrender?
Stanislaw II suddenly pointed to Krakow in the southwest of the map and asked: "How many troops are needed to hold off the Austrian army?"
The royal minister looked towards The officer standing by the gate is the advisor to the Military Council.
The latter thought for a while and said: "If we fully defend, it will cost about 10,000 people, Your Majesty."
At present, Warsaw can mobilize only 5 regiments, which is 7,500 troops.
The king looked at Mavakhovsky again: "How long will it take you to form four more regiments?"
"Two months," the latter paused and gritted his teeth. "No, Your Majesty, I can gather the strength of 4 regiments in just 40 days!"
Nowadays, all of Poland shares the same hatred of the enemy, and morale is very high. There are huge crowds of people every day in front of several registration points of the Military Commission.
Whether nobles, businessmen, workers, or peasants, they all enthusiastically requested to join the Crusade and drive away the invaders for the motherland.
There is no shortage of troops.
There were at least 20,000 to 30,000 people on the Military Commission's register of recruits. This is the result of only young and healthy applicants. If the requirements are relaxed, more than 50,000 people can even be recruited.
But the army doesn’t just grab a group of people and give them some guns.
The minimum level of military training must be completed, otherwise the queue will not line up on the battlefield, and the orders will not be understood. Not only will it be impossible to defend against the enemy, but it will also bring chaos to one's own side.
Fortunately, the Royal Military Academy in Warsaw was built half a year ago, and there are a large number of ready-made instructors available. This is why Mavakhovsky is confident that he can pull out four regiments within 40 days.
Of course, in such a short period of time, it can be guaranteed that the soldiers can pick up their guns and shoot, and they will not be separated. There is definitely no need to expect combat effectiveness.
"40 days..."
Stanislaw II pressed hard on the map, as if he had made a great determination, and solemnly said to the royal minister: "I can fight for you in the direction of Minsk. It will take at least a month...
"Please recruit troops as soon as possible.
"And all the existing five regiments will be sent to Krakow. We must not lose the Tarnovsk Mountain silver mine."
Currently, the silver mine supports Poland Nearly half of the funds are consumed. If something went wrong there, Poland would collapse almost immediately.
"Your Majesty, what are you going to do?" The King of Poland looked a little embarrassed, but still said: "I still have the status of a king. Moreover, I have some, ah, favors in Russia. With these, I should be able to exchange for a month "
Mavakhovsky immediately thought of something and shook his head repeatedly. Head: "Your Majesty, you, you can't do this..."
Stanislaw II smiled: "I am not good at politics or military affairs. In fact, I also know that the Tsar recommended me to do this. King, it’s useless for you to fancy me..."
"No, no, you are definitely not..."
The king was very calm: "My reputation has never been very good anyway, and that's all I can do for the motherland."
"Oh, the people will definitely be disappointed with me in the future."
"Jozef is more suitable to be king than me, and I hope that the Parliament will fully support him."
Jozef is the name of Prince Poniatowski.
The king then told his plan.
Several important ministers in the room immediately shook their heads, "Your Majesty, how can this be done?"
"Poland needs you!"
"We must have other ways..."
< br>Stanislaw II waved his hand: "Let me fight with everyone."
......
Western Poland.
The fallen province of Poznań.
Polish Foreign Minister Count Potocki sat on a chair with his head bowed, his fists clenched so tightly that the joints had lost their color.
In his pocket was the armistice agreement that had been passed by Parliament.
Today, he will hand it over to the Prussians here, exchanging the three provinces of Greater Poland and the city of Gdańsk in humiliating exchange for the Prussian withdrawal.
Yes, Poland can no longer spare the troops to defend the northwest.
Pototzki looked at his pocket watch. He had been waiting here for more than an hour. The Prussians obviously wanted to humiliate him more.
At this moment, his attendant quietly walked up behind him, leaned down and whispered:
"Sir, there is a Prussian local tax official who said that he has something urgent to see you. Oh. , He is from Kulm.”
“Kulm?” Potocki narrowed his eyes. Kulm was a Polish territory 20 years ago, and Catholicism is still practiced there.
The Polish Foreign Minister got up and went outside on the pretext that he couldn't stand the musty smell of the chair.
A short man with half-white hair passed by him as if nothing had happened. The moment he was closest to him, he suddenly slowed down and whispered in pure Polish:
"Please report to Warsaw, Gdańsk has not fallen!
" Captain Romilev and his French friends are holding on there. He said that he could hold on for at least three months and that his body would be the last obstacle in front of the enemy. "
Pototzky's heart immediately beat wildly, trying his best to suppress his excitement and confirmed:
"Are you telling the truth?"
"I swear. When I received the news, I came from Toruń to see you overnight." The short man made the sign of the cross on his chest, "May God bless Poland." !”
Pototzki looked forward, nodded in salute, and then crumpled the armistice agreement in his pocket into a ball.
(End of this chapter)