Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Prince Henry asked calmly, "Do you think there's any conspiracy in Warsaw?"

"Certainly not," said Hodkevich, "You really should see for yourself the chaos in Warsaw. Previously, because of the issue with the serfs, even the Great Sejm was dissolved, and the elections still haven't been completed.

"The Lithuanians and Ruthenians in the east don't want to fight at all. Poniatowski is well aware that without negotiations, his and the King's positions are at risk."

"Go back and tell the Regent King of Poland that if we cede the land west of Vinnitsa, our country can choose to ceasefire. Oh, and the handover of Gdansk Port must be completed within ten days."

Thus, without firing a single shot, the Prussian-Austrian armies entered Gdansk and Lublin respectively.

However, once the news "Poland is about to surrender" spread among the two armies, the originally high morale gradually turned to idleness.

In Warsaw City, an unprecedented movement erupted condemning the government for the Polish Army not resisting and losing two important cities.

The Regent Poniatowski, following the suggestion of the Crown Prince of France, sent his Chief Secretary Pyatoli to deliver a public speech outside the Parliament House.

"In recent years, the Commonwealth has been severely squeezed by trade sanctions from countries like Russia, Prussia, and Austria, causing the financial situation to deteriorate drastically," Pyatoli said sincerely, "Moreover, the war broke out too quickly, and we couldn't even gather the funds to procure logistics supplies.

"The soldiers on the front lines can only ensure two meals a day, and vehicles and tents are gravely lacking. In such conditions, the soldiers will merely face slaughter by the enemy...

"His Highness the Regent King does not want our young men to bleed in vain, so he has no choice but to reluctantly negotiate within a certain range..."

The previously noisy crowd gradually quieted down. Everyone knew that Poland's financial situation was indeed very poor; many civil servants hadn't been paid for several months.

Suddenly, a woman wearing an apron pushed through the crowd, approached the podium, fumbled underneath her apron for a while, hesitated for two seconds, and finally gently placed two silver coins on the wooden platform, "This is all I can spare, otherwise my children will starve. Please drive out those shameless invaders."

As she turned around, several middle-aged men followed, placing money on the wooden platform, "I will donate half of my wages to the army from now on."

"We must reclaim Gdansk!"

"These are the only two Zloty I have left. I'll sell my house when I return to donate more..."

There were even nobles shouting, "Please set up a donation place at the City Hall, I still have a thousand Zloty."

"Yes! As long as we can drive out the invaders, we will find a way to raise military funds!"

As people flocked to the podium, Pyatoli had to suspend his speech, helplessly watching as the silver coins and banknotes at his feet accumulated, clenching his fists tightly.

Two hours later, when he returned to the Łazienki Palace with 2,445 Zloty, he immediately tendered his resignation to the Regent King.

"I apologize, Your Highness. I believe I am still capable of carrying a gun, and perhaps I can do something at the front."

What Joseph didn't expect was that his "financial delay tactic" only lasted less than a week, and Poland raised over 2.7 million Zloty from donations across the country, equivalent to 4.3 million francs.

This amount, to the impoverished Poles, was essentially everything they had.

And with so much money, it was enough to fund 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers in the field.

However, Poniatowski's special envoy engaged in a second round of negotiations with Russia, Prussia, and Austria—yes, Russia, seeing Prussia and Austria easily gain benefits, also quickly dispatched its forces.

After much humbling and compromise, Russia acquired Minsk and Bobruisk, Prussia continued southward to Kuyavi, and Austria obtained nearly all the regions of Krakow, except for the silver mines.

Meanwhile, the Polish Army was pointlessly repositioned constantly, always kept away from the enemy forces.

Time quickly moved into mid-May.

In the city of Pinsk, in central eastern Poland.

In the temporary camp of the Royal 12th Infantry Regiment, Major Karoslaw gazed at the red marks on the map, irritably rubbing his golden short hair.

Those marked the areas now controlled by the Russian Army, among which were cities like Mozhili, where he had once fought valiantly.

"Damn it, where exactly are we being sent to fight?" he vented loudly, "Are the gentlemen of the Military Committee not yet awake? At this rate, we'll only be able to defend Warsaw!"

Beside him, Major Yanick, with a horrifying scar on his collarbone, shook his head, "These peaceful years have allowed many incompetents to climb to high positions. Poland will be ruined by them sooner or later."

Karoslaw struck a nearby tree forcefully with his horsewhip, "Then what should we do? Are we really going to wait for the Russians to invade Warsaw?"

Just then, two cavalrymen rode swiftly over, shouting to Yanick, "Colonel, we've spotted traces of Russian forces north of Slutsk, approximately two thousand strong."

Yanick gritted his teeth, "Those bastards really think we're all dead?"

At that moment, an Order Officer arrived, saluted Yanick with his hat, "Major Yanick, our Colonel is preparing to head to Slutsk. He's asking if you'll join us."

Yanick looked puzzled at the aide, "Do we have orders?"

The aide shook his head, "No, Colonel."

The Order Officer lowered his voice, "Are you willing to watch Slutsk being occupied by the Russians? Forget the orders; we have three regiments, enough to defeat that Russian force!"

Yanick and Karoslaw exchanged looks and nodded simultaneously, "Alright, I'll go too."

"At worst, we face a court-martial; what are we afraid of?"

The next morning, the three Polish infantry regiments stationed in Pinsk quietly headed east.

Just as Yanick and the other two colonels were excitedly discussing upcoming tactics, the urgent sound of hooves was heard from behind.

Then Yanick's aide came over on horseback, face darkened, "Colonel, it's people from the Military Committee, ordering us to return to the camp immediately."

"Damn it!"

The nearby thin and dark colonel shouted in anger, "Magorkov, take my guards and block them!"

At that moment, Yanick suddenly heard a very familiar voice, "Young men, now is not the time. For the sake of the motherland, I ask you to endure a little longer."

Yanick turned abruptly to see an old officer with a pant leg hanging from the side of his saddle.

He promptly dismounted, standing at attention: "Marshal, why are you here?"

Kosciuszko nodded to the officers, "Return now; the time is not right yet. But I swear, when that day comes, I will tear the invaders to pieces with you."

All three colonels lowered their heads. A moment later, they successively ordered a retreat.

Kosciuszko then turned to his guard, "Where to next?"

The guard immediately replied, "To the Fifth Guards Cavalry Brigade of Vladimir, Marshal."

"Cavalry? Then we need to hurry."

Thus, using his immense influence within the Polish Army, Kosciuszko personally kept the fervent soldiers tightly restrained at the rear.