I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1347 The Flame of Revenge

"I have already sent someone to urge them, sir."

Before the staff officer could finish speaking, a young soldier, who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, not very tall, with a face that was dry and red from the cold, came running excitedly.

After being stopped by the guards, the young man quickly removed his hat and stood at attention before Yannick, saying loudly, "Commander, are you sending me to capture the artillery positions on the south side? Don't worry, my men..."

The staff officer gestured for the guards to move aside and looked at the young soldier, saying, "Sergeant Waldemar Zamoyasky of the 14th Company, 6th Skirmisher Battalion?"

“It’s me, sir.”

Yannick looked over and said in a deep voice, "Your surname is actually Wizczek, isn't it? You've violated the conscription regulations, do you know that?"

Wizczek paused, took a half step back, and whispered, "I...I don't know what you're talking about..."

Yannick put away his binoculars and walked over: "When you enlisted in Lublin, your brother had already been killed in action for over a year. According to the conscription regulations, as the only male in your family, you were not eligible to become a soldier."

Wizczek visibly panicked and took two steps back: "I...I didn't mean to conceal it..."

He suddenly pointed to the Russian defense line in the distance: "Brigadier General, I must see the moment the Russians are defeated! Please, after we enter Minsk, I will report to the military police immediately!"

“You won’t be punished, but you must go back to Wizna’s hometown now.” Yannick rubbed his forehead. Yesterday, the General Staff gave him a direct order to send Wizna back.

The sergeant's father died defending Poznan. His eldest brother participated in the raid on Crimea, and his body still lies in the ice fields south of Kursk. His second brother was killed by artillery fire while capturing the Erzgebirge fortress.

His family is now under the special care of the Ministry of Military Affairs, but this kid actually changed his name and went to Lublin to join the army.

“I…I can’t go back.” Vizczek’s voice was not loud, but it was very stubborn.

Yannick sighed and advised, "Your mother is left alone at home. Would you want to see her go hungry?"

Wizczek lowered his head and after a long while said, "My mother said she only wants to hear news of the Russians being defeated... If I go back like this, she'll beat me..."

He paused, then continued, "Uncle Goshinevska said he would help me take care of the family. Although he's lost an arm, he can manage forty or fifty acres of potato fields by himself..."

"Damn it."

Yannick suddenly remembered the letter his mother had written to him when he first joined the army, and suddenly realized that he could no longer bring himself to tell this young man to go back.

He turned around and waved to the staff officer: "Report back to the General Staff that they couldn't find that guy named Wizczek."

"But...yes, sir."

Vizczek was overjoyed, stood at attention again, and shouted, "Thank you, Commander!"

Yannick said without turning his head, "Stay in the camp. After we capture Minsk, return to Wizna immediately."

"Yes!"

Shortly after the young sergeant left, a messenger arrived from the west, reined in his horse a short distance away, and excitedly shouted to Yannick, "Lieutenant Colonel, over 600 Parma reinforcements have arrived in two hours. They've also brought a large quantity of oats, 26 cans of food, and three heavy artillery pieces!"

Yannick was overjoyed. He had only heard of canned food before, but had never seen it. It was said that canned food contained cooked meat and vegetables that could retain their original flavor even after being transported for three or four months.

Unexpectedly, this time the French ally sent 26 truckloads!
Yes, France is currently the only country in Europe capable of producing canned goods in large quantities, so it's obvious where these supplies came from.

As for heavy artillery, that was exactly what he needed.

In the preceding months, the Russians had been unable to fire most of their artillery due to a lack of supplies. This allowed the Polish army, which was even less equipped with artillery, to maintain a decent offensive pace.

In recent days, however, the Russian artillery fire has intensified, and his soldiers are suffering increasing casualties. But there are still two Russian lines of defense in front of Minsk.

Now that he has acquired more cannons, he can finally go all out!

On the way to meet the reinforcements, Yannick said to the officers beside him with a hint of smugness, "Look at you, you're actually worried that our French allies will abandon us and go to make peace with the Russians."
"I've said it so many times, there is no ceasefire or negotiations at all. It's just a tactic by His Highness the Crown Prince to buy us time."

Some officers nodded in agreement, while others lowered their heads in shame: "We hope His Highness the Crown Prince can forgive our rudeness..."

"I'm so damn stupid, to doubt our best ally..."

That afternoon, all the soldiers of Wang Ling's 12th Infantry Brigade leaned against the breastwork and enjoyed a delicious carrot, potato, and fish stew—the kind where each person could eat at least three pieces of fish.

Since the signing of the Treaty of Prague between Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Prague, they had barely been able to get a decent bread, and this sumptuous dinner greatly boosted everyone's spirits.

The following morning, three twelve-pound cannons suddenly unleashed their fury upon the Russian right flank. Operated by the Parma Royal Artillery Battalion, on the fifth test firing, a shell accurately grazed the Russian infantry line, instantly raising a cloud of blood.

The Polish soldiers cheered and launched the first wave of attack before the Russian artillery could begin its counterattack.

On the Minsk front, in the Russian army's temporary command post, Kutuzov listened to his staff read out the orders that His Majesty the Tsar had just issued, but his eyes were fixed on the Polish artillery that was flashing with gunfire through his binoculars.

He submitted reports to the Tsar on several occasions, suggesting that a ceasefire agreement must be reached with France, but the officials in St. Petersburg not only ignored him, but also staged an arrogant walk-out in Milan.

He could already foresee that the Polish logistics would definitely improve in the future, and new recruits would arrive on the battlefield in an endless stream.

In contrast, although the British have sent him some supplies, reinforcements from St. Petersburg have not yet set out—perhaps the troops were first sent to the South Caucasus.

In short, he will have to hold out in Minsk for at least another two months before the balance of power changes.

The Poles attacked his lines like madmen, and in the previous month or so, he had already lost more than 4 soldiers.

Keep in mind, he was on the defensive.

After the staff officer finished reading Alexander I's personal letter, Kutuzov quickly stood at attention, raised his head, and shouted, "Hurrah! Hurrah!"

Then he turned to the messenger and said, "Order the Vorobyov Legion to build a defensive line along the Svisloch River."

The latter was taken aback. The Svisloch River was just behind them.

(End of this chapter)