I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 683 Galloping on the Vast Plains

If Drasovitz were still alive, he would definitely add with great pride, "These are our most elite troops!"

He had undergone two months of "actual combat training" in Slavonia and was already considered a veteran. Wang Ling's Third Division participated in almost all the battles to suppress the rebellion and had extremely rich combat experience.

Yannick looked at the soldiers in the distance and said excitedly:
"With them participating in the defense, the Russians will never be able to capture the town of Marece."

The second lieutenant at the side shook his head: "Looking at the direction they are marching, they are probably not here to assist in the defense."

"Where are they going then?"

Next to the ranks of the Polish Royal Army's 3rd Infantry Division, General Kosciuszko rode on his horse, looking at the endless plain ahead, and said to Prince Poniatowski beside him:

"Given the soldiers' current condition, they will be able to reach Kyiv in four days."

The prince nodded and glanced in the direction of Marece Town:
“I will hold on here until the day after tomorrow.

"Our boys really shocked me. The city of Mozyr was supposed to be used to lure the Russians. I didn't expect them to give the Russians a hard time at the first line of defense.

"Now, the town of Marece is enough to make the Russians desperate."

Kosciuszko sighed solemnly:

"But the casualties were also very heavy. In more than ten days of defense, more than 5 people died on the Mozyr side."

"Yes." Prince Poniatowski nodded, and recalled the situation at the French Royal Arsenal that day when they held a combat meeting. "Your Highness is right. If we put all our forces into defense, we will eventually fail."

As he spoke, he omitted the word "France" before "Crown Prince", showing that they were all family members.

Kościuszko puffed out his chest. “I am increasingly convinced that the Crown Prince’s plan is the only one that could possibly save Poland.”

The prince glanced at him and said, "I still think it would be better for me to go. After all, even if I were captured, Catherine II would most likely release me."

Kosciuszko did not laugh at the idea of ​​considering being captured before the battle even started, because he knew very well that there were only two possible outcomes for him: death in battle or being captured.

But, he has to go.

"We've already talked about this, it would be more appropriate for me to go."

The prince said no more.

His Majesty the King had previously gone to curry favor with the Tsar in order to slow down Russia's preparations for war, and now his reputation in the country was not very good. He had become the only person who could take charge of the overall situation.

Also, Kosciuszko was indeed better than himself at commanding this kind of battle that required flexibility.

The two walked a long way from Marece before the prince turned his horse back. Before leaving, he crossed himself earnestly and said to Kosciuszko:

"May God bless you."

The latter also made a prayer gesture: "May God bless Poland."

"Come back alive."

"Yeah. You should be more careful too."

Prince Poniatowski turned and left without looking back, for he was afraid that the soldiers would see his red eyes.

Kosciuszko's troops marched for another day, and by the next morning, the army was approaching the border of Mozyr.

Kościuszko walked into the wilderness and looked into the distance. He suddenly stopped, urged his horse to walk onto the mound beside the road, and waved to the Polish soldiers in front of him:

"Do you know what's ahead?"

Everyone stopped to watch. After a moment, a captain said:

"General, if we continue walking for another half a day, we will enter Russia..." "Russia?" Kosciuszko smiled and said loudly, "When I was a child, that was still Polish land!"

The soldiers fell silent instantly.

Kościuszko continued: "You may not know where we are going this time. I can tell you now that I will take you back to your homeland.

"We are going to attack Kyiv!"

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment. The defense of Mozyr was so difficult, but the general wanted to launch a counterattack against Russia, no, against Poland!
Pointing to the town of Marecze, Kosciuszko said: “Tomorrow, Prince Poniatowski will pretend to be unable to hold out and lure the Russian army to launch a fierce attack on the town of Marecze.

"And we will take advantage of the Russians' attention being focused there to attack the Russian army's Kiev supply line! We want to let the invaders know that the Poles also have bayonets and cannons and will not allow them to bully us!"

This was Joseph's battle plan for Poland.

The East European plains are easy to attack but difficult to defend. If Poland only defends, it will inevitably fall into a war of attrition with the Russian army.

With Poland's national strength, it simply cannot afford to waste it.

Therefore, he suggested that the Polish army also use the width of the Great Plain to launch an attack on the Russians.

Russia would have habitually focused its energy on how to conquer Poland, just like it did during the "One Melon" period, and would not have paid any attention to arranging defenses.

And when the Polish army suddenly appeared on Russian territory and galloped across the plains of East Europe, they would immediately be at a loss.

Of course, attacking Kiev was only the first step in the entire plan - it was too close to the main force of the Russian army and had many garrisons, making it unsuitable for a general offensive, but it was enough to tie down the Morkov Corps.

Afterwards, Kosciuszko will lead his army to "dance" on the vast plain according to the script given to him by Joseph.

The soldiers suddenly burst into wild cheers:
"Counterattack! Holy War!"

"Let those bastards know how powerful we are!"

“Take back Kyiv!”

They were the most elite troops in Poland, but before that they could only watch the new recruits fighting bloody battles with the enemy while they were left behind by their commanders. They had been holding back their anger and had no place to vent it.

Originally they thought they would be sent to defend Warsaw, but they didn't expect to beat the Russians on their own turf!

This simply made them ecstatic.

Kosciuszko waited until the soldiers gradually quieted down, then waved his hand and said:
"Our mission this time will be extremely dangerous, and there is almost no chance of returning alive. But we will win true freedom and dignity for our motherland! The invaders will have to go back home because of our heroic fight!

"Are you willing to face death with me?"

All the soldiers around immediately roared in unison:
"willing!!!"

……

Outside the town of Malece.

The Russian commander-in-chief, Morkov, stood on a barn, watching through a telescope as a group of Russian skirmishers attacked the town center. When they were only one street away from the clock tower, a large group of Poles suddenly emerged from the roofs of the surrounding houses and blocked the intersection with intensive firepower.

He suddenly felt a surge of anxiety in his chest.

This small town is like a wounded soldier who is barely breathing, but refuses to close his eyes.

"Damn it," he raised his hand to signal his staff, "Let the Kiev Grenadiers attack. The bell tower must be captured before noon!"

"Yes, General!"

The staff officer was about to leave when he saw a ranger galloping to the barn, reining in his horse and shouting:
"General, our baggage train was attacked by the Poles in the northern suburbs of Kiev!"

(End of this chapter)