Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 799 - 707 Marching to Death

Chapter 799: Chapter 707: Marching to Death

Chapter 799: Chapter 707: Marching to Death

The Order Officer received the command and left. A Cavalry Officer with a mustachioed face and a hook nose crossed paths with him and entered Korezenikov’s office, standing at attention he said, “General, I have expanded the search range to 12 versts as you instructed, but still have not found the Polish Army.”

Korezenikov waved his hand irritably: “Colonel Bagration, dispatch more men towards Moscow; there should be some gains.”

“Yes, General.”

Bagration stood at attention and replied, then hesitated slightly: “But they were still in Bryansk the day before yesterday. I have searched all places repeatedly many times, except… the direction of Sivilia.”

Korezenikov let out a dry laugh: “Unless the Poles have gone mad, why would they possibly go south? Their obvious target is Moscow.”

“General, I mean, perhaps we could try…”

Korezenikov tapped his forehead: “Use your brain, Peter. Sivilia and Relysk are boundless Black Forests, and beyond them lies the Kursk Fortress. What are they going to do there? Hunt wild boars?

“If they indeed went south, then I would be relieved. They won’t survive the Black Forest without starving to death.”

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South of Bryansk, it’s a sparsely populated wilderness, with Relysk Province, almost the size of the Southern Netherlands, having only a population of 34,000.

Even Kursk and further south Kharkov are very barren, hardly able to secure enough supplies.

Only 400 miles to the south in Krasnoyarsk would one begin to see some signs of population.

And even with forced marches, it would take nearly two months to reach there. The Polish Army without logistical support could not possibly last that long in an uninhabited wilderness.

Bagration came out of the office somewhat dejected, carefully pondering where the Poles could have run off to.

After a long while, he shook his head and muttered to himself: “Anyway, we have to confirm it.”

That afternoon, a thousand Cavalry from the Russian Royal Holm Cavalry Camp quietly left the camp and galloped towards Sivilia.

These were the troops that Bagration brought from Kyiv, which were not originally under Korezenikov’s command, so they could be deployed privately without the latter’s approval.

The southernmost town of Bryansk, Blasov.

Two Cavalry Scouts caught up to East Brovsky, anxiously saying: “General, a Russian Cavalry unit has appeared behind us. We didn’t dare to get close for reconnaissance, but estimate at least six squadrons.”

Kosciuszko immediately furrowed his brows: “Are they following us?”

“They are three miles west of here; they probably haven’t discovered our trail yet.”

East Brovsky said: “But with so many Cavalry, we will be discovered sooner or later.”

Kosciuszko fell silent.

Once the Russians understood their intention to move south, even if they couldn’t muster a large army to intercept immediately, even sending small Cavalry units to harass would severely delay their marching speed.

Moreover, the Kursk Fortress would increase its defenses.

His own army might starve to death outside the fortress!

East Brovsky had obviously thought of these as well, and with a flick of his whip, he said: “I’ll take the Cavalry to break them.”

“Wait!” Kosciuszko stretched out his hand to stop him, “The Cavalry that escape will definitely bring more Russian troops.”

East Brovsky’s Cavalry Corps, along with the Winged Cavalry, totaled only 1,500 men, which was simply not enough to annihilate nearly 1,000 Russian Cavalry, or six squadrons.

“What should we do then?”

Kosciuszko watched the soldiers passing by, and after a long time, he instructed the Order Officer with great difficulty: “Order the entire army to immediately turn northeast and make it look like we’re heading towards Odess.”

“Yes, General!”

General East Brovsky asked in surprise, “What are you planning to do?”

“Make the Russian Cavalry think we are going to move from Odess to the south of Moscow.”

“Think?” The Cavalry Commander immediately shook his head, “But we must continue to move south, and eventually, those cavalry will discover us.”

Kosciuszko looked down at his saddle and said, “That’s why we need someone to stop the Russian Cavalry.”

East Brovsky instantly understood. If they could hold off the cavalry behind them for two to three days, the enemy would believe that the main forces were still advancing to the northeast, whereas their troops would have already turned southward by then.

If they could shake off these cavalry for five to six days, once they slipped into the dense forests of Sivilia, it would be very difficult for the enemy to find them again.

East Brovsky said, “I’ll go and cut off those ‘tails’.”

He spoke lightly, but everyone knew that once separated from the main troops, they would soon be surrounded by the relentlessly pursuing Russian Army.

“The Cavalry Corps cannot do without you.” Colonel Antoni Madaliniski rode over, saluting Kosciuszko with his hat, “Please, let me take on this mission. I only need 1300 soldiers, and I guarantee to hold off the Russians following us for more than 3 days.”

After a moment of thought, Kosciuszko nodded silently, stepped forward, and patted his arm forcefully, speaking in a low voice, “Poland will forever remember your name, and that of every brave soldier who fights alongside you.”

“Look at what you’re saying,” Madaliniski replied with a smile, “The battles that you and General East Brovsky will face later will surely be more dangerous than mine. I just can’t wait to get my hands on the Russians sooner.”

The next day.

By the river valley on the west outskirts of Odess.

Colonel Madaliniski, looking at the 37th Royal Infantry in front of him and the soldiers from two squadrons of Winged Cavalry, pointed to his chest and said, “You should all know the mission we’re undertaking.

“I have no right to ask anyone to sacrifice themselves.

“But I am doing it now anyway.

“Because, aside from this, I can see no other way to save our homeland.

“For the survival of Poland, for our descendants to live free from the aggressors’ enslavement, I implore you to join me in soaking this land beneath our feet with our blood!

“Please forgive my presumption, I will eternally repent to you all in hell.

“But before that, we shall tear all enemies to shreds!

“Poland will ultimately win a glorious victory!”

1300 Polish soldiers fell into a long silence.

Then someone, hitting his chest hard, shouted out, “I am willing to die with you!”

Instantly, the soldiers erupted in successive roars, “Die together!”

“Tear the enemies apart!”

“For Poland!”

At noon.

The Russian Cavalry tracking Kosciuszko saw from afar a line of infantry blocking the narrow area between the river valley and the north side of the forest.

The Russian officer in charge, looking through the telescope at the flag of the King’s Polish corps, fell into hesitation.

The next morning, upon confirming that the group of Polish soldiers numbered only over a thousand and showed no intention of leaving, he gave the order to attack.