Chapter 744 - 744 652 The Result We Want

Chapter 744: Chapter 652 The Result We Want Chapter 744: Chapter 652 The Result We Want Prince Poniatowski nodded almost without hesitation, “Of course, Your Highness, of course in francs.”

Poland now was like a family of eight left with only half a loaf of dark bread, grateful for any bit of food given—why would they fuss about having too little salt in their meal?

Especially since the franc was very strong, widely circulated in the Germany and Italy regions, and it was said that the recent steam engine transaction in Hesse was paid for in franc banknotes.

That was a business deal worth millions of francs, enough to prove the purchasing power of the franc.

“Then it’s settled.”

Joseph smiled and gestured to the teacup on the table, “Please try this ‘Wuyi’ tea, freshly brought from the Far East.”

“Oh, and what about the matter concerning the Prussian officers you mentioned earlier?”

Prince Poniatowski hesitated for half a second before revealing a smile, “I’ll discuss it with them, perhaps have them transferred to the recruitment offices to serve as instructors for new recruits.”

On one side was Prussia, always promising yet never delivering, even constantly demanding control of Gdansk; on the other was France, investing substantial sums of real silver and actively supporting Poland’s resistance against invasions.

Which side to choose was obvious.

As for the few Prussian officers who had contributed to Poland, compensating them with high-standard treatments would suffice.

The Prince said, taking a sip from his teacup. The green tea without milk made him slightly frown, but then a distinct fresh fragrance filled his mouth.

He looked at the clear tea and curiously asked, “Wuyi?”

“It is a large mountain in the East, producing top-quality tea leaves. Oh, it’s what we often call Bohai.”

“No wonder it’s so rich and fragrant, thank you for your hospitality. This way of drinking it is quite rare, though.”

“People from the East prefer to drink it this way. In fact, they even don’t add sugar.” Joseph also took a sip of tea and continued, “You mentioned training new recruits earlier? Forgive me for being blunt, but the training methods of the Prussian Army are quite outdated.

“Hmm, maybe I should help you build another military academy…”

After spending the morning, Joseph and Prince Poniatowski had essentially finalized all major issues concerning Poland.

They casually had lunch at the Royal Armory, then in the afternoon, both headed to the temporarily arranged war council room.

In the hall, Bertier and other officers from the General Staff, along with Wacław Rzewuski and several high-ranking Polish generals, had already been waiting.

Rzewuski, Kosciuszko, and others were dressed as diplomats or attendants, clearly having traveled covertly to France.

Without any superfluous formalities, the officers stood to salute, and the meeting immediately entered the main agenda.

As the meeting’s chair, Bertier stood and said, “Everyone should be very clear about the current situation on the eastern front.

“In the most optimistic estimates, Poland will face 100,000 Russian soldiers.

“And more likely, between 120,000 to 150,000 Russian soldiers will invade the east, with other countries taking the opportunity to intervene as well.”

He had already been informed of the results of the discussions between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Poland, so he deliberately omitted any mention of the Prussian Army.

Rzewuski’s face immediately showed a look of concern upon hearing the words and he continued, “The situation is indeed very serious. Currently, we are arranging defenses from Warren to Minsk, and our primary defense strategy is to strive…”

He had only spoken halfway when he saw the Crown Prince of France suddenly stand up and stride towards the map of Eastern Europe hanging on the western wall of the conference hall.

“What is this…”

Immediately, under the astonished gazes of everyone present, Joseph grabbed a pen and violently drew a thick vertical line across the map of Poland.

That line ran through Minsk and Warren, cutting Poland into two sections like a knife wound.

He forcefully slapped the right side of the vertical line, the southeastern corner of Poland, and exclaimed in an angry and suppressed voice, “Is this the outcome you wish to see?

“Watching the Russians rampage through your lands behind the defenses at Warren, taking half of Poland’s territory, enslaving the Polish people on the western banks of the Dnieper River and in Podolia, forcing them to kneel and call themselves Russians, giving their meager incomes as tribute to the Tsar!

“Is this what you want?!”

The hall was deathly silent. All the Polish officers, including Prince Poniatowski, lowered their heads, their hands slightly trembling.

“Answer me!” Joseph roared, “Do you only want half of Poland?!”

“No!” Kosciuszko suddenly stood up, eyes reddening as he said, “We don’t want to lose an inch of land! Even if it costs me my life, I don’t want those damned Russians to set foot in Poland!”

The other officers also exclaimed aloud, “Protecting Poland is our duty. We don’t want to lose any territory!”

“We want a whole Poland!”

Prince Poniatowski also rose, his expression agitated and about to say something, but suddenly paused, then turned somewhat downcast, “Crown Prince, please believe that every Pole does not want to give up the southeastern territories.

“But Russia is too powerful; we simply cannot hold them at Ovruch or Mozhili.

“My soldiers and I are not afraid of sacrifice, but we do not want to die in vain… Fighting the Russians head-on at the eastern border will deplete our already scarce military forces, and eventually, even Warren may fall…”

As one of Poland’s finest generals, he had a very clear understanding of the strength of both armies.

Historically, following Russia’s initiation of the second partition of Poland in the war, the Lithuanian army on the northern front of Poland had only held out for 19 days before being defeated, while the southern front commanded by Prince Poniatowski had resisted for a month and four days before the Russian vanguard was already at the gates of Warsaw City.

Although Poland’s military strength had improved from historical levels and was better prepared, it still could not defeat the Russian Army on the poor and defensively unfavorable eastern borders.

Joseph, looking around at the angry and disheartened Polish officers, spoke deliberately, “Since we cannot hold them, then we must change our tactics. We will make sure the Russians understand that Poland is invincible!”

Kosciuszko, keenly sensing the implication in the Crown Prince of France’s words, immediately raised his head, “Are you suggesting there are other tactics?”

Joseph nodded assertively, took a few steps aside, and then gestured towards Bertier.

The Chief of the General Staff approached the map and began meticulously explaining the combat deployment.

In fact, more than half a month ago, the French General Staff had already developed several battle plans suitable for Poland.

However, upon reviewing these plans, Joseph was dismayed to discover that even in the best scenarios, they could only resist the Russian Army for three to four years at most, eventually leading to the defense of Warsaw.

But this was not the outcome he desired at all!