Chapter 1216: 1121: A Nation in Suffering

Chapter 1216: Chapter 1121: A Nation in Suffering

The sixty or seventy members of the Great Sejm sitting on the east side stood up one after another, excitedly supporting Jan Kiliński,

“Placating the Russians is a betrayal of the brave warriors who died in the War of National Defense!”

“The Russians have deceived us with lies for decades, and we must never trust them again!”

“Count Blanicki, you can crawl before your Tsar and beg, but we will never do so!”

“Damn it, we drove the Russians away with blood and will never let them return…”

Although Count Blanicki’s side had only a dozen people, they still stubbornly and loudly refuted,

“We cannot keep wasting like this forever.”

“Why don’t you go to Bobruisk or Turów and see where people have to flee east of the Dnieper River because they can’t pay taxes.”

“We can hate the Russians, but we also need to trade with them.”

“If this continues, there will be unrest in the eastern provinces!”

The people on Kiliński’s side immediately drowned them out with louder voices.

Both sides quarreled for a full half hour, almost coming to blows, and Speaker Chartoreski reluctantly ordered the guards to separate the two sides and then announced the adjournment of Congress with a vote on Blanicki’s proposal to be held in a week.

The dozen or so “peace faction” members were first asked to leave the parliamentary hall. As Gosakowski reached the door, he turned to shout to the other members through the gap in the guards, “I must remind you, if the proposal doesn’t pass, the east will definitely be in chaos!”

Kiliński watched the “peace faction” disappear and said anxiously, “We cannot let the Eastern Orthodox people continue like this.”

Hugo Kovantai beside him sighed, “Indeed, the situation in the eastern provinces is not very good. I just visited there last month, and many people are secretly doing business with the Russians.”

Yakub Yassin approached and said, “These despicable traitors. It is they who supply the Russian Army in Smolensk, and they should be immediately arrested!”

Kovantai whispered, “They are just trying to survive…”

According to the resolutions of the Polish Parliament, all Poles are strictly prohibited from doing business with Russians, and violators are to be dealt with as traitors.

This is understandable, as the Russian invasion caused significant casualties in Poland and a near collapse of finances, making anti-Russian sentiment the current political correctness in Poland.

However, during the last war, although Poland barely resisted the joint Russian, Prussian, and Austrian attack, its national strength was ultimately weak, and it had to cede three or four provinces in exchange for a truce.

Although this loss is much smaller than that of historic partitions, Poland is still a defeated nation in terms of the war outcome.

The current situation around Poland is:

Trade with Russia to the east is impossible.

To the west, Prussia, having occupied most of Polish territory, sees resistance forces active in border provinces like Poznan, with tensions between Poland and Prussia remaining high.

Only Austria to the south is still doing business with Poland, but Vienna, holding the sole buyer position for southern Polish goods, has forced grain prices down to just 60% of what they were a few years ago—exporting grain is Poland’s main source of income.

The grain from central and northern areas can be exported through Gdansk Port, but the income is insufficient to effectively recover the Polish finances burdened by huge deficits from the War of National Defense.

It must be noted that to defend against the covetous eyes of its three major neighbors, Poland has maintained a standing army of over 90,000, with annual military expenses consuming all grain export revenue.

Fortunately, the silver mines in Krakow provide the Polish Government with 9 million zloty annually, or over 14 million francs, barely preventing Warsaw from bankruptcy.

Yes, Joseph allowed most of France’s share of the silver mines to remain in Poland in the form of loans—France holds a 40% stake in the mines.

At this time, the eccentric Paul I suddenly sent a special envoy to Warsaw, expressing a desire to restore relations between the two countries.

This is as absurd as a thief breaking into your house and then inviting you to an opera.

Nonetheless, many people in eastern Poland, especially the Eastern Orthodox communities, still want to accept the Tsar’s peace proposition.

Several days later, at Łazienki Palace.

The Regent King of Poland, Poniatowski, frowned at the heavyweight members like Yasinsky and Kiliński, “So, what are your opinions?”

Yasinsky clenched his fists tightly and said, “This is definitely a Russian plot to divide us. If we open up the eastern border, it won’t be long before the Russians cultivate another Targowica Confederation.”

Ignacy Potocki said solemnly, “We should even send more troops to the east.”

Although he also bore the Potocki name, he was a steadfast anti-Russian.

Prince Poniatowski nodded, “We must admit, the Russians’ schemes have worked. The reaction from eastern representatives is significant, and I fear rejecting the peace proposal will lead them to…”

Yasinsky immediately said, “It is very likely they secretly asked the Russians to do this. I believe that the Great Sejm should not even have Eastern Orthodox believers!”

Potocki loudly agreed, “Yes, these people will ruin Poland sooner or later, just like they did a few years ago!”

“We should purge the traitors in the Great Sejm before they sabotage!”

At this moment, a court official hurriedly knocked and entered, bowing to Poniatowski and said, “Your Highness the Regent, we have just received news that a protest of thousands has broken out in Bobruisk.

“They demand the resumption of trade with Russia and a reduction in garrison troops. There is already a trend of spreading towards Minsk.”

Bobruisk and other eastern provinces have always been the poorest areas of Poland. After the trade ban with Russia, the lives of the lower class have been barely sustainable. Upon learning that Russia is willing to restore relations, many people have gone to the City Hall to express their support.

Potocki immediately looked at Prince Poniatowski, “We cannot hesitate any longer, Your Highness, please order the troops to suppress these traitors!”

However, Hugo Kovantai hesitated and said, “But they haven’t done anything after all. Demonstrations are their right under the constitution.”

“It will be too late when they do something!”

“We can’t possibly imprison so many people, can we?”

As the two sides continued their heated debate, the creaking sound of wooden wheels echoed, and soon a wheelchair appeared at the door.

All present, including Prince Poniatowski, immediately went up to greet him, “Marshal Kosciuszko, why are you here?”

Indeed, it was the great Polish hero Kosciuszko, who had bravely led troops to raid deep into Russian territory. He lost his left leg in the war and had retired to recuperate after returning home, never getting involved in politics.

But no one could ignore his immense influence.

Kosciuszko glanced around solemnly, “Poland is once again at the moment of life and death!”