The Poles' Expectations, and Expectations for the Poles

More than a hundred Poland came this time, and in addition to Wybicki, there was another person leading the group named Dąbrowski.

This Dąbrowski was a tall, stout man. According to Wybicki, he was originally a cavalry officer in the Poland army, having received training at the Dresden Cavalry Academy and served in the army of the Elector of Dresden. He later participated in the Poland uprising and distinguished himself, earning the trust of his men.

"However, it was all for naught; we still couldn't defeat the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian invaders. During our low point, I heard about your theories of protracted struggle and guerrilla warfare from my friend Wybicki. This greatly inspired me and gave me direction in my despair. The France Revolution and Poland independence were not separate events, but rather mutually supportive and complementary. Wybicki mentioned that you not only have the most advanced weapons but also the most advanced tactics and ideas. Therefore, we have come to you hoping to receive your help."

Upon meeting, Dąbrowski grasped Joseph's hand tightly and said this, as if a long-lost party member had finally found his organization.

Joseph withdrew his hand from his and said, "Mr. Dąbrowski, please sit down and have some water. As you said, the revolutionary cause of our France people is closely linked to the liberation cause of the whole of Europe. And I myself have always greatly admired the courage of the Poland people in resisting oppression; and I have deep sympathy for the plight of the Poland people."

He watched as Dąbrowski sat down, and then he sat down in the chair opposite him.

"Mr. Dąbrowski, if you have come seeking our help, there are some things I need to make clear beforehand. Um... this may be a little unpleasant to hear, but for the sake of Poland independence, I hope you and your comrades will listen to me. I know that some of your comrades harbor unrealistic illusions about us; they hope that we, the France, can first defeat the main forces of Russia, Prussia, and Austria on the battlefield, and then Poland can seize the opportunity to regain its independence. I must say, if Poland revolutionaries hold such hopes, then the final result may disappoint you greatly."

"Please continue," Dąbrowski said.

"Prussia, Austria, and Russia are all very powerful nations. And France has more than just these few enemies. Our enemies also include powerful Britain and Spain. In fact, we are already struggling to fight these enemies. The protracted war has placed a huge burden on the France people. Therefore, from the beginning of this war, we in France have been hoping for a peace of non-interference. And now, this desire for peace has become even more urgent. Therefore, even if we defeat the enemy on the battlefield, if they propose peace to France, it will be very difficult for France to refuse it, and it will be very difficult for France to attach too many conditions to it. Hmm... do you understand what I mean?"

Dąbrowski turned pale. He hesitated for a moment before replying, "You mean that the peace terms offered by France and them will not include Poland independence?"

"Yes, just as the France Revolution could only rely on the France people themselves, Poland's freedom and independence can ultimately only rely on the Poland people themselves."

"But our enemy is far too powerful," Dąbrowski said.

"Strength and weakness can transform into each other. Wasn't Poland strong back then?" Joseph countered. "Wasn't Poland strong when it defeated the Teutonic Knights, captured the Russia Tsar, and crushed the Turkey army? If Władysław (who severely damaged the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Grunwald), Sigismund III (who conquered Moscow and captured Tsar Vasily IV), Sobieski (who decisively defeated a Turkey army of over 200,000 at the gates of Vienna) knew that their descendants would fear the strength of the Teutons, Russia, and Austria, what would they think?"

Dąbrowski almost buried his head between his legs.

"The weak can become strong, as long as they persevere. My friend, I can teach you all sorts of ways to make a country strong, but we France cannot conjure up a strong Poland directly. An independent and strong Poland can only rely on its own efforts. If Poland can only regain its independence through external forces, then it will be easily partitioned again due to changes in the external environment. The sword of homeland, the soldiers of homeland, are the only hope for charging into battle. This may sound harsh, but I have no ill will towards Poland. I hope you understand this principle."

"Mr. Bonaparte, you are right." Dąbrowski looked up. "I know that only those who truly care about you would point out your problems. After hearing what you just said, I am certain that you are indeed someone who truly cares about Poland and a truly trustworthy friend of the Poland people. I came here precisely to learn the way to self-strengthening."

"Very good," Joseph said. "Speaking of which, the first question I want to ask you is: how did Poland decline, and what was the problem?"

Dąbrowski initially wanted to say directly, "It's all those damned Polish traitors' fault." But considering Joseph's question, he felt that although this was something they often preached, it might not be the truly correct answer. If he answered that way, he feared Joseph would look down on him. So he thought for a moment and said, "It's because we are too conservative, clinging to outdated traditions, and our people are too apathetic..."

"That's just the surface," Joseph shook his head. "The reason your country's nobles are so conservative is because they believe it protects their interests. Just like before our revolution, the nobles only wanted to push all the burdens onto the people, completely disregarding their interests. In our country, this led to revolution; but in your country, because the nobles are too powerful, the people can't revolt, so they can only become numb. After all, for the people, a country that never considers them cannot be considered their country."

But look at Prussia. After the Battle of Grunwald, what was Prussia? But by the time of Frederick the Great, Prussia had risen rapidly to become one of the most powerful nations in Europe. Why was that?

"Why is that?" Dąbrowski asked as well.

"Because Frederick the Great transformed his subjects into citizens!" Joseph replied. "Frederick the Great shared obligations and rights with his people. The people of Prussia felt that the state was not something unrelated to their own interests, but rather that it was intertwined with theirs. Therefore, they were willing to follow Frederick the Great in fighting for the country, because they felt that this country belonged to them."

Similarly, if you look at the France army's confrontations with other countries today, you'll surely notice the crucial role skirmishers play in the French Army. Mobile and flexible skirmishers are one of our most powerful means of defeating foreign interventionist forces. But why couldn't our enemies, the Austria and Prussia, use skirmishers in the same way?"

At this point, Joseph paused, looking at Dąbrowski. Dąbrowski fell into thought, and after a while, he said, "Because their army doesn't have the same morale as the France army. If they use a large number of skirmishers, those skirmishers will be left unattended and will desert on the battlefield."

"So, are we France people born with such high morale? Did the France army have such morale during the Seven Years' War?" Joseph continued to ask.

"Of course not. If the French Army had had this kind of morale during the Seven Years' War, Prussia would have been razed to the ground long ago," Dąbrowski replied immediately.

"So where does the morale of the France soldiers come from now?" Joseph asked, trying to entice them.

"Now I understand France ..." Dąbrowski clenched his fists. "Because today's France soldiers believe that France belongs to them, that the country and they are one entity. They are not only fighting for the country, but also for themselves! If Poland wants to become a strong nation, it must first become a nation that cares about the interests of its people."

"That's right! Now that Poland has fallen, you must fight the invaders in the occupied territories. You must pay even more attention to this: your fight, at all times, is for the protection of the people's interests. These people are not just nobles, but also commoners, even serfs. Hmm, I've heard that serfdom still exists in your country, hasn't it? Hmm, the reason why Russia, Prussia, and Austria occupied Poland was definitely not to do charity Poland, but to exploit and oppress her. Therefore, they will inevitably infringe upon the people's interests. This is determined by the nature of their aggression, and it cannot be changed. And this is your chance to win over the people."

"But, Mr. Bonaparte," Dąbrowski said, his face full of embarrassment, "The invaders are indeed exploiting the Poland people, but... but the extent of their exploitation..."

"What the hell!" Joseph exclaimed. "Mr. Dąbrowski, are you trying to say that the invaders are exploiting the people less than your country's nobles used to?"

"Mr. Bonaparte ...you...you're right, that's it...that's how it is..." Dąbrowski wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.