A Burden That Had to Be Carried

At Berlin Palace, a victory banquet had just concluded. As the guest of honor, Moltke had been deliberately asked by William I to stay behind.

Once the guests had dispersed, William I's joy vanished without a trace. It was clear that his earlier air of calm nonchalance and confident control had all been an act.

As king of the Prusso-Polish Federation, William I understood the crisis they faced better than anyone. The Battle of Warsaw had merely been a tactical victory; it had not reversed their unfavorable position on the battlefield.

Yet the people needed confidence, needed victory. This self-deceiving celebration had been held only to steady their hearts.

William I asked with concern, "Marshal, when will the Battle of Warsaw end?"

"I don't know!"

Three utterly ordinary words carried a heavy weight here. It seemed as though they had drained all the strength from Moltke's body; the moment he spoke, his expression dimmed.

That was the truth. When the Battle of Warsaw would end was no longer for the Prusso-Polish Federation to decide. That authority had long since passed into Russian hands.

After a brief pause, William I stressed his words. "What if I insist on having a time?"

Moltke shook his head. "Your Majesty, that is not something I can decide! Whether the Battle of Warsaw can end depends on whether the Russians agree.

"Russia's Fourth Army and Fifth Army have both been crippled. Their Seventh Army still retains a measure of combat strength, while the Third Army and Sixth Army are on their way and will reach the front before long.

"And that is only the beginning. As far as I know, the Russians still have seven newly formed armies. The enemy can deploy at least four of them to the Warsaw battlefield.

"Even if they are