Galloping Across the Vast Plains

If Drasowicz were still alive, he would surely have added with immense pride, "These are our finest troops!"

After two months of "combat training" in Slavonia, he had been considered a veteran. The Royal Third Division, meanwhile, had taken part in nearly every battle of the rebellion suppression campaign and possessed extraordinarily extensive combat experience.

Watching the imposing soldiers in the distance, Janik said excitedly:

"With them helping defend us, the Russians will never break into Marecze Town."

The Second Lieutenant beside him shook his head. "Judging by the direction they're marching, they're probably not here to reinforce us."

"Then where are they going?"

Beside the marching columns of the Royal 3rd Infantry Division, General Kościuszko rode on horseback. Looking across the boundless plain ahead, he said to Prince Poniatowski at his side:

"At the soldiers' current pace, we can reach Kiev in four days."

The prince nodded and glanced toward Marecze Town.

"I'll hold this place until the day after tomorrow.

"Our boys have truly astonished me. Mozyr City was originally supposed to lure in the Russian Army, but I never expected them to make the Russians suffer at the very first line of defense.

"Now, Marecze Town alone is enough to make the Russians throw caution to the wind."

Kościuszko let out a solemn sigh.

"But the casualties have been enormous. In just over ten days of defensive fighting, more than five thousand men have already died on the Mozyr front."

"Yes." Prince Poniatowski nodded, recalling the operations meeting at the French Royal Armory that day. "The Crown Prince was right. If we commit all our forces to defense, we'll inevitably lose in the end."

As he spoke, he omitted the word "French" before "Crown Prince," making it clear that they were all one of their own.

Kościuszko