The Storm Approaches

Morkov was clearly taken aback and hurriedly ordered the cavalryman to come forward, asking:

"How are the losses?"

"General, the Poles destroyed five wagons of grain and barley, as well as seven ammunition carts. The Supply Depot suffered more than two hundred casualties."

Morkov let out a sigh of relief and smiled disdainfully.

"Those pitiful cowards can only carry out this sort of small-scale harassment."

The Ranger froze for a moment before carefully saying:

"General, according to reconnaissance from Kiev, the Polish forces that appeared there likely number more than ten thousand."

Because the incident had happened so suddenly, the Kiev garrison had also been unable to determine the exact situation of Kościuszko's forces.

In fact, the Royal 3rd Infantry Division alone numbered over ten thousand men. With the Royal Cavalry Battalion, five Winged Hussar Squadrons, the Warsaw Grenadier Regiment, and others, their total strength had reached seventeen thousand.

"That many?" Morkov could not help narrowing his eyes. "What are the Poles trying to do?"

A staff officer beside him said:

"General, they must have realized that Mozyr is about to fall, so they are making a desperate gamble. They intend to delay our offensive by harassing our supplies."

Morkov nodded slightly.

"In other words, Mozyr's defending forces will now be extremely weak.

"Today, we must take Marecze Town at any cost. Tomorrow, we begin the attack on Mozyr."

A Major General standing at his side pondered aloud:

"General, the Poles have been cowering behind their defensive lines all this time, slowing our advance considerably.

"Now that they have come out on their own, we can take this opportunity to wipe out these ten thousand enemies in Kiev. That will be far easier than killing them behind their defensive lines."

Hearing this, Morkov hesitated as well.

General Suvorov's orders had