All or Nothing

Korezenikov did not find Poland's surrender surprising.

Poland had suffered grievous casualties on the main battlefield; surrender had only been a matter of time. He simply had not expected the King himself to come and offer his surrender.

Usually, this was done by the opposing Polish Army commander. The King only needed to sign his name, after all—this was a humiliation that would be recorded in history.

Piatoli looked somewhat flustered, clasping his hands together. "In fact, His Majesty's situation is not very good.

"You know, His Majesty and His Majesty the Tsar have... ahem, some acquaintance.

"From the very beginning, His Majesty had been unwilling to make an enemy of mighty Russia. But those people in Parliament, in order to seize greater power, forcibly ordered the army to wage war against you. This was absolutely not His Majesty's intent."

Korezenikov gave a cold snort. "Then His Majesty should deal with the trouble in your Parliament first."

"That is precisely what His Majesty intends to do." Piatoli nodded. "Restrict Parliament, abolish the Constitution, restore the nobles' rights, and return everything to how it was before. But all this still requires mighty Russia's help."

Korezenikov could not help narrowing his eyes—if they could use the King of Poland against Parliament, they could ignite a Civil War in Poland. When the Russian Army moved in to conquer it, things would surely become much easier.

In fact, Russia had historically crushed Poland within a month largely because the Targowica Confederation had stirred up a Civil War in Poland, tying down the Polish Government Army's strength.

He glanced at the Secretary to the King of Poland. "Then what does His Majesty intend to do?"

"Surrender." Piatoli did not hesitate in the slightest. "As long as His Majesty surrenders to your country, Poland will soon