The Russian God of War Strikes Back

The band playing nearby fell silent at once.

The officers present exchanged tense glances, then snapped to attention, acknowledged the order, and scattered.

Suvorov waved away the finely dressed guards holding the welcoming ceremony and said irritably to Tormasov at his side, "Those fellows have no idea how precious time is to the Poles.

"Their King did not hesitate to lie and anger His Majesty the Tsar just to buy time for his country. Yet look at this—my generals are wasting such precious time on some ceremony.

"Hah! I'd wager that during the month and more our army halted its offensive, the Polish positions opposite us gained several thousand more soldiers."

He had merely been venting, yet he had unwittingly hit the mark.

Stanisław II had delayed matters for a full twenty-four days through armistice negotiations, after which Catherine II ordered the Russo-Polish front to resume fighting.

Her order reached Smolensk seven days later, and Suvorov spent another four days rushing to Minsk.

By then, a full thirty-six days had passed since the Russian Army's temporary ceasefire.

Just two days earlier, two newly trained infantry regiments from Warsaw, three thousand men in all, had arrived in Minsk. Two more new regiments would arrive four days later, accompanied by six brand-new cannons.

Furthermore, the Polish soldiers in Minsk had spent another solid month resting and recuperating, and had largely regained their vigor.

The entire Minsk Defense Line had become secure once more.

After giving it some thought, Tormasov suggested, "Marshal, perhaps we could spread word among the Poles that their King intends to surrender, thereby striking at their morale."

"Mm, we can try."

Suvorov nodded, glanced at the command post decorated with ribbons, and signaled for his attendant to bring over his horse. "Have someone take all this down. I'll inspect