Chapter 597: The Song of Poland · Part Two
Although Poland boasts vast East European plains, abundant mineral resources, and convenient river transportation, it has been brought to the brink of ruin by its disastrously ineffective political system.
Currently, Poland has virtually no significant industry. Its fiscal backbone lies in grain exports, but due to the inefficiency of serfdom, even its grain output is unimpressive.
As a result, Poland is exceptionally poor, and its military budget is stretched thin.
Amid the recent rise of nationalism, many Poles are eager to enlist in the army, but the state cannot afford to support them.
France, facing its own financial constraints, cannot simply provide monetary aid as freely as Britain.
Joseph's Plan for Poland
Joseph's solution was to fully exploit the Tarnowskie Góry silver mine.
In his memory, this mine was the world's largest silver producer in the 21st century, yielding over 1,000 tons annually. However, according to Brienne, current production at the mine was less than 30,000 pounds (14 tons). If converted into coinage, this would amount to a mere 2 million francs in value.
Joseph speculated that much of the mine's reserves remained untapped. If extraction rates could be increased six or seven times, Poland's military expenses could be easily covered.
To achieve this, Joseph sent Sieyès to Poland with a team of French geologists. Once new veins were located and operations expanded, France could invest in the mine and even turn a tidy profit.
A New Obstacle
Upon hearing this, Prince Poniatowski sighed with resignation:
"You may not be fully aware of Kraków's situation. We've already mined all accessible areas.
"There are indeed more deposits in the surrounding areas, but these veins run deep underground. Mining them requires the construction of tunnels, but Kraków has severe groundwater issues. Any tunnel we dig floods within three to four days."
This technical issue was beyond Sieyès' expertise, so he replied helplessly,
"I'll consult with Mr. Péche, our geologist."
A Display of Poland's Strength
The next day, King Stanisław II and Prince Poniatowski accompanied Sieyès to a military camp to inspect Poland's most elite infantry division.
Thousands of soldiers stood in immaculate formation, fully equipped with Prussian-style weaponry.
A sharp-featured officer with a high nose bridge drew his saber and commanded loudly,
"Begin!"
As military music resounded, the troops performed a drill, shifting formations from squares to attack columns. Their precision and speed were impressive, comparable to the old French armies.
Pointing at the officer, Prince Poniatowski introduced Sieyès:
"His Royal Highness once recommended General Tadeusz Kościuszko to me. Back then, he was only a colonel. I decided to entrust him with a division to test his abilities.
"As it turns out, His Royal Highness was right. General Kościuszko quickly proved his command talent. He's now a lieutenant general and the commander of the 3rd Royal Infantry Division, stationed in Volhynia."
Volhynia, located in south-central Poland, was a strategic stronghold, hosting 60% of Poland's forces. This effectively made Kościuszko the second-highest-ranking officer in the Polish army.
Thanks to Joseph's early intervention, this undefeated Polish national hero from the "Second Partition of Poland" had been promoted two years ahead of schedule. The additional time spent honing his leadership and training his troops would undoubtedly prove invaluable in Poland's defense against invasion.
Poland's Weaknesses and Opportunities
Poniatowski continued,
"Of course, aside from the two Royal Divisions, the combat effectiveness of our other forces still lags far behind the Russians. Newly recruited soldiers are even less reliable.
"If only we had a few more years. I'm confident I could train our army to surpass the Russians."
Sieyès replied bluntly,
"But I'm afraid you don't have that luxury. We must find other solutions.
"I've brought along firearm specialists who will help improve both the production and quality of your weapons.
"And His Royal Highness also suggests reinstating the Winged Hussars."
"The Winged Hussars?" Poniatowski laughed and shook his head. "Their glory belongs to the past. In today's battles, those wings are nothing but decoration."
"No, they are much more than that," Sieyès countered.
"They are Poland's pride and a symbol of its spirit. While they no longer need to wear heavy armor, simply donning those wings will inspire morale among all your soldiers!"
The prince hesitated but ultimately nodded out of respect for his French allies.
"Very well. I'll form a cavalry regiment and see how it performs."
A Sacrifice for Poland
Sieyès relayed Joseph's military advice in detail before concluding,
"His Royal Highness also has one final suggestion that might buy Poland more time. However…"
He glanced at King Stanisław II, then said,
"This would require a significant sacrifice from Your Majesty."
"I am willing to give anything for Poland," the king declared without hesitation.
To his credit, this was no hollow statement. Historically, Stanisław II was even prepared to abdicate his throne in the name of national unity. Unfortunately, his governance lacked the strength to save his country from destruction.
Sieyès bowed in respect before continuing,
"His Royal Highness suggests that you make frequent visits to Saint Petersburg to 'reconnect' with the Tsarina. Show her deference and convince her that she doesn't need to invade Poland to exert influence."
Stanisław II had once been Catherine the Great's lover, and it was with her support that he had ascended to the throne.
"This is unacceptable!" Poniatowski protested immediately.
"His Majesty represents all of Poland. His duty is to govern the nation!"
"It's merely a suggestion," Sieyès replied evenly.
"Forgive my frankness, but many Polish nobles already accuse His Majesty of being a puppet of Russia. Consequently, his domestic support is not strong."
Stanisław II took a deep breath and nodded,
"You're right. I can go to Russia. But if the Polish people learn their king is pandering to the Tsarina, it will crush their morale…"
Sieyès fixed his gaze on Poniatowski and said,
"Then what's needed is a hero who can rally the people."
"What are you implying? That's out of the question!"
"This is an excellent idea. I believe it's worth trying."
The first statement came from Prince Poniatowski. The second was from King Stanisław II.
Back in Paris
In his study at the Tuileries Palace, Joseph reviewed Sieyès' latest report, his brow furrowed in thought.
No wonder Tarnowskie Góry's output was so low—it wasn't due to negligence but severe groundwater infiltration.
Joseph flipped to the attached geological survey, which confirmed that tunnels as deep as 80 meters flooded with water, rendering the rich silver deposits inaccessible.
"If the problem is just groundwater…" Joseph muttered, suddenly struck by an idea.
He immediately summoned geologists from the University of Paris.
Two hours later, an elderly scholar in his fifties or sixties sat across from Joseph, examining the data. Shaking his head, he said,
"Your Highness, given the water volume, current equipment would be utterly incapable of draining it. While high-pressure steam pumps are theoretically rated for 90 meters, that's under ideal laboratory conditions."
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