10 Oi Šermukšnio

The following days I spent reading documents, letters and family notes, but also physical activity. For so many years I was used to all kinds of training that it became second nature to me. I started the day with a short run, I told the local leatherworker to make an exercise bag ... on which I could train punches and kicks, I did not know any martial arts, but such training would not hurt me either. I was also throwing a knife and a spear ... the last one will definitely be useful for hunting.

On December 20, Secretary Kowalski returned to Jazłowiec, he came back alone, so I was not sure if the recruitment was successful.

Immediately after his return, he checked into my office.

"Greeting. I hope the journey was not strenuous, it's December and not all roads are in good condition. I also hope that you bring good news, Mr. Kowalski" (MC)

"Lord, I was in Kamieniec Podolski, but I didn't do much there. Most of the soldiers and veterans went to war with the Turks." (Secretary Kowalski)

I knew that in September 1621 a great battle was going to take place in Podolia and I was torn between going north and fighting against the Swede or fighting against the Sultan. In the north I will have more freedom of action than against Turkey. However, this may be my only chance in life to meet the Great Hetman of Lithuania, Jan Karol Chodkiewicz ... who died during this battle due to illness. As a great history buff, it was like a wet dream for me. The icing on the cake was also the presence in the camp of Hetman of the Register Cossacks, Piotr Konaszewicz Sahajdaczny, one of the greatest Cossack commanders in history.

"Lord? Lord ?!" (Secretary Kowalski)

"Sorry. What were you saying?" (MC)

"That in Kamieniec Podolski I did not manage to do anything, but in the Bar I found the right people." (Secretary Kowalski)

"That's good news. How many and what kind of people are they?" (MC)

"Almost 170 people, this is a mixture of former soldiers, gray nobility, several infamis, outlaws and Cossacks who escaped from sietch. Lord, if you need an army, you can use the Jazłowiecki garrison." (Secretary Kowalski)

"There are only 50 of them and they are infantry, I need 400 cavalry, and I will not leave the city defenseless, even if the defense is so small... I need to think about it. The last days must have been tiring for you, take the rest of the day off and rest." (MC)

Secretary Kowalski was not the youngest anymore, he looked 50, but I did not know how old he was. He served my father well, and now to me and most importantly ... he was loyal. He came from poor nobility and he got everything he has now thanks to my family.

"Thank you, Lord. If you need anything, please call me." (Secretary Kowalski)

After he left, I started thinking about my plans. The people Kowalski found were not reliable, on the other hand, if I go north, I will need bandits more than soldiers, and they were perfect for that ... but bot all at once, first I have to choose the direction north and the Swedes or the south and the Turks.

Logic says north, heart says south ... I sat there for a few hours considering all the pros and cons, in the end I decided to fight the Swede, I can gain a lot more from this war.

I also decided to write a letter to the Great Hetman of Lithuania, I will pretend that I had captured a few Tatars and that after using the methods of "active interrogation" they revealed a few things to me. Nothing big, but small details that can be helpful... and it has to be credible.

"... and so by chance I met a dozen Tatars in the vicinity of Kamieniec Podolski. Most of them escaped, I managed to capture only four of them and after interrogating them, I learned that they had come to Podolia by order of Khan Temir, the leader of Budzhak Horde, to make a reconnaissance. Supposedly, on the orders of the Crimean Khan Janibek Giray, all the hordes under him are to prepare for war. I do not know if this information is credible and if it matters, but I will leave it to Hetman's assessment ... "

The letter looked credible, and the preparations for the war are hard to hide, especially since nearly 150,000 people took part in it on the Turkish side, most of whom were Tatars.

The next day I called Secretary Kowalski.

"I have a few things to discuss with you, but before we do, please choose a messenger to deliver this letter to the Grand Hetman of Lithuania. Then we will discuss certain reforms that I want to introduce in my land and recruit these people from Bar." (MC)

The explanation of my plans and intentions took several hours, and actually I left all the work on secretary Kowalski, he was to take care of allocating appropriate pieces of land, census, announcing new taxes... I myself had more important things on my mind at the moment than dealing with the administration, always if something went wrong I also had a scapegoat. I also ordered him to bring these recruits to Jazłowiec after Christmas.

On December 23, a tailor came to the castle with the ordered clothes.

In the evening, being in my office, I called Svete.

"See that trunk? Open it, there's a gift for you inside." (MC)

Sveta obviously obeyed my command, opened the trunk, and then opened her mouth wide in surprise ... you could put an egg in her mouth, or even two and not only eggs.

"You are my personal maid now, and in a higher position than other maids, so you must look better." (MC)

Sveta started thanking me, but I quickly told her to leave ... I felt like a spider forming a web to catch the prey ... and the best thing was that the prey was unaware of it.