90 1629 - 1630 End

Usually, Piotr was educated by the governess, but when I had a free time and willingness, I taught him some things myself ... Similar poems and songs were taught in schools that I opened, as well as in three Jesuit colleges which I founded... although teaching patriotism to a few hundred people did not change anything at the moment, it was something that will surely bring benefits in the future. Those who study today will have their own families tomorrow and pass some values ​​to their children ... what youth is used to, age remembers.

Over the next months, my life was boring and stable, which had one big plus, I could focus on increasing my wealth, or rather on acquiring land, last year's attacks of the Tatars and the fear of further attacks this year forced many landowners to sell property. Thanks to which I obtained the title deed for another 1,200 square kilometers... and this meant that 25 percent of the Podolia Voivodeship was my property.

At the beginning of September, a messenger arrived in Jazłowiec. In mid-August, the Tatars crossed the border of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but after a few days they were defeated by Potocki's army, in total Potocki repulsed 5 more invasions this year ... along with last year's successes on the battlefield, his prestige soared, even though I had no social life, I even heard about his battle genius ... which was quite funny because I was the father of these successes, but no one knew about it.... The last thing Potocki will have to do is defeat the rebellious Cossacks, but compared to the attacks of the Tatars, it shouldn't be a problem.

Though my reality seemed boring and monotonous, the world continued to rush forward. In 1630, Sweden, concerned about the successes of the Imperial Army, entered the Thirty Years' War. France and England, which at the moment did not want to engage in fighting in the Empire themselves, promised Gustav Adolf financial and military support in the form of weapons, ships and mercenaries. The only difference is that Gustaw Adolf's troops landed near Lübeck, not in Vorpommern... Prince Bogusław and his lands were now under the umbrella of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

It was not quieter in the Empire itself, or rather at the court of Vienna. The emperor, fearing for the success and ambition of Albrecht von Wallenstein, dismissed him from the post of commander-in-chief and handed over the position to Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly.

Unfortunately, even if you forget about the world, the world will not forget about you. This was also the case with me, in the spring of 1630 in Jazłowiec and all over Podole, the influx of Armenians increased. There was always some kind of emigration, people were looking for peace or a better life, but the number of emigrants was disturbing. In a few months, more than 1,000 Armenians wanted to settle in my lands, and that was more than the last three years combined.

A brief investigation revealed the cause of this emigration ... and that cause was me. Khan somehow conveyed the idea for the construction of the Suez Canal to the Sultan, was fond of this project. Unfortunately, it had an impact on various kinds of minorities living in the Ottoman Empire, especially those who rebelled against the Turks, such as the Kurds, Persians and Armenians. Of course, I understood the behavior of the Sultan and probably in his place I would have done the same, using the rebels as cheap labor. However, the action of the Sultan lacked decisiveness, he imprisoned thousands of Kurds, Armenians and Persians, but those who were not arrested hated the Ottomans even more ... and The Ottoman Empire began to resemble a gunpowder barrel, one spark and revolts would break out... There was nothing left for me to do but allow the escaping Armenians to settle on my land, of course, on condition that they learn our language. It was also a form of assimilation ... when in Rome do as the Romans do. Overall, I was positive about emigration, but I also had in mind what Germany looked like at the beginning of the 21st century.

The outbreak of the Cossack Uprising under Fedorowicz's leadership was a pleasant surprise, the uprising itself was nothing nice, but its result was very positive. Potocki, did what even Koniecpolski could not, he defeated the rebels. Of course, the information I gave him was helpful, but the strategy and execution of the plan was all Potocki's work ... He did not allow the insurgent to grow stronger and hit the Cossacks when they were relatively weak.

The peace that was signed pleased rather everyone, the Kingdom of Poland undertook to increase the Cossack register, and the Cossack side had to punish the leaders of the rise and take another oath of allegiance.

"I did everything you wanted, I defeated the Tatars and Cossacks. I gained fame and the opinion of a good commander, for which I thank you re vera, but what next?" (Stanisław Potocki)

"Now we will meet Hetman Sapieha, Aleksander Gosiewski, Graf Ferber and we will establish a further action plan. I already have some ideas, but we need to discuss them. If we fail, you won't lose anything, the fame will remain ... but if we succeed, you will be the new Hetman." (MC)

"Re vera, it won't be easy." (Stanisław Potocki)

"I am hopeful if we all use our influence, we will manage to force the King to appoint Hetman, but before he does, Koniecpolski must also be promoted ... to some high and powerless position." (MC)

On the same day, I wrote three letters with invitations, but as it was winter, I set the date of our meeting for the end of April 1631. Sapieha was not young anymore and I did not want to subject him to unnecessary effort, I also knew that his end was near, but in my heart I was hoping that maybe it will be different now.