55 To War

Over the next months I got to know the Cossacks and their colonels better... and I was even more convinced that Krzywonos must die. However, he had the respect of many Cossacks, and I had no good reason to kill him and avoid their displeasure ... my only hope he would die in battle... maybe an accidental shot in the back.

In the same period, I completed two books and published them. Thanks to my books, or rather plagiarism, I also gained a lot of fame, even more than for killing Khan Temir. Of course, in connection with this fame, I received many invitations to feasts, balls and hunting, and even received some unofficial marriage offers that I was not interested in.

In fact, since I was reborn in the 17th century, I didn't think about having a wife. I was happy with my life, two lovers, and at any moment I could have hundreds of women who would like to spread their legs before me ... why spoil it.

(Emperor Ferdinand II / Hofmeister Maximilian POV)

"WHO?!! I WANT TO KNOW WHO?!!" (Ferdinand II)

"Your Imperial Majesty, not many, the author of this unworthy pamphlet is signed by François Voltaire. Maybe he is French or Italian, no one has heard of him before." (Hofmeister Maximilian)

"Anyone in possession of this book, or who will distribute it or talk about it, is to be arrested and thoroughly interrogated!" (Ferdinand II)

"I understand, but if I'm allowed to suggest something ..." (Hofmeister Maximilian)

"Speak." (Ferdinand II)

"The book is definitely not printed in Vienna, it may come to us from France, Italy or some Protestant principality. We have to search carts and merchants traveling from these countries. We can justify it by searching for spies or fighting smuggling." (Hofmeister Maximilian)

"Well, do it ... I don't want to hear or see this book anymore." (Ferdinand II)

"How about suggesting the Pope to put this pamphlet on the index of forbidden books?" (Hofmeister Maximilian)

"Good idea, immediately write a letter to Pope Urban VIII and King Philip IV to support our activities in the Papal State ... This book is aimed at all Habsburgs." (Ferdinand II)

(End POV)

Sveta put her head on my chest and was breathing hard, Theophila was lying with her back to me. I looked up at the ceiling and wondered about my next moves ... Capture the Swedish king first, defeat was not an option. Then I will have to go to Hetman Sapieha, and then to the King in Warsaw ... or maybe it's better to go to Jazłowiec first and wait for the King to call me to the palace... If I come to Warsaw, the king may interpret it that I expect a reward, if I wait for his call, he may think that I do not care about the reward.

"What are you thinking about?" (Sveta)

I looked at Sveta. Since the birth of Katarzyna, Sveta has turned into a koala. I know what caused it, maybe she needed closeness, or maybe it was hormones.

"About the war ... I'm leaving for Livonia in a few days." (MC)

"I didn't know ... for how long ... when will you be back?" (Sveta)

The naivety of this question amused me, of course I was going to come back, I was also going to beat the Swedes quickly ... but sometimes a stray bullet can change all our plans. I am not immortal. In former Sparta, women bade farewell to their husbands or sons with the words "Come back with the shield or on the shield."... but maybe it's good that someone will be waiting for my return.

"I don't know, two or three months if I'm lucky. Why are you asking ... Will you miss me?" (MC)

Sevta said nothing, just cuddled tighter against my chest. I stroked her head, began to wrap her hair around my finger.

"Don't worry if something happens to me, I left the letters to Kowalski and he will know what to do. Piotr and Katarzyna will have a peaceful life in the future." (MC)

"Don't speak." (Sveta)

A few days later, I gave orders to prepare carts of gunpowder, grenades, muskets, greek fire, tools and other supplies. Tatars prepared additional arrows and bowstrings just in case. They were supposed to be my main striking force, a well-trained musketeer could fire three bullets in a minute, and at the same time Tartar could fire seven arrows from his bow... So theoretically, my 600 Tatars could fire 4,200 arrows per minute, additionally having thousands of Cossacks that could serve as infantry with muskets, my firepower increased by an additional 1,000 ... but my opponent will be 14,000 well-trained Swedes. I was thinking about taking cannons with me, but I abandoned this idea... carts will slow down my journey, and cannons and cannonballs would only make it even longer... I looked at the amber in my hand

"I will not lose, I have the sea on my side." (MC)

On April 15, 1626, accompanied by 600 Tatars and 1000 Cossacks, I set off for my second war with the Swedes.

I knew from history that Gustaw Adolf would land with his troops in Piława on July 6, it was a small port town located on both sides of the Piława Strait. Despite its strategic location, it only began to be fortified a few years ago and Gustaw Adolf knew about it. His plan was simple but well thought out. By occupying this port, he could easily reach Königsberg, which was located just 50 kilometers from Piława, and to Gdańsk, which was just over 200 kilometers to the west.

We had a thousand kilometers to cover, unfortunately traveling with carts, on not the best roads ... a day our pace did not exceed 25 kiometers. We managed to get to the vicinity of Piława on June 2 after more than forty days of travel... We set up our camp three kilometers from the town and waited for the arrival of the Swedes, I intended to evacuate the inhabitants a few days before their landing so that they would not interfere with the fight.