Road to the Crown

Chapter 250: Change of mind

19th July 1574

"It's been a while since we last met."

With both of our escorts standing down a few hundreds of meters away, I could finally recognise the man responsible for causing the commotion in his own ranks just a moment ago.

"It sure was, but I don't think we have the time to speak pleasantries right now. As I mentioned, I bring the news both urgent and dire."

Knowing the forms of the current etiquette, even while talking with someone who he perceived as a rebel, Peter Zboros would still take his time before we would start talking about anything of importance.

"Alleged rebel, approaching the punitive army himself? You sure have some guts, I have to admit that."

Rather than allowing me to actually speak my mind, Peter only swung his head to the sides with a look of disappointment deep inside his eyes. Seeing him like that, I couldn't help but realise that the way in which I treated him before, wasn't really fair.

Knowing how his family would lose the power to another clan, I was fully willing to use my connection to him only for the sake of exploiting the situation. Yet in all my scheming, I simply failed to notice him as a man, who in his own way, was trying to serve the country.

And in the current situation, if our forces were to clash, even if I could hope for a somewhat positive outcome, the loss of the forces that Commonwealth could muster would be devastating.

Obviously, the invasion would at some point, stop. Either the enemy would satisfy what he wanted to achieve, forcing a humiliating peace treaty, or the country would rise up to the challenge and repel the enemy. And with all of the devastating events that brought this once powerful country to its knees, still far in the future, I had no doubts that if necessary, the locals would still dare to defy the monster from the east.

Yet in the current situation, allowing any further bloodshed would be counterproductive to everyone.

"Sir, with all due respect, but when I meant, we don't have time for this, I really meant it."

Shaking all of the idle thoughts from my head, I slapped my cheeks twice before looking at Peter again. Even if my words wouldn't do the work, I hoped that at least my voice and the determination in my eyes would be enough to convince him of my intentions.

"Right as we are speaking, an immensely powerful Muscovite army is burning our entire eastern border. Initially, I thought that this entire plot to make me a rebel was just another distraction from the real opponent, yet the news that I achieved at Zomyski household... "

Despite how I wanted to just let it all out of me, finally get rid of this brand of the alleged traitor, I just couldn't. If by any chance, I were to force the conflict with Ostros to be finished right now, that would only delay the country's response to the threat from the east!

That's why, rather than clearing things up right now, I had to focus on the real objective!

"Im not going to bother proving that I never betrayed the country. Right now, we need to gather all the forces and all the ace cards as we can. Rather than shedding the blood here, let's do it where the country needs us to do it."

Only after I said those words, did I realise how pompous did my entire speech sound. What I was doing, trying to make myself another national hero?

With this thought appearing in my head, all the flowers I felt in my soul from the spirited sentences of mine, disappeared. In one instant, one single memory took over my entire mind.

"Poland does not need martyrs. It needs loyal sons who do their best to achieve the best results out of the situation at hand!"

Those two sentences I once heard from my father. Then from my history teacher. Then from many other people. 

This one sentence that summed up the entirety of the polish national spirit of the later ages. With how low this once great country fallen, we could only reminiscent the courage in the great failures, rather than the brilliancy of the victories!

"What? Muscovites have attacked us?!"

As my mind was heating up in the strange aura of denial, Peter was only now starting to comprehend the meaning behind my last sentences.

With the spirit of cold pragmatic approach, I raised my slightly lowered head and looked straight into the eyes of the great noble in front of me.

"Whether I'm a rebel or not, it doesn't matter. What I'm fighting against are false charges started by the invasion on my lands, not the country. And whoever is right in my own conflict, can be proven by who is willing to go for greater lengths when defending our country!"

No matter what I said right now, I could already see the plan forming in my head. In the current situation, Peter has no choice but to somehow react to my words. With how I initially announced my willingness and even initiative to subject myself to the will of the senate, he would be forced to either send his own people to confirm it, but no matter what would be the outcome of his own investigation, he would have to start to prepare. 

And that would mean, that as long as I was willing to comply with his orders, I could force Ostros to lift up the siege, gather their troops and go to the front!

Rather than dealing with my enemy myself, I could force them to sacrifice their troops in the real conflict, while using the situation to rebuild my power and influence, all the way the point where no matter what they would try to achieve, they would be powerless in the face of my power!

As it was turning out, this devastating war, amongst all of its tragedy, would be the time of the greatest chances and the highest risk!

And I was fully willing to go all in!