At the beginning of April, we crossed the border of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and a few days later we were twenty kilometers from Smolensk. I sent a few Tatar scouts to make reconnaissance in the area and, if possible, found the army of Hetman Radziwiłł.
Three days later my scouts returned, bringing some prisoners with them ... I didn't have to interrogate them especially, they confirmed what I knew before. Morale was weak, after initial successes in capturing the smaller strongholds, they hoped for a quick capture of the city, but were disappointed. Gosiewski prepared the defense well, destroyed the surrounding villages and confiscated food, and evacuated the population beyond the walls of Smolensk or further into the country.
The Muscovites were not well prepared for the war... or rather were not well prepared for the long siege. There was a shortage of warm clothes and food for 40,000 soldiers... even artillery was a problem, despite the 160 cannons, they were very different in caliber, which made it difficult to ensure the right amount of ammunition... all this resulted in desertions, not massive but gradually worsening. My scout also managed to determine the location of the camp of Hetman Radziwiłł.
About ten kilometers from the city, the Tatars set up a camp, and I, with 200 soldiers, boyars and diplomats, headed towards the Radziwiłł camp, which was located north-west of the city. It took us a few hours to get there ... the soldiers guarding the camp quickly took us to the Hetman, after entering the tent, I recognized a few familiar faces, there were Radziwiłł, Samuel Łaszcz, Moczarski and a few others officers... it was one of the many war councils ordered by the Hetman.
My relations with Radziwiłł were cool, it was common knowledge that I was friends with Lew Sapieha, who was a private enemy of Radziwiłł, it was also common to know that I supported Aleksander Gosiewski so that after Sapieha's death he would become the Grand Hetman of Lithuania... Of course, Radziwiłł dreamed about this position for himself ... therefore I was not entirely sure how I would be treated by him.
"Hetman Jazłowiecki? You are already returning from Moscow, has something happened and our famous Muscovite Slayer had to flee?" (Samuel Łaszcz)
"You know why the bell is loud? ... Because the inside is empty. Greeting to everyone..." (MC)
I sat down on one of the chairs without asking for permission, I grabbed the wine cup that stood closest to me.
"...That was what I needed ... excellent Tokaji. From your cellar, dear Hetman?" (MC)
"Indeed, but your love of wine is not what brings you here?" (Hetman Radziwiłł)
"No, as you probably already know, Moscow has fallen. The Tsar is dead, and the boyars have signed the capitulation and now only their army has to surrender... as during the interregnum the Royal Council gave me the absolute right to negotiate peace ... that's why I came here." (MC)
"And what kind of peace did you negotiate?" (Hetman Radziwiłł)
"Simply put ... the border of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth will shift to the east by 500 kilometers, all cities in this area, including Moscow, are ours and the remains of the Principality of Moscow will be our vassal... If possible, please send someone to the Moscow camp with a message that we invite them to talks." (MC)
Radziwiłł gave orders and then asked everyone to leave the tent so that we could talk without witnesses.
"Congratulations on your victory, the King will be pleased." (Hetman Radziwiłł)
"His emotional state is not my concern ... I heard that your attempt to carry out religious changes during the interregnum failed ... It is a pity, if I were in Warsaw, maybe my support would be useful. Although I believe that the ban on the formation of Jesuits orders and colleges in Lithuania was a stupid idea." (MC)
"How do you know about this? You besieged Moscow at that time." (Hetman Radziwiłł)
"One of the messengers brought a letter about the election of the King, the Seyms and the pacta conventa." (MC)
It was a lie, all my information was from history. Radziwiłł's attempts to carry out the reform were unsuccessful, and they also caused the deterioration of relations with the new King and the Catholic nobility.
"You say it's a stupid idea, Lithuania is ..."
"No matter what Lithuania is or is not. You are Calvin and you convert people from the Orthodox Church, Catholics do the same. I do not understand your obsession with other people's souls... Their soul and their faith is a matter between them and their God. Poles, Ruthenians, Jews, Cossacks, Armenians, Czechs, Tatars live in Podolia ... nobody converts anyone. Do you really think God needs false or forced worship? But let's leave this topic aside, neither I nor you are theologians." (MC)
Radziwiłł wanted to say something else, but I did not intend to continue this topic ... I was not a believer, but I understood the need for religion ... it gave people a certain moral compass, such as the Ten Commandments. Of course, everything has its light and dark sides... It depended on who was using it and for what purpose.
Two days later, the messenger returned, a meeting with the commanders of the Moscow army was to be held in three days, five kilometers south of Smolensk.
(King Władysław IV Waza / Masovian Voivode Stanisław Warszycki POV)
"Your Majesty we got the news that Hetman Jazłowiecki has captured Moscow." (Masovian Voivode Stanisław Warszycki)
"This is great news ... we will be able to make peace with Moscow and focus on the war with Sweden and regain my throne. We must get Hetman Jazłowiecki to support us." (King Władysław IV Waza)
"It will not be easy, please remember that his version of pacta conventa has been rejected ... Jazłowiecki may treat it as an affront." (Masovian Voivode Stanisław Warszycki)
"He conquered Moscow, he deserved an award and with this award we will buy him." (King Władysław IV Waza)
"Jazłowiecki is rich, buying him will not be easy, nor cheap." (Masovian Voivode Stanisław Warszycki)
(End POV)