After the party at the Palace of Fontainebleau came to an end, the dispute between Chopin and Pushkin that day quickly spread like wildfire and spread throughout the public opinion fields across Europe.
The passions of the two men and the arguments of the two men each have their own supporters. European intellectuals are also engaged in fierce debates about the future destiny of Poland - whether it should become a free and independent country or whether it should follow the
Did the arrangement of the Congress of Vienna become another conquered spoil for the Czar?
However, their argument is actually meaningless, because reality is giving the world an answer in the most cruel and ruthless way - whether they like it or not, blood and sword are the ultimate basis for territorial ownership.
Since the beginning of the Poles' uprising in late 1830, inspired by the chaos in France, more than half a year has passed. In this long and fierce confrontation, the ruthless Russian iron hooves have moved the front line forward step by step at a completely tolerable cost.
Push, push towards Warsaw, the heart of Poland.
Its pace can be slowed down and postponed, but in the end, it is still so unstoppable.
With the whole of Europe looking on coldly, Poland's resistance is coming to an end.
For future historians, this bloody fight and suppression was just an "extension" of the great drama in 1830. It was neither eye-catching nor much new; however, for the people involved in it
However, there is too much heart-wrenching anger and helplessness.
For the young Count Alexander Valevsky, nothing is more depressing than witnessing a catastrophe, especially when it comes to the country where he grew up.
, as well as the relatives and friends he knew well.
But he was heartbroken, and he could only pray silently in his heart for the fate of the people he knew well, while continuing to perform his duties, running around and completing the tasks assigned by his half-brother.
As the Tsar's army crossed the Vistula River in a mighty manner, Warsaw's last natural barrier to the east had disappeared. Now there was nothing to stop the Tsar's army, and it was obvious that they would not give the Poles anything more.
If you have a chance to breathe, you will definitely rush towards Warsaw as quickly as possible.
Maybe it will be a few days later, maybe a week or two later, but in short Warsaw's fate has been sealed. And everyone in the city knows this.
Facing this reality, some people are angry and desperate, while others are completely indifferent, and their last energy can only be used to fight against the "traitors" in their eyes.
In the recent period, there have been many riots in Warsaw. Some people who have gone completely crazy have taken to the streets to demonstrate and even smashed and looted to protest the incompetence and failure of the new government. Some Warsaw citizens even rushed into the prison to complain about the prisoners detained there.
Prisoners accused of treason due to poor combat were interrogated privately and then hanged. A total of dozens of people were killed.
Others believed that the uprising itself was a foolish thing and brought about self-destruction, so they strongly demanded surrender to the Tsar as soon as possible to avoid greater disaster in Warsaw.
Logically speaking, the current situation of "impending catastrophe" will promote the unity of everyone with the same hatred and the same enemy. However, the reality is often completely opposite. After seeing the desperate future, the vast majority of people will quarrel with each other and even fight each other fiercely, just for the sake of the future.
Able to vent the hatred accumulated in the heart before death.
Alexander is now faced with this atmosphere of doomsday. He neither wants to get involved nor can he change anything. He can only stand aside and watch the development of the situation and wait for the final judgment to come.
And this day is coming soon.
As time went by, he could hear sporadic gunfire in the distance while staying in his house. These gunfire also meant the bell of doom for the citizens of Warsaw.
He opened the window and looked to the east. The distant horizon was still very calm, as if nothing had happened, and the air was as bland as ever, without the slightest smell of blood.
But, they are already here...
He once thought that he would be angry or anxious at this moment, but when he actually faced this moment, he felt strangely calm.
Even the worst outcome will not shock people when they have already expected it in their hearts.
But there is a damn ending to this drama.
In Warsaw, there will be another battle.
Even if most people are desperate or even "lying down", there will always be some people who will resist.
Among those who resisted, there would definitely be his former good friend Anthony.
He has helped many people leave Warsaw and live in exile in France, but only Antony, who clearly could get his help, firmly refused such "preferential treatment" and stubbornly insisted on staying in Warsaw, carrying out an undertaking that he himself knew was hopeless.
Resistance will only cost your life in vain.
Based on his understanding of his friends, since the Russians have already attacked, it is conceivable that he will not run away, but will choose to fulfill his promise and resist with all his strength.
When he thought about Anthony's next fate, his originally calm heart couldn't help but become a little entangled again.
Sometimes he hoped that Anthony would get his wish and die like a martyr; but sometimes he hoped that he would just be wounded or simply surrender, at least to save his life.
But deep down, he knew that there would only be one outcome in the end.
Just as Alexander was meditating secretly, the gunfire he heard became more and more intensive, and when he looked upstairs, dense black spots began to appear on the distant horizon.
These black spots are rushing towards Warsaw at a slow speed.
He even seemed to be able to see the Cossack cavalry leading the way, and hear the sound of intensive horse hooves and the sound of the sabers on their waists - of course, this was just his fantasy, but it should soon become
Reality.
As the Russian army approached, the insurgents in the forward positions outside Warsaw opened fire one after another, which temporarily curbed the Russian army's advance. However, after a brief pause, the Russian artillery that kept up with the forward troops began to fire towards the Poles.
Artillery shells poured from the position, and many of these artillery shells fell into Warsaw with sharp whistling sounds.
As the shells continued to fall, although only a small area of Warsaw was bombarded, although it did not cause heavy casualties, it added to the doomsday panic atmosphere, and the already shaky order
, this time it almost completely collapsed.
A small number of people steal and rob on the streets and in closed shops, and some even set fires after committing crimes to cover up the evidence. However, most citizens close their doors and stay at home shivering, waiting for everything to fall into place.
After that, he became an "obedient citizen" of the Tsar again.
The staunch resisters have become a very small minority among them.
Although Alexander felt very sad about this, he also understood people's choices very well - at a time of life and death, you cannot expect everyone to be a warrior, no matter how impassioned they were at the beginning of the revolution, when it comes time to really face artillery fire
, most people will just instinctively shrink back and be timid.
If I were still a Pole, if I participated in the uprising, could I continue to resist at this time? He asked himself, but he could not come up with an answer -
But now, he doesn't need to find out the answer to this question, because he is no longer a Pole, and he has the best "escape route".
Now, it is time to take this retreat.
Amidst the rumbling sound of artillery fire, he quietly left the chaotic streets with a few followers, passed through the dead silence of the city, and quietly slipped out of Warsaw.
Warsaw will soon experience the baptism of war. For his own safety, he cannot stay in this city.
Logically speaking, Warsaw was under martial law at this time, and the streets were guarded by soldiers. Ordinary people could not leave. However, Alexander and his party had their own diplomatic passports and passes issued by the Warsaw government, so the journey was smooth.
Unobstructed.
During this time, Alexander helped many officials' relatives to escape abroad, so he also received considerable rewards and preferential treatment. Even in this dangerous and chaotic moment, he still received due protection.
After leaving Warsaw, the group did not flee westward into the vast countryside, but quietly traveled eastward to seek protection on the other side.
As a French diplomatic envoy, at this time when the war is in chaos and social order is about to completely collapse, it will make him safer to seek protection from Russia as soon as possible - anyway, the entire Poland will be occupied by the Russian army soon, so as soon as possible
It's the same whether you vote or vote later.
In the wilderness outside Warsaw, Alexander stood there, looking back at the ancient city, as if mourning for its inevitable fate. After a long time, he led the people again and continued walking eastward.
.
This time, his entourage raised a white flag to avoid accidental damage.
They didn't advance long before they encountered a group of scout cavalry.
These cavalrymen had excellent riding skills and rough looks. They also wore thick felt hats on their heads. They shouted and shouted in a way that Alexander could not understand, and then surrounded Alexander and his party.
They did not offer any resistance, but held up white flags and indicated that they were foreign envoys.
Seeing that they were not hostile, the cavalry reined in their horses without drawing their sabers. A big man with a big beard got off his horse, walked up to Alexander, and muttered a few words.
Alexander couldn't understand a word, but he calmly nodded to the other party, handed over the certification documents in his hand to the other party, and expressed that he wanted to seek protection.
The cavalry glanced at the document, and Alexander couldn't tell whether he understood it or not. The other party didn't say anything more, but roughly gestured with his hands to signal them to follow him.
It seemed safe... Alexander breathed a sigh of relief.
He did not resist, and followed the opponent's cavalry slowly forward, and then entered the Russian army's line.
Along the way, he saw many Russian infantry in green uniforms and hussars in cloaks. The number was almost endless.
This is the army that is about to destroy Poland again.
Before Alexander could express too much emotion, they were escorted to an officer wearing a Guards uniform.
Perhaps it is because Guards officers often come from noble families, so compared to the rough soldiers they encountered along the way, his appearance and behavior seemed more elegant.
The officer took Alexander's document and read it carefully.
"French?" he asked in fluent French.
Although his expression was serious, there was not much hostility on his face, only curiosity about encountering something new.
There was no trace of panic on his face, only the complacency and magnanimity of a side destined to win.
"Yes, I am the French envoy to Warsaw, and I hope to be temporarily protected by your country." Alexander replied in French.
"We will protect foreign envoys and give you the living treatment you deserve, if you are really a foreign envoy." The officer replied lazily, "But you need to tell me your names, and I need to report them to my superiors."
"Count Alexander Valevsky." Alexander said his name calmly.
The officer was a little surprised at first, because this "French envoy" obviously had a Polish surname, but soon, he seemed to think of something, and then he opened his eyes wide and stared at Alexander.
There was no fear or hostility in his eyes, but rather the excitement of catching prey.
"Count Alexander Valewski!" He repeated the name, and then laughed. "Hahaha... I understand, nice to meet you."
Then, under Alexander's stunned gaze, he walked up to several other Guards officers, whispered something to them, and then pointed at Alexander.
These officers also immediately became excited.
"Napoleon!"
"Napoleon!"
They shouted the name one after another, and the more they shouted, the more excited they became.
Only then did Alexander realize what was going on - it turned out that this noble officer knew his identity (although it seemed to be a "secret" that everyone knew), and then celebrated with his colleagues that they had captured a "Napoleon"
.
For Russians, obviously this name has too many meanings.
As time went by, the commotion among the Russian army became bigger and bigger, and many people even ran over and secretly looked at Alexander from a distance, as if they were trying to catch a glimpse of Napoleon - or in other words, they didn't see him elsewhere that year.
The regret of capturing Napoleon alive by the Lezina River.
Alexander tried hard to stay calm and looked ahead without saying a word, so as not to make others laugh.
No matter what, at least now he is a foreign envoy and the Russians will not do anything to him.
After an unknown amount of time, the Guards officer ran back and returned all his documents to him.
"Mr. Earl, I'm sorry to keep you waiting... Your identity as an envoy has been confirmed, and you will receive the protection you deserve." He said to Alexander in a very polite tone, "Now, please follow me.