154 152 Evidence

I was sitting in Prince Hohenzollern's office and enjoying the taste of wine from his cellar... even though the whole situation was very chaotic, I was pleased with the results of my work.

In twenty years in 1655, in the original timeline, war broke out with Sweden, and Prussia, seizing the opportunity, allied with Karol Gustaw against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth... If the situation repeats itself, I have already deprived Sweden of three potential allies... Prussia, Moldavia and the Principality of Moscow. It did not mean that the country was safe, but that the opponent would have a more difficult task... unfortunately I did not have the means and resources to deal directly with the Swedes, we still lacked a fleet and a better army, and secondly, strong Sweden kept ambitious Denmark in check. At the expense of one enemy, I can accidentally raise another, European politics in the 17th century was like one big brothel, everyone fucked everyone... and everything was going to get worse because of the Kingdom of England and Oliver Cromwell.

Fine wine... but it's time to get down to business. Having access to the prince's personal office and his documents, I decided to fabricate a few letters with his seal, it would be proof enough for the Polish king and the Seym that the prince was conspiring against us.

Convincing other misters and advisers was more difficult than I thought, only the third execution convinced them that I am not a patient... reluctantly, but they signed the appropriate statement. What's more fun, I blamed the prince for the deaths of three ministers. Supposedly they wanted to warn our delegation about the plot, but the prince, having learned about it, ordered to kill them... maybe I will give them a monument for such loyalty, or I will look after their families if they have them, they resisted the tyrant and paid for it with their lives... "Sic semper tyrannis"

Although we barricaded ourselves upstairs in the castle, it was completely unnecessary, the local garrison did appear, but when they found out that the prince was our hostage, they lost their enthusiasm to attack.

The situation in the city itself was also strange, although I could have expected it. The townspeople, merchants, craftsmen and ordinary peasants supported our actions with their shouts, they also hung up symbols related to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but the nobility was against us... it was a reflection of internal Prussian policy, the prince limited the rights and privileges of ordinary people, strengthening the position of the nobility.

We did not have to wait long for the "rescue", five days after the hostages were taken, six ships under the command of Arend Dickmann entered the port of Królewcu, although it was mainly a commercial fleet, most of the ships' crews had combat experience which they gained during skirmishes with Moscow and Swedish ships... and I have one last thing to do.

I went to the room where the ruler of Prussia was being held and told the hussar who was guarding him to take a break.

"Forgive me, my dear prince, that nobody has fed you for those five days, but I don't like to waste food... Prussia has fallen, Królewiec is ours. We also have evidence of your betrayal, I struggled a bit to imitate your handwriting. You are finished, there will be no support for our enemies, there will be no partitions... I do not know if the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth will survive, but it will not survive Prussia." (MC)

Hohenzollern let out a few angry grunts. I wasn't going to get the gag out of his mouth, no matter what he said, he was already dead... though his fate was sealed, the Prince's son was still alive, but now he was in Potsdam, out of my reach, well, I'll have to take care of him in the future... I drew my saber and, without delaying any longer, decapitated the prince.

"Another for the collection..." (MC)

The rest happened quickly, at the news of the Prince's death and at the sight of my ships and sailors, the local garrison laid down their arms. Several minutes later, Jerzy Ossoliński came to the castle.

"You don't even know what chaos you caused, Zwoliński went to Warsaw to report to the King, and I..." (Jerzy Ossoliński)

I did not wait for Ossoliński to finish telling the story of his life, I handed him a bundle of documents and letters.

"Evidence of Hohenzollern's treason and conspiracy... When we return to the capital, we must officially annex this land to the crown." (MC)

Jerzy quickly looked through the pile of papers I handed him.

"That's true?" (Jerzy Ossoliński)

"There are also testimonies of witnesses... when the prince found out that my ships were entering the port, he tried to free himself, got a saber and attacked me. I had to defend myself, and he is dead." (MC)

It was a very convenient explanation, and as there were no witnesses, my version of events was the only true version. I was also aware that I would have to bear the consequences of my actions... which are unlikely to be big. I did what I could to minimize the losses, and the king could not deprive me of the position of voivode or Hetman... not without the consent of the parliament, and I had many allies there.

"It might save you when the King finds out that Hohenzollern has been working with the Swedes... that changes everything. What are you going to do next?" (Jerzy Ossoliński)

"I think I will become a full-time diplomat, the job is easy, light and pleasant... Don't make that face, I was kidding. I will go back to Warsaw or Podolia and take care of my own affairs." (MC)

Before I left the castle, I took all possible documents with me, on Wednesdays there was a list of a few Polish nobles... or rather traitors who supported the Prussian prince. I also took the prince's insignia, which will also decorate my collection.