Chapter 37
"We need a canal to the Dniestr," said Jurko, as they took the fleet down river again to go up the Dniepr and cross country.
"Of course we do, son," said Jeremi. "It'll give our troops something to do after the excitement of two wars in one season."
Gryzelda was emotional to have all her boys, and all her girls who were boys, home again, and the children were ecstatic and cheerful.
Jeremi went to address the Sejm.
"First war I've ever been involved in where we took more loot than the war cost in the warbox share," he said, happily. "We let them go away after signing the treaty, but we might have failed to mention that our people had destroyed their great guns and left them blocking the road. With the gun carriages burned. So they got to the blockage, and I will say this for the new sultan, Kara Mustafa, he made a priority of getting all the supplies across, and took apart carts to pass over and rebuild. But they left a heap of luxury goods which were unnecessary including the travelling throne, which smells of... well, it smell like nothing on earth, Timofey Chmielnicki treated it to a mixture of sundry loathsome odours to annoy them. It worked fairly well, but it should air out eventually. And Jurij brought back everything from Constantinople which wasn't nailed down and a few things which were. The Ottoman Empire has lost most of its guns, most of its fleet, a lot of horses... the Tatars took those... and a heap of prestige, not to mention most of its wealth. Jurij imposed a ban on looting ordinary people, and as is normal, nine tenths of the wealth resides with one tenth of the populace, so he endeared himself to the Turk in the Street, broke up a ring of deviants, and this is the replenishment of the war-chest."
Several asses with baskets of gold marched into the meeting hall.
"They won't want to stand still for it," said Radziwiłł.
"They can't afford to go to war and won't be able to for a long time," said Jeremi "They lost their war chest, and a lot of disposable wealth to looting. They lost a lot of guns, because Jurij blew up many of those in the city as well. They lost their navy to ours when they broke from war with the Venetians to come back to oppose Jurij's forces. They could levy heavy taxes, but with a new sultan, several claimants, and a lot of dissatisfaction, Kara Mustafa would be a fool to do so. It will take, in my estimation, at least thirty years to rebuild sufficiently to attack again, and if I'm still alive in 1685, I shall resign, and abdicate in favour of someone else."
"It's certainly a breathing space," said Radziwiłł.
"Yes, and one in which we can consolidate, build more roads and canals, continue to trade with the Ottomans because they will need our trade as much as that of others. And as we are responsible for freeing up the Venetian blockade fleet, Duke Jakub Von Kettler of Kurland is negotiating a Sarmatian presence on Cyprus. Trade in the Mediterranean, gentlemen!"
"That's going to be worth almost as much as the take in loot over the next five years or so," said Radziwiłł. "And means the Turks are kept out of Cyprus."
"Yes, and my son was quick-witted enough to realise it and suggest it," said Jeremi, proudly. "We have the principality of Moldavia, but I want to bargain with its prince to make it a buffer state rather than absorb it; let's not be greedy. And with a free Moldavia, the Ottoman Empire might just be worrying about rebellion from Hungary and Wallachia too."
There were mixed feelings about that, but Moldavia was inclined to brigandage, and administrating an unwilling principality would prove expensive. And the idea that this would give ideas to other Ottoman dependencies to revolt was certainly an attractive way of keeping the Ottomans occupied, with someone else's troops.
"What happened to the cannons at Chocim?" asked Radziwiłł. "The Ottoman bronze is supposed to be superior."
Jeremi smiled.
"My clever son arranged for all the metal to be collected up by engineers for us to melt down and make into our own cannon," he said. "Kara Mustafa was speaking of sending someone by ship to collect their luxury goods and the bronze, but he was a bit late. Even if he has any ships left. We got there first."
Jeremi did not mention that his clever son had also purchased huge quantities of spices at wholesale prices and had sold them for almost four times what he had paid in Kijów. Jurko was now, in monetary terms, almost as wealthy as any other magnate in the commonwealth, independent of his father's wealth. As well as saw mills for building ships, Jurko owned paper mills, powered by the waters associated with his canals, and was now looking to set up a press to print, and sell, copies of the books he had collected. Permission for szlachta to engage in trade would prove very lucrative indeed, and Jurko was laughing over the thought that very few magnates would ever think of sullying themselves in such a way. Jurko did not think that increasing his own wealth and that of his homeland could ever be described as 'sullying.' He thought of the books he had taken as 'The loot that keeps on paying .'
"Never forget, Jaromka," said Jurko, to his oldest son, after outlining his adventures, "Courtesy to the peasantry pays a hundredfold in terms of their eagerness to please. We own shares in the mirror-making business which is now world-famous. We can build ships to carry goods afar or go to war. We have books to replicate and sell across the world. All because I do not despise to talk to experts in their fields. Our workers are cheerful and willing because we pay them well, and make sure their needs are met. Our personal armies are cheerful and willing because they are well-equipped and well-trained, well-fed, and clad better than many magnates clothe their men. We breed our own horses for their use, and they can also throw up a bridge, lay down a road, or dig out a canal. And this is because we treat them like people and care for them like our own family."
"I will never forget it, Papa," said Jaromka. "Did you and Mama shag like rabbits on the Sultan's throne?"
"You overhear too much," said Jurko, blushing.
oOoOo
"Your majesty, I would like to bring Prussia-Brandenburg into the Rzeczpospolita as a full member, retaining the title 'Prince' and as Crown Hetman," said Friedrich Wilhelm. "I am happy to trade my votes as an Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, to be administered by the Sejm."
"You feel threatened by France and Sweden," said Jeremi.
"France loosed those Swedes of Karl Gustaf who had not committed to Poland on Brandenburg, because I would not join to attack Poland," said Friedrich Wilhelm."
"Yes, you marched your men 500 staje in fifteen days; moderately impressive."
"I don't have the roads and canals you have, but I should like to," said Friedrich Wilhelm. "France wants to bribe me but I refuse to be bought to be a puppet to Mazarin. At least you are truly tolerant of those of us of different religions."
"I consider it a very personal matter," said Jeremi. "Not for a state to legislate over, though I accept that a king should embrace the majority religion, at least during his tenure as king. You or your offspring would have to do so if you stood for election as king at any time."
"That's moving faster than I was thinking."
"Well, I think we have the same goals; I will put it to the Sejm, and I am sure they will be more than happy. Jurij will be happy to have more friendly coastline, too."
"I'm consolidating the lands owned by my family," said Friedrich Wilhelm. "I considered working alone to make Prussia-Brandenburg a powerful state on its own, but to be honest, I realised that I was caught between Sweden, France, and the Commonwealth. And the Commonwealth has the greatest potential, and includes my brother-in-law, the Duke of Kurland. I want a part of it. I've an heir now; my first son did not survive, but this boy looks healthy enough. And I... good grief!" his attention was diverted by a group of loud and happy children on the terrace.
"I like my children, grandchildren, and wards to have as happy a childhood as I can give them," said Jeremi. "They work hard at their lessons, having more responsibilities than most children, so I want them to play hard too. They will be better-balanced people for it, and better able to take responsibility if allowed time off in their youth to be irresponsible."
"It's a novel approach," said the Elector.
"How many thirteen-year-olds do you know with the discipline to sit silent inside a barrel as part of a Trojan Horse attack, with the responsibility for bombs and makers of noxious smoke?" asked Jeremi. "My second son, Michaś, is a sportive lad, and a bit of a prankster, but he was able to set his more jocular side aside under military discipline."
"I acknowledge that to be impressive."
"I am proud of all my children," said Jeremi. "And we do not expect Ruryk to live to adulthood, so we want him to be happy whilst he might. And teaching the tsar's children to play has been one of his duties. The filthy object in the middle of that gaggle is Yevdokia, the tsar's oldest child. She'll be a much better treaty bride if she understands boys, and understands how to loot enough for picnics, and how to talk fast to get out of trouble." He opened the window. "Bath-house! Now!" he bellowed.
The small people jumped, guiltily, bowed to the ground, saluted, and filed off dutifully. Whether he was Papa, Grandpapa, or Uncle Jeremi, that was a tone of voice not to disobey.
"They are well disciplined," said Friedrich Wilhelm.
"Yes, and by kindness, not harshness," said Jeremi. "And yes, I love them all dearly."
"Well, if you treat your disparate states as you treat your children, I have no qualms at all," said Friedrich Wilhelm.
The Sejm did not have to debate for long; including Prussia-Brandenburg was a considerable addition to the Commonwealth.
Meanwhile, Jeremi summoned Gonzaga.
"The Holy Roman Emperor is also King of Hungary, and as a member of the House of Hapsburg, owns Silesia," he said.
"That is true," said Gonzaga.
"Now, as I understand it, a library rivalling that of the Vatican was amassed in the late fifteenth century by one Maciej Korwin," said Jeremi.
"Matthias Corvinus, the king, yes," said Gonzaga. "The Turks stole it..." he trailed off. "You are in possession of it?"
"I know who is," said Jeremi. "And I can acquire it, though it is not, I think, complete. There are some two thousand volumes."
"My emperor would be very grateful for their return," said Gonzaga, cautiously.
"How grateful?" asked Jeremi.
"Extremely grateful," said Gonzaga.
"Grateful enough to grant Silesia to the one who found them and preserved them during the sack of Constantinople and would be able to deliver them safely?"
"I... possibly," said Gonzaga.
"You can ask him," said Jeremi.
oOoOo
Ludwika Maria travelled to Warszawa to see Gryzelda.
"Gryzelda! I have been speaking with your brother, and he tells me that Marie Casimire has been acting as a page – a page! to some obscure colonel, named Sobieski."
"But Ludwika! My dear! There is no impropriety, for she is engaged to marry him when she is older," said Gryzelda, with well-simulated astonishment.
"Marry him? But she was to marry your brother!" said Ludwika Maria. "Or she was until he brought home this Tatar hussy, who is far too managing."
"Oh, no, Jeremi refused Sobiepan when he asked," said Gryzelda. "Most ineligible. But Jan Sobieski is a kinsman of Jeremi's, almost a nephew to him, and that was why I wrote to you to ask permission for her to marry him, and you agreed."
Ludwika Maria stared.
"I assumed you meant Sobiepan," she said, sharply.
"I cannot think why," said Gryzelda. "I love my brother, but to tie a lovely, lively child like Marysieńka to a cynical lecher twice her age would be a crime. Sobieski is a delightful lad, and well-educated in all the same books Marysieńka reads. They share a love of the same romances and poetry. My brother's closest approach to poetry would be to write smutty couplets, I'm afraid. So I was delighted that you agreed with me, that she should have a match more to her liking and intellectual level. Of course, they may change their minds as they grow older, but I don't think so. And then I shall have to keep an eye out to make sure they are wed before the blushing bride is blooming, as you might say, young people being young people. And older people too," she added, blushing. "Dear Jurij, bringing home some of the Sultan's thrones just so Jeremi and I could sport upon them to add insult to injury. Such a naughty boy! I dread to think the high jinks he and Helena got up to in Constantinople. I take it you are pleased to have all those noble boys and girls he rescued from slavery in your school? Isn't it terrible to think of a whole culture based on slavery? Now, come and see the children, they will be delighted to see you..."
Maria Ludwika gave up. Had she but known it, her own kinsman and former French ambassadors had lasted little longer.
Gryzelda giggled, enjoying the memory of sporting, a little awkwardly, on a throne inlaid with mother of pearl and turquoise, and another of tortoise shell and mother of pearl, with a canopy. It was a little cramped but the mother of pearl caught the light so nicely it replaced the throne in the throne room perfectly. With extra cushions.
The gold-covered campaign throne had been taken apart and was still kept in a store room until the smell had gone off. The three hexagonal emeralds which hung from it, however, were a lovely hat ornament.
And of course it was not so much an enriching of the Commonwealth by the looting, as depriving the Ottomans of the means to make a nuisance of themselves. Of course, driving out their people and razing the city would have made it even harder for them to arise again; but then, Jurij had held the place hostage. Not despoiled it.
Gryzelda gave thanks as she often did that she had made no objection to her husband's inclusion of his illegitimate son into their household, interceding for the Cossacks, and helping to make peace. It made the blood run quite cold to imagine Jurij hurt and embittered, working with a less benign Chmielnicki, to despoil the Commonwealth, not loot on its behalf.
"We are much blessed," said Gryzelda to herself.
