Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 179: Rising Storms in South

Dutch-Occupied Indian Territory, Barracks in Goa, Afternoon on April 3rd, 1557.

In a wide-open training ground, the sounds of drills and shouts of men filled the air. Despite the harsh afternoon sun, the soldiers practiced their line formations in rows and columns, undeterred by the heat. In the distance, some men were seen practicing gunshots. A few meters away, under the shade of a lone tree, a table and chair had been set up. Admiral Jan van Linschoten, in his military uniform, sat reading some documents.

Shortly after, a man in his mid-thirties, holding the rank of Major General, approached.

He greeted the admiral with a salute. "Admiral Linschoten, Sir. Major General Arjan der Meer, reporting."

Linschoten lowered the documents in his hand, acknowledging the salute with a brief nod before rising from his chair. He extended his hand in greeting, a formal handshake between equals, though there was pride of hierarchy in the Admiral’s demeanor.

Admiral Linschoten set aside the document and stood up to shake hands with him. "Major General Meer. It’s good to see you. Let’s have a small talk."

Both men sat across from each other as Admiral Linschoten passed the document to Major General Meer.

Reading the documents, Major General Meer’s eyes furrowed. "So, our recent shipments to the southern outpost are being sabotaged."

Linschoten sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Who would have thought they’d be bold enough to cross borders this deep into our territory? It seems they’re growing more daring by the day."

Meer pondered for a moment, then leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Admiral, if I may.. should I take command of the southern outpost personally?"

Linschoten shook his head thoughtfully, folding his hands together. "Not yet, Major. The timing isn’t right. Before we act, I’d like to hear your assessment."

Meer paused, considering his words carefully. "Sir, we should leave them where they are for now. They’re well-prepared, and we don’t know enough about the terrain. Instead, we should focus on areas where we can catch them off guard; places where their defenses are weaker. We could also send small units with no significant objectives, just enough to maintain pressure, but without risking our main forces."

Admiral Linschoten nodded with a smile. "Excellent choice, Major."

Shortly after, a butler arrived with tea and served Admiral Linschoten a cup. The admiral offered one to Major General Meer, who accepted but requested no sugar.

Taking a sip, Admiral Linschoten inquired, "How’s the progress in Deccan?"

Major General Meer replied promptly, "All as per plan, Sir. We’ve started recruiting locals in Bijapur, merchants have established a strong network involving opium addicts, and the ruling classes are embroiled in disputes, making them easier to manipulate. However, the mercenaries are struggling; the population is deeply motivated by faith, making conversions difficult. Planting reliable spies is also proving challenging."

Admiral Linschoten took another sip and responded, "What appears strong is often weak at its core, if you dig deep enough."

Puzzled, Major General Meer leaned in. "Are we planning a rebellion, Sir?"

A smirk appeared on Admiral Linschoten’s face. But before he could reply, a guard came running up to inform the admiral. "Sir, the First Prince Burhan Shah has arrived."

Admiral Linschoten gestured for the guard to let him in and then turned back to Major General Meer. "Our target..."

A knowing smile spread across Major General Meer’s lips as he awaited the arrival of their guest.

Soon after, Prince Burhan Shah, a man in his late twenties with a proud demeanor despite his heavy build, approached. Admiral Jan van Linschoten greeted him warmly, embracing the prince with a smile, though a flicker of disdain flashed in his eyes as they hugged. The prince, either unaware or indifferent, beamed with confidence.

"Prince Burhan, my dear friend," Admiral Linschoten said, stepping back and gesturing toward Major General Arjan der Meer. "May I introduce Major General Meer?"

The major general stood up and extended his hand respectfully. "It’s an honor, Your Highness."

But Prince Burhan didn’t move to shake hands. Instead, he nodded curtly, maintaining his stiff posture and asserting superiority. Major General Meer, sensing the tension, laughed awkwardly as he lowered his hand.

"How foolish of me," Meer said smoothly, with a chuckle. "How could a man like me presume to shake hands with the soon-to-be Shah of Ahmednagar?"

Prince Burhan, amused by the flattery, softened his stance. "Not a big deal, Major. I hope to see you promoted soon."

Admiral Linschoten gestured toward the last empty chair nearby. "Please, sit, Your Highness."

They settled down, and after a brief pause, Prince Burhan leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly. "I have concerns, Admiral. My coronation seems farther away than ever. My father... he hasn’t declared me the crown prince yet. His favour to my third brother and the interference of the Gujarat Sultanate in support of my second brother is worrying me. I’m here to check on the progress of the plan we carefully crafted for our long beneficiary friendship."

Admiral Linschoten smiled and motioned to the soldiers training in the field. "Look to your left, Prince. These men are part of the five thousand soldiers we’re training for your support. In addition, we expect another four thousand trained from our eastern colonies, arriving with advanced ammunition in two months. Patience, Prince Burhan.. is a virtue."

Burhan’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Good, good. I trust that when the time comes, we will honor our deal?"

"Of course," Linschoten replied smoothly. "Once you become Sultan, we expect exclusive trading rights as your foreign partner, along with land for port development and military bases. The times, as you know, are volatile."

Burhan nodded, but his expression darkened. "Everything is alright but as you already know I’m concerned about my father’s recent tolerance towards the northern merchants and his softening stance on the non believers. This shift in policy suffocates me. We are a strict people, and I intend to uphold our traditional values."

Major General Meer raised an eyebrow but remained silent, carefully observing the interaction.

Admiral Linschoten, quick to read between the lines, leaned forward slightly. "Rest assured, Your Highness. When you take the throne, we will not interfere with your governance. Our focus will be purely on trade. And remember, the more liberal your father becomes, the easier it will be to garner support when the time is right. "

Burhan, feeling reassured, stood up. "I like your thinking, Admiral. Now, about that... special gift I requested?"

Admiral Linschoten clapped his hands, and his butler approached swiftly. After a brief, whispered exchange, the butler brought forth a group of young maids. Prince Burhan’s eyes lingered on a voluptuous figure with lust before he looked at admiral with anticipation.

Linschoten gave a curt nod of approval, and Burhan grabbed the woman’s hand, dragging her along. The butler led them away discreetly.

Major General Meer’s face flushed with anger, stood abruptly. "Admiral, with all due respect, Dutch women, being supplied to such a man?"

Linschoten smiled, his tone cold and dismissive. "Cheap prostitutes in maid uniforms, Major. Let’s not overreact. They serve their purpose."

Meer, still fuming, replied stiffly, "Even so, she is a Dutch citizen. Aren’t we aligning ourselves too closely with this pig bastard?"

Linschoten laughed out loud as he stood up being amused. He placed a calming hand on Meer’s shoulder.

"Don’t worry, Major. This is a small investment, part of a larger calculation. Burhan is indeed a pig," he warned, leaning in, " but only to be slaughtered when the time is ripe."

Major General Meer nodded, gritting his teeth, and watched as the prince disappeared with his ’gift.’ The pieces of their dangerous game were falling into place. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Vijayanagara Empire, Palace Garden, Evening of same day

In the peaceful atmosphere of palace garden of the Vijayanagara Empire, the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the gentle rustling of leaves. Emperor Tirumala Deva Raya, dressed only in a dhoti and bare-chested, sat comfortably in a large, ornate jhula (swing) with his two queens.

Lakshmi Bai, his second wife, sat on his right, her delicate hand resting on his chest. Rukmini, his first wife, was on his left, her head on his shoulder. The three shared a lone moment of companionship in the soft glow of evening.

Tirumala sighed deeply with trouble. "I am missing my daughter deeply," he said melancholically. "Sending her to Delhi as an ambassador... it feels like a sacrifice. She is so far from home. Perhaps I made a blunder."

Lakshmi Bai, sensing his distress, spoke softly, "You are worrying needlessly, Maharaja(emperor). As a mother, I am proud of her talent and believe in her abilities. She will represent us well."

Rukmini nodded in agreement. "I agree with sister. The world is vast, and there are times when we will not be with our children. We must trust the teachings we have given them in these trying times. Meenakshi is exceptional, the best of the best, so you are stressing needlessly."

The emperor sighed again as he straightened up. "In her last message, she mentioned that she had agreed to the alliance treaty with the prince of Delhi... But do you know what condition she stated?.. It is to be allowed to visit the prince as a state guest during his official hours. Do you have any idea what this means?.. I am concerned about the prince’s intentions. As her father, this situation worries me deeply. We have records of tales citing how corrupt, people of those regions can be."

Lakshmi Bai, with a calming smile, rubbed her hands gently on his chest. "But remember, Maratha Chief Omkar is with her. She is a well-trained and cultured child. If anything unfortunate happens, she has ways to return safely."

Rukmini, with a hint of amusement, added, "Besides, times have changed. It’s a Hindu family this time. What if the prince of Delhi actually falls in love with our daughter? Wouldn’t that bring our two empires closer?"

Tirumala stood up with irritation. "I am worried about her safety, not about any future possibilities. For that, those northerners have to come here and prove it themselves. Alliance and marriage ties are both different to me. You both seem to be taking this far too lightly."

Just then, the guard announced the urgent arrival of the Prime Minister. Timmarasu entered the garden with an urgent expression. "Your Majesty, I have pressing news regarding the Dutch: They are planning to invade the Madurai Sultanate and engage in a two-front war from the west and south."

The queens exchanged serious glances and quietly left the scene. Tirumala Deva Raya’s face darkened as he turned to Timmarasu. "What is the scale and when are they going to strike?"

Timmarasu took a deep breath. "It is estimated to be a large-scale offensive within three months. If Madurai falls, our situation will be perilous. We must make swift and strategic decisions to counter this threat."

The atmosphere grew tense as the emperor confronted the matters of impending danger that threatened to engulf their empire in the near future.