Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 209: Easy path of conquest

With the fall of Machh town and the failed Baloch coalition assault to retake the Bolan Pass, the fate of the Baloch people was sealed. The defeat at the Bolan Pass proved catastrophic for the Western Baloch as a whole.

Following the battle, the flat terrain, though arid, enabled Mughal cavalry and artillery to swiftly advance. There was no strong force left to stop the mughal might.

This time, their goal was not annihilation, but subjugation. With a power vacuum in Eastern Balochistan, it took only four days for the local chieftains to submit and merge with the Pakistan Sultanate.

The city of Quetta was easily captured, and the royal family was executed for their defiance but none of the civilians were exploited like those of Sibi and Dhadar. To quell local unrest, the Mughals installed a puppet leader from the Baloch region which worked greatly in Mughal favour.

This change in approach boosted confidence among the local population, encouraging them to accept Mughal rule, while the ruling families were left trembling with the outcome.

As a result, the cities of Lasbela in the southeast and Makran in the southwest also merged with the Mughals, receiving autonomy under the Pakistan Sultanate.

However, the merger of Makran alarmed the rulers of Chagai, a western city governed by the Ghicki tribe, rivals of the Rind tribe of Makran. This rivalry played into the hands of Prince Ismail, who was stationed at the border with half of his forces.

Exploiting the fear of the Mughals and the animosity with the Makrans, he pressured the Ghicki tribe to merge with Safavid rule, marking the end of the Baloch conquest by two foreign powers within a week.

The outcome was significant. The Mughals had demonstrated their strength through the swift conquest of Balochistan, proving they were no longer passive and could be aggressive when needed.

To maintain diplomatic decorum, the Mughals halted further conquests and acknowledged Chagai’s merger with the Safavids. This move put pressure on the Safavids, who, in turn, had to diplomatically recognize Mughal authority in Balochistan to save face within the Muslim world. As a result, discussions is ongoing in fort of Isfahan now as how to address the growing Mughal power.

The emperor, Shah Tashmap trembled with rage as the news of the Mughal victory reached him. His fist slammed against the armrest of his throne, his voice thick with frustration.

"How have those Sunni bastards conquered Balochistan in just a week, when our own estimates were at least a month? Are they truly that superior in military strength?"

The court fell into a heavy silence, the weight of the emperor’s anger pressing on every soul. Everyone shared the same grim thought-their plans to subdue the Baloch and advance on Mughal-controlled lands, now known as the Pakistan Sultanate, had become far more complicated.

Farhad Pasha, a trusted nobleman, broke the silence. "Shehanshah, we underestimated the Mughals, who are skilled with cannons and cavalry. But all is not lost. Thanks to Prince Ismail’s foresight, we captured Chagai without spilling Persian blood. Now that we know the Mughals’ strength, I urge we delay our plans and invest in improving our cannons to match theirs."

Farhad was a key supporter of Prince Ismail and used this opportunity to strengthen his faction’s influence. His suggestion, however, clearly struck at the pride of Prince Khodabanda’s faction, whose plan for invasion now seemed rash.

Vizier Arshad, clearly irritated, sharply opposed. "I remind our noble Farhad that the Safavids of Persia are no less capable than the Mughals. We may lack some European advancements, but we are more than a match for the Mughals if they dare threaten us." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Farhad shook his head. "I mean no disrespect. I simply believe we underestimated them. I propose we reconsider our strategy before acting, especially since the Mughals haven’t given us a direct reason for aggression."

The Vizier scoffed. "No reason? What of Shahrukh’s disappearance? He was there.. "

"Enough!" the emperor roared, cutting him off, fury flashing in his eyes at the mention of his trusted retainer’s name.

His voice dropped to a cold, controlled tone. "I didn’t call this meeting to act on impulse. I want to hear the court’s thoughts on how we should respond to their conquest of Balochistan. How prepared are we for a direct conflict? War with the Mughals seems inevitable."

A noble from Ismail’s faction cautiously spoke. "Your Majesty, since they’ve accepted our claim to Chagai, we should reciprocate for now. Delaying our plans would allow us to resolve our border issues with the Ottomans. We risk a two-front war if our displeasure reaches Ottoman ears."

Another noble, from Khodabanda’s faction, countered. "This is the time to act, Your Majesty. We must show our discontent now, strike while they’re celebrating, and cite their aggression against the peaceful Baloch as a pretext."

A general from the western borders objected, "We are not ready for a long war with the Mughals. Our forces would stretch too thin if we engage them now."

General Rias Khan interjected. "It depends on timing. The Mughals are complacent after their victory. They wouldn’t expect us to strike now. With the right leader, we could gain significant ground and conclude the conflict on favorable terms."

Debate raged through the court, voices clashing. But everyone fell silent as Prince Khodabanda, surprising even his own supporters, stepped forward.

"Shehanshah," he began, "I believe it’s in our best interest to resolve our issues with the Ottomans first. Their superior cannon technology would give us a clear advantage, even if we are already a match for the Mughals. With Ottoman cannon power, we could overwhelm the Mughals entirely. Furthermore, if Nusrat successfully forges an alliance with Hindustan, our position will strengthen even more."

The sudden shift in Khodabanda’s stance caught his faction off guard. They had pushed for immediate war with the Mughals, but with their prince now advocating delay, their calls for aggression faded.

The emperor’s gaze swept across the room, his voice calm but resolute. "We will not tolerate the Pakistan Sultanate’s aggression in Balochistan. Their encroachment on a region we’ve treated as a buffer cannot go unanswered. We will break all arrangements with them and use this as an opportunity to garner support from other neighbouring states. In the meantime, fortify our borders. I will not wait for the Ottomans to settle scores before exacting my revenge."

Everyone was stunned by the emperor’s decision to escalate further, especially when both factions: those of Prince Ismail and Prince Khodabanda, had leaned towards delaying the conflict.

Perhaps it was the emperor’s seething anger over the loss of his most loyal retainer that drove his resolve. But one question lingered in the minds of all present: Was this a wise choice, or would it lead to a cruel twist of fate for the Muslim world?

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Lahore fort, Pakistan sultanate

As the evening dusk spread over the fort, the flickering torchlight cast shadows across the room. Badshah Afzal lay bare-backed on his bed, his body sore from intense sword training, his limbs reddened from the strain.

His trusted maid, Nagma, perched delicately atop him, massaged his muscles with oil, her hands moved with practiced care. The soothing touch of her hands offered Afzal a rare moment of relaxation, his eyes closed as he momentarily escaped the burdens of his rule. In the quiet comfort, his mind drifted, dreaming of his reunion with his friends from India.

But his peace was soon interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps and the sharp announcement of his wazir, Bairam Khan. Irritation flared in Afzal’s chest. Every time Bairam Khan appeared, he brought troubling news, dragging the young emperor back into the chains of duty. Despite his title, Afzal often felt powerless in the presence of his regent, who held more real influence in the court.

Afzal’s brows furrowed as he raised his head to see Bairam Khan enter with an unusual happy expression which meant sure trouble.

Bairam Khan bowed low as he approached. "Badshah Salamat, I bring good news."

Afzal nodded, prompting him to continue.

"My Badshah, we have successfully taken almost all of Balochistan. Thanks to your insight in assimilating the local leadership, the conquest was smooth and swift."

Despite the praise, Afzal’s face remained stoic, betraying no emotion. He wondered what other news would follow as this was within the calculations. Bairam Khan, noticing the lack of reaction, shot a glance at Nagma, still massaging Afzal, but she gave no indication of her master’s mood.

Bairam Khan sighed, then composed himself before delivering the second piece of news. "There is another important matter, Badshah. Ladakh has taken control of Kashmir, and a clash between the Bhargav Samrajya and the Ladakhis seems imminent."

Afzal’s relaxation halted as he gestured for Nagma to stop. She withdrew, and Afzal sat up brimming with curiosity. "Are you saying Kashmir has fallen to another power? Did we not give refuge to the prince who was supposed to be the rightful heir? How powerful are these Ladakhis?"

Bairam Khan smirked, noticing the sudden interest. He feared Afzal might act impulsively, given his personal ties with the Bhargav Samrajya.

"Indeed, Badshah, the Ladakhis have outsmarted the Bhargavians and taken Kashmir in a single strike. They are not a direct threat to us as it is a small kingdom, hidden in the Himalayan terrain."

Afzal raised an eyebrow. "Then why should we concern ourselves? This is not our war."

Bairam Khan shook his head. "The war becomes personal when there are hidden interests at play, Badshah. We’ve received a request for help from the Ladakhi king in exchange for a ten-year future tribute and a share of the trade routes along the Silk Road. Additionally, they have agreed to place our puppet prince on the throne of Kashmir. The best part is that we would not be violating our treaty with the Bhargavians since this is not a direct conflict with them. "

Afzal’s face grew more serious. "It seems you’ve already devised a plan."

Bairam Khan nodded, his voice gaining energy. "Exactly, Badshah. If we assist the Ladakhis now, we can gain control of Kashmir through Prince Zayne, our puppet, who can help us undermine their autonomy. And if we play our cards right, Ladakh itself may eventually fall under our control. This is undoubtedly our easiest path to conquest."

Afzal’s tone turned pragmatic. "What do you need from me?"

Bairam Khan smiled, producing a parchment. "A royal decree to recruit mass militia.. a special mujahideen force, for this mission. Alternatively, we could provide war supplies, which would boost our economy."

Afzal took the parchment but did not sign it. "Leave it here. I need time to think." He turned to Nagma. "I wish to be alone."

As Nagma and Bairam Khan left the room, Afzal sat in quiet contemplation. Every decision he made for the welfare of his people seemed to drive him further from peace with the Bhargav Samrajya. Would this be the right move, or would it plunge him deeper into more conflict?

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//A/N:

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