Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 221: Battle of Kashmir Part -4

Kashmir , outskirts of Sri Nagar , evening of April 25, 1557

The Battle for Kohala Pass turned out to be a major turning point for the Bhargavian forces. That short hill became the gateway to the surrounding mountain walls within the valley.

The reason General Rudra was delayed in reaching the battlefield was due to the need to maintain the supply chains that were vital in this harsh weather. As a result, he had to rely on the limited weapons provided by Prince Aditya to be used in the battlefield, which turned out very favorably for his side.

After crossing over, they swiftly took over the town of Muzaffarabad and set it up as their first line of outposts. The town had already been abandoned by Ladakhi forces, and the civilian populace fully supported the new rule, as changing realms had little effect on them as long as they were fed and protected.

Since Rudra brought supplies and rations, winning over the populace was a piece of cake. With the help of local populace acting as guide, they learned the routes and quickly dispatched forces to cut off possible nearby ambush areas from scouts on their way to Srinagar. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Scattered Ladakhi forces were swiftly handled, and they took over nearby posts with minimal resistance, as most of the major enemy forces had been recalled, while those who stayed were swiftly dealt with by the mighty imperial cannons.

It took only three days for their whole army to reach the outskirts of capital city by evading and overpassing terrains full of traps.

As the Bhargavian forces set up camp outside the city, sheltered beneath the dense cover of the forest, the leaders convened for a meeting as dusk approached. Inside a grand tent, the atmosphere was thick with tension and anticipation.

Maps were sprawled across the table underthe flickering torchlight. Military leaders gathered around had serious expressions etched on their face as they shared reports with each other.

The hum of discussion ceased as General Rudra entered the tent, clad in chain mail armor that glinted in the dim light. His commanding presence demanded attention, and all eyes turned to him as he took his place at the head of the table.

"Greetings, brothers in arms," Rudra began with a strong and steady voice. "I hope everyone is familiar with the terrain."

"Yes, General," the leaders replied in unison.

Rudra nodded, then turned to his trusted faujdar, Harishpal, hands clasped behind his back. "What is the situation?"

"Sir, the situation in Srinagar is rather tense," Harish Pal reported, his brow furrowed. "The Ladakhi soldiers are holding the entire city captive. The markets are operating under strict surveillance for limited time. The fort is well-supplied and heavily guarded, and we’ve also observed Mughal presence. "

At the mention of the Mughals, Rudra frowned, muttering under his breath, "Those pesky nuisances... wherever there’s conflict, they’re bound to show up."

He leaned over the map, briefing Harishpal and Amrendar on key positions identified by the scouts .

After that he concluded, "We can assume the worst: the Mughals have likely supplied them with cannons that match ours. First, we must free the city. We will launch the attack at these key positions." He marked several spots on the map with a decisive stroke.

Amrendar, skepticism lacing his voice, inquired, "But sir, what if they send more forces and use civilians as hostages?"

Rudra nodded thoughtfully. "They will certainly do it. But, we must prepare for the worst. Our priority will be to evacuate as many civilians as possible to the western region and block any advances they make..no matter the cost. If we are able to gain the trust of populace then retaking control would be easier. Our only key here is to act swiftly."

Harishpal chimed in, "Sir, why go for a siege when we can directly assault Ladakh and take over their capital? We can simply bypass them like we bypassed other passes."

A slight smile crossed Rudra’s face as he replied, "We cannot bypass everything, Faujdar. To maintain control, it is crucial to take key areas. They assert our authority and bolster our command. Besides, I doubt the Baltistan region is secure. It’s better to establish our power here and compel the remaining Ladakhis to surrender before we send a division to Baltistan and move into Ladakh. So, are we clear on the plan? Any doubts?"

The other high-ranking soldiers nodded, their expressions a mix of determination and focus. They voiced a few concerns about routes and attack strategies before saluting Rudra. One by one, they filed out of the tent, ready to carry out his orders.

As the last soldier exited, Rudra stood alone for a moment, gazing at the maps before him. The weight of command hung heavy on his shoulders, but the glint in his eyes revealed his unwavering resolve. Victory was within reach, and he would do everything in his power to seize it.

Meanwhile inside the Hari Parbat fort.

The chamber of Fort was dimly lit under the flickering torches. Prince Tsewang sat at the head of the long table, his expression vacant, eyes lifeless as he stared into the distance. He was forced to fight as Ladakhi commander in desperate attempt to save the Kashmiris whom he held dear.

The air was thick with tension, palpable enough to cut through. Across from him were his uncle Yeshe Namgyal, Commander Norbu, and Aftab Hussain, the Mughal Mujahideen commander, along with his subordinate Sohaib.

After getting reports of from the scout Yeshe, slammed his palm on the table, the sound echoed in the room. "Does it make sense to get defeated so easily after we prepared so much?" His frustration was evident, and it hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Aftab chuckled softly, his tone laced with hidden scorn. "Maybe the preparation wasn’t as perfect as you thought, your highness. Fortunately, we’re here to help." He leaned back, arms crossed with a smug smile on his face.

Commander Norbu straightened in his chair, a flash of defiance in his eyes. "Thanks for your help, but don’t misjudge our strength. One of our soldiers can hold back hundreds of theirs. It was their mysterious weapons that caught us off guard."

Sohaib, standing behind Aftab, chimed in, "It’s pointless to dwell on the past. What our hazur is trying to emphasize is that we need to focus on what we can do now."

"Yeshe nodded, his brow furrowed with concern. "I understand that, but do you have any plans? It takes only a day of travel from Baramulla. We can expect them at our door by tomorrow morning."

Aftab leaned forward, his confidence unwavering. "You underestimate our cannon power. From this height, we can destroy their weapons before they even reach the fort. Let them come. I assure you, more of our forces will join within a week. We only need to hold them off until then."

Norbu’s posture relaxed slightly after hearing the news. A glimmer of hope shined in his eyes. "If that happens, we can still hang on by recruiting more civilians to defend the fort."

"Yes, that’s true!" Yeshe exclaimed with excitement. "Are more forces really coming to join us? Did you really called them?"

"Indeed, Your Highness," Aftab replied with an easy smile. "We Mughals fulfill our promises. We just hope for the end of our bargain."

"Yes, certainly," Yeshe nodded vigorously.

Then Aftab turned his gaze toward Tsewang, who remained silent. "Please, don’t take offense," he said , his tone laced with hidden mockery. "But do you think he’ll be of any help?" He pointed at Tsewang with a smirk.

"Yes," Norbu shot back, his tone defensive. "He is still the prince."

Yeshe shrugged, maintaining his smug demeanor. "Don’t worry, he’s our dog. He will be of great help."

Aftab exchanged glances with Sohaib gave a nod. Sohaib swiftly threw a dagger toward Tsewang. It sliced through the air, but Tsewang’s reflexes kicked in.

He caught the dagger inches from his face, eyes narrowing at Sohaib. "Is this how you greet royalty?" he asked as his hidden pride rose after being tested by a foreigner. This was the first time he broke into conversation with them, though abruptly.

Aftab smirked, brushing off the incident. "Looks like my subordinate wants to have a duel. What do you say, Tsewang?" He didn’t maintain the etiquette, knowing the prince had no actual respect.

"Yes!" Yeshe Namgyal exclaimed, a spark of excitement igniting in his eyes. "Show them what you’ve got, Prince. Ladakhi pride is on the line."

With a resigned sigh, Tsewang stood, drawing his sword. Sohaib unsheathed his talwar, its blade gleaming under the flickering torchlight. They went to the open area beside them.

Sohaib lunged first, his blade slicing through the air. Tsewang quickly brought his sword up in defense, deflecting the attack with a ease with his swift movement. "Is that all you’ve got?" Tsewang taunted, his voice calm despite the tension.

Sohaib growled, charging again with a series of aggressive strikes, but Tsewang adeptly parried each blow, his movements fluid and controlled. The clash of metal echoed in the chamber as the duel intensified, Sohaib growing more frustrated with each blocked attack.

"How long will you keep dodging and parrying?" Sohaib yelled, exasperated. "Show me the so called Ladakhi spirit"

Stating that Sohaib charged forward, attempting a feint before aiming for Tsewang’s side.

Tsewang anticipated the move, sidestepping at the last second, and with a swift twist of his wrist, he disarmed Sohaib. The talwar flew from Sohaib’s hand, clattering to the ground as the room fell silent.

Tsewang warned as he drew the sword to his neck ,"Don’t test my patience land dweller."

Sohaib stood there, speechless, as everyone stared in disbelief. Tsewang returned to his seat, with frustration sheathing back his sword.

"Yes! That’s how a prince fights!" Aftab shouted with enjoyment and excitement in his voice.

"Looks like our dog has some bite," Yeshe remarked with smug smile.

The atmosphere shifted as the tension of the earlier discussion faded, laughter and banter replacing it.

Despite the compliments and jests, Tsewang remained unmoved, his expression still distant. The cheers around him felt hollow.