Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 226: Battle of Kashmir Part - 9

The interrogation with Tsewang turned out to be turning point of battle. Rudra not only learned about the secret tunnel route but also the layout of troop positions, the number of soldiers involved, and, most importantly, the information about the arrival of reinforcements.

As per the information received, the number of forces stationed in the fort is two thousand Ladakhi forces, one thousand Kashmiri conscripts, most of whom were disbanded veterans, and two thousand mujahideens from the Mughals. It will take three more days for the reinforcements to arrive.

If not for Tsewang’s deep desire for revenge, Rudra would have faced a far tougher challenge cracking him open, especially given his willingness to die.

Still, even with this stroke of luck, time was against Rudra, and he had to act swiftly.

He ordered the pullback of three thousand soldiers tasked with infiltrating through the tunnel while concentrating most of the soldiers at the southern gate. The task of the soldiers infiltrating was simply to disrupt the cannons, capture the Ladakhi prince, and in the best possible scenario, open the gates.

Once the flare is given, Tsewang was to be put at the front to dissuade his loyalists from surrendering, and then they would rush in. However, that was the ideal case. If not, they would take the fort by force, aiming to secure it before dawn breaks for other day.

Once again, Harish Pal was given the special task of infiltrating, but this time not to rescue; rather, to create chaos by setting the fort on fire.

At the entrance of secret tunnel

In the shadowed forest on the western side of the fort, Harish Pal’s contingent stood in tense silence, waiting for his command. The two thousand soldiers were armored in chainmail, clutching shields, swords, and spears. Crossbowmen and arquebusiers flanked them, each prepared for a precise and deadly assault.

Leading them was Harish Pal, who is being personally briefed by Rudra himself now.

"Are you sure you want to take this? You’ve done enough, Harish. There are others who could take this burden."

With unwavering resolve, Harish replied, "I will not let you down, General. I’m determined to avenge my brothers who died following me. This is the only chance to avenge them, and I shall not miss it."

Rudra had clasped his shoulder, impressed. "Good. I’ve marked the critical positions on this map. These are your targets. May victory be with you, Faujdar."

With a respectful bow, Harish Pal turned, rallying his men, and they marched into the yawning darkness of the tunnel. Each step echoed through the narrow passage as torches flickered against the damp, earthen walls. After a labyrinthine journey, they reached a thick, reinforced door which was the final barrier before the king’s living quarters.

Harish extended his hand. "Bring me the bombs."

A soldier approached, presenting a tightly packed bundle of tube grenades. Each grenade was interconnected by a common fuse, a tactical innovation developed by Prince Aditya himself just weeks before. This device was lighter and more compact than earlier known explosives-bulky cans packed with gunpowder.

Harish knelt, positioning the bundle against the door.

Striking the fuse, he retreated back to his men, who were gathered a safe distance of twenty meters back.

Fortunately the fuse was long and moments later, the fuse hissed to its end.

"Boom!"

The explosion thundered through the tunnel, the blast scattering debris and shattering the wooden door.

Dust and smoke filled the air as chunks of stone and wood flew outward, taking out several guards posted on the other side, catching them completely off guard. Shrapnel from the explosion injured the defenders, leaving them disoriented.

For a moment, Harish was struck by the sheer power of the blast. It was far beyond what he’d experienced with their usual gunpowder.

Gathering himself, he roared, "Charge! To Southern wall ! Dismantle the cannons!"

His soldiers surged forward like a flood breaking through a dam, spilling into the fort’s quarters.

The defenders, disoriented and dazed from the explosion, were overwhelmed by the sudden rush.

The chaos spread like wildfire. Soldiers wielding torches ignited curtains, rugs, and all those inflamable, setting parts of the everything that came its wake.

Amidst the fiery chaos, Harish’s forces split into two groups. Sardar Ajit took charge of the larger contingent, steering them toward the southern wall, while Harish led three hundred soldiers on a mission to hunt down any leaders hiding within and spread further destruction by any means necessary.

They roamed the labyrinthine corridors, cutting down those who dared to resist. Their primary objective was to set fire to the paths that would connect to the southern battlements, ensuring no avenue for escape or reinforcement.

The clash of steel echoed through the halls as Harish’s shield-wielding troops tore through any opposition at close range. Crossbowmen took aim from a distance, picking off those who attempted to regroup, while Arquebusiers unleashed a storm of lead that tore through wooden shields, ensuring nothing could halt their rampage.

Meanwhile, Sardar Ajit bore the weight of command as he split their forces into multiple groups, intent on breaking through the defenses of the battlement. On the other side, the palace guards rallied, doing their utmost to stop the invading horde.

"Stop them at the stairs! The path is narrow. Halt for reinforcements!" barked a Ladakhi royal guard commander. His forces regrouped, blocking all routes to stall the advancing attackers.

The clash of steel and the splatter of blood painted the walls as fire and chaos engulfed the fort.

Forces stationed in other areas struggled to reach the frontlines, their attempts at reinforcement thwarted by fire which had been earlier set by Harish men. They were forced to take the long routes.

Seizing the advantage, the invading forces pressed on, using their sheer numbers to attack multiple chokepoints.

As they reached the entrance wall, they climbed the labyrinthine stone stairs. Suddenly, a cannon fired and its shot tore through their ranks and turned soldiers into mangled corpses.

Yet, the morale of the standard soldiers remained unbroken; they charged forward with renewed determination, their blades flashed in the flickering torchlights as they cut down the panicked crew.

The archers stationed on the walls attempted to mount a defense but found themselves pressured from all sides as more forces erupted from the battlements.

They were brutally overwhelmed as they failed to handle multiple directions.

Once Sardar Ajit reached the wall, he quickly grabbed a crossbow and loaded a bolt wrapped in oil-soaked cloth and lit it.

He sent it soaring into the sky as a flare, to signal the troops below.

With the cannons down and the southern wall seized, the stage was set for the army stationed below to advance and reinforce their position and unleash chaos upon the fort.

Down near the southern gate,

Meanwhile, Rudra had gathered all four thousand men, while one thousand each seized control of the other side. Standing beside him was Tsewang, his hands bound and blindfolded.

As Rudra spotted the flare rising into the sky, he sighed. He had long heard the sounds of battle and had been anxiously awaiting this moment. He ordered his men to untie Tsewang.

Confused by the turn of events, Tsewang found himself facing the southern gate, hundreds of meters away. Rudra said, "You are free to return now, Prince. This is the reward for your cooperation. Whether we remain enemies depends on what you choose to do next."

Tsewang flinched back. "What do you mean by that? Where are my subordinates?" His confusion deepened; this was not part of the deal. He was certain there was more to it, and he instinctively held his guard up.

Rudra explained as he mounted his horse, having anticipated this reaction. He was well armoured and only needed weapons. "Your subordinates are safe and will remain with us until the end of the war. Thanks to your information, our forces have taken control of the southern wall. From now on, we will proceed our way. However, we cannot guarantee the safety of those who oppose us. Surely, you can change their fate."

He stretched out his hand, and a subordinate brought him his favorite urmi, a whip made of steel that resembled a blade folded like a whip. After giving it a tug, he continued, "To be frank, Prince: join us in this fight, save those who should not die." He then stretched his hand for other weapon, "And perhaps together we can change the fate of at least those who follow you."

Tsewang was taken aback. "Aren’t you afraid we might betray you?"

Rudra chuckled softly as he received his favourite khanda from the subordinate which was a massive sword with an imposing presence. "You’ve long since passed that stage, Prince. We are your only option unless you wish to live like a lone wanderer."

Tsewang clicked his tongue, struggling to process the unexpected request. All this gestures of battle preparation made a phycological burden of bloodshed on him. After a moment of thought, he said, "I can’t make a decision until I see that my subordinates are safe. We’re in no position to defy you now, anyway."

Rudra smirked. "You wish to bargain in this situation? Very well." He clapped his hands, summoning Tsewang’s subordinates forward.

Tsewang remained silent, realizing he had been played into Rudra’s hands, all under the clever anticipation of the shrewd commander.

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//A/N:

My heartiest gratitude to ABHI29 for 3 GT tickets, PratikMonty for 2, and Risabh_Mandal_4631 for the new GT ticket. Apologies for the delay. Your immense support is deeply appreciated. :)