章 50: Knowing the Enemy

Prince Pratap Singh, the eldest son of Maharana Udai Singh II, sat in the softly lit royal chamber, the flickering torches casting playful shadows on the walls. The room boasted luxurious furnishings. Across from him lay Balwindar, whose bandaged form spoke volumes of recent trials. By his side, Shweta clung to his hand, tears silently tracing her cheeks in the solemn air.

Pratap observed them with a mix of empathy and respect, mindful of his princely decorum. Though he longed to offer comfort to Shweta, he held back, recognizing the gravity of the moment and the dignity owed to his status.

Born on 1540, Prince Pratap was heir to the esteemed Sisodia Rajput lineage, famed for their valor and martial prowess. Raised to uphold Mewar's honor, he had been groomed for leadership from a tender age.

In the wake of the recent Battle of Panipat, where crossbows and firearms had proven decisive under Samrat Hemu's command against the Mughals, Pratap had become captivated by their effectiveness. The precision and power of the crossbow had sparked a deep-seated desire within him to master its use and integrate it into Mewar's military strategies.

In this altered timeline, the kingdom of Mewar-Rajputana remained untouched by the Gujarat Sultanate's advances. Instead, they emerged victorious against neighboring Rajput clans, expanding their territory westernwards, stretching as far as the southern downstream of the Ravi River. This newly acquired land was named as the Sisodia Territory, a tribute to the ruling dynasty of Udai Singh.

Among the key figures shaping this triumph was Udai Singh's cousin, Ranbeer Singh. While Udai Singh initially harbored doubts about the efficacy of firearms and other modern weaponry, Ranbeer Singh recognized the potential to bolster the kingdom's strength. Despite local opposition, he volunteered to represent Mewar at a weapon exhibition hosted by Prince Aditya, at the Rewari Kingdom where there main arms factories were located.

Pratap, deeply infatuated with the innovative crossbow weaponry, was thrilled upon learning of his uncle's journey to the Bhargav empire, the very birthplace of these advanced arms in Indian subcontinent. With eager anticipation, he sought permission from his mother and swiftly assembled a small contingent of royal guards to join his uncle's expedition.

As they journeyed, Pratap encountered the son of the village chief, who urgently sought aid to confront marauding bandits. Without hesitation, Pratap rallied to his side, leading a swift and decisive operation to neutralize the threat and rescue the surviving villagers. Impressed by Balwindar's courage and skill, Pratap brought him along to join his uncle's forces, recognizing his valor as an asset to their cause.

Now, arriving at his uncle's fort, Pratap sat vigilantly by Balwindar's side, eagerly awaiting news of his recovery. Lost in thought about Balwindar's origins, Pratap's attention snapped back to the present as he heard the encouraging news of Balwindar regaining consciousness.

Turning to his royal butler, Pratap gestured toward Shweta, indicating that he wished to speak with Balwindar privately. The butler approached Shweta with gentle reassurance, conveying the prince's request for some space.

"His Highness would like to ask some questions to Balwindar," the butler explained softly to Shweta, "and he is asking for you to give them some privacy."

Understanding the situation, Shweta nodded in agreement, her expression reflecting a mix of concern and anticipation. With a fleeting glance at Balwindar, she followed the butler out of the chamber, leaving Pratap and Balwindar alone to converse.

Upon regaining consciousness in an unfamiliar location, Balwindar's eyes darted around anxiously until they landed on a lone boy at his teenage. Observing the noble appearance of the young boy, Balwindar's initial panic subsided, and he mustered the courage to speak.

"Who are you? Where am I? Where is Shweta?" Balwindar's voice quivered with uncertainty as he bombarded the boy with questions.

With calm assurance, the prince responded, "At ease. You are in the Sisodia territory of Mewar Rajputana, under my protection. I am Prince Pratap."

Balwindar let out a sigh of relief upon hearing the prince's reassuring words. He hesitated at first, answering the prince's questions while carefully avoiding any mention of his military past.

However, as the conversation progressed, Balwindar's desperation compelled him to reveal the truth.

"Please, your highness, " Balwindar pleaded, his voice tinged with urgency, "I beg you to listen. I need to reach Bhargav Samrajya to seek justice. Bairam Khan must be stopped before he threatens your kingdom as well."

Prince Pratap listened intently, his eyes widening in surprise as Balwindar recounted his tale of bravery and sacrifice. Determination flickered in the young prince's eyes as he made a solemn promise.

"I will take you to Bhargav Samrajya," Prince Pratap declared, "but we will go discreetly, disguised as my delegates. Your identity will remain concealed until I choose to reveal it."

Internally, Prince Pratap also noted the potential threat posed by Bairam Khan towards his kingdom as the rival neighbour.

** Purana Qila, Prince Chamber **

As Prince Aditya entered his private chamber, a sense of weariness weighed heavily upon him. For the past few days, he had been busy with his schedule and the constant pressure to complete his company's projects, finding free time was becoming a challenge. Only during the late hours of the night, when distractions were few and far between, did Aditya find a semblance of freedom from his responsibilities.

After a grueling day spent overseeing army training drills and reviewing progress reports from the ironworks factory and textile workshop, Aditya felt utterly drained. Despite his exhaustion, he pushed himself to fulfill his duties, determined to achieve his objectives. Making a mental note to establish a private academy to train skilled laborers and delegate tasks to his subordinates, Aditya settled into his cabin.

Under the soft glow of lamplight, he retrieved a stack of papers and began sketching designs for new weapons that he envisioned to sell in upcoming exhibition.

Aditya was no fool, he had his sights set on introducing advanced armaments, but not ones that would immediately rival his own cutting-edge arsenal. He understood the delicate balance of power and the need to strategically unveil game-changing technologies. While he harboured plans for flintlock rifles, he knew that openly advancing such revolutionary weaponry could risk its premature disclosure to rival factions.

For the time being, Aditya focused on consolidating his authority and refining his management strategies. He found the current performance of arquebuses satisfactory with little customisation, albeit replaceable by more efficient matchlocks sourced from Portuguese traders.

Quietly, he formulated plans to gradually transition to flintlocks during his upcoming visit to the Deccan, ensuring a seamless transition without drawing anyone's attention.

However, Aditya recognized the immediate need to cater to the interests of the empire and other nobles while simultaneously generating revenue. With this in mind, he resolved to innovate rapid-fire weapons technology either already in existence or on the cusp of development elsewhere in the world but not yet utilized within the Indian subcontinent.

With meticulous precision, Aditya sketched out the diagrams of formidable weaponry, each imbued with the potential to reshape the landscape of warfare.

First on his list was the Chinese repeating crossbow, a venerable weapon known for its effectiveness since the 4th century BCE. Next, he turned his attention to the lightweight mounted crossbow called arbalest, a cavalry-centric innovation designed for accuracy and ease of reload while mounted on horseback.

As he refined the design of the arbalest crossbow, Aditya envisioned its impact on the battlefield, foreseeing its potential to revolutionize cavalry tactics. With each stroke of his pen, he infused the blueprint with his vision, ensuring that it surpassed the limitations of existing crossbow technology.

Continuing his exploration of ancient weaponry, Aditya sketched the customized lantern shield, inspired by the Italian lanternarii of the 15th century. The addition of a small lantern, strategically positioned to blind enemy combatants during nocturnal raids, added a tactical advantage to the shield's defensive capabilities.

This lantern shield had the potential to be employed by the new police force established by his Samrajya.

Transitioning to artillery, Aditya envisioned the devastating potential of the hwacha, a Korean invention renowned for its ability to unleash a torrent of arrows upon unsuspecting foes. Drawing upon historical accounts of its effectiveness against Japanese invaders in the late 16th century, he incorporated modifications to enhance its range and accuracy.

Finally, Aditya contemplated the inclusion of Mysorean rockets, the groundbreaking invention credited to Tipu Sultan of Mysore in the late 18th century. Despite initial hesitation, he recognized the strategic value of these potent projectiles, especially when wielded within the confines of member states.

After refining the design to ensure compatibility with existing weaponry, he resolved to add them to his arsenal, confident in their ability to turn the tide of battle.

Completing the weapon design phase, Aditya pondered the uniform requirements for his military. He observed the prevalent use of dhotis among his soldiers, which proved cumbersome during parades. Determined to streamline the attire while also keeping it traditional, he opted to introduce clothes similar to pants like pyjamas which were similar as the new standard, citing their comfort and ease of wear during emergencies. He couldn't help but appreciate the unknown European inventor whose creation had revolutionized clothing, despite the contentious role of colonial history.

However, Aditya realized the need for hierarchy within the dress code, especially for generals who required a distinct style. Uncertain of adopting European models, he reflected on the American military attire during their struggle for independence from Britain. Intrigued by their values and capitalistic policies, Aditya saw no harm in borrowing ideas from the fledgling United States of America, confident that it would not infringe upon any existing national identity.

After careful consideration, Aditya decided to implement a mixture of traditional Indian dress, such as blue short kurtas and pyjamas, with some modern designs and decorations. This choice aimed to establish a separate standard and make the attire more attractive, making it easier to produce and appealing to local youth to volunteer for the company's mercenary rather than joining the empire's army. Germany was the first to understand the importance of standard uniforms and decorations, which significantly improved soldiers' attitudes and morale during World War II. This decision reflects his desire to evolve the culture while maintaining traditional heritage

With his vision for the military uniform crystallized, Aditya implemented a striking ensemble consisting of blue shirts adorned with white straps and brown leather to be used as belts, complemented by matching blue pants and sturdy black leather boots and black leather gloves. The best part of this dress code is that it's already available in the market for nobles, and providing it to commoners can greatly increase his influence among his subjects. Despite facing manufacturing challenges, he remained confident in his ability to overcome them, eager to bridge the gap between concept and reality.

Privately, Aditya relished the opportunity to don a shirt and pants after a prolonged period, finding comfort and familiarity in the attire. For the attire of generals, he opted for elegance, replacing the white straps with resplendent golden ones that resembled power and authority. To infuse a touch of tradition, he added a regal red cape, seamlessly blending modernity with the dress code used by current traditional generals.

Before he could delve into his plans for launching domestic products such as sophisticated soap and glassware, he was interrupted by his trusted butler, Hari Singh, the trusted butler of Prince Aditya, approached with an urgent message.

With a grave expression, he informed Aditya of the letter received from Jaydev Patil, the head of the intelligence department.

Aditya's curiosity piqued, he accepted the sealed parchment and placed it carefully on the table, momentarily setting aside his designs for the new weapons. He handed over the completed diagrams to Hari Singh, instructing him to deliver them to the workshop and factory for immediate production.

"Ensure that each sample is completed as soon as possible," Aditya emphasized, "and do not hesitate to allocate additional resources if needed. Time is of the essence."

Hari Singh nodded, acknowledging the prince's directives, before bringing up another pressing matter. "Your Highness, we are encountering challenges with paper manufacturing. Its widespread use is putting a strain on our resources."

Aditya furrowed his brow, contemplating the issue. "I will address this matter promptly," he assured Hari Singh, acknowledging the importance of finding a solution to the paper shortage.

As Hari Singh left the chamber, Aditya's anticipation grew as he unsealed the parchment. However, as he read its contents, his expression shifted from contentment to alarm and disbelief. The contents of the letter sent his emotions careening in a different direction, his mood taking a sudden and unexpected turn.