章 83: Deal of Hostages part -1

"What hostages? Do we have anyone influential in captive to negotiate with?" Adil Khan inquired.

"No, but there is an influential person who consider the hostages very important," Ansari replied.

"And here I thought you could come up with something sensible. Who cares about ordinary peasants? Those Hindu kafirs despise the peasants the most as the lowest caste. Please tell me this isn't your entire plan," Adil Khan questioned, exasperation in his voice as he rolled his eyes.

"Our prime target, Aditya, cares," Ansari explained, stroking his beard.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Adil Khan asked, his scepticism evident.

"In the battle, he risked his front lines to save most of the villagers," Ansari replied calmly.

"Are you serious? He really risked the front lines?" Adil Khan's eyes widened with a glimmer of hope.

Ansari nodded with a smile.

"Then this... changes a lot. But we have barely 300 villagers left, and most of them are women. Do you think that can change anything?" Adil Khan questioned after pondering for a while.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, Prince. If it doesn't work, we'll have our horses ready. I can assure you that you will get refuge in Pakistan sultanate for your esteemed support," Ansari replied with assurance.

Suddenly, an officer arrived with news. "Salamat-e hazur."(long live excellency)

Ansari turned his focus to the officer and asked, "What brings you here?"

The officer bowed politely and replied, "New villagers have been captured by the patrol team, sir. In total, there are 20 able bodied traders."

"Mashallah, put them on defense construction," Ansari rejoiced, standing up and holding his shoulders. "See, even Allah is with us with the increase in numbers." He extended his hand to help Adil Khan to his feet. "Have faith, Your Highness. We have come this far already. You can have as many women as you want for today."

Adil Khan looks at his face and then the hand and after a bit of pondering, clasped his hand reluctantly.

Base camp of Aditya's forces near Sahibi river

Aditya stood at the entrance of the forest, surveying the construction of palisade logs from the fallen trees near his base camp. The wooden logs, each sharpened to a lethal point, were being stacked together with the hammering of iron nails. Their length was adjusted enough for them to carry in carts for quick transport. Royal Guard Commander Ujjwal Singh, clad in his armor, stood beside him, observing the progress.

"These palisades look sturdy, Your Highness," Ujjwal Singh remarked. "From the looks of it, they seem an effective deterrent against any enemy approach. The sharp points can slow down the approaching infantry, making it hard to cross, and the walls might provide safe cover for our musketeers."

Aditya flattered, "It's nothing compared to the main use. It will also funnel their forces into predictable paths, making them easier targets for our siege and musket volleys. in a bunch. "

Aditya continued, his mind working through the layers of their defense. "The palisades will also create choke points. If they try to climb over, our spearmen will be ready to meet them. Your role will be crucial here. This way, we can hold our ground and inflict maximum casualties on offense "

"Rest assured, I must say, Your Highness, you are a genius strategist. Blood never lies," Ujjwal Singh praised.

'Only if u know my reality!,' Aditya pitied inwardly as he felt too exhausted with so much unnecessary buttering.

As they discussed the strategy, Colonel Nilesh approached them in urgency.

"Your Highness, the pigeon post to Delhi has been sent successfully. Also, our spies have infiltrated the Mughal camp. They are gathering intelligence as we speak."

Aditya's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"Good work, Colonel. Pass the command to Colonel Manish and Colonel Deepak to prepare their platoons for special missions tonight. We need to ensure every detail is in place."

Just as Nilesh saluted and turned to leave, a guard hurried towards them with grave expression .

"Your Highness, a messenger from Mughal base camp has arrived. He insists on speaking with you immediately."

Aditya exchanged a quick glance with Ujjwal Singh, who nodded in understanding. "Let's hear what this messenger has to say. Call Prince Pratap".

He turned to his commander and advised sternly, "It seems the next phase of our plan is about to begin. No matter what, don't react much. keep it calm."

Few moments later

Inside the command tent, Prince Aditya sat behind a wooden table laden with maps and strategic plans. Ujjwal Singh, his Royal Guard Commander, stood at his right side with serious demeanour.

On the other hand, Prince Pratap, was seated nearby, in his left side as he surveyed every action and expression of the messenger who is being given an audience. The messenger , had a very hard time as he kept bowing until he got Aditya's voice instructing him to rise to his feet.

At first, he was confident there would be no offensive from their side in forest so he entered the tent with authority, but after seeing the maps, his strength in his knees vanished completely making him collapse to ground as if bowing.

The messenger replied with humility, "We do not wish to engage in any further conflict, and we assure you that we will leave this place peacefully without any further bloodshed if you stay away from the forest and provide sufficient supplies for the return of the villagers."

At this point, Ujjwal Singh lost his patience.

"Is this some kind of joke? You dare to ambush us, break your peace treaty, and now after tasting a crushing defeat, instead of surrendering, you want a safe retreat?

Do you take us for fools?

Don't you folks have the minimum dignity of a soldier and the courage to face us as real warriors on the battlefield?"

The messenger gathered his all strength to ignore the commander and continued, addressing Aditya, who was looking at him like a hawk, "We aren't the standard army, sir, and our Badshah isn't involved or aware of this.

"We are newly created mujahideen forces of Sikandar Khan Uzbek, commissioned to provide military services just like yours, Prince. We accept our defeat, but we are not fools to accept surrender when we still have our advantages."

Aditya asked with an amused glance, "Ah, I remember that tall burly guy with curly hairs, who came as an escort for the Badshah. He was there at the coronation ceremony. So, you said you were mercenaries."

"Then who commissioned you, and didn't you fear what would happen if your Badshah learned of your actions in attacking the prince of a friendly empire, risking peaceful relations?"

The mercenary replied with a pleading expression, "We weren't aware of the target's full identity until we crossed the border and set up the ambush. All we knew was that we needed to kidnap a dignified royalty."

"As a low-ranking soldier, I won't dwell on whether it's right or wrong, but we work for money because there's no other way to feed our families. We are only answerable to our Badshah, and if he wishes for our heads, we will give them willingly."

He continued as he turned to spare a glance at Pratap's familiar noble attire,

"For the question of our contractor, we were hired by the united forces of Rajputana. Our commission here is over, and we do not seek further conflict. That's what our superiors want to convey. You can raise this matter with our Badshah diplomatically if you wish."

Pratap's face reddened with anger at the false mention of Rajputana, but before he could speak, Aditya raised a hand to calm him. Pratap clenched his fists but remained silent, his eyes burning with barely contained fury.

The messenger, sensing the tension, ended in heart beat, "We do not want any bad blood. Our only desire is to stop this conflict on good terms. Refusing our request, especially for supplies, could result in the villagers suffering, as for us their worth is only as slaves."

Aditya leaned back, his eyes fixed on the messenger as he replied with a chuckle.

"The audacity of you people is next to limit of sky. I pity your current leader in charge, whoever sent you with such a lame excuse and reasoning. I have crushed you once and I can crush you again if I so wish. Give me something more reasonable to consider."

The messenger replied by gathering all confidence, "We are not afraid, Your Highness. We know your weaknesses, or else you wouldn't have stayed out of the forest. The losses won't be one-sided where there are many variables open in darkness."

"We can give a literal testament that the ambush and kidnapping of all villagers near the Rajputana states is a staged ploy which can be a game changer, " the messenger started taking deep breaths as he analysed the mood of each of the present audience members.

'Hmm, so a speaking mouth will also do the same. Guess, I have to spare at least one." Aditya pondered for a while and nodded to continue.

"Right now, as we speak, some might be taking this as an excuse for a siege on Amber." The messenger gulped as he chose his next words carefully, " We merely want to avoid any further misunderstanding. We accept our defeat, and our contract is over. There is no reason to continue this feud. And even if you wish to attack, then so be it, but the slaves will be the first to fall."

*HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!*

A smile spread across Aditya's face, and he began to laugh loudly, a sound that echoed through the tent and left the messenger visibly confused.

Finally, Aditya leaned forward as his expression turned serious.

"For me, you people are not mercenaries but mere bandits who trespassed our lands, kidnapped our villagers for plunder, committed heinous crimes against our women, and dared to attack the prestige of our empire."

"If I wish, I can dump you all in a pit and no one would know."

"But I would like to see the faces of your people when your Badshah commands that baldy commander of your to give the order to behead you all in front of your brethren."

"He is a docile kid and will never disobey his friend's request. So, I am willing to give you a safe retreat, but it will be on my terms. First, you will return half the villagers, and next, you will leave the war horses in exchange for war damages."

Pratap got goosebumps as he observed Aditya's face, lying with a straight face. If he didn't know his plan beforehand, he might have believed his current nonsense about sparing them.

He pitied the future of these Mughal mercenaries who dared to cross paths with such a wicked and scheming bastard. He reassessed Aditya's character as dangerous manipulative guy and wondered if he would really give the 50 percent discount but decided to play along as he also didn't want the villagers to die.

The messenger hesitated, "But... war hor..."

"...or else we have no deal. They won't be any use in the forest terrain either, unless you want to desert individually to be captured later for torture." Aditya grinned evilly.

The messenger panicked at the loss of war horses, which meant the loss of cavalry, but sensing the way the conversation had gone, as predicted by his current supreme commander, he agreed. "Since we are in the wrong here, we will accept the condition."

"We will clear the village by early morning tomorrow, leaving behind the rest of the villagers in the village square. You can have half of the villagers along with the war horses in exchange for supplies, but we will retain the horses for logistics and a written decree of your will for safe passage to our sultanate."

"Very well," Aditya concluded. "Let's meet in the evening just before dusk. But you must empty the village by next morning without any tricks, or my promise of safe passage might not hold any value in the face of my musketeers."

The messenger nodded, visibly relieved while Pratap and Ujjwal singh had worried faces, and took his leave. As he exited, Pratap confronted Aditya.

"You were right, the Mughals are so shameless; they hid the involvement of Agra and pushed it all on Rajputana. But I am amazed at your shamelessness too. Did you realize that you just orally promised them a safe return? "

Aditya chuckled at the words of the brave but naive prince. "I am just following Chanakya Neeti. A metal can only cut a metal, as no other thing can suffice that. Besides, I don't think the dead will hold any value for an oral promise."

He stood up as he as he gave a hand on his shoulder, " Once a great sage has mentioned, that everything s fare in love and war. I hope you will never forget this lesson my friend."

Pratap looked at him with deep thought as he tried to think the hidden meaning of this statement.

Ujjwal Singh asked Aditya as he himself stood from his place, "Forgive me again, Prince, if I am rude, but why are we not attacking them directly and wiping them out?

Villagers are bound to be collateral damage. Their ancestors will be proud of their sacrifice. I fail to see any merit in putting this extra effort on these peasants."

Both Aditya and Prince Pratap gave a death glare to the commander, which made him fall silent and sweat out. Sensing the atmosphere tensing up, Aditya bellowed his next set of orders as he placed himself in front of them properly

"Prepare the forces for the some serious exchange.

We need to place the trap, where we will bury them.

Move the carts at a safe distance from their patrol.

Send more scouts disguised as villagers to avoid being caught as soldiers of our forces...

We will see if these mercenaries can even witness the moon at the peak of the night."

Ujjwal Singh and Pratap exchanged glances, understanding their set roles. The plan was set in motion, and all eyes now turned to the evening ahead, where strategy and cunning would determine the outcome.