บท 58: Testing the New Weapons
After Shadi Khan got caught, Prince Aditya felt confused and frustrated. Despite his influential position, he felt stuck with what he could do with his limited authority. The news bard system brought a lot of information to the capital, but he still didn't know everything he needed.
One big puzzle for Prince Aditya was the sudden arrival of Muslim traders from Pakistan. There were lots of them, and they left quickly after the ambush. Prince Aditya couldn't stop thinking they were involved somehow, but he still didn't know why they were there.
Given Bairam Khan's shrewd personality, Aditya meticulously considered every possible scenario. An attack on the capital seemed unlikely due to the presence of reserve forces from other member states undergoing advanced training. Additionally, the capital had bolstered its defenses by increasing the number of soldiers in training, aiming to meet its quota by expanding from 25,000 to 80,000 across its jurisdictions.
Rewari, a possible target, was considered safe because troops from three states were already there. This left only two suspicious locations: Kashmir, where the king had been killed, and Jaunpur, where the king was detained and half of the forces were deployed to Rewari.
Alternatively, there was speculation of a southern attack from the Deccan Sultanates as part of a coalition, However, this theory was dismissed due to the lack of reported mass movements. It became evident that the enemy forces were likely still concentrated in the central region of the empire, possibly hiding in forested areas. Despite this, their exact target and objective remained unkown.
Given the circumstances, Aditya needed to strengthen his power in order to take action. He quickly enlisted an additional 4,000 villagers into his private army and decided to start bayonet training for firearms ahead of schedule. This move would make his private army safer in close combat and also adhere to the condition prohibiting the use of standardized swords and spears.
Although he had gathered enough guns for training during Shadi Khan's tenure, it wasn't sufficient to equip all the new recruits. However, a deal with the Portuguese promised a shipment after the month, ensuring that all his troops could be equipped with guns, maintaining his current military expansion. Additionally, he planned to train his units in crossbow use in case they couldn't adapt to the guns, easing his burdens for now.
To accommodate the new army, Aditya swiftly constructed military barracks using temporary tents and wooden logs, though there was still much more to do in this regard.
Currently, he could only rely on the 1,250 troops he had inherited from Shadi Khan. His future plans depended on finalizing the weapons deal, after which he could proceed with other projects, such as expanding his personal spy network. Aditya was dissatisfied with the current state of the empire's intelligence department and aimed to promptly address this issue.
With the concentration of troops, the city area of the capital expanded significantly. To accommodate this expansion, Aditya negotiated with Prime Minister Chandrashekar and secured a large area for himself. He reserved the entire Khirkee area, which transformed into a sizable town but retained its village name. Currently, Aditya stood in the training grounds with his entire army, preparing to showcase the first sample of weapons.
Colonel Manish approached Aditya and said, "Your Highness, out of the 4000 recruits, we've selected 1500 who are ready for drills and lined up over there. But the others will need more time to catch up."
Aditya nodded and replied, "Okay, include them in bayonet training along with the regulars. But before that, where are the new weapons?"
Colonel Manish nodded and answered, "The preparations are done, Your Highness. The items are on their way."
Aditya nodded again, and soon, some men pushed carts of varying sizes covered in black cloth.
Amira turned to Aditya and asked, "Master(Maalik*), what are these carts?"
Aditya felt a bit embarrassed by the term "master," but he kept a poker face to show his soldiers he was in command. He replied, "These are new weapons that will earn us the profit that we desperately require now."
With his signal, the two carts were brought closer by some of his hired soldiers accompanied by the chief blacksmith Bhaskar.
With a gesture towards the cart, Bhaskar replied, "Your Highness, these are the only samples we could manage so far. But I can guarantee that they all work as per your instructions." Bhaskar's chest swelled with pride as he made the remark.
Aditya smiled and replied, "Show me the weapons."
Then Bhaskar's assistant, Vinayak, unfurled the carts, which earned gasps from the surrounding soldiers. Colonel Manish was angered by the break in discipline, but Aditya ordered to let them stand at ease so they could learn and familiarize themselves with the weapons they might need to use later.
Vinayak retrieved the compact repeating crossbow from the cart and explained its use to Colonel Manish, who carefully observed its design with keen eyes. The weapon was smaller and lighter than its larger counterpart currently in use, boasting a sleek, streamlined appearance. Its magazine, neatly nestled below the bow, could hold up to 9 bolts, enabling rapid successive shots.
Once satisfied with its examination, Colonel Manish turned to his assembled soldiers, gesturing for their attention. "Company, at ease," he called out with commanding authority. "Today, I'll demonstrate the prowess of this remarkable weapon."
Positioning himself at a marked distance from a row of targets, each spaced apart by several paces, Colonel Manish raised the repeating crossbow with practiced ease. His fingers deftly loaded the bolts into the magazine, his movements fluid and precise.
"Observe closely," Colonel Manish instructed with confidence, "This weapon may be small, but its firepower is not to be underestimated."
With a swift motion, Colonel Manish aimed the crossbow at the first target and pulled the trigger. The bolt shot forth with remarkable speed, striking the bullseye dead center. Without pause, he swiftly transitioned to the next target, firing again and again with incredible speed and accuracy.
One after another, the bolts flew from the crossbow, each finding its mark with unerring precision. The targets trembled under the onslaught, punctuated by the thud of bolts embedding themselves into the wooden surfaces.
As the last bolt struck true, embedding itself firmly into the final target, a hushed silence fell over the watching soldiers. They stared in awe at Colonel Manish's remarkable display of skill, their admiration evident in their awestruck expressions.
"Next," Aditya said, prompting Vinayak to unfurl the other cart shrouded in black cloth.
As Vinayak unfurled the artillery, it drew everybody's attention. It was an imposing weapon that resembled the customised korean style hwacha. Its appearance was nothing short of awe-inspiring, with multiple rows of arrows neatly lined up and ready for deployment.
Mounted on a sturdy wooden frame with wheels which can be pulled by horses, the artillery commanded attention with its sheer size and menacing presence.
The artillery consisted of a large wooden cart equipped with a launching mechanism capable of firing multiple arrows simultaneously. Rows of arrows were arranged in a fan-like formation, ready to be unleashed upon the enemy with devastating effect. Colonel Manish marveled at the intricacy of its design, recognizing its potential to turn the tide of battle in their favor.
With Prince Aditya's permission, Vinayak volunteered to operate this artillery. He then demonstrated the firing process step by step. First, he took a match and ignited the fuse attached to the launching mechanism. As the fuse sparked to life, he swiftly pulled a lever, activating the launching mechanism with a resounding click.
In an instant, the launching mechanism sprang into action, releasing a torrent of arrows in a coordinated volley. The arrows soared through the air with deadly accuracy, each one finding its mark with devastating effect. As the arrows struck the dummy targets with lethal force, they splintered and shattered under the onslaught.
The impact of the arrows was amplified by the sheer volume of projectiles launched in rapid succession. The force of the barrage overwhelmed the targets, leaving them in tatters and demonstrating the destructive power of the artillery.
As the soldiers looked on in awe, Vinayak explained the significance of the weapon. "With this artillery , we can rain down death upon our enemies from a distance," he stated. "It is a weapon of guaranteed unmatched power and precision, capable of turning the tide of battle in the user's favor."
Colonel Manish exclaimed as he asked, "How did you make this? It can carry out the task of 100 men alone."
Bhaskar, faltering under the praise, replied, "It's His Highness, the Prince who came up with the design. We simply made it as per his instruction."
Turning to the prince, Colonel bowed humbly and inquired, "Prince, what is its name?"
After thinking for a while, Aditya replied, "I haven't thought for its name yet. lets say, it's Pinaka."
Since in Hindu epics, the Pinaka is often depicted as a celestial bow crafted by the divine architect Vishwakarma, infused with divine energy and imbued with mystical properties. It is said to possess the ability to harness cosmic forces and channel them into its arrows, making them incredibly potent and unstoppable.
Everybody rejoiced at the name of "Pinaka." which befitted such a marvellous weapon perfectly.
Bhaskar bowed before Prince Aditya, his expression filled with regret. "Your Highness, I deeply apologize. I couldn't manage to prepare the other two weapons in time."
Aditya smiled reassuringly, placing a hand on Bhaskar's shoulder. "No need to worry, Bhaskar. I'm satisfied with what you've accomplished. It's understandable that not everything could be completed within such a short timeframe."
Turning his attention to Bhaskar's next task, Aditya instructed, "Focus on making some samples for the exhibition, with priority given to the rocket."
Curious about the unfamiliar term, Colonel Manish respectfully inquired, "Your Highness, what exactly is a rocket?"
With a casual tone, Prince Aditya replied, "Well, you could say it's a another type of divine weapon."
At the prince's words, a sense of intrigue and anticipation filled the air , as everyone wondered about this mysterious creation.
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Author notes:
Instead of 'Master', 'Maalik' should have been used, but after reading it, I didn't get the same feeling and impact it gives with 'Master', so I reversed it in brackets.
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