Chương 82: Connecting the Dots

Prince Aditya raised his hand, signaling his army to prepare for fire. Suddenly, a lone horseman appeared, waving a white flag.

Clad in chain mail armor and an iconic turban, he revealed they were a friendly delegation from Mewar, en route to the capital fort of Rewari for weapons exhibition.

Tension eased, and a meeting was arranged between the leaders of Mewar delegation and Prince Aditya on his tent.

Few moments before.

Prince Pratap eyes widened in surprise, by the battlefield's sheer number of corpses and destruction. The fallen soldiers lay in twisted heaps, many impaled by arrows. The most gruesome sight was the splattered limbs of both men and horses, strewn across the field.

Pratap looked grim as he surveyed the battlefield. "Look, Bhaiya," he pointed at the corpses scattered across the ground. "These dead men seem to be from the Mughal group, but I don't see any enemy corpses here."

Veerendra, riding alongside Pratap, responded with a horrified expression. "It's not that there are no enemy corpses. The truth is, they couldn't even reach the enemy."

Pratap, still fixated on the carnage, turned his head to his cousin. "What do you mean?"

Veerendra pointed towards the base camp visible in the distance, at the farthest northern direction. From a distance, Pratap saw a base camp with many men in blue uniforms.

As they approached, Veerendra added, "It seems they just had a battle, but looking at the numbers and the destruction they caused, it's impossible to believe they used traditional weapons alone. "

"Something seems not right."

Pratap got alert as he sensed something unusual about the soldiers' movements in the camp. Suddenly, a thought struck him. He called out, "Balwindar, send a white flag and get more details."

He halted the delegation, signaling them to stop. "We won't proceed further until we have permission to approach them."

Few moments later.

Balwindar returned with astonishing news, "Your Highness, it's the rumoured mercenary army under Prince Aditya, who is our main target of interest."

Pratap was dumbfounded. "Mercenary army? How could they have caused such destruction? Wasn't they supposed to be support forces. Did you find anything?"

"Yes, Your Highness. It seems they were supported by the imperial army, and I saw them unpacking many siege carts. I believe those might be the new weapons supposed to be sold," Balwindar reported.

Pratap shook his head in disbelief, scanning the battlefield again. "I never expected the weapons to be so formidable."

Relief washed over him as he realized they had avoided a potential conflict.

"I'm glad we sent the messenger first. It could have been a disastrous misunderstanding."

"Indeed, Your Highness. They have agreed to the meeting and granted us permission to set up camp near their base," Balwindar informed.

Prince Pratap took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of awe and gratitude.

Veerendra placed a reassuring hand on Pratap's shoulder. "Pratap, let's go and meet him. We need to unravel the mystery of this carnage."

Pratap pondered for a moment. "I think you should stay here, Bhaiya. We don't know what kind of intentions they have. There is no free meal, and if things go wrong..."

Veerendra agreed. "Then let me go. You are the crown prince."

Balwindar bowed slightly. "Forgive me, Prince, but given their impression, I don't think they bear any ill will."

Pratap replied, "Balwindar, you will come with me. Bhaiya, I need someone to look after our delegation. I am sure you believe in me. Also, there is something I need to confirm."

Veerendra sighed, understanding how stubborn his cousin could be. "Okay, I will pray for your safe return."

Pratap nodded in gratitude as he made his way to the Samrajya's base camp with Balwindar by his side. As they reached the Samrajya's camp, Pratap couldn't help but notice the peculiar design of the soldiers' uniforms. While he had seen muskets before, the dagger-like customizations added to their headgear gave them the appearance of spears, which intrigued his interest.

In a remote corner of the camp, something caught his eyes that widened his eyes . His thoughts raced with questions and disbelief as he surveyed the scene.

'Injured villagers... treated alongside soldiers? How is this possible?' he mused inwardly. 'Back my camp, such a sight would spark severe protests, yet here... nothing.'

His narrowed his eyes in suspicion, 'Are these soldiers truly so different from mine? Why they don't mind the caste status ?'

Then, Balwindar's subtle gesture caught his attention, redirecting his focus to the carts shrouded in black robes. 'Could those hold the answers?'

Pratap wondered with determination. 'Whatever secrets lie within, I'll have to uncover them.'

Finally, they reached the center of the camp, where a grand tent stood, signifying the quarters of the camp's leader. Pratap's heart raced with anticipation as he prepared to uncover the truth behind the mysterious events unfolding before him.

As they stepped into the tent, Pratap's eyes widened at the sight of the rumored prince adorned in a foreign dress with extravagant designs beyond his imagination. Pride for his own attire swelled within him, yet a hint of envy stirred as he admired the intricate craftsmanship of the prince's attire, longing to experience such luxury himself.

Sensing Pratap's daze, Aditya chuckled inwardly, interpreting the young prince's thoughts with amusement. Gesturing graciously, Aditya invited them to sit, while Balwindar discreetly cleared his throat to draw Pratap's attention.

Caught off guard by his own distraction, Pratap felt a twinge of embarrassment as he realized he had neglected his duty to assess the surroundings, a critical task for any warrior in unfamiliar territory.

Beside Prince Aditya sat Royal Guards Commander Ujjwal Singh clad in imperial armour. Pratap couldn't help but notice the commander's imposing presence, and despite his seemingly unarmed state, Pratap couldn't shake the feeling that Ujjwal Singh was more than meets the eye.

A short table adorned with an array of fruits and delicacies stood between them, a gesture of hospitality that put Pratap at ease. He returned Prince Aditya's smile with a nod of gratitude, reassured by the absence of any concealed weapons.

Balwindar, sensing the need for introductions, leaned forward. "Allow me to present Crown Prince Pratap of Mewar," he began, gesturing towards Pratap.

"And I am Balwindar, his trusted bodyguard in charge."

Aditya's eyes widened slightly as he heard the name. He quickly composed himself, hiding his surprise.

'Prince Pratap? The legendary Maharana Pratap from Mewar? What a catch,' he thought. The current image of Pratap, young and innocent-looking, clashed sharply with the towering, muscular warrior Aditya had envisioned from his memories of modern Earth.

'Let's not judge a book by its cover. This is a golden chance to form an alliance with the future legend, and if possible, make him a subordinate. He seems influenced by my dress code, after all,' he thought inwardly.

Aditya plastered a charming salesman's smile on his face and responded, "What a pleasure to meet the Crown Prince of Mewar, especially after the intense battle we just endured. It would be a pleasure to help the mighty Rajputs, but I must remind you that our situation is a little tight."

But Pratap's straight-faced reply caught Aditya off guard, "Let's not dwell in formalities, Your Highness. From the looks of it, we know what dangers you have gone through, and I have news that might be of help to you."

Aditya was intrigued as he readjusted his assessment, 'Seems he is as sharp as ever. He'll be a tough guy to rope in.'

He scratched his chin and asked, "Please tell me what news you bring."

"On our way to Rewari, we encountered Mughals kidnapping villagers and hoarding supplies. We attacked them and rescued the villagers, but I am afraid they won't be the only targets. We got news that the base of the Mughals is in Chandanpur village, which is near your current base," Pratap informed.

Aditya sighed in exhaustion and replied, "You are right. We got news that they have captured many villagers as hostages and even used some of them as meat shields to ambush our site. They didn't spare women and children, and there are some casualties."

Pratap's vein popped at the mention of women, but he maintained his calm demeanor and assessed the situation. Then he voiced his concern, "Your Highness, I'm glad you know so much. Then why are you not attacking their base? It doesn't seem like you're incapable."

Aditya joined his hands and placed them on the table as he leaned forward. "I am more than willing to wipe them from the face of this land, but I need cavalry support for an offensive, and our cavalry reinforcements are yet to arrive. We have to wait."

"Well, then, Your Highness, I wish you good luck. If possible, I would like to trade for supplies with gold," Pratap replied with the same straight face.

Aditya willingly rolled the dice to Pratap, hoping to maintain the upper hand as he noticed the prince's mutual intention in bringing the news and expected to secure some future bargains. However, the prince didn't play the expected card, leaving Aditya feeling disappointed. He decided to bring it up himself.

"That was the case before, but with your arrival, Prince, I think if we can form an alliance for the offensive, I am sure you will get a good discount in trade deals." He tried his final card with a pang of embarrassment.

"But I don't think it's worth putting my national interest in jeopardy for someone else's internal matters. Also, Your Highness, by saving your citizens, I already deserve some reward." Pratap put his own concerns.

Aditya raised his eyebrows in suspicion at Pratap's ambiguous mention of a reward and asked straightforwardly, "Oh sure, but it seems you have something in mind?"

Pratap asked, "I want to know how you defeated the ambush. By the looks of it, the Mughal ambush seems to be twice your actual numbers if we simply look at the carnage. But we cannot overlook the fact that it's possible a significant portion might have retreated, so the scale might be larger than it seems."

Ujjwal Singh got angered by this direct question but couldn't say anything to the prince due to protocols. He turned to Aditya, "Your Highness, don't feel pressured. There's no need to divulge something of national importance to outsiders, especially if it's too crucial. We can still wait for the cavalry reinforcements. It's a pity they don't know the gratitude of the opportunity you gave them."

Aditya signaled him to stop with a hand gesture as he replied, "We have siege equipment no less than cannons that helped us turn the tide of war. I don't think you will understand until you see it in battle. Join us, and you might witness its glory."

Pratap smiled, "I have no doubt in its glory, but won't we be able to see it in an exhibition? What gain will we get if we aid you?"

Aditya felt pressured as he struggled to reply. It was the first time after the Emperor that he was out of his depth, and he wondered if all legends would be like that. After taking some time to consider, he replied, "How about a 50 percent discount on the deals of your purchase in the weapon exhibition? Certainly, I won't be able to give it for free."

Pratap chuckled, "Of course not, Your Highness. That's a deal worth taking. Since you've decided to bestow us with such a gift, I think we should also return the favor."

He looked at Balwindar and nodded. Balwindar took a deep breath as he recounted the tales of his journey to everyone present, detailing how he got duped by the conspiracy of Bairam Khan and his journey from Pakistan to Mewar.

He expressed his wish for Aditya to help him take revenge on the Mughals. Aditya was shocked upon the discovery as he connected the dots and asked Commander Ujjwal Singh to bring in the parchment, which still had stains of blood and dust.

Ujjwal Singh handed it to Balwindar as Aditya began his findings, "We got this from the body of Mughal commander Sikandar Khan. They had plans of attacking the cannon factory and delegations in Bawal(capital of rewari) after ambushing me. They had further plans to bring the whole Rajputana into conflict with Samrajya by baiting Amber too. Now it seems the dots are connected."

Pratap was also shocked upon the revelation as he confirmed it with Balwindar and responded with worry, "Then shouldn't we hurry up? If it concerns Rajputana, you have our full support."

Aditya smiled as he finally able to rile up the quick-witted prince and gave assurance. "Do not worry. I have a plan." He turned to Balwindar and replied with a cold voice, "And you will have to prove to me if you need my help. Are you ready for the challenge?"

Mughal camp

Ansari was treating his legs with the haqims when Adil Khan stormed into the medic room, grabbing his kurta in a fit of rage. "You said you could win this easily without cannons. So many of our men have died, I risked everything to revolt against the empire, yet your commander is nowhere to be seen. How do you explain this?"

Ansari, maintaining his composure, freed himself from Adil Khan's grip and met his eyes with defiance. "Calm down, prince. The damage isn't yours alone. We too have faced the brunt of defeat."

Adil Khan's patience snapped as he began pacing the room, pulling at his hair in frustration. "We're finished, we're finished..." He stopped and looked at Ansari with a desperate gleam in his eye. "No, they don't know me, nor do they know you. We can still run while we have time."

His fleeting hope was dashed by Ansari's cold reality check. "I'm afraid they know everything. They even have the villagers. Those rats might point out our location, and our commander is probably dead by now, given there's no trace of his return from the retreat."

The revelation crushed Adil Khan, and he sank into despair, collapsing onto a nearby stool.

Ansari watched him for a moment before speaking, his voice measured and calculating. "We still have one thing that can not only save us but change the tides of battle."

Adil Khan looked up, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "Tell me, what is it?"

Ansari's lips curled into a sinister smile as he stroked his pointed beard. "Villagers as hostages."

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Author's Note:

I am very sorry guys for the late update, something happened and I got entangled in it. please check the author thoughts section for later time of update.

Also I would like to show my gratitude to sailfish for the gift of pizza. this is the first gift to this book has received and I appreciate it whole heartedly. Also, I would like to thanks wolfhunter5292 for the 2 new GT tickets. Honestly, I am overwhelmed by the love u guys have shown me, after the last update with votes and comments to which I thank you all whole heartedly.