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Heir of an empire: 1538 India.

This is the story of an empire in the making. This is a story of a small kingdom, fighting to mark its place in the annals of history. With a man who had died twice as its leader, will it make an impact? Or will it be forgotten? Setting: The story takes place on an alternate earth, where the events have differed from what happened in ours. The events of the story start from the year 1538 AD, following the journey of Rudra Deva, a transmigrator, and his kingdom as it grows in the Indian subcontinent. Disclaimer: Do not take anything in this novel as a historical fact. The author is not a historian. The views taken by this novel's characters do not represent the Author's views. This is just a work of fiction. Any resemblances to real-world historical incidents or people are entirely coincidental and arise solely from the author's imagination. Reader discretion is advised.

GunpowderGundam · Historia
Sin suficientes valoraciones
56 Chs

CHAPTER 16 - March.

1538, Dharanikota Kingdom.

A small army was on the coast of River Krishna. It was mainly composed of soldiers and cavalry. There were as many as 3500 soldiers, in that army, with a third of them being horse riders.

Most of them were equipped with either spears or swords according to their financial capability. The same thing could be said about their armor. Some, especially officers, were equipped with good quality chain mail, while some soldiers were only wearing blue-colored uniforms.

The Indigo banners of Dharanikota were carried by the flag bearers, signifying their allegiance. Torchbearers were scattered throughout, as the army was marching in the middle of the night.

Rudra Deva was at the command of this army. Though this was the first time he was holding such authority, he carried himself with diligence. Sitting on their horses, on either side of the prince were the officers and the now official bodyguard of the prince, Bashir.

"The river crossing will take a few hours, Your Highness," said Colonel Venkata Naidu Pemmisani, the previous man in charge of the Kondapalli fortress. The colonel was also relatively young at only 23, and took up the position to fill in for his father. 

"You have until sunrise. The entire army must be on the other side of the river by the time the sun is out." Rudra said to the Colonel, while at the same time looking over his small army.

This was not the whole army of Dharanikota. The kingdom maintained an army that usually swung between 15k to 20k soldiers, according to the budget allocated that year. During the war, the ranks were filled up with common people, increasing the size of the army to 50k soldiers.

The soldiers stationed at Kondapalli were the closest ones to the capital, besides the Royal guards of the city. But to reach the capital from the fort, the Krishna River still needs to be crossed. 

"I will arrange for the cavalry to cross first then, your Highness." the young colonel said, with his palm on the hand, and left to give orders to the officers. 

There were a few dozen barges on the coast of the river, usually used for crossing the river by the civilians. They were now being requisitioned by the soldiers, to help in the river crossing. Some of the barges were even owned by the military, to help facilitate the crossing, if required.

"What is the plan after reaching the city? How are we planning to deal with the Royal guard companies and the regulars who are stationed there?" asked Nanda Nayaka, the head of

the cavalry unit stationed at Kondapalli. He returned with Venkat, to discuss the plan of attack, after his cavalry troops started crossing the river with the barges.

"What do you suggest, Colonel Nanda?" the prince asked him back, hoping to hear him out first. Rudra had always let other people speak before him during such meetings. Doing so will make them feel heard and can offer valuable perspectives. 

"I suggest we overwhelm the defenses using the cavalry. My men have been waiting for such an opportunity for a long time. The regular forces can follow the Cavalry closely to finish off any survivors." the Cavalry leader answered back, making sure to put his forces in the limelight.

"We are fighting in a city, Nanda. Cavalry can't do much in the streets. Soldiers can move much better in such conditions. Besides we have more soldiers on two feet than on four." said Colonel Bheema, who commanded the foot soldiers. 

"Why are we not discussing the fact that this is our capital city? Surely the supporters of his highness will help us capture that wretched scum, Karana Deva?" said Colonel Venkata, pointing out the main fact that Rudra was waiting for.

"All of you have given very good points for me to consider. I can see why you have achieved such positions in our military." Rudra said, praising all three men for their suggestions. He waited for a few seconds to let those praises sink in.

"We will do as Venkat said. As soon as our troops start reaching the other side, I want messengers sent to the capital. Inform anyone who listens that I am alive, and I am coming back to the capital." Rudra continued, looking off into the night in the direction of the capital city.

The capital of the Dharanikota kingdom was also called Dharanikota. It was a small city, with a population of 40k people. There were at least 5000 soldiers stationed in and around the city. If they were to truly switch sides to support his uncle, It would be a difficult battle for him and his new soldiers.

He was hoping to get the news out that he was alive so that some of the loyalist forces would support him back. The news that, Rudra had died had caused most of them to throw their support behind the only remaining heir, his uncle Karana Deva.

The Royal Guard companies would support him if they had news that he was still alive. They were some of the most well-trained soldiers in the kingdom, but their numbers were limited. His old guard, Narappa was once a member of them.

Rudra didn't know what to think of the fact that his father was dead. He knew guards were protecting the king, but the fact that the king died meant that there were only two possible conclusions. Either the king died of a heart attack from hearing of Rudra's death, as the reports say, or his uncle personally killed him.

Rudra came to this conclusion because only family was allowed to visit the king for the last year alone. Not including his father's special entertainments of course. That was another thing to be disgusted about, those entertainments of the former king.

Rudra promised he would change that. No one should be able to do things like that and able to escape. Not even a king. Period-specific morals be damned.

After concluding his erratic thoughts, he sat down on a chair brought to him and wrote letters to his supporters in the city. Tomorrow was the new king's coronation. So, that meant nearly all of the influential people would be present in the city.

Whether they liked the new king or not, they had to be present at the coronation. It was the day that the kingdom got a new king and anyone who missed it, will certainly get the ire of the new king. 

So, all of Rudra's supporters and his uncle's supporters will be present in the capital. Most won't even be bringing along any security, as that would be considered disrespectful towards the king. It would imply that the king can't even protect them in his own city.

Rudra now had the perfect opportunity. If he plans the next day right, He will not only wipe out all the support of his uncle, but he will also wipe out all the dissent against him. A fresh and clean slate for a new era of the kingdom.

A few hours later. 

"There, girl. There. Careful now." Rudra gently told his horse, as he maneuvered it to get down from the barge. The barge itself was a 10*20 ft rectangle, made out of wood, only used to make regular river crossings. 

After he got down from the boat and crossed the wet sand, he got back on the horse and rode a few hundred feet, to where the cavalry forces were stationed. Colonel Nanda, the man in charge of the cavalry present here, rode out from the meeting with his subordinates, to meet with him.

"My prince. The cavalry forces are ready to go. They just need your order." the man said, after giving Rudra a bow. Because they are more difficult to transport, the horses along with their riders are allowed to cross the river first. They had completed moving all of them an hour ago, and now the other forces are using the barges and boats.

"Let us wait for some time, Nanda. The soldiers are also required for the battle if it is to happen. Have the messengers left with the letters?" the prince replied to Nanda, finishing with a question.

"Yes, Your Highness. Twenty of my best riders. They left for the capital, as soon as they crossed the river." the cavalry leader answered back. Rudra wrote letters, to all the important people who were currently in the city, informing them of his survival, and his uncle's treachery.

"Then let us see how many of them respond. By the time, we reach the city in the morning, we should have an answer." the prince replied. There was a high chance that some of them would think it a trap, or misinformation, designed to make them look bad in front of the new king, but Rudra didn't care.

As they were waiting, for the soldiers to completely cross the river, Colonel Venkata Pemmisani and Bheema came to their waiting spot.

"The last of the soldiers had left the other side on the barges my prince. They will arrive here in a few minutes." Bheema said after he had bowed to Rudra. 

"Then start arranging the soldiers in formation. After the last of them arrives, we will start the march." The prince ordered his officers. 

It was time to march on the capital city. Tomorrow would decide the fate of the Dharanikota kingdom.