Siege of Tuban

Jagat Wengi caught a glimpse of a sword with his eyes when he glanced downwards. The sword was large and long, resembling a typical Mongol weapon. He immediately rolled to the side, although his legs still felt heavy to move.

Three Mongol warriors in iron armor, like three fast-moving twins, were about to attack him. Each of them scattered with eyes filled with the desire to kill.

His companion from earlier was still busy with his opponents. Jagat Wengi quickly dragged his body backward on the sandy ground. One of his enemies made a swift movement, like a startled rabbit.

And just as the sword was about to strike him, suddenly an arrow pierced through the neck of the attacker, accompanied by the shout of a courageous man on horseback.

"Don't give the Mongol invaders any opportunity to escape! Surround them from all sides and destroy them! Make the sea their only grave!"

The man's command was followed by the thundering sound of horses and troops running from behind. The three Mongol warriors who were about to attack Jagat Wengi immediately fled.

"Lord Senopati Ranggalawe, you've finally arrived."

"I was ordered to pursue them in Tuban. How is your army, Arya Mandana?"

"Some of them are still gathering at the eastern port, Sir."

Hearing their conversation, Jagat Wengi finally learned the name of his rescuer, Arya Mandana, and the man addressed as Senopati was Ranggalawe.

Arya was a title below Rakryan Tumenggung, and Senopati was a position of a military commander. During times of war, the king would appoint someone to be the Senopati, responsible for leading the warfare.

On the other hand, Rakryan Tumenggung was an executive position in the government, overseeing the military forces. This position could potentially be transformed into the role of a Senopati during war or even be filled by a powerful warrior appointed directly by the king. After the war, the Senopati would usually be promoted to become the Adipati in the territory they conquered.

Both of them were no ordinary individuals. Jagat Wengi stood up after receiving a sharp glance from Ranggalawe.

"Is he your soldier?" Ranggalawe asked.

Arya Mandana hesitated for a moment, but he didn't have much time to answer his leader's question. Without waiting for Mandana's response, Ranggalawe immediately gave instructions to Jagat Wengi.

"Fetch that branch!" His voice was heavy and firm as he issued the command to Jagat Wengi.

As Jagat Wengi handed over the branch, Ranggalawe propped one knee on the sandy ground, gesturing something.

"We will use the Sapit Urang formation. Your troops will be on the eastern side. The troops from the west and I will be in the middle here."

Jagat Wengi had once read a stolen war manual. What he remembered was that Sapit Urang placed the soldiers in several units, with the first two groups acting as mighty claws of a shrimp, each led by a wing commander, either a Senapati, Arya, or Panewu, depending on the size of the troops.

The first two groups would pinch and disrupt the enemy from two opposing directions. Meanwhile, in the center, the main force would face the enemy directly. If seen from a tall tree, the Sapit Urang formation would form a curved line resembling a horseshoe.

This strategy was expected to penetrate the Mongol defense in Tuban. The central part would be led directly by Ranggalawe, while the two wing sections would be led by his two accompanying officers, Arya Mandana and an unnamed Panewu mentioned by Ranggalawe.

"After you reach the positions I have designated, wait for the signal of the flaming arrow released into the air. The flaming arrow is the sign that the attack has begun," Ranggalawe said firmly and passionately.

After receiving the orders and instructions from Ranggalawe, Arya Mandana immediately urged Jagat Wengi to hurry and prepare the troops entrusted to both of them.

On their way to the east, Arya Mandana took the opportunity to ask Jagat Wengi, "Where do your troops come from? Are you from a village or a martial arts school?"

"A martial arts school, Sir Arya," Jagat Wengi replied swiftly, hoping to free himself from the upcoming barrage of questions.

"It's time to unleash the skills from your martial arts school. Are you ready, warrior?"

Jagat Wengi nodded slowly. He seemed unprepared for the warrior's title directed at him.

"Darkness will fall soon. Always keep an eye on the sky. Do not miss the flaming arrow from Lord Senopati."

"Forgive me if I want to ask, Sir Arya Mandana, but I haven't received complete information about this war. What actually happened, Sir Mandana?"

Without suspicion, Arya Mandana explained that the Mongols had fallen into a trap during the tribute submission and the offering of three beautiful girls in Majapahit. It was a promise previously made by Raden Wijaya before attacking Kediri.

It turned out to be the result of a cunning maneuver. Panewu Sawito's suspicions had proven to be true. Majapahit had prepared a plan to drive the Mongols out of Java.

The Mongol soldiers were caught off guard after celebrating their victory against Kediri. Over two hundred warriors were killed in the villages of Majapahit to collect the tribute. The rest scattered and fled in all directions. And the two units left in the two ports were immediately pursued and annihilated.

And Tuban was one of the ports where the Mongol reserve forces were stationed. They were initially found in taverns and brothels. When the Majapahit troops arrived, they panicked and fled to their ships.

Arya Mandana mentioned that Kublai Khan had sent thirty thousand soldiers to the land of Java, with three main commanders spread across three points.

To him, the Mongols' arrival on the island of Java was for the purpose of colonization, and colonization would never bring prosperity to the land and its people.

The Great Khan of the Mongol Empire led millions of troops. He and his ancestors had conquered many kingdoms in other parts of the world, some of which were much larger than the land of Java.

"They must be driven out of our land, warrior." Arya Mandana seemed reluctant to continue his sentence and asked again, "I haven't known your name."

"My name is Jagat Wengi, Sir." Jagat Wengi spoke freely. He didn't understand why he revealed his real name.

From Arya Mandana's information earlier, Jagat Wengi suspected that he had been accidentally thrown off the horse carriage for some reason. But who brought him to the horse carriage? And why was he found among the pile of Mongol warrior corpses?

The questions swirling in his mind were momentarily interrupted when Arya Mandana reminded him to look at the sky. His troops had gathered behind them, hiding slightly behind the dense shrubbery.

The Mongol weaponry was indeed remarkable, capable of launching fireballs into the sky.

The sky had gradually darkened as the sun began to set on the western horizon. A flaming arrow was seen shooting into the sky.

It was the signal command to initiate the attack!

"Sir Mandana!" Jagat Wengi immediately shouted to inform him and was met with enthusiastic shouts and rallying cries to charge.

The Mongol soldiers on the eastern side, who had been ordered to retreat, were shocked by the sudden attack from Arya Mandana's leading Majapahit forces.

Without giving the Mongols a chance to defend themselves, Arya Mandana and his troops immediately charged and disrupted the Mongol fighters' camp.

Panic spread throughout the camp. They were not prepared for such a sudden assault. Some panicked, while others offered resistance.

The same went for Jagat Wengi. This was not his battle. He had trained in martial arts, but not for a fight like this. What should he do?

"Hey! Where is your weapon??"

A warrior came from behind, handing Jagat Wengi a sword and immediately diving into the battlefield.

Jagat Wengi saw three Mongol soldiers armed with spears blocking Arya Mandana. Three Mongol soldiers attacked from the front and both sides. With agility, Jagat Wengi unsheathed his sword and clashed fiercely with the three spear-wielding opponents.

Arya Mandana charged forward from his swiftly moving horse!

*Clang!

Arya's parry successfully broke the tip of one Mongol soldier's spear. After successfully defending against the three Mongol attacks, Arya swiftly turned around, lifting his right leg to position himself on the left side of the horse, delivering a counterattack with his sword in his left hand.

*Crash!

Arya Mandana decapitated one of the Mongol soldiers. The other two Mongol soldiers were startled by Arya's lightning-fast attack from atop his horse.

Witnessing their comrade's death, the Mongol soldier in front of Arya drew his sword and leaped to retaliate against Arya, who had just severed his companion's head.

Despite seeing his friend's head rolling on the ground, the Mongol soldier still charged at Arya Mandana.

"Hiyaaat!"

The clash of swords echoed along the shores of Tuban. Arya's remaining foe joined the attack, and Arya Mandana was outnumbered by two Mongol soldiers.

The two Mongol soldiers circled Arya Mandana, seeking an opening to attack. But Arya did not stay idle, aware of the tactic employed by the two Mongol warriors, waiting for a moment of vulnerability.

"Hiyaaat!"

He spurred his horse once again, swinging his sword with his body slightly tilted to the right. The Mongol soldier in front of Arya was surprised by the unexpected attack.

Arya's strike aimed at the soldier's head was blocked, but he immediately launched a second attack, this time aiming slightly lower than the first strike.

His target was clear and his blow was strong—a strike at the neck.

"Heeekkk..."

The Mongol soldier's throat was sliced by the sword, and he collapsed to the ground, writhing.

Arya turned his horse around and quickly galloped towards the remaining Mongol soldier, slashing his sword to decapitate him.

Once again, the Mongol soldier paid with his head separated from his body.

Arya Mandana's sword was now stained red, covered in thick blood from the three Mongol soldiers he had killed.

He then surveyed the battlefield. The sound of clashing weapons mingled with cries of pain, accompanied by several bodies falling to the ground.

Fireballs filled the sky, but none were aimed at him.

But as his gaze shifted backward, he noticed a different sight. His brow furrowed in surprise as he saw Jagat Wengi still standing in the same spot, without taking a single step.

His astonishment grew when Jagat Wengi shouted loudly and ran towards him, warning him to leap off the horse. Jagat Wengi embraced Arya Mandana and brought him down.

*Boom!

The sound of an explosion reverberated, deafening the ears. Both of them lay on the ground, showing no signs of life.