Chapter 84: Forest Bloodbath Part :1
Vijayanagara:
In the royal palace, Kavya, with her eyes filled with worry and the hint of tears welling up, was giving Harathi to Vijay. "Vijay, please come back safely," she whispered. Learning that Vijay would soon embark on another expedition, had been a really heavy blow, given her recent loss of her father. She found herself shedding tears in secret throughout the nights, consumed by the fear of the unknown.
On the flip side, Vijay felt a surge of joy as he observed Kavya treating him with her usual warmth. Their relationship had endured a month of strain, but now, a smug grin played across Vijay's face as he gazed at Kavya with pride, albeit oblivious to the storm of emotions she was wrestling with.
However, this serene moment was abruptly shattered by a sharp exclamation, "Your Majesty," which snapped Vijay back to the present. He found himself at an army camp in Kerala, closely monitoring the ongoing progress of the war. When he recognized the person who had called him, it turned out to be none other than his intelligence chief. Vijay, recognizing Roshan, began to piece together that the situation at Kochi Port might have reached its conclusion. With a sense of anticipation, he pressed Roshan for the latest developments, asking, "What's the latest news? Have the Dutch bought into our strategy, and how are they faring?" Roshan's next words only served to affirm his suspicions.
Roshan, with a tinge of trepidation, replied, "Your Majesty, the Dutch are already en route to the capital, just as you predicted. They are passing through the Uppam Forest, and within a day, they will reach our chokepoint. But most importantly, Your Highness, regarding the battle in Kochi Port, it seems there weren't many casualties on the Dutch side. Their weapons are far more advanced than ours, and our people fell like weeds to a sickle. it was tough for them to withstand the Dutch bombardment."
Upon receiving this news, a tumult of emotions swept over Vijay. It wasn't the loss to the Dutch that weighed on him, but the realization that he had knowingly sacrificed the lives of thousands to advance his cause. As the future ruler of Bhartiya Samrajya, he had faced a painful and morally challenging decision. Yet, with the ethical values of future generations guiding him, he couldn't escape the overwhelming self-reproach and disgust that twisted his expression.
Observing the turmoil in Vijay's eyes, Roshan couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pity for the inner struggle his king was grappling with. He understood that making such weighty decisions, especially at an age when one should be out playing and enjoying their youth, was a heavy burden to bear. Life had thrust upon Vijay the responsibility of making these incredibly challenging choices.
In contrast to feeling disgusted, Roshan found a measure of satisfaction in Vijay's decisions. He was pleased with Vijay's choice to use the lives of those he considered "bloodsucking scum" to gain an advantage in a significant battle. He was even more surprised that despite being overwhelmed by guilt, Vijay still gave the orders that led to the massacre of so many people. However, Roshan's satisfaction stemmed from his understanding that, in the long run, extending kindness to their enemies would only bring suffering to the people of the empire. Roshan hoped that the king would grow and learn from these experiences, but didn't address this matter directly. He believed that Vijay needed to learn from his own life experiences.
Vijay, regaining his composure, managed to gather his thoughts and suppress his emotions. With a determined tone, he spoke, "I know what needs to be done. Keep a vigilant eye on their movements and inform me of any changes."
Roshan nodded in agreement and quietly exited the room, leaving Vijay to contemplate his next significant step. After a moment of reflection, Vijay beckoned for Yogendra Singh to join him.
As Yogendra Singh entered the room, his imposing presence commanded attention. He sported a more streamlined and muscular physique than before, resembling the embodiment of strength, much like The ROCK from future generations. Gone was some of the bulk he used to carry; his current appearance was that of a formidable barbarian.
Seeing Yogendra's arrival, Vijay didn't hesitate and promptly issued his command, "Prepare the men for battle; the Dutch will likely be on their way within a day."
Yogendra Singh's eyes ignited with anticipation as he received the news, his excitement plainly visible. He had longed for an opportunity to put into practice the lessons he had absorbed from Vijay since his departure from the Mughal Empire. His appointment as the general for this battle stood as a testament to his experience in combat against the Mughals. With a crisp salute, he acknowledged Vijay's command and swiftly exited the command centre, eager to lead the troops into action.
As Yogendra left, Vijay gazed after him, deep in contemplation. He didn't know how this path would shape him, for better or worse, but he felt compelled to undergo this baptism in order to bear the weight of his Throne and ambitions.
Outskirts of Uppam Forest:
A day later, near the entrance to the Uppam Forest, the Dutch army stood in formation, ready for their next move. General Carel, gazing at the dense forest ahead, expressed his concerns to his deputy, Henry, "Henry, are we certain this is the right path? Venturing through this forest could be perilous, filled with potential diseases and unknown dangers. Moreover, we lack experience in forest combat."
Henry offered reassurance to his superior, "My lord, you need not worry. Given our recent success in dealing with Kochi, it will take several days for news of our actions to reach the royal capital. During this period, we can strategically approach the capital, catching them by surprise if we go with the forest route."
He elaborated, "I've consulted with the local people we captured here, And It is to our knowledge that the forest path would significantly reduce the distance to the royal capital, allowing us to reach it in just two days. On the other hand, if we choose the conventional road through the towns, we will undoubtedly encounter significant resistance. While we may possess the capability to defeat them, it would deplete our ammunition and render us vulnerable by the time we reach the capital. Moreover, considering Emperor Vijay's potential strategy of overwhelming us with sheer numbers, we might find ourselves outmanoeuvred. Therefore, my lord, I strongly recommend taking the forest route to minimize attention and catch the Vijayanagar Empire by surprise."
Considering Henry's reasoning, General Carel nodded and ordered, "We shall proceed through the forest."
The men were overjoyed with the General's orders. It is not that They felt any mental burden in killing so many people, No, In fact, it was quite the opposite as they were pleased at the thought of eliminating those satanic followers and devils, rather than embracing the warmth of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, they were fully aware of the vast human resources within the empire, with a population of 40 million people. They knew that their 50,000 troops would be just a drop in the ocean, and their presence wouldn't have a significant impact, regardless of how advanced their weaponry was.
Finally, the general led the troops into the forest, Falling into Vijay's trap.
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