Chapter 86: Forest Bloodbath Part :3
Daybreak
The crows cawed in the sky as the sun finally decided to show up for work, and the sky changed colour on the horizon. In the Dutch military camp, General Carel Reyniersz woke up groggily with a few ladies in his arms, still yawning, tired from the previous day's march. A few moments later, like him, everyone in the camp woke up.
As everyone Woke up from their sleep, the general eventually signalled for the march to resume. It was the early morning hours, and many were still feeling a bit drowsy.
Towards the rear of the marching group, the slaves struggled to pull the heavy cannons. The toil they endured was etched into their bodies, marked by scars and a weariness that seemed to emanate from their lifeless eyes. These individuals were once nobles of the Vijayanagar Empire, but their rebellion had brought them under Vijay's coercion to participate in the battle for Kochi.
Beneath the cannons, chains were fastened securely, and the slaves exerted immense effort to drag them forward. Their bodies bore the painful marks of past struggles, with red scars crisscrossing their skin. But today, there was a glimmer of hope shining in their eyes.
The forest terrain proved unsuitable for conventional wheels, leading them to employ a traditional method that involved using logs to transport the cannons. While this approach demanded more effort, it offered versatility and required less reliance on specific types of terrain.
As the army passed through the forest, they slowly approached their impending doom, following Vijay's plan.
After a while, a commotion arose at the head of the marching column, caused by a fallen tree obstructing their path. General Carel didn't pay it much mind and assumed it was the result of wild animals. He casually issued orders for his men to clear the obstacle.
Yet, for the slaves who had been struggling to pull the cannons, this was seen in a different light. To them, it represented a chance for escape.
Quickly, they retreated from the vicinity of the canons, sensing that something was about to happen.
As the soldiers attempted to clear the blocking tree, the general noticed something peculiar. The trunk had been cut so smoothly that it seemed deliberate.
Intrigued and on edge, he thought, "People? This far Inside the forest?..."
Before he could react or warn his men to turn back, multiple dull thuds rang through the forest. The general's ears buzzed from the shockwave.
As General Carel Reyniersz. turned swiftly to assess the unfolding crisis, his exclamation of shock was laden with a profound sense of dread, "Jesus!..."
In the fraction of a moment it took to grasp the dire reality, his heart sank as he witnessed the very cannons he had painstakingly acquired being subjected to a relentless enemy artillery onslaught. The fruits of their labour and the symbol of their might were under a fierce and unexpected attack.
Before he could marshal his thoughts or issue a counter command, it was an exercise in futility. Time seemed to blur as the disastrous events unravelled before him, with a chilling sense of inevitability. To his deep dismay, the relentless barrage of cannon fire continued, originating from concealed positions within the forest's embrace.
As the general observed the conspicuously absent slaves near the cannons and discerned the origins of the incoming artillery fire, the stark truth became unmistakable: they were ensnared in a cunning ambush. Regret gnawed at him for the decisions that had led them into this perilous situation, and he found himself questioning the rationale behind their venture to this unforgiving land. In a continuous staccato of "Bang, bang, bang," more shots echoed through the forest.
The general quickly comprehended that while these shots were individually modest, emanating from cannons that barely surpassed 20-pound calibres, their collective volume was overwhelming. At least ten distinct positions within the forest concealed the hidden cannons, and their synchronized attack left no room for salvation. It was a cruel twist of fate that he now lamented the decision to cluster all their artillery in one location.
In the span of a few harrowing minutes, the formidable Dutch artillery, a source of great pride, had been rendered impotent. With resolve, General Carel Reyniersz. endeavoured to galvanize his troops and prepare them to form a defensive formation. However, what transpired next left him breathless and paralyzed with shock.
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