In the same time at Mughal base, Chandanpur village, 28th feb 1557.
As the afternoon sunrays settled over the Mughal base, Balwindar and his trusted subordinates from elite rajputs, disguised in Mughal soldier uniforms, moved causally through the camp. They took on patrol duty after joining the Mughal camp. Before that, they entered the camp as imposters with some villagers and handed them over to the Mughals as captured slaves, who were actually royal guards in disguise.
"HeHe!"
One of his subordinates Suraj giggled, which caught Balwindar's attention. He turned and asked in a low voice, "What is so funny here?"
Suraj replied while shaking his head nervously, "Nothing sardar(captain)." But Balwindar understood it was likely due to the absence of his turban and moustache, coupled with his new hairstyle to blend in as a Muslim soldier, which made him look funny.
The subordinate was not to blame, as Balwindar himself felt uncomfortable. Despite being in disguise, he felt like the most out-of-place one here. Still, basic decorum in such an operation had to be maintained.
"Stay sharp," Balwindar whispered to his men. "Remember our marks and keep an eye out for anything unusual. Any slip up won't get you a second chance to show your rotten teeth," he jabbed at him indirectly to satisfy his ego.
The subordinate shut up and became serious as he got reprimanding glares from his other colleagues, who were also uncomfortable in the same disguise.
With that, they pressed on, their senses alert for any sign of danger. They utilized distraction tactics, creating diversions to draw the attention of Mughal patrols away from their true objectives. Exploiting weaknesses in the enemy's defenses, they carefully navigated through the labyrinthine camp, avoiding detection at every turn.
After traversing the camp area, once inside the village houses, Balwindar and his group discreetly identified the houses where enemy soldiers were concealed. Recognizing that each hidden soldier posed a significant threat in the event of a rescue attempt, they utilized a piece of chalk(made of limestone that time) to mark '卐' symbols on the door frames, ensuring that they would be easily identifiable later on.
"That's one down," murmured one of the disguised soldiers, Anil, as he scratched a mark on a door frame. "With this we got, 27 houses in total."
"Keep moving," Balwindar replied in low voice as he kicked him lightly.
"We need to be quick. you guys are too slow."
Next, they moved towards the trees, where Mughal archers and musketeers had taken up positions as watch towers. Balwindar noted their locations, making faint scratches on the tree trunks to indicate their presence covertly. He gestured to his men, ensuring they memorized these positions.
"Looks Sardar, they've some trees covered there," whispered Rajesh, another member of the old elite team. "We might need to be careful when we launch our attack."
"Good notice, but we cant mark those open areas." Balwindar said, marking another tree. "Let's go for now."
Navigating through the camp, they found the ammunition store. Barrels of gunpowder were stacked inside a heavily guarded tent. Balwindar marked the tent's entrance with a subtle scratch, signaling its importance. One of his men, pretending to adjust his boot, made a similar mark at the back of the tent for later identification.
"Sardar, we could blow this place sky-high," Anil whispered, eyeing the gunpowder.
"Not yet," Balwindar cautioned. "We need to wait for the dusk."
The disguised troop continued their reconnaissance, encountering occasional challenges. Once, a Mughal officer approached them, questioning their presence.
"What are you doing here?" the officer demanded, eyeing them suspiciously.
Balwindar, quick on his wit, greeted with polite bow and replied in the local dialect, "Patrol duty, Hazur. Just ensuring all is secure for the night."
The officer nodded, satisfied with the explanation, and moved on. The spies breathed a collective sigh of relief and pressed on.
They approached the village square next. The sight was heart-wrenching: villagers were huddled together in makeshift prison pens, gagged and terrified.
"Those poor souls," Rajesh muttered under his breath.
"Focus," Balwindar reminded him. "We'll save them soon enough. It's upto them for now."
At one point, a pair of guards eyed them suspiciously. Anil stepped forward, engaging the guards in casual conversation and deflecting their attention long enough for the team to move back on camping area undetected.
He marked the area discreetly while making mental notes of the guards' positions. Further exploration led them to a grand tent where the Mughal leaders were likely residing. The tent was opulent, standing out amidst the utilitarian structures around it.
"That must be where the leaders are," Balwindar whispered. "We'll need to take them out when the time comes."
"Understood Sardar," Anil replied, making a mark on a nearby rock.
Finally, they found the food supplies. Soldiers bustled around large cooking fires, preparing the evening meal. Balwindar observed the setup, noting the layout of the food stores and the location of the kitchen area.
"That's where we'll slip in the herbs," Balwindar said coolly, as he took out a small pouch of dried powder from his inner robes and handed it to his subordinates.
"Nice, they'll be fighting with... issues," Suraj blurted out as he got mused by the idea, only to receive a light smack on the back of his head.
"One more word of nonsense, and I'll pour half of this down your throat. Focus," Balwindar scolded, as the others chuckled at their poor comrade for being the victim of their team leader's reprimand.
He directed Suraj and Mukesh to mix the herbal powder into the food. Following orders, both approached the cooking area when only the chef was present. With a friendly tone, Suraj asked, "What's in the food today? I hope it's not that usual nonsense."
The chef, annoyed by the interruption, scolded him, "Why do you care? Just wait and eat like everyone else. Now get out."
Seizing the moment, Mukesh discreetly slipped the herb mixture into the cooking pot. As they left, Suraj taunted playfully, "Just make sure the food is good this time, chef."
This turned out to be a bad move as the angered chef threw a cooking utensil at his head. When they returned to Balwindar, he didn't point out anything, as it had all turned out well and avoided any confusion.
As the team continued their patrol, they caught wind of rumors suggesting that the negotiations had borne fruit: half of the prisoners were to be released in exchange for supplies. Moving cautiously, they found themselves on the brink of danger when they narrowly evaded a restricted area near the tent of higher Mughal officials, where strategies were being discussed.
Balwindar signalled for silence, as they eavesdrop to gather valuable intelligence on the retreat scheduled for nightfall and the forthcoming negotiations. With stealth and precision, they seamlessly blended back into their normal patrol routine, evading any suspicion of their activities.
"What's the next plan, Sardar? Shouldn't we wait for them to take half the villagers first?" Shaurya asked Balwindar.
"We wait until dusk, regardless of whether they leave or not," Balwindar replied firmly. "His Highness has already anticipated this. We proceed with the plan, no matter the outcome of the negotiations."
Looking at each other, they nodded in unison and continued their patrol, gathering more information.
The exchange for hostages in evening
In a forest clearing, there's a creepy quietness, just the soft sound of leaves moving in the breeze. The area is filled with trees and bushes, giving good hiding spots for Aditya's soldiers. They're ready for the Mughal army, with musketeers hidden in the shadows and behind rocks.
Two groups of musketeers lie in wait among the trees and rocks. Captain Raghav, leading five platoons, positions his men for a direct assault, while Captain Himanshu, commanding four platoons, prepares to encircle the enemy and cover any potential retreat.
The tension is palpable as every gaze is fixed on the advancing Mughal forces.
Meanwhile, Aditya maintains a safe distance at the rear, surrounded by his forces and allies, ready to issue decisive orders if needed.
At the heart of the clearing, Colonel Nilesh stood with a small contingent of royal guards and a platoon armed with repeating crossbows, surrounded by additional guards disguised as villager for logistic support. Supplies were neatly stacked in carts draped with white cloths, giving the impression of a peaceful exchange.
The Mughal messenger approaches with a contingent of 400 soldiers and 150 bound villagers. Behind them, 300 unadorned horses in ropes await, intended for the exchange.
Both leaders advanced to the midpoint, their forces maintaining a safe distance. Nilesh kept his sword sheathed at his waist, while the Mughal leader carried his talwar similarly. They exchanged formal greetings, setting the tone for their negotiations.
"Colonel Nilesh," he announced, his voice resonating with authority.
"Faujdar Sohail," replied the messenger, matching Nilesh's formality with a nod.
Sohail greeted Nilesh with a shallow bow. "I trust your journey was uneventful?"
Nilesh returned the nod. "As uneventful as can be expected," he replied evenly.
Sohail's gaze swept over the clearing. "Is that all? No musketeers or siege machines?" he asked curiously.
"We are all that is necessary," Nilesh replied confidently.
Sohail's gaze lingered on Nilesh's attire, he smirked. "What's with this ceremonial display? I didn't know your kind indulged in such formalities during serious matters."
Nilesh's demeanor darkened. "In our land, we say, 'Pigs can't digest royal food,'" he retorted.
Drawing his sword, he pointed it at Sohail. "When you first graced our base, you were as humble as a street dog. And now, you dare to spout such nonsense against the forces of His Highness? You vile lot are not deserving of mutual courtesy."
Sohail, sensing the tension, raised his hands in surrender, a disarming smile playing on his lips. "Easy, Colonel, that was merely a jest," he said soothingly. "Look at the villagers behind me, ready for a peaceful exchange. As a soldier, shouldn't you prioritize following His will?"
As the tension in Nilesh's eyes began to ease, Sohail slowly lowered his hands, the mischief still evident in his expression. "I must admit, Colonel, I expected a larger contingent from your side."
Nilesh's jaw tightened, but he maintained his composure as he sheathed his sword. "A pack of wolves doesn't need numbers to destroy a legion of sheep," he replied, smirking.
Sohail's expression hardened momentarily, but he quickly masked it with a genial smile. "Indeed, Colonel, your confidence is admirable," he replied smoothly, though a glint of mischief lingered in his eyes.
"Shall we proceed with the exchange?" Sohail suggested.
Nilesh nodded in agreement. His men swiftly began to move the carts of supplies towards the captured villagers, their movements filled with labour as they pulled the carts to the waiting Mughal soldiers.
"Now, it's your turn," Nilesh said, fixing his gaze on Sohail.
Sohail, with a hint of skepticism, inquired if Nilesh had brought the decree for safe passage from the prince. Nilesh pointed to one of his royal guard subordinates who held the document.
Sohail's smile widened at the sight of the required item. He drew his talwar and pressed it against Nilesh's throat, shocking the colonel, who instinctively took a few steps back. Both soldiers at the back poised their weapons, ready to intervene, but Nilesh gestured for them to stand down, indicating a surprising level of trust.
"You're quite smart and naïve for your position. How do you like these sudden turns of fate?" Sohail grinned, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and satisfaction.
Nilesh, regaining his composure, responded with pride and defiance. "Why are you doing this? Do you think you can escape easily? We were almost done with the exchange."
Sohail's grin remained intact as he explained, "Your lack of musketeers has confirmed our doubts about the strength of your formation in the forest. Neither those deadly siege machines nor your men pose any threat to us. It's nothing personal, Colonel, but we've received orders from our higher-ups to eliminate you once we confirm your weakness. And that safe passage will come in handy in more ways than one. So, now, as a gentleman, tell your soldier to hand over the safe passage decree. "
He lowered his voice as he leaned forward,"I may consider sparing you to slip from the carnage."
Nilesh's prideful demeanour remained unchanged as he replied, "Since you seem to want it so desperately, how can I deny you?" With a decisive snap of his fingers, he signalled for the document to be handed over.
'Bang!'
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Author's Notes:
Well, when I think nothing is going right, there are some people who lift my mood by either golden tickets or daily votes. Thank you again, wolfhunter5292 for the new 3 GT tickets.
Thanks to all my voters for last week's performance. I saw a rise in my daily voters list, and its significance is huge when it comes to the survivability of this novel. So please accept my heartfelt gratitude, as I couldn't convey my thoughts properly in a hurry last time.