Chapter 13: Departure for Garha Kingdom
"Maybe… or maybe not. Don't hope too much," she finally said after a long silence.
After hearing this, Ayush fell into silence. Indeed, he couldn't place all his hopes on others. It looked like only the system had to take responsibility for it and figure out how he could expand.
"Okay… Mother, you go to sleep. I have something to do." After saying this, he left and went to an open space, sitting down to get some fresh air and clear his mind.
Currently, he was looking at the map and recalling some key locations and directions from the system map. According to history, the Mughal Empire expanded the most under Akbar and Aurangzeb. But right now, Akbar was just a child, around the same age as him. No matter how ambitious he was, he would need time to prepare for the future.
Zooming in on the western side of the Mughal Empire, Ayush saw the Kingdom of Mewar. As soon as he did, his eyes flickered with emotion.
But it was actually anger.
The reason for his anger was that Akbar had already begun using a policy much earlier than the British—the infamous "divide and rule" strategy. He had fought a war with the Kingdom of Amber, but later, through negotiations, Mariam-uz-Zamani married Akbar. What followed was even more frustrating—her brother, Bhagwant Das, became one of the Navratnas (Nine Gems) in Akbar's court. And worse, as a Rajput, Bhagwant Das fought against his fellow Rajputs on Akbar's behalf.
Such an unfortunate history of the Indian subcontinent made Ayush's scalp tingle. It was said that the Rajputs and Yadavs were the main warrior bloodlines of Bharatvarsha, yet they fought amongst themselves and weakened each other, allowing outsiders to benefit.
It is said that even if our head and body are cut into two, we will never bow to our enemies. But seriously…?
After that, he focused on the map.
Ayush traced his finger over the map, stopping at the Garha Kingdom, a powerful Rajput-ruled state in central India. Rani Durgawati was a warrior queen, known for resisting invaders. But would she support him?
"If she refuses, I will have to force circumstances in my favor."
The Mughals were expanding rapidly, but Akbar was still young. The Deccan Sultanates were divided, and the Karrani dynasty in Bengal was weak. There was a power vacuum forming, and Ayush had two years to take advantage of it.
"I need an army. I need resources. And I need influence."
Ayush had a plan. Within two years, he would build his own power, starting with the Deccan region. Once he had a foothold there, he would turn east, conquering Bengal and securing the entire region under his rule.
Two Days Before Departure
Ayush, Kalyani, Vikram Singh, Maan Singh, and Gaurav sat together in front of a large map spread across the wooden table. The Deccan region was filled with many small and large dynasties, each a potential enemy or ally.
Pointing at the Garha Kingdom, Ayush spoke with conviction.
"The current queen, Rani Durgawati, is my mother's friend. She is being pressured by both the Mughals and the Bijapur Sultanate. If we negotiate wisely, we may gain her support and secure an alliance. But we must offer something valuable in return."
He paused and glanced at his mother, uncertain if she would approve of using her friendship for political gain.
Would she oppose his plan?
The three warriors—Vikram, Maan Singh, and Gaurav—spoke in unison.
"Your Highness, we have no objections!"
Ayush then turned to his mother.
"Maa… what do you think?"
Kalyani sighed, then nodded.
"If this is the path you have chosen, then I will not stop you. But be careful, son."
Ayush understood her concern. He was playing with fate. If Rani Durgawati refused, they would be stranded in enemy territory.
With the decision made, Ayush gathered the villagers and the remnants of his court, those who had fled with him.
Most of the royal followers agreed to join him. The villagers, however, chose to stay behind, unwilling to risk the unknown. Ayush gifted them silver coins before parting ways.
Two Weeks Later .
14/08/1558
Near Garha Kingdom's Borders
"Your Highness, we are approaching the border of Garha," Maan Singh reported. He rode beside Ayush, both on horseback.
To ensure his mother's comfort, Ayush had exchanged a fast-moving carriage from the system store. Kalyani rested inside, shielded from the harsh journey.
In the past two weeks, they had fought off multiple bandit attacks, but Ayush's elite guards had easily dealt with them.
Evening , A Village Near Garha
A soldier rode ahead and returned with a report.
"Your Highness, there is a village ahead. Beyond that, we will directly enter the Garha Kingdom."
Ayush nodded. "We will rest in the village for the night. Tomorrow, we meet the queen."
The group moved toward the village.
But just as they were about to enter…
The guards spotted something ahead.
As the group neared the village, the once peaceful surroundings now bore the unsettling silence of devastation. The guards, always vigilant, were the first to notice the bloodstains on the ground.
The remains of villagers, lifeless and scattered, gave off the vibe of violence. The air was thick with the smell of death and decay.
Ayush's heart sank. "What happened here?" he asked his soldiers.
As they rode closer, the sight became more horrifying. Bodies of men, women, and children littered the streets, their faces frozen in terror, blood pooling around their lifeless forms. The village had been raided—but by who?
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed across the battlefield.
"Who dares to interfere in the matters of our Bijapur Sultanate…?"
A man with a long turban and a long beard, but no mustache, emerged from nowhere and demanded.
The guards in front suddenly unsheathed their swords and got into position, but Ayush came forward from behind.
"Who… are you? And did you kill these villagers?" Ayush was no saint, but looking at the villagers' brutal deaths, he couldn't help but feel anger rise within him.
"Ohh… a mere 15-16-year-old boy dares to be arrogant in front of this seat? Who gave you the courage?" The wretched-looking man mocked.
"Heh… kill them all. Leave no one alive!" Ayush said coldly to his guards, not letting any of them escape. Otherwise, they would only cause trouble later.
At his command, more than 50 elite soldiers rushed forward with swords and spears, slaughtering them.
The bandits numbered only 20-25, including their leader, so it wasn't difficult to kill them all.
However, as the last one was slain, their leader emerged, killing a middle-aged man with a long sword. A girl with a beautiful appearance screamed in rage and tried to attack him.
When the man killed the middle-aged villager, he looked at his dead men and instantly became furious.
"Who are you, and how dare you meddle in the business of the Bijapur Sultanate?"
"Bijapur Sultanate…? So what? Since you killed them, you have to die!"
"Maan Singh… kill him!" Ayush commanded coldly.
Maan Singh charged at the bandit leader, engaging in battle. Meanwhile, Ayush dismounted his horse and approached the girl, who was being dragged away.
"Hey… are you okay?" Ayush asked, but she didn't respond. He quickly used Data Eyes to scan her condition.
Name: Priya..(surname suggest me.)
Age: 16
Condition: Unconscious, extreme grief, mentally exhausted
Charm: 96 (Virgin)
Family: Both parents dead
Skills : Cooking
Ayush sighed. She was like him, except her suffering was even worse.
He picked her up in his arms and carried her toward his mother's carriage. Kalyani was surprised but allowed the girl to rest inside.
Afterward, Ayush ordered his guards to burn the villagers' bodies and perform the Hindu rituals.
Although they wanted to rest, but due the village condition Ayush and his group started to move around the next village, that Ayush saw in the map.
And soon they reached and rested for the night.
While Priya in the carriage woke up.
[End of the Chapter...!]