Chapter 96: Battle of Bawal Part -1
Forest opening, Rebel’s side of forces.
The night was deceptively calm as Rahimullah Khan’s cannons were meticulously positioned near the forest, aiming at the tents of the soldiers stationed outside the fort. The artillery crews worked quietly, ensuring the cannons were strategically placed to maximize damage. The anticipation hung thick in the air as they awaited the signal to commence the assault.
Suddenly, the sky was illuminated with the vibrant colors of fireworks, marking the festivities within the fort. It was then that a distant explosion echoed. Smoke and debris began to rise from the fort, precisely where the gunpowder stores were located. One after another, similar explosions followed in a sequence, signalling a well-coordinated sabotage from within.
Chaos erupted as soldiers poured out of their tents, eyes wide with confusion and alarm. On the fort walls, defenders quickly mobilized, filling the battlements and ringing the alarm bells to alert the civilians inside. In the midst of the turmoil, the artillerymen near the forest lit the fuses of the cannons, and a moment later, the cannons roared to life.
The heavy projectiles hurtled through the night, their ominous whistles growing louder as they approached their targets. The first cannonball struck the camp with devastating precision, tearing through canvas and wood. The explosion sent splinters flying, and the concussive force knocked soldiers off their feet. Screams of pain and panic filled the air as the once orderly camp descended into pandemonium.
Rahimullah Khan watched the scene unfold with a satisfied smile. The devastation wrought by the initial volley filled him with a sense of accomplishment. Another round of cannon fire followed, compounding the chaos and destruction among the enemy troops. Tents collapsed, fires broke out, and the orderly ranks of soldiers dissolved into frantic clusters seeking cover.
However, his satisfaction was short-lived. A thunderous roar erupted from his own camp, causing him to whirl around in shock. The firing cannons had exploded, sending shrapnel and fire in all directions. Gunners were thrown back, their bodies mangled by the blast. The air was filled with the acrid smell of burnt gunpowder and the cries of the wounded.
Rahimullah Khan’s initial triumph turned to horror as he witnessed the devastation. What had started as a promising attack, guaranteeing a smooth victory, now felt like a fishbone stuck in his throat, neither easily swallowed nor vomited out. The entire plan had been based on cannons, but who could have expected that the very weapons meant to blast the walls would unexpectedly explode among their own ranks? The malfunction of his artillery had not only halted his assault but had also inflicted severe losses on his own forces.
On the contrary, Rao Kishan Pal, standing beside him, felt very embarrassed. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to dig a hole in the ground and hide himself. He was supposed to be the new king, and he brought this shame upon himself.
With clenched fists and a furrowed brow, Rao Kishan Pal cursed his luck. He knew deep down that there had been signs of something amiss with the gunpowder, but he had ignored them after the initial test rounds appeared successful. Now, facing the consequences of his oversight, he knew immediate action was required to overcome the situation.
He immediately approached his ally Rahimullah Khan and ordered him to find out what was wrong with the gunpowder. Rahimullah Khan had expert artisans under his command who quickly discovered that sand had been mixed into the gunpowder, declaring it unfit for further use.
Soon, Amar Singh Rathod approached and got the details of the mishap. Anger was evident on the cannon factory chief, Mathew, but no one was going to punish him for this betrayal.