Chapter 152: Siege of Amer Fort Prt-5 (Fury of elephants)
Kingdom of Amber, Fort of Jaipur, few days back on 12th march 1557.
Emperor Hemu faced a crucial challenge when he received the news of attack on the western regions of his empire. He did not want to be at odds with the Rajputs but this time they went too far. He knew the situation demanded his personal intervention.
However, leaving his seat in Delhi for an extended period posed significant risks, so he implemented martial law and entrusted the administration to his father, the Prime Minister, while he rallied his own forces.
He concealed his involvement to such an extent that he did not even inform Prince Aditya stationed at Rewari about his departure, instructing him only to remain on guard and assured him that the imperial army would soon reach Amber for support. He also kept the fort at Amer unaware of the incoming reinforcements to prevent any potential leaks to enemy spies.
Navigating the terrain proved more time delaying, forcing him to take a detour through the northern forest. As he emerged, he found himself facing the full might of the Rajput army besieging the fort.
In comparison to the Rajput forces, his own numbers were lacking. He had brought only 45,000 troops, which paled in comparison to the 60,000-strong Rajput force standing by. But he had a trump card, and to use it, he needed to eliminate the Rajput cannons first. He had positioned his own cannons on a hilltop with some protection and began bombarding the Rajput cannons stationed at the rear while he maneuvered his forces for final contest.
From the hilltop, the 100 cannons roared with thunderous intensity, catching the Rajputs off guard. Fortunately for the attackers, the Rajputs were unprepared. Heavy cannonballs slammed into their artillery, splintering wood and shattering metal.
One by one, the Rajput cannons were targeted as their gunners scrambled in panic. Chaos erupted within their ranks as the unexpected barrage wreaked havoc. The shockwaves from the impacts sent shivers down their spines, and their once-proud artillery was reduced to tangled wreckage in few minutes.
Once the cannons were taken care of they were swiftly packed for transportation.
King Maldev Rao, fuming with anger, sat atop his horse as he watched his precious cannons being laid to waste. Despite the destruction, he recognized the small scale of the enemy’s artillery and knew he still had the upper hand. However, his confidence wavered when he spotted the flag of Samrajya. It meant the reinforcements had arrived. With urgency mounting, he knew he had to act decisively.
The terrain was uneven, with rolling slopes making it challenging to gauge the size of the enemy reinforcements. Maldev Rao still had 10,000 cavalry in reserve and 55,000 infantry under his command. His immediate priority was to deal with the cannons before their numbers grew.
Turning to his trusted commander, he bellowed to Subedar Vaibabh.