Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One

Purana Qila, Council chamber, afternoon of 11th April 1557.

Emperor Hem Chandra Bhargav was facing a difficult moment. After taking over the crown, he wanted to flex his military might to supress all neighbouring kingdoms and put them under one banner of his empire for his dream of united India.

However, in the first council meeting before his coronation, Aditya had presented a different approach. He emphasized the importance of stabilizing the region first, gradually influencing neighboring states to become dependent on the empire, eventually leading to peaceful mergers.

At first, the idea seemed far-fetched, even foolish. But as the discussion went on, it deeply resonated with the emperor and the council. Aditya’s plan promised prosperity while holding the potential for peaceful expansion. Yet, when Aditya later opted to raise a private army, Hemu grew concerned and summoned him privately to question his true intentions.

It was then that Aditya revealed the heart of his strategy, that is to create controlled chaos in neighboring regions and then extend stabilizing aid, pressuring them to seek merger under the empire’s banner. In this way, the empire could foster flourishing trade, forge alliances, and gradually absorb territories without facing unified opposition; all under the pretext of offering assistance.

Hemu, who had once used a unified front by assembling Pathans and Rajputs to resist the Mughals, found Aditya’s plan a sound tactics even though ethically questionable. So, he pledged his full support.

Ahead of the southern expedition against the Dutch and in handling Gujarat, Hemu suggested Aditya to expand his army of 20,000 by any means. However, this posed a significant challenge. Many states that had joined the empire were not entirely obedient, and Hemu had to make compromises by appointing trusted aides recommended by these states for councils.

These council members, although loyal to the empire, each had their own agendas. Their loyalty was based on mutual benefit, not complete submission. Hemu feared the possibility of sensitive information leaking, so he shared his plans only with a select group of generals who shared his vision, keeping the strategy even from his father.

It was fortunate that Hemu’s father supported Aditya and favored him, albeit unknowingly. But as the council’s debate intensified, Hemu began to feel uneasy. Sukhwindar’s arguments were compelling, painting Aditya as a threat to the empire’s foundations, one who was unjustly favored. Just as Sukhwindar was about to sway the court, Aditya entered the chamber, bringing with him a renewed sense of hope.

In a shrewd move, Aditya aligned himself with Sukhwindar’s cause, proving that he was not only selfless but committed to the empire’s well-being. Yet, in the same breath, he openly admitted his desire for a monopoly over his forces. This admission put Hemu in a difficult position as openly supporting Aditya could lead to unrest among those who balanced the empire’s power. If he were to back him, Hemu would need a strong, justifiable cause.