Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One

Pakistan Sultanate, border of sindh , night of 11th April 1557.

The moon cast a faint glow over the settlement of Jacobabad, where the Mughal banners fluttered in the night breeze. The town, nestled between the Baloch and Sindh regions of the Pakistan Sultanate, was the final outpost before the Mughal forces could march further into the rugged terrain. Tents were spread across the camp, housing 5,000 Mughal soldiers preparing for conquest. In the largest tent, Subedar rank commander, Zahid Khan sitting in cushion with his trusted faujdars, the dim light of a flickering lamp illuminating the battle plans sprawled across the table.

Zahid Khan, being a tall and imposing man looked over the map sitting on cushion. His dark eyes scanned the rugged markings as he addressed his faujdars in calm yet firm voice.

"These mountains are our natural border between the Baloch and Sindh," he said, pointing to the jagged lines on the map. "But here.. this Bola River and its pass, that is the key to entering their lands. If we control this pass, and this fortcity Quetta we control the northwest of Baloch territory. Reinforcements will come, but we must seize control of this region before they arrive. Are we clear so far?"

The faujdars, dressed in their heavy armor, nodded in unison. "Ji hazur," they all replied.

Zahid’s finger traced the map as he continued. "We are currently here. To the west lies Dhadar, then Sibi, before we reach the Bola Pass and secure Machh Stronghold. Our orders are to move swiftly, under the cover of night. We will split our forces."

He tapped a point on the northern side of the map. "I will lead the cavalry to Sibi settlement. Naseem will assist me. It’s a flat, open area, and cavalry will be more effective there. The rest of you will divide the infantry. You will target the three villages and the central town near Dhadar, here in the south. Burn them to the ground, and leave nothing behind."

His voice darkened as he tapped the point marked as Dhadar. "Once the villages are done, we will regroup at the river crossing near the Bola Pass. By dawn, we will assault Machh together."

Faujdar Amin Qureshi, a seasoned elder with a weathered face, leaned forward. "But, hazur, gathering supplies, plundering, and taking slaves will slow us down. How can we meet at the pass on time?"

A cruel smirk appeared on Zahid’s face. "There will be no plundering. Kill everyone and burn everything. We need to ensure that no resistance remains to hinder our supply routes. Time cannot be wasted there."

Faujdar Farhan Sheikh, youngest among all, shifted uneasily. "But, hazur, the soldiers expect their reward for the struggles and sacrifices they make. If they cannot plunder, morale will drop. We need to give them some hope."

Zahid’s eyes glinted with a cold, calculating gaze. "Don’t worry. When we capture Machh, everyone can have all the plunder and slaves at their heart’s content. Machh is a stronghold of the Baloch tribes, united and settled there. There will be far more to reap than the paltry scraps of these outer villages."