Chapter 221: Battle of Kashmir Part -4
Kashmir , outskirts of Sri Nagar , evening of April 25, 1557
The Battle for Kohala Pass turned out to be a major turning point for the Bhargavian forces. That short hill became the gateway to the surrounding mountain walls within the valley.
The reason General Rudra was delayed in reaching the battlefield was due to the need to maintain the supply chains that were vital in this harsh weather. As a result, he had to rely on the limited weapons provided by Prince Aditya to be used in the battlefield, which turned out very favorably for his side.
After crossing over, they swiftly took over the town of Muzaffarabad and set it up as their first line of outposts. The town had already been abandoned by Ladakhi forces, and the civilian populace fully supported the new rule, as changing realms had little effect on them as long as they were fed and protected.
Since Rudra brought supplies and rations, winning over the populace was a piece of cake. With the help of local populace acting as guide, they learned the routes and quickly dispatched forces to cut off possible nearby ambush areas from scouts on their way to Srinagar.
Scattered Ladakhi forces were swiftly handled, and they took over nearby posts with minimal resistance, as most of the major enemy forces had been recalled, while those who stayed were swiftly dealt with by the mighty imperial cannons.
It took only three days for their whole army to reach the outskirts of capital city by evading and overpassing terrains full of traps.
As the Bhargavian forces set up camp outside the city, sheltered beneath the dense cover of the forest, the leaders convened for a meeting as dusk approached. Inside a grand tent, the atmosphere was thick with tension and anticipation.
Maps were sprawled across the table underthe flickering torchlight. Military leaders gathered around had serious expressions etched on their face as they shared reports with each other.
The hum of discussion ceased as General Rudra entered the tent, clad in chain mail armor that glinted in the dim light. His commanding presence demanded attention, and all eyes turned to him as he took his place at the head of the table.
"Greetings, brothers in arms," Rudra began with a strong and steady voice. "I hope everyone is familiar with the terrain."
"Yes, General," the leaders replied in unison.