Chapter 225: Battle of Kashmir Part - 8
A Few Moments Earlier, Near the Western Gate of Hari Parbat Fort
Rudra, being the supreme commander of northern imperial corps, led the siege on the fort’s western gate. Under his command, the army had surrounded the fort on three sides, establishing light barricades and tents in preparation for a long siege.
Soon, Faujdar Harish Pal returned with 2,000 forces, leaving behind a thousand in the base camp for the safety of civilians, with the remaining few patrolling the city that lay to the north of the fort.
From him, he received the report of 400 cavalry and 300 infantry dead in the process. It was heartbreaking news, but one must be ready to face the brutalities of war.
Rudra ordered Harish to take command of the eastern and southern positions, while he would oversee the western front and reinforce the southern half.
Soon a sudden explosion erupted on the eastern side of the siege perimeter. Though no further attacks followed, Rudra quickly recognized it as a diversion. But for what? The answer struck him almost immediately: The base camp was in the forest that lay west of the city. There was a high probability that the enemy could attack the camp in hopes of destroying the supplies.
He immediately took a thousand light cavalry and rode swiftly to the encampment. Enroute, the trail of dead comrades who might have been on patrol duty of the supply lines only bolstered his belief of an attack by enemy saboteurs.
Soon, they reached the camp perimeter and found Tsewang’s small unit lurking in the shadows. At first, it seemed they were trying to hide, but a sudden scream from one of the tents made them vigilant, and then they concentrated on that same spot.
Rudra signaled his forces to capture as many as possible alive. A fierce skirmish erupted, and the imperial troops quickly overpowered Tsewang’s men with sheer numbers. Just then, Tsewang himself emerged from a tent and was immediately seized.
Dismounting, Rudra approached him, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Surrender, General Tenzin," he called, drawing his sword. Stepping close, he placed the blade at Tsewang’s neck, sneering, "Or should I say, Prince Tsewang?"
The mention of Prince Tsewang brought a gasp of surprise from the civilians who had gathered there; they knew him as a general, not a prince. An air of mystery brewed, but none made any noise.
Tsewang’s heart clenched with sorrow as he felt it was over, and he waited for Rudra to expose him as a Ladakhi spy, but Rudra said little, as if keeping his cards under the table.