Suggestion for listening while reading:
Devils never cry
Chapter Seven
Part five: Rebellion
*King waves hand to his scribe to start scribbling
King's log, May 8th 1484.
It is as if all the years of my reign and my life up to this point were a pipedream, a bubble burst by the cruel hand of fate. It appears that my Kingdom and that of my vassal were brought into this world, which looks suspiciously like that of the near past for a reason. Whatever reason that may be will remain a mistery to me. I must analyze the changes carefully before making any further decisions, keeping my wits about me if I am to avoid descending into insanity, which, knowing my hereditary predispositions, won't be an easy task."
After reviewing his objectives, the King walked to the balcony, letting fresh air fill his lungs, remembering the vision once again. Shivers went through his spine like a knife through butter and beads of cold sweat appeared on his face as he tried to shake the images of the massacre that haunted him still. The messenger that arrived didn't make him feel better, either.
"My King, my King!!!" the messenger ran up to him, falling on his knees from exhaustion
"You may speak."
"My King, we're screwed!" A royal guard gripped his sword in his hand and said "Be careful you worm, this is a King you're speaking to!"
"Very well, my King, we're
royally screwed." the messenger said, bowing deeply, causing the King to smile for first time in days. signalling the guard to keep his sword where it is, he asked
"What news do you bring me?"
"A pretender has announced his claim to the throne of Assam. At his side he has two thousand horsemen and just as many spearmen. He calls himself Gobar."
Gobar? Wasn't he a King already? the King thought to himself "Very well. You may leave. Guard! Have the servants summon the Council. Have them assemble in an hour."
"Yessir!" the guard saluted and ran off to do his master's bidding
An hour later....
As the King walked up to the giant building of the Council visions overtook him again. He saw the building lit up in crimson flames, the banner of Assam torn to confetti. He felt weak, helpless, lost. Leaning his hand on the door, he supressed the thoughts and carried on.
Taking his seat as the King, he quickly eyed the audience and spotted an outlander. He asked his slave "Who's that guy? Third row, fourth seat from the left."
"That, my Lord, is some guy called Issac. I heard he published a book about some fancy Republic. Who knows what he's capable of? Perhaps we should arrange a small
accide..."
"If you want to keep your head, you'd better show some respect to him. Nobles don't just fall out of the sky right into this room. Property has no right to criticize." Stunned by his master's words, he quickly pulled himself out of the room, bowing deeply on the way
Sudangpha rose up and opened the session "I, King of Assam Sudangpha, hereby open this session of the council. Now, first things first...."
Some time later...
"And that's the situation so far."
"What?" some noble rose
"What do you mean what?"
"Well, you paused briefly and just said and that's the situation so far."
"I did?"
"Yeah" several voices were heard
"Well, then hear me now...."
Some time later...
"And that's the situation so far."
"You just..." a noble stood up "..nevermind. What do you suggest that we do to solve the... situation?"
"Total mobilization of existing military forces and increasing the standing army by 600%. All in favor say I want to keep my head."
The vote was unanimous and all over the country new soldiers crawled out of the woodwork and assembled in the fields. The result was underwhelming, given Assam's low manpower. If this obstacle was to be overcome, more time was needed.
Here's what's going on in the relevant parts of the world
But if there was anything he lacked (aside from manpower and money), then that was time. Towns and villages surrounding Vanga fell one by one, and soon did Vanga itself. People cried out in despair, and some even thought that Vanga surrendered itself willingly.
The nobles demand power, get the finger and join the opposition
The first battle with the pretender was in front of the lost city, with the forces of Assam achieving numerical superiority 3:2, led by the King himself. At the King's side was a brand new adviser, an 85 year old drillmaster who commanded army maneuvers in the King's place. All of that was practically useless however, as the thunderous charge of hostile cavalry swept away the flanks of the army and struck the middle, almost ending Sudangpha's existence. It was fortunate for him that, unlike the pretender, Sudangpha didn't pull off a Gamelin and kept a strategic reserve. Victory was his, however much it may have cost him.
After that victory it was a relatively simple matter of cleansing the remains of the pretender's army.
The good news after the repeated stress of battle, repeating visions and nightmares was supposed to be the birth of his son. It wasn't. Suhung Najafi, as he was called, was everything Sudangpha's ancestors were. He was weak. Weak and ambitious. The astrologers saw him as nothing but a socially awkward bookworm, who knew a thing or two about logistics but generally failed that as well. And no, if one fails at failing, he doesn't win.
Falling into a deep depression soon after, Sudangpha left a note saying
"
Remember this:
Might controls everything, and without strength,
you cannot defend anything, let alone a Kingdom."
and vanished into the night.
_______
Note: Due to sloppy editing, everything but my Empire is as it was in 1399. Advisers are as old as Jesus was, too.
I went +1 cent, so a pretender decided to challenge me. May he rest in pieces.