Part 7 - Into the North
The minarets of Hyderabad
1424
"So Devesh, how are our diplomatic efforts going? Any success?"
Devesh coughed, and smiled weakly. "Well, Orissa rejected our alliance proposal. Again."
"Damn them! Why don't they like us?"
"Probably because of the war in Mysore. But don't worry about that, for they will only go on and betray us in about one hundred and thirty years..."
The Emperor frowned. "How do you know that?"
"I'm a mystic, remember? Anyway, there is
some good news to report. It is has been quite an exceptional year, and the treasury is more full than usual."
"Ah, that's excellent Devesh!"
"I suggest we appoint some new additional tax collectors in Mangalore and Madras provinces."
"Of course, of course," Deva Raya II replied distractedly. Then he smiled. "You know, it almost seems that you actually run this empire, Devesh!"
"Ha ha, yes."
1425
A quiet year, the only event of note being a marriage between two nobles, thus cementing ties between Vijayanagar and Jodhpur.
1426
Vijayanagar's reputation amongst fellow Hindus remained poor, a fact that great worried Devesh. He knew that ultimately many of those states would turn traitor at Kalikota, but for the time being Vijayanagar lacked any true allies. As he wandered through the vast gardens of the City of Victory he reflected on the last seven years, which had seemed like nothing compared to the trillions he had spent in the ethereal realm. As he thought he found himself in a secluded glade, and was vaguely surprised to see, standing beside one of the waterways, a cow. A very familiar cow.
"Lord Krishna?"
"Hello again, Devesh." The Deva emerged from the undergrowth, and patted the cow gently. "There have been some devleopments that you should know of."
Krishna began walking, and the cow followed. Devesh jogged and caught up, and listened to Krishna's words.
"Devesh, the Deva's have been greatly impressed with your progress so far. Your actions have really galvanised them, have given them a sense of purpose that endless eternal recurrence had dulled somewhat. The ripples of change are emanating all throughout the universe, and suddenly the endless doom has been altered."
"That's excellent," said Devesh. Krishna nodded, but looked trouble.
"But, Devesh, not everyone is happy about this change. While the Devas dream of a world where the Eternal Way is followed by all of mankind and rejoice in your efforts, the demonic entities known as the Asuras grow angry. They loved the pain and suffering that spewed forth from Kalikota, and are plotting and scheming to bring you down and restore the dread eternity. There are certain people who have become disciples of the Asura, all over the world, whose sole goal is your destruction. You must battle these individuals, while we Devas continue our eternal struggle with the Asuras."
"I see. What should I do?" said Devesh, intensely worried.
"You must expand, and make Vijayanagar stronger at once. I advise you to strike at the Bahmanids, in the north."
And so, on May 14th 1426 Vijayanagar declared war on the Bahmanids, and hit straight at their capital, Hyderabad. The reason given for the war was Vijayanagar's desire to take Maharashtra, upon which they had a legitimate claim.
It resulted in a defeat for the Vijayanagar as the army in Hyderabad was bolstered by reinforcements from Bastar. After retreating, the Hindu army was split, and the provinces of Bastar and Khandesh were put under siege while the City of Victory itself was besieged by the Bahmanids.
1427
Bastar fell in April and Khandesh in September. Hyderabad and Maharashtra were put under siege.
1428
The siege in Hyderabad was going well. Devesh, Marshal-in-chief of the Army of Victory, was bored. It had been a long siege, made all the more difficult as most of the inhabitants of the city were Hindus. As he was surveying the flat countryside for enemy troops Devesh spotted a lone rider heading straight for the encampment.
Devesh rode out to greet the messenger, and was shocked by what he learned. The Muslims had taken the City of Victory! Devesh gritted his teeth, and informed the Emperor. Deva Raya II wanted to abandon the siege and retake the capital, but Devesh persuaded him to stay the course and to take Hyderabad, and
then to recover the City of Victory.
Hyderabad fell in May, prompting the Bahmanids to offer peace.
"No way," bellowed the Emperor. "Those Muslim dogs will not get off that lightly."
Devesh nodded, and smiled. For once he did not have to do anything to change the Emperor's mind.
The Bahmanid army had retreated to Maharashtra, and remained larger than the combined armies of Vijayanagar. One army was sent to recover the capital while the army of Deva Raya II attacked the defenders of Maharashtra. This was the crucial battle of the war; victory here would mean almost certain Hindu triumph in the war. Outnumbered, Vijayanagar once again relied on cavalry superiority to gain the advantage.
The elephants carried the day, and a siege was established. In November, much to everyone's relief the City of Victory was retaken, and elsewhere the Bahmanid sultan was attempting to retake Bastar.
1429
However, Maharashtra was to fall first. With all key Bahmanid cities in Hindu hands the Muslims were never going to get off lightly.
It was a great victory, and Deva Raya II and Devesh returned to the City of Victory as heroes. People quickly forgot the year-long Bahmanid occupation,, and the gold gained was used to appoint tax collectors in Maharashtra and Mysore. Later in the year, a colony was established at Goa.
"Devesh."
"Lord Krishna, it is good to see you. The victory over the Bahmanids is surely a great triumph that will become the stories of epics."
"Of course. But although you have struck a blow to your enemies, you must not forget what the future holds. The Asuras continue to plot, but you've hurt their cause. I and my fellow Deva's vision is starting to become a reality, but a lot lies ahead of you. You must not forget your Hindu faith and all that goes with it. You must not neglect dharma and the eternal way."
"Of course, Lord Krishna. Of course."
The Deva bade him farewell, and Devesh found himself alone in the gardens. After a couple of seconds he turned, and went to the Virupaksha temple to worship in silent contemplation.