Chapter 5: Shadows of the Outside World

The steady rhythm of hammer on metal echoed through the village as Faisal's workshop came alive with the sounds of production. The warlord's soldiers were already growing accustomed to their new weapons, and Rahim Khan had ordered a full-scale increase in the number of muskets produced. The warlord was no fool—he understood that in order to dominate, he needed an edge. And Faisal had given him that edge.

But Faisal wasn't thinking about the workshop or the soldiers today. His mind was elsewhere—on the world beyond these mountains. Afghanistan's mountains may have isolated this land from the outside world, but even these rugged peaks couldn't stop the shifting tides of global power. Faisal had seen the changes before he was pulled back into this time, and he knew that the struggles of local warlords like Rahim Khan were just the smallest part of a much larger conflict.

The world outside was changing.

[New Mission: Analyze global geopolitical dynamics. Unlock new technologies based on worldwide events. Time Limit: Ongoing.]

[Reward: Access to Early 20th Century Military Strategies + 500 System Points]

The system had, for the first time, mentioned the world beyond Afghanistan's borders. Faisal could feel the weight of that information. He had been so focused on building his workshop and gaining power locally that he had nearly forgotten about the greater context. But now, the system was reminding him—there was more to this game than the squabbles of warlords.

Beyond Afghanistan: The World in Chaos

The year was the late 1700s, and while Afghanistan remained fractured under the rule of tribal warlords, the rest of the world was undergoing rapid change.

To the west, the powerful Ottoman Empire was weakening, its once-mighty grasp on the Middle East and Eastern Europe slipping away. While still formidable, it was increasingly bogged down by internal strife, corruption, and external threats. European powers, particularly Britain and France, were circling like vultures, eager to carve up the remnants of the empire. Afghanistan, caught in the middle, would eventually become a pawn in this larger geopolitical game.

Further north, the Russian Empire was expanding aggressively. Under the leadership of the Tsars, Russia was looking southward, aiming to control the rich lands of Central Asia, including Afghanistan. The Russians were building roads, sending explorers and spies, and preparing for the day when they could move their armies into the region. They saw Afghanistan as the key to controlling the gateway between Asia and Europe.

To the east, the mighty Qing Dynasty in China was still holding firm, but cracks were starting to show. The empire's massive bureaucracy was becoming increasingly inefficient, and it would only be a matter of time before internal rebellions and foreign powers chipped away at its borders. British merchants, hungry for profit, were already setting their sights on the riches of China, and the Opium Wars were still decades away, but their shadows were beginning to creep into the future.

Then there was Europe, where the seeds of conflict were already being sown. The French Revolution had begun, shaking the very foundations of monarchy and aristocracy across the continent. Ideas of liberty and democracy were spreading, but so too were the ambitions of men like Napoleon Bonaparte, who would soon reshape the map of Europe and challenge the might of the British Empire. Wars were inevitable, and Europe would become a battlefield in the years to come.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the United States was still in its infancy, having only recently secured its independence from Britain. The American experiment was new, fragile, and far from the global powerhouse it would one day become. But its very existence symbolized the changing world order—an order in which old empires were beginning to crumble and new forces were rising.

The British Empire, perhaps the most significant force on the global stage, was rapidly expanding its colonial reach. India, just to the southeast of Afghanistan, was already under British influence, with the British East India Company acting as the de facto ruler of vast territories. The British viewed Afghanistan as a potential buffer zone—a region that could shield their prized colony of India from Russian expansion. The Great Game, as it would later be called, was already beginning.

And then there was technology—the driving force behind all of these geopolitical changes. The Industrial Revolution was slowly starting to take root in Europe, and soon factories, steam engines, and mass production would change the way wars were fought. Napoleon's armies, armed with new artillery and strategies, would be among the first to reap the benefits of these advancements, and later, European colonial armies would bring rifles and cannons to places like Afghanistan.

Faisal understood the implications. Afghanistan was just a small piece of the puzzle, but it was a crucial one. If he could seize control of this land, he could position himself as a major player in the coming global struggle. He could turn Afghanistan into a technological and military powerhouse, capable of holding its own against the encroaching powers of Russia, Britain, and others.

Warlord Rahim Khan's Ignorance

But Rahim Khan knew nothing of this. He was a man consumed by local concerns, his vision limited to the rival warlords who surrounded his territory. Faisal could sense the limitations in Rahim's thinking—the warlord wanted to expand his territory, yes, but his ambitions stopped at the borders of the neighboring villages. Rahim had no concept of what was happening beyond Afghanistan's mountains, no understanding of the global forces that would soon collide in this land.

Rahim would never be able to see the larger picture, and that was why, in time, Faisal would surpass him. Rahim's soldiers, even armed with new muskets, were nothing compared to the armies that would soon march into this land from Europe or Russia. But with Faisal's knowledge, Afghanistan wouldn't have to fall. It could become something greater.

"The warlords think they rule this land," Faisal thought as he stood in the workshop, watching the workers build more muskets. "But they're just caretakers. They don't understand what's coming."

He wasn't just building an army for Rahim Khan. He was building an army for the future. An army that could face not just Malik Zaman or the other local warlords but the colonial empires that would one day come knocking at Afghanistan's door.

Faisal's Strategic Vision

Faisal glanced out of the workshop toward the mountains beyond the village. He could see it now—the future of Afghanistan, shaped by his hands. The local warlords were just the first step. Malik Zaman, with his eight villages and 500 soldiers, was a target. But after Malik, there would be others. And eventually, Faisal would need to face the greater threat—the empires of Britain and Russia.

But for now, Faisal would bide his time. He would play the role of the obedient servant, providing Rahim Khan with weapons and letting the warlord believe he was the one in control. But as Rahim conquered more territory, he would rely more and more on Faisal's technology. The warlord would grow dependent on him, and that was when Faisal would strike.

Control wasn't about holding the most land or commanding the most soldiers. Control was about knowing when to act, and when to let others act for you. Faisal had learned that in the 21st century, and the lesson applied just as much here.

"In the end, power belongs to those who understand the game."

New Directions

As Faisal turned his attention back to the workshop, a messenger entered, bowing slightly before addressing him.

"The warlord requests your presence, my lord," the man said nervously. "There are reports of Malik Zaman's forces gathering to the north."

Faisal nodded slowly, hiding the smirk that threatened to rise. It was starting.

Rahim Khan was preparing for war. And Faisal was ready.

To be continued…

End of Chapter 5