chapter 12

The village had returned to its usual rhythm after the incident with the villagers. Fear had given way to acceptance as Faisal continued introducing new technologies that improved daily life. But time was running out. The British mercenaries were still lingering in the region, and Faisal knew that Afghanistan's fate was now intertwined with the larger geopolitical forces looming just beyond the horizon.

Faisal stood at the edge of the village one evening, staring out at the distant mountains. His mind raced with thoughts of what was to come. Rahim Khan's power had been secured for now, but the British and Russians were both bound to move soon. If Faisal wanted to stay ahead of them, he needed to take the next step. It was time to expand beyond this small village, to begin uniting the scattered warlords under a single banner. His banner.

That night, as Faisal reviewed his blueprints in the workshop, the system chimed once again.

[New Mission: Begin consolidating power across the region. Unify the warlords. Time Limit: 90 days.]

[Reward: Industrial Revolution Blueprint Package + 1,500 System Points.]

The system's mission echoed Faisal's own thoughts. The warlords were divided, weak, and fighting among themselves. If he could bring them together—either through diplomacy or force—he would be able to build a stronghold capable of resisting the inevitable foreign interference. It was time to make a move.

The next morning, Faisal met with Rahim Khan and Rustam. The warlord had grown more comfortable with Faisal's guidance after his recent victories, but Faisal knew that Rahim's ambition still outpaced his understanding of the bigger picture.

"We need to expand," Faisal said without preamble as he sat down in Rahim's quarters. "There are smaller warlords to the west and north—ones who could be brought under your control."

Rahim raised an eyebrow. "You think I can simply march into their territories and they'll surrender?"

Faisal shook his head. "Not by force, but by offering them something they need. Protection. Security. Weapons. We can bring them under our influence without bloodshed—at least, not immediately. Once we consolidate them, we'll have the strength to stand against any outside force."

Rustam frowned, ever cautious. "And what happens if they resist?"

"Then we deal with them the way we dealt with Malik Zaman," Faisal said calmly. "But most will see the value in aligning with us. They fear the British and Russians as much as anyone."

Rahim's eyes gleamed with the promise of power. "You think we can unite them?"

"I know we can," Faisal replied. "But we need to act quickly. Word of our strength is spreading, and if we wait too long, they'll come together on their own—against us."

Rahim nodded slowly, the idea settling into his mind. "Then we move. Send word to these warlords. Offer them an alliance."

Within days, messengers were dispatched to the neighboring warlords, offering them a chance to join Rahim Khan's growing domain in exchange for protection, weapons, and support. Most of the smaller warlords were hesitant, but they knew their position was fragile. The British mercenaries had already proven that foreign powers were looking at Afghanistan, and Rahim's recent victories made him the most powerful force in the region.

Three warlords, controlling villages to the north and west, agreed to meet with Faisal and Rahim. They arrived within a week, nervous but intrigued by the possibility of an alliance. Faisal had them seated in the main hall, offering them food and drink, setting a tone of diplomacy rather than confrontation.

Rahim made the initial offer of protection, but it was Faisal who delivered the key point. "This isn't just about defending your land from other warlords," Faisal explained. "It's about defending it from something much bigger. The British have already made their move, and the Russians won't be far behind. You've seen what they can do. Alone, none of us stand a chance. But together, we can form something stronger."

The warlords exchanged uneasy glances. They had seen the foreign mercenaries, heard stories of their advanced weapons. But they weren't sure if aligning with Rahim was the solution.

One of the warlords, an older man named Gulzar, leaned forward. "And what happens when the British come in full force? You think your cannons and muskets can hold them off forever?"

Faisal met his gaze calmly. "No. But we're not just relying on muskets and cannons. We're building something bigger. If you join us, you'll have access to weapons, yes, but also to technology that can help your people—irrigation, tools, machines. We're not just preparing for war. We're preparing for the future."

Gulzar hesitated, then nodded slowly. "And if we refuse?"

Rahim's expression darkened, but Faisal remained composed. "Then you'll be left to face what's coming on your own. But make no mistake—it's coming."

The weight of Faisal's words hung in the air. The warlords knew he was right. The foreign powers were circling, and standing alone was no longer an option. One by one, they agreed to the alliance, their signatures marked on an agreement that would bring their villages under Rahim's control.

By the end of the month, Rahim Khan's domain had expanded. Five new villages were now under his influence, each one contributing men, resources, and loyalty to the growing power base that Faisal was building. It wasn't just about numbers—it was about the infrastructure Faisal was implementing. Steam-powered tools were being introduced in the new territories, and Faisal had begun planning the first simple factories—places where metalwork and farming tools could be mass-produced.

But not everyone was content with the rapid expansion.

As Faisal walked through the village one evening, overseeing the progress of a new windmill, Rustam approached him with a grim expression.

"Not all the warlords are as willing as Gulzar," Rustam said quietly. "Word has reached us that two of the northern warlords have refused the offer. They're planning to band together and resist."

Faisal's expression didn't change. "How many men do they have?"

"About two hundred between them," Rustam replied. "They've fortified their positions, expecting us to move against them."

Faisal nodded, his mind already calculating the next move. This was inevitable. Not all the warlords would agree to diplomacy. Some would need to be dealt with by force. But this time, Faisal wouldn't rely on sheer numbers.

"We'll take them by surprise," Faisal said. "We'll move before they can gather their forces."

Rustam raised an eyebrow. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Faisal smiled. "With something they haven't seen yet."

The next day, Faisal and a small group of engineers were gathered in the workshop. The cannons had proven effective, but now Faisal had something more dangerous in mind. The system had unlocked advanced explosives after the battle with Malik Zaman, and now it was time to put them to use.

"We're going to create something that can breach their fortifications without needing a large force," Faisal explained to his engineers. "These explosives will destroy their defenses before they even have a chance to react."

The engineers worked quickly, assembling the first batch of simple dynamite charges based on Faisal's blueprints. It wasn't sophisticated by modern standards, but it would be devastating in this time.

Within days, Faisal had a plan. Rahim's forces would strike the two northern warlords at dawn, using the explosives to breach their defenses and overwhelm them before they could mount a proper defense.

The attack came swiftly. Under the cover of darkness, Rahim's men moved into position, the dynamite charges planted at key points along the enemy fortifications. At first light, the explosives were detonated, shattering the walls and throwing the defenders into chaos.

Faisal watched from a nearby hill as the enemy forces scrambled to respond, but it was too late. Rahim's soldiers poured into the broken defenses, overwhelming the two warlords before they could organize a proper resistance. The battle was over within hours, and the two northern villages were brought under Rahim's control.

As Faisal walked through the aftermath of the battle, inspecting the damage, Rahim approached him.

"Your plan worked," Rahim said, his voice heavy with approval. "They didn't stand a chance."

Faisal nodded. "And now we control their territory. We're growing stronger."

Rahim's eyes gleamed with ambition. "Soon, no one will be able to challenge us."

Faisal smiled inwardly. Rahim still thought this was about him. But the truth was, Faisal was building something far greater than Rahim could understand. He wasn't just consolidating power—he was building an empire that would last.

As the dust settled, Faisal's thoughts turned once again to the future. The British and Russians were still out there, waiting for the right moment to strike. But Faisal would be ready. He wasn't just preparing for the next battle. He was preparing for the future, for a time when Afghanistan would stand not as a pawn in the Great Game, but as a power in its own right.