First Decisions

Sitting on the throne, Arjun felt a strange mixture of panic and determination.

The courtiers, ministers, and generals all looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak.

He cleared his throat, trying to remember the history he'd read about ancient Indian kings.

Arjun was no stranger to the strategies of war, diplomacy, or even the importance of maintaining internal stability.

He knew how much could hinge on the smallest of decisions. But this was no textbook scenario; he was living it.

The first matter at hand was Rajapura. The neighboring kingdom had been a constant thorn in his father's side, and now they were about to invade again.

Arjun knew the military was weak, and the treasury, even weaker.

They didn't have enough resources to mount a direct offensive, so he had to be clever.

"Do we have any intelligence on Rajapura's movements?" Arjun asked, his voice more steady than he felt.

General Darshak, a tall man with a weathered face, nodded.

"They are gathering troops along the western border, Your Majesty.

They may strike within days. We have scouts reporting their movements."

Arjun stood up, thinking quickly. "We cannot afford a full-scale war at this moment.

We'll have to rely on diplomacy."

Prakriti, standing nearby, looked surprised. "Diplomacy? But they've never listened to our pleas before."

"I know," Arjun replied, pacing in front of the court. "But we'll offer them a tribute—something they'll want, but at the same time, we'll secretly begin fortifying our positions.

We will make them believe we are weak while preparing for a counteroffensive."

The room was silent as everyone processed his words.

Arjun had read about such strategies in his history books, but now that he was in the position to execute them, the weight of the decision settled heavily on his shoulders.