Chapter 9: The First Trial of Fire
1. The Final Preparations
As news of the advancing Mughal army spread, the capital was a whirlwind of activity. Blacksmiths worked day and night, forging swords, arrows, and armor. Engineers reinforced city walls and built watchtowers along key roads.
Hemu stood in the newly constructed war chamber, a grand hall where a large map of Bharat was laid out. His key advisors gathered:
Raghunath Rao (Supreme Commander)
Balram Singh (Cavalry General)
Ishwar Pratap (Infantry General)
Jai Kishan (Artillery Commander)
Acharya Vishwanath (Chief Alchemist and Weapons Master)
A scout stepped forward and bowed. "Maharaj, the Mughal force under General Khan Zaman numbers 20,000. They are marching from Agra towards Delhi, but our spies confirm they plan to take the fort at Kalpi first."
Hemu studied the map. Kalpi is an important stronghold. If they capture it, they'll have a foothold to launch further attacks.
"Then we shall not let them," Hemu declared. "We will meet them in battle before they reach Kalpi."
Raghunath Rao frowned. "Maharaj, our forces are still in training. Should we not wait until we are fully prepared?"
Hemu shook his head. "No. If we wait, they will fortify Kalpi, making them harder to defeat. We must strike now and test our new weapons and strategies in a real battle."
The decision was made. In two days, the army would march.
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2. The First Test of New Weapons
Before the battle, Hemu needed to test his new matchlock guns, armor-piercing arrows, and enhanced cannons.
The royal training grounds became a war zone. Rows of soldiers lined up with matchlock rifles, learning how to load, aim, and fire in unison. Cavalry archers practiced using armor-piercing arrows, their shots hitting iron-plated targets. Cannoneers tested the new long-range cannons, their explosive shells tearing through mock enemy formations.
Acharya Vishwanath observed with pride. "Maharaj, our weapons are performing as expected. The cannons have twice the range of Mughal artillery, and the matchlock guns are easier to reload."
Hemu nodded. "Good. But weapons alone do not win wars. Discipline and tactics do."
He turned to Raghunath Rao. "Drill the men harder. Every soldier must know his role before we march."
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3. The Strategy: A Trap at Kalpi
Hemu gathered his generals for a strategy meeting.
"The Mughals expect us to defend Kalpi. Instead, we will lure them into a trap," he said, pointing at the map.
The plan was simple yet brilliant:
1. Fake Weakness: Hemu's forces would pretend to be unprepared, drawing the Mughal army into an overconfident attack.
2. Cavalry Ambush: Hidden Rajput cavalry would strike their flanks once they engaged.
3. Gunpowder Surprise: The cannons, hidden in the hills, would rain destruction once the Mughals were in position.
4. Infantry Assault: The main army would then charge, cutting off their retreat.
Balram Singh grinned. "A perfect trap, Maharaj. The Mughals will think they are hunting us, only to find themselves surrounded."
With the plan set, the army prepared for war.
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4. The March to Kalpi
At dawn, Hemu led 15,000 troops out of the capital, marching towards Kalpi. The army was divided:
✔ 5,000 cavalry (Rajputs and Afghan horsemen)
✔ 6,000 infantry (matchlock gunners, archers, and spearmen)
✔ 2,000 war elephants (armored and carrying archers)
✔ 2,000 artillerymen with cannons
As they marched, villagers lined the roads, cheering for their king. Some even joined as volunteers, eager to fight for Bharat's freedom.
By nightfall, the army reached Kalpi and set up defenses—but not as strongly as they could. This was part of the trap.
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5. The Mughal Army Arrives
On the morning of the third day, Mughal scouts spotted the "weak" defenses of Kalpi and rushed back to Khan Zaman with the news.
The overconfident Mughal general laughed. "Hemu is a fool! His forces are unprepared. We will take Kalpi by nightfall!"
He ordered an immediate assault, leading his 20,000 men forward in full force.
As the sun set, the first arrows were fired. The battle had begun.
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6. The Trap Springs
The Mughals charged in waves, expecting an easy victory. But as they reached the center of the battlefield—Hemu gave the signal.
✔ Cavalry Ambush: Rajput horsemen burst out from hidden positions, slicing through the Mughal flanks.
✔ Gunpowder Surprise: Hemu's cannons opened fire, tearing through enemy ranks with explosive shells.
✔ Infantry Assault: Hemu's disciplined soldiers marched in perfect formation, unleashing deadly matchlock volleys.
The Mughals, caught off guard, panicked.
Khan Zaman screamed orders, but it was too late. His army was trapped.
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7. The Fall of Khan Zaman
In the chaos, Hemu led a personal charge on his war elephant, cutting down Mughal commanders.
Khan Zaman, realizing his mistake, tried to retreat. But Hemu's forces blocked every exit.
"No mercy!" Hemu roared, as his soldiers pressed the attack.
Khan Zaman fell from his horse, wounded. His own men, seeing defeat, abandoned him and fled.
By midnight, the battle was over. The Mughal army was destroyed.
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8. Victory and the Message to Akbar
As the sun rose, Hemu stood on the battlefield, surveying the thousands of enemy corpses.
A Mughal prisoner was brought before him. "Maharaj, what shall we do with the survivors?"
Hemu's gaze was cold. "Send them back to Agra. Let Akbar know—this was just the beginning."
The soldier trembled. The message was clear: the Mughals had met their match.
Hemu turned to his men.
"This is our first victory—but not our last. We march forward. Bharat will be free!"
The soldiers roared in triumph.
But Hemu knew—the real war was yet to come.
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