Chapter 19: The War for Hindustan Begins
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1. Akbar's Grand Army Marches
In the cold winter of 1556, the sands of Hindustan trembled under the march of 100,000 Mughal soldiers. Akbar, the young emperor, led the army himself, his banner of the crescent moon and the Mughal sun flying high.
Beside him rode his most trusted general, Bairam Khan, still humiliated from his defeat at Delhi.
Bairam Khan: "The Rajputs think they have won. They forget who we are."
Akbar, though young, had already developed the mind of a tactician.
Akbar: "Hemu is a dangerous man. We underestimated him once—we will not make that mistake again."
The army consisted of:
✔ 40,000 Mughal cavalry, armed with lances, muskets, and war elephants.
✔ 30,000 infantry, including Afghan and Turkic mercenaries.
✔ 20,000 artillery soldiers, with the largest cannons ever seen in Hindustan.
✔ 10,000 camp followers, supplying food, weapons, and reinforcements.
As they crossed the Yamuna River, Akbar raised his sword.
Akbar: "We march to Delhi. We will end Hemu's rebellion once and for all."
The army roared in response. The war for Hindustan had begun.
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2. Hemu's Council of War
Back in Delhi, the Rajput Confederation had already received reports of Akbar's march.
Inside the Red Fort, a council of the greatest warriors and kings of Hindustan gathered. Hemu, now crowned as the Emperor of Hindustan, sat at the head of the table.
To his left sat Maharana Pratap, his sword resting on the table.
To his right sat Rani Avantibai, her eyes sharp with determination.
Also present were:
✔ King Malhar Rao of Malwa – commanding 30,000 cavalry.
✔ King Chhatrasal of Bundelkhand – providing 20,000 infantry.
✔ Rajput Chieftains from Mewar, Marwar, and Jaisalmer – adding 15,000 elite warriors.
✔ South Indian warriors from Vijayanagara – contributing 5,000 war elephants.
Hemu stood, his voice firm.
Hemu: "Akbar comes with 100,000 men. But numbers alone do not win wars. We will break them."
Maharana Pratap nodded.
Maharana Pratap: "They rely on their cannons and cavalry. We will strike where they least expect."
Rani Avantibai smirked.
Rani Avantibai: "And this time, we will not fight on their terms. We will force Akbar into a battle he cannot win."
The battle plan was set.
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3. The Battlefield of Panipat – The Rajputs Strike First
Hemu knew that if the Mughals reached Delhi, the war would become a siege—something they could not afford. Instead, he chose to meet them on the fields of Panipat, where the Mughals had defeated Ibrahim Lodhi decades ago.
This time, history would not repeat itself.
The Rajput Battle Formation – The Trishula (Trident) Strategy
⚔ The Central Force (Shiva's Spine) – 40,000 Rajput heavy infantry and war elephants would form an impenetrable wall.
⚔ The Left and Right Flanks (Shiva's Arms) – 30,000 cavalry would surround the enemy from both sides.
⚔ The Hidden Rear Force (Shiva's Trident) – 20,000 elite warriors would wait in the forests for a surprise attack.
Before dawn, Hemu's army took positions.
As the sun rose, the first Mughal cannons fired. The thunder of explosions shook the battlefield.
But Hemu's army did not move.
Bairam Khan frowned.
Bairam Khan: "Why don't they charge?"
Akbar narrowed his eyes. He could sense a trap.
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4. The Rajput Counterattack – Breaking the Mughal Lines
As the Mughals advanced, Hemu gave the first command.
Hemu: "Archers! Fire!"
Thousands of arrows rained down upon the Mughal cavalry, breaking their charge.
Then, the Rajput war elephants moved forward, their tusks covered in steel blades. They crashed into the Mughal front lines, crushing soldiers and horses alike.
Akbar's forces struggled to push forward.
Bairam Khan shouted orders.
Bairam Khan: "Use the cannons! Stop those elephants!"
But before the cannons could fire again, Maharana Pratap and 30,000 Rajput cavalry struck the Mughal left flank.
It was a massacre.
✔ Mughal soldiers fell by the thousands, unable to match the speed and fury of the Rajput cavalry.
✔ Rajput warriors, armed with curved swords, cut down the enemy with lightning speed.
✔ The Mughals' morale crumbled as their lines began to break.
Akbar's forces were in chaos.
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5. The Mughals' Last Stand – Akbar Enters the Battle
Seeing his army collapse, Akbar himself rode into battle.
Dressed in golden armor, he led his personal guards into the heart of the fight.
Akbar: "Hold the line! Fight for the Empire!"
His presence rallied the Mughal troops, and they fought back harder than ever.
But Hemu had anticipated this.
From the forests behind the Mughal army, the hidden 20,000 Rajput warriors charged.
Rani Avantibai led the assault.
Rani Avantibai: "Leave none alive!"
The Mughals were now trapped from all sides.
✔ The Rajput elephants crushed the Mughal center.
✔ Maharana Pratap's cavalry destroyed their left flank.
✔ Rani Avantibai's hidden forces attacked from the rear.
The Mughal army collapsed into chaos.
Bairam Khan realized they had lost.
Bairam Khan: "My Emperor, we must retreat!"
Akbar gritted his teeth. He did not want to run.
But his army was dying around him.
With no choice left, Akbar turned his horse and fled the battlefield.
The once-mighty Mughal army was shattered.
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6. The Aftermath – A New Hindustan
As the Mughals retreated, the battlefield fell silent.
The flag of Hindustan flew high over Panipat.
Hemu, Maharana Pratap, and Rani Avantibai stood together, victorious.
Hemu: "The Mughals have fallen. Hindustan is ours."
Maharana Pratap: "But they will return."
Rani Avantibai: "Then let them come. We will be ready."
From that day forward, the Rajput Confederation ruled Delhi.
The Mughals, once thought invincible, had been defeated in open battle.
And the dream of a free Hindustan had begun.
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