Chapter 414 - 382: Preparation Before The Conflict...

(A/N):

Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.

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Karna gave a short laugh at his brother-in-law’s blunt assessment, while Ashwatthama shook his head with an amused expression.

Even Bhishma allowed himself a faint smile before the discussion returned to more serious matters.

"Shakuni is right," Bhishma said.

"We must also consider the possibility that these negotiations will reach Vrishasena before we have reached an agreement. He will not remain idle if he learns that the surrounding kingdoms are preparing to unite against him."

"We should expect him to send envoys of his own, and we cannot rule out the possibility that he will attempt to intimidate one or more of these rulers into withdrawing their support."

"Which is why we must prepare without making unnecessary declarations," Devara replied.

"I want the kingdom ready for a confrontation, whether that confrontation takes place with an alliance behind us or with Trivenivrata standing alone. We cannot depend upon the promises of other kings to protect our people."

His expression hardened slightly as he turned towards Shakuni.

"Mahamant ri, begin preparations for the possibility of war. Have the commanders inspect the fortifications, review the readiness of our troops, and ensure that our armouries and supply stores are properly stocked."

"I want our scouts watching the roads leading towards Vrishabhapura, and our intelligence network must report any unusual movement of soldiers or messengers near the borders. Do not mobilise the entire army without cause, but make certain that we can respond quickly if the situation deteriorates."

Shakuni’s expression grew serious, and he gathered the relevant documents into a neat stack.

"I shall issue the necessary instructions today. The border commanders will be asked to report their current strength and readiness, while the quartermasters will examine our provisions and arrange additional supplies wherever necessary."

"I will also have our spies investigate Vrishasena’s movements. If he is preparing an army, we should know about it before his soldiers begin marching."

"Good. And make sure the preparations do not create unnecessary panic among our people,"

Devara added.

"Our citizens should continue their lives without believing that war is already upon them. We are preparing because it is our responsibility to be ready, not because we have decided that bloodshed is unavoidable."

"I understand, Maharaja."

Dronacharya folded his hands behind his back, considering the instructions.

"I shall coordinate with the military commanders and ensure that our warriors are prepared for defensive operations. If the alliance is eventually formed, we will also need a common command structure."

"An army made up of soldiers from several kingdoms cannot be expected to function effectively if every commander follows his own strategy without regard for the others."

"That can be discussed once we know who is willing to join us," Devara replied.

"For now, our priority is to ensure that Trivenivrata is ready for whatever Vrishasena decides to do."

The council continued for some time as Shakuni outlined the immediate arrangements, assigning responsibilities and identifying the matters that required attention first.

Bhishma offered suggestions regarding the defence of the borders, while Karna and Ashwatthama discussed the strength of Vrishabhapura’s forces and the possible strategies its commanders might employ.

Dronacharya agreed to inspect the military preparations personally, unwilling to leave anything important to chance when the kingdom’s security was at stake.

Devara listened carefully, occasionally asking questions or offering his own suggestions, until the immediate responsibilities had been settled.

He knew that the coming days would demand considerable patience.

The kings waiting for his decision might be eager to secure an agreement, but he would not allow their urgency to dictate the future of Trivenivrata.

When the meeting finally concluded, Shakuni bowed before taking his leave to begin the preparations.

The others followed, each carrying their assigned responsibilities, leaving Devara alone with the letters spread across the table.

For a while, he remained where he was, studying the royal seals and wondering how many of the rulers behind them would remain committed once the true cost of resistance became apparent.

He had no desire to turn the situation into a war for the sake of his own pride, yet he could not ignore the danger posed by a king who believed that strength gave him the right to determine the fate of others.

Devara slowly gathered the letters and placed them inside a wooden case.

A few days would give him time to examine the situation, learn more about the intentions of the visiting delegations, and prepare his kingdom for the possibility that diplomacy might fail.

Until then, the gates of Trivenivrata would remain open to the messengers, the negotiations would continue at a measured pace, and the kingdom’s preparations would proceed quietly behind its fortified walls.

Whether an alliance emerged from those discussions or not, one thing was certain.

Trivenivrata would not be caught unprepared when Vrishasena finally made his move.

The preparations for a possible war began quietly within Trivenivrata, but a kingdom as prosperous and well connected as theirs could hardly keep such developments a secret for long.

Soldiers who had previously spent their days training in the barracks were now being assigned additional duties, armourers received orders to inspect weapons and repair damaged equipment, and the royal storehouses began reviewing their reserves of grain, dried meat, medicinal herbs, and other supplies that might be required during a prolonged military campaign.

Along the borders, commanders were instructed to strengthen their watch and report any unusual movement, while messengers travelled between military outposts carrying sealed orders from Mahamantri Shakuni.

It did not take long for the people to notice the changes.

In the bustling markets of the capital, merchants began whispering about the unusual activity near the barracks, while cart drivers returning from neighbouring settlements brought stories of soldiers travelling along the roads and officials inspecting the bridges that connected the kingdom to its surrounding territories.

The royal authorities had not announced that war was inevitable, but the sight of soldiers marching through the streets with fresh equipment and the increased number of guards stationed near the gates were enough to convince the more observant citizens that something significant was happening.

Naturally, rumours spread faster than the truth.

By midday, a group of merchants had gathered beneath the broad shade of a banyan tree near one of the city’s busiest marketplaces.

Their shops remained open, and customers continued bargaining over spices, cloth, grains, and metal utensils, yet the conversation among the merchants had drifted far from business.

A cloth merchant who had just returned from delivering goods to a neighbouring town leaned towards the others and lowered his voice, as though the king’s spies might be hiding among the baskets stacked around them.

"Have you heard what is happening at the palace?" he asked.

"The soldiers have begun preparing for war. My driver saw several carts carrying weapons towards the northern barracks this morning, and apparently the border commanders have been ordered to strengthen their defences."

A grain merchant frowned as he adjusted the cloth wrapped around his head.

"I heard something similar from one of my suppliers. He claims that several kingdoms have sent messengers to our king, asking him to form an alliance against Vrishabhapura. If that is true, then this is no ordinary border dispute. We may be looking at a war involving half the region."

"An alliance against Vrishasena?"

another merchant interjected, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Then the situation is worse than I thought. The man has spent years building his power, and his army is not one that can be dismissed lightly. If he decides to march against Trivenivrata, we will have a difficult time ahead of us."

A spice merchant who had been listening quietly finally joined the discussion.

"Difficult? It could become disastrous if the other kingdoms fail to stand together. We all know how powerful Vrishabhapura is, and even if our king defeats them, the cost of such a victory could be enormous."

"Think about the soldiers who would leave their homes, the farmers who might be unable to tend their fields, and the merchants whose caravans could be caught between armies. War never affects only the men who carry swords."

His words brought a moment of silence to the gathering.

Every person there understood that even a victorious kingdom could suffer greatly from a prolonged conflict.

The markets might remain lively today, but an extended war could disrupt trade routes, increase the price of essential goods, and leave families anxiously awaiting news from the battlefield.

Yet, despite their concerns, none of the merchants seemed particularly worried about Devara himself.

"If there is one thing I am not afraid of, it is our king losing a battle simply because the enemy has a larger army,"

the cloth merchant eventually declared.

"I have travelled through several kingdoms, and I have heard what their soldiers say about Devara. Even those who have never seen him speak of him with respect. Besides, look at the people who stand beside him."

"Bhishma, Dronacharya, Karna, and Ashwatthama are not ordinary warriors. Vrishasena would be a fool to assume that he can defeat Trivenivrata merely by marching an army towards our borders."

"That is true," the grain merchant agreed.

"And let us not forget that our king has faced enemies far more dangerous than an ambitious ruler with a large army. There are stories about his battles that travelling soldiers recount in every tavern and caravanserai."

"Some may have grown exaggerated with each telling, but I have never heard anyone who knows the situation firsthand claim that Devara is a weak king."

"Nor have I," the spice merchant admitted.

"My concern is not whether our king can fight. It is how many people will suffer before the matter is settled. Even if Devara defeats Vrishasena, the families of the soldiers will still have to endure the uncertainty of war, and the kingdom will have to recover from whatever damage the fighting causes."

That, more than anything else, captured the mood of the marketplace.

The people of Trivenivrata were not blind to the dangers gathering beyond their borders.

They understood that an alliance could draw their kingdom into a conflict extending far beyond the original dispute, and they knew that even the strongest warriors could not protect every citizen from the consequences of war.

Nevertheless, there was a striking absence of fear when it came to the question of their king’s ability to defend them.

Near the entrance to the marketplace, several young men who had gathered around a potter’s stall were having a similar conversation.

One of them, whose elder brother served in the royal army, had just learned that his brother’s unit would be conducting additional training over the coming days.

"My brother says the commanders have ordered them to prepare for every possibility," he explained.

"They have been practising formations and reviewing the arrangements for defending the northern roads. He says no one has told them that war is certain, but the officers want them ready if the order comes."

"Then perhaps we should volunteer as well," one of his friends suggested.

"If Vrishasena comes here, we cannot expect the soldiers to defend every village and every road without assistance."

His companion gave him a thoughtful look.

"I would rather that the kings settle this through negotiations, but if fighting becomes unavoidable, I will not stand aside while our people are threatened. My father always says that a kingdom is not protected by its walls alone. It is protected by the people who are willing to stand behind them."

A third young man, who had been listening with growing excitement, grinned.

"And with King Devara leading us, I doubt Vrishasena will have an easy time of it. Have you forgotten the stories about our king’s training? My uncle once told me that Dronacharya himself considers him an extraordinary warrior. If that is true, then I would like to see the expression on Vrishasena’s face when he finally realises whom he has chosen to challenge."

The others laughed, and for a brief moment their conversation became less about the possibility of war and more about the confidence they placed in their king.

Yet beneath their laughter lay a genuine determination.

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(Author note:)

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