Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One

Chapter 55: News Bard

** After few days , in the border village of Rewari kingdom and Delhi **

Under the wide-reaching branches of a beautiful banyan tree, villagers gather eagerly for an afternoon of excitement and entertainment. Hitesh, a local farmer, arrives carrying a bag over his shoulder, with his friends eagerly waiting for him.

As Hitesh approaches, one of the men in charge of the gathering greets him with a grin, asking, "Did you bring the cock?" With a confident smile, Hitesh responds, "Yes, this time my cock is not gonna lose. Its size and power are double, and the performance will be quite good."

Impressed, the guard nods approvingly and escorts Hitesh to the main gathering area, where the event's organizer awaits. Nearby stands another contender, his own cock at the ready.

As the bag is opened, revealing a magnificent rooster of impressive size, with metal gear attached to its beak. The crowd murmurs in anticipation as Hitesh's opponent, wearing a smug grin, reveals his own rooster from his bag, its legs adorned with metal gear.

Amidst the intensity of the cockfighting arena, the camaraderie among the spectators is palpable. Sohail, a newly made friend of Hitesh, approaches him with a grin, offering a compliment, "Boss, this time your cock looks so majestic. I am sure he will tear that chick to shreds." Hitesh beams with pride at the praise, boasting confidently about his feathered contender.

However, amidst the excitement, Hitesh suddenly realizes the absence of another friend, Rittick. Concerned, he inquires about his whereabouts. Another friend chimes in, explaining that Rittick has secured a position as a bard for the local authority.

Amused by Rittick's new job, Hitesh and Sohail share a laugh, exchanging playful banter about his newfound job. They roast him about his luck in getting paid for spouting nonsense in markets, their laughter echoing amidst the cheers and excitement of the cockfighting spectacle.

As the two cocks face off, the atmosphere crackles with energy, the crowd erupting into cheers and applause. With a signal from the organizer, the cockfighting spectacle commences, each bird displaying its prowess and skill in a thrilling battle for supremacy.

Surrounded by the throngs of spectators eagerly placing their bets, the atmosphere crackles with anticipation as Hitesh's cock, adorned with sturdy metal gear, faces off against its opponent in the centre of the ring. With a flurry of feathers, the battle begins.

Hitesh's cock moves with lightning speed, dodging the opponent's vicious leg attacks while delivering powerful strikes of its own. With each clash, the crowd erupts into cheers and shouts, their excitement fuelling the intensity of the fight.

In a decisive move, Hitesh's cock delivers a crushing blow to its opponent's head, causing the rival bird to collapse in defeat. With a swell of pride, Hitesh observes as his feathered champion stands triumphant, bathed in the adoration of the cheering crowd.

"You better not chicken out. Next time, won't be the same. I'll remember this," he declares, his words dripping with bitterness and determination, the defeated opponent is escorted out by guards to maintain peace, his face contorted with anger and frustration, he spews curses and defiantly vows revenge for the humiliation.

The gambling overseer, impressed by Hitesh's victorious cock, approaches him with a generous offer. "Good cock indeed," he remarks, extending 60 percent of the shares. "Bring it again. It will be a lot of fun," he adds with a grin. Hitesh nods appreciatively by adding "Sure, the pleasure is mine,"

With a pouch of silver clutched tightly in his hand, Hitesh's face lights up with delight. Sohail, his loyal companion, approaches him with a gleam in his eye. "Boss, let's party," he suggests eagerly.

Hitesh, still basking in the glow of victory, readily agrees. "Let's go to the marketplace," he suggests, "We'll greet that loser as well and include him in the party."

Sohail nods in agreement, his excitement matching Hitesh's. Together, they set off towards the marketplace.

** Scene Change **

'Dhum!' 'Dhum!' 'Dhum!'

In the bustling marketplace of Chandanpur, the rhythmic beat of drums fills the air, skillfully orchestrated by two men at their instruments, followed by some soldiers as their guards. Amidst the lively scene, Rittick, a hired bard entrusted with the task of overseeing the drummers, steps forward to make an announcement.

With a gesture, Rittick signals for the drumming to cease, drawing the attention of the crowd towards him. His presence commands respect as he prepares to address the gathered townsfolk.

"Dear people of Chandanpur village, lend me your ears," Rittick begins, his voice carrying across the marketplace with authority and clarity. "I bring news from the heart of our empire."

Using his public speaking skills, Rittick tells the crowd about recent events, like the attack on the Kashmir delegation and foreign involvement. The crowd pays close attention, murmuring as they understand how serious the news is.

As Rittick talks more about the new chances for ordinary people, the crowd feels amazed. They whisper in amazement as they understand how these changes could affect their lives.

The crowd cheers spontaneously as Rittick, tells them about the latest reforms by the emperor. They're happy to hear that they won't have to pay high taxes anymore, as the limit is set to 60 percent of their total produce.

With excitement in the air, Rittick continues to enlighten the crowd, revealing further opportunities granted upon them by the new reforms. Now, they have the freedom to explore alternative employment options beyond the confines of traditional agriculture. The prospect of reclaiming land for personal use fills them with newfound hope of riches and posperity.

Moreover, Rittick unveils the availability of financial assistance through the local bank, providing fair interest rates for people who want to borrow money for starting businesses or personal reasons. The crowd erupts into cheers at the idea of accessing financial assistance which they couldn't get before.

Praising the wisdom of the emperor, the people of Chandanpur erupt into spontaneous song and celebration, their voices raised in gratitude and admiration for the ruler who has eased their burdens and expanded their opportunities.

Furthermore, Rittick stresses that the reforms give people the power to make zamindars accountable for their actions. Now, they can file complaints against any zamindar who doesn't follow the new rules. This makes sure that resources and chances are distributed more fairly and justly.

Amidst the jubilation, some members of the crowd approach Rittick, eager to secure employment opportunities. With a gentle smile, Rittick explains that he is not the employer and directs them to the appropriate authorities. However, he offers them a chance to earn money through a different means.

"I may not be able to offer you employment," Rittick declares, "But I can provide you with an opportunity to showcase your talents and earn a fair wage."

"My fellow brothers," Rittick continues, "These reforms not only free us from heavy taxes but also give us a chance to speak up about our problems and celebrate our achievements." The crowd listens closely, paying attention to every word he says.

"Your voices won't be only heard in Chandanpur," Rittick says, sounding empowered. "They will also be heard in nearby villages and cities, reaching those in charge. Now, you have the ability to bring up our village's problems and show our achievements to everyone."

As whispers of excitement spread through the crowd, Rittick shares another benefit of the reforms. "If you want to promote your work or achievements," he declares, "you can do so for a small fee of one silver coin. This makes sure that everyone has the same chance to share their successes with the wider community."

At the mention of an imperial quest, the crowd gasps in surprise. "For those who complete imperial quests," Rittick announces, "a reward of one gold mudra awaits." This revelation causes a collective gasp of amazement as everyone understands the importance of the reward. "One gold mudra," Rittick explains, "is worth one hundred silver coins, or in other words, one hundred rupees according to the new market rates."

With hearts brimming with hope and excitement, the people of Chandanpur realize the transformative potential of the reforms.

Upon hearing about the imperial quest, the villagers become curious and eagerly ask for details. With a knowing smile, Rittick answers, "The quest is about finding any unauthorized gatherings of people. Anyone who gives information about where they are or gives a clue will get the prized gold reward."

At this revelation, Gaurav Das, the wealthy merchant trader of the village, steps forward. He tells that he got a suspicious request for a lot of horse feed from unknown people recently. He shows a half ragged cloth with seals on it as proof of the deal, saying that the strangers paid half the money in advance. Rittick nods in approval, tells his assistant to note down the details, and then gives Gaurav Das the promised gold coin. The villagers clap, impressed by his watchfulness and help in keeping the community safe.

Next, Hitesh comes forward, with a playful look in his eye. He says he wants to promote that he's the strongest cockfighter in the village and challenge nearby competitors. The crowd laughs at his declaration, but Rittick, with a slight wink, appreciates Hitesh's courage and accepts his offer, exchanging it for a silver coin.

With the floodgates of requests and complaints now open, the villagers line up to share their concerns and aspirations. Each one offers a small sum for promotion, which the drummers, Rittick's assistants, dutifully collect. Under Rittick's guidance, the marketplace becomes a hub of activity, where voices are heard, challenges are met, and the community comes together in unity and purpose.

As the requests and complaints poured in, the villagers line up to talk about their worries and hopes. Each person gives a little money for promotion, which the drummers collected carefully.

Thus, with the emergence of the news bard, the marketplace becomes a hub of activity where news is spread, voices are heard, and money is collected, bringing the entire community closer to the empire

** Somewhere in near by forest of chandanpur **

In the heart of the dense jungle, the relentless afternoon sun beats down mercilessly, casting a sweltering heat upon the rugged terrain. Through the thick foliage, Sohail navigates with determined strides, his senses heightened with caution as he races towards his destination.

With sweat dripping down his forehead, Sohail finally reaches the entrance of a temporary military camp, where a vigilant guard stands watch. Giving a quick nod of recognition, Sohail shows a special silver coin with a lion symbol, indicating his affiliation. Recognizing the emblem, the guard lets him pass without any delay, allowing Sohail to enter the camp without any trouble.

Rushing to his planned location, Sohail looks for Ansari, his sword leader, to give him important information about what happened after their recent actions. Ansari, after hearing the news, quickly tells Sohail to stop the person in charge of the stables and get important supplies for their operation through other means.

Feeling a sense of urgency, Sohail hurries to do his task, walking faster as he moves through the busy camp. Meanwhile, Ansari hurries to the main camp, which is at the center of their base, where a hooded figure awaits their meeting for the further discussion of ambush.

Under the scorching sun, within the confines of a tent nestled deep in the heart of the jungle encampment, tension grips the air as Ansari delivers unsettling news to the hooded figure. The atmosphere feels urgent as the figure's patience wears thin with each passing moment upon hearing the news.

As Ansari recounts the latest developments, the hooded figure's fury erupts, causing him to slam his hand upon the table in a fit of rage. The fruits laid out on trays before him seem to wilt under his intense gaze as he mutters a name through clenched teeth, "Bairam Khan was right. The target is a snake."

With a heavy sigh, Ansari seeks guidance from the hooded figure, addressing him with deference as "your grace." Lost in thought, the figure deliberates for a moment before issuing his directive, his voice laden with resolve, "Send several small channels for supplies and establish separate base camps under the leadership of our Sipah Salars."

Seeing Ansari's growing panic, the hooded figure places a reassuring hand upon his shoulder, offering words of solace, "Do not worry. The forests of Chandanpur are vast. When the time comes, we will replace the nearby villages. Just endure it for a few weeks. The month of reckoning is near, maintain contact through pigeon post only. And try to mingle more with the locals."

With a nod of understanding, Ansari prepares to depart, but before he can leave, the hooded figure stops him with a final command. "Make preparations for a small contingent. I will journey to the capital myself and keep a watchful eye on the target."

After Ansari bows and exits the tent, the hooded figure is left alone. He thinks deeply about his dangerous plans for the future. In the bright daylight, a dark scheme begins, ready to change what happens in the next few days.