Chapter 6 - Setting the Stage

Kaushambi, Vatsa

King Mahendra looked around him, his gaze searching for Sumedh. Finally, he spotted him. Sumedh was sitting under one of the Palace gazebos and staring into the distance, a serious look on his face.

King Mahendra walked up to him.

‘What worries do you have, my friend? Are they matters of the heart?’,he said with a wink.

‘Greetings, Your Highness’, Sumedh said as he stood up.

‘Why so grim?’, King Mahendra persisted

Sumedh looked out and watched the drizzle of the rain.

‘The rainy season is coming to an end.’, he said.

‘The monsoon was weak this time. Are you worried about the harvest?’, King Mahendra asked with a frown.

‘No, No. The dams and reservoirs we built have served their purpose well’,Sumedh replied.

Mahendra was puzzled.

‘What then?’,he asked.

Sumedh continued to stare at the rain for a while.

‘Magadha….’, he finally said.

‘We must persuade them to attack Vatsa within the next one month.’

‘What???’, King Mahendra exclaimed, his expression incredulous.

‘Please have a seat. This could take some time.’, Sumedh said.

As he sat down, King Mahendra noticed a letter on the table. The stationary was similar to the ones used by secret agents to pass messages. He picked it up and scanned the contents. The message was coded, and only a handful of people knew the key used to decode it. For King Mahendra it was almost like reading a regular letter, he had become adept at transcribing the code.

‘So, Magadha is already building up troops’, he stated as he put down the letter.

‘Was this sent by Atriji?’, he queried.

‘No, it's too dangerous. We agreed that only in case of significant news, we shall communicate.’

‘This communique is from our regular spy network stationed in Magadha’, Sumedh replied.

Sumedh sensed the King’s anxiety.

‘But I am told that Atriji is safe and doing well’, he added.

‘That’s good… that’s good’, King Mahendra murmured.

King Mahendra had been to several battles. He knew what courage in the face of the enemy meant. But being a spy required a different kind of courage - The courage to be alone in hostile territory, to watch one’s words and actions day in and day out, and to have the uncertainty of being discovered due to factors well beyond one’s control. However cordial the relations between neighboring kingdoms, placing spies there was a necessity. But this was the first time that they had placed a spy at such a high rank and such proximity to danger.

King Mahendra turned his thoughts back to Sumedh’s statement.

‘Are you worried about the winter?’, he asked.

‘Yes, enemy troop movement will be hard to gauge and track under the thick fog’, Sumedh replied.

‘What do you suggest? Should we start a skirmish at the border?’, King Mahendra asked.

‘That’s definitely a possibility, but such battles are a long drawn out affair with a lot of positioning and negotiation’,Sumedh replied.

‘We need something that is quick and high impact, some tactic that will cause significant injury and deter them for some time to come.They must believe that Vatsa is vulnerable and initiate a full-fledged attack.’,he added.

King Mahendra had always been behind in the trickery department, his straightforward mind was just not wired that way. And therefore he had to make an extra effort to understand the cunning and deceit around him. At first, he had balked at the idea of being manipulative and deceptive. But he soon realized that straightforward means were not always effective or even prudent. With Sumedh’s guidance, he began to see that there were even honest and dishonest methods of manipulation. He always remembered the example Sumedh had shared.

‘If I want to sell my land and have not been able to find a suitable buyer, I might start a rumor that there are iron ore deposits in my land. I might even pretend to dig for some.

Now a rumor is a rumor.The buyer has the freedom and the obligation to do his own fact checking. If some people, out of greed and impatience, buy the land without due diligence, then the fault lies with them.

On the other hand, if I falsify government records and get the property registered as an iron ore site and sell the land on that basis, then my methods are dishonest.’

King Mahendra always felt that the line between the two was very faint and it was easy to fall to the wrong side. He preferred a straightforward way of transacting, but, sadly, the world didn’t follow his preferences. And hence, he was forced to learn these new ways, which were foreign to his inner nature.

‘Maybe we could spread a rumor in Magadha, about a calamity having struck Vatsa’, he suggested.

‘PriamRaja has strengthened his spy network in Vatsa. Our falsehood would easily be exposed.’, Sumedh replied.

‘It wouldn’t be easy to convince anyone of a disaster having struck Vatsa - whether disease or natural calamity. A workable option is staging riots in Vatsa, but I fear that it could get out of hand. And anyway, the lesser the number of people in the know, the safer it is.’

‘Your highness, the delegates from the kingdom of Avanti are here. Your presence is requested.’, a court officer came up to them and announced.

King Mahendra rose.

‘I will leave this problem in your capable hands then. Let’s talk in the evening.’, he said and they parted.

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5 days later, Defence Headquarters, Vatsa

‘Thank you Vikarna’, Sumedh said as he took leave of the Chief of Defence.

‘You should sample the local cuisine before you head back to the Capital. Jal Paan is a great place close by.’, Vikarna said with a pointed look.

‘How wonderful. I will stop there.’, Sumedh said, as he entered his carriage.

The defence headquarters were located at the outskirts of the Capital and it would be a while before he could report back to King Mahendra. Sumedh’s thoughts turned back to his meeting with Vikarna. It had been a fruitful discussion, from a defence strategy point of view. But the contours of manipulating Magadha’s secret agents had been purposely kept vague. It was hard to predict which bait the enemy would latch on to, and it could at best be an evolving strategy.

‘We have arrived Sir’, Bahu, his carriage driver announced.

‘I will park the carriage in the nearby grounds and join you presently’, he added, as he handed Sumedh his medical kit.

Sumedh murmured a thanks as he alighted from the carriage. Before him was the popular eatery ‘Jal Paan’ known for its simple food and reasonable prices. People from all walks of life frequented this place and it was a good avenue to gauge the pulse of the Kingdom. But that wasn’t the reason Sumedh was here. Jal Paan was also the place that spies frequented for news, and hence Vikarna thought that this would be a good spot to get the rumor mill humming.

Sumedh chose a table in the center of the dining area and seated himself. He placed his medical kit prominently on the table and scanned the nearby board listing today’s menu. Should he go for the full meal or a lighter version, he wondered.

‘What will it be, Doctor?’, a middle aged server had come to collect his order.

‘Umm.. a full meal , please.’, Sumedh said, ignoring his inner misgivings. His plans for diet control could wait another day. He probably wouldn’t get another chance to eat here, he reasoned to himself.

‘Ahh….Aahh…’,someone cried from the entrance.

Sumedh looked up to see a man at the entrance, limping.

‘Aaaahhh…’, the man cried out again.

A flawless limp, Sumedh thought, admiring Bahu’s performance.

‘Don’t worry young man, we have a doctor here.’, the server informed Bahu.

‘Make way, Make way…’, he announced in an important tone as he ushered Bahu toward Sumedh’s table.

Bahu dragged himself forward and collapsed into the seat next to Sumedh.

‘Oh Doctor, you must help me. This is the worst day ever. I was walking on that road, minding my own business, and out of nowhere came this man in front of me.’, Bahu began his long tirade.

‘I would have avoided him if he hadn’t been coming toward me at such speed. Do tell, Doctor, shouldn’t a man walk at a moderate speed on a busy road???’

Sumedh was amused, Bahu seemed to be enjoying himself. As his bodyguard, Bahu performed many roles including that of his carriage driver, but all of them involved staying in the background and keeping a low profile. This was one of those rare chances where Bahu could garner attention without inhibition and he was using the opportunity to the hilt.

‘Well, and you will not believe this. He placed his luggage near my foot ...and I nearly tripped over. Now, I am a kind and generous man… Blah, Blah… Blah’, Bahu went on. It was a long time before Bahu allowed Sumedh to touch his ankle.

Finally, Sumedh pulled out an ointment from his medical kit and started applying it to Bahu’s ankle. A crowd had gathered around them.

‘Uhh.. Doctor, I too have been experiencing pain in my right arm. Do you think that ointment would help me?’, a man from the crowd ventured in a soft voice.

‘No, No… no charge. We are all brothers here’, Sumedh protested as Bahu offered him a few copper coins.

A free consultation! The man now firmly seated himself next to Bahu, determined to get the ointment for his arm pain.

‘Err.. Doctor, Do you have a clinic nearby? You see.. My wife..’, another man stepped forward and asked.

From the corner of his eye, Sumedh watched Bahu make a quiet escape. Having set the ball rolling, his job here was done.

‘Ahh.. no brother. I am a military doctor’, Sumedh replied, as he began to apply ointment on the arm of the man next to him.

‘A military doctor… A military doctor.’, the crowd murmured.

‘And where are you stationed currently?’

‘Ahh… well. I was stationed at one of the border posts near the Vatsa-Magadha border. But now, I have been asked to relocate.’, Sumedh replied with gravity.

‘You never know with these military folks. I move with the troops, wherever action is expected.’, he added.

‘And where are you headed now?’

Sumedh looked around and lowered his voice.

‘I have been asked to move to a post near the Vatsa-Avanti border.’

There were gasps of surprise.

‘Is there to be a war with the Kingdom of Avanti?’, a man from the crowd whispered.

‘Now, Now ! They wouldn’t share such confidential matters with a mere doctor like me’, Sumedh replied.

‘But you must have seen the troops move…’, the crowd persisted.

‘Well, I did. But who knows why they were moving. Brothers, let us wait for official announcements, let us not start rumors.’ Sumedh said, as he stood up.’

‘Of course not , Of course not.. no rumors…’,Several people from the crowd nodded.

Sumedh closed his medical kit and made his way out. He smiled quietly as he joined Bahu. Their job here was done. News on war always spread like wildfire, it would most likely reach the capital before midnight.

It was late in the evening before Sumedh could get an audience with King Mahendra. Sumedh watched his friend’s tired face as he entered King Mahendra’s private chambers.

‘Another long day?’, Sumedh asked.

‘Long, yes, but also productive.’, King Mahendra said with a smile.

‘I have spoken to the officials from Avanti. They will deploy additional troops at our common border.’, he added.

‘What about a skirmish?’, Sumedh enquired.

‘Yes, yes. They have agreed to send a few men across the border for our soldiers to capture. I have given my word that their men will be safe with us’, King Mahendra replied.

‘Of course, Of course, I will speak to Vikarna and convey the orders’, Sumedh said.

10 days later

King Mahendra, Sumedh and Vikarna looked at each other nervously, as they waited in King Mahendra’s private chambers. Daksha, the head of Secret service, was expected to join them as soon as he had collected today’s news.

‘Are the troops ready?’, King Mahendra asked Vikarna.

‘The troops we had sent to the Avanti border as eyewash, have been split. The experienced soldiers are expected to return to the Magadha border by tomorrow.’, Vikarna replied.

‘Military supplies?’, King Mahendra asked.

‘All the reserve armor and weapons have been moved to the Magadha border camouflaged as export goods. A hundred elephants have been moved to the nearby forest. Horses and chariots are on the stand by at strategic locations and will begin their journey to the border as soon as war is declared.’

‘Good… Good’, King Mahendra said, nodding his head.

‘Provisions? Do you have sufficient provisions?’, Sumedh asked.

‘We have ensured provisions for a month. I will send a request for more, when it's time.’, Vikarna replied.

The sound of hurried footsteps came from outside and they all looked up.

‘Atriji has sent news.’, Daksha announced as he handed King Mahendra the note and took his seat.

King Mahendra looked at the note for a few moments and quickly decoded it.

‘The news of a skirmish between Vatsa and Avanti has reached King PriamRaja’s ears. They have taken the bait and are speeding up the attack’, he read aloud.

‘Good.. Good’, he added in an undertone.

Sumedh watched Daksha shift uncomfortably in his seat.

‘What is it?’, Sumedh asked.

‘I have received separate news that Atriji will be travelling to the Base camp with Crown Prince Vishvajit and the army’, Daksha said , worry writ large on his face.

The four men exchanged glances. This was an unexpected turn of events. It was usual for a Purohita to travel with the army, but they had expected Atriji to be excused on account of his age.

‘This complicates things’, King Mahendra said

‘Where will the base camp be?’, he asked further.

‘Chunar.. At the outskirts of the town.’, Daksha replied.

‘What??? They are planning a river attack?’, King Mahendra exclaimed.

‘I heard that Atriji advised against it, but they didn’t have any other options on such a short notice. They want to take advantage of the situation and attack while they believe we are engaged in a dispute with the Kingdom of Avanti’, Daksha said.

‘I guess that will work to our advantage then.’, King Mahendra said.

‘Vikarna, Please ensure Atriji’s safety at all costs’, he added.

‘Yes, your highness’, Vikarna said, though unsure how to protect a spy in enemy territory. This was going to be tricky, he thought.

A map of the Vatsa-Magadha border was unfolded and the four men discussed the war strategy at length. Once done, Vikarna and Daksha left, to execute the rest of the plan.

King Mahendra and Sumedh too got up to leave.

‘You know, Princess Rohini also made the same suggestion - Create a false impression that we are engaged in a war with another kingdom, so that Magadha feels they have an advantage if they attack us now.‘,King Mahendra said.

‘Is that so?’, Sumedh asked with a smile.

‘Perhaps, if your highness permits, she could join us in future for the strategy meetings’, he added.

‘I am glad you think so’, King Mahendra said with a twinkle in his eye.