The Return of the Fire Dragon Swordsman
Rebellion of Duke Arya Natakusuma (part 2)
"Please forgive Gusti Adipati..
If we rely on the strength of the soldiers, we must have lost terribly to the Panjalu soldiers. Ksatrian Kadri is not far from Kotaraja. If there was an attack, they would come to Katang-katang Palace in just a short time.
We must make a tactic that can make the journey of the Panjalu soldiers was hindered for some time", Senopati Danuraja respect after speaking.
"The words of Senopati Danuraja, Gusti Adipati..
We must prepare a plan in an effort to invade Katang-katang Palace. It should not be gratuitous if you do not want to die silly in vain", added Patih Tundungwaja immediately. The short white-bearded coach seemed to frown deeply to try to find the most appropriate way to cope with the arrival of the Panjalu soldiers.
Mmmmmm...
"Lantas, what advice do you two have to deal with this situation? I will not be able to calm down before I can tear the mouth of Queen Ayu Galuh.", Duke Arya Natakusuma looked towards the two courtiers of the Duchy of Bhumi Sambara Mataram alternately. Senopati Danuraja still silent a thousand languages did not answer the question while Patih Tundungwaja did the same. Both seem to be thinking hard.
In the midst of that silence, Tumenggung Girimantra who had just been silent, immediately saluted the Duke of Arya Natakusuma.
"Please forgive Gusti Adipati..
Slave has a proposal. Whether it was accepted or not, but it might be a consideration to help solve this problem", Tumenggung Girimantra immediately respected before speaking. Hearing that, Duke Arya Natakusuma immediately raised his right hand to grant permission.
"Please Sculpt Girimantra.."
"Please forgive Gusti Adipati..
What if we obstructed the movement of the Panjalu warriors in Ksatrian Kadri by burning their barracks? Although it does not have a long effect, but it is at least buying time for us to storm towards Katang-katang Palace" said Tumenggung Girimantra immediately.
Hearing the words of the high-ranking officer of the Duchy of Bhumi Sambara Mataram, Senopati Danuraja and Patih Tundungwaja looked at each other for a moment and simultaneously nodded.
"Mature mind, Thought of Girimantra..
If we can make good use of that time, our soldiers scattered around the Kotaraja Daha area will easily conquer Katang-katang Palace" said Senopati Danuraja while respecting Duke Arya Natakusuma.
"Hamba also agreed with the opinion of Senopati Danuraja, Gusti Adipati..
Our troops scattered around Kotaraja Daha will facilitate our movement. If until the Panjalu soldiers are disturbed by the fire we created, then conquering Katang-katang Palace can be realized easily.", continued Patih Tundungwaja while clenching his hands tightly.
"Hehehe...
You are indeed my loyal servants who can be relied upon. Butenggung Girimantra, you lead 3 thousand soldiers to make a fire in the Ksatrian Kadri barracks. Once done, quickly move towards Katang-katang Palace to help the raid.
How many soldiers remained, Senopati Danuraja?", Duke Arya Natakusuma turned towards Senopati Danuraja.
"Our army that moves quietly here amounts to 15 thousand soldiers. Divided into 10 groups led by soldier officers with the rank of bekel and interpreter. There were also two Demungs who took part in leading a group of soldiers.
If in accordance with the arrangement Gusti Adipati did, Demung Gandung and Juru Panewu could be an option for special forces in charge of burning the Ksatrian Kadri barracks" Senopati Danuraja said immediately.
"Good then", said Duke Arya Natakusuma, "Tomorrow night we do our plan!"
They all immediately nodded in agreement with the opinion of Duke Arya Natakusuma. That day, they arranged a plan to storm into the Katang-katang Palace as best they could. All things are calculated to minimize any potential failure that may occur.
The day quickly changed. Panji Tejo Laksono and Mapanji Jayagiri who were assigned to observe the situation around Kotaraja Daha did not relax their vigilance at all. Both sons of the king of Panjalu continue to try to dig all the news about the existence of hidden troops around Kotaraja Daha in various ways.
While the rebels from Bhumi Sambara Mataram began to move, at the residence of the Maharaja I Siran Mpu Kepung, the, that night the members of the Mapanji Jayawarsa support group to become the next King of Panjalu actually partied as if there was no burden to be considered.
Mpu Kepung, Dharmadyaksa ring Kasaiwan Mpu Gandasena, Mahamantri I Halu Mpu Sena, Dharmadyaksa ring Kasogatan Wiku Wikalpa, Senopati Tunggul Arga, and some middle and low officials who became followers of Mpu Kepung were seen drinking water twak and wine while participating in joget ria along with the tledek dancers invited by Mpu Kepung to enliven the event.
"Hayo continued again..
Don't stop. If it stops, all of you will be the law of the pancung.", cried Mpu Kepung while pointing at the gamelan healers who continue to hit various types of musical instruments. Afraid of the threat, the gamelan healers who began to get wet with sweat because they did not stop long enough, continued to hit their instruments with a rancid rhythm.
Mpu Kepung who had started to get drunk, reddened his face. His hands began to wrinkle, directly inserted into the kemben tledek dancers who showed off the beauty of tight breasts.
"Gus-Gusti Mahamantri, please do not do this", said the young tledek dancer.
"Why indeed?!
Don't worry pretty. I will give you hundreds of gold pieces if you can please my heart hehehehe" said Mpu Kepung while squeezing the chest covered in red kemben.
"But Gusti Mahamantri..."
"Enough, I don't want to be denied! Justdoit. I will definitely make you rich after serving me hahahaha", said Mpu Kepung while smiling pervertedly towards the tledek dancer. The old man who already has 8 grandchildren continues to stick tight to tledek dancers who are more worthy to become his grandson with a gaze full of lusty eyes.
Not only Mpu Kepung, other high-ranking officials who participated in this event also did the same. Only Senopati Tunggul Arga who sits quietly while drinking liquor provided bergentong by the host. This came to the attention of one of the Sisters named Juru Langkir. The official in charge of water management around the Kotaraja Daha area is soon approaching Tumenggung Tunggul Arga.
"Gusti Senopati's..
Why not have fun with other high-ranking officials? Is Gusti Senopati Tunggul Arga not feeling well?", whispered Lirih Juru Langkir as he poured twak water on the bamboo roof into a small cup he held.
"I don't want to dance, Langkir..
It's over there, just take care of your business. Don't bother me", Senopati Tunggul Arga said, shaking her hand as a signal to keep Juru Langkir away.
"Huh just get angry..
You are unfaithful, man. If I had a rank as high as him, I would definitely maki-maki", grumbled the Juru Langkir while rushing away from the place where Senopati Tunggul Arga.
Not so far from the residence of Mpu Kepung, thousands of soldiers dressed in all black moved quickly in the darkness of the night. Approximately 2000 soldiers moved towards Ksatrian Kadri which is located northwest of Katang-katang Palace. All of them were armed with arrows whose ends were coated with cloth that had been soaked in castor oil.
As soon as they arrived near the Ksatrian Kadri barracks, they were immediately greeted by their comrades who were also wearing disguises.
"It's done, Supala?", asked Tumenggung Girimantra. Demung Supala did not answer the question, but gave his thumbs up as a signal that everything was in line with their plan.
Seeing that, Tumenggung Girimantra immediately gave a signal to the soldiers of the Duchy of Bhumi Sambara Mataram in disguise to spread throughout the place that had been prepared. As soon as they finished preparing, the Tumenggung Girimantra immediately signaled for them to start in action.
Hundreds of soldiers instantly lit the torches they were holding. The archer soldiers quickly ignited the tip of their arrow with fire from the torch and instantly prepared to fire those fiery arrows.
"Teemmmbbbbaaaaaakkkk..!!!!"
As soon as the cue from their leader was heard, thousands of fiery arrows immediately shot towards the roof of the Ksatrian Kadri barracks building.
Shhhrriegg shhrriegg shhrriegg!!
Jllleeeeeeppppphhh!!
At that instant, the roof of the Ksatrian Kadri barracks building made of dried reed leaves and this palm oil immediately burned. The breezy night wind blew helping the fire quickly flare up.
Some of the guard soldiers on duty saw the incident and immediately shouted loudly.
"Fire ! Fire ! The fire..!! Our barracks are on fire!!!
Quickly put out the fire!!!"
A huge commotion instantly occurred. The sound of the beating was quickly startled all the soldiers who lived in the Ksatrian Kadri barracks.
After this great fire occurred, Tumenggung Girimantra immediately turned to look at the Panewu Maiden who was still standing beside him.
"Prepare for a second plan!
As soon as I left, you and your 500 men set fires at some point to confuse them!", Tumenggung Girimantra said immediately.
"Well Gusti Tumenggung.!!", replied the Minister of Panewu while respecting Tumenggung Girimantra. After giving the order, Tumenggung Girimantra immediately rushed to leave the place with his soldiers who numbered about 2500 people to help the main soldiers of the Duchy of Bhumi Sambara who had moved towards the Katang-katang Palace.
****
"Hey who are you? Why come here?", asked one of the Katang-katang Palace gate guards who saw thousands of people dressed in all black approaching the palace gate.
One of these black-clothed men immediately jumped high into the air and slid rapidly towards the guard warrior of the country's palace gate while thrusting the spear in his hand towards the stomach soldierlike.
"To kill you..!!!"
Jllleeeeeeppph...
Aaauuugggghhhhh!!!
The palace gate guard warrior who was unprepared for the swift attack instantly waltzed hard as a sharp spear tip pierced through his stomach. His friend who saw that, immediately grabbed his fist and beat him quickly.
Thhoonnggg thhonggg thhoonggg!!!!!
"There's attack!! There's attack!!!!"
Reach it, the beating of the cross-legged it shook the entire Katang-katang Palace. Panji Tejo Laksono and Mapanji Jayagiri who happened to be walking around the palace walls immediately looked at each other for a moment before the two immediately shot towards the palace gate. Tracing the ground as hard as possible, the bodies of these two young princes instantly bounced high into the air and landed on top of the walls of the state palace.
The eyes of these two young princes instantly widened as soon as they saw tens of thousands of soldiers dressed in all black moving like a flood towards the southern gate of this country palace. Not only them, the entire state palace guard soldiers also directly moved towards the gate.
"Where did these invaders come from, Kangmas Tejo Laksono?", asked Mapanji Jayagiri immediately.
"It seems that my suspicions have always been right, Dhimas Jayagiri..
You see that big tall guy, don't you? He is a person from the Duchy of Bhumi Sambara.", Panji Tejo Laksono directly pointed towards Senopati Danuraja who was among the soldiers of this invader. Those who had just finished killing the lives of the palace gate guard soldiers immediately shouldered the large wood, and directly hit the palace gate made of thick teak wood.
While the soldiers of the Katang-katang Palace guard led by Tumenggung Narasuta with all their might survive behind the palace gate cross so as not to be penetrated by the soldiers of the Duchy of Bhumi Sambara.
"So they are all the people of the Duchy of Bhumi Sambara Kangmas Tejo Laksono? Does this have anything to do with the proposal of Duke Arya Natakusuma the other day?", said Mapanji Jayagiri as he began to pull out the butute sword that had always been his flagship weapon.
"It seems so, Dhimas Jayagiri..
Their tactics were well planned. Look at the red color in the Northern sky. Looks like they've realized that the Panjalu warriors at Ksatrian Kadri will be moving towards here in case of trouble. They have burned Ksatrian Kadri barracks first to destabilize the soldiers who are there" Panji Tejo Laksono said, pointing to the North.
"That's cute..
So what should we do Kangmas Tejo Laksono? Are we silent to see the actions of these unknowing human beings?", Mapanji Jayagiri turned towards Panji Tejo Laksono.
"They did plan everything well but they forgot something, Dhimas..
Be patient for a moment", Panji Tejo Laksono smiled knots while pointing westward. About 3 thousand soldiers moved quickly towards the southern gate.
Previously, Panji Tejo Laksono, who suspected that there was a great danger that would threaten the Katang-katang Palace, asked Mapatih Warigalit to secretly organize several thousand soldiers in the Daha Trust. Under the arrangements of Mapatih Warigalit, Tumenggung Ludaka and Demung Gumbreg, the Panjalu soldiers disguised themselves as the personal bodyguards of the Daha Reputation. This is an important card to deal with if there is an impromptu attack like this.
Once Tumenggung Ludaka, Demung Gumbreg and Mapatih Warigalit had reached the south gate of the palace, a fierce fight broke out on the spot. Seeing that, Panji Tejo Laksono immediately turned his head towards Mapanji Jayagiri .
"Come to Dhimas Jayagiri..
Time to get in action!!"
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Author congratulates Eid al-Fitr 1 Shawwal 1444 H. May on this holy day, we all always be better persons. Aamiin 🙏🙏🙏