Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 244: Battle of Ladakh part -2

Somewhere, near the southern ridge, 400 meters away from the hidden pass.

The chilly air bit into Commander Lobsang’s face as he stood atop the southern ridge, his sharp gaze fixed on the mountain pass ahead. Despite being warned by the friendlier forces, he decided to scout the enemy position with his own eyes.

The hidden pass from the south snaked its way through the mountainous terrain, which seamlessly merged with the secondary valley.

Beyond, the new mountain range loomed, its elevated ridges dotted with rudimentary outposts. These posts, nestled precariously against the snow-laden cliffs, housed sparse garrisons of soldiers. Their blue uniforms were visibly stark against the white expanse.

Lobsang’s experienced eyes took note of their peculiar winter gear and disciplined movements. These men, though lightly positioned, appeared well-equipped for the harsh conditions. Even so, their small numbers betrayed a glaring overconfidence. The sight of supply lines winding back and forth from the hidden pass to the outposts only confirmed the vulnerability of their logistics.

Beside him, a scout pointed toward the narrow trail where enemy soldiers carried crates and barrels toward the newly constructed posts.

"My lord, beyond that pass must be their base of operations. The hidden pass seems to be their lifeline, but we cannot approach without exposing ourselves. There is no alternate route to flank them unnoticed."

Commander Lobsang, mounted on a sturdy Tibetan pony, adjusted his grip on the reins and observed the situation silently. He noted the scattered layout of the enemy positions, chosen strategically with ranged artilleries and machines they had never seen before.

But as per the records, it must be powerful enough to launch long-range projectiles that were capable of destroying their base, just as they did a few moments before. Fortunately, it seems their ammunition stockpile had been depleted, and people are seen carrying crates, which need to be disrupted.

He snorted dismissively. "They’ve overplayed their hand," he said, his voice laced with scorn. "These fools think they can hold us back with a handful of outposts and empty threats. Look at them—scrambling to hold this pass, thinking we’ll be too timid to strike. Good. Let them believe that."

He turned to his left, where his subordinate awaited his orders, the frost gathering on his armor glittering in the weak sunlight. "Send the word," Lobsang commanded. "We will rally our forces and storm that pass. Once the route is ours, their supplies will choke in the snow. Their scattered soldiers will have no choice but to surrender or starve."

The subordinate nodded firmly. "Yes, my lord. I will relay the orders at once."

***

Bheem stood at one of the nearby posts overlooking the hidden pass, his breath uneven with anxious anticipation. This was his first major battle under his command. His eyes remained fixed on the mountainous terrain, where the enemy stockade stood, adorned with the Ladakhi flag.

Standing beside him was King Dravya, who was also overlooking the battlefield with anticipation, but more than that, there was a layer of unease in his eyes.

He inquired of Bheem, "Are you certain they will come for the passage? What if they target the outposts? I suggest we should reinforce them first."

The danger to the outpost was looming. They were in the open with a few falcon cannon artillery and musketeers. Even though they were capable of repelling waves, they were not certain to hold if attacked by a concentrated assault.

Bheem replied with confidence, his hands behind his back, "The outpost I’ve chosen for bombardment doesn’t have sufficient land to support large numbers of troops. Given the height advantage, I’m confident we’ll have enough time to retreat our soldiers if things go wrong" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

King Dravya frowned at the response. To him, it seemed wasteful to squander the initial element of surprise, especially since the enemy had already been alerted to their presence by the long-range rocket bombardment.

Even though the sight was awe-inspiring, he wasn’t sure of its effect, as apart from the sound of explosions and smoke at distant land, they weren’t certain of its effectiveness. He knew Bheem wanted them to lure the enemy out, but what was the point if the enemy remained unharmed?

He countered the argument with a mix of hidden frustration and disappointment in his tone, "I understand your strategy, General, but as per my experience, I still suggest sending our cavalry first and then the infantry to support, along with the long-range artillery for backup. This way, it will be more effective and less time-consuming."

Bheem remained unshaken. He was certain of the enemy’s base location based on the scouts’ reports. According to his calculations, their rockets could easily target and disrupt half of the enemy’s positions. Even if the enemy chose to remain hidden, they wouldn’t endure for long under constant bombardment.

He responded firmly, "I appreciate your insight, Your Majesty, and I am willing to adapt if needed. But abandoning the advantage we hold now would be unwise. My goal is to hit their morale, and if I am not wrong, they would certainly hand themselves over to us, unless they want to be obliterated like sitting ducks."

Dravya’s brows furrowed as he challenged Bheem again. "Even if your prediction is correct, I find it hard to believe that they will come for the pass? It clearly looks like a trap."

As if in answer, a cloud of dust appeared on the horizon. Bheem’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. Enemy soldiers on war ponies emerged, their glaives gleaming in the sunlight.

Bheem turned to Dravya, his voice calm yet tinged with excitement. "You’re seeing this from your perspective, Your Majesty. From their point of view, they must feel confident enough to bite the bullet, overestimating their own strength. Allow me to prove it."

He turned to his subordinate and issued a crisp order. "Pass the word, prepare the forces to strike at 500 meters. "

The subordinate ran off after a crisp salute while Bheem went on to carry out the command. King Dravya stood atop, watching with curiosity as he wondered if everything would go as planned.

***

Meanwhile from, ladakhi side

Havildar Chenje sat astride his war pony, glaive in hand, his gaze fixed on the battlefield ahead. Beside him stood 2,000 Tibetan cavalrymen, poised and ready to launch their assault at a moment’s notice.

His eyes shifted to his commander, who rallied the forces with a voice that carried over the clamor of war. The commander raised his arm, giving the order before they charged.

"The enemy has crossed the line!" he bellowed. "They attacked when we were not ready. Atop that mountain, they’ve set up outposts, from which they dared to launch their sneak attacks. But fear not, for our infantry forces are prepared!"

He paused, his voice rising with intensity. "They owe us blood—blood that we will take. Our scouts have located their base, just beyond the hidden pass. This pass is key to their supply line, and we will seize it, cutting off their supplies. And then, we will claim our dues in their blood. If fortune favors us, we may even capture their base. So, brave sons of Tibet and brothers from Ladakh, follow my lead. For Palden Lhamo!"

A deafening war cry rang out in the name of their war god, the sound of it echoing across the mountains.

Their plan was simple: take over the supply route while the other three thousand infantry forces would start their assault on the enemy outpost from different paths in a direct assault.

Chenje’s blood surged with fury as he rallied with the others. He still remembered the faces of his friends—those happy, carefree moments before they had been butchered by the enemy’s demonic attacks. Now, it was time for payback.

With a swift motion, he spurred his pony into action, leading the charge, galloping fiercely toward the enemy with the promise of revenge burning in his heart.

As they neared the hidden pass, about 600 meters away, they spotted a few enemy soldiers in blue uniforms carrying supplies. Upon seeing them, the soldiers seemed to panic and rushed frantically backward.

Chenje’s spirit soared as he spurred his pony faster, eager to close the distance and dive into the bloodbath. But then, his eyes widened in shock as he saw the sky fill with thousands of fiery arrows heading straight for them.

***

Meanwhile, near one of the stockade facing the southern ridge, Archer Wangmo tightly gripped his bow as he assembled his team in a hundred-man formation.

As soon as their Tibetan allies galloped toward the hidden pass, they were ordered to charge at the outposts simultaneously.

Apart from the 80 warriors, their team included 20 archers, and Wangmo held one such post. In addition to their 100-man team, two other teams of 200 were assigned to attack the farthest outpost, which they assumed had run out of ammunition.

They had been briefed on the enemy’s positions beforehand and were told their target forces numbered no more than 100. However, there was still unease and doubt among the soldiers as they waited for their captain to arrive.

"What kind of death march is this?" one archer muttered under his breath. "Those divine weapons they use can kill from so far away, and now we’re supposed to face them head-on?"

Another archer, visibly annoyed, turned on him. "Enough whining! If the captain hears you, you’ll be disciplined. Don’t forget—they’re mortal. They bleed just like we do."

A glaive-holder nearby smirked. "Exactly. Besides, we outnumber them three to one. Let them try their tricks. They’ll fall before they can fire twice."

But a swordsman, leaning on his blade, interjected with a frown. "It’s not that simple. Those weapons... they strike before we even see them. Something about this feels wrong. We shouldn’t underestimate them."

Wangmo, hearing the rising doubts, felt frustration knot in his chest. He couldn’t bear the negative talks.

"Enough!"

"Are we going to abandon what our brothers died for? Surrender the land soaked in their blood? Not me. As long as I have this bow in my hands, I’ll send my arrows flying, even if it’s the last thing I do!"

His words struck a chord. Heads lifted, and men began nodding in agreement.

A swordsman from a nearby group called out, "He’s right! If we’re going to die, let’s die fighting!"

Another soldier, gripping his spear tightly, added, "Yes! We’ll swarm them, and they won’t stand a chance. No matter how deadly their weapons are!"

Though some were still skeptical about the fight, the swelling cries of support for the assault kept them silent.

Just then, their captain arrived, his armor gleaming in the pale light. Raising his flag, he gave a sharp command. "Prepare yourselves! On my signal, we charge!"