Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Pratap spoke lightly, but the journey north through Bihar to defend the country involved passing through the Mughal-controlled Orissa region, a highly risky undertaking. Even so, what was death to him in order to free the Marathas from oppression?

He traveled with only two attendants, disguised as mountain people, and carefully made his way through the country. After many hardships, he finally passed through Odisha and Bihar and headed north to Bhutan, a vassal state of the Kingdom of Ve.

At this time in Bhutan, Dhammaragha (in charge of religious affairs) Sabudong had passed away, and actual power was in the hands of the regency group (Lungji Tsok) led by the third Debulakha (commonly known as the Debulakha King), Chokyi Mingyo Dempa. However, Dempa had an emperor-in-chief above him, namely Tenzin Norbu, the deputy governor-general and commander-in-chief of Bhutan sent by the Kingdom of David.

Upon receiving news of the arrival of King Marat's envoy, Dempa dared not delay and immediately informed Dondrup Norbu. Dondrup Norbu was a veteran general of the Kingdom of David, who had long been stationed on the border and was very familiar with the situation in India. Knowing the gravity of the matter, he dispatched a fast horse to deliver an urgent memorial to Khan Lotus to explain the situation, while also sending troops to escort the envoy to the capital.

Upon receiving Dondrup Norbu's memorial, the Great Khan immediately realized he had a valuable card to play against the Mughal Empire. Although he had just finished a major war with Tsarist Russia and was temporarily unable to launch a new war, it didn't mean he couldn't plan ahead. In fact, a few years earlier, when various Afghan tribes rebelled against Mughal rule, he had secretly sent the governor of Tibet, Dash, to contact them, hoping to stir up trouble. After Aurangzeb defeated the rebels, he sent Dash to contact Hushar Khan, the Qatak chieftain who had fled to Kashmir, and secretly gifted Hushar Khan a batch of old weapons discarded by his guards.

However, Khushar Khan and his ilk were merely defeated generals, with few troops remaining, and could not cause much trouble. Shivaji, on the other hand, commanded ninety-six Marat tribes, tens of thousands of elite soldiers, 1,260 war elephants, and a large navy. The Great Khan felt he could have a proper discussion with Khushar Khan and specifically issued an edict ordering all regions along the route to protect Platap and his entourage.

The long journey eventually came to an end. Pratap and two attendants, escorted by the guards, finally arrived in Beijing, the capital of the Kingdom of David, on July 19, 1675, after more than four months of arduous travel.

Seeing that the officials along the way treated him with great courtesy, Platap thought he would soon be received by Emperor David. However, the reality was beyond his expectations. The officials of David's Ministry of Foreign Affairs were polite, but after inviting the three of them into the guesthouse, they ignored them and there was no further news for more than two months.

He wanted to see the Emperor of Wei, but was told that His Majesty was unavailable. He then asked to see the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, but was told that they were all busy. He had no choice but to ask to see Wang Jiao, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This time, he was not refused. A junior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led him to a side room in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office. Wang Jiao, with his nose in the air, arrogantly uttered two words: "Wait here," and then disappeared without a trace.

Poor Pratap waited in the side room for three hours without even a sip of water before the clerk finally strolled back slowly. "The Minister is too busy to see you today. Please go back."

"You—" Having been a seasoned warrior for many battles, Platap's fighting spirit remained undiminished. Enraged, he stormed off. Back at the inn, his anger still simmering, he muttered to himself, "Disrespectful to the nation—disrespectful to the nation!"

"General, I've found out," a servant reported as the general was complaining.

“What have you found out?” Pratap asked.

“I have learned that the King of Wei originally intended to attack the Mughals, but was dissuaded by a minister named Hu Lianqi, who said that the national treasury was depleted and could not be sustained. So the King of Wei issued an edict to reduce the army and allow the people to rest, and there would be no more war for at least one or two years. It is probably for this reason that he refused to summon us.”

"What! Such a thing has happened!" Platap felt a chill in his heart. The Marath people regarded the Kingdom of David as their backer, but the emperor of the Kingdom of David did not want to intervene because of the financial crisis. What should be done?
Having fought his way up on the battlefield, he still possessed decisiveness and ruthlessness. He calmly said to his two attendants, "Rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, come with me to the palace gates to kneel and plead our case. We will not rise until the Emperor of Wei summons us!"    
"Your Majesty, the time is almost right. The Marathi envoys have been kneeling outside the palace gates for a day and a night," Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Jiao reported to the Great Khan, suppressing a laugh, inside the Qianqing Palace. The claim that His Majesty did not want to intervene in the war between India and the Marathas due to a financial crisis was a deliberate fabrication by the Great Khan, intended to better control the Marathas.

Sultan sat leisurely on the throne of the fearless lion and sipped his tea. "Let them wait another half a day, then you invite the envoys to the West Warm Pavilion for me, and deploy more armored soldiers so that they can see the magnificence of my David Palace!"

"Yes," Wang Jiao replied with a smile, obeying the decree. "Your Majesty is wise! Those barbarians, fearing power but lacking virtue, should first have their arrogance worn down before being recruited!"

The heavy palace gates finally opened, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Jiao and eunuch Zhou Gui led the envoys into the palace as ordered. Pratap, exhausted and hungry, followed them. Along the way, he saw countless palaces of all sizes, guarded by heavily armed and menacing guards. He couldn't help but think: They say David is the strongest nation in the world, and they are right!
"Malat envoy Pratap pays homage to His Majesty Emperor Qian Yuan. May His Majesty enjoy good health and longevity!" Upon seeing the Great Khan, he respectfully bowed deeply.

Silence, a deathly stillness. Sultan sat proudly on the throne of the fearless Leo, his eyes half-closed, not uttering a word, lost in thought.

Instantly, a powerful pressure swept over him, forcing Pratap to keep his head up, his back drenched in sweat.

"I heard that you traveled thousands of miles to save your people, and knelt at the palace gate for a day and a half without eating or drinking in order to see me. You are truly a loyal subject! I am so sorry to have troubled you!" Suddenly, a warm voice came from the air, and the tense atmosphere in the West Warm Pavilion eased.

"Rise, and give him a seat! Give him some snacks; he must be hungry after kneeling for so long without eating," the Great Khan continued to appease him, considerately urging him to sit down and eat.

Unexpectedly, Pratap prostrated himself on the ground and said, "Emperor Aurangzeb of India is cruel and bloodthirsty, enslaving all ethnic groups. His army is preparing to attack our country. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for the Marathas!"

"Get up, get up and speak first," the cunning Great Khan said, his face full of sympathy, but he didn't reveal any intention to help the Marathas. Instead, he said with difficulty, "The Mughals and the Marathas are both friendly nations of David, not vassals. To intervene militarily would be without justification!"

Upon hearing this, Pratap, who had just sat down, knelt down again with a thud, "The ninety-six tribes of Maratha are willing to serve David as Lord, and will never betray him in all life to life!"

"Hmm," Sultan nodded in satisfaction, confirming the tributary relationship, which would allow for further discussion. He then changed the subject, saying directly, "I won't hide it from you, we just finished a major battle with the Russians to the north, and the treasury is empty. Sending troops to aid Marat will have to wait at least a year!"

Seeing Pratap's disappointed expression, he chuckled again, "However, I can allocate some military equipment to you, and write a letter to Aurangzeb, telling him to behave himself." (End of Chapter)