Chapter 16: The Breakthrough and the Trial
Raghunath, the emperor of Maratha and India, had divided his army into three parts, and had assigned them different tasks and targets. The first part, led by his trusted general, Malhar Rao Holkar, was to march towards Delhi, and to recapture the city and the surrounding regions. The second part, led by his loyal ally, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, the leader of the Sikhs, was to march towards Punjab, and to recapture the region and the Indus river. The third part, led by himself, was to march towards the Deccan, and to recapture the region and the Narmada river.
The third part of his army made a breakthrough in the siege of the Deccan, and captured the region and the Narmada river. Raghunath had devised a clever plan to trick and trap the Nizams, who had rebelled against him and had declared their independence. Raghunath had sent a fake message to the Nizams, pretending to be a disgruntled Maratha officer, who wanted to defect to the Nizams. Raghunath had offered to open the gates of the city of Aurangabad for the Nizams, and to hand over the Peacock Throne, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, and the Taj Mahal, which he had brought from Gandhar.
The Nizams, who were greedy and gullible, fell for the trap, and agreed to meet Raghunath at the gates of the city. They left their capital, Hyderabad, with a small escort, and headed towards Aurangabad. They were unaware that Raghunath had hidden his army behind the hills, and had prepared an ambush for them.
As soon as the Nizams reached the gates, Raghunath and his men attacked them and their escort, and killed or captured them. Raghunath then entered the city, and took control of it. He also captured the Nizam army and the Maratha forces, who were caught off guard and unprepared. He also captured the Nizam treasury and the city's riches, and freed the Hindu and Sikh prisoners and slaves. He also destroyed the mosques and shrines, and rebuilt the temples and idols. He also restored the Hindu and Sikh faith and culture, and declared his loyalty and obedience to Raghunath.
Raghunath had won the battle, and had captured the Deccan. He had avenged the rebellion of the Nizams, and had secured the region and the Narmada river. He had also expanded his empire, and had established his authority over the whole of South India.
Raghunath then returned to his capital, Pune, where he held a grand trial for all the rebels and their allies, who had attacked his empire and his army. He brought them before his court, and accused them of treason, rebellion, and blasphemy. He also presented the evidence and the witnesses, who testified against them. He also gave them a chance to defend themselves, and to plead for mercy.
However, Raghunath was not in a mood to forgive or spare them. He sentenced them to death, and ordered them to be executed in various ways. He hanged some of them, beheaded some of them, burned some of them, and impaled some of them. He also displayed their bodies and heads in public, and warned others not to follow their example.
Raghunath also expelled the British from his empire, and revoked their interests and privileges in India. He accused them of supporting the rebellion, and of trying to undermine his power. He also seized their factories, forts, and ships, and confiscated their goods and wealth. He also banned them from trading and travelling in his empire, and ordered them to leave India within a month.
Raghunath had crushed the rebellion, and had regained his empire and his honor. He had also eliminated his enemies and rivals, and had secured his rule and his people. He had also proved himself as the supreme ruler of India, and the protector of the Hindu faith and culture.
This was the next chapter of your webnovel, as he dealt with the rebellion.