The tears were gone as soon as they had appeared. Alexander was composed once again.
“This marriage between you and Ambhi’s daughter,” he said, “It must be carried out at the earliest.”
“What about after that?” Porus asked.
“After that, I march east,” Alexander said. “After that, it is your responsibility to keep the northwest secured, as my Governor.”
“Indeed,” Porus said.
“It is done then.” Alexander said. “As soon as I am done with subsidizing the small tribes in the mountainous region, we shall go to Taxila, and finalize the union.”
“Indeed,” Porus said.
‘Indeed what?” Alexander asked.
“Indeed, Conqueror,” Porus said, bowing before him.
Asoka
Vidishanagri, 271 BC
“Let me look at you, Prince,” Hardeo said, smiling at Asoka.
Hardeo looked like a middle-aged man. There were strands of grey in his mostly black hair, but his face was not at all freckled. And his gaze was sharp.
“Why does it not surprise me that you, Prince of Patliputra, too are the friend of the infinitely resourceful Kanaka?” He said, smiling.
“He and I fought in the southern wars together,” Asoka said.
“Kanaka knows a lot of men,” Hardeo said.
“Well, a lot of men fought in the southern wars,” Asoka chuckled.
Hardeo smiled too. “You’ll want to see Raja Utamacharya,” he said, “but I should explain to you, that the Raja is a bit…”
“Kanakdatta here has already explained all of that to me,” Asoka said, pointing at Kanaka.
“He did? Very good then,” Hardeo said.
“I am at a loss as to what I am to call you,” Asoka wondered.
“Your friend Kanakdatta here calls me Guildmaster,” Hardeo said. “Prince that you are however, you can plainly call me Hardeo.”
“I think I’ll stick with Guildmaster too,” Asoka said.
“Please, have a seat, both of you,” Hardeo said. “I must ask what delayed you.”
“A minor trouble.” Asoka said. “Nothing to worry about.”
“I was quite worried when you and your army did not turn up.” Hardeo said. “I am in receipt of the letter from the Samrat.”
“But now I am here,” Asoka said, “and now I need your army to join mine before I march on Avanti.”
“Of course, of course,” Hardeo said. “I daresay you must be in quite a hurry too, for you have already been delayed.”
“Yes, I would like to leave as soon as possible,” Asoka said.
“There is a slight problem though,” Hardeo said, looking at Kanaka.
“What problem?” Asoka asked.
“As you were delayed quite a lot,” Hardeo said, carefully weighing each word, “we dispersed the army we had raised.”
“What?” Asoka almost shouted, “I hope the Samrat’s letter was clear enough.”
“Of course it was,” Hardeo said, calming him. “But you, Prince, must look at the smaller factors in play here too.”
“And what are they?”
“Vidishanagri doesn’t exactly have a standing army,” Hardeo said. “There are the city guards and a small force here and there, but most of our army has to be raised. And these are raised from the normal peasants, the working force.”
“So you surely must have raised them, right?” Asoka said.
“I did.” Hardeo said. “But they are farmers and peasants. They must fend for their families too. And if they can’t be sent on a march immediately, I must dismiss them.”
“Why should you dismiss them?” Asoka asked in surprise.
“Because it’s unsafe keeping such a lot in the city,” Hardeo said, “Vidishanagri is a trading hub. Goods of all kinds pass through here. These peasants have come leaving their home and families behind. They desire reward of some kind.”
“Ah, I understand,” Asoka said.
“I am glad you do,” Hardeo smiled. “You see, there are thefts and problems of that kind if I keep the army raised here.”
“I was delayed by one mere week,” Asoka said. “And you dismissed the army!”
“It is natural for you to be angry,” Hardeo said, “You are already are delayed on your mission. And now there will be more delay. But I promise you that I will not spare one moment in raising the army again. I shall get to it almost immediately.”
“And how much time does that take precisely?” Asoka wondered.
“Two, three days at the most,” Hardeo said. “All the villages are close enough.”
“What am I going to do for these days?” Asoka said.
“Oh don’t you worry about that,” Hardeo said. “I shall offer my best hospitality to you and your soldiers.”
“That would be very gracious of you,” Asoka said.
“In fact, there is a ball tonight itself,” Hardeo said. “The guild completes a decade today. We are celebrating.”
“If today is your celebration day, “Asoka said, “How in the world are you going to get your army raised?”
“Only the guild celebrates,” Hardeo said, “everyone else works.”
“That’s a nice arrangement you have made,” Asoka exclaimed.
“Don’t worry, son,” Hardeo promised, “you shall have your army as soon as possible. Meanwhile you can grace our ball as a royal guest.”
“It’s not like I have a choice,” Asoka said. “I’ll come.”
“We shall be very grateful!” Hardeo said, bowing slightly before Asoka. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have orders to give about the raising of the army.”
Kanaka motioned to him, and both of them got up.
“It is your responsibility, Kanaka, to bring this young man to the ball,” Hardeo said. “And like all the other assignments I have given you, I am sure you won’t fail this one either.”
Kanaka bowed.
They were out of the room immediately.
“Quite a busy man,” Asoka said, as they emerged back on the streets.
“He runs both the city and the guild,” Kanaka said. “And he does it quite efficiently.”
“Still he has made a complete mess of keeping the army prepared for me,” Asoka complained.
“It’s not like that,” Kanaka said. “He hadn’t raised the army at all.”
“What?” Asoka gasped. “Then why did he lie?”
“How could he tell you the truth?” Kanaka said. “When the army is raised, the peasants are supposed to be given some fees. These fees will have to come from the city’s coffers. Merchant that he is, Hardeo already runs the city’s coffers at its extreme edge. That is how the Guild gets the money to buy goods in bulk in the first place. Payment to the raised peasants would mean even less cash for the Guild to do business.”
“So he waited for me, and will now pay the soldiers with the gold I give him?” Asoka said, impressed.
“This is the man who has sidelined the king and taken the city into his hands,” Kanaka said. “What else did you expect?”
They had emerged back into the marketplace.
“Vidishanagri is a heaven for us Buddhists,” Kanaka said, as they reached his shop. “And if you are a Buddhist merchant, then it’s no less than paradise. With a Buddhist like Hardeo running the show, this is the only city in the whole of Bharathvarsha where our brethren can roam about freely, without any oppression. Everywhere else they are limited to Sanghas outside the cities and have to spend their time in meditation.”
“So the guild is full of Buddhists too?” Asoka asked.
“Mostly,” Kanaka said, “Hardeo does not differentiate though. Any capable trader is allowed to become a member.”
“I guess tonight’s ball will be an interesting one,” Asoka said.
“No royal man has ever graced the guild by his presence in its festivities,” Kanaka said. “Your coming will be surely welcomed.”
“I will surely come,” Asoka said.
“Mak
e sure you do,” Kanaka said, winking. “Hardeo has got a very beautiful daughter.”
Chanakya
Patliputra, 50 years ago.
“Why should these gardens be so big, if half of the city hardly has a place to live?” I asked, as we walked along the walls of the gardens to our left. The Pujari who was leading me just smiled.
“Have you still not got an idea of how these Nanda Rajas are, my friend Chanakya?” he said.
I watched the walls of the gardens that were so big that one couldn’t see the other side at all. Tall trees crept up high behind them. The gardens were so vast that they looked like a forest itself in the middle of the city.
“How does the Maharaja Dhanananda even use these?” I asked.
“Mostly for womanizing,” the Pujari said, “Or for lounging. Even hunting.”
“Hunting?” I asked, intrigued. “How?”
“Some deer are left free to roam in these gardens.” The Pujari said.”
“Are the Nandas really that lazy?” I muttered.
“Oh you have no idea.” The Pujari said.
“At least the deer would provide easy food for the people.” I said.
“No, my friend.” The Pujari said. “The deer belong to the Maharaja. Anyone who dares to kill or even touch any of the Maharaja’s deer is punished by death.”
“Then the deer must be multiplying by fourfold,” I laughed, “Because I don’t see how the Maharaja would be able to hunt even one.”
“Oh yes.” The Pujari said. “The Maharaja is indeed very fat, but keep your voice low because calling him fat is punishable too.”
We passed along a huge gate in the walls where a few guards stood with spears. Through the bars of the gate, I stole a glance of the gardens inside. I had to admit, they looked beautiful.
“How am I going to get to the palace, Pujari?” I asked, as we entered the marketplace. I could now see more guards, flocks of them passing from shop to shop. People were avoiding them, and keeping as much distance from the guards as possible.
The Pujari pulled me away, as a group of guards passed near us. “We must stay away,” he said, “Not catch their eye.”
“You people live in so much fear, here.” I told him. “Back in the northwest.”
“Well, this is not the northwest.” The Pujari said, cutting me mid-sentence. “Here, it’s been like this even since I was born. It is said that a baby is taught to fear the Nandas even before he passes through his mother’s body into this world.”
“Well, even the northwest is no longer what it was like.” I closed my eyes. I did not know what had happened ever since the Greeks had won at the banks of the River Jhelum. How were the people being treated, what was happening to the temples? I did not know.
“That’s why I am here.” I said, opening my eyes.
“My cousin sells jewelry in the market.” The Pujari said. “He knows ministers at the court. He sells them trinkets. He can take you there.”
The Pujari pointed him to a small shop in the corner. “There he is.” We walked up to the shop, where the Pujari’s cousin was sitting.
“My cousin, Hanuman.” The Pujari introduced.
Hanuman bowed promptly, “Have you brought me a customer, brother?”
“No, my brother, instead I have brought you a Brahmin.” He said. “He wants to talk to the Maharaja.”
“Talk to the Maharaja!” Hanuman laughed loudly, “Are you a foreigner, my friend?” He asked, looking at Chanakya.
“I am from Taxila.” I said. “Far in the northwest.”
“That explains it.” Hanuman said. “Here, in Patliputra, you can’t meet the Maharaja just like that.”
“What do you mean?” I asked the jeweler.
“You can’t meet the Maharaja unless you have some kind of a gift for him.” Hanuman said. “Or you have some kind of a recommendation.”
“I have none of these.” I said, “I however have very important news for the Maharaja.”
“Then I am sorry, my friend.” Hanuman said. “Our Maharaja, Dhanananda as his name goes, is only interested in dhana, not in any news.”
“But then what does a common man here do if he has some kind of a grievance and wishes to address it to the Raja?” I asked.
“He just has to keep it to himself.” Hanuman said. “The Raja is not interested.”
A group of soldiers was coming towards us. Hanuman looked at them. “Watch this.” He said to me.
The soldiers reached the shop. “So good to see you, jeweler thief.” They laughed at Hanuman. “How many trinkets have you sold lately?”
“Not much, “Hanuman said. “The rich people are growing more and more miserly these days.”
“And you are getting greedier.” The soldiers laughed. Then they scowled at me and the Pujari. “Stand a little away.’ They ordered.
We backed away a few feet. We could still hear their conversation, however. We saw Hanuman counting some coins and offering them to the soldiers.
“Oye, what is this!” One of the soldiers exclaimed. “This is even less than the last time.”
“I’ve told you, business has been slow.” Hanuman pleaded.
The soldier drew his sword halfway. “How about we put another jeweler in your place?” He threatened. “One whose business is fast.”
Hanuman was trying to say something, but the soldier grabbed at his pouch and helped himself to some more coins.
“These will do.” He said, laughing loudly. “Until next month.”
The soldiers laughed among themselves and moved to the next shop.
“That was captain Shesha and his men.” Hanuman said, tying up his pouch.
“I have seen a similar system of taxation in your villages.” I said.
“This is protection money I am paying.” Hanuman said. “Money to make sure that I am allowed to sit here and do business. If I increase my rates, nobody will buy off me. So I have to sell at the same price. It is my money that these bastards are pocketing.”
“It’s very depressing.” I agreed.
“So you see,” Hanuman said, “Whatever you wish to achieve by meeting with the Maharaja, you are just wasting your time.”
“Listen.” I told him, “It is very important that I see Maharaja Dhanananda.”
“It’s just impossible.” Hanuman said.
“There has to be some way,” Chanakya exclaimed.
“Well, there is not a way, but a person.” Hanuman said.
“Who?”
“Prime Minister Rakshasa.”
Prime Minister Rakshasa laughed incredibly loudly, and I felt my eardrums burst. Hanuman was at my side. We were sitting very close to the Prime Minister, and so his laughter was ringing in our ears even sometime after it had stopped.
“Look, look, tell me who you are once again.” Rakshasa said, once his laughter had subsided.
I observed the large chamber. It was very large, but wasn’t displaying the sort of extravagance displayed by the palace and the gardens. The Prime Minister appeared a man of simple tastes. Even his clothes were like my own.
“I am Arya Chanakya.” I said. “I was Guru at the great academy of Taxila.”
“Chanakya,” Rakshasa said, “I’d offer you some wine, but I don’t drink and so I don’t have any. It is not every day a man of your intelligence comes to my home. Mostly, it is just corrupt merchants and the guards.”
“I don’t want wine, respected minister.” I said. “All I want is to meet your Maharaja Dhanananda and tell him what I have told you just now.”
“Still, I think I’ll bring some wine over,” Rakshasa said, and gestured a servant to bring us goblets. The servant brought goblets filled with wine which Rakshasa placed on the table.
“Hanuman, how many times have I told you not to put me in a delicate position like this?” Rakshasa said, as he offered a goblet to Hanuman.
“I thought you’d take him seriously, My Lord,” Hanuman said, sipping his wine quickly. It was obvious he had not touche
d any wine since long, as he gulped it down.
“Now don’t get me wrong,” Rakshasa said, offering a goblet to me, “I am taking you very seriously, Arya,”
“Then what is the problem?” I asked him.
“There are some serious flaws in what you want of the Maharaja,” Rakshasa said, as he sat back, folding his arms.
“All in the northwest,” I said, “the Greeks are ravaging the country even as we speak. They shall invade your realm as soon as they are done with that place.”
“Not mine, Maharaja Dhanananda’s realm.” Rakshasa was quick to say.
“But it is yours too, for you too govern it.”
“First of all, let us get some facts straight,” Rakshasa said. “Do you understand what my exact position in Patliputra is?”
“You are the prime minister.” I said.
“Prime Minister of the largest city in the whole of Bharathvarsha,” Rakshasa laughed, “Sure seems a wonderful title. But who exactly am I a prime minister of?”
“Of the people.” I offered.
“No,” Rakshasa said. “I am a prime minister of Maharaja Dhanananda.”
“What’s the difference?” I asked.
“Drink up, Arya, you’re going to need it.” Rakshasa said.
I drank his wine. It felt bitter. I felt the warmth move down my throat slowly.
“I won’t lie to you, “Rakshasa said, when I finished drinking, “Maharaja Dhanananda has the largest standing army in the whole land of the Aryas.”
“That is exactly why I have come to you.” I said. “Only Maharaja Dhanananda’s army has what it takes to stop the Greeks.”
“But do you know how this army is used?” Rakshasa asked. “It is used to rule over the people. It is by the tyranny of the army that Dhanananda rules Magadha. All his subjects hate him; he keeps putting men of his own dynasty in official places, and keeps ruling with the might of his army.” He tapped on the table for effect. “If Dhanananda, as you say, was to take his army, and march northwest, there would be a big rebellion here. The people would rise against their evil masters. The present truce that is maintained by the presence of the army here would be dissolved.”
“If the Greeks attack you, “I said, “there would be a rebellion anyway.”
The Prince of Patliputra Page 14