Chapter 132: The Pursuit Begins
September 1838 – Lahore
The pyre of Prince Kharak Singh had barely cooled when Maharaja Ranjit Singh called an emergency council.
The grand durbar hall was heavy with grief and cold fury. Nau Nihal Singh stood at his grandfather's right hand, his face a mask of controlled anger. The captured assassin had already given a full confession under interrogation. The sealed letters found on the man bore the unmistakable marks of Raja Dhian Singh Dogra and his brothers.
Ranjit Singh's one good eye burned with righteous wrath as he addressed the assembled commanders and loyal sardars.
"The Dogras have committed the ultimate treason," the Lion declared, his voice stronger than it had been in years. "They attempted to assassinate me and murdered my son — the heir to the Khalsa. There will be no forgiveness. No negotiation. We march on Jammu. The traitors will be brought to justice, and their strongholds brought under direct Lahore control."
A murmur of approval rippled through the hall. The moral justification was absolute. The Dogras had not only plotted regicide — they had killed the beloved heir in front of witnesses. Even many neutral sardars now supported firm action.
Nau Nihal stepped forward. "Maharaja ji, I request permission to lead the campaign. My elite cavalry from Sindh is ready, and the Raaz network already has agents watching the Dogra movements. We can strike swiftly before they fully fortify Jammu."
Ranjit Singh studied his grandson for a long moment, then nodded. "Go. Take your revolver cavalry and whatever forces you need. Bring the traitors to justice. Jammu and Kashmir will no longer be a semi-independent fief under treacherous hands. It will answer directly to the Khalsa."
Nau Nihal wasted no time.
He sent urgent orders to Sindh. Jawahar Singh was to bring the full four thousand cavalry — the one thousand elite revolver unit and three thousand lancers — along with five thousand of the best infantry. Gurbaaz would remain in Hyderabad to maintain stability and continue naval and industrial development, but the Raaz network's best agents were redirected north.
In his private quarters that night, Nau Nihal stood alone for a moment, reflecting.
In his previous life, the Dogras had grown too powerful after the Maharaja's death. Here, their betrayal had given the empire a clear reason and moral high ground to curb their influence. He would not waste this opportunity.
Two weeks later, a formidable Sikh force marched north from Lahore.
Nau Nihal rode at the head, flanked by his personal guard. The blue and red uniforms of his Sindh cavalry stood out sharply among the larger army. Messengers rode back and forth constantly, coordinating with loyalist forces already inside Jammu territory. Many Sikh and Punjabi chiefs in the region had already declared support for Lahore, disgusted by the Dogra treachery.
Reports from the Raaz network confirmed the Dogras had reached Jammu and were desperately trying to rally local hill chiefs and fortify their positions. British envoys had already begun sending "concerned" messages urging restraint, claiming they wanted to "mediate for regional stability." Nau Nihal read the letters with a cold smile. He knew exactly what that meant.
As the army approached the Jammu hills, Nau Nihal held a council with his senior officers.
"We have complete moral right on our side," he told them. "The Dogras tried to kill the Maharaja and murdered Prince Kharak Singh. This is not conquest — this is justice. But we must be disciplined. Protect loyal civilians. Offer amnesty to those who surrender. Our goal is not destruction, but integration under direct Khalsa rule."
The officers responded with firm resolve. The campaign had the full backing of the court and the army's morale was high.
Nau Nihal looked toward the distant hills where the Dogras had taken refuge.
The pursuit had begun.
Jammu would not fall easily — the Dogras were entrenched and had powerful local allies — but the Shadow Blade had prepared for this moment. With his modernized forces, superior intelligence, and the righteous cause of avenging his father, he was ready to bring the traitors to justice and secure the northern frontier once and for all.