Flying Umbrella Swordsman

The Trap of Slander

We switch stories first. However, it will still connect to the main character.

Cupunagara Kingdom.

Cupunagara was one of Tarumanagara's vassal kingdoms that was neighboring with other vassal kingdoms, namely Bumi Sagandu and Manukrawa.

As told earlier that Prabu Satyaguna king of Cupunagara was the in-law of Commander Cakravarman who had been killed as a rebel some time ago.

The feeling of grief certainly hit the palace family, especially the wife of the Commander. But they realized that it was already a punishment for the rebels. Cakravarman had no intention of rebelling.

In essence the Cupunagara court family with ties to the Cakravarman accepted what was the punishment for the Cakravarman as a rebel. As a sign of loyalty to the Emperor at the center, Cpunagara always sent tribute every full.

However, in the forest that used to be occupied by the Cakravarman troops appeared hundreds of Cupunagara soldiers were practicing combat. Though the ruler in the center of Tarumanagara imposed sanctions on the vassal kingdom that supported Cakravarman. Including Cupunagara, although still loyal to Tarumanagara, but still sanctioned because there is a family relationship.

The sanction is not to recruit new soldiers and existing soldiers are all pulled to the center and given various tasks. This was done to prevent a new rebellion.

But within this forest hidden in the Cupunagara region were about three hundred men in warrior uniforms practicing combat. Two men of senapati rank appear to be his trainers.

"Raka Jaladipa, Gusti Prabu's emissary is coming"

"Come, Singgih, we'll meet him!"

Two senapati left the training ground to somewhere rather hidden. A small hut. There was already waiting for someone whose face was covered in a black cloth. Only his pair of eyes were visible from the cloth hole.

"Worship us, Gusti!" say these two people together while jutting.

"How many people have been gathered?" ask the masked man without a stale base.

"About three hundred, Gusti," replied Jaladipa.

"While enough, as long as it is trained hard. Because we're going to conquer small areas first. Three more days bring all the soldiers to the palace to receive orders."

Finished talking this masked man left the two of them.

"Well, Gusti!" simultaneously both men replied. Then they went back to the training ground.

All those soldiers turned out to be new recruits. Because indeed the old soldiers are drawn all to the center. Only two people who are compatriots called 'Utusan Gusti Prabu' immediately appointed so senapati because of their ability equivalent to swordsmen.

''Utusan Gusti Prabu' claimed to have received orders from Prabu Satyaguna to recruit new soldiers who would later hold a new rebellion in retaliation for Cakrawarman's death.

The plan of the rebellion would start from attacking and conquering the nearby kingdoms first.

However, this plan has been smelled by the code Tarumanagara.

At a Paseban in Bale Gede palace Tarumanagara, all activities in Cupunagara were reported by telik cipher.

"How is Patih Wastudewa?" ask the Emperor Vishnuwarman.

"Again, Gusti!" sahut Wastudewa, Patih of the kingdom of Cupunagara who was sowan to the center presented tribute. The Prabu Satyaguna. "Honestly, I didn't know that at all. However, I was suspicious when Gusti Prabu Satyaguna sent a servant representing him to pay tribute,"

As he spoke, Wastudeva did not dare to look at the Emperor. His face was down but his eyeballs were swirling.

"Well, for a while you're not allowed to go back to Cupunagara. Until the investigation doesn't prove you were involved,"

"Sendika, Gusti."

"Uncle Ragabelawa!"

"Hamba, Gusti," Ragabelawa was formerly Indraprahasta's senapati. For his services to quell the Cakravarman rebellion, he was drawn to the center.

"If the evidence is strong, lead the army to Cupunagara. Don't attack if Prabu Satyaguna is willing to surrender!"

"Sendika, Gusti!"

Such was the decree of Maharaja Vishnuwarman who more avoid bloodshed.

***

Prabu Satyaguna was surprised by the guard soldier's report of hundreds of new soldiers in the palace's backyard practicing combat. Soldiers keep their duties just so they are not carried to the king's city like war soldiers.

"What, is your report right?"

"Alas, I'm not lying, Gusti,"

"Who has gathered them?" Prabu Satyaguna started to ride. He felt that someone would trap him.

"Again, Gusti. All are new people, none of whom I know including two senapati named Jaladipa and Singgih that I also know."

The Prabu only snorted furiously. Then he rushed towards the backyard which was more worthy of being called a field. True also the report of the guard soldiers. You could say there is an army ready for combat.

"Stop!" yell Prabu Satyaguna.

Everything stops and then becomes together.

"On whose orders are you here? Who recruited you?"

Then two senapati named Jaladipa and Singgih came forward. They were yelling first.

"For example, Gusti," the answer is Singgih. "On Gusti Prabu's orders through Gusti's emissaries we are here,"

"Whose mouth? I never sent an envoy!" snarled the Prabu.

Two senapati and the whole soldier lowered his face. No one dared to lift.

"Who is this messenger you're referring to, and what is all this for?"

"For instance, Gusti," this time Jaladipa answered. But still down. "Utusan Gusti hid his identity. Ordered us both to recruit and train new soldiers,"

"For what?!" sela the Prabu snapped again.

Everything quiet. No one dared to answer. Until there was a cry from the back of Prabu Satyaguna.

"Good! It turned out to be true, Cupunagara was preparing for a rebellion!'

Prabu Satyaguna turned towards the source of the voice. "Senapati Ragabelawa, you entered without permission. Want what?"

"You what?" snoring Ragabelawa. "I saw it with my own eyes. You're preparing for a rebellion, still evasive?"

"Everything's not what you thought, Ragabelawa!"

"My guess is not wrong, all of your activities are inseparable from the strict surveillance of the cipher since your son-in-law died as a rebel!"

Hot hearted Prabu Satyaguna heard it. His anger was stirring, it felt like he wanted to hit Ragabelawa right then and there. But he tried to calm down. This must be slander!

"I can explain everything" said Prabu Satyaguna softened.

"Explain it later before the Emperor, now surrender and ready to be brought to the center or I will say Cupunagara!" ragabelawa.

There is no point in fighting. It was even more clear that he would defect. This is just slander anyway. He could still beg the wisdom of the Maharaja to investigate this matter.

"All right!" prabu Satyaguna. "But only I was taken. My relatives and family did not participate."

"All these soldiers must also come along, as a sign of evidence"

Thus finally only Prabu Satyaguna and the new soldiers were led to the city of the king of Tarumanagara. In the trial the Prabu was proven to be about to revolt with evidence of three hundred new soldiers.

But there was something strange, two senapati Jaladipa and Singgih were not among those soldiers. All this in the observation of Cakra Diwangsa, his grandson Prabu Satyaguna, his son Cakrawarman. He had been watching since his grandfather's. Because he was with her.

At Prabu Satyaguna's request that only he was ready to receive punishment. Relatives, families, and even a squad of new soldiers also asked to be released.

Before receiving the sentence, Prabu Satyaguna was put into a cage. And for a while the reins of the government of Cupunagara were held by Patih Wastudewa.

Who set Prabu Satyaguna up?