Prince Without Crown

The Suffering of the People of Waringin

Hundreds of farmers were crouching with their hands behind their heads.

In front of them appeared dozens of war-clad soldiers complete with sword weapons and shields standing around them who were completely unarmed.

A well-built man appeared to be riding his horse circling among the rows of crouching peasants. In his hand was a whip ready to be whipped on the backs of the terrified peasants.

"You people in the Duchy of Pitulung really like to contradict the decree of His Majesty Gusti Prabu Jaya Pradana. Then all of you deserve to die!" The man said as he kept circling among the farmers.

"Ampuni Kami Gusti Senopati Suta Wijaya. Gusti Senopati himself knows that our harvest this year is very bad. If Gusti Adipati Aria Seta raises the tax in half, then what else is left for us to eat?" Answer the village chief who was also in the group of farmers.

"How dare you blame the decision issued by Gusti Adipati Aria Seta hah? Do you know that Gusti Adipati Aria Seta's decision was on the Decree of His Majesty Gusti Prabu Jaya Pradana? Now I don't want to know. Hand over half of your harvest to the central kingdom. Then another quarter to be handed over to the duchy government. If not, you alone will suffer the consequences" Senopati Suta Wijaya threatened.

"Please Gusti Senopati. If one third of the crop is taken from us, then what will we eat? To work on rice fields, where can be on an empty stomach. We also need Bakan to keep working in the fields" replied the village chief.

"Bad!"

Cat!

"Akhs..! Forgive Gusti,"

"You talk too much, village chief! Now you'll get your punishment from that insubordination.

"Drawn the head of this village by horse. Hurry along!" Bentak Senopati Suta Wijaya's.

The soldiers now began to tie the village chief with a rope and dragged the village chief with a horse and began to tour the village.

It was not enough to get there, the soldiers began to bulldoze the village chief Waringin until the wounds appeared to bleed mixed with dust.

Some of them could only look on with a look of pity at the extremely inhumane treatment towards their village chief.

Satisfied with torturing the village chief, they began to break down the houses of the residents and take whatever valuables they had.

Whatever it is, as long as there is a price, it must be directly loaded into a horse carriage to be taken to the Duchy of Pitulung then with tribute, will be taken all over to the city of king Sri Kemuning.

Their treatment of the colonies does not reflect that they are soldiers of a great empire. But their actions are not at all what is different from the gang of robbers. For the soldier, they must protect the people. Not robbing.

Every time they entered the house, it would end in crying.

If they do not get valuables, then they do not hesitate to burn the house until it becomes charcoal.

Satisfied with torturing the village head, robbing the property of the villagers, he said, the army led by Senopati Duchy returned to the city of Duchy while threatening that next month they would come again to collect the delinquent tax.

*********

The smoke soaring high in the air attracted the attention of a group of horsemen who crossed the village.

For a moment they looked at each other then immediately pounded their horses into this Waringin village.

Arriving at the village, a very sad sight directly pierced the human soul of the people who had just arrived earlier.

Some people immediately descended from the backs of their horses and approached some residents who were repairing some houses damaged by the actions of the Duchy soldiers.

"Sorry Uncle. If I may ask, what is going on in this village? Why is the situation so alarming?" Asked a middle-aged man who had just gotten off the horse.

"Oh. My name is Arya Prana. This is my sister named Arya Permadi. Then this is Wiguna, Rangga and Paksi" the man replied.

"Arya Prana's? Was it? Oh myGod. Gusti Senopati. This myopic servant did not recognize Gusti Senopati Arya Prana at all. Gusti Tumenggung Paksi and Gusti Panglima Rangga," said the man spoke with great joy.

Some residents now began to crowd in front of the houses owned by the residents and began whispering to their neighbors.

"Ah. No need to be so upset, Uncle. We just passed by. What's going on here Uncle?" Ask Senopati Arya Prana again.

"Gusti Senopati's. Forget for a moment Gusti's question. We just want to know if Gusti Galuh Cendana's Empress is still alive?" Asked the man without answering the question from Senopati Arya Prana.

"Gusti Empress Galuh Cendana is fine. Only, Crown Prince Indra Mahesa is not known somehow his fate. This was because while we were on the run, there was a battle on the edge of the carcass valley. Then Crown Prince Indra Mahesa fell into the abyss" replied Senopati Arya Prana.

"Oh my God. Malang really the fate of the people of Sri Kemuning," lamented the man earlier.

"Gusti Senopati's. Actually, we are here, some of us are former soldiers of Sri Kemuning Kingdom. After serving a sentence of five years, we were forced to work the land in this duchy of Pitulung with one third of the proceeds, taken by them and one quarter for us. The damage in Waringin village that Gusti saw was the act of Senopati Suta Wijaya who forced us to pay taxes. When we can't afford to pay, this is how it will be" the man replied.

"Civilized. Very savage. They no longer deserve to be called human. They are even inferior to animals," exasperated Senopati of Sri Kemuning's kingdom.

"Gusti Senopati's. We beg Gusti Sudi to invite us to leave this village. To be honest, we can't take it anymore. Since Gusti Empress Galuh Cendana is still alive, let us devote ourselves to her. We can form a new force against this occupation" the man said expectantly.

"How is Dinda Rangga?" Ask Arya Prana.

"We could've taken them, Kanda. However, isn't it our duty this time to investigate the tributaries?"

"That's it. Tonight, Arya Permadi will lead a group of villagers to go to Jati Valley. Most of them are former soldiers. Their energy is much needed in the future,"

"Alright Senopati's leg. I am ready to lead this group" said Arya Permadi.

"Sir. If you can tell, what's your name?" Arya Prana asked the man.

"My name is Perbaya, Gusti Senopati," the man replied.

"Perbaya. Are you willing to give me a job?" Ask Arya Prana.

"I'm ready, Gusti Senopati!"

"good. You go to different villages to incite the inhabitants. Tell them that Gusti Empress Galuh Cendana is still alive. Invite them to join our struggle to liberate this country from the invaders. Are you capable?"

"Hopefully I can, Gusti," replied the man named Perbaya earlier.

"good. Now tell them to pack their things! Bring it as necessary. This is to make the journey easier. Because, it's not easy to pass through the Valley of Teak."

"Sendiko Gusti's. I will tell them to pack their things to carry. I beg you Gusti."

"Please!" Arya Prana said.

The five former royal retainers of Sri Kemuning then split up to wait for night time. Because, after tonight, this village will be vacated and all its citizens will be moved into the teak valley area.

Seriate...