This time the army of Chandragupta and his guide Chanakya decided to attack from the borders and move towards the capital.
Sumalya turned out to be no better than his brother Dhanananda and father Mahapadma. He had little inteligence. His weakness also was woman. It was like a family desease. For women he could use any dirty trick. While Sumalya indulged in his corrupt practices Vakrasar and Rakshasa tried to run the empire.
Chanakya and his men unleashed a propaganda war against the corrupt king to win them over. The young elements came over to their side and Chandragupta easily conquered several Magahda border districts and moved inwards. This time the young warrior had a huge army and all his allies were fighting by his side. Prominent among them was Parvatak of Kaikya.
Rakshasa learnt about the invasion by Chandragupta army. He quickly devised counter moves. He had a sharp brian and faithful band of followers. And a very effective network of spies and secret agent was set up in Magadha by him. It took him little time to understand the entire game plan of Chanakya and his setup.
Rakshasa got king Parvatak’s camp deftly infiltrated in by his secret agents. The agents murdered Parvatak. A rumour was fanned around in the camp of Kaikya army that its king had been eliminated by Chanakya because he wanted his own protege to become the emperor of India whereas Parvatak was better and more qualified to become the emperor.
It was a master stroke of Rakshasa. The reason was very convincing. Kaikya soldiers indeed looked agitated and in rebellious mood. Chanakya also realised that he was up against an extremely tricky adversary. He and Chandragupta had to work hard to convince the Kaikya soldiers that it was the conspiracy of the enmey. The son of Parvatak, Malayketu was declared the new king of Kaikya to descend on the throne of his father.
Malayketu also mollified his soldiers and asked them no to pay heed to the rumour.
Here again Chandragupta and his army committed yet another mistake. After winning areas they move ahead without establishing administrative control over the liberated areas. As soon as the army departed the pro-Nanda element resurfaced, their soldiers regrouped and they attacked Chandragupta army from behind inflicting heavy losses.
Chanakya had to reprogrammme their campaign. This time they left contingents of soldiers in the conquered areas under an efficient commander to set up administrative machinery to prevent regrouping of pro-Nanda elements. This ploy worked. The liberated areas remained under their firm control and the march of main army forward progressed untrobled.
Chandragupta’s army was able to reach in the vicinity to Patliputra. Meanwhile Chanakya and his agents relentlessly kept up their propaganda against the misrule of Nandas.
Chanakya got a mud and stone dam built on Shon river blocking the water flow into the moat around the Patliputra fort. Soil was filled in the moat infront of the fort gates creating a dry approach to the gates making it possible even for elephants to walk over to the fort. The gates were smashed open and the army of Chandragupta poured in to the fort. The defends put up little defence. Larger part of Magadha army had already been won over in the series of battles fought so far. It was the last battle for Patilputra.
Sumalyananda was taken prisoner and Shaktar was freed from the prison. Chandragupta went to the dungeon where his real father Suryagupta was supported to be kept as a prisoner.
He only found a human skelton there. The skelton was given a royal funeral with proper rites.
Vakrasar and Rakshasa had slipped away. No one knew their whereabouts.
Chanakya ordered the execution of Sumalyananda. He said the enemy must be destroyed completely. The execution was carried out.
The preparation to instal Chandragupta Maurya as the Emperor of Magadha empire had begun in earnest. Karbhika was dreaming of become the queen of the empire rightly.
But before the coronation could take place a disturbing news arrived. A men Greek warrior had set out on expedition conquest and he had reached Hindukush mountain ranges. The rumour was that he was as powerful and ambitious as Alexander. His name was Seleucus, Perhaps, he was coming to reclaim the lands won by Alexander considering them the Greek property. It worried Chanakaya because those alien invaders came with new weapons and the war tactics that took the easterners by surprise.
Chanakya asked Chandragupta to put the crowning ceremonies on hold and first deal with Seleucus, the new problem. With Seleucus on the prawl there could be no peace and security. Chandragupta agreed with his concern.
After the death of Alexander the Greek empire had face rebellions. The empire got divided into five parts. The fifth part, commanded by Seleucus was most powerful and vast. The warrior king Seleucus wanted to revive Alexander’s dream. He had come eastwards and had already crossed the Indus river.
To nip the evil in the bud Chandragupta rallied his huge army and set out to met the challenge of Seleucus. When he reached there Seleueus was camping on the east bank of Indus with his great army.
Chandragupta faced him with equally large army although not as well equipped as the Greek army. But the defenders were superior in numbers.
The battle began. This time the things did not go as smooth as the time of Alexander. Indians too had learnt a lot from the campaign of Alexander. They were now better organised fighting under one command spear headed by brave Chandragupta and the stategic inputs devised by crafty Chanakya. Sometimes Chanakya wished to have the assistance of clever one like Rakshasa.
The battle was going on. Both sides were losing soldiers, new strategies were being worked out constantly on day to day basis and the syping was going on at nightly hours. The war dragged on for a long time. The losses were worrying Chanakya.
Gradually, the Chanakya army was gainning ground. At last day came when Seleucus capituated. The Greek army was not completely defeated. It was on the back foot.
Chanakya called a conference of all the scholars and the kings of India to discuss the situation the problem of repeated attacks by the Greeks was debated over. Although presently the united armies of Indian lands under Chandragupta had defeated the Greek warrior but the future was not safe from further attacks. Indian kings wanted a safe future. It was decided that some lasting solution needed to be worked out with Greeks.
Some one mooted the idea of inter marriage. Alexander had tried the same formula. As a result thousands of Greeks were now Indianised. Young daughter of Seleucus named Helena had acompanied her father on the expedition. If she was married to Chandragupta a lasting frienship between Greeks and Indians could be formed.
Chanakya liked the idea. Indian lands needed a long time of peace for development. He knew that it could break the heart of his adopted daughter, Karbhika. But some one had to pay the price.
The proposal was conveyed to Seleucus who recdily accepted it. Chanakya impressed upon Chandragupta to agree to the alliance. For the sake of the peace he had to agree. In some way Greek problem required to be solved.
Chanakya explained the situation to the princess Karbhika. She bravely assented to sacrifice her love for the safety of the motherland.
After marrying Helena Chandragupta Maurya was crowned as the Emperor of Magadha. Seleucus took part in the coronation of his son-in-law. His daughter Helena became the India queen. The two sides forgot the past rivalries and the bitterness of wars. Every-one readied to greet the future that was hoped to bring friendship and peace between two different races. At the request of Chandragupta Acharya Chanakya agreed to serve as Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Chanakya applied all his political and economic theories in the reconstruction of war torn kingdom.
He cunnignly continued to play his poltitics of manipulation. The neighbouring kingdoms were forced to accept the dominance of Magaha. Those who didn’t bend were militarily conquered and merged into Magadha kingdom. Magadha was becoming a vast impire. There still remained some Greek Satraps. The prominent among them was General Seleucus who was a brave soldier and good administrator. Chanakya was able to unfilterate his army with his spies and create fissures. Then, Magadha army attacked and defeated Seleucus. Thus last of the Greek bastions fall.
Now most of the Indian subcontinent was under the rule of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and was functioning under Chanakya’s monarchialy constitution and economic system.
Chanakya wanted to put down his constitution and economies in writing for the benefit of other and for clarity as codified laws.
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