Upon entering Musi River, Senopati Narendra was amazed by the numbers of war sambau that were stationed already.
Srivijaya was renowned for its naval supremacy, not only because it controlled a massive oceanic territory—with its Kedatuan spread in many islands—but also because Srivijaya was positioned in the middle of a maritime Silk Road route. The routes connected traders from many other kingdoms who traded their commodities in Srivijayan’s port cities. The trading route had made Srivijaya prospered due to taxes that had been imposed to the traders. Besides, Srivijaya also throve in selling its own unique commodities such as the highly popular Maluku spices.
To oversee this lucrative activity, having a strong and capable armada was essential. Therefore, building high quality sambau and recruiting skilled men was always been Srivijaya’s foremost priority. With its naval strength, no other kingdoms had been foolish enough to make trouble in Srivijaya’s seas.
Srivijayan’s ship was easy to distinguish from other ships. A mother war sambau was typically a five-masted giant with size twice as big as a regular merchant ship. The most distinctive characteristic was its red flag banner which adorned its highest mast. To operate a Srivijayan sambau, a hundred oarsmen and fifty sailors—including steermen—was needed. The biggest ones could carry almost three hundred hulubalang.
One of the sambau that had been pride of Srivijayans from a long time ago was Samudra Raksa. The ship was neither the biggest nor the fastest, but it was the most legendary. No one knew exactly when the great ship—that was believed to be entirely made of ironwoods originated from the hinterlands of Kutai—was made. Everyone thought it had been there from the very beginning of the kingdom.
That very ship was the one being rode by Senopati Narendra. It had always been his since he was appointed as Senopati many years ago.
Amar, with an apple in his hand, came up beside the Senopati who was gazing on the rows of war sambau. “I think this is the biggest assembly of warships I had ever witness. Are these all of them already?”
Narendra, who had been feeling well for a couple of days, chuckled. “These are not even a half of our armada. There are those in Chaiya who will join the convoy midway. And don’t forget, we still have warships stationed in Kutai and Visaya.”
“But no chance they will help us, I presume?” Amar said while biting into his apple.
“Absolutely no chance.”
After a pause, Amar asked: “But we won’t fight our enemy in the sea, will we?”
“No. That was what worrying me. The Mongols are land fighters.”
“Even though we’re good on sea, doesn’t mean we’re bad on land.”
“I hope you are right,” replied the Senopati shortly.
***
Once Samudra Raksa docked in the port, Senopati Narendra was escorted to the palace right away. At the palace, he met the other Senopati. While walking towards the council room, the four of them had a congenial chat.
“I heard the Maharaja chopped off the messenger’s ear,” said Narendra inquisitively.
Vimala responded: “Yes, indeed. That man really knows how to put on a show. But I think, without that incident, the Mongol Empire won’t let us in peace nonetheless.”
Senopati Anathapindika said: “We always think Srivijaya’s next big threat will be a raid by ship to our port cities. We have never expected these kinds of attack.”
“More than a thousand miles I believed, the distance they travelled to reach Champa,” said Vimala, “really impressive if you think of it.”