Dev Sharma, the aged Chief Justice, seldom stirred out of his palace. Similarly, Mithrodus, the aged President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief, led the life of a recluse. One day, however, the aged Chief Justice got into his palanquin and went to the palace of the President. The same evening, the palanquin of the aged President was seen going to the palace of the Chief Justice. Both times, Prithusen, the outstanding swordsman of Sagal and son of Prestha, the magnate, mounted on his agile white horse, was seen riding besides the palanquins of both the Chief Justice and the President.

The same day, the chariot of Prestha, was many times seen standing at the gates of the palaces of both the President and the Chief Justice. Besides, the chariots of the feudatory chiefs, Okris, Meghavritta and Indrasen, and of Samarthak, the merchant, were seen moving about in mysterious haste on the roads of Sagal.

These comings and goings continued for three days. The curiosity of both the gentry and the ordinary people reached a high pitch of excitement. On the evening of the third day, the President summoned the Republican Council to an urgent meeting. Until late that night, people kept waiting to know the results of the Council’s deliberations. Sagal had learnt nothing new when its inhabitants retired for the night.

Next morning, even before the sun had risen, the streets and lanes of the city resounded with the sound of kettledrums. Many a timid citizen, having lived under the shadow of imminent disaster, and thinking that the armies of Kendras had entered the city, cried out in consternation. A lot of them, holding up their clothes with one hand, reached with the other for the weapons to which they had so far remained indifferent. The majority of them, however, were simply bewildered, and began peeping through doors and windows and from behind terrace walls, out of curiosity and fear.

When the sound of the kettledrum subsided, the notes of the military bugle were heard. Men on horseback made the announcement:

‘Under the orders of the Republican Council, the President of the Republic of Madra, the Most Honourable, the Most Valiant, the Chief Noble Lord, the Commander-in-Chief Mithrodus hereby assumes full control of the administration of the Republic of Madra for the duration of the war. Under orders of the Council, the ownership of the entire wealth of the noble families now rests with the state. All the subjects of the Republic of Madra shall be regarded as equals in the eyes of the law and the state. No officer of the state shall levy contributions to the war fund by force. No citizens will be bound, under duress, to offer his services for the war.

‘Any person taking out of the country, or dispatching to another country any wealth produced within the boundaries of the state, such as gold, foodgrains, clothing or cattle, in any form whatsoever, shall be punished by death. Half of the hereditary unearned income of the noble families, half of the money donated towards monasteries and monastic organizations, and the entire income from the grant-lands shall be payable to the war fund. Weapons of war, horses and chariots, belonging to families and to individual citizens shall become the property of the state for the duration of the war. All arable lands belonging to persons who voluntarily offer their services to the army of the republic, shall be free from taxation. Slaves who offer their services voluntarily shall be freed from bondage, along with their wives and children. The state shall look after the families of soldiers who die on the battlefield. The said order has been issued by the Most Honourable, the President of the Republic, the Commander-in-Chief and great feudatory chief, Mithrodus, with the assent of the Republican Council. It is the bounden duty of every citizen of the Republic to obey and carry out the said order.’