The Empire

Sire, the walls of Samarkand seem to be impregnable.

Eventually, the city will bow down to our determination.

Continue with the shelling.

-But, sire-- -I came here to conquer Samarkand.

And I won't leave until it's done.

My grandmother says that Samarkand belongs to me.

And my grandmother is never wrong.

Every soldier here will die a thousand deaths at your command.

But they would be doing so at my behest

and not their own free will.

No one here agrees with my decision.

This army conquered Bhira and Bajaur under your leadership.

Then why wouldn't they agree with your decision?

Because attacking Samarkand as a teenager was childish.

But attacking Hindustan now will be foolish.

Today I've underestimated the might of Ibrahim Lodhi,

like years ago I had underestimated the ruthlessness of Shaibani Khan.

Umar Shaikh left without meeting me.

And now... Babur too.

I travelled a great distance to meet them.

The people of Ferghana are poor hosts.

Anyway, now that I am here,

I'll teach you all about governance and hospitality.

Please, not my son!

I am a mere concubine of the King!

And my son, Jibran,

he is a half-blood.

Because he's mine.

He's a bastard.

Please spare us

and, in exchange, we can help you.

Qambar Ali, I came to Ferghana on your advice.

So, as my advisor, advise me.

Can this concubine be of any use to us?

Yes.

She informed us about Babur's coronation.

All these years, your loyalty was just a pretence.

You betrayed Ferghana; you betrayed your King.

You... you betrayed me!

And you...

What more can be expected of a mistress.

If only you had shown some respect to this mistress.

-You're not worthy of-- -Enough!

You've had respect and a say in everything because of your son-in-law.

But now he's dead and so is your respect in the court--

I can't stand disrespect towards women and the elderly.

And I can't stand interruptions either.

You were saying?

I have said what I had to.

May I continue then?

If it wasn't for royal decree, there would've been less bloodshed.

But a rule is a rule.

"Only the king's flesh and blood shall ascend the throne after him."

What choice do I have?

As long as the royal flesh and blood lives,

the throne can never be mine.

There's another way!

You can legally ascend the throne without having to kill anyone.

According to the royal tradition,

anyone with the slightest handicap cannot be king.

The slightest handicap.

Thank you.

Are you sure Shaibani Khan has left Samarkand?

Yes.

Where has he gone?

I don't know that, but he's definitely gone.

After declaring Vizier Abu Baksh as his administrator.

And that traitor has imprisoned all our loyalists.

King Babur had sent a message to your father seeking his help.

Your father didn't send any answer.

So, how come he sent you?

This is my personal decision, not my father's.

Does uncle agree with this decision?

Actually...

Actually, Abu Baksh's daughter, Nishqa...

-We both-- -I give you my word.

As soon as Abu Baksh is out of our way,

you and Nishqa will be married.

But after seeing her father defeated, will she--

Don't worry.

She will help us.

Against her father?

Why?

For the throne of Samarkand.

The throne which will be yours after the wedding.

So, it's neither for our brotherhood nor love.

You're only helping me for the throne.

I... accept.

Sire, only you have the right to the throne of Samarkand.

Then it should be my right to give it away too, Wazir Khan.

What about you?

Back in Ferghana, my father showed me a dream of Hindustan.

And till I make his dream come true,

I'll stay in Ferghana.

I shall announce Mahmud as the caretaker king of Samarkand.

And he shall reign under my leadership.

Ask him. Does he accept my terms?

I accept.

Stop!

My King, he's a thief.

What did he steal?

We caught him in the artillery tent.

Maybe that's what he was stealing.

What did you steal?

What is your name?

Qasim Saiduddin.

Common people like me are dying of starvation

because of your siege.

Abu Baksh is busy filling up the royal granaries.

If we ask for food, our tongues get ripped off.

If we even look at the royal granary,

his soldiers gouge our eyes out.

The city is filled with more corpses than living people.

And yet Abu Baksh feels no mercy.

I tried to get into the royal granary but failed.

How did you get out of the city?

There is no way in or out of Samarkand right now.

He's lying, sire.

He's just some ordinary mountain dweller.

You're ordinary!

You one-eyed soldier!

Enough!

Just answer my question.

On the east gate, there's a small hole on the rampart,

high up on the wall.

That's how I got out.

Can my soldiers sneak in with you?

There won't be time.

I must get in before the change of guard.

Besides, the crack won't be able to withstand the weight of so many people.

I'll go with him, Wazir.

No, my King, I cannot let you take this risk.

I won't be alone. Mahmud will go with me.

What will I get in exchange for this help?

For now, you can keep this.

And when I succeed, you can ask for anything you want.

Stop!

It is forbidden to come to this part of the fort.

Don't know?

We... We were just...

He dared me to come here.

Come with me.

Please let us go. It will never happen again.

If my mother finds out, she will kill me.

No!

You killed him for no reason!

You don't need a reason to kill them.

Abu Baksh's soldiers deserve this fate.

Let's go.

Nishqa's chambers are in the north wing of the palace.

Take us there.

-Right there? -Yes.

We should try getting in through the roof.

This is my fight now.

Thank you.

I owe you.

Come. Let's go.

-Mahmud! -Don't be scared.

He's not our enemy. He's my cousin.

Zahir ud-Din Babur.

And Babur is going to help us.

Nishqa, I want to hear from you.

Mahmud...

Will you betray your father for the throne?