Translated from Agung Sedayu Terperdaya 5, 6, 7, 8
“Would Ki Jayaraga be willing to spend the night without you, Brother Agung Sedayu?” Prastawa asked while covering his mouth. Ki Gede chuckled with Sekar Mirah.
In a little longer, they then discussed the plans and possibilities that would develop. When the night had spread across every part of the Perdikan Land, Ki Gede’s three guests immediately excused themselves.
“Sukra, I ask you to get ready immediately,” said Agung Sedayu when they had had dinner together.
Sukra frowned but he immediately rushed to do his routine work and then prepared himself as Agung Sedayu had asked.
“I support your plan, Ngger,” said Ki Jayaraga. Then, “because by inviting Sukra to do this dangerous task, Sukra has been trained by someone who has high experience in spying and disguise. One day, Prastawa will ask him to be a code officer and you will not always be with them.”
Thus for one long night, Agung Sedayu and Sukra observed the camp at the place Prastawa had pointed out. The land where Ki Garu Wesi’s followers gathered turned out not to be the right place to prepare for war. Agung Sedayu easily approached a fairly large camp. Agung Sedayu’s superiority in the science of lightening his body allowed him to hear the conversation of the leader of Ki Garu Wesi’s followers. Added to the Sapta Pangrungu science, Agung Sedayu could take a place that was difficult for Ki Garu Wesi’s sharp hearing to reach.
“I repeat so that it is clear to all of us. Agung Sedayu must be eliminated. With Agung Sedayu’s death, we will be able to easily seize Tanah Menoreh and seize the book left behind by his teacher,” said the fat man with a bare chest. He sat leaning against a frangipani tree near the camp.
“After we get the book, what is your next plan, Ki Hariman?” asked the sharp-faced man while resting his chin.
“Of course we will determine who among us is the best. The best has the right to master the contents of Kiai Gringsing’s book,” answered Ki Hariman.
“That means we will fight over a book, and that will result in the destruction of every group that joins,” said Ki Garu Wesi who did not yet know about Agung Sedayu’s presence. He threw a piece of wood to add to the fire in front of him, then said again, “I am the one who has the right to determine your fate because I am the one who invited and gathered you here.”
Ki Garu Wesi was angry because Ki Hariman stepped over him, then stood up and said very loudly, “Every group leader has agreed on their respective parts, at that time, none of you spoke about the Kiai Gringsing Book. Now no one is allowed to speak about the book except me.”
Then there was a debate and mutual arguments among Ki Garu Wesi’s followers.
Although he could not see the debate clearly, he had obtained enough materials. Agung Sedayu had listened to everything. He and Sukra were waiting for the right time to leave the camp. After a while, the two of them returned to the main hamlet.
“Sukra, let’s return to the main hamlet,” said Agung Sedayu. Sukra jumped down from a tree where he had been during the surveillance period. And it seems that Sukra has not been able to leave his old habit of checking the pliridan that he had entrusted to a friend.
“Are we going to take the fish in the pliridan, Ki Rangga?” asked Sukra, pointing his finger at the pliridan that still looked strong and sturdy.
Agung Sedayu shook his head, he replied, “Poor friend who slept last night with hopes and sweet dreams with shrimp and catfish.”
Sukra raised his thumb after seeing the fish trapped in the pliridan. However, he agreed with Ki Rangga Agung Sedayu’s opinion not to take some, even though he had received permission from his friend when entrusting the pliridan (a kind of fish trap)..
Early in the morning Agung Sedayu was already in his special room in the Mataram soldier barracks. Three non-commissioned officers were present ready to give him a report. Ki Rangga Agung Sedayu nodded upon hearing their report including a special soldier in charge of the code officer.
The leader of the code soldiers said, “They have been in that place for about three days. I will report about it but Ki Rangga is not in the barracks. And I have calculated that in terms of the balance of war power, the number of people and support supplies, it seems that those people are not prepared for a long time. So what is likely to happen is that they will loot the food supply places belonging to the Menoreh people. For that we must discuss a way out with Ki Gede.”
“Leave it to me. This afternoon I will talk to Ki Gede,” replied Agung Sedayu.
Ki Lurah Sanggabaya then said, “They will attack from one direction. It seems that they did not take into account the location of this barracks which could actually cut off their movement towards the main hamlet.”
Agung Sedayu moved a step, he said, “We can’t think like that, Ki Lurah. Maybe they already have a special strategy to break up the power stored in Menoreh. To prevent any unexpected movements by us, I ask you to form small groups spread out in places that you can reach in a short time. They will be able to disrupt the flow of Ki Garu Wesi’s attacks from several directions, and they can also help the guards of the Perdikan Land who may be cornered and heading towards the place we are using as an observation post.”
“But, Ki Rangga,” said Ki Lurah Sanggabaya, “breaking up the troops into several small groups may not be able to make our defense stronger. They must have prepared troops to directly attack the main hamlet.”
Ki Rangga Agung Sedayu looked straight at Ki Lurah Sanggabaya. Then he turned to the officer sitting in the corner of the room, he said, “How is the readiness of our troops?”
“In general, our troops are calm and will prepare as soon as Ki Rangga orders. And in my opinion, for the time being we will not carry out activities outside the barracks. In addition to keeping the situation calm, we can use it to lure the enemy’s movements,” replied Ki Lurah Wilayudha.
“Alright, I can accept every opinion of everyone present in this room. Next, I will ask Prastawa to place hidden forts in a number of places that I have just told him if you agree to my plan,” said Agung Sedayu. Then he explained the strategy he would take to close off every room for Ki Garu Wesi’s troops to move.
Thus Agung Sedayu then said, “I want that if the battle must happen, then what happens is a closed battle. This plan requires all the advantages we have.”
The officers who attended the meeting in the special room then nodded. They did not object to the strategy that their leader would implement. In fact, they secretly admitted that the strategy would be able to reduce the number of victims who might come from the people of Tanah Perdikan Menoreh.
Then the special forces officers suddenly held exercises that were intended to support Ki Rangga Agung Sedayu’s plan. The soldiers were shocked by the situation explained first by Ki Lurah Sanggabaya. They did not expect that the war title they had known so far would have the opposite character. Even though they had difficulty adjusting, they were used to working hard and always trying to do their jobs to the best of their ability. Until finally within a day or two, the special forces in Tanah Menoreh began to adjust.
Furthermore, that afternoon, Agung Sedayu did not immediately return home. He took the time to stop by the house of the leader of Menoreh. Ki Gede Menoreh was in the pendapa with the bebahu when Agung Sedayu headed towards the road that took him to the residence of Pandan Wangi’s father. It seemed that they were discussing the problem of the small embankment that was damaged because the surrounding land had collapsed. Their facial expressions looked serious every time they met and talked about the welfare of the people of Tanah Perdikan.
Ki Argapati raised his face and looked towards the yard gate when he heard the sound of horse hooves approaching his residence. A wide smile adorned Ki Gede’s face when he saw Agung Sedayu entering his yard.
“It’s unusual for you to stop by here during the day, Ngger,” said Ki Gede Menoreh after Agung Sedayu sat down with the other bebahu.
Agung Sedayu nodded then said, “My house is next to Ki Gede’s house. Sekar Mirah will follow here soon and we will all have lunch together here.”
“But Ki Rangga’s wife is already behind and seems ready to bring the food here,” replied one bebahu, “it feels like Ki Gede is never home alone anymore. After I saw Sukra come out of the house earlier, then Prastawa, then Angger Sekar Mirah and now Ki Rangga takes turns always accompanying Ki Gede.”
Those who heard it smiled seeing the togetherness of the young people in their neighborhood. A group of young people who were relentless and tired of paying attention to the condition of Ki Gede who had been considered as their own parent.
Meanwhile, in the Menoreh Freehold Land, life felt calmer and everyone felt happy living their day. Every day there was less and less crime and quarrels that were usually caused by the distribution of water that was felt to be unequal. Every person in the Freehold Land filled their day with good and enthusiastic work. They wanted to catch up on the parts that they considered left behind in the area around them.
Check this out.
The conversation continued after Sekar Mirah and two other women cleaned up the eating utensils. Until then one by one the bebahu asked themselves to continue their work that had been delayed that day.
“Now I am starting to share responsibility with each group leader. Although the final decision is mine, their presence and all of you really lighten the burden that I have been carrying,” said Ki Gede Menoreh.
Agung Sedayu nodded, then Sekar Mirah sat next to him.
Ki Gede took a deep breath, he looked closely at Agung Sedayu’s face as if he was holding an important question. “The bebahu reported to me about the camp of foreigners on the outer border of the Freehold Land. Has Angger found out?”
Agung Sedayu nodded again. He said, “I intend to tell Ki Gede that this afternoon. So, I will convey everything that has to do with the camp.”
“Please, Ngger,” said Ki Gede.
Ki Rangga Agung Sedayu then told what he got from the camp of the foreigners. He also explained the plan that had previously been discussed with some of his soldiers. Ki Gede Menoreh was a little surprised but he acknowledged Agung Sedayu’s sharp reasoning which was similar to his brother, Ki Tumenggung Untara, the commander of the Mataram soldiers on the southern slopes of Merapi.
“Will Ki Garu Wesi focus the unrest in the Perdikan Land before reaching Mataram?” asked Ki Gede.
“No, Ki Gede,” answered Sekar Mirah while turning to her husband.
Agung Sedayu continued his wife’s words, “Ki Garu Wesi will create chaos in this area because he wants the book left behind by the teacher.”
“Then why did they make the camp as if they were going to wage war in this area?” asked Ki Gede quietly.
“I have not been able to find out their plan for sure,” answered Agung Sedayu. Then with a slightly hesitant expression, he said, “While this problem is actually a problem of the Temple of the Whipped, and especially concerning me as Kiai Gringsing’s first student.”
“Are you thinking of not involving Mataram? I mean, you didn’t bring special troops to chase them away?” asked Ki Gede.
“That’s the problem, Ki Gede.” Agung Sedayu took a deep breath. He felt that he shouldn’t involve the people of Tanah Perdikan Menoreh for the problem caused by Ki Garu Wesi. And he actually thought of not involving Mataram in the matter.
As if understanding what Agung Sedayu was thinking, Ki Gede then said, “You shouldn’t feel hesitant, Agung Sedayu. You have lived in Tanah Perdikan for quite some time. You know everyone in this area, you also know every inch of the land and river conditions in this area. So what I mean is that you can mobilize the power stored in Tanah Perdikan Menoreh to solve your problem. The people will be happy to be able to help you as you have helped them all this time.”
Ki Gede paused to catch his breath. Then he continued, “And you also don’t need to feel like you’ve overstepped Mataram’s authority. After all, you are the leader of a special force who can take important action if the situation becomes dangerous. I think the presence of Ki Garu Wesi’s people will be a danger in the future.”
“Ki Gede is right, darling,” said Sekar Mirah.
Agung Sedayu pondered Ki Gede Menoreh’s words. After a long silence, he said softly to his heart, “I have gone once to where they camped. And I told many people about the situation at the camp. Then they believed my statement. Of course, the trust of the people of Tanah Perdikan and the special force officers will be in vain if what happens next is that danger befalls this area.”
With a serious look in his eyes, Agung Sedayu said, “To prevent a fire that could flare up at any time, Tanah Perdikan must start making preparations.”
Sekar Mirah responded with clenched fists. Even though she is a woman who is over thirty years old, Sekar Mirah has a high spirit when she knows that the safety of the people around her is in danger. She will fight to protect them like a lion.
“You can gather the leaders of the guards anytime you want,” said Ki Gede Menoreh who also felt the passion starting to burn in his chest. Even though he realized that he was no longer young, his will to remain at the forefront when facing danger was still burning.
#glossary ; Ngger from Angger is Javanese as a favorite nickname for son. Like my son
All readings on the Padepokan Witasem blog can be read free of charge. Therefore, you can support us to keep up the spirit of working through BCA account 8220522297 or BRI 3135 0102 1624530 in the name of Roni Dwi Risdianto or by purchasing finished works. Confirmation of donation screenshots can be sent via WA Only. Furthermore, we will send links for each latest broadcast via the saved WA number. Thank you.
