The Legend of Puteri Limau Purut in Perak (Part 3)

A continuation of

The Legend of Puteri Limau Purut in Perak (Part 1)

and

The Legend of Puteri Limau Purut in Perak (Part 2)

. If you missed

part 1

and

part 2

, you can click on

this link to read The Legend of Puteri Limau Purut in Perak (Part 1)

or

this link to read The Legend of Puteri Limau Purut in Perak (Part 2)

.

The King of Aceh commanded the Bendahara of Perak to retrieve the durian fruit requested by his queen, threatening him with execution if he failed. The Bendahara accepted the order but requested a one-week extension, which the King granted. The Bendahara then returned to his prison cell. When the week had passed, the Bendahara appeared before the King of Aceh again, requesting a log two fathoms long and two arm-spans in girth. The log was to be sharpened at one end like a spinning top and placed at the base of the durian tree. Once everything was ready, the Bendahara approached the tree dressed entirely in black. Standing before the massive log, he meditated and prayed for success. After praying, he stood up and tapped the right side of the log, causing it to tilt slightly to the left. He then tapped the left side, causing it to tilt further; this time, he hoisted it onto his shoulder and hurled it with all his might toward the durian tree. The massive log flew toward the crown of the tree in front of the palace. As it struck, all the durian branches fell to the ground. The King and Queen of Aceh were stunned to see the fruit fall, and the handmaidens scrambled to collect the bounty. In the ensuing chaos, the Bendahara of Perak rushed to the Sultan's prison, broke the locks, and freed him. Without wasting time, all the prisoners of the King of Aceh—except for the traitor Bana, who had defected early on—fled toward the river to reach the Kuala Sungai Aceh and board a ship. As they neared the river mouth, they found three layers of iron chains blocking their path to the sea. The Bendahara of Perak took his sword, named Corek Si Mandangkini, and struck the chains three times, severing them. The blade was notched in three places. Without delay, the ship sailed out to sea, and they were safe, heading back toward Perak.

When the King of Aceh realized the Bendahara, the Sultan, and the others had escaped, he was furious. Bana was brought before the enraged King. The King ordered Bana's execution, but Bana begged for his life, promising to kill the Bendahara of Perak himself. Bana claimed that as the Bendahara's former student, he knew his master's strengths and weaknesses. The King of Aceh was swayed by Bana's words and agreed, ordering his army and Bana to attack Perak once more. This time, the King intended to conquer the state. He commanded many servants and subjects to board the ships alongside his soldiers to relocate to Perak, as that had been his original intention. Thus, the ships sailing from Aceh were filled with people, servants, and soldiers, heading to Kuala Perak and upriver to Kota Geronggong.

Upon arriving from Aceh, they disembarked and prepared to camp for the night. Some cooked, some gathered firewood, and others built temporary shelters. They set up camp to prepare for the invasion. However, everything they did went wrong. The food they cooked spilled onto the ground. The dishes were burnt. The leaves they used as mats for resting caused their bodies to itch. In short, everything they attempted failed, and they went hungry and sleepless that night. The next morning, the exhausted and hungry troops from Aceh prepared to attack Perak. Bana, also weary, led the army in search of the Bendahara. The farsighted Bendahara of Perak had anticipated the attack and had prepared the state to defend itself, unlike the previous time.

During the battle, the Bendahara encountered Bana. They exchanged heated words, venting their anger over Bana's betrayal. The Bendahara of Perak then raised his spear and hurled it at Bana, piercing his stomach instantly. Bana fell and died on the spot. When the Aceh soldiers saw their leader dead, they fled in hunger and exhaustion. Some managed to board ships back to Aceh, some surrendered, some ran into the forests, and others were taken as prisoners of war. News of the Aceh army's defeat reached the King of Aceh. He was deeply humiliated and swore never to allow the people of Aceh to reside in Perak ever again. Many Aceh soldiers were captured in Perak, and the Bendahara ordered the men to become forced laborers in the city, while the women were sold into slavery. From then on, Aceh never attacked Perak again, and peace returned to the land. The End.