News reached King Rajasingha that his enemy was planning to march over his kingdom. The king also heard from his
spies that the enemy had not only able-bodied foot soldiers but also a large number of horsemen.
The king consulted his general. He found out that they were not strong enough to defend the kingdom.
“I have a plan, Your Highness!” said Andare, the court jester.
“What is it?” asked the king.
“I shall tell you later, your Highness! Will you please permit me to carry out my plan first? I’m hopeful of chasing away the invader without any bloodshed on either side,” said Andare.
The king who had great faith in Andare said, “Go on!”
A few days passed.
Andare approached King Rajasingha. “Your Highness! Please send a message to the enemy king saying that we are ready for the war,” he proposed.
The king hesitated. “How can I send such an audacious message unless I know how we are going to face the enemy?”
“Have trust in me, Your Majesty. Message or no message, the enemy is going to attack us soon. How then can such a message be harmful at all?” argued the jester.
“Go then as my messenger and say whatever you want to say. But remember, if your plan fails yours will be the first head to be offered to the enemy.
Dressed as a royal emissary, Andare proceeded to the enemy’s court. He then told the enemy king: “Your Highness! We are ready. When are you invading our land?”
The enemy king was taken aback. He least expected such a question. He grew fidgety. “Go and tell your king that I have not yet decided the date for leading the expedition,” he said.
“Sooner the matter is settled the better, your Highness. Our soldiers are growing restless,” said Andare.
Then he took leave of the enemy king.
A stranger met him on his way back home. They became companions. It did not take long for Andare to find out that the stranger was a spy set by the enemy king to find out the truth of the situation.
As they neared the land of Rajasingha, Andare led the stranger uphill. On the other side of the river was a vast field. “There are the horses trained to fight unto death,” he said.
The stranger couldn’t believe his eyes. He saw horses, horses and horses all over the field.
“My God!” exclaimed the stranger. “Well, I forgot something. I must go back.” He took to his heels.
The very next day a messenger from the enemy king came carrying a letter. It read: “I’ve no plan to invade your glorious kingdom. We are friends forever.”
The king hugged Andare and said, “My dear Andare! How did you do it?”
Andare led the king and his ministers to the brink of the field on the river and showed them the horses.
The king gasped for breath with wonder. His ministers pinched themselves to know if this was not a dream.
“Whose horses are they?” asked the king.
“Ours, your Highness,” replied Andare.
“Ours? Can’t be! We never had so many horses!”
Andare laughed. “They belong to our potters, your Highness. They are mud horses, though you can also see live ones here and there. This is how I fooled the spy and through him the enemy king.”
“Andare can fool all the people all the time,” commented the king and his minister.
