The Legend of Tumenggung Wiranegara (Part 4)

Retold by Satoto Kusasi


Chapter 10

Someone waited in the deep forest. Wait could make ones boring since the place for waiting is forest; More even he was a King who has to go into forest for hiding, escape from batlefield at Banten war.

Now he was waiting along with his wife and some soldiers; Waiting for a messenger of VOC to picked him up

The King wants to surrender and take away to Batavia.

The King was Pangeran Purbaya and his follower. The King has been defeated by VOC but could escape and run away going into Forest at edge of Mount Gede (Gunung Gede). Kapten Tack run after him until the deep forest, but he failed finding the King.

Will Kapten kill Pangeran?, Perhaps he will, if he found Pangeran.

Pangeran Purbaya wrote a letter to Kapten Tack with unique manner, that he wants to surrender if he would be picked him up by a native officer of Dutch Military.

Therefore, Kapten Tack asked Untung as Lieutnant Untung to do this duty.

Untung brought the entire his soldiers since he predict VOC would attack Mataraman Village soon. His position as soldier of VOC inequity; that’s mean sometimes he would become enemy of VOC.
He made camp at a secret place on the bank of Cikalong River.

Untung along with one hundred soldiers went through forest to upper stream of Cigundul River. They predicted Pangeran Purbaya was at there.

Cigundul River has clear water with many fishes. A pretty woman sit on the stone at bank of river. Her both legs were in the water. Fish surrounded her foots as if it admired the pretty woman. She is Putri Gusik Kesuma, wife of Pangeran Purbaya. She has her sadness and frightened emotion. She has been in the deep forest for hiding, to keep away from Kapten Tack who wants to kill her and her husband too.

Untung and his friends come, near and see Putri who is siting alone. Untung give sign to his friends to close their mouth, not to make sound.

They heard Putri sing a sadness song,

The dark grey cloudy over my Country
Sadness, sorrow and fear feel in deep of my heart
People cry, soldiers scream and King run away
You win, we lose and then who will be judge
Show me, who’s right, who’s wrong and who’s being hurt
Hi my Great Grand Children, that is your duty
Remember, the Mother Earth is crying
She has been waiting for you and your struggle
To chase the evil away from Nusantara.

Finnaly, Putri knew that there were anothers person surround her, “Hi you! Who you are?”

Untung was going up from the bush and close Putri; he sit down infront of her and unite his palms hand, “I am Lieutnant Untung, soldier of VOC.”

“What do you want to Lieutnant?”

“We want to picked Pangeran up, bring him to Batavia.”

“Oh really? If Pangeran didn’t wants to, so what will you do?”

“Let Pangeran go, where ever he wants to go and so do his family and his follower.”

“Wow that would be good! If Pangeran wants to go with you, so where you want bring him to go?”

“I want him to face my boss, Kapten Tack.”

“Wow that is the problem of mine. Shall Kapten kill him?”

“As I know, the enemy who has been surendered, not to be killed; that is the rule. More even a person likes Pangeran Purbaya, not only surrender but also has given his Country to the winner, VOC. I myself gave honor to him.”

“You are impressive Untung, I feel cool to hear your voice. Therefore, I will call my husband while you have to wait in this place, will you?”

“Yes I will.”

After waiting a half hour, Pangeran Purbaya came out on sedan chair, carrying by Banten soldiers. That is meant he is an important person, a beloved King of Banten people.

Untung approached him, sit down near the sedan chair, united his palm hands; so did his entire troops.

“Greeting to you You’re Majesty, I am Untung and my troops give honor to you. God bless you and your family. We hope you have long live and always healthy.”

Pangeran Purbaya surprise and wonder how a man in the forest has done Palace etiquette manner, as if he was a loyalist of Banten people, “Thank you Untung; are you also my people, the Banten people? Did you fight against VOC in the last battle of Banten?”

“No, I am not, even I am a soldier of VOC that want to picked you up.”

“Oh, how shame of you!” The King disappointed hearing Untung.

“Yes I knew, how I feel shame in front of you. If you don’t want to go with me then you can go where ever you want to go. I want to say good bye to you then.”

Putri Gusik Kesuma talk with her husband softly; seems they were arguing; they have different opine concerning surrender or not surrender to VOC.

Finnaly, Pangeran said, “Yes, I want to go with you, hi Lieutnant Untung.”

The mob of Pangeran Purbaya went down, out of the forest, guarded by eighty seven soldiers of Banten; follow by Untung and his soldiers.

Banten soldiers have suspicion with Untung. They regard Untung as betray person who helped VOC as enemy, therefore, they didn’t want to talk with Untung.

The Mob had come at bank Cikalong River, the place is clear, the forest is rare.

A mob of another VOC soldier came, want to arrest Pangeran Purbaya. The leader is Vaandrig Kuffeler. He didn’t give salute to Untung as military custom. Even he regard as if no Untung and his solders at there.

Suddenly, Vaandrig Kuffeler grab Pangeran, pull out him from sedan chair and put handcuff on Pangran’s hand. While Banten soldiers just kept silent, no reaction at all, even though they surprised and angry.

But not such Untung, he gave sign with his hand, a silent command; that’s mean attack. Many arrows flied to its target at sudden, then many Dutch soldiers dead at sudden, included Vaandrig Kuffeler himself.

Putri Gusik Kesuma fear, scream loudly since fifty Dutch soldiers dead in front of her at sudden. So did Pangeran Purbaya.

“Hi Pangeran! You must know that I don’t want to guide you to Batavia because I along the entire my troops have become again as wanted ex-prisoner; no more as VOC soldier and even becoming their enemy. So, will you to surrender? Even though you have just bad experience being insulted by VOC troops.?

“Yes” Pangeran said with short word.

“I ask you once again, will you go to surrender to Batavia.?” Untung asked again.

“Yes I will.” Pangeran said again

“Hi Banten soldiers, take away your King to Batavia. I am sorry that I can’t go to accompany you. You have seen our action to kill the scoundrel Dutch in front of you; that is mean we are fighting against VOC now, we are no more VOC soldiers, even their enemy.”

Putri Gusik Kesuma approach her husband, “Please don’t go to surrender, you will have your hard punishment as death penalty. You have seen how cruel Dutch soldiers are they when face you; that is clue that you will have death penalty.”

Pangeran still wants to surrender, seems he got his fear very much as bad experience in the battlefield obviously.”You can go with Untung as you wish, I don’t mine.”

Once more Putri Gusik Kesuma tried to influence her husband, “Please, strength your willing to be free from evil who has defeated us, grab our soil. We can follow Untung, together with him to fight against Dutch. Untung is a good warrior, he has proved it by killing fifty Dutch soldiers at sudden. Will you?”

Again her husband shook his head. Then Putri Gusik Kesuma say good bye to her beloved husband. After that, Pangeran go with his Banten soldiers to Batavia.

“C’mon let us go immediately since another Dutch soldiers will come soon. Please erase your footstep and others clue to make enemies confuse to find our place.” Untung command his troops.

“Lieutnant Untung, will you allow me to be your soldier? Please help me! Since I am a pity widow in the quiet forest. I promise you will fight in your struggle side by side with you against Dutch enemy.” Putri Gusik Kesuma asked Untung with her pity face.

“Yes I will, my Queen! Nevertheless, you are a Noble person that you should stay in the beautiful Palace, not in the forest like this; I am afraid you will have your difficulty to follow us. And I warn you, not to call me ‘Lieutnant’ since I am no more VOC soldier, even their enemy.”

“And I too, not to call me Queen and other Noble term since I am no more Queen after I divorced with my husband. Believe me that I am strong enough as your soldier.”

“So, from now on, you are my woman soldier and your duty is combat; I am sure you can. Hi friends, now you have a new member in our big family, she is your new sister, Gusti Kesuma.” Untung said to his friends, the Untung troops.

The soldiers of Untung cheer since they are happy.

Untung said again, “Gusik Kesuma, you have to know our struggle slogan, ‘Better die being killed by VOC than live as a slave, VOC’s slave.”

Putri mused, “He mean my ex husband perhaps. Oh, Pangeran Purbaya, you have your chosen, living as a slave, slave of VOC; nevertheless, you have your right to choose your option. If you knew how nice living with Untung right now then you will choose another good option. I imagine you have been tortured right now by Kapten Tack. I can’t say any more; that just God’s willing.” Putri looks sadness as seen tears dropped from her eyes.

“Why do you cry? I am sorry. I know I offended you. I think you would be better being among of your family at Kertasura City than among of us, therefore, we will escort you until your home. Do you agree?”

“Oh Untung, you are my hero. Of course I agreed; so How I can reveal my happiness to you, just God know, God will pay you back.”

Mean while, Kapten Tack was going mad because he heard Untung made rebellion and even had killed fifty soldiers. He shouted in front his subordinates, “I will kill him with my own hand. I will find you where ever you hide hi Untung! Wait our revenge!”

After Dutch military discussing, they decided to send Jacob Couper with more than five hundred armies to fight against Untung and his troops. The large amount of Dutch soldiers was meant to make it equal with Untung troops which amount more than one thousand person.

Untung and his large troops depart to Southern. Untung and his friends knew that enemy has been following them to make revenge, therefore they always ready combat every time.

They came to Rajapalah Village (near Bandung City now). They will stay as long as one or two days at that place.

A secret agent gave information, “My Lord, the enemy will attack us in this village; they had known our place here. Their amount is more than five hundred; the leader is Jacob Couper.”

Untung discussed the news with Patih Gendut and his others staffs, Pasopati, Suromenggolo, Sambernyowo and many others.

Finnaly, Untung gave his decision, “We will wait them in this place and the battlefield will be happened at here. Don’t move your tent and everything, make our camp lively as if we didn’t know yet and still going relax. We will hide at somewhere at distance that an arrow could stab our enemy properly. I predicted they will go straight to our camp. Patih, your duty is looking for the better place what I mean for hiding.”

They left their camp and go for hiding in the bush, then wait. They wait for a long time, but the enemy didn’t show up.

Untung gave opine, “Why they didn’t show up. Perhaps they afraid to fight, because they don’t want to die. The Dutch soldier has family, wife and children, therefore they afraid.”

Patih Gendut gave his opine, “Perhaps they want to fight us in the mid night when we would have being slept deeply. Therefore, they could easy to kill us.”

Untung said, “You right Gendut, that is the reason why they didn’t show up.”

Pasopati asked, “So, what we could do now.”

“Some of us go back to the camp and make activity as if we have been staying at our camp, make our camp lively. Remember, they have their telescope to watch our camp.

While the other of us will wait here. In the night, we will come back again to hide. But we have to make the candle lighting in every tent as if we have been sleeping in our tent; please make sure they would have gone into our trap.”

When the dusk has come, one by one Untung’s soldier back to hide in the forest; at mid night, any one left in the camp, but the tent still brighting as if some one had slept in there.

Jacob Couper and his Dutch soldiers came secretly and make silent attack upon the empty camp. When they want to burn the tent, they have been attacked at sudden. Many arrows flied from the dark forest to kill the Dutch soldiers, included Jacob himself. Most of them have been killed and the others run away. Untung run after the rest enemies and kill them with his sword.

Untung and his friends counted the dead bodies of Dutch soldiers; the amount is five hundred and twenty one person, included Jacob Couper. A soldier of Untung dead also, killed by bullet of Dutch when they shot disorderly into dark forest.

They could seize all their horses and also their weapons. That is an astonishing result of Untung.


Chapter 11

The mob of Untung continued their journey. Then they entered middle of Java, Cirebon region exactly. This place is a freedom region that never touch by Dutch.

After killing five hundred and twenty one Dutch soldiers at Rajapalah batlefield, Untung didn’t be anoyed again by Dutch Soldiers. Perhaps, the enemies got rest for a moment.

One member of his staffs face Untung, “My Lord, we need funds to continue our struggle, therefore I propose an entertain show to collect money.”

“What kind of show?”

“Everything that we could able to do such as dancing, drama, singing, dazzled and other performance.”

“Your propose is good, then I want you to be chairman of art committee. Call on your friend to establish structure of committee.”

Cirebon is a good place to get money since the people are rich prosperous. Therefore, the troops of Untung eagerly to work, fortunately many artist are among of the armies. Then they practice every day. Even Untung collect some men to play ‘Kecak Dance’ from Bali.

Surprising, Putri Gusik Kesuma face Untung for giving her contribution, “I want to give my belonging to you as our first capital to fund our show business.”

Untung really surprise, finding the most valuable things in front his face; jewelry, gold, diamond, pearl and many others, “Are you serious? Do you want to donate your valuable belonging?”

“Of course yes.”

“Do you give those thing? With all your heart and soul?”

“Yes I do, since I am your woman soldier and that was mean I will donate my soul too. You know that my soul is the most valuable than that those things.”

Untung kept silent for a moment. His emotion grew up, the sensation of happiness come up, till his tears dropped from his eyes. “Can I hug you Putri?” Untung said with soft voice.
Putri nodded her head then the two creature hugged each other.
Untung actually has paying attention for Putri since she was pretty. However, he form the boundary, since he realized that he unassuming; not apropriate to sharing love with Putri.

The committee cheer up with unexpected donation from their new woman soldier. Therefore, they change their schedule agenda with extravagant show and even they bought gamelan and others music instrument. And they will make their show at ‘alun-alun’ (=common field) at front Palace.

Patih Gendut suggested, “If you want to make entertainment show like this, we have to ask permit to Cirebon King. I am not create but it’s true as right manner to be grateful for the King.”

“You right Patih gendut, so we, you and I will come to Palace tomorrow.” Untung said.

The two men came to Palace, straight to the King. Untung and Patih Gendut sit in front the Throne, unite his palms hand and said, “We are Untung and Patih Gendut want to give our honor to you, You’re Majesty. We hope you are in good condition and always healthy, God bless you.”

“Are you Untung, the hero who fight against Dutch soldiers? Wow! Welcome Untung and Patih Gendut, you are my hero.”

“We are surprising since You’re Majesty was at our side, thank you so much for your supporting us.”

“The King of Banten who has been defeated by VOC, relative family of mine. Therefore, I have to say thank you to you who has reply our hurt feeling to VOC. I am not sure Sultan Haji could be rebel against his own father, but the Dutch has infiltrate into Kingdom Family. That is Dutch bad habit; bad trick to conquere every Kingdom in Java and also in Nusantara.”

“Thank you You’re Majesty. However, our struggle not yet finish; we have to have funds to continue our struggle, therefore we will make amusement show for people for getting money, then we want to ask permit you for that purpose.”

“You welcome, go on! Even we will donate one Ton rice for your troops.”

Short story, Untung and his troops celebrate their amusement at Alun-alun (Common field). Surprising, people crowded at alun-alun want to see drama that will play by artist of Untung and his troops.

King Sultan Cirebon also come to see drama.

The first day is success, since the committee can collect much money as clue.

In the second day the visitor more than yesterday, especially the young men. Why? Because of a pretty singer whose name Putri Gusik Kesuma. She sing along with gamelan music that she has her title as ‘pesinden’. Surprise, Putri took her role as pesinden or singer, even though she is a Noble woman, widow of Pangeran Purbaya.

In the eight day, an accident happened. A young man jump up on stage, neared Putri and kissed Putri. Untung came to chase the young man away. Suddenly he stab Untung with his knife straight to Untung stomach. Lucky, Untung can avoid the attack but he got wound on the right arm. Some guards captured the intruder and guarded him to police station.

When the young man guided to police station, he struggle suddenly, seized his knife and stabbed the guard as a fatal attacked. The guard death because of his wound.

The young man run and shouted, “Hi everybody! Look! I am son of King, so, no body can forbid me! No body can forbid me that I want to marry that woman!”

Ten soldiers of Untung run after him, captured and brought to police station.

Because of that accident and some safety reason, Untung and his amusement show have to go to somewhere.

Untung predicted The VOC may come to attack Cirebon Kingdom with reason to catch their wanted criminal. And defeated Cirebon because has given place for hiding their criminal. Their criminal was Untung and his troops.


(To be Continued)