《Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology》


 Chapter 1: Mission Success

    <h4>Chapter 1: Mission Sess</h4>


    In the year 2013, at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.


    Ram, a researcher in the ISRO Mars program said, "Chief, we are ready, sir."


    In the office, silence fell over everyone as they heard Ram''s Words. India''s PSLV Mark 3 had sessfully reached Mars orbit. Dr Vijay, a strong and handsome man with a schrly temperament, sat in the central position in the hall. His contrasting image and temperament added to his charm.


    Vijay had waited his whole life for this day. After graduating from high school, he joined HAL Aeronautics and worked hard through self-study. His goal was to make India one of the top 5 countries in the space race and to change the underdog status that India had always held. He became a researcher in ISRO and eventually rose to be the Chief Engineer of the Mars mission through relentless dedication.


    Next to Vijay sat a slim man in his 30s, dressed in a military uniform. With his streamlined physique and handsome face, he exuded a sense of agility, resembling an F1 car. Vikram, the man in the military uniform, asked, "Vijay, can wend it on the first try? "


    Vijay paused for a few seconds, then nodded with determination. "Launch the rover pod," he said, filled with fighting spirit.


    "9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1..0..Launch!"


    As everyone''s eyes were glued to the screen, the moment ofunch arrived. The men in the room watched with intense focus as if witnessing a mesmerizing sight. The rover pod detached from the rocket, prompting Ram to inform Vijay of the sessfulunch. Vijay, fully absorbed in the screen, observed the rover''s imminentnding on the red Mars. This mission represented his life''s work, and the stakes were high. With a limited budgetpared to NASA, failure meant waiting another five years for another chance. Everything was riding on at this moment.


    "Chief... Vijay... the rover pod hasnded sessfully, sir," Ram reported with choked emotions, tears filling his eyes.


    "Yes!" Vijay jumped up in joy, crying like a baby. He had finally achieved his goal of bringing India to the forefront of the world. The entire office erupted in cheers and shouts of tion. They had worked tirelessly on this project, without rest for 72 hours. The sessfulnding brought relief, and the pressure melted away from their bodies.


    "Congrattions, Vijay. You did it," Vikram said with a smile, genuinely happy for his friend.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, today we have made history byunching a rover to Mars and seeding on the first try," Vijay announced.


    The room resounded with cheering and apuse. Everyone looked at Vijay with teary eyes, filled with gratitude for the honour he had brought them. Vijay sincerely thanked his colleagues for their long-standing support, bowing with a Namaste.


    "It''s time to celebrate. The drinks are on me," he dered.


    "Oohhhhhh!" Everyone burst intoughter, filled with joy.


    Lahore, Pakistan, Prime Minister''s Secretariat


    Minister Iman Khan sat in his office. His face turned red with anger as he read the document brought by his informant. Fuming with rage, he immediately summoned Zaheer, who hurriedly entered the room. Fear was evident on Zaheer''s face as he stood before the enraged Prime Minister. Iman Khan handed him the document, and as Zaheer began to read its contents, aplex mix of emotions overcame him. At first, he was consumed by anger, but as he delved deeper into the details, a subtle sense of admiration started to intertwine with his initial feelings.


    "What do we do now?"


    Iman Khan asked with anger, sensing a hint of admiration. Zaheer quicklyposed himself, feeling embarrassed for showing such emotion. As a Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence, he regained hisposure swiftly.


    "Your Excellency, I think we should activated agent k0052 and collect the needed data of the PSLV Mark 3 Rocket and silence Vijay...."


    "What! Are you out of your mind?" Iman Khan eximed, shocked by Zaheer''s suggestion. He never expected his general to propose such a reckless idea. He recognized that even China would not dare provoke India easily. With India''s flourishing economy and ranking among the top 10 military powers, bullying India had be increasingly difficult.


    Zaheer remained confident as he exined, "Your Excellency if we can obtain the data, despitecking a space station, we can utilize the technology to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles. Additionally, by assassinating Vijay, we can dy India''s progress."


    Iman Khan contemted the suggestion for a moment and ultimately shook his head. "No, it''s too risky. If we take such action, India may retaliate, and the losses would be devastating for us. Furthermore, we cannot activate Agent K0052; we have invested a great deal in him, grooming him to be a valuable asset in India''s army. Losing him would result in significant data loss."


    Zaheer, however, proposed an alternative. "Sir, we can seek assistance from the United States. I believe they might be interested in obtaining the data. A joint operation with them could increase our mission sess rate."


    Iman Khan''s eyes lit up upon hearing this suggestion. "Contact the CIA and get things done ASAP," hemanded. Zaheer epted the order and promptly left the office. Iman Khan watched the departing silhouette with an evil smirk on his face.


    Vijay, in a drunken state after the party, was being driven home by Vikram. Vijay consumed too much alcohol to notice Vikram''s phone ringing.


    Vikram saw his phone and there were instructions from his mothend.


    "Is the data so important?" he wondered to himself, feeling a sense of guilt.


    Vikram nced at Vijay, who was Sleeping, with a trace of Determination. "You can only me yourself for being too good,".


    His attention then turned to the briefcase on Vijay. After contemting for a moment, he made a quick decision. He reached for a poison tube on his bracelet and poured it into Vijay''s mouth. Vijay woke up feeling groggy, realizing an unfamiliar liquid in his mouth. He tried to resist Vikram''s actions, but his body suddenly copsed, leaving him unable to move.


    Aware that he was dying, Vijay''sst sight was Vikram''s cold and emotionless face. Thest thing he did was remember his parents whom he hadn''t seen for Four years.


    Soon, he lost all consciousness.


    TV9 Breaking News: ISRO Chief Scientist Assassinated by Undercover Spy, Data Stolen


    News Anchor: We bring you a breaking news update. The chief scientist at ISRO has been assassinated in a shocking incident. Our reporter is on the scene with the details. Over to you, reporter.


    Reporter: Thank you. In a tragic turn of events, the esteemed scientist, Vijay, who held the position of chief scientist at ISRO, was brutally assassinated earlier today. The perpetrator has been identified as Kernel Vikram, also known as Mohammad bin Kalif, who was working undercover as a Pakistani spy.


    News Anchor: This is indeed a grave development. Can you tell us more about the circumstances surrounding this incident?


    Reporter: Certainly. Vijay was ambushed while on his way to theboratory. It appears that Vikram, with his deep cover and extensive knowledge, seized the opportunity to strike. Along with the loss of a valuable life, the assant managed to steal crucial data pertaining to the PSLV rocket.


    News Anchor: That''s deeply concerning. What actions are being taken to address this security breach?


    Reporter: The authorities areunching a thorough investigation into the matter. The major general present at the scene expressed his anger and regret over theck of vignce, stating that Vikram had been within their ranks for 15 years, leading to apse in security measures. Efforts are now being intensified to prevent such incidents from urring in the future.


    News Anchor: The stolen data must be of significant concern. Are there any prospects for its recovery?


    Reporter: Unfortunately, it''s not a straightforward situation. The major general revealed that they suspect the involvement of another intelligence agency, possibly Chinese or American, hindering their progress in recovering the stolen data. Theplexities of international espionage are at y here, making the situation even more challenging.


    News Anchor: This is indeed a troubling development. We hope that the authorities can swiftly address this security breach and ensure the safety of our nation''s vital information. Thank you for the update. We will continue to monitor this story closely.


    Reporter: Thank you. We''ll keep our viewers updated as more information bes avable. Back to you in the studio."


    News continues asizens watch on with anger


    End of Chapter 1.

 Chapter 2: Rebirth!

    <h4>Chapter 2: Rebirth!</h4>


    1650 Hampi Vijayanagara Empire Mahanavami Dibba.


    "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please wake up ..."


    Vijay felt groggy and confused as he opened his eyes. Instead of finding himself in a hospital bed after being poisoned, he was surrounded by the luxurious splendour of a room adorned with gold and silk, reminiscent of historical soap operas.


    "Your Majesty, it''s time for your coronation. Please hurry up. All the guests are waiting for you," a woman spoke to him in ancient Kannada. She had beautiful ck hair, and an elegant figure, and her vibrant saree flowed gracefully as she moved. Just as Vijay was about to ask who she was.


    *Pang*


    A sudden pang of pain shot through his head, flooding him with unfamiliar memories. He instinctively clutched his head, trying to alleviate the throbbing ache.


    "Are you alright, Your Majesty?" the woman asked, her eyes filled with concern.


    "I''m alright, Aunty Mina. Please don''t worry. I''ll be okay. Inform the guests that I''m on my way," Vijay reassured her as she had been taking care of him since he was born.


    Relieved by Vijay''s reassuring words, Aunty Mina hurriedly left the room to inform the waiting guests of his imminent arrival for the coronation ceremony.


    Vijay Deva Raya (formerly known as Vijay) was bewildered by the sudden shift in his reality. He had transmigrated into the body of the monarch of the Vijayanagara Empire, but there was one significant difference from the previous world: his father, Sriranga Raya, had not been assassinated four months after inheriting the throne from his grandfather, Venkata II.


    In Original world history, Sriranga II (a.k.a. Sriranga Raya) was nominated in 1614 by King Venkata II to seed him as king of the Vijayanagara Empire in Southern India. Sriranga was supported by a faction headed by Yachama Naidu of the Reche Vma dynasty, one of the Venkata II''s loyal viceroys andmanders and Nayak of Venkatagiri, but was not favoured by a set of nobles headed by Gobburi Jagga Raya, brother (or father) of Venkata II''s favourite Queen Obayamma. Finally, Yachama Naidu arranged with the captain of the Vellore Fort to murder Sriranga II.


    In this altered timeline, Vijay''s father had recently passed away due to illness, leaving him as the sole heir to the throne. His mother had died during childbirth, he felt heavyweight as the future ruler. However, Vijay was no stranger to the hardships and challenges that came with the position. he was a chief scientist in ISRO after all. Under his father''s rule, he had witnessed the eradication of Yachama Naidu of the Reche Vma dynasty and opposition and extremist groups, as well as the suppression of rebellions in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. His father''s iron-fisted approach had consolidated military and financial power, ensuring stability but also instilling fear in those who dared to oppose him.


    As Vijay prepared for his coronation, he couldn''t help but reflect on the vastness and rich heritage of the Vijayanagara Empire. Spanning across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Ker, it epassed approximately 600,000 square kilometres ofnd. The empire was renowned for its rich cultural heritage, flourishing as a centre of art, culture, and trade. Dravidian architecture adorned thendscape, with intricate sculptures, majestic temples, and pces that showcased the empire''s artistic brilliance.


    Vijayanagara''s prosperity was intertwined with its thriving economy. The fertilends supported agriculture, while well-established trade routes connected the empire to distant regions.


    However, there was one immediate trouble that Vijay remained wary of¡ªthe Dutch.


    In recent years, the Dutch East India Company had been steadily expanding its influence in the region. While his father did not see the threat from the Dutch, as he looked down on merchants, Vijay, as a man from the future, knew that their formidable naval power and aggressive trade policies posed a potential threat to the empire''s economic interests. Vijay understood the importance of safeguarding the empire''s sovereignty and protecting its economic and military prosperity


    As Vijay contemted his uing reign, he keenly realized the weight of his responsibilities. Beyond the political and military challenges, he anticipated the looming threats posed by foreign aggressors. The Dutch, already knocking at the empire''s door, the British, the Portuguese, the Spaniards, and the Imic rulers seeking to colonize through religion and every other European nation seemed to have their eyes on India.


    Being a person from the 21st century, well aware of the historical bloodshed and oppression suffered by Hindus under various invaders, Vijay''s blood boiled with Fury. "In this life," he proimed, "I will change it all. I will build this into the strongest empire with blood." Hismitment to rewrite the history of hisnd burned brightly within him.


    With his coronation approaching, Vijay Deva Raya prepared himself to assume the mantle of leadership. He knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but he was determined to uphold the legacy of the Vijayanagara Empire.


    End of Chapter 2.

 Chapter 3: Coronation and Ability Awaken!

    <h4>Chapter 3: Coronation and Ability Awaken!</h4>


    Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi.


    The grand coronation of Vijay Deva Raya in the magnificent Vijayanagara Empire was a very special event. People from all over gathered to see their new king take the throne. The ceremony took ce on a beautiful stage decorated with colourful flowers and fancy fabrics.


    A respected priest named Raghavendra Bhat led the ceremony and made sure everything went smoothly. Vijay Deva Raya''s maternal grandfather, Sunil Shetty, and his uncle, Ravi Shetty, were there to support him and show their love. They wanted to make sure Vijay knew they were proud of him.


    Two important military leaders named Ramaiah Senapati and Narasimha Nayak also joined the celebration. They were strong and brave warriors who protected the empire and its people.


    Not only were their people from Vijayanagara but also representatives from other ces. The Maratha Confederation, the Mughal Empire, and even some business people from the Nethends came to congratte Vijay Deva Raya.


    Raghavendra Bhat spoke to Vijay Deva Raya in a serious and important voice. He said, "Today, you be the ruler of our empire. May the gods bless you with wisdom and kindness as you lead our people."


    Vijay Deva Raya felt honoured and determined. He promised to be a fair and just king, to protect his people, and to make it a strong empire


    The priest performed some special rituals and put a crown on Vijay Deva Raya''s head. Everyone cheered and pped, and the drums yed exciting beats.


    Representatives from different ces came forward to congratte Vijay Deva Raya.


    Vijay Deva Raya stood in front of the crowd and spoke to his people. He thanked them for their support and promised to lead the empire with their best interests at heart.


    Everyone in the crowd was happy and excited. They knew that with Vijay Deva Raya as their king, the empire would continue to grow and prosper.


    The coronation of Vijay Deva Raya was a special moment in the history of the Vijayanagara Empire. It marked the beginning of a new era, filled with hope and dreams for a bright future.


    A few days had passed since Vijay''s coronation, which had left him feeling overwhelmed. But as the days went by, he started experiencing intense headaches and bouts of dizziness.


    Opening his eyes groggily, Vijay found Aunt Mina by his side, her face filled with concern. "Are you alright, Your Majesty?" she asked, worriedly.


    Feeling a bit disoriented, Vijay reassured her, "I''m okay, Aunt. It might just be the stress from the coronation taking its toll on me."


    Aunt Mina gently wiped the sweat from his face and hurriedly left the room to fetch a doctor. "Please lie down, Your Highness. I''ll go get a doctor," she urged.


    As Vijay watched her leave, he reflected on the real reason behind his sudden fainting spells. It was the awakening of his extraordinary ability, which he called his "golden finger." Now, he had the incredible power to remember all the technological knowledge from his past life and share it with others through inspiration and ideas. It was a precious gift that would save him from exining every change he nned to make.


    But this newfound ability came at a cost. It drained his energy and left him feeling depleted of nutrients. It seemed his appetite would be insatiable, requiring him to eat significantly more.


    Lost in thought, Vijay was startled by the sound of the door clicking open. The doctor entered the room and conducted a thorough examination. To his surprise, the doctor gave an unexpected diagnosis.


    "Your Majesty, you have a condition called Madhumeha, (aka diabetes in 17th century india). It''s crucial that you eat well, as it can be life-threatening if not properly managed."


    Observing Aunt Mina''s worried expression, Vijay reassured her, "Don''t worry, Aunt. I''ll be fine."


    Aunt Mina''s face showed deep concern as she pleaded, "Please take care, Your Majesty. You are thest remaining member of the Raya family, and the kingdom would be in chaos if something were to happen to you."


    Vijay felt touched by her care but also ufortable with the "Your Majesty" address. at first, he felt it was novel, but now he is sick of it ."You don''t have to call me that. Just call me Vijay, like you always have. After all, you practically raised me," he implored.


    Unfortunately, Aunt Mina firmly responded, "I''m sorry, Your Majesty, but as the king of the country, it''s important to show respect. I must refrain from such familiarity."


    Several days had passed since his awakening, and Vijay now felt well-rested. He decided to leave his room and head to the office, where he could delve into the kingdom''s affairs and its people.


    "Long live Your Majesty!" Butler Ravichandra greeted him with a deep bow.


    "Please, Uncle Ravi, no need for formalities between us," Vijay requested, tired of the constant ceremonial treatment.


    Uncle Ravi remained dedicated to his role. "You are the king of this empire now, Your Highness. Your position deserves the utmost respect," he replied.


    Hearing those familiar words, Vijay sighed and gave up, "Very well, Uncle Ravi. Please provide me with detailed information about the kingdom and its people."


    The butler nodded and swiftly fetched the ledger and census books, ready to assist Vijay in exploring the kingdom''s affairs.


    Land Area: Thend area of the Vijayanagara empire is approximately 700,000 square kilometers, epassing a diverse range ofndscapes, including coastal ins, hills, teaus, and mountain ranges.


    Agriculture Area: Approximately 60% of thend area in Vijayanagara empire can be used for agriculture. The fertile regions along the river deltas of the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri support extensive cultivation of crops such as rice, millets, pulses, spices, sugarcane, and cotton.


    Mineral Resources: Vijayanagara empire is rich in mineral resources. The region boasts substantial reserves of iron ore, manganese, bauxite, limestone, and granite. These resources serve as valuable assets for infrastructure development, construction, and manufacturing industries.


    Poption: The poption of Vijayanagara empire stands at around 40 million people. This diverse poptionprises various ethnicities,nguages, and cultural groups, contributing to the vibrant tapestry of the region.


    Religious Demographics: In terms of religious demographics, approximately 80% of the poption in South India identifies as Hindu, while the Muslimmunityprises around 15% of the popce. The remaining 5% includes followers of other religions and diverse belief systems, fostering religious harmony and cultural diversity.


    Fiscal Revenue: With taxes and subsidies supporting the farming sector, agriculture forms a significant portion of the economy, generating an estimated annual fiscal revenue of over 20 million Varaha (100 tons of gold) for the Vijayanagara Empire.


    End of Chapter 3.

 Chapter 4: Formation of the Imperial Council I

    <h4>Chapter 4: Formation of the Imperial Council I</h4>


    The Vijayanagara Empire could be considered a vast country with over 40 million people and an extensivend area of around 600,000 square kilometres. However, despite its size, the empire faced challenges that hindered its prosperity and military advancement. One of the main reasons for this stagnation was the poor standard of living of its people, which led to ack of adequate talent and skilled individuals capable of harnessing the rich resources of the region to strengthen the country. As a result, the Vijayanagara Empire remained technologically and economically behindpared to the advancements made by the Western world and was still stuck in the European Middle Ages.


    Vijay, the new ruler of the kingdom, felt the weight of his responsibilities growing as he began toy out ns for the future.


    "Uncle Ravi, could you please bring me the list of people who are loyal to my family and have notable achievements in their respective fields? Also, make sure they possess ample experience," he requested.


    "Right away, your majesty," replied Uncle Ravi, the trusted butler.


    Vijay decided to start his reform by establishing an Imperial Council, a group of people who would help him with his duties and share the burden.


    Historically, the Imperial Legitive Council served as the legiture of British India from 1861 to 1947. The council''s establishment can be traced back to the Charter Act of 1853, which introduced six additional members to the Governor General Council, specifically for legitive matters. The council''sposition included appointed and elected representatives, including officials and non-official members. It yed a pivotal role in formting and passingws, discussing budgets, and addressing important issues concerning British India. While the Governor-General possessed significant powers, the council provided a tform for debates, suggestions, and checks on decisions, contributing to the governance of the vast and diverse British Indian territories during its past.


    But Vijay had different ideas. His n was to establish an imperial council with a unique structure and grant himself absolute veto power for appointments and impeachments. In his vision, this approach would consolidate significant authority within the council and expedite decision-making, streamlining the governance process.


    "I want the council to have different departments, such as livelihood, internal security, military, finance, religious and cultural, judicial, and business," Vijay thought to himself as he quickly wrote down his ideas on parchment.


    Shortly after, Uncle Ravi returned with a list of names for Vijay to review.


    "Hmm, interesting," Vijay pondered as he stroked his chin. He highlighted a few names that he felt could meet his requirements, but he decided to wait until the formal meeting to finalize his choices.


    "Uncle Ravi, please invite these people for an interview. I want to verify their qualifications myself," Vijay said.


    Ravichandra, the butler, was surprised by the change he noticed in Vijay since his coronation. The young king appeared more confident and mature, almost like a different person altogether.


    "Uncle Ravi!" Vijay called out, interrupting the butler''s thoughts.


    Startled, the butler quickly replied, "Yes, your highness. I will do as youmand."


    Vijay watched as the butler left, not minding the slight hup. Little did he know that the butler''s thoughts were so urate that they would have scared him out of his wits.


    Butler Ravichandra swiftly invited the people as per His Highness''s orders.


    Vijay, prepared for the crucial interviews to select members for the Livelihood, Internal Security, and Business departments of the newly formed Imperial Council. Each interview was a chance to find individuals who would y a pivotal role in shaping the kingdom''s future.


    **Interview for the Livelihood Department:**


    Vijay sat with Vinay, an experienced Ayurvedic medical expert, and Lokesh, an experienced physician for an interview.


    "Tell me, Vinay, how can we improve the livelihood and health of our people?" Vijay inquired.


    "Your majesty, with proper education and awareness programs, we can promote healthier lifestyles," Lokesh replied. "Encouraging regr physical activity will lead to improved health and well-being."


    Impressed by Vinay''s insight, Vijay nodded, acknowledging the importance of cultivating healthier habits among his people.


    Turning to Lokesh, Vijay asked, "And how do you n to improve the livelihood and health in our kingdom?"


    Lokesh replied confidently, "We can implement waste management systems, build sanitation facilities, and establish clean water sources. Educating the public on the importance of cleanliness will help prevent diseases and maintain a healthier environment."


    Vijay noted Lokesh''s focus on the overall well-being of the kingdom through cleanliness, appreciating the potential impact it could have on their society.


    In the end, Vijay chose Lokesh for the council, valuing the holistic approach to health and well-being that epassed both living habits and cleanliness. However, he also took note of Vinay''s individual approach, nning to use him for his future needs.


    **Interview for the Internal Security Department:**


    Next, Vijay met with Arjun, a veteran of honourable service, injured during challenging missions.


    "Arjun," Vijay began, "I see from your resume that you are a military veteran. Can you tell me more about your experiences and how they rte to ensuring the safety of our kingdom and its citizens?"


    Arjun took a deep breath before responding, "Yes, Your Highness. I have served as a military officer for several years and have faced numerous challenging situations. During one mission, I was injured while protecting a civilian poption from an imminent threat. That experience taught me the importance of securing the safety of our people, even in the most perilous circumstances."


    Vijay listened attentively, nodding in acknowledgement of Arjun''s words. "Yourmitment to our people''s safety ismendable," Vijay said. "How do you propose to handle internal security challenges in our kingdom?"


    Arjun responded, "I believe in a proactive approach. Strengthening our border defences, implementing strategic patrols, and providing rigorous training to our soldiers are essential steps. Additionally, I emphasize building trust between the military and the localmunity. Engaging in open dialogues, understanding their concerns, and addressing issues promptly will help prevent potential unrest and maintain peace."


    "Jackpot," Vijay thought, but he quickly masked his expression andplimented, "Your approach ismendable, Arjun. I believe your experiences and dedication will be instrumental in leading our Internal Security Department effectively, ensuring the safety and well-being of our citizens."


    With Arjun''s thoughtful strategies and emphasis onmunity engagement, Vijay felt even more confident in his decision to entrust him with the responsibility of safeguarding the kingdom''s internal security.


    Interview for the Business Department:


    Lastly, Vijay spoke with Rajesh, who had risen from humble beginnings and earned the appreciation of thest king, his father, eventually bing the city lord of Bangalore. However, Rajesh faced significant challenges as the city was struggling, resembling more of a town than a thriving urban centre. Undeterred, he envisioned a transformation that would revitalize Bangalore into a bustling business haven.


    Rajesh''s strategic decisions attracted merchants, infusing new life and wealth into the city. His hard work led to the creation of jobs, fostering economic growth, and transforming Bangalore into a vibrant city. With Rajesh''s leadership, the once small town flourished into a bustling city.


    As Vijay carefully reviewed Rajesh''s r¨¦sum¨¦, he was pleased with Rajesh''s impressive achievements.


    "Rajesh, how can we foster economic growth and prosperity?" Vijay inquired, eager to hear his ideas.


    Rajesh took a deep breath, feeling nervous as he spoke. "Your majesty, I believe in removing the tariffs between different states, which will promote free trade and create a more interconnected market. This will lead to increasedmerce and economic growth," he replied nervously, aware that his proposal involved the interests of local noble families.


    Vijay was shocked by his reply but thought that he had found another diamond in the rough, and he was very happy. Seeing Rajesh''s face looking uneasy, he reassured him, "It''s alright, speak your mind."


    Rajesh was relieved that His Highness did not take any offence and continued, "I understand that this proposal might raise concerns, but I firmly believe that by fostering open trade, we can pave the way for greater prosperity for all, including the noble families. It might require careful negotiation and coboration, but I am ready to work towards a solution that benefits our entire kingdom."


    Vijay smiled, appreciating Rajesh''s determination. "Your dedication to the well-being of our kingdom is admirable, Rajesh. Your ideas show promise, and I value your contributions to the council."


    "Thank you, your majesty. I am deeply honoured to be considered for this role. If given the chance, I will work tirelessly to contribute to the kingdom''s prosperity," Rajesh said humbly.


    With the interview concluded Rajesh left the room with a mix of excitement and anxiety.


    With the council members chosen, Vijay''s vision of a strong and united Imperial Council was bing a reality. As they embarked on their journey together, Vijay felt a sense of hope and excitement for the future of his kingdom. The challenges ahead were significant, but with the right team by his side, Vijay was confident that they could bring about positive change and prosperity for the Vijayanagara Empire.


    End of Chapter 4.

 Chapter 5: Formation of the Imperial Council II

    <h4>Chapter 5: Formation of the Imperial Council II</h4>


    Three of the seven council members have been selected so far. The remaining four positions will be filled with Vijay''s own people, as they are considered too important to be given to outsiders. For the military department, the ideal candidate should be adept at military and politics, possess no actual power, but have massive influence in the army.


    Vijay pondered the situation, and a thought came to his mind, "Ah, I see. In that case, the ideal candidate for the military department is Lokanandha Senapati, a 60-year-old military general. He has a remarkable track record of serving alongside his father and sessfully oveing various challenges that hindered his family. Though now retired due to his age, Lokanandha Senapati remains an excellent choice for the position in the military department. His experience, expertise, and loyalty make him the best candidate for the role," he muttered to himself.


    For the finance department, it was an easy choice as no one else crossed his mind other than his butler. The butler had practically managed the treasury of his family, which, for all purposes, was also considered the kingdom treasury. Given his exceptional skills in financial management and trustworthiness, the butler made him the perfect candidate for the role.


    As for the religion and cultural department, Vijay needs someone with an open mind and a high eptance of new concepts. As he tapped his finger while pondering, a face came to his mind - Raghavendra Bhat, the head priest of the Shiva temple who had previously canonized him.


    Raghavendra Bhates from a distinguished lineage of Brahmins, holding a significant position within the social hierarchy as representative of the Brahminmunity. Despite facing challenges early in life due to his father''s passing, Bhat took on family responsibilities during his teens, which led to his mature upbringing. Unlike other children who might benefit from nepotism butck manners and ability, Raghavendra stands out with both his manners and abilities.


    Convinced that Raghavendra Bhat fits the criteria perfectly, Vijay wrote down his name as the ideal candidate for the role in the religion and cultural department.


    Having a big headache over the selection for the judicial department, Vijay found himself unable to think of anyone suitable for the role. With a sigh, he massaged his head.


    Feeling the need for assistance, Vijay called his trusted butler to convey his orders.


    "Uncle Ravi, I need you to put your job down as the family''s butler and..."


    *thud*


    "Your majesty *sob* please forgive any sins *sob* I havemitted *sob sob* Please don''t abandon me," the butler knelt down crying like a child.


    Vijay''s face turned ck for a moment, then softened as he continued.


    "Uncle Ravi, please get up. I am not punishing you. Please listen to me carefully. I am not abandoning you. As a matter of fact, I am promoting you to a higher position in the kingdom. I want you to take the position of the head of finance. I don''t have anyone else I can trust, and you will have to take over this job," Vijay exined earnestly.


    "Keeping you as a butler is like killing a pig with a cavalry charge, which is quite an overkill, if I say so myself," he added, trying to lighten the mood with a touch of humour. "You possess the skills and practically ran the kingdom''s treasury; nothing has changed except your title, and now you are working full-time in this new role."


    The butler was touched by the trust his highness ced in him, fully aware of how crucial finance is to a country. As he prepared himself for the significant responsibility, a concern crossed his mind, as he asked, "Your Highness, after I be the head of finance, who will take care of you?"


    Vijay chuckled and reassured him, "It''s okay, Uncle. I am the only one remaining in the family, so there isn''t much for you to do in that regard anyway . I trust you to handle the financial matters of the kingdom efficiently."


    Relieved by the exnation, the butler nodded, understanding that Vijay hadplete faith in his abilities to manage the kingdom''s finances.


    Vijay continued, "Also, inform Lokananda Senapati of his role and contact Raghavendra Bhat."


    Handing over the appointment orders to Uncle Ravi, "As you wish, Your Highness. Is there anything else I can do for you?"


    Vijay thought for a while and then discussed the matter of the judicial department with his butler.


    After a moment of contemtion, the butler''s face lit up with an idea. "Your Highness, I have the right candidate for your description," he said eagerly.


    Vijay''s face also lit up with excitement. "What are you waiting for? Bring him to me right away!" he eximed.


    The butler nodded, as He swiftly left to carry out his task, confident that he could fulfil Vijay''s expectations with his choice.


    A few hourster, Uncle Ravi came back with a middle-aged man who looked a little haggard.


    "This is..." said Vijay, confused by the appearance of the middle-aged man.


    Butler Ravi noticed Vijay''s confusion and exined, "This is Bhuvan. He used to be in charge of judging cases in Vellore town, but because of his rigid personality, he offended many noble people and got kicked out of officialdom."


    Vijay suddenly understood the situation and became interested. He asked Bhuvan, "Tell me, Justice demands wisdom. How would you handle a case where a noblemanmits a crime?"


    Bhuvan replied, "With due process, Your Highness. I shall treat all equally, regardless of rank, ensuring the truth prevails."


    Vijay was impressed and continued, "And if your family were involved in wrongdoing?"


    Bhuvan responded with determination, "Your Majesty, my duty lies with justice, and I would hold my family ountable like any other."


    Encouraged by Bhuvan''s principles, Vijay made a decision, "Let''s appoint you as a temporary council member, Bhuvan, and hope your words ring true until you prove yourself."


    Despite Bhuvan''sck of qualifications and some lingering doubts about his trustworthiness, Vijay recognized his rare and solid principles in this era. However, he remained confident that with his "golden finger," he could make Bhuvan a crucial part of his small startup team, provided he proved his loyalty.


    "Uncle Ravi, please convey to all council members that we shall hold a meeting tomorrow, and I expect their presence without any dy."


    End of Chapter 5.

 Chapter 6: Formation of the Imperial Council III

    <h4>Chapter 6: Formation of the Imperial Council III</h4>


    POV Lokanandha Senapati


    Under the shade of a giant banyan tree, an old man with a weathered face and a bushy beard sat beside ake, engrossed in fishing. Loka Nandha Senapati, as he was known, appeared to be in his early sixties, yet his sturdy build and confident demeanour reflected his years of military experience. His name "Senapati" was a testament to his previous role as the suprememander of the Vijayanagar Empire''s army. Now, in his retirement, he found happiness in the simple act of fishing.


    In the tranquillity of the moment, as he felt the tugging of a fish on the line, an abrupt disturbance shattered the peaceful scene. A servant came running towards him, unceremoniously trampling through the grass. The old man''s eyes narrowed with irritation as he watched his potential catch escape. He regarded the servant with a steely gaze, causing the young man to falter in his steps.


    "Just when I was about to have a catch," Senapati grumbled, a hint of annoyance in his voice.


    "Master, here is the royal edict from the capital," the servant said quickly, holding out a rolled-up parchment.


    As Senapati''s eyes fell upon the official seal on the parchment, his irritation subsided, reced by an air of seriousness. He unrolled the edict with care, scanning its contents.


    "Looks like my old bones are still in need for the empire," he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.


    POV Raghavendra Bhat


    In the heart of a Shiva temple, Raghavendra Bhat sat in deep meditation, his eyes closed in devotion. As the chief priest of the temple, it was his duty to connect with the divine and guide the religious practices of the faithful. The temple, adorned with intricate carvings and draped in colourful silk, emanated an aura of spirituality that permeated every inch of its sacred precincts.


    Amidst the silence of prayer, an assistant approached, hesitantly interrupting Raghavendra''s meditation. As he opened his eyes, ready to reprimand the intruder, he noticed the parchment held in the young man''s trembling hands. The seal of the royal family adorned the parchment, leaving Bhat curious and intrigued.


    "Your Holiness, I bring an order from His Majesty," the assistant said, attempting to convey both the urgency and importance of the document.


    Bhat epted the parchment and began to read its contents carefully. Thenguage of the edict spoke of matters pertaining to the religious and cultural department, something he had not encountered before. Uncertain of the implications, he decided to seek rification from Vijay himself.


    ROYAL PALACE HAMPI


    Several people are sitting in the royal pce as if waiting for someone, some looking reserved, and others confident, as if they are used to such asions. These people are the council members, precisely gathered because of the letter from Vijay


    The doors swung open with a grand flourish, heralding the entrance of Vijay Deva Raya, the esteemed king of the Vijayanagar Empire. As everyone rose to their feet in respect, the room echoed with the chorus of "Long live your majesty" and "Long live Vijayanagara."


    With a graceful wave of his hand, Vijay motioned for everyone to be seated. His eyes scanned the council members, their expressions ranging from curiosity to excitement. His voice was firm yet soothing as he began to address them.


    "Today, we gather here to inaugurate the imperial council," Vijay announced, his tone carrying the weight of the moment. "This council shall serve as the pir of our empire, aiding me in formting and implementing various policies."


    The council members listened intently, their hearts pounding with a mixture of honour and trepidation.


    "You, esteemed members, shall represent me in the diverse fields of your expertise," Vijay continued. "Each of you shall bear the weight of responsibility as my ambassadors."


    A sense of pride surged within them as they embraced the trust ced upon their shoulders.


    "However," Vijay added, his eyes holding their gaze, "let it be clear that you are representatives, not wielders of power. I, as the monarch, retain the authority to remove any of you from your position should the need arise."


    With this deration, a hush fell upon the gathering. Everyone understood the magnitude of their roles and the necessity to remain loyal to their sovereign.


    "Let us proceed with the formation of the council," Vijay announced. "We shall have the livelihood department, internal security department, military department, finance department, religious and cultural department, judicial department, business department, and, in the future, more departments as the need arises."


    After exining the purpose of their gathering, Vijay proceeded with introductions.


    "Lokananda Senapati, Head of the military affairs department" Vijay announced, and the old veteran of many battles rose from his seat. He warmly greeted his fellow council members, acknowledging their presence with a nod and a reassuring smile.


    "Raghavendra Bhat, In charge of the religious and cultural department" Vijay continued, and the chief priest stood up gracefully. He joined his palms in a traditional gesture of respect and greeted his colleagues with a "Namaste,".


    "Lokesh, Leading the livelihood department with his outstanding medical knowledge and experience," the schrly head of the livelihood department. As he rose to his feet, he exchanged nods of acknowledgement with the others, appreciating the expertise they each brought to the council.


    "Arjun, Head of the internal affairs department," A seasoned veteran. Arjun stood tall and greeted his fellow council members.


    "Rajesh, In charge of the Business department, " Vijay said, and the head of the Business department stood up with a friendly grin. He expressed his eagerness to coborate on ventures that would benefit the empire''s prosperity.


    "Ravi, My former butler now entrusted with the finance department", Ravi rose gracefully. He smiled warmly as he exchanged pleasantries with his colleagues.


    "Bhuvan, the head of the judiciary department".


    End of Chapter 6.

 Chapter 7: Royal Tour

    <h4>Chapter 7: Royal Tour?</h4>


    It has been a few days since the council''s founding, now that Vijay has freed his hands from the minor affairs of Vijayanagara for the most part, he has nned to take a tour of the empire before starting his reforms. he may have all the theoretical knowledge in his head, but he does not have any practical experience.


    "Vinod, prepare everything that is needed, I''m going on a tour of Vijayanagara".


    "As you wish your Majesty" .a young man with ck hair, ck eyes and a handsome face replied. Vinod is a 30-year-old young man who is an orphan raised by the royal family since birth, and he was Uncle Ravi''s protege, as such he took over from Uncle Ravi as his butler, and loyalty is guaranteed.


    Apanied by a small retinue of loyal advisers and guards, Vijay set out on his horse-drawn carriage early one morning. The people watched in awe as their ruler passed through the bustling streets of Hampi. His journey took him through many towns and viges in each part of the empire.


    In the first vige he visited, Vijay Deva Raya was weed with Scared faces and folded hands. He conversed with farmers toiling in the fields, learning about their struggles with water shortages andndlord taxation. Vijay just found out that all the taxes collected from the poor peasants were going to thendlords and had nothing to do with the royal court. Although most of the taxation rights were taken back by his father, it was mostlynd tax, but the farmers still paid their localndlords 60-70% of their grain, leaving them with barely enough to eat. Vijay was furious and clenched his hand very tightly, which resulted in a bruise. He wanted to eradicate the unjust taxation system, but he held back, realizing, "It''s not the time yet," he said to himself. He waved his hands and reassured the vigers that he would find a solution for them, all while wearing a warm smile.


    As Vijay''s journey continues, he gets to know more about his people and customs, and he notices a major problem. Vijay only read about it in books in his past life, but he now knows the horror of the caste system, which is deeply ingrained in Vijayanagara society, dividing people into hierarchical social groups without any development tform. Brahmins (priests and schrs) were at the top, followed by Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants), and Shudras bourers). Below these castes were the Dalits (untouchables), who are considered outside the caste system and often faced severe discrimination.


    His journey takes him to the coastal regions of Vishakapatnam, where Nagappa is the head of the coastal vige, a very famous South Indian port in his past life. "It will be perfect as amercial port," he thought. Then, he saw fishermen who risked their lives at sea to provide for their families. Vijay witnessed them struggling for their life in a small, tattered fishing boat.


    "Nagappa, why don''t we have bigger boats? Can''t we make arger boat for fishing?" Vijay asks doubtfully.


    "Your Highness, we can build bigger boats, but all the bigger boats that go to the sea nevere back. We think there is a curse on the big boats in our country," he says trembling.


    Vijay frowns. As a person from the 21st century, of course, he will not believe in such superstitions, but he begins to ponder and gains a clue. "Alright, I will arrange a grand offering to Lord Varuna," he said not wanting to worry themon folk.


    Nagappa is relieved. Vijay''s journey continues.


    As he made his way into bustling Bengaluru, Vijay reminisced about studying in this city in his past life. The memories of the city''s splendour filled him with a sense of nostalgia, and he couldn''t help but be a bit biased in favour of making it his future capital city. Despite being far from the sea andcking considerable natural resources, he saw the strategic advantages it offered. Bengaluru was located within eptable distance to all major South Indian states and upied a central position in the region. This made it a potential political centre for his empire, allowing for better governance and essibility to various parts of the kingdom.


    While Vijay acknowledged the significance of Hampi, he realized that its proximity to the Mughal states might pose some challenges. Therefore, he believed that Bengaluru, with its strategic location and existing infrastructure, would be a wiser choice for the capital.


    Vijay interacted with merchants, traders, and artisans. He observed the economic vibrancy and cultural diversity that thrived within the city . However, he also noticed the stark contrast between the opulence of the nobility and the poverty endured by some of the poor.


    As Vijay ventured deeper into the hearnd, he was moved by the devotion of the people to their respective faiths. He visited many temples and shrines, seeking blessings for the prosperity and unity of his kingdom. He admired the richness of their spiritual lives but also became aware of the encroachment of Imic and Christian monasteries in the region.


    Vijay never liked both religions, not for any other reason, but because they seemed like both sides of the same coin. Each religion believed that their god was the supreme god, and those who didn''t believe in their god were considered outsiders or not part of their people. But Hindus consider all Indians as their people; there is even a Muslim-practising Sufi saint (Sai Baba) worshipped as a god by millions of Indians. Both Muslims and Christians could not do it, moreover. The Christians had sessfully wiped out Nordic and Greek gods through their belief that Christ is the only God, considering all other deities as heresy, and both religions came to the modern world with the blood of countless indigenous religions on their hands. Vijay was determined not to let history repeat itself. He knew he couldn''t forcefully eliminate other religious beliefs, as there were millions of people following different faiths. Instead, he pondered on finding a way to integrate them as peacefully as possible.


    Throughout his journey, Vijay Deva Raya embraced the hardships and joys of his subjects. He dined withmoners, danced with tribalmunities, and sat by the fire listening to the folk tales of the elders. The living conditions of his people became etched in his heart, driving him to be a more empathetic and conscientious ruler.


    After months of traversing his kingdom, Vijay returned to Hampi with a profound sense of purpose.

 Chapter 8: Military Reform I

    <h4>Chapter 8: Military Reform I</h4>


    It has been a few days since Vijay returned from his tour, and his first priority was to reform the military. He had many ideas to make the kingdom prosperous, but he knew that safeguarding its interests required a strong military. As the morning sun cast a warm glow, Vijay sat in his study contemting the path to military reform.


    "Vinode, please call Lokananda Senapathi. I wish to speak with him," Vijay instructed his butler. Vinod nodded and left to fetch the old general. Lokananda Senapathi arrived, dressed simply yet exuding dignity. He respectfully bowed before Vijay and greeted, "Long live Your Highness."


    "Lokananda Senapathi, I have been considering the need for military reform," Vijay said directly, skipping any small talk. Lokananda was not surprised; he knew that his Highness had grand ambitions.


    "What is the current strength of our army, Senapati?" Vijay inquired.


    "Your majesty, it is 100,000 troops, divided into two divisions under themand of two generals," Senapati replied.


    "And how many noble households andndlords are there in the army?" Vijay asked.


    Senapati was taken aback by the question but quickly responded, "There are 10,500 noble households, your majesty."


    Vijay frowned, "Why so low? Don''t the nobles hold significant influence in the army?"


    Senapati exined, "There was a major cleanup during your father''s rule, your majesty. He increased the qualifications to join the army and attain higher ranks, resulting in the removal of manyzy nobles from the military."


    Vijay further inquired, "Why wasn''t I aware of this? Was there no resistance?"


    Senapati rified, "There was no resistance, your majesty. The previous king granted some grain taxation rights to the nobles, which facilitated the transition. As most nobles fear for their lives, they epted the change willingly. Now, only the capable ones remain in the army."


    Hearing this, Vijay gave a thumbs up for his old man. He asionally contemtes whether his old man is also reborn like him, as their ideas align closely. Nevertheless, he is relieved in realizing that his father is not reborn, as there are no groundbreaking innovations at this time. Instead, his focus was on removing the harmful elements for necessary reforms.


    "Alright, Senapathi, I need you to prepare the draft for a new reform n for the army. The focus will be on uniform and disciplined high-quality soldiers.," Vijay instructed.


    he continued "I need a high-quality army, where our 100,000 soldiers can stand against a 500,000 enemy army. I want a system where every soldier gets a chance to be a general. I need an army that marches through fire if need be," Vijay dered, eyes zing.


    Senapathi was deeply affected by Vijay''s fighting spirit. "Leave it to me, your majesty," he said enthusiastically, his heart thumping with excitement. Vijay patted his back, saying, "I believe in you, old general. Do your best," before copsing to the ground.


    Startled, Senapathi quickly helped Vijay up, fearing something might be wrong with the king. "Your majesty! Your majesty!" he yelled in panic.


    Vijay waved his hand, reassuringly saying, "It''s okay, old general. I''m just tired from my work."


    Relieved by those words, the old general left the pce with excitement on his face, ready to fulfil the king''s vision for a uniform and disciplined army.


    Back in the pce


    "It''s too much, huh..." Vijay muttered to himself , with a wry smile on his face. He had just transferred his knowledge about This military of the 18th century to Senapathi, a process that had drained all his energy inside him. Yet, despite the exhaustion, his eyes sparkled with anticipation for the invincible army, a force a hundred years ahead of its time.


    POV Lokananda Senapathi


    Senapathi came back home with an excited expression as if someone had injected him with chicken blood.


    Bham!


    A servant carrying big gunny bags did not notice his master and bumped into him. Cold sweat broke out of him as he saw who he bumped into. He flinched, closing his eyes, expecting to be yelled at or even get whipped. but out of the ordinary,


    "Oi, look where you are going next time," was all he heard from his master. He was dumbfounded by his words. Not just him, but all the servants around him looked at the departing back of the old general with mouths agape .it was the first time they saw the general this happy.


    Lokananda excitedly took a parchment to start nning for the new reforms. However, as he ced the pen on the parchment, his smile faded away as he realized he had no clue how to aplish what Vijay had asked for - an army of 100,000 soldiers defeating a 500,000 army. , a uniform and high-quality force, what does that even mean anyway?. In all his years of service, he had never encountered such an army. Now he realized that his Highness had dug a huge pit for him, And feeling annoyed, reying his Highness''s speech in his mind. he had nowhere to vent his anger,


    *Click*


    Just then, a servant came with some tea. The old man was in a bad mood and yelled angrily, "Who told you toe in? Get out!" The servant, puzzled, had question marks on her face. Everyone in the mansion wondered, "What happened again...? Wasn''t their master in a good mood? Who ruined it?" They red daggers at the maid who came out. The maid, seeing all their looks, looked aggrieved as she had no clue what she had done.


    Lokananda walked around, going from corner to corner, deep in thought. "Ahhh," he eximed, holding his head, and decided, "I''ll talk to His Majesty tomorrow to reduce the requirements," as he went to sleep.


    te at night, Lokananda had a dream where he dreamt of an invincible army


    This army was renowned for its disciplined and well-organized structure. It operated on a system of universal conscription, requiring all eligible male citizens to serve in the military. This ensured arge and well-trained force, ready to defend the state.


    This army''s soldiers underwent rigorous training, instilling discipline, marksmanship, and efficient battlefield tactics. The army''s emphasis on quick and efficient responses tomands led to a cohesive and highly effective fighting force.


    At the heart of This military''s sess was its General Staff system. This centralized body of highly trained officers was responsible for nning and executing military operations. Their strategic and tactical expertise gave This army a significant advantage on the battlefield.


    Their infantry was renowned for its precision and effectiveness inbat. They utilized line tactics, forming rows of soldiers to maximize theirbat effectiveness. The officer corps was a keyponent of This army. Officers received specialized training at military academies, ensuring a high level ofpetence and professionalism within the leadership ranks.


    Through military reforms and innovative practices, This army maintained its military edge. Their culture of professionalism and loyalty to the state fostered a strong sense of duty and cohesion among the soldiers.


    *Bah*!


    Lokananda suddenly woke up, panting heavily. "Thank you, Shiva," he prayed in gratitude, and then he sprinted towards his study room in the middle of the night, running like a 20-year-old.

 Chapter 9: Military Reform II

    <h4>Chapter 9: Military Reform II</h4>


    "Your Majesty, the thing you invented is amazing! It saves a lot of work," a maid said with admiration and a look of worship.


    "The thing is called a mop, and don''t make a big deal out of it," Vijay replied with a slight blush, embarrassed by the praise as he was not the inventor of the mop.


    Vijay was going about his usual affairs when he noticed a maid cleaning the pce floor with a cloth and water in hand. He had an idea and immediately called a carpenter to make a stick with a detachable cloth on one end. This marked the birth of the mop, the first change in this world by Vijay.


    *BANG*


    A person rammed into the council room like a bolt of lightning. Vijay was startled and looked to see who was so bold , but he was releaved that it was none other than Logananda Senapati, who appeared unusually energized.


    "What is this old guy up to?" Vijay thought, his curiosity piqued, by the sudden appearance of the old general.


    "Your Highness... I... did... it," Logananda said, stuttering and panting as if he ran a marathon, yet his eyes glimmered with excitement.


    "Slowly, calm down, and tell me slowly," Vijay said, trying to make sense of Logananda''s non-descript words.


    Logananda quicklyposed himself and said, "Your Highness, I have finished the ns for the military reform," he said, his voice still brimming with enthusiasm, not looking like a 70-year-old at all.


    "Oh, so quick," Vijay said, with a surprised expression on his face but thinking to himself, "As expected, Logananda always had a way of exceeding expectations."


    Logananda continued, "Your Highness, I originally wanted to consult you to reduce the requirements when I went home, but a miracle happened."


    "Ohhh! So what changed?" Vijay asked with interest.


    "Lord Shiva, your highness, LORD SHIVA came in my dreamst night and showed me an invincible army," Logananda replied with a sense of astonishment and awe in his voice.


    Vijay''s eyes lit up at the words of the old general. "This can be a good excuse," he thought. "Looks like our kingdom is blessed by the gods," he said, concealing his amusement behind a regal demeanour.


    "Tell me about this incredible army," Vijay urged, genuinely interested in the details of Logananda''s revtion.


    Logananda, like a floodgate, started exining and didn''t stop talking until he was out of breath...again.


    His hands gestured animatedly to emphasize the brilliance of his vision.


    Vijay, chuckled inwardly, as the old man became more and more animated as he went on, but he did not show it on his face.


    Vijay was surprised by Logananda, because the n was not exactly like the Prussian army he passed him, but looked like it was more suited for Vijayanagara Empire''s conditions. Nevertheless, his innovative ideas and strategic brilliance impressed Him.


    "ginger is still old and spicy I guess" he said to himself.


    He was satisfied with the n, and his confidence in Logananda''s capabilities grew even more.


    That day, an edict was passed in the Vijayanagar Empire which caused tremors in all departments of the nation.


    ording to the decree.


    *Decree of Military Reformation in the Vijayanagara Empire*


    By the authority vested in me, King Vijay of the Vijayanagara Empire, I hereby dere aprehensive military reformation, aimed at unifying and strengthening our armed forces. These measures are set forth to ensure the defence, prosperity, and stability of our great kingdom.


    1. The North and South armies shall be merged to form a united Vijayanagara Empire army, with an unyieldingmitment to safeguarding our Lands.


    2. In pursuit of a disciplined and efficient force, the General Staff shall be established as the dedicated operating body of the army, directly ountable to the throne.


    3. To maintain a robust and well-organized logistics and supply system during campaigns, the Logistics and Supply Department shall be established as a separate entity, ensuring the adequate provisioning of our troops.


    4. Recognizing the importance of the well-being of our warriors, a specialized Medical Division shall be formed, entrusted with the solemn duty of providing immediate care and saving the wounded on the battlefield.


    5. The Counseling Division shall be established as a distinct body to provide sce and guidance to our soldiers, fostering loyalty and devotion to both the king and the country.


    6. A rigorous militaryw shall be formted, outlining a clear reward and punishment system to prevent any misuse of power among the officers.


    7. To ensure the just evaluation of our forces, a Merit System shall be instituted, with the General Staff entrusted to assess and acknowledge the merit and shorings of our army.


    8. Our army shall be organized into four divisions, eachprising 25,000 soldiers, with the esteemed leaders of each division bearing the title of Major General.


    9. Each division shall consist of five brigades, eachprising 5,000 soldiers, overseen by the esteemed leaders titled Brigade General.


    10. Within each brigade, five battalions shall stand, eachprising 1,000 soldiers, led by the esteemed leaders known as the Colonel.


    11. To facilitate efficiency and coordination, each battalion shall consist of fivepanies, eachprising 200 soldiers, led by the esteemed leaders titled Major.


    12. Within everypany, five toons shall be formed, eachprising 40 soldiers, under themand of the esteemed leader known as the Lieutenant.


    13. And finally, each toon shall contain five squads, eachprising eight soldiers, led by the esteemed squad leader.


    Furthermore, to ensure the optimalposition and readiness of each division, the following organizational structure shall be implemented:


    1. Each division shall beprised of three infantry brigades, each consisting of 15,000 soldiers, forming the backbone of our ground forces. Additionally, a cavalry brigade shall be constituted, housing 5,000 skilled horsemen, ready to swiftly traverse the terrains and provide strategic support.


    2. Recognizing the importance of artillery in future warfare, each division shall include two specialized artillery battalions, with a total of 2,000 highly-trained soldiers. These battalions shall wield the power to turn the tide of battles with their formidable firepower.


    3. In order to ensure the sess of military construction endeavours, one dedicated engineering battalionprising 1,000 skilled soldiers shall be incorporated into each division. They shall undertake vital tasks such as fortification construction, bridge-building, and other essential engineering projects to support our forces.


    4. The remaining soldiers shall be ced in specialized roles, their expertise to be called upon as the need arises. This adaptive approach will allow us to address any unique challenges and adapt swiftly to changing circumstances in times of conflict.


    5. It is imperative that all units, whether infantry, cavalry, artillery, or engineering, undergo rigorous training and exercises to enhance their skills and coordination. Thismitment to excellence shall forge an army capable of oveing any adversity in defence of our kingdom.


    Let it be known that these reforms shall be enacted forthwith, with the appointment of Marshall Loganandha Senapathi as the esteemed head of the General Staff. Major Generals Ramaiah Senapati and Narasimha Nayak are hereby recognized for their valorous service, while the remaining positions shall be filled promptly to strengthen the fabric of our united army.


    May the blessings of the gods shine upon our noble undertaking, as we march forward to secure the glorious future of the Vijayanagara Empire. So be it, by my hand and decree.


    *Vijaya Deva Raya*


    This moment will be known by historians as the start of a modern army.

 Chapter 10: Problems With Military Reform

    <h4>Chapter 10: Problems With Military Reform</h4>


    It had been a while since the military Reform. For the civilians, nothing had changed; life went on as always. But in the official circles, it felt like a bomb had been dropped, and everyone was scrambling to get their job done.


    Today, Vijay got up excitedly, wearing the new military uniform he designed. The uniform resembled an early version of the modern military uniform. He looked heroic as he headed to the new training grounds to inspect the army training.


    *cling cling cling*


    As he got closer to the barracks, he heard the sound of fighting, which made him excited and increased his pace.


    Upon reaching the barracks, he was stunned, not ted, but disappointed with the training. The training still resembled the way armies were trained in the middle ages, emphasizing individualbat ability while ignoring groupbat.


    What infuriated him, even more, was that most of the soldiers were in their 40s to 50s. He needed a progressive army, not a cold weapon army; he needed an army that could transition from cold weapons to firearms and adapt ordingly.


    While he was lost in thought, he heard footsteps and turned to see who it was.


    "Long live your majesty," an old man said, who was none other than Lokananda Senapati.


    "I would havee to pick you up, your majesty. I could have arranged a wee banquet for you," Marshal Lokananda said.


    Vijay frowned, waved his hand, and said, "Leave that aside for now. Now tell me...."


    He was about to start ranting about what he saw during the army training, but his voice trailed off as he noticed that the marshal was not alone; he was apanied by two new faces. Vijay gestured to the marshal; the marshal''s face must not be lost after all.


    "These are...?"


    "Oh, them? They are the new candidates to be promoted to the position of major generals of the army," the marshal said, "I am vetting them before submitting a report for your approval," and then he continued to introduce them, "This one with a Dastar is called Yogendra Singh. He is a refugee from the Mughal Empire and used to be a general in the resistance army against the Mughal Empire. Sadly, they failed, and a few of them escaped and found refuge with us. Due to his outstanding contributions to our army, he is a candidate to be promoted after the reform." Vijay nced over at the tall mountain of a man with a white skin tone; he had the air of a seasoned general. The marshal then continued, "The other one here is Kiran Pujari, an outstanding defender. He defended a fort in Hyderabad from the Mughals with only 5,000 people against a 10,000-strong Mughal army. His merit is well known in the army." Vijay nced over him too; he had a darkplexion and an average height. He looked like a normal man, but his eyes told otherwise, as they were full of vicissitudes of life, as if he had seen everything there is to it.


    *Thump*


    As soon as they heard the marshall''s introduction, they both saluted.


    "Major General Candidate Yogendra Singh, reporting for duty, sir!"


    "Major General Candidate Kiran Pujari, reporting for duty, sir!"


    Vijay was satisfied with their salute, even though it looked a little awkward, given it had only been a few days since the reform. It was already excellent.


    "At ease, soldiers," Vijay said as he came closer and patted their backs like an elder and said, "Do a good job." The sight of a 20-year-old patting the back of 40-year-olds looked a little funny, but no oneughed. The two generals once again stiffened their bodies and raised their heads with pride.


    "SIR, YES, SIR!" They yelled. Vijay nodded and then looked at the marshal.


    "Join me for a cup of tea, old man?" he asked.


    The two generals, after hearing this, saluted and left.


    Vijay came inside the barracks, poured a cup of tea for the marshal, and got straight to the point.


    "Why is the training going on like this, marshal? Where are the drills and queue training? How will you give me an invincible army like this?"


    "Drills?...Queue training?" Lokananda was confused by the new terms, but he quickly forgot about it as he stopped drinking his tea and replied, "Your Highness, the problem is that we don''t know how to train the army to make it like in the reform bill. We don''t have any experience in the area, so we are going through trial and error. It will take a lot of time," he said, looking defeated.


    Hearing this, Vijay pped his head. "Idiot, a gun needs bullets. Without bullets, a gun is nothing but a paperweight," he reproached himself for getting too ahead of himself and forgetting to transfer the knowledge on army training. He also had a slip-up, which isn''t like him.


    "Get a hold of yourself," he screamed internally.


    Vijay''s hot head quickly calmed down. "One step at a time," he muttered.


    "Alright then, what about all the older soldiers in the army? I need a progressive army, not a rigid one," he asked, addressing the second issue he noticed.


    The marshal retorted as if his tail had been stepped on, "What you said is wrong, your majesty. They are strong soldiers who have been battle-tested and brave. They are the backbone of the army; we cannot retire them now. That will cause huge problems for us with their cements. Moreover, training new recruits takes a lot of time and money."


    Hearing this, Vijay was stunned; he had forgotten about the cement of veterans and the resources required.


    When he was having a headache, he suddenly got an idea. "This can work," he said excitedly.


    "Marshall, please prepare the army training n. In a few days, I will hold the imperial council, and I will solve these problems for you then." He patted the old man''s back and sent him all the information about the army training methods he knew.


    Vijay felt light-headed immediately, but the pain was much less than the first time. He quickly added some extra sugar and drank his tea, feeling better. "Hmm, the efficiency improves, I see," he muttered in a low


    voice.


    "Ah... what?" the marshal asked, confused. Vijay quickly regained his senses.


    "Nothing. You can go now, Marshall. Make sure to prepare the n. I''ll hold a yaga in the pce for your sess."


    Lokananda''s eyes lit up; he wished he could have another dream. He quickly saluted and left the room. Vijay looked at the door with expectations for the future. Remembering something, he called his butler.


    "Vinod, please schedule the imperial council for this weekend," Vijay instructed. The butler bowed and left the room to arrange the matters.

 Chapter 11: Formation of Police Department & Police Academy

    <h4>Chapter 11: Formation of Police Department & Police Academy</h4>


    Hampi Pce, Vijayanagar Empire.


    In the study room of Hampi Pce, Vijay polished his ideas, eager to implement them. He had all the knowledge of the original owner of the body, Vijay Deva Raya, but he soon realized that data alone wouldn''t be enough. What he needed was the experience. The experience of being a true monarch of the nation.


    *knock knock*


    "Come in," Vijay said.


    Vinod entered the room and said, "Your Highness, The imperial council is ready, and everyone is waiting for you."


    Vijay raised his head and nodded.


    *Imperial Council*


    Murmurs filled the council hall as members discussed their work with each other. Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps caught everyone''s attention. The doors opened, and Vijay entered, prompting everyone to stand and greet him.


    Vijay gestured for everyone to sit down.


    "Gentlemen, I would like to start the meeting by offering my apology," he said sincerely, bowing down slightly.


    Startled, everyone jumped out of their seats. Raghvendra Bhat, The First to respond, quickly said, "Please don''t do this, Your Highness. You are the son of God; you should not bow your head."


    Vijay waved his hand nomittally and ordered everyone to sit down, "I made a mistake, and I apologize. It''s only natural for humans to do so. But as a king, my mistakes can have consequences that will hurt the nation and its people. I am no son of God, just a fortunate person born as the heir of the royal family."


    The speech shocked everyone. No king had ever in the history of Vijayanagara had said such words before. Vijay was the first.


    "In the future, to avoid such mistakes, I would need your help to polish the details of my ideas," he continued.


    Everyone who heard this readily agreed to help him in whatever is needed.


    "Leave it to us, Your Highness. We will do our best to help you," Logananda, the oldest person in the room, stated.


    Vijay felt relieved and nodded.


    "Now that we got that out of the way, Director Arjun, how is the status of recruiting people for the internal security department?"


    Arjun quickly stood up, looking nervous, "Your Highness, there are not many people who are worth recruiting. Till now, less than 2000 people have been recruited."


    Vijay nodded, confirming his suspicion.


    "Marshal, how many military veterans aged 40 and above do we have?"


    "50,000 people, Your Highness," Lokananda replied, without checking any document.


    Vijay''s next words made everyone tremble, "All 50,000 people will be retired as soon as possible."


    "W-What?!" Everyone was scared out of their wits.


    Lokananda tried to object, "Your Highness, I..."


    Vijay cut him off, "I know what you all are worried about, Marshall, Everyone. You are concerned about the cement of veterans, right?"


    Everyone nodded.


    "I have Decided, The majority of these veterans will be transferred to the police department."


    Confusion spread among the members.


    Vijay quickly shared the document he was holding before they could ask, which contains all his ideas in them. As they read the document everyone was surprised and thought to themselves, "It can still be yed like this ?''''.


    "As you all have seen, this document contains the workings and functions of the police department," he continued, "The police department will be under the direct control of the internal affairs department, and the temporary police chief will be Arjun."


    "Like you have seen in the information, the police division is a unit to protect the rights of the people of the Empire and to maintain order. Hence, I find these veterans fit to serve as police officers and maintain order in the Empire."


    Vijay noticed everyone nodding and asked, "Does anyone have anything to add?"


    No one raised any objections except the old butler Ravi, but Vijay calmed him down.


    "Then it''s decided. The police department will be established immediately, and all the veterans except those above 55 will be police officers. The police force will consist of 50,000 personnel for now, and all major cities and towns will have a police station without fail."


    Vijay handed over another document to everyone.


    "This is a n for the establishment of a police academy."


    Another new term puzzled everyone. Vijay continued, "A police academy is a ce where all future police officers will be trained. It will teach thews of our empire, martial arts, and literacy. Raghavendra Bhat, you will have to arrange a few teachers for the academy."


    Raghavendra nodded, still a bit confused. "Why is literacy relevant to the police department?" he wondered.


    "Your Highness, is using teachers in the police academy a waste of resources?" Arjun hesitantly asked.


    Vijay replied as a matter of factly, "Of course not. Knowledge is the Superpower of humans. Even a farmer can use force to solve a problem, but only a literate officer can handle the problem from happening. So literacy sses are mandatory," he continued, "Make no mistake, the police academy is a division-level unit on the same level as the police division. Arjun, you will also be the temporary head of this division ."


    Arjun was dumbfounded by all the power suddenly entrusted to him, but soon felt the weight of the responsibility he is entrusted, he began to panic, he was only an army veteran with a little internal management experience, and all this power is making him uneasy


    Despite the fear in his heart, he Firmed his resolve, he got up and saluted the king.


    Vijay then ordered, "Arjun, I will be expecting you to choose the head of the police department and police academy."


    Arjun was not disappointed but relieved in his heart and said, "As you wish, Your Highness."


    Vijay quickly drank the high-sugar tea, approached Arjun, and passed on all the general knowledge about the police department and police academy, while he patted Arjun''s back.


    Though he fumbled a bit, the sugar kicked in, and he regained hisposure. "Formte the ns for the formation of the police department and police academy and send a report for me to review."


    "It will be done, Your Majesty," Arjun responded hesitantly, thinking about how toplete the task.


    "Now, on to the next objective."

 Chapter 12: Formation of Military Acadamy

    <h4>Chapter 12: Formation of Military Acadamy</h4>


    "Now that the internal security is settled, we move on to the military affairs department," Vijay addressed the council with a serious expression on his face.


    "I have seen in recent days that our army is nowhere enough to protect a nation of 40 million people," he continued, his brows furrowing in concern.


    Uncle Ravi wanted to object, but Vijay waved his hands and cut him off. "I know, Uncle, we don''t have money for that, so I will not expand the army... for now," he said thest words silently, his expression showing a hint of disappointment.


    Ravichandra reluctantly sat down.


    "So I have decided to train a higher quality army, an army capable of taking on any force in our region (i.e., the Indian subcontinent)," Vijay dered, his eyes shining with determination.


    He motioned to Logananda to distribute his ns among the council members, eager to share his vision with them.


    "Gentlemen, with the grace of God, I came up with a n to train an invincible army. Last night, Lord Shiva came into my dream and showed me how to train an army," Logananda said, his voice resonating with excitement.


    Everyone was surprised by this revtion, it was the first time they had seen logananda so religious.


    "You have seen the document; the way of training the army will be drastically different from what we have seen," Logananda continued, his eyes full of pride in the n.


    He listed out the details, and Vijay listened intently.


    pulsory military service: There will not be any conscription-based service from now on, but soldiers will serve full-time from now on, aspensation each soldier will receive a 30 Varaha fixed sry in piece time and more in wartime.


    Military training will be focused on mastering drills and formation. Soldiers were trained to march in precise formations and execute various tactical manoeuvres. The linear formation will be adopted, where soldiers lined up shoulder to shoulder in rows.


    For cavalry units, training will be focused on horsemanship, mountedbat techniques, and the use of sabres andnces.


    Artillery training will involve learning how to operate cannons and mortars, including loading, aiming, and firing these heavy weapons.


    Fortifications and Siege Warfare: Training will often include learning how to construct and defend fortifications, as well as tactics for besieging enemy strongholds.


    Officer Training: Aspiring officers will receive a more extensive education, including studies in military theory, strategy, and leadership skills. Many officerse from the nobility, butmoners could also rise through the ranks based on merit."


    Logananda detailed the n, and Vijay listened intently, nodding in approval. Logananda drank a cup of water and continued with confidence.


    "These are the points that His Majesty agreed upon. Are there any doubts?" Logananda inquired, looking around the room expectantly.


    This time, multiple hands were raised. Vijay asked Uncle Ravi to put down his hands, and though unwilling, Ravichandranplied with a sigh.


    Arjun raised his hand, and Vijay motioned for him to speak.


    "Your Highness, there is no ce to train the officers," Arjun pointed out, his forehead creased with concern.


    Vijay nodded and motioned him to sit down.


    "Are there any otherments?" Vijay inquired, looking at the council members with an encouraging smile.


    No one raised their hands, but their expressions showed curiosity and eagerness to hear more about Vijay''s solution.


    "Let''s put aside Uncle Ravi''s problem, which we all know is about money," Vijay said humorously, lightening the atmosphere and earning a few chuckles from the council members. "Arjun''s doubt is indeed worth considering, which I would like to say has already been considered."


    Vijay handed over a document that detailed the formation of the Military Academy, including two locations in Bagyanagaram (Hyderabad) and Mysore, and exined his ingenious n.


    Formation of Military Academy: like the police academy The military academy will be constructed, it is nned that 2 military academies will be formed in Bagyanagaram (Hyderabad) and Mysore.


    Admissions and course: from now on all the soldiers will have to go through the military academy to join the army which is mandatory. The academy will have courses starting from soldier to Major General, which any soldier can take afterpleting the lower course. Admissions for our soldiers will be free of charge.


    Academic Education: The military academies will cover various subjects, including military history, strategy, leadership and ethics. Soldiers typically earn a degree in a specific academic field, such as engineering, science, social sciences, or humanities, depending on the academy''s offerings.


    Military Training: Military training Will be an integral part of the curriculum. soldiers learn military skills, tactics, and leadership principles through hands-on training exercises, field training, and simtedbat scenarios.


    Physical Fitness: Soldiers will be trained to maintain a high level of physical fitness throughout their academy training. Physical training includes regr exercises, endurance training, and various sports to build strength, stamina, and overall fitness.


    Leadership Development: Leadership development is a core focus of military academies. high-level officers participate in leadership courses, simtions, and practical exercises to enhance their decision-making,munication, and management skills.


    Military Drill: Soldiers practice military drills and ceremonies to develop discipline, teamwork, and precision in movement. This includes learning to march, handle weapons, and execute military formations with precision.


    Field Training Exercises.


    Professional Military Education: As Soldiers progress through the academy, they receive advanced training tailored to their specific branches or areas of specialization within the military. This may include further instruction on specialized equipment, tactics, and strategies relevant to their future roles.


    Graduation and Commissioning: Upon sessfulpletion of the academy''s requirements, Soldiers graduate and aremissioned as officers in their respective military branches. They may then serve in active dutyponents, depending on the country''s needs.


    Medical Training: A medical branch will be added as it is required for each squad to have one medical soldier. Lokesh will be the head of the department for now." Lokesh got up and bowed in eptance.


    Cultural Department: There is a cultural department that aims to instil loyalty to the kingdom, king, and the god in the army. Raghavendra Bhat will be in charge of this branch for now." Raghavendra also got up and bowed in eptance.


    "Now, from now on, any soldier, no matter which caste, can climb up thedder and get a chance to be a military general or even a Marshall," Vijay dered, his voice resonating with confidence and conviction. "No soldier will be promoted to a higher role unless they clear the course in the military academy."


    *p p p* Logananda started pping, and everyone joined in to apud the impable n.


    "Looks like there is no problem," Vijay muttered to himself, feeling aplished and hopeful for the future.

 Chapter 13: Treasury Reform

    <h4>Chapter 13: Treasury Reform</h4>


    The council meeting was still ongoing as everyone returned after a short break. Vijay took charge and initiated the discussion.


    "Uncle Ravi, please calcte how much money is needed to form all the necessary departments," Vijay asked.


    Ravichandra pondered for a moment in his head and replied, "It will take 60 million Varaha, your Highness."


    Vijay frowned, as the amount was way more than what he had imagined. But he soon gritted his teeth and made his heart firm to continue with the reform.


    "Uncle, what is the amount of money in the treasury?" Vijay inquired. Ravichandra replied, "Due to your father taking away some of the privileges of thendlords and nobles, it is currently around 40 million Varaha, your highness. This is the highest it has been since the founding of the kingdom."


    So they were still short of 20 million, Vijay thought. He nodded his head and asked again, "What is the value of all the property my family owns?"


    Even though Uncle Ravi was retired, he had been the butler of the royal family for decades, so he should still know all the finances and property details of the Royal family.


    As he expected, without missing a beat, Ravichandra replied immediately, "It will total over 37 million Varaha, your highness."


    "But, your highness, most of the money is in the form ofnd property and castles," he added, sensing that something was not right.


    Listening to Uncle Ravi''s worry, Vijayforted him, "Don''t worry, Uncle. I will be cautious. I know what to do."


    Upon hearing Vijay''s reply, Ravichandra became sullen and sat down reluctantly.


    Vijay continued to exin his ns for the kingdom''s treasury. "I have decided to separate the public treasury from the private treasury," he announced.


    Everyone in the room looked confused. Public? Private? What were those?


    Ignoring their confusion, Vijay went on to exin the difference between public and private treasuries.


    Despite Vijay''s exnations, everyone was still puzzled. "Your Highness, don''t both public and private treasuries belong to you? What''s the point of having them separate?" Ravichandra asked, voicing everyone''s doubts.


    Vijay replied, "There are actually several reasons, but one of the main ones is that I have future ns for the treasury. I intend to make investments from my personal treasury, which some may consider reckless. However, I have full confidence in my investment choices and future vision. In the event that these investments do not seed, I do not want the kingdom''s treasury to bear the burden of my mistakes."


    Though still confused, everyone agreed with his decision.


    Vijay continued, "Uncle Ravi, please hand over 20 million Varaha to Logananda for military expansion and 10 million to Arjun for the police department."


    Ravichandra, though reluctant, agreed to the allocation.


    "Marshall Logananda, please use this money to expand the army by another 50,000 for a total of 100,000 professional soldiers," Vijay instructed.


    "The military will be trained ording to the document you submitted," he said, signing a document on his desk and handing it over to Logananda.


    Logananda respectfully epted the document and saluted, replying, "It will be done ording to your wishes, your highness."


    "Director Arjun, the 10 million I have allocated to you will be used for the formation of police stations and the police department. I hope you make good use of the money," Vijay continued as he signed the document and handed it over to Arjun. Arjun respectfully epted the document with a bow, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity.


    "As for the remaining 10 million Varaha, it will be used as emergency funds for the empire."


    Vijay called his butler Vinod, and a middle-aged man came running. "Vinod, please arrange for all the property in the form ofnd to be sold as soon as possible."


    Everyone in the room, including Vinod, was startled by the request. Ravichandran couldn''t sit still anymore. "Prodigal, you''re squandering all the centuries of the wealth of your ancestors. Please don''t do this," he yelled, with a livid expression on his face, like an elder reprimanding a younger generation.


    Vijay was taken aback by Uncle Ravi''s sudden outburst, but he soon realized the reason behind it. He understood that Uncle Ravi had dedicated most of his lifetime to serving the royal family, and witnessing a younger generation making decisions that could affect the family''s wealth must have been difficult for him.


    However, Vijay didn''t take offence to Uncle Ravi''s reprimand. Instead, he smiled and calmly exined, "Uncle Ravi, don''t worry. I am only selling the family''snd, not the pces and mansions. I believe that strengthening the kingdom''s military is more important than holding vast amounts ofnd. Even if I owned all thend in the kingdom, it would bring little to no benefit."


    He continued, earnestly convincing his uncle, "Moreover, I am not donating the money to the empire. Instead, I am providing the Empire with a 30 million Varaha loan from the royal family, which I expect to be repaid in the next fiscal year."


    Uncle Ravi finally agreed to the proposal, his face still grumpy. "I seem to bepromising a lot today," he thought, shaking his head in self-defeat.


    Vijay let out a sigh of relief, relieved that his biggest obstacle had been cleared.


    He continued to give orders, "The 30 million Varaha from the royal family will be used to fund the Military Academy and the Police Academy, which will start construction immediately."


    Vinod opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but since his teacher agreed, he didn''t have much to say.


    Seeing there was nothing else to discuss, Vijay said, "Does anyone have anything to add?"


    Everyone in the conference shook their heads, indicating that there was nothing further to discuss.


    "If that is all, then this is the end of the imperial conference," Vijay dered as he left the room. The others got up and praised, "Long live your Highness! Long live Vijayanagar! Long live!"


    The news about the imperial council spread like wildfire, especially among the veterans in the army who were uneasy upon hearing about the retirement of 50,000 soldiers. However, their unease was soon reced with relief when they discovered the opportunity to secure safer positions as civilian police officers with a decent sries. Although the sry was not as high as in the army, the job offered a greater sense of security, as they would primarily be dealing with gangsters whockedbat skills and only knew how to bully the weak.


    The civilians were also ted when they learned of the recruitment posted for 50,000 candidates to join the army. What was even more unexpected was that Along with 30 Varaha monthly pay, there were no caste requirements for joining. Although the previous Monark, King Sriranga Raya had not discriminated against any caste, most of the selected army members were from the higher to middle caste. However, this time, in a groundbreaking move for Vijayanagara, caste was not a consideration in the selection process. Many people were astonished and impressed by the fact that the recruitment process was so Open, and the offer of free lodging and food for selected members further heightened the excitement.


    Amidst the buzz of enthusiasm, shouts of "Long live your highness! Long live your majesty! Long live!" echoed throughout the kingdom, expressing the people''s admiration and support for their Young king.

 Chapter 14: Dinesh Reddy I

    <h4>Chapter 14: Dinesh Reddy I</h4>


    Andepalli Vige, outskirts of Hyderabad, Vijayanagar Empire.


    In the remote outskirts of Ande Palli Vige, a young man of about 18 years is working alone in the fields. Despite his lean and malnourished appearance, there is an undeniable determination shining in his eyes.


    Dinesh Reddy, The young man working in the fields, Their family had to leave his hometown because of the oppression in the Mughal Empire. Despite their family''s reluctance to abandon their home, misfortune favoured them. They faced tough times due to a bad drought, leaving them unable to pay the high taxes demanded by theirndlord. When they asked for more time, thendlord threatened to make them beggars on the streets. With no other option, the family had to escape their homnd to find a safer ce to live."


    While attempting to make their way back to safety, the family was caught by the border patrol.


    But in a tragic turn of events, while trying to save Dinesh, both of his parents took arrows to their backs. This heartbreaking incident left Dinesh as an orphan, without his parents to guide him. Perhaps because of this loss, he matured beyond his agepared to others.


    As Dinesh arrived in Vijayanagara, he discovered a glimmer of hope. In this newnd, he learned that even those considered from the lowest castes had the opportunity to own theirnd. Determined to build a better future for himself, Dinesh worked tirelessly towards that goal. Since childhood, he had always been smart, and with his intelligence and hard work, he eventually managed to buy an acre of uncultivatednd on the outskirts of the vige.


    Suddenly;


    "DINESH!.... DINESH.....!"


    A man came running into the fields, even to the point of tripping on his own legs.


    Dinesh, who saw this scene, shook his head in amusement.


    "What''s the matter, Nandan?" he asked.


    The man who came in a hurry is Nandan, and he is Dinesh''s friend. Since Nandan is a bit low in IQ, no one talks with him, except Dinesh, of course.


    Nandan said hurriedly, "Big people said there is a recruitment going on in the new building in the city. They said that the sry is 30 Varaha," he said excitedly while showing 4 fingers. Seeing this, Vijay chuckled, folded 1 finger, and asked, "Oh, what is the recruitment for?"


    "Big people in the vige said that it is for the army. They said anyone can join from the age of 18-20 years, big people send all the young kids in the vige"


    Listening to this, Dinesh''s heart was set aze with excitement. He quickly put all his tools inside his hut and hurried to the city to see for himself.


    Dinesh made his way to the newly built building called the "VIJAYANAGARA NORTH MILITARY ACADEMY". When he arrived, he saw a massive queue with groups of people his age waiting in lines.


    After asking around, he found out that 10 people are interviewed at a time, so he patiently waited for his chance to go in. After an afternoon of waiting, he was finally allowed inside by the uncles at the door, who looked like veterans.


    Inside, Dinesh found himself among 9 other people. In front of him stood an army officer dressed in khaki. The officer appeared impatient as he asked, "Does anyone here know how to read?" It was as if he had asked the same question countless times before. To Dinesh''s surprise, a person to his right hesitantly raised his hand. The officer pointed at a ce and asked, "Read this."


    The candidate who raised his hand read the text, "No spitting, please," with a nervous tone. The officer seemed satisfied and dered, "Excellent! No need for a test, you are selected."


    The person who was selected was overjoyed as he left the room, proudly wearing the badge given by the officer. The officer then turned his attention to the rest of the candidates and started asking them some questions.


    He asked questions like:


    1. "The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?"


    2. "What belongs to you but is used more by others?"


    3. "You are in a situation where you need to make a quick decision that could have significant consequences. How would you approach making that decision?"


    4. "How do you handle conflicts or disagreements with others in your life?"


    5. "You are on a boat with several other people in the middle of the river. The boat is sinking, and it can only hold a certain weight before it capsizes. There is one person on the boat who is extremely overweight, and their weight is endangering everyone else. Would you throw the overweight person overboard to save the rest of the passengers? Why or why not?


    Dinesh was confused by the questions asked, he didn''t get how any of the questions were rted to him being recruited, but he answered them truthfully, trying his best to convey his thoughts and feelings to the officer.


    Later, Dinesh came to know that those seemingly unrted questions were designed to filter out the simple-minded candidates and identify the ones with sharp minds. He was surprised to discover that he had been selected despite his initial confusion during the interview. This news made him feel proud and grateful, realizing that his responses had been recognized and valued by the recruitment officers. Excited and eager, Dinesh prepared himself for the journey ahead at the Vijayanagara North Military Academy.


    ARMY BARRACKS - DAY 1


    Sergeant Harish, a stern and no-nonsense figure, stands near the entrance, wearing his uniform with pride. He checks the sky and nces around the room, noticing a group of recruits still sleeping soundly in their beds.


    In a booming voice, Sergeant Harish yells, "Wake up,dies! Rise and shine! You''re not here to sleep your life away!"


    The sergeant ps his hands together loudly, startling everyone awake. The recruits groggily open their eyes and sit up, confused and disoriented.


    Dinesh wakes up, rubbing his eyes and asks in confusion, "What''s going on?"


    Darshan, his colleague who took the interview with him and knows how to read, yawns and said, "Why is the sergeant here so early?"


    Striding towards the bunks, Sergeant Harish yells with nerves sticking in his neck, "You recruits are a shame for our nation! You should be up and ready for duty! Now, get out of those beds, you useless waste of resources, and form a line by the wall!"


    The recruits scramble to their feet, stumbling out of their bunks and hastily arranging themselves against the wall, some not even properly dressing themselves as they assemble. Sergeant Harish watches them with a burning gaze.


    The sergeant marches back and forth in front of the recruits, his footsteps echoing in the otherwise silent room. He takes a moment to let the tension build, and the recruits stand at attention.


    Sergeant Harish stops in front of Dinesh,es close to his face, and yells, "Everyone! Drop and give me twenty push-ups!"


    .......................


    .............


    ........


    ....


    After several rounds of intense training and more yelling from Sergeant Harish, the recruits can''t help but wonder, "What have we gotten ourselves into?"


    TO BE CONTINUED...

 Chapter 15: Dinesh Reddy II

    <h4>Chapter 15: Dinesh Reddy II</h4>


    In the military barracks of the Vijayanagara North Military Academy, Dinesh and Darshan made their way to the canteen to have some lunch after the gruesome training. They were both overjoyed to find that they could eat as much as they wanted, and there were even pieces of meat on their tes. After the morning of hard and strenuous exercises, they gobbled up their food. Through the suffering, Dinesh and Darshan had gotten pretty close together.


    Apparently, Darshan is from andlord family, but because he is an illegitimate child, he did not inherit any wealth from his family. However, since he was born into the family, he could at least learn to read.


    As they were gossiping, suddenly they heard a voice that sent shivers down their spines.


    "Move your asses, maggots! It''s time to work!"


    It was their sergeant, Harish, who was yelling.


    Everyone in the canteen, out of reflex, quickly made their way to the training grounds.


    In the training ground, they were made to stand in line and then ordered to maintain an upright position for an hour straight. At first, Dinesh thought it would be easy, but after 15 minutes of standing still, his legs started screaming for help. However, he didn''t give in. He was determined toplete the military training and move forward, not wanting to face the wrath of Sergeant Harish.


    Twenty minutes in, someone gave in and buckled to the ground. In an instant, Sergeant Harish was upon him, shouting, "YOU WUSS, GIVE ME FIVE ROUNDS ON THE GROUND NOW!"


    The recruit tried to argue, but the sergeant cut him off, "NOW GIVE ME 10 ROUNDS. TALK AGAIN, IT WILL BE 20 ROUNDS."


    Then, he warned everyone, "If anyone can''t do as I say, then they will be kicked out of the training camp." The sergeant yelled, "Understand?" and everyone quickly nodded their heads.


    But the sergeant, still angry, yelled again, "I said do... you... UNDERSTAND."


    "SIR... YES SIR," they responded in unison.


    Satisfied, the sergeant turned around and left.


    "That was a close call," Dinesh thought to himself.


    One hourter,


    Sergeant Harish yelled, "At ease!" Everyone copsed to the ground at the same time, panting for breath.


    The sergeant continued, "Take a 20-minute break until we move to our next session." Then, he announced, "For those who want to leave this camp, this is thest chance. After this, you can''t leave. If youck the conviction to stay in the army and work even harder, please leave."


    Hearing this, Dinesh was tempted. He wanted to run away, but suddenly, "SPINELESS COWARD," he cursed himself for even thinking of leaving. He clenched his fists, almost drawing blood, as he thought about his parents'' faces before they died. He held onto his determination and didn''t go anywhere.


    Coming here was the only thing he wanted to do. He wanted to fight the Mughal Empire; he wanted to be on the battlefield, He wanted to take revenge with his own two hands, He WANTED.....to get stronger. That was the whole point of him joining the army; the money was secondary as he already had an acre ofnd which could fill his stomach. With a newfound determination, Dinesh got up and moved forward to the next session.


    His movements were noticed by Sergeant Harish, who still looked at Dinesh''s back with a stern expression, but a sense of approval shone in his eyes. A few people left the camp, but most of them stayed. They were used to hardships, and more physicalbour was nothing to them. As the day passed by, they went through more queue formations, marching, physical exercises, and discipline training, which they never heard of, and felt like hell, but they made it through.


    In the evening, after dinner, they were called for something called "literary sses." Their batch of recruits made it to therge hall with benches and chairs, and everyone was relieved that there was no more physical training. Shortly after, an old man in priestly attire entered the room, smiled at everyone, and told them to sit down.


    "Hello, everyone. My name is Veer Das, and I will be your literary and cultural teacher from now on," he continued. "After your daily training, 4 hours in the evening will be dedicated to these sses. You will mainly be studying four courses. First, a literacy course, which will teach you how to read and write. The second one is a mathematics course, which will teach you how to count numbers. The third course is a cultural course, which will teach you to be loyal to the king and to your gods. The fourth course, which the king himself coined, is called science, a study of how the world works."


    After finishing the speech, Veer Das asked everyone, "Now, I introduced myself. Please introduce yourselves one by one and tell me what knowledge means to you."


    The first person on the bench stood up and said, "Hello, sir. My name is Lingesh. ording to me, knowledge is a tool used by higher-ranking people to create songs, poems, and everything."


    Teacher Veer Das kept nodding and didn''tment any further as he looked on while everyone else introduced themselves.


    It was finally Dinesh''s turn. "Hello, sir. My name is Dinesh Reddy. For me, knowledge is a tool used by the weak to defeat a stronger person." Veer Das raised his eyebrows at that answer, but he didn''tment any further as he listened to everyone else''s introductions.


    Finally, after hearing everyone else''s answers, Veer Das noted as he continued, "All right, most of your answers are true, some are not entirely true, and some are partially true."


    As he continued...


    "We humans may be physically fragile, but we wield knowledge as a weapon for growth. What is knowledge? In a sense, it is the greatest strength of humans. Without knowledge of fire, we wouldn''t live; without knowledge of nts, we would wear no clothes; without knowledge of the earth, we wouldn''t have any tools. So, knowledge is the Power for human growth. Now, our benevolent King has provided all the military recruits with the chance to gain all the kingdom''s knowledge for free. I hope you can all make use of these resources without wasting them. With that said, let''s start our sses."


    And thus, as the day came to an end for Dinesh and thousands of military recruits across the country, the impact of this military training led to the rise of hundreds of talented individuals within the Empire. Historians of the future even pointed out that this policy became the core strategy for Vijayanagara Empire''s military dominance.

 Chapter 16: Agriculture Experiment and Police Trouble: Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 16: Agriculture Experiment and Police Trouble: Part 1</h4>


    On the outskirts of Shimoga, the Vijayanagar Empire


    In a Large Wooden Hut, Vijay is sitting on a chair, thinking about his next move.


    Which he considered to be food production.


    Even though thend of Vijayanagar is very fertile, the food produced was barely enough to fill everyone''s stomachs. even when the food is surplus, it can be exchanged for money with the neighbouring kingdoms, So, Vijay decided to improve the agricultural technology of the Empire. He came to this small vige to conduct an experimental trial on the four-field crop rotation method. Despite having all the necessary knowledge to implement the n throughout the Empire, he knew that theory means nothing without practice and experience.


    The four-field crop rotation system is a traditional practice that involves dividing a field into four sections and rotating different crops through each section in a specific order. The goal of this rotation is to improve soil fertility, reduce pest and disease pressure, and increase overall crop yields. The typical crop nting in the four-field crop rotation includes barley, oats, and peas in the spring; corn, wheat, or ragi in summer; turnips and beets in the autumn; and rice or leaving the field fallow in the winter.


    Vijay chose to y it safe by selecting this vige to test out his theory so that even if the n does not work, no one will be harmed on arge scale.


    "Knock knock."


    Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.


    "Come in." Vijay Said.


    An old man, around 50 years old, entered the room. His hair was grey, and his hands were calloused from years of working in the fields.


    Vijay discovered this old man while searching for a suitable location for his experimental nting. He saw the old man nting the same type of crop in different parts of the field. When Vijay asked, the old man exined that he wanted to know which crop grew best in different conditions.


    Vijay was astonished. He couldn''t believe that someone was conducting experiments simr to the pea experiment in this day and age.


    "I have found a gold mine," Vijay thought to himself. Without any dy, he invited the old man to run his experiments, He also thought if the old man epts his invitation, he would transfer all his knowledge about the four-field crop rotation method to the old man.


    Narasimha, the old man, was shocked beyond belief. He didn''t know Why his little Gimmik would impress His Majesty the King. But without any hesitation, he agreed and came to the experimental vige.


    "Your Majesty, the crops are ready to be nted," he said excitedly.


    Vijay nodded and left the room to watch the nting.


    As he arrived at the fields, he saw the farmers ploughing thend with bull tongue ploughs. Vijay Himself introduced these ploughs, Although these types of ploughs were first used in the 19th century, they were stillmonly seen in rural India in the 21st century. Vijay had invited a skilled cksmith to make a plough de and asked a skilled carpenter to assemble the de with a horizontal piece of wood that connected the plough de to the hitch where the oxen could then pull the plough through thend. The plough increased the efficiency greatly.


    Then, he saw a group of young children holding ragi seeds in their hands and nting them on the ground as the plough moved forward. Some farmers also used organic animal waste as fertilizer, nting it alongside the seeds.


    Vijay was very satisfied with this arrangement and asked the old man beside him, "Narasimha, when will it be time for harvest?"


    The old man replied, "Your Highness, normally the seeds are nted before we''re ready for harvesting in about four months. But since we are doing it differently this time, we will have to wait until the resultse. However, ording to my personal experience, it won''t take more than that."


    Vijay nodded in understanding. He still wanted to introduce water conservancy projects, but due to limited funds, he couldn''t do it. "What a pity," he thought.


    "Your Majesty, there seems to be urgent news for you from the pce," said the messenger.


    Hearing this, Vijay quickly made his way back to the pce. Inside, he found two important figures - Logananda Senapati, the current army Marshal, and Director Arjun, the head of the internal security department.


    "Long live Your Majesty, long live," they said, saluting in a military manner.


    Vijay asked with concern, "What seems to be the problem?"


    Lokananda was the first to respond, "Your Highness, because of more candidates than expected for the army, we are unable to feed them all. In our current condition, the army''s finances can onlyst for one year."


    Vijay frowned, as he didn''t anticipate this situation. Rubbing his head, he replied, "I''ll see what I can do."


    Lokananda nodded, understanding the weight of the situation.


    Vijay looked at Arjun and asked, "What seems to be the problem, Arjun?"


    Arjun began with a bitter tone in his voice, "There was an ident in Bengaluru town, Your Highness. A member of a noble family raped amon girl, and he was caught by the police. However, due to his noble origin, his family caused a big mess. They raided the police station, beat up the police officers, and the situation escted quickly. Even though the officers were trained veterans that can handle five people by one person, there were just too many goons, and the officers couldn''t handle the situation." Arjun looked visibly troubled as he reported the incident.


    Listening to this, Vijay was furious and yelled, "Idiot! Stupid! Why don''t you just kill them all?"


    He was fuming with rage as he said those words, and Yogananda, standing next to him, was also somewhat angry, ring at Arjun.


    Arjun quickly replied, "Your Highness, we can''t do anything in this situation. They seem to have the backing of most of the nobles and higherndlords in the country. If we make a move on them, it will anger all those big nobles andndlords."


    Vijay quickly gathered his thoughts and realized, "Oh, so this is their response to me opening the police station, is it?"


    Vijay had always known that the nobility would not take kindly to his interference in their interests, but he did not expect such retaliation toe in this way. The incident in Bengaluru town was a stark reminder of the power and influence they held, and it made him realize the magnitude of the challenges he would face in bringing about true reform in the kingdom. Nevertheless, Vijay is determined not to be scared by these obstacles.


    "Logananda, at what time will the army be fully functional?" Vijay inquired.


    Listening to His Highness'' words, the Marshal was stunned and replied, "Your Highness, it will take up to the end of this year to have the armybat-ready."


    Vijay asked, confused, "What about the 50,000-man army that is alreadybat-ready?"


    Logananda replied with a wry tone, "Your Highness, we are already treading on thin ice by reducing half of the army. The remaining soldiers are stationed on the borders of ournds, and if we withdraw any more, we risk leaving ourselves vulnerable to attacks."


    TO BE CONTINUED...

 Chapter 17: Raid! and Police Trouble: Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 17: Raid! and Police Trouble: Part 2</h4>


    Vijay quickly realized the difficult situation they were in. "Not the time yet," he muttered to himself, understanding the seriousness of the issues he had to deal with. He chose to wait for the right moment to take action.


    Vijay replied, "Okay Arjun, do as I said. It seems the nobility wants to test my determination to form the police department. Send 4,000 experienced veterans from other locations to Bengaluru and wipe out the noble family involved in this crime. let the transfer of personnel be as low-key as possible, I don''t want other nobles to jump over the wall. Also, since they are so open to breaking thew, they should have a lot of ck material for evidence. Find that material and let it be known to the public,"


    Vijay continued, "Show them my determination for the police department. From now on, every criminal you catch should be tried in the panchayat, like in the old system. However, the head of the police department in that location will be present in all the judgments as a deterrent. This will make them think twice before acting so arrogantly again."


    Vijay added, "And don''t worry about their retaliation. They are not a monolithic entity; I still haven''t touched their core interests yet. They will not go overboard in their response."


    "With pleasure, Your Majesty," Arjun saluted and exited the room, filled with excitement.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    In Bengaluru, inside a big mansion, an old man sat on a chair that looked like a throne, apanied by 4 to 5 members discussing something. He was the patriarch of the Vardhan family, and unfortunately, the young man who raped a girl was from their family. They used to be normal nobility in a small town but with the help of the town lord, who provided beneficial tax policies to Bengaluru, their family quickly expanded their industries throughout the city, including shops, farms, and other lucrative ventures.


    When news of his grandson''s crime reached him, he was furious, not because he cared about the girl, but because his grandson had provoked the newly formed police department in public. The memory of how Vijay''s father had ughtered the disobedient nobles in the past made him hesitant to offend the current king.


    Initially, he wanted to request leniency from the police chief for his grandson, but soon he was contacted by other noble families offering resources, money, and people to provoke the royal family and test the king''s response. Vishnu Vardhan, the patriarch, was sceptical at first, but the allure of riches and power made him agree to the n. However, he still believed that the king wouldpromise with the nobles, considering that the king himself was a noble.


    Among the gathered members, a middle-aged man, Kishor Vardhan, worriedly asked, "Dad, is Ramu going to be alright?" Kishor was the father of the young man who was arrested and also the eldest son of Vishnu Vardhan.


    "Don''t worry, elder brother, the king wouldn''t dare to do such a thing," replied another man in histe 20s, Mani Vardhan, the second son of Vishnu Vardhan. "He needs nobles like us to look after his empire after all."


    Mani continued, "If our n works, we can spread our industry throughout the country with the help of other nobles. We took a huge risk, acting as spearheads for them."


    Vishnu Vardhan nodded, indicating his agreement. "While there is risk involved, I don''t believe the king would go against the entire nobility for the sake of amon girl."


    "Police Don''t move"


    Suddenly, a group of 50 police officers barged into the mansion without any announcement and began beating up people. Even though there were nearly 100 people in thepound, they couldn''t stand against the battle-tested veterans.


    Vishnu Vardhan was scared and muttered to himself, "What is he doing? What is the king doing? Lunatic! Lunatic!" He couldn''t believe that the king would go against the entire noble ss for amon girl.


    But then, he recalled the resources provided by the nobility. So, he ordered, "Hold them off for a few moments," whispering to Kishor, "Call the wolves."


    As the police got the upper hand and almost defeated the mob, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by thousands of goons. Vishnuvardhan, driven by arrogance, went straight to the police officer and said, "What is the king going to do now? Even a strong dragon has to bow down before a local snake. Will his position be stable after offending all the nobles in the empire?"


    The police chief of Bengaluru police station, Verma, didn''t appear scared by those words. He calmly responded, "Looks like the bait worked. Constable, send the signal."


    Vishnuvardhan was confused by Verma''s response, but before he could react, there was a whistle from the constable.


    He had an ominous premonition that something bad was about to happen, but before he had any chance to react, thousands upon thousands of strong men surrounded the entire area. They all looked like battle-tested veterans. Verma, the police chief, said nonchntly, "Our group was only the bait to bring out the big fish. Looks like it worked."


    Family members slumped to the ground, defeated, muttering, "It''s all over, it''s all over."


    Officer Verma blew the whistle and yelled, "Charge!"


    The battle-tested veterans lunged into the mob like wolves to a flock of sheep. Within a few moments, all the resistance was mowed down, and crying family members were arrested. Verma and his team checked their property to find huge amounts of gold and silver jewellery. They even discovered arge number of gold statues stolen from nearby viges.


    As the news of the raid spread, shockwaves ran through the kingdom. Themoners were overjoyed to know that they would be getting their money back, but the nobles got the message: Vijay Deva Raya is serious and does what he says.


    In most of the noble families, conversations like "looks like a lion father does not have a dog son" were going on.


    After this event, the establishment of police stations in various towns and cities went unimpeded. This also increased the king''s influence among themon people unintentionally.

 Chapter 18: Blast Furnace Iron Making

    <h4>Chapter 18: st Furnace Iron Making</h4>


    After the sessful police raid, public safety in towns and cities of the Vijayanagar Empire significantly improved. Themon people were grateful for the quick and efficient actions of the newly established police force. Criminals had been put on notice in various parts of the country. Even the always arrogant nobles chose to be lowkey, and for the first time, a sense ofw and order was introduced in the kingdom.


    Even though themon people in the empire are happy, Ravichandra, the head of finance of the empire, who is currently in the Pce, is not. He approached Vijay with a serious expression. "Your Majesty, I must warn you that our funds are running low to continue the ongoing projects," Ravi said, looking visibly troubled.


    Vijay looked at the report brought back by Uncle Ravi. He could see the heavy financial burden they were under, but he still hesitantly replied, "But uncle, we cannotpromise on the military reforms we have started. If we stop these projects now, we will not be able to start them again for another few years."


    Thinking about the Dutch threat on the coastline, and the nobles waiting to see his downfall, Vijay felt a huge pressure and didn''t want to dy his military construction. He said hurriedly, "We must find a way to make money to stabilize the treasury."


    Vijay walked in his room from wall to wall, pondering over the ways to make money. Although he had many ideas to make money, he did not have a method that was suitable for the current situation. Suddenly, Vijay got an idea. He called his butler Vinod and ordered, "Vinod, call all the Best cksmiths in the country. I have a job for them to do." Vinod quickly bowed and left the room to arrange the matters. Yes, Vijay was going to improve ironmaking to make money. He chose this industry because, in this day and age of Warlords, there was a huge market for Iron weapons and tools. With this, he could not only fill the treasury, but In case of surplus funds, He could also equip his army with iron weapons to increase the military strength of his empire.


    The Next Day


    In the grand hall of the pce, the cksmiths gathered, their eyes filled with curiosity, fear and anticipation. Vijay saw them and said, "I have called you all here today to conduct an experiment. I want you to forge an iron sword like you usually do."


    "Experiment?" The cksmiths were confused by the word, but since it was the king''s order, they didn''t ask many questions and got to work. Using their age-old techniques, they started the work, and soon the hall was filled with the ringing of hammers on anvils. However, Vijay was not satisfied. He noticed that they were still using the direct reduction method for ironmaking. This process involved heating iron ore in a furnace with carbon-rich materials like charcoal or coal. The carbon in these materials would react with the oxygen in the iron ore, reducing the iron oxide to produce iron metal. Although this method was still used in 21st-century India, it was mainly by art craftsmen, while the rest of the metal was produced by huge industrial furnaces.


    "I believe there is room for progress in ironmaking," Vijay proimed. "I have an idea that could improve the efficiency and increase iron production significantly." Vijay continued, exining, "It''s like this: The method is called st furnace iron making, in this method we first extract iron from its ore by reducing it through a chemical process using carbon as the reducing agent. The iron ore is charged into the top of the furnace, and as hot air is blown into the furnace, it reacts with coke to produce carbon monoxide gas, which acts as the reducing agent. This carbon monoxide gas then reacts with the iron oxide in the ore, reducing it into molten iron and carbon dioxide gas. The impurities in the iron orebine with limestone to form molten g, which is separated from the molten iron. The molten iron is collected from the bottom of the furnace, allowing for continuousrge-scale production of iron."


    Vijay stated the definition he knew in one breath. Most of the cksmiths were confused by the new words, but one among them raised his hand. Vijay saw a young man with ck hair, Tan brown skin and a round face, who looked like a bodybuilder raising his hand, with curiosity, Vijay allowed him to speak. The young man nervously said, "Ah, Your Highness, is it basically mixing iron ore in a carbon?...or something you said, then the iron is kept on top of the furnace, and hot air is blown from below, making iron after whatever, whatever you said?"


    Vijay was surprised by the young man''s ability to grasp all the important data from his textbook definition


    - talent,


    Vijay thought to himself excitedly. "What is your name? Who is your master, " Vijay asked.


    The young cksmith replied, "Your Majesty, my name is Heyram. My father taught me cksmithing since I was a child. He used to be a cksmith for the royal family. He recently passed away from a disease."


    Vijay nodded and said, "I''m sorry for your loss. And yes, your exnation sums it up."


    Intrigued, the cksmiths started to ponder after listening to Heyram''s simplified exnation. But as they wereprehending it, unknown to them, something extraordinary happened. Vijay telepathically sent his knowledge of iron smelting techniques from the 19th century to Heyram, as he was the only person in the group who couldprehend things Vijay said for the first time. However, he did not leave out the other cksmiths, as Heyram needed some experienced helpers toplete his n. So, some scientific thinking methods were also sent to all the other cksmiths.


    This was possible because, as he used his Goldfinger ability, Vijay discovered that the more he used it, the stronger it became. Now, he could not only send his knowledge to someone in close proximity without contact, but he could also choose when they received the ideas, making his telepathic skills even more impressive.


    Suddenly, all the cksmiths'' eyes widened, and as if a spark of inspiration ignited within them, they began to discuss with each other with enthusiasm. Heyram''s reaction was the most intense, as he began to shake with excitement. He ran around the hall like a headless chicken, desperately looking for a parchment to write on. Spotting a servant in the pce, he quickly snatched a piece of parchment from him.


    "Hey!.." the servant yelled, but Heyram was too absorbed in his ideas to listen. Without wasting a moment, he took out a coal chalk he carried with him wherever he went and started sketching. The other cksmiths gathered around Heyram, intrigued by his crazy actions. As they watched on, they too were now brimming with enthusiasm, wanting to bring the new technology to reality.


    Vijay soon took the finished design n and was shocked, or at least he acted like it, but he was still surprised that Heyram could finish the design n this quickly. Immediately, he decided, "Heyram, you are now appointed as the director of the new Raya Ironworks."


    Heyram was confused by the new word, again, looking at Vijay with question marks on his face, Seeing this, Vijay had a headache, but he didn''t want to transfer knowledge telepathically for this small thing. Instead, he let Vinod exin it to him. As Vijay wanted Vinod to manage all his family''s industries, he had already sent all the basic financial operations of modern society to Vinod, so let him exin.


    After the exnation, Heyram understood what Vijay meant, but instead of being happy, he was scared out of his wits and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, please pass on this position to more experienced craftsmen. I am still too inexperienced," he pleaded.


    Vijay was really surprised by his words, but he soon figured out the reason why, now in India, it is still the time where elders held a higher position in the social hierarchy. Thinking about this, he said, "Don''t worry, from now on, only the capable can be in power in mypany. Do it with confidence," Vijay dered, ring at the other cksmiths. Seeing this, the other cksmiths bowed their heads in disappointment, but they still agreed to the arrangement.


    Finally, Heyram let go of his heart and agreed, saying, "It''s my pleasure to be of service, Your Highness."


    Vijay nodded in approval and replied, "This project is of huge importance to our empire, our military strategy and financial stability depend on this. Gather all the people here and get me a prototype as soon as possible."


    With determination to prove himself capable in front of other cksmiths and the king, along with the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, Heyram set out to work with the other cksmiths.

 Chapter 19: Mines and Market

    <h4>Chapter 19: Mines and Market</h4>


    After deciding on the establishment of the factory, Vijay thought about another important thing that is required to make iron arms: the raw materials for the factory. He would need considerable amounts of iron for the next n he made. So he searched in his memory for a suitable location for the mines, and after a while, he thought about a ce. Without dy, he swiftly called Vinod and ordered, "Vinod, have the sondagars (literal trantion from Hindi: Gold Miners) search for iron ore around the Bagalkot region."


    In the 21st century, Bagalkot is a district in Karnataka, India, renowned for its iron ore deposits. The iron ore found in the Bagalkot district is primarily hematite ore. While most of the iron ore is underground, there are still some open pit mines that are sufficient for temporary use.


    Another significant challenge in the n for iron arms production is the market for the goods. While buyers are readily avable for iron weapons in an era filled with wars, it''s important to be cautious in selecting customers. After all, allowing the weapons to fall into the hands of an enemy would be akin to taking a brick and smashing one''s own foot. Therefore, he must carefully choose whom to sell the arms to.


    Considering this, he summoned the Head of Finance, Ravichandra, the Head of Business, Rajesh, and the Head of External Affairs, Logananda Senapathi, to a meeting so he could use their opinion.


    Once they had arrived, Vijay told everyone his concerns and all the meeting attendees began to brainstorm.


    The Head of Business, Rajesh, proposed, "Your Highness, we can sell the arms to the Dutch. This approach could maximize profits since theye from a distantnd. Restocking locally would be more beneficial for them, and we could ask for a premium from them."


    Upon hearing this, Vijay firmly rejected the opinion of the Head of Business, Rajesh, stating, "No! While this approach may indeed bring us the most benefits economically, it would also make the Dutch wary of our military strength, and I do not want them to know about our capability. I also do not, for a moment, believe that their intentions are only focused on doing trade with us. If not for my father''s actions, they would likely have already established a stronghold in Ker for themselves. Thanks to him, they have not been sessful so far." He cautioned them, but what he didn''t inform them is that he was aware of the Dutch''s true goal: to plunder theirnds.


    While his father had temporarily averted a crisis, Vijay believed it was only a matter of time before the Dutch umted enough wealth through plunder in the South Asian countries and returned with more force to target Vijayanagara. He even suspected that the Dutch fleet might be behind the mysterious disappearance ofrge native ships in the Indian Ocean. Vijay even had a hunch that the Dutch had already formed a stronghold in Sri Lanka, waiting for the right time to strike. Now that they had experienced the wealth of the Indian region through trade, he believed they would not give up at any cost.


    Uncle Ravi, the head of finance, thought it through and stated, "Your Highness, how about we sell our arms to the Maratha Empire in the north of ournds?"


    Vijay thought about it. He felt it was feasible, but then he rejected the idea as he said, "While It is possible if we have a proper tradingwork with them, unfortunately, we don''t. And for every trade we do with them, it would have to be passed through the Mughal Empire. If the Mughal Empire caught wind of us providing weapons to the Maratha Empire, it would lead to a conflict we are not ready for."


    Vijay suddenly had an idea: the Mughal Empire was still in its early stages. While the current Vijayanagara Empire might not match the Mughal Empire''s strength on the battlefield, it could still cause problems by arming revolutionary forces. Given that the Mughal Empire was encountering resistance within its ownnds, this provided an opportunity for Vijayanagara''s arms industry to develop and grow.


    With much of the subcontinent under Mughal rule, there was a diversity of cultures and challenges within their territories. If Vijayanagara could somehow keep arming the resistance within the Mughal territories, it could create a chance to implement reforms and fasten development within Vijayanagara.


    Vijay then constructed a n that involved safely supplying arms to the resistance forces within the Mughal Empire. By keeping the Mughal Empire engaged and distracted, Vijay hoped to buy enough time for Vijayanagara to boost its economy andplete its own reforms. With this strategy in mind, Vijay shared his ideas with everyone present in the meeting and asked


    "What do you all think ?",


    Fortunately, everyone agreed to his n.


    But Ravichandra, being an experienced and wise old man, posed a critical question, "If I may ask, Your Majesty, How can we deliver arms to the rebel forces within the Mughal Empire without arousing their suspicion?"


    "..."


    Everyone, including Vijay, was stumped by the question asked by the keen old man and remained silent when even this n seemed like a failure, Logananda slowly raised his hand and said, "Ah... Your Highness, I have no idea about the rebels in the Mughal Empire, but I know a person who does."


    Vijay was intrigued and asked, "Oh, and who might that be?"


    The Marshal replied with a chuckle, "Your Highness, you have also met this person once. He is none other than the newly promoted Major General Yogendra Singh. He himself used to be a general in the Rebel army, after all."


    Vijay quickly recalled a bear of a man he had met during his visit to the barracks. "How could I have forgotten him," he thought to himself. Without wasting any time, Vijay swiftly ordered, "Call him over immediately."


    TO BE CONTINUED...

 Chapter 20: Contacting The Rebel Leaders

    <h4>Chapter 20: Contacting The Rebel Leaders</h4>


    Momentster, Major General Yogendra Singh arrived at the pce.


    "Long live Your Majesty, long live!" The Major General saluted quickly.


    Vijay, quickly waved his hand as if he was in a hurry and directly asked, "Do you have a way to supply arms to the rebel forces in the Mughal Empire without the kingdom noticing?"


    Major General Yogendra Singh was taken aback by the sudden question from the king, but being an experienced veteran, he quickly regained hisposure. he began to think about what the question could mean, and was overjoyed by the possibility of the answer. He swiftly replied, "I can aplish that, Your Highness. I still have manyrades fighting for freedom within the Mughal Empire. Although they are aware that they do not have a significant military advantage against the Mughal Empire, these individuals are the ones who hold life-and-death grievances against the Mughal Empire. So, they keep on fighting even though they know that there''s no chance for them to get back at their enemies, even at the cost of their own lives."


    Vijay was satisfied with the answer and ordered him, "Our Empire in the near future will mass produce iron weapons. I need your contacts in the Mughal Empire to buy our arms. Contact them and let them know our intentions."


    Major General Yogendra Singh was overjoyed at first, butter replied with a sad expression., "They will buy without a doubt, Your Highness. Although I think their resistance to the Mughal Empire by itself will only cause a little trouble for the empire at the cost of their lives, I believe it can dy theplete integration of the people by the Mughal Empire."


    Vijay was satisfied with Major General Yogendra Singh''s analysis. He was also happy that the Major General could consider the interests of Vijayanagara before his own. Although some might consider this cold-blooded, one must remember that this is an age where the strong rule the weak, and there are no human rights for the weak.


    Vijay read the information about this Yogendra Singh. He had joined the Maratha army after his parents were killed by the Mughal army during a raid on his vige. Later, as he wished, he was sent into the Mughal Empire for battle. But due to a leg injury sustained in the battle, he managed to escape from the battlefield and chose toy low, eventually settling down within the Mughal Empire. Returning to the Maratha empire was not an option as he would be branded a deserter. Instead, he made the difficult choice to start anew.


    He even fell in love with a woman, but his ns to propose were killed when she was forced into a marriage arranged to a local noble lord. Powerless to intervene, he watched as the woman he loved was married off against her will. What was even more depressing is that, when she could not secure her ce in the harem, she was poisoned to death.


    Since then, Major General Yogendra Singh has had an intense hatred against the Mughal Empire. They had taken away his family, his homnd, and the love of his life, leaving him with deep hatred and resentment. This is one of the reasons, along with his battle prowess, that he could rise through the ranks so quickly.


    On that very day, Four carrier pigeons reached the rebel leaders in multiple parts of the Mughal Empire, exining the deal that a mysterious power had offered to the rebel leaders.


    In the hearnd of the Mughal Empire


    The pigeons sent by Yogendra Singhnded on the rebel leaders'' windows one by one and delivered a note. The note filled them with hope, as it was from a powerful and mysterious group offering help against the Mughal rule that oppressed them.


    Kamal, the leader of the northern resistance force, read the letter with wide eyes, his heart pounding with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. He was overwhelmed by the thought that there were forcesing to their aid. Kamal used to be a normal kid until the Mughals took away their farnd and forced them to pay nearly all their food as taxes, which caused his parents to starve to death.


    Murali, a tough man whomanded the loyalty of his people in the West, clutched the letter to his chest. His breath caught as he imagined the revenge that awaited him, envisioning his daughter. Murali was a father of a young daughter, but that was no more when the drunkndlord saw his daughter, and defiled her, causing her to die in the process. As he got no justice, he joined with other like-minded people and chose to be a thorn in the eyes of the empire.


    In the eastern corner of the empire, Roshan, a skilled tactician, scanned the words with a mixture of scepticism and hope. He had been betrayed many times before, but the words on this parchment were from his friend and sworn brother, Yogendra. He would not lie to him. Could this mysterious power truly be their salvation? Roshan used toe from a fairly wealthy family; he was well-educated and had a bright future until all their property was seized by the high ranking army personal of the Mughal Empire. When his parents sought justice, they were mysteriously assassinated.


    Aditya, a relentless warrior in the south, clenched his fists as he read the message. For years, he had fought fiercely against the Mughals, and now a ray of light emerged at the end of a long, dark tunnel. He pictured giving justice for all the people that raised him. Aditya was an orphan taken care of by the Rama temple, but that changed when the temple he thought was his whole world was set aze right in front of his eyes, causing all the priests and orphans like him to be burned alive.


    The next day, the four leaders gathered at a hidden spot only they knew about. Their faces showed a mix of excitement and crazyness as they talked about what was in the message. The mysterious power had promised them a lot of iron weapons. Even though they had to pay for it, that wasn''t an issue because they had taken a lot of wealth from the nobles they had killed.

 Chapter 21: Rugby and Kabaddi

    <h4>Chapter 21: Rugby and Kabaddi</h4>


    Now that the market for iron arms is potentially solved, he could focus on internal reforms once again.


    Vijay rose early in the morning to observe the progress of the military training. On his way, he saw arger number of people on the streets wearing more jewellery, and he saw more women engaged in various activities. He had read about improvements in public security after the police reform on paper, but this was the first time he witnessed the changes firsthand, he felt proud of his work.


    What was even more interesting was that he spotted a woman cleaning the floor of a temple with a mop. Evidently, his little innovation had spread beyond the pce and into the lives ofmon people. This had even sparked a small-scale demand for carpenter artisans in the empire.


    As he made his way to the Vijayanagara North Military Academy, his excitement grew. Thest time he visited to inspect the military training, he was disappointed with the progress. This time, he hoped it would be different.


    As he drew closer to the barracks, he heard the solid sound of marching soldiers, like a drumbeat with a steady rhythm.


    "One, two, one, two."


    When he finally caught sight of the scene, he wasn''t let down. Before him was a tidy line of squads marching in formation on the military field. While not everyone was perfectly uniform in their movements, it was still impressive that they had achieved this in such a short span of time.


    Soon, he met with Sergeant Harish, the head of the academy and praised him for his training efforts. "You''ve done well, Sergeant Harish. I''m very pleased with your work."


    After hearing the king''s praise, Sergeant Harish''s face lit up with a smile, and he saluted. "Thank you, Your Highness. I''m just doing my job," he responded. Then Vijay added, "Is there any problem that you''ve noticed so far, that you''d like to discuss?"


    Sergeant Harish was caught in a dilemma with the question, not wanting to contradict the king or his own boss, Logananda Senapati. Despite this, he gritted his teeth and told the thoughts he had in his mind. "Your Highness, can the intensity of the training be reduced?"


    Vijay who heard the question, wasn''t angered by Sergeant Harish''s words and asked curiously, "Oh, and why is that?"


    Sergeant Harish replied, "Your Highness, due to the high intensity of training, all the candidates are on edge nearly all the time. This has caused fights to break out regrly. Moreover, because of the intense training, many people struggle to concentrate during literary sses and end up falling asleep."


    Upon hearing this, Vijay suddenly realized his own negligence and med himself for overlooking the issue due to the time pressure he had been under.


    Realizing that "this can''t go on any longer," he responded to Sergeant Harish, "I will seriously consider your opinion. You''ve done well by bringing this to my attention."


    Hearing the king''s reassuring words, Sergeant Harish was relieved that he hadn''t faced any negative consequences for bringing up the matter.


    Vijay left the barracks with deep thoughts as he made his way home.


    When he neared the capital, he noticed a few kids ying "Jilli jand," and suddenly an idea struck him. He could incorporate some of the group games yed in the future to enhance the army''s teamwork and provide an outlet for entertainment for soldiers facing high-pressure training.


    He promptly began nning by jotting down his ideas.


    However, he needed to decide on which games he could introduce, That could improve not only team coordination but also physical fitness, rather than just serving as a distraction. Many games crossed his mind, but he ultimately settled on introducing rugby and kabaddi first.


    Rugby''s origins trace back to the early 19th century in Ennd. The sport evolved from traditional football games yed in schools, where yers could use their hands to control the ball. In 1823, during a ser match at Rugby School, a student named William Webb Ellis reportedly picked up the ball and ran with it, leading to a divergence from traditional football rules.


    Rugby is a team sport known for its intense physicality and strategic gamey. yed on a rectangr field, teams of 15 yers each aim to carry the oval-shaped ball across the opposing team''s goal line or kick it through the uprights to score points. With elements of running, passing, and tackling, rugby fosters strong teamwork,munication, and decision-making skills. The sport''s emphasis on collective effort and adaptability can contribute significantly to enhancing the coordination and cohesion of a military unit, making it a valuable addition to its training regimen.


    Another game is Kabaddi.


    Kabaddi is a traditional Indian sport thatbines elements of physical fitness, strategy, and teamwork. yed between two teams, one team sends a "raider" to the opposing side, and the raider''s goal is to tag as many opponents as possible while chanting "kabaddi." The challenge lies in the raider''s ability to touch opponents and return to their side of the court before being tackled by the defenders. On the defensive side, yers coborate to capture the raider to earn points. Kabaddi emphasizes quick reflexes,munication, and coordination among team members. The sport''s fast-paced nature, where yers must make split-second decisions, not only makes it an exciting and engaging game but also trantes well into fostering team dynamics and situational awareness, making it an ideal addition to military training.


    Unfortunately, he opted not to choose cricket. Cricket needs a lot of special equipment to y, and it takes a long time to finish a game. These things don''t match well with the goal of getting better at working together and getting fit quickly in military training.


    He also had a n for soldiers to improve their individual martial arts skills. He intended to include sparring matches during their physical exercise time, using the rules from future generations'' UFC. Although he had a lot of martial arts knowledge, he didn''t want to teach it directly. Instead, he aimed to let the soldiers naturally develop their own fighting styles Organically. His hope was that in the future, India could have its own popr martial art, like karate or jujitsu, known worldwide.


    After finalizing the sports, he swiftly sketched the required equipment and tasked the craftsmen with crafting them using leather and cotton.


    For rugby matches, he had initially thought of using metal breasttes with soft cotton padding, but he soon realized that he was facing financial constraints. Consequently, he had to opt for leather jackets with cotton stuffing as a more budget-friendly alternative.

 Chapter 22: The Play: Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 22: The y: Part 1</h4>


    Vijay was very excited today; as it was the first day that MMA and team sports would be introduced into both Vijayanagara North and South Military academies.


    He was on his way, excitedly going to watch the MMA, rugby, and Kabaddi games. However, his thoughts changed when Vinod informed him, "Your Highness, we have received news from the Sondagars team you sent out. Apparently, They have discovered arge amount of open pit iron mines near Bagalkot."


    While this was good news in itself, it couldn''t stop Vijay from going to the Military academy, as he already expected there to be iron mines in that area. He ordered, "Very good! Recruit the workers immediately and start mining the ore. Send the mined ore directly to the Raya Ironworks. Is there any other news you want to inform me about?"


    However, what really changed his mind was when Vinod said, "Your Highness, we received a piece of news from Raya Ironworks. Apparently, Hey Ram and his team were sessful in producing the prototype of the st furnace."


    This newspelled him to immediately change his ns and head to the Raya Ironworks.


    Although sadly, Vijay did not manage to make it to the military academy, the games still took ce.


    Vijayanagara North Military Academy


    Today is the day when Vijay''s n for sports in the academy is being implemented.


    Upon hearing about the news, the soldiers became very excited and couldn''t wait until the games started.


    During the physical training hour, All the soldiers in the toon were gathered around a match that was going on right now.


    Two young men were fighting inside the circle. One of them was Dinesh Reddy, and the other person was arge and strong young man around the same age as Dinesh. After the rules for martial arts fights were promulgated by the king, he had been fighting multiple opponents since then. Back when he was younger and an orphan, he used to get picked on by the bigger kids in the vige a lot. However, being the strong-willed child that he was, he used to fight the bigger kids a lot without giving in and developed his own fighting style. He failed a lot and used to get beaten a lot at first, but as he gained more experience, he started to win more fights. That''s how he met Nandan when the bigger kids were bullying him. Dinesh felt pity for him and shooed them away. With experience, he could redirect the opponents'' strong power against them, trip them off the centre of gravity, and win a lot more.


    Because of this, he has been winning many games ording to the newly promulgated rules.


    He even has a few people asking him to teach them how to fight like him.


    "Boom!"


    "And another win for Dinesh Reddy," the referee proimed.


    "Yeahhhhhh!"


    Everyone cheered for Dinesh as he won the match yet again. Apart from martial arts fights, rugby and Kabaddi are also yed. Earlier in the morning, all the cadets were briefed on the rules and regtions of rugby.


    Even though Kabaddi is known to everyone, as they have yed it since childhood, the rules of Kabaddi they are about to y have been changed ording to the Pro Kabaddi rules in 21st-century India.


    As time approached, all the cadets in the toon gathered on the military field.


    A colonel came to the recruits and asked, "Lads, what are we going to do next?!"


    "Rugby!"


    "After thest briefing, are you familiar with all the rules?"


    "Familiar!" all the soldiers shouted in unison, with excitement.


    The colonel continued, "Then let''s get started soon!"


    "Then let''s do it like this. Each toon will split up into two teams each, and each team will get a sand clock of time to score the most points possible."


    The Rugby field is a t grasnd near the military academy, with a length of about 100 meters and a width of about 50 meters. It is lined with white lines every ten meters. To prevent the lime powder from being erased during intense sports, the border is not clear, so on the white line intersections on both sides, there are wooden poles nted.


    ording to Vijay''s requirements, the toon leader can only serve as the coach of the team, and the squad captain must serve as the team''s quarterback. The coach should arrange tactics ording to the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent, along with the strategy needed in each part of the game, and the quarterback is the team''s core. They have to change their tactics in time ording to the changes in the field and lead the yers to victory. Vijay nned it like this to exercise the leadership ability of the Squad captains. He believes that in modernpetition, rugby is a game simr to ancient cold weapons. The confrontation of the middle road and the nking of the two wings can not only exercise the soldiers'' strength, speed, and agility but also foster unity and cooperation within the team and enhance cohesiveness. At the same time, it can also train the captains and team leaders to think calmly and respond quickly in fiercepetition.


    The first event before the game is the coin toss, to determine the order of offense.


    Today''s trial game is yed by Nirmal and his team with Venkat as the team coach, against Rohan and his team with Manjunath as the coach.


    Nirmal was fortunate enough to get the first attack. "Coach" Venkat began to assign tactics to the team:


    "You, you, you, you first. The other party pays attention to catching the ball after kicking it. After receiving the ball, don''t hesitate, to pass it to Nirmal. Nirmal, you pass the ball to the big man and let him run with it, testing the strength of the other side. Others, pay attention to blocking the opponent for him!" Venkat arranged tactics for the yers.


    At this time, the whistle sounded and the referee urged both teams to start ying. ording to the regtions, the instructors, mainlyposed of veterans in the academy served as the referees, a total of four referees are used.


    The soldiers removed all their metal gear such as helmets, armour, and knives. They wore only the new equipment to reduce the risk of serious injuries. Meanwhile, the two teams wrapped red and blue cotton strips around their upper bodies to easily tell them apart. In total, the toon had 40 soldiers, but only 11 of them yed in the match at a time. The others were substitutes, which was important because Rugby is physically demanding. Many soldiers would tire quickly due to the exercise they hadpleted before the game. To keep their energy andbat effectiveness up, they needed to make regr substitutions.


    "Peeeeeeeeep!!!..."


    The referee gave the order and the game started.


    The sand clock also started timing.


    To be Continued...

 Chapter 23: The Play: Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 23: The y: Part 2</h4>


    The game started as Venkat''s team kicked the ball, starting the y. The ball sailed towards a soldier on his team. As the soldier saw the ball approaching, he tracked it while moving backwards to catch it. However, due to the sun''s re, he lost control of the ball and stumbled to the ground. Before he could regain his footing and retrieve the ball, it was snatched away from him. A soldier from the opposing team jumped up and grabbed the ball. Filled with excitement, this opponent soldier quickly dashed towards the scoring area, aiming for a touchdown.


    Everyone was momentarily stunned by the ball-carrying soldier. This distraction was immediately countered as Venkat immediately sent someone to tackle him. However, the tackle failed, as the person sent to tackle him fell down while running in high speed. Fortunately, he fell to the ground safely without any injury.


    The yers of the Venkat team were disappointed with the oue. But unlike them, the opposite team cheered loudly. Several yers excitedly rushed to the ball-bearing soldier to lift him in the air, cheering.


    "Hooraih."


    "Hooraih."


    An offensive opportunity was wasted. ording to the rules set by Vijay, the attacker has three chances to advance the distance of 10 meters in the other half of the game. Get three offensive opportunities, otherwise, you should be attacked by the opponent.


    Nirmal was not in a hurry. He joked and said to the soldier that couldn''t catch the ball, "Manu, did you exercise with your wife too many timesst night, so your hands and feet are weak and you can''t even catch a ball?!"


    The yersughed.


    "Okay, brothers, this offence must let them see the strength of the strongest team in the army!"


    The soldiers screamed and cheered up.


    The two sides lined up on the code line of the stop ball, and the middle of the road arrived at the same time. On both sides, one side was ready to catch the ball, and the other side was ready to block.


    Although the game was being yed for the very first time, the smart ones came up with multiple strategies as they yed.


    The whistle sounded.


    As the whistle sounded, the teams sprang into action. The sand clock ticking away showed the intensity of the match. Venkat''s team regrouped quickly after the fumbled ball incident, looking forward to making up for the lost opportunity.


    The soldiers on the field showed incredible agility and teamwork. The yers changed positions quickly, passing the ball amongst themselves. Nirmal''s team demonstrated their strategic prowess, using their ys to take advantage of the opposing team''s weaknesses. The game continued with a series of tackles, runs, and passes.


    Each time a yer dashed toward the scoring area, excitement rippled through the audience. The spectators, a mixture of fellow cadets and instructors, cheered as the tension rose as the sand clock''s timer drew nearer topletion.


    Venkat''s team managed to score a point after a well-coordinated y that caught Rohan''s team off guard. The crowd erupted in cheers as the score was announced.


    However, Rohan''s team quickly regrouped and fought back. The opposing team showcased their own strategies, implementing passes and tactics they hade up with.


    Within the dust and sweat of the field, the leadership qualities of the toon officers were put to the test. The coaches on the sidelines, shouted instructions, adjusted tactics on the fly, and made quick decisions to seize opportunities. The squad leaders (now Quarterbacks) on the field not only showcased their physical prowess but also their ability to adapt and strategize under pressure.


    The match continued with each team pushing themselves to their limits. The sand clock''s final grains slipped through, signalling the end of the trial game. Both teams were left panting but happy, having experienced a taste of the intense and tiring sport of rugby.


    In a different part of the academy, a Kabaddi match was underway. Even though some rules were changed and others added, the soldiers quickly adapted to the new rules of the game. Despite the alterations, the core essence of the game remained the same, a game that many soldiers were familiar with from their childhoods. The soldiers gathered on a sandy field, with toons divided into teams, and excitement and determination were evident in their eyes. One yer, referred to as the "raider," stepped forward with muscles poised. Chanting "Kabaddi, Kabaddi," he ventured into the enemy territory of the opposing team.


    The defenders got ready, fists clenched, waiting to react. The tension grew as the raider tried to touch an opponent and return safely. Defenders moved swiftly, hands outstretched, showing agility and strategy in their moves. The game was full of energy, with quick reflexes deciding who seeded.


    The spectators, other soldiers watching, gasped and cheered as the raider narrowly escaped a defender''s touch. He made it back to his side, panting but triumphant, earning points for his team. The game continued, with each raid showcasing both strength and strategy.


    Amidst the sunny field, there wasughter and friendlypetition among the soldiers. The game had a rhythm of its own, showing their unity. They improved their teamwork, quick thinking, and endurance. When the game ended, the cheers filled the air, as the soldiers celebrated the sessful Kabaddi match.


    The same excitement can also be seen at the Vijayanagara South Military Academy. Unbeknownst to Vijay, these games will eventually be known worldwide as the Bharatiya Military Olympics.


    Due to the introduction of these games, Vijayanagaraid a solid foundation for the formation of its own special forces through continuous MMA training. Additionally, many military talents emerged as a result of this introduction.


    In the future, these games became integrated into Bharatiya culture, spanning schools, colleges, and society, evolving into a billion-Varaha industry.


    Because of the games'' poprity extended beyond the army, cultural integration became smoother within the Vijayanagara Empire. In fact, some historians in the future even praised these games as the single most significant contributing factor inbating the caste system.


    ****** I would like to give credit to Chen Rui, the author of the book "Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece", As the Rugby game in this novel, is heavily inspired by his work, please check it out.******

 Chapter 24: Unification of Weights and Measurements

    <h4>Chapter 24: Unification of Weights and Measurements</h4>


    In the region of North Karnataka


    A massive structure constructed from stones and wood is emitting smoke continuously from its chimney. The entire building resembles a colossal monster exhaling its venom. Within the edifice, individuals are hurrying about with bare chests.


    In the centre of the building, there stands an enormous fire-breathing monster that ingests iron ore and expels molten iron. The entire machine looks like a fire-breathing dragon.


    Near the furnace, arge and sturdy man is yelling at his servants.


    "Hurry, hurry! Bring in the moulds quickly!"


    "What are you doing? What are you doing? Fetch the water for quenching, quickly!"


    "His Highness will be here for inspection anytime soon. Get the swords and shields Ready as soon as possible. I need everything to be prepared by the time he arrives," he instructed, while the elder cksmiths took charge of the moulds and started hammering away at the red-hot metal to craft fine weapons.


    This man is none other than the young cksmith, Hey Ram. He was appointed as the head of Raya Iron Works. Currently, he is preparing for the arrival of Vijay Deva Raya with bated breath. When he first started his work, his more experienced colleagues, the seasoned cksmiths, did not show respect for him and were reluctant to heed hismands. As time went on, they witnessed his capabilities, leading them to listen to his orders. Even the construction of the st furnace was elerated under his leadership, this gave him a somewhat dignified aura.


    Vijay finally arrived at the Raya Iron Works factory, he was dying to see the furnace, realizing that the furnace could significantly enhance the kingdom''s military prowess through this one factory. Upon entering the factory, he was weed by Hey Ram. He appeared somewhat leaner than before, yet not malnourished. If anything, he seemed slightly stronger than before, with a touch of added ck tan to his skin.


    "Long live Your Highness, long live Vijayanagar, long live," Hey Ram, along with his colleagues, eximed.


    Vijay got straight to the point without any unnecessary small talk, "Take me to the st furnace. I want to see it for myself."


    Hey Ram swiftly guided the king to the st furnace. As they neared the furnace, the heat became unbearable. Therefore, Hey Ram cautioned, "Be careful, Your Highness. It''s hot in here," his words imbued with genuine concern.


    However, Vijay seemed oblivious to the warning, as if it had fallen on deaf ears. His attention was fixated on the st furnace, witnessing the molten metal being spewed out. This molten metal would soon be transformed into pig iron tools and weapons.


    Not even noticing that he was sweating, Vijay inquired, "What is the capacity of this st furnace, and how much material does it consume?"


    Hey Ram pondered for a moment and then replied, "Your Highness, we can produce approximately four bullock carts'' worth of pig iron per day from this furnace. It consumes the equivalent of one bullock cart''s worth of coke."


    (4 carts of iron, so around 1 ton)


    Vijay expressed great satisfaction with these figures. While in the future, achieving such output might be amon aplishment for any single smelter in any local establishment, during this era, this achievement was already at the forefront of industrial progress. He found the results impressive, as in this era, the average industrial output for pig iron, using a st furnace, was only around 400 tons per year.


    Despite the fact that the st furnace was originally invented by the Chinese in the 14th century, it wasn''t until the early 18th century that Abraham Darby came along and significantly improved its efficiency. His innovation involved recing charcoal with coke, a development that greatly enhanced the furnace''s effectiveness.


    However, in this timeline, Hey Ram stole his glory.


    Eagerly, Vijay inquired, "I''m very satisfied with the furnace. Can the production be improved?"


    Hey Ram, feeling somewhat embarrassed, responded, "Your Highness, while increasing the production of pig iron isn''t an issue, our challenge lies in procuring the iron ore."


    Vijay waved his hand dismissively, as if the issue Hey Ram had mentioned was nonexistent, and said, "Do not worry. We have recently discovered numerous open-pit iron mines in the Bagalkot region. It''s very close to here. I have already instructed Vinod to supply you with iron ore."


    Upon hearing this, Hey Ram''s joy knew no bounds, and he eximed, "Then, Your Highness, the problem is not a problem at all. We can scale up our production as soon as the iron ore is readily avable. We can even recruit workers for the factory whenever needed."


    Vijay was content with Hey Ram''s response andmended him, "You''ve done an excellent job. But don''t becent; keep improving the furnace," he cautioned.


    Then, recalling something, he inquired, "Are there any weapons made from this iron?"


    Hey, Ram promptly responded, "Of course, Your Highness. We''ve just produced a new batch of weapons this morning. Pleasee this way," as he led the king.


    Vijay hastened after Hey Ram, and upon their arrival, he was shown a batch of freshly crafted Talwars (Indian curved one-handed swords).


    Vijay picked up one of the Talwars, examining it closely and giving it a few swings. The sword felt solid in his grip, and its craftsmanship was nothing short of exquisite. Even though the handle was made of wood, it provided a sturdy feel.


    Then he selected another Talwar to inspect. However, this time his brow furrowed, not due to anyck of quality in the product, but because the Talwar he now held was slightly smaller than the one he had examined earlier.


    This might not be noticeable to an ordinary person, but ever since his rebirth, he had been acutely aware of his heightened sensitivity. This awareness had only grown more pronounced following the enhancement of his ''GOLDFINGER.''


    Vijay inquired quickly, "Hey Ram, why is this sword smaller than the other one?"


    Hey Ram appeared puzzled by the question, but he still proceeded to answer.


    "Your Highness, all the Talwars are like this because they are crafted by different cksmiths. Each cksmith has their own method and measurements, making it quite challenging to achieve uniformity," Hey Ram exined.


    Vijay was struck by a sudden realization ¨C that different parts of his kingdom were using various weights and measurements. He swiftly conveyed his thoughts to Hey Ram.


    "Keep the furnace operational, but refrain from producing any weapons or tools from the iron. Store the iron in a dry ce until you receive further instructions from me," Vijay directed urgently.


    With that, Vijay quickly departed to devise a n and establish uniform weights and measurements throughout his domain.


    Vijay wanted to implement Indian weights and measurements for unification. However, he soon realized that there existed multiple units for weights and measurements across different regions of the subcontinent. Consequently, he took it upon himself to establish his own standardized system.


    Drawing inspiration from the measurements of deities'' steps in a Rama temple as ''1 foot'', he devised units such as millimetres, centimetres, kilometres, and others.


    He also heard in a history ss in his high school, stating that one Varaha weighed 3 and a half grams, which he used as a basis to derive the values for 1 gram, 1 kilogram, and 1 ton.


    With his chosen standards in mind, he summoned the most skilled craftsman within his empire. He entrusted the craftsman with the task of creating a scale and standard weights that would serve as benchmarks for the new system.


    "Finally," he thought, holding the meticulously designed scale and weights, "I will preserve this original set to be disyed in a museum, to be opened in the future."


    Later that day, an imperial edict was proimed throughout the Vijayanagar Kingdom, outlining the unification of weights and measures. The edict dered that all royal establishments would exclusively employ the standardized weights and measures endorsed by the king. Additionally, a selection of authenticated copies was distributed to trusted merchants to ensure urate reproduction of these standards.


    The edict also stipted severe consequences for any misuse of weights and measures. Offenders would face a punishment of 30 years of imprisonment and would forfeit their right to reside within the Vijayanagar Empire.

 Chapter 25: Investment from The Shetty’s : Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 25: Investment from The Shetty''s : Part 1</h4>


    After the imperial edict, not everyone adopted the unified weights and measurements. Some of the people who resisted the new weights and measurements were artisans who preferred to continue using their traditional methods, while others were elderly individuals who were resistant to change. However, the majority of the problems were from unscrupulous merchants whose interests had been severly damaged by the implementation of uniform weights and measurements.


    But Vijay yed his trump card this time; he reached out to his maternal grandfather, Sunil Shetty, and requested a favour. Hearing his grandson''s request, his grandfather readily agreed. Following their conversation, the Shetty family announced that their businesses would exclusively utilize the uniform weights and measurements mandated by the king. This deration by the Shetty family prompted some of the coborating families to make the samemitment. This set off a domino effect, rapidly causing all the major merchants in the key cities and towns of the Vijayanagar Empire to adopt the unified weights and measurements.


    This rule significantly bolstered the country''smerce. While each region previously operated with its own distinct system, Vijay''s edict mandated the adoption of uniform conditions. This not only enhanced the integration of diverse cultures within the kingdom but also promoted smoother trade interactions across regions.


    Hampi Pce, Vijayanagara Empire.


    Vijay was sitting in his study room, absorbed in reading a report about the sessful switch to unified weights and measurements. Impressed by the oue, he called Vinod.


    *Clik*


    The door opened.


    Soon after, Vinod entered the room carrying a stack of books that looked like ledgers. He positioned them on the table next to him, prepared to consult them as he waited for additional instructions.


    "Vinod, reach out to the Rebel leaders and find out how many weapons they need. Price them at 70% of the usual market value," Vijay instructed.


    He was adopting a strategy simr to Xiaomi''s model ¨C prioritizing smaller profits and quicker sales.This approach would generate additional job opportunities within the empire and enhance overall factory efficiency. The affordability of the weapons would not only assist the Rebel leaders but also be advantageous to Vijay, given the increased iron production from the new st furnace. This heightened iron output significantly lowered iron costs, resulting in a mutually beneficial scenario. It was truly a win-win situation.


    Vijay also added, "And inform Hey Ram that production of the weapons can begin. Advise him to create a design resembling Dutch and Portuguese longswords and armour."


    Although the original European arms had distinct designspared to Indian talwars, these days Indian swords were equally sharp, evenparable to the Japanese katana. With some trial and error, crafting a convincing replica was possible. While this might cause a slight inconvenience for the rebel leaders, they could adjust swiftly given that these arms would be an upgrade from their previous equipment.


    Vijay''s n was to confuse the Mughals into thinking that the rebels had support from Europe. He wanted to keep this connection hidden as long as possible. An extra advantage of this n was that it would make the upper ss in the Mughal Empire wary of White men.


    He also saw this strategy as a way to reveal the true motives of these foreign guests to the people of the subcontinent.


    After instructing his message, he took the books that Vinod had brought him. These were the ounts of the Raya family, and now Vinod was responsible for maintaining them. When Vijay had first been reborn, he had nned to introduce double-entry bookkeeping, but he was surprised to find out that India had already adopted this practice.


    Double-entry bookkeeping is a method of ounting that has ancient origins, with various cultures contributing to its development. In India, the concept of double-entry bookkeeping existed in the form of traditional ounting methods. The idea of recording both debits and credits to keep urate financial records was ingrained in Indian ounting practices for many centuries, particrly in the context of trade andmerce. While the formal system of double-entry bookkeeping as known in the future modern world was established in Europe during the Renaissance in the 15th century, simr principles were already in use in various ways across different parts of the world, including South India.


    "Vinod, why is the cost of this item so unusually high?" Vijay inquired, noticing the abnormallyrge expenditure on paper consumption within his household.


    Vinod directed his attention to where the king was pointing and responded, "Your Highness, since the time you started making ns and coordinating activities, you may not have realized, but you''ve been using paper at an astonishing rate. On average, you consume the equivalent of an entire book''s worth of paper every day." He gestured around the room, indicating the numerous discarded sheets of paper scattered about.


    Observing the disorder he had inadvertently caused, Vijay felt a touch of embarrassment, yet he swiftlyposed himself to mask any signs of it.


    "A book''s worth of paper costs 5 Varaha coins," Vinod continued, "and this daily consumption has added up to the staggering amount you''re seeing now." Vijay was taken aback, as he had never realized that paper could be so expensive. Though he was aware that paper had arrived in India through the Arabs in the 12th century, he had assumed it was inexpensive. The reality was different, prompting him to consider a new business idea ¨C improving paper-making technology. This innovation could have widespread applications, particrly in education and propaganda industries for future newspapers.


    Contemting the possibilities filled him with excitement. He turned to Vinod again, his curiosity evident, "Vinod, how much funds do we have left in the royal treasury?" Vinod replied promptly, without consulting any documents, "It''s approximately 2 million Varaha, Your Highness."


    Hearing this sum, Vijay''s spirits deted slightly. While the amount was substantial for any affluent family, it fell short of what he envisioned spending on enhancing paper-making technology. As he pondered his options, an idea formed in his mind ¨C involving an external investor in the factory to share the financial burden.


    With his thoughts aligned, Vijay promptly made his way to his uncle Ravi Shetty''s residence. At present, Ravi Shetty held the role of the family patriarch, as Vijay''s grandfather had retired and was relishing his golden years.


    TO BE CONTINUED...

 Chapter 26: Investment from The Shetty’s : Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 26: Investment from The Shetty''s : Part 2</h4>


    In the heart of Hampi City, within the Noble district,


    Vijay quickly arrived at his Cikkappa (uncle), Ravi Shetty''s mansion. A Chubby, middle-aged man weed him at the entrance, Vijay was not surprised as his visit had beenmunicated before he left the pce.


    "Cikkappa (uncle), how are you? How is my Cikkam''ma (aunt)? How is your health?" Vijay greeted warmly, folding his hands together in a namaste gesture.


    "I''m doing well, Vijji (Vijay''s nickname). Your Cikkam''ma is also in good spirits. Set aside us old folks for now. Tell me about yourself. Have you had a meal? Your Cikkam''ma prepared your favourite dish upon hearing that you wille," his Cikkappa replied, patting Vijays back.


    Both Cikkappa and Sodaraliya (Nephew) entered the house, and their conversation continued with them chatting andughing.


    "Vijji,e on in, take a seat. How have you been? Are you eating properly? You look slimmer," his Cikkam''ma (aunt), said with a warm chuckle.


    His Cikkam''ma was a kind-hearted housewife, dressed in a beautiful green silk saree that made her resemble the goddess Lakshmi. She had a 10-year-old daughter, who was currently studying at a gurukul (traditional school). Vijay remembered the times he used to visit his Cikkappa''s (uncle''s) house, and his Cikkam''ma used to take care of him like their own son.


    Vijay couldn''t help butugh at thisment, thinking to himself, "Some things never change, no matter the time."


    Afterwards, the three of them ¨C Cikkappa (uncle), Cikkam''ma (aunt), and Vijay ¨C gathered for a shared lunch. Following the meal, Vijay and his Cikkappa sat alone to discuss business matters. his Cikkappa became more serious and respectful, quite unlike the goofy personality from their earlier interactions.


    "So, tell me, Your Highness, how can I be of any service to you?" Cikkappa Ravi inquired respectfully, his demeanour is of a subject under the king.


    Vijay, feeling a tad bit frustrated by the formality, responded, "Rx a bit, Cikkappa. I''m here for personal matters, not Kingdom''s affairs. If it were a matter of the kingdom, I would''ve had someone call you to the pce."


    Cikkappa Shetty visibly loosened up upon hearing this, his typical disposition returning as he let out a sigh of relief.


    "Alright then, Viji. Just spill it out ¨C what brings you here?" he asked in a moreid-back tone.


    "Here''s the thing, Cikkappa. I have a n to start a new factory, but with the iron works factory, military and police academy already running, I''m facing a fund shortage," Vijay exined.


    "How much do you need? Just let me know, and I''ll provide it," Cikkappa replied, not even letting the full sentence finish.


    Vijay was grateful but rified, "Cikkappa, it''s not that simple. I don''t just want your money. I want you to invest in the new factory as a stakeholder. I''ve got a new technology to boost paper production efficiency. My investment includes this technology and 500,000 Varaha, which will give me a 60% ownership stake in the factory. I need you to contribute one and a half million Varaha for a 40% stake."


    Cikkappa was confused by the unfamiliar terms and asked, "Stakeholding? What''s that? Why haven''t I heard of it?"


    "Stakeholding is when multiple owners pool their money to start a business. In our case, I''ll provide 500,000 Varaha and the technology, giving me 60%. You''ll provide one and a half million Varaha for a 40% stake. In profits, you''ll get a 40% share. For example, for every 100 Varaha profit, 40 Varaha will be yours," Vijay exined.


    "Stakeholding, ha? interesting, " he thought to himself.


    Ravi Shetty, the head of a business empire, quickly grasped the concept and began calcting in his mind.


    "Viji, are you trying to trick me? What kind of technology could possibly be worth around 400,000 Varaha, and what kind of factory justifies an investment of 3.75 million Varaha?" Shetty questioned straightforwardly. Among the royal family, transparency in financial matters was paramount ¨C Vijay''s father had made it clear that each individual was ountable for their own finances.


    "We''ve developed a new method to make paper, Cikkappa. Investing in papermaking after the invention of this new method is a golden opportunity that promises substantial returns. The cost-effectiveness and abundant supply of the new paper will make production more financially viable than ever before. This innovation not only reduces production costs but also revolutionizes the workshop''s efficiency, enabling faster processing and higher output rates. With this, we can drastically reduce paper costs. We''ll recoup the investment quickly after it seeds," Vijay replied promptly, aiming to convince his Cikkappa.


    No matter how eloquently Vijay spoke or how grandly he painted the picture, Ravi Shetty remained sceptical. However, given that the request came directly from the king of the empire, he eventually agreed and provided the funds as a favour. Following the transaction, Vijay was ted. He took it upon himself to draft the contract and reassure his Cikkappa, "Don''t worry, Cikkappa. I''ll soon present you with a trial version of the paper, and then you can inspect it."


    Ravi Shetty remained cautious but nodded in response.


    After obtaining what he needed, Vijay swiftly returned to the pce and instructed, "Vinod, quickly find me some Kagzi''s (paper artisans) in the capital and bring them to me."


    Later that day, Vinod gathered a group of Kagzi and presented them before Vijay.


    "I need all of you to coborate and enhance the efficiency of paper production. I once read in an ancient book that using wood pulp instead of rags and other materials can significantly improve paper efficiency and reduce costs," Vijay exined.


    "So, I''m asking you to brainstorm together and devise a workable method to make this happen. The individual who contributes the most innovation to this project will be the chief head of Raya & Shetty paper mills, which will be established soon."


    This time, Vijay refrained from sharing all his knowledge with the craftsmen. He wanted them to develop their own ideas, but he did provide a tested concept from the future to guide them and avoid unnecessary mistakes.


    The craftsmen were thrilled by the king''s words. The tale of Hey Ram''s legend had circted in their circles, and some had an inkling of what heading a factory meant. They eagerly dispersed to their respective workshops to put the idea to the test.

 Chapter 27: Paper Making

    <h4>Chapter 27: Paper Making</h4>


    After receiving the order from the King, all the craftsmen left for their workshops to begin their work.


    In a rush, they all swarmed the forest to procure the wood that the King had mentioned in order to improve their paper-making proficiency. However, there was an exception among these craftsmen.


    In a workshop on the outskirts of Hampi City, stands a three-generation establishment owned by the Bhat family, a family full of artisans. Chetan Bhat, the old man, started the workshop from the ground up when he was in his teens, all alone. Since then, he has kept the family in the same business.


    Chetan''s son, Lokesh, currently manages the workshop''s finances and ie while overseeing the establishment, as the old man has grown tired of managing the shop. Nowadays, he enjoys spending his time making paper throughout the day and imparting his skills to his disciple. Lokesh also has a son named Praveen, who is learning the craft from his father and is his sole disciple.


    At the age of 16, Praveen stands out, because, unlike his father, he possesses exceptional talent for the art of paper-making. This led the family''s patriarch, Chetan, to take a liking to him, teaching him everything there is to know about paper-making, including some special tricks that he hadn''t even taught his own son, Lokesh.


    After returning from the pce, the Bhat family, like their colligues also intended to test the use of wood pulp to improve the efficiency of paper-making, as mentioned by the king. However, this n changed when Praveen, the youngest in the family, spoke up, saying, "How do we even make wood pulp? Besides, the king called us in a hurry, and he seems to be in a rush. Why waste time searching for something we have no idea how to produce?"


    Hearing this, everyone in the family was stunned, unable toe up with a counterargument to Praveen''s question. Finally, his grandfather broke the silence and asked, "So, Praveen, what do you think we should do? We can''t simply give up on this rare opportunity bestowed upon our family."


    "We don''t have to give up, Grandpa. Didn''t the king mention that wood pulp is rolled using a water wheel? We have plenty of those water wheels on our farms. Why not integrate the water wheel into our traditional paper-making technique and observe if it really enhances production? If it indeed increases production, wouldn''t that fulfil the king''s request to improve paper-making efficiency?" Praveen exined.


    Just as Praveen suspected, many of their colleagues attempted various methods to soften the wood. They tried boiling the wood, soaking the wood in seawater, and many other whimsical and bizarre ideas. However, without exception, all of these attempts failed, with no sess to show, except for one family of course. This particr family identally burned the wood near their kitchen window. Later, to their surprise, the food they cooked ended up absorbing the wood''s fragrance. This idental discovery led them to start cooking with this wood, eventually opening a famous restaurant in the city. Thus began the start of the smoked food industry. But that''s a story for the future.


    The Bhat family, as they had nned, quickly came up with a way to utilize the water wheelmonly found in rice fields and incorporated it into their traditional craft.


    *"Click, clink, clink, clink"*


    In Bhat''s workshop, the mechanical device''s working sounds could be heard. They were testing the new innovation with the water wheel.


    Since using water as a power source in the workshop was inconvenient, they hired a strong servant to physically spin the wheel for testing purposes. The water wheel, turned slowly by the servant, operated the lever, which was then pressed onto the paper made in the traditional way. Within a few moments, a finished sheet of paper was produced. While the drying was still pending, the machine significantly improved the production efficiency of paper.


    "It worked, Grandpa, it freaking worked!"


    Praveen eximed, jumping around the workshop in joy like a toddler. Their experiment had seeded; the efficiency of paper-making had more than quadrupledpared to before, exceeding the king''s request.


    In a newly designated room, Vijay was working out with the newly made weights he designed. He had recently started this routine as he aimed to maintain his fitness after his rebirth. In his previous life, due to heavy workloads, he had neglected his health, leading to variousplications. He was determined to rectify this issue in his current life.


    As he was about to achieve a new PR in his workout, he was interrupted by Vinod. Vinod informed him that someone had managed to increase the paper-making efficiency fourfold. This news surprised Vijay because the wood pulp method he had shared with them seemed impossible to seed.


    "If they really seeded, then I will give them a chance," he said to himself, thinking about the water wheels he had mentioned inadvertently.


    To make wood pulp, there are essentially only two chemically viable methods: Sulfite Pulping and Kraft Pulping.


    In Sulfite Pulping, a mixture of sulfurous acid and other chemicals is used to dissolve the lignin and separate the fibres. This process yields a lighter-coloured pulp. While it offers better quality and is more modern technology, a challenge arises from the fact that the necessary chemicals are not naturally urring. This leaves us with the alternative option¡ªKraft Pulping. In this method, wood chips are cooked with a mixture of chemicals, typically sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), and sodium sulfide, under high pressure and temperature. This process breaks down lignin and separates the fibres, resulting in what''s known as "kraft" pulp. The minerals required for this method, though umon, can be found in dried-out saltkes and volcanic regions, such as The Perumal Peak.


    Vijay soon boarded a carriage and set off to meet the Bhat family.


    A few hourster, Vijay arrived in the vicinity of the workshop.


    The Bhat family members were standing in thepound, waiting. Upon seeing the king approaching, the Bhat family knelt on the ground and warmly weed the king. "Wee, Your Highness. Your presence brings light to this humble workshop."


    Vijay promptly raised them from their kneeling positions, still adjusting to the respect he was receiving, particrly from those older than him. "If you truly wish to make me feel wee, show me your innovation instead," he yfully remarked.


    Vijay observed a water wheel the size of an elephant with a strong man struggling to turn it. Despite the difficulty, the wheel was slowly moving, activating levers in the machine. Although the raw materials remained the same, the use of the water wheel notably increased efficiency.


    Knowing that creating a wood pulp from wood was highly unlikely due to the need for specific chemicals to break down the fibres, Vijay was primarily interested in efficiency improvements. Since the talent assessment had proven sessful, he swiftly exined the basic concept of using wood pulp for paper-making. He also transmitted his knowledge about paper-making to the three of them telepathically.


    Introducing wood pulp-based paper-making was an innovation from the 19th century, and Vijay''s actions were propelling the technology of the Vijayanagar Empire two centuries forward. Thus, the world-famous Raya and Shetty paper mill was born.

 Chapter 28: Changes in the Maratha Kingdome

    <h4>Chapter 28: Changes in the Maratha Kingdome</h4>


    The Raya and Shetty paper mill is established on the coast of the Godavari River. Vijay thought about it a lot before deciding where to choose the location of the factory. His first choice was the Sharavathi River, as it has the fastest water flow out of any river in the Vijayanagar Kingdom. Fast water flow can help in powering water wheels for paper production. However, he finally chose the Godavari River near the coast of Rajahmundry in modern-day Andhra Pradesh instead. Unlike the Sharavathi, the Godavari River is calm for most of its journey. Although the power generation potential of the Godavari River could be a concern, what prompted him to make this decision is the convenience of transportation.


    He chose Rajahmundry as the location because it has a narrow bank for the river, making the river more turbulent in this area. Although not as fast as the Sharavathi River, it can still work well for paper making. Besides, the Godavari River also flows through the Mughal Empire, which he could take advantage of to export the paper he will produce at a high cost.


    After the establishment of the paper mill, Pravin was appointed as the chief technician of the factory, Lokesh Bhatt as the director of the factory, and Chetan Bhatt as the technical consultant of the factory.


    Hampi Pce, Vijayanagar Empire.


    Unusual guests have arrived today at the imperial pce.


    "Your Highness, representatives from the Maratha Kingdom have requested your presence."


    "Maratha Kingdom, huh?"


    In his previous life, the Maratha Kingdom held a powerful position on the Indian subcontinent. It emerged during the 17th century, leaving an indelible mark on India''s history. Founded by Shivaji Bhosle in the western Dan region, the kingdom expanded swiftly under his visionary leadership. Shivaji''s adeptness in innovative guerri warfare and military strategiesid the crucial foundation for the Marathas'' rise to prominence.


    Reaching its zenith during the 18th century, the Maratha Kingdom evolved into a federation of semi-independent states. Its authority spanned present-day Maharashtra, Gujarat, parts of Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. The Marathas,rgely belonging to the warrior caste, staunchly safeguarded their sovereignty.


    Their impact stretched beyond military achievements. The Marathas established a distinctive administrative structure that harmonized central control with localized autonomy, effectively governing diverse territories. Pune became the epicentre of their governance, representing their cultural and political resilience.


    Yet, the Marathas faced formidable challenges during their ascendancy. Confrontations emerged with regional powers like the Mughals, the British East India Company, and other princely states. The pivotal Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 signalled a turning point, weakening their influence and sparking internal divisions.


    The legacy of the Maratha Kingdom transcends territorial expansion. Their patronage of the arts, emphasis on regionalnguages, and contributions to India''s cultural tapestry enriched the nation''s heritage. Although their political power waned, the imprint of Maratha leaders remains etched in history.


    In this altered timeline, Vijay''s sentiments toward the Maratha kingdom are intricate. With Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj absent, the course of history has taken a divergent path.


    Upon uncovering this fact, Vijay found himself torn between feelings of fortune and sadness in the absence of Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj.


    Fortunate because he didn''t have to Go through the challenges of encountering the legendary figure due to the conflict of interests on his path to unify Bharat, which he would have likely encountered if Shivaji Maharaj was present.


    In all honesty, he didn''t want to engage in conflicts with him.


    Sad because he could not meet the legendary figure who single-handedly built a vast empire with respect for all Dharmic faiths. Even though he was Hindu, he was a deity of the Sikh and Marathamunities. His actions continue to influence people of Indian and other ethnicities even to the modern day. Because of him, the Sikh people are among the most significant contributors to modern-day India, especially in the context of their substantial contribution to the Indian armed forces.


    It is noteworthy that Sikhs make up only around 2% of India''s poption, yet they contribute about 10% of the nation''s defence personnel. Shivaji Maharaj, along with Guru Nanak, is one of the heroes who profoundly inspired the valour and militant strength of the Sikhmunity.


    Instead of him, the current king of the Maratha Kingdom, which is supposed to be an empire, is an old man in his 70s named Rajendra Bhonsle.


    Like Shivaji Maharaj, he also belongs to the Bhonsle Maratha n, but his achievements are nowhere near those of Chhatrapati.


    In this timeline, due to the absence of Shivaji, the Maratha Kingdom couldn''t preserve its homnd of Pune, but had to upy the barren region of Rajasthan along with a few parts of Punjab and Pakistan.


    This led to the Mughal Empire upying more resources and forming the empire it is today faster than it has ever been in itsst life. A point to note is that the king of the Mughal Empire is no longer Akbar the Great, as it was in his previous life. Although Akbar conquered India, he used to be very tolerant of all religious values to a certain extent. However, the current king of the Mughal Empire, Mohammed the 5th, is a very power-hungry ruler. Although he allows religions other than Im to exist, he imposes heavier taxes on the people than when Akbar was the monarch. In the past timeline, the Mughal Empire had only about 15% Muslims within it. However, due to Muhammad''s favouritism towards the Muslim minority, many forced conversions took ce, leading to a 25% Muslim poption in the Mughal Empire.


    "Your Highness," Vinod called again.


    "Ha."


    Vijay, who was in a stupor, quickly woke up after hearing Vinod''s words.

 Chapter 29: Alliance ?

    <h4>Chapter 29: Alliance ?</h4>


    The day prior in the Maratha Kingdom:


    Lahore, the current capital of the Maratha Empire, currently consists of two major groups: the Sikhs and the Marathas. Although both groups follow different religions, many of their values coincide with each other. As a result, there is no conflict of interest between them.


    Even the current Crown Prince of the kingdom is betrothed to a Sikh woman as a symbol of peace and coexistence. The oppression of the Mughal Empire has also be a contributing factor, which forced them to integrate more closely.


    Inside the pce:


    An old man¡ªthe current king of the Maratha Kingdom¡ªis seated on his throne, holding an unfamiliar weapon in his hand. The design of the weapon is peculiar, as it is not crafted anywhere in the subcontinent. Though the design might be unrecognized by ordinary people, being a king, knowledge serves as a pivotal criterion for ruling a country. He understands that the weapon''s design originates from a European country.


    However, the man standing before the King has a different point of view. This man is none other than Roshan, the Rebel leader who is procuring arms from the Vijayanagar Empire.


    The events leading up to this situation go back to a few days ago.


    Being a smart individual, he first inquired about the origin of the arms. He didn''t wholly buy the notion that the weapons originated from the Dutch or the Portuguese. His skepticism grew when he observed the demeanour of the individuals who delivered the weapons. Despite their casual attire, their rigid and disciplined movements betrayed a military temperament. He guessed that these arms were likely manufactured by a strong military force.


    As he delved further into the investigation, he uncovered that his friend, who had facilitated the arms trade, had aligned with the Vijayanagar Empire following the defeat of his own forces. This, coupled with the recent reforms that had been implemented, solidified his suspicions that the weapons were not of European origin but rather from within the subcontinent¡ªspecifically, from the Vijayanagar Empire.


    However, being a resourceful man, he figured out the reason behind their actions. He chose not to reveal this information. Rather than leaking the news, he meticulously addressed all potential vulnerabilities, eliminated informants, and eradicated any traceable information that the Mughals might be privy to concerning Vijayanagara''s n.


    While on one of his expeditions, a spy from the Maratha Kingdom, to whom he had previously sold information, reached out to him regarding the weaponry they had acquired. Initially, he contemted fabricating a story, suggesting that the arms had been procured from a Dutch merchant ship. However, considering the seemingly good rtionship between the Vijayanagar Empire and the Maratha kingdom, He chose to be honest and tell the truth.


    However, he decided not to tell the spy this information because he didn''t want it to spread to more people. So, he asked to meet the king in person to share the news directly.


    "Are you certain?" questioned Rajendra Bansal, the reigning king of the Maratha Kingdom.


    "I am absolutely sure, Your Highness," Roshan affirmed. "My sources of information are highly reliable."


    Rajendra paused briefly, pondering the situation, before nodding in agreement.


    "Peshwa," he addressed the prime minister, "send a message to the Vijayanagar Empire." As he spoke, he penned a personal letter to Vijay himself.


    "This letter contains the Maratha Empire''s proposition to form a secret alliance with the Vijayanagar Empire. We''re interested in coborating for the supply of food and weapons."


    "We might not be rich in gold or food, but we can offer other resources from our region in exchange. We can trade for the provisions we need," Rajendra continued. "Create aprehensive list of the resources we have in abundance, and take some samples with you to present to their king."


    "Look for items that could be used for trade. If possible, also work on negotiating a peace treaty with the Vijayanagar Empire."


    The Thin Peshwa, who received the order, hesitated momentarily and voiced his concerns.


    "But Your Highness, how can we transport all these materials for trade? We don''t share amon border with the Vijayanagar Empire. And if we attempt to transport through the Mughal Empire, they will seize all the weapons upon discovery. While food might be allowed, they would still demand around 40% of it to be given to them."


    A chuckle escaped the king as he gestured towards the Rebel leader, addressing the issue directly. "Do you not find using these armed individuals to fight the Mughal empire is a bit wasteful of Vijayanagara''s resources?"


    He then turned towards the Rebel leader, Roshan, and proposed, "Why don''t you and yourrades coborate to form a group? This could facilitate smoother transactions between our two countries. You are all familiar with the natural terrain, which would make transportation more efficient. Instead of engaging in futile battles for years, why not assist us in transporting the much-needed goods?"


    He continued, directing his words to Roshan, "I''ve heard of your grievances with the Mughal Empire, leading to your fight for revenge. However, your resistance against the Mughal Empire could be more effective if you support us. This would also provide you with the opportunity to earn some ie in the process. You could derive benefits from the goods passing through your routes."


    "I understand that many of yourrades might not be motivated by money. Yet, the funds earned could be used to expand your forces and influence Mughal officials as well," the king concluded.


    Upon hearing the statement, everyone in the hall was left stunned. "What a vicious n," silently resonated in the minds of all present.


    After a prolonged moment of contemtion that seemed like a tough decision had been reached, Rajendra made an announcement. "I''ve heard that the king of Vijayanagar is a young hero who remains unmarried." He continued with a pained expression, "I have decided to betroth my only daughter to him as a gesture of our alliance." His voice was strained.


    The deration sent shockwaves through the assembly. Those familiar with the king knew of his deep affection for his youngest child and only daughter. At just 16 years old, the princess had been the centre of his attention since childhood.


    "I won''t be able to protect you for much longer, my daughter," the king murmured, his voice growing feeble with age as he sat on his throne. He understood that even though things appeared peaceful at the moment, it wouldn''tst long. The truth was that the Mughal Empire was on the verge of expanding, incorporating more territories and people. It was bing stronger, absorbing different regions and poptions into its domain. Once this happened, finding peace would be extremely challenging.


    He resolved to marry his beloved daughter to Vijayanagar, With the hope that this alliance would offer a chance to withstand the impending threat.

 Chapter 30: Alliance Discussions: Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 30: Alliance Discussions: Part 1</h4>


    The Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi Pce.


    Vijay, who had no idea what happened in the Maratha Empire, went to meet the envoy. As soon as he entered the hall, he saw two men sitting in chairs.


    One man was dressed well and looked like a noble. Considering he was wearing a Dastar, Vijay thought he was from the Sikhmunity. Another man was dressed like a soldier. Vijay presumed him to be a guard of some sort, but he couldn''t help but notice that they were carrying a heavy load with them.


    Vijay had no clue why the Maratha Empire had sent the envoy; they had cooperated well when his father was alive. However, due to the Mughal threat, they couldn''t trade often anymore.


    He didn''t have any enmity with the kingdom. If anything, he was on good terms with the Maratha Kingdom, and he wished he could foster an even better rtionship, possibly leading to an alliance.


    Seeing a young man dressed in luxurious attire exuding a noble aura, the envoy and his follower stood and bowed ording to etiquette.


    "Long live your majesty, long live Vijayanagar," the man who appeared high ranking said, still bowing.


    "My name is Bhupathi, your highness, an envoy from the Maratha Kingdom. I am here with goodwill and best wishes for you and your people," he continued.


    Vijay nodded his head and told them, "Please, esteemed guests, get up." Vijay ordered the servants to bring some tea and snacks for the guests.


    "So, what brings you to my kingdom, my dear friends?" he asked, as he took a sip of tea.


    Bhupathi replied, "Your Highness, we are here on the orders of our king to discuss a potential alliance that could be formed between us."


    Vijay was surprised, as he didn"t know what interest they could exchange. Intrigued, Vijay said, "Please exin in detail."


    Bhupathi, the envoy, began to exin, "It"s like this, Your Highness. We came to know, through a mutual coborator, that you are capable of mass-producing iron weapons, which we are in dire need of." Before he could continue, Vijay dropped the tea ss he was holding, he was in disbelief, he was shocked by the fact that the secrets of the military factory were known to outsiders. He began to suspect whether it was Hey Ram or one of the cksmiths who had leaked the news. But he soon came to his senses, realizing that he had made a mistake by showing his emotions. Before he could correct it, he knew he had already given himself away to the envoy.


    Since the secret was out, Vijay didn''t hide his unhappiness anymore, demanding the details from the envoy directly, "Bhupathi, this is a matter of national security. So you better tell me who leaked the news?" Bhupathi, the envoy, knew that he had to rify things, or else there might be problems between the Vijayanagar and Maratha kingdom. Hence, he quickly exined how they had acquired the news from a rebel leader named Roshan, and about how they were fighting against the tyranny of the Mughal Empire."


    He quickly took out a letter and passed it to Vijay.


    Vijay took over the paper and realized that it was a letter from Roshan, the Rebel leader to whom he had sold arms. In this letter, Roshan mentioned his doubts about the armsing from European nations. He described how he had uncovered the truth and addressed all the loopholes and security risks in his n. Roshan also mentioned that he chose to disclose this information to the King of the Maratha Kingdom because he believed it could aid the Vijayanagar Empire.


    After reading the letter, he let out a sigh of relief that it was not the worst oue. Imagining the st furnace technology with the Mughals just sent chills down his spine, but in the end, he med himself for not conducting thorough intelligence work.


    Although it turned out fine this time, he couldn''t guarantee that things would work out like this every time. So, he decided in his mind that in the future, he would establish a spy organization dedicated to collecting external information.


    Although Vijayanagar already had spyworks, they weren''t specialized; these spies performed various tasks for the court, which made them inefficient. He nned to change this in the near future.


    "What else?" Vijay asked.


    Bhupathi replied, "Your Highness, we would also like to trade for the food avable in your country."


    Vijay nodded and expressed his doubts, "It is all well and good as you''ve said, but how do you expect us to transport the goods you want without being seized by the Mughals?"


    As if he knew that Vijay would ask this question, Bhupathi immediately responded, "Regarding this, His Majesty the King, has written a letter directly addressing the issues he wants to convey."


    After he said that, a servant carefully handed over a letter to Vijay with both hands, treating it as if it were a treasure. Vijay, now in possession of the letter, began to read it.


    First, it stated how the friendship between Vijayanagar and the Maratha Empire had persisted from generation to generation. It also outlined how they would like to utilize the rebels within the Mughal Empire as transportation nodes. Reading up to this point, Vijay was dumbfounded. "Clever and shrewd," he thought, realizing that while he had only managed to establish a market through the arms Trade, the elder in the Maratha Empire had directly turned the rebels into something simr to a smuggling cartel in the future generations.


    "I guess I am still too short-sighted," Vijay thought to himself. As he read on, he was even more shocked than before. "Is this old man willing to sacrifice his daughter for the sake of resources?"


    While Vijay from the 21st century was no stranger to arranged marriages, he did not dislike them. Arranged marriages spared him from the process of vetting potential partners, and he got to be on good terms with his parents, yet he himself had never married due to his busy lifestyle and advanced age by the time he was ready to marry, due to this, his parents used to remind about that fact every time he got to meet them.


    Therefore One of his regrets from his past life was not experiencing family life. In this current life, his options for potential spouses were limited due to his status. In the present era, At 21 years old, ordinary men were already married and had children. However, he remained unmarried due to his inability to find a suitable candidate.


    He didn''t "t mind the idea of marrying a Maratha princess, as it could yield both political advantages and continue his family line, where he was the sole remaining member. "If she isn''t particrly unattractive, I wouldn''t mind marrying the princess," he thought to himself internally with some hope.

 Chapter 31: Alliance Discussions: Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 31: Alliance Discussions: Part 2</h4>


    In the Vijayanagar pce, Vijay flipped the letter, upon which he could see a portrait of a beautiful teenage girl.


    His eyes lit up immediately after seeing the girl. She had a nice oval face that looked very pinchable, with dimples on her cheeks and light brown skin. She somewhat resembled Alia Bhatt of future generations.


    He was surprised by the quality of the painting. Then he thought it was normal, as Leonardo da Vinci"s paintings from the 15th century were still very beautiful in the 21st century.


    However, what caused him to pause was seeing that the girl"s age was only 16. This caused his inner uncle to riot "Lolicon, lolicon," He knew that people in this era married at a much younger age, but being an educated 21st-century Indian Uncle, it was very hard for him to ept.


    Butter, he came to terms with it when he realized that he was only 21 years old in this life, so there was only a 5-year age difference between him and the girl. which is a prettymon age difference to marry even in the future generations, This thought helped calm his chaotic thoughts a little.


    He wasn''t worried that the portrait might be incorrect, as that would mean the proposed alliancecked legitimacy. The king of a country wouldn''t be so shortsighted and foolish.


    Finally, Vijay asked the important question, "I know the Maratha Empire doesn''t have much gold to buy our products. How do you intend to pay us?"


    Bhupathi didn''t reply verbally, but he gestured to his guard to show the items he was carrying. Vijay was confused but he didn''t speak, watching as the guard opened the boxes he had brought with him. The guard took out various materials, including powders, minerals, and metals.


    Before Vijay could ask the question, Bhupathi provided an answer. "Your Highness, while we may not possess a lot of gold, these products you see in front of you are all open to trade. Please choose which material you would like to trade for."


    Vijay"s doubts were cleared as he began to inspect the items. There were many materials, some he could recognize, like copper and limestone, along with other misceneous items. However, when heid his eyes on a particr item, he was ovee with ecstasy.


    As soon as he saw the item, he remembered that in the 21st century, the Rajasthan (Now Maratha Kingdom) was home to 91% of India"s potash supply. Potash is an excellent fertilizer for nts and can be used in various industries, including detergent production and even military applications. Thinking about the agricultural experiment he had conducted a few months ago, he thought that if he could procure potash from the Maratha Empire, he could implement his reform throughout the nation.


    Hence, he decided to exchange weapons and food with the Maratha Empire for potash and some metals that he was short of supply.


    when Bhupathi saw the king Holding a bunch of pink rocks andughing like a fool, he felt confident that the trade could be made. He stated, "How about it, Your Highness? Can we reach terms, for the trade agreement?"


    Vijay was in a happy mood and readily agreed, "The trade for these materials is possible, but my head of business will meet you to negotiate the prices", He didn''t negotiate the prices himself; instead, he entrusted that matter to the head of the business. As he was about to leave the hall, he was stopped by Bhupathi, who said, "Your Highness, we would like to have our weapons made in a traditional way. While we understand the reason you produce weapons in the European style, our soldiers are trained in traditional weapons. It would require significant resources to transition, and as a country, it"s easier to keep the source of the weapons discreet."


    Vijay thought about it and agreed.


    Later that day, Rajesh, the head of the business department, came to the pce to negotiate with the envoy from the Maratha Kingdom.


    "Wee to Vijayanagara, Shri Bhupathi. I hope we have a pleasant chat," he said with a grin.


    "Thank you for your hospitality, Shri Head of Business. Likewise, let us have a pleasant chat," he said, grinning.


    As they talked, the air around them seemed to carry an electric charge.


    After a series of prolonged and extensive discussions, the alliance was formted.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    **TREATY OF PEACE AND ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE MARATHA KINGDOM AND THE VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE**


    **Preamble:**


    Recognizing the shared desire for stability, peace, and amon enemy in the Indian subcontinent, the Maratha Kingdom and the Vijayanagara Empire, hereinafter referred to as the "Parties," enter into this Treaty of Peace and Alliance, known as the "Indo-Maratha Alliance," to establish harmonious rtions and coborate for the betterment of their peoples.


    **Article 1: Cessation of Hostilities**


    The Parties shall refrain from engaging in any military actions and aggressive manoeuvres against each other. A formal deration of non-aggression shall be exchanged between the Parties to signify the cessation of conflicts.


    **Article 2: Territorial Integrity and Borders**


    The territorial integrity and sovereignty of each Party shall be respected and upheld.


    **Article 3: Diplomatic Rtions**


    1. The Parties shall establish diplomatic rtions at the highest level. Embassies shall be exchanged to facilitate openmunication and cooperation.


    2. The Parties shall coborate on matters of mutual interest, including trade, culture, and education, with amitment to enhancing people-to-people ties.


    **Article 4: Ratification and Enforcement**


    1. This Treaty shall be ratified by the respective heads of state or their designated representatives.


    2. The Treaty shalle into effect upon the exchange of ratified documents.


    3. Vition of the terms of this Treaty shall lead to diplomatic discussions and negotiations to find appropriate solutions.


    **Article 5: Trade Agreement**


    1. The Vijayanagara Empire agrees to sell 10 sets of soldier''s equipment and 100 kg of grain in exchange for the price of 1 ton of Potash.


    2. The transportation of the materials shall be the sole responsibility of yet to be formed MUGHAL Bridge Group.


    3. To ount for the risks associated with enemy territory, a tax equivalent to 20% of the goods'' total value shall be paid. This tax is aimed at ensuring the sustainedbat effectiveness of the Mughal Bridge Group.


    **Article 6: Duration**


    This Treaty of Peace and Alliance shall remain in force for a period of 2 years, renewable by mutual consent of the Parties.


    **Article 7: Signatories**


    Done in duplicate, in Sanskrit, in Hampi, on the 15th day of the year 1651.


    For the Vijayanagara Empire: For the Maratha Kingdom:


    [Seal] [Seal]


    [Vijay] [Bhupathi]


    [Vijay Deva Raya] [Bhupathi Singh]


    [King of the Vijayanagara Empire] [Envoy of Maratha kingdom]


    [Date: 15th day of 1651] Date:15th day of 1651


    **Witnessed By:**


    Rajesh, Vinod


    [Head of Business and Butler]


    Date: 15th day of 1651


    **[Seals of the Maratha Kingdom and the Vijayanagara Empire]**


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    After the preparation of the agreement, the document was shared with three parties: the Vijayanagara Empire, the Mughal Bridge Group responsible for transporting the goods, and the Maratha Kingdom.


    This marked the beginning of a significant turning point in Bharata''s history.

 Chapter 32: Agricultural Reform

    <h4>Chapter 32: Agricultural Reform</h4>


    A few dayster, the alliance agreement found its way to the tables of both the King of the Maratha Kingdom and Roshan, the Rebel leader.


    In the Maratha Kingdom:


    As soon as King Rajendra Bansalid eyes on the alliance agreement, a sense of relief washed over him.


    "Lord Vishnu, I thank you for your blessings,"


    He expressed his thanks to the deity for the good news. Later, he went to meet his daughter to make arrangements for the uing marriage.


    Somewhere within the Mughal Empire.


    A group of people sat around a table, deeply focused on reading a document. These individuals are the Rebel leaders who bought the weapons from the Vijayanagara Empire. Now, they are discussing the feasibility of the document.


    Roshan, by indirectly creating the opportunity, became a leader of the group.


    "The Mughal Bridge Group, eh?"


    He felt very satisfied with the agreement he had obtained from both monarchs. The fact that their opinions were not considered during the alliance discussions didn''t bother him. This resulted from his personal choice to share information about the Vijayanagar Empire. The irony of not being able to name their organization did make him smile, but the relief of avoiding potential consequences was more important than such worries.


    Over the next few months, a regr stream of weapons and supplies made its way from the Vijayanagar Empire to the Maratha Kingdom. This movement was made possible by the efforts of the Mughal Bridge Group. At the same time, shipments of goods moved through the Mughal Empire to help improve the resources of the Vijayanagara Empire, making them stronger.


    Vijayanagar Empire, Shimoga.


    After the recent ending of the Pongal festival, a harvest celebration caught Vijay''s attention. With the festival over and the uing potash supply, he became interested in the experimental farm, that he had overlooked for a few months. So he quickly got on a carriage and left to meet the old man Narasimha.


    When he arrived at the fields, a beautiful scene was presented before him. Thendscape revealed new crops being nted in various ces. Dedicated farmbourers were hard at work within the farms, carrying out their daily tasks as they always did. What stood out was the remarkable vitality of the lush crops ¨C they were exceptionally healthy and their impressive density was unparalleled in this era.


    While walking through the fields, Vijay encountered an elderly man he didn''t immediately recognize. Eventually, he realized that the man was Narasimha, the head of the experimental farm. Narasimha seemed to blend in perfectly with the other workers who were deeply engaged in their farming chores. Despite appearing a bit dirty, he had a healthier and more vibrant appearancepared to before.


    "Long live Your Highness. Wee to the experimental farm, Your Highness," Narasimha greeted as he saw Vijay approaching him.


    Vijay quickly inquired, "How was the harvest with the new method? Is it sessful?"


    Narasimha hearing the king''s question, eagerly replied. His face lit up like that of a happy child as he said, "Your Highness, using better techniques, we''re now getting about 1.3 tons of grain from one acre ofnd."


    Vijay couldn''t hide his happiness at these numbers. Even in modern times, farmers usually get around 2.3 tons of grain per acre. Considering that they were using basic methods without any special fertilizers, going from 600 kilograms to 1.3 tons was a really big improvement.


    Expecting the uing supply of potash from the Maratha Empire, Vijay made a decision to extend the agricultural reforms across the nation. thinking about it like this, he decided to hold the imperial council.


    Soon the day of the Imperial Council''s meeting arrived, where the topic of implementing these reforms was scheduled for discussion.


    Inside the council chamber, Vijay had gathered the heads of various departments, their arrival showing the importance of the uing discussion. Addressing the assembly, he began, "Today, we are here for this Imperial meeting to discuss the widespread implementation of agricultural reform."


    With a clear goal, Vijay got everyone''s attention with the papers he was holding., each containing a detailed n of his progress of Agricultural results. "Several months ago, I started an experimental farm to test new agricultural methods. I''m pleased to say that the results have been quite promising," he continued, handing out the documents to those present.


    The several heads of department who were present took a look at the information, focusing intently on the ideas of the experimental methods and the results they achieved. The documents provided a clear picture that the reform had led to impressive oues, reaching a remarkable aplishment of producing 1.2 tons of grain per acre ofnd.


    After several hours of in-depth discussion, a unanimous decision was reached, After carefully refining the initial proposal. Vijay formally announced the decision.


    "Starting immediately, we will establish an Agricultural Department responsible for all the agriculture-rted matters in the empire"


    After a brief pause, he stated, "Recognizing his invaluable contributions and expertise, I''m delighted to appoint Shri Narasimha as the head of this department. His dedication and insights have been instrumental in making this transformative initiative a reality."


    Upon hearing this, everyone in the room stood up and warmly greeted the new colleague, as the elderly man Narasimha entered through the door with a sense of caution and timidity.


    Thus the meeting ended with the establishment of Krishi Vibhag (Agriculture department)


    Early the next morning, the rhythmic beat of drums echoed through every vige and town, spreading an air of anticipation and excitement, as the voice of the Paraiyar reverberated.


    "Dum dum dum Dum..."


    "Listen, everyone, from near and far,


    ording to the new decree from the esteemed King Vijay Deva Raya:


    * A fresh Krishi Vibhag will be established to share thetest agricultural advancements within the empire.


    * The innovative 4-field nting method, designed to increase crop yields, will be put into practice.


    * Instructors from the Krishi Vibhag will personally teach these new farming techniques in every vige''s panchayat, without any cost.


    * The new potash fertilizer, which can further increase crop yield, will be sold to the merchants near you at affordable prises.


    * Merchants caught overpricing goods will be imprisoned for 10 years or more, depending on the severity of the issue.


    * The skill for crafting the new tongue ploughs will be freely shared with all the craftsmen.


    * The Krishi Vibhag will also manage the purchase of surplus grain from the people.


    * The collected grain will find its ce in food banks built across the country.


    * During times of drought or natural disasters, the stored grain will be sold at affordable prices."


    Upon hearing this news, themon folk reacted with a mix of astonishment and hope:


    "More food?"


    "At no cost?"


    "For disaster relief?"


    Amidst the murmurs, the chants of "Long live the great king!" and "Long live Vijayanagar!" resounded throughout the kingdom, carrying gratitude and excitement for the promising changes ahead.

 Chapter 33: A Royal Union

    <h4>Chapter 33: A Royal Union</h4>


    Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi


    As the sun went up in the sky, its warm rays covered the lively city of Vijayanagara in a shiny, golden embrace. There was excitement in the air because something important was about to happen that day. It was the wedding of the beloved king, King Vijay Deva Raya. The whole city looked beautiful, with lots of colourful flowers, bright banners, and pretty rangoli patterns made on the pathways. All these things made the city look like a happy and festive ce.


    In the middle of all this beauty, a big line of fancy carriages moved toward the centre of the city. These carriages looked fancy, covered in detailed carvings and shiny gold edges. Inside each carriage were valuable things made of gold and silver. At the front of the line was the most special carriage. In it, a good-looking young man was wearing royal clothes, and next to him was a pretty girl with a round face, chubby cheeks, and cute dimples. She seemed a bit nervous but also excited. She held her smooth saree tightly and looked ahead with her eyes full of excitement.


    The young man was Crown Prince Aditya Bhonsle from the Maratha Empire, and the girl next to him was his sister, Kavya Bhonsle, who was going to get married. Kavya felt her heart beating fast, and she couldn''t stop thinking about the uing wedding. She remembered what her father had told her. He had said that this day was really important, not just for her but because it would bring together the Maratha and Vijayanagara kingdoms as allies.


    When they got closer to the pce, Aditya, the Crown Prince, yfully made fun of his sister. He had a mischievous look in his eyes. He said, "Feeling a bit nervous, huh, dear sister? There is no need to fear. You''re going to be an amazing queen. And don''t forget, no matter where you are, I''ll be there to keep you safe."


    Kavya blushed at hisments, feeling a bit embarrassed but still thankful for her brother''s cheerful nature.


    For a moment, Kavya thought about something that had happened before. It was in their home, the Maratha kingdom. Their father, who was the king, came up to her. She was unsure and scared about the wedding, but he smiled kindly to make her feel better. His eyes showed how much he believed in the idea he was suggesting.


    He told her, "My dear, I understand why you''re worried. But let me tell you about Vijayanagara, the city that you are about to marry. It''s a very beautiful and historic ce. The people there really respect and care about their rulers. The city itself is like a work of art, with its beauty and style showing what the people who live there are like."


    He went on, "The man you''re going to marry, Vijayadeva Raya, is not only a king but also a great leader. His wisdom and kindness have made his people love him. He truly takes care of his kingdom and the people in it. Imagine being part of this amazing tradition and helping it grow and be even better. Best of all, King Vijay does not have any bad habits among the high-ss nobles."


    While he talked, his daughter''s eyes started to change. Looking at her father, who was like an old fox, she couldn''t resist his words. She trusted him a lot, so she believed what he said. He finished by saying, "This marriage between you and Vijayadeva Raya means more than just getting married. It''s a promise that the future will be stronger. Two kingdoms areing together to make something great. Ipletely believe that you''ll find happiness and a purpose in this marriage."


    His words seemed to reach her heart, and she began to see the possibilities that were destined for her beyond her initial doubts.


    As the carriage came to a stop within the pce grounds, Aditya and Kavya got down from the vehicle, their eyes widening at the breathtaking sight of the Hampi pce. The groom, King Vijayadeva Raya, approached with a warm and weing smile.


    "Wee to the Hampi Pce, Your Highness Aditya and Kavya. Your presence here is an honour," Vijay invited them with a namaste. Aditya responded with a namaste of his own: "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty."


    Feeling the need to address their father''s absence, Aditya spoke up: "Your Majesty, please ept our apologies for our father''s absence. The circumstances have been quite challenging."


    Vijay didn''t react to the news that his father-inw was absent, Because It was as he expected, his father-inw is old and can''t bear the travel; moreover, in his absence, the Mughal Empire might try something to destabilize the Maratha kingdom.


    He then turned his attention to his soon-to-be wife, Kavya, who looked exactly like how he saw in the portrait. When their eyes met, a sudden spark lit up between them, like an electric jolt of connection. In that instant, everything around them seemed to move in slow motion, as if Brahma itself had destined this meaningful moment. In the silence, their eyes spoke without words. The air felt different, like it was filled with a special kind of excitement as if something magical were starting.


    Later that day,


    The marriage ceremony began with all the main guests arriving, blending tradition and magnificence seamlessly. The air carried the sweet scent of incense, while the echoes of Vedic chants filled the space. The royal couple stood by the sacred fire, exchanging vows that would tie them forever. They walked around the sacred fire as the ceremonies were carried out with elegance and meticulous attention, embodying the Sanatana Dharma deeply rooted in every Bharata''s life.


    Amid these rituals, Ravichandra, the aged butler and Head of Finance who had devoted decades to the pce couldn''t hold back his tears as the knot was tied and the drums rang. He fondly remembered the old king and imagined his delight at witnessing this moment¡ªhis beloved son''s marriage.


    With the divine fire''s blessings, the couple turned towards their elders for blessings. They began with Vijay''s maternal grandfather (Thatha), Sunil Shetty, whose eyes shimmered with pride. Then, they sought the blessings of his maternal uncle (Cikkappa), Ravi Shetty, who exchanged a happy smile. Lastly, they approached his aunt (Cikkam''ma), who warmly sped their hands, offering sincere wishes. His niece, who was still a child, was hiding behind her Mother''s sari in shyness.


    Yet, it wasn''t just the royal family who offered their blessings. Vijay brought his newlywed wife to receive blessings from Mina, a devoted and long-serving maid who had raised him since birth in the absence of his mother. Vijay treated her like family, and she was also in their thoughts. Mina''s gaze was hesitant; her eyes were filled with heartfelt emotions. She was reluctant to ept Vijay''s bows, as she was considered a lowly maid. Kavya, who noticed this, fixed her sincere gaze upon Mina, indicating that her presence was equal to that of the family of the couple. With eyes glistening with tears,


    "Live a hundred years and prosper."


    Mina gentlyid her hands upon their heads, bestowing upon them her heartfelt blessings.


    Little did Vijay know that this day would eventually be celebrated as Valentine''s Day for generations toe.


    As the marriage of the king concluded, the city of Vijayanagara erupted in joy. The streets pulsed with dance, music, andughter. People from all walks of life joined the festivities as their king''s wedding ignited hope and happiness in their hearts.

 Chapter 34: Calm Before The Storm

    <h4>Chapter 34: Calm Before The Storm</h4>


    Vijayanagar Empire.


    It has been a week since Vijay Deva Raya''s marriage, and the hustle and bustle of the kingdom have died down since then. After the wedding, Vijay spent a few days with Kavya, touring around the kingdom for their honeymoon. He finally felt that his life was full, which he didn''t feel in his previous life without a partner.


    Now that the important matters of his life werepleted, it is now time to get back to the construction of the Empire.


    Vijay summoned Lokanandha Senapati to the pce in private.


    Within a few hours, Lokanandha Senapati arrived at the pce as requested. After the exchange of greetings and a salute, Lokanandha inquired, "How can I be of service, Your Highness?"


    Vijay beckoned him toe closer as he asked, "How is the military training going? Are the new recruits ready for battle yet?"


    Logananda thought about the new recruits who had undergone intensive training for half a year in the academies and replied, "Your Highness, we are awaiting your order to let the newly trained recruits join the army."


    Vijay was relieved that the training had beenpleted, as he wanted a substantial amount of military might for his next ns. He stated, "Let 20,000 newly trained recruits head to the front line of the Empire. Then Summon 20,000 veterans to the capital and have them lead and show the ropes to the 30,000 new recruits."


    With a ruthless expression, Vijay continued, "The 50,000 soldiers will form a new division. This division will be stationed near the capital in secret."


    Logananda was shocked by the orders he received. With hesitation, he asked, "Your Highness, are we going to war against someone? No offence, Your Highness, but we simply do not have the financial resources to wage a war. And although the new recruits have been trained very well, they haven''t seen any blood inbat yet, so they will not bebat-ready," he said worriedly.


    Listening to the words of the Martial, Vijay replied, "You don''t have to worry about that, Logananda. We are not going to war against any foreign enemy, but the reforms I am about to make will touch the interests of the upper-ss people. In a sense, you could say that I am going to war against the nobles and zamindars of our kingdom."


    "This will be a perfect opportunity to test the new recruits and expose them tobat early before heading to the battlefield," Vijay responded.


    "But Your Highness, I don''t think that the nobles and zamindars will take up arms against you. You have a great amount of respect among themon people due to the kindness you have shown to them. Moreover, I believe they will not resort to violence even if they are dissatisfied with your actions," Logananda expressed his opinion skeptically.


    Vijay knew that Logananda wouldn''t easily believe him. After all, what he was about to do had never been done before. A king turning against his own ss for the sake of peasants had never been documented.


    So he roughly exined some of his ideas to Logananda. He mentioned thend reform, the justice system, the education system, and the caste system which he nned to change.


    Listening to this, Logananda couldn''t stand still and quickly took a seat, cold sweat on his face and back. He looked like someone who had seen a horrifying Bhutha (Ghost).


    "But... but... why, Your Highness?" Logananda said with trepidation. He couldn''t understand why the king would undertake such a drastic action, destroying the very foundation in which the king ruled the Empire.


    But soon Logananda came back to his senses. He quickly realized that it was not his ce to question the king''s decision. If he couldn''t fulfil his obligations, the king could rece him with someone else.


    So he swiftly regained hisposure and replied to the king, "Please order Your Highness. This old bone will be the sword and shield in your hands. I will cut down on the enemies no matter who they are or when it''s required. I will confront anyone who opposes your decisions, including the nobles. I will do so without hesitation," Logananda said, his eyes brimming with resolution.


    Vijay was very satisfied with Logananda''s promise.


    "I have always believed in your family''s loyalty, Senapati. The Senapati family has been fighting for the Vijayanagar Kingdom from generation to generation. Your grandfather, your father, and now you and your son are all serving thisnd. I''m speaking to you straightforwardly because I know of your unwavering loyalty, and I understand that you don''t possess the oppressive tendencies often found among the nobles in the same ss as you," Vijay stated, praising the old man.


    Listening to the king''s praise, Logananda''s back straightened even more than before, resembling that of a young general. His eyes were brimming with pride when the king mentioned his family''s contribution to the mothend. Vijay finally ordered, "Now, go back and carry out the tasks I''ve mentioned in secret. Spread the news that the veteran soldiers areing to the Military school to teach the recruits as a form of propaganda among the nobles. I don''t want them to catch a hint of what I am about to do. And remember, don''t let the Mughals take an opportunity to attack our borders. I am very sure that they have no time to deal with us while they integrate theirnds, but just in case, be vignt at all times."


    As Vijaypleted his instructions, Logananda left the hall. Seeing the departing figure of the Marshal, Vijay went to his study room with resolve and determination in his eyes.


    He would start conceiving multiple reforms that would directly propel the Vijayanagar Empire into the early modern age, simr to the trajectory of European countries in the 18th century.


    The nobles and the zamindars don''t know that their rich and prosperous lives areing to an end. Unfortunately for them, what they are experiencing now is just the calm before the storm.

 Chapter 35: Vijayanagara Land Reform Act

    <h4>Chapter 35: Vijayanagara Land Reform Act</h4>


    In the Hampi pce, Vijay came out of the main hall, looking tired, along with him came the imperial council members. They looked like walking zombies with dishevelled hair and ck circles around their eyes. Despite this, you could still see the maniacal expressions on their faces.


    They spent an entire month polishing up the ns for the major reforms Vijay is about to undertake.


    Within a day, The news of the reforms spread throughout the empire at a very rapid rate.


    Vijay began his reforms by addressing one of the major problems hindering the growth of Vijayanagar towards modernization: the feudalndlord system. Currently, most of the farmers are tied to thend of the Zamindar. The majority of the crop output goes into the pockets of thendlords and the nobles, leaving them with almost nothing to use except for consumption.


    At least in the Vijayanagar Empire, farmers could avoid starvation. In the Mughal Empire, 100% of the proceeds from the pheasants went into the pockets of the nobles and zamindars, and the pheasants just got enough to sustain their lives in a good year Or else: (


    Dan Famine of 1630-1632: This famine was one of the worst in Indian history, causing an estimated 2.5 million deaths. It was caused by abination of factors, including a severe drought, crop failures, and a locust infestation. The famine was exacerbated by the Mughal Empire''s military campaigns in the Dan region, which disrupted agricultural production and disced people.


    Great Famine of 1695-1696: This famine affected arge part of India, from the Dan teau in the south to Bengal in the east. It was caused by a series of droughts and floods, as well as economic mismanagement by the Mughal government. The famine is estimated to have caused over 1 million deaths.


    Bengal Famine of 1709-1710: This famine was particrly severe in Bengal, where it is estimated to have killed over 3 million people. It was caused by a prolonged drought, as well as the Mughal Empire''s policy of grain exports, which depleted food stocks in the region.


    Doomsday Famine of 1737-1738: This famine was the worst in Indian history, causing an estimated 10 million deaths. It was caused by abination of natural disasters, including a severe drought, floods, and earthquakes, as well as political instability and economic mismanagement by the Mughal Empire.


    Famine of 1783-1784: This famine affected arge part of India, from the Dan teau in the south to the Punjab in the northwest. It was caused by a series of droughts and floods, as well as the ongoing political and economic crisis of the Mughal Empire. The famine is estimated to have caused over 1 million deaths. )


    . There is very little difference between the farmers in the Mughal Empire and ves.


    While Vijay could have considered waiting until the industrialization of the empire to implement the reforms, simr to how the UK did in his previous life, it''s important to note that the cost of reforming the system at that point would likely have been significantly higher. It''s worth considering that the poption of the UK at the time of their reforms was not asrge as that of the Vijayanagara Empire now, making the task somewhat easier for the Britishpared to Vijayanagara. The nobles and zamindars, having greater resources, would probably have fully exploited industrialization, thereby enhancing their power and influence. The Russian Empire vividly illustrates this phenomenon. The nobles and the oligarchs within the Czarist Russian Empire had already cornered a significant portion of the resources before the empire eventually copsed. A Great example is when the Czarist Russian nobles chose to discard leftover milk into rivers rather than provide it to the starving Poption, to prevent the devaluation of the product. This resentment among themon people ultimately culminated in the establishment of the"Red War Bear" Soviet Union.


    Even if hepromised on this issue, the feudalndlords and the zamindar ss would still oppose many other modernization reforms he would implement. Despite the resistance from the nobles and zamindars right now, Vijay believed it was wiser to eliminate potential threats within the Empire before it could be cancer to its progress.


    Vijay''s Ambition is to unify the subcontinent and make the dream of Akhand Bharat a reality, and he''s not na?ve enough to believe that this can be achieved without some level of Bloodshed. Throughout history, major countries have been established at the cost of countless lives and struggles.


    No matter how they promote freedom and equality, One must remember that America was built on the graves of the entire race of Native Americans. No matter how noble they believe themselves to be, One must recall that Europe was constructed on the countless blood and bones of the African ves. No matter if they im to abolish very, One must recollect that the British Empire was erected on the countless coffins and genocides of Indian Labourers. And finally No matter how fair they perceive themselves to be, One must recognise that modernmunist China was founded upon the purge of the whole merchant ss, This is the true foundation where the mighty empires stand, Built on a mountain of Sin.


    Knowing all this history from his past life, Vijay is not so arrogant and self-centred as to believe that he could do any better. His main aim now is to minimize the bloodshed that is about to ur to the best of his ability. Therefore, he has chosen to take action while he still maintains a military advantage over the noble ss, before initiating the modernization of the Empire.


    ording to his outlook on the empire, Vijayanagara is like a lean man now. what he has to do now is to remove the tumour that is about to grow on the body and reinforce the bones and foundation of the body, before putting on weight and developing the muscle for future conquest.


    Soon, the sutradaras (News Boys) Vijay sent to spread the news of the reform reached all the major towns and cities of the Vijayanagara Empire.


    "Listen, one and all! The great and benevolent king, His Royal Highness Sri Vijay Deva Raya, has enacted the Vijayanagar Land Reform Act..."


    Such voices resonated across the entire empire.


    ording to the Vijayanagara Land Reform Act:


    1. Farmers who have worked on zamindars'' fields for more than 20 years can im ownership of thend they have worked on.


    2. Excessnd held by zamindars and nobles will be repurchased by the royal family at market prices, with the intention of redistributing it to peasants and farmers residing on thend.


    3. Peasants working for zamindars and nobles for less than 20 years now have the right to demand a fixed sry from thendowner to work in the fields.


    4. Agriculturalnd tax will henceforth be reduced to 10% of the yearly proceeds in the form of grain or currency to every citizen of the empire.


    5. Tax collection rights of the zamindars and the nobles have been revoked effective immediately.


    6. A Bureau of Land Audit will be established in every major city and town, responsible for the inspection and survey of thend. Legalnd deeds will be provided tondowners based on inspections.


    7. Private property of any individual cannot be seized by the Empire under any circumstances. The Empire has the authority to reimnd only if an individual vites thew or in exceptional situations.


    8. In case of inheritance, Land Owners can freely transfernd below 20 acres. Fornd over 20 acres, a 20% inheritance tax of the averagend value over the past 10 years will be paid to the Empire.


    9. Allnd transactions must be documented with the Land Audit Department, ensuring the recognition of the new owner''s rights. Land transfers carried out privately without propernd deeds will not be acknowledged by the Empire.


    10. Citizens of the Empire possess the right to develop mines discovered on theirnd. but, if a resource holds strategic significance, the Kingdom retains the primary procurement right and the power to prohibit exports. Selling such a resource secretly could be considered treason.


    Once the sutradhar''s (News Boys) speech concluded, a colossal earthquake of emotion reverberated throughout the empire. Common folk, farmers, and peasants were overwhelmed with joy, offering prayers to Lord Shiva and other deities they prayed, thanking them for blessing them with a benevolent ruler like Vijay Deva Raya.


    Before the nobles had a chance to respond, another piece of news emerged that made the empire tremble. However, this time, it was the Police department who took action, delivering notices to the panchayats of various towns and viges.

 Chapter 36: Vijayanagara New Judicial Act

    <h4>Chapter 36: Vijayanagara New Judicial Act</h4>


    Vijay aimed to reform the judicial system in the Vijayanagar Empire due to the corrupt Nobility and the zamindar sses who primarily determined the right and wrong of themon folk. Typically, when aint was brought before the panchayat, the nobility would favour the party that had provided them with a sum of money or belonged to their interest group.


    Vijay was very stressed and had a headache multiple times to perfect The n. He and Bhuvan both dedicated Long hours days to polishing the new judicial act and making it viable. Vijay hesitated regarding which country''s judicial system to adopt for the Vijayanagar Empire. He had several options, including the American, German, British, and other developed countries in the future. However, he needed to find a judicial system that suited the Empire.


    He didn''t want to replicate the same method India used in the 21st century in his previous life, as the Indian judicial system was a considerable failure, to say the least. Resolving a civil dispute in India took several years due to the scarcity ofwyers. This also inted the cost of civil disputes in any form of court, making it a luxury service. Lower-ss families had no means to resolve their disputes in court.


    Consequently, disputes in Indian viges and towns were typically settled through discussions among rtives or in Panchayat, this practice can be seen even in 21st-century India.


    After consulting with Bhuvan, Vijay finally chose the American judicial system, which he found more suitable for India.


    Additionally, after discussing with Bhuvan, Vijay considered the notion of incorporatingws from the future. However, he ultimately dismissed it as an immature idea. Thews of the 21st century were tailored to address the specific issues of that era. Given that the Vijayanagar Empire is still in the 17th century, he decided to establish a solid foundation forws to be addedter on or to be removed as needed. It''s surprising how long outdatedws can persist due to theplexities of their removal.


    At present, Vijay''s objective is not to perfect the system, but rather to establish a framework that can introduce the people of the empire to the concept of Law and Order.


    Verma, the head of the Bengaluru police department, attended the panchayat to deliver the royal edict. He had not yet read the contents of the royal edict, as he was instructed to refrain from opening the package until within the panchayat premises. During the panchayat session, Verma unsealed the royal edict and proimed the news to the gathered audience.


    Vijayanagara New judicial act


    The new judicial act for the Vijayanagar Empire includes the following stiptions:


    - Circuit courts will be established throughout the kingdom in major cities and towns of the Vijayanagara Empire to hear the pleas of all themon folk in the nation.


    - Each court will have an appointed judge to oversee its proceedings, directly appointed by the Department of Justice.


    - Every used person will be presumed innocent until proven guilty.


    - Defendants will be provided with an advocate free of charge from the Empire to present their case.


    - Individuals who believe they are wrongly used can provide substantial evidence to prove their innocence. If not sessful, the defendant can contest the judgment three more times.


    - Court proceedings will be open to the public, allowing both the appointed judge and the audience to determine if the judgment has been made for a just cause.


    - The police department will coborate fully with the judicial department to effect arrests and enforce thew.


    - The Vijayanagara Empire holds the sole right to formte the constitution, epassingws and regtions applicable to all citizens, including nobles, zamindars, and even the king, which will be written into the Constitution of the Vijayanagara Empire.


    - The emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire will be recognized as the first citizen of the country.


    - Lawyers are permitted to own their own private firms as long as they can demonstrate their qualifications through a Unified Exam.


    - Nobles and zamindars will no longer hold the privilege of adjudicating civil or violent disputes within their areas.


    - Disputes of any nature must be resolved through the official organization, and panchayat meetings will no longer bear responsibility for judging civil matters.


    ---------------------------Constitution of Vijayanagara--------------------------


    "We, the people of Vijayanagara, having solemnly resolved to constitute Vijayanagara into a Monarchy and to secure to all its citizens:


    Justice, social, economic, and political;


    Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship;


    Equality of status and opportunity;


    and to promote among them all


    Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Empire;


    In our constituent assembly this twenty-sixth day of November 1651, do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution."


    **Fundamental Rights:**


    **Right to Equality (Articles 1-4):**


    Article 1: Ensures equality before thew and equal protection of thew.


    Article 2: Prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or ce of birth.


    Article 3: Guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.


    Article 4: Abolishes "untouchability."


    **Right to Freedom (Articles 5-7):**


    Article 5: Protects certain rights regarding freedom of speech, expression, assembly, association, movement, and residence.


    Article 6: Provides protection in respect of conviction for offences.


    Article 7: Ensures protection of life and personal liberty.


    **Right against Exploitation (Articles 8-9):**


    Article 8: Prohibits trafficking in human beings, forcedbour, and beggary.


    Article 9: Forbids the employment of children in farms and simr activities.


    **Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 10-11):**


    Article 10: Safeguards the interests of minors.


    Article 11: Grants citizens the right to establish and administer educational institutions.


    **Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 12):**


    Article 12: Confers the right to move the Supreme Court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights.


    These fundamental principles and rights form the cornerstone of the Constitution of Vijayanagara, ensuring justice, equality, freedom, and the dignity of every citizen within the monarchy.


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Chapter 37: Educational and Caste Reform

    <h4>Chapter 37: Educational and Caste Reform</h4>


    The nobles were numb after the sessive reforms. They couldn''t understand what the king was thinking, whether he was possessed by a Bhootha or even the same person.


    Before they could calm down, another bomb dropped. But this time, they could rx because this reform didn''t affect the interest, or what was left of it.


    Vijay initiated a reform of the educational system in the Vijayanagar Empire. Traditionally, education was obtained through the religious institutions of various religions existing in the empire: Muslims through their mosques, Christians through their churches, and Hindus through gurukuls. This arrangement often resulted in uneven oues. Furthermore, these Imic and Christian institutions yed a significant role in the conversion of many Hindus, a concept that was previously unknown to those adhering to Sanatan Dharma.


    His objective is to put an end to the propagation of foreign ideas and concepts within the Empire at its Birth.


    Vijay recognized the monumental importance of education for a nation. While the military serves as the contemporary backbone of a country, education paves a path for the country to be a strong global power.


    Education also cultivates a superior and intelligent army. A knowledgeable army is significantly superior to one filled with brute force. Despite Vijay starting the Military and Police Academies ¨C they are like the technical schools of the future, understanding "how" things work but not "why" they work.


    Vijay aimed to change this, He wanted to cultivate the Empire''s youth into a formidable talent pool. This is also one of the reasons he drew significant inspiration from the Prussian army.


    No matter what opinion anyone may have about the Germans, one must ept that the Germans had an impable education system that has helped them cultivate arge amount of talent. With this advantage, they have even waged two wars with the world, the crazy part is that they almost won the wars both times. Those Crazy Germans.


    What Vijay envisioned is something simr to that, but he could not implement universalpulsory education like the Germans did. The Vijayanagara''s poption is 40 million right now and He couldn''t afford the expenses even if he ransacked all the Nobel''s wealth.


    Hence, he came up with apromise approach:


    The Vijayanagara Educational Reform Bill.


    - Empire-run primary schools will be established in every major town and city within the empire.


    - A 9-year education system will be put in ce,mencing from the age of 5 till 14.


    - These schools will be essible to all castes of the empire without any discrimination.


    - A 40% reservation quota will be enforced in all schools for households from lower castes.


    - The Empire will bear 80% of the school fees for lower caste households.


    - Religious institutionscking approval from the Imperial Council will be shut down.


    - Religious institutions for worship, including Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jain, Sikh, and others, will only be a ce of worship, and no other expression is allowed.


    - The curriculum of the new schools will epass theology, science, mathematics, history, and the arts.


    - The theological subject will epass the sacred texts of Hinduism, Im, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism.


    - Students will have a choice to select a religious book of their choosing to study every 3 years, and their religious identity will not impact their choice.


    - Students have the right to select any religious text they wish, and any individual is prohibited from coercing orpelling their choice.


    - Scientific subjects arepulsory and will cover the logical study of nature.


    - Mathematics, as the cornerstone of human civilization, will be taught as apulsory subject.


    - History will be taught in schools to impart knowledge about the subcontinent''s rich heritage in the past.


    - Art, vital for preserving and propagating cultural heritage, will also be part of the curriculum.


    - Every 3 years, students will be required to take a unified exam conducted by the Religious and Cultural Department.


    - Uponpleting the 9-year education, students are permitted to enter various divisions of the Imperial Council as interns for a designated period before officially joining the organization.


    Next, Vijay aimed to reform the caste system, a problem so difficult that even in the 21st century, the issue still existed. Because this system was part of every aspect of the empire''s life, every job in the empire was connected to this system in one way or another. It''s somewhat like the fantasy Isekai novels in his past life, where one awakens to a ss and is stuck with it until death. The caste system made it hard for the empire to be more modern as it stopped people from lower castes from climbing the socialdder, thereby effectively imprisoning them in their social ss forever.


    When he first brought up the issue with the head of the Religious and Cultural Department, Raghavendra Rao yelled, "LUNATIC".


    Although he did apologize aftering back to his senses, Vijay didn''t mind his outburst because he was not surprised by the reaction. The man is of a higher caste, after all.


    But to his surprise, Raghavendra Rao exined that he yelled not because it harmed his interests, but because Vijay dared to change the social hierarchy that had stood for thousands of years.


    Heter stated that he didn''t mind the reforms as god regards all beings as one family, As he said that he took out the Upanishads and showed him


    "??? ???? ??????? ???? ????????????


    ???????????? ?? ?????? ????????????"


    "Aya? nija? paroveti ga?an¨¡ghucetas¨¡m


    Ud¨¡racarit¨¡n¨¡? tu vasudhaiva ku?umbakam"


    "This is mine or not-mine is the calction of narrow-minded people;


    For those who have a broad outlook, the entire world is one family."


    Andter, he also exined that the caste system was not intended to prohibit people of certain castes from a particr social standing but to prevent people born with certain natures from performing the work of those with other natures.


    Vijay was shocked by the entirely new outlook Raghavendra Rao presented to him. He had been unaware of all this. In his view, the caste system was a primitive ss system that drained the life out of lower-caste individuals for the benefit of the higher ss, simr to the European nobility.


    Seeing that Raghavendra Rao did not resist his reform ns, which was a huge relief, they discussed together and devised a n.


    Vijayanagara Caste Reform Act


    The members of lower sses are eligible for a 40% quota in all the jobs offered by the imperial council.


    The members of the lower caste enjoy a 40% quota in the Armed services.


    The members of the lower caste enjoy certain tax benefits.


    The members of the lower caste enjoy low-cost medical services.


    Anyone who is seen discriminating against individuals from the lower caste is required to pay a fine depending on the severity.


    These benefits for the lower castemunity willst for 50 years effective immediately.

 Chapter 38: Kavya Deva Raya Part: 1

    <h4>Chapter 38: Kavya Deva Raya Part: 1</h4>


    Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi Pce.


    A beautiful woman sat on a luxurious sofa in the pce. The only w in the image was the sad expression on her face, which ruined the picturesque scenery. She was knitting a dress that appeared to be for a guy.


    Thedy is none other than the new Queen of the Vijayanagara Empire, Kavya Deva Raya.


    "Sigh," she let out an audible sigh, remembering that her husband had not spent any time with her for a whole month after their Honeymoon.


    She had tried asking Vinod multiple times about Vijay''s whereabouts, on different asions, but every time she received the same apologetic answer: that the king was in a secret meeting and it was prohibited to contact him.


    Sometimes, while having dark thoughts, she even thought that Vijay might be spending his time with a mistress because they hadn''t done the deed after their marriage. When she was crying, thinking that she wasn''t liked, Vijay stated that they had to wait two years. Apparently, some sadhu foretold him about his Jataka (fortune-telling, kinda). She is still skeptical about his reason.


    However, thinking about his silly face, she quickly rejected the possibility, from the limited time she had spent with him, she figured out that he had no experience with talking to women. He couldn''t even take the initiative to hold her hand until she finally got over her nervousness and took his hand, which made him blush like a ripe tomato, he was even more shy than her at that time.


    Kavya always knew that being a monarch of a country is a demanding and exhausting job.


    She was not unfamiliar with being left alone by herself, as her father had also done the same thing. Like Vijay, her father also barely had enough time to spend with her. However, being left alone for a whole month was just an overwhelming burden for the sheltered princess.


    With her chaotic mind going berserk, she began to think of various conspiracy theories about where Vijay is again. As she got deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole, her beautiful eyes started to get wet, and eventually, the waterworks started.


    "Knock knock."


    Suddenly, Kavya heard a knocking from the door, She got up preparing to let the person in, while quickly wiping all the tears and dressing herself up neatly.


    All the chaotic thoughts in her head disappeared as she was sure that it was Vijay knocking on the door.


    No one other than her husband would dare toe to her at thiste hour.


    Although she was happy on the inside, she opened the door with a pouting face to show Vijay that she was mad at him.


    But that all disappeared when she opened the door and a zombie that looked like her husband showed up.


    The zombie, seeing her, opened his arms wide as if he wanted to hug her and fell forward.


    "So tired" were all the words that she heard from the smelly and dirty zombie, as she sidestepped, And the zombie fell head-first to the ground.


    "Thud."


    Kavya "..."


    The Pce maids "..."


    The pce maids desperately turned their heads sideways, as if holding back theirughs.


    Kavya, who noticed their actions, red at them, as if warning them to behave themselves, and turned her attention to the body.


    She quickly turned over the body with difficulty and confirmed that it was Vijay, a smelly and dirty Vijay.


    Seeing him like this made her feel bad about herint earlier; she had an unbearable pain seeing him in this state.


    Kavya quickly closed the door and tried to lift him up.


    As Vijay had put on some muscle after his recent days of exercise, he had a sturdy build which was very hard for a 16-year-old little girl to lift.


    Seeing that it was impossible to lift him up, she dragged him with difficulty to the sofa, cursing,


    "Dumma (Fat) Vijay, smelly Vijay, stupid Vijay."


    Kavya first wanted to let him take a bath because he smelled like a pig, but seeing him so tired and herself tired from pulling him, she decided to dump him on the sofa and put a nket over him.


    Seeing him dead asleep, Kavya''s eyes softened as she also stopped her knitting work and went to sleep herself, after taking a long bath to get rid of the bad odour, of course.


    Next morning,


    Vijay woke up feeling hungry. He had not been eating properly for a month because making reform ns for the empire had made him lose all his appetite.


    He had been restless the whole month, consulting different professionals on the reform bill, thinking about various aspects numerous times, sometimes even overthinking things. All the mental work had made him very tired, more than when he was physically exhausted.


    "Thank God it''s over,"


    he thought to himself, relieved.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 39: Kavya Deva Raya Part: 2

    <h4>Chapter 39: Kavya Deva Raya Part: 2</h4>


    As he was looking around the room for his wife.


    "ting ting ting"


    He heard melodious and rhythmic bells that seemed to being from the garden.


    Curious, he went to see what the sound was.


    He then saw his wife, who was dressed in a gorgeous red silk saree, ringing a Ghanta (a small bell used to pray) in her left hand, and doing Pooja to the tsi nt, while chanting the suprabhatham with incense sticks held in her right hand.


    Seeing this scene, he was momentarily mesmerized. Watching his wife go on about her daily routine calmed his heart which was restless from all his sleep-deprived nights and put him at ease.


    Kavya, who saw a glimpse of Vijay in the corner of her vision, came to him with a smile on her face after her puja.


    Trying to give him the Harathi (fire blessings after prayer).


    But as soon as she came closer to him, she scrunched her nose and waved her hand in front of her nose, as if shooing away a fly.


    "Go take a bath, I will prepare the dinner for you," she said, as she ran away quickly as if whatever Vijay had on him would stick to her.


    Vijay heard the words and was inexplicably confused, his face looked like a meme. He smelled himself, and his face quickly became distorted by the smell. He was embarrassed by his appearance. He hadn''t noticed his smell and appearance before because he was in such a hurry to notice all the details, but now that he noticed it, he felt like a beggar on the street.


    Vijay quickly ran to the bathhouse and poured a bucket of water on himself.


    After an inhuman amount of time and water was used, he came out all freshened up.


    Later, he went to the small temple in the pce and prayed to the gods as his new daily routine. After the prayer, he came to the dining table, starved, where his wife was waiting for him to sit down so that she could serve the food.


    Vijay didn''t talk any nonsense as he stared at the food like a hungry ghost. Kavya, who saw him like this, didn''t say anything to tease him and served him the food. After praying to god for the food, he devoured the food that his wife had prepared for him like a starving lion, even licking the individual fingers.


    Kavya, who watched Vijay like this, felt a warm sweetness in her heart. Vijay enjoying her food was the greatest recognition she could get.


    Just as they were having this Lovey Dovey moment, there was a sudden shout from the outside.


    "Assassins!"


    Kavya, who was still a sheltered princess, was scared by the fighting noises that she heard. But Vijay, who was devouring the food, changed his expression to a serious one, unlike the yful expression when he was with his wife.


    Vijay calmed Kavya down and sternly ordered her to stay in the room. Although she was worried about Vijay, she did as she was told.


    Seeing that his wife was secure, he went to the balcony to see what was going on.


    What he saw was multiple ck-clothed men fighting with his men who wore normal pce servant attire.


    Luckily, Vijay was already prepared for this possibility. After destroying the nobles'' and zamindars'' privileges, he was expecting retaliation.


    Because of this, he had already changed all the pce personnel with trained army veterans overnight in secret, a fact known only to him and Vinod.


    What he saw were dozens of ck-clothed men trying to get to him at any cost, even disregarding their lives.


    But in front of the trained army personnel he had disguised, they couldn''t even move an inch.


    The fight was quickly over, and General Ramaiah, son of the current Marshall, came to him wearing a cook''s attire. He reported, "The assassins are all clear, your highness. There were a total of 40 members."


    Vijay nodded. "Did you find any information on them?" he asked.


    Ramaiah looked ashamed and said, "Unfortunately not, your highness. We tried to capture a few of them but, They took poison as soon as we got to them. We didn''t have a chance."


    Vijay looked nonmittal and said, "It''s okay. Don''t be concerned. Don''t we already know who the culprit is?"


    He was not scared by the assassination attempt, as he already knew that something like this would happen after offending all the higher sses in the empire. He would be scared if nothing happened.


    "What do you think is their next move, Ramaiah?" Vijay asked the general with great interest.


    Ramaiah thought for a while and replied, "Since the assassination attempt failed, your Highness, they will likelyunch an all-out raid on the pce."


    As if on cue, an arrow with fire went up from somewhere outside the pce.


    Vijay, knowing that the battle was starting, ordered, "Evacuate all themon people in the city to the back gate where the army is stationed, and leave a battalion to protect them. And get ready for war."


    Vijay knew that there would be a lot of bloodshed and bones in his path, but he had mentally prepared for all of this since he embarked on the path to the highest crown.

 Chapter 40: Vimal Deva Raya

    <h4>Chapter 40: Vimal Deva Raya</h4>


    Six hours before the assassination attempt,


    On the outskirts of the city of Hampi,


    In a small vige, while it was still before daybreak, firemps were lit up in the streets for light.


    At arge house in the centre of the vige that seemed to belong to the vige head, arge number of men wereing and going inside the house. They all wore luxurious clothes and had at least a dozen servants apanying them.


    Inside the house in the main hall, a middle-aged man who looked slightly simr to Vijay sat on the main seat. He wore a long saffron gown and had a talwar decorated with ornaments at his waist. Maybe due to being in a high position all his life, He was surrounded by an air of nobility.


    The man was none other than the head of the Nobles, Vimal Deva Raya.


    Their family used to be the royal family two generations ago. Vimal''s grandfather and Vijay''s grandfather were both brothers; hence, they were both princes and had an equal im to the throne. Regrettably, Vimal''s grandfather lost the battle for the throne as his cruelty towards themon people was condemned by their father. This caused their family to be a branch line of the royal family.


    His father, Pushpa Devaraya, was a person with great ambition, not wanting to be amon noble, He secretly contacted some ambitious nobles in the empire to lead a coup and take the throne for himself.


    However, out of fortune or misfortune, just before he could act, Vijay''s father, the former King, took strong actions against the nobles and Zamindars in the empire. This action caught them off-guard and weakened their power to the minimum, and Pushpa Devaraya''s n couldn''t proceed. Although he was not suspected of anything, he passed away with a broken heart,menting that he had no opportunity to rise.


    Vimal, who carried on his father and grandfather''s goals and harboured hatred against the royal family, was feeling hopeless about not finding a chance to im the throne for their family. But this situation changed when something unexpected happened.


    Out of nowhere, Vijay provided him with a perfect opportunity on a tter by angering the entirety of the nobles in the empire.


    This time, Vimal is very sure that he can defeat the current royal family and establish his own Empire. Last time, when his father had nned the rebellion, only a few important noble families supported them. But now, Thanks to his cute nephew, things are different. All the noble families, Zamindar families, and even some of the important priests from major temples in Vijayanagar are on their side.


    Considering the odds in his favour, he was brimming with confidence as he began the speech:


    "Noble Gentlemen, thank you for attending this important meeting this early in the morning. We are gathered here not for us, NO, but for the future of our beloved empire."


    Vimal looked around at the different faces that were paying attention to his speech in the hall and continued,


    "My people, we are not here because our interests have been damaged, NO, but to impart Daiva''s judgment, for we are the closest beings to Daiva. My dear nephew, who has been possessed by a rakshasa, ims that everyone is equal in the eyes of Daiva. He ims that those untouchable scum are equal to us, the Children of Daiva. He asserts that those Mud legs have the same rights that we do."


    Hearing Vimal''s speech, everyone in the crowd had red faces as his words resonated with them. Their expressions were full of anger as they banged the table.


    "Yes, yes, that must be so."


    "No wonder the king is acting like this; he is possessed by a rakshasa."


    People murmured, echoing what Vimal had said.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, my nephew¡ªoh no, he is not my nephew anymore, he is a rakshasa. The rakshasa who has possessed my nephew is trying to drag us all into the Kali Yuga, as stated in the divine scriptures. He wants the ves to rebel against their masters, he wants to decide what is wrong and right by himself, he wants to divide our ancestralnd with those mud legs, and he wants to control and suppress us through the police department. Most heinous, he hasmitted the sin of stopping the teachings of the gurukul, a ce where future generations learn knowledge. Instead, he is opening some schools teaching nonsense like science and Maths. He wants our people to learn the Quran and Bible, and only the Daivas know what he intends to do next. But as people closest to the Daivas, do we want to let this happen before our very eyes?"


    Vimal yelled louder as his speech grew more intense, banging the table and raising his hand in defiance.


    "No, no, no!"


    The listeners, like Filled with Chicken Blood, stood up in anger, clenching their hands into fists and waving them around in the air nonsensically.


    Vimal: "So tell me, my dearpatriots, do you want to take back what was rightfully ours?"


    Vimal roared in fury as he unsheathed his Talwar, cut his hand in a show of bravery and pointed the bloody sword towards the sky.


    "Take it back, take it back, take it back, take it back, take it back, take it back."


    Inspired by him, everyone roared to the sky as chants rang through the whole hall, audible throughout the entire vige.


    All the nobles in the room unsheathed their weapons and pointed them towards the air.


    All thismotion was observed by a Fakeer sitting in the corner of the house, smirking. He was dressed in a green robe and wore a Taqiyah (Arabic hat worn by Muslims) on his head, with kajal in his eyes. He had been dispatched by the great monarch Mohammad of the Mughal Empire to assist the nobles in the Vijayanagara Empire in their fight against the royal family.


    Lately, there had been a lot of trouble in the Mughal Empire, with riots increasing in certain parts of thend. Additionally, mysterious weapons were increasingly appearing within the empire.


    Noticing the turmoil in the Vijayanagara Empire, Mohammad had sent the Fakeer to support the nobles with a batch of trained assassins and a considerable amount of gold coins.

 Chapter 41: Prelude to the Storm Part :1

    <h4>Chapter 41: Prelude to the Storm Part :1</h4>


    After listening to Vimal''s speech, the nobles and the zamindars in the room were very motivated, they were even pumped enough to take on the king of the empire. Just as everyone was getting carried away with their fantasies, an old man dressed like a priest and adorned with gold ornaments spoke up, extinguishing the fire in everyone''s hearts.


    "If you don''t mind me asking, Your Highness Vimal, how are you nning to take on the King of the Vijayanagara Empire? You must know that all the nobles have been thoroughly weakened by the might of your uncle, the old king. And most important of them all, The military strength remaining among the nobles is onlyprised of some trained farmers who train martial arts whenever free," he asked.


    At this note, every one filled with bravado heard those words, they came back to their senses and looked for the voice that pointed out the loophole in Vimal''s n with scrutiny.


    They saw an old man with silver hair tied in a bun and with ash markings all over his body. Some nobles in the meeting recognized the old man as the chief priest of the Tirum Tirupati temple. His name is Bhupathi Rao, a fourth-generation priest serving the Tirupati temple.


    Vimal, who received the question directly to his face, didn''t get angry. Instead, he smiled as he replied, "Before I answer that specific question, please allow me to introduce you to a special guest." Vimal pointed in a particr direction.


    As everyone''s attention turned toward the direction Vimal was pointing, they also noticed a Muslim fakir entering the hall. "As-sam ykum," he greeted everyone with a hand gesture.


    Confusion swept through the room as they tried to understand the connection between their discussions and the presence of the fakir.


    The priests in the hall were clearly unhappy with his presence, Some priests even grew angry and started scolding Vimal that he had allowed the fakir to enter the hall. They wouldn''t wee a Muslim person into the hall, as they had witnessed their temples being demolished and looted by Muslim armies in the past.


    Vimal ignored the discontent in the crowd and exined, "This guest hear, is here to help us, he was sent by the Mughal Emperor Muhammad."


    Hearing these words, the crowd became even more unruly and started to question Vinod''s ideals. Although they were now united in fighting against the king, they were still fighting amongst themselves. Introducing an outsider, especially one with power-seeking intentions, was something no one wanted to witness.


    Seeing that the scene was getting chaotic, the fakir, who had been observing silently until now, spoke up for the first time.


    "Please, gentlemen, listen to me. My great king, Muhammad of the Mughal Empire, has sent me to sign a peace treaty with you. He desires a friendly and coexisting rtionship with the Vijayanagara Empire."


    He continued with a smiling expression, "While we may have had our differences in the past, my king has decided that forming an alliance with the Vijayanagara Empire is the best choice for both of our countries."


    Someone in the crowd asked, "Then why did you contact us and not the king of our country?"


    Hearing the question, the fakir made a sad expression and exined, "We did try to contact His Majesty Vijay Devaraya, but he seems to have a prejudice against us. He wouldn''t even let us contact him, and he is extremely against our principles. He has openly closed down many of our mosques in the Vijayanagara Empire."


    Listening to his reasoning, most of the people nodded their heads, but a small group of priests were extremely pleased with Vijay''s actions in this case. Their stance wasn''t against Vijay for any other reason, but because they believed that, as Brahmins, they held a prominent position in society. Vijay''s attempts to break down the social order they had followed for thousands of years were sphemy to them. They hade to the meeting to figure out how to make Vijay take back his orders, not Rebel.


    The Old man Bhupathi Rao, who is among the priests, frowned as he observed the nobles and zamindars nodding their heads in agreement with the fakir''s words. "Idiots, idiots," he scolded them all in his mind. "Don''t they remember the reason why the Vijayanagara Empire became so significant in the first ce? It was due to the sacrifices the ancestors of the people in this room made for the empire while fighting against the oppression of Imic states when the Mughal Empire wasn''t even established. And now that the Mughal Empire is stronger andrger than before, will they not target the dark horse Vijayanagara Empire?"


    Bhupathi Raoined inwardly,menting that the nobility of the empire had fallen so low.


    Vimal, unaware of Boopathy Rao''s thoughts, continued to exin, "Our friend here is ready to help us financially to win this battle."


    As Vimal said, a few servants brought in trunks and trunks of goods. The fakir opened the boxes, revealing them to be filled with golden coins. Witnessing this scene, all the nobles and zamindars in the meeting were stunned by the sight of so much gold. You could almost see them drooling.

 Chapter 42: Prelude to the Storm Part :2

    <h4>Chapter 42: Prelude to the Storm Part :2</h4>


    Noticing that all the nobles in the Hall were likely to coborate with the fakir, Bhupathi Rao, along with some of the priests with the same opinions as Rao and a few zamindars, left the vige.


    Although they had major disagreements with their King, they wouldn''t want to be seen involved with a foreign power and weaken their own empire.


    Vimal saw a few people leaving the hall, but he didn''t stop them, as he already suspected that not everyone would agree with his n. Now that the indecisive bunch had left, he exined his ns to the remaining nobles and zamindars in the hall. He didn''t even think that the people left would leak the news, because it was toote, as the elders say, "On the Day Of War, You Shouldn''t Search For Weapons."


    "Alright, my friends," Vimal began, his voice carrying a sense of assurance. "The n is very simple. Thanks to our new friend here, we were able to recruit a few dozen assassins from the Mughal Empire," he exined, gesturing toward the fakir.


    The fakir, seeing everyone''s attentive eyes, nodded in eptance and proudly added, "If luck is on our side, we won''t even have to lift a finger. Vijay''s head should be rolling within moments."


    He continued to borate that if the assassination attempt seeded, the city gates should open soon after. "If the attempt by any miracle is unsessful, we should receive a signal from His Highness Vimal''s people on the inside."


    Just as everyone was growing confident and waiting for the doors of the royal capital to open, a ming arrow shot out from inside the walls into the air. Witnessing this scene, the noble''s faces turned white as they were ovee with fear. Now that the assassination attempt had failed, they were left wondering what to do next. Thefortable life they had led under the protection of the army had turned this group of nobles into useless rice bugs.


    The fakir, upon seeing the arrow, was surprised. He had already inquired and nned for this specific moment, as it was the time when the security of the royal castle was at its mostx. That''s why he and Vimal had coordinated to send all the assassins at this exact time. The fact that Vijay was able to defend against the attack indicated that he already knew about their ns.


    Vinod, who also saw the arrow, was initially taken aback, but he quickly regained hisposure. He smiled in a devilish grin as he had trained his entire life to find ways to defeat the royal family. He wouldn''t be surprised if the assassination attempt failed on his nephew. In his free time, he thought of many strategies to ovee Vijay. Now that Vijay himself had presented an opportunity, Vinod couldn''t afford to miss this chance.


    Seeing the fear and worry on everyone''s faces, heforted them by saying, "Don''t worry, everyone. Even though the assassination attempt failed, I have a backup n." He then called over his assistant and whispered a few words in his ear.


    As the nobles spected about what the backup n could be, within moments, thousands upon thousands of people appeared within their sight, armed with swords and spears. The sight left everyone, including the fakir, in shock. With a single nce, it was evident that there was an army of at least 50,000 members present. The assembled crowd couldn''t fathom how Vimal had managed to train and gather such a massive force under the nose of the king.


    Witnessing the expressions of shock on everyone''s faces, Vimal felt a sense of satisfaction. His family had expended all its resources to train this army, a journey that had begun with his father taking in orphans and training them from a young age. By some fortunate twist of fate, his father had discovered a gold mine within their territory.


    Filled with joy, he covertly extracted all the gold from the mine and established a training facility on a secluded ind near Lakshadweep. However, considering the formidable military strength of the Vijayanagar Empire, he had to bide his time and wait for the right opportunity. Now that he had seized his chance, he was determined not to squander it.


    Vimal stated to all the nobles, "I know that I am not the only one with a personal army secretly cultivated, so I request you all to send in your people as well."


    The nobles, seeing the 50,000-strong army, calmed down, and some among them sent various signals to their assistants. Soon after, thousands more men joined the group. The nobles without a secret army exchanged surprising nces with each other."These guys hid deep enough," they all thought in horror.


    Vimal, seeing his n working, was overjoyed. Out of sight, he could see an army of around 70,000 members, a force capable of breaking through even the city''s defensive walls.


    "Gentlemen, thank you for your cooperation. Those contributing nobles will receive corresponding rewards after the battle, and the same goes for those contributing financially," he continued, "As long as I take over the throne of the Vijayanagar Empire, which is rightfully mine, I will reinstate all your privileges to their previous state, just as they were before my uncle, the old king, took it away from you."


    Listening to his enticing words, the remaining nobles were tempted. Memories of their luxurious lives before the old king stripped them of their wealth resurfaced. Almost a decade had passed since that incident, and the prospect of regaining their former glory was still irresistible.


    Driven by their desires for wealth and power, even the most cautious and greedy among them took up their weapons, ready to join the battle that would determine their fate and the fate of the empire.

 Chapter 43: Goodbye ?...

    <h4>Chapter 43: Goodbye ?...</h4>


    Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi Pce


    In the present time.


    After seeing the ming arrow shot from somewhere in the city, Vijay knew that war was right around the corner. He ordered the general who was standing beside him dressed in a chef attire, "Ramaiah, it seems we have a few rats in the city. Please clean them up quickly and silently."


    "As you wish, Your Highness," Ramaiah replied Vijay, with a wicked grin before promptly leaving the balcony.


    After giving the orders, he left the balcony and went to the secret room where he told Kavya to hide. He wanted to check on her and see how she was doing.


    Upon entering the room, he found his wife pacing around the ce with a worried expression. She was biting her nails nervously, which in all honesty, looked very cute in his eyes. As soon as Kavya saw Vijay, she rushed forward and took his hand.


    Vijay, Still not ustomed to physical contact, blushed slightly like a small girl when his hand was held so suddenly, but he quicklyposed himself. He had be more ustomed to such actions of her over the past month.


    "Vijay, are we going to be okay? There are so many assassins outside, and I''m worried about your safety," Kavya asked with concern written on her face.


    Seeing her so worried, Vijay was tempted to tell her a white lie, but he knew that it would only make her sadder if something indeed happened to him. So, he decided to tell the truth, "Kavya, I won''t hide it from you. There''s likely a waring ahead, and in all honesty, I really can''t predict its oue. But what I can promise you is that, We prepared a lot to make sure we were on the winning side of the war. Once this war is won, it will pave the way for the expansion of the Vijayanagar Empire."


    Vijay continued, his voice steady, "I understand your concern for my safety, and I deeply appreciate it. However, as the monarch, I have a duty to fulfil. I cannot remain sheltered within the safety of the pce. Please believe in me and have faith that I will emerge victorious from this conflict. I can''t ask you not to worry, but together, we''ll face whatever challengese our way."


    Kavya, after hearing her husband''s words, couldn''t hold back her tears anymore and cried. Vijay, who looked at her with worry but was still inexperienced in dealing with such emotions, felt a sense of restlessness about how to respond. He stood there, silently wiping her tears, wishing he could find the right words tofort her.


    However, before Vijay could find the words to say something, Kavya seemed to gather her strength, wiping her own tears away. She walked over to the bedside table where Vijay kept his Talwar. Despite the difficulty, she picked up the sword with both hands. With determination, she took the weapon to the pooja (prayer) room. After performing a ritual by applying saffron and turmeric to the sword, she brought the sword back to Vijay. She even applied a bit of kajal from her eyes onto Vijay''s forehead for good luck.


    With unwavering belief, she said, "I have total faith in you, Vijay. Just as your name suggests, return as a victor." Seeing this, She silently watched Vijay, her eyes full of trust.


    Looking into her eyes, he was momentarily overwhelmed by a massive amount of pressure, her eyes reminded him of how much of a huge responsibility he was really bearing for his wife and his people, He also felt very fortunate to have such a supportive wife.


    Taking the sword from her hands, Vijay left the room without looking back. He knew that if he looked back, it would be difficult for him to leave. So, he stopped himself from focusing on her anymore and resolved his mind to focus on winning the battle regardless of the challenges ahead.


    Outside the city:


    With all the spies dealt with and the civilians being evacuated, a lookout noticed arge number of soldiers on the horizon to the south of the city. Quickly recognizing the urgency of the situation, he rang the emergency bell beside him. The sound of the emergency bell reverberated throughout the city, spreading the news rapidly among the army. General Ramayya Senapati soon became aware of the situation. He hurried to the city wall and looked in the direction indicated by the lookout. There, he saw a massive force of men marching towards the capital city.


    Vijay, who had just entered the barracks, was quickly informed by Senapati about the uing threat. With a mixture of excitement and fear, Vijay climbed up the wall to get a better view of the situation. While he had only read about wars in history books, this was his first time participating in one. It was unexpected for the schrly scientist Vijay to find himself in such a situation in the 17th century. Fate indeed works in peculiar ways.


    As Vijay observed the approaching army, he estimated that there were around 20,000 rebel soldiers. This number was somewhatforting to him, as it was a manageable force that they could handle without incurring massive losses. He knew that even if his father had forbidden the nobles from maintaining armies, resourceful individuals would discover ways to circumvent that rule. The presence of this 20,000-strong army in front of them served as proof of that reality.


    As the advancing army came to a halt a few hundred meters from the city walls, a person holding a white g made his way towards the walls. The messenger directed their words to King Vijay Devaraya, stating, "King Vijay Devaraya, I bring to you a warning on behalf of my leader, Vimal Deva Raya. He demands the restoration of all rights and responsibilities to the nobles of the Empire, rights that rightfully belong to them. Furthermore, he ims that due to your alleged possession by a rakshasa, you are incapable of effectively ruling the nation. Unless you willingly step down from your position, my lord will wage a just andwful war against you."


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 44: Victory?...

    <h4>Chapter 44: Victory?...</h4>


    Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi City.


    As the messenger concluded his speech, he held a brave gaze on Vijay, almost as if waiting for Vijay to remove his crown in response.


    Contrary to his expectations, upon hearing the words of the messenger, Vijay felt a sense of surprise¡ªnot because of the threat, but because he realized that his distant cousin was the mastermind behind this war. But After a moment of contemtion, everything fell into ce. Once a part of the royal family, his cousin held a significant position among the nobles. It made logical sense for him to lead the rebellion.


    After a brief silence, Vijay gestured toward an archer. Swiftly without a second of dy, an arrow was released from the city walls,nding at the feet of the messenger. Startled, the messenger hurriedly retreated, stumbling along the way. In his haste, he shouted back towards the army, "You will regret this!"


    His voice carried a mix of anger and frustration as he retreated back to his forces.


    The next moment, as expected, the rebel army began its advance. In a matter of moments, the army closed in,ing within the range of the archers. General Senapati, taking the chance issued the order, and volleys of arrows were unleashed, filling the air one after another.


    Before Vijay''s eyes, he witnessed men charging forward, braving the rain of arrows. Vijay watched as the arrows sliced through the air, piercing and ripping apart the flesh and blood of the charging soldiers. The cries of pain echoed throughout the area as the air was filled with a bloody mist of the fallen soldiers, Later only to be trampled by their ownrades from behind.


    However, this situation didn''tst long as the soldiers swiftly protected themselves by hoisting shields above their heads. A few men from the rear, with the cover of the shields, advanced with adder, intent on climbing over the city walls. Seeing this, Senapati made a predetermined hand gesture to his lieutenant, who had been briefed on the n. As the signal circted among the troops, the squad captains stationed in various parts of the wall cracked open the wooden barrels in their supplies, which were fully filled with mmable oil.


    Just as the enemy soldiers began their climb, they felt a liquid substance being poured onto them from above. A soldier who had nearly reached the top of the wall noticed the sticky substance on his body as he wiped his face and realized the slick, oily texture on his hands. It didn''t take him long to grasp the situation. Before he could alert the others, mes were ignited from the top of the wall.


    Vijay watched in shock and Extreme nausea as the horrifying scene unfolded before him. He had mentally braced himself for the violence of war, but the reality surpassed his worst imagination. The sight of hundreds of men consumed by mes, creating a wall of fire, was a gruesome surprise. The sounds of sizzling flesh and the nauseating smell of burning human bodies filled the air, overpowering his senses. Overwhelmed, he couldn''t bear it any longer and rushed to the side, vomiting as his body struggled to cope with the distressing sight.


    The rebel army was thinning rapidly; at least 5,000 soldiers had been killed in their recent engagement. However, their force of 15,000 soldiers remained formidable. They hastily constructed moredders than the oil existed and began to ascend the city walls. Multiple battles erupted on the walls.


    Observing this, Vijay turned to his General and inquired, "Is this the right time, General?"


    Senapati, understanding the situation, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Your Highness. It''s time to put your n into action."


    He then nced at his lieutenant and ordered, "Execute the ''Trish'' n."


    As the lieutenant received themand, he raised a g bearing a symbol resembling a trident or Shiva''s trishul. Simr gs were simultaneously raised along the city walls. The rebel army, confused by theck of any immediate change, wondered what the enemy was up to.


    Unbeknownst to them, secret tunnels leading outside the city had been dug in the corners of the city a few days prior. Upon receiving the signal, 10,000 cavalry soldiers emerged from both sides of the city. The rebel army''s attention was fully fixated on breaching the wall, leaving them unaware of the approaching danger. They were caught off guard as the cavalry swiftly closed in from their blind spot.


    By the time the rebel army gained an advantage on the wall, they were suddenly nked by the cavalry emerging from both sides behind them. As more men were trampled down by the deadly charge of the cavalry, those who remained became terrified by the horrific scene and dropped their weapons, surrendering.


    "Looks like we''ve won, General," Vijay eximed in happiness.


    "I wouldn''t be so sure, Your Highness," General Senapati replied with apprehension.


    Vijay, hearing the general''s response, was filled with doubt. They had already surrendered, so what more could be left?


    As if sensing Vijay''s uncertainty, Senapati continued, "Your Highness, the n went too smoothly. I have my suspicions that something is amiss. There were no important personnel present in the war this time."


    Vijay pondered for a moment and suggested, "Could they have run away? Maybe they realized they couldn''t match our army."


    Senapati replied, still not entirely convinced, "I don''t know, Your Highness. But we can only hope that your guess is correct. Moreover, when we sent in the cavalry, they reported encountering no scouts from the rebel side. This is very suspicious, as there should have been many scouts on the battlefield to monitor the enemy''s movements."


    Vijay felt a pang of embarrassment, wondering why he had suggested the Trishul n. He had seen it in the movie "Baahubali" in his past life and thought it would have practical significance in this war. But now it seemed less practical.


    "Why did you ept my suggestion, then?" Vijay asked, sounding somewhat defensive.


    Senapati chuckled a bit, seeing Vijay''s embarrassment. However, he quickly reassured the king, saying, "Your n still has merit, Your Highness. In a normal situation, scouts would indeed spot our cavalrying. However, cavalry is a fast-moving unit, and they couldn''t ry information faster than our cavalry reaching their target."


    Vijay was slightly relieved by this exnation, feeling a bit better about his suggestion. He then headed back to the pce to handle the post-war responsibilities.

 Chapter 45: Punishment From The Gods!

    <h4>Chapter 45: Punishment From The Gods!</h4>


    Somewhere, a kilometre away from Hampi City,


    There was a clearing in a forest where a bunch of men had made camp.


    The camp was established by none other than Vimal and his aplices. Everyone could be seen seated in a tent; there were a few maps of Hampi City hung around the walls. The atmosphere was tense as if waiting for something to happen. However, the arrival of a scout broke the tense atmosphere in the camp.


    Vimal, upon seeing his men, stood up from his seat in a hurry and inquired, "So, how did the raid go? Were we sessful in damaging the opponents'' vitality?"


    The scout replied after catching his breath for a while, "It was an utter defeat, Your Highness. From what I could see, there were around 10,000 soldiers on the walls and another 10,000 cavalry guarding the city. Our army was ughtered and mauled mercilessly, Your Highness. But the numbers weren''t the most frightening part of that army, no, it was their coordination that was terrifying. It''s as if the whole army is one single body. Sadly, I couldn''t discern from where the cavalry came. My suspicion is that there is a secret road in the city from which the cavalry emerged."


    He answered in trepidation as if recalling something.


    "Moreover, I do not know the exact count, but almost 7,000 of our soldiers surrendered, while only around a thousand members were injured or killed on the opponent''s side."


    Listening to the news, everyone in the hall was greatly shaken, and doubts began to arise. "Is this really the right path?" The uncertainty loomed within their hearts.


    Vimal, observing their doubts, responded, "If the Vijayanagar army was so easy to defeat, the Mughal Emperor would have already done it. I had no hope of defeating the Vijayanagar Empire with just 20,000 men in the charge. I was merely hoping to divert their attention and inflict as much damage to their vitality as possible. I just didn''t anticipate that we wouldn''t even be able to cause a considerable amount of damage."


    Vimal continued exining his n, noticing the nobles'' expressions bing more agreeable. "Now that the army would be in a morex state, we will sneak into the Vijayanagar Empire through a path known only to my family. After that, it should be an easier fight to defeat the opponent. Don''t forget, we still have 50,000 army personnel ready for battle."


    All the nobles perked up upon hearing his n as if suddenly remembering Vimal''s family background. However, one among them, an elderly man, seemed more cautious as he asked, "Your Highness, your n is very well made, but what if your n is also known to Vijay Devaraya, who is also of the royal family?"


    Vimal, unaffected by the question,ughed. "Ha ha, if Vijay had known about this path, why would I suggest it at this very moment? Do not worry. This path was directly built by my grandfather in his time, for whatever reason he wouldn''t tell. So, not even the royal family is aware of this part, except for my family, his direct descendants."


    He exined his reasons and then walked to a clearing that his men had prepared earlier. As he approached a boulder, he instructed his men to move it. After persistent efforts by a few strong men, the boulder was cleared, revealing a tunnel that extended deep under the hills. Seeing this passage, all the nobles were overjoyed. As they looked on, the army lined up neatly and began to move through the tunnel like a long, venomous serpent.


    Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi Pce.


    Vijay made his way back to the castle. He was about to visit his wife to check up on her, but he decided to finish his work first. Vinod brought him a few documents, and as he flipped through the pages, he was surprised by the number of casualties. Although he knew it was an eptable number, considering almost 7,000 rebel soldiers had surrendered, he couldn''t help but feel uneasy about reducing people to mere numbers. "Maybe all those in positions of power see those of lesser power like this," he thought to himself, not liking the feeling.


    Nevertheless, he was the king of thisnd, and he had to fulfil his duties. After finishing reading the documents and signing them, he quickly headed to his wife''s room to meet her while Vinod sorted out the remaining documents.


    When he arrived at his wife''s room, he knocked on the door. As the door opened, he saw his aunt Meena keepingpany with his wife. Vijay smiled as he greeted his aunt.


    Meena was very happy to see Vijay, but her expression changed abruptly as she saw a silhouette dashing towards Vijay at a rapid speed. She had no time to exin as she screamed at the top of her lungs and pushed Vijay away with all her strength. Before Vijay could understand what was happening, he felt a burning sensation in his ear as something pierced it. By the time he noticed the blood on his cheeks, he could see that his aunt Meena had been stabbed in the throat from behind.


    His mind went nk as he struggled toprehend the situation. But something inside himpelled his hands to reach for his Talwar, and he instinctively swung it at his assant. He watched nkly as his assassin''s head fell, a surprised expression still on the attacker''s face. Vijay didn''t respond to his own actions. His mind was numb as he stood between the lifeless body of the assassin and his aunt Meena. He just stood there, without saying a word, his body trembling from the horrifying sight he was witnessing. His brain felt paralyzed.


    Kavya, upon hearing themotion, came running over only to witness the lifeless body of Meena. She yelled out in horror at the sight of her aunt''s throat slit open. "Ahhhhhhhhh."


    It wasn''t until he heard his wife''s cries that Vijay began to recover and fully grasp the gravity of the situation. He knelt down and picked up his aunt''s body in his arms, letting out a desperate wail, "Uhhhaaaaaaaaaaaa." His cries were heart-wrenching as he wallowed in despair.


    Vinod, who was sorting out documents on the other side of the pce, came running as soon as he heard the screams. When he arrived, he witnessed the horrifying scene of his master holding the lifeless body of the person he deeply cared for, now turned into a corpse.


    "Ahaaaaaaaaaa," Vijay''s cries were transforming into roars fueled by rage. He was angry at himself, angry at the assant, and even angry at his aunt for taking the punishment for his mistakes.


    Vijay now recalled Senapati''s earlier warning that something was amiss. He had beencent all this time, arrogantly holding onto memories of the future, treating everything as a game. Now, it seemed like a cruel punishment from the gods. "Step step step," the rhythmic footsteps behind him indicated that there was no time to waste. He quickly came to his senses as he picked up his aunt''s lifeless body and dragged his wife into the room, Vinod also followed.


    In haste, he smashed a mirror in the room, revealing a hiddenpartment. Vijay remembered his father showing him this secret tunnel that led out of the castle. His father had constructed the passage himself. With one look back at the castle, the three of them made their way out through the secret tunnel to the outskirts of Hampi City. Fortunately for Vijay, this was where the remaining army was stationed.

 Chapter 46: Naraka Lokeshvara Yama (Vol 1 End)

    <h4>Chapter 46: Naraka Lokeshvara Yama (Vol 1 End)</h4>


    After leaving the castle, Vijay quickly made his way to the army camp on the outskirts of the city. When he arrived at the camp, he saw Ramaiah in the tent giving orders to his subordinates. As Ramaiah saw Vijay''s bloody state, he got up, visibly shaken to see his king drenched in blood all over his body, along with the queen.


    Ramaiah rushed over to Vijay to check if he was injured. He couldn''t fathom the chaos that would erupt if anything were to happen to Vijay. He was certain that his father would be the first person to kill him if anything happened to the King. The mere thought of such an oue sent shivers down his spine. As he examined Vijay''s body, he breathed a sigh of relief that there were no major injuries apart from the cut on his ear, which for him was a minor injury. After ensuring Vijay''s safety, he turned his attention to the others present. He noticed the person Vijay was carrying ¨C the king''s maid who had cared for him since childhood. He also saw the queen and the royal family''s butler with them.


    Ramaiah quickly expressed his condolences to the king but then shifted his focus to the main issue. "Your Highness, forgive me for being insensitive, but what happened?"


    Vijay, recalling all the events that had taken ce in the royal pce, was consumed by fury once again. However, he quickly regained control over his chaotic emotions and counted his experiences.


    After fully hearing Vijay''s experience, Ramaiah began to contemte the way the rebels'' ambushed. "Your Highness, based on what you said, I can only think of a single possibility. Most likely, someone from the rebel''s side must have been privy to a secret entrance leading towards the centre of the city. Unless Vayu Deva (the god of wind) simply transported them, I cannot think of another exnation."


    Vijay, considering Senapati''s opinion, realized the seriousness of the situation. He also couldn''t forget the existence of his distant cousin, who was once a part of the royal family and might have had ess to information not passed down to the main branch. He felt a sense of frustration for not even being aware of the tunnel beneath his own feet.


    Senapati finally asked, "What would you like to do, Your Highness?"


    Vijay, feeling at a loss for words, wracked his brain for ideas. He tried to think of the vast number of future ns stored in his head. But unfortunately, none of them seemed applicable to the current situation. Then, something clicked in his head. He recalled a story he had read during his schooling years about Onake Obavva, a warrior who single-handedly fought against the forces of Hyder Ali using a pestle (Onake) in the kingdom of Chitradurga, India.


    Vijay noticed that his circumstances now somehow resembled that of the legendary figure Onake Obavva. A n quickly formed in his mind. Thinking of this, he turned to Senapati and asked, "Is our cavalry still outside the wall ?"


    Ramaiah was taken aback by the unusual question, but he answered truthfully, "Yes, Your Highness, they are cleaning up on the battlefield."


    Vijay was satisfied with the response as he swiftly issued various orders, "First, send a special squad to the centre of the city and silently capture an important member from their army. Use whatever means necessary to extract information about the origins of this tunnel. Second, once the origins are identified, send out the remaining cavalry along with those already outside. When they reach a hundred meters from the destination, instruct them to be on standby. Next, from our side, we will take all remaining infantry to silently attack their camps in the city centre. Once we have subdued them internally, we''ll wait quietly as more rebels emerge from the tunnel."


    He continued, "We''ll kill all the rebel captains and capture the soldiers willing to surrender. Once we''re confident that almost the entire rebel army has passed through the tunnel, we''llunch a ming arrow high into the air, simr to how the war started. This signal will indicate to our cavalry that they can charge into the camps on the opposite side of the tunnel. This move will draw the nobles and important personnel into the tunnel."


    Vijay''s gaze burned with a chill as he outlined his n, "At that point, we''ll push into the tunnel with all our might, sparing no prisoners. It will be the decisive moment of the war. Let this battle end the same way it began."


    He conveyed his n with a fiery determination for revenge.


    Senapati, upon hearing the n, was instantly shocked by Vijay''s approach. He quickly saluted the king and replied, "It is a brilliant strategy, Your Highness. We will do as you have ordered." And so, the Pry n began.


    The first step involved sending out a squad of elite soldiers with top-tier martial skills. With the advantage of the home base, The team swiftly navigated the terrain towards the city centre. Spotting a middle-aged man instructing a group of rebels, the unit identified their target. They efficiently kidnapped the man, who couldn''t put up much of a fight against the squad of masters. After subjecting him to interrogation, they obtained crucial information about the number and locations of the rebel forces.


    With this information, the cavalry rushed towards a camp located one kilometre outside the city. The area was hilly, so they dismounted from their horses and proceeded on foot. They were well aware of their mission, which was not to engage in a full-scale battle, but rather to apply pressure on the rebel army, forcing them to escape through the tunnel.


    Back in Hampi City, the army was swiftly organized as they raided the central area of the city. Numerous uncooperative individuals were swiftly eliminated, as those flowing through the tunnel were unaware of the ongoing battle. The ones outside had no opportunity to make a sound, as each squad that emerged from the tunnel was quickly silenced and subdued.


    When it seemed that almost the entire rebel army had exited the tunnel, a fiery arrow was shot high into the air, signalling the next phase of the operation.


    Back in the rebel camp.


    Vimal was waiting anxiously. He still hadn''t received news of Vijay''s death, but he was confident that the ambush had gone perfectly ording to his n. In his opinion, all of Vijay''s forces were outside the city, and even if there were more soldiers, they wouldn''t number more than 10,000. He believed it should be rtively easy for his own army to handle the opponent.


    As he contemted these matters, he suddenly saw a bright light in the sky, shining like a star. Seeing the light in the sky triggered a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu within him, as he remembered the light from the ming arrow that had initiated the conflict. Seeing the same signal again., A chill ran down his spine as he had a foreboding feeling about the sign. Just as he feared, within moments, thousands upon thousands of Vijayanagar soldiers surrounded the rebel camp.


    As the soldiers started to hack and chop the rebels, soon dead bodies began to fall down, Seeing this, The nobles present were in a state of panic, some even sumbing to fear to the point of wetting themselves. When had they ever witnessed such a disy of violence in their life, They knew that their lives were over if they got caught. Vimal, realizing the dire situation, quickly surveyed the surroundings for potential escape routes. Unfortunately, his search proved futile ¨C they were encircled from all sides. The location that seemed strategically advantageous had turned into a trap, making escape impossible.


    Hoping against his intuition, Vimal yelled, "Get into the tunnel! They might have discovered our location from the personnel we sent earlier. We Send 40,000 soldiers to the other side. Most likely Vijay''s n is to eliminate us because he couldn''t defeat our army head-on. He''s using his remaining forces to corner us like a coward. Now, move!"


    Upon hearing Vimal''s instructions, the nobles found a glimmer of hope. They quickly got up and rushed into the tunnel, driven by desperation and fear. The speed at which they moved was never before seen.


    As all the rebel personnel left through the tunnel, the cavalry outside refrained from pursuit as they had a mocking expression on their faces. They observed the retreat of the rebel army and their leaders through the tunnel. Inside the tunnel, Vimal and hispanions hurried along, hoping to reach the city centre. But as they approached, they saw arge group of men carrying torches and advancing toward them. In the dim light, Vimal recognized a face he dreaded ¨C Vijay and his army.


    Seeing this unfolding, Vimal knew he had lost. He sank to the ground, defeated


    "Why why why...." He kept muttering as The infantry of the Vijayanagar Empire ploughed through the nobles like a thin sheet of paper, ending their rebellion.


    Blood, guts, and brains were thrown across the narrow tunnel. Vimal was soaked in the blood of hisrades as he lifted his gaze, only to meet the emotionless eyes of Vijay. d in blood-spattered iron armour, Vijay seemed to embody the Naraka Lokeshvara Yama Himself, the King of Hell.


    Vijay, finally face-to-face with his enemy, raised his Talwar high. The urge to cleave Vimal apart surged within every fibre of his body, yet a rational voice in the back of his mind tempered his impulse. Gaining control over his emotions, he lowered his Talwar and ordered his men to capture the traitor. Vimal would face public execution, heralding a new era for the Vijayanagara Empire.


    Following this blood-soaked battle, one that exacted a heavy toll, the kingdom''s dominion would be solidified. The implementation of Vijay''s reforms could proceed smoothly, effectively transforming the governance of Vijayanagara into an early modern system. This foundation would enable the expansion of the realm''s territory in the times toe.


    End of Vol 1

 Chapter 47: Public Trial

    <h4>Chapter 47: Public Trial</h4>


    In the Mughal Empire, Agra:


    Within the royal pce, the monarch, Muhammad the Fifth, was in a conversation with a middle-aged man. This individual was none other than the fakir who had been dispatched to the Vijayanagara Empire on a mission to support the rebels.


    "How did it go?" the king inquired with anticipation in his eyes. If, by Ah''s blessing, the Vijayanagara Empire was weakened in this civil war, it would pave the way for his conquest of the non-believers after he had finished consolidating his rule.


    Hearing the king''s question, the fakir felt a sense of humiliation thinking about the experiences he had in the Vijayanagara empire, as he responded, sweat trickling down his forehead. "Your Highness, unfortunately, the rebellious forces led by Vimal couldn''t maintain the advantage they had at the beginning of the conflict. Ultimately, the sphemers ended up failing you, despite the resources they had been so graciously granted. They couldn''t even secure a victory which they had in their grasp. I deeply regret this failure and implore you to punish me, Your Highness. I am just a humble servant who couldn''t fulfil the mission you entrusted to me."


    His voice carried remorse as he spoke. A heavy silence hung in the air as Muhammad stared at the kneeling man before him without any emotion . Tension filled the atmosphere, creating an aura of uncertainty and anxiety.


    "Get out," the emperor finally pronounced, his voice tinged with disappointment. The sound of his words resonated throughout the royal pce, breaking the silence that had prevailed till thest moment.


    After hearing the Emperor''s verdict, the fakir, who had been kneeling anxiously, stood up quickly and left the room. He knew that even though his life had not been taken away, his hopes for a sessful political future within the empire had beenpletely destroyed. Despite this heartbreaking setback, he could find somefort in the fact that he was still alive and could continue to breathe, even though the grand ns and dreams he had nned for his career were now nothing but a pile of ruins and ashes.


    Back in the pce, Muhammad, having observed the fakeer''s departure, took a sip from a cup of wine that his servant had brought him. Contemting the news of Vijayanagara strengthening their internal power, he felt a sense of urgency in his actions. With a ring from his bell, he summoned the empire''s minister to stand before him. After a brief interval, the minister entered the hall, bowing respectfully before the king. Muhammad gestured for him to rise as hemanded in a domineering tone, "elerate the pace of the empire''s integration by any means necessary, even if a mountain of corpses is to be the cost."


    His voice was frigid, carrying an icy intent. "It seems that the overweight swine in the south is attempting to shed some of its bulk and be a more formidable threat to us lions, But unfortunately, a swine will always remain a swine."


    Vijayanagara Empire


    Today holds great significance in the history of the empire, as it marks the day when the nobles faced public execution for the first time in the subcontinent''s history. The news of the rebellion rippled across the kingdom a few days ago, like a boulder thrown into a calmke, creating waves that spread throughout the empire. The people were furious by the rebels'' audacity to rise against their benevolent monarch. However, before they could react, themon folk were quickly overjoyed by the rebellion''s instant suppression by the army, celebrating the downfall of their oppressive bloodsucking overlords. Their voices resounded with praises for King Vijay Deva Raya, the ruler of the empire.


    However, there was another group of people who weren''t as content. The upper-castemunity found themselves in a state of confusion after the recent events. Although they hadn''t actively engaged in the rebellion, a small ember of hope had flickered within their hearts, wishing for the rebellion''s sess and the preservation of their privileges. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, those aspirations were left unfulfilled.


    In any case, with the foundation of Emperor Vijay Deva Raya''s reign firmly established, who would dare provoke the Chakravarthy Vijay Devaraya at this juncture of his rule?


    Inside a designated building meant to house the prisoners, i.e., a jail, a group of rebels found themselves confined in the celler. They were swiftly brought out into the open air, where they were exposed to the public eye, and met with a barrage of stones from the crowd. The assault caused their skin to break, leaving their bodies bruised and bleeding. Amidst this grim spectacle, Vijay made his entrance.


    As the people paid their respects by bowing their heads to the monarch, Vijay''s gaze fell upon his cousin, who was now in chains. Seeing him in this state, Vijay did not harbour even a hint of pity in his eyes. Perhaps, if these same circumstances were ced in front of him before the battle, he might have hesitated. However, Mina''s death had made it clear to him that this was a dog-eat-dog world, and the only way to survive was to be the bigger dog. Without any hesitation, he unceremoniously kicked the chair that was propping Vimal up.


    "Caw caw", A murder of crows was looming in the air, smelling Death.


    As the chair was pushed, Vimal struggled to take one more breath before he couldn''t anymore.


    As he took hisst breath, the raven weed his departing soul to the Naraka Loka.

 Chapter 48: Formation Of The Government

    <h4>Chapter 48: Formation Of The Government</h4>


    After the execution of all the rebels, all their properties were quickly confiscated. To Vijay''s astonishment, the total value of these assets amounted to a staggering 40 million Varaha, which equalled the fiscal revenue of the entire Empire from the previous year. But that wasn''t all ¨C they also discovered at least 10 tons of gold and around 20 tons of silver. Furthermore, a gold mine was found on Vimal''s estate, though unfortunately, it had already beenrgely depleted, with only a small amount of gold remaining to be extracted.


    Seeing all this wealth, Vijay couldn''t help but think about historical examples like the Soviet Union and the Chinese Communist Party, which had also ughtered their nobles and merchants in order to consolidate their resources and establish a strong foundation for their countries.


    Thinking about the wealth he now held, Vijay decided to convene an imperial council to address an important matter: the establishment of a new form of governance. Until now, the empire''s functions had been overseen by the imperial council. However, with his reforms underway, the workload had be too substantial to manage solely through the council. Creating a formal government would allow for the delegation of responsibilities and benefits across various departments.


    Within an hour, the heads of all major departments had assembled in the imperial hall. Vijay began with his speech, "Gentlemen, today we gather in this imperial hall toy a solid foundation for the new organization I am about to introduce ¨C the government."


    The attendees at the meeting weren''t surprised by the new term Vijay used, as they had be ustomed to his frequent introduction of unfamiliar words. With their attention on him, Vijay continued to exin his ns.


    "A government is a system that exercises authority and control on behalf of the king over a specific area or poption. Its main functions include creating and enforcingws, managing public resources, maintaining order, and representing the interests of citizens both within and outside the empire. Governments are responsible for fostering societal development with the monarch''s approval."


    Though there was some confusion on their faces, everyone still continued to listen to the king''s words.


    "The various divisions we have now will be upgraded into different ministries. Please take your appointments," Vijay said, prompting everyone to be more attentive.


    "Ravichandra Rao, I hereby appoint you as the prime minister of the Empire. Your role will be to act as a bridge between me and the cab. You''ll lead the cab and ensure that my orders are carried out as nned. However, remember that I retain the authority to remove you from this position if I find it unsuitable."


    Vijay exined as the old butler stood up and bowed to Vijay, showing his eptance of the position. He understood that he had attained this important role due to Vijay''s trust in him, and he was determined to fulfil that trust ced on him.


    "Next, the Department of Finance would be elevated to the Ministry of Finance, responsible for managing economic and financial matters of the Empire, including taxation, finances, and budgeting. The candidate for the Ministry of Finance is yet to be determined, but the selections will take ce soon." He continued.


    "The Department of Internal Affairs would be upgraded to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, responsible for managing domestic affairs, includingw enforcement and internal security. Arjun would be promoted to the position of Minister for the Ministry of Internal Affairs." Vijay stated, Simr to Ravichandra, Arjun stood and bowed to demonstrate his respect andmitment to fulfilling the task assigned by the king.


    "The Department of External Affairs, or Military, would be upgraded to the Ministry of War, effective immediately. This ministry would be led by Martial Logananda Senapati. The Ministry of War would epass both the army and the navy as department-level units." As Vijay eyed the old man, Logananda rose from his seat and offered a military salute to signify his eptance of the role.


    "The Department of Justice would also be elevated to the Ministry of Justice. This unit would be responsible for the administration of the legal system, including various codes in the empire and the issuance of legal decrees. However, it''s important to note that the Ministry of Justice would not possessw enforcement powers. This ministry would be headed by Minister Bhuvan." Vijay stated as Bhuvan stood up with a respectful bow to everyone as he epted his task.


    "The Department of Business would be upgraded to the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, responsible for trade policies,mercial regtions, and industrial development. This ministry would be led by Minister Rajesh." Vijay dered, Rajesh quickly stood up with a respectful attitude, humbly epting his role.


    "The Department of Agriculture would be upgraded to the Ministry of Agriculture, responsible for handling agricultural policies, rural development, and farming regtions." He said as Narasimha got up and bowed to everyone with humility. After leading the agricultural department for a long time, his temperament rapidly improvedparable to his colleagues, allowing him tomunicate calmly with the heads of other divisions.


    "The Department of Religion and Culture would be upgraded to the Ministry of Cultural and Educational Affairs, responsible for managing educational and cultural institutions in the empire and drawing clear lines in religious matters. This department would be headed by Minister Raghavendra Bhatt." He said, As Raghavendra quickly got up and bowed to everyone with a namaskara.


    "The Department of Livelihood would be upgraded to the Ministry of Public Health, responsible for overseeing public health policies and medical services. Lokesh would continue to head this department, and his position would be promoted to that of Minister of Public Health." Vijay continued.


    "Two more new ministries will be established, but due to theck of infrastructure and personnel support at the moment, only the framework for these ministries will be set up today, to be filled in at ater date.


    The Ministry of Communication will overseemunication services between various parts of the Empire and establish infrastructure formunication and maintenance.


    The Ministry of Transportation will manage different modes of transportationworks within the Empire and maintain thework."


    "All the newly appointed members, along with the Prime Minister, will form a cab to help me form the government. You are all responsible to me and me alone. I have the power to dissolve the cab whenever necessary. I wish you all sess in your various fields of expertise. In theing days, we will discuss various reforms to be implemented."

 Chapter 49: Formation Of The Secret Service

    <h4>Chapter 49: Formation Of The Secret Service</h4>


    After the establishment of the government, Vijay had nned to set up an intelligence department. Initially, he considered integrating it into the government''s structure, making it into one of the ministries, but to his dismay, he realized that being a spy was often looked down upon in this era. However, He recognized the crucial role of intelligence firsthand with the death of his Aunt. If he had better intelligence on the rebels, he could have been better prepared for the war. Intelligence agencies yed significant roles in future conflicts as well.


    Vijayanagara already had an intelligence agency that primarily operated for the military. However, Vijay intended to establish a separate secret service department directly under his control. Once the department gained public eptance, he would formalize it as the Ministry of Intelligence.


    As for the head of the secret service, Vijay had a specific individual in mind. This person had left a profound impression on him due to his remarkable ability to trace the origin of weapons supplied to the Mughal Empire. With just a few logical deductions and awork of connections, this individual had achieved something that greatly impressed Vijay. However, he remained uncertain about whether Roshan, the leader of the rebels in the Mughal Empire, would ept this appointment.


    The Mughal Empire:


    Roshan, the rebel leader, sat on a chair, tapping his fingers uninterestedly on the armrest while holding his head in thought. nning attacks on Mughal nobles had be increasingly difficult due to heightened suppression and tighter security measures by the tyrant emperor. Consequently, the rebel leaders collectively decided to halt their activities because of the increasing risk of going on raids, shifting their focus to serving as logistics facilitators between Vijayanagara and the Maratha Empire.


    With these changes, things had be safer for the rebels, and they were now in a period of transition. Some rebels chose to embrace their new lives, having eliminated their enemies; their will to fight against the Mughal empire decreased with the increase of their wealth. However, Roshan found himself increasingly unfulfilled. For most of his life, he had fought with hatred and determination against his enemies, but now he faced a void. Despite his newfound wealth and partially fulfilled revenge by assassinating the murderer of his parents, he had nothing to upy his time, especially since his assistants were managing the logistical work.


    "Knock Knock"


    A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.


    "Come in," Roshan called out.


    His assistant entered, holding a letter in his hands. Roshan''s interest was piqued, and he epted the letter, immediately recognizing the seal of the Raya family. It was clear that the letter was from Vijay Devaraya, the ruler of Vijayanagara. Thezy mood instantly dissipated, reced by a serious focus as he opened the letter to read its contents.


    While the letter didn''t explicitly state the purpose of the summons, Roshan understood that Vijay had a specific use for him. The invitation indicated that Vijay had something in mind, though the details were not provided.


    Despite theck of information, Roshan wasted no time. He quickly handed over his affairs to his assistants and fellow rebel leaders, making the decision to travel to the Vijayanagara Empire to answer the Emperor''s summons as he bid farewell to his newlywed wife.


    In a matter of a few days, Vijay received Roshan as a guest inside the pce. It was his first time seeing Roshan in person. At first nce, he appeared ordinary, but what set him apart from other men were his eyes that scrutinized everything with an intense gaze, as if nothing could hide from his sight. Seeing Vijay on the throne, Roshan knelt down and greeted, "Long live Your Highness, long live Vijayanagara. Your Majesty, how can this humble one be of your service?"


    Vijay nodded and gestured for Roshan to rise as he exined his ambition for the secret service agency, "I need you to set up an organization responsible for collecting information within the subcontinent. I need to know all the major and minor news about our enemies and friends alike. Given your experience in this field, I will grant you this authority. How about it? Will you ept this task?"


    Hearing the king''s words, Roshan was taken aback by the sudden pie from the sky. However, he soon became thoughtful as he considered the feasibility and voiced his concerns. "Your Highness, I hold no objections to forming the secret service. However, I must be honest. Running this organization will require a substantial amount of money, and there are no prospects of financial returns in this field of work."


    Vijay who heard Roshan''s concerns smiled as he waved his hand dismissively, exining, "Don''t worry. The organization will receive full support from the royal family. I do not expect any returns from your side. However, I need you toplete a task for me. Before I reveal the details, what is your answer? Will you establish the secret service for me?"


    Upon receiving the answer he needed, Roshan agreed without hesitation, "I humbly ept, Your Highness. I will quickly move along with my wife to the Vijayanagara Empire."


    Vijay was content with the answer he received. "Very well then, I will arrange for security measures for you and your family," he stated.


    Roshan''s expression twitched slightly at the reply, but he quickly regained hisposure. As a smart man, he knew what this meant, He epted the reality that the king''splete trust hadn''t been earned by him yet, evident from the security measures being put in ce around him. While his movements might be monitored, he saw it as an opportunity to prove his loyalty to the empire.


    A few dayster, Roshan relocated his wife to the Vijayanagara Empire. He transferred all his responsibilities and his stake in the Mughal Bridge Company to his colleagues. Now, he was preparing to be a shadow for the royal family, finding his prior position unnecessary.


    Soon after settling in the empire, he received his first mission: to closely monitor the key figures within the Vijayanagara Empire and the Mughal Empire. Interestingly, there was a strong focus on monitoring Sri Lanka. Setting aside his doubts that was not to be had as a servant of the royal family, he delved into his tasks.


    In the ensuing days, an enigmatic building emerged near the royal pce, constructed under Vijay''s directives. However, no one inquired about the building, given that it was a direct project of the royal family. Vijay allocated a substantial sum of money tounch the Secret Service. This expenditure was well within his means, thanks to the considerable profits generated from arms sales to other nations and to his own military. Additionally, the paper-making factory had started to yield substantial profits as well.


    After several weeks of preparation, the expansion of the Secret Service began. Within a short span, a considerable number of agents were recruited. However, these agents weren''t akin to the future FBI or MI6 agents. They were ordinary civilians who held loyalty to the Empire and transmitted information from their respective regions.


    In the Mughal Empire, the existingwork of contacts served as a foundation for intelligence gathering. Even the servants of Mughal nobles were enticed through bribery or threats to provide the necessary information. Trained secret service agents, who were once Roshan''s assistants, were dispatched to Sri Lanka via small boats at different intervals. Their mission was to establish a branch and initiate a fresh wave of agent recruitment.


    In just a matter of months, the secret service within the Vijayanagara Empire began receiving diverse intelligence inputs from various regions, much like a server with multipleputers connected to it. The significance of each piece of information was promptly assessed, categorized, and submitted to Vijay''s desk for his attention.


    Roshan drew inspiration for this innovative secret service structure from a recent dream. Through this ingenuity, the secret service efficiently operated, collecting intelligence from various corners of the Empire and delivering it to Vijay.

 Chapter 50: Transformation Of The Empire

    <h4>Chapter 50: Transformation Of The Empire</h4>


    After the removal of the noble''s obstruction, which had been a barrier to modernization,nd reforms progressed swiftly throughout the empire. Numerousnd audit departments were established across the kingdom to measure arablend and distribute ownership rights to hardworking farmers.


    Within a few months, manyndless peasants in the empire becamendowners, working in their fields with newfound enthusiasm. Previously, they had toiled for their zamindars to make a living, which really exhausted their souls. However, now that they own their ownnd, they worked even more diligently, leading to significantly improved grain yields. The new fertilizers provided by the agricultural department were also a boon to the farmers, further boosting the crop yields.


    Perhaps due to luck or by the grace of God, andless peasant was allocated 20 acres ofnd. Previously, his whole family had suffered under a cruel zamindar before, but fate seemed to want topensate for their past hardships. During thend survey, a few open-pit iron mines were discovered. The farmer and his family were taken aback by the news and were initially concerned that thend would be taken back by the government. However, to their relief, the mines were allotted to the farmer and his family, staying true to the king''s promise. Without any government expropriation, the farmer and his family received the mines. Upon hearing the news from the person providing thend deed, he and his family knelt down, tears of gratitude in their eyes, and thanked the king for his grace. Thus, a loyal mine-owning big boss family was born, which goes on to support Vijay in his various policies in the future.


    Public security also experienced substantial enhancements within the empire. Awork of small circuit courts was established in major towns and cities, marking a significant departure from the primitive legal system. This introduced the concept ofw and order to the citizens for the first time.


    Police stations were set up across towns, cities, andrger viges, expanding thework that had been limited by the nobles'' influence. Freshly graduated personnel from the police academy were deployed to these stations, thus enhancing public safety throughout the empire.


    Before the civil war, Vijay had initiated educational and caste reforms, but they couldn''t be fully realized due to the noble''s obstructions. However, with the obstructions gone and with the current ample resources, schools were established in every town and major city of the country. The schools were filled with children from all castes, dressed in neat uniforms designed by Kavya.


    Vijay was pleased to observe that a substantial number of children enrolling in these schools came from lower castes. The allocation of fixed seats for lower caste households yed a significant role in this development. He firmly believed that as these children matured and took on various roles within the Empire, they would evolve into his loyal supporters.


    Regarding agriculture, the introduction of new fertilizers resulted in satisfactory crop growth. In this era, Vijayanagara''s cultivatednd covered nearly 50,000 square kilometres, and it could be expanded further if necessary. The entirety of India in the 21st century consists of 1 million square kilometres of fertile arablend, along with varying climates in different regions. This diversity makes it possible to grow a wide variety of crops, which was one of the main reasons the British colonized India. Whilest year''s grain yield per acre was around one and a half tons, this was expected to increase due to the implementation of new farming innovations.


    Water conservation wasn''t a major issue either. India''s history as a farming nation led to the development of advanced water conservancy technologies in ancient times. Each vige had a small water reservoir that was built to withstand the test of time. Remarkably, many of these reservoirs were still functional, even in the 21st century.


    Hence all the resources allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture were directed towards repairing the faulty reservoirs and implementing crop rotation among various farmers through the panchayat system. Fertilizers were imported from the Maratha Empire, and a unified irrigation system was designed to be implemented throughout the viges.


    Vijay, who was in his office, was determined to witness these changes firsthand rather than just reading about them on paper.


    He embarked on a tour of the nation, apanied by his wife, for the second time since his rebirth. Throughout his journey, he encountered towns, rural viges, and even bustling cities. What immediately caught his attention was the remarkable transformation. Crops flourished on both sides of the path, tended to by hardworking farmers who cared for them as their own children. In urban areas, an improved sense of public security was evident, with police patrolling busy streets. Vijay also observed the construction of new schools, courthouses, andnd administration buildings in every town he visited.


    As children in their neat blue uniforms walked to and from the schools, Kavya was particrly thrilled by the sight. She had designed the school uniform herself, a fact that surprised Vijay initially. When he had attempted to design the uniform, Kavya hade across his drawings and was intrigued. As he exined his ideas, she quickly grasped the concept and added her own creative touches.


    Eventually, Kavya designed an elegant, easy-to-make, and durable school uniform. This sess inspired Vijay to consider allowing his wife tounch her own clothing line. The experience also reminded Vijay to organize military and civil uniforms for government workers.


    Continuing his journey, he arrived in Bengaluru City and noticed a lower-caste child attending school in neat attire alongside children of higher castes. Although the parents'' expressions were somewhat disapproving, the children showed no distinction based on skin colour or birth caste. Vijay recognized that through the education these children received, many of them would grow up without discriminating against others based on their castes.


    He felt a deep sense of satisfaction with the changes that had urred, yet he knew there was more to be done. Presently, Vijayanagara is like a farming nation with modern management systems. A farming nation could only progress into a prosperous one. Simrly, a nation primarily focused onmerce, like the Vians, could only achieve regional power status. However, a true global superpower required a bnce of agriculture,merce, and industry, with Heavy industry being the cornerstone.


    Vijay''s ultimate goal was for his empire to evolve into a world power akin to America or Britain, epassing all three pirs of development ¨C agriculture,merce, and industry.

 Chapter 51: National Enrollment Of Talents

    <h4>Chapter 51: National Enrollment Of Talents</h4>


    After returning from the second tour of Vijayanagara, Vijay wanted to deepen the reforms and slowly transform the empire With the first 5-year n like the Soviets and the Chinese, but As Vijay wanted to continue with the implementation of his ns, he realized that there were a few errors in his judgements, First is that he needed to fill in the various ministries of the Government, which were the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communication, and the Ministry of Transportation. Without capable leaders in these key roles, his grand vision could not progress effectively.


    The second and main reason is that The first 5-year n was implemented by Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union in thete 1920s. the USSR In 1920 althoughst on the list, was also one of the top industrial powers of Europe, It still had the foundation of industry to implement the 5-year n of Stalin, and moreover The USSR was built on the foundation of Tsarist Russia, a behemoth spanning 2 continents. and unlike the USSR, The Vijayanagara Empire did not have a sufficient foundation for Industry, as it was done for the first time in the history of the subcontinent.


    Hence Vjay chose to transform the empire one step at a time, Finding a suitable candidate for the Ministry of Finance was rtively simple, as the candidate suitable for the job had already been found ¨C Jagannath Mohan. Mohan is a middle-aged man who had worked closely under Ravichandra Rao during his tenure as the head of the finance department. Having served as Rao''s deputy, Jagannath possessed a deep understanding of the inner workings of the Ministry of Finance. His loyalty was unquestionable, given his family''s longstanding history of civil service to the Empire. Furthermore, Jagannath''s exceptional mathematical skills made him an even more fitting candidate for the Ministry of Finance than Ravichandra Rao.


    However, the real challengey in finding leaders for the Ministry of Communication and the Ministry of Transportation. These ministries were a new field of work and had never been established in the empire before, and they required substantial investment and significant experience in their respective fields. Moreover, much of the work in these ministries was originally carried out by individuals from lower castes, making the talent pool seem limited.


    Vijay decided to take a unique approach to address this challenge. Since he couldn''t find a candidate himself, he chose to cast a wider. Within the poption of 40 million, there had to be someone with suitable skills. He initiated a national enrollment process for these two positions, with the goal of digging out individuals from lower castes who possessed the necessary potential. Furthermore, he believed that this opportunity could serve as a political demonstration that anyone, irrespective of their caste, had the ability to ascend through the ranks and be a leader within a ministry.


    The requirements for enrollment were disseminated throughout the empire. For the Ministry of Communication, the ideal candidates were sutradhars with at least 10 years of practical experience, capable of both reading and writing. This specific criterion served as a filter, reducing the number of potential participants.


    On the other hand, for the Ministry of Transportation, Vijay was in search of a skilled craftsman capable of building high-quality roads at the lowest possible cost, while also possessing the ability to read and write. As soon as the enrollment news spread throughout the kingdom, those in the relevant industries became excited, finally seeing an opportunity to improve their lives.


    The next day:


    Hampi was filled with a bustling atmosphere throughout the city as the capital swiftly became crowded with people. As the sun painted the sky with hues of gold, the streets of Hampi were teeming with life. The sound of hurried footsteps, animated conversations, and the asional burst ofughter created an Aura of anticipation. It was as though the air was charged with an electric current, each person bringing their dreams and aspirations into the heart of the capital.


    Hundreds upon hundreds rushed into the royal capital upon hearing about the enrollment announced by the king. Vijay''s poprity was at an all-time high after sessfully suppressing the rebellion, attracting even those who did not qualify toe and witness the excitement anyway. Although the requirements were somewhat strict, many sutradhars had learned to read and write as part of their daily duties, spreading news ordered by the panchayat to various viges in their respective areas. Over time, some even became proficient in reading lengthy documents and edicts.


    As for the craftsmen, an evenrger number of individuals flocked to the royal capital. In their day-to-day businesses, dealing with money and understanding tax codes wasmon, leading many of them to learn basic reading and writing skills. This demonstrated that even in the face of obstacles, people are like water, they can always find some ways to ascend the powerdder.


    Due to the sudden arrival of the crowd, the capital''s traffic congestion caused an abrupt halt in the city''s reconstruction, which had been disrupted by the civil war. To restore order, more police were swiftly recruited from the police academy. Not everything was negative; as the street vendors in the capital benefited greatly from the increased foot traffic And the inns in the city were filled all week long, The economy of the royal capital improved significantly due to this event. Observing this situation, Vijay realized that Hampi was no longer suitable as the capital of the empire. However, due to a shortage of funds, he had been dying this decision. Although he now had some money avable, it needed to be used wisely, as the avable resources had to be spent carefully toplete various nned reforms.


    As the craftsmen and sutradhars arrived at the royal pce gate, The guards directed them to an open field where numerous tents were being set up hastily. The crowd moved towards the tents and encountered several individuals who appeared educated and schrly. Vijay arranged for these individuals to interview the crowd one by one, filtering out unqualified candidates and interviewing the rest himself.


    As the interviews progressed, more and more individuals left the capital with disappointment, their expressions reflecting their sadness. Eventually, a group of three individuals was selected for the Ministry of Transportation, and a group of five for the Ministry of Communication. All the selected individuals carried a mixture of hope and trepidation on their faces, eagerly anticipating their meeting with King Vijay Devaraya.

 Chapter 52: Lilith And Kumar Part:1

    <h4>Chapter 52: Lilith And Kumar Part:1</h4>


    The next day, Vijay started the interviews for the new ministers. He began his search by meeting the candidates for the Ministry of Transportation.


    Since the Ministry of Transportation was a newly established department in the Empire, its main duties for now will be solely focused on road construction and maintenance. As time passed and new modes of transportation emerged, the ministry''s responsibilities would expand.


    When Vijay entered the room, he found a group of three people. They quickly rose from their seats and knelt on the ground to greet Vijay, saying, "Long live your Highness, long live your Majesty, long live, long live."


    Vijay gestured for them to get up and take their seats. He exined, "With the new government''s establishment, there is now a vacant ministerial position in the transportation department. I hope to find a suitable candidate among the three of you, and I trust that you will perform well in my tests."


    Pointing to various materials in the room stored in gunny bags, he continued, "Inside these bags, you will find arge number of various materials. Your task is to go through all the bags and construct a road for me. The road should have a width of 9 meters and a length of 15 meters. You will be judged based on the speed of construction, cost efficiency, and durability. I wish you all the best of luck."


    The three candidates exchanged nces, then quickly moved to inspect the materials one by one, preparing to begin their work.


    Upon seeing the candidates begin their work on the road construction, Vijay left the room with orders for the guards to monitor the construction to prevent any cheating among the candidates.


    He then turned his attention to the interviews for the Ministry of Communication.


    Vijay faced a dilemma in selecting the minister for the Ministry of Communication, as it was an unconventional department with its primary task being the transmission of information from one ce to another. Currently, the only branch of the Ministry of Communication that is doable right now is the post office, hence Vijay wants to select a candidate with a specific skill set.


    As he entered the room where the candidates for the Ministry of Communication were gathered, they greeted him in a manner simr to the previous candidates. Afterpleting the formalities, Vijay got straight to the point, saying, " Due to your jobs being sutradhars, I know that you all have rich experience in conveying news from one ce to another, and I assume, given your presence here, that you can read and write. I will ask you a few questions, and depending on the feasibility of your answers, I will consider appointing you as the minister."


    With these words, the candidates became alert, understanding that their responses to these questions would shape their destinies and those of their families. Vijay began with his first question, "So, my first question is: How do you propose to disseminate information from one vige to another, from one town to another, and from one city to another throughout the empire in a singlework?"


    The candidates were taken aback by this unexpected question. While they had plenty of experience moving letters from one ce to another, they had never contemted how information could be efficiently transmitted across the entire kingdom. Their perspectives had been limited throughout their lives, but now, in response to Vijay''s question, their horizons had been forced to expand as they began to ponder the possibilities.


    One of the candidates hesitantly raised his hand, and Vijay encouraged him to speak. The candidate began, "Your Highness, based on my experience, I would suggest assigning a Sutradhar to every vige. In each town, there could be a head Sutradhar, and in cities, we could have evenrger heads who would ry the news from the Government ."


    Vijay nodded in acknowledgement of the suggestion. This structure closely resembled the existing Sutradhar system, expanded to cover a wider area. While itcked innovation, it was a tried and tested method that had proven effective. However, Vijay''s aim was to create something simr to a post office for future generations, capable not only of transmitting information but also generating revenue for the government.


    As he continued to listen to simr answers from the other candidates, one man''s response caught his attention. This middle-aged man,nky and thin, had travelled extensively throughout many viges in his life. He humbly suggested,


    "Your Highness, I have witnessed the amazing changes taking ce across the empire during my travels. Seeing the new innovations brought to the people by the empire enlightened me and inspired my ideas from the recent reforms. So my proposal is the establishment of a department within the Ministry of Communications, simr to the police and judicial departments, to facilitate the smooth transfer of information. All these departments can be connected to one another through regional head offices for the effective transfer of information".


    Vijay found this idea intriguing, as it had a lot of simrities to the concept of a post office. He posed a follow-up question, asking, "Interesting. Then How would you suggest we efficiently, let''s say, transfer information from a town in the south to one in the north of the empire with the fastest speed?"


    The candidate who had initially suggested the idea of a new department within the Ministry of Communications was stumped. He hadn''t considered the logistics of such an expansive information transfer system; he was primarily focused on the innovative concept that he had proposed. His face turned red with embarrassment as he struggled toe up with an answer to the king''s question. Nervously, he began to sweat bullets, and his mind went nk without a single voiceing out of his mouth. Just as the atmosphere was bing increasingly awkward, another candidate seated beside him spoke up with a deep voice befitting his physique, "If I may, Your Highness, I have an idea to address the specific challenge you raised."


    Vijay turned his attention to a bulky man who appeared to be in his early 30s and asked, "Oh, what is it? Tell me your idea."

 Chapter 53: Lilith And Kumar Part:2

    <h4>Chapter 53: Lilith And Kumar Part:2</h4>


    Hampi City:


    In a room, Vijay continued the interview with a pair of men he was talking to before. The bulky man confidently replied, "Your Highness, I believe it would be appropriate to have a fleet of dedicated carriages to transport paper-based information from one town to another through a dedicated roadwork. We can also establish multiple pick-up points for transferring information within urban areas and, as my friend here suggested, we can set up small branch offices in rural areas. This way, we can pass information throughout the kingdom at the fastest possible speed, making governance easier with faster information channels. Additionally, if we ept civilian letters to be sent to their rtives in faraway towns, we can potentially generate revenue from this service. Moreover, we could develop special codes to encrypt the letters, ensuring the secure transmission of urgent military news throughout the empire within a matter of days."


    Vijay was pleased with the bulky man''s suggestion, as it considered the practicality and profitability of a postal system. He wasn''t worried about the cost of installing dedicated roads across the empire because he had already decided to build roads throughout the empire. At that time, he would simply reserve ane for the purpose of postal delivery. Most importantly, the bulky man recognized the credit where it was due. Although the bulky mancked innovation in his ideas, he more thanpensated with hisprehensive nning and the ability to view the situation holistically. Vijay then asked the two candidates for their names. Thenky man replied, "I''m Lilith, Your Highness, the Sutradhar from the Doddamangalore region."


    The bulky man introduced himself, "I am Kumar, Your Highness, the Sutradhar from the Dakini Kota region."


    Vijay nodded, remembering their names, and said, "Very well, Kumar, I hereby appoint you as the Temporary Minister of the Ministry of Communication. Yourprehensive understanding of the entire system has satisfied my requirements for this ministry. I trust that you will fulfil this mission entrusted to you."


    Kumar was stunned by the sudden elevation in his social standing. Although this was the chance he had been desperately fighting for, everything happened so fast that he couldn''t process the information out of nowhere. He quickly pinched himself to confirm that he wasn''t dreaming. Feeling the pain in his hand, he didn''t wince because of the pain but instead jumped all over the room with joy, like a little kid who had just received his favourite toy.


    Lilith, on the other hand, felt a huge sense of disappointment. He hade this far to impress the Emperor and improve his social standing, But he was really not reconciled with how the result turned out for him. Unfortunately, he had no one else to me for his misfortune except himself, as he had not seeded in answering the questions asked by the king. Just as he was about to leave the capital in disappointment, Vijay''s next words stopped him in his tracks. Vijay said,


    "Lilith, you are hereby appointed as the Temporary Head of the Department of the Post Office. It is my opinion that your deep understanding of the Sutradhar system and your grassroots experience of over a decade make you the ideal candidate to assist Kumar in implementing his ns for the ministry."


    That was all he needed to hear as Lilith''s aurapletely switched when he heard those words. He was overjoyed by this unexpected appointment, looking nothing like his gloomy appearance before. He quickly bowed in gratitude to the king.


    Vijay was super happy with the two candidates that he had selected. If he had to make an analogy about both of them, Kumar was like an engineer who turns scientists'' innovations into reality, simr to Elon Musk, while Lilith was more like a scientist who creates entirely new fields of study, simr to Einstein. He believed that an engineer would better fit a CEO position than a scientist. He really hoped they would make a good match and work together to build the nerves of the empire.


    But his work was not yet finished, as he patted both of them on the back.


    "Do well, both of you. If I get satisfactory results from your work, I will make your positions as the minister and the deputy permanent," Vijay said as he left the room, with both of them looking at him with worshipping eyes.


    Vijay had just used the new improved ability that he gained, to imnt the seeds of knowledge into both of them. This was his new ability, where a person with the seed of knowledge could gain instant enlightenment when facing a bottleneck. For example, if Edison had possessed the seed of knowledge, he would have needed far fewer attempts to invent the lightbulbpared to the thousands he attempted in history.


    Vijay decided to provide this help because, although both of them were talented, they were from lower castes. Vijay was not discriminating against them, but What he feared was that their heritage and worldview might not be rich enough to lead one of the core important limbs of the government effectively. For example, This was simr to the stereotype of Jews being good at business; no one had to teach them, But it was developed over centuries of time by how their parents, society and culture raised them, which gives them a little edge over other races in matters of handling business.


    Hence, Vijay imagined both of them struggling to keep up with the empire due to theirck of systematic teaching from a young age and low self-esteem developed by an oppressive social order whose sole aim was to put those of lower caste beneath them for hundreds of years. So, he gave both of them seeds of knowledge about management, post office workings, politics, and more. It should be noted that possessing these seeds wouldn''t make them magically geniuses, but it would help them reach the same level of confidence and heritage as the higher-caste people, Granted they would have to put in a constant amount of hard work to reach their eventually. Additionally, it would assist them in breaking through their doubts and bottlenecks more easily than normal people.

 Chapter 54: Nirmal

    <h4>Chapter 54: Nirmal</h4>


    As Vijay finished appointing a Minister for the Ministry of Communication, he returned to the previous room where he had assigned the task to the three candidates for the Ministry of Transportation.


    Upon entering the room, his attention was quickly drawn to the three types of roads that were nearlypleted by the candidates. As he saw that they were adding the finishing touches, he quietly waited for the candidates to finish the construction so he could inspect them.


    These roads were 9 meters in width and 15 meters in length. Vijay had decided to implement this standard after gaining an understanding of roads from future generations. The maximum width allowed for vehicles in India in future generations is 2.5 meters, so a twone road was around 7 meters, and a threene road, which allowed for one-way travel, was approximately 9 meters wide.


    In the future, National Highways like NH7 used to have two separate threene roads for travel, along with another twone road on both sides of the main highway. Vijay nned to implement the same standard throughout the empire. Major cities would have roads connecting each other with National Highway standards, with more room for expansion if needed, while viges and towns would have a standard threene road with two-way traffic.


    While Vijay was lost in his thoughts about his ns for the future of the empire, the construction of the roads waspleted by the three candidates.


    The guard reminded him, "They''re ready, your Highness."


    Jolted awake from his thoughts, Vijay looked around and saw that the candidates hadpleted the construction. He nodded as he went to inspect the roads that had been built. Vijay stepped onto the leftmost road, finding it smooth to walk on. He looked at the candidate who had built the road and asked him, "Exin the construction process."


    With excitement, the candidate responded, "With pleasure, Your Highness. My road uses strong y that has been hardened in the sun as a foundation. On top of that, we ced red soil and ttened it with a boulder to make the road smooth and prevent bumps along the way."


    Vijay took a moment to consider the construction process of the road. He then instructed his attendant to bring a pot of water and pour it all over the road. As he expected, the water began to seep into the road, forming puddles in some areas. He knew that this method of building roads wasmonly used in this era, but even in future India, It was not rare, as politicians would often use such roads to convince the illiterate people to vote for them, as it was a quick and cost-effective way to show progress.


    Vijay realized that this method could be employed to build roads in some remote tribes that had not yet been contacted, especially in forested areas. However, it might not be suitable for the urban environment where better road infrastructure is needed.


    Next, he examined a green-coloured road that felt sturdy and smooth as he walked on it. He was impressed and asked the candidate how this road had been constructed.


    The candidate exined, "Your Highness, the loweryer of the road is constructed using boulders the size of an arm, arranged in a t pattern. Coarse sand is poured on top of thisyer of rocks to fill any gaps between them, and then ayer of bricks is ced on top of it. On top of that, I applied ayer of red soil. After ttening the road with a boulder, in order to achieve a smooth finish and a water-repellent effect, it is topped off with cow manure as a ster."


    Vijay nodded, recognizing that this road was solid and likely to withstand the test of time. To find out of its durability and practicality, iron ingots were pulled over the road multiple times, leaving no marks. Additionally, water was poured onto the road, but due to the cow dung stering, the water didn''t adhere to the road and simply ran off to the side.


    Vijay decided to reject this idea, not because he was disgusted with the cow manure (he knew it wasmonly used in many ces), but because he was concerned about the construction and maintenance costs. While he understood that cow dung was used as a waterproof ster in many areas, he believed that theyers would wear off rtively quickly. Additionally, the use of bricks, which required significantbour, would lead to high maintenance costs that the Vijayanagara Empire couldn''t afford.


    As Vijay walked on thest road, he was surprised by its prickly texture, making it ufortable for him to walk on the road with bare feet. He inquired about the construction of this road, and the candidate exined, "Your Highness, for this road, I first levelled the field into tnd. On top of that, I cedrge rocks the size of a fist, followed by ayer of smaller rocks the size of marbles. Finally, I added the dust formed after breaking down boulders into smaller pieces. After that, it was ttened multiple times for the road to settle down. Essentially, Your Highness, the main raw material for this road is nothing but boulders."


    Vijay was pleased with this idea as he realized that this road was just a few ingredients away from bing a cement road, which required limestone and g from the st furnace. Unfortunately, to achieve the maximum effect, calcination is necessary for the limestone, but g can be used as it has already undergone chemical alteration. However, there is currently not enough g from his factory for the entire roadwork, but this situation is likely to change by the time construction begins. To assess the road''s properties, he poured water directly onto it, and it flowed right through the road without leaving any puddles. The road also withstood the weight of a carriage carrying a load of iron ingots.


    Satisfied with these results, Vijay turned to the thin, dark-toned candidate and asked, "What is your name, and what was your previous upation?"


    The thin man was overjoyed by the question. He replied with excitement, "Your Highness, my name is Nirmal. I used to work as a craftsman for a noble household. I got the idea for this road when I observed the differentyers of soil dug out when digging a well. I thought that maybe a road could also be constructed using a simr method."


    Vijay was impressed with Nirmal''s ability to apply his natural observations to his work. Without any doubt, he appointed Nirmal as the Temporary Minister of the Ministry of Transportation. He also appointed the previous candidate as the Temporary Head of the Department for Roadways for his excellent innovation in road construction. Furthermore, he quickly granted them the seeds of knowledge to assist them in their work.


    Finally, Vijay had found the talented individuals he needed to begin the transformation of the kingdom from an agricultural country to an industrial one.

 Chapter 55: Lanka Part:1

    <h4>Chapter 55: Lanka Part:1</h4>


    Far away in Lanka...


    Bji, the assistant, followed his master Roshan to work for the Vijayanagar Empire. He still remembers the day when he got the opportunity to lead a branch of the secret service separate from the main branch. While all his other colleagues were reluctant, he saw a great opportunity for the future, agreed to the task immediately, And they came to Lanka, the legendary ind in the tales of Ramayana.


    He first set up his office in a city called Kandy. Apparently, Lanka was ruled by multiple kingdoms. He was in a kingdom called the Kingdom of Kandy, and the city he was in served as the capital of the secret service and the base of his operations. He chose this kingdom because it was thergest in size and stronger than the neighbouring kingdoms. He and His subordinates began by scouting the conditions in the city. When he and his subordinates posed as merchants and went around the city to investigate, They felt like they had entered a brand new world altogether as they walked the streets of the city for the first time.


    The architecture of the kingdom was peculiar, featuring a mix of elements, possibly from the Ch Dynasty and Western architecture. Bji noticed that there were more blonde-haired and blue-eyed people walking the streets than usual. He had never seen so many foreigners in one ce, and this made him suspect that something was not right.


    His subordinates, like him, also moved around with unusual expressions on their faces. Seeing his subordinates with different expressions, Bji quickly regained his stoic expression as he warned them to cover up their expressions before they got caught.


    Bji observed a lot of white people being served and catered to by some locals, ttering them every step of the way, almost treating them like kings. If he didn''t know any better, he would think they were the nobles of thisnd.


    "Ah, Boss," just as he was taking in all the scenes of the city, he was called by one of his subordinates in a startled tone.


    "What?" he asked in a low voice, only to see his subordinate gobsmacked and unable to speak another word.


    "What are you doing? Do you want to get us ki¡ª"


    Just as he was about to reprimand his subordinate, he followed the direction the subordinate was pointing. His voice trailed off as he witnessed a scene he had never seen in his lifetime. He had seen white men around the harbour, even in the Vijayanagar Empire, many times. But this was the first time he saw a person who lookedpletely ck. It''s not like he hadn''t seen ck people before; most of the millions with pure blood, Tamilians, and Myalis included, had a darker tone. However, there was something different about this man¡ªhis hair, his face, his body¡ªeverything was different from what he knew.


    Although he looked starved, the lean muscles couldn''t be hidden from his sharp gaze, even with the bones sticking out in various ces. He was also taller than anyone he had ever seen.


    The malnourished ck man, who appeared as though he hadn''t eaten for days, was pulling a rickshaw with a plump white woman wearing luxurious clothes and wealthy attire seated in it. Bji quickly regained hisposure and warned his subordinates to maintain normal expressions.


    After thoroughly inspecting the city and getting a grasp of the environment, he quickly returned to the base to begin recruiting members for the Secret Service.


    Galle Harbour, Lanka


    Selvan worked as a dockworker at Galle Harbour. He used to own a farm ind on the ind, with considerable harvests. Unfortunately, his daughter fell ill with a strange disease. The high taxes imposed by the kingdom in recent years left him with little money for his daughter''s medical expenses after paying the taxes. With no other option, he chose to sell his ancestralnd at a low price to finally cure his daughter. He managed to treat his daughter with the money he received, but perhaps he had a lot of karma. His world copsed when he learned that her illness was not cured, only alleviated, and it would return in a few years.


    Devastated by the news, he realized his daughter wasn''t fully cured. She was the only family he had left, as his wife had died a few years after their daughter was born due to a snake bite.


    He had done everything he could for her, but fate seemed to test him relentlessly. epting his fate, he moved to Galle Harbour without giving up hope. The harbour was recruiting able-bodied men forbour, and despite knowing the high mortality rate, he joined the workforce, driven by thoughts of his daughter''s well-being. Fortunately, God was on his side this time, as he didn''t encounter any life-threatening idents.


    "Cluck."


    Drenched in sweat, he wiped it off with a towel tied to his waist after unloading thest box of goods. He looked like he had just taken a hot shower recently. Work had been especially tough in recent months due to the influx of supplies from the white man''snd. While unloading the goods, he identally noticed a lot of shiny metal weapons among the cargo. Shocked at first, he quicklyposed himself and continued working as if nothing had happened, knowing that possessing knowledge he shouldn''t, would be dangerous.


    Today was the day he would receive his monthly payment. The usual monthly sry was 40 ridhi. Usually, 10 ridhi was enough for the food for both him and his daughter''s life. But in recent days, taxes have increased exponentially. Now, out of the leftover pay, he paid almost 10 ridhi in taxes. When he moved to Galle Harbour, he couldn''t afford to build a house, so he rented from andlord, which cost him 2 ridhi per month. Fortunately, due to his frugality and savings, he had been able to save at least 10 to 13 ridhi per month over the past few years. The Western doctors were very costly in the kingdom. He initially wanted to get prescribed by an Ayurvedic doctor, but unfortunately, all the shops were closed down after the white man came.


    He had collected up to 270 Ridhi, and after today''s payment, he would be able to cure his daughter''s illness permanently.


    "It''s all worth it," he said as he looked at his bruised and calloused hands and cracked feet, all the while thinking about his bedridden daughter.


    The bell rang, and he stood in line like everyone else to collect his sry. As all the workers were waiting for their pay, the fat supervisor stepped up in front of everyone and stated, "Unfortunately, due to losses incurred in the transportation of goods at sea, with some ships sinking halfway through transit, the business has been bleak. Hence, starting this month, your sry will be reduced to 30 Ridhi." he said in a t tone as if what he was saying was not outrageous at all.


    To be continued...

 Chapter 56: Lanka Part:2

    <h4>Chapter 56: Lanka Part:2</h4>


    "What..."


    "How can this be..."


    "No, no, no."


    "Master, please don''t do this. I have a wife and kids to feed."


    ...


    There was an uproar in the crowd as his colleagues knelt and begged as soon as they heard his words. All of them were doing this life-threatening and difficult job because of the burdens on them. They knew that this line of work was life-threatening, But they still chose it for the high payment they received. Now, even that was being denied for them. Although they could still live a frugal life with 30 ridhi, their lives would be more miserable from now on.


    But for Selvan, it was a life-ending news. He would literally starve to death after his daughter''s treatment. He wouldn''t have a ce to stay, clothes to wear, or any other life''s necessities. His eyes were red, and he was fuming with anger. He clenched his fist tightly until it started bleeding, with his mind consumed by rage, he picked up a rock nearby to throw it at the fat pig.


    Before he could do anything, a rock was thrown at the fat supervisor by someone in the rioting crowd. Unfortunately, the rock flew past the fat man.


    The fat man, who saw a rock being thrown at him, was startled by the sudden projectile. He had never had this experience, as his life had been spoiled by his father, who worked for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) all his life.


    "Ah!"


    He yelled as he fell down, clutching his head.


    Before Selvan could take pleasure in the misfortune of the fat pig, he saw a white man carrying something resembling a wooden stick with a hole, pointing it at his colleague who had thrown the rock. Seeing this action, he had a bad feeling about it.


    "Bham."


    "Ah!"


    His feeling was right, as suddenly, a loud thunderous sound struck, soon followed by a Barely audible scream, startling everyone. The sound resembled that of Indra''s thunder.


    Selvan clearly saw that the sound came from the wooden pipe carried by the white man. He looked around to see the effect of the firestick but couldn''t spot anything unusual in his surroundings. However, thinking about something bad, he slowly turned his head to look at his colleague who had thrown the rock.


    "Ah..!"


    To his dread, he was lying on the ground with blood and white matter seeping out of his head. He internally screamed, "How did this happen !" He was horrified by the scene, as he had never seen such a level of violence and destruction before. He used to be an honest farmer in the countryside and had never participated in any battles since he was a child. Seeing this scene, he fell to the ground, dropping the rock from his hand, and trembling all over his body.


    Everyone else was no better than him as they couldn''t stand still anymore, After seeing the dead body, they started to scream, panic and run away from the scene like headless chickens. It was very chaotic at the scene.


    "Bham!"


    Another shot rang out from the wooden stick, and everyone froze in their tracks. They first checked their own bodies to see if they were fine, and then they looked around to see if anyone else was dead. Fortunately, no one else was harmed, As the firestick was pointed upward.


    Soon, the embarrassed fat man got up from the floor and yelled at everyone with a livid face.


    "Listen here, you low-life scum! Be happy that you''re getting any money at all. Your glorious masters donated this money to you out of the kindness in their hearts."


    "Moreover, you filthy Untouchables," he sneered, "I, the great master, won''t lie to you tools of thepany. There was a huge loss to thepany. But thepany still managed to provide you with some wages. Be happy that you are still being paid."


    As he said these words, he took out a pile of silver coins and threw them to the remaining workers in a manner that seemed disdainful, as if he were tossing them to beggars.


    Selvan was still sitting on the ground with a nk expression on his face, shocked by the unfolding scenes. As the money was thrown closer to him, he instinctively grabbed the silver coins towards him. He could see that he only got 20 ridhi, but he did not voice his dissatisfaction as he knew that challenging the fat supervisor any further would mean death. He didn''t want to die before curing his daughter, so he quickly hid his money in his towel.


    He quickly took the money and rushed home to see his daughter. When he reached home, he saw something that continued to break his willpower further, pushing him to the brink of madness. Lord Ravana seemed to be testing him because his daughter was trembling all over her body, a sign of the illness rpsing.


    "Vidya!"


    He cried out as he quickly hugged his daughter to assess her condition. Seeing her in a critical state, he swiftly retrieved the money hidden in the corner of his house and then picked up his daughter, rushing towards the rickshaw. Normally, he wouldn''t choose to travel by rickshaw because of poverty, but this was a desperate situation. Witnessing his distress, even the rickshaw driver felt pity and drove a little faster.


    Soon, they arrived at the town centre to visit the white doctor who had cured Vidya a few years back. Selvan ced his daughter on the hospital bed and waited for the doctor to arrive. A white man soon appeared. He frowned upon seeing Selvan and his daughter in dirty attire. However, recalling that he had treated the girl a few years back and the money he had earned, he checked on her again. His initial frown was reced by a scowl as he looked at the father and demanded, ''Treatment will cost 400 ridhi. Pay up, or leave."


    Selvan stood there, shocked as he heard the number. "Lord, isn''t it 300? I have worked very hard to collect this money. Why is it suddenly 400?" He asked with desperation in his voice, as if he were on the verge of tears.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 57: Lanka Part:3

    <h4>Chapter 57: Lanka Part:3</h4>


    Seeing Selvan''s desperate appearance, the doctor remained unmoved as he stated matter-of-factly, ''That was the past charge. Due to the increase in the cost of various medical materials in recent days, I have raised my fee to 400 ridhi. Doing it for 300 ridhi now won''t bring me even a cent of profit. I am not doing charity here. Get out of here if you don''t have money, or else, I''ll have you thrown out."


    "Nooo!, Please don''t say that, my lord"


    "whuu"


    Listening to the response, Selvan became desperate as he hugged the doctor''s thighs, crying, trying to convince the doctor to save his child.


    The doctor, however, remained unmoved. He smacked Selvan in the face. Selvan''s face turned red, but he still did not let go of the doctor''s legs, trying his best to hold on to them as if his life depended on it. Unfortunately, the doctor, annoyed by the pest clinging to his legs, raised his feet and kicked him away.


    "You untouchable scum, get out of here! You''ve sullied my clothes with your filthy hands. How many times do I have to tell you to get out? A filthy pagan like you is better off dead."


    With the kick, the towel bag on Selvan''s body fell down, and the coins could be vaguely seen through the towel. Seeing the coins, The doctor had a slight glint in his eyes as greed started taking over him. He ruthlessly ordered his minions, "Guards, throw this filthy untouchable scum and that bitch outside the clinic and never allow them in ever again."


    With that said, he quickly picked up the satchel, saying, "This will be mypensation for you destroying my expensive imported dress."


    "No, please, Lord, no."


    "Whaaa....."


    "Please, Lord..."


    "My only... daughter, Lord."


    He wailed bitterly as he held his daughter in his hands. He was banging his chest in grief until his chest started turning red and his skin started tearing.


    But unfortunately, the doctor and his goons had had enough of his nonsense.


    "Didn''t you hear what I said? Get rid of this nuisance."


    His goons swiftly executed the order as they threw Selvan and his daughter out onto the road.


    Selvan wanted to retaliate, but seeing the batons in the hands of the goons, he epted his fate. He knew that if he tried to retaliate, both he and his daughter would be beaten to death and no one would even question the docter for his crimes. He sobbed quietly as he picked up his daughter and left, his legs trembling. Bloodied footprints marked their path along the road to his home since he didn''t have any money to pay for the rickshaw. So, he ended up carrying his daughter from the town centre to his home on the outskirts of Galle Harbour.


    He quietly ced his struggling daughter on the bed and then sat down in a corner, silently weeping like a wounded beast. His sobs grew deeper, and sorrow gradually transformed into a bloodthirsty rage.


    "Rhaaaaaaaa!"


    He let out a big, maniacal roar and hit the wall many times until his hands started to bleed. He was angry at himself, and the ipetent kingdom, and most of all, he harboured a burning hatred for the white men who had taken away his and his daughter''s lives.


    As his daughter continued to struggle on the bed, his eyes turned crimson, tears that looked like blood flowed out of his eyes. He made a decision. He would butcher all the white men, including the fat supervisor. He went to the kitchen and picked up a knife.


    "Knock, knock."


    Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Intrigued, Selvan went to the door to open it. A strange man stood there, covering his face with a wooden mask and body wrapped up.


    Selvan became vignt as he asked, "Who are you?" He tightened his grip on the knife, ready to strike at the man at any moment.


    *klink....*


    But the words that left the man''s mouth left him standing there stunned, and he dropped the knife instantly.


    "We can save your daughter, but what price are you willing to pay?"


    Selvan stood like that for a few moments as he tried to process the words spoken by the masked man. All he had in his mind was, "Is my daughter still saved?"


    "Anything, anything lord, I will do anything you want me to do, I will kill anyone you want. Even my life would be given if needed," he answered as soon as he regained his rity.


    Selvan spoke, and the masked man didn''t say anything more, but he could feel that the masked man was smiling.


    "Come with me," the masked man said after a few moments. He covered both the father''s and daughter''s heads and led them separately somewhere in a cart.


    When he arrived and the mask was removed, Selvan found himself in some sort of medical clinic. To his surprise, it was the Ayurvedic clinic that he knew.


    He saw a doctor treating his beloved daughter with some medicine. "She will be alright in a few days," the doctor assured him.


    After listening to the good news, his heart felt at ease. And thus, the Ghost of Lanka was born, a ruthless sword in the hands of the King of Vijayanagara.


    In another hidden location:


    Bji, The Head of the Lanka secret service, was asking his assistant, "How is the recruitment going?"


    The assistant replied with a somewhatplicated tone, "Boss, the recruitment is going better than expected. There are a lot of desperate people in this country, and it keeps on increasing. But it''s pretty painful to see them suffer like this, and we can''t do anything."


    Bji had an expressionless face, as he had experienced the cruelty of the Mughal Empire. He knew that the truth of the world was that the strong ate the weak.


    The secret service in Sri Lanka quickly expanded with several simr cases to Selvan, bing a strong intelligencework responsible for foreign intelligence in the near future.

 Chapter 58: Bharatiya Institute of Science’s Part:1

    <h4>Chapter 58: Bharatiya Institute of Science''s Part:1</h4>


    Vijayanagara Empire.


    What was happening in Lanka was unknown to Vijay. It would take a few days for Vijay to receive his report from the Secret Service. In the royal pce, Vijay called for Vinod.


    "What can I do for you, Your Highness?" Vinod inquired.


    Vijay exined, "Issue a notice to gather all the best craftsmen, schrs, and doctors in the Empire for me."


    Vijay''s next goal was to establish the Academy of Sciences in the Vijayanagara Empire. He wanted to improve the country''s basic industrial foundation. Some might suggest he could simply purchase all the necessary machines and technologies from Western countries, as technology was not highly valued in this era. However, Vijay had a different perspective. Several factors stopped his procurement of technology from the Western world. Firstly, Bharat was geographically distant from Europe, making the cost of procurement astronomical.


    Another reason was that no one would be willing to sell thetest technology to Bharat. Whether it was the British, Dutch, Portuguese, or Spanish, these countries coveted Bharat''s wealth. These nations were the only powers capable of conducting continental trade and warfare during this era.


    Hence, Vijay chose to build the technological foundation of Vijayanagara from the ground up. Though it would take time, he possessed knowledge from future generations, which could elerate the process. Moreover, local development of technology could nurture a group of scientific talents.


    In Hampi City:


    The notice spread throughout the empire that the king was recruiting personnel again.


    "Hey, did you hear? The emperor is recruiting craftsmen again."


    "Come on, let''s go. Last time we missed the chance, but at least we can try to serve His Highness this time."


    Simr conversations were taking ce throughout the empire among various professions. Within a few days, the best craftsmen, schrs, and doctors were brought to the royal pce by Vijay''s subordinates.


    Inside the pce hall, a crowd of people gathered, conversing in hushed tones.


    "Hey, Raghu, you''re here too. How''s your business beentely?"


    "Oh, Prajwal, it''s you! I didn''t think you would also be selected. I guess it''s pretty obvious, considering the quality of your metalwork. My business has been quite profitable recently."


    "After the units and measurements were standardized, it became much easier to train apprentices. My workshop is now being managed by my son back at home. I came here to try my luck and see if I can be of any use to His Highness."


    "Tap, tap, tap, tap."


    Everyone spontaneously fell silent as strong, rhythmic footsteps echoed through the hallways.


    "Long live Your Highness, long live Vijayanagara, long live, long live!" they chanted as Vijay, The emperor of the Vijayanagara empire, wearing a golden robe, entered the hall. They collectively knelt on the ground and greeted the monarch.


    "Please, get up," Vijay stated after epting their greetings.


    Once everyone had risen, he continued to exin the reason for summoning them.


    "Gentlemen, I have brought you all here to assign you a task and a job that willy the foundation for the future of our country."


    Seeing the excited expressions on the craftsmen''s faces after hearing his opening remark, he continued with confidence.


    "The new institution I am about to establish will be called the Bharathiya Institute for Sciences."


    Vijay continued, paying no heed to the confused expressions on the faces of those present.


    "This institute will have two divisions: the Bharatiya Institute of Military Science and the Bharatiya Institute of Civilian Science. The Military Sciences Division will be solely responsible for developing new weapons for the Empire''s defence department. Members selected for this department will work in a highly confidential environment, and their families will be relocated to secure and controlled areas."


    "But worry not," he added, "thepensation for researchers in this department will be very high. The positions for this department cannot be applied for directly. However, based on your performance in the civilian department, if you are deemed capable and trustworthy, you may be appointed to the Bharat Military Sciences Department."


    Vijay continued,ying out his ns for the future.


    "Bhartiya Civilian Sciences are responsible for researching new technologies that can be applied in our day-to-day lives," Vijay exined. "The Bharatiya Civil Sciences Department will contain multiple branches. First, let me introduce the Metallurgical Branch, headed by Hey Ram. HeyRam is the Factory Director of Raya Metal Works. He has earned his ce through engineering, designing, and developing the st furnace in our country, which makes him capable of leading the Metallurgy Department."


    Vijay introduced Hey Ram, who came to the stage, greeted by envious eyes andter a loud apuse from everyone. HeyRam was popr in the craftsmen circles in the empire, known for his rags-to-riches story.


    "Now, this department will focus on studying how new materials can be developed and how the manufacturing process of existing materials can be improved," Vijay continued.


    "If you are a cksmith, then this department would be suitable for you, as most of the current work is focused on the production of iron. However, there are a few objectives for this department that need to be fulfilled in the near future. The first task for this department is to study more efficient ways to produce iron in the st furnace. The second objective is to research a stronger iron-making process and improve the manufacturing process." Vijay exined.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 59: Bharatiya Institute of Science’s Part:2

    <h4>Chapter 59: Bharatiya Institute of Science''s Part:2</h4>


    Vijay continued his announcement.


    "Another department will be the Jiva Shastra department, headed by Vinay," He stated, as Vinay came on stage to the apuse of the crowd. Vijay continued, "This department will be responsible for the study of life in our world in an ethical and safe manner. Its focus will be on discovering new knowledge about our bodies and the world around us."


    Vinay was overjoyed to receive the call to the royal pce this morning. He had previously tried out for the position of director of the Livelihood department before the formation of the Imperial Council, but unfortunately, he had failed. However, his hope was rekindled when Vijay mentioned that he had a specific purpose for him. He eagerly awaited the king''s next summons, but as days turned into weeks and months passed by, he had nearly given up hope, thinking that the king had forgotten him.


    However, everything changed when he received a call from the royal pce, summoning him. It was an invitation from the king himself. At this moment, he was still in disbelief, but after hearing Vijay''s words, he was thrilled by the prospect of the work ahead, especially since it was simr to his daily interests and hobbies.


    Vijay continued, "There are a few requirements from the Department of Jiva Shastra. I will give you some clear goals to work towards. Firstly, why do people who drink raw water get sick easily as opposed to those who drink boiled water? I need your department to find out the reason for this phenomenon, Now, this is a simpler taskpared to the next one. I need the Jiva Shastra division to collect all the Ayurvedic prescriptions in the empire."


    This topic intrigued the medical experts in the room as Vijay continued, "I have noticed that Ayurvedic medicine works really well for illnesses, but different doctors give different prescriptions with varying quantities of herbs for the same patient with the same condition. This leads to confusion among themon folk and makes it harder to train apprentices. Hence, what I need your department to do is collect all the information from the medical experts about the recipes in the empire and standardize all the prescriptions so that even an apprentice can understand basic pharmacology. Also, ensure that each prescription has been tested on arge number of people for safety."


    Listening to Vijay''s words, every medical professional in the hall, including Vinay, was not calm. Vinay could not stand still any more as he spoke up, "Forgive me, Your Highness, but those prescriptions are our lifeblood, handed down from our ancestors. We do not wish to spread our knowledge to apprentices and risk losing our livelihoods."


    Vijay remainedposed, fully aware of the traditional master-disciple system they were operating under. He understood that many masters were often reluctant to share their entire knowledge with their apprentices. This practice ultimately led to the disappearance of many authentic Ayurvedic prescriptions in the future, resulting in scams and a tarnished reputation for Bharitaya Ayurvedic medicine.


    In this life, Vijay was determined to bring about change, As he reassured Vinay and all the medical practitioners, "Don''t worry, Vinay. The government will bear the cost of procuring the Ayurvedic recipes from your hands. With standardized prescriptions, more people can afford medical services, and you, as leaders in your field, will never be in apromised position."


    Vinay and his colleagues in the hall calmed down, realizing the Truth in Vijay''s words. Vijay continued by introducing a new department for the Bhartiya Institute of Civil Sciences. "The next division will be Bhautik Shastra. This department will focus on studying the mechanisms of the world. In essence, this department will delve into the workings of the world and unravel its mysteries."


    Vijay continued with his instructions.


    "There are a few objectives for you. Firstly, as a long-term objective, we all know that our world is a sphere. I need all of you toe up with a way to measure the size of our world without leaving this Empire. Secondly, I need you to figure out why a rainbow is formed."


    He was trying to guide them toward ideas that help them grow up as scientific research talents.


    "For a practical objective, I need you to research a kind of machine that can improve the efficiency of agriculture and Loom."


    Vijay proceeded, introducing the final department.


    "The Rasayan Shastra department will be responsible for studying the nature of objects and how a single object behaves with other objects."


    He continued, "I will give this department a few objectives. Firstly, I need you to collect all the known elements and create aprehensive chart. This chart should include the characteristics of each specific element, how it reacts with other elements, and if there are any peculiar properties associated with each element."


    He went on, "The second objective is to figure out why soap cleans our bodies."


    Finally, he added, "The third objective is specifically for the Bharatiya Institute of Military Sciences. If you can sessfullyplete the first objective and obtain good results, the selected personnel will be employed by the Bharatiya Institute of Military Sciences to work on the third objective." Vijay aimed to have the military department manufacture gunpowder, which would be used extensively in the future.


    With that, Vijay concluded his lengthy speech and left the hall after imparting the seeds of knowledge to the candidates. Although his golden finger had improved tremendously since his early days, sharing so much knowledge left him feeling dizzy. The crowd apuded as he left the room to his bed.


    And so, the Bharatiya Institute of Science was established, bing the cornerstone of research and progress for Bharat in the future.

 Chapter 60: War Machine Of Mughal Empire

    <h4>Chapter 60: War Machine Of Mughal Empire</h4>


    After the formation of the Bharatiya Institute of Science, arge building wasmissioned to be built in Bengaluru. Vijay had ns to move the capital of Vijayanagara to Bengaluru since the formation of the imperial council, with the aim of making it the financial, political, educational, and cultural capital of the empire.


    Currently, the architect is busy developing ns for the building of the Bharatiya Institute of Sciences. However, as Vijay reviewed the ns, he found that he didn''t particrly like any of them. Coming from the future, he had different tastespared to the people of this era. He preferred a more minimalistic approach to architecture rather than theplex and grandiose designs popr in his time. Nevertheless, he held immense respect for the craftsmen working on these pieces of art thatsted thousands of years.


    In an effort to find apromise, Vijay selected the building he liked the most from the future era, which also matched the style of the Research Institute he was about to build. After a few moments of contemtion, he made his choice. He took a canvas and drew the design of Vidhan Soudha of Bengaluru on it. He had always appreciated the majestic yet simplistic design of Vidhan Soudha during his time in ISRO. In his past life, it was a 500,000-square-meter megastructure designed by the renowned Indian architect Kengal Hanumanthaiya. The Vidhan Soudha served as the legitive house of Karnataka and was constructed in 1956 in the neo-Dravidian style.


    Vijay took a simr approach to the design of the Bharatiya Institute of Sciences. He incorporated three Dome''s into the structure, simr to the original design of the Vidhan Soudha. However, he reced the emblem of India on the main dome with the symbol of Tk, which represents the blessing of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Additionally, he added the emblems of Shanku and Chakra to the left and right domes respectively. The rest of the design nning was entrusted to the architect and the artist to develop further.


    In the nearest School, the architects were engaged in discussions about various types of experiments that could be conducted. They had temporarily settled there while waiting for the new building to be constructed. Despite the temporary arrangement, the excitement was palpable, as everyone had a multitude of bright ideas on how to explore the world in new and innovative ways.


    Some were discussing methods to improve iron production, while others were focused on experimenting with medicines and studying animals. There were even some enthusiasts who delved into discussions about the possibility of flight. It was safe to say that Vijay had ignited a passion for research by sowing the seeds of knowledge about experimentation.


    Aghra, Mughal Empire:


    The happiness was not only evident in the Vijayanagara Empire but also in the Mughal Empire. However, the happiness in Vijayanagara was destined to be short-lived, as there were undercurrents surging throughout the Mughal Empire.


    In the royal pce of Agra, Emperor Muhammad the Fifth sat on his throne, contemting matters of the Empire while stroking his chin. His contemtion, However, was soon interrupted by the arrival of an elderly man. This old man had a lean figure, appearing to be in his sixties. He wore red pyjama-style pants and a yellow jama. He walked with steady steps, supporting himself with a walking cane. At first nce, his face seemed kind, like that of a grandfather. However, his eyes told a different story ¨C they were the eyes of a master strategist and schemer.


    "What is it, Mustafa?" Mohammed, the emperor, asked in annoyance as his thoughts had been disturbed by the arrival of the old Prime Minister of the Mughal Empire.


    "Your Majesty, I have very good news to deliver," Mustafa said with a jovial expression.


    Mohammed was intrigued by those words, as Mustafa was very busy in normal times. Since he came to bring him news personally, it had to be either very good or terrible news. So he asked, "Oh, and what is the good news you are so happy about?"


    "Your Highness, it''s like this. We have finallypleted the integration of this vastnd and its resources. The rebellions have been reduced to a standstill, and all the rebels were eliminated by our might. Even thend and its people have been integrated, and we have spread our culture to every town in the empire. Along with the demolition of those sphemous praying halls, we are awaiting Your Highness''s order to increase taxes on the Hindus. With this, we will be able to convert most of these untouchables to the grace of Ah," Mustafa said with fervour.


    *p, p*


    Listening to the news, Mohammad pped his hands with excitement, as he had been waiting for the integration to beplete for ages. He quickly inquired with eagerness, "So, what is the current status of my Empire?"


    "Your Majesty, we currently cover and area of around 3 million square kilometres with a poption of approximately 100 million people. We have discovered that at least 700,000 square kilometres of thisnd area are very fertile and can grow multiple types of crops. Every inch ofnd in this Empire is like gold. Although the people here believe in some demonic devils, I have to say, that their craftsmanship is first-ss, evenpared to the Ottoman Empire or the Ming Dynasty. We could use thisbour force to quickly build monuments of huge scale to please the great Ah."


    "Moreover, we found at least 150 tons'' worth of gold in coins and several ancient antiques, which could fetch a huge price with those white men."


    Mohammed was very satisfied with Mustafa''s response and excited about all the treasures of thisnd. He was eager to expand his empire again now that the integration had beenpleted.


    "How about our military strength? When will the army be ready?"


    Mustafa answered, "Your Highness, currently we have 400,000 infantry, 60,000 cavalry, 20,000 artillerymen, and the rest in logistical supplies. These armies are ready to move any time you wish, and with the help of the new cannon technology we''ve developed, we can blitz through any kingdom. If more soldiers are needed, we can train a new batch in a few months, formed of those untouchables. Although theirbat effectiveness is low, they are cheap to raise, requiring only food and nothing else."


    Mohammed was very pleased with the numbers and the strength of his army. As for the natives'' lives, he didn''t care at all.


    "Very good, Call the general and arrange for a 200,000-strong army to march towards the Maratha Kingdom. Let''s squash that small bug in our west first."


    Mustafa was confused by the Emperor''s order and inquired with doubt, "Your Highness, shouldn''t it be the Vijayanagara Empire to the south? That Empire is growing stronger day by day, and I have an uneasy feeling about it. Moreover, I suspect that most of the gold on thisndes from the Vijayanagara Empire, as most of the gold we have confiscated had markings from Vijayanagara."


    Mohammed''s face contorted with greed upon hearing the question, which only intensified his desire to attack the Maratha Empire first. He had seen the daughter of the Maratha king on his secret visits through the empire, and upon seeing her, he had fallen in love. Unable to bear it any longer, he had even sent a marriage proposal to take the Princess of the Maratha Kingdom as his concubine, but the Maratha king had rudely rejected him and married off his daughter to the emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire. This humiliation had caused him to lose face in front of his family members. So, first, he wanted to annihte that small Maratha Kingdom and then toy with the Vijayanagara Empireter.


    However, all of these thoughts remained internal as Mohammed scolded Mustafa with a stern face, "Do as I said, Mustafa. Don''t ask any questions, or your tongue will roll on the ground. Understand?"


    Mustafa was terrified by his slip of the tongue and quickly knelt down, throwing his cane aside to apologize.


    Soon, the spies in the Mughal Empire picked up on the unusual military actions, and the news reached Vijayanagara at the fastest speed. Roshan, who received the news, felt a cold sweat break out on his back. He personally sealed the information in a red secret letter and left to deliver the letter to the Emperor.

 Chapter 61: Bad News...! Part:1

    <h4>Chapter 61: Bad News...! Part:1</h4>


    Vijay woke up in his pce to a pleasant morning. Kavya had awakened him early, and due to the recent hassles, he couldn''t spend as much time with her as he wished. Currently, Kavya turned 17 years old this year and looks more beautiful than ever.


    Vijay decided to go on a stroll with Kavya today, to spend some quality time with her. They both headed to watch the sportspetition being held at the nearest school. After the introduction of rugby to the army, it quickly gained poprity throughout the empire, especially among the boys in schools who loved the game. They picked up the rules quickly, and since rugby was a practical and physical game simr to warfare, it had received strong endorsement from the Ministry of Culture and Education in recent months. The match about to begin today was a trial organized by the school in Hampi to raise funds for the school''s development.


    After enjoying the kids'' match, Vijay decided to stroll around the nearest park with Kavya. She hugged him as they walked alone in the empty park. It was a rare moment as he was often surrounded by guards. Unfortunately, Kavya had a depressed expression on her face, Which Vijay quickly picked up on and asked in concern, "What is wrong? Why the long face? Tell your husband, and I will do my best to fix it for you," trying tofort her.


    Kavya hesitated for a moment, but then replied after gathering the courage she needed, "It''s nothing, husband. You are always busy, and I have nothing to do at the pce. So when you go away on your duties, I have nothing to do at all. I be very bored and have no one tomunicate with. So, I was wondering if I could do something."


    Vijay felt guilty after hearing his wife''s words. With all the responsibilities he had taken on since his coronation, he hadn''t had much time to spend with his wife. Unfortunately, he couldn''t even change this oue in the near future, Because of his Ambitions that will always keep him busy. Nevertheless, he was thankful to Lord Vishnu for having an understanding wife who didn''t me him.


    "What is it? Tell me, and I will do whatever is in my power to help," he assured her.


    Kavya replied hesitantly, "Husband, please don''t be mad at me when I say this, but I discovered that when I was helping you design the uniforms for the school children earlier, I enjoyed this type of work the most. I often came up with new and creative ideas. So, I was thinking, maybe I could start designing new types of clothing, and I believe I would absolutely love doing that," she said, her voice filled with hesitation.


    Vijay was pleasantly surprised by Kavya''s ns. In this era, women typically didn''t have an entrepreneurial spirit, but he had witnessed the feminist wave in the 21st century and epted the idea of women in positions of power and influence.


    He wasn''t annoyed by Kavya''s request; in fact, as far back as when Kavya showed her interest in fashion, he had already made his ns to privatize some sectors of the government and allow the citizens of Vijayanagar to set up their own businesses. He saw the potential for Kavya to start a fashion empire simr to LVMH inter generations. However, these ns had been dyed as he needed to establish the necessary infrastructure for businesses to prosper. But now, with his wife bringing it to his attention, he decided to fast-track his ns a bit.


    "Okay, I promise you. You can temporarily recruit some skilled female craftsmen and start designing the clothes you like. However, you can''t sell them to anyone just yet," he told her.


    Upon hearing Vijay''s words, Kavya was overjoyed. She jumped around him with joy like a bunny and tightly hugged Vijay. Blushing, she kissed his cheek and said in a soft, grateful voice, "Thank you so much, husband."


    Just as the couple were having their lovely time, Roshan broke inside the royal pce unannounced, looking for him.


    Vijay, who had recognized Roshan''s voice from outside, quickly coaxed Kavya to let him go and left to meet Roshan, as he knew that his spymaster wouldn''t disturb him for some trivial news.


    Vijay observed Roshan''s dishevelled appearance, with disarrayed hair and red, sleep-deprived eyes, disying a sense of panic all over his face. Seeing him in this state, Vijay knew that the problem was big, So he put on a dignified expression and asked Roshan in a grave tone, "What happened, Roshan?"


    "Your Highness, I received a top-level priority message from the Mughal Empire yesterday. But on my way to meet you, I received another top-level priority message from the Lanka branch of the Secret Service," Roshan replied in a stuttering voice. Despite being the leader of the Secret Service organization, he couldn''t have imagined the gravity of the news he was about to deliver. He feared that hearing this news would shake Vijay to his core.


    Vijay, however, remained calm andposed as he urged Roshan, "Tell me one by one and stop stuttering, you are the spymaster for God''s sake."


    Roshan continued, "Your Highness, it''s not good news. The Mughal Empire has justpleted the integration of their empire, and there have been unusual military movements in the past few days. Upon further inquiry, we discovered that the Mughal Empire was mobilizing a formidable army of 200,000 soldiers, preparing for an expedition either against our empire or the Maratha Kingdom."


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 62: Bad News...! Part:2

    <h4>Chapter 62: Bad News...! Part:2</h4>


    Vijay felt a chill run down his spine as he heard the news. He had always known that the Mughal Empire might make a move soon after their integration, but he hadn''t anticipated it happening this quickly. However, he quicklyposed himself, knowing he needed to stay calm.


    "What is the other news?" he asked. Ever since the assassination attempt on his life, he had be moreposed and better at controlling his emotions, Compared to when he had just been Transmigrated into this world.


    "Your Highness, I believe this news is even more grave than thest one," Roshan replied. "I just received a report from the Lanka Secret Service branch. We''ve learned that Lanka has been secretly controlled by the Dutch from Europe behind the scenes for a while now. It seems that over the past few months, Dutch activity in Lanka has been increasing significantly. The local kingdom army has also been quietly reced by the army formed by the white men, and there have been increasing cases of our temples being destroyed and libraries being burnt, along with a massive spike of conversions to Christianity throughout the kingdom."


    Roshan continued, "As we delved deeper into the power structure of the kingdom that now dominates Lanka, we discovered that the Kandy Kingdom, which was the strongest kingdom on the ind, perhaps due to its king''s greed or overconfidence, had first taken out a loan from the Dutch to annex the neighbouring kingdom. Fortunately, with the resources provided by the Dutch, the Kandy Kingdom easily won the war in record time. Upon repaying the Dutch loans with the spoils of war, the king of the Kandy Kingdom became overconfident and took out massive loans to annex all the kingdoms on the ind and form an empire in one step. However, that all came to nought as he was unable to pay the interest due to a loophole in the contract, which made the interest rates he signed to be exorbitant. When the king of Lanka decided not to pay the interest and tried to use force, the Dutch, seemingly well-prepared, swiftly stormed the ind withrge gunships, something never seen before. With this show of force, the Dutch were able to ckmail the king of Lanka into signing the contract for leasing the entire ind for 150 years in exchange for forgiving the loans he had taken earlier to unify the ind and allowing him to keep his crown."


    *Idiot...!*


    *Moron...!*


    Vijay cursed as he heard about the idiotic king of Kandy, as he was familiar with this style of y by the Dutch. He knew that the Dutch had used the same method in his past life to invade certain parts of Ker. He wasn''t even surprised that the Dutch chose to install a puppet king instead ofpletely controlling Lanka. Vijay understood that the Nethends was primarily a trade-centered country, focusing on extracting resources from the ces they upied with little regard for human life. Their primary goal was to control trade routes, and they often developed weaponry to achieve this, but they didn''t prioritize industrial development. This approach would eventually lead to their defeat in wars against more industrialized powers, like the British in the near future.


    As Roshan continued, Vijay became increasingly concerned. "The most important point is that the Dutch are rapidly stockpiling weapons and ammunition at Lanka''s main port, using it as a springboard forunching an attack on Kochi in six months. We''re expecting an invasion force of anywhere from 20,000 to 46,000 soldiers armed with advanced artillery and a new weapon they call the ''Aquabus,'' which shoots out fire and can kill a man before he even blinks."


    Listening to the approaching danger, Vijay couldn''t maintain his calm any longer. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as panic set in. He realized that, despite all his advantages, he couldn''t fight a two-front war. Even with his knowledge of future technologies, preparing for a massive war in just six months seemed impossible in the face of both the Dutch and the Mughals with abined army of nearly 300,000, not to mention the advanced artillery of the Dutch.


    When he was bing pessimistic, His expression was noticed by Roshan as he reminded him, "Your Highness, if I may say, there is still a silver lining in the news that we received. Fortunately, we received news this morning that the troops of the Mughal Empire are marching towards the west of theirnds, likely towards the Maratha Kingdom, and not towards our Empire."


    *BAM*


    Vijay kicked Roshan in his butt for dying the important news that he had to inform him.


    Roshan quickly raised his hands to appease The angry King by saying " Please spare me, Your Highness, I only said this news at the end as I did not want to leave a bad taste in your mouth with all the bad newsing up suddenly"


    Vijay calmed down after Roshan''s exnation but the news he received did indeed make him feel relieved, thinking that Vijayanagara still had a chance if it was only the Dutch. However, soon, he felt guilty because the Maratha Kingdom was his wife''s home. He didn''t know how to break the news to her. Unfortunately, Vijay would not be able to assist the Maratha Kingdom by sending troops when he himself was in dire straits. The best he could do was to provide as much weaponry as needed and to rescue as many people as possible.


    *Sigh*


    He sighed with a hint of sadness for his father-inw''s predicament.

 Chapter 63: Gunpowder...!

    <h4>Chapter 63: Gunpowder...!</h4>


    After learning about the imminent disaster, Vijay began making ns. The first thing he did was to send a messenger to inform his father-inw about the uing disaster. Along with a personal letter, he requested his father-inw to take refuge in the Vijayanagara Empire and evacuate as many people as possible.


    "I hope the old man will listen," he said to himself. In this era, being a king still meant that the kingdom and its people were his responsibility, and he had to live or die with the kingdom. Vijay knew his father-inw well. Although not very talented in managing the kingdom, he was a strong-hearted and righteous man who wouldn''t bend for anyone when his ideals were questioned.


    Sighing, Vijay moved on to the next matter at hand. His first n was to make gunpowder. With enough gunpowder, even if he didn''t have time to manufacture guns and powerful cannons, at least some explosive barrels could be made, which might still be effective against the Dutch if used properly.


    With a proper n in mind, he called for Vinod.


    "Vinod, I need a substance called saltpeter, which ismonly found in organicpost. Have someone collect it from each and every vige in the empire. This is a matter of great importance to the empire, so make sure the job is done as fast as possible."


    Vijay intended to collect saltpeter through organic methods instead of chemical methods, as he knew that South India had no saltpeter mines and using the chemical method for production was moreplex andcked enough raw materials. There was another way to make saltpeter: the organic method. Inpost piles or manure heaps, various microorganisms break down organic matter. During this dposition, nitrogen-containingpounds from the organic material are converted into nitrates. Potassium, often naturally present in soil or added through organic materials,bines with the nitrates formed in the dposition process to create saltpeter. Unfortunately, saltpeter produced in this way took a long time to produce, and the quality was not reliable for industrial use. However, Vijay had to make do with what he had and produce gunpowder as soon as possible. Fortunately for him, Bharat had a culture of formingpost piles in every vige for its manure, which could be used as fertilizer. This meant that saltpeter could be collected from thesepost piles, allowing Vijay to expedite the process and produce gunpowder as soon as possible.


    Vinod, who had heard Vijay''s words, was stunned. He didn''t understand what his highness wanted to do with those heaps of trash, but his strong professional ethics stopped him from questioning the king. He replied to Vijay with a concerning question.


    "But, your Highness, where can we find such manpower to do this sort of dirty work? There are not a lot of people willing to do work like this."


    Listening to Vinod''s concern, Vijay replied nonmitally, "This is not a big problem. Make it known that the sry will be high for people doing this job. There have to be a lot of individuals who would be interested in earning some money for doing an easy, but dirtybour."


    Vinod nodded and said, "As you wish, your highness."


    Around the Vijayanagara Empire, notices and personnel had been sent from Emperor Vijay Devaraya to every corner of the city, towns, and viges. However, the notice left the people confused, as it stated that the king was collecting something produced from dung.


    Rajappa, amon farmer in the empire, who saw the notice, asked, "What do you think His Highness is doing?"


    A passerby who heard the question replied, "Who can know the thoughts of His Highness? But he has done a lot for us. It has to be something beneficial to us again."


    Another passerby, listening to the duo''s conversation, nodded his head in approval and chimed in, "That''s right, that''s right! And I also heard that the pay is very good, And the job is very easy, it''s just that working in that dirty ce makes the majority of people reject the task".


    He said as he picked up his hoe and headed to the panchayat to sign up for the job.


    Rajappa and the passerby, who had initially been skeptical but were now intrigued, thought, "Let''s give it a try and quit if the work is too hard." With hesitation, they hurriedly followed the man who had headed to the panchayat to sign up for the job, wanting to join inpleting the mission that Vijay had given. The three of them quickly took up the job and circled variouspost piles in the vige, diligently picking up the white substances on the walls of thepost, as the person from the capital had instructed. After sessfully extracting saltpeter in their vige, they moved on to neighbouring viges to continue theirpost collection, excited that they had been paid promptly after collecting their firstpost pile.


    Simr cases urred in various parts of the Empire where some lower-caste people seized the chance to earn their first pot of gold. Since the requirement was to work inpost piles, it was mainly the lower-caste and poor people who did the work. When they discovered how easy the task waspared to their dailybour, they became more enthusiastic and brought in more of their fellow people. Not only was the task fulfilled, but it was alsopleted in just a few days, resulting in the collection of at least 5 tons of saltpeter. Upon receiving this news, Vijay was ted that he had managed to collect more saltpeter than he had initially imagined. When he learned the reason behind this sess, he felt happy for the lower-caste individuals who had earned their first pot of gold.


    Now, the next step was obtaining another key ingredient, sulfur. Fortunately for him, the iron ore the Raya Iron Works uses is iron pyrite, which contains arge amount of sulfur. After processing this ore through the st furnace, a substantial amount of g was left behind. This g could be used to extract sulfur from it. Vijay had already ordered Hey Ram to collect all the iron g after the iron processing as this g had many uses for it , which let to the g to pile up to a mountain.


    As for thest key ingredient, it was even simpler to procure ¨C carbon, or in simpler terms, coal. With all the necessary ingredients procured, Vijay could now move forward with his n.


    He called for the Bhartiya Institute of Military Sciences to an emergency meeting. Due to the urgency of the situation, he had to promote a few promising people from the civil sciences to the Bhartiya Institute of Military Sciences. To ensure their loyalty and maintain confidentiality, he also relocated all their families to an isted vige under his control.


    "Wee, gentlemen, to this important meeting," Vijay began his speech. "I have called you all here to discuss the manufacturing of a crucial product that will be essential for the uing war. You may not be aware, but we are anticipating a foreign invasion of ournds in the next 6 months."


    Upon hearing this information, everyone was stunned. They thought to themselves, "No wonder the king is in such a hurry," as they recalled the rapid procurement of saltpeter and the increased arms exports to the Maratha Empire. Some even pondered, "Maybe the Mughal Empire is attacking again," but these doubts remained unspoken as they all remained silent. Vijay wasn''t surprised by their somewhatposed expressions, as in this era, war was amon urrence. Every year, there was at least one major war happening somewhere in the subcontinent.


    Vijay continued, "The country that will be invading us is not the Mughal Empire, as some of you may have guessed, but a foreign country called the Nethends, located to the northwest of our country. They originate from halfway across the world."


    A researcher in the room raised his hand and asked, "Your Highness if they are indeed from so far away, how are they able to attack us?"


    Vijay noticed the doubt in the researcher''s question as he exined, "Your doubt is correct; they may not be able tounch an all-out attack on us if they are so far away on another continent. However, they are a significant seafaring nation and one of the few major naval powers in the world. With this advantage, they have the ability to travel all over the world and conquer territories for profit. Unfortunately, we are their next target and they already have a stronghold in Lanka. Let me also inform you that they have managed to produce a long-range attack weapon called a cannon, which shoots iron balls weighing several kilograms. These cannons are capable of being effective hundreds of meters ahead of the firing point to destroy their enemies'' fortifications and artillery. That''s not all; I have recently received another piece of bad news that they can also produce a weapon that shoots small iron projectiles called bullets at incredible speeds to kill an enemy almost instantly."


    "What? How is this possible..."


    "..."


    Panic and discussion broke out among everyone.


    "Quiet," Vijay silenced them all with a word. "What I have called you here to do is to find out how to manufacture a substance I call gunpowder. What I have found out is that all the weapons our enemy uses are powered by gunpowder. Your task is to determine the optimal ratio for the most effective gunpowder."


    After saying this, Vijay''s assistant passed out documents that he had prepared earlier.


    "This document contains the method for manufacturing gunpowder. All the required materials will be provided by the empire. Your task is to determine the optimal ratio of these materials for the highest effectiveness of the gunpowder."


    Seeing them engrossed in studying the document and discussing it among themselves, Vijay nodded in approval and left the room. In all honesty, Vijay had ess to the ratios required for gunpowder, but he wouldn''t disclose them just yet. He needed to observe and choose a leader among these researchers for the Bharatiya Military Academy. With a capable leader, the research capabilities of the institute would improve, ensuring that the technology of the empire could continue to develop even after he passed away. He hurried to the government building because he still had a few more critical pieces to prepare for his defence against the Dutch. If, by the time hepleted his other ns, the gunpowder wasn''t finished, he would then disclose the ratios himself.


    "On to the next task," he thought.

 Chapter 64: Road construction

    <h4>Chapter 64: Road construction</h4>


    Vijayanagara Empire :


    Off to the next task, Vijay convened a government meeting.


    "Gentlemen, I hope you have all received the news about the uing disaster. We are currently in a very dangerous situation, but with all of your efforts and cooperation, we can get through this situation together. Fortunately, the Military Institute of Sciences and I have recently worked on the development of a substance called gunpowder, which is the mainponent in the production of weapons and ammunition. The research has a very high chance of sess. With Vishnu''s Grace, maybe it will bepleted in the next few days. Now, the reason I have hosted this meeting is to discuss a very important matter with all of you. For the first topic, Finance Minister Jagannath Mohan, if we expand the army right now, how much strength can it support with the current existing treasury?"


    Mohan, the newly appointed Finance Minister, replied, "Your Highness, due to the abundant grain harvest this year and the improvement in the livelihood of the people, we have a bit more surplus this year. We can currently double the size of our army without affecting any other projects that is ongoing."


    Vijay nodded in satisfaction as he ordered, "Yogananda, at this instant, send out a recruitment order throughout the Empire to recruit 100,000 new recruits. Build temporary camps throughout the empire and provide them with intense training for the next 5 months. Let the veterans who are currently serving in our army train them 24 hours a day. If there is not enough manpower, recruit some instructors from the police and military academy to prepare them for war."


    Yogananda, who heard the order was overjoyed, as a stronger army is what makes a military leader like him happier than anything else in this world, So he quickly got up and saluted. "As you wish, Your Highness."


    Moving on to the next task, Vijay turned his attention to the new member of the council, the Minister of the Ministry of Transportation, Nirmal. Nirmal, the temporary minister of the Ministry of Transportation, was nervous under Vijay''s intense gaze.


    "Nirmal, this is an opportunity for you. This is a huge task that would require a considerable amount of resources from the empire. However, once you havepleted this task perfectly, you will be promoted to a permanent position in the Ministry of Transportation."


    Listening to Vijay''s words, Nirmal became even more nervous, but he answered Vijay with determination, "I will not let your hopes down, Your Highness."


    Vijay nodded and exined, "I hearby order the construction of Unified Standard roads in all parts of the Empire, connecting all the major cities and towns. Even the smallest vige should be connected to the main roadwork of the Empire."


    Everyone in the room was shocked by the king''s words, as they all knew what type of roads were being built. Even though the raw materials were easy to find, it took a lot ofbor and resources. They couldn''t understand why the king would do such a thing. Even Yogananda couldn''t figure out the uses of roads in war. The most intense reaction came from the Prime Minister Ravichandra Rao, the old man immediatly wanted to say something, but he kept quiet, knowing that it was not his ce to question the king.


    However, Mohan, the Minister of Finance, did not hold back. He got up immediately upon hearing those words.


    "Your Highness, please reconsider. The Empire cannot bear this amount of expenditure with our current finances. If this project is started, the money we have in our treasury would not be enough. And if I may say, Your Highness, I don''t see how this construction of the roadwork can be of any use in war."


    *hehe*


    Vijay, upon hearing Mohan''s words, chuckled in amusement, understanding Mohan''s concerns as he thought to himself. Maybe in this era, people wouldn''t fully grasp the importance of a unified road system for a country. But he, from the future, know the significance of a unified roadwork. The Germans were the first to utilize their unified roadwork to the fullest extent and fight a war on multiple fronts against a stronger enemy, yet they held their ground. A major contributing factor for this was their unified road transportation system, which immensely helped with logistics in the war.


    "Minister, you may have a misconception about the roadwork. Let''s put it this way: our weapons are manufactured in the central region of the Empire, whereas our armies are scattered throughout the borders of the Empire. Our medicinal suppliers and farms are also scattered in various parts of the Empire, along with the supplies needed for the war."


    Yogananda, the most experienced military general in the room, quickly understood Vijay''s intentions as soon as he heard the First sentence. His face blossomed with a huge smile, as if he had seen a new world and was unable to contain his excitement. Paying no heed to him, Vijay continued.


    "Now, let''s put it this way. If the roadwork of the Empire connects every city, town, and vige in the Empire, how fast do you think we can mobilize our armies, ammunition, weapons, medicines, clothes, armor, and every other necessary element for a war? And this is only one of the important aspects of building the unified roadwork. Imagine how fast news can be transported from one corner of the Empire to another. Imagine the convenience in trade and the revenue that would be generated by the construction of the roadwork. And the most important part is that with the implementation of a unified roadwork, local rulers like in Bangalore, wouldn''t be able to form by taking advantage of the king being far away."


    Listening to the exnation, everyone in the room suddenly understood the king''s intention for the first time. It was like a mind opener, "War can also be yed like this," they thought to themselves in amazement.


    "That''s right, why can''t it happen?" they concluded as they banged the table in excitement.


    But Mohan was still hesitant, "That may be so, Your Highness, but how can we pay the workers who work hard to construct the road? I think it is not possible to recruit them to work for free."


    "Of course not, I would never allow that. I had thought about it before bringing up this subject. Don''t we have a surplus harvest this year? Although we exported arge amount to the Maratha Kingdom, we still have hundreds of tons of surplus grain. Although a lot of peasants ownnd, there are still arge number of people who don''t own anynd or property in our Empire. We should be able to recruit them with a little amount of money and arge amount of grain. I think this could work, as grain is still used as hard currency between our citizens. Moreover, I have another idea," Vijay said as he side-eyed Yogananda with an evil grin.


    Yogananda, sensing that something bad was about to happen, regarded the king with a wary expression.


    Vijay exined further, "Don''t we already have an army of a hundred thousand and the newly recruited recruits, which would bring our army size to 200,000 strong men? Make them build the roads in the empire during their training schedule. Building roads would be very helpful to build endurance for a long battle, along with the skills needed to construct emergency roads and bridges when in a foreignnd. Moreover, don''t we already pay the army? Just increase their food intake; that should be enough."


    Yogananda was surprised by these words but still ended up nodding in eptance, with a wry smile on his lips.


    "So we have been reduced to coolies, huh?" he remarked as the recruitment of new personnel and the construction of the roadwork in Vijayanagar began.

 Chapter 65: Recruitment And The Start Of Construction

    <h4>Chapter 65: Recruitment And The Start Of Construction</h4>


    The next day, the notice of Recruitment And Road Construction was sent by the central government to various parts of the Empire.


    Krishnagiri is a small vige in the Tamilnadu region.


    A young man was working in the fields with his father and brothers. His name is Murugan, he is the youngest son of his family and he has five older siblings.


    "Sigh, if only we had a little morend, we could have found you, someone to marry," his father sighed, thinking about their poverty. Whennd was allocated to various peasant families, their family was among those who benefited from this new policy. His father had worked for andlord for most of his life, along with his brothers since childhood. When the government allocatednd, their family received 20 acres. In recent months, thanks to new farming methods and the new fertilizer introduced by the king, the grain harvest has been very good. Before their family could barely manage one meal a day, but now, after harvesting the crop, they could afford three meals a day, with some surplus left after paying taxes to the government and selling part of it to the market for coin.


    Murugan''s family had no problem with food now. However, being the youngest child and with only 20 acres ofnd divided between his brothers, he couldn''t obtain muchnd from his family. Moreover, he felt like he couldn''t do farming day in and day out. He had always wanted to find another job that would allow him to earn better and stand on his own two feet.


    *Sigh*


    He sighed thinking about his future. But then he heard someone calling his name.


    "Murugan! Murugan!"


    It was his childhood friend Bunty calling him. Murugan and Bunty had been friends since they were very young, practically they ended up growing up together. Murugan had a closer rtionship with Bunty than with his own siblings.


    "What is it, Bunty? Slow down and tell me," Murugan said.


    The chubby Bunty, who looked like the protagonist''s sidekick, panted, his breath ragged. You could see the meat on his body shaking from his panting. He calmed down and exined, "I got the news that the military is recruiting again, and this time the sry and benefits for joining the army have been increased significantly. Apparently, for every permanent soldier, a piece ofnd will be given, and it will only increase with a rise in rank in the army. It is said that the minimum sry is 30 Varaha. I am going to apply. Are youing?"


    He said excitedly, with a smile on his chubby face.


    Hearing the news, Murugan was also excited, as he knew that this was the opportunity he had been waiting for all his life. He immediately bid farewell to his family and went to the recruitment camp in the town.


    Simr to Murugan and Bunty, several thousand young men showed up for the recruitment camp upon hearing the king''s call. It was not surprising, considering what the king had done for them. With the fire-breathing nobles absent from theirnds and with sufficient food and clothing, they wanted to protect their peaceful lives with all their might. What better way was there to achieve this than by joining the army?


    So, the youngest sons of many families joined the army. Even their parents sent them off personally, as having a soldier in the home was a source of pride in Vijayanagara now.


    Quickly, the number of applications reached about 300,000. With so many potential recruits, Yogananda increased the entry requirements for the army, carefully selecting the most intelligent, determined, loyal, and capable candidates among them.


    That was not all; As mysteriously, all the stone masons in the Empire received the same job from the royal capital: to crush a certain type of rock that is found in many ces into different sizes. Most of them were confused about what this could be used for, but considering it was just an easy job, they quickly recruited workers in their local area and started crushing away the boulders. Vijay utilized the workforce of the entire masonry ss to extract as much raw material for road construction as humanly possible.


    The recruitment of workers for road construction also started in various viges and towns. When they heard that the sry would only be 5 varaha''s, there were only a few desperate bunch who were interested in taking on the job, and a few people who were die-hard royalists.


    But when they heard that a gunny bag of Grain would be provided for each worker per month, they were excited. You must know that a gunny bag could weigh around 40 to 50 kilograms, which is enough to feed a family of four for the entire month. Hearing the news, the job applicants were quickly filled in.


    In just a day, both the military recruitment and workers for road construction were met.


    In the Next few Days:


    The skeleton of Vijayanagara started to be constructed; you could see workers ttening thend,ying the foundation, and spreading the rocks evenly in various parts of the Empire.


    The women were bringing in all the packed lunches and water for their husbands, sons, and fathers. The hardworking people of Vijayanagara made a lot of progress on the construction of the road.


    Among these groups, even soldiers were included. Multiple squads were sent to different locations to do all the heavy lifting. Afterpleting the task, they promptly followed their training schedule and set up a camp near the construction site."


    "Hmmmm..."


    In the outskirts of the construction site, a man who looked like a noble, dressed in luxurious clothes, stood observing the construction site with keen interest. He stroked his chin in contemtion. This man''s name was Pawan Kalyan, a small nobleman within the Empire. His family hailed from the Tngana region of the Vijayanagara Empire. Fortunately, due to differences in opinion, his family had wisely refrained from joining the rebel groups. Thanks to Pawan Kalyan''s foresight, his family had managed to evade the impending disaster. They had also earned a reputation for being rtively benevolent towards themon people under their influence. Moreover, theirck of illicit wealth had spared them from the massacre. Instead, when their family''snd was redistributed to the farmers, they received fairpensation for their cooperation.


    Now, the Kalyan family from the Tngana region was one of the richest in the entire empire. Kalyan, the head of the family, looked at the ongoing road construction thoughtfully. As he watched, he became more and more convinced that he could handle the road construction faster and better. He was thrilled by the idea that his family might get the Responsibility for the construction work, thinking about the extra money it would bring and the opportunities it could open up. Without wasting any time, he made his way to the capital to request a meeting with Emperor Vijay Deva Raya.


    In Hampi City:


    Vijay received a report from Vinod, and he wasn''t happy with what he read. It had only been a week since they started building the road, and they were going pretty fast. Each construction site was making about 5 kilometres of road every day, and there were eight construction sites working at the same time. So, they were making 40 kilometres of road in a day on average. That sounds like a lot, right?


    But here''s the thing ¨C it was using up a ton of resources. Almost a million people were working on this road project. With the way things were going, they''d only finish 6,000 kilometres of the road by the deadline. That might be enough for the big highways and important town roads, but it wouldn''t cover all the roads needed for the viges. They needed around 8,000 kilometres of road for that. Vijay was trying to figure out how to solve this problem as quickly as he could.


    *Knock, knock*


    "Come in."


    It was Vinod who entered as he informed Vijay about a nobleman from the Tngana region seeking an audience.


    "A nobleman, eh?" Vijay was intrigued as he prepared to meet this nobleman.

 Chapter 66: Private Contracting Of Road Construction

    <h4>Chapter 66: Private Contracting Of Road Construction</h4>


    Vijay made his way to the hall to meet Pawan Kalyan, the patriarch of the Kalyan family.


    He was intrigued about what Kalyan had to discuss with him. Considering his reputation among the noble ss in the empire, he wouldn''t be surprised if Kalyan hade to ask for some privileges.


    "Long live your majesty, long live Vijayanagara, long live!"


    Vijay, who had heard this many times, simply gestured for Kalyan to sit down.


    "So, what is it that you want to talk to me about, Kalyan?"


    "Your majesty, it''s like this. I have recently observed the road construction going on in the empire at full scale. I couldn''t help but notice that you attach a lot of importance to this project."


    Vijay nodded in acknowledgement. This was not a secret, as even a fool would know that Vijay attached great importance to this project, with over a million people working on it.


    "Your Highness, if I may be bold, I would like to say that a lot of resources are being wasted by how you are handling this project."


    "Oh, do tell me," Vijay replied with an interested tone.


    "Your Highness, to my knowledge, most of the resources and raw materials for the road constructione from the nearest rock quarry to the construction site. The construction is being carried out using a mass construction model where one person is tasked with many kinds of work. Furthermore, I have noticed that there is a shortage of civil servants to oversee the project, which leads to decreased efficiency and motivation among the workers."


    "Well, what you said is indeed true. Now, what is the point you are trying to make?"


    "Your Highness, in my humble opinion, if you could appoint the right person for the job, the project''s efficiency could increase at least twofold. We need someone who is familiar with the local terrain, possesses knowledge about the construction industry, and wields significant influence over the local area. If you could consider this, your Highness, I would like to rmend my family for this important task. Our family has been loyal to the Vijayanagara Empire for generations, and we have a dedicated group of artisans capable of handling this job with perfection. Moreover, we have earned immense prestige in our local area, ensuring there will be no issues with the localmunity. We can manage all aspects of the project seamlessly."


    "If you could please grant us the right to construct the roads for Vijayanagara, it would be done faster and more efficiently Your Highness."


    Hearing Kalyan''s proposal, Vijay was surprised.


    "Isn''t this themonly used contracting method in the future?", Vijay thought to himself with contemtion. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to contract the road construction to private individuals before, but the rules and regtions for private individuals to do business had not been implemented yet. However, now that he thought about it, he could start granting some power to private individuals, beginning with the construction industry. Moreover, Kalyan brought up some very important points.


    No matter how well he treated the people, there would always be somezy workers who only came for the coin and the grain. With the reputation of local nobles or wealthy merchants taking over the task, the work would be done more smoothly. Moreover, local nobles who knew the terrain better could lead to a faster umtion of raw materials and better transportation routes.


    Thinking about all this, he decided, "Very well, you''ve convinced me, Kalyan. But there is a catch. I will not contract out the whole construction of the road system of the Empire to you, but only a part of it where your influence is the strongest, that is Tngana if I am not mistaken."


    Kalyan was a bit disappointed that he couldn''t have more power, but getting the contract for road construction in his region was still a good opportunity for him. Kalyan was a smart man, and although he didn''t understand the military significance of road construction, he saw the economic significance of the unified roadwork as an unparalleled foundation for economic growth in the Vijayanagara Empire. So he wasn''t going to miss this opportunity, even if he could only contract the construction of roads in a small vige.


    As Kalyan was happily nning for his future, Vijay had a brilliant idea. His idea was to package the road construction with themercial shops on the roadside in major traffic channels where the road passed through. Vijay thought, "Why don''t I just give him the right to develop the shops on the roadside on the road he constructed instead of paying him an exorbitant amount of money?" He came up with this method after remembering joint packaging systems from the future. It''s not like he was scamming Kalyan; it''s just that the recovery of the wealth would be dyed.


    "Now, instead of the government paying you the full amount for the road construction, how about this..."


    Vijay exined his n to Kalyan.


    After listening to the new model, which he had never heard before, Kalyan went into contemtion.


    Kalyan was a smart man, otherwise, he wouldn''t have found this opportunity. Initially, getting paid immediately seemed like a good option, but the more he considered the second option, the more he felt like it was a better choice. He couldn''t exactly exin why, but his gut feeling favoured the second option.


    Despite his rational thoughts suggesting that this might not be the best choice, he decided to go with his instincts. "I would prefer the second option, Your Highness, but what would be the percentage of themercial shops?"


    Vijay thought about a fair percentage. He didn''t want to give too much, as it could easily create a monopoly in the industry. However, considering the risk the Kalyan family was taking, he wanted to offer an eptable number for both parties.


    "Alright, The government would pay 30% of the construction cost upfront, and you would get the right to develop 40% of themercial stores along the main road that you build, along with the shops being tax-free for 5 years. After 50 years of sessful operation of the shop, you would get the first right to buy thend and the building on which the shop is located."


    "Deal," Kalyan said without hesitation. In all honesty, he would have been happy with 30% of the shops, but with the added bonus of a tax-free policy and priority rights to buy thend and building, he was overjoyed and epted immediately. Kalyan wasn''t a fool; he knew that once the road, which was being constructed, connected to awork all over the Empire, the traffic of people would increase tremendously. Although it wouldn''t yield much immediate result and cost his family a lot of money, in the long run, these shops would be a money-printing machine.


    Kalyan left with the contract document, happy with the deal. That evening, Vijay also contacted his mother''s family and informed them of the deal. Fortunately, due to their trust in Vijay, they readily epted. But his uncle was a little skeptical about the whole n, but he agreed nheless.


    After the agreements were settled, invitations were sent to various noble families and rich merchant families throughout the empire regarding the project. While most of them rejected the proposal, there were some insightful ones, like Kalyan, who took up the offer.


    Unbeknownst to them, their decision would make them the richest families in Bharat in the future, while those who rejected Vijay''s offer couldn''t help but regret their decision for the rest of their lives.

 Chapter 67: Cannon Manufacturing

    <h4>Chapter 67: Cannon Manufacturing</h4>


    Shortly after the road construction was contracted to local rich nobles, the speed of construction increased significantly throughout the Empire. With their influence, they were able to procure raw materials at a lower cost and utilize the manpower resources under their control more efficiently, this boosted the road construction speed greatly.


    In just a few weeks, multiple independent branch construction projects began simultaneously within the nobles'' regions. These projects were built ording to the government''s standardized design, which included two separate roads. Each road featured a one-directional, threene route formercial traffic and public use. Additionally, there were dedicated roads on both sides of the main road for postal services, police affairs, and emergency services. This new standard was adopted across the empire. The construction boom had a profound effect on the economy of the Vijayanagara Empire, intensely stimting it and creating more than a million jobs.


    While the Empire bustled with activity, the emperor had new ns in mind. Vijay boarded a carriage and headed to a secret location in Chitradurga. With him were various design drawings for a 24-pounder cannon that he had designed. He had decided that it was the right time to develop these cannons for military use and fortifications.


    Upon arriving at the secret location, he was greeted by Hey Ram and the researchers. Vijay had promoted Hey Ram to the Armory department at the Institute of Military Sciences, as Raya Ironworks was on the right track after the creation of the st furnace, and Hey Ram had gradually shifted his focus from weapon production to researching new and improved smelting processes.


    "Long live your Highness! Long live Vijayanagara!" Hey Ram and the researchers greeted.


    Vijay nodded to the researchers as he entered the building. Inside, the room was filled with various melting equipment, including the newly improved andrger st furnace developed independently by Raya Ironworks. Surprisingly, it boasted 20% greater efficiency and a 30% increase in metal melting capabilities after the upgrades.


    "We have an important task ahead of us," Vijay began his speech, distributing the design drawings he had brought with him to the researchers. He continued, "I have designed an improved cannon capable of firing 10kg (24 pounds) iron projectiles. Now, our challenge is to figure out how to manufacture this cannon as quickly as possible," addressing the researchers and Hey Ram.


    Vijay had taken the initiative to advance iron-making methods ahead of their time due to the impending war. To create a standard early modern cannon, high-density iron ore was essential. While most of the iron ore in Vijayanagara was maite, which wasn''t the densest, it could still be processed into strong steel for cannons whenbined with the right alloys.


    He used his knowledge from the golden finger to share information about quenching, tempering, cold hammer forging, and stress relief methods with Hey Ram and his group.


    "First, we need to make steel. To do that, we take the wrought iron, break it into smaller chunks, and heat it to high temperatures until it bes molten. Then, we introduce high-temperature, high-pressure air from the st furnace into the molten iron. Afterwards, we introduce other elements like silicon and copper to enhance the metal''s strength and durability," Vijay exined.


    He had already sent Sondagars to discover the required minerals before, luckily they ended up finding silicon in Kanyakumari and copper in Chitradurga. He chose these two elements for their rtive purity, requiring minimal processing.


    "Finding the right ratios for the alloy will be a challenging task. I suggest starting with a ratio of 4:3:1, For wrought iron, copper and silicon respectively."


    Vijay rmended.


    The alloy he mentioned wasposed of 80% iron, 15% copper, and 5% silicon, known as an "iron-copper-silicon alloy." It was typically customized for specific industrial or engineering applications based on desired properties such as strength, corrosion resistance, and heat resistance.


    "After forming the alloy, we''ll use ceramic moulds," Vijay pointed to a shape on the document as he continued, "We will be following this design to produce the moulds for the pouring of molten metal." Vijay chose ceramic moulds due to their high heat resistance and cost-effectiveness. One ceramic mould could be used multiple times. Also, the cannon design he presented was a front-loading cannon, not a breech-loading one, as front-loading cannons are easier to manufacture and require fewer specialized conditions. However, Vijay included a vent (fuse) at the back for safer firing and quicker reloading."


    "Next, we''ll quench and temper the barrel until it''s sufficiently hard and dense. Then, we''ll employ the cold hammer forging method to decrease the grain size, enabling it to withstand the immense stress during firing. Smaller grain sizes improve both the stress rxation resistance and the yield strength of the final product. Finally, for enhanced temperature resistance and tensile strength, we''ll utilize the stress relief method as a finishing touch,"


    The stress relief process for cannons includes subjecting the cannon barrel to controlled heating, soaking it at a high temperature to release internal stresses, and then gradually and uniformly cooling it down. This process helps reduce residual stresses that may have built up during manufacturing, enhancing the cannon''s structural integrity and safety. It ensures that the cannon is in a stable and predictable condition, minimizing the risk of structural failures when the cannon is fired.


    Typical heat treatment techniques applied to steel forgings include annealing, normalizing, quenching, and tempering. Precipitation hardening applies to superalloys like titanium.


    Vijay concluded, providing a clear n for the manufacturing process.


    While Hey Ram and hispanions heard many new words they had never encountered before, they somehow grasped the meanings and applications of these terms.


    "For the final step, I need you to manufacture a wagon with a sturdy and lightweight chassis that can be pulled by a single horse," Vijay concluded.


    Hey Ram and hispanions at the institute began mentally simting the manufacturing process. Hey Ram, the most talented among them, quickly worked out the manufacturing process. His face beamed with excitement and eagerness to begin.


    He swiftly went over to the st furnace to smelt some wrought iron to make steel and initiate the cannon forging process. A few momentster, the other researchers also joined him in his task.

 Chapter 68: Cement Production

    <h4>Chapter 68: Cement Production</h4>


    Vijayanagara Empire.


    Bhartiya Military Academy of Sciences - Gunpowder Branch.


    It had been nearly a month since Vijay had assigned them the task of developing gunpowder, and various experiments had been continuously conducted during this time by the different research groups. However, there has been no substantial sess thus far.


    A man with a balding head along with his group of researchers could be seen meticulously mixing various materials, with each ingredient prepared with absolute precision. This man appeared to be in his thirties, and his name was Manoj Reddy, the head of the 4th research group. Hailing from the Andhra region of the Empire, Manoj had always found strange things interesting and enjoyed mixing different objects to observe their reactions. This fascination had made him somewhat of an outcast among his peers, but due to his exceptional intellect and extraordinary skills in concocting medicinal mixtures, he had earned a ce at the Bhartiya Academy of Civil Sciences as a group leader. More recently, in response to the foreign threat, he had been promoted to the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences.


    " ???? Mh mh mh , hmm hmm hmm????"


    As he worked, Manoj hummed along to his favourite song, amon practice for him. He had conducted this particr experiment many times, but it had always ended in failure. Instead of growing disheartened, he diligently documented each unsessful attempt and pondered the reasons behind the failures.


    "Test 32, 15 parts saltpeter, 3 parts charcoal, 2 parts sulfur... experiment begins," he wrote in his diary. He arrived at this ratio after numerous experiments, noticing that adding more saltpeter increased the explosiveness, but too much saltpeter rendered it non-explosive. He had to find the right bnce. Carefully, he packed the ck powder mixture he had prepared,yering it with multiple sheets of paper for containment, and added a fuse. This idea hade to him after learning about the properties of gunpowder. Manoj took the package of gunpowder and ced it next to a standard iron armour of the Vijayanagara Empire.


    ck scratches and marks covered the armour, evidence of the numerous tests it had endured.


    With a sense of anticipation, Manoj had his assistant light the fuse. The assistant nervously lit the fuse and swiftly retreated to a safe distance. He had been chosen for the job because of his speed, but no matter how many times he did this, it was still nerve-wracking.


    Tension built up, and everyone in the project group became quiet as the fuse slowly burned and was no longer visible. Just as Manoj was disappointed with the result...


    **BOOM!**


    A deafening explosion echoed, prompting all the researchers involved in the project to rush out of their rooms and witness the st. None of them were frightened by the explosion, as they had all conducted simr experiments that had ended in failure. Nevertheless, their curiosity drew them to see who had achieved the breakthrough. Upon seeing the bald man, they quickly realized that this was the result of Manoj''s experiment.


    "Hehehe, we did it! Haha, God has blessed us! We did it!" Manoj and his fellow researchers eximed in joy, dancing around in awkward steps. Manoj saw a gaping hole the size of a fist in the iron armour. It was remarkable to note that such a significant explosion had been achieved with just a small 5-gram package of gunpowder. This marked thergest explosion recorded with any mixing ratio thus far.


    _______________________________________________________________________


    In the pce, Vijay was conducting his own experiments. He aimed to create one of the cornerstones of modern civilization: cement. While cement was not exclusive to modern civilization and had been used by the Greeks, Chinese, and even the Bhartiya civilization since ancient times, those types of cement were challenging to produce and primarily reserved for cultural relics or important buildings. For example, Roman cement utilized ash from volcanoes and water from the sea to create the famous Roman cement, which couldst thousands of years until the modern 21st century.


    However, Vijay wanted cement that could be mass-produced and economically viable for Vijayanagara. He had instructed artisans to build a shaft kiln for his testing purposes. This kiln, which he had constructed, was rtively small, measuring only about 5 meters and made from rocks and y. The kiln in Bharat has a long history, it has been used for pottery, metal smelting, and brick firing since ancient times. Since he didn''t have to invent anything new for the kiln construction, it progressed smoothly.


    To produce cement, various materials were required, including limestone, y, shale, iron ore, ash, g, and gypsum. Some of these materials were optional and could be used when limestone was in limited supply. Fortunately, the Vijayanagara Empire had an abundance of limestone. To procure the necessary materials, Vijay sent the Sondagars to Shimoga in search of limestone. As for the remaining materials, y was readily avable everywhere, and the g from iron production had already been prepared.


    With all the raw materials gathered, Vijay had them crushed into fine powder. He then mixed the limestone, y, and g in a ratio of 4:1:1. For the next step, Vijay had the raw mixture ced in the kiln. The kiln was quickly ignited, using coal as fuel, and the temperature rapidly rose to over 1400 degrees Celsius. Due to various chemical reactions within the raw mixture, calcination took ce.


    "Vijay,e and have lunch," Kavya called.


    One hourter, after having lunch and spending some time with Kavya, he returned to find that the raw materials in the kiln had been properly calcified. When he saw the resulting product, marble-sized clumps of cement had formed. These cement clumps, called clinker, were left to cool naturally.


    "Vinod...." Vijay called.


    After the cement had cooled down, he ordered Vinod to bring a servant to grind the clinker. A servant quickly arrived with a hand-operated rock grinder.


    After the grinding process waspleted, Vijay finally saw the familiar cement from the future.


    "Finally, hehe," he chuckled. "With this, the chances of winning have been increased. Ha ha!"


    Vijay thought in excitement about the future.


    To test the cement he had produced, he called the artisans into the workshop and had them build a small brick wall. The bricks were made of mud, and cement was used in between them. For another test, he had the artisans mix cement, rocks, and water to form a mortar, which was then poured into a rectangr mould with wrought iron bars. This was amon technique in the future for constructing solid pirs in buildings.


    After a few days of drying and tending by the servants, the cement had sessfully hardened.


    To test it, Vijay had a strong man bring a hammer and try to demolish the wall and the pir. To Vijay''s delight, the pir stood still without a single crack. While there were minor cracks in the wall, it was as expected because the wall was made of mud bricks. Although the cement did not let go, the bricks began to crack, but still, the wall held on. With the improvement of brick-making technology, this drawback could be eliminated in the next few months.


    With the sessful production of cement,rge kilns of 25 meters and above were constructed in the Shimoga area of the Empire. Fortunately for Vijay, Shimoga contained one-third of all the reserves of cement-grade limestone in the whole of Bharat. With Raya Ironworks also existing in Shimoga, the raw materials of g, limestone, and y were readily avable within a single region.


    With the sessful production of the first shaft kiln in the Shimoga region, the kiln could produce around 6 tons of cement in one firing cycle. With the improved efficiency and experience of workers, this number increased to an average of 8 tons per firing cycle.


    With a daily usage of 12 hours, 36 tons of cement were produced. While it was currently enough for the construction of buildings, it was nowhere near enough for the construction of roads. Next, with Vijay''s order, five more kilns were constructed in Shimoga to consistently provide high-quality cement for road construction and military defence purposes.

 Chapter 69: The Fall Of Maratha Kingdom Part :1

    <h4>Chapter 69: The Fall Of Maratha Kingdom Part :1</h4>


    With the invention of cement, all the important cities in the empire began to be paved with cement roads.


    Several fortifications were constructed along the coast of Kochi, cleverly hidden in the dense forest in a camouged manner. It was Vijay who had devised the battle n for the impending war.


    ---


    Maratha Kingdom.


    "Bang!"


    The door of the pce was smashed open.


    "Father, we have received news that both Kota Fort and Pathankot Fort have fallen, and my younger brother was struck by an arrow while retreating... he has passed away," Aditya, the Crown Prince of the Maratha Kingdom, said with a choked voice.


    Aditya didn''t know what to do. They had already received information from Vijayanagara half a month ago, but unfortunately, no matter the schemes they employed, they were not strong enough to resist the mighty Mughal army.


    Thinking about his little brother, his sadness turned into anger as he questioned his father, "I already told you to let me go to the frontlines. Look at it now, my brother is dead," he said with a livid face.


    *Sigh*


    Tears rolled down Rajendra Bansal''s face. He was deeply saddened by the passing of his youngest son. He was already an old man, and seeing his son pass away before him was a source of great sorrow.


    Aditya had never seen his father like this before. His father had always been an upright and brave man, akin to the might of a lion. But suddenly, he looked like a weak old man.


    Aditya didn''t question his father any further. He felt his father''s sorrow and said, "Father, let me join the frontlines. You should retreat to my sister''s home. You will be safe in Vijayanagara. We have received news that the Mughal army is approaching the royal capital, and they will be here within a few hours."


    Rajendra Bansal nodded his head, with some lingering sadness on his face. But being the king of a kingdom for so long, he was able topose himself somehow.


    "Alright, we will do as you said," Rajendra said as he got up from his throne and hugged his eldest son, knowing very well that this would be thest time he would see him.


    He still had a little regret that he wouldn''t be able to see his grandchild, but perhaps it was Brahma''s will. Who was he to question it?


    Aditya, who was hugged by his father, became emotional again as he talked about the passing of his brother.


    "Thud!"


    Suddenly, Aditya was struck unconscious by the chief guard of the pce.


    "Old friend, thank you for your help," Rajendra said.


    "This life is yours tomand, Your Highness. Please don''t be so formal. But is this the right way, Your Highness? You should also retreat to Vijayanagara with the Crown Prince. This servant of yours will put his life on the line to hold the Rakshasas back."


    "Huh."


    Rajendra chuckled in amusement as he heard those words. In the next moment, the old man''s expression changed, and he became a raging lion as he reprimanded, "Me, retreat? How dare you question my integrity? Know your ce, Guard."


    The chief security officer was in a panic as he heard the king''s reprimand. Just as he was about to exin his intention, the king waved him off and continued, "Do you know why I sit in this position, Guard? Not because of fancy titles or conquering newnds, but because my family has the support of the people of thisnd. Now you''re telling me to abandon those very people who gave my family power and wealth, and choose to run away and hide in my daughter''s home? If this kingdom should be lost, it will be over my dead body."


    The Guard Captain, hearing those words and feeling the king''s determination, chose to submit and no longer insisted. He fell to one knee and handed his sword to the king. "Please forgive me, Your Highness. Please let this ve apany you."


    Rajendra epted the guard''s plea. Soon after, he sent the unconscious Aditya to Vijayanagara with his pregnant daughter-inw.


    "Father, please forgive me for making such a selfish request, but my child and your grandchild should not grow up without a father. When my husband wakes up, I will take full responsibility for this grave sin that I havemitted,"


    Harshpreet Bansal, his daughter-inw, begged as she held onto his legs before departing. Her face was filled with guilt and tears as she clung tightly to his feet.


    "Arre arre, what is this? Get up, get up! Even if you did not ask me, I was going to send both my sons out of the kingdom. You don''t have to worry, unfortunately, your brother-inw passed away,"


    Rajendra said as he wiped the tears from his daughter''s eyes. "You are almost at the time of birth. You should not cry like this; it is not good for my grandson''s health. You go ahead; I will finish off the matters in the kingdom andeter."


    Rajendra said, in all honesty, he couldn''t tell his daughter-inw that he was staying behind because he knew she would never let him go, and he did not want to affect the birth of his grandson.


    "And take this letter, give it to Aditya when he wakes up. This will teach him to treat you nicely after he reads this,"


    Rajendra said as he sent his son and daughter away in a carriage. Seeing the departing carriage, there was still a little unwillingness in him to see his family go away, but he soon steeled his determination.


    He returned to the pce and opened the armoury, where an old full-body armoury on a table. It was the ancestral Armor belonging to the royal family of the Maratha Kingdom, which was passed down from generation to generation. Rajendra had worn it when he was young, but now it was his time to wear it again.


    With the help of servants, the old man donned the full set of armour with difficulty. Looking in the mirror, there was a majestic and royal air around him. If the future generations of people saw him, they would recognize him as Kattappa from Baahubali.


    Rajendra, adorned in silver armour, made his way to the city wall to oversee the battle for onest time.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 70: The Fall Of Maratha Kingdom Part :2

    <h4>Chapter 70: The Fall Of Maratha Kingdom Part :2</h4>


    "Has everyone been evacuated?" Rajendra asked.


    "The news about the impending war has already been conveyed to the people of the Empire, Your Majesty. Since a month ago, almost 40% of the important personnel in the empire have left to escape the war. However, some have chosen to stay behind and fight with you, Your Highness," Jayaprit Singh, the chief Guard of the royal family, informed.


    Rajendra nodded in understanding.


    "Ting, ting, ting."


    The rm bells rang on the lookout tower as they were informed of the approaching Mughal army. Rajendra could see on the horizon hundreds of thousands of soldiers, like a sea of people waiting to devour his Kingdom. Looking at the approaching army, all the soldiers were filled with fear, knowing they stood little chance against such a massive force.


    "So, this is it, huh?" Rajendra thought to himself with a calm demeanour.


    Seeing the panic in the soldiers'' eyes, he knew he had to do something. "Dear soldiers, I know that looking at this massive army, you are scared. Your lives will be lost, your wealth will be plundered."


    Listening to the sudden speech, everyone looked at the king as he continued, "I will not lie. We are all about to die. Every soldier on this wall is about to die, and I am no exception. Even the kingdom is going to copse. But will we kneel and beg to spare our lives, let them defile our mothers and daughters, plunder our temples and our way of life?"


    "No!" the old king shouted like a lion.


    This heart-stirring speech ignited a passion in the soldiers'' hearts, preparing themselves to face death.


    "But before we go down, we should at least take a chunk of flesh from the enemies. We should make them remember that Maratha is not easy to take. We are not sheep waiting to be ughtered but wounded beasts ready to put our lives on the line for a final attack."


    Soldiers gripped their weapons tightly as they heard this impassioned speech.


    "So tell me, who is with me?"


    "Me!"


    "Me!"


    "Me!"


    Several soldiers shouted out with hoarse voices. They felt their blood boiling, no longer caring about life and death. Right now, their only intent was to take down as many enemies as possible.


    "Jai Maratha!"


    "Jai Maratha!"


    "Jai Maratha!"


    Continuous shouts rang out as the morale of the army reached its highest level.


    "Archers, get ready!" Rajendra ordered.


    The archers on the wall tightened their bowstrings, waiting for the orders to release a rain of death upon their enemies.


    As the Mughal army approached, tension began to build, but suddenly, the Mughal army stopped in their tracks, about 100 meters away from the wall.


    Rajendra was surprised by this move. He didn''t know what the Mughals were thinking. "Do they want to starve us out?" he thought. However, that seemed like a foolish idea considering that they had enough food supplies for a year. Just a few weeks ago, he had imported arge amount of food from Vijayanagara.


    Soon, a carriage was pulled to the frontline of the Mughal army. It contained what appeared to be arge cannon. The massive cannon was pulled by four horses, indicating its immense weight.


    Before Rajendra could figure out what was going on, "boom!" A deafening sound echoed as an iron projectile could be vaguely seen flying at high speed towards the city wall.


    By the time everyone regained their senses, a spider-like crack had formed on the thick city wall.


    Seeing this scene, cold sweat broke out on the soldiers'' backs.


    Rajendra was dumbfounded by the destructive power of the cannon. Even though the Maratha Empire had cannons, they were old and had been manufactured in the 16th century. Their range was only a few meters, and their firepower was not as formidable.


    "No, it can''t go on like this," Rajendra thought to himself. He was certain that with another dozen shots, the city wall would copse, and they would have no way to defend against the enemy. So he decided that instead of waiting to die, it was better to face the enemy head-on.


    "Bring down the city gate; we will take them on head-on."


    ________________________________________________________________


    Mughal Camp


    The army general, Muhammad Bairam Khan, was celebrating the imminent victory he was about to achieve. With the newly improved cannons imported from the Safavid Persian dynasty, he saw no challenges in the Indian subcontinent.


    Suddenly, the city gate opened.


    Seeing this scene, the generals and captains of the army were excited andughed loudly. "Looks like these lowlifes gave up after just one shot."


    "upying such a richnd is a waste of resources on their part."


    "Hahahahah!"


    Hearing this, everyoneughed with contempt.


    But soon, something that left them shocked urred. Roughly 50,000 armed men poured out from the city wall.


    Seeing this scene, General Khan was dumbfounded. "Are they looking for death?" he thought to himself. The Mughal army outnumbered the Maratha forces by more than three times. Just as he was doubting the intentions of the Marathas, something unexpected happened.


    Suddenly, wooden flooring was lifted up by the Maratha soldiers, and then the entire Maratha army passed through the tunnel they had dug beneath the ground.


    General Khan was still in shock and couldn''t understand what was going on. "Are they trying to run away?" someone in his camp questioned.


    "Impossible. All their homes, families, and livelihoods are in this kingdom. If they run away, what foundation do they have to live in thisnd? This may be a plot. Be careful," General Khan concluded.


    ________________________________________________________________


    Inside the Tunnel


    Rajendra had this tunnel dug out as Vijay had suggested in his letter to fight the Mughals. Vijay had rmended that in the event of overwhelming force, they should use this method to nk the Mughal army, avoiding the direct fire of their artillery and inflicting as much harm as possible on their soldiers.


    At that time, Rajendra wholeheartedly embraced this ingenious approach to battle. He also knew that Vijay was trying to buy some time for himself by providing various weapons and food supplies. But Rajendra was also willing to fight thisst battle and severely harm the Mughal Empire.


    At the end of the tunnel, the Maratha soldiers were in perfect position behind the Mughal army.


    "Chaaaaargeeeee!" Rajendra ordered.


    With themand, the cavalry pointed their spears and rushed forward like an unstoppable train.


    With the terrible speed and power of the cavalry, the Mughal Empire''s infantry was mowed down immediately. Blood and brains filled the battlefield as the spearheads of the charge became blood-painted figures. The Mughal cavalry was in no position to turn around and attack the Marathas''.


    The infantry soon followed behind the cavalry for a melee fight.


    A bloodbath ensued with the surprise attack. Screams and wails filled the air as the Mughal Empire faced a massacre, But due to the Mughals'' numerical advantage, the Marathas'' advantage couldn''tst long. More soldiers swarmed towards them with hatred, causing the Maratha soldiers to gradually dwindle in number. Nevertheless, they managed to take down at least 100,000 enemy soldiers with them.


    "It''s been an honour, Your Highness," Jaspreet Singh, the royal guard, said to Rajendra.


    "The honour is mine, old friend," Rajendra replied as they watched thest struggles of the battle.


    Rajendra, with renewed rity and determination, stood up straight. Today, he gave the order for a final charge.


    The cornered Maratha soldiers made a breakthrough towards the Mughal general''s camp.


    In a desperate attempt, they pushed all the way through the defences.


    General Khan was surprised by the Marathas'' life-or-death struggle. He watched as the Maratha soldiers mowed down his guards one by one, all in their relentless pursuit to reach him. Cold sweat broke out on his back as he felt death approaching, step by step.


    He could see fearless determination in the old man''s eyes. The old man appeared as if he didn''t care about death at all. This made General Khan panic as he hastily tried to stab the old man. Fortunately, although the sword didn''t hit any vital organs, it still pierced the old man''s shoulder.


    "Splurt!"


    Blood spattered everywhere.


    But undeterred, the old man only winced slightly as he raised his sword and urately swiped at General Khan''s neck. Thest thing General Khan remembered was his headless body before he drifted into darkness.


    "Sigh, goodbye, my beloved mothend," Rajendra said as the swords of the Mughals pierced him from the back.


    However, he did not fall down. Instead, he sat on the corpse of General Khan, took his sword, and stabbed it into the injured Mughal soldier as the blood-spattered. As he managed to take one more life of his enemy, He raised his head high and sat like a king before he took hisst breath.


    Seeing this scene, the Mughal soldiers were momentarily dumbstruck. It was the first time they had witnessed the majesty of a king with their own eyes. With this battle, the Maratha Kingdom ceased to exist in the history of Bharat.

 Chapter 71: The Hope Of Bhonsle

    <h4>Chapter 71: The Hope Of Bhonsle</h4>


    Aditya Bhonsle felt groggy as he woke up, confused. Looking around at his surroundings, he concluded that he was in a carriage. He was very perplexed about how he got here in the first ce; all he could remember was hugging his father and crying one moment, and the next moment, he woke up. Thinking about his father, he got a bad feeling welling up in his stomach. He knew that his stubborn old man would do something stupid, but he still held onto a glimmer of hope to see his father when he reached Vijayanagar.


    "Ah!"


    Suddenly, a woman''s cry came from somewhere. Aditya quickly recognized the voice of the woman; it was none other than his beloved wife, Harshpreet. Panic gripped him at the thought of something happening to her, so he sprinted toward the voice without a second thought.


    He reached the carriage where the voice wasing from, but before he could go in, he was stopped by a maid at the entrance of the carriage.


    "I am sorry, Your Highness, but the pains have started for the princess. She is about to give birth, and you can''t go in."


    Hearing the reason, he became even more nervous than he already was, unable to stand still. He knew he couldn''t do anything now as he clenched his fists till it turned red. Restlessly, he paced around the carriage like a madman. In his tension, he even forgot the worry for his father, his thoughts consumed by concern for his wife, Harshpreet, and their child. His tension increased as her screams grew louder and louder.


    "Ahhhhhh!"


    "Uwahaaaaaaaa!"


    "Uwahaaaaaaa!"


    Finally, after the loudest scream from his wife, the infant''s cry was heard. Tears welled up on Aditya''s face as he was filled with happiness. He was finally a father.


    "The Old man would be so happy right now," he thought, imagining his father doting on his grandchild.


    He entered the cabin only to see the most beautiful child in his eyes lying down next to his lovely wife.


    "Congrattions, Your Highness! It''s a prince, and both the mother and son are safe and healthy," the midwife said as she picked up the infant and handed it to Aditya.


    Aditya became emotional as he held his son, feeling a mountain of responsibility as he cradled the new life that he brought into the world in his arms.


    The princess, witnessing this touching scene, was also overjoyed. However, remembering the promise she had made to her father-inw, she took a letter from under the pillow and passed it to Aditya.


    Aditya, seeing his wife pass a letter to him, was intrigued. He took the letter from his wife and passed his son into the mother''s arms to feed him. When he opened the letter, he was shocked to find that it was from his father.


    He couldn''t shake the foreboding feeling, considering the dire circumstances the Maratha Kingdom was in. Unfortunately, his worries had proven true as he read the letter.


    "Aditya, if you are reading this letter, that means I am already dead. But don''t worry; I have lived a prosperous and upright life. My conscience is clear as I pass on to the heavens. Unfortunately, our people will have to endure prolonged torture and suffering as the Maratha Empire is not strong enough to resist the Mughals. I know you wanted me to go to your sister''s house, but you have to understand, my son, being a responsible king, I bear the weight of my citizens. So this old fool''s life or death is tied to them. But you are different; you have your wife and child to look after. By the time you are reading this letter, maybe my grandchild is already born, but unfortunately, I will not be there to look after them. You bear the responsibility of thest heir of the Bhonsle family. I know that with the help of your brother-inw, it can rise again. So, a lot of responsibility lies on you, my son. Don''t let me and our ancestors down.


    And don''t me my daughter for pleading with me to send you away. It was already my n before she even asked me to send all of you away from the very beginning. So if I learn that you have mistreated my daughter, I will wake up from the dead and break your legs.


    Ha ha ha,


    Anyway, this is goodbye, my son. I bless you to have a full and fulfilling life."


    Reading the letter from his father, Aditya''s face went nk as he did not know what to think. Complex emotions of his child''s birth and the passing away of his father passed through his mind. He couldn''t process the emotions he was feeling properly; it was like a void had been torn open in his heart and the same void was being filled at the same time.


    He quietly left the carriage, leaving behind the worried eyes of his wife, to spend some time alone. Sitting by the river, he watched the sunset and the moon rise, tears finally welling up in his eyes as he cried bitterly for a few minutes.


    Coming to terms with reality, Aditya remembered the responsibility as the head of the family and as the father of a child. He quickly returned to the carriage to see his son. Gently cradling the head of his newborn, he uttered, "Father is not dead; he is reborn as our child. The child''s name will be Rajendra Bhonsle the Second."


    Harshpreet, listening to the underlying meaning of the words uttered by her husband, was heartbroken as she burst into tears.


    "No, why, why, husband? Father...? I am responsible for this. Please punish me, I am a bad woman, I am, please... " she sobbed as she banged her head with her hands, shattering the bangles on her wrists and causing a few cuts in the process. Seeing her like this, maybe the child also felt sadness as he started crying.


    Aditya felt heartbroken again seeing his family in this state. He couldn''t bear his wife''s suffering as he quickly hugged her andforted her, saying, "It''s okay, it''s okay. It''s not your fault, not yours. Father already made his choice; he died a great warrior. Don''t cry, don''t cry."


    With that, the Bhonsle family grieved the loss of the backbone of the family. But like an immortal phoenix, hope was born from the ashes of the great Bhonsle family of the Maratha Dynasty with the birth of Rajendra Bhonsle II.

 Chapter 72: Planning For War...!

    <h4>Chapter 72: nning For War...!</h4>


    Vijayanagar Empire, Four months from the attack:


    Vijay received some exciting news today ¨C he found out that the researchers had finally managed to make gunpowder! He couldn''t believe how fast it happened. He thought it would take many more months, but it only took a few weeks to make usable gunpowder.


    Reading about the researcher Manoj Reddy, who analyzed every detail of the gunpowder-making process, streamlined the manufacturing process, and determined the appropriate ratio of raw materials, Vijay was very happy. The talent Vijay needed had finally been unearthed, demonstrating the sess of his n.


    Without hesitation, he promoted Manoj as the head of a department in the Bhartiya Academy of Military Science. "So it is time to n ahead now that the gunpowder is avable," he thought to himself.


    Vijay immediately called for a military meeting about how tobat the Dutch. Two months have already passed since the preparations for the war started. In these two months, a lot of projects were started. The gunpowder, which he is most excited about, finally showed results. And with his help, the cannon manufacturing is not far behind.


    He already has a rough n on how to win this war, but he will need the help of experienced military personnel to iron out his n.


    Shortly after, all the military generals arrived.


    "Long live Your Highness,"


    They saluted one by one as they sat on the chairs with their names written on them.


    The four generals of Vijayanagar were here: Ramaiya Senapati, Narasimha Nayak, Yogendra Singh, and Kiran Pujari, the four generals of an individual division.


    They were all waiting for the military Marshall, Logananda Senapati. Finally, after a few moments, the old man also arrived.


    "I have called for this meeting today to discuss how to proceed with the war against the Dutch. I have recently received news that a ssified weapon, which I proposed, is in the final stages of development and is only missing a few steps for practical use. So, I convened this meeting in advance to discuss our attack strategy on the Dutch," Vijay stated his intent as everyone nodded their heads. Although they were confused about this secret weapon of the king, they kept their mouths shut, knowing that if it was meant for them to know, the king would reveal it to them eventually.


    "So, let''s talk about your ideas. We are going to face a war against a more technologically advanced world empire. How do you all think we shouldbat it?"


    Everyone began to ponder, and hesitantly, Narasimha Nayak raised his hand.


    "Nayak, go on," Vijay said.


    "Your majesty, my n is like this. Although the Dutch Empire is stronger than us in technology by many folds, my n is, why don''t weunch an attack on Lanka first and take them by surprise? They will not be able to take us all on simultaneously if it''s a surprise attack," Nayak stated. The remaining generals in the room also somewhat approved of this approach. It was their 200,000-strong army against the Dutch''s 50,000, so they thought that this was a sound n.


    But Vijay thought to himself with disappointment, "Looks like they don''t know the power of advanced technology."


    As someone from the future, Vijay knew that with technology one generation ahead of its peers, the difference inbat effectiveness was like night and day. Advanced technology weapons had more killing power than a hundred old weapons of the same typebined, especially in this era where breakthroughs happened daily.


    Nayak was embarrassed as he did not get any response from Vijay. He knew that Vijay disapproved of his n from his expression, but he was unwilling to admit that his n was wed. So he stared at Vijay, awaiting his reasoning.


    Looking at Nayak and the surrounding generals staring at him for an answer, Vijay stated, "Although what you have said makes sense, it only works on an equal opponent, and the Dutch, by no stretch of the way, are an equal opponent." He continued amidst the bewildered expressions of the military generals.


    "While your tactic may work on any other army, it would not work on the Dutch because they have cut off our channels to go to Lanka. Fighting against them at sea is like hitting a rock with a pebble, which is absolutely pointless. Our only chance to win against the Dutch is onnd, but you have to understand that they have more advanced cannons and firearms than us. Although we have a 4:1 advantage against them, with their weapon superiority, we stand no chance in their home ground. They could shoot us down from a distance with only a few volleys, and arge chunk of our men will fall like flies."


    Listening to this exnation from the king, cold sweat broke out on their backs as they couldn''t imagine such an army. Although they had read about the Dutch military strength from the information provided by the king, they couldn''t imagine such a powerful weapon. They felt that it was an exaggeration, but now, listening to the king''s serious speech, maybe it could be true. They had their doubts.


    "So what do you think we should do, Your Majesty?" Yogananda finally asked, feeling that his boys were still not fully convinced.


    Vijay sighed as he noticed that the generals were still not convinced. Nevertheless, he continued to exin further.


    "You will see the power of this new weapon in our own hands in the next few months, but until then, here is my n. We have received information that the Dutch are going to attack Vijayanagara through Kochi in Ker, but they wouldn''t know of our awareness of their actions, which gives us an advantage," Vijay continued his exnation,


    "First, we will put up no resistance to them as if we arepletely unaware of their actions, so we''ll leave the Kochi port undefended. After theynd in Kochi, they will have to go through the Uppam forest to reach the capital, and that''s where my nes in. There are only a few ways from Kochi to the royal capital, and we will build a barrier of sentry towers in the forest, camouged. My new weapon will be stationed there. First, we will eliminate their heavy artillery like cannons and siege weapons. Once their weapons are destroyed, we''ll swiftly cut off their retreat. But still, we are not entirely safe. They will have a type of firearm called a flintlock. Now, this is a deadly weapon we have to contend with, and there''s no easy way to fight against this Dutch infantry. The best strategy I can think of is to cover our bodies with heavy armour and overwhelm them with our superior numbers. We will have to take advantage of the time given after the flintlock is fired; this provides us with an opportunity to gain the upper hand."


    Everyone was impressed by this n of luring the enemy deeper into our territory and strangling them to death. But Logananda was not entirely sold on the idea.


    "Your Highness, what if the Dutch suspect something is amiss when they encounter no resistance uponnding in Kochi? What if they decide to retreat back to Lanka and n another approach?"


    Vijay was dumbfounded by the question raised by the old martial; he had never thought about this point. But upon thinking about it, he formted a n.


    A sly grin appeared on his face as he exined, "Aren''t our jails filled with those criminals and the rich people from the rebellion? Send them out to Kochi and promise them freedom if they can defeat the Dutch. This way, we can reduce the vignce of the Dutch against us, and we can also gauge the strength of the Dutch in this battle."


    Everyone understood the cleverness in this proposal., as they didn''t believe that anything was wrong with this approach. Allowing these prisoners to live for so long itself was a sign of the king''s mercy.


    Thinking of another point, Vijay continued, "Moreover, if we can drive out this Dutch army, we could take over the ships they came with and continue with our n tounch an attack on Lanka, as Nayak suggested. If we are sessful in taking over Lanka, we would inherit a lot of Dutch technology and infrastructure they have developed there."


    "So, we have a lot to gain and everything to lose in this battle," he concluded the meeting as the ns started to move into action.

 Chapter 73: Progress

    <h4>Chapter 73: Progress</h4>


    It has been 3 months since the start of the construction of roads across the Vijayanagara Empire.


    With the help provided by the local influential families, the construction had been going on at breakneck speeds. The highways connecting various cities have already been constructed, and various branch roads are just getting started to be constructed.


    The roads in all the main cities of Vijayanagara have been directly paved with cement roads. The result of this showed immediately as the travel time between various cities was cut down by a few days. The whole Empire''s business boomed as merchants started doing well and took over some interests that used to belong to the nobles. In just a few months, a few big cities made as much money in taxes as they did in the whole year before.


    In Ker, Kochi, there were lots of hidden traps set in the Uppum forest. Various sentry towers were beginning to be constructed simultaneously, and the towers were all made of cement reinforced with iron bars inside them. Although this way of building can cause the iron in the structure to rust quickly, for the situation Vijayanagara is facing, it is the most efficient way to increase the strength of the Empire in the shortest time.


    At the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences:


    "Pour...!" Hey Ram ordered as the prototype of the 24-pound cannonpleted its casting, and now it is undergoing its final stage of the stress relief process. Hot and boiling fluids are poured into the cannon. This process helps relieve the stress built up from casting the cannon, and the boiling liquid naturally cools down, relieving any stress that is left over in the construction process.


    "Congrattions, brother Hey Ram, it looks like we havepleted the task assigned by the Emperor," his assistant said with excitement. However, Hey Ram paid no heed to him. He didn''t hear the congrattions as he was engrossed in looking at the masterpiece he had created. He felt very happy as he caressed the cold metal body of the cannon, Just like caressing a beautiful woman.


    HeyRam soon responded aftering back to his senses, "We are not done yet. Quickly design the chassis and manufacture the wheels for this beast," he stated without taking his eyes off the cannon.


    The progress was not only in the artillery department; there was also progress in the gunpowder department. Inspired by his previous tests, Manoj decided to make a bigger explosion. With a little inspiration that he got yesterday, Manoj designed a grenade capable of tearing apart 10 mm cast iron armour like it is paper.


    "Bhoom!"


    A loud explosion rang out in the testing site of Bhartiya Academy for Military Sciences'' gunpowder department. It was a sessful test.


    "Congrattions, brother Manoj, we have sessfully found the optimal mixture of gunpowder and soil for the optimal st," his fellow researchers congratted him. The earlier st managed to tear apart the 10mm cast iron defence with still some damage urring in the back of the armour. Manoj was very happy with the result as he received everyone''s congrattions.


    But in the corner of his eye, he saw his assistant, Sai, staring at the st point with some contemtion. Intrigued, he decided to ask, "Sai, what are you thinking?"


    Awakened from his thoughts, Sai looked at Manoj for a while as he revealed his thoughts without any reservations. "Brother Manoj, I was thinking, isn''t the principle of the cannon is to create an explosion in an enclosed tube for the purpose of ejecting a projectile at very high speeds? So why can''t we use this same principle in this grenade? How about we use arge number of small projectiles packed inside the grenade? By the same principle used for the cannon, it should be able to propel these small iron pellets at great speeds, maybe causing more damage than the regr grenade."


    "p!"


    "Great idea!" Manoj pped his legs and yelled in excitement. Listening to his exmation, everyone also gathered around to see what themotion was about.


    Manoj''s eyes lit up as he was sure that this n was feasible, so he asked, "So how do you think we can make these small iron pellets? It is very hard to do by hand."


    Sai answered, "Brother, have you ever noticed that when water drops, it will always form a somewhat spherical shape? I think if we can control the amount of water dropped at a time, we will be able to control the size of these drops."


    Everyone around them was confused about what they were talking about, but Manoj, as the inventor of gunpowder, immediately understood Sai''s n.


    "Great n, great! Dropping molten iron in a controlled manner and allowing it to harden in a fluid can indeed produce the required iron pellets of standard size that we can use."


    "p"


    "why didn''t I think of that "


    "Let''s go, let''s try it out, let''s go!" Manoj yelled as he pushed everyone aside and dragged Sai with him to do the experiment.


    ______________________________________________________________________


    But it was not all good news for Vijayanagara as the general from the Dutch arrived in Lanka today.


    "Sir General Carel Reyniersz, wee to Lanka. Your arrival here has brought us great joy," greeted the governor of Lanka, Shwartz, with a warm wee as he extended his hospitality to the army general. General Carel Reyniersz had been dispatched by the Dutch to handle matters concerning the Vijayanagara Empire. The general embodied the typical Germanic appearance, dressed in Dutch military attire, boasting blond hair, blue eyes, and a robust physique. What stood out prominently was the scar above his right eyebrow, which added to his veteran military aura.


    Carel waved his hand to dispense with the formalities. "Let''s talk about workter. I have been travelling for a month continuously, and I need to rest," he said as he eyed the sexy maid present at the wee party with lust.


    Shwartz was stunned by the response, but he still smiled and replied, "Oh, look at me, where are my manners? Of course, please enjoy the local delicacies wholeheartedly, we can talk about the boring work matterster." he said, As he quietly gestured with his eyes, to his guard to send the beautiful maid beside him to apany the general.


    "Lord, no, no, no... please, nooo," the maid cried, noticing something wrong with the lord''s expression, but her fate was already sealed. However, the General didn''t mind the scene, as he seemed to enjoy his prey resisting. He patted the governor on the back in approval as he left the ce.


    The next day, General Carel came in a nightgown looking well-rested as he askedzily, "How are the preparations going? Are the soldiers and the ammunition ready?"


    "It''s almost done, Sir. The soldiers are ready, and there are five battalions of troops awaiting your order to march on to Vijayanagara. Moreover, the homnd has sent in two gship man-of-war battleships, each with two cannons on either side of the deck. But, sir, due to the recent overturning of our cargo vessel, we are a little short on firearms and ammunition, and the next supply ship is already en route. We should be fully equipped and prepared for war in 2 months," Shwartz said in a respectful tone.


    General Carel nodded, recognizing that he could bide his time for the shipment. Furthermore, he relished Governor Shwartz''s warm hospitality and looked forward to savouring the local delights with great enthusiasm, exuding an air of unabashed enjoyment.

 Chapter 74: Weapons Test, Grenades Part:1

    <h4>Chapter 74: Weapons Test, Grenades Part:1</h4>


    Vijayanagara Empire:


    Vijay was unaware of what was happening in Lanka, but he was excitedly anticipating the event happening today. He had just received the news from Hey Ram in the morning, stating that the prototype of the cannon waspleted and ready for testing. But that was not all the good news; he had also received a pleasant surprise from Manoj Reddy. Manoj had just informed him that he and his assistant Sai had been sessful in developing a frag grenade, albeit in a primitive form. Getting this information, Vijay was pleasantly surprised. From what Vijay knew, this was a modern-age weapon of mass destruction, and he was very excited to see it in action. He quickly arranged for a weapons test to be conducted and invited all the generals to watch the new weapons'' performances.


    Vijay himself also quickly got on a carriage and left to inspect the new weapons that were painstakingly developed after expending a lot of resources.


    Without any dy, all the generals and the Marshall of Vijayanagara had been notified of the weapons testing that would be taking ce today. It was a surprise to them because they had all been anticipating his majesty to reveal his secret weapon since thest meeting held a month ago. They felt slightly relieved as they received the news because they had been feeling restless recently, with only three months remaining until the war. It was finally their turn to see this legendary secret weapon of His Highness.


    Vijay quickly made his way into the Academy of Military Sciences building. "Wee, Your Majesty, pleasee in," he was warmly received by the group of researchers headed by Hey Ram and Manoj Reddy as soon as he stepped in the door.


    "Enough of the formalities, let''s go see the cannon," Vijay said with a hint of eagerness, which he rarely showed. The researchers were stunned by the king''s behaviour, but sensing his mood, they understood Vijay''s reaction and quickly showed the way to a storeroom where the cannon was ced.


    When Vijay entered the storeroom, he saw a cloth covering a cylindrical structure that was ced right in the centre of the room. He was sure this was the thing he was looking for based on its sheer size alone. As he lifted the dust cover, he saw what he had been anticipating: a cannon. It was a beautiful dark metallic cannon, its stance resembling a tiger waiting tounch and tear apart its prey. By the looks of it, it seemed to weigh around 2 tons, slightly above the weight limit Vijay had requested. However, due to its use of heavier gauge metal and tight casting methods, the gun was more durable and could fire for a longer distance than what he had envisioned. He knew that this one cannon signified Vijayanagara slightly catching up with Western technology and brought hope for the unification of Bharat.


    Vijay gently caressed the iron monster as he contemted the defence capabilities of Vijayanagara after sessfully developing this cannon.


    "You both did very well. Keep up the good work. Maybe there will be a surprise for you both after this war," Vijayplimented, satisfied by their efforts, as he patted Hey Ram''s and Manoj Reddy''s backs.


    Suddenly, his assistant entered the storeroom and informed Vijay, "Your Highness, the generals and the Marshall have arrived."


    "Oh, I''ll be there right away," Vijay responded.


    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________


    Outside the warehouse, near the weapon testing grounds, Ramaiya Senapati asked his father, Logananda, Marshall of Vijayanagara, A question quietly in his ear, "Father, what do you think this secret weapon of his majesty will be?"


    Logananda, listening to his son''s question, shook his head and answered in a disapproving tone, "I do not have this information. This weapon is kept very secret, and even if I knew, I would never disclose this information to you without the permission of his majesty."


    "Che, alright, old man, suit yourself," Ramaiya clicked his tongue as he stopped pestering his father and went to discuss training and battle formations with the other generals.


    Shortly, within a few minutes, Vijay also arrived at the open ground.


    "Long live your highness, long live Vijayanagara!" Everyone was greeted with a standard military salute when they saw Vijay arriving. Vijay nodded his head as a greeting and set his sights on the testing grounds.


    This ground contained various human dummies built with wood and various obstacles to test the weapons on their performance. The base was located in a secret ce near Bengaluru, known only to the upper levels of the army and the Academy of Military Sciences. Even the government had no information about this ce. Seeing that everyone had gathered, Vijay sent a signal to start the weapons testing.


    "Wee, generals and His Majesty. Let me start the demonstration with the first weapon we have recently developed, which is called a grenade. This weapon is made from gunpowder packed in a small container with highpactness. When it is ignited, the grenade will burst into mes as a massive explosion is caused," Manoj introduced as he took out a grenade next to him and showed it to all the generals. The generals were skeptical about the description as they saw an object the size of a Potato. When the researchers imed that this could cause an explosion, they were very skeptical.


    But their doubts turned into shock as the research assistant responsible for the conduct of the test , took the grenade into his hand and lit the threading out of the potato-shaped object. It could be seen that the researcher was very nervous, but his calm attitude suggested that he had done this thing many times. When the thread was lit, he quickly threw the grenade towards a carriage ced on the test field.


    **BOOM!**


    A deafening explosion rang out as the grenade was sted prematurely. The researcher wiped his face, his head full of sweat. He had just had a close encounter with death, and the consequences could have been dire, with his limbs being blown off. However, the generals didn''t pay any attention to the researcher. Their jaws dropped when they saw that the prematurely sted grenade was able to blow the roof off the wooden carriage with just a slight contact with the st wave. Being military veterans, they knew what this meant. With this weapon, they would be able to inflict mass casualties without engaging in close-range battles, ensuring that lives could be saved. They were very excited and eager to ask the scientists questions.


    Before they could regain theirposure, Manoj introduced another groundbreaking weapon that left even the experienced Marshall dumbfounded. "While the grenade that you saw earlier has high lethality, it is a short-radius weapon, not so effective against a spread-out army due to its limited st area. But thanks to the Lord''s blessing, we were able to produce a new type of grenade which we call the frag grenade. This grenade is simr to the first one, but the key difference is that it contains hundreds of small spherical iron balls inside it. When the explosion takes ce, these balls will be propelled in every direction, significantly increasing the kill radius of the grenade."


    Much of Manoj''s exnation went over the generals'' heads, but they still understood the meaning, which was that a regr grenade had a short radius of effect, while a frag grenade had arger kill radius.


    The same researcher who had tried the normal grenade came out again with a tense expression, carrying the new frag grenade. Unlike the previous one, it had a longer fuse and was twice asrge. He seemed to be sweating even more than before because if he messed up this time, he would be filled with blood holes from the debris. "Shiva, bless me," he prayed to God as he lit the fuse of the grenade and quickly threw it toward a dozen wooden dummies ced on the test field. The researcher then quickly ran away as fast as he could.


    **BOOM!**


    **SLRRRRR!**


    A deafening explosion followed by the shrill breaking of wood sounds urred back to back due to the explosion of the frag grenade. Even Vijay, who had seen all kinds of advanced weapons from the future, was shocked by this explosion. He watched as the st point turned into a shallow pit with the surrounding wooden dummies pierced by small projectiles from various directions. He could imagine that if this frag grenade were thrown into a group of soldiers without proper armour, no one within the kill radius would have a chance to escape without potential serious injury or death.


    "Haa, haa, great!" Narasimha yelled as he witnessed the effectiveness of the grenade.


    To be continued...

 Chapter 75: Weapons Test, Cannons Part: 2

    <h4>Chapter 75: Weapons Test, Cannons Part: 2</h4>


    Bharatiya Academy of Military Sciences Testing Grounds:


    The generals, and Vijay in particr, were very pleased with how the grenades had turned out. Vijay was even more delighted that his vision to train indigenous, research-oriented scientists who could develop new technology had gotten off to a good start with the development of the grenade.


    "Alright, Hey Ram, it''s your turn to show us the big gun," Vijay ordered Hey Ram to bring out the cannon.


    "Right away, Your Highness," Hey Ram replied as he quickly went to fetch it.


    By the time Hey Ram returned, Vijay began to inquire about the opinions of the generals. "So, what do you think, generals? What is your assessment of this weapon''sbat effectiveness?"


    "It''s a miracle, Your Highness. For something so small to produce such a massive explosion is truly remarkable. I don''t fully understand how it works, but based on my experience, this could y a significant role in the war, especially in the densely popted areas of the army formation. Furthermore, we can use this weapon to damage buildings and disrupt the enemy''s logistical lines without direct contact. That''s just the beginning, and with more use of this weapon, I am sure we''ll discover its true potential. Overall, I believe this weapon is a major breakthrough in warfare, Your Highness," Logananda, the most experienced veteran in the room,mented.


    Vijay nodded in approval, appreciating Logananda''s insightful assessment of the grenade. It was evident that the old man had a talent for war strategy.


    "What are your thoughts on this matter?" Vijay asked the younger generals, seeking their opinions.


    The younger generals shared their thoughts, some simr to Logananda''s and others with unique perspectives. General Singh, in particr, became emotional as he recollected his time leading the rebel army and the lives that could have been saved if they had grenades back then. As they heard him sigh, the other generals also sympathized with his sentiment thinking about their own battles and lost soldiers. Nevertheless, the core idea of the grenade''s usage remained the same, leading to the unanimous conclusion from the military that the grenade had immense potential inbat situations.


    Soon, as they were discussing about the usage of grenades, Hey Ram returned with the cannon, which was still covered with a thick cloth, but was mounted on a cart with iron-reinforced wooden wheels, pulled by two draft horses.


    "Swish!"


    The curtain covering the cannon was unveiled, revealing the cannon to everyone. While the shape of the cannon appeared somewhat familiar, reminiscent of the old cannons they had seen, the key difference was itsrger size, requiring high-quality draft horses to pull it. This indicated that the new cannon was significantly heavier than its predecessors.


    Logananda, upon observing the setup, deduced that the cannon weighed at least more than 2 tons. This revtion lowered his expectations regarding the cannon''s practicality on the battlefield. He believed that a weapon of this size and weight, which required a significant amount of manpower and the use of two high-quality horses, might not be feasible in actualbat situations. However, he chose not to voice his concerns and decided to reserve judgment until after the test had been concluded.


    The cannon was swiftly aimed toward a temporary cement-fortified wall constructed for the test. First, a person meticulously cleaned the bore of the cannon using a long apparatus. Then, another individual presented a paper bag filled with gunpowder, which was cut open as the bag made contact with the opening of the bore, allowing the powder to be poured inside. The idea of using standardized paper bags of the same volume to ensure consistent performance and a longer lifespan for the cannon had been conceived by Hey Ram, inspired by the king''s standardization of weights and measurements. This method aimed to simplify the process for artillery soldiers during battle, as using too much gunpowder risked damaging the cannon or causing it to explode while using too little couldpromise speed and uracy. Therefore, Hey Ram devised this approach with standardized paper bags.


    After the appropriate amount of gunpowder had been loaded, it was neatlypressed inside using a special long apparatus with a base on one end that fit snugly inside the bore. After a few stomps, the gunpowder settled. Then, a fuse was inserted into the breech of the cannon in a way that it would make contact with the gunpowder, allowing it to ignite. Another person quickly ced a spherical iron ball weighing at least 10 kilograms in front of the cannon. With these procedurespleted, Hey Ram nodded his head, signifying that the preparation wasplete, and sought Vijay''s permission tomence the test.


    Vijay was very pleased with how efficiently and precisely the team had executed the process. While the steps may appear simple, orchestrating them with a team and precision in a short time span was aplex endeavour. Vijay contemted the idea of creating an instruction book for training the new artillery soldiers, thinking that it could help recruits familiarize themselves with the weapon more quickly. However, he decided to set this thought aside for another time as he granted permission for Hey Ram to fire the first shot, saying, "Go on."


    With Vijay''s permission, Hey Ram instructed his assistant, "Light the fuse," with utmost seriousness. The assistant nodded and, with trembling hands, lit the fuse. He counted down, "3, 2, 1... Fire."


    **BOOM!**


    **BZZZZZZ!...**


    A dust wave sted from the cannon''s epicentre as a deafening sound echoed when the fuse disappeared inside the cannon. Everyone''s ears rang as they heard nothing but a constant buzz for the next few seconds. They were in awe as the explosion sent the behemoth of a cannon a few feet backwards. This might not seem like a lot, but considering that the cannon weighs well above 2 tons, it could be seen that it generated a massive force that is well above 5000 KN. The explosion also startled the poor horses, as they desperately tried to escape the scary ce.


    "Shiva...!"


    "Amma...!"


    Logananda and Ramaiya eximed simultaneously as they saw a huge gaping hole in the fortified wall. They couldn''t imagine how much manpower would be required to bring down that wall, but with this weapon, it could be aplished with a single shot. What was even more astonishing was that the wall was at least a hundred meters away.


    Vijay, despite being from the future, was also taken aback by the scene. He had never witnessed gunfire properly, let alone a cannon.

 Chapter 76: Mughal’s Reaction.

    <h4>Chapter 76: Mughal''s Reaction.</h4>


    Only two months remained until the war. With the cannon''s sessful development, Vijay promptly converted his Raya Iron Works factory into a division of the Raya Industrial Group. This expanded group now epassed Raya Iron Works along with the newly established Raya Defence, which had the vital responsibility of manufacturing cannons for the empire.


    In the months that followed, the empire bustled with activity as a substantial number of craftsmen were enlisted into the ranks of Raya Industrial Group ofpanies. The chimneys spewed smoke, casting a shadow over the sky. Remarkably, the factory reached full production capacity in a rtively short period of time . Thanks to the guidance of seasoned industrial workers from Raya Iron Works, the new recruits quickly acquired the necessary skills. This boosted Raya Defence Industries'' capability to manufacture two cannons daily. As the fresh workforce continued to gain expertise and the production process refined, there were high expectations that the number of cannons produced would surge in the uing weeks.


    Over time, the entirety of Raya Industries evolved into a finely tuned machine, where variousponents operated harmoniously and effectively. As the cannons rolled off the production line one after another, they were discreetly transported to the sentry towers strategically positioned in Uppam Forest, effectively sealing off the various passages from Kochi. This makeshift setup resembled a rudimentary version of Israel''s Iron Dome from the future. With the cannons now in position, Vijay''s confidence in securing victory in the uing battle against the Dutch grew substantially.


    The improvements were not limited to the artillery of the empire. At the army camp, soldiers were engaged in an unusual training exercise. They were instructed to throw rocks into specific spots ced further in front of them. They didn''t understand the purpose of this seemingly pointless training, but their discipline and obedience to their superiorspelled them to follow orders without questioning.


    However, some soldiers couldn''t help but gossip quietly amongst themselves.


    "Hey, brother, why do you think the higher-ups want us to practice rock throwing? Do you think the captain wants us to pelt the enemy with rocks to give them headaches or something? I mean, can these little stones even hurt anyone, no matter how fast we toss them? And if the enemy''s all armored up, it''s just going to be a pesky nuisance. Are our leaders nning to annoy the enemy to death with rocks? And on top of that, I just don''t get why we''re ordered to throw the rocks so darn fast," one soldier pondered aloud.


    "Shhh," another soldier hushed him, cautioning, "Hey, don''t talk loudly. If the captain hears u, he''ll make us run in circles on the ground."


    The gossiping soldier nodded, recalling the grueling punishment of running in circles he had endured when he first joined the army. Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine.


    "I heard from my brother-inw at the Academy of Sciences that they''re developing a new weapon for us to use. But he said it''s highly confidential, and only the top craftsmen have ess to information about this weapon. Make sure you don''t tell anyone, My brother. He overheard this when the researchers were discussing it during the ore transportation he was doing to the academy," the soldier whispered quietly, his voice barely audible. The gossiping soldier, upon hearing this news, understood the seriousness of the information. If he spread this news, he was sure that he would be arrested, so he made a determined vow to keep the secret until hisst breath.


    This was the new Grenadier Battalion that Vijay had conceived. With the sess of the Frag grenade development, he had decided to form a battalionposed entirely of grenadiers. There wasn''t enough time to train other types of soldiers, but grenadiers'' training was rtively simple. With that, a grenadier battalion consisting of ten squads was established.


    Mughal Empire.


    "Uhuuh."


    "Ahhh."


    *Yes...!*


    Muhammad the fifth was spending time with a new concubine he had recently married. Lately, he had been in a good mood. With theplete integration of the Empire, the Mughal economy had started to rise, and the treasuries were about to overflow with gold coins. With the acquisition of the Maratha Kingdom, he would be even more powerful and wealthy. Just thinking about the wealth and power he was about to attain excited him as he engaged in his exercises.


    " mhheeee."


    * ahhhaaaaaaa.*


    After a couple of hours of this intense cardio, Muhammad went to the pce to preside over the Empire''s affairs.


    "Your Majesty, there''s troubling news...!" The moment he stepped into the pce, the prime minister delivered these words. With this unsettling news, Muhammad''s good mood vanished instantly. Observing the elderly man''s hesitation, Muhammad erupted in frustration, demanding, "What''s the matter? Out with it, quickly!"


    "Your Majesty, regrettably, we''ve just received word that we suffered the loss of a division in our conflict with the Marathas, and our army general has also perished."


    "The casualty count stands at nearly a hundred thousand lives."


    The prime minister ryed the grim information, swiftly lowering his head, hoping to avoid witnessing Muhammad''s wrath.


    "What!"


    "Idiot!"


    "Asshole!"


    "Rice Bucket"


    The emperor yelled in anger upon learning that his battalion had been lost. His anger wasn''t because of the soldiers who had died but because of the enormous expense, he would have to incur to recruit and train new soldiers. It would take an astronomical amount to train a new batch of soldiers.


    Thinking this, his anger intensified as he fixed a piercing gaze on the militarymander and demanded, "Emir, how did this ur? Weren''t you the one who imed that the Marathas were a mere small kingdom and that we could swiftly defeat them? Yet now, I''m hearing this dismal report about our army''s performance. Are you a useless ipetent? If that''s the case, what purpose do you serve?"


    Themander of the Mughal Empire army bowed his head in embarrassment and guilt as he weakly replied, "Your Highness, we did not anticipate that the enemy would be so cunning. ording to the information we received, they had already evacuated the city before our arrival. Most of the valuable items in the Maratha Kingdom had been transported away. Furthermore, during the battle, they employed unconventional tactics like digging underground tunnels to nk our army and cause substantial casualties. Unfortunately, one of our generals was killed in the process."


    "But fortunately, Your Highness, all is not lost. We have sessfully captured the Maratha Kingdom, and we''ve received some valuable intelligence."


    "Oh, and what is that?" Muhammad asked with curiosity.


    "From the prisoners, we''ve taken in the Maratha Kingdom, we''ve learned that a significant portion of the food and weapons in the Maratha Kingdom came from the Vijayanagara Empire in the south of ournds. Moreover, we''ve discovered that the Vijayanagara Empire imports a substantial quantity of a rock called potash from the Maratha Kingdom. Our observations suggest that this rock, when crushed into a powder and mixed into the soil, significantly enhances soil fertility."


    "Oh, is that so? Alright, very good. This can somewhatpensate for our losses," Muhammad nodded in satisfaction, finding some silver lining in the situation.


    "Prime Minister, how long will it take to raise another 3 divisions? Something tells me that Vijayanagara is not an easy opponent to deal with. Also, increase cannon production immediately. I need at least a hundred cannons produced in the next 4 months."


    "Your Highness, recruiting soldiers won''t be a problem, as there are many starving and destitute people in ournds who would do anything for food and security for their families. With the promise of these, we can recruit even 10 divisions within a year. However, the challenge lies in the extensive resources required for training and disciplining these new recruits. Based on your requirements, Your Highness, to train 3 divisions properly, using a significant amount of resources, it could be aplished in the shortest time of 5 months."


    Muhammad nodded in satisfaction, growing eager at the thought of crushing the Vijayanagara Empire to the ground and taking Empress Kavya in front of Vijay. An evil grin adorned his face as he contemted this possibility.

 Chapter 77: Brother-in-law Homecoming.

    <h4>Chapter 77: Brother-inw Homing.</h4>


    Vijay doesn''t yet know the iing trouble he is about to face from the Mughal Empire, but another significant problem has surfaced before him. His brother-inw has just sent word that he has arrived in Vijayanagara, and he is waiting for Vijay to receive him. Vijay has also received news from his spy that the Maratha Empire has unfortunately fallen, and his father-inw has passed away.


    Losing his father-inw and potential allies saddens Vijay deeply, but considering that he has the Dutch to contend with, he feels helpless in this situation. Now, the dilemma lies in how to break the news to Kavya about her father''s passing and the destruction of her homnd. He is torn between wanting to inform her honestly and shielding her from overwhelming sadness that might drive her to do something drastic.


    But finally, making up his mind, he decided he would let his brother-inw tell her this news.


    Aditya Bhonsle, the current head of the Bhonsle family, and his wife finally made it to Vijayanagara after all the suffering they had been through on the road. They could have gotten to Vijayanagar much earlier, but with the sensitive condition of the baby being born, they decided to camp in the Mughal Empire temporarily for a few weeks until the baby''s condition stabilized before continuing the journey.


    He was carrying his two-month-old newborn son in his arms as he entered the Empire''s capital. The look of the Empire hadpletely changed since he had married his sister to Vijay a year ago; there were a lot more people here, and a new road was paved from a material that he had never seen before in all his life. But the road looked very t and hard, and there was even a drainage system implemented on both sides of the road for rain and urban drainage uses.


    Seeing all this, Aditya was enraged that his brother-inw did not do anything to help them. Yes, Vijayanagara had sent a lot of money and weapons, including information about the impending attack and the strategy of how to take on the Mughals, but he didn''t send even a single soldier to this battle.


    And now, seeing the prosperity of Vijayanagara, he felt unbnced, considering he had lost his whole kingdom. He decided to question Vijay directly as soon as he met him.


    "Euhaaaaaaa."


    "Euhaaaaaaa."


    Rajendra, prince of the Bhonsle family, maybe because of hunger or because of his father''s bad mood, cried in his father''s arms suddenly. Aditya, looking at his son crying, handed his son to his wife to feed him.


    At this moment, Vijay Devaraya also arrived at the gate of the city to greet his brother-inw and sister-inw, inviting them inside the city.


    "Wee, wee, brother-inw. Your presence has made me very happy."


    "I have heard the news. Unfortunately, my father-inw couldn''t make it. May God bless him. Pleasee, let''s go home. Your sister has been mouring to meet you."


    "Hmh!"


    Aditya didn''t give Vijay any face as he sneered and boarded the carriage where Vijay was pointing. Mrs. Bhonsle was embarrassed by her husband''s mannerisms, so she slightly bowed in apology to Vijay as she also entered the carriage.


    Vijay was surprised by Aditya''s reaction, but considering what Aditya had been through, he could guess what the problem might be.


    "Why didn''t you help us if you are so powerful?"


    This was the first question Aditya asked Vijay as soon as he joined him in the carriage.


    Vijay was dumbfounded by Aditya''s straightforwardness, but he didn''t answer Aditya''s question straight away as he knew no matter how much he exined, the emotionally charged Aditya would not be able to rationalize it. Instead, he reached into a folder he had at the back of the carriage and handed it over to Aditya to read.


    Aditya was surprised by Vijay''s actions as he didn''t receive an immediate response to his question. He wanted to see what tricks Vijay was ying as he started reading the document.


    But the more he read, the more he understood the grave threat facing Vijayanagara. Currently, Vijayanagara was under threat not only from the Mughals but also from the even more terrifying Western nations. The document provided various details on how these external powers were using their naval strength and superior military power to conquer various nations and exploit their resources. The document also informed Aditya of the impending war with the Dutch.


    Reading this information, Aditya''s anger toward Vijay dissipated, as he realized that the challenge Vijayanagara faced was far greater than what the Maratha Kingdom had encountered. Vijay was not just dealing with internal threats but also facing foreign aggressors intent on destroying the Vijayanagara Empire. He felt concern for Vijay and asked, "Are you going to be alright?"


    Vijay understood what Aditya was asking and nodded, replying, "We have a good chance of winning this battle, but I''m not sure how the Mughals will react to this situation. Hopefully, everything goes ording to n."


    Feeling that the atmosphere was bing more sombre, Aditya tried to lighten the mood by introducing his son to Vijay. "Brother-inw, this is my newborn son, Rajendra Bhonsle, your nephew."


    Vijay had noticed the child earlier but didn''t ask any questions, considering that Aditya was in a bad mood. He wanted to let Aditya introduce the child himself.


    "Oh,e here, darling," Vijay said as he gently took the child from Mrs. Bhonsle and held his nephew for the first time in his life. Since he had not been married in his previous life, he didn''t have experience being a father. So, he awkwardly yed with the child based on what he had seen in movies and TV shows during his past life. His actions were both awkward and amusing to the Bhonsle family, and they looked at Vijay with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

 Chapter 78: Kavya And The Wealth Of Maratha.

    <h4>Chapter 78: Kavya And The Wealth Of Maratha.</h4>


    As the carriage got closer and closer to home, Vijay grew more and more nervous. He felt tense just thinking about how Kavya would react upon learning the news of her father''s and hometown''s demise. When he informed his brother-inw that he had yet to break the bad news to Kavya, his brother-inw looked at him strangely, but nheless, he agreed to help deliver the news.


    Upon the carriage''s arrival, Kavya rushed out of the house with a radiant smile on her face, carrying a te full of Pooja items to wee the guests. As soon as she saw her beloved brother and sister-inw, Kavya rushed over to embrace them both.


    Afterpleting the Pooja process, Kavya finally got to meet her little nephew. Without saying a word, she quickly snatched him from her sister-inw and started ying with him, appearing very joyful and content.


    However, her happiness was tinged with a sense of worry. She nced back at the carriage, expecting to see her father and younger brother. While Vijay had informed her that her family woulde to live in the Vijayanagara Empire, she hadn''t taken it seriously and had assumed it was just a short visit. She couldn''t fathom in her wildest dreams that her homnd had been destroyed and that her father and brother were no more.


    Not finding her father and second brother, Kavya finally asked, "Where is Father and Bunty?" (Bunty is a nickname Kavya gave to her second brother).


    Before Aditya could answer, Vijay, who was sitting beside him, began to sweat profusely upon hearing Kavya''s question. He knew that this question woulde up sooner orter, and now that the moment had arrived, his heart raced. He nced at his brother-inw, silently seeking his assistance.


    With a sigh, Aditya stepped forward and hugged Kavya without saying anything. Kavya, confused by her brother''s actions, couldn''t understand why he was behaving this way.


    " Ah... Brother...?"


    Slowly, she got a bad feeling, remembering the unusual circumstances, Vijay''s odd behaviour, and her familying to stay with them. Suspicion began to creep in.


    "Did something happen to Maratha?" she thought to herself but quickly dismissed the idea, saying, "No, no, no, how could that be possible? Never." Despite her denials, the uneasy feeling lingered, and her eyes welled up with tears.


    Her brother gently cradled her head, trying tofort her as he delivered the devastating news that plunged her into the depths of despair. "Father and Bunty are both dead. The Mughal Empire suddenly attacked us with arge army and wiped out the Maratha Kingdom. Now, the Maratha Kingdom is no more."


    Kavya couldn''t believe what she was hearing. She desperately wanted to deny the harsh reality. "No, no, you''re lying. How could Father die? No, no, uhhhh," she sobbed uncontrobly in her brother''s arms for at least 30 minutes, her voice hoarse, and her face slightly swollen and red from crying.


    Vijay''s heart ached at the sight of Kavya in such distress. When she finally regained control of her emotions, her teary eyes turned to him, and she asked with a hint of resentment in her voice, "Why didn''t you help him?" It was the first question that came to her mind, and Vijay, overwhelmed by guilt, found it difficult to articte an exnation. It was the first time he had seen Kavya so angry, and he felt like his hands were on a hot stove, unsure of where to ce them or how to respond to his wife''s question.


    Thankfully, his brother-inw came to his rescue. "Kavya, don''t me Vijay. He did his best, and without him, we could have suffered even more casualties. Fortunately, thanks to his information, we were able to evacuate arge number of people before the Mughals attacked. Right now, Vijayanagar is also facing threats from external enemies. He didn''t tell you all this because he didn''t want to burden you. So, don''t me him. If there''s anyone to me, it''s the weakness of the Maratha Kingdom and the unruliness of the Mughal Emperor."


    Influenced by her brother''s persuasion, Kavya reluctantly epted Vijay''s exnations and decided to let go of her anger towards him. Although she didn''t readily disy her forgiveness on her face, she quietly departed to make arrangements for her father and brother''s funeral ceremony.


    Watching her walk away, Vijay let out a sigh of relief that a heavy burden had been lifted.


    On a brighter note, due to the destruction of the Maratha Empire, many merchants and nobles from Maratha chose to migrate to the Vijayanagar Empire. The cultures of both kingdoms were quite simr, and their long-term friendship made Vijayanagara a natural choice for many. Since only the more affluent people could leave the Maratha Kingdom, they brought with them a significant amount of wealth and manpower.


    In thest month alone, at least a million people had immigrated from the Maratha Kingdom to Vijayanagara. Among them were professionals like cksmiths, schrs, and doctors who helped fill the job shortages in Vijayanagara. The merchants also brought a substantial amount of trade, and with the newly paved roads across the Vijayanagar Empire, travel became more convenient. The nobles transformed themselves into merchants and settled in various parts of the Empire, further boosting Vijayanagara''s fiscal revenue for the year.


    Initially, the nobles were uneasy about the Vijayanagara Empire''s rules, which seemed heavily biased against them and deprived them of their basic rights. However, they soon abandoned these thoughts when they learned that the entire noble ss had suffered nearly mass extermination in their quest for these very rights. Consequently, learning this news, they chose to live in the Vijayanagara Empire with peace of mind, recognizing that even the long-standing nobles couldn''t change their fate, let alone those who came in today.


    However, among them, there were still some people who didn''t follow the rules and unted their nobility status, behaving like the stuck-up nobles in the Chinese novels from the future. But soon, they learned how to be human when they were severely beaten by the police, in addition to receiving hefty fines. There was even a rumour in the police division that, with the fines collected from the new nobles arriving in the empire recently, the police department was able to afford better food and clothing for a whole month until they all eventually learned their lesson and stopped their shenanigans. This caused the various police officers to sigh in pity.

 Chapter 79: The Dutch Mobilization

    <h4>Chapter 79: The Dutch Mobilization</h4>


    The Dutch, Nethends.


    In the Present time, the Dutch Republic operated under a republican form of government with a decentralized structure. The country didn''t have a single centralized head of state or government like a modern president or prime minister. Instead, it is a federation of semi-autonomous provinces, each with its own government and leadership.


    The highest office in the Dutch Republic is that of the Stadtholder, held by various members of the House of Orange-Nassau, including William II of Orange at the present time. However, the Stadtholder''s powers and authority could vary depending on the political climate and provincial policies. The political system in the Dutch Republic emphasized republican and oligarchic elements, involving the Estates-General and the States of each province in decision-making.


    So, during the present era, there wasn''t a single "head of the Dutch," but rather aplex system of government involving multiple provinces, city-states, and various officials.


    If Vijay were to examine the Dutch governance structure during this period of time, he might be surprised by the simrities it shares with the European Union in future generations.


    In Batavia (modern-day Jakarta, Indonesia):


    Hendrik van Rheede, the current manager of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), called for a meeting with thepany''s shareholders to discuss the impending war against the Vijayanagara Empire in South India. Earlier that morning, he had received news that General Carel Regyniersz was well-prepared for the uing invasion, with all weapons and ammunition sessfully delivered, and the men ready for the march.


    The shareholders eagerly gathered at the main branch in Batavia, driven by the prospects of India''s wealth, spices, and the vast fertilends in the region. They were frustrated that such riches were in the hands of what they considered a nation of lowly barbarians. Capturing the Vijayanagara Empire would not only grant them ess to a vast subcontinent with immense wealth but could also open up significantmercial markets for their country. Just thinking about the prospects made their mouths water.


    "Gentlemen"


    Manager Hendrik began his speech and presented a detailed report to the shareholders. "Wee, Sir Isaac Le Maire, Sir Cornelis de Houtman, representatives of the City of Amsterdam, and representatives of the House of Orange-Nassau. I am honoured by your presence here today. I have called this meeting to discuss the uing n to break into the Indian subcontinent.


    "Our main focus is on the southern part of India, currently governed by the expansive Vijayanagara Empire. This area, although somewhatcking in military and economic development, possesses fertilend, ample rainfall, and a sizable poption. These favourable conditions facilitated our past business endeavours, particrly in the spice trade, allowing us to generate substantial profits. Much of our sess can be attributed to the cooperative stance of King Sriranga Deva Raya."


    Hearing this, all the shareholders nodded. They had also profited from this trade, which is why they were so eager to take over the ce entirely.


    The manager proceeded, "However, the situation took a turn after King Sriranga Deva Raya''s passing and the ascension of his son, Vijay Deva Raya. Since his session to the throne, our trade, including that with the Portuguese, has been severely disrupted. Although we can still generate some ie, it pales inparison to what we were making before. Hence, we''ve decided to take matters into our own hands.


    Our intelligence strongly suggests that Vijay poses a significant obstacle to our ns. Given the rtively limited technological capabilities of our adversary, we''ve devised an efficient strategy to capture the royal capital with minimal military involvement. Once we secure the capital, our objective is to depose Vijay and support a leader who aligns with our interests, thereby opening up the rest of India for our ventures. After a few years, allowing the local poption to limate to our presence, we can establish direct colonial rule."


    The shareholders nodded in approval as the manager continued.


    "As detailed in the documents you hold, we have readied two gship man-of-war battleships, each armed with six heavy portside cannons on either side. Additionally, we''ve provided 20,000 sets of flintlocks armed by 2 Battalion and iron armour for every soldier involved in this endeavour. Furthermore, we''ve called upon five Brigades from the Dutch Imperial Army to participate in this mission. In addition to these resources, we''ve dispatched our newly developed 32-pound cannons and 18-pound culverins. With such firepower at our disposal, we anticipate that the conquest of the Vijayanagara Empire should progress seamlessly."


    All the shareholders in the room carefully examined the details and nodded in agreement.


    "I request your approval tomence the King Maker n."


    After a brief moment of discussion among the shareholders, they unanimously gave the green light to upy the Vijayanagara Empire.


    With the matter settled, a fast boat swiftly sailed from Indonesia to Sri Lanka to deliver the news. General Carel, upon hearing the news, was overjoyed as he began preparations with the army.


    "Soldiers of the Dutch Republic!


    Today, we stand on the cusp of destiny, on the brink of a battle that will be remembered throughout the ages. We are far from our homnd, facing a godless enemy, the Vijayanagar Empire. But let me tell you this: we are warriors of the sea, conquerors of distantnds, Men of God, and we fear no challenge.


    Look around you, at therades beside you. We are a brotherhood forged by hardship and courage. Our resolve is unyielding, our hearts are fearless, and our spirits indomitable.


    Thesends may be unfamiliar, the people and their customs sphemous, but remember why we are here. We are here for glory, for the honour of our nation, and for the riches that await those bold enough to im them.


    Know this, my brave soldiers: victory is within our grasp. The courage that flows through our veins is our strongest weapon. Let it be known that the Dutch Republic is the Overlord of the Seven Oceans. We conquer it!


    Today, we fight not only for glory, wealth, andnd but for the generations that will follow. We fight for the dream of a better world, where our g flies high and our legacy endures.


    Now, to your stations! Draw your swords, prime your guns, and brace yourselves for the battle of a lifetime. Onward, my valiant warriors, to glory and triumph!"


    The general''s speech ignited a surge of morale among all the soldiers in the military camp. Nearly five brigades marched in perfect formation toward the harbour, where they would board the transport ships for their uing mission. These transport ships were apanied by the formidable man-of-war battleships, providing both protection and a sense of resolve as they set sail toward their destination.


    But unknown to anyone, a dark shadow in the harbour saw this scene with his very own eyes. This figure was none other than Selvan. After he started working as a spy, he found out that he was very talented at this job. He could identify various information that normal people wouldn''t see urately, and he had made a lot of personal connections in the harbour, which allowed him to know everything that happened hear. Even a petty fight couldn''t escape his eyes and ears.


    Seeing the Dutch mobilizing arge army, Selvan knew that the Dutch were finally making their move. He quickly collected all the information he had been procuring for the past 3 to 4 months and sent it as a top-priority message to the department head, urging them to ry it to the main headquarters in the empire as soon as possible.


    That very night, a small boat set off from Northern Lanka and headed to Rameshwaram. Due to the shorter distance of roughly 20 km, the news was able to reach Vijayanagar within a day.


    Roshan, The SpyMaster, who received the news, knew that it was a big deal, so he quickly packed up the remaining work, filed the documents, and left to meet Vijay personally. Because The Dutch wereing...

 Chapter 80: Alphonso’s Plan

    <h4>Chapter 80: Alphonso''s n</h4>


    Far away in the Iberian Penins, Portugal:


    In a luxurious pce located in the royal capital of Lisbon, a majestic middle-aged man sat in his study. He was engrossed in reading a letter that his Knight had just delivered to him. This man possessed golden hair that bore a striking resemnce to a lion''s mane, and his eyes were of a unique shade of green. He was none other than Alphonso IV De Braganza, the 9th Duke of the renowned Braganza family, a prominent and esteemed noble lineage in Portugal.


    "He he"


    As he read the letter, Alphonso couldn''t help but chuckle at the news it contained, which clearly delighted him. The letter had been delivered by a typical Western knight-like man, and the knight found his master''s reaction to be rather absurd, given the gravity of the information.


    Alphonso continued to borate on his perspective, "Don''t you see, this is an opportunity for us, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."


    The knight, still puzzled, scratched his head in confusion.


    "You see, the Dutch are going to war against the Vijayanagara Empire," Alphonso exined, his expression shrewd, akin to a cunning fox.


    The knight finally spoke up again, his voice tinged with skepticism, "Your Highness, how can this be good news? Won''t their victory only increase their strength?"


    Alphonso leaned forward, his eyes filled with intrigue, "Yes, what you''re telling me is true. If the Dutch were sessful in invading India, it would indeed be a significant concern for us. But who told you that they were going to win?"


    The knight was visibly shocked by Alphonso''s words. It was hard for him to fathom the idea that the mighty Dutch, a European superpower, could be defeated by a small indigenous country. Alphonso, observing his knight''s astonished expression, couldn''t help but sigh. He recalled how he himself had been initially shocked by the recent developments in Vijayanagara over the past few years, whether it was in various fields such as education, the courts, police stations, and many others. These ongoing changes continued to astonish him. Consequently, he decided to provide further information to his loyal knight.


    "After our setback in Goa in 1625, our family didn''t entirely withdraw from India. We maintained our intelligence operations and, moreover, I personally invested significant resources in gathering information about the Vijayanagara Empire and the developments on the subcontinent," Alphonso exined. "I concur that if Vijayanagara had remained in the same state as it was in 1625 when we departed, I would indeed be concerned about the Dutch''s chances of sess. However, numerous changes have urred since King Vijay Deva Raya ascended to the throne. Firstly, the nation is now more centralized than ever before. King Vijay Deva Raya wields absolute authority over all aspects of the country. Additionally, I''ve received confidential reports indicating substantial resources allocated to the development of weapons. Although the precise nature of these weapons remains uncertain due to their rigorous secrecy at the ce they refer to as the Bharatiya Academy of Sciences, I have strong reason to believe they involve innovations in cannon-making, musket production, or advancements in ck powder technology. Any of these developments could significantly advance their military capabilities."


    The knight was incredulous. "How is that possible, Your Highness? How could a lowly barbaric country like Vijayanagara produce advanced weaponsparable to ours?"


    "Never underestimate anyone," Alphonso cautioned. "Remember that the Orientals had superior technology to us a hundred years ago. Yet, we surpassed them in only a few decades. Technological advantages are often temporary. Suppose Vijayanagara manages to acquire our advanced cannons, muskets, and flintlocks. In at most 4 to 5 years, they could replicate these weapons, especially given the abundant resources in their country. They would not need to rely on other nations for resources. This is precisely why all of Europe covets India, isn''t it?"


    The knight, although still steadfast in his beliefs, had to ponder Alphonso''s words. "Even if that''s true, Your Highness, Vijayanagara may triumph over the Dutch initially. However, once the Dutch learn of Vijayanagara''s advancements and their failure to capture the empire, they''ll likely dispatch arger force to deal with the indigenous empire. In such a scenario, Vijayanagara would surely crumble in no time, as it stands little chance."


    "Hahahaha," Alphonso IVughed loudly upon hearing those words. "You are mistaken, my dear knight. Even if, by some chance, the Dutch seed in Vijayanagara, they won''t be able to hold onto it. Capturing Vijayanagara is one thing, but sustaining a strong colonial presence is quite another."


    The knight was shocked once again by this revtion. It was the first time he had heard of this, and even though he was mainly responsible for collecting information for his Highness, he had never been privy to such high-level discussions between countries. Hesitating, he finally mustered the courage to ask the question that was on his mind.


    "Ah..."


    However, Alphonso didn''t give him a chance to speak as he continued to exin, "Recently, after the Thirty Years'' War, the British lost a lot of their resources and interests. After their defeat against the Catholic camp, they shifted their focus towards the Dutch and the Spanish. I''ve recently had discussions with the British Interregnum government, and they are willing to assist us in gaining our independence. They are also nning to block Dutch trade routes, effectively weakening the Dutch further."


    The knight was dumbfounded, not knowing how to respond, standing there like a statue.


    "I don''t know about you, but I believe a war between the Dutch and the English is inevitable," Alphonso continued. "If you think about it, it has always been inevitable. Both countries have simr strategies, using their formidable naval power to strengthen themselves. With limited resources avable, conflicts are bound to arise."


    Finally regaining hisposure after the earth-shaking news, the knight asked hesitantly, "Is it... is it alright that you''re telling me this, Your Highness?"


    Alphonso smiled and replied, "It''s alright. Everyone will know this news in a few months anyway. One more person knowing won''t change anything."


    "Setting that matter aside, let''s talk about our country. After the Thirty Years'' War, Spain suffered greatly despite being in the Catholic camp. It''s the right time for us to gain our independence, especially now that the Spanish Habsburg dynasty has weakened, and Philip IV can no longer suppress the discontent among his people due to Spain''s declining status. It''s the right time for us to break free from Spain."


    Alphonso chuckled to himself with amusement as he thought about the possibility of crowning himself not just Alphonso IV Braganza but Alphonso IV Portugal.

 Chapter 81: Military Economy

    <h4>Chapter 81: Military Economy</h4>


    "Kavya, please listen to me. It''s not like that. Can you at least say something?" Vijay pleaded as he ran behind Kavya, clutching at her saree, pleading for her forgiveness. She hadn''t spoken to him properly ever since she found out that he had hidden such a significant piece of information from her.


    Since that day, she had been avoiding him, refusing to talk. Vijay looked helpless as he turned his head towards his baby nephew and said, "Rajendra, at least you tell her." Kavya, who had her back turned towards Vijay, was amused by his antics as she had a smile on her face. But she quickly adjusted her expression and spoke in a stern voice ring at him, "Don''t listen to your uncle; he is a very bad person. Come here, and your aunt will take care of you."


    Vijay felt helpless in the current situation. He had no previous experience with girls, and he didn''t know how to deal with them. Perhaps if he had any experience in his previous life, he would have known that Kavya was just teasing him. Unfortunately for him, he was a thousand-year-old virgin in hisst life.


    Suddenly, a series of footsteps broke into the room as Roshan entered with a sealed box, apanied by his guards. Seeing the serious expression on Roshan''s face, Vijay knew that the matter was serious. He quickly took the document from the case which was marked as confidential.


    As he read the news, his heart raced. The day he had been waiting for and preparing for had finally arrived.


    "Is there any change in their n?" Vijay asked, concerned, as Vijayanagara was walking on a very tight rope, which was entirely dependent on the Dutch not changing their n.


    "No, Your Highness. The fact that we know their n has not been leaked out. In Sri Lanka, only a select group of people know the actual n. There is no possibility of a leak," Roshan replied, his face full of confidence, trying to reassure the king''s worries.


    "That''s good," Vijay said, relieved.


    Later that day, Vijay called for a military meeting, and all the military leaders of the empire gathered.


    "The thing we have been waiting for is finally here. I have investedkhs of varahas and millions of human resources into preparing for this war, and the time to show results has finally arrived," Vijay said in an awe-inspiring tone. He spoke with majesty as he continued, "Now, a status report. How are the preparations going on?"


    The generals in the room quickly turned their expressions solemn as the war was finally here. One by one, they stepped forward, saluted Vijay, and reported the information they were responsible for handling.


    "Granadery team ready, Your Highness."


    "The sentry towers have been built, and camouge has been applied, Your Highness."


    "The cannons are Cast and ready to be delivered, Your Highness."


    "The infantry and cavalry are both ready to go, Your Highness."


    "The logistics for food, clothes, and medicine supplies are all ready to be shifted at your notice, Your Highness."


    For a final time, Logananda replied with a proud expression on his face, "All teams are ready, and I''ll be waiting for your orders, Your Highness."


    "Very good. Now let''s switch to military economy, and everything in the Empire should be used for this war."


    Military economy? What is that? Everyone was confused by this term, but since the word "military" was used, they assumed it was something rted to the military.


    Vijay exined, noticing the doubts on their faces, "Military economy, as the name suggests, means that all the resources in the country will be used for the purpose of war. All food, clothes, medicine, weapons, equipment, and logistics of the whole Empire will be prioritized, and all other projects will have to wait until the war ispleted. After implementing this system, all construction of new schools, courts, and roads will be temporarily halted until the war ends."


    Now everyone understood. Logananda couldn''t help but admire Vijay foring up with new ideas. He could only imagine the enormity of using the entire Empire''s resources for the purpose of war. Sometimes he wondered if his royal highness was the same person he had seen when he was a child.


    And Logananda''s guess waspletely true, but he would never know.


    Within a matter of hours after concluding the meeting, the Vijayanagara government shifted into military-economic overdrive. Clothes, grain, and medicine were rapidly transported from various corners of the empire, akin to nourishing roots supplying resources to a growing stem. Roads were cleared to facilitate the swift movement of military personnel and supplies for the impending war. All of Vijayanagara''s diverse factoriesmenced running at maximum capacity, churning out a continuous stream of various weapons. The cannons from the Academy of Military Sciences were swiftly transported to Ker at an unprecedented pace.


    While this adjustment diminished the profits of merchants, the government''s significant resource expenditure led to a substantial economic upswing. Numerous resources were procured by the government from merchants at the most favourable prices. The entirety of Vijayanagara transformed into a colossal, well-oiled machine, poised for action at a moment''s notice.


    In the Uppam Forest.


    5th Artillery Division.


    "Sir, everything is ready, sir," the deputy squad leader replied to Chandra, the squad leader of the fifth artillery battalion.


    "Very good. Get to your positions and wait for further instructions," Chandra replied, very satisfied with the routine check after their arrival in the Uppam Forest.


    Superiors had informed them that they were going to face an enemy army in this forest, and they would be waiting here for the right time to ambush them.


    Chandra, hailing from a humble peasant family before enlisting in the army, joined the military with dreams of wealth and the promisednd. However, he quickly drew attention due to his exceptional aptitude, particrly in mathematics. His talents didn''t go unnoticed, and the battalionmander recognized his potential, appointing him as a squad captain in the artillery division.


    Initially, Chandra was perplexed about his assignment, but it didn''t take long for him to realize that artillery operations heavily relied on mathematics and real-time calctions on the battlefield. As he witnessed the devastating power of the cannons, he developed a deep affection for these formidable weapons, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to unleash their terror upon the enemy.


    "Snakes in the rat hole!" Lookout shouted as he got a signal from Kochi harbour about the appearance of a Dutch vessel.


    Chandra grew excited, as the day they had been waiting for was finally here.

 Chapter 82: Kochi Massacre Part:1

    <h4>Chapter 82: Kochi Massacre Part:1</h4>


    On the Dutch warship, General Carel was savouring thepany of a maid, seemingly lost in a moment of pure pleasure. But his enjoyment came to an abrupt halt when there was an unexpected knock at the door.


    "What''s the matter? Speak up!" he barked in anger, his demeanour shifting from a nobleman to an enraged street dog.


    The young sailor hesitated but managed to stammer, "I''m sorry, Your Highness, but we''ll be reaching Kochi port in about 30 minutes, and we''ll be docking there."


    Upon hearing this news, the general''s mood swiftly transformed back into that of a dignified noble, his aura changing like that of a chameleon. He kicked the maid aside with his foot.


    "Ah!" the maid screamed as she hit the wall and hurt her elbow. Paying no heed to the Sl*t, he quickly straightened his attire and headed for the viewing deck.


    From a distance, he could barely spot a strip ofnd on the horizon. He was excited by the prospect of finally reachingnd, as he was really tired of the sea travel. This was the main reason he served in the army and not the prominent Royal Navy. However, being an authentic Dutchman, he had basic knowledge about naval warfare. He noticed the unusually calm waters with norge ships in sight, only some small fishing boats that scattered in fear upon the arrival of their battleships. He turned to the captain of the battleship with a questioning look and voiced his doubts, "Don''t they have a navy? Why aren''t they attacking us?"


    The man-of-war battleship''s captain responded with a smug grin, "We''ve secretly dismantled most of Vijayanagara''s naval capabilities. They did possess a fair number of battle-worthy ships, but over the years, we''ve eliminated them one by one. Surprisingly, they attribute this decline to some natural cmity ghost or some monster in their myths, so they stopped producingrger ships."


    The general burst intoughter, clutching his belly. "No wonder our homnd is so confident about crushing this nation. They don''t even have a proper Navy!"


    The captain nodded, amused by the general''s reaction, though he himself questioned why their homnd had allocated such extensive resources for this mission. Nevertheless, he had to follow orders.


    "To be honest, General, sending our prized battleships is unnecessary. A battalion would suffice to obliterate their entire kingdom, given the might of our great mothend," the captain remarked with a sneer.


    The general agreed, nodding, and then excused himself to prepare for thending operation.


    Meanwhile, in Kochi...


    Inside a modest house, a distinguished man in his Fifties pondered deeply. Despite his noble demeanour, he wore rough clothing. This man was LINGESHWARA ACHARYA, hailing from the renowned Acharya family in the northwestern part of Vijayanagara. His family had once wielded substantial influence, controlling key resources like food, education, and legal matters. However, due to newws enacted by the king, all their privileges were abruptly stripped away, relegating them to peasant status overnight. Despite still considering themselves wealthier than most merchant families, they were hit hard.


    Thispelled the family to participate in a rebellion a year ago, which ultimately failed, resulting in the seizure of all their wealth and assets. Overnight, they became ouws, sentenced to life imprisonment. Lingeshwara believed this was the end of his life and anticipated spending his remaining days behind bars.


    A month ago, to Lingeshwara''s surprise, the jailer made an announcement that gave him a glimmer of hope: they would be granted freedom once they sessfully defended against the invading enemy approaching from the sea. Lingeshwara, the shrewd head of the family, immediately caught onto the loophole in the statement ¨C only those who survived would earn their freedom. He realized it wasn''t going to be as easy as the jailer made it sound.


    Among the incarcerated, a few sharp minds, like Lingeshwara, quickly grasped the significance of the news. Initially, Lingeshwara resisted the jailer''s orders, but they had no choice as their family members'' lives were threatened if they refused to participate.


    Thinking of his wife, grandchild and daughter still in the hands of the government, Lingeshwara reluctantly agreed to serve as a human shield for Vijayanagara. He didn''t want to go, but due to desperation and remembering his family members'' faces, he rekindled the determination, strength, and resolve he had in his youth when he rode horses and fought against the Mughals.


    His train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a man bursting into the house, urgently delivering the news: "Lord, the white men are here!"


    As he snapped out of his momentary trance, Lingeshwara muttered to himself, "Finally, war." With haste, he donned his sword and hurried to the harbour to face the impending enemy. In unity, all the people at the harbour did the same. They shared amon eagerness for their own freedom and that of their families. Their hearts zed with the fervent desire for liberty, understanding that the only path to achieve it was by staunchly opposing these invaders, whatever the price.


    As everyone gathered at the docks, they saw two massive ships escorting what appeared to be cargo vessels. These enormous ships were unlike anything they had ever seen, easily weighing over a thousand tons each, with imposing armour that made them seem indestructible.


    The awe-inspiring sight of those advanced naval vessels left the people of Vijayanagara speechless. Lingeshwara recognized their fear and immediately spoke out, aiming to boost their morale. "Why fret over ships? We''re battling onnd, and those ships can''t sail onnd!" he shouted, addressing their concerns about the colossal battleships. In reality, he grappled with his own fear, but he understood that it was crucial to do whatever it took to uplift the people''s spirits.


    His words had the desired effect. The people''s morale quickly rose as they realized the truth in his statement. They were ready to defend theirnd from these invaders, even in the face of Death, for they had no other choice.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 83: Kochi Massacre Part:2

    <h4>Chapter 83: Kochi Massacre Part:2</h4>


    As the battleship arrived at the shore, General Carel finally made it to his destination. As soon as he walked onto the viewing deck of the warship, he was taken aback as he observed the thousands upon thousands of people standing there, holding weapons and waiting for their arrival. He was not afraid of this scene as he had seen worse. He had a devilish sneer on his face, showing his disregard for the enemy. He was also pleased to see this, not because he was a sadist who enjoyed killing and plundering for fun ¨C no! It was because these indigenous peoplecked advanced weapons and appeared very disorganized, making it much easier for him to deal with the situation.


    With this in mind, he promptly issued an order to his deputy with his emotionless face, fully disying his ruthlessness, "Quickly dispatch a battalion and clear this rabble for me."


    "Yes, sir."


    Soon, amid the wary gazes of the locals, a thousand well-dressed Dutchmen were seen carrying some sort of tubes, lining up along the coastline in a neat formation. However, the locals were bewildered by their unfamiliar weaponry. They hesitated, with a few among them skeptical of the tubes. But these doubters were a minority, and their caution wasn''t shared by the majority. The indigenous people didn''t wait for the Dutch to act. "For freedom!" they rushed forward, screaming at the top of their lungs, swinging their swords and spears. The momentum reached its peak as the tsunami of the mob came crashing towards the Dutch.


    But they were in for a shocking surprise. The Dutchmen finally finished preparing their weapons, inserted something into the tubes and pointed them at their assants. The locals couldn''tprehend the nature of these strange weapons. In the next moment, without heeding the danger, the front-runners heard a deafening bang. Before they could react, their bodies were pierced by some projectiles, causing severe bleeding wounds. They fell in excruciating pain, not evenprehending what had hit them.


    Due to the momentum, many of them were even trampled to death by the panicked crowd.


    By the time the crowd understood what was happening, many of themy lifeless.


    Observing the scene, General Carol was amused as he mocked, "Look at these animals, charging at us as if they could achieve something. Look at them now, dropping like flies."


    "Let us give them a taste of our new cannon, shall we?" the general suggested to the captain, rubbing his hands eager to try.


    The captain eagerly and happily agreed. He had wanted to ask this question earlier but had been apprehensive about possibly offending the general. Now it seemed like his problems were solved. "Ready the big gun," he ordered with excitement evident in hs eyes.


    The assistant on the bridge prepared the cannon, which was then aimed toward the densest area of people and loaded with a massive iron ball, roughly the size of a head.


    With the captain''s instructions, the cannon was fired, unleashing a tremendous explosion that sent shockwaves across the deck. The operator was knocked several steps back due to the recoil, and the cannon discharged its deadly payload.


    It was a gruesome scene below, as limbs, blood, and brains were strewn in every direction. The projectile had created a horrifying massacre of flesh.


    The two Dutch leaders watched the devastation with grim satisfaction. The generalmanded, "Clean up this mess and report to me immediately."


    More Dutch soldiers disembarked from the transport ships, spreading out across the port to locate and eliminate any remaining resistance.


    Far in the distance, Lingeshwara Acharya cowered in the corner of the Ram temple as he survived the massacre. He had positioned himself towards the back of the crowd, and this fortunate location allowed him to escape the initial onught. The horrifying efficiency of the Dutch had left him consumed by fear. He had never witnessed people falling like flies even before they could make an attempt to have a melee fight.


    His body trembled with fear as he closed his eyes, folding his hands in namaste, praying to Lord Rama''s idol beside him. "Lord, please save me. Lord, please save me."


    As he muttered these words robotically, aplicated expression crossed his face as he remembered all the evil deeds he hadmitted. He had snatched away people''snds, killed indiscriminately, amassed wealth on arge scale, and even stolen ornaments from the local temple. Thinking about his own actions and the fate of hisrades, he came to a powerful realization. While looking at the idol''s face, he felt as if thunder had struck his brain, as though the Lord himself had uttered these words.


    "???????????? ???, ???????? ????? ??


    ???? ???? ????????????, ??? ???? ???? ??????


    acodyam¨¡n¨¡ni yath¨¡, pu?p¨¡?i phal¨¡ni ca?


    sva? k? n¨¡tivartante, tath¨¡ karma pur¨¡ k?tam?


    As flowers and fruits are seen at due time and they never vite their time,


    like the same way karma will show their good or bad results.


    It means everyone must reap the fruits of his deeds."


    This sentence repeatedly upied his mind as he saw the figure of Lord Ram in the corner of his eyes. Suddenly, the door of the garba gudi was sted open by a group of white men who barged inside wearing shoes. They first looked around the room, noting the idol, and proceeded to loot all the ornaments adorning it. Finally, they spotted a person who appeared to have given up on life ¨C it was Lingeshwara. They forcefully dragged him out of the garba gudi by his neck, his body scraping across the rough ground.


    Lingeshwara didn''t utter a word as he kept looking at the figure of Lord Ram as he was dragged back , he kept on muttering, "So, my time hase. My time hase, my time hase."


    The white men finally dragged him to an open space, pointing their guns at him. They were surprised by the fearlessness in the man''s eyes. He stared manically and kept repeating some strange words. His eyes held a rare chill, as if detached from this mortal world. The soldiers were stunned by this, but they quickly regained theirposure. Paying no heed to his words and eerie demeanour, they pulled the triggers.


    With that, Lingeshwara''s end came swiftly as darkness overtook him. In his final moments, he managed to utter a few chillingst words, "My time hase, and yours won''t be long."


    Upon hearing the news of the sessful takeover of Kochi, the general was very satisfied. He organized a huge banquet to celebrate the victory.


    The soldiers, along with the general and his top officers, celebrated their victory with plenty of wine, rum, and beer, apanied by music. The celebration seemed out of ce, considering they were revelling among the ruins of bloodshed in Kochi.


    The general, however, had a rare contemtive moment as he reviewed the battle''s data. He was surprised that the casualties were limited to 40 people killed and 60 seriously injured, especially considering they were up against thousands of troops on this expedition. Yet, he couldn''t shake the feeling that the victory hade too easily.


    Despite his doubts, he pushed them aside as a beautiful woman brought to him from Lanka waited in a corner of the tent. The general seized her by the neck and dragged her to his room, with the soldiers jeering and the captain encouraging him.


    Thus, the day ended with the Dutch emerging victorious. This tragic event from hereon would be known as the "Kochi Massacre" by future generations.

 Chapter 84: Forest Bloodbath Part :1

    <h4>Chapter 84: Forest Bloodbath Part :1</h4>


    Vijayanagara:


    In the royal pce, Kavya, with her eyes filled with worry and the hint of tears welling up, was giving Harathi to Vijay. "Vijay, pleasee back safely," she whispered. Learning that Vijay would soon embark on another expedition, had been a really heavy blow, given her recent loss of her father. She found herself shedding tears in secret throughout the nights, consumed by the fear of the unknown.


    On the flip side, Vijay felt a surge of joy as he observed Kavya treating him with her usual warmth. Their rtionship had endured a month of strain, but now, a smug grin yed across Vijay''s face as he gazed at Kavya with pride, albeit oblivious to the storm of emotions she was wrestling with.


    However, this serene moment was abruptly shattered by a sharp exmation, "Your Majesty," which snapped Vijay back to the present. He found himself at an army camp in Ker, closely monitoring the ongoing progress of the war. When he recognized the person who had called him, it turned out to be none other than his intelligence chief. Vijay, recognizing Roshan, began to piece together that the situation at Kochi Port might have reached its conclusion. With a sense of anticipation, he pressed Roshan for thetest developments, asking, "What''s thetest news? Have the Dutch bought into our strategy, and how are they faring?" Roshan''s next words only served to affirm his suspicions.


    Roshan, with a tinge of trepidation, replied, "Your Majesty, the Dutch are already en route to the capital, just as you predicted. They are passing through the Uppam Forest, and within a day, they will reach our chokepoint. But most importantly, Your Highness, regarding the battle in Kochi Port, it seems there weren''t many casualties on the Dutch side. Their weapons are far more advanced than ours, and our people fell like weeds to a sickle. it was tough for them to withstand the Dutch bombardment."


    Upon receiving this news, a tumult of emotions swept over Vijay. It wasn''t the loss to the Dutch that weighed on him, but the realization that he had knowingly sacrificed the lives of thousands to advance his cause. As the future ruler of Bhartiya Samrajya, he had faced a painful and morally challenging decision. Yet, with the ethical values of future generations guiding him, he couldn''t escape the overwhelming self-reproach and disgust that twisted his expression.


    Observing the turmoil in Vijay''s eyes, Roshan couldn''t help but feel a deep sense of pity for the inner struggle his king was grappling with. He understood that making such weighty decisions, especially at an age when one should be out ying and enjoying their youth, was a heavy burden to bear. Life had thrust upon Vijay the responsibility of making these incredibly challenging choices.


    In contrast to feeling disgusted, Roshan found a measure of satisfaction in Vijay''s decisions. He was pleased with Vijay''s choice to use the lives of those he considered "bloodsucking scum" to gain an advantage in a significant battle. He was even more surprised that despite being overwhelmed by guilt, Vijay still gave the orders that led to the massacre of so many people. However, Roshan''s satisfaction stemmed from his understanding that, in the long run, extending kindness to their enemies would only bring suffering to the people of the empire. Roshan hoped that the king would grow and learn from these experiences, but didn''t address this matter directly. He believed that Vijay needed to learn from his own life experiences.


    Vijay, regaining hisposure, managed to gather his thoughts and suppress his emotions. With a determined tone, he spoke, "I know what needs to be done. Keep a vignt eye on their movements and inform me of any changes."


    Roshan nodded in agreement and quietly exited the room, leaving Vijay to contemte his next significant step. After a moment of reflection, Vijay beckoned for Yogendra Singh to join him.


    As Yogendra Singh entered the room, his imposing presencemanded attention. He sported a more streamlined and muscr physique than before, resembling the embodiment of strength, much like The ROCK from future generations. Gone was some of the bulk he used to carry; his current appearance was that of a formidable barbarian.


    Seeing Yogendra''s arrival, Vijay didn''t hesitate and promptly issued hismand, "Prepare the men for battle; the Dutch will likely be on their way within a day."


    Yogendra Singh''s eyes ignited with anticipation as he received the news, his excitement inly visible. He had longed for an opportunity to put into practice the lessons he had absorbed from Vijay since his departure from the Mughal Empire. His appointment as the general for this battle stood as a testament to his experience inbat against the Mughals. With a crisp salute, he acknowledged Vijay''smand and swiftly exited themand centre, eager to lead the troops into action.


    As Yogendra left, Vijay gazed after him, deep in contemtion. He didn''t know how this path would shape him, for better or worse, but he feltpelled to undergo this baptism in order to bear the weight of his Throne and ambitions.


    Outskirts of Uppam Forest:


    A dayter, near the entrance to the Uppam Forest, the Dutch army stood in formation, ready for their next move. General Carel, gazing at the dense forest ahead, expressed his concerns to his deputy, Henry, "Henry, are we certain this is the right path? Venturing through this forest could be perilous, filled with potential diseases and unknown dangers. Moreover, weck experience in forestbat."


    Henry offered reassurance to his superior, "My lord, you need not worry. Given our recent sess in dealing with Kochi, it will take several days for news of our actions to reach the royal capital. During this period, we can strategically approach the capital, catching them by surprise if we go with the forest route."


    He borated, "I''ve consulted with the local people we captured here, And It is to our knowledge that the forest path would significantly reduce the distance to the royal capital, allowing us to reach it in just two days. On the other hand, if we choose the conventional road through the towns, we will undoubtedly encounter significant resistance. While we may possess the capability to defeat them, it would deplete our ammunition and render us vulnerable by the time we reach the capital. Moreover, considering Emperor Vijay''s potential strategy of overwhelming us with sheer numbers, we might find ourselves outmanoeuvred. Therefore, my lord, I strongly rmend taking the forest route to minimize attention and catch the Vijayanagar Empire by surprise."


    Considering Henry''s reasoning, General Carel nodded and ordered, "We shall proceed through the forest."


    The men were overjoyed with the General''s orders. It is not that They felt any mental burden in killing so many people, No, In fact, it was quite the opposite as they were pleased at the thought of eliminating those satanic followers and devils, rather than embracing the warmth of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, they were fully aware of the vast human resources within the empire, with a poption of 40 million people. They knew that their 50,000 troops would be just a drop in the ocean, and their presence wouldn''t have a significant impact, regardless of how advanced their weaponry was.


    Finally, the general led the troops into the forest, Falling into Vijay''s trap.

 Chapter 85: Forest Bloodbath Part :2

    <h4>Chapter 85: Forest Bloodbath Part :2</h4>


    A massive army was making its way through the dense forest on the outskirts of Cochin Port. General Carel led his troops, navigating the terrain with difficulty. Among the soldiers, a group of indigenous men could be seen, struggling as they pulled a heavy cannon with them. These captives had been enved from Kochi Port and were now being forced to transport the artillery.


    General Carel, visibly fatigued and covered in sweat, inquired, "Henry, how much farther do we need to go?"


    Henry, his own face glistening with perspiration, quickly responded, "My lord, we are already halfway through. Just a few more hours, and we should emerge from this forest," He hadn''t expected this expedition to be so challenging. He almost regretted suggesting to go through the forest, but he knew that all these troubles would go away in half a day. He suppressed his thoughts and continued the march


    After an hour more of travel, they found a clean, empty clearing in the forest with a suitable water supply and convenient lookout areas. It was already evening, and the general, looking at the tired faces of his soldiers, ordered them to rest and set up a camp to spend the night there.


    The soldiers were relieved by the general''s words as they were also feeling tired. They had to carry a lot of supplies with them, and it was not easy to march in this forestednd. They had a few horses, but unfortunately, they couldn''t find enough horses to equip everyone in the army, so only the important leaders got to have them.


    The soldiers quickly set up the tents, and the cooks started to prepare dinner. A bonfire was lit up to keep them warm. There was hustle and bustle in the military camp as various activities took ce.


    In the peaceful ambience of the forest, calmness soon returned. Some of the soldiers stayed up, while the rest went to sleep without any care in the world.


    But no one could have imagined that all their actions were being monitored by multiple pairs of eyes around the forest, like a pack of wolves stalking their prey, waiting for the critical moment.


    Five kilometres from the Dutch army camp was Vijay''s encampment. Inside a tent, Vijay sat with Yogendra Singh, the general overseeing this operation, and the leaders of the artillery division. Roshan, standing beside Vijay, delivered thetest information to the group andmenced his exnation.


    Before diving into the details, Roshan unfurled a map on the table, gathering the attention of the assembled generals and the king. He proceeded to convey the information that had been meticulously analyzed and gathered.


    "My dear generals, based on our current intelligence, it appears that the Dutch have fallen right into our trap and have established their camp precisely where we had intended," Roshan announced. The smiles on everyone''s faces, including Vijay''s, attested to the sess of their strategy.


    Roshan continued, "As of now, their camp is situated 5 kilometres from our position. Their current path, leading them only a kilometre away from our kill spot, ces them well within the effective range of all our sentry cannons. We estimate their force to consist of approximately 50,000 well-equipped troops, many of whom are d in iron armour. Furthermore, we have confirmed the presence of at least two divisions equipped with flintlock guns and five cannons, although we are uncertain of the cannons'' exact firepower. However, judging from their weight, it''s reasonable to assume they can fire projectiles ranging from 10 to 20 kilograms."


    Everyone in the meeting was taken aback by the Dutch forces'' strength, but Vijay wasn''t surprised since he had prior knowledge of this information. However, General Yogendra was astonished by the enemy''s strength and the firepower of their cannons, which were capable of firing projectiles weighing 20 kilograms. He couldn''t fully grasp the extent of damage that such heavy projectiles could inflict on their defences, especially when their own cannons were only of 10kg strength and could already breach decent-sized walls, let alone a cannon double that size.


    Feeling the pressure and frowning faces in the room, Vijay tried to boost the morale, "Just looking at the numbers, they may seem stronger than us, but don''t just look at those cold numbers. In reality, we''ve been preparing for this war for a long long time. We know the enemy''s every move, and we''ve set up sentry towers in hidden locations along their path. Even if they''re only 100 meters from the sentry towers, they won''t recognize the artillery, camouged with paint and trees."


    He continues, "Moreover, they won''t be expecting our strike in the middle of the forest. Tonight, we''ll have a good meal and rest. At daybreak, when the soldiers are at their least vignt, they''ll begin to march towards various designated points we''ve arranged. As soon as they reach these points, our cannons will target their cannons in the rear. Once we''ve destroyed their cannons, our Archer squads will clear out as many flintlock soldiers as possible. But that won''t be enough to bring them down, as they''ll soon mobilize and form a turtle shell formation."


    Vijay states, "Unfortunately, we can''t eliminate them with cannons alone, as cannons aren''t very effective against individual people. If we allow them a chance to escape, they might split into various groups and scatter throughout the forest, which would be the worst-case scenario. We can''t fight them all over the forest. What we''ll do is use our numbers to our advantage and Storm our infantry divisions to Brawl with them."


    Vijay continued, "Charging headlong into a line of gunfire would be akin to leaping into a zing pit. However, the soldiers at the front will be equipped with heavy iron-reinforced wooden shields, which they''ll use to advance. While this won''t entirely negate the impact of the bullets, it will slow them down, affording us a chance to avoid fatal injuries. After a round of firing, the Dutch will require at least half a minute to reload their guns. It''s during this interval that our infantry will engage them in close-quartersbat before they have the opportunity to reload."


    He concluded, "Once we''ve eliminated the flintlock divisions, victory will be within reach. Afterwards, our various ranger squads will step in and neutralize any scattered enemy infantry."

 Chapter 86: Forest Bloodbath Part :3

    <h4>Chapter 86: Forest Bloodbath Part :3</h4>


    Daybreak


    The crows cawed in the sky as the sun finally decided to show up for work, and the sky changed colour on the horizon. In the Dutch military camp, General Carel Reyniersz woke up groggily with a fewdies in his arms, still yawning, tired from the previous day''s march. A few momentster, like him, everyone in the camp woke up.


    As everyone Woke up from their sleep, the general eventually signalled for the march to resume. It was the early morning hours, and many were still feeling a bit drowsy.


    Towards the rear of the marching group, the ves struggled to pull the heavy cannons. The toil they endured was etched into their bodies, marked by scars and a weariness that seemed to emanate from their lifeless eyes. These individuals were once nobles of the Vijayanagar Empire, but their rebellion had brought them under Vijay''s coercion to participate in the battle for Kochi.


    Beneath the cannons, chains were fastened securely, and the ves exerted immense effort to drag them forward. Their bodies bore the painful marks of past struggles, with red scars crisscrossing their skin. But today, there was a glimmer of hope shining in their eyes.


    The forest terrain proved unsuitable for conventional wheels, leading them to employ a traditional method that involved using logs to transport the cannons. While this approach demanded more effort, it offered versatility and required less reliance on specific types of terrain.


    As the army passed through the forest, they slowly approached their impending doom, following Vijay''s n.


    After a while, amotion arose at the head of the marching column, caused by a fallen tree obstructing their path. General Carel didn''t pay it much mind and assumed it was the result of wild animals. He casually issued orders for his men to clear the obstacle.


    Yet, for the ves who had been struggling to pull the cannons, this was seen in a different light. To them, it represented a chance for escape.


    Quickly, they retreated from the vicinity of the canons, sensing that something was about to happen.


    As the soldiers attempted to clear the blocking tree, the general noticed something peculiar. The trunk had been cut so smoothly that it seemed deliberate.


    Intrigued and on edge, he thought, "People? This far Inside the forest?..."


    Before he could react or warn his men to turn back, multiple dull thuds rang through the forest. The general''s ears buzzed from the shockwave.


    As General Carel Reyniersz. turned swiftly to assess the unfolding crisis, his exmation of shock wasden with a profound sense of dread, "Jesus!..."


    In the fraction of a moment it took to grasp the dire reality, his heart sank as he witnessed the very cannons he had painstakingly acquired being subjected to a relentless enemy artillery onught. The fruits of theirbour and the symbol of their might were under a fierce and unexpected attack.


    Before he could marshal his thoughts or issue a countermand, it was an exercise in futility. Time seemed to blur as the disastrous events unravelled before him, with a chilling sense of inevitability. To his deep dismay, the relentless barrage of cannon fire continued, originating from concealed positions within the forest''s embrace.


    As the general observed the conspicuously absent ves near the cannons and discerned the origins of the iing artillery fire, the stark truth became unmistakable: they were ensnared in a cunning ambush. Regret gnawed at him for the decisions that had led them into this perilous situation, and he found himself questioning the rationale behind their venture to this unforgivingnd. In a continuous stato of "Bang, bang, bang," more shots echoed through the forest.


    The general quicklyprehended that while these shots were individually modest, emanating from cannons that barely surpassed 20-pound calibres, their collective volume was overwhelming. At least ten distinct positions within the forest concealed the hidden cannons, and their synchronized attack left no room for salvation. It was a cruel twist of fate that he nowmented the decision to cluster all their artillery in one location.


    In the span of a few harrowing minutes, the formidable Dutch artillery, a source of great pride, had been rendered impotent. With resolve, General Carel Reyniersz. endeavoured to galvanize his troops and prepare them to form a defensive formation. However, what transpired next left him breathless and paralyzed with shock.

 Chapter 87: Forest Bloodbath Part :4

    <h4>Chapter 87: Forest Bloodbath Part :4</h4>


    Uppum Forest,


    On the Vijayanagara front, after the sessful operation to destroy the Dutch artillery, General Yogendra was very happy. But as he remembered the cannons he had seen earlier, he shuddered as he could practically feel the thick iron heaviness in them, representing their superior powerpared to their own. He was sure that if the Dutch had managed to reach the capital, no walls would be able to withstand their might, and he was sure they would copse under their bombardment. Even this thought sent a chill down his back. "Fortunately, his royal highness has the foresight," he thought to himself, relieved.


    With the sessful destruction of the artillery, Vijay was also ted with the oue. In all honesty, he couldn''t help but be surprised by how smoothly the n had unfolded, considering that in his previous life, his ns seldom went ording to n.


    Advancing to the next phase of the operation, the order was given for the archers to spring into action. Yogendra, receiving the news, swiftly passed on the orders for the ensuing manoeuvre. Within the cover of the forest, a deluge of arrows descended upon the Dutch army, resembling a lethal downpour. However, the peculiarityy in the fact that all these arrows found their mark in a specific section of the enemy forces, targeting the flintlock division of the Dutch army. The soldiers armed with flintlock guns began to drop like wheat before a scythe.


    On the Dutch side, the soldiers were gripped by panic as they witnessed theirrades falling like wheat. In their frenzy, they fired their shots in various directions within the forest, with some even inadvertently targeting their ownrades. The army was plunged into chaos.


    This state of disarray greatly favoured Vijayanagara, but it proved short-lived. Amanding figure, towering at a height of no less than 6 feet and 8 inches, issued orders to the troops to regroup into a defensive formation and withdraw steadily. Upon the issuance of thismand, the soldiers swiftly shielded their heads with their armour andmenced a controlled retreat.


    Vijay couldn''t help but feel a sense of disappointment as only approximately a division of the Dutch forces had been sessfully eliminated. Determined to press on, he issued orders for the infantry to charge. Finally, with the opportunity at hand, Yogendra eagerly roared with an evil grin, and General Yogendra''s excitement was infectious, boosting the morale of his entire unit. As they advanced, the forefront of the charge was led by formidable figures d in iron armour, bearingrge wooden shields for protection. These shields were not only thick but also reinforced with iron for added structural integrity. The sight of the advancing army emerging from different directions of the forest left the Dutch forces in shock.


    In the Dutch camp,


    General Carel couldn''t help but feel a profound sadness as he surveyed the countless lifeless bodies of his men. Merely by ncing at the scene, he could estimate that there had been at least 10,000 casualties within his flintlock division. Now, he found himself encircled by his remaining troops, who had adopted a defensive stance. Acting on his orders, the soldiers covered their heads with the lightweight armour they wore, offering some protection against iing arrows. Despite their efforts, the injuries were still severe, resulting in many casualties.


    As the barrage of arrows ceased, General Carel''s relief was abruptly cut short. A colossal enemy force was hurtling toward them, under themand of a figure who appeared nothing short of a giant in his eyes. In a hasty and urgent tone, General Carel shouted, "Line up and form a phnx!" The Dutch soldiers snapped out of their momentary stupor, and swiftly obeyed. Their instincts and muscle memory kicked in, guiding their bodies to seamlessly arrange themselves into a textbook formation.


    Even Vijay couldn''t help but be impressed by their remarkable awareness and rapid decision-making. Yet, a bittersweet thought crossed his mind, "Unfortunately, you are my enemy."


    General Kane swiftly ordered the Flintlock division to prepare for action. The well-trained flintlock soldiers took control of the situation. Half of them efficiently loaded their guns with ammunition, while the other half readied themselves to follow suit, ensuring a continuous round of firing. They unleashed a barrage of bullets upon the charging Vijayanagara army.


    However, the efficiency of their attack was significantly hindered as the four runners, wielding arge shield which covered most of their bodies, deflected most of the bullets. Only a few unlucky soldiers suffered injuries from the gunfire. Nheless, the Dutch soldiers were losing ammunition rapidly, and the Vijayanagara infantry was steadily closing the gap, driving the Dutch into a state of growing desperation. The Dutch guns proved to be woefully ineffective in close quarters due to the shields held by the Vijayanagara infantry. In a matter of seconds, the charging Vijayanagara forces reached the frontlines of the Dutch formation.


    "Bang!"


    Yogendra raised his shield and brought it down forcefully upon a Dutch infantryman''s head. The man could barely resist the blow before he fell, bleeding profusely. Yogendra''s face disyed a maniacal smile, bordering on the demonic.


    General Carel held his breath as he watched this gruesome scene unfold before his eyes, with his soldiers being mowed down like helpless children. Realizing that the battle was all but lost, he made a swift decision and ordered a retreat, shouting, "Scatter and get back to the woods!" The soldiers were initially stunned by the sight of their fleeing general, but soon they, too, began to disperse in different directions.

 Chapter 88: Forest Bloodbath Part :5

    <h4>Chapter 88: Forest Bloodbath Part :5</h4>


    Looking at the scene in front of him of the defeated Dutch soldiers, Vijay had a smile on the corner of his mouth. If anyone saw him now, they would be shocked to see that he looked like the scheming viin from a children''s cartoon show.


    Vijay had already expected that the enemy would try to scatter in the forest even before the battle was decided upon. He called the brigadier general and ordered him, "Let the rangers take action."


    Immediately after the message was passed to the various battalions of the Ranger division.


    Vijay had, even before the war, trained these rangers specifically to fight in forest terrain. He had recruited experienced hunters and had them train the rangers to fight effectively in forest environments. This was necessary because, in the forested terrain, a conventional army was less effective due to the trees obstructing their movement. Therefore, Vijay organized the rangers in a way that each battalion was divided into 10 squads, and each squad acted independently in a loose formation, each having its own objectives to fulfil.


    Vijay designed this formation because he wanted the Ranger unit to serve as the exploration team when Bharat would send expedition fleets to Africa, South America, and other ces. In the 21st century, rangers do not y a significant role in most major countries, except for countries like those in the central part of Africa and South American countries, which have extensive forested areas. However, in the 17th century, much of the world remained uncharted and unsuitable for human habitation, except for the European continent, Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Therefore, Vijay''s n was to establish the groundwork and train the Ranger unit specifically for situations like the current one they were facing and for the future missions in foreignnds they would undertake.


    Somewhere deep in the forest, General Carel had run in a random direction, hoping to escape. Behind him, a group of Dutch soldiers could be seen following the general. They had already dropped their weapons, armour, and food supplies, trying to reduce their weight to run faster. Just like this, many soldiers began to scatter in different directions, hoping to retreat from this ambush and regroup for a counterattack.


    A certain Dutch soldier with a missing ear was one of these soldiers hoping to escape. But all his expectations were brought to nought as he could see in front of him a group of people dressed in green clothes, running at them with swords and knives. He was caught off guard and didn''t have any chance to react as they closed in on him. Before he could react to what was happening and attempt to resist the enemies, bolts from somewhere in the area pierced his arm. Blood spurted as his arm gradually lost its feeling. The ranger took this opportunity and swiftly swung his talwar, piercing the Dutch soldier''s neck in a single blow, ending his life.


    Simr scenes urred in various ces within the forest. It was a bloodbath. General Carel, who was unaware of all this, continued to run for his life. Just when he thought he had escaped the main pursuers behind him, he heard the sound of someone being pierced by a deadly arrow.


    Hearing the sounding from behind him, he froze in ce and slowly turned his head back, only to see the lifeless body of his subordinate. He realized he was surrounded again. His unease grew when he saw men wearing green clothes and green-painted faces emerge from the woods, carrying swords and knives. He knew that his life was ending here.


    Among the enemy soldiers in green uniforms who hadpletely surrounded him, a man who appeared to be their leader, noticing his badges, shouted in amanding tone, "Edu ko avana," in anguage General Carel did not understand. But soon heprehended when a man took out a rope from his bag, attempting to capture him. The general grew cold as he knew that he would likely face cruel torture. If he were captured by any other European country, he might have surrendered without resistance, as he believed his homnd would intervene. However, in this indigenous and backward country, he knew that the rules he was ustomed to did not apply.


    Fearing that he would not be able to withstand the pain and torment if captured, he swiftly retrieved a vial from his pocket and drank the liquid inside it. It was toote for the Vijayanagara Rangers to stop him. Within a few moments of being captured, General Carel was found dead.


    Vijay, who was overlooking the battle from a distance, swiftly received news of the victory in the battle and the death of the enemymander. He was finally happy that he had won the Battle, but he couldn''t help feeling a tinge of regret that he couldn''t capture the enemymander, as it could have been a valuable source of military knowledge and expertise.


    However, his regret didn''tst long because, with his constant promotion of modern ideas, the Vijayanagara army was on its way to bing the most powerful army in the world in this era.


    "What are the casualties?" Vijay asked Yogendra, themanding general of this operation. Yogendra Singh, drenched in blood and breathing heavily, was the man Vijay was addressing.


    Vijay, still unustomed to the gruesome scenes of war, found his face contorting in response to the sight of Yogendra''s appearance. However, he quickly regained hisposure. He needed to adapt and be a monarch of an empire, not a politician.


    Yogendra quickly replied to the king''s question, "Your Highness, in this battle, we utilized 20 brigades consisting of around 100,000 men. The infantryprised 16 brigades with two brigades of forest rangers and a single brigade of artillery personnel, along with a brigade for emergency support."


    Unfortunately, due to our inadequate defence measures, there were more casualties in the infantry brigades than we expected. We lost 2,000 soldiers, and there are up to 15,000 seriously injured and 25,000 lightly injured soldiers. As for the artillery battalion, since they did not participate directly in the battle, there were no casualties, but there were a few light injuries due to the misuse of the cannons. In the forest Ranger brigade, there were only a hundred casualties with more people injured."


    Yogendra ryed this data with a normal expression on his face as if this information were routine. However, everyone who listened to the data was shocked, not because the casualties were high, but on the contrary, they were surprisingly low. In a battle of this scale, depending on the conditions, it could have resulted in more than 10,000 casualties. Controlling the casualties to less than 3,000 was a miracle, but Vijay did not see it that way. His heart ached for all those good men who were fathers, sons, and husbands dying for their country. He felt a slight twinge of guilt because he couldn''t advance the weapons of Vijayanagara quickly enough. If he could have, this situation might not have urred.


    But as the emperor of an Empire for a while, he quickly gained control of his emotions andmanded their next move, "Very good. Let''s move on to the next part of the n. Send the injured back for treatment, let the rest of them rest for a while, and then, we march to retake Kochi. We will show the Dutch that we are not so easy to mess with."


    "Yeah!" All the important military personnel in the camp cheered with high morale as they prepared for another hearty battle.

 Chapter 89: Reclaiming Kochi Part :1

    <h4>Chapter 89: Reiming Kochi Part :1</h4>


    Following the battle, the wounded soldiers and the fallen were transported back to the capital for medical treatment and either cremation or burial, honouring their sacrifice.


    Subsequently, the deceased Dutch soldiers were also cremated in the forest itself to prevent the potential spread of diseases, ensuring a respectful disposal of their remains.


    As Vijay observed the towering fire the size of a two-story building, he recalled something and summoned Yogendra. He inquired, "Did we sessfully recover all the flintlocks from the Dutch? Were there any functional cannons left intact?"


    Yogendra, having overseen the cleanup of the battlefield, swiftly remembered all the items they had gathered and responded, "Your Royal Highness, we have collected all the operational flintlocks and acquired a significant amount of ammunition. Unfortunately, we weren''t as fortunate in recovering the cannons. However, by some stroke of luck, we managed to salvage a single cannon that hadn''t been damaged by bombardment; it only flipped over, rendering it inoperable."


    Upon hearing this, Vijay nodded his head in satisfaction with the spoils of the war. He was particrly pleased by the recovered cannons. In all honesty, Vijay had not expected to recover a cannon as he had ordered the destruction of all Dutch cannons, considering them a significant security threat in battle. The loss of the Dutch cannons was not a severe blow as the cannon technology of this era mainly made advancements in mechanics and metallurgy¡ªfields that Vijay believed he could conquer with time. However, The recovered cannon would save Vijayanagar a significant amount of time they werecking and reduce the effort required to develop new cannons, a fact that pleased Vijay.


    In a joyous mood, Vijay ordered, "Send all the flintlocks and cannons to the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences. Have them disassemble all the weapons and figure out how to replicate them as soon as possible."


    Vijay still remembered the looming threat of the Mughal Empire, which was why he was in such a hurry.


    With all that said, it was time to embark on his first conquest as the emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire.


    The remaining soldiers marched towards the Kochi Port under Vijay''smand.


    In just a day, with the rangers leading the way, the marching Vijayanagara army reached the outskirts of Uppam Forest in half a day. They swiftly established a camp in this location and dispatched scouts to gather information about the condition of the Kochi port and any remaining Dutch forces.


    As the day progressed and the sun began to set, half a day passed until the scouts returned with aprehensive report of information.


    Yogendra, who had initially reviewed the information, had a noticeable change in his expression. His face turned as dark as a stormy sky, and blue veins started to bulge on his neck. Vijay, perceiving the shift in Yogendra''s demeanour, also delved into the information provided by the scouts, sensing that something was amiss.


    Vijay, upon reading the information, was no better, even mming the table in anger as he perused the news. Observing the king and the generals'' expressions, all the leaders of the army were also curious to read the information, and their reactions were no different, their faces equally crestfallen.


    "Your Highness, these bastards should not be forgiven. They are not humans; they are demons in the skin of humans. We should immediately erase them from the face of this world," Yogendra echoed through gritted teeth. His emotion resonated strongly among the military leaders as they also sided with him.


    "Yes, Your Highness."


    "We should erase them."


    "Yes, yes."


    "Please, Your Highness, listen to me. We should eradicate them right now."


    "..."


    As the surrounding noises grew increasingly louder, Vijay found his irritation escting with the incessant mour, especially after recalling the letter''s troubling content. The revtions within made his blood boil, and his face contorted with a mix of anger and frustration. Finally, unable to contain his emotions, he snapped.


    "Enough!" Vijay bellowed, his face flushed with rage. Pointing his finger around the table, he dered, "I will Fkng decide what to do, not all of you!"


    With a grave expression, he made his point abundantly clear to all the military leaders seated around the table.


    Everyone in the room was shocked by Vijay''s outburst because it was their first time seeing their King act this way.


    Even during the times when the rebellion was ongoing, Vijay was mostly gentle and included them in the conversation. They all thought it was odd that the king acted this way. Some among them also wanted to manipte Vijay in the future, noticing his weak attitude. But witnessing Vijay''s outburst today, they quickly buried their evil thoughts. They realized that their young king was starting to mature and could no longer be easily influenced by them.


    "I am sorry, your highness. I deeply apologize."


    "Your Highness, please forgive me for my slip of the tongue."


    "Your Royal Majesty, p-p-please f-f-forgive my sin."


    Everyone returned to their senses, quickly dropping to the ground and pleading with Vijay. Thest man''s disrespectful tone drew Vijay''s attention, and in a loud voice, hemanded:


    "All of your sries for the next two months will be cut. As for you," Vijay pointed at the man who tried to sway Vijay''s thoughts and dered, "A demotion to a normal infantry soldier: six months'' sry deducted, and you will receive 20shes."


    Everyone swiftly knelt, including Yogendra, epting the punishment. Even the individual receiving the most severe penalty wore a bitter smile. Normally, under a different ruler, such disrespect would result in severe consequences, possibly losing one''s tongue or even his life. He knew this. But witnessing Vijay''s vulnerability, his greed overpowered his reason and escted his ambitions to an unprecedented level, his mind overheating andmitting a grave sin. Fortunately, Vijay''s mercy provided an escape.


    Led away for punishment, the camp''s faces remained solemn, except for Yogendra Singh and Roshan. Their satisfaction stemmed from Vijay''s growth as a capable monarch. While his prior governance was excellent, his gentle approach had limitations. Regardless of one''s administrative brilliance, without authority over the military, they remain mere civil officials. Only a resolute king can control a robust military.


    Vijay''s fury ignited once more, as he remembered the content of the letter the scouts had brought. ording to the letter, the Dutch army was not present in Kochi but was controlled by the Dutch Navy. A huge fleet of ships was stationed in Kochi''s port along with numerous supply ships.


    It wasn''t the presence of the Dutch that angered him, but the news that not only did they leave not a single person alive in Kochi, but they also massacred everyone. Even with the absence of the army, the Navy dispatched personnel to nearby viges to plunder their wealth, massacre the men, and enve the women for their sexual pleasure. Appallingly, women were treated as toys on the roads of Kochi, unable to resist.


    Vijay finally saw the reality of this era. He had always thought that the Dutch would conquer Kochi and wait for news of the army''s victory, sparing the people from harm. However, this era delivered a p in his face, teaching him that this time was far more ruthless than he had ever imagined.


    The experience of the atrocities happening just a few kilometres away shook him to the core, boiling his blood with a rage he had never felt before. But as his emotions quickly began to spiral out of control, he utilized his strong mental power to calm down and think about the best way to confront the Dutch on hisnd. He had already dismissed the idea of capturing a few Dutchmen in order to learn their technology. The Dutch had to atone for their sins.


    Slowly, a n was forming in his mind in real time.

 Chapter 90: Reclaiming Kochi Part :2

    <h4>Chapter 90: Reiming Kochi Part :2</h4>


    Aboard the man-of-war Battleship of the Royal Dutch Navy, There stood a middle-aged man dressed in white overalls, sporting a red beard and an unusually muscr build for this era. This man was none other than the captain of this expedition, Sander Boexenberg.


    "Ahhhhhh...,"


    Beneath his bodyy a delicate-looking woman, seemingly vited and bleeding from multiple ces. Her eyes appeared lifeless as her soul moved on to a higher ce, joining the circle of reincarnation. Just a few moments ago, she had been struggling to resist, but looking at the choke marks on her throat, it seemed all her efforts were in vain. Tears dripped from her eyes as she could no longer close them.


    "Tsk"


    "This one is also broken, huh?" Captain Sander said with a sad expression. If anyone saw his face at that moment, they might think he had lost someone very important to him. However, in reality, this sadistic individual was simply distressed because his ''toys'' were broken.


    Suddenly, a noise was heard.


    "Bang..."


    A loud noise of the door opening startled him, prompting him to swiftly go into hiding.


    A day ago,


    "Captain, with all due respect, we are to maintain our current position until we receive explicit orders from the highermand. It is imperative that we adhere strictly to protocol and await the directives issued by the army before taking any further action.," the deputy captain and other high-level leaders in the Navy tried to persuade him. But Sanders couldn''t listen to their nonsense. He is a son of a noble earl back home. Because he offended some noble women, he was sent to this God-forsaken ce to lead this expedition. He had already a lot of pent-up anger about his parents forcing him to go to this godlessnd. Now that there was no one to control him, he wanted to let loose and do whatever he wanted, but the annoying military leaders kept getting in his way.


    "Hehe," he chuckled, an evil smirk curling his lips as a twisted n formed in his mind, and he began to exin.


    "Don''t worry, aren''t we just fighting some indigenous country bumpkins who do not even have a single cannon? How hard could it be? Within a day, the army would have already conquered thisnd. Haven''t we sailed here for so long? We are already very tired and need something to relieve our pressure."


    His words provoked thoughtful expressions on the faces of the sailors listening to the conversation.


    The gang of navy officers wore unsightly expressions as they disapproved of where this was heading.


    "I heard from the scouts that there is a vige of decent size nearby. Why don''t we raid this vige with our remaining firepower? It would be hard to take down a fortified city with our current strength but, it is still very easy to take down a vige. We could seize all the grain and gold in that vige, and by the way, let''s take the women for us to enjoy," he said with a lecherous expression on his face.


    Upon hearing those words, the sailors'' faces lit up with excitement as the prospect of women greatly piqued their interest in the matter.


    Under the mounting pressure from all the sailors on board, the navy officers eventuallypromised and relinquished the power in their hands.


    Back in the present time


    In the dense woods to the left of Kochi port, there lies a hill surrounded by water on three sides and connected to thend by a thin reef.


    Vijay led his men, guiding them to cross the reef and ascend the hill. Crossing the reef wasn''t difficult as the water was quite shallow, reaching only chest height. Vijay had ordered a division to stay on the outskirts of Kochi port, awaiting his signal. From atop the hill, Vijay had a view of the Dutch warships in the distance. He was momentarily amazed by therge vessels he was witnessing, despiteing from the future. It was his first time observing such marvels of naval architecture, solely reliant on the power of nature to move.


    Vijay was certain that it was a man-of-war Battleship, a powerful warshipmonly used from the 16th to the 19th century, prevalent in Dutch and other European fleets. From what Vijay could discern, it resembled a galleon type with three masts, each carrying three to four sails. The ship was approximately 50 meters in length and boasted up to 104 guns: four at the bow, eight at the stern, and the rest distributed on each broadside. If his memory served him right, it could achieve a maximum sailing speed of eight or nine knots, weighing around a thousand tons.


    Vijay was eager to have such a navy for himself, but soon he came back to his senses and began issuing orders.


    "Cut down the trees and construct temporary rafts that can each carry a group of 5 men as quickly as possible. Ensure there are no fires lit," Vijay ordered as he gazed at the brightly illuminated Dutch warship.


    Vijay''s strategic approach involved prioritizing a direct assault on the battleship before engaging in the remation of Kochi. Understanding the battleship as the most immediate threat, his primary concerny in the potential scenario where reiming Kochi first would inadvertently alert the battleship. The alert received by the battleship could lead them to anticipate the failure of the expedition, triggering a rapid retreat to Lanka to evade capture. Such a preemptive move by the battleship would significantly exacerbate the challenges faced by the army, intricatelyplicating their mission and worsening the predicaments encountered.


    Hence, his strategy involved initiating an assault on the warship before targeting the Kochi port. Furthermore, Vijay held strong confidence in the element of surprise, believing that the Dutch forces hadn''t foreseen the possibility of the army''s defeat or an attack on their battleship. Thisck of anticipation, he believed, would likely lead to vulnerabilities in their security measures, offering a strategic advantage for the subsequent actions.


    To be Continued...

 Chapter 91: Reclaiming Kochi Part :3

    <h4>Chapter 91: Reiming Kochi Part :3</h4>


    "Thud... thud... thud..." Soon, the trees on the hill began to fall down one by one, much like the hair falling on a 9-10 code farmer''s head. If any climate activist from the future had witnessed this scene, it would likely give them a heart attack.


    Fortunately, the rafts were quickly built ording to Vijay''s instructions, utilizing the numerous trees in the vicinity.


    Soon after, Vijay embarked on a specially designedrger raft, crafted exclusively for him, and set course towards the Dutch warship. Normally, discerning movement on a dark sea would pose significant challenges. Yet, the illuminating lights on the Dutch battleship provided a conspicuous guide, making it notably easier for Vijay and his army to navigate towards their target in the otherwise obscure conditions.


    Had anyone aboard the battleship bothered to nce toward the Port-side sea expanse, they would have been astounded to witness thousands of rafts heading their way. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the personnel aboard the ship were either intoxicated with alcohol or preupied with women, diverting their attention and leaving them oblivious to the imminent iing threat.


    Subsequently, a soldier from Vijayanagara quietly climbed up a rope with a hook thrown from the ship''s rear. Finding no one guarding the back of the ship, he swiftly managed to secure more ropes for hisrades to ascend.


    Following the sessful aplishment of their objectives, the Vijayanagara army personnel initiated a brutal offensive. They organized into squads of ten, infiltrating various sections of the different warships, engaging in a relentless and systematic massacre. Advancing through every room, meticulously and ruthlessly, they eliminated the Dutch sailors. The drunk state of the Dutchmen rendered them defenceless in the face of the determined onught.


    Vijay, a part of the invading force, bore witness to the heinous atrocitiesmitted by the Dutch. Amid the chaos, he encountered a ghastly scene¡ªa chilling disy of the Dutch''s barbarity. Lifeless bodies of women callously discarded on the ship, In the midst of the wreckage, he noticed the lifeless body of a child, perhaps no more than 12 years old. Upon reaching out, the remnants of warmth lingered in her hand, indicating she had been alive just moments before. Her saree, soaked in blood, bore witness to the severity of the injury that had caused her death.


    Vijay''s eyes grew increasingly colder as he kept witnessing these atrocities. Finally, he made his way to what looked like a captain''s cabin, indicated by the luxurious decoration and an artistic door blocking the way.


    As that door was kicked open, what caught his eye was a little girl lying motionless on the bed. As Vijay saw the body of the little girl, his heart began to wrench from all the umted anger and depression that he had been suffering. From the looks of it, the girl had been brutally vited and choked to death. This little girl, who was supposed to go to school and y with friends at such a young age, had just died like this for no apparent reason.


    His eyes turned red as he surveyed the room, searching for the one responsible for these atrocities. He found a man shivering in the corner, attempting to hide behind the cupboard.


    Captain Sander, upon noticing that Vijay had discovered him, felt his body tremble in fear, his heart sank further by looking at the eyes of Vijay that resembled that of a demon.


    He hurriedly moved towards Vijay and, falling to his knees while bleeding, pleaded, "Please, don''t kill me! I surrender, I surrender," his tone akin to a distraught mother who had lost her child. "I am a nobleman. If you capture me, a hefty ransom could be demanded. You must adhere to noble etiquette. My family is exceedingly wealthy; they will reward you handsomely," he implored.


    Vijay, unmoved by the situation, stared at Captain Sanders as if devoid of emotion.


    Sensing an opportunity to capture Vijay and potentially gain favour in the kingdom, Sanders attempted a surprise attack, wielding a concealed dagger.


    The soldiers from Vijayanagara were startled by the sudden turn of events. Before they could react to protect their leader, Vijay instinctively stepped in, catching Sanders off guard. With an impassive expression, Vijay skillfully deflected Sanders'' thrust, causing the dagger to tter to the ground.


    Acting swiftly, Vijay retrieved the fallen weapon and, without hesitation, drove it through the back of Sanders'' neck, severing his windpipe and neutralizing the threat. Sanders fell to the ground, a shocked expression frozen on his face.


    "Send the signal," Vijaymanded, flicking his hand in an attempt to get rid of the blood staining his skin. Promptly following his directive, a ming arrow wasunched into the sky, serving as the designated signal and marking the initiation of the assault on the Kochi Port.


    Upon receiving the signal, the division positioned on the outskirts of the Kochi port swiftly surged into the town,mencing a forceful retaliation against the Dutch Navy soldiers engaged in various atrocities within the streets. Faced with the sudden onught, some soldiers attempted to flee, seeking refuge on the ships. However, their hopes were shattered upon reaching the vessels, realizing that the ships had already been conquered, met with a barrage of fatal arrows, sealing their fate.


    The conflict in Kochi culminated in this decisive manner, marking a resounding victory for the Vijayanagara empire. The ruthless retaliation and strategic overtaking resulted in the triumph of Vijay''s forces, securing a significant win in the battle.


    By the daybreak the Cochin Port was swiftly clean of the Dutch soldiers and the dead body stool across the streets.


    "Treat the wounded, bury the dead, load up the men. We still have a war to win,"manded Vijay, his tone leaving no room for debate, before retreating into the captain''s quarters to take a much-needed rest.


    Yogendra, promptly receiving andprehending Vijay''s instructions, swiftly initiated the necessary operations. The army, after replenishing and restocking essential supplies,menced their movement once more, following the directives set forth by Vijay to prepare for the ongoing conflict ahead.

 Chapter 92: Foothold In Lanka

    <h4>Chapter 92: Foothold In Lanka</h4>


    Upon departing from Kochi port, Vijayanagara''s battleships swiftly navigated to the northwestern region of Sri Lanka, eventually reaching a small ind previously under the dominion of the Jaffna Kingdom.


    In the ship, after reviewing the geography of Lanka, Vijay chose the small ind as a potential overseas stronghold from which tounch attacks on Lanka. This choice was made due to its potential for more flexibility, especially with the newly acquired Dutch ships. Vijay was notably impressed by the quality of the Dutch ships. In the current era of the 17th century, the Dutch surpassed the British in overseas operations. Their ships are faster, benefiting from sleek hulls, efficient rigging, and advanced sail ns. Additionally, their ships are more durable due to construction techniques such as carvel nking and diagonal framing, resulting in longer service lives. The Dutch possessed a formidable naval power with advanced tactics and skilled sailors, giving them a significant advantage. Thinking about all this, Vijay can''t help but feel restless, pondering the possibility that there might be some Dutch shipbuilders in Lanka that he could employ to enhance the Vijayanagara shipbuilding industry. Though it may not reach the same level as the world powers, with advancements in artillery technology in the empire, it will be sufficient for patrol boats and armed merchant ships in the national waters.


    As Vijay lost himself in thought, the fleet of Vijayanagara approached a small strip ofnd on the horizon. The ind was faintly visible in the distance. Within a few hours, the fleet managed to find a natural harbour and dock there.


    Upon sighting the imposing vessel that had just anchored off the shore, the inhabitants of the ind were seized by panic, immediately signalling for military support. Regrettably, they were ill-prepared to face the sheer strength of Vijayanagara''s military might. The ind had a meagre force of approximately a thousand standing troops tasked with guarding the ind. However, they were swiftly overwhelmed by the considerable number of Vijayanagara soldiers and themanding presence of the ships. The inder''s had grown ustomed to the regr passage of these ships in their waters, presuming them to be of Dutch origin.


    The ind''s residents were taken aback to witness individuals who resembled them assuming control of the ships without the presence of white men. Following a brief conflict, the situation was resolved by neutralizing a few senior leaders and discharging the remaining soldiers from their duties. Vijay did not order his men to eliminate the soldiers because of the shared cultural and religious connections. Recognizing themonalities in their religious beliefs andnguage, simr to the people in Tamil Nadu within his empire, he chose to show restraint and empathy towards the inder''s, This approach was also more convenient for his future rule.


    As the stronghold on the ind was secured, Vijay made the strategic decision to designate the ind he was on, named Mannar, as the central headquarters for all operations. The ships were then dispatched back to Vijayanagara to retrieve the remainder of the army.


    Vijay took residence in an office space reimed from a Dutch building, which was initially intended as a church. Although the church construction remained iplete, he chose to upy it due to its sturdy stone construction and defensive capabilities.


    Soon after the personnel from the Vijayanagara Empire were transported back, a middle-aged man dressed in ck entered to meet Vijay.


    "Wee to Lanka, Your Royal Highness," the man said.


    Vijay observed the man with intrigue, having previously read the report about him. This was Selvan, the new spymaster for the Lanka region. Originally, Selvan served as a foot soldier in the Spy division of Lanka. Owing to his exceptional talent, he rapidly ascended the ranks, surpassing the previous spy chief who had held the position just a month earlier. The former spymaster, despite being proficient in managing information and running the organization effectively, had fallen ill due to the change in environment and waspelled to return home for recovery.


    Vijay had heard incredible reports about Selvan''s exceptional record and had appointed him as the spymaster of Lanka. Selvan''s significant changes to the organization had impressed Vijay. When he received some incredible news about the ns of the Dutch, which was crucial to the battle they fought, the information surprised even Roshan, the spymaster of vijayanagara, a few times.


    Now, as Selvan stood before him, it was the first time Vijay had seen him in person. Looking at Selvan, one wouldn''t connect him to a brilliant spymaster based on his facial features, as he appeared quite ordinary. However, his report card told a different story.


    Following the discussion with Selvan, Vijay initiated abat strategy meeting. As the attendees gathered, Vijay opened the discussion by stating, "Before proceeding, it''s essential to understand the distribution of forces in Lanka."


    Upon hearing this directive, Selvan acted without hesitation, retrieving a map and presenting it to everyone in attendance.


    Vijay nodded, thoroughly content with the map and Selvan''s quick action. Upon studying the map, he observed the Kingdom of Kandy, solely controlled by the Dutch, ruling over the entire region of Lanka. This unified kingdom operated as a puppet state, sustained by Dutch funding for their own advantages. This situation, fortunately for Vijay, was beneficial. He was reluctant to attack any independent kingdom simply for conquest, even though he had significantly evolved since his rebirth, his 21st-century values held him back in such decisions, especially when it involved risking the lives of millions wrongfully. The current scenario made it easier for him to devise a strategy for taking over the nation since the entire ind was controlled by a single kingdom under Dutch rule. The Dutch mistreatment of the locals lessened the resistance, making it easier for him to conquer, which was all he could ask for.


    "Firstly, observing theirck of awareness regarding our position or our possession of Dutch naval vessels, we will approach Colombo directly as the Dutch returning fleet. Once we conquer Colombo, we''ll advance into the heart of Lanka. We''ll establish another stronghold in Kotte and proceed towards Sitawaka, the former Capital of Sita kingdom," Vijay indicated on the map as he borated further. "Ultimately, from Sitawaka, our direct target will be the present-day capital of Lanka, Kandy," Vijay dered. This n, straightforward this time, was formted considering the numerical advantage they possessed.


    Finally, Vijay added, "In the event that the Kandy Kingdom attempts to use civilians against us and if we find ourselves outnumbered, we''ll mobilize the rebel forces from the former kingdoms that the Kingdom of Kandy subjugated. I am confident that these groups would be motivated to seek retribution, and the downfall of the Kingdom of Kandy would be wee news for them."


    Everyone swiftly assented to the n, yet Selvan, with some reluctance, raised his hand. "Your Majesty, it appears that you aim to conquer Lanka and assimte it, but please consider that engaging the Dutch in warfare for an extended period might not be feasible. They are an eminent naval superpower, and our present victory may provoke a stronger and more aggressive response from them, which I''m afraid we cannot bear."


    Upon hearing Selvan''s concern, all eyes turned towards Vijay, reflecting a sense of worry. However, Vijay, observing their apprehensive expressions, shook his head and smiled in amusement. He responded lightheartedly, "HAHA, Do not worry. The Dutch will no longer have the free time to care about us; they will have bigger problems to face."

 Chapter 93: Vijayanagara’s Victory in Lanka

    <h4>Chapter 93: Vijayanagara''s Victory in Lanka</h4>


    The early morning sun casts a serene glow over the port of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The sea was awash with rolling waves crashing against the port walls, creating a misty and turbulent scene.


    "Yarn," the guard stationed atop the primary lookout tower, felt drowsy. The misty weatherbined with the early hour had put most of the lookouts in a simr state, as there had been no security threats for a long period of time. With the Dutch upying the ind, none dared provoke them. Though there were rebellions onnd, no one possessed the naval might to confront the Dutch in their sea-bound colony. The lookout job was considered low-risk and high-paying due to theck of danger, attracting many elites to assign their less capable children as guards, which unfortunately made the task easier for Vijay.


    The leading personnel in the port, in the absence of their superiors, had a rtivelyx atmosphere as most of them in the Colombo port were all still asleep, leaving the grunt work for the ves.


    Jivan, the person on the lookout tower, casually looked at the horizon of the sea. He was stunned awake by the vision he was seeing; he could barely see multiple ships approaching roughly a hundred meters ahead. But he did not ring the bell to alert the superiors as he vaguely saw that the ship resembled that of the Dutch.


    Furthermore, as the ship arrived closer, it was draped with the Dutch Royal Navy g, which confirmed his suspicion as he let go of the guard.


    "So the expedition was over, huh?"


    He thought to himself as he was aware of the expedition that left a week ago.


    As the ship approached a close enough distance where he could see the personnel on the ship, he felt something was wrong as all the faces he saw on the ship had brown faces just like him, and there were no faces of the Dutch.


    An actual shiver ran down his spine as he reached out his hand to ring the bell.


    "Swish."


    But it was toote as he was already shot in his head.


    This interval was plenty, as it provided enough time for the arriving ships to dock at the port.


    On board the ship, Vijay was ted with the sessful infiltration into the port. He deliberately chose the early morning hours for maximum stealth. Despite their possession ofrger calibre cannons on the battleships capable of breaching defences, he avoided brute force tactics. The artillery on the sentries of Colombo port could still inflict significant damage on the warships, which Vijay found uneptable.


    Though the potential damage from their bombardment wouldn''t be extensive due to the lower calibre ammunition and the robust defence of the battleship, Vijayanagara''sck of experience in shipbuilding and maintenance, coupled with the yet to captured technicians from the Dutch, presented a hurdle Vijay preferred to sidestep.


    Furthermore, the weather conditions on the eve of the operation were also highly favourable, reinforcing his decision to not take unnecessary risks.


    "Hey..."


    "ahhhh"


    "Ring the bell"


    As the ship docked, a swift massacre unfolded. Vijayanagara soldiers immediately split up, embarking on an extermination mission.


    Before long, a significantmotion finally alerted the higher officials at the Colombo port. However, by the time they reacted, the soldiers had already been defeated, and the Vijayanagara soldiers were already at their doorstep.


    They had no chance but to wave the white g and surrender in shame.


    Finally, in the shortest time, Vijay managed to conquer the Colombo port, freeing all the ves that the Dutch had enved, including the natives of Lanka and a decent number of indigenous Africans. A hundred kilometres of the Colombo port were wiped clean of Dutch presence, and the white men found to havemitted various atrocities were immediately hanged in public for all to see.


    "p, p, p."


    Amidst the jubnt cheers and apuse resonating through the Colombo port, justice was finally served as the perpetrators of ruin, those who had enved and extinguished lives, faced the consequences. Tears welled in many eyes; the Africans, unfamiliar with thenguage, sensed a shift in the air, understanding that the once-oppressive hold over them wasing to an end. The sight of the oppressors being punished before their eyes triggered an outpouring of emotions, tears cascading down their faces as they swayed and danced to an unfamiliar yet captivating rhythm.


    In the subsequent weeks, the Vijayanagara army, relentless in their conquest, encountered little respite as the Kotte fort swiftly sumbed to their might. Notably, the Kotte fort had suffered prior damage during the Kingdom of Kandy''s conquest, thus significantly weakening its defences. This weakened state facilitated Vijay''s conquest of Kotte, encountering minimal resistance. Evidently, the Dutch seemed overly assured that the hintends of their colony were impregnable, leading them to dy further fortification efforts.


    Kotte, restructured as a temporary bastion, not only facilitated the logistical requirements of the Vijayanagara forces but also emerged as a strategicmand centre, overseeing the impending assault on Sitawaka. The city had undergone a simr fate to Kotte, bearing the scars of prior conflicts that had weakened its defensive fortifications. This vulnerability yed into the hands of the Vijayanagara forces, swiftly enabling them to assert control over Sitawaka within the span of a day.


    Selvan''s impact in this battle cannot be overstated. Adhering to Vijay''s directives, he spearheaded an extensive propaganda campaign that reached throughout thend, targeting able-bodied soldiers who had previously served under the various kingdoms that had sumbed to the dominion of the Kandy Kingdom, The puppet power under the control of the Dutch, and had been lying low in wait. Selvan''s persuasive strategies yed a vital role in convincing these soldiers to align themselves with Vijayanagara, uniting them under the banner of the expanding empire. This strategic amalgamation substantially bolstered Vijayanagara''s military prowess and regional influence.


    Vijay, deeply impressed by Selvan''s aplishments in the battle, resolved to honour and reward Selvan once the conflict concluded.


    With the backing of the rebel forces, the battle progressed even more seamlessly, and the fortunes of the Dutch quickly waned, leaving them with nowhere to seek refuge. Utilizing the assistance of the general popce, individuals within the Dutch ranks¡ªboth innocent and guilty¡ªwere identified and faced immediate retribution, in ordance with the nature of their offences.


    The individuals within the Dutch payroll who were native Lankans were not exempt from the Scruteny of the general public and subsequently faced their reckoning. Confronted with the palpable resentment in the eyes of the public, they gradually acquiesced to their fate, ceasing their resistance in the face of the inevitable consequences.


    Finally, Vijay set his sights on Kandy, the power centre of the current Lanka..


    Therge-calibre cannons were dismantled from the Dutch battleship and Quickly transported to the frontlines of Kandy Fort, the final obstacle impeding Vijay''s conquest of Lanka.


    Capturing the capital of Lanka from within was unfeasible due to the substantial presence of Dutch forces within the city, limiting the efficacy of undercover operations to a minimal level. However, the avability of higher-calibre artillery allowed them to engage from a distance beyond the reach of the city walls of Kandy, providing a tactical advantage.


    With a continuous bombardment for an hour, a breach was finally opened within the Kandy fort, which seemed imprable just a few hours ago.


    As therger number of the Vijayanagara army rushed into the city, the defence had no chance for a counterattack as they were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers alone.


    In a matter of a few hours, the Kingdom of Kandy was fully captured by the might of Vijayanagara. Blood flowed through the walls of Kandy as the most corrupt and detestable white men and theirckeys found their ce in hell. Vijay had no thoughts of capturing them and asking for ransom, as the evils they hadmitted far exceeded what he could overlook.


    The same scene that urred in Colombo port was repeated in Kandy; the detestable were judged for their wrongdoings.


    Finally, Two independent Brigades with a battleship were dispatched to the northern part of the ind, previously known as the Kingdom of Jaffna, for conquest. With higher firepower and more people, it did not prove to be a challenge as the finalnd of Lanka was also conquered, including the Wanni region in the northernmost part of the ind. The Wanni region did not possess significant military capability but was under the control of a few scattered tribes who paid tribute to the Jaffna Kingdom.


    In the royal castle of Kandy, a young man with ck hair smeared with blood, holding a bloodied talwar that was still dripping with hot blood, stood there. There was a dead body in front of him with a slit-open throat. Vijay looked ahead with chilling calmness, having sessfully removed the puppet king of Lanka.


    With this, the ind of Lanka came under the direct control of Vijayanagara, ending the month-long expedition far away from home.

 Chapter 94: Gains of the war

    <h4>Chapter 94: Gains of the war</h4>


    Vijay carefully examined documents in the former Kandy Kingdom''s courtroom, reviewing the results of the war and studying the gains and losses.


    A total of 12 brigades of infantry, with the addition of a brigade of artillery, constituted the army size, totaling 65,000 men. Vijay excluded the Ranger unit as there was no use for them in the Lanka''s terrain. As for the casualties, given Lanka''s unpreparedness, Vijay conquered Lanka in the shortest time with the fewest casualties possible.


    In this battle, around 1,080 deaths urred, with more than 5,000 people seriously injured and many more with light injuries. Observing this data, Vijay remainedposed, not like the flustered self he was when the battles started. This battle further honed his temperament, befitting of a monarch.


    "Knock, knock."


    Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.


    "Come in," Vijay ordered. Roshan entered and quickly greeted Vijay, starting to give his report while Vijay stared at him with his arms crossed.


    "Your Highness, we were able to obtain upward of five tons of gold and 10 tons of silver, including jewelry, and coinsbined from both the Dutch and the different kingdoms that we conquered.


    As for thend area, we have primarily estimated that there is and area of around 65,000 square kilometers, roughly calcted. There are 12 main rivers with no naturalkes, but various water reservoirs have been built over the ages for the purpose of agriculture.


    Due to the abundant water resources, thend here is very fertile, with cultivatednd reaching upward of 17,000 square kilometers, which is around 1 million 700,000 hectares of arablend.


    With the records found in various kingdoms and corrting them with the Dutch records, we have concluded that there are upward of up to 800,000 native residents in Lanka.


    The religious poption of this ind mainly consists of Buddhists, ounting for 70% of its poption. Sanatan Dharma holds 20% of its poption. Due to pressure from the Dutch, they were sessful in converting 6% of this poption to Christianity. For the same reason, the Muslim poption was reduced to 3%, with some other tribal cultures present as well."


    Hearing the report, Vijay was obviously shocked by the details he had just heard. Coming from the 21st century, he had not much impression of Sri Lanka except for what was mentioned in the Ramayana and that it is in the southernmost part of Bharat.


    He had never expected that Lanka would be so rich in water resources, and he was even more taken aback by the amount of arablend avable. The current arablend is almost one-third of the wholend area of Lanka, and he couldn''t imagine what it could turn into in the future.


    Roshan continued, "In the case of mineral resources, we have not found any valuable materials like gold or silver, but we were able to find an abundant supply of granite, gems of various kinds, and soil suitable for ss making."


    Vijay nodded his head. A smile appeared on his face. In this age, ss is still more expensive than silver of the same weight. Vijay nned to invest in the ss industry in Sri Lanka for the purpose of exports in the future.


    As for agriculture, he would consider turning Sri Lanka into the main producer of cash crops for the Vijayanagar Empire. The Vijayanagara Empire itself is notcking in arablend for the purpose of food crops. If managed properly, there will be a huge surplus of grain. Hence, he is contemting on turning Sri Lanka into the cash crop producer of Vijayanagara.


    As he was thinking about all this, Vijay suddenly remembered the main issue. He knocked his own head with his hand, berating himself inwardly, "How could you forget this?"


    "Roshan, how about the shipbuilders I asked you to inquire about?" Vijay asked, anticipation seeping out of his voice. Vijay didn''t even try to hide it, as everyone knew that he attached a great deal of importance to naval affairs in Vijayanagara.


    Roshan quickly replied, "Your Highness, unfortunately, we were not able to find any shipbuilders in Lanka."


    "We have thoroughly interrogated the Dutch individuals, including the maintenance personnel. It appears that the entire shipbuilding industry of the Dutch is tightly controlled by various noble families, with crucial designers and shipbuilders kept under strict control. Only maintenance personnel are dispatched to colonies to upkeep and repair the ships if needed. The decision to avoid sending shipbuilders to colonies is rooted in the fear of unintentionally arming foreign nations with Dutch warship technology."


    "Tsk," Vijay clicked his tongue in annoyance, visibly disappointed. His hope to quickly develop the ability to build domestic naval vessels hit a snag, and it appeared that he would need to work hard for a few more years.


    Roshan, as if remembering something, jerked his body in realization and suddenly stated, "Your Highness, there is one person who says that he is experienced in shipbuilding."


    Vijay, who was deted just moments ago, came back to life as he grew excited again. He ordered Roshan to quickly bring him in.


    Momentster, Vijay was taken aback by the man Roshan brought. This man appeared to be in his early 30s. The surprising aspect was that he had a light brownplexion simr to Vijay, yet he had blonde hair and blue eyes, resembling a Westerner, with facial features akin to an Indian.


    Vijay immediately guessed his identity ¨C the Roma people. The Roma people, called Romani or Gypsies, are a diverse ethnic group with a rich cultural heritage. Present across the globe, the Roma originated in Northern India and migrated to various regions of Europe, falling under the Indo-Aryan category.


    As soon as the man approached, he bowed down and greeted Vijay, "Long live Your Highness, Danior Boswell is at your service," introducing himself. Vijay was taken aback when the man spoke in a dialect of Sanskrit unfamiliar to him, but considering the Roma people''s migration to Europe, he found it reasonable. Moving straight to the point, Vijay asked, "Roshan here said that you know shipbuilding, is that true?"


    Danior appeared slightly embarrassed as he confirmed, "He may be right, Your Highness. While it is true Ie from a shipbuilders'' family, we only used to build merchant ships or fishing ships with a payload capacity of only 150 tons, nowhere close to the ships you see the Dutch makers build."


    Vijay didn''t mind the limitation, having already kept his expectations low. He was more interested in Boswell''s shipbuilding knowledge, knowing he could upgrade the technology with his own expertise.


    "I am curious, how were you able to leave the Dutch maind? I heard that no shipbuilders are allowed to exit," Vijay inquired.


    Danior was visibly frustrated as he heard the question and answered, "We, the Boswell family, are a prominent shipbuilding family started by my grandfather, Kranth Boswell. He was originally from the southern part of Liverpool but, seeing the opportunity in the blooming Dutch naval industry, decided to settle in the Nethends. Later, he also married a local pastry chef and gave birth to my father. The Boswell family was quite famous for sturdy ships at a low cost among smaller merchants. Unfortunately, due to an ident, both my parents passed away.


    Ourpetitors, taking the opportunity, sabotaged the ship which I was delivering, causing our reputation to plummet to rock bottom. Later, the shipyard and my employees were bought by thosepetitors for a very low cost.


    I knew that this was a scheme to destroy my livelihood, but considering my skin color and my only backing copsing, I had no choice. Moreover, being more prominently brown than my father, I knew that I would get no justice even if I go through the judicial route. Hence, I reluctantly sold the business for a very low cost.


    Later, with the help of a friend, I learned of the expedition to India. Thinking about the distant mothend my grandfather used to tell me about when I was a child, I managed to smuggle myself to India."

 Chapter 95: Happy Deepavali

    <h4>Chapter 95: Happy Deepavali</h4>


    Danior Boswell was brought back to Vijayanagara as Vijay concluded his activities in Lanka. Vijay assigned Danior the task of sharing his shipbuilding knowledge with a group of students at the Bharatiya Military Sciences. Vijay aimed to have Danior train a batch of shipbuilders promptly to construct Vijayanagara''s first indigenous vessel.


    The Dutch maintenance personnel captured in Lanka were also transported to Vijayanagara to train another group of students, simr to Danior Boswell''s cohort. These maintenance personnel possessed in-depth knowledge of ship structures and their critical points, making them essential for Vijay''s n to educatepetent naval officers.


    After the expedition, Vijay felt a bit homesick, having been away from his wife for the past month. It had been two years since their marriage. Reflecting on his wife turning 18 this year, Vijay grew excited and could not contain his anticipation.


    In the heart of Vijayanagara, the grand capital city of Hampi, an enchanting celebration illuminated thendscape as Deepavali, the festival of lights, enveloped the entire region. The city came alive with the warm glow of countless oilmps, adorning every nook and cranny. The air was filled with the sweet scent of incense, and the vibrant colours of traditional rangoli designs adorned the streets. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the radiant glow ofmps intensified, casting a magical aura over the historic city. Joyfulughter and the yful echoes of children reverberated through the air as they engaged in spirited games, embodying the spirit of camaraderie that defines the festival. The palpable festive atmosphere united the people of Hampi, creating a shared sense of joy and togetherness that transcended the boundaries of daily life.


    Deepavali is celebrated to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. It is observed that this festival by lighting oilmps, decorating homes, and exchanging gifts. It signifies the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana and the return of light and prosperity.


    In the majestic setting of the royal castle, the Deepavali lights burned with a sh of unparalleled brilliance. Kavya, draped in a resplendent red saree, stood as the epitome of grace and devotion, performing the sacred Pooja to goddess Lakshmi. Surrounding her were the esteemed members of the Noble families, along with the beloved kin of Vijay, the ruler, and his closest subordinates. The golden radiance from the oilmps bathed Kavya in a celestial glow, transforming her into a vision of divinity on Earth.


    Despite the joyful ambience enveloping the festivities, Kavya couldn''t shake off a tinge of mncholy that lingered within her. Vijay, her beloved, had been absent for a month, and though she had diligently read every letter he sent, assuring her of his well-being, the physical distance weighed heavily on her heart. The anticipation of celebrating their first Deepavali as a couple had filled her with excitement, yet the reality of his absence cast a shadow on her happiness. Last year''s somberness, marked by the loss of her father and brother, had deprived them of any celebrations, making this year all the more significant for Kavya. She yearned to partake in the festivities with Vijay by her side, creating cherished memories as a couple. The emptiness of his absence dampened her spirits.


    Following thepletion of the Pooja, Kavya, true to the cherished tradition in Vijayanagar, graciously served everyone with obbattu and kajaya (food), spreading joy and goodwill. The gathering indulged in a delightful feast, savouring the vours of the festive meal, and departed with smiles on their faces, each carrying the thoughtful gifts carefully packed by Kavya.


    As Kavya bid farewell to her guests, her attention was abruptly seized by the arrival of a mysterious figure at the entrance of the royal pce. A sudden surge of emotion overwhelmed her, and tears welled up in her eyes the moment sheid eyes on this unexpected guest.


    The mystery figure at the door revealed himself to be none other than Vijay, the emperor of Vijayanagara and Kavya''s husband. Overwhelmed with joy and relief, Kavya sprinted towards Vijay, leaping into his waiting arms.


    "What took you so long, idiot?" she eximed, a blend ofughter and tears in her voice, as she nestled in the warmth of Vijay''s embrace. Her words,ced with affection and yful scolding, echoed through the royal pce. As she clung to him, her tears flowed freely, dampening Vijay''s shirt, a testament to the depth of her emotions and the longing that had marked their time apart. The joyous reunion amidst the Deepavali celebration became an intimate moment, as the couple embraced the precious togetherness they had missed during the festive season.


    Vijay, witnessing her tears, experienced a twinge of guilt at seeing her so sorrowful. In a strange way, it also stirred a peculiar sense of pride within him.


    "Don''t worry, I am here now. Everything will be alright," Vijay said, stroking her head like a kitten in a soft voice.


    Kavya had regained herposure, turning away and swaying her hips as she departed. Her parting words carried an air of arrogance.


    "Mhm, Who was eagerly waiting for you? Go take a bath, you stinker."


    Vijay "..."


    Vijay was left speechless by her set of operations. He was stunned for a few moments. Vijay had noticed that this situation urred quite a few times when he was with his wife. She always did something that was not logical, and he would always stand there dumbly falling for her traps.


    A few momentster, he shook his head in amusement as he smiled and went into the pce to take a bath. Now that he thought of it, he had not taken a bath since he left Lanka. Perhaps everyone around him also smelled like him, so he did not notice. Now, as he smelled his armpit, it was unbearable.


    Soon, he bathed, dressed up in a new outfit for the festival, and came out looking like a Disney Prince. Kavya, no worse for wear, had already changed her dress and appeared.


    Vijay was mesmerized seeing her yellow saree; his breath quickened as he noticed her nape while her hair was draped forward and a slender navel covered by a shy cloth that barely did its job. He didn''t know why, but he had a feeling that this goblin wore the saree more alluringly than before. He shook his head to wake himself up.


    Kavya, who saw this scene, felt proud in her heart. She raised her head proudly like a peacock and took his hand to perform the pooja they had missed earlier.


    A Few Hours Later...


    After the pooja, Kavya was going back to attend to some other duties, but Vijay couldn''t hold it in any longer, seeing her sway her hips like this and looking so alluring. Once again, considering her age, he decided not to hold back anymore.


    He grabbed Kavya''s hand as she was about to walk away and pulled her into his arms.


    "Ah!"


    Kavya was startled by the sudden jerk. Her hand was pulled into Vijay''s arms.


    "Bad guy, bad guy," she chided, her small fists lightly drumming on Vijay''s chest. Before she could utter another word, a sudden, unexpected shift urred as their lips met. The collision of their mouths caught her off guard, momentarily widening her eyes to the size of saucers.


    As the kiss unfolded, the intensity of Kavya''s hitting gradually waned, giving way to a more tender connection. Her small hands navigated from his chest, finding their way around Vijay''s back. With a sudden burst of emotion, she held him into a tight embrace, the warmth of her touch conveying the depth of her feelings in a silent, intimatenguage.


    "Mhm," a soft, almost imperceptible sound escaped her lips, capturing the essence of the moment. The kiss lingered, a sweet interlude that spoke volumes without the need for words. A small, barely audible moan followed, unintentionally voiced by Kavya in the throes of the intimate exchange. The sound hung in the air, a delicate echo of pleasure and connection.


    As the kiss concluded, Kavya''s visage transformed, a visible blush painting her cheeks a shade reminiscent of a ripe tomato. Her eyes, now visibly blurred with a mix of embarrassment and desire, told a tale of a woman caught in the whirlwind of a passionate reunion.


    Vijay, looking at her like this, couldn''t hold on any longer. He was overtaken by lust and swiftly carried her in his arms and went into their room.


    Inside the room...


    "Get out..."


    ( Looks like our writer is not allowed inside the room ?? ?? ?? )

 Chapter 96: The Anglo-Dutch War Begins

    <h4>Chapter 96: The Anglo-Dutch War Begins</h4>


    In the midst of Vijay''s vibrant life, a sombre atmosphere enveloped another part of the world.


    Batavia VOC headquarters, East India region.


    Hendrick van Rheede urgently convened a meeting for the shareholders upon receiving the news of the disastrous defeat in India.


    As he read the report, Hendrick couldn''t believe what he saw. The great Dutch army, defeated in such a Lowely country¡ªit was beyond his imagination. Refusing to ept the reality, he felt a surge of anger. But sadly The returned merchant ships from Lanka affirmed the unexpected truth, forcing him to reluctantly acknowledge the facts.


    Filled with venomous frustration, Hendrick couldn''tprehend how a kingdom built by those mudlegs could overpower the mighty Dutch navy and the army. He was Furious as he contemted arranging an emergency meeting to involve the Dutch Republic directly in the situation, proposing a deration of war against Vijayanagara. He wanted to see how that "country of Bumpkins" would withstand such a formidable force.


    In the meeting, Hendrick began his speech somberly, stating, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is with the deepest sorrow that I bring you the news of our failure in the expedition to capture Vijayanagar, leading to the crumbling of our ns for the Indian subcontinent. As you can see in the documents I have submitted, this is the report of the battle that I have gathered so far.


    Unfortunately, the details of the expedition on Vijayanagara''snd could not be retrieved, and we still don''t know the methods the Vijayanagara Empire used to defeat the Dutch army. However, one thing is certain: they took our battleships and waged an unjust war against our ind.


    We cannot tolerate this. We have invested significant resources in cultivating that ind. In thetest news received from Lanka, it is stated that Vijayanagara is swiftly taking control of the entire ind, integrating it into the Vijayanagara Empire. The traitors among our people in Lanka are hunting our people one by one, and only our core-level spy operations may still be in operation in Lanka, providing some utility for us."


    Henrik stated all this with one breath, his face fuming as he desired nothing more than to strangle whoever was responsible for this mess.


    However, recalling that he was in the presence of distinguished guests and noticing the frowning expressions on their faces, he quickly apologized for his outburst and continued.


    "I am deeply sorry for my outburst, sirs, and Your Highness, but thepany is in a critical situation now. We have spent a lot of resources on this expedition, and if we do not find a breakthrough quickly, thepany might face bankruptcy. Currently, we are managing thepany with the help of our South Asian colonies, but the distance from the maind makes it harder to transport the proceeds of our investments here, which can barely keep thepany afloat. Precisely for this reason, we had chosen India before for its richness in precious metals, gold, silver, and spices, which are more efficient and economical for transport, no matter how far."


    He said with a sad expression on his face, but he quickly got furious again as he concluded, "So, sirs and Your Highness, I suggest that the Dutch Republic directly intervene in this operation and teach that country bumpkin a lesson. Vijayanagara is a very wealthy ce, with fertilend, abundant human and water resources, and its central position between Asia, Africa, and Oceania makes it very convenient for naval trades with any country in the world."


    Among the men who were contemting the information they just received, there was one person who had a determined look on his face, as if he had already decided on the conclusion for this farce.


    This person was none other than the representative from the Dutch royal family, the House of Oranje-Nassau, Prince William van Oranje-Nassau.


    He took a deep breath and suddenly stood up.


    "This won''t be necessary; we will put this issue away for a while longer," he stated, startling everyone. In the doubtful looks of everyone present, Prince William exined his reasoning.


    "While what Hendrick said is true, and we have a lot to gain by conquering this nation, now that the VOC has failed, the Dutch government does not have the time or resources to wage a war in foreign waters, especially at this delicate time. Perhaps if we can get through this safely, we can try to conquer India again," Prince William said with a sombre tone.


    "Delicate time?"


    "..."


    "..."


    Everyone was startled by this revtion. The fact that the prince of the royal family would assert that a world power like theirs had to halt operations in foreign waters for a while could only mean that they were having a conflict with another great power.


    They were startled by the conclusion that they came to themselves and questioned, "Your Highness, you mean..."


    "Yes, you all guessed it right. We are in a war against another great naval power," Prince William stated somberly. Just when Hendrick wanted to question who it was, the Prince''s next words left everyone stunned, glued to their seats, looking at each other''s faces with disbelief written on their expression. "It''s the British," Prince William concluded with a sigh, "I originally came to this meeting hoping that we had seeded in conquering Vijayanagara, which would then help in financing the war. Looks like all my hopes were for naught."


    Saying that Prince William left for the Nethends with the unsettling news, knowing that the Republic wouldn''t wee the developments.


    A week ago, in London, the British Empire.


    Oliver Cromwell, the current head of state of the Commonwealth of Ennd, Scond, and Irnd, and the head of the British Empire, after intense discussions and deliberations with the members of the parliament and ministers, came up with the Navigation Act. The aim of the Navigation Acts was to promote the English shipping industry, control colonial trade, establish a monopoly on certainmodities, limit foreignpetition, and strengthen naval power.


    Despite knowing that this bill would offend other naval powers, it was passed smoothly in the parliament due to the huge benefits it promised. Sir Oliver Cromwell eventually signed the bill, considering that with its passing, the naval industry of the British would surpass all other countries in the world. Given that they are an ind nation, there wasn''t much threat from thend. The next day, various nobles, gentlemen, and citizens of the British Empire received the news about the British Navigation Act.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Navigation Act of 1652


    Official Decree


    An Act for the Encouragement of Trade


    Whereas it is the duty of this Parliament to secure and advance the economic interests and maritime strength of the Commonwealth of Ennd, it is hereby decreed:


    Article I: Transportation in English Ships


    All goods imported into the Commonwealth of Ennd or its colonies shall be conveyed solely in English ships or vessels hailing from the country of origin of said goods.


    Article II: Enumerated Commodities and English Vessels


    The transportation of specified "enumeratedmodities," including but not limited to tobo, sugar, cotton, wool, and indigo, to Ennd or English colonies, shall be exclusively conducted by English vessels. This provision aims to establish a monopoly on the trade of suchmodities for the benefit of English merchants and shipowners.


    Article III: Regtion of Colonial Trade


    Goods originating from the colonies and destined for foreign markets shall pass through English ports before re-exportation. This regtion is instituted to facilitate oversight and taxation of colonial trade.


    Article IV: Duties on Foreign ntation Goods


    Duties shall be imposed on goods produced in foreign ntations and imported into the Commonwealth of Ennd. Exceptions to these duties may be granted for certain goods, as determined by this Parliament, especially if derived directly from English colonies.


    Article V: Penalties for Vitions


    Any person found in vition of the stiptions set forth in this decree shall be subject to penalties, including fines and forfeitures of goods. Such punitive measures are intended to deter and prevent circumvention of the regtions herein established.


    In Witness Whereof, We, the representatives of the Commonwealth of Ennd, have set our hands and seals, enacting this Navigation Act on December 1652.


    Signed and Sealed:


    [Oliver Cromwell And the Parliment]


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Chapter 97: The Navigation Act Repercussion

    <h4>Chapter 97: The Navigation Act Repercussion</h4>


    The British deration sent shockwaves across the entirety of Europe, with the Navigation Act causing considerable offence among major naval powers on the continent. The act seemed like a direct challenge to their rivals, particrly the Dutch.


    The English Navy''s effective blockades of Dutch ess to lucrative trade routes in the Baltic Sea added ayer of tension. The Dutch, deeply involved in the Baltic trade, especially inmodities like grain, found their economic backbone disrupted. The English, by limiting Dutch ess to these crucial routes, sought to undermine the Dutch economy.


    Another strategic move by the British targeted the Dutch East India Company, a major yer in the spice trade in the East Indies (Present Day Indonesia). The British aimed to block Dutch ess to these valuable spice trade routes, recognizing the significance of disrupting this source of wealth for the Dutch.


    A pivotal blow came with the British limiting Dutch ess to Antic trade routes, including those in the Americas. Dutch colonies and trading posts in the Americas became focal points, reflecting the British strategy to curtail Dutch economic activities in this region.


    The entire European nations are watching from the sidelines as these two colossal powers engage in their struggle. Both nations are traditional maritime powers, emphasizing naval operations and trade.


    The nature of the conflict restricts the involvement of other countries, as none possess the naval expertise and force required to meddle with these two formidable nations. The only potential contenders, Spain or Portugal, find themselves grappling with severe economic and regional challenges, leaving them with no capacity to address the English and the Dutch.


    As for other powerful countries like the French and the Holy Roman Empire, they do not have the time or resources to take part in this battle, as both nations are not maritime powers and focus solely onnd expansion in Europe.


    Just a month after the Navigation Act came into power, Just as expected, the Dutch responded to the British offence. They immediately increased the naval budget for the production of new battleships, sought new trade routes as alternatives to British trade, and employed privateeringpanies to harass British ships with the intent of causing losses and bringing the British to the negotiation table. The two maritime nations were now embroiled in arge-scale conflict.


    But, It is not all bad news, as Alphonso IV De Braganza of porchugal, who just received the information from his trusted knight, isughing his heart out. He holds his stomach andughs happily.


    The knight is puzzled by his Highness''s actions, but he does notment on it.


    Finally, Alphonso himself reveals the information.


    "Ha ha, Barren, did I not tell you that the Dutch are very likely to encounter huge resistance in Vijayanagara? Look at this, they were totally wiped out, and they even lost the ind they had upied before."


    "Haha."


    "Turns out my guess is correct; Vijayanagara has sessfully developed a new cannon, no different from thest-generation cannon widely used in Europe, but this shows that they are catching up very quickly."


    "And now I have received news that they have even captured a lot of flintlock guns and the new cannon developed by the Dutch, along with the man-of-war battleships they got from this war."


    "If I am not mistaken, they should be able to catch up with some of our weaker European nations within the next few years."


    The knight who stood next to him was astonished by the predictions of his majesty Alphonso De Braganza, but soon he calmed himself down. Considering that his Lords previous prediction came true, he still knows that this could be a possible oue that may happen in the future. But he couldn''t figure out something as he asked, "But your Highness, I don''t understand. Is this a good thing or a bad thing for us?"


    Alphonso, pondering the knight''s question, responded after a moment, "It depends on the situation we are in. In the current scenario, a strong India is very beneficial for us. Considering that we ourselves have no ability to contend with both the Dutch and the English, along with our neighbour Spain, capturing India¡ªa ce where every inch ofnd is flowing with gold¡ªis beyond our means. However, a strong India would be able to deter our neighbours, preventing any one of them from bing too powerful, which is in our interest. Moreover, India is not a seafaring nation; it has arge amount ofnd and poption, along with its troubles and constant border conflicts with its neighbours, ruling out the possibility of it bing a colonial empire. Additionally, India, being in a distant corner of the world, is illogical as a threat to us. So, I think we can establish good diplomatic rtions with this rising Vijayanagara Empire."


    The knight, excited by the exnation, seizes the opportunity to tter Alphonso for a brighter future. "It is brilliant, Your Highness. Your knowledge is no less than that of the sages in the legends..."


    Alphonso swiftly raises his hand to stop him andmands, "Alright, alright, stop quickly. Send a delegation to Vijayanagara to establish better diplomatic rtions with them and discuss beneficial trade between our two countries."


    Barren, the knight, was taken aback by the order, confused and somewhat hesitant. He asked, "Your Highness, Vijayanagar is in a remote part of the world. If we suddenly send a diplomatic delegation to that ce just after they finished their war with the Dutch, won''t it expose our intelligence personnel in India?"


    Alphonso shook his head and responded, "It is worth it. Let''s just do this as a favour to the monarch over there. From the very beginning, our intelligence personnel consisted of separatist forces, fueling a separate nation from Vijayanagara. Now, after we stop our funding, they will be at the mercy of Vijayanagara. Just pull out our core personnel and have them assigned to apany the diplomatic personnel we are sending."


    "It is very profitable to exchange a little to no profit organization for a good diplomatic rtion with a rich country that could potentially be our long-term trading partner," Alphonso responded.


    "As you wish, Your Highness."


    The knight, having received the order, quickly bows his head in salute to Alphonso and leaves promptly.


    Alphonso, now alone, mutters to himself, "If the bet this time is sessful, it will only take a while longer to finance my war against Spain for an independent nation." His eyes brim with determination.

 Chapter 98: The Naval Academy

    <h4>Chapter 98: The Naval Academy</h4>


    Vijay spent a few more days happily with his wife after the breakthrough in their rtionship. He was very excited, considering Kavya was the first woman he had in both his lifetimes. Finally experiencing the sweetness he had longed for, he refocused his attention towards the internal affairs of Vijayanagara.


    In the initial phase, Vijay issued a decree to incorporate Lanka into Vijayanagara. However, he found himself grappling with the question of how best to shape Lanka''s development. While he envisioned a focus on cash crops and maritime industries, the dilemmay in whether to fully assimte Lanka into Vijayanagara or grant it the status of a special economic zone. The decision carried significant implications for both the new territory and the broader empire.


    Special economic zones,monly demarcated areas subject to distinct economic regtions and policies, aim to diverge from the norm of the rest of the country. Their establishment typically targets attracting foreign investment, stimting economic activities, fostering employment, and propelling industrial growth. Despite this, Vijay remained uncertain about the viability of this model in the current era. Consequently, he opted to defer this matter for future consideration.


    The next step in Vijay''s agenda is the management of assets obtained from the Dutch. This epasses top-tier battleship maintenance technology and Dutch personnel skilled in its application, who are also cleared of any wrongdoing. Additionally, there are responsibilities that should be assigned to Danior Boswell in utilizing his shipbuilding expertise for the benefit of Vijayanagara. This intricate process demands strategic nning to seamlessly integrate these resources into the existing infrastructure of the empire.


    Thinking about all this, Vijay informed his butler to call all the Dutch maintenance personnel for a meeting along with Danior.


    Soon after, more than 60 white faces entered the room, looking nervous and restless. Vijay, seeing the nervous expressions, did not speak but waited for Danior to act as a trantor.


    The Dutch technicians had been put on house arrest as soon as they entered Vijayanagara. Although they were not treated badly, being in an unfamiliarnd with unfamiliar people made them scared. They wanted tomunicate with the security guards many times, but unfortunately, thenguage barrier prevented any sort ofmunication. Moreover, they were very sure that their country would not send anyone to rescue them, as they were justmon people in the kingdom who had learned some ship maintenance knowledge. People like them were not very rare in their country. Just when they were losing their minds and preparing for the worst, they received a call from the security guard, who rudely gestured for them to follow him. Sweat began to pour from their heads as they entered arge building.


    Soon, Danior arrived in a hurry when he received the king''s call. However, he was dumbfounded when Vijay asked him to be a trantor for him. It was not that he was unwilling, but he had thought that Vijay had some important orders for him. Nevertheless, he did not say anything as he tranted what Vijay said honestly.


    "I know you all are scared and nervous, and I would not me you. You are in a foreign country, and on top of that, it''s your enemy country. But fret not, I know that you all are innocent based on my investigations, and no harm will befall you."


    As the technicians heard these words, their hearts temporarily calmed, realizing that their lives were not in immediate danger.


    "I gathered you all here today for your expertise. I know that you are traditionally trained in ship maintenance and understand the ship''s core structure and principles from top to bottom. What I need from you is to work for me for 10 years. During this period, you will continuously train a batch of qualified naval officers, who are crucial for my Navy," Vijay demanded.


    The Dutch technicians did not mind the request; instead, they were overjoyed that their skills could be of some use. In that case, they woulde to no harm at least for the next 10 years, as the monarch in front of them assured.


    "After these 10 years, I would grant you freedom, and you can do as you see fit. Either you can go back to your country, or you can stay here, and I will pay you handsomely."


    These words set off a storm as everyone, including Danior, who was tranting, stood speechless at the promise. They had never thought they had a chance to go back to their country.


    Danior was shocked for a whole different reason. He fled from the Nethends and didn''t have a chance to go back, but he was shocked because Vijay was willing to send the technicians back despite them being his spoils of war. It was the first time for him to see a noble person like Vijay, as typically, all the nobles he had encountered were greedy bloodsuckers who didn''t even leave bones.


    The technicians, upon hearing the trantion, quickly knelt down as they nodded to Vijay frantically. Without needing trantion, Vijay could see that they had agreed.


    "Good, now you may leave," Vijay said as he dismissed the technicians, as he still had something to discuss with Danior. Danior, who stood back, was confused by Vijay''s meaning, but soon his doubts were answered.


    "Danior," Vijaymanded, "I require your expertise in crafting a patrol ship. This vessel should be capable of effectively patrolling the coastal waters of Vijayanagara and extending its reach to the shores of Lanka." Vijay''s directive marked a pivotal moment, as he was now ready to invest in the long-anticipated Vijayanagara shipbuilding project, having found a qualified shipbuilder in Danior.


    Reflecting on his options, Vijay acknowledged the limitations of his previous approach. In the past, he might have considered transmitting advanced knowledge from the future to his subjects. However, he recognized the inherent challenge ¨C the information he could share would be theoretical,cking the practical experience necessary for true progress. Even with his newfound ability to elerate enlightenment, he understood that transitioning from basic shipping boats to formidable battleships required more than just theoretical insights.


    Shipbuilding, as aplex industry, requires a coordinated effort from skilled individuals working coboratively. Vijayprehended the intricacies of the process, recognizing that it was vastly different from the simplicity of sharing theoretical knowledge. It became evident to him that possessing theoretical understanding alone wasn''t enough for progress in naval technology. He knew this from the fact that, in the future, many nations had the necessary knowledge for building advanced navies, yet only a few seeded. The naval industry thrived on experience, and it was this experiential aspect that ounted for the extensive timeline involved in developing a world-ss navy. Japan serves as an example of such a navy, as it became a significant naval power over approximately four decades leading up to World War II, from thete 19th century to the outbreak of the war in 1939.


    Vijay''s choice to involve Danior in the construction of a patrol ship went beyond a tactical maneuver; it represented a strategic investment in the future naval strength of Vijayanagara. He understood the importance of fostering practical expertise within his kingdom, acknowledging that hands-on experience was crucial for tranting theoretical knowledge into the actual development of advanced naval vessels, and with his Gold Finger, the process could be elerated significantly.


    Facing time constraints, Vijay couldn''t afford a prolonged waiting period. With Danior now at his disposal, he decided to task him with designing and constructing a patrol ship that exceeded Danior''s current capabilities. This strategic move aimed not only to expedite the shipbuilding process but also to encourage Danior to nurture and elevate the level of shipbuilding talent within Vijayanagara, a crucial requirement for the empire''s future naval endeavors.


    Danior, who heard the requirements, wanted to deny it immediately because it was well over his capabilities. But he was shut down by Vijay, saying, "Do not worry. I will arrange all the materials and talents required for you to experiment as many times as needed. My only requirement is that I need a patrol vessel by the end of this year."


    Vijay patted Danior''s shoulders, imparting the knowledge he possessed about sloops of war naval vessels. These vessels were typically smaller than frigates butrger than schooners or brigs. Sloops carried ordnance of varying calibers, including cannons and guns, tailored to the specific tasks they were meant to fulfill. They were extensively used by the Royal Navy until the 19th century.


    In his effort to expedite the shipbuilding process, Vijay transmitted detailed information about these warships to Danior, hoping to foster the development of capable shipbuilding talents as quickly as possible.


    Danior, who had heard Vijay''s reassuring words, tightened his grip as he promised himself that he would fulfill Vijay''s requirements. "Leave it to me, Your Highness. It will be done ording to your instructions," he said with determination in his eyes.


    Soon, two new academies were established near Kochi. The first was the Naval Officer Academy, responsible for training qualified sailors. This academy aimed to train seamen for future naval operations, with Dutch technicians helping to get acquainted with different kinds of battleships'' structures and maintenance. Capable Dutch sailors who were found innocent, were appointed as teachers for teaching sailing lessons. All the soldiers in the Military Academy who were remotely familiar with ships were quickly transferred to this department. The sons of small fishermen or small-time merchants doing business in river waters were quickly transported to the Naval Academy.


    Another academy was set up as a design bureau, simr to the Russian design bureau. It was named after Danior and is called the Boswell Design Bureau, tasked with designing and producing qualified ships for the Vijayanagara Navy. Simr to the army, people familiar with fishery or naval trade, or even those connected to life on the water, were transferred directly from the Vijayanagara Academy of Sciences and the Vijayanagara Academy of Military Sciences to help and learn from Boswell the knowledge of shipbuilding. With the help of Danior, who was blessed by Vijay''s golden finger, the work started quickly as the design process began.

 Chapter 99: Mohammad’s Plan

    <h4>Chapter 99: Mohammad''s n</h4>


    The capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra.


    Mohammed the Vth sat in his study room, engrossed in documents detailing the daily management of the Empire. His peace was abruptly disrupted by a knock on the door, causing annoyance to crease his face.


    "Come in," he said.


    As the door opened, the old Prime Minister entered, causing a momentary disturbance. Despite his initial irritation, Mohammed held back from reprimanding the old man, recognizing his long and loyal service to the family. The Prime Minister had served both his father and him, appearing worn and aged, his hands trembling with the signs of old age. Mohammed, realizing the old man might linger for a few more years, decided to relieve him of his duties after the conquest of Vijayanagara.


    The old man greeted, "Sm we kum jahapana," and continued, "Your Highness, the army is assembled and ready for battle. We have managed to recruit a standing army of 200,000 soldiers. Among them, half are well-trained veterans, while the rest are newly trained soldiers. Although they may not be asbat-effective as the veterans, we have invested resources in them, providing training in formations, instructions in war, and basic martial arts. While this group may not stand against a well-trained army, they are suitable for backup and reserve, which should be enough to take on the Vijayanagara Empire," the old man said with a scheming glint in his eyes.


    Mohammad, upon hearing the news, was jolted awake. He quickly sprang up from his seat and approached the old man, praising, "Great. You did very well, old man. Very well. After my conquest of Vijayanagara, your son will take your ce, and you will be relieved of your duty. You can rest well then."


    The old man, touched by these words, tears welled up in his eyes as he knelt down to express his gratitude. His family had been serving the Royal family for as long as he could remember. Raised by Mohammed''s father from a very young age, his family was cultivated to be good helpers to the Royal Family.


    Since then, he has been dedicated to this job. Now, in his old age, he couldn''t manage all the affairs of the Empire. He was grateful to His Highness for relieving this burden. Typically, people in his position would work in the same role until their death, reced only upon their demise. The kindness shown by His Highness, allowing him to retire early and appointing his son, deeply touched him.


    Mohammed, seeing the old man kneeling, quickly ordered him to get up, saying, "Hey, alright, alright. You have worked hard enough to deserve this. Okay, tell me about the cannons that are being manufactured. Is the quantity I required manufactured?" Mohammed asked with anticipation.


    The old man swiftly responded, "Your Highness, unfortunately, due to the high skill required to build these things, we are still short of a few divisions'' worth of cannons. We have currently manufactured 70 cannons capable of firing distances of up to 80 meters,unching a 10-kilogram projectile. Its power is strong enough to breach a normal city wall with a few minutes of constant bombardment," the old man said with some pride.


    However, Mohammed heard the answer and was left with disappointment, expecting that the manufacturing would have beenpleted by now. He still felt uneasy without more firepower, so he ordered, "I will give you 2 months. I need 50 more cannons as soon as possible. I do not want to hear any reasons. Do you understand?"


    "As you wish, Your Highness," the old man replied with a hint of fear. Mohammad followed up his order, saying, "Mobilize army reactions and logistical supplies needed for the war from now on. I need enough supplies tost for a whole year. Make sure to send scouts beforehand to mark out theyout of Vijayanagara and gather any information that could be beneficial in this war."


    "As you wish, Your Highness," the old man said as he finally left the room.


    Soon, the Mughal Empire mobilized arge amount of food, medical supplies, and horses on arge scale. Merchants in the Mughal Empire noticed the difference, as the resources were procured at an astonishing rate. This news quickly reached the lurking spies in the Mughal Empire. Even the merchants sensed the unusualness of the economy, much less the deeply integrated spywork of Vijayanagara.


    After a detailed investigation, it was confirmed that the Mughal Empire was preparing for war again in a matter of 2 to 3 months. This information was collected from various ces in the Mughal Empire and swiftly sent to the Secret Service headquarters in Vijayanagar. Roshan, upon receiving this news, quickly made it a top priority and forwarded it to Vijay.

 Chapter 100: Musket Part :1

    <h4>Chapter 100: Musket Part :1</h4>


    "Vijay, stop!" Kavya chided Vijay as he teased her.


    "What''s wrong?" Vijay asked, pretending innocence.


    "You know what''s wrong! You''ve been acting like a little boy ever since you got back from Lanka. It''s not funny anymore," Kavya said, her cheeks flushed with annoyance.


    "I''m just trying to have some fun," Vijay said with a shrug.


    "Well, your ''fun'' is getting old. And it''s not very bing of a king," Kavya said, crossing her arms.


    Their yful moment was cut short by a Report Vijay received from Roshan. Sensing that it might not be good news again, Vijay left in haste. Kavya left alone, couldn''t shake the feeling of unease. Roshan''s visits had be synonymous with bad news, a pattern that hadn''t escaped Kavya''s notice since she married Vijay. The extrayer of worry on Roshan''s face this time heightened her apprehension, and she braced herself for the potentially dire news that awaited Vijay. Left alone, she wondered about the challenges that might be looming over Vijayanagara and the toll it could take on their lives.


    Vijay hurried to the office room in the pce to review the document Roshan had given him. It was marked with an S level of importance that conveyed its significance. As he opened the report, he was stunned to learn about the Mughal Empire''s ns to wage war on Vijayanagara. While he had anticipated this, he didn''t expect the day toe so soon. Nevertheless, he had been preparing for this day.


    The armory had not ceased production since the Dutch war, continuously churning out cannons. Even during battles, the military economy had operated in overdrive, procuring raw materials for another war. Vijay felt more prepared now, especially with the inclusion of two gship-level battleships, unbeknownst to the Mughals. Additionally, the introduction of flintlocks meant he had another hidden card against the Mughals.


    Soon he summoned Yogananda to the pce to inquire.


    Vijay inquired calmly, "Is the army''s preparationplete?"


    Yogananda, ever the loyal army marshal, stood at attention before Vijay and replied, "Your Highness, we currently have 100,000 well-trained and battle-tested soldiers ready forbat, including veterans who participated in the Dutch war. As for the reserve recruits, we can enlist them from the Military Academy whenever the need arises."


    A hundred thousand soldiers had participated in the Dutch war; unfortunately, a fraction of them had passed away inbat, leaving only three-fourths of the soldiers. Before the Dutch war started, a division of soldiers stayed in Vijayanagara in case of any emergency threats from the Mughal Empire. This division was also included in the uing war, restoring Vijayanagara''s standing army to a hundred thousand troops again.


    "And how is the replication of the flintlocks going?" Vijay asked. After confiscating the flintlocks from the Dutch, they were quickly sent to the Military Sciences Academy for replication. Vijay had even shared his knowledge of flintlock technology with Hey Ram, the person in charge of this project.


    Both Roshan and Yogananda felt embarrassed as they looked at each other in dismay and answered, "Your Highness, I am not entirely sure, but I believe Hey Ram is making quick progress."


    Vijay nodded, not surprised by their istion from such information, as he had ordered tight security on the Academy of Military Sciences, directly overseen by his own personal guards. He did not want to take any chances with information or technology leakage.


    Subsequently, Vijay left for the Military Academy of Sciences to meet Hey Ram.


    During Vijay''s journey, his directives reached numerous military leaders within the empire, outlining the impending conflict with the Mughal Empire. The gravity of the newscast somber expressions on the faces of various generals, prompting them to intensify the training of their troops. Unlike the surgical operations against the Dutch, this was poised to be an all-out war. The unique geographical situation, with Vijayanagara sharing a sole border with the Mughal Empire, rendered the possibility of setting strategic ambushes impossible. The impending confrontation demanded aprehensive and strategic approach from the Vijayanagara forces.


    Vijay finally made his way to the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences, where Hey Ram was working on a peculiar gun, polishing some metal pieces. Looking at the gun, Vijay noticed it looked more like a bulkier musket than a flintlock. Hey Ram, seeing Vijay approach, quickly greeted him, "Long live Your Highness, long live." Vijay waved in greeting and asked in confusion, "Is this the gun? Why is it different from the flintlocks of the Dutch?"


    Feeling guilty, Hey Ram knelt down and said, "Your Highness, it is all my fault. Please punish me." However, Vijay, sensing the sincerity and urgency, asked him to rise and inquired, "Get up first, tell me what the problem is."


    HeyRam quickly replied, "Your Highness, after extensive effort and resources, we managed to decipher the working mechanism of the flintlock and understood every purpose of its parts, down to the minutest details. Regrettably, Your Highness, replicating some of the gun''s smallerponents inrge quantities is proving impossible by manual means. While skilled craftsmen can duplicate the gun, the process is time-consuming. Furthermore, weck a sufficient number of craftsmen capable of handcrafting these guns, even with round-the-clock work. Our current production capacity is insufficient for the army, not exceeding a hundred guns a day."


    Vijay, who heard the reply, suddenly felt enlightened. Even though he had already standardized weights and measurements, he realized that humans are inherently not machines. This is not to say that humans are not precise; on the contrary, in the future, talented and experienced masters could even manufacture jet engines by hand, achieving uracy down to a few millimeters, much less now where the craftsmen are everywhere. However, this requires extensive training, talent, and resources to cultivate such masters, which hecks right now.


    "Introduction of industrial tools should be put on the agenda," Vijay muttered to himself, realizing that such tools could propel Vijayanagara''s industrial capabilities forward by a generation. His focus returned to the gun in Hey Ram''s hands, and he inquired further.


    "Then what is this?" Vijay asked curiously, his eyes fixated on the unusual firearm that Hey Ram had designed.


    HeyRam''s face lit up, a wide smile spreading across his features. It was evident that he had been eagerly anticipating this question. With a voice filled with pride, the big man exined, "Your Highness, after delving into the principles underlying the flintlock gun, I was struck by a sudden sh of inspiration. It dawned upon me, why not simplify the design of this weapon and make it more..., ah! how to put it, basic? Drawing upon the knowledge gained from our endeavors in cannon construction, I set out to create a smaller, handheld version. By integrating the flintlock technology we have been diligently researching, I have fashioned this gun. While it may not match the precision or rate of fire of the flintlock, it boasts superior power and is both easier to manufacture and maintain."


    Vijay inspected the weapon with growing interest. It resembled a musket in appearance, its sturdy frame andrge barrel exuding an air of formidable power. Eager to test its capabilities, he led the way to the testing grounds.


    Upon arriving at the designated area, Vijay instructed an assistant, a young man who had oil stains all over his clothes, to put the weapon to the test.


    The assistant, his movements practiced and methodical, proceeded to load the firearm. He skillfully poured a handful of gunpowder into the barrel, followed by a tightly packed iron ball. Using a ramrod, he firmly tamped the ball down, ensuring it was securely lodged in ce. Finally, he raised the weapon and pulled the trigger.


    A deafening explosion erupted, the recoil momentarily jolting the assistant''s grip. The iron ball whizzed through the air, leaving a trail of smoke in its wake, and struck arge iron shield ced approximately fifty meters away with a resounding ng.


    To be continued...

 Chapter 101: Musket Part :2

    <h4>Chapter 101: Musket Part :2</h4>


    The guards who were with Vijay, witnessing the gun firing, were very excited as they could feel that this firepower exceeded that of a Dutch flintlock they had witnessed during the battle. However, Vijay had a frown on his face because he had noticed multiple problems with how this gun was made and the steps in the firing process.


    Noticing Vijay''s displeased expression, HeyRam''s excitement turned to concern. He swiftly retrieved the gun from the tester and presented it to Vijay for inspection. With utmost respect, he inquired, "Your Highness, is there anything you want me to adjust? Please enlighten me."


    He said with a humble attitude, knowing that Vijay was a knowledgeable man from the various policies he had made for the kingdom. Moreover, it was with his direction that the st furnace was manufactured, so he had no doubt that Vijay could point out some ws that he might havemitted. So he humbly folded his hands and waited for Vijay''s response.


    Vijay, thoroughly examined the gun, scrutinized it from various angles, checking the barrel, disassembling parts for closer inspection, and even examining the gunpowder. After a thorough assessment, he pinpointed the ws in the design. Recognizing that HeyRam had initiated this research with limited prior knowledge and had only a month to delve into the principles of cannons and flintlocks, Vijay refrained from harsh reprimands. Instead, he pointed out the areas that needed improvement.


    "Your gun craftsmanship is impressive, but there are a few areas that could use some immediate attention.


    Firstly, the gun''s range is quite limited, much worse than the flintlocks. It can only reach about 50 to 60 meters at most.


    Another issue is the excessive smoke produced upon firing, which seriously hampers the soldiers'' visibility on the battlefield, posing a significant risk to their lives.


    Then, there''s the matter of inconsistent ammunition. The use of non-uniform rounds can be life-threatening, potentially leading to explosions that could be disastrous for the user.


    Lastly, theponents used to construct the gun stillck consistency, making it unreliable in terms of overall performance and durability."


    HeyRam felt embarrassed as he heard about all the problems with his gun, especially the part about it possibly exploding in someone''s hand. If that happened under his watch, he''d rather stop being a craftsman. Despite not showing it, he took pride in his work. Thinking about it, he knelt down to Vijay and thanked him for pointing out the ws.


    "Thanks for your help, Your Highness. I don''t know how to repay you. All I can do is fix the mistakes as soon as possible," HeyRam promised, patting his chest.


    Vijay, on seeing this, sighed because he didn''t have time to wait for HeyRam to fix everything with the Mughals on his back. If he knew about the Mughal threat earlier, he could have given HeyRam more time, but now he had to take matters into his own hands.


    "Forget it: make a smooth bore design. Add a simple twist to the projectile and wrap a cord or leather strip around it before loading," Vijay ordered.


    HeyRam was confused. "What''s the use of this, Your Highness?"


    "When you pull the trigger, the projectile spins slightly in the barrel, making the bullet more stable and able to go farther," Vijay exined.


    "As for the next improvement, make the bullet more pointed like a needle. First, make a mould for the bullet suitable for the Musket, and apply a slight lubricant."


    Seeing how His Highness was exining the manufacturing process of bullets, HeyRam quickly waved his hand to his assistant to carry out the process as Vijay exined it. Observing this, Vijay also waited for the preparations to begin so as to fully exin the process.


    As the preparations were done and the mould was ready, Vijay again remembered the process in his mind, which almost yed like a video, and exined.


    "Next, as usual, melt the metal and ce it at an elevated position. Under that position, open the bullet mould over the water container and make sure that the mould is level and stable."


    The assistant quickly melted the metal and positioned the mould and water container as Vijay ordered.


    "Make the water a little colder, add a little ice just enough to make the water chilly to the touch," Vijay said, as he had read that cold water could make the bullets harder.


    HeyRam was confused by the order, but he still carried out his duties as Vijay instructed.


    "Next, slowly drop by drop, let the molten metal drop into the water container as it is filled within the moulds. As soon as one is dropped in the water container, take it out, and while reheating, polish it properly so that it has a smoother finish."


    The assistant finally went through the whole process as per Vijay''s instructions, and Vijay was handed dozens of bullets, all with the same size, weight, and finish. Although some bullets appeared to have some cracks, they were still far superior to crude iron pellets.


    "Have you learned this process?" Vijay asked, looking sideways to see HeyRam nodding his head like a chicken pecking at rice.


    "Bring Manoj over. I have some instructions for him," Vijay ordered as he looked to improve the ck powder further.


    Soon, Manoj arrived and greeted Vijay.


    "I need you to make the gunpowder finer," Vijay ordered. Manoj received the order and nodded his head hesitantly. He wanted to say something but stopped in hesitation.


    "What is it? Quickly, let it out," Vijay demanded, already feeling impatient after spending a lot of time in the forgery, making him ufortable.


    "Your Highness, we have already tested using smaller gunpowder particles, but unfortunately, although it has more power, it has a lot of requirements for the strength of the metal in which it is contained. If it is not contained in a strong container, it has a tendency to explode."


    Listening to this, Vijay finally understood. Thinking about it for a moment, he ordered, "HeyRam, you are required to work with him to make a gun capable of holding this gunpowder. I will not have too many demanding requirements for you. If the gun is capable of firing 100 rounds in total, that would be enough. You can even use steel lining on the inside of the barrel if necessary."


    Vijay suggested as he was sure that the war he was going to face would be a short one, and he would make sure of it.


    HeyRam and Manoj looked at each other and quickly epted the orders.


    "Ah yes, I almost forgot. Prepare the gunpowder in a fixed amount for every round fired. Use a paper cartridge of standardized measurements to make it. The armoury doesn''t have to directly make all this; have workshops all over the country manufacture these simple things," Vijay said as he suddenly felt enlightened. "Why don''t we do this for all the parts of the gun?" He thought to himself as he quickly made another order.


    "Quickly standardize all the parts of this gun, except for the main chamber and the bullets. Split the gun into different parts that could be manufactured by any workshop, and make an order to the public craftsmen to manufacture it for us."


    Hearing this, HeyRam was scared out of his wits as he asked fearfully, "Your Highness, but won''t this leak our technology?"


    Vijay, hearing this but not giving it much thought, mused, "The heart of a gun lies not in its physical form but in its ammunition. Controlling the ammunition is akin to controlling the gun itself. And by only sharing the designs of individualponents rather than the entire weapon, keeping the assembly process under wraps can furtherplicate any attempts to replicate the weapon."


    Considering all this, Vijay responded, "You don''t have to worry about this. I have my own considerations."


    HeyRam, upon hearing the answer, didn''t ask any more questions. Instead, he quickly went to preside over the matter.

 Chapter 102: The Giant Cannon

    <h4>Chapter 102: The Giant Cannon</h4>


    Finally, Vijay left the armoury after giving his instructions. However, on the way out of the building, something caught his eye. In arge workshop, a huge object was covered by a tarpaulin. By the outline of the object, Vijay was very sure that it was a cannon. But he was very shocked at the sheer size of the thing. Even in the rough gaze, it was almost his height.


    This thing intrigued Vijay, and he had no choice but to call back HeyRam again to ask about this monstrous cannon. HeyRam, who was called back, was confused and did not know why Vijay called him back.


    Seeing Vijay staring intently at the giant cannon, HeyRam finally had a guess. He quickly greeted his highness and asked, "HeyRam is at your service, your highness."


    Vijay, still fixated on the cannon, didn''t turn his head to greet him. When HeyRam, who was getting restless, was about to ask again, he finally heard Vijay''s words.


    "What is this thing? From the looks of it, it seems like a cannon. Who made it? Tell me everything about it."


    Vijay asked multiple questions at once as he was fully engrossed in the monster in front of him.


    HeyRam, who heard the questions, did not mind the king''s behaviour of ignoring him as he happily answered, "Your Highness, this is indeed a cannon, as you have already guessed. It was made by that explosive enthusiast, Sai, who came up with the frag grenade. Once when he came to visit our factory, he was fascinated by our cannon and wanted to make arger and more powerful one. So, he set out to make this. As for the specifications and how he managed to make it, I am not very sure...."


    He said, looking around the workshop, "If my memory serves me right, Sai was still working on this cannon just yesterday, and I haven''t been informed that he had left..."


    HeyRam, looking around some more throughout the whole workshop, finally found Sai in a corner of a storeroom, huddled in between various supplies.


    Seeing him like this, HeyRam felt guilty for waking him up, but considering that it was Vijay who was asking for him, he reluctantly woke him up.


    "Ah, what... Who?"


    Sai, who was sleeping soundly, woke up with a headache and was still disoriented by the sudden awakening.


    But seeing that it was the factory director who woke him up, he didn''t speak but just looked at HeyRam dumbly, as if his wide-opened eyes could ask the question, "Why wake me up? I sleep, I no sleep enough."


    Seeing him like this, HeyRam felt helpless as he quickly whispered, "Your Majesty wants to talk to you." These words were enough to fully wake him up as he jolted awake and quickly stood on his feet, trying to arrange his clothes and hair, which were, for the most part, very unsessful.


    HeyRam looked at him with a flustered appearance, his hair tangled, and his clothes messy and shook his head. If he had a choice, he wouldn''t want to present Sai like this. However, now that His Highness was already at the workshop, he had no other choice but to bring Sai to meet His Highness in this fashion.


    Vijay, who was still inspecting the cannon, was greeted by HeyRam as he introduced Sai. However, seeing Sai''s dishevelled and unkempt appearance, Vijay did not feel anything negative. Instead, it reminded him of himself in his past life. If anything, it even brought him a sense of nostalgia and a sort of regret that he couldn''t fully engross himself in such pursuits as he did in his past life.


    Breaking out of his reverie, he quickly asked, "Are you Sai? Did you build this? Tell me about it."


    Sai excited that His Highness recognized his cannon, had his hands beginning to shake in excitement, and his words were stuttering. "Ur, ur..."


    With a nudge from HeyRam, he fully calmed down. First, before answering the king''s question, he pulled the cloth draped on the cannon to reveal the huge, impressive structure cast in a golden hue with a metallic lustre.


    Vijay''s eyes lit up as soon as he saw this monster. while he was Moving around the cannon to inspect every inch of it, Sai began to exin.


    "Your Highness, when the armoury was producing the cannons, I was very inspired by the cannons and their power. So, I decided to make the most powerful cannon possible. I made this myself with the help of some technicians in my free time.


    The calibre of this cannon is 10 inches at the barrel, with a total length of 12 feet and a weight of 3 tons. The barrel length is 8 feet.


    "Can the barrel withstand the explosion with all this power?" HeyRam asked quickly, expressing his doubts.


    Sai, patting his chest proudly, exined, "Absolutely! This cannon can endure even more. The core of this cannon is crafted from robust bronze, and some of its non-critical parts are made with high-strength steel, the same material used in regr cannons.


    "As for the ammunition, it carries a solid projectile of a round shot capable of firing 20 kilograms up to 850 meters. I designed it to have adjustable elevation, making it versatile for various distances.


    "As for the carriage, it''s constructed from high-strength wood, the kind used in ship hulls. Reinforced with high-strength steel in crucial load-bearing areas, and it boasts metal-reinforced wheels for added durability."


    He said very proudly.


    But soon Vijay asked a question that had been bothering him since the time his eyes wereid on the cannon.


    "It is all good, but how were you able to manufacture this cannon? I have not seen any projects that have been started in its name in the factory''s report."


    Hey Ram was the first one to give a reaction as his face blushed. He exined, "That would be my fault, Your Highness. This right here is not a factory-funded project. Sai, with his own money, started this project and worked on it in his free time. With the money you gave him for inventing the frag grenade, he was able to buy a lot of materials needed for this cannon. I did not know what he was working on, as it was his own resources being used, and I was very busy with my own affairs, so I did not look into it in detail. But as the project progressed, more and more people joined him and helped him out in their off-duty time. It was then that I got to know about this project. Seeing the design and the forging of this project, even I was somewhat impressed and wanted to send a report to you to get your permission to manufacture this in the factory.


    "But by the time I could write a report, it hase to light."


    Vijay, upon hearing the exnation, finally epted it. It was true that Hey Ram was working tirelessly to fulfil his requests for both replicating the flintlock and producing the cannon. He realized he was putting a significant strain on Hey Ram, but given the critical time, he felt he had no other choice. So, he decided not to me Hey Ram.


    However, as he gazed at the cannon, he sighed, "Unfortunately, it''s not very practical in battles. It can only be used as fort defence artillery."


    Sai, who heard the king''sment, began to panic as he did not know where he went wrong. He quickly inquired with hesitation, "May I know where I went wrong, Your Highness?"


    Vijay, looking at Sai again, couldn''t help butment the wastage of such a good cannon. Although the fact that this cannon could be used as a wall defence artillery is a plus point it is still a waste of resources nheless.


    "Nothing is wrong with it. It''s just that it is too heavy, and it is not possible for horses to pull it. It is not very practical in actual battle situations as it is too bulky to operate and maintain."


    Listening to this, everyone in the room, including Sai, was stunned, as Sai himself did not consider this issue. He only focused on the firepower and overlooked the logistical challenges of the cannon. Now that he heard the king''sment, he suddenly realized that even with two strong horses, this cannon couldn''t be moved, let alone the amount of ammunition it would require, which would take up another carriage entirely.


    The room was frozen in silence, as not even a small sound could be heard. As Vijay was almost turning around to leave, the silence was broken by a smallment from his guard. "I may know how to solve this issue."


    Just as thatment came up, everyone in the room, including Vijay, stared daggers at the person who made thement. Seeing everyone staring at him like this, with the most eager eyes, he couldn''t help but feel panic as he tried to make himself appear as meek as possible. Even though he had been to the battlefield and killed numerous people, he hadn''t been as panicked as he is now.


    But Vijay, ignoring his actions, quickly asked, eager in his voice as he very much wanted this cannon to be effective on the battlefield, "Don''t be hesitant; tell clearly. It is alright."


    The soldier who heard Vijay''s question quickly calmed down and answered, "Your Highness, I was born in a small mountain vige near Kedarnath. Our vige is surrounded by forests on all four sides, and we have a culture of raising elephants to do some of our work. So, I think a grown elephant is perfectly capable of pulling this cannon single-handedly."


    Vijay pped his head, realizing he had momentarily forgotten about the crucial role of elephants in battle. In ancient Bharat, elephants were key yers in military campaigns, proving to be formidable assets on the battlefield. They were valued for their strength, size, and imposing presence, earning the title of war elephants. These majestic creatures were outfitted with intricate armour and, at times, carried a howdah ¨C a tform on their back from which archers or soldiers could engage inbat.


    Recalling this historical data, Vijay reflected on the strategic advantages offered by war elephants. Their ability to charge through enemy lines, disrupt formations, and instil fear among opposing forces made them a vitalponent of military tactics. In Aravid warfare, elephants were particrly influential, using their size and strength to navigate challenging terrains and providing a significant advantage in river crossings. Their inclusion in the armies of ancient Bharat, such as those of the Mauryas and Gupta empires, added a potent dimension to military strategies, establishing them as a distinctive feature of ancient Bharatiya warfare.


    Although, in the future, elephants were ted to be phased out like all other animals due to the advancement of science and technology, at present, they stood as a great asset to Vijayanagara during its transition. Moreover, India''s substantial elephant poption, thergest among all countries in Asia, made them readily avable. In this time period, the absence of animal protection agencies meant there was no opposition to their utilization. While Vijay had no intentions of deploying them in war, considering them more as transportation machines.


    "Good, very good, let''s go with that," Vijay said happily. He found this approach feasible and appreciated that it didn''t require any additional investment.

 Chapter 103: Testing The Cannon

    <h4>Chapter 103: Testing The Cannon</h4>


    Vijay ordered the elephant to arrive, and not long after, an elephant typically used for the Dussehra ambari arrived. Usually trained to carry the heavy gold howdah during festivities, this same elephant was now enlisted for pulling the cannon for testing. A colossal creature, standing at 10 feet tall and considered thergest among its peers, made its appearance. This elephant had been nurtured since childhood in the Vijayanagara Mysore province by the Chamundeshwari temple.


    As the elephant arrived, Vijay stepped forward, extending a pat to its trunk in greeting. The elephant, seemingly sensing the kind gesture, responded by gently touching Vijay''s head.


    In his previous life, Vijay had developed a fondness for elephants, seeing them as majestic and gentle creatures. He even came across a video showcasing a small elephant disying artistic talentsparable to a human teenager. Surprisingly, the previous owner of the body he now inhabited also shared a love for elephants. This love led him to frequently visit Mysore, where he could spend time with these magnificent beings. However, as he grew older, his free time dwindled, and the demands of training and education to be a qualified monarch took precedence.


    The craftsmen skillfully attached the cannon to Bheem, the elephant, using sturdy ropes. Bheem, in response, stood firm, demonstrating that he was more than capable of effortlessly pulling the cannon without requiring any assistance.


    Soon, Vijay and Bheem swiftly arrived at the testing grounds of the Bhartiya Academy of Military Science. Impressed with the cannon''s potential, Vijay even extended an invitation to Logananda to witness its action.


    Upon Logananda''s arrival, his attention was immediately seized by the imposing presence of the cannon. He circled around it with a discerning gaze, his eyes alight with fascination. As a seasoned military strategist, Logananda swiftly recognized that this cannon boasted strength several times that of the conventional ones currently in production. The intricacies of its design and the robust materials used did not escape his experienced gaze, marking it as a formidable addition to their arsenal.


    Seeing that an elephant pulled this cannon, he knew it was a heavy one. But that did not stop him from admiring it. He touched various parts of the cannon and even wanted to put his head through the barrel in order to see the shiny yellow metal inside, but luckily he was stopped by his assistant. Feeling somewhat irritated, he looked around only to see Vijay staring at him with a smiling expression.


    Embarrassed, he quickly gave Vijay a salute. Vijay didn''t mind it, as he had the same reaction when he first saw the cannon. No man who likes military weaponry would not appreciate this piece of artillery from this era.


    After admiring it for a few more moments, Vijay ordered Sai to test it.


    Sai nodded eagerly, his excitement mirroring Vijay''s, as he, too, was thrilled about testing the cannon for the first time. The team carefully manoeuvred the cannon to the firing range, strategically positioned at a slightly elevated spotpared to the rest of the terrain.


    Vijay, considering the first test, decided on thick iron tes, each measuring an inch in thickness. Three tes were stacked together to form a robust target, providing a clear assessment of the cannon''s power and pration capabilities. The atmosphere on the firing range buzzed with a blend of enthusiasm and curiosity as they prepared for this pivotal moment.


    Sai, his eyes fixed on the target, directed the officers to perform the necessary calctions. The Vijayanagara Military Academy had imparted the fundamental concepts of trajectory, elevation, and all the variables involved in operating a cannon, ensuring a well-trained team.


    Following the meticulous calctions provided by the officers, Sai skillfully operated a lever specially crafted for this purpose. With deliberate precision, he adjusted the cannon''s barrel to a precise 25-degree angle, using markings on the side of the barrel on the tform holding it for urate aiming. Once satisfied with the elevation, Sai efficiently engaged a mechanism, securing the barrel in ce with a strategically ced iron rod. This mechanism ensured that the barrel maintained its elevation until intentionally adjusted, contributing to the overall precision of the cannon.


    With the cannon now in position, Sai proceeded to load the pre-measured ck powder through the front of the barrel. A te-shaped metal rod, fitting tightly in the barrel, was then thrust inside to pack the gunpowder securely. Following this, an iron ball was ced toplete the loading process.


    Sai sought confirmation from Vijay, who then nodded his head in approval. With the signal received, Sai promptly lit the fuse at the rear end of the barrel, marking the initiation of the testing phase.


    The crowd hushed in anticipation as Sai, the cannon''s designer, stepped back after lighting the long fuse. This newly produced cannon had never been tested before, so the extra-long fuse gave Sai ample time to evacuate the area. The fuse, soaked in ck powder, hissed and snaked like a Diwali festival firecracker, a familiar sight from Vijay''s childhood. Finally, the fuse sputtered into the cannon''s depths, and an eerie silence fell over the gathering.


    Within the cannon, the tightly packed gunpowder ignited with a sudden, deafening explosion. The explosive force sought an escape route, pushing against the cannon''s sturdy bronze and steel-reinforced barrel. Thankfully, the barrel held firm, resisting the force without even a single crack. With the front end as the only exit, the force surged forth at an unimaginable speed.


    "Bang!"


    With a thunderous roar, the cannon unleashed its payload, sending a massive iron ball hurtling towards the target. This explosive sequence unfolded in a mere fraction of a second.


    The shockwave from the explosion momentarily stunned the crowd before the thunderous roar reached their ears. By the time they recovered from the initial shock, the iron ball, hurtling through the air at lightning speed, was a mere blur. Then, with a resounding "THUD...," the iron ball mmed into its target.


    The impact was monumental, shattering the thick iron tes into a thousand pieces. A cloud of smoke and dust billowed up, momentarily obscuring the target from view. As the smoke cleared, gasps of astonishment erupted from the crowd. The iron tes had been utterly pulverized, leaving behind a gaping hole in the ground.


    Sai let out a triumphant cheer, his face beaming with pride. Logananda, the kingdom''s military marshal, nodded approvingly. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he realized the potential of this new weapon. He could already envision the devastation it could wreak on the battlefield.


    Even Vijay was awestruck by the destructive power of the cannon. His mind raced with the possibilities of using this formidable weapon against the invading Mughals.

 Chapter 104: New Design Bureau

    <h4>Chapter 104: New Design Bureau</h4>


    After testing the cannon, Vijay, being very satisfied, ordered for the casting of 10 such cannons as soon as possible.


    "Sai, You did a good job. Keep on improving this cannon. As a trophy for your current achievements, I decided to reward you. You can start your own design bureau for the purpose of designing new artillery and are no longer restricted to the armoury."


    Sai, who heard thepliment, was panicked as he didn''t know what the design bureau meant. Seeing how Vijay said that he would no longer need to listen to the armoury''s orders, he became anxious, thinking that he was fired. He couldn''t understand what he did wrong, but seeing that Vijay''s face showed approval, he felt that he could have misunderstood and humbly asked, "Your Majesty, can you please exin what this design bureau is? I do not understand, am I no longer a member of the armoury."


    There was a hint of nervousness in his voice as his face turned slightly pale.


    Vijay, looking at his face, was confused, as he did not understand why Sai was acting like this. He just rewarded him with his own design bureau, so shouldn''t he be happy? But soon it dawned on him that the concept of a design bureau was new, and he did not exin it to Sai. He had taken it for granted because he had ordered Danior Boswell to do the same, and he had raised no questions. Now that he thought of it, the Dutch may already have simr institutes, hence why Boswell quickly grasped the concept.


    Thinking of this, Vijay went on to exin, "Don''t worry; this is not a bad thing. A design bureau is an institution where talented designers are gathered together to design a specific product. In your case, you will lead an institute that specializes in designing artillery weapons with the highest destructive power. Normally, when the Empire needs a certain weapon, it will request such an institute like yours for various designs. The design that best suits the Empire''s needs will be selected and manufactured for use. In your case, since you are the only design studio for artillery right now, you will receive the Empire''s support in growing your institute.


    So, what do you think? Do you want to lead your own design bureau?"


    Vijay asked with a smile apparent on his face.


    Listening to the details, Sai''s mouth dropped in shock. He couldn''t believe that he would get a chance to lead his personal institute. Although he couldn''t understand fully, he could grasp that this is a very important part of the Empire''s military strength. By the looks of it, his majesty wanted to open simr design bureaus for various industries to gather the various scientific minds of the Empire for amon goal. Just thinking of all thepetition and ideas that these institutes could produce sent shivers down his spine.


    He was not afraid of the challenges that this could produce; instead, he was getting more and more excited, as he couldn''t ask for anything else. He was a confrontational type of person himself.


    Soon, with his body trembling with excitement, he replied, "Your Highness, I will do it. I will design and produce the best weapons for the Empire. You can count on me."


    Vijay nodded his head in approval. Another design bureau joined the military system of Vijayanagara along with the Boswell-designed bureau. He has decided to establish design bureaus instead of governmentboratories, with the aim of actively engaging private individuals in shaping the future of weapons. This strategic decision is anticipated to elerate progress within Vijayanagara. While these design studios enjoy a degree of autonomy in terms of theoretical ess to information, the practical aspects of experimentation and manufacturing are entrusted to the empire''s own factories and Vijay''s armoury, ensuring a level of confidentiality.


    Moreover, design bureaus were traditionally reserved for projects requiring substantial practical experience, where the actual designs constituted only a small part of the overall process. In the future, even a bachelor''s student in engineering could potentially design an engine, with manufacturing being the crucial element. Vijay found relief in enabling the uninhibited flow of creative ideas within these bright minds, devoid of any hindrance. Notably, these design bureaus yed a pivotal role in the naval industry, and there was a likelihood of them making significant contributions to the heavy artillery sector. Vijay also wanted to potentially extend this model to ventures in the aviation industry if circumstances permitted during his lifetime.


    In the 21st century, Design Bureaus typically worked as an organizational entity specializing in design activities, notably prevalent in industries like aerospace, automotive, industrial design, and architecture. Within the aerospace sector, a Design Bureau focused on conceptualizing and nning designs for aircraft and spacecraft, addressing critical aspects such as aerodynamics and structural design. Simrly, in the automotive industry, a Design Bureau took charge of sculpting the aesthetics and functionality of vehicles, both internally and externally. Industrial Design Bureaus undertook projects involving a diverse range of products, refining their form and function. Simultaneously, Architectural Design Bureaus undertook the nning and design of buildings, considering aesthetics, functionality, and environmental impact.


    These bureaus typicallyprised skilled professionals, including designers and engineers, coborating to bring innovative and effective designs to fruition. The concept of the Design Bureau originated around the mid-20th century in aerospacepanies, particrly in the Soviet Union. The current version employed in Vijayanagara reflects a simr model, showcasing a notable evolution in organizational strategies, marking a significant leap in management approaches.


    Considering all these ideas and pondering the circumstances at hand, Vijay decisively issued a directive, explicitly expressing his desire with the words, "What I want you to do is meticulously design a cannon simr to this existing model, ensuring it is affixed to a circr movement tform. Additionally, I want you to enhance the materials used, making them resistant to rust. This important task is left to you, as there is an urgent need for these upgraded cannons in our naval vessels."


    In response to his first official order, Sai excitedly bowed down to Vijay and began contemting the specifics of the task.


    Meanwhile, as Vijay meticulously inspected the new cannon, the progress of Sri Lanka showed no signs of slowing down. In fact, development surged at a rapid pace, surpassing the maind''s advancements.

 Chapter 105: Changes In Sri Lanka

    <h4>Chapter 105: Changes In Sri Lanka</h4>


    Nearly a month has passed since Vijayanagara conquered Sri Lanka and incorporated it into its empire, leading to the implementation of various policies on the ind, mirroring those on the maind.


    With the removal of foreign interference, the intelligence capabilities of Vijayanagara in Sri Lanka greatly improved. As a result, criminal groups and bandits deeply entrenched in Lanka were swiftly purged out of existence.


    Moreover, allnds, manors, buildings of past royal families, Dutch merchants, and churches forcefully constructed after the destruction of Buddhist and Hindu temples were taken under the control of the local Vijayanagar government.


    Various policies were initiated for the construction of schools, courts, and police stations, and the recruitment of a new army.


    With the assistance of the Secret Service in Lanka, rebel groups that had previously fought against the invaders were identified, newly trained, and appointed as police officers in Sri Lanka. Each police officer was equipped with a baton and shield, and they were taught basic formation and martial arts skills for efficient police functioning.


    With the cleansing of all the dark and messy forces in Sri Lanka and the establishment of the police force, the social security of Sri Lanka greatly improved.


    Next came the policies regarding schools and courts. The vacancy left by the Dutch resulted in numerous high-quality empty buildings, which were repurposed as schools and courts. Where proper facilities werecking, new constructions were initiated.


    Sri Lanka became more vibrant as children donned their government-provided school uniforms and walked to school with joyous faces, eagerly anticipating their ytime with friends.


    The adults were not exempt from the bustling activities either, as they found themselves equally upied with various construction projects taking shape across the entire ind.


    Due to the benevolence shown by the Vijayanagara Empire, many young adults stepped up to join the army. Surprisingly, there was even a substantial number of ck people, around 2000, who signed up to enlist in the army.


    The reason behind this is connected to events that unfolded just after Vijayanagara conquered thend. A few days after Lanka came under Vijayanagara''s control, a scouting party was sent to various parts of the ind for detailed mapping. Surprisingly, unusual activities were discovered in a small vige, including peculiar food consumption patterns. Further inspection of the ind''s terrain revealed a remote mine at the southernmost tip. This medium-scale copper mine had been operated by a Spanish businessman under the watchful eyes of the Dutch maind.


    When the mine was first discovered, the stationed soldiers in Lanka were called upon, only to be horrified to find that this was a ve camp, the size of a medium-scale town. Nearly 5000 ck ves were used to mine the copper ore. With further interrogation, it was revealed that the Spanish businessman had bribed the senior administration of the Dutch officials in Sri Lanka and kept exploiting this resource. To maintain secrecy, none of the ck ves were allowed to leave the mining area, where they were treated worse than animals. They worked for up to 16 hours every day with only a brief break for meals, resulting in bodies reduced to skin and bones.


    What horrified the soldier who went to inspect the mine was the presence of a small graveyard next to the mining area, filled with human bones. This indicated that the mining activity had been ongoing for a few years. Observing the numerous bodies in the cemetery, along with the freshly thrown corpses from recent days, it was evident that the Spanish businessman did not value human life at all. He treated the ck people like consumable resources and worse than animals.


    Upon discovering this illegal mine, the Army, who waster called to inspect the mine more thoroughly, found 210 tons of copper ore neatly stacked in the warehouse, which was then confiscated. The management team running the mine, along with the ck men who sided with the Spanish businessman to oppress his own people in the mine, were put to death in front of the townspeople to highlight the difference in values between them and the white men under the Empire. This information quickly spread throughout the ind, causing waves of surprise and indignation. With the first experience prompting further searches, a few more ck mines were discovered, with various resources being excavated.


    The ck people who were rescued were very grateful to the people of Vijayanagara, and they were offered ample food, shelter, and clothing until they could recover. Out of gratitude, those who were in better health signed up to join the army and serve the great empire that had freed them from the shackles.


    With a significant number of people signing up for the army, the recruitment process was closed, and training quickly began. Basic military drills, standing in attention for extended periods, formations, marches, and variousmands were drilled into their minds day and night. Waking up became a dreaded experience, as it usually involved the warden screaming at them at the top of his lungs.


    With this strict military training, the Sri Lankan army of Vijayanagara slowly began to take shape. Some of the cks among them started to stand out for their more robust and athletic physique. Although they were malnourished just a few weeks ago, their inherent physical advantages, coupled with the continuous provision of an improved diet, led to a visible recovery in their muscle mass.


    The instructors, who were wounded veterans of the Dutch war, were impressed with these ck recruits. Unfortunately, very few of them seemed to have any affinity for literature and sciences. The smarter ones among them were selected and promoted to squad leaders.


    The work in infrastructure was also not ignored, Following the principle that if you want to get rich, build roads first, the road construction of Sri Lanka began in full scale ording to Vijayanagara''s road transportation specifications. All towns and cities were nned to be connected within the year. For town roads, the stone and mudbination road was used, simr to Vijayanagara. As for the cities, due to the requirement for materials, small-scale cement and iron production factories were opened up to facilitate better logistics. With the opening of the cement and ironwork factory, the main raw materials of concrete were readily avable.


    The road construction boom finally began, opening hundreds of thousands of jobs. Unfortunately, Vijay did not have the money to pay them, considering the uing war with the Mughal Empire. Facing this financial challenge, Vijay thought of an idea and recalled the work-for-relief system of the Soviet Union.


    A new policy was promulgated: in exchange for their work, thebourers would be paid with food andnd. This policy did not exclude the ck people who were the new residents of Sri Lanka. With the confiscation of various Dutch properties, the Sri Lankan government had arge amount ofnd avable. When this policy was announced, it shocked themon Sri Lankan people, who rushed to sign up for the jobs, crowding the various recruiting points.


    The ck people who lived in their own smallmunity received the news in disbelief, as they were also included in this endeavour. They still had some doubts about the Vijayanagara Empire because all the people they had met, except for their own, had looked down on them and scorned them, treating them as objects to be bought and sold. So, when treated differently all of a sudden, it looked too good to be true for them. They were promised that when they got better, they would be allowed to leave Sri Lanka and return to their homnd, but none of them tried because they knew that they would have to travel through the sea again, and if anything meant life-threatening danger for the ck people, it was the sea. When they arrived on this ind in the boats, half of their people died due to poor conditions or sickness.


    Hence they decided to stay on thisnd and do what the brown masters wanted. But now that they were allowed to own their ownnd, it felt unreal. They previously did not have a concept of ownership; in their tribes, everything belonged to nature, and they just lived in this world temporarily. But soon, their worldview changed living under the white men, and they understood what the true world meant. They saw the white man''s civilization, and their worldview had opened. So, they knew that ownership ofnd meant they were a part of this Empire no less than the brown people. They felt more indebted to the king of this Empire, with the intent of showing their gratitude and with the intent of earning a piece ofnd. Everyone among the ck people who could move enrolled for the road construction work.


    As nutritious and abundant food was provided on a regr basis to these ck folks, they became stronger and more muscr. The efficiency of road construction improved with the joining of these ck people. The scene could be seen in various cities of the Lanka Ind¡ªa batch of strong ck men pulling the stones and gravel needed for the road construction single-handedly, usually, the work that could be done by four people was done by two ck people.


    This significant increase in the efficiency of road paving happened in just a few months of the construction''s start. among them, A pair of twin brothers, strong as oxen and tall as bulls, were the first to im 5 acres of farnd with a small house on it.


    Since they didn''t know to farm, their neighbours introduced them to a few contract workers. With their assistance, they managed to harvest their first crop. Witnessing that the promise of Vijayanagara was true, all the workers on the construction project got excited and worked even harder, especially the ck people who worked 10 hours a day without anyone ordering them around.


    If Vijay had seen this, he would have been shocked because the propaganda portrayed the future ck people aszy and violent individuals disloyal to their families. However, considering the circumstances, it''s only natural. Previously, there was no motivation for ck people to work hard, as, regardless of their efforts, they would be paid the same, receive the same food, and face the same mistreatment. They weren''t allowed to have anything of their own.


    Now that they had a chance to own their ownnd and house, they unleashed all their productivity and worked 10 hours straight. If anyone tried to stop them from even taking a rest, they would be so angry that they might beat up the person who intervened.


    Under this atmosphere, the road construction, scheduled to end in a year, waspleted in just 10 months, two months ahead of schedule. But all of this is in the future. Currently, as the construction just started, preparations in Vijayanagara for the impending battle against the Mughal Empire were intensifying.

 Chapter 106: Preparation For The Battle Part:1

    <h4>Chapter 106: Preparation For The Battle Part:1</h4>


    Vijayanagara Empire:


    In the royal capital, inside the royal pce, Vijay stood on the balcony, staring worriedly into the void as if contemting something important. Vijay was thinking about his attack n on the Mughal Empire. When he was in deep thought, he heard his wife call, "Vijay,e and eat; lunch is ready."


    Woken up from his contemtion, Vijay left the balcony to have a peaceful lunch with his wife. He greatly enjoyed these moments, as they were the only times he could truly be free from all the duties of the emperor and the burdens from the future, which always weighed heavily on him.


    After Vijay had his moment of peace, it was time for him to return to his work. Seeing Vijay bing so busy and restless in recent days, Kavya was also worried about Vijay''s next actions, as she could vaguely guess what was about toe, having already experienced Vijay acting the same way when the Dutch invaded.


    Concerned, she took her charming steps and gently hugged Vijay''s hand, inquiring, "Is it another war? Will it be dangerous?"


    Hearing Kavya''s inquiry, Vijay slightly smiled as he gently ruffled Kavya''s hair and responded, "Yes, we are about to be raided by the Mughals."


    Hearing this, Kavya tightened her grip even more, growing visibly pale inplexion, and her hands kept vibrating in fear. She still remembered how their kingdom was raided by the Mughals and how her little brother and father had to sacrifice themselves for the kingdom. This incident had cast a deep shadow in her heart. Now, hearing that they were about to face the same situation, she could not think of any positive thoughts; only horror was written on her face.


    Vijay, feeling that his arm was visibly tightened, nced at Kavya, only to see her shaken to her core. Remembering how her kingdom and family were ruined by the Mughals, he kind of understood her predicament andforted her by stroking her head. "Don''t worry, Kavya. We have made adequate preparations for this day, and Vijayanagara is more than capable of taking on these invaders from foreignnds. I won''t give them the chance to have thestugh. Please ce your trust in me and watch while I get revenge for you," Vijay promised, looking straight into Kavya''s eyes with burning determination.


    Kavya, looking into Vijay''s eyes, saw no falsehood. Shaken by Vijay''s determination, after regaining herposure and confidence in her husband, she quickly went into the shrine in the pce. She performed all the rituals for Devi Durga, the goddess of war, praying for the defeat of her enemies and the glorious return of Vijay Deva Raya, the emperor of Vijayanagara, her husband.


    Her previously scared appearance was nowhere to be seen as she was filled with confidence and a hint of aggressiveness. Remembering the death of her father and beloved brother, she walked out of the shrine with majestic steps, as though Durga had incarnated into the world through her. She got to Vijay and put the tk on him, then she handed him the Talwar of the royal family.


    "Comeback, Victorias," Kavya said, her head held high, showing no doubt about Vijay''s victory.


    She soon went back into the shrine to pray until the battle was over and until Vijay came back victorious.


    The next morning, Vijay, d in his armour with the Talwar by his side, left the pce with determination and confidence. With Kavya overseeing the pce, he felt reassured. Surprisingly, Kavya''s brother, the former Prince of the Maratha Empire, stood in the pce hallway as if anticipating Vijay''s departure. Seeing him, Vijay''s expression turnedplicated, fully aware of his brother-inw''s intentions. The loss of his father and brother, coupled with his own escape, had taken a toll on his brother-inw''s mental state.


    Despite understanding that preventing his brother-inw from joining the battle would be the prudent choice, considering the Bansal family''s leadership rested solely on his brother''s shoulders, Vijay also knew that stopping him now would condemn his brother-inw to a lifetime of self-me. Vijay recognized the desperation in those ck eyes, a longing for sce, any form of relief from the internal guilt eating away at him. Resignedly, Vijay nodded, acknowledging that his brother-inw too would now join the battlefield.


    Soon, a meeting was convened, gathering all the generals and the head of the Secret Service, Roshan.


    "1, 2, 3."


    "1, 2, 3."


    In the bustling military barracks of the Vijayanagar army, a symphony of crisp and rhythmic sounds echoed through the air. Soldiers diligently carried out their duties¡ªsome immersed in physical exercises, while others engaged in precise drills. The ordered ambience faced a temporary disruption with the arrival of a sophisticated carriage. None other than Ramaiya Senapati stepped out, marking themencement of a series of arrivals.


    Following suit, carriages carrying Narasimha Nayak, Yogendra Singh, and Kiran Poojari made their entrance. Among them, a in, unassuming carriage, seemingly an ordinary merchant''s transport, pulled in for Roshan, the head of the Secret Service of Vijayanagara. The sequence of arrivals continued until, after a full hour, Vijay, apanied by Logananda, made a grand entrance in his royal carriage adorned with the emblem of the royal family.


    With everyone in attendance, Vijay got straight to the point as the meeting began. "Gentlemen, I''m aware you''ve all got word of the looming threat from the Mughal Empire. Our purpose here today is to talk about how we''re going to tackle this challenge."


    This mode of meeting had be a staple since Vijay introduced it during the Dutch war, proving its effectiveness. Generals had also adopted simr discussions within their respective divisions, simting battles and strategizing to conquer strategic locations. As Vijay outlined the day''s objectives, a focused energy permeated the room, with everyone sitting up attentively, ready to absorb the details.


    Vijay continued, his tone serious and focused, "We have concrete evidence that the Mughal Empire is poised tounch an attack within a week. Despite our thorough preparations, the sheer magnitude of our border with the Mughals poses a strategic challenge. Even with intelligence assistance, we face the inherent difficulty of focusing defences on a specific location. The Mughals maintain the initiative, allowing them to select their point of attack at any given moment."


    Everyone, including Marshal Yogananda, fell into contemtion as they considered Vijay''s words. "So, I propose that we take the initiative andunch the attack first. From thetest intelligence reports that we have received, we can confirm that we have better equipment than them. If weunch a surprise attack, I am positive that we will catch them off guard before they are fully ready."


    "So, here are the tasks that have to bepleted before we make our move: Roshan, you need to prepare the exact time and date that the southern border of the Mughal Empire is the weakest, along with all the information on all the strongholds on their southern border. As for Marshal Logananda, after we have all the information, your task is to plot an attack strategy to win the battle as soon as possible. We will be stretched on our resources as we are just getting out of the Dutch war, so whatever we do should be swift and precise."


    "I need the generals to cooperate with the intelligence brought by Roshan to formte as precise a n as possible."


    After receiving Vijay''s orders, everyone left the room in order to get their job done. Soon, with the regret of the merchants, Vijayanagara was put into the military economy once again. The economy of Vijayanagara, which had been steadily improving with the newly added Sri Lanka, was plunged into an environment of war once again.

 Chapter 107: Preparation For The Battle Part:2

    <h4>Chapter 107: Preparation For The Battle Part:2</h4>


    With the initiation of the military economy system in Vijayanagara, panic once again gripped the empire. The aftermath of the previous Dutch War, while yielding gains for the Vijayanagar Empire, had consumed a significant portion of its resources. Now, with the military economy reinstated, supplies were in short order.


    In various barracks of the Vijayanagara Empire, rows of carriages and marching armies headed towards the northern border. The procurement of war supplies, including medicinal materials, clothing, and ammunition, urred at an exorbitant rate. The addition of Sri Lanka slightly alleviated the food shortage, bringing it to a more manageable level.


    Two days had passed since Vijay ordered the collection of intelligence on the Mughal Empire and the formtion of a feasible attack strategy to Marshal Yogananda.


    Vijay anxiously awaited news from Yogananda and, fortunately, didn''t have to wait long. A servant informed him that Marshal Yogananda had arrived. Upon this news, Vijay knew that Yogananda hadpleted the assigned tasks.


    Yogananda, apanied by Roshan, the chief of intelligence, arrived and handed a bunch of documents to Vijay. These detailed the strategy devised over the past two days for the impending attack. Vijay, looking at the documents, ced them slowly on the table and asked Yogananda, "Tell me, what is the strategy? I want to hear it from your mouth."


    Yogananda, nodding his head, replied, "Your Highness, from the intelligence we have gathered, the Mughal Empire has sessfully mobilized 150,000 soldiers along with 115 cannons of 10 kg calibre with a range of almost 100 meters. However, based on our intelligence, these troops are currently on standby in various strongholds across different locations."


    "Considering our strength, we are under heavy pressure If wepare our infantry to theirs, fortunately, with the foresight of Your Highness, we are better equipped. The Mughal Empire had 20,000 Musketeers along with 10,000 flintlocks, recycled and repaired from the Dutch. Moreover, our cannons have had a breakthrough in casting, and they can now fire with a calibre of 12 kg without adding any weight to the cannon as a whole. We now have 150 of such cannons capable of a range of 100 meters."


    That''s not all. As for the new heavy cannons, which proved more than effective for use inbat in our tests, we have manufactured 20 of such cannons."


    Hearing all these details, Vijay nodded in approval. While they seemed to have an overwhelming advantage in weaponry, he was aware that things could go wrong in a battle, and considering the shortage of resources for the war, he wanted to expedite matters. However, he was somewhat surprised about the 20 cannons that were manufactured. It was not the speed that surprised him, but rather the fact that these 20 cannons used bronze, a rtively costly and rare material. Turning the ore into usable bronze took an extra amount of time, so he voiced his confusion, asking, "Where did the bronzee from? I don''t recall the ironworks having it in stock."


    Roshan was the one to answer this question. "Your Highness, we have received upwards of 250 tons of copper, bronze, silver, and iron in processed forms which are now ced in Royal reserve. We have reason to believe that these materials were confiscated from multiple ck mines found in Sri Lanka. Fortunately, this came in handy."


    Hearing this information, Vijay felt pleased with the rare metals he had obtained. With his doubts cleared, he motioned for Yogananda to continue narrating his n.


    Lokananda, getting Vijay''s approval, continued. "Your Highness, with the intelligence we have received, we have decided to attack four key strongholds in the south of the Mughal Empire, namely The Port of Mumbai, The Port of Paradip, Ratanpur Fort, and Panh Fort. Your Highness, from the information we have, it is concluded that both Mumbai Port and Paradip Port are natural harbour ports capable of docking our ships. As for Panh Fort and Ratanpur Fort, they are located in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. If we upy these two ports, they could be a spearhead for our further operations, and our logistics will be easier.


    With the information we have received, the Mughals have mobilized 150,000 soldiers in the south of their empire, with 10 brigades stationed in Mumbai, as they attach great importance to this ce. Five brigades are ced in Paradip Port, six brigades in Panh Fort in Maharashtra, and five brigades in Ratanpur Fort in Chhattisgarh. The remaining four brigades are scattered in various ces along the southern border."


    "In our calctions, we have a huge advantage in artillery and weaponry, so it is beneficial to us for a quick war, as Your Highness suggested. Due to Mumbai being a crucial part of our n, and with it being reimed, it will greatly damage the Mughals. Therefore, it is nned that ten brigades will be dispatched, armed with the Man of War battleship with its upgraded cannons of 12 kg calibre, along with a single cannon of 20 kg calibre."


    "Four brigades will be dispatched for Paradip Port with our superior artillery and better weapons. It should be no problem to handle this small port. The remaining six brigades are assigned to storm both Panh and Ratanpur Forts. Although we will be outmatched by arge margin, Sixrge cannons each will be deployed with each of the battle groups."


    "This amount of firepower should be adequate to st open the city walls within a few hours. The strategy is to quickly capture the Mumbai port as soon as possible, and then move on to Paradip port. The ind forts like Ratanpur Fort will need to endure a protracted battle of attrition until they receive backup from the coastal regions. The same goes for Panh Fort. As for themanding generals of these four military groups, Ramaya is assigned to be the spearhead to Mumbai port, Narasimha Nayak is assigned to be the spearhead to Paradip port, Yogendra Singh is to be the spearhead to Ratanpur Fort, and Kiran Poojary is to be the spearhead to Panh Fort."


    With that, the Marshall stopped speaking as he looked towards Vijay for approval. Vijay, having heard how the battle n would unfold, nodded his head in approval. Signing the documents, Vijayanagara''s war on the Mughal Empire which would start the unification of Akhand Bharat officially began.

 Chapter 108: Mumbai Battle: One

    <h4>Chapter 108: Mumbai Battle: One</h4>


    At the break of dawn on the first day of battle, Vijay stood on the deck of the Vijayanagara Empire''s gship¡ªthe Man of War Battleship, acquired from the Dutch. Behind him, Ramayya Senapati stood ready for hismands. The sea breeze swept towards the north, propelling the warship forward. In its wake, hundreds of smaller merchant ships trailed, transporting the remaining forces of Vijayanagara.


    For this expedition, a full ten brigades were dispatched to conquer the Mumbai port, constituting half of the existing Vijayanagara army. Vijay agreed to this arrangement because Mumbai was crucial to both Vijayanagar and the Mughal Empire. It was evident that the Mumbai port would be heavily defended as informed by the intelligence department, but he was confident that with the battleship he was standing on, it would not be too difficult to break through the stone wall of the Mumbai fort.


    In terms of why he was so intent on conquering Mumbai, there were several reasons. Mumbai, a coastal marvel, is a pivotal trade hub with roots extending to a thousand years in the past and probably into the future. Its strategic location on Bharat''s west coast facilitated maritimemerce, making it a beacon for international trade with ancient African and Arabic nations. Under the colonial rule in the past Earth timeline, the British shaped Mumbai into a major port and economic centre, and even in the present time, Mumbai stands as the Mughals'' financial powerhouse.


    Because of its richmercial and diverse heritage, Mumbai has gained a lot of cultural diversity from trade with African and Arabic nations, introducing various new concepts and cultures.


    In ancient times, Mumbai was at the forefront of the spice road connecting India, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asian countries. This spice road facilitated the exchange of spices, precious stones, and other goods for which India was renowned. Mumbai was one of the cities that had a significant impact on Indian civilization.


    It is imperative that Vijayanagara is sessful in regaining control of Mumbai. Even before he left for this expedition, Vijay knew that this would be an arduous task.


    At the moment, the first battleship, consisting of Vijay and the army led by Ramaiah Senapathi, moved out of Mangalore Port. Simultaneously, the second battleship, stationed in the east of the empire at Visakhapatnam port, also set sail. This battle group carried a smaller number of soldiers, with only five brigades led by Narasimha Naik. While the force might be considered overkill for the Paradip port, which is not well-armed, this approach is intended to provide reinforcements to the ind battle group led by Yogendra Singh and Kiran Pujari.


    Five hourster:


    The coastline of Mumbai became visible on the horizon. Vijay, upon seeing this scene, was momentarily mesmerized. In the future, Mumbai will be one of the top metropolitan cities in the world and will be themercial and cultural centre of India. It canpete with any top city in the world with its amazing architecture and uniquemercial atmosphere. Despite the rise of Bangalore as the Silicon Valley of India, the name of themercial centre of India did not waver from Mumbai.


    Now, seeing this scene without the tall skylines throughout the coast made him feel somewhat emotional. Now, It was the time when the afternoon sun was at its highest point. Getting nearer to the coast, Vijay could identify that this is the Dadar area of Mumbai ind.


    Searching for an appropriate location to anchor the ships carrying the army, they discovered a natural harbour at a 40¡ã port side angle, spacious enough to amodate the merchant ships. Before them, a massive fort stood, obstructing the passage inside the wall. Atop the wall, soldiers adorned with green hats scurried about in a state of panic, a predictable response upon witnessing the monstrous battleship and a small fleet of hundreds of sailboats advancing toward them. The warning bell had already sounded by the time the battleship became visible on the horizon.


    15 minutes ago, inside the Mumbai fort.


    In avish residence, a middle-aged man adorned in opulent green Imic attire, seemingly crafted from silk interwoven with golden threads, sat at a dining table. This distinguished figure was none other than Mustafa Ali, appointed by his royal highness Muhammad as themander of the Mumbai South district defence force. Mustafa engaged in his meal, As he relished a luxurious dinner of beef curry paired with parotta, meticulously served by his maid. With each bite, he emitted satisfied moans, indicative of the exquisite vour of the beef. He even indulged in sucking his fingers, heightening the visual appeal of the feast. Amidst this culinary delight, his servant hastily entered, clumsily disrupting the scene. Disturbed during his meal, Mustafa Ali shot a stern re at the servant, conveying his displeasure.


    Sensing the palpable threat in his master''s demeanour, the servant cried out in sheer terror, "Your Highness, Vijayanagar is attacking us! A colossal ship appeared on the horizon, apanied by hundreds of others. Rough estimates suggest there are more than 20,000 soldiers." Mustafa, initially poised to unleash his fury, found his words stifled by the rming revtion. Mumbai, a pivotal port for the Mughal Empire, typically housed a year-round garrison of at least 30,000 soldiers. In the current heightened state of affairs, this number has already increased.


    Mustafa had undeniably fallen into a state ofcency with the army''s presence. Entrusted months ago with the task of installing cannons sent from the capital, he had sumbed to the allure of greed, secretly embezzling and selling them to various merchants at exorbitant prices. Residing in the less affluent part of Mumbai, he found himself not as prosperous as his fellowmanders, and this financial disparity fueled his covetous instincts. The news of Vijayanagaraunching an assault struck him with paralyzing fear. It wasn''t the fear of Vijayanagara conquering Mumbai that gripped him, but the dread that his misuse of power would be exposed to the capital. Dethronement and loss of power loomed as formidable consequences.


    Mustafa rushed to the balcony of his house, situated on a small hill with a higher vantage point, overlooking the sea. As he spotted therge warship approaching, flying the Vijayanagara g, fear gripped him. However, his expression quickly shifted from fear to Greed. "If I capture this ship, maybe I''ll get a higher rank," he pondered, eyeing thergest ship he had ever seen. Though not well-versed in naval matters, he was certain this was an exceptional vessel.


    With this notion in mind, he hollered to his subordinates, "Hurry up and fetch the cannons!" Contemting the few cannons still in his possession, yet to be delivered to the buyer, he moved with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.


    The servants hastened, rushing to the fort wall as the imposing battleship drew closer, now a mere 100 meters away, looming in silence. Finally, only a momentter the servants reached the wall, heaving a dozen cannons into position, Mustafa, stationed on his balcony for safety, gave the nod, signalling the cannons to fire in unison.


    "Booom, Boom, Boom ".


    To his dismay, the cannons fell just short of reaching the distant target.


    Observing the giant ship''s response to the fired cannons, Mustafa felt a growing sense of foreboding, squinting his eyes in scrutiny , Trying to peek at the farther image. He discerned arge iron barrel-like structure on the ship, resembling a cannon, being loaded with a significantlyrger iron ball than his own cannons. Heprehended the implications, but before he could react,


    "Boom!"


    A thunderous explosion echoed as the top of the city wall cracked, and a deformed iron ball plummeted down. Although Mustafa couldn''t witness it directly from his vantage point on the other side of the wall, the shockwave visibly shook him. Even at a distance, he could feel the reverberation in his gut, leaving him visibly shaken by the impact.


    To be Continued...

 Chapter 109: Mumbai Battle: Two

    <h4>Chapter 109: Mumbai Battle: Two</h4>


    Back on the Vijayanagara capital ship.


    Examining the damaged section of the wall, it appeared that the elevation had been too high. Vijay swiftly ordered a recalibration of the cannon. In short order, the cannon''s elevation was adjusted, and another shot was fired.


    "Boom."


    The cannon roared once again, this time finding its mark on a lower section of the wall. The impact was substantial, resulting in visible spiderweb-like cracks across the targeted area. However, the formidable granite stone wall proved resilient, withstanding the assault. Undeterred, the bombardments persisted, yet the uracy of the cannon waned due to the recoil force pushing the battleship slightly backward after each shot. Recognizing this challenge, the artillery operator, a graduate of the Bhartiya Military Academy, applied his training. Calcting the average distance the ship moved backward, he recalibrated the elevation angle with precision, aiming to enhance the uracy of subsequent shots.


    It took a barrage of 10 sessive shots, but finally, a breach was created in the city wall. The cannon''s aim changed its elevation again, targeting the ce where the earlier shots were fired from, initiating a renewed bombardment.


    Facing the breached wall, the merchant ships, carrying the army behind the battleship, deftly maneuvered towards the shore. As the ships discharged their cargo, which included hefty equipment and cannons, thetter were carefully transported in separate boats due to their considerable weight. Once unloaded, the cannons were strategically positioned on opposite sides of the breached wall, employing the military tactic of crossfire.


    Overseeing these operations, Ramaiya Senapati swiftly moved to secure the coastline. Surveying the well-ced cannons, he expressed approval with a nod. "Gunner teams, form up in line!" hemanded, directing the two apanying brigades, one armed with muskets and the other with flintlocks. The confined shoreline allowed only 5000 troops to partake in thisnding battle, forming a strategic killzone for the impending enemy assault.


    Inside the wall:


    Mustafa Ali, rattled by the cannon fire from the ship moments ago, found the situation growing increasingly dire. In a fit of urgency, he shouted at his bewildered servant, "Notify the Navy! Notify the Navy!" A resounding p echoed as Mustafa struck his still-dazed servant, leaving noticeable red marks on the servant''s face. "I said, notify the Navy!" he yelled once more, this time close to the servant''s face, with spit flying onto the servant''s features.


    As the servant regained consciousness and hurried away to notify the Navy, even the bad breath and the spit on his face were ignored. Mustafa quickly assembled the army under hismand. While he may have appeared like a stumbling mess, he was still a qualified armymander who had fought in battles when he was in a young age.


    As the cannon bombardment ceased, creating a hole in the wallrge enough for five men to pass through, Mustafa saw this as an opportunity and ordered a charge formation. Men in four rows, d in heavy armour withrge shields and spears, lined up in a thrusting motion, bending their knees slightly in a charging position. Mustafa, observing their readiness, heard the hurried sounds of boats docking on the other side of the wall. Hemanded, "Charge!"


    With his shout, the soldiers sprang into action, charging with all their might in formation, resembling a human cavalry. Their momentum reached its peak as they crossed the breached wall. Mustafa anticipated a stter of blood on the other side, but only a few cannon shots were heard. Unconcerned about the cannons as they had little effect on the charging army, he believed only a few soldiers might be killed. However, his face soon turned pale as rhythmic gunfire echoed. "Bang, bang, bang." Bewildered by the unfamiliar sound, horror-filled him as he realized it wasn''t good, apanied by the shouts and curses of his panicking army as they perceived it as some curse or divine intervention. This could only mean that it is a new weapon in use.


    "Not good," Mustafa said to himself and ran away to hide.


    On the Vijayanagara side:


    Seeing that the heavy infantry that had charged at them was dealt with, Ramaiya ordered the rest of the cannons to be unloaded and the wall to be widened with a round of bombardments. As the wall was sessfully widened, Ramaiya ordered their own heavy infantry to push forward and provide backing for the artillerymen.


    Ten squads of heavy infantry, each carrying arge shield resembling that of a tower shieldmonly found in Western nations, marched slowly inside the blown-apart wall, forming formations with the tower shields to create an iron wall. With the opening secured, the army sprang into action. Engineer soldiers dug up the soil at the beach and stacked it behind the artillerymen. At lightning speed, a shallow pit was built for the cement of their own cannons to provide better protection from the Mughal cannon fire from the front and also offer a better angle of elevation for their cannons.


    Looking at the pit that had been dug, Ramaiya ordered the cannons to be ced in the position. Soon, the cannons were dragged and arranged in a semi-circr manner, covering the entire distance forward. The heavy infantry, holding the shield wall, withstood the barrage of arrows being fired from the Mughal army. Being well-trained and muscr men, they were capable of holding the wall down.


    The arrangements on the back werepleted in just a few moments. With the help of thousands of strong men, it did not prove hard to make a temporary defensive wall.


    Through a slight hole in the shield wall, a soldier saw the Mughal army bringing in 10 more cannons. The person who witnessed this sight, his eyes dted as he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Cannons!"


    "Boom."


    But it was toote as the cannons were fired, and the Heavy infantry standing in front were broken open as their bodies contorted in unnatural shapes. Although the tower shields were robust, they couldn''t withstand the power of a cannon. Witnessing this grim scene, Ramaiya frowned, and with a tone of rage, he swiftly ordered, "Retreat, heavy infantry squads!"


    Responding to themand, the heavy infantry quickly withdrew from the formation. With the infantry retreating, the artillerymen in the trenches gained a clear view of their target, and the bombardmentmenced. Twenty powerful 12 KG cannons were fired in session,


    "Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom..."


    It echoed like a relentless barrage of bombs raining down on its enemies, the ground rumbling as if a small earthquake had urred. The firing was superimposed to form shockwaves of dust swirling in the air. While the aim was not precise due to the rigid nature of the cannons, the wide coverage of the artillery made it hardly matter, as everyone in their line of sight was considered an enemy. At times, the cannonballs didn''t even hit the opposing cannons but struck the buildings within the firing range, causing them to copse.


    As the battle went on, Sadly, the casualty rate of the Vijayanagara army increased, but it was manageable as the targets in front of them became fewer and fewer. With all the visible cannons in front of them cleared, Ramaiya ordered the rest of the heavy infantry to charge and safeguard the perimeter. As the infantry charged, there were some arrowsing in from various corners of the vicinity, but it couldn''t hurt the heavy infantry d in iron armour.


    Behind the heavy infantry, the gunners took action, targeting the scattered archers positioned on elevated buildings. Swiftly, the perimeter was cleared as soldiers on the boats continued to disembark through the pathway opened by the heavy infantry. They subsequently upied a kilometre of the southern tip of Mumbai after dealing with the deserters, establishing a robust foothold to assert control over the ind.


    A few minutes earlier, on the capital ship of the Vijayanagara Empire:


    Following the bombardment of the city wall, therge cannon was aimed at the location from which the enemy cannonballs originated. Only three shots were fired when amotion caught Vijay''s attention.


    To the port side of the ship, a fleet of naval vessels rapidly approached.


    Observing the development, Vijay recognized this as the Mughal Navy stationed in Mumbai. However, he remained unfazed, having made the necessary preparations to deal with any events that might happen.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 110: Mumbai Naval Battle: Three

    <h4>Chapter 110: Mumbai Naval Battle: Three</h4>


    Vijay carefully watched as a fleet of around 50 frigates approached from the port side. It was evident that these were mid-sized frigates from the Mughal Empire, featuring a single sail and a modest discement of approximately 90 tons. Observing from his advantageous position, Vijay could discern that the cannons mounted on these frigates were of a smaller calibre, mostly around 8 kg. This detail boosted his confidence, as he believed the battleship he was on would easily overpower this smaller green water navy.


    But Vijay couldn''t help but feel a sense of caution as he observed the sheer number of approaching frigates. "It will be tricky," he muttered to himself. While the battleship hemanded excelled in every measurable metric such as speed, power, and defence, the technological limitations of this era hindered the precision of targeting. The small and agile frigates of the Mughal Navy presented a challenge, making urate aiming nearly impossible.


    Considering the Mughal frigates'' size and the difficulty in targeting them precisely, Vijay foresaw that the impending naval confrontation would resemble a ssic case of "death by a thousand cuts." Despite the Mughal cannons'' weaknesses in terms of both power and uracy, the sheer volume of shots fired in the general direction of the capital ship increased the likelihood of hits, emphasizing the vulnerability of the battleship to this swarm of smaller vessels.


    Reflecting on the situation, he issued a directive to the battleship''s captain, Srinivas, saying, "Captain, instruct the Kingfisher battle group to encircle the enemy ships and cut off their retreat." Kingfisher battle group is a battle groupposed of the frigates captured from the Dutch.


    "Your Highness...?!" Srinivas questioned, clearly surprised.


    "Just do it," Vijaymanded firmly, reiterating the order with emphasis.


    Vijay took note of the captain''s hesitancy, a clear uncertainty stemming from the Vijayanagara Navy''s insufficient training for this critical battle. The naval officers had a hurried and brief training session in naval tactics, mainly guided by Dutch sailors in the past month. The positive aspect of this less-than-ideal situation was the well-trained army''s outstandingbat skills, recognized for their expertise in martial arts and resilience in challenging conditions. Unfortunately, these skills had their limitations in the naval context, except for their praiseworthy resistance to seasickness. Many of these individuals hailed from fishing backgrounds, giving them a familiarity with water ingrained in their upbringing. Despite this inherent seafaring knowledge, their recent enrollment in the naval academy, just a month ago, made it perilous for them to dive into battle head-on, as directed by His Highness. However, considering the absence of alternatives, they were vital in this battle, which exins theirck of participation in thending battle, a situation Vijay had anticipated for this exact scenario with the Mughals.


    The Kingfisher battle group, consisting of 20 frigates, each weighing 100 tons, swiftly executed the order to split into two groups and moved into action. Their objective was to encircle the group of Mughal frigates positioned in front of them. The Mughal forces, observing this maneuver, were uncertain about the Vijayanagara forces'' intentions but immediatelymenced firing their cannons as the frigates approached within range. Unfortunately for the Mughals, their efforts proved to be less efficient, as the frigates targeted by their cannons were the ones previously captured from the Dutch.


    The Dutch Whisperer is a 17th-century 100-ton sail frigate known for its impressive specifications. Measuring between 30 to 40 meters in length and 8 to 12 meters in beam, this agile vessel boasts a draft of 4 to 5 meters, striking a bnce between size and manoeuvrability. Weighing in at approximately 100 tons, With its one mast rigged with a square sail, the frigate is designed for optimal speed and versatility. While not heavily armoured, the frigate relies on its sleek hull design and impressive speed, capable of reaching up to 12 knots under favourable conditions.


    Despite the Dutch Whisperer''s superiority, the Mughal ship, weighing only 90 tons, exhibited its ownmendable characteristics. Spanning a length of 20 to 30 meters and a beam of 6 to 10 meters, the vessel maintained a draft of 3 to 4 meters, demonstrating a bnce between size and stability. While not matching the Dutch frigate in tonnage, the Mughal ship''s one mast, rigged with a square sail, contributed to its operational efficiency. However, with a more modest armament of a single cannon, it stood no chance in a one-on-one battle against a real frigate. Despite the limitations, the Mughal ship showcased a respectable speed of 8 knots under favourable conditions. Though not as swift as the Dutch Whisperer, the Mughal frigate was sturdy, with better defence in a smaller frame, emphasizing distinct strengths within the constraints of its 90-ton capacity. You could tell this was a defense-oriented ship.


    The Vijayanagara fleet with its superior ship was veering away from the Mughals, but the relentless barrages from the Mughal side still inflicted significant casualties on the Vijayanagara fleet. Although a 4-knot speed difference might seem like a huge difference, it tranted to a mere 7.4 kmph disparity. Since the Mughals were positioned inside the Kingfisher''s circr path, they didn''t need to travel swiftly; they just had to pivot. Consequently, at least 150 individuals lost their lives in this single exchange, with more casualties following. Fortunately, the ships on the other side also circled at the same pace as them. They sessfully formed a line parallel to the battleship in an arc, trapping the Mughal ships in between.


    The Mughal navalmander felt something was wrong as he turned around, only to see therge battleship, which had been at a distance, approaching only a few hundred meters away from them.


    "Ya Ah!" he yelled in horror as he could clearly see the huge number of cannons equipped on the battleship.


    Vijay, directing operations from the capital ship, swiftly ordered the repositioning of the cannons to the right side of the vessel. The cannons were shifted to the right side of the ship as Vijay continued to order, As they were merely a hundred meters away from the Mughal battle group, "Hard left rudder." The ship suddenly tilted in a dangerous strategic manoeuvre, prompting sailors to secure themselves to anything sturdy as the vessel turned with a slight drift. This unexpected move strategically aligned the cannons on the right side directly toward the Mughal naval vessels, effectively blocked off by the Kingfisher fleet. Seizing this opportune moment, Vijay''s hoarse voice pierced the air,manding, "FIRE!"


    Chaos erupted as the powerful 12-kilogram cannons thundered, "Boom, boom, boom." A symphony of destructionposed of iron and fire surged toward the unsuspecting Mughals.


    "Boom, boom, boom." The relentless salvo of the cannons relentlessly pounded the Mughal brigades, drowning the sea in the acrid scent of gunpowder with each reload.


    Witnessing the capital ship taking the initiative, the Vijayanagar frigates forming the blockade unleashed their smaller 10-kilogram calibre artillery. The Mughal Navy found itself trapped in a lethal crossfire, with no escape from either the battleship or the Vijayanagara frigates. Their resistance was futile, and their attempts to retaliate fell short against the might of the thousand-ton behemoth.


    "Boom, boom, boom."


    The sea convulsed as whirlpools formed around the sinking Mughal ships, spreading destruction throughout the battlefield. The scent of blood lured fish and predatory creatures, transforming the central area into a gruesome pool of carnage.


    In the aftermath, surviving Mughal soldiers were captured, and an uneasy calm settled over the Arabian Sea. The battle concluded with the annihtion of the Mughal Mumbai Navy and the resounding victory of the Vijayanagara Navy. However, this triumph came at a cost ¨C the capital ship, bearing slight damage, and heavily damaged frigates, with only 8 out of the initial 20 remaining intact. It was a bittersweet victory, tinged with tragedy with the death of at least 600 personnel.

 Chapter 111: Mumbai Battle: Gains And Losses

    <h4>Chapter 111: Mumbai Battle: Gains And Losses</h4>


    With the naval battle concluded, a momentary calm settled over the southern part of Mumbai. The Vijayanagara Battleship, now stationed in the recently captured area of Dadar on the south side of Mumbai Ind, Was standing there majestically, Wearing the scars of battle. As Vijay stepped onto this ind for the first time in his current life, he was confronted with a harsh reality. Distressing scenes of emaciated and withered people unfolded before him, making it evident that the inhabitants of the streets had endured days without a proper meal, reduced to nothing but skin and bones. Despite Vijay''s efforts to distribute the limited food avable, the prolonged effects of starvation and disease had taken a severe toll.


    Despite Vijay''s assistance, the harsh conditions had taken a toll on many, and while some showed signs of improvement, several middle-aged men who appeared to have aged 60 years sumbed to the harsh conditions one after another. The frequency of deaths was so rampant that even bystanders on the streets grew ustomed to the grim reality, witnessing at least two burial processions daily. When Vijay inquired about the situation, he was told that the average life expectancy here was only 40 years.


    Knowing that he was Fuming, clenching his fist tightly until it bled. He was infuriated by the dire state of affairs, Hence Vijay promptlyunched a crackdown on all Mughal officers, nobles, andckeys in the Dadar area. In the ensuing days, it transformed into a nightmare for the Mughalckeys and nobles, treated like rats on the street. Even the lowest scum of society, whom they had previously looked down upon, would point them out, informing Vijay''s enforcers of their locations. Desperate to escape this hellish environment and flee to the northern side of Mumbai, they searched desperately for any possible way because they believed a counterattack strategy was being prepared tounch on the Dadar area. The Mughalckeys knew that their side would spare nothing until the influence of Vijayanagar on thisnd was eradicated. However, fate took an unexpected turn as the entire Dadar area was ced under lockdown.


    Fortunately, the goodwill among the lower sses toward the Vijayanagara army increased due to the assistance provided with food and water, helping them endure the difficult times. The crackdown continued relentlessly until the main culprit of this misery was discovered, hiding in the basement of a horse shed. This individual was none other than Mustafa Ali, themander of the South Mumbai army. In this era, political and military powers were intertwined, giving rise to individuals like Mustafa who managed both affairs in a specific region.


    Seeing the middle-aged man, who had appeared lively and healthy just a few weeks ago, no one would recognize him in his current state. He seemed to have shed 10 kilograms of weight, with ck circles around his eyes and bloodshot eyes. His haggard appearance, coupled with torn clothes stained with the blood of his guards, depicted a life of hardship. However, no one felt pity for him, as his suffering was seen as well-deserved.


    It is ironic because he was the first one to run away from the battlefield, and he almost seeded if it weren''t for a soldier who noticed that when he walked inside the horse shed, he dropped his Talwar by mistake. The soldier heard a dull sound, a "thud," which indicated there was air on the other side of the object, like an empty water tank.


    He knew something was wrong and called for hisrades, opening the wooden floor pieces. Behold, it was themander of the Mumbai South army, with his guards guarding him very closely. Before he could react, the guards, who were very tense to begin with, swung the sword at the soldier''s neck, lobbing off the head of the person who discovered themander. Witnessing this scene, hispanions did not stand still as they plunged into action and soon beheaded the guards. Although they sustained some injuries, they got the job done, but it was a pity for therade to die.


    With his guards being dealt with, Mustafa did not resist as he epted his fate and waited for his death. Fortunately or unfortunately, his death did note as he was tied up and carried away. This was not because the soldiers were merciful; no, they wanted to split this guy into pieces. However, there was a smart guy among them who pointed out his luxurious attire, even though it had been destroyed right now. The fact that such elite guards were guarding him meant that he was an important person.


    When Vijay heard this story, even he felt a little sorrow for the soldier who had died. So, he promised in front of everyone, "Those who have died in this battle, their families would get a monthly allowance from the empire, and the kids would have priority in civil and military services, along with first-grade education."


    This promise made all the soldiers move, as they were not only fighting for the Empire; they were also fighting for a good life for their wives and kids. Hearing Vijay''s promise, they were relieved, and their morale increased as they felt their burdens were lessened.


    As for Mustafa, he was soon brought in front of the Mumba Devi temple he had robbed. Seeing this person aroused instant fury in every citizen''s mind as they remembered the atrocities he hadmitted. There wasn''t even a chance to list out his sins, as he was quickly drowned in the rocks thrown by the people. Soon, he was beaten to death by the very same people he had scorned.


    The Mumba Devi temple bears the scars of a tragic past, marred by historical invasions and adversities. Throughout the centuries, this sacred site has withstood various onughts, including a notable invasion just a couple of years ago in 1647 by the Mughal noble and a looming threat in 1692 when Aurangzeb, the future Mughal emperor in a parallel Earth timeline, ordered its destruction. Despite the relentless trials, the temple stands as a resilient symbol of Mumbai''s cultural heritage.


    In the present day, the temple may appear weathered and impoverished, yet it remains a powerful embodiment of the enduring spirit of Hindus. Pilgrims and locals continue to flock to the site, offering prayers that celebrate the goddess''s strength and honour the city''s rich history, undeterred by the disdain shown by the Mughals. The Mumba Devi temple serves as a poignant testament to Mumbai''s resilience and the unwavering faith of its people, a legacy that endures into the 21st century.


    After clearing out all the weeds, Vijay sat down to assess the casualties of the battle. Soon, he took in a report given by Narasimha. In this battle, unfortunately, 618 naval soldiers died, along with the loss of 8 Dutch Whisperer frigates. On the main capital battleships, there were no deaths, but there were a few injuries sustained because of the impact caused by the 8-kilogram cannons fired by the Mughal Navy.


    The heavy infantry, positioned at the forefront of the defence, bore the brunt of the Mughal onught, resulting in a casualty rate of a hundred individuals early into the battle. Ten squads at a time valiantly resisted the barrage of Mughal arrows, and when cannons entered the fray, the toll on the heavy infantry became even more severe. Deployed extensively in the cleanup battles, they served as the frontline tanks, absorbing damage, but their resilience had its limits. Despite being fully armed, they were not impervious to harm, leading to additional casualties. The upation of Dadar witnessed a total of 500 casualties among the heavy infantry. A few members of the engineering corps sustained injuries, and 1200 from the light infantry lost their lives. The cumtive death toll of this expedition surpassed 2318 individuals, with injuries reaching 5000, predominantly among the light infantry.


    It was a huge loss for the Vijayanagar army, with only 9 brigades remaining, with the rest being auxiliary personnel.


    While Vijay was feeling depressed, Ramaiya was very happy, as he had managed to gain a foothold in Mumbai rtively easily withparatively very few losses of personnel. He had noticed that Vijay was very sensitive when it came to the loss of soldiers whilepletely ignoring the overwhelming victory they had produced by defeating two brigades consisting of at least 10,000 soldiers of the Mughals. However, Ramaiya did not point it out to Vijay, as he felt like Vijay had be more epting of these losses, as he even grieved for a single soldier at the beginning of his reign at the time of the Dutch battle.


    As for the material gains, as this was a poor part of Mumbai, there was not much wealth to speak of, but there was a considerable amount of wealth in the vaults of the Mughal nobles andckeys. It was soon discovered that there were at least 20 tons of silver, 5 tons of gold, 500 tons of grain, salt, spices, iron, antiques, stolen idols, and different goods, in varying amounts. This was just the smaller part of Mumbai Ind, and Vijay couldn''t imagine what more could be found in the rich area.


    The resources were put to good use: the grain was distributed to the people, the money was used to make more weapons as it was sent back to the empire, and the idols and antiques were returned to the original temples. If the temples were destroyed, Vijay even lent a little money to rebuild the temple to reestablish the glory of the idols.


    "We are ready, Your Highness," Ramaiya said, quickly assembling the army again in the open square beside the Mumba Devi temple. Vijay did not want to give any breathing space to the Mughals, so he quickly assembled the army again just after a day of rest. He fully intended to conquer Mumbai within Two days.

 Chapter 112: Reclaiming Paradip Port

    <h4>Chapter 112: Reiming Paradip Port</h4>


    While Vijay is nning for his next attack, things are going very well for Narasimha Naik as he is on his way with a brigade, moving towards Puri.


    First, let''s talk about the events that happened a few days ago.


    Narasimha Nayak departed from the Visakhapatnam Port simultaneously with Vijay''s departure from the Mangalore Port. He was leading four brigades aboard the man-of-war battleship seized from the Dutch, with the remaining soldiers transported on temporarily acquired merchant boats, courtesy of the wartime requisition. Additionally, the fleet included 10 Dutch Whisperer frigates, enhancing their naval capabilities for the uing endeavours.


    Much like Vijay''s fleet, Narasimha Nayak''s capital ship was also equipped with a formidable 20 kg calibre cannon. With a wealth of experience in various battles, Narasimha exuded a calm andposed demeanour as he stood firmly on the deck, savouring the refreshing sea breeze. The journey swiftly progressed, and within a few hours, they arrived at the estuary of Lake Chilika. Situated in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, Lake Chilika is renowned as thergest saltwaterke in Bharat, spanning the cities of Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam. This expansiveke, a major regional attraction, is formed by the confluence of water from 52 rivers and tributaries. Its water levels fluctuate between 900 to 1165 square feet, covering a vast area totalling 1165 square kilometres.


    Narasimha Nayak swiftly deployed apact scouting vessel to assess the presence of any Mughal naval forces in the vicinity. The scouting report confirmed the existence of 30 Mughal frigates, with a few ships among them disying signs of inferior quality. Determined to eliminate this potential threat, Narasimha promptly initiated a naval confrontation. However, being primarily an army general, he faced challenges in effectivelymanding the battleships. Unlike Vijay, who navigated aparable situation with the advantage of extensive future knowledge and the wealth of information stored in his mental knowledge bank, Narasimha grappled with the intricacies of naval strategy.


    Fortunately, the captain of the ship assigned to Narasimha was an experienced fisherman and a fast learner in the Naval Academy. He was even praised by Dutch sailors as a born Navymander. Before Vijay left for battle, he sent his knowledge through telepathy to this talented individual. Unfortunately, with the limited time, Vijayanagara couldn''t produce more talents like him.


    Gangadhar, the captain of the second Vijayanagara battleship, came up with the strategy, seeing how the general was embarrassed to arrange it. As the Mughal fleet had still not discovered therger fleet in the Bay of Bengal, a frigate trio was sent, escorting a mid torge-sized merchant ship flying the Vijayanagara g. The capital ship was behind the opening of the estuary, making it undetectable to the Mughal ships.


    The Mughals who saw the merchant ship had their eyes light up, as thisrge ship was being escorted by some military vessels, a sight they had never seen before. They had, on numerous asions, observed small merchant ships flowing in and out of the kingdoms in the northeast part of the Mughal Empire. Most of the time, these ships carried some silk or spices,modities the Mughals had an abundance of. However, the use of military vessels to escort a merchant ship was a new and intriguing sight. They took the Bait, The Mughal ships sailed towards it like a wolf spotting a flock of sheep.


    The bait had worked as the Mughals entered the mouth of the estuary towards the Bay of Bengal. Pair after pair of ships left the estuary as they advanced towards the merchant ships, but this is where their doom awaited. The frigates that were used to escort the merchant ship suddenly made a hard manoeuvre and started firing at them. The Mughals found it ridiculous as they had 30 frigatespared to the three of the enemy.


    However, the slowest Mughal ship, slightly damaged and experiencing reduced speed, sent a distress signal in horror. This prompted all personnel on the remaining ships to turn back, only to witness a full battle group led by arge thousand-ton behemoth slowly appearing behind a curve. As expected, the fireworks began. More than 20 frigates were immediately destroyed, and the rest, realizing they had no chance of victory, surrendered. The ten frigates came under the control of General Narasimha Nayak and Captain Gangadhar.


    Considering the estuary as a good ce for defence, three Dutch frigates along with the captured ten Mughal frigates, along with two battalions, were arranged to guard theke.


    After the small skirmish, the battle group set sail again for the actual location, the Paradip port. Half an hourter, the battleship made its way to a small fishing town called Paradip. Paradip was not yet a port as Vijay made it out to be; the Paradip port of modern-day India was established in 1966 for the convenience of iron ore and industrial raw material transportation into and outside of Odisha, as the area around the Paradip port was rich in iron ore resources.


    Vijay decided to capture here for various reasons. Personally, it held sentimental value as this was the ce where he interned during his previous life while studying metallurgy. Geographically, Paradip seemed ideal for a port due to the presence of a small estuary in Paradip town that could be easily developed forrger ship docking. From a strategic standpoint, the port served as a crucial point for countering the Mughal Kolkata Navy, acting as a strategic spearhead. This decision also aimed to foster improved trade rtions with the northeastern Hindu countries of Bharat.


    As the Mughals did not attach great importance to the town of Paradip, there were only a few surveying officers around who were easily brought into custody. The battleship couldn''t dock at the Paradip town, so it stayed in the Bay of Bengal sea. The rest of the small and medium-sized merchant ships of 150 tons and below were being unloaded batch by batch.


    Soon, the three brigades of infantry and three battalion artillery men, along with the rest of the auxiliary soldiers consisting of the engineering corps, scouting corps, and the rangers, had disembarked.


    To be continued...

 Chapter 113: Reclaiming The Capital City, Cuttack

    <h4>Chapter 113: Reiming The Capital City, Cuttack</h4>


    Back on solid ground, Narasimha Nayak felt like he had regained his footing, back in his element. He promptly directed the disassembly of therge cannon from the warship, and the engineers got to work. Following that, he swiftlymanded the townspeople to procure a fully grown male elephant. This task wasn''t particrly difficult, given their proximity to the Eastern Ghats, one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots in Bharat. Despite a future decrease in the elephant poption, the specific area still had a substantial number of them in the present roaming freely. Fortunately, it was a easy task, with a nearby forest vige having a family responsible for caring for an elephant.


    By the time the elephant arrived, the cannon was also disassembled. The engineering corps then managed to build a temporary carriage with the parts of the Mughal frigates that they had salvaged when those ships were destroyed.


    After having a hearty lunch, the army got on the move straight to the capital of Odisha, Cuttack. This Penins City is situated on the banks of the Mahanadi River. Cuttack is one of the oldest cities in ancient Bharat, carrying a rich culture umted over centuries. Initially known as Kataka, it served as the capital of the Keshari dynasty in ancient times. Over the years, it witnessed the rule of different dynasties, including the Ganga Dynasty, the Gajapati dynasty, and, in the present time, the Mughals. However, it continued to thrive as a significant trading and cultural hub under various rulers and dynasties, thanks to its excellent geographical location allowing it to be the trade hub of Odisha.


    In Earth''s previous timeline, This illustrious city bore witness to numerous challenges in its previous existence, as the Mughals wielded their influence over the region, stretching back to the early 16th century. This influence left an indelible mark on the city''s socio-cultural and economic fabric. The imposition of Mughal governance systems and alterations in administrative structures cast a shadow over the city during that era. Cuttack, like many other ces in Bharat, underwent a process of cultural assimtion under Mughal rule. This assimtion is evident in both cultural and architectural aspects. Ancient temples were dismantled as part of a concerted effort to undermine Bharat''s civilization, making way for the construction of Mughal Imic architecture. These structures, characterized by intricate designs and the use of red sandstone and marble, still stand as a testament to that dark historical period, visible in various buildings even in the 21st century.


    Hopefully, this tragedy will be prevented, at least in this current timeline. Soon, Narasimha arrived at the penins of Cuttack. The moment Narasimha saw the terrain of Cuttack, he knew that it was going to be tricky, as Cuttack is a city that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Fortunately, he had brought therge cannon with him.


    Taking advantage of the longer range of the giant cannon, it was ced on the banks of Gopalpur, which is located on the southern side of Cuttack. While inspecting the defence of Cuttack, it was learned that except for the directnd connection in the east of Cuttack, the rest of the areas were ill-defended, due to the city being in such a good geographical location, surrounded by water in all three directions.


    But the Mughals would have never expected that such a cannon would have existed. However, there is no chance for regrets. "Boom!" The firing started, and the st continued to put a dent in the wall of the Cuttack fort.


    The guards who were stationed on the wall quickly sent the distress signal. Hearing the distress signal from the guards on the south side; the general of the Mughal army stationed in Cuttack, quickly assembled his troops and gave orders. The cannons of the Mughals were swiftly brought against the Vijayanagara army, but unfortunately, neither the range nor power was enough to reach the Vijayanagar army.


    General Narasimha Nayak adopted a strategic approach, choosing to extend the bombardment of the Cuttack fort walls rather than immediately advancing. This calcted tactic aimed to avoid exposing his troops prematurely to Mughal cannon fire. After an hour of relentless bombardment, the fort''s wallsy in ruins,cking even a stable tform. Recognizing the dire situation, the Mughal general altered his strategy, navigating through the Chudang Garh forest to nk the Vijayanagar army. Aware of his numerical advantage, he noted the four brigades of Vijayanagara soldierspared to his five brigades, preparing to leverage this imbnce.


    The general''s carefullyid-out n hit an unforeseen snag when, just as victory seemed within reach, it all failed thanks to a traitor within Cuttack. A former subordinate of Roshan, now residing in the city, stumbled upon Mughal strategy and discreetly passed on the information to the Vijayanagara army. Narasimha, upon receiving news of the spy, wasted no time. He swiftly organized the heavy infantry battalion,unching an assault on the fort while the Mughals were preupied with their attempts to outnk them.


    The daring gamble paid off, and the Vijayanagara forces sessfully infiltrated the fort, catching the Mughal soldiers inside off guard. As the Mughal general attempted to circle back and nk the Vijayanagara army, he found, to his disbelief, his enemies already inside the fort wreaking havoc.


    Narasimha swiftly capitalized on the situation, reorienting the giant cannon towards their previous location on the banks of Gopalpur to prevent the Mughals from charging. Not that Narasimha is afraid of a frontal battle, but he wants to avoid losses whenever possible. With the time bought, utilizing smaller cannons and guns, he systematically eliminated the remaining Mughal soldiers within the Cuttack fort. The Mughal general, powerless to intervene, could only listen as his soldiers were eliminated in sessive waves. After securing the fort, Narasimha redirected his focus to the Mughal forces outside.


    However, he faced a simr dilemma as the Mughals. While the giant cannon could still reach targets on the opposite bank, it proved less effective against scattered enemy troops. The giant cannon''s optimal usey in targeting rigid infrastructure rather than dispersed military units.


    But soon, he got an idea inspired by Gangadhar''s naval tactics. He had his men densely dig a hole in the path ofnd where Cuttack is connected to the rest of the maind. Inside that, gunpowder was packed very tightly, and a gunpowder-coated inmmable rope was pulled a few hundred meters away, forming arge fuse.


    Narasimha wanted his army to act as bait and lead the whole army towards the western end of the ind, making the Mughals believe that they were going to leave the ind and move on to the next target. He even ordered the captured Mughal spies to convey the information he wanted to the Mughals.


    As anticipated, the Mughals fell into the trap, convinced by the misinformation. Their own concealed intelligence confirmed the apparent withdrawal of the Vijayanagara soldiers from the city. Contemting another attempt to nk the Vijayanagara army, the Mughals again circled through the dense forest, making their way towards the entrance of Cuttack.


    Their entry into the region connecting the penins to the maind brought about an unexpected and ominous surprise. A serpent-like sound echoed, and an unsettling sensation ran down the spine of the Mughal general as a foreboding feeling gripped him. In the midst of his apprehension, a rapid, snake-like trail of fire approached, leaving him with no chance to react. Panic set in as the entire area became engulfed in vivid red mes.


    The Mughal soldiers stood paralyzed, witnessing their leader sumb to the mes before their eyes. Escape became an impossibility as the bright red inferno consumed the surroundings. The unfolding horror intensified with themencement of "Boom, boom, boom" from gunners and artillerymen. Despite the majority of the Vijayanagara army having departed the central area of Cuttack, the artillerymen, The musketeers and the gunmen remained on the eastern front. The dense group of Mughal soldiers faced a relentless barrage of firepower, transforming the battlefield into a nightmarish scene of burning corpses and shattered bodies. In a swift two-day campaign, the Cuttack fort fell to Vijayanagara forces.

 Chapter 114: Reclaiming Puri

    <h4>Chapter 114: Reiming Puri</h4>


    Narasimha Nayak deployed a brigade to secure Cuttack and then redirected his forces towards Bhubaneswar, an ancient city in Odisha.


    Bhubaneswar, situated very close to its capital Cuttack, boasts a rich heritage and is renowned for preserving some of the most significant ancient Hindu temples in the northern part of Bharat. Gaining the moniker "Temple City of India," Bhubaneswar is adorned with a multitude of ancient temples, dating back around 2000 years, making it a prominent centre for Hindu pilgrimage. Among these temples, the Lingaraj temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, stands out with its magnificent architectural brilliance that continues to captivate even modern observers.


    Throughout the medieval period, Bhubaneswar flourished under the rule of various dynasties, notably the Gangas and the Gajapatis. Temples like Mukteswar and Rajarani, adorned with intricate carvings and sculptural masterpieces, stand as testaments to the artistic brilliance of that era. The city retained its significance as a hub for culture, religion, and trade during these historical times.


    Although it was raided many times by Imic invaders, they were not able to destroy the city''s culture and foundation, as it only made the city more resilient. Even in Vijay''s past timeline, Bhubaneswar became the capital of Odisha in 1948, recing Cuttack. The decision was made because of a strategic vision to foster bnced regional development and administrative efficiency. Bhubaneswar''s central location, coupled with its historical significance and cultural heritage, yed a crucial role in this decision.


    As soon as Narasimha set foot in the city, he was immediately captivated by the enchanting sight of this ancient metropolis bathed in the warm glow of the evening sun. The golden rays illuminated its myriad architectural wonders, turning the entire city into an endless masterpiece of art. Despite encountering some resistance from Mughal soldiers patrolling the area, their efforts proved futile against the overwhelming might of the Vijayanagara army.


    Narasimha decided to rest in this city for a while before he would set off on the expedition again. He visited various temples and architectural marvels to calm his mind down. Seeing Lord Shiva in the temple made his temperament more tranquil. The priests were overjoyed by the arrival of the Vijayanagara army, as it had been many decades since this ancient city had been a part of a Hindu Kingdom.


    There was a huge festive atmosphere that evening. Narasimha took this time to reanalyze the strategy for his next endeavours. Soon, he received good news that Vijay was sessfully able to upy the southern side of Mumbai Ind and is currently busy in naval warfare, and by the information received, it is looking good.


    "Well then, let''s get a move on now, shall we?" he said to his deputy as he assembled the army again and continued his march. Two battalions were left in Bhubaneswar for security purposes.


    His next destination was the sacred city of Puri.


    Puri, nestled on the eastern coast of Bharat along the shores of the Bay of Bengal and near the Chilika Lake, holds a venerable and ancient history. This region has been a focal point of religious and cultural significance for centuries. The Jagannath Temple, a sacred Hindu shrine with roots dating back to ancient times, was built by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Ganga dynasty in the 12th century.


    Even during the medieval period, Puri flourished as a pilgrimage site. The Gajapati rulers of Odisha yed a significant role in the development and patronage of the Jagannath Temple. The templeplex expanded, epassing various shrines, and Puri emerged as a hub for religious and cultural activities.


    Puri holds immense significance in Hinduism as one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites, representing one of the four sacred abodes of the deity Vishnu. The Jagannath Temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Vishnu. The annual Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, attracts millions of devotees from across the world who gather to witness and participate in the grand procession of the deities; it is even said that this gathering could be noticed from space.


    The poprity of the Jagannath Temple transcends geographical boundaries. The temple''s architecture, rituals, and the unique deities of Jagannath, Bbhadra, and Subhadra contribute to its allure. Pilgrims consider a visit to Puri and a darshan of Lord Jagannath as highly auspicious.


    Unfortunately, it was not all good news. During the Mughal era, the region faced challenges, including instances of religious conflict. While there are historical ounts of Mughal rulers engaging in military campaigns in different parts of Bharat, the temple had been raided at least 15 times, and more that has not been documented in the long river of history.


    One of the notable invasions urred in 1568 when the Afghan general Kpahad, under the Mughal Emperor Akbar, attacked Puri. The temple faced extensive damage during this invasion, with reports of destruction and desecration. The main deity''s idol was hidden to safeguard it from being vandalized.


    Another significant episode unfolded in 1631 when the Mughal Subedar of Bengal, Im Khan, invaded Puri. The temple faced devastation once again, and the main deities had to be concealed to protect them from harm. One more notable incident from a parallel Earth timeline was during the reign of Aurangzeb, known for his policies against non-Muslim religious structures. The Jagannath Temple once again faced threats of destruction during this period. However, the temple was fortunately sessfully protected by the local Hindus, and the main deities were again hidden to safeguard them from potential desecration.


    Despite these challenges, Puri''s significance endured, and the Jagannath Temple remains a symbol of resilience, drawing millions of devotees each year, making it one of the richest temples in modern Bharat with annual revenues of up to 4 million US dors.


    Vijay knew all this information and didn''t want the tragedy to repeat. So He repeatedly mentioned to Narasimha the importance of reiming the sacrednd of Puri.


    Narasimha alsoplied with His Majesty''s request. Taking back Puri was not difficult, as he had equipped himself with two brigades of soldiers, along with support from the Western Front at the Chilika Lake, where he had previously stationed his troops.


    Without any surprises, Within a day, Puri was retaken. This good news was quickly sent to Vijay through some secret channels.


    Within the week, three strongholds were upied in Odisha, solidifying Vijayanagara''s rule in this state.


    Back in Mumbai:


    A week had passed since the war started, and Odisha hade under Vijayanagar rule. Vijay, once again sessfullyunching the war against the rest of Mumbai, emerged victorious.


    Because of the advantage of popr public support, the whole area of Mumbai Ind was mapped out. Using this information, squads of gunmen, with grey uniforms, sessivelyunched targeted attacks on the Mughal camp. They used advanced guerri tactics to get the job done. Mughals did not know what to do, as it was the first time they had witnessed any war conducted like this. Some of the higher-level Mughal officials even scolded the Vijayanagar army for being cowards.


    But Vijay did not mind those words and continued with the same tactics. Since Vijayanagar started to employ guerri tactics, it had been sleepless nights for Mughal higher-level officials. Even the Mughal North Front armymander was helpless, as he had no clue what to do. When he went to pursue the enemy, they would run away, and when he returned to his camps, gunshots would be heard, taking away their soldiers bit by bit.


    He couldn''t hold on anymore and repeatedly asked for reinforcements. But the imperial capital clearly informed him that it would still take two more days for their army to arrive from the capital.


    The Mughal-controlled Mumbai North armymander, upon receiving this disheartening news, sank to the ground in despair. The most pressing challenge he faced was the scarcity of time. Despite the rtively simr sizes of their respective forces, he acknowledged the disadvantage his army held against the Vijayanagara forces, who possessed superior knowledge of the terrain. Even though they ruled this ce, they were not clear about its terrain because who would be willing to map thend where those untouchables stay. Now, he deeply regrets it. Coupled with the mysterious weapon capable of unleashing fire, it instilled a profound sense of dread in him. Time, or theck thereof, emerged as a formidable adversary.


    His mentality slowly copsed as he saw his army getting reduced bit by bit. He now understood the meaning of the words "death by a thousand cuts"; he was clearly experiencing the same thing. Living every moment in fear, he desperately wanted to run away, but that would brand him a deserter, and the punishment for desertion was death for himself and the shame of turning his family into ves. So, he endured, persisting in constant fear, relying on luck. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. His fears came true the next day when the Vijayanagara armyunched a surprise attack on the Mughals'' camp,pletely shattering his mental defences and the will to fight.


    Despite heavy casualties, the Vijayanagar army was fully able to upy the northern part of Mumbai Ind as well.


    Vijay, finally freed from the ongoing operations, left the weed-cleaning duties to Ramaiya. However, the news he received from Narasimha filled him with immense joy. It was the victories in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Paradip, and, most importantly, Puri. He felt a deep sense of relief, knowing that he had at least prevented the tragedy from befalling these ancient cities. Though pleased, he couldn''t shake off his concern for the central region, awaiting progress reports on the ongoing campaign. In haste, he pulled out a piece of paper and penned down further instructions.


    The general was not idle either, as Mumbai was turbulent. With Ramaiah, the gardener, setting out to leave no weed in his wake, Mughal officers were being poked into holes left, right, and centre. Following this, Vijay ordered a concrete wall to be built in the east of the ind to establish a stronghold and pave the way for the conquest of the rest of Maharashtra.

 Chapter 115: Panhala Fort Battle! Part: 1

    <h4>Chapter 115: Panh Fort Battle! Part: 1</h4>


    One week ago:


    The time the naval vessels departed from Visakhapatnam and Mangalore Port, General Kiran Pujari also left for his expedition. He started his march in Belgavi at the northern border of the Vijayanagara Empire. His destination is not very far, as Panh Fort is only 132 km from Belgavi. Marching at a steady pace, he was able to reach the Mughals'' stronghold within a day. There had been a lot of skirmishes near this area throughout the decades because of the friction between Vijayanagara and the Mughal Empire.


    The arrival of Kiran and hispany quickly caught the attention of the scouts around Panh Fort. As the Mughal Empire was about to wage war soon on the Vijayanagar Empire, they had their instructions to be alert at all times. Soon, the information was conveyed to the higher-ups of the Mughal army in Panh Fort.


    The Mughalmander, Amir Ali Khan, who was resting quietly in his room, was jolted awake by the news brought by his servant. He is a seasoned general of the army, stationed in Panh Fort year-round. Unlike the pesky nobles who obtained their positions through nepotism or political favours, he got there relying solely on his talent and hard work.


    Scars could be seen on his naked upper chest, resembling wounds left after being shed by a sword. He had a majestic grey beard that covered his entire neck, giving him the appearance of a dignified veteran warrior.


    "Tell me, where is their camp?" Amir asked in contemtion. The guard, in a kneeling position, quickly answered, "Sir, they are just 2 km to the Southwestern direction of us." The scout replied in a steady voice.


    "And what of their strength?" Amir asked what he considered the most important question.


    The scout, being an experienced and well-trained veteran, answered the question as he had already prepared. "Sir, from the rough estimation, we were able to conclude that there were at least 15,000 soldiers from what we could observe. We are unsure if there is any other hidden strength they have not revealed."


    Amir frowned, as the number of troops dispatched by Vijayanagara was very less to take over his fort. He would not be so naive to think that Vijayanagara had no idea about his standing army of 30,000 soldiers. Maybe if it was anyone else, they could have overlooked it, but he was aware of the deeply integrated spywork of Vijayanagara in the Mughal Empire.


    Although many times he wanted to warn the Minister of War about the same issue, the Minister of War got offended by being pointed out by a junior, so he was kicked to the frontline against Vijayanagara.


    Even under his own jurisdiction, he tried a lot to curb the spywork in his management, but no matter how many rats he caught, there would be more to help the Vijayanagar Empire. Even amon farmer could be a spy of the Vijayanagar Empire. He knew the exact reason for this; it was because of the overly oppressive rules his Majesty the Emperor had promulgated, which led to themon people of the Mughal Empire having no belonging to the empire and always longing for their own freedom. But he couldn''t say all these things to those stuck-up nobles, as he was sure that he would be beheaded the next moment.


    "Sigh, what do you have up your sleeve, Logananda Senapathi?" He thought to himself, recalling his old rival, Logananda Senapathi.


    The scout, who was silent till now, suddenly spoke out. "Sir, there is one more detail that is very suspicious."


    "What is it? Tell me."


    "I don''t know why the Vijayanagar army brought with them 10 elephants in tow, and these elephants were pulling a single carriage each. Unfortunately, I was not able to determine what they were carrying as it was covered in a tight tarpaulin," he said in a confused expression.


    But Amir was sharp; intuition told him that this was the reason for Vijayanagara''sck of soldiers. Thinking about the cannons that were recently sent by the capital, his heart started beating fast as he feared that Vijayanagara was able to not only conquer their cannon technology but was also sessful in advancing the technology, and creating a better weapon.


    "Ah bless your child," he said to himself in prayer, wishing that his guess to be false.


    Being a qualified militarymander, he wouldn''t leave the fate of his and his army''s existence to the hands of luck. So, he quickly began taking measures in case his fears came true. Secretly, he began to make another defence line inside the fort in the confines of the housings. Because he knew if his fears were true, the wall would be as good as breached. He could see that if the cannon had better firepower, it would also have better range, rendering his own cannons useless. By taking cover behind the buildings, at least they could be saved from the direct bombardment of the Vijayanagara army.


    Due to his years of careful management, the fort began to roar in efficiency as cannons were towed and fixed over the city wall, and a secret defence line was built inside the city. Bed crossbows and archers were densely packed in this defence line. All this was done within half a day. If Vijay had seen the method this man used, he would have been jealous of his talent and would have wanted to recruit him to his own side. Amir, seeing the preparations about to bepleted, slowly walked towards the city wall, where he could see the Vijayanagara army once again on the move as they slowly marched towards the city wall 500 meters away.


    It was a cloudy day; there was no rain, but it was quite windy. Commander Amir''s beard danced because of the breeze. Themander stood there, ncing at the small figure in the distance; he felt vaguely familiar. He had seen this kid in his previous battle against Logananda. If he remembered correctly, he was still working under Logananda.


    As he closely observed the movements of the Vijayanagara army, a small delegation emerged from their ranks, prominently carrying the g of Vijayanagara along with a white g¡ªan unmistakable signal of a messenger. This group approached, bearing a message from the Vijayanagara Empire. The messenger, with due formality, announced, "His Majesty, the Emperor Vijay Devaraya, has dered war on the Mughal Empire in response to the atrocitiesmitted against his people and their way of life. The Emperor requests the honourable Commander of the Mughal Empire to surrender the Paradip Fort. In return, no harm will befall any Mughal official, and they shall be safely sent back to the Mughal Empire."


    Upon hearing these words, a deep furrow formed on Aamir Ali Khan''s brow, distorting his countenance. Before Amir could respond, one of his subordinates, a fiery young man, erupted with indignation, his face flushed with anger, and bellowed, "How dare you! Behead him!" Themand hung in the air, just as the soldiers poised to fulfil the order, ready to be executed. Aamir Ali Khan intervened, and in his skeptical gaze on the messenger, he uttered two decisive words: "I reject it."


    The Messenger, who felt scared just now hearing that he was going to be beheaded, soon felt relieved by themander''s words. He slightly bowed as he left quickly with the message from the Mughal Empire. Kiran Pujari, who got the reply, did not change his face, as he was already anticipating the failure of the small diplomatic mission. But he felt like these small things should be done against a respected opponent. "Bring the cannons," Kiran said. Soon therge cannons were swiftly positioned forunching an attack. A total of sevenrge cannons were brought with him, seven carriages of cannons along with three carriages of ammunition. These cannons were the exact reason why he dared tounch an attack on the Mughals with only half the troop size.


    To be Continued...

 Chapter 116: Panhala Fort Battle! Part: 2

    <h4>Chapter 116: Panh Fort Battle! Part: 2</h4>


    The artillerymen quickly debugged the cannons, and the elevation was adjusted to hit the city wall. Amir cursed as his guess came true, and seeing as they were preparing tounch an attack, he quickly ordered his people on top of the city wall to evacuate towards the second line of defence.


    "Fire," Kiran said.


    "Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom."


    Seven consecutive back-to-back cannons roared as the sound superimposed, causing there to be turbulence in the already turbulent air. The Vijayanagara camp was filled with the smell of gunpowder, as the top of the city wall was cleanly sheared off.


    The ground rumbled like a mini-earthquake as the bombardment continued, but Kiran was not satisfied because he could see that the old man had already evacuated the city wall and should be concocting some devious schemes. An hour more of bombardment, and the city wall gave way as it slowly crumbled into pieces with all the pain it had to endure. After the wall crumbled, it was clear what the old man wanted to do, as Kiran could see a second defense line between the houses. He couldn''t even get a proper shot through the cannon as a lot of buildings got in the way. "This sly old fox," he muttered under his breath.


    He fell into contemtion as he was sure what the old man wanted to do, but he could not think of any good solution. He was inherently not good at aggression tactics. Even though he was not proficient with aggression tactics, he was assigned to this fort because Vijay wanted him to conquer Panh and defend it tightly, and defending, that he could do better than anyone among his peers. Martial Logananda had ns to make Panh the hub for procuring resources from the empire because it already had a developed transportation system to Nagpur, another important node to fully upy Maharashtra, making their lives easier.


    He couldn''t think of any tactics to outy the sly old fox, and he couldn''t wait any longer as he was on a tight deadline, with all the immediately avable resources of Vijayanagara used to fund this war, he couldn''t waste a single dime. The only advantage he still had left was the hidden cards of the gunners and the grenadiers. Making up his mind, he ordered the heavy infantry to open up the way.


    The heavy infantry, d in strong iron armour and carryingrge shields, formed their formation on the battlefield again. A whole brigade of heavy infantry stood in a tight formation, making an indestructible charge. The moment they crossed the wall, they endured a barrage of attacks from multiple directions. Arrows cut through the air, hitting the exposed spots on their bodies, and crossbows tore through the iron armour, breaking people into two pieces.


    "sh!"


    The formation was crumbling; hundreds of tightly knit, individual squadspressed the formation again as their brethren fell down one by one. They only took their ce and were getting ughtered. Kiran''s eyes zed with fire as he saw this scene; his army was getting ughtered, but this was the price he had to pay for him to get close enough. And getting close enough is what they goddamn did. The heavy infantry was forced right through the heart of the Mughal defence line.


    Even Amir, who was watching Vijayanagara''s iron-blooded charge, felt scared as he could see the light infantry being escorted by the death train. He could even see some pole-like things being carried by them, and he was very sure that it was not a short spear, but a weapon of some sort.


    "It''s my turn now, bich!" Kiran yelled as he ordered the gunmen to put some holes in the Mughal defence line.


    "Bang, bang!"


    Row after row of soldiers lined up and started to fire. There was not even a second dy in the barrage, as toon after toon kept pulling their triggers. They saw what the heavy infantry had to do to get them to that certain ce. It was very clear to them as they were currently standing on the blood of their brothers, their eyes contorted by tears and rage as the hellish training kicked in. It acted as a channel for the rage, turning them into killing machines fueled by rage and controlled by pure instincts honed by countless hours of suffering.


    <strong>"load, Aim, fire, switch!"</strong>


    <strong>"load, Aim, fire, switch!"</strong>


    <strong>"load, Aim, fire, switch!"</strong>


    The bullets of the gunners flew.


    "Boom, boom, boom, boom!"


    But the grenadiers were not to be outdone as they quickly sprang into action, finding all sorts of pockets where the Mughals could be hiding. They threw the grenades one after another like there was no tomorrow.


    It was a hellish nightmare for the Mughals, with a deadlybination of iron bullets from the front and a barrage of exploding balls being thrown all around them. It was a bloody dogfight, and while the superior numbers of Mughals were indeed sessful in killing a lot of Vijayanagar soldiers, the Vijayanagar soldiers were also not to be outdone with their advanced weaponry and a Well-equipped army.


    Kiran Pujari let out a sigh of relief as he finally was able to dwindle down the number of Mughals to triple digits. Amir Ali Khan saw his soldiers being killed at a faster rate than the Vijayanagara soldiers as the battle went on due to the advantage of weaponry. He let out a sigh of defeat and ordered his remaining men to surrender. He really wanted to retreat, but the scout who had gone to scout the retreat route brought in bad news that the city was sealed off by the remaining deeply hidden spies. He felt defeated because even his own subject, who he had high hopes for, turned out to be a spy ced by Vijayanagara. "Ha ha, no wonder those pests keeping back, and never seem to die out. It''s ironic that I was the one who protected the organizer of the spies all this time."


    Kiran Pujari, with his bloody body, came in front of the old man and said with gritted teeth, "You lost, old man."


    "While I would have liked to arrest you and bring you back to the Empire as a captive, unfortunately, we have lost a lot of people because of you," he said with hatred in his eyes.


    Amir Ali Khan guessed what was about toe. He let out a sigh as he took his beloved Talwar in his hand, tightened his grip, and stood up in an upright posture. He had an intense intent to fight in his eyes, and his aura began to change to that of a warrior who cared about nothing but defeating the opponent even at the expense of his life.


    Kiran, who saw these details, was not fazed, as he himself had the advantage of being much younger and stronger. He could end it all with a single bullet, but he chose not to because he epted the person in front of him as a respected opponent.


    "Come," Amir said as he was the first to move, swinging his Talwar at Kiran''s head, forcing him to dodge at thest moment. Kiran backhanded his sword and swung it, taking leverage from his momentum. The old man quickly ducked down, with rich experience switching the Talwar''s face and tried to give an uppercut sh. It was very close, and in thest movement, Kiran moved his head sideways, chipping off the tip of his ear.


    Their confrontation went on like this for a few more moves, and the injuries of both parties got higher and higher. If it were anyone else against Amir Ali Khan, they would have lost, but unfortunately, it was Kiran Pujari who took pride in his swordsmanship. Among the four generals, he was the best there was. Although he was slightly at a disadvantage against Amir Ali Khan, his younger and stronger body made up for it.


    As Amir''s pace began to wane, unable to sustain the same level of intensity, Kiran seized the moment. With calcted precision, he initiated a subtle sh aimed at the older man''s head, only to pivot at thest instant, transforming the motion into a swift forward thrust.


    "Squish."


    The sword pierced through Amir Ali Khan''s chest, cutting through his body and emerging from his back. His form stiffened, and he gradually bent forward, the de firmly lodged in his chest.


    He stumbled across the military camp and plopped on a chair without any energy. With difficulty, he pulled out the sword that had punctured his lungs out of his body. Looking at Kiran''s young face, he felt unwilling. This was thest stubbornness of the old man. As he held the bloody Talwar in his hand, he steadied his back for a final time andunched the Talwar into the ground.


    "Well, you win," the old man, with a bloodied and tired body, said in hisst moments, the clearest he had ever been.


    With the death of themander, the battle ended with a hard-won victory for Vijayanagara, with only 7000 soldiers remaining. It was the hardest victory Vijayanagara had to face to date.


    Oveing the grief of the fallen soldiers, Kiran swiftly regained hisposure, realizing that the war was far from over. He promptly issued orders for the reconstruction of the damaged walls and strategically positioned the unused 12 KG calibre cannons as defensive artillery atop the walls. The fortifications were reinforced, creating a more robust line of defence.

 Chapter 117: Battle of Nagpur

    <h4>Chapter 117: Battle of Nagpur</h4>


    While all the other generals left for their respective goals, Yogendra Singh held back as his target was deep inside the battle line. He waited in the barracks for two whole days until he got the message that Panh Fort had been conquered by Kiran Pujari. Upon hearing the news, he couldn''t wait any longer and quickly mobilized his three brigades of the army, soon heading to the Panh fort. Upon arrival, he could see the destroyed city being reconstructed, with dried bloodstains all over the ground wherever he looked. His heart dropped as he knew what this meant.


    Passing through the city walls, Yogendra encountered increasingly gruesome sights, with remnants of human bodies scattered about in the groves of the walls and buildings. Despite efforts to clean up the battlefield, the pervasive bloodstains made certain details difficult to cleanse in such a short duration. Yogendra proceeded towards the barracks where Kiran had stationed his forces. Upon entering, he immediately sensed the sombre atmosphere prevailing within. Although everyone appeared to be fulfilling their duties, an intangible heaviness hung in the air, indicating that the soldiers were not in their optimal state of mind.


    Finally, he met Kiran Pujari, who looked a little thinner than before. The moment he saw Kiran, Yogendra asked, "What are the casualties?" He noticed no pride of conquering the most difficult fort in Kiran''s eyes; on the contrary, a hint of guilt was evident. Making his heart firm, Kiran replied, "8000 dead, 2000 heavily injured, and 2500 with light injuries."


    Upon hearing the data, Yogendra''s jaw dropped in astonishment. This amount of casualties had never been seen in the Vijayanagar Empire. His face contorted in rage, and he was about to lose his mind and confront Kiran Pujari, but suddenly, he saw a yearning in Kiran''s eyes, A yearning for him to get punished. This calmed Yogendra down as he realized that he was not the one to punish Kiran Pujari; only his highness could do that.


    Looking at this man who was much older than him in this expression, Yogendra sighed and did not continue to inquire as he left the barracks. Kiran, seeing the retreating back of Yogendra, sighed in disappointment, as he really wanted to get yelled at or scolded badly. At least that would alleviate his guilt even a little bit. Unfortunately, it looked like only his majesty could do something about it.


    Yogendra left the Panh fort the next day with his soldiers in tow. Unlike other generals who were neatly marching in tight formations, he divided his soldiers into separate squads, moving in different groups that looked more like a ragtag group of mercenaries than a well-trained army. They were given the freedom to operate individually as a squad, and their clothing varied. Yogendra understood the difficulty of his mission as the only general of Vijayanagara tasked with capturing a location so far ind in the Mughal Empire. Given this, he didn''t want a head-on battle so deep within the enemy''s defence lines, where reinforcements were next to null. Instead, he opted for what he did best: urban and guerri warfare.


    Unlike Panh, the intelligence in Nagpur and Ratanpur Fort was notpromised. After two days of continuous marching, Yogendra reached Nagpur. Rather than deciding to attack immediately, he chose to blend in with the civilians, entering the city as merchants. Nagpur, a bustling city in the central region of India, is a prosperous transit station of the Mughal Empire, known as the City of Oranges.


    Due to the city''s prosperity, although rare, this sudden influx of people did not raise any suspicions, as the Mughal army was procuring resources for war at a rapid rate. The Vijayanagara army would be able to slip through unnoticed. Yogendra considered all this information and ordered a battalion of 5000 men to blend in with the crowd and enter the city. The remaining troops were stationed separately, along with elephants carryingrge cannons on the outskirts of the city, 5 km away. He did not n to use the cannons in this battle. After sessfully infiltrating the city, Yogendra activated the intelligencework and identified vulnerabilities in the guarding structure.


    He received information so swiftly that even he marvelled at the efficiency of Roshan''s intelligencework. The detailed documents included things like Drink breaks, lunch breaks, and identified guards who werex in their duties, along with officers who posed potential threats. The next thing he did was to secretly n multiple sets of assassinations to be done on the potential threats. When this n came up during the strategy discussions back in Vijayanagara, all the generals looked at him with an unkind expression. He knew why; It was Because the n he proposed would be viewed as cowardly, dishonourable, and possibly ipetent. Coming from the lowest of low of society, he understood that there would be no life if he considered all such things as honour and etiquette. To his surprise, out of all the people, Vijay seemed to agree with him.


    Vijay confronted the generals with a single, pivotal question, "There would be no Empire if we lost this war. Now, where is the priority? Is it defeating the Mughals in an open and honest way, or defeating them in any way possible and existing to fight another day on the battlefield?" This singr question worked as a catalyst, causing a shift in the perspectives of conservative and traditional generals. They began to see Vijay''s strategic viewpoint and, albeit hesitantly, agreed. Some of them even went on to make adjustments in their battle ns, changes that they might never have considered otherwise.


    In the present time:


    "Ahh...!", a chilling cry echoed through a luxurious vi as a person''s throat was ruthlessly slit. The unfortunate victim convulsed on the ground, writhing in pain. This individual unfortunately held a prominent position on the dangerous targets'' elimination list of Vijayanagaras intelligencework which brought him this fate.


    Simultaneously, across different parts of the city, simr scenes unfolded. The throats ofbat-effective Mughal officers were shed, and they bled out in silent, deadly efficiency. By the time the Mughals became aware that something was amiss, Yogendra, orchestrating the covert operation, signalled the soldiers stationed outside the city tounch a synchronized attack.


    This situation caught the Mughals off guard, as there were enemies inside and outside the city. The infantry poured in like a tide to every street and corner of the city. The Mughal soldiers, with no strong leaders surviving, could not form an effective n and couldn''t regroup. Gunshots and the sounds of grenades being exploded could be heard throughout the day. The civilians were in panic, fleeing away from the chaos of the city.


    Fortunately, the Vijayanagara army did not harm the actual civilians; they assessed them carefully and let them go free. Suspected individuals were not left free; they were detained for interrogation at ater stage.


    At the end of the day, the battle ended quickly without a cannon shot being fired.

 Chapter 118: Battle of Ratanpur Fort

    <h4>Chapter 118: Battle of Ratanpur Fort</h4>


    Yogendra Singh finished the battle in just a day with minimal casualties. He quickly sent a letter to His Majesty about his progress and also requested reinforcements from Narasimha Nayak. Narasimha is the closest person to his destination, and although he has sufficient firepower to take down the Ratanpur fort, hecks sufficient soldiers. Fortunately, Nagpur, being one of the most important transit cities of the Mughal Empire, had a very developed roadwork. Although most of its roads were ill-maintained, the foundation still remained.


    In just one more day, Yogendra sessfully reached Ratanpur fort. However, unlike Nagpur, he couldn''t employ the same assassination tactics here. Ratanpur was a military base, and even though the security was rtivelyx, training spies to overthrow the local rule proved to be a challenging task. Nevertheless, the silver liningy in the fact that the informationwork hear wasn''t as closed as that of Panh fort. Themander here, while not as meticulous as Aamir Ali Khan, allowed for a more essible flow of information. Due to this, Yogendra decided against ordering the assassination of crucial military personnel in this fort.


    "Deploy 1 brigade of heavy and light infantry, along with a battalion of artillerymen, to besiege the city wall," Yogendra ordered, his directive causing a stir among the officers in his army group. Despite their technological advantage, skepticism lingered among them regarding the feasibility of besieging the city with such a limited number of personnel.


    Addressing their lingering doubts, Yogendra exined, "I don''t actually want you to besiege the city. I need you to serve as a distraction and disable their artillery for us. Alright?" he asked.


    "Sir, everything you''re saying makes sense, but still, with only a brigade, it''s quite a challenge to handle the Mughals'' firepower," one officer expressed.


    "Rest assured; a brigade has been dispatched by Narasimha, and they''ll regroup shortly," Yogendra reassured, prompting a collective sigh of relief as the officers epted the revised n. As for the specifics of Yogendra''s broader strategy, no one pressed for details, understanding that if the general deemed it necessary, he would share the information.


    Having sessfully addressed their concerns, Yogendra nodded approvingly.


    After half a day, a brigade of soldiers arrived from the eastern side, formerly under themand of Narasimha Naik. Without much dy, upon their arrival, Yogendra swiftly set his n into motion. He directed the heavy and light infantry, apanied by the cannons, to assume a posture of besieging the city wall. The Vijayanagar army''s approach toward the Ratanpur fort immediately caught the attention of the scouts, prompting the city to heighten its alert status.


    The Mughals responded swiftly, the newly acquired cannons dispatched from the capital were promptly mobilized. The entire artillery arsenal was transported to the battlefront on the city wall, poised and ready for action.


    Observing the sessful implementation of his n, Yogendra felt a surge of satisfaction. Seizing the moment, he led his forces, those that were not directly involved in the battlefield, around the city to approach its rear. His troopsprised individuals who had once been refugees from the Mughal Empire, escaping persecution for joining a rebel army dedicated to sparking a revolution. Despite being wanted throughout the empire, their years of evading capture had endowed them with an intimate knowledge of the empire''s every nook and cranny, surpassing even that of the Mughals in certain areas.


    As Yogendra circled back to the back entrance of the fort, he quickly sent a messenger pigeon inside. The intelligence personnel inside the city wall, ready for the message, took control of the giant door at the back of the city. As the door opened, Yogendra ordered his men to rush through. At the same time, he also sent a ming arrow into the air, indicating the infantry to start their task. By the time Yogendra entered the city, it was like a wolf entering a flock of sheep. The back of the city wall was ill-guarded because attention was drawn by the infantry in the front. The security here wasx, as there were not many Mughal soldiers in this part of the city.


    A unteral massacre began. The soldiers at the front of the city did not get a chance toe to the back, upied as they were by the infantry in the front. The giant cannons spat out fiery fireballs the size of a person''s head at them, helplessly watching their own cannons being destroyed one by one. Unable to take it any longer, themander ordered the army to nk the Vijayanagara infantry from both sides. Unfortunately, this move led to theirst hope copsing, as Yogendra, seeing the opportunity,unched a strategic attack on the higher-ranking officers of the Mughal Empire.


    With Yogendra at the forefront, it didn''t take long to bring down the higher officials of the Mughal Empire.


    Despite the loss of their leaders, the Mughal infantry, akin to headless chickens following previous orders, continued to nk the Vijayanagara army. Charging from both sides, they maintained the momentum of their assault. Nirmal, deputy general of Vijayanagara directly under General Yogendra Singh, stepped up to take control of the infantry positioned in front of the city. Sensing the impending sh with the Mughals, he swiftly directed the heavy infantry to form a tight defensive wall.


    Executing the order with precision, the infantry moved in a well-coordinated manner, raising theirrge iron shields to establish an imprable iron barrier. Strategically ced spears in the gaps allowed the rear infantry to thrust at the oing enemies, maintaining a formidable defence against the charging Mughal forces.


    Yogendra watched as his soldiers formed the defensive formation quickly and the Mughals attacked them. It was like a group of wild animals stampeding against a city wall. The Mughals aggressively collided with the iron wall of Vijayanagara, getting pierced in the stomach, chest, and head. It looked as though Vijayanagara had an advantage, but Yogendra had a worried expression on his face because he knew that this defensive formation couldn''t be maintained for a long time.


    "Ahhh," Yogendra grunted in frustration, quickening his pace as he stabbed a man in the head. Frustration lingered as he pushed through the chaotic battlefield. Finally, as anticipated, a breach appeared in the defensive formation, and a flood of assants poured inside,unching indiscriminate attacks on his soldiers.


    Acting swiftly, Yogendra regrouped with his forces within the city wall, leading a charge at the opening near the front gate. The Vijayanagara army, initially facing one-sided ughter, now found themselves rallying behind Yogendra''s charge. The bnce rapidly shifted in favour of the Vijayanagara forces.


    In the midst of the chaotic battle, no guns or grenades were utilized, as the environment was too unpredictable, and a small misfire could result in friendly casualties. After enduring thousands of casualties, Yogendra and his men finally gained control of Ratanpur fort.

 Chapter 119: Mohammad the Vth’s Reaction, Part: 1

    <h4>Chapter 119: Mohammad the Vth''s Reaction, Part: 1</h4>


    In the beautiful city of Agra, during the time when Vijayanagara waged war:


    In the royal pce of Agra, His Highness Muhammad the Fifth drew an arrow and aimed at the marked target 80 meters away.


    "Swish."


    He let the arrow fly, and it pierced into the target. Although it was a few inches off from the centre, it was evident that His Highness Muhammad the Fifth had a good grasp of the art of archery.


    A smile appeared on his face as he was very satisfied with his progress, and he couldn''t help but feel excited about waging war on Vijayanagara in just a few days. He couldn''t help but remember the dialogue he had with Fakir. "Your Excellency, our strategy to besiege multiple defensive points of Vijayanagara simultaneously is well underway," Minister of War, Fakir Ali Pasha informed him. "The army is in various ces along the southern border, ready to campaign in just a week." Excitement filled him as he envisioned the obliteration of the Vijayanagara Empire. His smile widened at the thought.


    "Bang."


    "Not good, Your Highness."


    Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted. "Who is it?" he yelled angrily, swiftly turning his head to see a young man in his mid-30s with a light brownplexion, ck hair, and a scar that started at his cheekbone and moved down to his chin. Emperor Muhammad the Fifth halted his words, which were about to turn into curses, as the person who arrived was none other than his intelligence officer, Moin Ali. Moin Ali, originally a Hindu child named Ramesh Dev, hailed from a local nobility in Gujarat. Unfortunately, his parents were killed by ''assassins from Vijayanagara.''


    But in reality, during the earlier times of the Mughal Empire, the same assassins were working for none other than the royal family. Riots were breaking out regrly in the empire, and upon investigation, it was revealed that local rulers of various towns and cities, with significant influence in the region, continued to incite the poption against the Mughal Empire. The n was formted to assassinate these local rulers. However, a problem arose ¨C if it was revealed that the Mughals were behind the assassinations, it would only intensify the local''s hatred towards the empire. Hence, it was decided to send the assassins in the name of Vijayanagara.


    The royal family made it appear as if Vijayanagara had sent assassins to weaken the Mughal emperor''s power by eliminating local rulers. The n worked surprisingly well, as the riots soon subsided. Even Moin Ali was not aware of these secrets. This sess led to the consideration of simr ns for the future.


    But as far as Ramesh Dev, now known as Moin Ali knows, when he was just six years old, his family was killed by assassins from Vijayanagara. That''s when he got a scar on his face from a knife wound. Since then, the royal family took him in and trained him as an intelligence officer. After the shahada, he was granted a new name, Mohin Ali. Mohammed was really impressed by this kid; he was really good at gathering information about the Empire. Thanks to him, Mohammed was able to integrate the Empire much faster.


    After he had taken care of Vijayanagar, he even nned to dispatch him to collect intelligence for him in the eastern Hindu countries.


    "What is it?" Mohammed asked calmly.


    "Your Highness, the Panh fort has been breached, and now it is under the control of Vijayanagara."


    "Vijayanagaraunched a surprise attack on our Panh fort," Moin Ali began, his voice tinged with hatred. "ording to intelligence, they have managed to master the cannon-making technology simr to ours. The most surprising part is that they are able to produce a better cannon than us. One more horrifying detail is the existence of arger cannon, thergest we had ever seen. It stands at about 6 feet in height and shoots a cannonball the size of a human head. It has a ludicrous range, which was used to breach the Panh fort."


    Mohammed''s eyes widened with disbelief."What? How can it be? No, how can it be? I was the one who was supposed to attack." His emotions became disoriented as he spoke, struggling to ept the fact that Vijayanagara, a seemingly backward country, dared tounch a war on the mightiest Empire in the continent. Suddenly, as if just remembering the second half of the information, he, who was walking around restlessly, suddenly stopped and asked another question in disbelief.


    "What did you say? Panh Fort was captured? How is this possible? Didn''t we have 30,000 troops stationed in the region? How could it be possible? What is Amir doing there? Is he eating shit?"


    "Your Highness, Commander Amir Ali Khan was killed in battle," Moin Ali said with his head lowered.


    "What? How is it possible? How could Amir be killed in battle?" This revtion came as an even bigger shock. Despite the political obstacles Amir faced, Mohammed knew that Aamir Ali Khan was a very good strategist and a first-ss swordsman. Soon, his emotion turned into rage as he yelled to his servants, "Call Fakir Ali Pasha for me. I want him in front of me in an hour. What the hell was that buffoon doing when all this happened?"


    In an hour, a bulky, stout man who resembled a dwarf but stood at a human height appeared in front of His Highness. Fakir had been enjoying his time with his woman when he was urgently called. His servant, who disturbed him, angered him to the point that he ordered his men to give him 20shes. However, when he learned that the Emperor, his cousin, was the one calling him, he put away his dissatisfaction and got ready as soon as possible, leading to his haggard appearance.


    As soon as he entered the archery grounds, he saw Moeen Ali with His Majesty. Seeing the furious expression on his majestic face, he knew something big might have happened. He got very nervous, seeing the look on his cousin''s face. "Your Highness, what can I do for you?" he asked with a humble tone.


    To be continued...

 Chapter 120: Mohammad the Vth’s Reaction, Part: 2

    <h4>Chapter 120: Mohammad the Vth''s Reaction, Part: 2</h4>


    Seeing his cousin Fakir in front of him, he couldn''t help but re at him. Mohammad stared daggers into the eyes of Fakir Ali Pasha. Fakir, who didn''t get an answer but got a stern gaze from His Majesty the Emperor, felt his back starting to get cold from fear.


    Before long, the silence was broken by His Highness himself. "Look at what you have done. You can''t even do this simple thing. Howe you don''t know anything about the attack on Vijayanagara, and I have to hear it from my intelligence officer? What is your Ministry of War doing? Why should I employ you, you idiot? If it weren''t for my mother, I would have kicked you out of your post long ago...."


    The scolding went on for a few more minutes before Mohammad calmed down. He then had Moin Ali exin the situation to Fakir. Fakir, with his head down after all the scolding, suddenly raised his head in disbelief. More than anything, he couldn''t believe that Aamir Ali Khan would die, as he knew exactly how experienced Aamir was. And although he would not like to admit it, it is well-recognized that Aamir is way overqualified to be a general on the battlefield. But how could he be willing after the old guy questioned his authority as the minister of war in front of everyone?


    Mohammad, looking at Fakir, who was lost in thought, got angry again as he yelled, "What are you thinking about, idiot? Answer my question."


    Fakir, who regained his senses quickly, replied, "Your Highness, we can mobilize a brigade directly from the Mumbai port. It is rtively near to the Panh Fort."


    Hearing this reply, Moin Ali frowned, and Mohammad fell into deep thought. Observing Moin Ali''s concerned expression, Mohammad asked if there was any issue with the minister''s n. Moin Ali, seizing the opportunity to speak, expressed his worries.


    "Your Highness," Moin Ali began, "I fear that if we divert our manpower from Mumbai as per the minister''s n, it might give Vijayanagara a chance to attack, sensing our weakness. The Panh fort incident has already shown their preparedness, and we must n carefully to avoid further vulnerabilities."


    Mohammad, upon hearing Moin Ali''s doubt, remained silent. He didn''t answer and instead stared at Fakir, waiting for his reply. Fakir, finding the question thrown back at him, was momentarily stumped, unsure of the best course of action. However, an idea shed in his mind, and he replied, "Your Highness, we have newly built fortifications in Mumbai. Add on top of that the new cannons that have been sent. It will not be a problem to defend the Mumbai ind from any threats for at least a month. Moreover, we have a standing army of 50,000 people stationed there, which is 1/3 of our army strength at the southern border. On top of that, we have the Arabian Sea Navy stationed there. I think it is not a problem to have them reinforce the Panh Fort. As we know, Vijayanagara does not have a prominent Navy."


    Mohammad, finding the answer somewhat agreeable, looked at Moin for his opinion. Moin, though feeling somewhat uneasy for some reason, finally agreed, not noticing any loopholes in the n.


    One dayter.


    This time, it was the Minister of War himself who broke into the Royal Pce as he hurriedly yelled in panic. Listening to his panicked voice, His Majesty Muhammad had toe out of his work in order to meet him.


    "Your Highness, it is not good. Mumbai is under attack, and from our sources, the southern part is already under the control of Vijayanagara."


    "What? How is this possible? Is Mumbai not fortified extremely well? How did this happen? Who is themander in that region?"


    "Your Highness, it is all due to the cunningness of the Vijayanagara Empire. I don''t know from where the Vijayanagara Empire has procured it, but it has thergest battleship we have ever seen. Even in in sight, it could be seen that it weighs at least 1000 tonnes. From the battle reports we have acquired, they used the same giant cannon that took out the Panh Fort from a farther distance to take out our artillery on the city wall of Mumbai in a simr way, along with breaching our city wall, making an opening for their army. With the help of their own cannons and some sort of new weapons that spew out fire, they were easily able to breach into the southern part of Mumbai Ind. It was Mustafa Ali who was in charge of this battle, and unfortunately, he was also killed in battle."


    Hearing this, Mohammad became furious again. He didn''t know where to put his rage as he took the utensils by his side and smashed them onto the ground, yelling, "Damn it, goddamn it." Soon, Moin Ali also arrived with the same information, But with more details. Mohammad finally got to know how Mustafa themander of the south Mumbai army used the cannons sent by the armoury to make private profits by selling them to merchants to assemble the weapons on their own ships. He also learned about how the officials in Mumbai deserted on a massive scale, running away from the battlefield instead of fighting the Vijayanagara Empire.


    Seeing all these details, he knew that Vijayanagara had outsmarted him this time. Taking all of this in, he grew even more angry as he yelled at his cousin, "Idiot, bastard, look at what you have done. Don''t the people under yourmand even know discipline?"


    He took out his talwar in anger. He was about to swing at his Minister of war, Fakir Ali Pasha, but soon, seeing the terrified face of the minister, he couldn''t help but remember his mother who doted on his cousin. Because of this, he turned his swing midway, hitting Fakir just with the t side of the de.


    "Go away, you are fired," Muhammad growled in a furious tone, choosing not to end Fakir''s life in that heated moment. Sparing him was perhaps the greatest mercy he could afford at that particr time. Following this tense encounter, Muhammad swiftly issued orders to mobilize troops within the Kingdom, gearing up for a counter-attack against the Vijayanagara Empire. The urgency and anger in his voice reverberated throughout the royal chambers. Additionally, the forces stationed at the western border, initially assigned to fend off Arabic invaders, were now also called into action, their focus redirected towards this new and pressing threat.


    Muhammad himself was gearing up to join the battlefield. However, in the subsequent days, the unfolding news disrupted all his intended strategies, thwarting his carefullyid ns. As reports trickled in, revealing the staggering losses suffered by the Mughals with the fall of Cuttack, Paradeep, Bhubaneswar, and Puri, Muhammad found it challenging to ept that Vijayanagara had sessfully established a connected defensive formation in the state of Odisha. Restlessness consumed him, especially considering that the Mughal army was still days away from reaching the intended target. But maybe God yed jokes on him; a few dayster Ratanpur Fort fell down. Mohammad had a red circle in his eyes. He didn''t get proper sleep all week. City after city, town after town, vige after vige came under the control of the Vijayanagara Empire.


    The relentless onught of setbacks weighed heavily on Mohammad, disrupting his wellid ns and pushing him into a state of exhaustion and desperation. Thendscape of the battlefield was shifting rapidly, and the once-confident ruler found himself grappling with the harsh reality of an unexpected turn of events.

 Chapter 121: Occupy Odisha

    <h4>Chapter 121: upy Odisha</h4>


    Thanks to the efficient roadwork implemented by Vijay''s orders in Vijayanagara, the transportation of various raw materials has achieved remarkable speed. After the capture of all four intended targets in the Mughal Empire, Vijay refused to halt the momentum. Instead, he swiftly issued orders for construction efforts tomence in the newly upied areas. In a strategic move, the old city walls were dismantled and reced with robust concrete alternatives, or, in the case of stone walls, reinforced with cement for added durability. On the eastern front, with the coboration of town residents, the docks in Paradip Town underwent expansion to amodate arger number of merchant ships.


    In the western region, ns were set in motion for the construction of roads connecting Mumbai and Panh Fort. Simultaneously, Vijay instructed the development of roads linking Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and the Paradip port. This intricatework would serve as the foundation for the east and west military bases of Vijayanagara, strategically positioned to counter any potential Mughal counterattack and establish a formidable defence formation.


    Because of the war, back home, the economy was flourishing. Despite the influx of new orders, merchants couldn''t make outrageous profits, as they couldn''t increase the prices of products due to the military economy system of Vijayanagara, which restricted them from making exorbitant profits. However, on the other hand, the efficiency of manufacturing skyrocketed, boosting productivity manyfold.


    Within the confines of the military-driven economy, a savvy merchant sparked a revolution in manufacturing practices across the empire, transcending various industries to enhance overall productivity. Operating a workshop specializing in the creation of a medicinal concoction tailored for treating light battlefield injuries, this merchant held the exclusive family form passed down through generations.


    Faced with a surge in orders, the merchant strugled with the problem of having a limited number of skilled workers. He had regr workers capable of performing ordinary tasks like soaking or drying herbs or grinding them, but hecked skilled workers, leading to a sense of despair. However, perhaps due to Lord Ram''s grace, a moment of inspiration struck him, and a transformative idea took shape: "Why not assign the simpler tasks to others?" The idea rapidly gained traction in his mind, spreading like wildfire. Swiftly bringing his thoughts into action, he dismantled the intricate concoction''s ingredients and strategically outsourced their processing to other workshops possessingmendable qualifications. Simultaneously, he invested all his efforts in training his workers to be skilled individuals capable of handling the most challenging tasks.


    This innovative approach proved immensely sessful, elevating efficiency to unprecedented levels. His move not only multiplied his production capacity tenfold but also fueled an exponential surge in demand for his medicinal concoction, particrly from the military, where orders flooded in at an elerated pace.


    Learning from his sessful experience, workshops in various industries also adopted simr methods, resulting in excellent oues. This reduction in the cost of manufacturing certain products and the increase in efficiency caused a significant ripple effect across the empire. Jobs were quickly generated, relieving stress on the public by employing the idle poption. Additionally, safety measures were enhanced. This wave led to the emergence of multiplerge workshops focusing solely on manufacturing small, specialized parts for other workshops. Vijay, who learned about these developments back in Mumbai, was overjoyed. He couldn''t help but think that Vijayanagara''s booming economy would further aid him in fully conquering the regions of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha with a continuous flow of resources.


    With Vijay''s approval, construction boomed in the upied areas. Odisha, now under full control and facing less pressure to defend, was the first to witness this surge. With four important strongholds secured, a robust defence took shape, resembling an iron barrel. Materials were shipped from Vijayanagara, with hundreds of merchant ships carrying cement and all the necessary supplies. Locally sourced gravel and sand, along with local workers, were also part of the construction effort.


    The people in the conquered areas were grateful to Vijayanagara. Announcements were made about reduced taxes, ensuring they no longer had to pay higher taxes than their Muslim counterparts. Additionally, they were promised equal opportunities and pay, a concept the previous empire overlooked. Notably, the people of Bharat had forgotten the concept of the United Nation of Akhand Bharat, a factor contributing to a millennium of suffering.


    In the small town of Tirtol near the Paradip port, officers of the Vijayanagar Empire came to the Panchayat early in the morning, announcing a recruitment order for the construction of roads connecting Paradip and Cuttack. The vige elder was worried about the small male poption in the vige, but when he read the notice, he was overjoyed, as it promised 30 kilograms of grain per month and no more than 12 hours of work per day.


    The vige elder wanted to apply himself, but unfortunately, he was stopped when he read that the man could only be above 16 and below 40. The old man was slightly disappointed but regained his emotions and spread the news throughout the town. The people who heard that there was such a good thing quickly signed up in a heartbeat. Simr scenes unfolded in several ces throughout the regions inside the Vijayanagara-upied area. Construction quickly started, and cement roads were used to build the main road inside the city after widening it ording to the standards of the Vijayanagara Ministry of Transportation. With the efforts ofkhs of workers, roads wereid connecting Paradip Port, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Puri. This did not happen in one or two days but took two months. During this time, there were multiple retaliation attempts made by the Mughal Empire on the Odisha region. However, due to the strong defences, they did not get a chance.


    With thepletion of the newly constructed roads, Narasimha once again embarked on an expedition, this time bolstered by a fresh wave of recruits. Their target: Brahmapur in the southern part of Chilka Lake, followed by the strategic move to Jaypur( Don''t confuse it with Jaipur, both are different ). Unlike previous swift battles that relied on surprise, this time the Mughal troops'' continuous assaults stretched the conflict over a slow and gruelling two months.


    Undeterred, Narasimha''s forces, reinforced by additional recruits, persevered. Bagavani Patna fell under their control, and finally, Sambalpur sumbed, marking the northernmost boundary of the expanded Vijayanagara Empire. In the wake of these conquests, Narasimha ordered the construction of proper roads between the newly captured strongholds, enhancingmunication and streamlining logistics to fortify their position in Odisha. The workers were in full swing again as road construction did not stop. It is to be noted that arge amount of the roads were gravel, except for the roads in the connecting towns themselves, which were constructed using cement. It took a whole six months to fully capture Odisha and provide further assistance to Chhattisgarh.

 Chapter 122: Occupy Maharashtra

    <h4>Chapter 122: upy Maharashtra</h4>


    While Narasimha was busy conquering Odisha, Vijay wasn''t idle either. Simultaneously, he focused on the conquest of Maharashtra, one of the wealthiest states in Bharat, even in the present time.


    The region of Maharashtra has a long history of human habitation, with evidence of early settlements dating back to the Stone Age. During the Vedic period (1500¨C500 BCE), the region was inhabited by various tribes and ns as mentioned in Vedic literature. Later, the Maurya Empire followed by the Satavahana dynasty had a significant presence in Maharashtra, ying a crucial role in the region''s history. The word "Maharashtra" or "Mah¨¡r¨¡??ra" is a Sanskrit word, abination of "Mahaa" and "Rashtra," with its literal meaning being "Great nation."


    Maharashtra witnessed the rule of Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas during the period of the 6th to 10th century, marking the beginning of borate cave temples such as the famous Ellora and Ajanta caves constructed during the Rashtrakuta rule. However, subsequent years were bleak as this prosperous ce caught the eyes of Imic invaders. The Brahmani Sultanate attacked during the 14th to 15th century, aiming to expand their territories and influence in the Dan, leading to frequent conflicts with the Vijayanagara Empire.


    The stage was set for renewed conflict in 1565 A.D. when the Dan Sultanates united against Vijay''s great-grandfather, the reigning king of the Vijayanagar Empire at the time. In the original timeline, this conflict led to the copse of the Vijayanagar Empire. However, in this altered timeline, Vijayanagara, recognizing the formidable alliance of the Dan Sultanates, swiftly withdrew its forces, securing its continued existence into the present era.


    As the 16th century progressed, the Dan region faced another invader: Mughal Emperor Akbar. His campaigns aimed at upying and establishing Mughal authority over Maharashtra added a new chapter to the region''s history.


    Yet, the region''s trials did not conclude there. In the Earth''s previous timeline, the year 1817 witnessed the British, under Mount Stewart Elphinstone, defeating the Marathas. This marked themencement of British dominance over the region. Over the next year, conflicts unfolded between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire, culminating in British victory and the annexation of portions of Maratha territories. The Maratha Empire, once mighty, began its decline.


    In 1848, internal conflicts within the princely state of Satara provided an opportunity for the British to uwfully annex Satara under the Doctrine of Lapse, incorporating it into the Bombay Presidency. In the year 1857, the British ruthlessly suppressed the uprising, killing leaders and reinforcing their control over the Bombay, or Mumbai, area. These events, often undocumented, furthered the British agenda of imprinting their cultural influence by introducing British-style institutions and perpetuating a derogatory image of Indian civilization. The caste system, which even existed before the British, was not as rigid as the British made it out to be.


    In essence, the caste system was a ss system present in various societies, resembling the Western ss structure of royalty, nobility, knights, citizens, serfs, and ves. The Britishers, with the aim of better colonizing Bharat, singled out the highest caste, the Brahmin, and instigated conflicts among different groups. Originally, the Brahmin ss was not intended to hold lucrative service jobs as per the texts. However, the British granted them more power, leading to discontent among other castes and causing friction between them.


    Simrly, the British introduced their own European thinking which implemented a system where nobility was restricted to those with a specific bloodline. This logic was applied to the Hindus, further solidifying the caste system, which had already been extensively misused by the Imic rulers. Before the British and Muslims arrived in Bharat, the caste system was primarily a reflection of the type of lifestyle one led, with no rigid boundaries separating the various castes.


    Even in the modern 21st century, India grapples with the task of erasing the lingering shadows of its colonial past.


    "But not this time," Vijay thought to himself, clenching his fists. It took a month and a half topletely build a road between Panh Fort and Mumbai. He waited for reinforcements because he knew the Mughals would give it all to defend Maharashtra. The troops dispatched from Belgavi eventually reached New Mumbai, the newly upied territory.


    Upon learning about the death toll caused by Kiran Poojari, Vijay was furious and considered firing him on the spot. The casualties under hismand were unprecedented. However, Logananda Senapati''s letter persuaded him otherwise. Logananda exined that what Kiran Poojari achieved was nothing short of a miracle. He recounted an instance where both he and Amir Ali Khan fought in the battle, and despite having arger army, Logananda won with only a small margin, And Kiran beat him with only half of the troops. Attacking the most heavily guarded city on the southern front of the Mughal Empire was nothing less than a miracle.


    Hence, Vijay was persuaded, but he decided that Kiran''s promotion would stop there until he could prove his worth to him. Anyway, after the reinforcements arrived, Vijay ordered a pincer attack on Pune. The n was sessful, with both Mumbai and Panh attacking simultaneously from the northern and southern fronts. After a gruelling battlesting for a month, Pune was sessfully captured. It didn''t end there as there were still some gaps in the defenses. In the next few months, Satara and Kolhapur were sessfully captured,pleting the defence line that could be expanded to more ind areas.


    Due to the good marine transport infrastructure in Mumbai, most materials from Vijayanagara had been transported from the Arabian Sea. Mumbai port, which had looked a little deste because of the war, was full of life again. Boats carrying the saffron g came and went out of the port city. With the continuous input of weapons, personnel, and the confiscated wealth of Mughal nobles, the economy flourished, it was like using War to fuel war. With enough preparation, an attack wasunched on the ind city of Nashik. After capturing the famous city Nashik, a united attack from three fronts wasunched on Khadki, the administration, and military centre of the Mughal Empire in Maharashtra. In the previous timeline, this ce also served the same purpose and was named after Aurangzeb, called the city of Aurangabad. With the attackunched from three different battle groups, the city could only persist for a short time even with the support provided by the Mughal Empire, it soon fell. With another strong citadel captured, Vijayanagara continued to move ind, capturing the famous cities of Amravati and Nagpur.


    The whole battle for the capture of Maharashtra took 10 months. With the fall of the Mughal armies in the Maharashtra, Vijay quickly moved on to capture thest piece of the puzzle, Chhattisgarh.

 Chapter 123: New Cannon Of The Mughal Empire

    <h4>Chapter 123: New Cannon Of The Mughal Empire</h4>


    Mughal Empire, Agra


    An unusual man, rarely seen in Agra, walked into the imperial pce this morning. This man had a paleplexion simr to that of the Europeans, but he still had some features that could be seen in Arabs, like ck eyes and ck hair.


    "Your Highness, the task that you have asked has beenpleted."


    "Good, good, very good. Let''s go see this new Cannon," Mohammed said, overjoyed and unable to wait. The moment Vijayanagar took control of four important regions in the empire with the help of more advanced artillery, he knew this couldn''t go on. So he sent his servant on an expedition to find a capable craftsman talented enough to match or even surpass the canons of Vijayanagar.


    For this reason, he even came to an agreement with the Safavid dynasty to settle their territorial dispute and epted the new border conditions proposed by King Abbas II. Despite facing disagreement from many of his courtiers, he decisively cut them off without even a second thought, recognizing that Vijayanagar posed a more formidable threat than the Safavids. From his perspective, he considered India as part of his empire, and Vijayanagara''s upation of hisnd made it an internal conflict, a more pressing concern ording to him. The Safavid Kingdom is situated in the Northwestern part of the Mughal Empire, and a small stretch ofnd has been a point of contention between both parties. Pashtuns inhabit this disputednd, but due to the tensions between the two empires, no decisive move has been made to fully conquer the region, which corresponds to modern-day Afghanistan.


    Pashtuns, who used to be ancient Hindu tribes, over the course of 250 years, were slowly converted into Muslims by various means. This is one of the problems with Im; it is very dominating in that wherever the Imic faith gains power, all the other belief systems tend to go extinct. You can see this phenomenon even with the greatest empires in the ancient world like the Persian Kingdom, which used to have their own faith systems,pletely forgotten after the fall of the kingdom. Even the Egyptians, who were one of the four greatest ancient civilizations,pletely forgot about their culture in the wake of Im.


    It is like the whole religion of Im is designed to expand while destroying anything in its wake.


    With the border disputes settled, the northern reaches of thend where Pashtuns lived were ceded to the Safavids. Mohammad knew this choice of his would bite him in the back someday, but in his opinion, if he could conquer Vijayanagara, he could easily take back thend and then some.


    Anyway, his servant crossed the Afghan region and entered the kingdom of Safavid. Unfortunately, the person he needed was not avable, as the Safavid Kingdom and Mughal Empire had a simr technology level, and in some cases, the Mughal Empire excelled.


    But it was not in vain, as there was a great empire that bordered the Safavid dynasty ¨C the great Ottoman Empire.


    The Ottoman Empire, tracing its roots to the 13th century, emerged under Osman I. Initially a small Anatolian state, it expanded rapidly under subsequent rulers, notably Mehmed II, who conquered Constantinople in 1453. This triumph marked the empire''s zenith, spanning three continents. The Ottomans, under Suleiman the Magnificent, further flourished in the 16th century, reaching cultural and military peaks. Istanbul became a cultural centre, hosting the magnificent Topkapi Pce. The Ottoman Empire conquered some areas in the Balkans, establishing a firm hold in the region. Due to this, its weapon technology was not much different from that of European countries.


    Muhammad''s servant had a tough time getting into the Ottoman Empire, but finally, he found a skilled craftsman with a mix of Greek and Arab Blood.


    The craftsman, named Adam, was quite famous in his hometown for his craftsmanship. Hence, the servant officially invited him to work in the Mughal Empire. Originally, Adam did not want to go because the Mughal Empire was a very faraway ce. However, he waster convinced by the title of chief craftsman he would hold, along with a minor noble title. Bing a person of a higher ss in the Imic ss system was not easy, simr to the Western ss system.


    With the craftsman in tow, the assistant quickly made his way back to the Mughal Empire, and the trip took a whole three months. By the time they reached back to the Mughal Empire, Mohammed was able to procure the giant cannon of Vijayanagara, which they painstakingly managed to steal from the Vijayanagar Empire.


    The craftsman was ordered to replicate the giant cannon, which had been nothing but a pain in the ass for the Mughal Empire. With the existence of these cannons, the walls might as well not be there. With Adam''s previous experience as a metal craftsman, he quickly figured out the working and the design of the Vijayanagara cannon. This process surprised him, not because the cannon was brilliantly designed, No! on the contrary, the design did not stand out that much in his opinion, as many European countries had better designs. However, it was the metal that caught his attention. It felt like some altered version of an iron alloy, but the strength was 20% more than the typical iron alloys. In the past, he knew that India had the best steel industry, and it had gone downhill after that, but he did not expect such strong alloys toe out of India.


    Setting the surprise aside, he proved that he had superior craftsmanship. From the time he arrived, it only took him three more months to produce a prototype for his majesty to inspect.


    And that is how we came to this present day, six months after the battle started, in the outskirts of Agra. Mohammed made his way to the wastnd to inspect the cannon.


    "Wee, your majesty. It is my greatest wish that my creation will satisfy your desire," he said as he bowed in order to show respect.


    Muhammad gave a nod and swiftly shifted his focus to the big cannon sitting right in front of him. At first sight, he could see that this cannon had many differences from that of Vijayanagar. Although he did not know the principles of how this cannon was made, he could see that it was more refined than the one made in Vijayanagara. He quickly got excited and ordered his men to test it.


    "Boom!"


    The cannon roared to life, sending out a thick ck smoke ring from its barrel as the wall 500 meters away crumbled into pieces. Mohammed''s face lit up with joy at the sight, and without wasting a moment, hemanded the production of 50 more of these powerful cannons. It took a solid four months to fulfil his majesty''s hefty order.


    In addition to the colossal cannon''s sess, Adam also managed to enhance the smaller cannons, bringing them up to par with the calibre of Vijayanagar cannons.


    As for the muskets and flintlocks, he had no experience with such weapons, but he could grasp that the cannon and the musket had the same principle. When he built a musket, which seemed to be easier to replicate by hand, he was sessful. However, he couldn''t get the ratio of gunpowder right at times, and the more challenging thing was he couldn''t figure out how the Vijayanagar Empire managed to build these guns so uniformly.


    By the end of the production of the newly upgraded cannons, Mohammed received news about the fall of the Maharashtra region.


    "Ah," he growled, his frustration bing clear. This was the region his father had conquered, and now, it slipped away under his watch. He was already on edge when he learned about Odisha falling four months ago, but back then, he managed to keep his anger in check by telling himself that Odisha didn''t bring significant economic benefits to the Mughal Empire. Now, it was a different story; Maharashtra was one of the most lucrative parts of the Empire, and losing it was something he couldn''t just let happen.


    Thinking about the new cannons in the arsenal, he gradually gained a cruel smile on his face as he ordered his new minister of war, Iqbal.


    "Come, let''s take it back."

 Chapter 124: The Peace and Trade Agreement with the Portuguese.

    <h4>Chapter 124: The Peace and Trade Agreement with the Portuguese.</h4>


    The sudden increase in the quality of the Mughal cannons did not escape Vijay''s eyes. He also received news about the manufacturing of a new cannon being done in Agra. Knowing this news, he grew restless. If the Mughals were also able to manufacture the giant cannon, the military difference between them would bergely covered up. With the more abundant resources of the Mughal Empire, it would take only a few months to manufacture dozens of them.


    Realizing that he couldn''t wait any longer, he even sent a few of his soldiers on an assassination mission to take out the new craftsman who had arrived from the West. However, this choice ended up costing him more than he wanted. Mohammed seemed to have caught on to his tricks and used Adam as leverage against him, luring his people to attack.


    With Muhammad being prepared and Adam being very well protected, the people he sent couldn''t even breach the door of Adam''s Workshop. This was not all, as even the informants who were deep inside the Mughal rule also got caught.


    "Damn it," he cursed loudly, annoyed by the turn of events. "Looks like the battle n should be based around the guns," he thought to himself. The only thing right now Vijayanagara is capable of that the Mughal Empire is not is the muskets and flintlocks. So, he is contemting how he could expand this advantage to win the final victory.


    While he was in contemtion, to his surprise, Roshan arrived in his room and informed him that someone from the Portuguese Kingdom hade to do business with the Vijayanagar Empire.


    This caught Vijay by surprise as he did not know what the Portuguese would want from him. Contemting the situation, he directed Roshan to bring them in using a merchant ship adorned with a saffron g, unmistakably signalling its affiliation with Vijayanagar and not a foreign nation. In the worst-case scenario, misunderstandings with the Mughals could escte into a full-scale war, prompting them to leverage their wealth to purchase Western armaments. Vijay was aware of the Mughal Empire''s robust trade rtions with the Ottoman Empire and recognized the potential implications of such diplomatic intricacies.


    The next day, the Portuguese arrived in the port of Mumbai aboard a conventional merchant ship. A white man with brown hair and green eyes, dressed in unusual attire, disembarked. Surprisingly, the moment the man stepped ashore, he humbly joined his hands in a namaskar posture, a gesture that caught Vijay off guard. He had always perceived Western people as proud and aloof. Now, reflecting on the moment, he realized that in these times, the gap between nations was not as vast as he had imagined.


    Although Vijayanagar was still considered less advancedpared to Portugal, the sheer magnitude of its human resources rendered any Western country incapable of confronting a nation with arge poption. This was a historical reality that had made Russia feared throughout the ages. Even during the zenith of the British Empire, no one was stupid enough to provoke the Bear onnd because of the Russians'' seemingly endless manpower and possession of thergest country in the world. Despite being individually weakerpared to their counterparts, the Russians could execute a strategic retreat endlessly ind, forcing their attackers'' battlefront to stretch over thousands of kilometres, thereby hindering their logistics supply.


    Hence, nobody wanted to mess with China and India. It was only when the British learned about how easy it was to divide the Indians that theyunched an all-out campaign against India.


    After the pleasantries, he learned that the merchant''s name was Thomas Costa, a member of a noble family.


    Later, he obtained another important piece of information: Portugal wanted to make peace with Vijayanagara and was ready to sign the peace agreement. This was somewhat surprising, considering Portugal was the first Western power that discovered the sea route to India with the help of the Portuguese Explorer Vasco da Gama. The rtions between the two countries had not been good, as Portugal had tried to annex Goa. Fortunately, in this timeline, a war was fought, and Goa was taken back.


    Since then, there has been no contact between the two countries. Now, the other party was asking for a peace agreement, which surprised Vijay. However, upon further thought, it made sense because, ording to his knowledge, Portugal was now in a delicate state, and the wealth India possessed could bring significant assistance. Considering this, Vijay agreed to a peace agreement between the two countries for five years. He also negotiated a trade agreement with the Portuguese for the export of spices, silk, clothing, and some speciality products.


    Anticipating the uing threat from the Mughal Empire, Vijay decisively requested artillery. Thomas was taken aback by the request, but having spent a significant amount of time in India, he was well-informed about the current war situation. After some consideration, he agreed, remembering how his Majesty Alphonso had instructed him toplete the deal, even if the price paid was slightly more than expected.


    After the continuous war between the Mughal Empire and the Vijayanagara Empire, there were no moves made by both parties, as if they were preparing their final cards. Vijay ordered the production of more standard cannons, giant cannons, and muskets, and ced an order for ten 52-pound Culverin cannons from the Portuguese, which were promised to be delivered in just a month. He was surprised by such a fast delivery speed, but apparently, King Alphonso was also getting ready for something. Fortunately, after upying Maharashtra, Vijay plundered all the Mughal nobles, making him a lot of money.


    It is now the 11th month since the battle between the two empires started. Both empires went into full preparation mode. However, something unexpected happened in the Vijayanagar Empire. Goa, a ce upied by the Portuguese for a few decades until it was won back in battle, proved difficult to manage. The policies stipted in the capital were challenging to implement in the region. Moreover, Vijay had discovered some suspicious organization pulling the strings in Goa. He nned to deal with this issue after ending the battle with the Mughal Empire.


    To his surprise, the puppeteer who seemed to have been controlling the situation in Goa suddenly vanished, making it much easier for the influence of the Vijayanagara government to reach Goa. Additionally, many separatist forces were apprehended, improving public safety. Remembering the goodwill shown by the Portuguese towards Vijayanagara a few days ago, Vijay couldn''t help but guess at the connection between these two events.


    Now At the end of the 11th month, since the battles started, the whole of Chhattisgarh entered an eerie calm. Yogendra Singh, the only general in Chhattisgarh, also felt the weird atmosphere. Vijay quickly informed him to strengthen the defence line of Ratanpur, knowing that the decisive battle would take ce there.

 Chapter 125: The Last Battle Part: 1

    <h4>Chapter 125: The Last Battle Part: 1</h4>


    It is a clear sunny morning on the 12th month since the battle started. If it were any other time, it would have been perfect weather for an outing. Unfortunately, we are in the midst of a war between Vijayanagar and the Mughal Empire that is about to erupt at any moment.


    For the past month, supplies from Vijayanagara had been pouring into the Ratanpur fort from the nearby stronghold Nagpur and even from the Paradip port towards the East. Tonnes of cement had been used to fortify the city wall made up of stone.


    Before theplete upation of the Ratanpur fort, the southern end of Chhattisgarh had been in chaos for a long time. Due to the tight defences of the newly captured Maharashtra and Odisha, the Mughal Empire did not have the chance to take advantage of any opportunities. Chhattisgarh was the only ce that was not heavily fortified, and there were still many loopholes in the defences. General Yogendra Singh could only maintain his influence around the region of Ratanpur fort. Moreover, with the increase of Mughal personnel in the area, it became even more difficult to control the situation in Chhattisgarh.


    Taking advantage of the situation where the strongholds of Vijayanagara were surrounding the southern end of Chhattisgarh, Vijay had the Rangers act in squads to eliminate the enemy soldiers south of Ratanpur fort. Chhattisgarh formed two pr opposite camps, with the south of Ratanpur fort upied by the Vijayanagara Empire and the north upied by the Mughal Empire.


    Five hundred standard cannons, including a hundred newly manufactured 20 KG calibre cannons, poured into the Ratanpur fort. Among this artillery, there was even arger piece ¨C a cannon that almost equalled a modern-day car in length. It was none other than the 10 Culverin Cannon he had procured from the Portuguese.


    Beforehand, Vijay had inspected this cannon, which left him very satisfied. The cannon had remarkable specifications, representing the pinnacle of this era''s artillery technology. It was a 52-pound or a 24 kg calibre cannon, mainly used for siege battles or tower defence.


    The barrel measured approximately 10 inches in size, and the length of the barrel, considered long even among its counterparts, stretched around 12 feet. Crafted from a cast iron alloy, it was reinforced to endure the tremendous pressure generated during firing. The cannon''s weight stood at approximately 3500 kilograms or 3.8 tons, requiring a couple of medium-sized elephants to tow it.


    The solid iron shot projectiles, each weighing approximately 23 kilograms, had an enormous range of 800 yards or 2400 feet. The cannon''s built carriage facilitated mobility on the battlefield, and its reinforced design helped absorb the powerful recoil generated upon firing.


    Vijay couldn''t help but get excited thinking about the surprise this would bring to the Mughal Empire.


    Vijay was not a devoted Hindu in his previous life, but for some reason, performing all the rituals brought him peace. Knowing that the battle was near, he had the Ashvamedha ritual done, he felt the experience was a novel one. On the horizon, scouts of the Vijayanagara Empire on the watchtower spotted a lion g with a green background, indicating the Mughal Empire army''s arrival. Momentster, an entire army formed of heavy and light infantry, siege weaponry, cannons, and archers could be seen marching in a neat formation. Vijay could tell that this was a well-trained army, and counting the number of people, he concluded that there were at least a hundred thousand soldiers in this army.


    This was not good, as the Ratanpur fort only contained 50,000 soldiers. Among them, only 25,000 had guns, with 15,000 being muskets and 10,000 being flintlocks. Originally allocated with 15,000 soldiers, due to the need to capture the fort quickly, there were 4,000 casualties. The increasing death toll made Vijay numb, and even in the face of Kiran Pujari''s mistake, he realized he couldn''t have done any better.


    The remaining 11,000 soldiers, along with experienced veterans from other strongholds, were transferred to the main battlefield. Their ces were filled by new recruits from the Vijayanagara Empire. All veterans who had performed well in previous battles were transported to Ratanpur Fort, as this was thest battle against the Mughal Empire for now.


    As Vijay observed the various weapons and artillery of the Mughals, he contemted methods to defeat them with the least possible cost but couldn''te up with a solid n. He decided to discuss it with Logananda, the oldest and most experiencedmander in the Vijayanagara Empire, who oversaw the nning and battle strategy.


    Standing on the city wall, Logananda observed the approaching Mughal army. Looking for the decorated carriage at the back of the formation, he felt disappointed not to see the old minister of war, whom he considered a useless buffoon. However, now that he saw Muhammad with a young man leading the army, he felt a sense of disappointment.


    Slowly, a separate group arrived near the fourth wall of Ratnapur Fort. Vijay had guessed it was a messenger group, and his suspicions were confirmed as he observed the messenger carrying a white g on his shoulder, symbolizing peace. The messenger took out a parchment and began to read.


    "This is a final warning from the ruler of India and the Emperor of the Great Mughal Empire. Listen, O King of Vijaynagara. You have overstepped your bounds andunched an unholy and despicable war against the Great Mughal Empire. But my Lord is kind, so he gives you a final chance. Quickly evacuate the regions that you have captured unjustifiably and pay apensation of 20 tons of gold, and 50 tonnes of silver, along with the tworge battleships under your control. Then our great majesty will pardon your offence and end this battle right here and now."


    After reading the letter, the messenger waited for Vijay''s response. As he took in the absurd conditions, Vijay''s eyes grew icy, radiating a bone-chilling intensity. Despite the provocation, he opted not to sumb to emotional outbursts and simply uttered two words, "Go Away !"

 Chapter 126: The Last Battle Part: 2

    <h4>Chapter 126: The Last Battle Part: 2</h4>


    After the messenger departed, Vijay found himself in a foul mood. He understood that once the messenger returned to the enemy camp, the battle wouldmence. Vijay, possessing only partial knowledge of militarymand, did not insist on taking control of the battle. Instead, he entrusted the leadership to the Old Man, Martial Logananda Senapati. Given Logananda''s extensive experience in numerous wars, Vijay chose not to interfere with his decisions. Logananda, ustomed to being amander, epted the responsibility without hesitation. Seated there, he scrutinized the mapid out in front of him.


    He had spent the entire morning studying the diverse terrains, formting strategies for an optimal attack. This war presented a stark contrast to every other battle he hadmanded in the past. During those times, there were no weapons of mass destruction like the ones at his disposal now, especially with a firepower range exceeding 800 meters. Consequently, he had to devise new tactics on the fly. However, while scrutinizing the map, he observed something peculiar that he could leverage. Tapping a particr spot several times, A smile appeared on his face.


    In the Mughal camp, Mohammed, listening to the messenger, nodded his head in eptance, as he was not surprised by the oue. If he were in Vijay''s ce, he would have taken the head of the messenger. He was a little surprised that the messenger came back in one piece.


    "Sigh."


    He ordered the artillery meant to move the new giant cannons in position to breach the city wall. The cannons, which were newly manufactured, were pulled into their ces, and the elevation was adjusted for an optimal breaching angle.


    "Boom, boom, boom."


    Following salvos of 10 cannons at a time, they fired for a total of 5 rounds, nning to repeat the same action in the next movement. Cannonballs hit therge city wall in front of them. The impact surprised Mohammad because the city wall was not as damaged as he had hoped. It only had a few spider-like cracks in the ce that was hit. Maybe a few more rounds in the same ce would put a hole in the wall. Unfortunately, the cannons were not urate enough to pinpoint a target with feet in uracy from 500 meters away. Now, he noticed that there was something wrong with this wall. At first, he had thought it was nothing but a paint job. Now it looked like he was wrong. His eyelids jumped in a curious expression, and he grew increasingly more curious and greedy about the secrets of Vijayanagara.


    Yogananda was not to be outdone; he promptly ordered the salvo to be fired. The 50 cannons of Vijayanagara positioned on the city wall roared in batches. However, these cannons were strategically aimed at the artillery of the Mughal Empire, specifically targeting the new Mughal cannons. While facing some disadvantages in terms of quality and uracy, the Vijayanagara cannons demonstrated an even match in power.


    Both sides relentlessly bombarded each other, the assault causing the cracks in the wall to widen with each passing moment. The Mughal artillery, despite its formidable presence, did not escape unscathed, as a batch of cannons erupted in mes upon being struck. Unfortunately, the Vijayanagara cannons faced a significant challenge with a dismally low hit ratio each time they managed tond a shot. Consequently, a notable gallery of the Vijayanagara Empire was set aze, adding a chaoticyer to the already intense battlefield.


    This went on for a few more rounds until a small breach was made in the wall.


    The Vijayanagara cannons heated up first, rendering them unusable for at least half an hour. Later on, the Mughal cannons were also rendered unusable due to the heat generated by continuous firing.


    Observing that both sides were now left unarmed, the Mughals seized the opportunity to advance. However, their formation was peculiarly spread out across arge area. Iqbal, the new Minister of War, recognized that the Vijayanagara Empire still possessed regr cannons. Considering that Vijayanagara had mastered the technology before the Mughals, it was likely they had more cannons. In an effort to mitigate the impact of the cannons, Iqbal decided on a strategic move to reduce their effectiveness.


    As the formation pressed forward, the Mughals brought their own cannons into y. A horse-drawn cart was employed to pull their newly improved general cannon, boasting a 10 kg calibre. With the range of both cannons being simr, the fireworks resumed once they entered the 100-meter range. The sheer number of cannons on both sides intensified the warfare, creating a spectacle of explosive chaos.


    "Ahhhh!"


    A soldier on the wall got hit by a cannonball and flew right over the wall. Cannonballs flew everywhere, causing total chaos. Screams and shouts echoed throughout the battlefield as casualties on both sides stacked up. The probability of a cannonball destroying a whole group was very low, as they were not explosive, but the sheer number of cannons used on both sides made it hard for anyone to predict the oue of this shootout.


    Both sides aimed their cannons at each other, intending to get rid of the artillery. The air was covered by ck smoke, dust, and splinters from the broken carriages and the dust from the tall concrete wall. It looked like chaos, reminiscent of a battle right out of a video game.


    As the Mughal army advanced, they soon entered the range of the flintlocks. Ramaiah, who had been waiting with bated breath,manded, "Fire." The salvo erupted once more, with gunmen discharging their shots and swiftly retreating to the rear of the second row to reload and repeat the process.


    On the Mughal side, casualties suddenly increased. Although they had more people, they couldn''t withstand the relentless barrage from Vijayanagara''s weapons. Iqbal had already read about this new weapon of Vijayanagara, so he quickly signalled his g bearer to send the signal to the frontline of the battlefield.


    After catching the signal from theirmander, the formation underwent aplete transformation. The infantry, initially equipped with shields before the battle, raised the shields above their heads to intercept the relentless barrage from Vijayanagara. Although this tactic couldn''t entirely ward off the thousands of bullets flying at once, casualties were reduced by at least 50%. However, as they advanced into the range of the muskets, casualties spiked once more.


    The muskets proved more suitable for the asion. Despite theirck of uracy, their firepower surpassed that of the flintlocks. In the rtively dense target, it didn''t matter where the bullet went; as long as it was fired in a general direction, it was likely to hit, resulting in another increase in casualties for the Mughal forces.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 127: The Last Battle Part: 3 (Vol 2 End)

    <h4>Chapter 127: The Last Battle Part: 3 (Vol 2 End)</h4>


    As the battle raged on, enemy troops steadily advanced toward the city wall. The infantry at the forefront began to feel a sense of relief, anticipating an end to their suffering. "Gulug," sweat trickled down their faces as they felt their goal getting closer, just within their grasp. However, their hopes were abruptly shattered.


    Observing the Mughal soldiers nearing the wall, Ramaiah Senapati issued amand, "Grenade team,unch!" The grenadiers hurled frag grenades into the approaching army, resulting in a series of explosions. "Boom, boom, boom." The potato-sized objects soared onto the crowd, causing numerous sts throughout the area. Those directly impacted by the grenades were propelled meters away, their bodies blown to pieces, and even those who managed to evade the direct st weren''t spared. The shrapnel within the grenades exploded in various directions, causing injuries, and in severe cases, instant death.


    The already precarious situation for the Mughal army became even more challenging as they reached mere meters away from the base of the wall. "Is he going to die just like this?" a soldier on the frontline thought, unable to shake off his dread and the fear of his imminent demise.


    However, the next moment brought a glimmer of hope to him and hisrades. Theirrge cannon, which had ceased firing due to overheating, recovered, and the bombardment resumed. To avoid harming their own forces, Iqbal directed the cannon to target the topmost part of the city wall, not to breach it, but to eliminate the artillery on the wall and to distract the soldiers on it.


    "Boom, boom, boom."


    The strategic movepletely shifted the tides of the battle. Ramaiya''s attention soon fell on the remaining cannons of the Mughal Empire. Unfortunately, Ramaiya Senapati felt defenceless, as their cannons had yet to recover and were still too hot to be used safely. He had perused the technical documents rted to the giant cannon the other day, which exined that continuous strain could lead to the cannon exploding without the need for enemy intervention.


    Feeling helpless, Ramaiya looked sideways towards the direction of his father, Logananda Senapati, to see his reaction. However, Logananda, unusually calm, was trotting around as if he was waiting for something. From the back of the Mughal Empire, towards the northern hills, there was a glimmering arrow that could be weakly seen from their vantage point.


    Seeing this scene, Logananda smiled, knowing that his n was about to bepleted. He took a specially prepared arrow, lit it with a certain colour of me, and then fired it.


    In the Mughal camp, the moment the arrow was fired from the enemy fort, both Muhammad and Iqbal knew that something was not right. Iqbal quickly turned to look around, and as he looked in one direction and then another, at the corner of his eye, he could barely catch a glimmering object toward the northern hills. He rubbed his eyes to confirm his suspicion. Seeing the ming object, which looked like an arrow, disappear on the horizon, he quickly ordered his brigade to form a defensive formation around his majesty Muhammad and retreated. The soldiers on the frontline did not know why theirmander had left the battlefield, but soon they got the answer they were dreading. It would have been better if they had never known it.


    "His Majesty abandoned us," the soldier at the rear of the army said to himself sadly as he slowly came to the realization.


    "Boom boom boom"


    The echoes of explosions resonated from the hills in the north. The sts of this cannon were distinct, louder and deeper sounds than any cannon they had heard before, just like a giant beast waking up from its slumber. It sounded visceral. "Swish!" The cannonball, a sizerger than their own, arrived in a split second. The shots were targeted at the artillery positioned at the rear of the Mughal Empire army. Despite thepromised uracy at such a considerable distance, the cannon was faced in a way that, from its vantage point, all the cannons were clearly visible. "Bang!" The cannonball hit one cannon and bounced out to hit another one. This simultaneous impact took out several pieces of artillery at once.


    Soldiers attempted to rescue the cannons, but amidst the explosions on the battlefield, the chaos prevented horses froming anywhere close. With the Mughal Empire''s artillerypromised, Marshal Yogananda swiftly ordered the cavalry to charge. Now that the artillery was down, the side door of the city wall swung open, allowing the 10,000 cavalrymen to charge.


    With their pikes pointed perpendicr to them, the cavalry charged at high speeds in a uniform manner, resembling a massive train hurtling towards a vicious collision. The cavalry mowed through the disoriented enemy forces, trampling them like bugs under the relentless charge. Even the artillery seemed feeble for a moment as bones broke beneath the hooves of the horses. "Crack....!" Despair hung thick in the atmosphere.


    After just a few rounds of charging, the remaining soldiers'' mental defences crumbled. Faced with no prospect of victory or retreat, the enemy soldiers collectively dropped to their knees, raising their hands and relinquishing their weapons. It was a captivating sight as thousands of enemy soldiers knelt in blood, hoisting a white g in surrender. Witnessing this unexpected turn, the soldiers of Vijayanagara were momentarily entranced by the scene unfolding before them.


    "Yess, aaaaaahhhh !"


    Cheers broke out throughout the battlefield. The war thatsted for a year was finally over, and they had emerged victorious.


    Vijay screamed at the top of his lungs, pushing his fist towards the air, releasing all his frustration from the past year. He had suffered a lot¡ªsleepless nights, multiple assassination attempts, and most of all, missing his wife.


    No longer able to contain his joy, Vijay quickly took Marshal Logananda''s hands and congratted him heartily.


    It was Logananda''s contribution that saved the battle at thest moment. Logananda, upon hearing the king''s congrattions, smiled a little. "Thank you, Your Highness, but we still let the king of the Mughal Empire and his general slip away. I am sure they will not let this matter go so simply."


    "Don''t worry, Marshal. They have lost a hole chunk of their empire. Moreover, their casualties are greater than ours. It will take at least five years for Muhammad to recover from these losses, and by that time, we will also be ready."


    Listening to this, Yogendra nodded in agreement.


    That night, a celebratory banquet was held tomemorate their hard-fought victory. The elephants, which had been sent out in the morning before the battle began, returned to the camp alongside the disassembled cannons.


    Logananda noticed a hill at the northern end of the battlefield and formted an idea. Considering that the newly procured cannons boasted longer range, uracy, and powerpared to the conventional ones they used, he envisioned using them for long-range sniping from the hill, which was 700 meters away. The challenge at that time was the uneven terrain, hindering the carriages from being pulled. Consequently, the decision was made to disassemble the cannons into parts and transport them using a group of elephants.


    Two elephants carried the barrel of the cannon at a time, with a rope tied to both ends of the barrel and ced on both elephants in a linear line. This method facilitated the crossing of the challenging forest terrain, ensuring the cannons reached their strategic position atop the hill. An engineering corps was also dispatched along with rangers to clear out any scouting party of the Mughal Empire, allowing the cannon to be assembled on the spot on the northern hills.


    Fortunately, it all worked out for the better.


    Within two years, Vijayanagara had sessfully acquired four new territories: Sri Lanka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. This aplishment marked a significant boost in strength for the Vijayanagara Empire. However, before capitalizing on this sess, the empire will need a period of reorganization and the assimtion of its newfound spoils in the uing years.


    ---------------------------------End of Volume 2---------------------------------

 Chapter 128: P.S Authors Notes

    <h4>Chapter 128: P.S Authors Notes</h4>


    Hi, where do I start? For starters, hello everyone, my name is Mithun Reddy. Yes, you have already guessed correctly, I suppose. I stay in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, and I am pursuing my bachelor''s in AI Engineering. The reason for me to write this novel? Honestly, I attribute this credit to my Head of Department (HOD).


    Long story short, my HOD is the type of teacher who conducts sses very strictly. However, most of the time, I find myself getting very sleepy. I''ve even been caught napping many times. Oh, and he also has the habit of letting his students take notes. So, being a clever ghost, I thought, why not write a novel? At least that way, I won''t get sleepy. And that''s how it all started.


    One of the main reasons and a significant push for me to start writing novels is my HOD. He is the reason I began this journey. Another reason is my obsession with reading web novels, original English novels, and Japanese novels. As I delved deeper into this obsession, I found that I liked a particr genre the most¡ªChinese foreign history novels, like the New Holy Roman Empire, the Romanian Eagle, the Bulgarian Empire, and so on. However, I ran out of novels to read, so I started exploring Chinese history novels, such as the Revival of the Ming Dynasty. But I often found myself getting upset with Chinese authors who let their characters just steal India''s Wealth or made multiple racist remarks about India. In multiple novels, the MC (main character) would still find the Padmanabhaswamy Temple gold in India, which really frustrated me.


    This frustration became one of the reasons for me to continue writing this novel. While I am not proficient in English speaking, I manage well when reading or forming sentences. Initially, I started with the alternative history and kingdom-building genre because it''s the genre I like the most. However, as I progressed, I realized the immense amount of research needed for such novels, and unfortunately, time is something I sorelyck.


    I write novels in an unusual way¡ªI''m not aware of anyone else doing it like me. Both in reading and writing the novel, I always utilize text-to-speech. I listen to the novel, and it has be a crucial aspect for me in determining how a good novel should sound. Therefore, the way I write the novel involves narrating it using Google speech-to-text. I then put that generated text into the GPT engine to correct any grammatical errors and polish the chapter a little bit. This entire process takes at least two hours, which is why I only upload one chapter a day. Additionally, I am more productive when I am at college. During holidays or when my family needs assistance on our farm, I won''t be as free, and that''s one of the reasons you might not see me uploading a novel¡ªI could be at the farm helping out.


    In the beginning, I was quite ignorant of history. One notable example is that I wasn''t even aware that the concept of Bharat (India) existed before the arrival of the British, Portuguese, Dutch, and Imic colonizers. Many elements mentioned in this novel were based on minimal research and my own worldview, which Iter discovered was wed. The reason behind my skewed perspective is unclear to me, but the foundation of the story has already beenid. So, if you happen to notice any historical inuracies, please consider them as influenced by a parallel Earth.


    As I mentioned, I''m very new to novel writing and didn''t even create an outline for this novel. I just wrote off the top of my head. Consequently, I forgot many characters at the beginning of the novel. So, if you notice characters not reappearing, now you know the reason. However, starting from the next volume, you''ll see more characters reappearing as I''ve begun outlining the novel and creating character sheets for all my characters.


    Thank you for reading the book thus far. I contracted with the tform when it reached 100 chapters, but I waited until the end of the second volume to enable premium chapters. If you''re someone on the other side of the screen reading the novel through other channels, I won''t mind, as I''ve done the same thing. However, if you can easily afford the money and you do like the novel so far, and would like to follow Vijay''s story, please feel free to subscribe to my premium chapters. I''m unsure about the pricing on this website, but if possible, I will enable the lowest price.


    Thank you.


    Mithun Reddy

 Chapter 129 The Cleansing of Separatist Forces.(Vol 3: New Age)

    129 The Cleansing of Separatist Forces.(Vol 3: New Age)


    Vijay, in the fort of Cuttack, was overseeing the new reports. After the war, he did not immediately leave the newly upied territories because he wanted to oversee the smooth integration of thisnd with the Vijayanagara Empire. ording to his orders, the fortifications like walls and blocked-off main roads are being disassembled, except for the main military Forts, which he left untouched as it could be an important military base in the future or transform into tourist attractions, simr to scenes in European countries.


    Although he is very certain that the Mughal Empire would not attack them in such a sensitive time after their losses, he could never be too careful. So, he decided to quickly construct the line of defence along the northern borders of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.


    The more pressing issue lies in the inadequate social security prevalent in certain areas, where sporadic conflicts erupt between locals and Imic forces. During the Mughal Empire''s rule in this region, Hindus, Sikhs, and others faced severe suppression. Now, in the absence of imperial authority, there is no one to curb the people''s actions. The previously oppressed people, finding no restraint, have spontaneously initiated attacks on their local nobles, primarily affecting the Muslim poption. Vijay knew all this was happening, but he chose to remain silent, at least for a short while, as he did not want to deal with these localndlords himself. That would also help him in implementing the policies of Vijayanagara, which are quite harmful to thendlord ss to say the least.


    But as time went on, some leaders among these riots became a little greedy. They made a lot of money by raiding the localndlords, so greed took over them, and they started to steal and rob. Some of them even started to publicize the establishment of their own kingdom.


    "Alright, that should be enough," considering the pig has been fattened enough by eating all the nutrients, Vijay decided to chop its head off before it grows nails and teeth. Vijay ordered the previous Rebel leader, who had been operating in the southern Mughal Empire, to assist the army in exterminating all the separatist forces. Aditya, who was quite low-key after the Mughal Empire cracked down on the organization they were running, quickly became active after Vijayanagaraunched a war on the Mughal Empire. As the war wasunched in the area of his own jurisdiction, he contacted his colleagues and helped Vijayanagara quite a bit.


    In Pune,


    "Down, down Mughal, down, down Vijayanagara."


    "Long live Maharashtra Kingdom."


    "Establishment of a Maharashtra Kingdom."


    There was a rally going on in the streets of Pune, incited by the goons who emerged after the Mughal Empire''s influence left the state of Maharashtra. As soon as the Mughal Empire departed, these goons sprung into action, eliminating most of the Imic forces in their area, which made them richer than they could ever imagine. Out of greed, they decided to form a council and fight against the Vijayanagar Empire, establishing their own kingdom with the help of the people. Surprisingly, a lot ofmon people also agreed with the ideology.


    This was because these people had been ruled for decades, and they had no voice, no matter which force or kingdom took over the power. They couldn''t imagine their lives being different if the Vijayanagar Empire took over. Unfortunately, themon people did not know the policies and variousws in Vijayanagara. If they had known, they would have never been deceived by the separatist forces. Unfortunately, the separatist forces, who actually knew the situation, didn''t want the people to know. So, they ignored these details and continued to incite the masses.


    "Hey, what are you doing? Stop!" N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Ahh!"


    Suddenly, their march was abruptly stopped with the arrival of soldiers from the Vijayanagar Empire. As soon as the soldiers in a neat formation arrived, they carried a riot shield in one hand and a baton in the other, starting to bring things under control.


    A person who was two blocks away, watching this scene, got annoyed as he roared into a dark room with a group of people sitting in it. "How the hell did they know about our actions? Who told them the location of our activities?" He said with bloodshot eyes. The people present were aplices of this man who believed in the same ideology of an Independent Maharashtra Kingdom. Even though they did not know who leaked the news; they turned their heads left and right, suspecting the person beside them to be the culprit.


    "Tell me who the fuc... Bang."


    The leader, still infuriated, uttered a few foul words before the door burst open with great force. There was a hole in the door where the lock was usually ced. They did not know what was going on as it all happened very quickly.


    But soon, two ck objects rolled inside the room the size of potatoes. Everyone in the room was confused about these round objects that rolled inside the room, but one of the people inside the room seemed to have remembered this object being used by the Vijayanagar Empire when he got a glimpse of it during their attack on Pune.


    He could still remember the event like it happened yesterday. It was early in the morning when the sounds started in Pune. The Vijayanagara army covered every street and corner, searching for the Mughal soldiers, killing them one by one mercilessly. He was out that day, selling the milk he had just milked from his cow, but on the way, a few Mughal soldiers, with a horrified expressions, ran in front of him into an alleyway as if they were escaping from someone. He was startled at first by the sudden movement, but then the Vijayanagara soldiers soon came after, surrounded the alleyway, and threw the same round objects into the alley. A deafening sound soon rang out.


    "All clear."


    That''s the sound he heard from the Vijayanagara soldier who went into the alleyway to inspect after the sting.


    Originally, he did not want to join the separatist movement, but something happened that made him join. After the incident in the morning, he was questioned for a bit and set free. So, he went on his way to return home. When he got back home, he saw a Vijayanagara soldier running away from inside his house. He got scared, and when he went inside the house, his world copsed as he stumbled to the ground because he could see his 14-year-old daughter had been ruined. The bed was bloody, and there were choke marks on her delicate neck.


    "Ahhhhhh," he cried his heart out that day, nting the hatred of Vijayanagara deep inside his heart.


    He came back to his senses as he quickly sprinted towards the window trying to escape. But he took too long as both the frags exploded.


    "Boom, boom."


    Although he was the first to act, he was unlucky as a fragment still managed to pierce his neck, leaving him unable to draw his breath. He could feel that his life force was getting weaker and weaker. At that moment, all he felt was guilt that he could not save his daughter. Soon, he passed away as his eyes closed with a tear drop running down his cheek.


    Right after the st, a person stepped into the room. It was a soldier dressed in ck attire with a Vijayanagara badge on his chest. As he came in, he inspected the dead bodies to make sure they were dead and yelled, "All clear." As he left the room, he met up with another soldier who was keeping watch.


    The soldiers were none other than Dinesh Reddy and his friend Darshan. Dinesh Reddy was the orphan refugee boy from Ande pally vige who was conscripted in the first army recruitment campaign, and Darshan was the friend who got recruited with him. Due to both their excellent performance on the field and an excellent understanding among themselves, they were promoted to the special operations department dedicated to handling tasks such as the one they are now performing, which is to eliminate all the separatist leaders in the new territory. As for the father they killed, who wanted revenge, they did not know anything about his story or details. So, with a clear conscience, they went on to fulfil their duties.


    Simr to them, multiple such squads operated in the area. With the help of Aditya, new information about the location of the riots was obtained in a very short time. The people who were instigated were not injured but were brought under control and tied up until the matter was settled. As for the numerous instigators from the separatist organizations, special squads like that of Dinesh Reddy were dispatched to deal with them. In a matter of two days, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh fully came under the military control of Vijayanagara.


    Vijay, who was looking over the details, was not happy because every moment the army stayed hear, it was burning money as the economy in all the new territories came to a standstill. Soon, he ordered for the policies of Vijayanagara to be implemented in the new territories.

 Chapter 130 Integration

    130 Integration


    Wardha vige


    This small vige is an isted vige that is 80 km on the outskirts of Nagpur in Maharashtra.


    The vigers, being isted from the urban environment, led very simple daily lives. Because they were so isted, no Mughal officer chose to stay in the vige. This turned out to be very fortunate for the vigers as they did not have to suffer like many other viges and towns that had better transportation and were more open to the outside world. Once a month, a tax collector woulde and collect taxes from the panchayat.


    However, everything changed since the war started. They have been charged exorbitant prices, and their cattle and sheep were confiscated by the lords as war tax. The elder in the vige, Nagappa, who managed the daily affairs of the vige, went out to the nearest Town to see if he could petition against the Mughal officer. But to his surprise, there was a war going on in the surrounding areas. Feeling unlucky, he quietly went back to the vige and informed everyone not to leave the vige and to convey the same message to their rtives and friends.


    Living like this was hard as the supplies they had were getting less and less. Their vige also specialized in farming, but for the past few months, because of the confiscation of their cattle and sheep, they were not able to plough thend. Fortunately,st year''s yield was abundant and No Mughal officer came to collect the Grain tax, allowing everyone to have at least one meal a day.


    Nagappa, rmed by the dwindling grain reserves in storage and concerned about the future, feltpelled to venture outside the vige to assess the situation. However, halfway through, fear took hold, prompting him to halt his exploration. Like any other day, Nagappamenced his morning by waking up, offering prayers at the mandir for good fortune, and heading to the panchayat to address the pressing food situation. As he embarked on the path to the panchayat, he met with a strange guest.


    A tall and burly man, d in a full brown outfit with athi (Bhatan) in hand and a bag hanging on his back, caught Nagappa''s attention. Swiftly assuming that a high-ranking officer had arrived in the vige, Nagappa trotted forward and respectfully bowed, greeting, "This lord, what can this old man do for you, sir?" Satish, the recently appointed police officer of Wardha vige, raised his eyebrows in surprise. Such deferential treatment was unfamiliar to him, a phenomenon he had observed consistently since leaving the police academy, particrly in the Mughal-upied areas, where people seemed unusually wary of officials.


    Putting away his thoughts, Satish hid his expression as he patted the old man''s back with a loud *Thud*. "Haha, old man, you don''t have to call me all those long names. You can just call me Satish; we are going to work in the same vige for a long time after all."


    The old man, who was badly beaten by this brute, bent down lightly due to the force exerted by the young man. But upon hearing that they were going to work together, he got confused and asked, "What do you mean, your high... ah, Satish?"


    Satish nodded his head, appreciating the change of the title. "I don''t think your vige knows this, but the war has been over for over a week, and it was Vijayanagar who won the war. Now, you are all the citizens of the Vijayanagara Empire." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Ah, is that so? Good, good. The Mughal officers used to suck our vige dry of all our hard-earned money every month. Even for the purpose of war, they confiscated all our cattle and sheep too," the old man said in hatred as he pped his hands. But soon remembering something, he proceeded to ask another question in a low voice. "Ah, sir, Sa Satish, does that mean we will not be taxed so highly under the new king?"


    "I don''t know about this. I am just a police officer, but what I can say is it will be at least more fair than the taxes you paid to the Mughal Empire."


    The old man, listening to the reply, was happy, Finally getting a benevolent king. Butter, he asked another of his doubts, "Satish, can you tell me what this police officer is?"


    "A police officer is a person responsible for maintaining public security in a town or arger vige."


    "Oh, I get it, I get it. It is like the job we old men do. We usually go around the vige, and if any young people are causing trouble, we scold them."


    Satish, hearing the old man''s understanding, did not know whether tough or cry, but he did not correct the old man.


    "Old man, is there any house or building in this vige suitable to be my residence?"


    The old man, hearing the question, went into thought. But soon his eyes lit up, as he answered, "There is one. This house is at the southernmost end of our vige. It is pretty run-down, and nobody lives there. I will call some vigers to help, and by evening, we should be able to repair the house."


    Satish nodded, joining his hands with a namaskara in appreciation. With the help of the vigers, his new home was settled, and finally, in the vige centre, a police station was designated to be built. His superiors gave him the task of establishing this police station and provided a budget. Using the money the boss gave, he hired vigers to build a police station. He has To say, that the people were very efficient, in just two days, the police station was built.


    His Next task, was to recruit a few people to train them as constables, this was the order given by his superiors. They needed to take in some personnel inside the police department as there were not enough people to assign each officer their own constables. So, they had to recruit them locally, which could also help prevent crime in the local area, as the people in the local area would be a lot more familiar with the terrain.


    But to his surprise, it was met with opposition. And so, he went to Nagappa to ask for the reason, "Naga, the people are not allowing me to recruit some young people into the office. You know this is such a good thing; if they perform well, I have the right to send them to the nearest police academy. If they perform well there, they could be promoted to a police officer like me and get a sry from the government."


    Nagappa, who was bombarded by the loud Satish, did not even understand thest part as he quickly replied, "Sir Satish, it is not that we oppose your idea, but as you can see, there are no cattle in the vige, so the young people are very important as they are the main force fornd ploughing. Now, if you take even a few of them, it will be a huge loss for the already strained grain reserves."


    The old man said, and Satish''s doubts were cleared up as he soon understood the ins and outs of the matter. But he is just a police officer; what could he do? He couldn''t just ask the head office to send some cows hear now, could he?


    Fortunately for him, in theing days, his troubles were solved. A recruitment order was sent to the vige from the Ministry of Transportation. He was the one who read the notice as he was pretty well-versed in the Vijayanagaraw.


    "This letter is written by the deputy director of the Ministry of Transportation, Aarya. ording to this letter, the department has decided to build a highway road from Nagpur to Indirapuri (Nizamabad), and Wardha vige is right in the path of this highway road. So, the department ordered for the interested men in the vige to join the road construction work, and each able-bodied man would get 15 kilograms of grain per month."


    Naga and the other vigers looked at each other as they could not understand some terms in the notice, but they could still pick out a few words like ''work'' and ''15 kg grain''.


    Witnessing the confusion on their faces, Satish delved into a detailed exnation, unravelling the intricacies of the notice. Once the true meaning became clear, many parents encouraged their youngsters to enlist for the road construction job. The relieved youths, excused from the initial toil of ploughing thend, embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm. The notice assured them a payment of 15 kilograms of grain, a generous provision sufficient for a family of three to sustain themselves.


    Satish''s doubts were also cleared as he finally understood why he was sent to the remote vige of Wardha. You have to know he is one of the top-ranking students in his ss at the police academy. When he was first sent to this remote vige, he was pretty upset, thinking that he was being stepped on by some higher-ranking official. But looking at this notice, he felt that he was wrong. If the main highway passes through Wardha, then wouldn''t it mean that this vige should soon be a prosperous town? Thinking of this, he also left happily.


    The things that happened in the next few days confirmed his suspicions, as the post office was soon established, along with a primary school. The heads of both the post office and school were only two people, as there was a shortage of manpower across the empire. So only one person each was assigned to take charge of both departments. As for additional help, they could solve it by providing local employment. Throughout the month, many such operations took ce all over the three states. Post offices, police stations, and schools were established for every vige that met the requirements. Even in some towns, the court was established, which was in proximity to arge number of viges.


    In this way, by connecting the systems of the new territories with Vijayanagar, the integration went on smoothly.

 Chapter 131 Vijayanagars First Ever Economic Crisis

    131 Vijayanagar''s First Ever Economic Crisis


    In a private workshop of Vijayanagar, the workers were still using the loom to weave the cloth with diligence.


    This workshop belonged to the Bakshi family. The Bakshi family is a small noble family that moved in from the Punjab area due to persecution from the Mughals. Due to the family patriarch''s contribution to the war that took ce when his father Sri Ranga Deva Raya was the king, he was granted a small noble title.


    Fortunately, even during the nobles'' rebellion, the Bakshi family did not rebel, as there was not much of their interests destroyed by the new reforms. Because of that, they caught up with the good times of Vijayanagara''s economic boom, which happened due to the release of serfs who were tied to thend. A normal person could afford a lot more things as he could keep more of his proceeds. Taking advantage of this wind, they soon became one of the leading cloth workshops in the capital with an abundantbour force, and with the abundent profits generated, they even started to open workshops in various cities around the empire.


    At the main workshop in the capital, a young man dashed into the room located a hundred meters away from the workshop in a hurry. This room functioned as the working/rest quarters for the workshop''s owner.


    Arjhan Bakshi, the son of the Bakshi patriarch, took over the family businesses when the old owner found himself too old to oversee them all. As Arjhan reviewed the profits for the month, he was very content with the oue. At the beginning of the war, the profits weren''t substantial due to the implementation of the military economy. However, thanks to improved manufacturing efficiency, he managed to sell more products, resulting in a considerable increase in profits. The profits were not substantial at the start of the war, but to the delight of all workshop owners in the empire, a savvy merchant named Bhupathi, who used to run a medical concoction business, introduced a new method of manufacturing that blew up in the merchant circle, increasing the efficiency of manufacturing a few times over what they were normally capable of.


    Upon discovering this innovative manufacturing process, Arjhan experienced an immediate surge of inspiration. He swiftly organized a dedicated group of individuals, assigning them specific responsibilities for different parts of the overall dress production. In times of short supply of raw materials, he even procured ready-made cloth from a newly established workshop solely dedicated to the unprocessed cloth production, a recent addition gaining prominence throughout the capital. This workshop supplied cloth to various manufacturers, allowing them to keep prices remarkably low. The cost was so affordable that it became more economical to purchase the cloth for production needs from them rather than manufacturing it in-house. This unintentional development significantly increased manufacturing efficiency manyfold. The current looms in the workshop operate autonomously, Because Arjhan''s father was cautious about relying entirely on other workshops for cloth.


    Arjhan, who was reading the documents, was disturbed by the person who came inside his room in a hurry. He looked at the person who entered with unhappiness, but it was the ountant who entered. He waited in silence for the ountant to exin himself, as he knew he wouldn''t just barge into the office if there was no important matter to inform him. Seeing how the expression of his ountant was not good, he could only guess that it was bad news.


    "Your Highness, the president, it is not good. The orders from the army stoppeding, but we have a boatload of stocks in our warehouse. If we are not able to find a buyer for this stock, we will be in huge financial trouble," the man said with a worried expression.


    Bakshi, upon hearing the news, got up from his seat, shocked when he heard that the army stopped procuring the materials. Although he wanted the military economy to end soon, now that it ended suddenly, what would he do with therge amount of clothes that were produced?


    "This is trouble," he thought to himself as he left the workshop, wanting to discuss this matter with his father.


    It was not only the Bakshi family that encountered this problem. As the efficiency of making products increased a lot, many products were in excess of production. With the military economy ending, this excess production had nowhere to be sold, as the local market was already saturated.


    Rajesh, the minister of trade andmerce, soon received notice of this situation as numerous petitions from workshop owners reached the government department he was responsible for.


    Rajesh was dumbfounded by the reason. He had heard and experienced the crisis of having no food or clothes, but he had never experienced the problem of having so many products that there was no ce to sell. This was the first time ever Vijayanagara had experienced this kind of thing. Feeling that the matter was bigger than he expected, he quickly took a carriage and set off to Odisha where Vijay was residing.


    Back in Odisha, Vijay was looking over the new report that was brought in, which was about the establishment of new schools, police stations, post offices, and courts. He was quite happy with the progress. Soon, he was surprised when his guard informed him of Rajesh''s arrival. Why would the minister of trade andmercee to him at this time? He was confused, but seeing how Rajesh arrived in a hurry, Vijay decided to meet him.


    Rajesh quickly greeted Vijay as he told him the reason for his arrival, "Your Majesty, all the workshops in the capital have the problem of overstocking. They have produced a lot of products which are now in low demand but have a lot of stock. Now the nobles and merchants are moring every day in my office asking for the government to find the solution to this problem."


    Vijay, who heard this news, was momentarily shocked, as he could have never guessed that this war would lead to the first-ever financial crisis of the Vijayanagar Empire. It looked like the production efficiency of various workshops in the Empire had increased more than he had previously thought.


    Thinking about the countermeasures, he soon came up with a solution. Isn''t it just to find someone to buy the excess materials? Isn''t the newly upied territory just for that? So he summoned Arya, the deputy minister of transportation, who was present in Odisha.


    Arya, who was looking over the progress of the highway road construction, got a call from his majesty, so he quickly left his office to meet his majesty. Looking at Rajesh in the room, he was surprised, but he still greeted both Rajesh and Vijay, "Minister, your Majesty," with his head bowed.


    epting the greeting, Vijay wasted no time and got straight to the point. "Arya, I need you to n for four more highway constructions. I want a highway connecting Mumbai Pune to our capital, another linking Cuttack to Visakhapatnam, and one more connecting Raipur to the Nagpur-Indrapuri highway." Arya was momentarily taken aback by the magnitude of the new projects the king was proposing. While he should have been thrilled with the expansion of projects under his department and management, considering that it is a substantial political capital, he couldn''t help but voice his doubts.


    "But your highness, what about the money?"


    Vijay smiled and replied, "Don''t worry about the money. You pay the workers with coupons, and with these coupons, they should be able to buy whatever necessity they want."


    Arya did not understand, but Vijay soon exined, "A coupon would be a special and thicker paper which would have a unique code. A single coupon should be worth about 1 kilogram of grain. The workers working on these road construction projects would be able to exchange these coupons for whatever they need with the military logistics department."


    Thinking about this, he called for Anand, who is in charge of the logistics in the army. Anand soon arrived to be met with the gazes of his majesty, a minister, and a deputy minister. Seeing them all in the same room, he quickly greeted them and asked his majesty for any advice.


    "Anand, I need you to continue procuring all the materials that are currently in oversupply within the empire. Utilize our extensive logistics channels spanning across the three states and establish temporary warehouses in various towns to sell these surplus products."


    "Yes, Your Highness," he said, but he was still confused about all the details. Soon realizing his dilemma, Rajesh quickly exined the full story.


    Rajesh, who was exining to Anand, quickly came to his senses as he remembered something, "But, your highness, the demand for military products among the citizens is very low. The products which we have in oversupply are medical concoctions, clothes, shoes, helmets, leather armour, and other military products. And the most demand in the civilian market right now is grain."


    "Oh, that''s right," Vijay soon came to his senses as he noticed his own blunder. Although Vijayanagara was not short on food, it would be nowhere near enough to solve the food problems of all three states.


    11:41


    "Oh, that''s right," Vijay soon came to his senses as he noticed his own blunder. Although Vijayanagara was not short on food, it would be nowhere near enough to solve the food problems of all three states.


    Thinking about the food problem, he soon got another idea and called for Logananda Senapati toe.


    Logananda, deeply immersed in preparing a report detailing the gains and losses of the war for His Highness, received an unexpected call from the Majesty. Swiftly setting aside his work, he made his way to the Majesty''s office. Upon entering, everyone, except Vijay, greeted him. Vijay reciprocated the greeting, and Logananda nodded to the others, acknowledging their greetings. After all the formalities were concluded, Vijay got straight to the point, saying, "Marshal, I need you to transfer the cattle and grain confiscated from the Mughal nobles to the logistics department."


    "And Arya, even the cattle could be exchanged with the coupons. As for the price of the cattle, you will have to discuss this with the Minister of Trade here," Vijay ordered as he thought in his head, "This should help the three states to be self-sufficient again soon." Logananda, Arya, and Rajesh acknowledged the order, And all three nodded in eptance. However, Logananda was still confused about all the details. Hence, Rajesh exined the ordeal once again.


    Logananda nodded and asked the question again, "But, your Highness, if you are going to construct four more highways at the same time, this amount of grain would not be enough."


    "I know," Vijay said as he looked over to Rajesh and ordered him, "We have a lot of military supplies with us but no demand. So, I need you to negotiate a trade deal with the Portuguese ambassador in the capital. Offer military supplies to them in exchange for grain. Their Brazil colony is a big food-producing asset, and in case they want to buy our muskets, sell those to them too. Don''t worry about technology leakage; they are more advanced than us anyway. By the time the grain from Brazil arrives, the grain we have should be sufficient to pay for the workers, and after the road construction ispleted, we should be self-sufficient again."


    Rajesh, who got the solution he wanted, soon left the room happily, as did the logistics director.


    "So, how is the reporting along?" Vijay asked about the battle report. "It''s halfway done, your highness. Within a few days, the subordinates should be able topile all the details."


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 Chapter 132 Portuguese War Of Restoration

    132 Portuguese War Of Restoration


    Lisbon, Portugal


    Alphonso IV de Braganza was getting ready for his speech in the city center of Lisbon where all his soldiers and nobles were waiting for him. But before that, he had something to make sure of. He walked around in his room, waiting for his knight to bring him the good news. Soon, his retinue knight came into the room, knelt down on his knee, and answered, "Your majesty, the secretary of state is dead, the work is done." Hearing the much-wanted news, he was very happy. That old pig, Miguel de Vasconcelos, was finally dead. He had been an eyesore in his eyes ever since he was appointed as the secretary of state of the Portuguese Kingdom. He was nothing but a pawn ced by that guy Philip IV of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty.


    "Good, good, very good. Finally, we can restore our great kingdom like it was always supposed to be."


    The knight, still worried, asked, "But your majesty, the Habsburgs of the Holy Roman Empire and the Spanish Empire have the same origin. Wouldn''t it be difficult to fight against these two powers?"


    Unfazed by his knight''s concern, Alphonso sneered, responding with a mocking tone, "Sure, they''re both from the same family, so I can understand the Holy Roman Empire supporting Spain due to their familial bond and the Habsburg family alliance. But can they truly support Spain militarily? The Holy Roman Empire just emerged from the ravages of the 30 Years'' War, leaving it in a weakened state. Additionally, a revolt in Catalonia further fractured their stability. With so many internal issues, can they genuinely send troops to the Iberian Penins? It seems they have their hands full, and considering the only thing they can gain from doing this is a better reputation, it''s doubtful that they will act personally."


    He continued, "Hence, now is the right time. The British and the Dutch are duking it out, the Holy Roman Empire is in shambles, and we have the support of the French on our side. If we miss this opportunity, I don''t know when we will get another chance."


    Hearing this, the knight soon understood the king''s thoughts, disying a look of reverence as he prayed wholeheartedly for the sess of their cause.


    Alphonso eventually reached the adorned city centre, embellished with the Portuguese g featuring the Braganza family seal. Here, all the nobles of Portuguese origin gathered in full support of the cause for Portugal''s independence. His soldiers stood attentively before them, eagerly awaiting Alphonso''s speech.


    As Alphonsomenced speaking, his voice resonated loudly and clearly. For those soldiers unable to hear him directly, individuals were strategically ced at intervals, ensuring that Alphonso''s words reached every corner of the gathering.


    "Noble soldiers of Portugal,


    As we stand united in our quest for freedom, let us draw strength from the rich tapestry of our history¡ªa history that speaks of valour, resilience, and the unyielding spirit of the Portuguese people. Today, we embark on a journey to reim our sovereignty, and I am heartened to see the presence of the local nobility, the very pirs of our society, standing shoulder to shoulder with us in this noble cause.


    From the cliffs of the Algarve to the verdant hills of Minho, the history of Portugal is woven with the threads of exploration, maritime prowess, and the indomitable spirit of those who dared to dream. Our forefathers sailed into the unknown, charting new worlds and leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history. We are the descendants of explorers, pioneers who carved a path for future generations.


    Yet, in recent decades, we have found ourselves ensnared in the Iberian Union¡ªa union that was meant to be a partnership of equals but, s, has be a vessel of oppression. The shackles of foreign rule have dimmed the light of our once-flourishing nation. Our noble ancestors, who bequeathed to us a legacy of independence, would surely weep to see the Portugal of today, a Portugal subjugated and silenced.


    But fear not, for the spirit of resistance burns brightly within us. The local nobility, the custodians of our traditions and the stewards of ournds have pledged their support to this noble cause. Their estates, their wealth, and their honour aremitted to the liberation of our homnd. Their presence here today is a testament to the unity of purpose that binds us.


    My fellow countrymen, as we march into the pages of history, let us carry with us the echoes of our ancestors'' courage. Let the stories of Nuno ¨¢lvares Pereira, who defended our soil against foreign invaders, inspire us. Recall the bravery of Henry the Navigator, who set sail to open new horizons for Portugal.


    To our local nobles, whose heraldic crests flutter in the breeze alongside our national g, I extend my deepest gratitude. Yourmitment to this cause echoes the ideals of our ancestors, who valued freedom above all else. Together, let us revive the spirit of the Portuguese people, a spirit that has withstood the test of time.


    Soldiers of Portugal, with the support of our noble allies, let us march forward with unwavering determination. Our swords shall be guided by justice, our hearts fueled by love for our homnd. May this be the dawn of a new era¡ªa restoration that heralds the return of Portugal to its rightful ce among the nations of the world.


    Onward, myrades, for Portugal and for freedom!"


    As soon as the speech ended, cheers broke out among the soldiers and the nobles as they started chanting.


    "For freedom!"


    "For freedom!"


    "For freedom!"


    "For freedom!" N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Looking at the reaction of his subjects, Alphonso was very satisfied with his speech. Soon after, he arranged a banquet for the nobles who were supporting him. Heughed and talked with other nobles who came to greet him, their sses clinking. However, soon his personal knight came to inform him.


    "Your Majesty, Thomas Costa has requested to seek an audience with you. He informed me that there is an important matter to discuss with you."


    His eyebrows raised with this surprising news. "Why would Costae to me?" He found himself confused. Because, It would take at least a month on the fastest ship from Lisbon to Mumbai Port, so if there were no important matter, no one would make frequent trips.


    He was very satisfied with his rtionship with India now. Although he was very envious of the wealth of India, he had no power to take it. Maybe he would consider it in the future, but for now, he was enjoying the preferential trade with India. He had arge quota of spices at a discounted price, which was making the Portuguese a lot of money. Recently, many merchants set off to India to do business, so he couldn''tin.


    Costa, who arrived in Portugal, was surprised because when he left Portugal, it was still a state in the Iberian Union. Now it had turned into an independent Kingdom, and his master, who was previously a Duke, had now be a king. This was all too surprising for him, but he was nheless happy.


    Meeting his majesty Alphonso of the Braganza, Costa quickly knelt down as he greeted, "Glory to your majesty, let the Lord of Light shine brightly upon you."


    Alphonso, after the formalities, asked, "So tell me, what brings you here? Didn''t I entrust you to handle matters regarding India? Why did you suddenlye back?"


    Alphonso, upon hearing the question, promptly responded, "Your Majesty, the King of Vijayanagara proposed a trade. They are willing to exchange a lot of military supplies like medical concoctions, leather equipment, helmets, boots, and even muskets that they have developed in-house, in exchange for grain."


    This revtion surprised Alphonso; he would have expected that a country with one of the most fertile soils in the world would be short of grain. "Isn''t their country very rich? Why would they need grain out of all things? And what is this about this medical concoction? I can understand leather equipment, but will this medical concoction work?"


    "Your Majesty, I am afraid you don''t know. After Vijayanagara waged war on the Mughal Empire, as you probably already know, after a year of gruelling battles, they finally won, sessfully reiming three territories. When they reimed these territories, they required a substantial amount of grain to rebuild the regions, which were in bad conditions. Additionally, prior to the war, they had already produced a surplus of military supplies, resulting in an overstock. Consequently, they are now requesting that we exchange these surplus military materials for grain. As for the medical concoction, some of our people tested it, and there were no side effects. Although the bishop was vehemently against using this kind of ''pagan'' medicine, our soldiers appreciated it greatly as it was very cost-effective and efficient."


    "Holy Lord of Light," Alphonso eximed. After learning that Vijayanagara had conquered three territories from the Mughal Empire, he started to feel uneasy. The thought of this growing power bing even stronger made him uneasy, but he quickly set aside his worries. At present, they enjoyed good trade rtions, and he did not have the time or resources to hinder India''s growth. As for what would happen in the future, no one could predict.


    "Alright, then make this trade happen. Although their muskets will not be more advanced than ours, at least they will be cheap. I don''t think the Restoration War will end very soon, and cheaper weapons could save a lot of finances. As for the medical concoction, procure a small amount, and let''s see how the army reacts."


    Costa, upon hearing the order, nodded his head as he left the king''s residence. After spending a few days with his rtives and friends in Lisbon, he departed with thousand-ton merchant ships, with grain in tow.


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!

 Chapter 133 Construction Boom In Vijayanagara Empire

    133 Construction Boom In Vijayanagara Empire


    The events unfolding in the Iberian Penins were yet to reach Vijay''s ears. However, during the entire month of Thomas''s absence, an extensive construction project involving the establishment of warehouses took ce across the three states. The process was rtively smooth, leveraging the military''s pre-existing logistics channels that had spread throughout the main cities during the war. This enabled the quick procurement of the required raw materials. Given that the Mughal nobles held a monopoly on most resources within the three states, these resources seamlessly transitioned into the hands of the Vijayanagar government, further streamlining the execution of tasks.


    Despite acquiring the Local nobles'' wealth, Vijay did not utilize the gold and silver to pay thebour cost because he had another use where gold and silver were more needed. As for the poverty-stricken people of the three states, he could only wait for the policies of Vijayanagara to be fully implemented before bringing them out of the gutter. He even contemted that, given the current circumstances, the working efficiency of the people would be remarkable. However, he suddenly felt noxious for entertaining such a thought.


    Just a year ago, he could not have fathomed that his mindset would undergo such a significant transformation. Recently, he came to the realization that he was increasingly perceiving people as numbers on a report card, which his brain was sadly getting used to. This shift in perspective gave him chills and woke him up at night. He got really scared by his own thought process. Being from a purely scientific research background, he was far away from politics and controversies.


    Now, being in the current position which he is in, he is very slowly adjusting. He did not know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Only Brahma could know what he had in store for him. But still, being in such a position for a few years and experiencing a rebellion and two major wars, he could slightly understand the minds of the emperors and presidents in his own timeline, about how they operate. In the past, He could never in a million years understand how such people went on with their daily lives knowing very well that one wrong mistake could cost the lives of millions of people. He always thought that these people were psychopaths. Now put in the same position, he felt like he was slowly turning into one.


    He also somewhat understood why a lot of countries, in order to reach a certain level in the powerdder, have to sacrifice the interest of some people. For example, the Russian Empire throughout its history sacrificed the interest of serfs, citizens, and eventer of their merchants during the period of the Soviet Union. The same goes for the Chinese, sacrificing the interest of the merchants when the Communist Party of China came to power. Even during the time when China opened up and epted investment, and let its people do business, the state-ownedpany worker interests were thrown into the trash can as they were fired because the Communist Party of China could no longer afford to employ them. They even propagandized that the state-owned workers are a burden to society.


    These State-owned factory workers had dedicated their entire lives to mastering a specific job, without being granted any choice or opportunity to explore other avenues. When China abruptly opened up, they found themselves adrift, unsure of what to do next. The Communist Party of China swiftly abandoned them, leaving them unemployed and trapped in poverty.


    The same goes for America, as it was built upon the dead bodies of the ck, native and Chinese people. The same goes for Britain, although they say they are one of the first countries to abolish very, fortunately for them, they had India¡ªa gold mine with inexhaustible wealth and human resources. They bled India ruthlessly, which brought the richest country in the world to its knees, turning it into a third-world country.


    Vijay fervently hopes to avoid finding himself in a position where he must make such tough choices. Fortunately, with foresight into the future, he can navigate certain challenges more efficiently, sidestepping unnecessary detours. Regarding the current issue of road construction, a critical infrastructureponent, he acknowledges its status as one of the mostbour-intensive tasks in the present era. This work often takes a toll on the workforce, regrly leading to fatalities.


    Vijay was aware that he was capitalizing on the momentary vulnerability of the people in the three states. However, driven by a vision for the future, he chose the most pragmatic approach. Instead of employing the minimum necessary workforce for road construction, Vijay opted to hire more individuals to minimize casualties. As part of the incentive, he also promised each worker 15 kilograms of grain, sufficient to feed a family of three for the entire month. Vijay doesn''t know if anyone would consider him a hypocrite, but he did what he could do. Notices were disseminated across towns and viges in the three states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha regarding employment opportunities. Upon hearing the news through their local Panchayats, police stations, or post offices, the people responded with genuine excitement. They didn''t perceive Vijay''s actions as exploitation; instead, they considered him a benevolent king. Working for the government not only guaranteed them 15 kilograms of grain but also offered them the chance to acquire cattle and sheep through contributions. Additionally, everyone was granted a two-year exemption from agricultural taxes.


    In this agrarian society, Nation''s like Vijayanagara or India as a whole, owning cattle and sheep held the same significance as possessing a tractor or car for future generations. Being able to purchase cows and sheep through work was unprecedented, and the exemption from taxes was beyond their wildest imaginations. Despite initial skepticism, the enticing benefits prompted a considerable number of people to apply for the job. Vijayanagara''s nned highway roads were exceptionally wide, considering the anticipated increase in traffic, as directed by His Highness. A staggering 3 million people enthusiastically signed up for the job, resulting in crowded recruitment points throughout the month. Seeing the numbers, Vijay let out a sigh of relief, realizing he was about to make a huge blunder.


    Because there was one more benefit that Vijay did not specify: the issue ofnd distribution. Initially, he contemted addingnd distribution as a reward forbour. However, his ministers dissuaded him by exining the potential for chaos among the people if this reward was given. Land held immense value in the hearts of all Indians, and introducing such a provision could not only cause disorder but also hinder the progress of road construction, directly conflicting with Vijay''s goals.


    As for the second option of returning thend to the peasants working on it after recovering the documents from the Mughal administration, he faced opposition again. The Mughals did not keep records well, and most of the richndlords were Muslims or individuals close to the administration, usually Hindus who oppressed their own people to curry favour with the Mughal administration. Thetter kind, Vijay just loathed them with every fibre of his existence, and with no mention of the peasants working on the fields on the records, he relented and decided to distributend after thepletion of the four highways, based on the contributions of various workers and families. This decision mostly saved him a lot of trouble.


    Consequently, even with the original benefits, three million jobs were generated. "Whew..." Vijay heaved a sigh of relief, realizing the potential consequences that could have unfolded ifnd distribution were added to the incentives. As a result, the construction of the four highwaysmenced simultaneously. Despite the fact that the highways could be constructed with abour force of only 1.8 million, Vijay chose not to sacrifice so many individuals merely to cut costs.


    Facing a shortage of government employees, certain sections of the highway roads were contracted to private individuals, such as the Kalyan family, who previously took on the road construction for the Government. The Kalyan family has emerged as a prominent name in the construction business, having sessfully executed projects for both Vijayanagar and Sri Lanka. Impressed with theirmendable track record, Vijay entrusted them with the construction of an entire highway, confident in Kalyan''s construction expertise and capabilities.


    The remaining three highways were divided into sections and contracted to other private individuals from Vijayanagara.


    As for the relief work scheme, it turned out to be highly sessful. The first recipients of the grain joyfully brought it home and stored it. Within a few days, a fortunate family managed to reim a pair of cattle. This sess was attributed to the family''s unique situation, boasting five boys above the age of 18, contributing more collectively than individual members.


    Cases like these soon becamemonce throughout the empire at various construction sites. Cattle, sheep, and grain rapidly dwindled in the warehouses at a noticeable pace. Vijay, observing this progress, felt immense satisfaction as the road construction advanced at an unprecedented speed,parable to the road construction rates in the 19th century. This remarkable achievement, though barely achieved, was made possible by the vast pool of human resources. Vijay was especially pleased to learn that the number of casualties was less than 5000, with the majority resulting from private disputes among the workers. Again, Vijay heaved a sigh of relief as he was sure the death toll would be in Five digits ifnd was granted.


    Overall, Vijay''s mood was jubnt, except for the military logistics director, Arya, who visibly disyed nervousness witnessing the stocks depleting rapidly.


    But soon, His nervousness quickly dissipated when merchant ships from Portugal arrived at the Mumbai port. Each ship carried approximately 900 tons of grain, and a total of 150 such ships graced the Mumbai port. The unloading process took ce in batches, with 50 ships docked and unloaded at a time. Vijay, on the other hand, marvelled at the naval background of the world''s first naval Empire. Despite its weakened state, these merchant ships still showcased the enormous legacy of the once-mighty naval power. It''s worth noting that Vijayanagara''s merchant ships averaged between 150 to 200 tons, and witnessing the Portuguese fleet in front of him highlighted their ability to easily mobilize 150 ships. After two full days of unloading, the goods were stockpiled in an open space in the army camp of Mumbai, as there wasn''t arge enough warehouse to amodate all the grain.


    The delivered grain amounted to a total of 135,000 tons, sufficient to feed 3 million people for three consecutive months of road construction work. As the workers earned cattle, their families back in their viges swiftly resumed ploughing and nting crops, kickstarting the local economy.


    The Portuguese merchant ships swiftly dispersed to various ports of Vijayanagara to load assorted military supplies scattered across workshops nationwide. Each of the Cochin Port, Visakhapatnam Port, and the Mangalore Fort received a visit from 50 Portuguese ships. The surplus military supplies were efficiently loaded onto the merchant ships. The Portuguese merchants did not want to go back empty-handed with their empty ships, and considering their country was going to start a war with the Spanish Empire, they took this opportunity as good businessmen and ordered for more military products, along with the civilian products which the merchant was sure that it could increase in cost soon.


    The turn of events proved to be an unexpected surprise for the Vijayanagara workshops. Initially content with clearing their excess stock, receiving orders for more products left them in disbelief. However, the workshops of Vijayanagara quickly sprung into action, the entire workshop economy roaring with newfound vigour, showcasing prosperity like never before. The inclusion of the three states of Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh made thebour force even more abundant, contributing to the unprecedented boom in activity.


    The workshops were consuming the raw materials and putting out the finished products so fast that Vijay had an illusion that they had already entered the first industrial revolution. But he knew that this momentum could be held only momentarily, as they do not still have developed marine channels to export their products. To some extent, this sort of efficiency was obtained by sacrificing some of the workers'' interests.


    Vijay wanted to impose some sort of barrier to the rampant behaviour of using the workers as tools and working them for 12 hours continuously, but he did not want to stop the momentum. So instead, he sent a collective letter as a warning to all the major workshop owners to control their greed and to treat the workers better, or he would severely sanction them.


    The workshop owners who received the letter were scared out of their wits and quickly controlled the rampant behaviour by allowing the workers to only work for 10 hours and paying them a little bit more. Although this hindered their interests, the merchants and workshop owners would not want to argue with a king who single-handedly ughtered most of the nobles in the empire. Moreover, since the military economy had been lifted, they could make more money, so the loss was not huge.


    P.S (Brahma: A deity in Hinduism associated with creation, and knows what the future holds for a particr individual)


    ( Just got to know that it was highly improbable for Portugal to produce 135000 tons of grain, apparently it could not be more than hundred thousand even with Brazil, so we are not far off, but please for the sake of the story consider that the Portuguese has cultivated morend than in the previous timeline and they already have sufficient food for their own use and traded all the remaining grain to India.)


    N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 134 Portuguese Merchants Visit Part :1

    134 Portuguese Merchants Visit Part :1


    The Portuguese merchants who were docked in the various shipyards had some free time to spend, as they had just ced their orders. Since the order they had ced was massive, they had to wait for a week at the least for the order to be fulfilled. When they were given a deadline of a week, they were skeptical, as the orders they had ced were huge in number and there was no way it could all be done in a week. so they took this opportunity to inspect the Vijayanagara workshops, craftsmanship, and the quality of the product, they also wanted to see how the Indians would produce the orders in such a short time.


    All the Portuguese merchants formed a visiting group as it was suggested by Sir Thomas Costa.


    "I hope you all enjoy your trip, gentlemen," Costa said as he led them into the capital of Vijayanagara, Hampi.


    "Gentlemen, I would love to apany you further, but please forgive me; I have important matters to tend to," Thomas said, his expression carrying a hint of disappointment. The merchants were taken aback, unable toprehend why Thomas would want them to explore and inspect the workshops without his experienced guidance as a local. Did he expect them to navigate the area on their own, seeking assistance from the locals in anguage unfamiliar to them? Such thoughts left many in the merchant group feeling perplexed.


    But then something happened that broke their thoughts. A person who looked well-dressed, wearing a unique dress which they had never seen before ¨C it was a kind of long white skirt which went till the feet and an ivory-coloured shirt, along with a piece of cloth that went all the way from the person''s lower chest up to the shoulder and then again to his back.


    They did not understand this unique clothing, but being experienced merchants, they could still discern that this was an excellent material. What fascinated them even more was that as the man got closer, they saw some exquisite patterns on the edges of the skirt and the shawl-like thing.


    The man who arrived wore a smile on his light brown face, adorned with a moustache. He brought his hands together in a peculiar manner as if preparing to p, yet the hands never separated. Some individuals familiar with Eastern cultures recognized the gesture, akin to practices found in Buddhism and other eastern traditions.


    Thomas, upon seeing the arrival of the man, donned a smile and mirrored the unique gesture, apanied by a slight bow. Observing Thomas, the remaining merchants grasped the significance of the action, and they too replicated the same gesture. While some harboured a white superiorityplex, driven by their honest intent to make money, they set aside any reservations and joined in the customary exchange of greetings.


    "Gentlemen, let me introduce you; this right here is the Minister of Trade and Commerce of the Vijayanagara Empire, and he would be responsible for handling the deal you made."


    "This guy is a minister," a lot of them thought, surprised. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rajesh, who was introduced to these people, smiled as he greeted them, "Wee to Vijayanagara, merchant friends from afar."


    Listening to his introduction, a merchant blurted out in surprise, "Your Highness knows Portuguese?"


    In response to the surprised exmation from the merchant, Rajesh smiled and replied, "Yes, I learned Portuguese when I was a child. When I grew up, most of the time was spent in Goa, as you already know that was one of your colonies." His exnation brought a hush over the group, signalling a collective decision not to delve further into this conversation.


    Seeing the merchant silent, Rajesh continued, "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for trusting our craftsmanship and cing such huge orders with us. We can promise you that you can buy the cheapest and most reliable products in our Empire. I am sure that you will not find such good value for money anywhere else in the world."


    Upon hearing this, many merchants perceived the brown-skinned man in front of them as boastful. Dissatisfied, a merchant who appeared to be the leader of the group directly questioned him, "That is a very bold im, sir, but can your backward Empire, who can barely build a two-mast ship,pete with us Europeans?" His apanying colleagues nodded in agreement, their faces adorned with pride.


    But it was Thomas who was embarrassed, as he was the one who introduced both parties and did not want the rtionship to sour.


    On the other hand, Rajesh''s smiling face receded after being asked such a rude question. His Highness had already warned him about the Westerners'' arrogance. Now he got to see it firsthand.


    Suppressing his anger, he replied, "While what Mr. said is not false in respect to the naval industry, it is not true with respect to other things. If I dare to say that we have the best craftsmen around the world, I bet no one except the Chinese would question that statement. Moreover, in the past, we had the most developed metallurgical industry. In the Middle Ages, You Europeans used to import our steel and weapons. Although I admit that our advantage is getting lower and lower in recent years, with the support of our highness, things are looking up, as we are already capable of manufacturing our own cannons with our own proprietary home-produced iron alloy. So, I would say that it would not take long for us to catch up with you Europeans."


    After saying all this, Rajesh introduced the person next to him, "Now, gentlemen, this right here is Laksh. Like myself, he also grew up in Goa and is very proficient in Portuguese. He is very familiar with most of the workshops in the capital. Please feel free to ask him any questions, as I have some very important matters to attend to."


    Rajesh said as he soon left. With his departure, Thomas also bid farewell to the visiting group and left.


    The merchants were stunned by the quick change of events. They could tell they had offended this minister, but most of them did not care.


    A merchant among the group, Alexio Fernandez, taking the position of leadership among the group, looked at the boy the minister introduced and said, "So shall we go now Lak... Ah, what is it, Laksh? Ah, what a hard name to pronounce. Okay, we will just call you Landon."


    Alexio said, with a proud expression, liking the new name that he gave to the boy.


    Laksh, seeing the expression on the white guy''s face, felt like his fist got itchy as he wanted to give the fat man a good beating. "Bastard, I like the name my mother and father gave me," he thought to himself, depressed as he suddenly got a new name from nowhere and couldn''t do what he wanted.


    If Vijay saw the scene, he would haveughed andforted, saying, "Don''t worry, this is one of the trademarks of the Western nations. They have a habit of changing names whenever they are not able to pronounce them. They do it so much so that the original people who lived in that ce will start to doubt their own names." But of course, Vijay was not here.


    Putting away his dissatisfaction, Laksh asked with a smiling expression, which was obviously a little fake, "So gentlemen, which industry chain would you like to visit?"


    This question caught everyone by surprise as they did not know what the word "industry chain" meant.


    Noticing the confusion, Laksh exined, "An industry chain is a set of workshops working together from procuring the raw materials to getting the finished product. All the workshops that work on this product could be considered as in the same industry chain."


    This was still confusing to the Portuguese, as Alexio asked, "But isn''t it more profitable to do all the things in the same workshop? Why are there many workshops to produce a single product?"


    Hearing this question, Laksh did not know how to answer. He looked at the Portuguese like he was looking at a bunch of idiots. Seeing his hesitation to answer and with a weird and strange expression on the boy''s face, Alexio thought he had stumped the boy and proved that the Vijayanagara industries were backward.


    "Okay, stop. Don''t embarrass the boy, Alexio," his merchant friend Andre Sousa said. Alexio soon put away his pride and asked, "So, what different industry chains are there in Vijayanagara right now?"


    Laksh soon answered, "Currently, there are textile industry chains, arms industry chains, paper industries, and pottery and handicraft industries."


    "So, gentlemen, which industry would you first like to visit?"


    Alexio, surprised by so many industries, still replied, "Okay, let''s start with the arms industry First."


    Alexio chose the arms industry because his family runs arge-scale military workshop back in Portugal, and he is very experienced in the industry. This way, he could assess the quality of Vijayanagara weapons to decide on further orders. On top of that, he knew for a fact that due to the Restoration war that was about to begin, the prices of weapons would skyrocket. If he could procure rtively good quality weapons at a lower cost, it would be a huge profit for the workshop. He was not the only one thinking like this; most of the merchants in the visiting group thought the same thing.

 Chapter 135 Portuguese Merchants Visit Part :2

    135 Portuguese Merchants Visit Part :2


    Alexio Fernandes and his colleagues followed the boy to inspect the arms workshops. While they were boarding a carriage and heading to their destination, Andre Sousa noticed something unusual about the carriage ride. He did not notice it before because they were still in the outskirts of the city when they met with Thomas, but now that he looked at it, the whole carriage ride was very smooth. Out of curiosity, Andre pulled the curtain of the carriage aside only to see a neatly paved grey road stretching in a straight line to the heart of the city.


    Out of curiosity, he had the carriage stop, got out, and personally inspected the road. He even took the sphere the guard soldier was holding and hit the road with all the force he could muster. To the surprise of everyone around him, except for Laksh and the residents of Vijayanagara, there was no substantial visible damage.


    "Boy Landon, what kind of material is this? It''s as strong as a rock. If not for my rich experience and keen vision to spot the aggregation of broken stones at the edge of the road, I would have been fooled into thinking that all this is from a single rock." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Now that Andre had pointed out the peculiarity, the rest of the merchants also noticed some unusual features of this road. They observed how Andre attempted to poke a hole in the road with the help of a sphere, but aside from a few chips of dust and debris, there was no permanent damage to the road. Considering the road wasid throughout the city, the merchants spected that it must not be overly expensive, given that a country like Vijayanagara could afford to have such a road in its capital.


    Laksh, hearing the question, answered, "Yes, sir. This is a new invention of our Vijayanagar Empire. This material is called cement. As a raw material, ites in a powdered form. The use of this material is also very simple. First, you take the powder, mix it with sand and gravel in various ratios. The paste you get is called cement. This cement can then be used toy roads or build buildings, depending on the task for which it is needed. For this road you are standing on right now, it is reinforced with iron, making it more resistant to damage."


    Listening to the characteristics of this cement, everyone in the visiting merchant group couldn''t help but think about Roman Cement, which had simr properties. This revtion caused them to be shocked because even they did not have the form for Roman cement. Does the Vijayanagara Empire have this form? All the merchants were getting excited. Andre asked a question, "You said that it is newly invented. Does that mean this is not Roman cement, but something else?" He asked his doubt, which brought the excited merchants to calm down.


    Laksh was even more confused as he did not know what this Roman cement was. Noticing Laksh''s confusion, Andre exined the properties of Roman cement. Listening to the exnation, Laksh''s doubts were cleared as he answered, "No, sir, this is nothing like the Roman cement you talk of. It does not have the same shelf life of 1000 years. But as far as I have heard, the craftsmen who built this road say that this particr cement could only have a shelf life of a maximum of 40 years."


    Hearing about the abysmal life cycle of this road, many lost interest. However, Andre was not among them, as he continued to inquire, "Then, is this road expensive?"


    Laksh assured, "I don''t know about these details, sir. You will have to inquire about these details with the Minister of Trade and Commerce. But as far as I know, these cement roads were rtively cheap because His Majesty had the same kind of roads paved in all the major cities of the Empire. So I think it is a manageable price."


    This News brought back everyone''s attention, as they never knew this kind of material was so cheap that it was used to pave the roads all over the Kingdom, even in its main cities. Wouldn''t that mean the price is so cheap that Vijayanagara could afford to cover this throughout even the major towns? Thinking about this, they grew eager again. But seeing as how Laksh has no more information to offer, they had to wait until the end of this visiting trip.


    Soon, they made their way to the northern outskirts of the city where most of the workshops are located. As soon as they got down from the carriage, they saw rows and rows of workshops neatly throughout the street. There were nothing but workshops in this district. Alexio looked around the surroundings to see if there was a chimney nearby. Spotting none, he asked his doubt, "Is the smelting not done here?"


    Laksh exined, "No, gentlemen. The smelting is done in another location in the Empire, and all the processed iron is transported here to be made into theplete product. As per the instructions I have been issued, you will have to forgive me as I will not be able to show you the manufacturing of the cannons or the smelting and processing workshops of the military industry that have been deemed state secrets. I hope the gentlemen will understand. As for the area we are in right now, it is one of the many auxiliary parts manufacturing areas for our guns and one of the main manufacturing ces for cold weapons and leather equipment."


    Alexio still did not believe that this way of splitting the tasks to manufacture works. So he inquired, "What is the annual output of iron in Vijayanagara?"


    Laksh responded, "Sir, the annual output of Vijayanagara has reached 4000 tonnes."


    Hearing this number, most of the merchants wore smug expressions on their faces. Although the Portuguese had been overtaken by the British and the French in iron production, the annual output this year still reached a staggering 15,000 tonnes, even if it is still far from the British or the French. It is still three times ahead of Vijayanagara.


    If Vijay knew their thoughts, he would haveughed out loud in amusement. What he was using was not the normal blower furnace found across Europe, but Darby''s st furnace, which was invented in the early 18th century. When this st furnace was first put into use in the Raya Iron Works, it was producing an impressive 280 tons of iron per year. With further technological improvements, a single st furnace now reached 400 tons per year. Although Vijayanagara is still a long way from catching up with Portugal, Vijayanagara has only put 10 st furnaces into use, which is sufficient for Vijayanagara''s daily needs. And this number can be improved whenever needed.


    Oblivious to all these details, the Portuguese merchants roamed around the street to see the scenery they had never seen before. In a dedicated route, the carriage filled with iron blocks was transported to this area. Each workshop takes what they have ordered. They saw a workshop that took in 5 tons of iron and started to make it into European-style swords. There is no doubt that these swords are being manufactured for them. What was fascinating was the sword was not made by a single person, but many people came together to make this sword.


    11:43


    Oblivious to all these details, the Portuguese merchants roamed around the street to see the scenery they had never seen before. In a dedicated route, the carriage filled with iron blocks was transported to this area. Each workshop takes what they have ordered. They saw a workshop that took in 5 tons of iron and started to make it into European-style swords. There is no doubt that these swords are being manufactured for them. What was fascinating was the sword was not made by a single person, but many people came together to make this sword.


    The process started with a person taking all the iron blocks and cutting them ording to the required type of weapon. After the cutting process, the same person takes chalk, which is ced in his ear, and writes down the type of weapon and its measurements. From here on, two people take over the work simultaneously. One person goes to the furnace and starts heating multiple iron blocks that have already been measured and get them melted for the next process. Another person, at the same time, prepares two different moulds for the molten iron to be poured. As the molten iron is poured, the sword moves to the next process. Skilled craftsmen take over the sword, temper and shape it ording to the required measurements. After more processing like this, a handle prepared by another workshop that specializes in preparing handles is inserted and inspected, therebypleting the manufacturing of the sword right in front of the Portuguese visiting group.


    All the Portuguese merchants were mesmerized as they saw this beautiful dance of precision and timing. They now saw a glimpse of how this industrial chain system of Vijayanagara works. Unwilling to admit that Portuguese craftsmanship is backward, which would hurt their pride, Alexiomented, "This is all a waste ofbour. If only one person was allowed to make the sword, we could save the rest of their sry, and there would be no need to pay for another workshop. I don''t see how this way of manufacturing is superior to the traditional method."


    Laksh, who had enough of this man''s contempt, thought to teach him a lesson as he asked, "Sir Alexio if you don''t mind me asking, what do you think is the most difficult process to do in this whole sword-making process?"


    Alexio, without hesitation, replied, "Why It is the craftsman who tempers and shapes the sword, of course."


    "You are right, Sir Alexio. In the traditional method, if this skilled craftsman were to make a sword, he would have to do all the menial things that even normal people could do, wasting his time. And in our model which you see here, if you notice, the skilled craftsman is not wasting any time as the sword or any other weapon, in fact, is gettingpleted one after the other. So although this method might look morebor-intensive, it focuses more on efficiency, time, and speed. And the money you lose by paying for extrabour would be gained back from selling more swords."


    Laksh replied in front of the Portuguese, who had enlightened expressions on their faces. He took up a finished sword and showed it to Sir Alexio. "Now, Sir, this is a normal in sword. If it was manufactured in a traditional way, skilled craftsmen would be able to manufacture 3 or 4 such swords per day. And if this particr kind of sword needed more detailing, like carvings, it would take even more time. But now, with our model, a single workshop utilizing skilled craftsmen as a core can produce at least 8 to 10 Swords a day. And on top of that, if the swords require carving, it would not affect the efficiency of other products manufacturing because it could always be sent to a dedicated artist who is specialized in metal carving." He pointed across the street to show an old man working with some swords. "A new metal carving workshop has just been opened across the street. And the old man you see there is a very experienced artist. He carves inscriptions and patterns on metal objects for a living. So he is more exquisite in his art than, say, a dedicated cksmith, who might be excellent in his cksmithing but maybe very dull in the art area."


    Even Alexio was now fully convinced by this model. After listening and seeing the whole process taking ce in action, he was eager to go back to the Portuguese empire and try it himself. After inspecting the Cold Weapons Workshop, they visited many other workshops specializing in woodworking for the handles of muskets and flintlocks. Some more precision-size workshops were seen working with small parts like the trigger of a musket or the barrel of a gun.


    Another street down the line, it was the leatherworking area where processed leather was brought from a dedicated workshop, and leather was turned into various products ording to the users'' requirements in various shops. After more exploring, the day ended.


    By the end of the day, all the Portuguese merchants had a shift in thinking, as they quickly wanted to go back to Portugal and try the new manufacturing methods they had learned.


    It was this event that changed the course of Portuguese history in this timeline, different from the parallel timeline.


    To Be Continued... Like it ? Add to library£¡


    Mithun_ReddyGaru

 Chapter 136 Portuguese Merchants Visit Part :3

    136 Portuguese Merchants Visit Part :3


    After a good night''s rest, the Portuguese merchant group got dressed and ready, waiting for Laksh toe and pick them up. They did not have to wait long, as a brown-skinned young man soon arrived at the guest houses where they were staying. "Boy Landon, what took you so long?" Alexio Fernandes asked in a grumpy tone, as he had gotten up earlier than everyone else in the visiting group and had been waiting for quite a while. "Ah, sigh," Laksh sighed, still not used to the new name he was being called by, "I am sorry, sir, but I had to inform the workshop owners about your arrival today, so it took a bit of your time. I deeply apologize."


    "Alright, alright, let''s go, let''s go, let''s see what else you have to show," Alexio said excitedly, and everyone else in the merchant group seemed to agree with him.


    Soon enough, Laksh brought them to thergest warehouse they had yet to see in Vijayanagara. "Esteemed gentlemen, what you see here is the workshop tasked with procuring all the raw materials needed for the textile industry. This workshop procures cotton, silk, and wool from various parts of the Empire. Cotton and silk are homegrown in our empire. As for wool, we import this from the north. These raw materialse from various parts of the country or even outside the country and are distributed through various warehouses, simr to the one you are seeing right now.


    After showing them the location of the warehouse, he took them to another ce. "Now, gentlemen, what you see here is the second stage of our textile industry chain. This whole building you see in front of you is dedicated to the ginners and spinners. Most of the workers here are women. Traditionally, this work was done by women with a lot of experience in this industry, skilled artisans working from their homes. However after the new manufacturing method was introduced, it was found that it would be more economical and efficient to have the women work under the same roof and share divided tasks based on whoever could do the task best. Although the process of ginners and spinners seems simple, it requires a lot of experience."


    The Portuguese visiting group agreed as some of them were not new to this industry, having experience with simr processes. However, what was new was the efficiency of deseeding the cotton and skillfully processing it for the next stage.


    After inspecting how the women worked, they moved on to the next location.


    "And now, gentlemen, the next step of this process is with the weavers. This is one of the mostbour-intensive parts of the process. Thisrge workshop in front of you is dedicated to processing the threads. This workshop has only one task, and that is weaving the cloth ording to standardized dimensions."


    Laksh said as he took the people inside the warehouse, which could be seen from even the outside that it was very noisy. As soon as they entered the workshop, they were shocked, as they had never seen something like this. They could see hundreds of weavers working in many rows, operating their hand looms. The machines produced a symphony of sounds as hundreds of looms were operated together. "ng, ng, ng." Sounds were heard throughout the workshop as the workers continued to operate their looms with both their hands and feet to bring the thousands of threads into an exquisite piece of cloth. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "These workers are working on the cotton clothes you have ordered. Due to the patterns you requested not being tooplicated, the work is moving at a fast speed. If you want more exquisite patterns, you will have to wait for a longer time. Normally, this process is very time-consuming."


    "I did it."


    Suddenly, the visiting group''s attention was caught by a high-pitched screaming from a corner of the workshop. Despite the sound produced by the looms, the high-pitched noise cuts right through it. Curious, the merchant group went over inside a separate room off the workshop. There they saw a womanughing happily as she took a piece of cloth that looked like silk in her hands and giggled happily.


    All eyes turned to Laksh, curious to hear his exnation. They were puzzled by the woman''s actions. Laksh, however, felt a headacheing on at the sight of this woman. Despite that, he recalled the question and replied, "Sir, this is Latha Bai. She''s the daughter of the workshop owner. Don''t let her appearance fool you; she''s a renowned designer in the capital. Many of the famous clothing patterns are her creations. asionally, she drops by here to experiment with designs she''se up with. You can check out her store in the city centre, which she owns."


    "What? She manages her own business?" The merchants were taken aback, struggling toprehend how the workshop owner allowed a woman to handle a significant business, especially one located in the bustling city centre. Even though they weren''t familiar with the local prices in Vijayanagara, their seasoned business instincts led them to believe that a property in the city centre wouldn''te cheap, possibly exceeding the cost of the sizable warehouse they had observed on the city''s outskirts.


    Laksh, who heard the man''s rude remarks, secretly looked at Latha to see if she understood what this foreigner said. But she seemed to be immersed in her own world. He let out a sigh of relief, fully relieved that this bad-tempered big sister did not hear the man. But then again, she does not know Portuguese. What was there to worry about? He suddenly remembered, wiping an imaginary sweat from his head, he replied, "Gentlemen, there is nothing preventing women from working in our empire. It is more so since our majesty took the throne and further pushed for women to have some power in society. Since then, gradually many women have worked in the medical field as nurses and doctors. Even there is a gradual rise in female employment in education, and the whole textile industry could be said to be dominated by women, as women control most of the designs in this industry, and most of the spinners are women."


    Hearing the reply, everyone stayed silent as they still couldn''t ept all this. But they decided not toment on the customs of Vijayanagara and moved on to the final destination.


    "Gentlemen, this is one of the famous clothes workshops in the Vijayanagar Empire, Bakshi Textiles. The Bakshi family owns this textile industry and it is spread throughout the empire. They have be a big name in the empire recently for affordable and high-quality clothes. Come, let me show you."


    As soon as they entered the workshop, they were met with Arjan Bakshi, who is now in charge of Bakshi Textiles. Seeing the foreign guests arriving, Arjan quickly came forward to greet them. "Wee, guests from afar, wee to my humble workshop. I have already been informed of your visit. Pleasee inside, let me show you around. But please be informed that the workshop is quite busy, and I won''t be able to keep you for long. So please excuse me for this shortpany."


    Laksh Tranted his words for the merchants, making sure they grasped the exnation. Alexio gestured dismissively and remarked, "No need to worry. I understand. Besides, it seems like you''re fulfilling our orders. So, no harm done. I''ve noticed on my recent visits that the folks here in Vijayanagara are quite serious about efficiency."


    Laksh continued in his role as the trantor, and Bakshi responded with a smile, guiding them through the workshop. Highly skilled craftsmen carefully cut the fabric into measured pieces, utilizing scales and markings for precision. The cloth then progressed to the next artisan, getting the clothes as close to their final form as possible. Depending on the fabric, various dyes and prints such as indigo, madder, andc, each with its dedicated industry chain, were applied based on the customer''s preferences. After several such steps involving different sections of the cloth, aplete set of clothes emerged. Observing this process, the merchants were impressed by the uniform, precise, and efficient workflow at Bakshi Textiles. The concept of the industry chain became even more firmly established in their minds.


    Their final destination was the Bhupathi Medical Workshop. Initially disinterested in this medical facility, the group''s attitude shifted when Laksh mentioned that he was the trailzer behind this industry chain model. Everyone became impressed and approached him for a conversation. However, due to thenguage barrier, Bhupathi could onlyugh and proudly showcase his achievements.


    Having witnessed everything they intended to see, they expressed a swift desire to meet Rajesh. Their agenda was to discuss the matter concerning their orders and inquire about the status of the cement and Other Interesting things.


    To Be Continued... P.S. The Next Chapter Will be thest of the Merchant Visit series.

 Chapter 137 Portuguese Merchants Visit Part :4

    Chapter 137 Portuguese Merchants Visit Part :4


    Soon after waking up, Alexio made his way to Laksh''s residence, eager to engage in a discussion with him. Laksh, residing in a house nearby, had been assigned the responsibility of aiding Portuguese merchants by fulfilling their various requests. On this particr morning, while Laksh was still asleep, his rest time was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of Alexio Fernandez.


    "What can I do for you, Sir?" Laksh asked with a tired expression. Alexio seemed a bit embarrassed for waking up Landon, as it was still 6:00 in the morning, but he quickly got over it regarding the important information he wanted to discuss.


    "As you see, Landon? It''s like this. When we first arrived, it was when we didn''t know much about the empire, so we ended up offending the Minister of Trade and Commerce. So, is there any way to apologize to him? I mean, is there like a cultural way to apologize to him?" he asked with a sincere expression. Laksh was surprised that the man would ask such a question. It looked like he was quite sincere, but he still replied, "There is no such formal gesture in our empire. But if you want to be authentic, you can just give him some gifts and apologize to him normally. However, there is a custom in our culture that whenever we are seeking a blessing or asking for forgiveness, we usually bend and touch the other person''s feet. This could be considered as an apology. I do not know if Sir is willing to do it."


    Alexio frowned as he did not know if what Laksh was saying was true or not. For some reason, he felt like the action Laksh suggested was more than what he asked for. But soon, he made up his mind as he thought of all the benefits he had to gain by having a good rtionship with the Minister of Trade and Commerce of the Vijayanagar Empire. Touching the other person''s feet did not seem like that big of a deal. So, finally, he decided, "Alright, what the hell, I will do it. It is not that big of a deal." He said as he left. But Laksh had a cheeky smile on his face. He did not think that these Portuguese would listen to his words. In all honesty, giving a namaskara and sincerely apologizing would be enough. But he wanted to take a little bit of revenge for being called by the wrong name for so long. Although it was petty, he felt very good about himself. "He. He." he giggled and went into the room to get prepared. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    An hourter, the Portuguese Visiting Group reconvened and patiently awaited Laksh''s arrival. As he joined them, Laksh took the lead, guiding the group towards the city centre for a visit to the local shops. While the initial n had been a direct meeting with the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Alexio Fernandez proposed a detour for some light shopping. With unanimous agreement from the other merchants, a subtle shift urred in the day''s schedule. The group promptly set off for the bustling city centre.


    The streets bustled with activity, teeming with people rushing from one shop to another. The Portuguese merchants found themselves taken aback by the sheer volume of the people. What astonished them even more was the impable attire of every person they encountered. Not a single individual seemed poorly dressed; even those at the lower rung of the societaldder adorned themselves in cotton garments, while others showcased intricate silk fabrics embellished with diverse Hindu designs. The vibrant and well-dressed popce added ayer of richness to the bustling city streets.


    Upon this observation, the Portuguese merchants noted that the people of Vijayanagara, particrly those in the capital, enjoyed rtivelyfortable clothing and living. Andre, taken aback by the bustling scene, turned to Laksh and inquired, "Hey, Landon, is it normally this busy?" He hadn''t anticipated such a constant hustle and bustle throughout the year.


    In response to the question, Laksh exined, "No, Sir, you are fortunate. Your visit aligns with Yugadi, which is why so many people have gathered here." Andre, grasping the significance, remarked, "Oh, it''s some sort of festival. That makes sense." He observed the saffron colour adorning the streets, realizing its cultural and religious significance among the local poption. To Andre, it seemed akin to white for Christianity and green for Im, serving as a distinctive identifier for the indigenous people. Though puzzled about their allegiance, especially considering his Christian perspective, Andre refrained from making any hasty moves. Considering King Alphonzo''s interest in forming an alliance with the Vijayanagara Empire, he suppressed his uneasiness and continued with the trip.


    Alphonso, curious about Yugadi, inquired, "If you don''t mind me asking, Landon, what is this Yugadi you talk about?"


    Laksh exined, "Oh, that. The word Yugadies from the Sanskrit words Yuga (age) and adi (start), which literally trantes to the beginning of an age or, in simpler terms, the New Year that you Europeans celebrate."


    Surprised, one of the merchants asked, "Oh! Do you have the same calendar as us?"


    Laksh shook his head and replied, "No, Sir, our calendar is different from yours. Yours records the rotation of the Earth with respect to the Sun, while ours ounts for the time of Earth''s revolution with respect to both the Sun and the Moon. The only simrity between our calendars would be the number of months, which is 12, and the number of days in a month, ranging from approximately 28 to 31."


    "Oh, aren''t you guys also deceived by that guy Nichs Copernicus? I don''t believe in his nonsense about how the world revolves around the sun. Looks like you were also deceived by him. Obviously, it is the sun that revolves around the earth," voiced one skeptical merchant. Among the group, some nodded in agreement, others expressed disagreement, and the rest remained silent. These differences in opinions highlighted the prevailing skepticism within Europe as a whole regarding Nichs Copernicus'' radical theory that the Earth, along with others, rotates around the sun. The ongoing debate over this theory intrigued the Portuguese merchants, who were surprised to discover that this indigenous nation had embraced the same astronomical system.


    Laksh, perplexed by the merchants'' reference to someone named Nichs Copernicus, sought further rification on the connection between this figure and their calendar. After a more in-depth inquiry, he learned that these Westerners had only recentlye to ept the established fact that the Earth revolves around the sun, a mere hundred years ago in 1543. The theory still faces bacsh in some parts. With a touch of pride, Laksh responded, "No, Sir. This theory was not established by Copernicus. We had knowledge of the Earth''s revolution around the sun, along with the rest of thes, even a thousand years ago. Our Vedas and Jyotishya (Astrology) clearly point it out. Furthermore, our understanding of the Earth as a spherical shape dates back even further. In one of the depictions of Sree Vishnu, he holds the Earth, represented as a sphere on his tusks in one of his Avatars."


    Hearing this, the merchants were confused by what Landon was saying. The ones who sailed across the world and finally confirmed that the Earth is round wondered how these indigenous people knew this. They were skeptical. But, seeing as how he said it was already present in the Vedas and other religious books, they did not want to question it directly to avoiding off as offensive.


    If Vijay knew what they were thinking, he would have encouraged them to ask questions because he knew why they were hesitating. It was because the only major religions the Europeans have to deal with now are the Muslims, who are in some way more radical than them, and the already backward and barely alive Nordic religion. So, they have nevere into proximity to Dharmik religions, which do not depend on conversion to spread their faith but happen naturally, as each individual is given their own way to reach God on the tform of Dharmik Principles. All the religions in the Dharmik system have this feature inmon.


    As they continued to discuss the topic, the rest of the merchant group moved forward. They could see many shops, some selling clothes, some selling handicrafts, and some selling shoes or hats. Porcin crafts and normal pottery crafts, All kinds of decoration for homes, flowers stitched in a m. They couldn''tprehend how colourful the streets were. It looked like the whole street had be a decorated artistic masterpiece. People of manyplexions gathered together in this shopping carnival before the arrival of Yugadi. Unimaginably expensive items like sugar, salt, and spices were sold at what the merchants considered to be rtively cheap prices. They made their way to an intersection. They could see a special shop. This shop was normal, like any other shop, but there were a few differences that made it unique. One was that there was no crowd going in and out of the shop like all the other shops on this main road. The second one was that the front of the shop was made of coloured ss, indicating that the shop owner was a wealthy person.


    To Be Continued... P.S. I wanted to finish the Merchants Visit arc in this chapter only, but as I continued to write it became 3000 words, so I had to split the chapter. The next chapter is thest, I promise.

 Chapter 138 Portuguese Merchants Visit Part : 5 (END)

    Chapter 138 Portuguese Merchants Visit Part : 5 (END)


    When the merchants showed interest in visiting the shop, Laksh''splexion visibly grew nervous, as he did not want to meet that woman again. Despite his apprehension, seeing that the merchants still wanted to go inside the shop, he swallowed his nervousness and reluctantly let towards the door.


    "Aye, loaper!, this is how I make it. If you want, you take it, or else get lost."


    "How can you say such a thing? I just wanted you to make a small alteration here. Why are you acting like this? Do you know who my father is?"


    "Idiot! Even You don''t know your own father. Why are you asking me? Get lost before I punch you in the face."


    Laksh stood there in a daze as his heart dropped. Soon, a young man dressed in silk attire stormed out of the shop with tears in his eyes. The merchants did not understand what the ruckus was about, so they asked, "Landon, what is that about? Why did that young man run away?"


    "Ah, ah, he got his heart broken, Yes, he got his heart broken, " Laksh said in a hurry.


    "Ohh, no wonder," they thought as they looked in the direction the boy ran off and had a look of pity in their eyes. As they remembered their own dark histories, a sigh audibly came out of everyone''s mouth as they decided to enter the shop.


    As the merchants entered the shop, Laksh at the back joined his hands and prayed to God, hoping for nothing bad to happen. He soon entered the shop as if he were going for a big battle.


    Entering the shop, they saw silk sarees embroidered with various artistic designs spread alongside the wall, like wallpaper. They even saw the white skirt with artistic embroidery colours. They even saw many small artistic pieces that looked like paintings made from clothes. The entry of this group of white men soon caught Latha''s attention as she stared at them, singling out a familiar face among them. She flicked her head as if asking, ''What''s up with these men?


    Seeing Latha''s gesture, Laksh soon answered in a nervous tone, "Big... big Sister, these are the foreign guests from Portugal who came to visit our workshops. You might not have noticed, but we also visited your family''s workshop, but you were very upied. So I did not have a chance to introduce you to this gentleman."


    "OK then. Hey, why are you shaking? Answer correctly. I am not going to beat you or something," she said with a nk expression that sent shivers down Laksh''s spine. He could still remember the beatings he took from her when they were studying in the Gurukul. One day, while he and his friends were messing with each other like boys, his friend pushed him. Unfortunately for him, he ended up stepping on Latha''s new Chudidhar. After that, he saw how this good-looking little girl turned into a fierce tigress and punched him in the stomach. Subsequently, she punched his face as he bent down in pain it was abo. After sprawling on the ground, she did not show mercy and started kicking him. Starting from that day, he had developed a fear of this girl.


    Alexio, remembering that he still had to buy a gift for Rajesh, the Minister of Trade and Commerce, soon came to the counter and asked, "I want to buy a gift for a distinguished person in the Empire. Can this miss please suggest what would be appropriate? Money is not a problem; I can afford it." He said with a broad expression.


    Latha, not understanding, turned her head towards Laksh for him to quickly trante what they said.


    After hearing the tranted request, she asked, "Married?" Instead of tranting, Laksh nodded his head, as he could guess who Alexio was referring to.


    Latha thought for a while and brought out her newly designed peacock-patterned Doti and a matching saree to go with it. "This is my best design. Only I can do it in the Empire. After many tries, I finally figured out how to use gold and silver threads as normal threads. And be careful; you should not wash these clothes. Well, you could wash them if you are not worried about putting your money down the drain. On the other note, if you do end up washing them and I do find out, I will not only not sell you anything else, but I will also beat you up."


    She said with a contemting expression as if she did not just threaten to beat someone up for no reason. Laksh knew she would do what she said, so he tranted everything she said except the part where she started to derail and talk about how money was down the drain and how she would beat them up.


    Alexioid his hands on the ivory white dress and a red saree with gold threading, adorned with a peacock symbol as small ents made with gold and silver.


    "Oh wow. I like this a lot. Excellent. Excellent. I have never seen craftsmanship like this," Alexio eximed. Looking at the delicate clothes, he thought to himself, "Looks like the reputation for Indian clothes is not false." Feeling a little tempted, he continued, "Your designs are extraordinary, Madam. So I would like to order two separate sets. One with the original design and one more with my family crest on it. Changing the design of the clothes simr to the Portuguese one would be very appreciated."


    "Noo! " Laksh got scared out of his wits, as what he didn''t want to happen happened. But still, he had to trante the words honestly.


    Hearing the request, Latha''s face became more ruddy as she was getting angrier and angrier.


    "Hey, ash-faced asshole, how did you say that you want me to change my designs? whatever I do, that is my final design. No one should change it. Louday."


    "At first sight, you looked like a fat pig. How can you understand my art?"


    "Hey, what are you seeing? Like buffoons. NinAmmun... Go away."


    "....."


    "...."


    "...."


    Before this could go on further, Laksh quickly ran over the counter and pulled Lata inside the room. A few momentster, they both came back after she had calmed down, she looked like she was in a better mood. But it was Laksh who looked like he suffered, with a red mark on his face and a few tears that he was trying to hold back.


    "Hey, what happened? Is there anything wrong?"


    The merchants asked.


    "No, nothing. She just said that the clothes could be redesigned."


    Laksh said, not revealing what she actually said.


    Alexio was skeptical because the woman seemed very angry and was going on and on about something. He was very certain that what she was saying was not good.


    "Are you sure? She looked like she was saying something else."


    "Absolutely. That is what she said."


    Laksh said, not revealing what she actually said. He clenched his fist tightly, determined to take the secret with him to the grave.


    But this exchange quickly ended as he convinced Latha to sell the clothes to the merchants for the sake of international rtions. That was the word he used, which convinced the brute who was actually patriotic.


    The shopping spree was over as they quickly met up with Rajesh in his office. Alexio, as soon as he saw Rajesh, quickly knelt forward and fell to Rajesh''s feet, apologizing.


    "I am very sorry for my arrogance I had shown in the beginning. My eyes have opened, and I would like to have friendly rtions and exchanges with you, Sir."


    He said as he quickly got up and presented the clothes he had brought from Lata''s shop. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Rajesh was really surprised as the arrogant white man fell to his feet and apologized. He was very taken aback by these events that had unfolded in front of him. "Who thought them all this ?" He thought as he sidelong nced at Laksh, only to see that Laksh was acting as if he hadn''t seen him. finally, he understood what happened, And quickly Had the guest get up and sit down on the chair. But he had to say, having the arrogant Whiteman apologize to him, felt a little bit better, so he decided not to punish Laksh too much.


    Next, the discussions took ce about the export of cement and paper. Both its technologies and products. Hearing the request, Rajesh quickly shook his head in denial.


    "I am sorry, gentlemen. Both these technologies are core technologies of Vijayanagar and will not be exchanged for anything. While paper will not be exported as it is still in short supply in our empire, cement could be considered for export. But keep in mind that only the product will be exported, not the technology."


    Despite the disappointing turn of events, there was a silver lining. The procurement of 4000 tonnes of cement provided the Portuguese with an opportunity to test its efficacy and assess its potential value. The paper, though not a priority, surprised them with its quality and scale, making it more cost-effective than their own production. The absence of it, however, did not pose a significant concern.


    The Portuguese merchants concluded their trip by cing more orders for the future. Satisfied with their dealings, they filled their 150 ships with cargo brimming with profitable Indian goods, departing with a sense of contentment and anticipation for the sess of their ventures.


    P.S. Offensive Scale (1-10)


    1. loaper, No English equivalent Word. (6)


    2. Louday,No English equivalent Word. (8-9)


    3. NinAmmun , MF (9-10)


    User discretion is needed When Using The Words, as The Scale ranking could depend on the context of the situation, in one situation Loaper could be 9 or 2 in another.

 Chapter 139 YUGADI ( 1654 )

    139 YUGADI ( 1654 )


    Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi, In The pce grounds.


    The young man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, engaged in a breathtaking disy of swordy, skillfully dancing with the weapon. Dressed in a dhoti and bare-chested on the top, he exuded a masculine aura, amplified by a scattering of chest hair. He possessed well-defined 8-pack abs that contracted rhythmically with each agile movement and breath, adding to the magnificence.


    The sword''s dance gained speed, apanied by the sound of "swish swish," as sweat trickled down his muscr back. Despite the smoothness of his light brownplexion, the presence of scar marks on his back and chest contributed to an aura of fearsomeness rather than detracting from it. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Moving to his face, the young man possessed an angr and well-proportioned visage, with deep ck eyes mirroring the night sky. Long, ck hair was elegantly tied in a high ponytail. However, the delicacy of his facial features was offset by a distinctive feature¡ªa missing piece of flesh around the ear, suggesting a past injury that added an edge to his appearance.


    Physically, he boasted the athletic build of a swimmer¡ªstriking a bnce between strength and agility.


    "Gh..." With a grunt, the man jumps in the air as he incorporates some kicks, sessfully stabbing into the air. Aiming forward, heunches hisst blow at a tree.


    "sh." With the sh, a deep mark is formed on the tree as the leaves fall.


    The person is none other than Vijay Devaraya, the emperor of Vijayanagara, who turned 24 this year.


    "Pant...pant!"


    Vijay stood there, panting, his gaze slowlynding on the tree where he left the sword mark. Ever since he participated in the Dutch war, he has been practising Kripayattu (martial arts) whenever he had the time. With him being thrown into conflict with the Mughals again, he honed hisbat capabilities well in numerous skirmishes he led during the remation battle.


    Looking at the tree, Vijay was surprised by seeing the mark he left behind on the trunk. As he had been missing for a year, he could tell that the mark he left before was prominently lower than the mark he left now. Suddenly, it hits him that he has grown taller since he first got reborn in this body at the age of 20. Just from the looks of it, he is positive that he is at least 6 feet 4 inches (193.04 cm), which is way above average for an Indian. When he was just reborn, he was no more than 6 feet tall, but in just a span of four years, he had grown five inches. He couldn''t find any exnation for this phenomenon except for his unusual brain, which hosts the knowledge of a whole civilization that may have given him a stronger and more robust body to properly host the brain.


    "Sigh, it has already been four years, huh?"


    He thought to himself as he picked up a towel, which was on the wooden shelf nearest to him. As he wiped away the sweat on his body, Kavya arrived bringing with her a powder of Shikakai (Acacia concinna, Used as shampoo). Kavya has grown a lot since he married her at the age of 16; now she is 20 years old.


    Vijay, being an uncle in his previous life, did not have the fetish of a Lolita, so he waited until she was 18 to engage in sexual activities with her. Since then, she has grown up a lot.


    She has a height of 5 feet 6 inches (167.64 cm), which is considered tall among women, with ck eyes and hair like a waterfall cascading down to her waist. She also has Maratha women''s features on her face, giving her expression a little zing.


    She has a thin waist, not a waist like the models in his previous life, but a healthy and beautiful waist that is well-proportioned to the rest of her body. Being very tall, she has long and full legs and a prominent and well-proportioned back. As for the chest, due to Vijay''s hard work, he had brought her from a C cup to a 32D cup. Vijay smiled as Kavya walked towards him with a sway that made him crazy. He watched the chest shake with each step, and the barely visible slit on the chest made it more tempting, *gulp*; he haspletely fallen for this woman, who could very well be the most beautiful in the world, his wife.


    "Kyaa!"


    Kavya screamed as Vijay suddenly attacked her waist, grabbing her by it and pulling her closer to him. Without warning, he bit at her lips.


    "Mhhhhh, mhhhh."


    She struggled at first until a little moan escaped her mouth. Out of shame, her face turned red, and because of embarrassment, she started to hit Vijay with her small fists.


    Vijay found he liked her more when she was feisty.


    "Uhm," said Vijay, smiling as he let his little dear go. She pouted and ordered, "Let''s go, I will give you a bath." She said as she folded her hands in the same pouting expression, whichpressed her chest even more.


    Vijay soon agreed and went into the bathhouse to take a bath from the hands of his wife covering his hidden tent. As soon as he started taking a bath, he transformed from a domineering president from the web novels in his previous life to a little kitten who screamed at every turn. "Ah, pain, pain, slowly, slowly, it''s peeling off my skin! Wife, wife, please rub slowly," Vijay yelled like a girl afraid of needles. He could never figure out where she got so much strength; maybe it is the special superpower of all the wives and mothers. Giving the crybaby a bath made her clothes wet, revealing her alluring curves. As soon as Vijayid his eyes on it, he forgot his pain and quickly pulled her into his arms.


    "Kya!"


    "Husband, no, not now, kyaa," she screamed in panic, knowing very well what would happen next because it had been happening ever since he came back a few days ago. At first, she longed for Vijay who had been away for a year, but ever since he came back, she was made to suffer non-stop.


    But her resistance fueled the desire in Vijay''s heart more, as her resistance was soon proved to be futile.


    "??????"


    An hourter, a flushed Kavya left the bathhouse with embarrassment.


    Vijay came out of it looking refreshed and in high spirits. Soon, he wore his Pooja attire and went into the prayer room to pray for Lord Vishnu on this auspicious day of Yugadi. After offering fruits, flowers, and incense, he took out a book to read the Panchanga Shravanam. Usually, this is done by the head of the family, but as Vijay is the only one left in the Devaraya family, he has to take on the duties. So, he read the Hindu almanack for the year, which predicts the weather, crops, and other important events for theing year.


    There are some things in his culture that surprise him deeply, even as a man of science. The Panchanga Shravanam is one of them, not because it is too urate in predicting the weather or anything like that (though it is urate most of the time), but because it is very precise when ites to identifying the important events of the year. What surprises him the most is that during these important events, the weather is almost always consistent.


    For example, in hisst life, whenever he remembered, on Deepavali or Ganesha Chaturthi, it would always rain on that specific week and not on the next week. The surprising part is that the days for both Ganesha Chaturthi and Diwali are not fixed throughout the year; they change sometimes, even within a range of a month from thest festival to the next one. How the weather will be simr on this specific day remains a mystery for him.


    After reading the Panchanga Shravanam, he went to the balcony to see Kavya ordering the maids to draw colourful Rangoli all over the pce road. During the time Vijay was away, she had more time to dedicate to her art, and the new designs drawn all over the pce road showed how much effort she put into it.


    Vinod, the butler, was also not free as he ordered the servants to hang the torana (mango leaf door decoration, put up in festivities) at all the doors in the castle.


    Around 11:00, the Pachadi, a festive dish, was meticulously prepared. Vijay took a moment to taste the sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter, and astringent vours embodied in this dish¡ªan emblematic representation of the festival''s essence. This culinary creation served as a reminder that life is a blend of diverse experiences, much like the varied tastes encapsted in the Pachadi. It carried a profound message, urging individuals to embrace the mixture of vours¡ªsymbolic of life''s diverse experiences, both positive and challenging, and to persist in moving forward, weing the start of a bright New Year.


    Vijay remembered from hisst life having a simr, civilian version of it, which was bevu-be, representing the sweet and sourness of life with bitter leaves and jaggery.


    It was lunchtime when his uncle Ravi Shetty and his chikamma (Aunt) arrived; the atmosphere was very festive as the family members all had their lunch.


    In the evening, Kavya left the pce to visit various rtives bearing gifts and sending greetings personally. In the meantime, Vijay and his uncle Ravi Shetty talked about business.


    Vijay found himself taken aback when his uncle inquired about the possibility of improving the efficiency of paper-making. The surge in demand for paper had been noticeable, particrly with the growing number of schools. Despite the students primarily using tes for writing, the expandingwork of schools, where teachers still relied on paper, contributed to an increasing demand. This trend indicated a need for enhanced paper production efficiency to meet the rising and continuous demand in the evolving educationalndscape.


    Thinking about it, Vijay promised his uncle that the problem would be solved soon.


    Upon Kavya''s return, a stream of officials'' wives graced the asion, bearing gifts and extending greetings. As the key holder in the pce and the person in charge of all matters, Kavya weed them graciously. In return, she offered Harshana (turmeric) for the cheeks, Kumkuma (Saffron) for the forehead, and malli flowers for the hair (Arabian Jasmine), symbolizing traditional hospitality and warmth.


    The day concluded with Vijay crafting a Ugadi resolution to bolster the Vijayanagar economy and fortify alliances with potential allies in the uing year. With a long day behind him, he gradually drifted into sleep, having received the report from Logananda earlier in the day. The reason for the dy was left unanswered by Logananda, who assured Vijay that all the pertinent details would be found within the report.


    P.S. I request all the Indian Readers to exin the nuances to any Non-Indian Readers. Thanks. The timeline will be counted seriously from Now.


    Like it ? Add to library£¡


    Mithun_ReddyGaru

 Chapter 140 Casualty Report And Area Expansion

    140 Casualty Report And Area Expansion


    Vijay returned to Vijayanagara a week ago after settling matters in the newly upied regions. Instead of immediately diving into his workload, he took a well-deserved break of two days to recover from the exhaustion caused by constant battles throughout thest year and to enjoy the festival. After this short break, he finally took the time to review the report Logananda had submitted to him two days prior.


    To his dismay, the report, which should have been ready in just a few days after the battle, took a few months. Vijay was quite unhappy with Logananda for the dy. Yet, he soon learned that there had been some difficulty with the data collection. When he heard this from the marshal, he was genuinely surprised. Initially, he thought the old man might be pulling his leg, but considering Logananda''s character, he shook his head in denial. Still, it was hard to believe that data collection could be so challenging, especially when Roshan was fully cooperating with their search.


    However, Yogananda hinted that the reason for the slow data collection might be rted to the Secret Service. This revtion caught Vijay by surprise, given that the Secret Service was directly under his control. How could he be hindering the Army''s work? Dismissing these perplexing thoughts, he set them aside and focused on the battle report, beginning to read it.


    The report began by detailing the casualty report, providing the following information: The initial army used to conquer the main strongholds of the Mughal Empire consisted of 100,000 soldiers who were well-trained, and many of them were battle-tested after the Dutch War. Fifty thousand soldiers were headed by Ramaiya Senapati, leading a campaign to Mumbai through the Navy. Fifteen thousand soldiers were led by Kiran Pujari, campaigning to Panh Fort, and another fifteen thousand soldiers were led by Yogendra Singh, campaigning to Ratanpur Fort. Lastly, twenty thousand soldiers were led by Narasimha Nayak, capturing Paradip Port Town, Cuttack City, Puri, and Bhubaneswar.


    The campaigns were sessful within a week as intended, but it took a lot of casualties to make this happen. In the Mumbai battle led by Ramaiya Senapati and Vijay, there were 618 casualties on the ships, 2318 casualties of the infantry, and an additional 1569 casualties as the heavily injured soldiers could not be rescued. Further losses urred as the army moved to secure their foothold on the maind. In total, at least 5000 people ended up diseased, leaving the Mumbai army with 45,000 soldiers. This figure is not terrible considering the Mughal Empire also had at least 50,000 soldiers in the Mumbai region. The advanced weapons and better naval capabilities saved a lot of manpower.


    During the raid on Paradip port, Narasimha Nayak incurred a total of 9,000 casualties, with the majority being infantry. Naval casualties were minimal, thanks to a sessful ambush, but ground skirmishes ounted for most of the casualties. In the battle, 7,000 individuals lost their lives, and an additional 2,000 couldn''t be saved due to severe injuries. While the data might suggest a significant number of casualties concedering that Vijayanagara had superior equipmentpared to the Mughals, Additionally, the Mughal Empire only had a 5,000-soldier advantage over Narasimha''s 20,000-strong army. However, therger distances Narasimha had to cover to secure victory and establish Vijayanagara rule in Odisha must be taken into ount. Viewed from this perspective, Narasimha Nayak sessfully gained full control of Odisha with only 9,000 casualties. The remaining 11,000 soldiers were utilized to establish control over local towns in Odisha, contributing to the sess of the Final battle, as the eastern front was secured and the reinforcements flowed through smoothly.


    The attack on the furthermost point was led by Yogendra Singh, who utilized 15,000 soldiers to take on 25,000 soldiers of the Mughal Empire. As they were not fighting in a head-on battle, the casualties were rtively eptable considering the 10,000 soldier Gap, with 6000 killed in battle and 2200 who could not be saved due to heavy injuries. Bringing the total casualties to 8200 soldiers, leaving only 6800 soldiers remaining to guard Ratanpur Fort.


    The attack on Panh Fort was led by Kiran Poojari, who controlled an army of 15,000 soldiers. The casualties in this battle were very severe, as nearly 70% of the soldiers were wiped out. There were 8000 casualties during the frontal battle, and 2500 more casualties who could not be saved and were heavily injured, leaving a total of 10,500 casualties and only 4500 capable soldiers. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Reading this report again, Vijay did not feel like he wanted to punish Kiran Poojary. As he further participated in the following battles, he knew how unpredictable these battles could be.


    During the one-year-long battle, a Mughal soldier wandered out of the camp in a secret route, carrying a tied-up woman on his back. The woman was struggling, indicating that he intended to harm her. He had to kidnap the woman because she was eyed by his captain, but he had taken a liking for her. With no other option, he chose to do it secretly and kill her after his work. Fortunately for him, in his attempt to find a hidden ce, he stumbled upon the Vijayanagar armyying a trap. Seeing this, he quickly tied up the woman to a tree, ran back, and informed the Mughal general, leading to the full destruction of an artillery toon. Unfortunately, the toon was using arge cannon, which was then confiscated by the Mughal army.


    Ever since then, Vijay started to think more three-dimensionally, considering backup ns whenever something happened. So he did not put much me on Kiran Poojary, especially when he fought against a veteran general like Aamir Ali Khan, whom even Logananda respected. To add on top of the troubles, he was facing a well-trained veteran army of 30,000 soldiers. Now that he looks at it, he is surprised how they won at all.


    Overall, By the end of the battle, Vijayanagara was left with 67,300 soldiers out of 100,000, and all of this happened within the first week of upying the main strongholds.


    Then started the gruelling battle that took a whole year toplete. In this long battle, more soldiers were invested. Ten thousand soldiers were recruited and trained at a time. Within Six months of the start of the battle, 70,000 extra soldiers were recruited, but the casualties still kept piling up. Although Vijayanagara had better military equipment, the Mughals utilized at least 50% more soldiers than them, making the further ind battles more and more difficult as the logistic channels were getting stretched. Within the seventh month of the battle, 30,000 soldiers were recruited again, making Vijayanagara invest a total of 200,000 soldiers in the whole battle.


    22:26


    Then started the gruelling battle that took a whole year toplete. In this long battle, more soldiers were invested. Ten thousand soldiers were recruited and trained at a time. Within Six months of the start of the battle, 70,000 extra soldiers were recruited, but the casualties still kept piling up. Although Vijayanagara had better military equipment, the Mughals utilized at least 50% more soldiers than them, making the further ind battles more and more difficult as the logistic channels were getting stretched. Within the seventh month of the battle, 30,000 soldiers were recruited again, making Vijayanagara invest a total of 200,000 soldiers in the whole battle.


    The culmination of these concerted efforts for a whole year and the backing of the Vijayanagara Empire, which was running on overdrive, resulted in the ultimate triumph following the decisive engagementmanded by Logananda Senapathi. However, the theatre of war was far from amodating. Out of the deployment of 200,000 troops, a mere 127,300 soldiers endured, retaining their operational capability. This marked a substantial 36.5% Death rate, tranting to a staggering total of 72,700 casualties, which equates to the loss of approximately 14 brigades. To put it into perspective, Vijay''s father only used 10 brigades to be stationed at the border. That is how huge the casualties were seen in this war.


    "Sigh."


    Vijay sighed, as he would have never imagined that it would lead to so many casualties. But he recovered the next moment, having gone through a lot in the past year and built up a good mental defence. What cheered his mood was thend captured by Vijayanagar. Looking at this data, a smile ran across his face very fast because, after this one year of struggle, Vijayanagara had its area doubled.


    Before the war, it was at 701,390 square kilometres, including thend area of Sri Lanka, which is 65,610 square kilometres. But after this year-long war, it upied therge area of Maharashtra, which spread 307,773 square kilometres, Chhattisgarh, which spread 138,495 square kilometres, along with Odisha, which spread 155,702 square kilometres. This brought the total area of Vijayanagara to 1,303,360 square kilometres, making it one of thergest countries in the world.


    To put this area in perspective, when Vijay took his throne, thend area of the Vijayanagar Empire was just over 635,780 square kilometres. After the two major wars, with the Dutch and the Mughals, thend area of Vijayanagar increased by 105% along with the boost of poption and resources that came with it.


    Vijayanagara, with a poption of at least 35,000,000 people, now faces the significant challenge of incorporating an additional 30,000,000 individuals due to the recent territorial expansion. This sudden poption surge presents a considerable headache for the empire. Each region in the newly upied areas speaks its own distinctnguage, each with its rich history. Forcing them to learn South Indiannguages poses a formidable challenge. Until now, Telugu and Kannada have been the officialnguage, and court meetings were conducted in Sanskrit. The Empire had been lenient with othernguages, avoiding potential cultural identity issues.


    However, the Tamilians proved to be a more challenging group within the empire. Their cultural identity has deep historical roots, and Tamil, although not as ancient as Sanskrit, predates many present and futurenguages in Bharat. Integrating Tamilians became particrly difficult, considering their influential Ch Empire in the past, which reached from coastal India to Southeast Asian countries in the My Penins (1014-1044 CE). The Ch Empire had extensive trade and diplomatic rtions, even with the Chinese. On top of that, they had thergest navy the world has ever seen during the time the British were still duking it out with the Vikings, and the ships they made were notparable even to the Vikings. Such a rich cultural and military heritage of the Tamilians became a pain in the ass for the integration process. Fortunately, after hundreds of years, they have somewhat calmed down.


    It took so long to integrate the people, and Vijayanagara only had to deal with the four majornguages in Southern India, which the Vijayanagara Empire ruled ¨C Tamil, Telugu, Mym, and Kannada. Now, adding morenguages with hundreds of different dialects for each small region would be an impossible task. Vijay knew that this was one of the reasons why the Bharatiya empires never stood for a long time.


    Although the three states that were upied are peaceful now, that is because they just left the oppressive rule of the Mughal Empire. So they are very epting of the new Vijayanagar Empire, which they consider from the same root. But as time goes on, the cultural identity they have formed for thousands of years and the rich cultural heritage they have won''t let them be satisfied being under foreign rule. Even though theye from the same roots, the riots that happened in the three states are a major example of it. Although most of it was instigated by the separatist forces behind the scenes, many people were still tempted by the idea of an independent kingdom, so a lot of civilians participated, which shows that using normal means will never be able to integrate these three states into the Vijayanagar Empire and will always be ticking time bombs. Though brute force could be one way, like the Mughals and the British, such rule will alwayse to an end. When the main oppressor shows a little bit of weakness, the people will start rioting, making the weakness even more evident; it is not possible to stay strong always after all.


    This is not the kind of Empire Vijay wants. No, he doesn''t want this kind of empire. He wants a united Empire where every culture, andnguage, with different types of people huddle together in tough times to get through the immediate troubles. They get together to make the empire a better ce, an empire where the world will fear to cross, an empire where the world will yearn to live, an empire where all its people will be raising their heads in pride, an empire where the world is influenced, the one and only Akanda Bharathiya Empire.


    In order to achieve that lofty goal, he has to find amon factor linking every school of thought, every religion, every tribe, every male, female, young, and old together. And he couldn''t think of anything more than a Bharatiya Empire which every Culture of Bharat agrees with. And he needs to implement a unified officialnguage that connects all these people together.


    His blood boiled just thinking about these thoughts. But for his n to work, he needs to do the groundwork for at least the next six months.


    The next topic got his attention as the whole details made him frown. He couldn''t help but stop reading the document and quickly summoned Roshan and the other top officers in the Secret Service, along with the four military generals.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 141 Secret Society?

    141 Secret Society?


    By the time Vijay waited for the arrival of Roshan and the rest of the military generals, he took out a paper and wrote down all the intellectuals'' names he could recall from his memory who were still alive. Unfortunately, the really famous ones have already passed away, but there were still a few. After fully writing down whoever came to mind, he called for Vinod.


    "Hey, Vinod. Send someone to fetch these people on the list. The matter is very important. So, first, invite them to Vijayanagara with hospitality. But if they resist, just pick them up with their families and quietly send them to the Vijayanagara Empire. Make sure that the Mughals catch no wind of it."


    Although this approach seems excessive, Vijay is running out of time. He wants to fully integrate the Empire as soon as possible. If A longer time is taken, and the newly upied territories will no longer be able to be suppressed by peaceful means. Violence will have to be used, and once violence is used, a clear line will be drawn between the newly upied territories and the Vijayanagara Empire. Obviously, Vijay does not want that to happen.


    Vinod, the butler, looked at the list and quickly epted the orders.


    "It will be done, Your Highness." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Oh yes, Vinod. Make sure to send only the people working in the castle on this mission. I don''t want even the Secret Service to know of this news. Alright?"


    "It will be done, Your Majesty."


    The people Vijay wrote on the list were renowned intellectuals he could find in the current era, including great sages like Tukaram, who was supposed to be dead in 1650 due to an assassination. But given that the timeline has changed a lot, he is positive that there is a high chance this great man is still alive. Even people from other faiths, like Sikhism, were invited. Even the potential schrs who are yet to show their colours, like Bhai Mati Das, who was still 13 years old, and Bhai Nanl, who was still 21 years old, were also invited. Along with religious and cultural saints from Parsi, Jain, and Buddhist cultures.


    He even invited majornguage schrs throughout the nation. Schrs of the 22 recognizednguages of India in the 21st century were invited. Schrs of Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Mym, Manipuri, Marathi, Maithili, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Telugu, Tamil, and instead of Urdu, more tribalmunities were invited. While Vijay may say that he is inviting them, it is basically closer to kidnapping. All these things should be done under the radar of the Mughal Empire, and he is on a tight schedule. Fortunately, Vijayanagara still has a good intelligencework in the Mughal Empire.


    While the most important figures were left for Vinod to deal with, the rest of the schrs were left to the Secret Service to deal with. Going through all the details, he finally confirmed his n and needed to wait at least a month until all the people arrived.


    Finally, Roshan, along with the Top Secret Service agents like Selvan, quickly arrived at the pce, followed by the four military generals¡ªRamaiah Senapati, Narasimha Nayak, and Yogendra Singh, followed by Kiran Pujari. After everyone arrived, Vijay had them sit in front of him.


    "Look at this. What is this?" Vijay demanded. Everyone in the room was taken aback as they sensed the anger in Vijay''s words. They had been summoned hastily, and the urgency of the situation was palpable. As they delved into the details of the report, the reason for the summoning became apparent. The contents of the report revealed that during the Separatist riots in the newly upied territory, spontaneous uprisings erupted in various corners of the region. A staggering 1,600,000 people participated in these riots, and an army of 130,000 soldiers proved insufficient to suppress the chaos. Fortunately, the riots were scattered andcked unified control, preventing a coordinated resistance. Otherwise, capturing the three states would have been an impossible task.


    "Hey, tell me. Why did so many people participate in these riots? Weren''t they getting freedom from the Mughals? Now tell me what the reason is."


    Vijay sternly questioned everyone. They looked at each other''s faces, unable to understand why His Majesty was asking a question that was already answered. But still, they had to answer this question. With a grave expression, Narasimha Nayak answered, "Your Highness, isn''t that because of the instigation of some people from behind?"


    Hearing this vijay denied, "No. They just gained freedom from the Mughals. And they won''t just suddenly start rioting when a random persones along and promises them such lofty things as an independent kingdom. The people who have been suffering for so long will be looking for more stability, not more fights to break out."


    Next, it was Yogendra Singh who asked, "Your Highness, then couldn''t it be because the Mughal Empire instigated them to do so? Could it be that they really wanted their own kingdom?" Yogendra said, which left everyone deep in thought.


    But Vijay shook his head as he replied, "No, that is not possible. Ever since we captured the new territory, we have been spreading the message of equal rights, equal opportunities, freedom of cultural beliefs, and all such things. On top of that, even if some people really want an independent kingdom, as I said earlier, they want stability first. And then, when stability is reached, they would strive for their own kingdom. But not like this, where 1.6 million people stood up to resist our rule."


    Everyone became silent, especially Roshan, who bowed his head, as he had a vague guess about what could have happened. But he did not have any evidence to prove his theory, so he stayed silent. But it was the new rising star, Selvan, who rose up to the task as he said, "Your Majesty, I know the reason."


    Vijay was surprised when Selvan stood up. If he remembered correctly, Selvan was the new rising star in the Secret Service who fully helped integrate Sri Lanka into the Vijayanagar Empire. Due to this credit, he was promoted to the first echelon of power in the Secret Service. That was the reason why he was allowed to sit here with all these prominent figures.


    Selvan quickly stood up and responded, "Yes, Your Highness, It''s Like This. I noticed an unusual activity just after the riots started taking ce. So, I investigated deeply and found out the reason. I prepared a detailed report; please take a look, Your Highness." Saying that he passed on the document he had prepared before. After Vijay got the document, he motioned Selvan to continue.


    "When the riots started happening, I noticed a lot of these rioters seemingly had some sort of hatred towards the Vijayanagar army. They seemed to think that we were simr to the Mughal Empire. Surprisingly, a lot of members of the separatist forces also thought the same. So, I went around investigating the civilians and found out about the atrocities the soldiersmitted during the battle. But when I further investigated the internal situation of the Secret Service, I was relieved to find that all the top officers and leaders had nothing to do with these atrocities.


    However, when investigating, I ran into a group of suspicious agents nestled in lower ranks. And when I further investigated, I was shocked to say that these people were living such avish lifestyle. Following the thread these agents left behind, I was also able to trace this group inside the army. So, Your Highness, I highly suspect a dark organization entrenched inside the Vijayanagar Army and the Secret Service is slowly formed."


    This revtion took everyone by surprise. Even the generals were shocked, ring at him, as iming that there was a secret organization lurking in their army was tantamount to using them of harbouring criminals. Vijay, on the other hand, raised his eyebrows, taken aback. However, Selvan soon continued his speech.


    "The secret organization was not formed under anyone''s leadership. It originated during the one-year battle. Some greedy officials, soldiers, and agents of the army and the Secret Service wanted to enjoy more benefits than they had at the moment. The amount of money they were seeing every day, which was confiscated from the Mughals and did not belong to them, fueled their lust for money. So, spontaneously, they started to form a hugework of contacts within a certain part of the army to sessfully steal money, jewels, and property. This society started within the army, but when the Secret Service got wind of the news, unfortunately, it did not reach the ears of Master Roshan. On the contrary, even the Secret Service was getting corrupted.


    With the avability of both information and power, these activities became more rampant. However, they were still controlled during the war. But just after the war, they saw an opportunity and started to rob the nobles on their own. This granted them more wealth than they could imagine. Seeing the wealth, the greed to overpower their senses was stimted highly. Because of this, they started to rob viges and evenmoners'' homes. Since there was still no judicial or police force in the newly upied areas, they took it as an opportunity to run rampant.


    I''ve looked into the matter with the civilians in the upied territories, and many of them reported incidents of their neighbours'' homes being robbed by the Vijayanagara army. There are also distressing reports of Rape of a few girls in their town, and the wrongdoers were identified as individuals wearing the Vijayanagar emblem on their uniform. Your Majesty, from what I''ve gathered, it appears that due to theck of direct oversight in their society, lower-level soldiers and officers believed they could go unnoticed, especially with the assistance of The Secret Service agents. Typically, these agents are the first collectors of news, so by cutting off information about the society and filtering outints from the people, they made it easier for these actions to ur without immediate detection.


    22:27


    I''ve looked into the matter with the civilians in the upied territories, and many of them reported incidents of their neighbours'' homes being robbed by the Vijayanagara army. There are also distressing reports of Rape of a few girls in their town, and the wrongdoers were identified as individuals wearing the Vijayanagar emblem on their uniform. Your Majesty, from what I''ve gathered, it appears that due to theck of direct oversight in their society, lower-level soldiers and officers believed they could go unnoticed, especially with the assistance of The Secret Service agents. Typically, these agents are the first collectors of news, so by cutting off information about the society and filtering outints from the people, they made it easier for these actions to ur without immediate detection.


    Fortunately, with the help of Sir Aditya, who had a lot of subordinates who were very local to the upied areas, we noticed this problem soon. And collected all the information about the members of this hidden society. If left alone, this could form into a real organization that ispletely entrenched inside the armed forces of the Vijayanagara Empire, including both the army and intelligence."


    After hearing the whole news, Vijay was shocked as he couldn''t help but remember a simr organization in his previous timeline. It was none other than the KGB of the Soviet Union, which had the power of intelligence collection, assassination, espionage, and in some cases, the ability to arrest anyone without proper evidence. At one point, the KGB was so powerful that even the Secretary General of the Soviet Union had to get the support of the head of the KGB to secure his position. Vijay really did not want such an organization to appear in Vijayanagara, so he fully decided to take strict measures. He quickly opened the document Selvan gave him and was relieved that only 5000 people in the army were part of the secret society, along with 445 Secret Service agents. Although it is a lot, now that they have sessfully identified this cancer growing inside the Armed Forces and Security Agency, by taking swift action, the problem should be solved for the moment. But to ensure that this kind of thing does not happen again, there should be a department to check and bnce the intelligence department. Thinking of all this, a n started to run in his mind.


    "Roshan, this is your responsibility. Your six-month sry will be cut. As for you, generals, the same punishment. Six months of your sry will be cut."


    Everyone sighed in relief, as the punishment was eptable. It''s not that Vijay was going easy on them, but by further reading the report, he got to know that top officials were really clean and were not involved in this event. On top of that, he could not make this disaster public, as the newly upied territory would get restless. So he decided to let the news be that they were punished because of corrupt officials in their ranks.


    That night, Vijay ordered the execution of the top members of the secret society and the arrest of all the participants in the looting and massacring of civilians in the One-year battle.

 Chapter 142 Intellectuals Part: 1

    142 Intellectuals Part: 1


    Vijayanagara Empire, WardhaTown, Maharashtra.


    Inside the Wardha police station.


    "Please, enough. I won''t do it again. Please let me go this one time."


    "ah"


    ...


    Satish, the police officer of Wardha vige which has now turned into a town, is dealing with small-time petty thieves in the vige. Ever since the highway road was constructed in their vige, the flow of traffic has increased, and the whole vige has be more connected to the outside world than ever before. However, this has also brought new problems. Before, the concept of money was very vague, as everyone shared the same social status. In case of any difficulty, the vigers helped each other, but since the vige got connected to the higherwork of the Empire, this environment and unity are unfortunately slowly fading away. Because a few people in the vige got very rich, as theirnds were very near to the main road, and a few whosends were a little further back, their valuations increased substantially. But it can''t stand up to theparison of people. Since then, a few rich farmers were formed in the vige, and being people with no cultural background, they behaved like Nouveau riche, showing off their wealth.


    With the increase in foot traffic and new visitors, a new ss of people was formed. Having a shop has be a popr upation for the people in the vige. Some started to own inns, while others began owning hotels. Some specialized in taking care of horses when travelling merchants or anyone else came. This led to another group of people bing very rich. However, despite the prosperity, some people were left out. The infrastructure of the caste system is still deeply ingrained in the society. People of lower castes are ced on the outskirts of the vige, and their farms and fields are located far ind, a few kilometres away from the main road. Due to jealousy or suffering from the injustices imposed by society, lower-caste men were left with nothing to do but engage in menial jobs again. A few among these men started to go in the wrong way, engaging in shady activities like stealing from travelling merchants or extorting money from small-time shops.


    Because of that, they were caught today and arrested by Satish for teaching them a lesson. ording to the rules, he should be punishing them most severely. But seeing as how they are barely in their teens, he chose to warn them for the first time.


    "sigh" He let out an audible sigh, thinking about another task given to him by his boss. It was about finding a person who was a famous poet and intellectual. Where could Satish find him?


    Soon, his contemtion was disturbed by an old man who entered the police station. Seeing the old maning in, he regained a smile on his face as he greeted, "What brings the old man Nagappa here?" Nagappa, the vige chief,ughed and replied loudly, "He he. It''s not anything that you don''t know about, right, Police Saab?"


    You also know that we are constructing a house, Saab, so the Griha Pravesh Pooja (Home inauguration ceremony) for that is in a week. I came to inform you, so please don''t forget toe and have a meal. Again, it will be held in a week. Don''t forget, Saab.


    Satish, upon hearing the news, congratted the old man in a teasing manner. "Ha ha, looks like you have made a lot of money by setting up an inn, old man Nagga."


    "Ha ha, it''s all God''s blessing."


    "Hehe, that''s right, Naga. I will apologize to you right now. I am not able toe to your house''s inauguration ceremony. The boss has sent me an urgent task to fulfil, and it is a very important task. So I won''t be able to apany you at the event."


    " Oh, what a pity. I wanted to introduce you to someone. But if it is so important, what can I do Anything about it?" Nagappa said regretfully as he was nning to introduce his niece to Satish, as he thought that Satish could be a good match for marriage. "Sigh."


    "What Is the task that you are given anyway?" Nagappa asked curiously.


    Satish hesitated, torn between whether to disclose the information or not. However, given that several other significant towns faced the same requirements, he ultimately decided it was okey to share the details with the old man.


    "Ohh, it is nothing really. It is to find a famous Intellectual called Tukaram. Apparently, His Majesty wants to see him immediately, and we are put on the search. *sigh*, where can I find this Krishna devotee?" Satish said in self-pity.


    "Yeah, that is a hard thing to do. Where can you find this... Wait, Tukaram? A devotee of Lord Krishna. Isn''t that simr to Tukoba?" He said as he suddenly remembered a person with an identical description to what Satish said.


    Satish, who heard Nagappa''s exmation, suddenly stared at him with light in his eyes, as if his face could speak. ''What is it? What do you know? Tell me everything.''


    Seeing that face, Nagappa was taken aback, and he got the shivers as he quickly replied. "A few years ago, this monk came to our vige to seek a quiet ce to meditate. At that time, we were still isted from the outside happenings. When he first came, we just thought of him as a normal monk. But it was only when the temple priest said that this person was a very famous schr, intellectual, and musician, we got to know how big of a saint he was. But considering this identity, we were not willing to take him in because at that time, we did not have enough courage to do so, and there was still the rule of the Mughals. Famous religious figures were highly persecuted, so we did not want any trouble for the vige. But still, feeling guilty, with the intent to do the right thing and with the pleading of the temple priest, I pointed a ce to stay towards the hill at the back of the vige, as the animals there are less frequent, and there is a natural cave in it. From that day, it is a rumour in the vige that the monk lives in the back mountain, and asionally, some songs could be heard."


    Satish knew he got his man, so he did not dy as he quickly gathered a few of his constables and left to meet this monk. Within a few hours, they were at the foothills of the mountain. As they got up to the mountain, he was surprised to see an old man who looked like he was in his 50s sitting under a banyan tree meditating. There was even a sitarid beside him. They were hesitant to disturb this old man, but as they got closer, the old man opened his eyes and smiled.


    Without Satish uttering a word, the man started to chant a sloka.


    ????? ?????????? ?????? ??????


    ?? ??????? ???????? ????? ?????????????


    ?????????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????


    ??????? ???????? ????? ???????


    ?? ?????? , ?? ?????? .


    May all lifeform be well.


    Let No one suffer in any way.


    Lead us from darkness to light. Lead from misery to prosperity. O Vijaya , O Vijaya .


    After the sloka, he joined his hands and prayed to the heavens as he turned his head upwards. Later, with a calm attitude, he began toe towards Satish. Satish was still in stunned silence as he did not know what to expect next. But the next words of the old man broke his silence. "Are we not going to Vijayanagara, child? Let''s go."


    "Ah!.. OH!... Yes. Yes, Lord. Please, pleasee with me."


    Just like Tukaram, a lot of people were invited from inside the Vijayanagar Empire itself, which at present contains at least 9nguages, including thenguages of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Sri Lanka. Vijay, instead of Urdu, decided to invite a knowledgeable person from the Gondu tribe,monly found in the areas of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tngana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. Their history is also very long, longer than the Aryans. The Gond people are of Dravidian origin and can be traced back to the pre-Aryan era. The word "Gond"es from "Kond," which means "green mountains" in the Dravidiannguage. The Gond call themselves "Koi" or "Koiture," but generally, people call them Gond because they live in the green mountains. These Gondu people are the ones who still live a tribal life in various forests even in the 21st century, but they are very peaceful, so they are left alone in the past timeline.


    Despite being isted, they also participated in important matters concerning the region. At one time, they also helped fight the British.


    One of the most well-known among them was Komaram Bheem. Gond-born Bheem, a witness to tribal oppression, united Gond warriors andunched swift jungle strikes against the Nizam''s grip. Bheem''s fiery rebellion ignited the mes of Tngana''s uprising, forever etching in history as a champion of tribal rights and a beacon of justice.


    "???! ??????! ????!" - ?????? ????????? ?????


    "Water! Forests! Earth!" - The hoarse roar of the Gonds. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    To Be Continued...


    P.S. Please tell me if this feels like a data dump, If So I will reduce it it. Thank You.


    Like it ? Add to library£¡


    Mithun_ReddyGaru

 Chapter 143 Intellectuals Part: 2

    143 Intellectuals Part: 2


    Back in Wardha, Tukaram was given good hospitality in the town as he stayed there for a few days. The vigers no longer had a problem with him staying because the Mughals were no more. On the contrary, a lot of people went to visit him, pay their respects, and offer greetings. As the vige opened up, many individuals from outside the vige, who knew more about him, also came to visit and paid their respects. Surprisingly, after hearing about his principles and doctrines, even the lower caste people came to visit him, as he was an advocate for divinity for all equally, emphasizing that God belongs to everyone. Also He challenged societal norms and advocated for equality and justice, critiquing caste discrimination and urging spiritual awakening for all. This idea resonated well with the lower caste people. He continued to stay there as Satish was given orders to wait for a few more schrs to arrive at Wardha vige and to depart at the same time.


    ...


    In the dense forests of Tngana in the Warangal area, various dense huts are built by the Gondu tribe. The tribal leader Munda, who focuses heavily on enlightening the next generation, was teaching the youngsters of his tribe how to read and write.


    He was suddenly disturbed by the policemen who came to meet him. Despite his suspicion, he still went out to greet the men. Later, he was given an invitation letter from the King of the Vijayanagar Empire, inviting him to attend some meetings. At first, he did not want to go, but when he read thetter part of the letter, he changed his mind. He came to know that various schrs from all over Bharat would being to attend. This, coupled with his curiosity, as he always wanted to discuss his insights with other people, drove him to make the decision.


    The small part that led to it is also because of the posture the police officer showed. He could see the policeman''s stubborn expression and guessed that once he rejected the offer, the policeman and hispanion were not going to leave anywhere. They were going to pitch their tents here and start to pester him until he agreed. If anyone else did this, he had ways to deal with them, but the police were different. He couldn''t just kill them; after all, it would be tantamount to challenging the majesty of the emperor, and that would be suicidal. So he decided to be invited rather than to be coerced.


    ...


    In Palitana, Gujarat, besides the sacred Jain ce of worship near theke, a figure could be observed seated in meditation. This person was none other than Alok Jain. His serene contemtion was interrupted by a few visitors who had arrived in Palitana that morning. They were emissaries sent by the Vijayanagar Empire. When Alok Jain received an invitation for himself and his family toe to Vijayanagara, he was taken aback. Furthermore, the invitation came directly from the King of the Vijayanagar Empire, adding to his surprise. Perplexed about how to decline such a request, he contemted the purpose of the emperor''s interest in a Jain monk. Just as he was on the verge of refusing, the person extending the invitation, sensing his reluctance, expressed deep apologies, saying, "Your Highness, we sincerely apologize for our actions. However, the current situationpelled us to act in this manner. Your family awaits you in our carriage. Please apany us."


    ...


    In a Buddhist temple in Bihar, a monk called Kaya Dhamna is reading out the Buddhist scriptures in the temple. The temple could be seen to be in disrepair, and a few monks could be seen cleaning the premises of the temple, keeping it clean. But the temple was visited by the Vijayanagara guests, and the same scene happened again with Kaya. Soon, he was also convinced as he was brought away from Bihar under the radar of Mughal officials.


    ...


    In Agiyari in Gujarat, a person could be seen praying inside the fire temple. This person''s name is Farid Yazdi. He is a follower of Zoroastrianism, also called Parsis. They originated from the area where the Persian Kingdom ruled. Zoroastrianism was started by a transcendent saint called Zoroaster. But even before that, their religion existed. This is an ancient religion that shares amon root with most of the Dharmik religions. But because they were persecuted in their homnd, they had to seek asylum in India. Farid was also convinced and taken away by the Secret Service.


    These weren''t the only invitations extended by Vijayanagara; cultural centres were visited, and prominent intellectuals from various cultures were invited. Surprisingly, in most cases, they agreed amicably to the requests. However, asionally, there were skeptical monks or intellectuals who were unwilling toply. When they proved challenging to deal with, the simplest solution was to seek out someone else of simr stature. Yet, in instances where there was no suitable alternative, forceful invitations were extended to join the Vijayanagara Empire.


    For the two important future figures, Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Nanl, their families received extended invitations. Since they were still young, significant decision-making authority rested with their families. Convincing their families, however, turned out to be less challenging than initially anticipated. They were swayed by the promise of a separate gurudwara for them to pay their respects, along with the opportunity to coborate with other Sikhmunity members in Vijayanagara. Additionally, the families were granted 30 acres of tax-free farnd for the next 5 years¡ªan unprecedented offer, considering they did not own even an acre ofnd back in their homnd. With these enticing benefits and the assurance that they could return to their hometowns whenever needed, both families agreed to the proposition.


    Just like this, from various corners of the Indian subcontinent, intellectuals were gathered in droves in Vijayanagara. Upon their arrival, they were provided with good living conditions in the capital, allowing them to engage in discussions with each other to share their thoughts and insights from their diverse lives. Interestingly, it was observed that most, if not all, of the invited guestsmunicated with each other in Sanskrit. While themon thread connecting them was their status as intellectuals in their respective cultures, the major core philosophies of all Hindu cultures were written in Sanskrit. Consequently, many schrs in this era were proficient in Sanskrit.


    Despite its prevalence among schrs, Sanskrit is not widely poprized due to its precision andplexity, simr to the traditional Chinesenguage, known for its difficulty. Sanskrit, however, could be considered even more challenging to learn. For example, even a simple fluid like water has 180 words to describe it in various scenarios, environments, and conditions. Different names are used for water in different situations, and in Sanskrit, there are 180 such words for representing water alone. Learning Sanskrit fully requires a significant investment of time, almost a lifetime. Sanskrit is a richnguagepiled by thousands of Dharmic, philosophers, schrs, yogis, and gurus over the past 10,000 years at least. Hence, Sanskrit is viewed as a highly scientifguage. Interestingly, in the 21st century, it is even used as a programmingnguage in ISRO missions. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Anyway, Vijay let them discuss and quarrel among themselves, lessening whatever dissatisfaction they had with himself.


    In the discussions, one of the most prominent figures was Tukaram, Sant Tukaram, born in 1609 in the vige of Dehu near Pune in Maharashtra. He spent most of his life devoted to the worship of Lord Vitt, a form of Lord Krishna, considered an incarnation of one of the Trimurti, Lord Vishnu. Tukaram gained widespread recognition in schrly circles for his ABHANGA poetry, expressing his musical gifts through thesepositions. The Abhanga conveyed deep spiritual insights, earning admiration from his peers for his profound love for God and a philosophy centred on simplicity and devotion.


    Tukaram is well-known among intellectual circles, even in the 21st century, as one of the best musicians and cultural figures of his time. His teachings emphasized the path of bhakti and underscored the importance of a personal rtionship with the divine rather than settling for a superficial connection through ritualistic practices. Tukaram advocated for simplicity, humility, and the realization of the divine within oneself. His profound rtionship with Lord Krishna transcended mere ritualistic practices.


    Amidst love, there is also opposition, primarily from profit-driven monks who prefer borate rituals to demonstrate their devotion. Tukaram''s teachings contradicted such practices, as they believed Tukaram''s teachings went against the principles they preached. Fortunately, individuals with such motives were not invited, ensuring that only pure intellectuals deeply knowledgeable in a specifguage and with experience in intellectual work in their respective fields were included.


    Tukaram is held in high esteem within the Marathimunity, to the point where even Kavya feltpelled to visit him and seek his blessings. However, Tukaram wasn''t the sole focus of attention. Individuals from various fields, including Buddhists, Jains, and Sikh Gurus, garnered recognition simply for their diverse beliefs. Throughout the week they spent in the Vijayanagara Empire, a plethora of debates and discussions unfolded among these individuals, fostering an exchange of ideas and perspectives.


    Amidst these discussions, unbeknownst to them, operations were underway in the shadows to eradicate the cancer of Vijayanagara.

 Chapter 144 The Collapse Of The Secret Society

    Chapter 144 The Copse Of The Secret Society


    Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi, Inside an IN.


    In the bustling city of Hampi, in a normal IN, Five figures came in with hooded clothes. The owner of the IN, seeing the figures, quickly, as if already practised, empties out a private room for them. The five figures who entered the room were none other than the leaders of the newly formed Secret Society.


    After everyone came in one by one and took their seats, a person among them started the conversation. "Gentlemen, I suspect that the government and His Majesty already know of our existence," a normal-looking man said. His name is Naveen, a middle-level agent in the Secret Service, and he is one of the top-ranking officials to join the secret society. Initially, he did not want to be a part of it, but something unexpected happened. As his brother''s wedding approached, and at home, his parents were pressuring him to contribute from his own earnings. However, he was very unwilling as he had gone through a lot of trouble to earn this money, and giving his hard-earned money to his seemingly worthless brother made him annoyed. So, he thought of other ways. Suddenly, he remembered the money many people made during the war. A few among his group knew this information, but they kept it a secret. Thinking about it now, he also became greedy. Initially, he thought that after fulfilling his responsibilities for his brother''s wedding, he would not engage in such activities ever again. Unfortunately, letting go was not as easy as he anticipated. It was like an addictive drug that wouldn''t disappear even if he wanted it to.


    "So what do you suggest we do next, Agent Nighthawk?" another person sitting next to Naveen asked. He looked a little simr to Naveen in attire. His name is Siddharth. He is also a mid-level agent in the Secret Service. He had a simr experience to what Naveen had gone through, but in his case, it was more serious. His sister was dealing with some congenital disease. And for her to survive and lead a normal life, she must undergo treatment every other week. And it costs a lot of money for the family. Hence, he first started to embezzle the Nobles'' Wealth secretly during the war and couldn''t stop ever since. The code names they both use are simr to the code names they had gotten in the Secret Service, with Agent Scorpion for Siddharth and Agent Hawk for Naveen.


    In the questioning eyes of everyone, Naveen responded, "ording to the information of my guys, His Majesty held a meeting with all the important spy chiefs and the military generals. But as soon as the meeting ended, we got a huge task to invite a lot of cultural figures from all over the subcontinent. Although it may look like the meeting was for nning this mission to bring in all the intellectuals from all over the subcontinent, I don''t believe it. As then the military won''t be invited. And my sources tell me that this new Aditya fellow is also working for the government. And he may have a lot of intelligence on us. So what I think is we should temporarily stop our operations until the fog is cleared. And after confirming that we are out of the limelight, we can take precautions to hide our tracks even more deeply. And we can make our organization bigger, giving us more security."


    Hearing the words, everyone nodded their heads in eptance. But not everyone was willing to go through with a n, such as Gopal, a colonel inmand of a battalion. "There is no need to stop our operations. Although what Agent Night Hawk said could be true, it could also be false. And the intelligence personnel that were mobilized could really be just for inviting intellectuals into the empire,Right now, we are making a lot of money. Why do you want us to stop? Can''t we just be more cautious and still earn a lot of money? I agree. If it was before, there was no centralized organization, and tracks would have been discovered very easily. But now that we five have formed this organization, we can make it more structured. Let us use our knowledge from the Army in this organization. And you both also use your expertise in the Secret Service to make this a viable organization."


    Hearing his words, Partha and Rajendra, who were both Colonels of their own respective battalions, also nodded their heads in eptance. As even they did not want to stop what they were doing. The money they made in the past month was so much that they were not able to make that much money in their lifetime. Both Partha and Rajendra had their own needs, so they did not want to stop making money due to some assumption. The two agents who heard Gopal went into contemtion. Siddharth thought about what Gopal meant and nodded his head, thinking that it should be okay.


    Naveen, who was the only one not in favour of this, couldn''t do anything as there was no designated leader within the secret society; it is a voting system where the five of them decided what to do. Looking at his four partners deciding against him, he couldn''t do anything, sighed, and responded. "Looks like you all have decided, guys. But I still insist that at least we should be as low-key as possible because I feel that something is going to happen soon." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Alright, don''t worry about it. We will do as you say," Gopal replied, shrugging Naveen off, finding thathe was a bit too cautious. But when the meeting was about to end, Naveen''s eyes widened as the blood left his face. Everyone looked at him in confusion as to what happened. Naveen, who was spellbound, replied in a stuttering manner. "Did... Did you notice it became silent all of a sudden?"


    The military colonels were uncertain about the message, but Siddharth swiftly grasped its meaning. His face turned pale, understanding the implications as a member of the organization. Hastily, he rose from his chair and moved to the window to observe the situation. Peeling back a section of the cloth covering the window, Siddharth identified A few men dressed in ck attire, a sight that seemed eerily familiar to him.


    "Shit. It''s the special unit."


    Siddharth cursed, and a pin-drop silence enveloped the room as they realized who their enemy was.


    They were aware of the unit that hade into existence during the war, simr to theirs but actually legal and specializing in covert operations, and acting as a spearhead for conflicts. They understood the capabilities of these operatives. The moment they heard it was the special unit, a sense of impending doom settled among them. Even the usually arrogant military colonels were aware of the formidable battle record of this special unit. As they were able to quell the riots in the new territories in just a few weeks, the special unit became famous from then on.


    Without wasting a second, the group sprang into action, swiftly making their escape. Some jumped out of windows, others rushed into urban buildings. Naveen and Siddharth split apart, each heading in a different direction. Meanwhile, the three colonels, recognizing the effectiveness of staying together, moved forward with weapons drawn, navigating a narrow alley to avoid detection. A few members of the special unit attempted to intercept them, but the colonels, seasoned veterans from the one-year war, outmatched them. The special unit, well-trained as it was, couldn''t withstand thebined skill and experience of three battle-hardened soldiers.


    More enemies attacked.


    Colonel Partha took a defensive formation as the enemy swung his sword. It was blocked, but another enemy came swinging his way. Fortunately, Rajendra blocked that attack for him. Seizing this opportunity, Gopal quickly thrust his talvar into the enemy, dispatching him swiftly. As for the other enemy, Partha pulled a knife from his holster, spun around, and lodged the knife in the enemy''s throat. The battle concluded swiftly.


    They were aiming for an intersection with heavy foot traffic, their goal to disappear among the people. Unfortunately, their wish did note true. They were quickly surrounded by ten officers from the special unit. Recognizing the dire situation, they did not resist, promptly dropping their weapons and falling to the ground. Despair filled their eyes, and regret slowly slipped in, but it was already toote.


    "Captain, we found one more rat a few blocks ahead," a special unit soldier informed Dinesh Reddy, themanding officer of this operation. Hearing this, he nodded his head and inquired, "What about that one more?"


    "Sir, we have not yet found him."


    "Block off the area and search it more thoroughly. This guy is an important asset to the Empire. He knows many things about the Empire, He should not be missed."


    "Yes sir"


    Despite a thorough search, Agent Nighthawk, or Naveen, was not found. Unfortunately, the mission was only a partial sess, leaving Dinesh disappointed. He cursed and kicked up dust as he left, ordering his men to continue the search.


    .........


    A few hours Before, In the morning:


    Dinesh was summoned by the higher-ups and received the good news of promotion. His happiness, however, was short-lived as he immediately got his first mission. The task was substantial ¨C to eradicate the organization forming inside the Army and the Secret Service, bing a cancer to military institutions. Fortunately, he was Armed with proper intel, so thanking his superior officer he swiftly got to work.


    The people on the list were grouped together and sent to various ces for missions, preventing them from forming a united front. They were well-trained and could pose a significant threat if not dealt with carefully, especially using guerri tactics as they did during the one-year war.


    As Dinesh came up with the n, his subordinates went through with the n and finished the mission quickly. High-threat soldiers were dealt with swiftly, and the smaller soldiers were arrested and put in jail, along with the captured enemy soldiers. Finally, it was time for the main leaders of the secret society. Perhaps it was God''s blessing or his luck, but he found out that they were initiating a meeting, making Dinesh''s task easier. The rest is history. Unfortunately, a rat slipped away.


    ..........


    A few blocks away from the incident, in a sewer, a bamboo tube emerged from the sewage. It suddenly stopped, and a man, drenched in water, emerged ¨C none other than Naveen. Realizing he was discovered, he knew escaping through normal means was impossible. Familiar with the system, he took a ruthless approach, grabbed a bamboo tube from a street stall, and jumped into the dirty sewer, knowing nobody would be searching there. His bet paid off. He wanted to go home and safeguard his family, but he knew that his family would be closely monitored. So, he put away that thought. Having no other way, he thought about his next moves and destination.

 Chapter 145 Mohammad Back At It Again

    Chapter 145 Mohammad Back At It Again


    Following the rapid operation by the special forces, the secret society vanished from existence, leaving no trace behind. An organization with the potential for catastrophic impact on Vijayanagara disappeared abruptly. Upon reviewing the report outlining this development, satisfaction filled Vijay, but a lingering annoyance remained over the fact that someone managed to slip away unnoticed. Recognizing theplication, especially given that mid-level Secret Service agents like Praveen possessed more information than the lower-ranking agents, he strengthened his resolve to further reform the Secret Service. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Despite the previous gloomy mood, the anticipation of the arrival of various schrs brought joy to Vijay. However, before delving into the happiness of the asion, he feltpelled to meet the legendary figure, Tukaram, whom even Kavya had already met. Although she had already taken his blessing, Vijay was yet to have an audience with the legendary figure who even had movies made about him in the 21st century.


    Filled with excitement, Vijay donned his saffron robe and left the pce to visit Saint Tukaram in his designated rest house, a courtesy provided upon his arrival in the Vijayanagara Empire. Upon reaching the rest house, he knocked on the door. Notably, he instructed his guards to wait outside thepound, emphasizing that they should not disturb him during the meeting.


    *click*


    The door clicked open lightly. In front of him, there''s an old man dressed in dhoti (trousers), pagdi (turban), and angarkhas (long coats), all of it in white. He was also wearing a tka along with a ne made out of beads.


    As soon as the old man saw Vijay, heughed and said, "Hehe,e on inside, son. I was waiting for you." Vijay was surprised by the old man''s attitude; it was as if the old man already knew him, being very casual and not using any formal title. However, he did not mind; on the contrary, he liked it very much. Vijay would be embarrassed if the saint really called him like everyone else. Putting the thought aside, He entered the house. But as soon as he entered, he could see that Tukaram had already made it his home, as most of the walls were inscribed with some Sanskrit poems and ssical patterns all along the edges of the wall. Along with that, he could vaguely see a Vithoba idol (a Hindu god who is worshipped in Maharashtra and Karnataka) ced in the pooja room of the house. The house is built such that the pooja room is vaguely visible to the visitors.


    But first steps first, Vijay quickly joined his hands and gave him a light bow. "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Saint. I admire you very much. I have read a lot of your abhangas, especially ''Maze Maher Pandhari'' (My Mother Pandharpur), ''Vrukshvalli Aamha Soyari'' (We are like creepers), and ''Aata Kothe Dhave Man'' (Where do you run, Mind?)." They''re some of my favourites. Your work has inspired me immensely. My sincere wish is to hear you sing them sometimes."


    Vijay spoke with a demeanour of utmost respect, a tone rarely heard from him since his rebirth. The person standing before him was a true giant of the times, prompting Vijay''s inner fanboy to surface involuntarily.


    "Haha, Your Majesty, I am just a humble subordinate of you. You don''t have to praise me so much. I know you are the person sent by Lord Vithoba to show us light and bring us to prosperity. As for my abhangas, those are nothing; they are just my heartfelt words that I wrote in the process of reaching the lord."


    Vijay was stunned, not understanding what Tukaram meant by "lord had sent him." ''Does Tukaram know about his reincarnation?'' he thought to himself. But soon, he put that thought out of his head because that didn''t seem like the case. If anything, Vijay guessed that Tukaram had spent so long and deep in the search of the divine and to be with the divine. Maybe he could sense when someone does not match their environment. Honestly, Vijay did not know.


    In a simr fashion, Vijay engaged in a prolonged conversation with the saint before eventually bidding him farewell. As he left, Vijay extended an invitation to the saint to join the conference he was nning to host the following morning.


    ..........


    Mughal Empire, Agra.


    After the war, the capital of the Mughal Empire became bleak with the loss of three territories. The ie of the Empire was hugely damaged. On top of that, as soon as the news of the failure in battle was heard, the old prime minister Mustafa had chest pain and died sessively. The old man, who worked under two emperors, was very loyal to the Mughal Empire. With his death, along with the failure and the loss of such a huge territory, the royal pce became dull. The emperor even stopped visiting his harem very often.


    Mohammed felt sad for the passing of the old man; As he always wanted to let him retire after he conquered the Vijayanagar Empire. ''PSSh, who is he kidding?'' It was his delusion that led him to believe that nonsense. Now, because of his arrogance, he not only lost a significant part of the Empire but also lost a trusted prime minister.


    "Your Highness."


    Suddenly, a female voice was heard. He was already in an unhappy mood. So, he turned around with the intent of striking whoever called him. But looking at one of his favourite concubines that called him, he restrained his hand. Still, he asked irritably, "What is it?"


    "Your majesty, the prime minister candidate has been decided. Now, The court ministers are waiting for your decree."


    "Oh, is that so? Ok, you move on. I will be there."


    He said as he left to write the decree. Although he was in a bad mood, he couldn''t just skip the matters of the Empire, now could he? The next prime minister candidate was selected by him. He put a few requirements for the person. The first one is loyalty to himself and the royal family, the second one is that they must have proper qualifications and experience, and next, they must have a good political influence as well as a good family background. After filtering out a lot of people who did not have all the requirements, three people were selected. Mohammad had no personal preference out of all these three people, but his family had a lot of ties and interests tied to these nobles. So, he left the decision among these three people to his family. He knew his family would choose the person who gave the most benefits and not the most capable, but he did not care. As long as the ministers met his basic requirements, they could fulfil the role of prime minister under him.


    Moreover, he did not like delegating too much of his power to someone else, even his own family member, much less an outsider.


    After drafting the decree, he went to the pce and appointed Mohammed Muizzu, a 40-year-old man selected as the Prime Minister of the Mughal Empire. Upon recalling the details about Muizzu from the report, Mohammed was particrly impressed with how efficiently Muizzu had brought Bengal under control. The way in which he did it was exquisite, and this strategy waster used in many other ces. The strategy involved creating a new problem in Bengal, which did not even exist before. The higher-ss Bengalis, who are pro-Hindu, were portrayed as an evil dictatorship controlling the masses and propagating that all the troubles of Bengal were originating from the higher-ss nobles. Vijay was very impressed upon learning about this n. However, he was more surprised that this n only worked half-heartedly because aplete insurgence against the upper sses did not ur as expected. Apparently, the Hindu top-ss elite assisted the poor significantly, and most of the atrocities weremitted by the Mughals. So, despite no one using a tactic like this before to divide the people, The People felt like the rumours were false. Nheless, the n was partially sessful as the rumours created a line of doubt among the masses, preventing them from fully uniting as amunity as they used to. In this manner, Muizzu was very sessful in bringing the state of Bengal, which is thergest, fully under Mughal control.


    Back to the present, after the ceremony, Mohammad met with Adam, the chief craftsman of the Mughal Empire. He then asked the question, "Were you able to duplicate those guns?"


    Adam, in response to the question, hesitated before answering, "Your Majesty, the principles of these guns are no different from the cannons, but the demand for guns is much higher than for cannons. So, the problem now is that we are able to make these guns, but just not in such high numbers as those Vijayanagar craftsmen do. I still do not know how this country manufactured so many guns. I have inspected them all, and what surprises me is that the guns Vijayanagar manufactured also look handmade. But the weird part is that They are very uniform like a single person made all these guns. So, your Highness, I need to know how Vijayanagar manufactured these guns."


    Mohammed got annoyed by the answer and wanted to have Adam whipped a few times. But thinking about how the person in front of him is the only master craftsman in the empire, he decided against it and retorted instead, "If I had known the manufacturing process, why would Ie to you?"


    Adam was embarrassed as he now realized that he had asked a stupid question. Thinking about alternatives, he replied, "Your Highness, if you don''t mind, I think with my connections, you can buy this manufacturing technology from the Ottoman Empire. And even if you can''t find this technology in the Ottoman Empire, you can procure it through the Ottoman Empire from the Western European countries where this technology originated."


    Mohammed nodded And Wanted to scold him again as to why he did not inform him beforehand. But the next words let him know why.


    "But, Your Highness, if you do decide to procure through this channel, you have to be prepared. These Europeans are very arrogant and are trying to colonize the whole world. They may not necessarily sell it to us, and even if they do, the price will be so exorbitant that you could easily build a monument with it, and I heard that they only ept payment in gold or silver."


    Mohammed frowned as he got this information. It was okay if it was only a little costlier, but looking at how Adam said that it would cost a monument''s worth of money, he became hesitant.


    While he was in contemtion, a dark figure approached him from the back and broke him from his contemtion.


    Looking back, it was Moin Ali. He was confused about why Moin Ali would disturb him.


    But Moin Ali, seeing Adam, did not speak but passed on a letter to Muhammad.


    Mohammed, still confused, read the letter. As he finished reading the letter, a smile slowly blossomed on his face. It has been almost a year since thest time heughed.


    "Good job, you can go now," Mohammed patted Moin Ali''s back in a good mood as he turned towards Adam and replied, "We will soon get the manufacturing method you asked for."

 Chapter 146 New Language ?.

    Chapter 146 New Language ?.


    Vijay, unaware of the plot brewing in the Mughal Empire, is focused on his own matters. It is a special day for the Vijayanagar Empire as they hold the first conference of all the intellectuals, and Vijay is very excited about it.


    "Vinod, did everyone arrive?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty, everyone is waiting for you."


    Vijay nodded in approval and went into therge hall. When he entered, all the intellectuals, sages, and literary schrs got up as soon as they saw Vijay and gave him a namaskara. He nodded his head in eptance and went towards the dias to start his speech.


    Saint Tukaram was also present, fortunately, he was given a front-row seat. As soon as he went on the dais, everyone quieted down, so Vijay started speaking loudly.


    "I am very happy and honoured that so many intellectual schrs, teachers, and religious figures decided toe to Vijayanagar."


    As soon as he spoke this sentence, Alok Jain''s mouth twitched. If he could say something now, it would be, ''Who came here voluntarily? You are the one who kidnapped us.'' However, he did not voice it out, as genuinely, the treatment he had received since his arrival here had been very good. He was even gifted with a few acres ofnd. On top of that, he could feel that the emperor of Vijayanagara was up to something important; otherwise, why would he make such a fuss in inviting all the Bharatiya-originatednguage schrs? He was not the only one who felt that way, as a few more people had a simr reaction to him.


    Vijay, who saw some nk faces in the crowd, coughed lightly in embarrassment, covered it up, and continued. "As you all know, Vijayanagar has conquered three new territories, well, if you add Sri Lanka, it is four. This is a very good thing, but a problem arises. Thenguages of all the ces are different, eachnguage has many dialects, and if I want to integrate all these new territories into the empire, there must be somemonnguage among all the territories."


    An Odia schr raised his hand and posed a question, "Your Highness, isn''t there already Sanskrit for that? Thenguage Sanskrit already connects all the major cultures in Bharat."


    Vijay nodded his head as he exined, "What this schr said is true. Sanskrit is already amon bridge between multiple cultures in our Bharat desha, but what I want is not anguage only the nobles and higher caste people use. I want anguage where even themon person could learn it. Sanskrit now is nothing but anguage of superior people ording to the masses, and this creates istion which I do not want to see."


    Suddenly, another priest stood up and posed his question, "Your Majesty, why would you want all those lower caste people to learn the sacrednguage? It is anguage for us, the higher caste people who are more knowledgeable and can actually understand it."


    Vijay, upon hearing this, sighed as he was expecting the question from the start, so he chose to make his intention clear. "What this priest said is themon consensus among the higher castes today, but I think they are no different from us and no less capable than us. People like Rani Padmini, Sage Valmiki, and Vyasa prove this point." While many intellectuals in the conference agreed, the person who asked the question and a few of his followers were unwilling, as they were about to cause a ruckus. So, he had no other choice but to order the guards, "Throw them out." ''There will always be a ck sheep to ruin everything,'' he thought to himself, annoyed. The people who saw the person being escorted out finally got an understanding of the determination of this emperor. Now, most of the intellectuals, who do not care about this caste-rted nonsense, became interested as they listened on.


    "Where was I? ...ah, Yes, a unifiednguage. So yes, I need a unifiednguage that even the masses can speak. As for the ideas of how to make this happen, I will tell you in the further conversation. But for now, I have chosen Sanskrit as the core for this newnguage. Does anyone have any objections?"


    As soon as Vijay finished his speech, a huge discussion erupted among the people. While many expected the result, others did not. One Tamil schr got up and questioned, "Your Majesty, why Sanskrit? Why can it not be a Dravidiannguage, which all the subjects under your rule speak?"


    Vijay, drawing from his experiences with Tamilians in both his current and past lives, was well-prepared for this question. Reflecting on Tamil Nadu''s behaviour, he felt like it was simr to the French. In essence, if he had to encapste Tamil Nadu''s demeanour in one sentence, it would be, ''Tamil Nadu likes to do its own thing.'' This sinct statement effectively captures the independent and unique nature that characterizes Tamil Nadu.


    But still, he replied, "There are many reasons. now, let me give you some. Language is not only a means ofmunication, but it also contains the inheritance of a civilization. While I do not deny that the Dravidiannguage has a rich history, it does notpare to Sanskrit, in which all our religious, scientific, mathematical Ideas, Vedas, Puranas, and Shastra are written. Although Tamil also has all these, it was tranted from a Sanskrit source. And the more practical reason is Dravidiannguages do not have a lot of words which are present in Sanskrit." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    This answer stopped a lot of people. Just when they thought his majesty would Move on to the next topic, he put onest point.


    "And the most important point being the rest of Bharat speaksnguages derived from Sanskrit, so using Sanskrit would be more conducive to integration."


    Thisst point caused a huge stir among the crowd because what Vijay was saying was no different from proiming that he would conquer the rest of Bharat. They were startled by the ambition of the young king.


    Seeing the expressions, Vijay nodded as he asked, "Now, is there anystint about using Sanskrit as the core for our newnguage?"


    No one objected again, so he continued, "Now that we have decided what the corenguage would be, we will nowdecide how we will go about doing it. This is a two-stage process. The first stage is to remove all the religious and caste-oriented words from Sanskrit. I don''t want thenguage to be corrupted by all this rubbish."


    This one sentence made a lot of schrs clench their fists, and they are only the rtively moderate people who are able to hold back their anger. For the fanatic Brahmins, this will be another story.


    Vijay continued, "Next, let''s simplify the grammar. Avoid usingplex verb forms and noun structures. Use shorter words and break downpounds into clear phrases. Choose everyday words from regionalnguages instead of obscure literary terms. When possible, receplex grammatical constructions with simple descriptive phrases. In everyday life, emotions, rtionships, and nature, use words from regionalnguages rather than Sanskrit, ensuring a smooth integration to avoid sounding artificial.


    Additionally, incorporatemon nouns from differentnguages across Bharat that seamlessly fit with Sanskrit. Ensure that the grammar of this newnguage remains consistent with Sanskrit, making it as simple as possible for everydaymunication."


    "Is there any objection or anything more to add?"


    This time, a Bengali schr asked, "But, Your Majesty, can such anguage be used by schrs? I mean, wouldn''t it be harder for scientific personnel if thenguage is not precise enough?"


    Vijay waved his hand and replied, "There is no problem with this. Bringing out a newnguage does not meanpletely getting rid of all the othernguages. It just means that this newnguage will be taught in schools, and spoken in the courts, and the government''s documentation will be done in thisnguage. So, to say, this newnguage will be the officialnguage of the Empire, and the rest of thenguages, the people are free to speak and write however necessary."


    "As for the scientificmunity, they can still use Sanskrit for the dissemination of knowledge as it is still the most precisenguage our ancestors had produced. But my only demand is that the version of Sanskrit used should be decastified so that even the people from Sikh, Jain, and Buddhistmunities could ept it."


    With this, there were no more doubts. Some of them were relieved, knowing the fact that the emperor did not want to suppress othernguages.


    Looking at how there were no other doubts, Vijay concluded, "Good. Now the name of this newnguage. I call it Bharathinguage, thenguage spoken by Bhartiya people."


    Vijaypleted his speech, as the intellectuals started their discussion, but he left to take care of the rest of the report.


    The future historians called these five months The Likitha Srushti months, the months that gave birth to anguage that rekindled the identity of Bharat, an ancient civilization reawakening after a long sleep under the sage King Vijay Devaraya.

 Chapter 147 Europe 1654 Part: 1

    Chapter 147 Europe 1654 Part: 1


    The first Anglo-Dutch War eventually came to a close in 1654. The war was ignited in May 1652 by skirmishes between Dutch and English fleets near the English coast. Subsequent major naval battles ensued, with Admiral Robert ke securing a decisive English victory in June 1652. However, in a surprising turn of events during the Battle of Scheveningen, the Dutch gained the upper hand, creating a more bnced ouepared to the historical timeline. Unfortunately, the final battle was not in favour of the Dutch because, influenced by the deviation in the current timeline, the Dutch opted to allocate more resources to the war in the middle stages, leading to an earlier exhaustion of itsbat effectiveness before the final battle, which gave British a slight advantage.


    In the previous timeline, both sides did not achieve a decisive military victory as both the British and the Dutch chose to settle due to financial strain and casualties. The two-year-long war ended with a temporary truce, signing the Treaty of Westminster in April of 1654. But in this timeline, it was different. The Dutch, exhausted early on, couldn''tbat the British as equally as before, taking a lower hand and losing a lot more than the previous timeline.


    While there wasn''t a decisive victory for the British, they achieved major goals despite higher resource expenditure and casualties. The Dutch had to acknowledge English sovereignty over the English Channel, pay higherpensation for wartime damages, reduce tariffs on many English goods, and give some shares in the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which was holding a monopoly on lucrative spice trade routes through Asia.


    The significant deviation in the current timeline was because the Dutch failed to open up the Indian subcontinent, allowing the British to take advantage of the Dutch''s temporary weakness.


    As discussions about the British and Dutch War unfolded in Europe, something unexpected happened. Portuguese King Alphonso de Braganza, leading the Restoration War, started selling bulk quantities of spices which earned him a lot of gold. More Surprisingly, the war went a bit too well, forcing the Spaniards to expend more soldiers dealing with the Portuguese.


    Many European nations, suspecting the involvement of a new power in the war, dispatched their spies to gather intelligence. The revtions they uncovered were astonishing. While it was expected that the French supported the Portuguese, the surprising aspect was the sess of the Portuguese due to their alliance with India. Europe viewed India as and of immense wealth and economic opportunities. At the time, contemporary Europeans were not inclined to conquer an entire ancient civilization. However, with the death of the Mughal emperor leading to a power struggle, European nations saw an opportunity to vie for greater economic benefits. Witnessing the potential of thend after they obtained substantial gains, their greed intensified, and they aimed to im the entire subcontinent for themselves.


    HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE


    Hofburg Pce, Vienna.


    It has been 6 years since the 30 Years War ended with the Peace Treaty of Westphalia. After this war, The Holy Roman Empire is still riddled with holes.


    Ferdinand III of the Habsburgs is discussing the new information obtained from the Iberian Penins about the new move made by India, a new yer in the European game.


    "So, Johann, do you think we could win any benefits from India? Perhaps the gains acquired could expedite the reconstruction of the Empire."


    Johann Matthias Wolkenstein, the president of the Aulic Council, pondered for a moment before responding, "I''m afraid not, Your Highness. Maybe before the war, we could have explored the possibility, but now, engaging in trade with India demands a robust naval presence. Regrettably, weck it. In all of Europe, only a few nations like the British, the Dutch, those from the Iberian Penins, and perhaps the Nordic regions might attempt it. However, given our current economic struggles and the turmoil in our religious and politicalndscape, I would advise against such an endeavour."


    Thinking about what Johann said, Ferdinand fell into contemtion. Soon, he made up his mind to listen to Johann. Ferdinand put the matter aside as he again began to discuss the internal affairs of the kingdom.


    THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE


    Mehmed IV, upon learning about Indian participation in European chess game, frowned in disapproval. Thinking about his distant rtive in the Mughal Empire, he summoned his minister, "Grand Vizier."


    "Yes, Your Majesty, the Sultan," K?pr¨¹l¨¹ Mehmed Pasha replied to the king''s call.


    "Send someone to the Mughal Empire and find out what is happening in that sphemousnd."


    "Yes, Your Highness."


    FRANCE


    Capital City Paris:


    In the year 1654, The renowned and longest-reigning European monarch, the Sun King Louis the Great, is still a teenager at the age of 16. It would be another 7 years until the death of Cardinal Jules Mazarin, and Louis would famously assume formal power over the Empire, dering, ''I will do the job myself.'' On this particr day, he attended a meeting where Cardinal Jules Mazarin discussed matters concerning the Portuguese.


    "Our investment in Portugal did not go in vain, Your Highness," one of the ministers was saying. However, Louis was very bored as he almost had no say in all the matters discussed here. If he had any say, it was only for smaller things. But he did notin as he knew that Mazarin was working hard for the royal family. He is a die-hard royalist and is working very hard to pursue the centralization of absolute monarchy.


    Mazarin replied to the minister, "Yes, yes, you are right. But what do you think about this Indian country that has newly emerged? Our sources tell me that this country was able to double its territory in just a span of a few years. Can we let such an ambitious monarch control thend of such rich wealth?" The cardinal said as he himself fell into contemtion. Louis got interested in this matter and wanted to hear the details about it.


    "Anyway, the South Asian country is very far away from us, and we can''t invest a lot of our manpower in the Navy. It is better to concentrate on territorial expansion. Maybe after we have consolidated our influence and dominance in Western Europe, we can shift our sights to the Indian subcontinent. For now, open normal trade rtions with this country, and let us see if we could do some spice trade and earn some money for expansion." Mazarin came to the conclusion himself as he went on to discuss other topics. But Louis was disappointed as he wanted to hear more. ''I will ask the cardinal againter,'' he thought to himself.


    ENGLAND


    In London, Oliver Cromwell was immersed in reading thetest intelligence report from the Iberian Penins. Following the abolition of the monarchy after the civil war spanning from 1642 to 1649, he assumed the role of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of Ennd. His notable victory against the Dutch and the acquisition of key trade routes to the Asian market had earned him substantial political capital.


    Upon reading the report detailing the riches acquired by the Portuguese from India and securing the Asian trade routes from the Dutch, Oliver Cromwell felt a surge of excitement. The prospect of umting more wealth crossed his mind, providing him with the means to quell opposition from politicians who remained steadfastly against him. Although he could presently suppress these staunch royalists due to his political influence, the uncertainty of whether his son could effectively contend with them in his absence weighed on his thoughts. In an era where democracy was not widely embraced, Cromwell began formting a n to extract the maximum benefits for the kingdom. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    DUTCH REPUBLIC


    William III of Orange is discussing with Grand Pensionary John de Witt, "John, do you think we should try to open up trade in India again?" William asks, unwilling to let the indigenous country make all the money. The Dutch are more up-to-date with the affairs in India than other countries, considering the loss in the initial battle against Vijayanagar. Maybe only the Portuguese couldpare with them because of their alliance. Thinking about the failure in the Indian and British wars, William hesitates to decide what to do.


    In response to William''s inquiry, the Grand Pensionary took a moment to ponder before shaking his head and responded, "Your Highness, it might not be necessary. Our internal condition is far from stable following the war against the British. Considering that India has now drawn the attention of the British, that foolish Cromwell is likely to eagerly pursue this tempting opportunity. While we are aware of the potential hazards involved, the British, in their ignorance, may not fullyprehend the risks. In my view, we should allow the British to take the initiative. If, by chance, both nations find themselves weakened after their confrontation, the benefits for us could be substantial. For now, I propose that we concentrate our efforts on earnest development in the Americas."


    William, thinking about it, nodded his head.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 148 Europe 1654 Part: 2

    Chapter 148 Europe 1654 Part: 2


    THE SWEDISH EMPIRE


    The Swedish nation is not the pacifist nation it will be in future generations when ites to world powers. It remains an influential empire in the European continent and is one of the strongest powers in the current era. Queen Christina was the queen of the Swedish Empire from 1632 to 1654, the current year. The queen pursued cultural and scientific endeavours but ignored financial difficulties in the empire, leading to growing discontent among her subjects with her policies. This discontent ultimately led to her abdication a few weeks ago because she chose not to have any heirs. In her ce, her nephew Charles X Gustav took over as the king of the Swedish Empire.


    Gustav, like his Viking ancestors, was an out-and-out warmonger. You could see the Viking''s shadow in the way he swiftly nned for territory expansion and conquests in Pnd and Denmark soon after his Coronation. When he received news about India, he did not even read the further details, as he put it aside, considering India had nothing to do with him. The reason he paid attention was that he did not want his enemies to support Portugal and get assistance from the Portuguese after their victory. As for whether the Portuguese could win, well, everyone could see that the empire where the sun never sets is going downhill faster than people could imagine.


    TSARDOM OF RUSSIA


    Moscow, The Kremlin, Tsar Alexis I is going through the new reports brought from Western Europe. Most of his attention was held by the results of the Anglo-Dutch war. However, seeing a new South Asian power signing a treaty with a European country interested him a little bit. "Oh, interesting," he muttered after quickly shifting his attention to the news from Siberia and Ukraine.


    PRUSSIA


    This future province that unified Germany and became the economic engine of the whole of Europe is still a small province in the Holy Roman Empire. After the 30 Years'' War, it lost half of its poption and suffered widespread devastation. Frederick William, the Great Elector of Prussia, is the king of the small province. He is working towards the centralization of authority, creating a strong bureaucracy, and reforming the military. He introduced the standing army system, which would be one of the most effective and efficient war machines in European history. But all of this is for the future, as he is still dealing with theplex European politicalndscape, attempting to form alliances with France and Sweden while distancing himself from the Ottomans and the Habsburgs. As for the matter of India, he did not even have the channel to get the details.


    SPANISH EMPIRE


    Madrid, The Royal Pce of Madrid.


    *Crash*


    *Bang*


    Philip IV is having an outburst after his spies send information about India''s involvement in the war. He is very angry, questioning why the country his forefathers conquered wants to meddle in his affairs. "God dammit," he cursed aloud with his disfigured face.


    *Knock*


    But with a knock on the door, he regains hisposure as he orders the person toe in. It is his current minister, Tony Strubell, who enters his office. As soon as hees in, he informs, "Your Majesty, the French have withdrawn from Catalonia, And have sent an ambassador to discuss peace with us," Tony says, with some relief.


    Hearing the news, Philip is also relieved because the empire is facing internal struggles at two different ces, both major concerns for the empire''s finances and resources, which have already been depleted after the 30-year war.


    "What are their conditions?"


    "Your Majesty, they need some self-governing institutions and reduced taxation with their own diplomatic team."


    "Damn Gaspar, he has a loud tone," he says, gritting his teeth. Gaspar de Bracamonte y Guzman was a minister loyal to him before the revolt. He even participated in the Peace Treaty of Westphalia, which ended the 30-year war. At the beginning of the revolt, Gaspar fought for Philip and acted as a middleman between the Spanish royal family and the Catalonian nobles, but suddenly he became a traitor and joined the Catalonia camp after the negotiation failed.


    Philip really does not want to ept this defeat, but considering the situation the empire is in now, he grits his teeth and epts. "Keep negotiating. Let''s see if we can deal with the Portuguese first."


    "To deal with the Portuguese, see if we can cut off their trade route with India. That should choke them for a few months. If India''s supply and resources are cut off, only the French help could be depended on. And the French help is not so cheap," Philip IV orders in a confident tone.


    But if he knew what was happening on the frontline, his confidence would be wiped out straight from his face.


    Lisbon, Portuguese Military Camp:


    Arge knight d in armour meticulously examined the newly acquired swords from the Vijayanagara Empire. This imposing figure, standing at an impressive height of at least 6 feet 8 inches, was none other than the knight who had apanied Alphonso. Commander Barren Olivera, leading the charge against Spain, sported the same silver armour as before. The gleaming sword in his hand caught his attention, and although he was initially skeptical, holding it in his grasp filled him with satisfaction. Given its affordable price, he considered it an excellent bargain. Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps disrupted the moment.


    "Lord Commander, the guns havepleted their testing. We can deploy them now."


    "Excellent. Have the boy''s arm up. Let''s go kill us some Spaniards."


    A chuckle escaped his lips as he carefully sheathed the new sword in its holster. Brimming with excitement, he exited the tent, prepared for the impending battle.


    Following the pivotal day, the course of the battle underwent a remarkable shift. The Portuguese army now boasted an abundance of firearms and defensive gear, including leather armour. Each soldier was armed with a quality sword. The dynamics of the battle underwent a profound change on the subsequent day, with the Portuguese, already enjoying an advantage, bing even more formidable. Rows of soldiers stood in disciplined, almost robotic formations, discharging their weapons. This tactical approach, wherein thousands of soldiers formed an imprable defensive wall, proved highly effective in Lisbon. The sessful strategy was promptly replicated in Porto and other border areas, resulting in a surge in casualties among the Spaniards. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Philip IV felt the difference immediately as his troubles increased. The Catalonia revolt, which had mostly subsided, was brought to the negotiation table with difficulty. But all the previous efforts went in vain as suddenly, taking advantage of Spain''s weakness, Catalonian nobles changed their attitude and once again pressed for the idea of an independent Catalonian nation.


    "God Fuking damn it."


    "Once I cut off the supply lines, I will see how Portugal will act then," he thought, as he soon ordered the navy to blockade the Portuguese ships.


    Unfortunately, perhaps Philip was born with a crow''s mouth, as what he said was unlikely to happen. Not because they could not hinder the supply lines of Portugal, but because something interesting was happening in Portugal.


    In the Beja district of Alentejo, in the town of Aljustrel, a small mining town ind of Portugal. Alexio Fernandes and Andre Sousa set up their new workshops. When they first returned from India, they intended to open their workshops in some of the port towns with better economic conditions and transportation. Unfortunately, none of the local nobles were willing to support them. Even their fellow merchants and the rtives of the nobility denied their request to experiment with this new manufacturing model.


    But Alexio was unwilling to let go, as he saw what this production model could achieve. So, along with Andre Sousa and other merchants who shared simr ideas, they decided to settle in Aljustrel for its iron resources and low capital avability. Since they decided on the location of Aljustrel, they had been constructing the workshops non-stop. Fortunately, the construction finished soon with the collective efforts of all the workers and merchants. Today marks the first day to trial produce a musket. The musket they are producing is Portuguese, and for the technology, they acquired it through the channels of their family.


    Just as they observed in Vijayanagar, they divided the process into multiple small stages and distributed it among the new workshops that were built. Andre built himself a small barrel workshop, while Alexio constructed the chamber of the gun and the gun handle. The rest of the parts were left to the merchants who followed them. Again, with connections from their family, they secured an order from the military to produce a thousand muskets. The reason for the military''s interest, even after the procurement from Vijayanagara, was that the higher-ups felt that Spain could easily cut off their trade routes while they were busy defending their borders.


    Because of this, Andre and Alexio sessfully received the orders. With the first bell of the day, the experienced workers they employed started their tasks, and the small mining town burst into action. The ore from the mines was smelted into usable iron blocks, distributed to various workshops to make their own small parts, and assembled in the central workshop to create apleted gun. Both Alexio and Andre were excited to see that the model they had learned from India was working wonderfully. Although they paid a lot more for the gun in terms ofbour, the speed at which it could be made covered the costs.


    Even more surprising was that, with iron ore readily avable in such close proximity, the production speed began to improve as the workers got used to the rhythm of this new model. The military leaders of Portugal were very surprised when the order they had ced just a few days ago was said to bepleted. Skeptical, they inspected the guns that were sent over. Surprisingly, the quality was better than what Vijayanagar produced, although the cost was also higher than the Indian guns. But, since it was homemade, and the cost was lower than the traditional homemade ones, they readily increased the orders, as it was considered more secure to procure from the homnd itself. When this good news reached Alphonso, he was intrigued and wanted to see these new kinds of workshops for himself.


    Thus, the inspection that changed the Europeanndscape would take ce. But, That is all for the future, as Vijay is nning his next construction project in Vijayanagara.

 Chapter 149 Temple Reconstruction Part: 1

    Chapter 149 Temple Reconstruction Part: 1


    After dealing with the troubles in the Secret Service and military institutions, Vijay wanted to fully solve the problem at the root. However, thinking about all the tasks ahead of him, he chose to dy for a little while. For the next task, he picked up the report he explicitly asked Marshal Logananda to inquire about. It was about all the famous and ancient temples in various upied states, which had been destroyed or damaged and looted to varying degrees by the Mughals. Vijay wanted to rebuild these temples.


    The Dharmic faiths of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, differing from the Abrahamic faiths,ck a centralized organization of worship ces like churches or mosques. While temples are not the core foundation of the Dharmic way of life, they hold significant importance. Temples serve as ces of worship for devotees and, in the past, were also centres of knowledge and learning. Additionally, they acted as pirs of art and architecture, showcasing diverse styles and regional variations. This includes intricately carved South Indian temple entrances, soaring gopurams, majestic towers of North Indian temples, and the elegance of Sri Lankan temples. Each temple boasts its unique architectural style, influenced by the culture of the people in its vicinity.


    Temples also act asmunal hubs, serving as the core architecture that binds the essence of themunity through festivals, rituals, and cultural elements, providing a tform for social interactions, and charitable activities, and even in the past, conflicts were resolved in temples. With all these features, it is no surprise that temples also acted as economic drivers. Pilgrimage centres attracted traders, artists, designers, and service providers, greatly increasing the economic activity of the area. One of the main points is that temples are preservers of history and culture; through murals, sculptures, and inscriptions, temples narrate themes of history, mythology, and social practices. Temples act as living museums, preserving and transmitting cultural heritage across generations.


    Considering all this, Vijay decided to rebuild the temples in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Sri Lanka. This is a significant undertaking that requires substantial wealth andbour. While Vijay could have opted for cement, which would have saved time, cost, and manpower, he chose to adhere to the traditional approach¡ªconstructing these temples with stones and relying on pure engineering. The only extra material he decided to incorporate was Roman cement. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    First, he had to find many architects. To rebuild the temples that have been fully destroyed, a brand new design is required. For the temples that have only been damaged and looted, an experienced engineer should be sufficient.


    Vijay went through his memories, both from his past life and the present, in search of an architect. He found none in his past life''s memories, but fortunately, in the present timeline, he identified an artisan design group headed by Vishwakarma. Vishwakarma had served as the architect during his father''s renovation of the Virupaksha Temple in the capital. Upon learning the details about Vishwakarma and his group''s achievements, Vijay became confident in the quality of their work. He didn''t feel the need to personally verify their previous work on the Virupaksha Temple, as he already knew the temple from childhood, and on top of that, he was aware that the same temple would be listed under the UNESCO World Heritage site in the future.


    He wrote a letter to Vishwakarma and his team, addressing them collectively. Vijay used the term ''collectively'' to highlight the difference between Western and Bharatiya architecture. While Western architecture emphasizes individual contributions, Bharatiya architecture leans towards a coborative effort. In the Bharatiya tradition, a group of artisans collectively works on different parts of the building based on their expertise. Despite this seemingly decentralized approach, the main foundation of the temple is designed by the most experienced architect under royal patronage. Once the main blueprint is finalized, the rest of the craftsmen contribute to filling in the details as per the main designer''s sketch.


    Although this type of architecture gives away a lot of control from the main architect, it also can''t be denied that this way of construction could make the architecture more borate, artistic, and capable of containing a lot more artistic value. This approach allows for thousands of individual statues and carvings to be designed, adding richness and diversity to the overall artistic expression, which a single person could never do.


    Next, he finalized the temples that will be rebuilt, restored, and expanded in scale. The number of temples nned to be reconstructed is small in each state, but the scale will be massive, turning them into architectural marvels and tourist attractions. He made this decision because reconstructing all the temples destroyed by the Imic Invaders would be impossible, numbering in the hundreds. He did not have the financial resources or the manpower to do it all at once. Therefore, he decided to rebuild the main temples that are indispensable to the culture and people in the area. Additionally, he aimed to encourage the people to rebuild their own temples that had been destroyed. This way, it would be much easier on his finances, and it would also put the people of the newly upied territory at ease, proving to them that the Vijayanagar Empire would be different.


    Starting with the temples in Maharashtra, Vijay selected five key locations. The first is the Ajanta and Ellora caves, a core templeplex of Maharashtra. This UNESCO World Heritage site features breathtaking cave temples dating back to the second century BCE or earlier, showcasing Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain influences. The second temple is the Bhimashankar temple near the Sahyadri mountains, built in the 12th century and known for its amazing architectural style and serene atmosphere. The third temple is the Mahabaleshwar temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, constructed in the 12th century. The fourth is the Tulja Bhavani temple in Tuljapur, Maharashtra, dedicated to the fierce form of the goddess Durga. The fifth is not a temple but a whole city, the lost city of Ter to be exact. Ter was once a flourishing Buddhist centre, now a collection of ruins dating back to the second century BCE. Vijay ns to rebuild this cityplex and turn it into the cultural and educational centre of Maharashtra. Although there are still many such temples and sites in ruins, Vijay could only choose so many.


    Next, moving on to Chhattisgarh, Vijay chose the Mahamaya temple constructed in the 8th century and dedicated to the goddess Durga as it is one of the representative works of the Nagaraj style architecture. He also included the Kashnath temple, which is located near the Mahamaya temple. This 10th-century Shiva temple is another archaeological gem of Hindu architecture. The third temple selected was the Chitragupta temple, dedicated to the divine ountant Chitragupta, built in the 12th century. The temple is known for its unique brick architecture and intricate terracotta panels depicting scenes from daily life, providing insights into the culture of the era. Next is the Ramgarh fort templeplex built in a fort. The Ramgarh Fort templeplex is nestled atop a hill, boasting a cluster of temples dating back from the 12th century to the 15th century. Each temple showcases distinct architecture, from Nagara style to influences from Buddhist and Jain traditions. Thest location is again a ruin, Just like Vijay did in Maharashtra, he picked the Sirpur ruins, an ancient city established in the third century BCE, which was once a flourishing centre of Buddhism. This ancient city was chosen to be rebuilt and made into the cultural and educational centre of Chhattisgarh.


    In Odisha, the first temple chosen was the Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar. This temple, a masterpiece of Kalinga architecture, is an 11th-century Shiva temple that dominates the Bhubaneswar skyline with its soaring de (tower) reaching 150 feet. Unfortunately, due to improper maintenance, insufficient funding, and frequent looting by the Mughals, the temple is in disrepair. Vijay decided to repair and rebuild the temple, expanding its scale and making itrger.


    The next temple selected was the Jagannath Temple in Puri. As one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites throughout history, Vijay had no difficulty choosing this site. This 12th-century temple houses the idols of Jagannath, Bbhadra, and Subhadra. For this temple, arger gopuram will be built, along with widening the streets and roads of Puri for a better and more convenient Ratha Yatra. The third temple chosen was the Konark Sun Temple, a rare temple dedicated to the Sun god Surya, built in the 13th century. This magnificent temple, shaped like a chariot, impressed Vijay the most. Consequently, he ordered the temple to be rebuilt and expanded in scale. And finally, two more temples were chosen in Odisha, they would be the Sar Temple, a 16th-century temple dedicated to the manifestation of goddess Shakti, and the Tarini Temple, dedicated to goddess Durga.


    In Sri Lanka, due to the Mughal influence not reaching there, many of the temples remained intact. So, Vijay only had to rebuild the main temples destroyed by the Dutch. Vijay decided to repair the Dambu Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to the first century BCE, which showcases a blend of Buddhist art and architecture. The next temple is the Katargama Temple, dedicated to a Hindu deity worshipped by both Buddhists and Hindus, holding unique religious significance in Sri Lanka.


    The focus then shifted to constructing one of thergest Hindu temples in the world, named Divya Vishnu Prasad Mandir, to be located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The reason? Vijay wanted to build a whole new temple because the majority of Sri Lankans were Buddhist, and he aimed to strengthen the connection to the maind through this temple''swork. For the dimensions of this temple, Vijay fully intended to make it one of thergest in the world. Drawing inspiration from Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville from his past timeline, he chose this temple design because it aligned with the size he envisioned, and he loved the design of the temple.


    Vijay did not intend to make extensive changes to the design of the temple and kept it as it was. The temple to be constructed will cover an area of 16 acres ofnd by its footprint and a whole temple grounds of 2 km all around it. The central Mahamandir should stand tall at 191 feet, dominating the skyline of Kandy, and will measure 255 feet in length and 345 feet in width, demonstrating the grandeur of its architecture. The Maha Mandir will have 24 pirs showcasing the 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism, and carvings of many saints of other Dharmic religions, reflecting the temple''smitment to interfaith harmony.


    Havingpleted the list of temples he wished to rebuild and restore, Vijay convened with his finance minister to discuss the budget with the architect group that was about to arrive.


    P.S. Please let me know if I left out any main temples, Also sorry for the data dump, I felt like the story needed it. Thanks.

 Chapter 150 Temple Reconstruction Part: 2

    Chapter 150 Temple Reconstruction Part: 2


    Sabarim, Ker.


    Vishwakarma and his group are putting the finishing touches on the Ayyappa Swamy temple, which they were contracted to renovate and expand. They have been receiving numerous jobstely as the new king is dedicated to rebuilding ancient temples and transforming them into monuments of cultural significance. Sincepleting the work for the previous King Shriranga Devaraya, Vishwakarma and his group have gained fame, attracting many talented craftsmen to join them. At 60 years old, Vishwakarma has delegated more of his responsibilities to the disciples he took in. As he and his wife never had children, He adopted an orphan boy as his disciple and son, teaching him all their craftsmanship.


    Vishwakarma was packing his belongings, and preparing to return home, as the crucial work in Sabarim was mostlypleted, and the remaining tasks would be handled by his disciple, Vajrakarma.


    To his surprise, Vajrakarma entered the room with an excited expression. "Master, master, good news, good news." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Observing his usually calm disciple so ted, Vishwakarma was intrigued. ''What could have stirred his usuallyposed disciple?'' he pondered, a smile ying on his aged face. "What is it, Vajra?" he inquired.


    "It''s His Majesty, the emperor. He summoned us again. I have inquired, and there is a rumour circting in the circles that the king is nning to rebuild all the destroyed and damaged temples in the new territories. Apparently, the king has sent many people to inspect these temples, take the necessary measurements, and n the budget for the reconstruction."


    "I was informed that His Majesty was very satisfied with the work you have done and wants you to take charge of the reconstruction of these temples."


    Upon hearing the news, Vishwakarma felt immense joy at His Majesty''s approval. However, he grappled with uncertainty about whether to take charge of this massive project. Having already decided to retire after the Sabarim project, he was unsure if he couldmit to such an extensive undertaking. Not wanting to disappoint Vajra, who seemed so excited, he decided to meet with His Majesty, express his desire to retire, and inquire if there was a way he could assist Vajra in securing the role.


    Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi.


    Soon, Vijay received word of the arrival of Vishwakarma and his disciple, Vajrakarma. Delighted to see the old man, Vijay instructed the maid to bring some coffee.


    The old man and the young man sat down. Vijay soon passed on the documents he had prepared. The old man took the documents and went through them. Looking at the construction ns, he was very shocked as the demands for construction were immense. All four new territories had at least five construction and restoration projects. He first wanted to plead with the emperor to let him retire and let his disciple take his ce. But now, seeing the scale of some of these projects, he felt like even if he was in his prime, he would not be able toplete all these projects, much less his disciple.


    His mouth opened in surprise as he looked at Vijay in disbelief, after examining the demanding deadlines. The notion that all these projects had to bepleted within 5 years seemed ludicrous to him. He couldn''t fathom how many lives this project would require. It seemed imusible that the benevolent emperor everyone perceived would be willing to sacrifice thousands of lives just to expedite the construction process. Despite his hesitation, he decided to speak out, "Your Majesty, if you genuinely aim toplete all these projects in 5 years, it would necessitate hundreds of thousands of people working in the quarries, resulting in thousands of lives lost. Your Majesty, I implore you to reconsider. If you could extend this timeline to 10 years, I am confident that casualties could be minimized."


    Vijay shook his head in denial. "No, it should be done in 5 years. As for the manpower, leave that worry to me. I have a solution for that and don''t worry, I will not force the civilians to work in the quarries."


    Hearing this, Vishwakarma was still uneasy, but he reluctantly agreed. Still pondering the main problem, he asked, "But still, Your Majesty, even if all the materials are avable, my group alone won''t be capable ofpleting such a huge project covering the entire Empire, especially with the deadline set at only 5 years. I am old now; there are limits to what I can do. I had hoped Your Majesty would pardon me to retire and choose my disciple as the architect for these temples."


    Upon hearing his master''sst words, Vajra was taken aback, not understanding why his master nned to retire. He looked at the old face of his master in shock, but Vishwakarma turned his face lightly and shook his head, gesturing for him not to speak. Vishwakarma continued, "Considering the scale of these projects, Your Highness, I believe that even if my disciple and all the architects in our group work together, we could onlyplete the projects in one state alone and wouldn''t be able to fulfil your request."


    Vijay, hearing the doubts in the old man''s words, exined with a smile, "Old man, I never intended your group to take over all the construction work. What I need you to do is to recruit capable architects in the empire and make sure that all the projects are going correctly. You have been in this field all your life, and you are a senior in this field; you must know many talents in this area. What I need you to do is to form a temple reconstructionmittee and have the architects build the temples ording to the predetermined design or restore the temple back to its original condition. I need you to make sure that all these projects are going as intended, and that no mistakes are made anywhere. Old man, you have been the leader of thergest architect group in the Empire for so long; I think no one except you is capable of this job."


    The old man, upon hearing the reply, had his doubts cleared, fully understanding what His Majesty intended to do. Touched by His Highness''s choice, he quickly set aside his intent to retire, feelingpelled to take on this project as thest one in his life.


    "I will do it, Your Majesty. Leave it to me; I will bring your vision to reality."


    "Good. Now I want you to go through the documents again and estimate how much Varaha it would cost."


    Hearing Vijay''s question, the old man quickly went through the temples and their data parameters one by one again, jotting down numbers on a paper next to him. By the time the old man went through his calctions, the finance minister, Jagannath Mohan, also arrived. Mohan, as soon as he came, greeted Vijay and waited for his orders.


    "Mohan, tell me about the revenue of the Empire in the past years," Vijay asked to make sure.


    "Your Highness, the annual revenue in 1650 was 11,764,705 Varaha, and there has been a gradual increase of 10% in thest 3 years. Last year''s annual revenue of 1653 was 15,658,823 Varaha. However, the Empire has been in a deficit since the war started, and the projections suggest that it will continue to be in deficit as the taxes are not yet collected in the new territories. Currently, we are subsidizing the money from our own finances. It is worth noting that the revenue is very likely to increase by more than 80% after the tax break period ends and the rest of the new territories are integrated within the Vijayanagar Empire."


    Vijay nodded in understanding. Yes, during his rule, there was a gradual 10% increase in finances as he removed the blockages and micro-economies that had been formed in the empire, leading to the gradual rise in finances as the middle ss slowly formed. As for the local economy, it prospered a lot during the war, and due to the foreign orders ced by the Portuguese, there was a continuous flow of ie. However, the economy slowed down because of Vijayanagara directly subsidizing the new territories. However, Vijay did not mind this because as the people in the new territories were able to stand up on their own, the new market of 20 million more people was likely to make Vijayanagara''s industries prosper.


    Luckily, he had made a killing in the war. All the nobles'' umted wealth was confiscated by Vijay, resulting in roughly 20 tons of gold and 53 tons of silver, along with more antiques. If not for this wealth, Vijay would never have had the funds to initiate the construction of such arge scale.


    The old man also finished his calction and replied, "Your Majesty and respected minister, after my calction, it is roughly estimated that it would take 3,200,000 varahas toplete the projects. But, Your Highness, this is only a rough estimate as it could go even further, depending on the circumstances."


    The minister took a breath at the number, even Vijay was surprised, as the money converted to gold is roughly around 11 tons of gold. But soon, he heaved a sigh of relief as he had the wealth from the Mughals. On top of that, the construction will take 5 years, and when spread out, the money required annually is not so high.


    So he set his ns into action as the cultural revival bill was passed. The old man, satisfied, left the room, but Mohan was curious about something and asked in a hesitant manner as it was a sensitive topic, "Your Majesty, the manpower?"


    Vijay, hearing the question, smiled with a cruel expression as he replied, "Why do you think we are feeding those rebellious nobles and their goons, theckeys of the Dutch, and the prisoners of war from the Mughals? All of them collected together make up a workforce of 200,000 able-bodied men. It does not matter how many of them die; let them work in the quarries. This is the biggest punishment for them."


    Mohan suddenly felt enlightened as he finally got to know His Majesty''s n.

 Chapter 151 Temple Reconstruction Part: 3

    151 Temple Reconstruction Part: 3


    The next day, Arjun was summoned to the pce. Upon his arrival, he was informed about the decision made by Vijay. Hearing the decision, Arjun was very happy as a lot of resources were used to feed these prisoners. Arjun had pleaded with Vijay many times before to execute them to save costs, but Vijay had always denied his request. Because of this, Arjun always thought that Vijay was still a little soft-hearted. However, today he got to know that Vijay was only fattening the pig before ughtering it.


    He happily left the pce and went to meet the branch headquarters of the jail division under his ministry.


    Upon arrival at the jailer division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he met with Director Verma, the person in charge of all matters rted to the jail affairs.


    Verma used to be a police officer in Bangalore town, but when he disyed his prowess and confronted the nobles in the kingdom, he was promoted to a higher post. Due to his excellent talent, he was also assigned to deal with the criminals in the city. With his ingenious methods of interrogation and a positive attitude, he climbed up the ranks to reach the post of Director of the Police and Jail division.


    Verma, who was informed about the fates of these criminals, was also overjoyed as it was a constant challenge to stay alert at all times, especially when the staff under him was limited. Observing this, the criminals in the jail became more and more unruly. They were so uncontroble that every week there were at least 4 to 5 escape attempts made in every single jail across the empire. However, he couldn''t execute them, only catch them back and re-arrest them.


    He was perplexed about why His Majesty ordered not to execute them, but upon receiving the recent orders, he fully understood. A smile crossed his face as he saluted Arjun and drafted his orders.


    Soon, his orders reached various jails across the Empire where the criminals were housed.


    "Wake up, maggots! It''s finally time to work!"


    "Bang!"


    Shouts rang out in a jail cell as the constable tasked with staying watch woke the prisoners up with a loud voice, hitting a sleeping prisoner with the back of his musket. The prisoner who was struck expressed his dissatisfaction as he began to re at the constable.


    "What are you looking at? Move! You have work to do." But the person who was hit did not move as he clenched his fist and wanted to hit the constable. Since their arrival, except for asional torture, they were mostly left alone and even given good food. Their vignce against the police officers decreased, and they believed that the Empire was in trouble as there was not enough manpower to deal with all of them.


    Just as his wrist was about to hit the constable, the constable smiled as it was finally his time to act. He aimed the gun at the assants arm and pulled the trigger.


    *Bang!*


    Blood spurted out as the shoulder of the assant was scraped beyond use.


    "I said, GET UP, YOU USELESS WASTE OF SPACE! YOU HAVE WORK TO DO!"


    Only then did everyone realize that the constable was real. simr events happened in all the jails in the empire where the war criminals were collectively dispatched to various quarries throughout the empire.


    Different types of rocks were used for the construction and repair of the temples, so the quarries were ced in multiple locations. For hard granites, charnockite was used, which was found in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Ker. This rock boasts huge and exceptional strength, and weather resistance, and is a beautiful grey and ck stone; the Meenakshi temple also uses the same stone. Another variation is Khasti granite, a pinkish-grey stone with fine grain, making it perfect for intricate carvings; this stone is used in the Tirum Tirupati temple. As for soft granite, the Mysore granite was used; this stone is a softer granite, so carvings could be easier and can be polished well.


    Another rock selected is khondalite, the original rock used in the Konark Sun temple. It is found in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and it is a metamorphic rock that has a coarse and granr texture with good weather resistance.


    Eventerite was used as it was a beautiful reddish-brown rock, readily avable and easily carved. However, the drawback is it requires careful maintenance due to its porous nature. One of the ces this rock can be seen is in the Padmanabha Swamy temple.


    The war criminals were also sent to Sri Lanka because the transportation of such heavy rocks was not feasible through boats. The Sondagars discovered a lot of stones indigenous to Sri Lanka. Firstly, charnockite, simr to Southern India, was found; and two other new indigenous stones were discovered. One was called gabbro, a ck-grey rock that is incredibly strong and weather-resistant,monly used in structures like Sigiriya. Another rock used in the construction of the new Vishnu temple is anorthosite, a white granr rock with exceptional strength and resistance to weather.


    To supervise these war criminals, a special police unit equipped with flintlock rifles was dispatched. Themencement of quarry work resonated within a week, marked by the constant echoes of rocks being diligently struck. Once extracted, these rocks were transported to the nearest towns, where skilled craftsmen who were recently recruited further processed them for use. The entire quarrying operation was vigntly overseen by armed guards, ensuring that the individuals involved remained confined to their designated areas. The atmosphere bore a striking resemnce to the mines portrayed in the KGF movie, as foreseen in the future.


    Vishwakarma had recruited a lot of Architects from all over the empire. Surprisingly, he even invited a few Architects who were originally from the Mughal Empire. He delineated different sites to different people, grouping together Architects specializing in certain styles.


    As for the Divya Vishnu Prasad Mandir, which is to be constructed in Kandy, Sri Lanka, Vishwakarma added in a lot of his own ideas as the base and let his disciple Vajra Karma take the lead inpleting this historic project. Vishwakarma would have loved to be in charge of this project alone, but unfortunately, he had a lot of work to deal with. Despite knowing very well that this new temple was going to be a historical temple that wouldst through the ages, he readily gave up the power to his disciple as he still knew the priority.


    Regarding the talent of his disciple, Vishwakarma felt immense pride, recognizing that Vajra surpassed him in skill. Lately, Vajra had been unusually active, iming to receive unique ideas and insights ever since their meeting with His Majesty. Eager to experiment with his newfound concepts, Vajra was relentless in his pursuit. Unable to contain his excitement, he even enlisted the help of a few servants to construct a small mock building, allowing him to test various ideas.


    Some of Vajra''s ideas even captivated Vishwakarma, making his eyes light up with admiration. There were aspects in the model he made that even a seasoned architect like him did not consider. Also, the senior architects who were initially skeptical about Vajra taking on such a crucial role, after seeing the model, even the most stubborn architects were now convinced, witnessing the ingenuity disyed in Vajra''s models. Taking all of this into ount, Vishwakarma made the decision to entrust the monumental mission to his talented disciple.


    The artisans of Vijayanagara became in demand again as the temple construction needed thousands of craftsmen. Craftsmen from various parts of the Empire signed up, enticed by the high sry.


    To all these craftsmen, Vishwakarma also organized a sort of exam to weed out the mediocre from the best. This recruitment even reached the new territories of Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Sri Lanka. The artisans in these ces were very excited as they were jobless because prior to the Vijayanagar Empire, their previous kingdom did not support or encourage indigenous craftsmanship. This led to them having no or reduced customers. They had been going through life doing some menialbour. Now, learning that their own temples would be reconstructed and rebuilt, they signed up readily. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The worker problem was also solved as the road construction in the new territories wasing to an end. While the main highways were still being constructed and would take a while longer, the small inter-town roads werepleted, and being gravel roads, they were easier than the cement roads built between the cities.


    While a lot of workers went home to farm and raise the cattle they earned, still, a small chunk of workers decided to re-enlist for the temple construction project, thereby increasing the speed of construction further. But therge number of manpower also increased the cost required, but this is all for the future.


    In arge auditorium in the capital,


    "Let''s use ''Amma'' for mother," a schr suggested, emphasizing its simrity innguages such as Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and many others.


    After giving it some thought, most of them voted in support of the proposed change.


    The development of the new Bharatinguage was progressing well, as schrs utilized a voting system, as suggested by Vijay, to determine words and settle disputes, streamlining the process for efficiency.

 Chapter 152 Food Wars

    152 Food Wars


    The construction projects in the new territories of Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh are now 70%pleted. The speed of road construction, assisted by three million people, has been remarkable. The use ofbour in exchange for cattle and grain, without significant financial expenditure from Vijay, has been a significant factor in the project''s progress. While the grain imported from Portugal is nearly depleted, the empire has managed to initiaterge-scale nting due to tax cuts and other policy benefits.


    Fortunately, By God''s grace, there was an abundance of rainfall this year, So rice has been nted as the main crop, apanied by fast-growing vegetables and fruits. The rice harvest is expected in a few weeks. After the harvest, the Vijayanagar Empire wille out of the red zone of food insufficiency. Thinking about thend distribution benefits he has to fulfil, he ordered thend audit bureau to measure the new territory for its farnds and do the groundwork two months ahead of distribution, to avoid future disputes. Thend audit bureau soon got to work, marking thend acres at a time by nting a foundation stone and painting numbers on it to identify the boundary of one plot ofnd from another.


    Vijay also ordered the logistics department, which calcted the merit of each worker working on the road construction project and the newly initiated cultural revival project, to anticipate the merit points the workers could theoretically achieve considering their previous work ethic.


    Vijay did this to ease the logistics pressure after the announcement thatnd would be distributed. A total of 3 million people participated in the road construction project, and the arablend to be distributed is at least 20 million acres, making it roughly 81,000 sq km. This number may look like a lot, but 81,000 square kilometres is only 42% of modern-day Karnataka, and roughly 60% of Karnataka''snd is arable. So thend Vijay is nning to distribute is nothing inparison to the vast fertile soils in Bharat.


    As the road construction project, cultural revival project, and Bhartinguage project were going forward with excellent efficiency, Vijay found himself rtively free.


    Taking this time, he spent these few days with his wife. However, there is a problem. No matter how many times Vijay and his wife exercised, there was no result in Kavya''s belly. Noticing this, everyone around him got nervous, including his wife. She started to feel panicked and became more energetic than him while doing the deed. He was so tiredst night that his hip stopped working as it got numb. But his wife did not leave him be, and the same thing happened this morning. So, he finally decided to confront his wife. When he put on a tough front, his wife started crying as she poured her heart out and hugged him, making his chest wet.


    When Vijay inquired about her worries, he discovered that Kavya feared he might abandon her. Vijay, realizing the depth of her concerns, felt a sense of guilt. He assured her that the issue of infertility was due to his own condition and that it would be resolved within a year. Though initially skeptical, Kavya held onto this glimmer of hope, allowing a sense of reassurance to ease her concerns.


    Vijay heaved a sigh of relief as he quickly escaped the pce. Also, the reason he came up with was not random at all; he genuinely felt he was the reason for their infertility. That was because he felt like his body was still undergoing some slight changes along with his brain, hence the problem of fertility. He could feel that his brain is nearing maturity in the biological sense, and he would be able to have a child after that. Now he is 24, and by 25, he should be fully matured, and there will be no more changes after that as the brain functions will stabilize. He does not know how he knows all these things, but he could intuitively tell that this will happen.


    Vijay conducted an inspection of the royal capital, and as he surveyed the surroundings, he couldn''t help but notice the significant changes that had taken ce since his coronation. The streets were now meticulously paved with cement roads, and orderly drainage pipes adorned both sides. The roads were thoughtfully divided by barriers, with teak trees nted at a five-meter interval from each other. Each shop at the roadside was assigned the responsibility of caring for the single tree in front of their establishment, with the number of trees varying based on the size of the shop.


    Shop owners bore the responsibility of watering, weeding, and maintaining the cleanliness of the trees and the pavement in front of the establishment. In the event of a tree''s demise due to water shortage, the shop owner was held ountable and subjected to fines. The bill enforcing these regtions was directly passed, making it applicable to all major cities in the empire. However, only a handful of major cities met the criteria to adhere to these rules. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    This system significantly improved the cleanliness of the capital. Each shop had a dedicated worker responsible for cleaning in front of the shop and taking care of the teak tree nted by the city administration. All the collected waste and dust were divided into wet and dry waste, which was stored inrge containers ced at the end of the street. Each day, a dedicated cart woulde and rece the containers with trash with empty containers.


    This system worked well because all the shop fronts and properties beside the road were upied, and they were held responsible. But in the case of other cities, this would not be possible, as a lot of property and assets beside the road could be empty or nonfunctional.


    Soon, as he felt hungry, he went to the food street to have his lunch. The street is one of the famous streets in the capital known for its cuisine, where chefs from all over Bharat found their way here. You can find all 10 of the Indian cuisines here: North Indian Cuisine, South Indian Cuisine, East Indian Cuisine, West Indian Cuisine, Central Indian Cuisine, Northeast Indian Cuisine, Mugi Cuisine, Rajasthani Cuisine, Gujarati Cuisine, and Kashmiri Cuisine.


    There are a total of a hundred shops on this street, and 10 shops are reserved for each style of cuisine. There is a speciality of this street, as the shops here are actually free and subsidized by the government. It was actually Vijay''s idea, inspired by an anime he watched in his college years called "Food Wars." He brought the system of "Food Wars" into the streets of Vijayanagara.


    The system operates as follows: any Indian skilled in a particr cuisine cane and challenge the MasterChef who already owns the shops on the food street. However, there is a catch ¨C to prevent mediocrity, challengers need to pass through the temple head chef. They are required to assist in the temple kitchen for free, cooking for a crowd of thousands of people. Once the temple chef gives the green light, it is determined that the challenger has sufficient skill topete. Despite sounding easy, this is a challenging task as cooking on such arge scale demands a deep understanding of ingredients and considerable effort due to the quantity needed.


    At this stage, Ny per cent of challengers drop out, leaving the remaining contenders topete with the shop owners for their spots. If a challenger sessfully defeats a shop owner, they gain control of the shop the following day. For the shop owner who loses, there is still hope. They have two opportunities to challenge and regain their shop without going through the temple trial. However, if they are defeated both times, they are barred frompeting for a year.


    If the shop owner sessfully defends their title against the challenger, they gain immunity against challengers for a whole week.


    The judging system relies on a voting system. Twelve random people of different age groups, making up 60% of the votes with 12 votes, are selected from the crowd. The remaining eight spots are given to sessfully defending shop owners from different cuisines. This ensures a fair judgment, considering the diverse tastes of both regr people and gourmet lovers.


    After the implementation of these rules, the entire street transformed into a carnival atmosphere. Challenges urred every day, with different shops participating throughout the week. People crowded around specific shops to watch the challenges unfold. With the increase in challenges andpetition, the street quickly became one of the most visited ces in the royal capital. In an eracking in entertainment options, this street achieved tremendous sess bybining excitement with the allure of the most delicious food in the world.


    As the news of the food street continued to spread, it garnered attention not only throughout the empire but also across the subcontinent. Despite the Mughals'' attempts to suppress the news, it reached the ears of numerous skilled chefs through word of mouth. With an influx of talented chefs, the overall food quality in the capital rose significantly. The regr food in Hampi became so exceptional that it could bepared to gourmet dishes found outside the capital, leading to an expanded food palette for ordinary citizens.


    As the street became increasingly challenging to manage, Vijay directed the city administration to create a dedicated administrative division exclusively for the street. This street was given the distinct name "Bhuka Yoddha Street" (Hungry Warrior Street), and a specialized administrative unit was established. The street was designated as a special economic zone within the royal capital. Due to the growing chaos caused by the influx of people, the Bhuka Yoddha Street administration took measures to restrict entry for outsiders. An entry fee was introduced, although it was nominal. This strategy dissuaded individuals who were not genuinely interested in purchasing expensive food from the establishments.


    Although the inflow of people reduced drastically, the quality of the people entering became high. The street administration also started issuing different tiers of entry passes, which differentiated how long the pass holder could spend their time in the street. The normal daily pass was only permitted to spend 5 hours in the street. The tiers ranged frommon, iron, copper, steel, bronze, silver, gold, diamond, emperor.


    Each tier of entry passes granted a duration that was double that of the preceding tier. These passes were avable for purchase at the street administration unit. Initially, there were concerns from the city administration about the potential financial loss, as the shops were granted for free, when the cost of shops in the royal capital was so high. However, the decision was still implemented as it was a direct order from His Highness, the emperor.


    But after all the systems his Majesty ordered were implemented, the city administration personnel couldn''t stop themselves fromughing. Although the shops were given free at cost, the consumption of the street increased hundreds of times, which drove the consumption of the people, which also inadvertently increased the tax revenue. Moreover, when the tier system was implemented, the passes produced more money than what the shops would be paying if they were rented altogether. As Bhuka Yoddha Street became more and more famous, it even contributed 20% of the capital''s local finances.


    Vijay, holding the one and only emperor pass, which had no time limit and would evacuate the whole street after using the pass, decided to use it. The entire street was evacuated. Vijay did not want to cause such amotion, but it had barely been 4 months since the war had beenpleted, so he had to be careful. Walking in the now empty street, which was previously busy all the time, he noticed a new shop and decided to try the Kashmiri cuisine that he had never experienced before.


    Taking a seat, he ordered a Kashmiri Baingan. The chef was overjoyed as Vijay chose his shop and quickly served the Emperor, his best Kashmiri Baingan. Vijay was very satisfied with the food and left in satisfaction.


    The chef who served the food was very excited, thinking that his shop could be more famous since His Majesty ate from it. However, he became puzzled by the look of pity his colleagues showed him. Doubtfully, he wondered if it wasn''t a good thing. Soon, he got to know the reality. When the news of His Highness''s visit to the Kashmiri shop spread, all the firepower of the new Kashmiri chefs was directed at him, as he became the primary target. Within a week, he lost the right to run the shop.


    Now he finally understood; the emperor visiting the street was actually not a good thing. It is actually a curse, and all the chefs actually heaved a sigh of relief as soon as His Majesty did not choose their shop.


    Even though they are excellent cooks and they love topete, they cannot hold on to the firepower of so many challengers solely focused on them. The chef who lost the shop felt like he had been enlightened. He waited for a few weeks and challenged the same shop again, and fortunately, he won. The first thing he did after taking back his shop was remove the board where it said ''The Emperor dined here.'' Removing the que, he heaved a sigh of relief as he got back to his work.


    P.S. Please let me know if this sort of chapter on slice of Life esk theme is good. Thanks.


    Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.


    Mithun_ReddyGaru


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 153 Sloop Of War Pratham

    153 Sloop Of War Pratham


    Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi.


    The Royal Pce.


    Vijay is seated in his study room, jotting down ideas about how he wants to structure the Secret Service. He is also contemting whether to formalize the organization, which has existed in the shadows away from public view, and bring it into the light. Vijay feels that this is still a debatable question. Bringing the organization into the light would make it more formalized and ountable for its actions. On the other hand, it also exposes the eyes and ears of Vijayanagara to enemy nations. The public''s view is also another concern. Vijay would have to consider whether the disadvantages are worth overlooking in light of the advantages.


    *Knock knock*


    "Come in," Vijay responded.


    Vinod entered the study room and delivered the news after greeting Vijay, "Your Majesty, the four shipyards you contracted havepleted their construction."


    Hearing the news, Vijay was ted. He had been waiting for this day for a long time. After assigning the task of designing Vijayanagara''s own warship to Danior Boswell, the war with the Mughal empire started, making him too busy to pay attention to the military ships he had ordered to design.


    However, during the battle, just two months in, Vijay received news that Danior was sessful in designing the boat. Fortunately, the blueprint was also sent with the mail for Vijay to inspect. Upon reviewing the blueprint, Vijay confirmed that it was the design he had been looking for. So Vijay directly ordered Danior to proceed with manufacturing the ship and to train a few batches of qualified shipbuilders.


    On top of that, Vijay also wrote another letter to Vinod, instructing him to build three more shipyards in the empire, ready to manufacture military vessels at a moment''s notice. Vijay established a total of four shipyards, each equipped with a dry dock capable of housing a battleship of 2000-ton discement. This construction of shipyards began half a year ago, wholly subsidized by the royal family. The four shipyards were strategically located along the coast of the empire. The shipyards were named the Shivaji Shipyard located in Kochi, Ker, the Ch Shipyard in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Raya Shipyard, currently the most advanced Shipyard, where the prototype ships had been produced, situated in Mangaluru, Karnataka, and finally, the Ashoka Shipyard in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.


    Vijay ns only to retain the Raya Shipyard in the future and sell the rest of the shipyards as soon as they are operational. His primary goal is to stimte the Vijayanagara economy by improving the marine industries and preventing the establishment of monopolypanies. Monopolypanies are effective in centralizing the resources of a small state and producing internationallypetitive products, but they are more suitable for small countries with a small poption and economy, not for arge country with its own internal economy like Bharat.


    Hence, monopoly industries in big countriesck marketpetitiveness and hinder innovation. For Vijay, who was a scientist in hisst life, this is thest thing he wants to see. While considering all this, Vijay made his way to Mangaluru. Fortunately, because the roads had been previously built, Vijay reached Mangaluru within the same day.


    Raya Shipyard, Mangaluru.


    "Master, what is all the excitement about?" A teenager asked Daniel Boswell, president of the Boswell Design Bureau. This teenager was the assistant Daniel took in from the naval academy after noticing that the boy had an excellent talent for ship design. asionally, when he felt stuck in his thought process, Daniel used to visit the naval academy to give sses and teach the students the basics of shipbuilding and also go through his own basics as well. It was during one of these visits that Vishesh Nedri caught his eye. Daniel noticed that Nedri was able to understand his exnations very quickly, learning seamlessly from one theory to another anding up with his own theories. Although the theories were not entirely new and were already proven or disproven, Daniel was more surprised because Nedri could infer more advanced theories from the basics. It was at that time that Daniel decided to take Vishesh Nedri as his disciple.


    "His Majesty ising to inspect the new sloop," Danior said, sounding a little excited.


    "Oh, His Majesty ising!" Vishesh eximed, surprised and reverent. Coming from a small fishing vige where the locals struggled due to exorbitant debts imposed by theirndlord, Vishesh''s family benefited greatly from His Majesty through thews he promulgated, particrly thew that forgave loans and distributednd. This led to rtive affluence in their vige, and his family decided to send him to the naval academy when the recruiters found them in the vige. Fortunately, he caught the master''s eye in the academy, and since then, he has been working in the Boswell Design Bureau as the president''s assistant.


    The wait was not long, as Vijay arrived at the shipyard in a few hours.


    As soon as Vijay entered the shipyard, he was weed by Daniel Boswell, apanied by a teenager no more than 19 years old, and an odd number of at least 200 people. After the pleasantries, Vijay expressed his desire to see the sloop. Daniel obliged and led him to the dock where a ship was positioned in a dry dock filled with water. Vijay could discern, at a nce, the slender build of the sloop¡ªa ship with a mighty sail, appearing sleek and imposing. A smile spread across Vijay''s face as he finally confirmed with his own eyes that Vijayanagara was now capable of constructing military vessels. Although these were considered the lowest tier of military vessels, they marked a significant foundation for the Empire.


    "Tell me about these ships," Vijay inquired. Although he could vaguely guess the specifications of the ship, he let Danior do the task. Danior also happily agreed, looking excited and eager to show off.


    "Your Highness, this is a sloop of war vessel designed by the Boswell Design Bureau and manufactured by Raya Shipyard. This military vessel in front of you has a length of 15 meters and a beam width of 5.5 meters with a draft (depth below the waterline) of 2 meters. This design makes it capable of operating in shallow-draft conditions like in ind rivers,rgekes, and even in shallow sea areas near the coast. The ship is equipped with a singleteen sail mast (triangr mast), along with a fore-and-aft rig (sail aligned along the length of the ship). The structure gives the sloop excellent manoeuvrability greater than itsrger counterparts. The keel of the ship uses teak wood sourced from Ker along with sal and sissoo, wherever necessary. Due to the lightweight materials used in less core parts of the ship, the weight was controlled to a discement of 100 tons. Due to the lower weight, the speed of the sloop in optimal conditions can reach up to 8 knots (14.4 KMPH) and the sloop needs a 50-men crew to house it."


    Vijay was very satisfied with the conditions, but then he asked an important question, "Then what are its military capabilities?"


    "Your Majesty, due to the versatility of the sloop, this vessel can be used as a tform in which different artillery could be equipped in different scenarios. The ship is not excellent in any department, but it is also not bad in any department; it is a very well-bnced design.


    In the case of 12 KG calibre cannons, it is suggested to equip 8 cannons depending on the situation, with the option to equip more in emergency situations. However, this should be approached cautiously as it may significantly reduce the lifespan of the ship. For situations requiring heavy firepower, three 20-kilogram calibre cannons are rmended. It''s important to note that due to therger size of these cannons, requiring more space and producing greater vibrations, it is advised not to carry 12-kilogram calibre cannons if all three slots for therge cannons are utilized. Instead, a bnced configuration of onerge cannon and six 12 KG calibre cannons is highly rmended.


    We have additionally outfitted the ship with 10 swivel guns of 6 kg calibre, which were designed and developed in coboration with the Bharatiya Academy of Military Sciences and Raya Armory. These guns serve the purpose of close counter-defence, particrly if the enemy attempts to board the ship. Each gun is mounted on a 2-axis swivel, allowing for an elevation of 45 degrees, a depression of 20 degrees, and a full 360-degree rotation.


    "Good, good,"


    *pat pat,*


    Vijay nodded his head as he patted Danior''s back, very impressed by the sloop, which more than matched and slightly exceeded his expectations. Vijayanagara could finally produce its own military ships. Even though these are small vessels of only 100 tons, they are considered advanced sloops on the world stage.


    "Does this ship have a name?"


    "No, Your Highness. I request you to name the indigenously manufactured ship of the Vijayanagara Empire yourself."


    "Let me see." Vijay fell into deep thought, thinking that the naming of the ship could shape the Navy''s future functions and operations. After pondering for a whole half an hour,'' First Huh?'' He muttered as he thought of a name, he made his decision.


    "I have decided that this model of warships will be called the ''Hampi ss sloops of war .'' From here on out this ss of military vessels will be utilized in coastal defence, and ind river defence, and will also y the role of a skirmisher. Mainly focusing on the hit-and-run tactic against arger battleship, and this specific ship," Vijay said as he touched the keel of the ship in front of him, "will be named BNV Pratham (first in Sanskrit), as it is the first ship manufactured by the Vijayanagara Empire from the ground up."


    Danior was very pleased that his magistrate recognized the ship and even named one of the ships, including the whole ss of ships. However, he had a doubt and asked, "Your Majesty, what does this BNV stand for?"


    Vijay, upon hearing the question, smiled and replied, "Bharatiya Naval Vessel. N?v(el)B\\jnn


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    Mithun_ReddyGaru


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 154 Formation Of Coast Guard

    154 Formation Of Coast Guard


    Vijayanagara Empire, Raya shipyard Mangalore.


    Vijay was highly satisfied with the ship before him. Now that Vijayanagara was capable of constructing its own warships, Vijay envisioned initiating the Vijayanagara Navy. Although not a fully-fledged navy capable of transoceanic voyages, and not even a green-water navy with a substantial regional presence, Vijay initially nned to establish a Coast Guard. This Coast Guard wouldbat smuggling, deter and suppress pirate activities, secure sea trade routes in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, and, most importantly, safeguard the coast from small-scale foreign aggression.


    Thinking about all this, Vijay recalled that the shipyard had been manufacturing these ships over the past year during his engagement in war. He felt like there would be a good number of talents trained in this time span, so he enquired, "How many people are capable of building this ship?" Vijay asked curiously. Devendra, a middle-aged man, stood beside Danier. Devendra was the manager Vinod scouted when looking for managerial talents for the royal family''s industries. When the n for shipbuilding arose, many people identified by Vinod as having managerial talents were employed by the shipyard. However, among them, only two individuals could handle both management and were exceptionally proficient at shipbuilding. The rest of the managerial talents struggled, so they were ordered to return to their previous roles, with ns to utilize them in other industries when needed. Devendra, one of the talents, and Sudhakar the other, were the ones who remained.


    "Your Majesty, the 200 people who came to greet you are all talents trained by Raya shipyard, and all 200 of them are capable of participating in this build. Among them, including me, there are four people who are capable of leading other craftsmen to build this current warship on their own."


    Hearing the answer, Vijay was taken aback and surprised by this news, as it seemed almost incredulous. How could there be so many shipbuilders in the empire within a year? Despite all the resources he put into the naval academy, it appeared illogical. So, Vijay asked with a doubtful expression, "Are you really sure that these 200 people are capable of delivering what you said?"


    Seeing the doubt on his Majesty''s face, Devendra became nervous. If His Highness perceived him as a boaster and a liar, his career coulde to an end at that very moment. So, he quickly exined with a hint of panic in his voice.


    "It is true, Your Highness. All these 200 people are capable of building the Hampi ss sloop. These people were selected from the Naval Academy after confirming excellent performance in academics and a keen judgment for practical work. we have also spent a lot of resources in order to train them. For example, to train these craftsmen to the level they are now, we have utilized five sloops worth of materials to build a single sloop. At first, they made a lot of mistakes, but as they got more and more experience in the field, they picked up the craft very quickly. Surprisingly, a lot of them also said that they had been getting insightstely which propelled their craft forward at an unimaginable speed. Your Highness, please, you can inspect the work if you would like." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    By the time Devendra was able to get all these words out, his face was already filled with sweat.


    Vijay, upon hearing the reply, had his skepticism dissipate. As soon as he heard that the craftsmen were gaining insights, he confirmed that his Golden finger yed a role. When the naval academy was established, a total of 10,000 teenagers were selected throughout the empire, most of whom were distributed across various courses rted to sailors, shipbuilders, ship designers, and ship maintenance.


    Vijay had collectively spread the seeds of knowledge among the students of the Naval Academy. These seeds acted as a catalyst for truly talented students, fastening their growth. Moreover, the teachers who had taught them were the Battleship maintenance crew of the Dutch Royal Navy. Although they had no experience in shipbuilding, they were the maintenance group of a top-of-the-line purebred Ocean-going Battleship. They were very clear about the structure of the ship they worked on, and teaching the basics of shipbuilding was of no difficulty for them, at least for the smaller ships.


    With the help of the advanced theoretical basis, Vijay gave and with the rich practical experience of the Dutch maintenance personnel, this lot of 200 shipbuilders grew up in this environment. Although they utilized five times more resources in their learning process, it was necessary, as these materials were not representative of the money that was lost but a representation of the time that was saved. In case the training was done in a traditional way, it would take many years to train a good shipbuilding talent, and being able to nurture 200 shipbuilding talents sessfully was a huge deal.


    Although his doubts disappeared, he still said, "Okay, let me see how you manufacture a sloop."


    Seeing that his majesty was giving him a chance, Devendra quickly assembled his team among the 200 shipbuilders and started his task.


    Danior Boswell, who heard the whole conversation, walked next to Vijay and went on to exin what Devendra was doing.


    First, BNV Pratham was removed from the dock, and the water was drained. The next step involved Devendra ordering his men to bring in the processed timber that had gone through the futtock shrouding process.


    The keel, which is the ship''s backbone, was thenid on the dry dock floor. Following that, Devendra and his men raised the frames, which are the curved structures forming the ribs of the hull, and attached them to the keel with pegs and treenails.


    Devendra then ordered his men to clinch the nks into frames, creating a watertight hull using iron nails and water-repellent stuffing. This entire process took half a day, during which Vijay had his lunch and observed the shipbuilding process.


    22:35


    Next, Devendraid the deck nks on top of the frames and secured them with beams and supporting braces. The single Lateen mast was thenid using several pieces of sal wood. Boswell exined that pine could also be utilized sometimes, depending on the avability of the material.


    The mast was then joined and reinforced with iron bands. Next, Daniel ordered his men to rig the mast with ropes and blocks, creating the Lateen sail in the fore and aft rig for manoeuvrability.


    Basically, the construction of the ship is primarilypleted. Next is adding in the details; the gun ports were created on the deck and sides of the hull to amodate the cannons. The 612-kilogram cannons in the warehouse were brought into position and secured to the six gun ports. Therge 20-kilogram main cannon was also attached to a separate gun port. Ten swivel guns were installed on the swivel mounts along the bulwarks for close-quarter defence. Finishing touches like the steering wheel, anchor, and figurehead were added.


    The entire ship was constructed within a span of 18 hours, leaving Vijay impressed. However, upon noticing that the waterproofing of the hull was inadequate, he voiced his concern.


    "What is the lifespan of this boat?" Vijay inquired.


    "Your Highness, with proper maintenance, it couldst up to 15 years," Boswell replied.


    Vijay, satisfied with the information, contemted the potential for profit with the waterproofing material.


    Devendra, true to his word, then presented the new ship to Vijay. In acknowledgement, Vijay nodded his head and promised him and his team a small reward, which left them excited for a while.


    "How many ships have been produced now?" Vijay asked.


    "Your Highness, including this one, we have manufactured 22 sloops of the Hampi ss," Devendra answered.


    Vijay was happy with the number and ordered, "Good, the military will be cing orders for these sloops in the next few days. I need your 200 craftsmen to be divided into 4 teams and work in different shipyards across the empire."


    Devendra was taken aback by his majesty''s decision. Didn''t his majesty say that he was very satisfied with the warship? Why did he suddenly split the group? But soon, he calmed down, remembering that it was his royal highness who was the owner of this shipyard.


    Vijay continued, "You said that including you there are four group leaders. Who are they?"


    Devendra quickly answered, "Your Majesty, it''s Sudhakar over here, Nithin, and Pankaj."


    As soon as the names rang out, three people stepped out, Sudhakar having already been selected by Vinod.


    Vijay soon ordered, "Devendra, you will continue to serve as the manager of Raya shipyard here in Mangalore. Sudhakar, you will serve as the manager of the Ch shipyard in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Nithin, you will serve as the manager of the Ashoka shipyard in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Pankaj, you will serve as the manager of Shivaji shipyard in Kochi, Ker."


    "I want each of you to lead separate teams and train more mid-level shipbuilding talents, which can be used in the civilian shipbuilding industries in the future. Out of the 100 Hampi ss warship orders from the government, forty ships will be manufactured in Raya shipyard, and the remaining sixty ships will be distributed equally among the three other shipyards."


    "Devendra, how long will it take to manufacture a single ship?"


    Hearing the question, Devendra responded instantly, "Your Highness, Raya shipyard is now capable of manufacturing a single Hampi ss ship in a day because of the readily avable materials and all the talent concentrated here. But once the split happens, I am positive that the other three shipyards will not be able to perform to the standards of Raya shipyard."


    Hearing his reply, the rest of the people chosen as managers did not feel offended, as they were very clear that what Devendra was saying was not false.


    "Don''t worry about that; that is one of the reasons I gave Raya shipyard arger quota. It doesn''t matter if the other shipyards are a little slow; after some experience, they will eventually catch up with Raya shipyard. Now, I need the four leaders to pick 50 people each from the 200 talents."


    The leaders were looking left and right, as they had no clue how to pick. But Devendra suddenly started to call out names. Realizing the situation they were currently in, they also rose to the asion and picked 50 people.


    Satisfied with the split, Vijay went back to the capital as the shipbuilders also left for their respective shipyards.


    He called for a government meeting and brought forward the formation of the Coast Guard. Unsurprisingly, without any opposition, the bill was passed.


    The Coast Guard was then established directly under the Ministry of Military Affairs. The Coast Guard is responsible for patrolling the coast of the Empire, keeping the trade routes clear of any pirates, preventing smuggling operations, and supporting the two man-of-war battleships. When necessary, it acts as the main spearhead in a naval battle. The 22 ships that were already manufactured were bought by the government, and 20 sloops were assigned to the new Coast Guard division. Two ships were assigned to the police department in case of internal security issues near the ind rivers.


    A hundred more new Hampi ss sloops were ordered to the four shipyards ording to Vijay''s order. Vijay also sent a letter to all four shipyards to procure simple materials like the steering wheel, anchor, and wooden nks from other workshops in the empire, thereby concentrating the human resources on the important parts of the ship and also creating a new industry chain driven by the Marine sector.

 Chapter 155 Recruitment and Mohamads Trouble

    155 Recruitment and Mohamad''s Trouble N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Vijayanagar Empire, The Naval Academy.


    "Sir, we could feign a retreat and take advantage of the terrain, letting our battleship stationed 4 km north approach and nk the opponent. Doing this can not only prevent a close-up battle with the enemy in case of ammunition exhaustion in our ship, but we can also capture the enemy''s soldiers without any more casualties than there already are."


    A young man who looked to be in his early 20s replied to the teacher who asked him a question based on a simtion of a battlefield. His name is Gautham, one of the best-performing students in the Vijayanagara Naval Academy.


    "Very good, sit down."


    The teacher responded, very satisfied with the reply. He has always been surprised at how many talents wereing out of the Naval Academy. He was a normal captain of a Dutch frigate back home in the Nethends, but due to a mistake, he was demoted by a rank and sent on an expedition to India. Unfortunately, the expedition failed. After being captured, he was interrogated. Since he did not harm anyone in Sri Lanka during his service, he was given a condition to teach in the naval academy in exchange for his freedom. He was very happy that he did not harm anyone in the colony, so he readily agreed.


    At first, he was ordered to learn the nativenguage as soon as possible in order to start his teaching career. Initially, he was put on tabs by the military to see if he was teaching the real things or just spewing propaganda or acting as a missionary of the church. Fortunately, when the white man did not make any nasty moves, his surveince was reduced quite a bit.


    John has been living a full and fulfilling life, and teaching here is not a difficult task, as all the students he has taught in the Military academy seem to know a lot about military tactics and strategy. He was intrigued by this phenomenon and asked a few students, but most, if not all of them, attributed this knowledge to God. ording to them, sometimes when they think about how a battle should be fought, inspiration suddenlyes to them. It''s like they already know this knowledge, but they have forgotten it.


    The atmosphere in the academy is quite religious, as the students celebrate many holidays in a year. They wear some red dots on their faces; some have a thread going around their body and many other different features that he could not understand. But what he is sure of is that a lot of it has to do with the theological aspect of these people''s lives. There is even a deity with an elephant face ced at the entrance of the Naval Academy. At first, he felt uneasy and fearful of all these practices, as the only thought that ran through his head was that these practices people are doing were demonic. But as the days passed, he grew less wary and even got to know quite a bit about their traditions. The most surprising part is that not once did anyone try to convince him to convert to their faith. Isn''t it what everyone does after conquering or winning a battle against someone? Isn''t it natural to spread the faith of the winner? But why is that not happening here? He was confused. Soon, he shook his head and came back to the topic.


    After confirming that the students had some knowledge of tactics, he just had to make sure what they were putting forward could be applicable in practice. The application aspect is one area where all the students arecking.


    Even Gautam, who falls into the top echelon of best-performing students, when asked to do a trial run of a training frigate, became clueless like a headless chicken. Even though he knows all the theories and tactics, he seems to have never been on a warship. This simrity is noticed in all the students. So Identifying the problem, John soon changed his ssroom from the Naval Academy to ake nearby and concentrated on building up the practical abilities of the students. It was then that the gold from the silt was separated; students who had a natural talent for the field rose above their peers, while those who were not as proficient still struggled.


    But still, on average, the sess rate of training a qualified sailor was higher than what he had seen back home in the Nethends.


    Today, Just like any other day when he was training the new batch of students, a man dressed in a military uniform came near theke and handed him a letter. After reading the letter, his face became solemn. He quickly dismissed the sses for the new batch and went back to the Naval Academy to convey the news to his old students.


    Gautam and his ssmates assembled in the ss as their teacher convened them to gather.


    John soon came to the ss and ryed the information in the letter. "I have just received the recruitment notice for the newly formed Coast Guard."


    * yesss *


    Everyone became happy as soon as they heard the news. Their futures were very uncertain because Vijayanagar did not have a proper Navy, so they did not know where their positions would be in the future. Now that there is a Coast Guard that has been newly formed, that is the ce where they should showcase their talents and make His Highness the King and the Empire proud.


    John, looking at the excited faces of his students, decided to pour cold water on them. "But this recruitment has a condition. We will have mock battles with the other sses in the Naval Academy, and the best-performing people will be considered as winners."


    "Also, the ranks that could be achieved could go up to themander rank."


    He said, as he eyed Gautam, who hade a long way from not even knowing how to tie a proper knot in the beginning to being one of the best and talentedmanding talents he had ever witnessed.


    This news again excited everyone.


    With themencement of the selection battles in Vijayanagar, Chilika Lake became busy as the mock battles were decided to take ce in that location. Due to there being insufficient warships, they were temporaly reced with merchant ships, and the Mughal frigates that were captured in the war. These mock battles would take a long period of a month toplete, and all the students were happily awaiting their chance to perform.


    While the students of the Naval Academy were happy, Mohammad the Fifth in the Mughal Empire was feeling depressed.


    ______________________________________________________________________________________


    Mughal Empire, Agra.


    " Why can''t it be done?" Mohammed yelled in annoyance.


    In front of him were Adam, the chief craftsman, and Moin Ali, the spy, who were bowing their heads in shame.


    Several weeks ago, as the Mughal Empire grappled with the challenge of mass-producing muskets simr to those of the Vijayanagar Empire, a member of the border patrol stumbled upon an individual. This person surprisingly assured that he could provide invaluable assistance to the Mughal Empire, presenting himself as an insider within the Vijayanagar Empire. Intrigued by this prospect, Muhammad, after thorough verification through various channels, decided to ce his trust in this informant. In return for revealing the musket manufacturing process, the individual had one condition: Muhammad must aid in the rescue of his family.


    Unfortunately for Naveen, when the Mughal Empire sent a few skilled assassins to capture his family and bring them back to the Mughal Empire, the house was found to be empty. When inquired with the neighbours, they got to know that after the disappearance of Naveen, both the elderly people living in the house, along with the younger brother and his wife, were arrested by the police and taken into custody. There has been no news since then.


    Listening to this news, Naveen was frustrated and angry. ''Didn''t I just take a few more gold, why did you have to go after my family?'' he thought, feeling sad, frustrated, and believed that he was in the right.


    With this hatred in his heart, he chose to reveal how Vijayanagara was able to produce such standard muskets. However, it was still unknown to him that the assassins sent by the Mughal Empire had actually found his rtives, killed them, and framed the Vijayanagara Empire afterpleting the task. As for why they didn''t directly put the me for the murder, Moin Ali thought that it would look too fake, considering Naveen''s insider status. Moin Ali went to such lengths because his majesty, Mohammad, wanted to nt the seed of hatred in Naveen''s heart, ensuring that he would be a loyal pawn in the future and not defect at a moment''s notice.


    After learning the details reported by Naveen, Adam was very excited. He clenched his fist and struck it into his thigh as he eximed, "Such a simple solution. Why did I not think of this? Damn it!" expressing annoyance that he was not the one who thought of such a straightforward solution.


    Seeing the excited look on Adam''s face, Mohammad felt like he was closer to replicating the musket. However, back in the present, he felt like he was pped in the face by the circumstances he faced.


    "Your Majesty, while breaking down the task into numerous micro-tasks and assigning a specialized craftsman to handle each small part might seem straightforward, we''vee to realize through experience that this process is more challenging than initially anticipated.


    For starters, each craftsman we find uses a different measurement system, making the parts they make highly inconsistent and cannot be assembled. Also, the nobles did not want to outsource the work, as they felt that they were losing money. We received a lot of bacsh from the noblemunity.


    And when we ourselves tried to force this model on the market, the products we got were not reliable. There were no standard indicators about how much gunpowder should be used and what type of ammunition should be used. More importantly, the guns looked like they had cut some corners when manufacturing.


    Sincest month, we have had 15 deaths and 45 injuries just in the testing process, as sometimes the gun explodes out of thin air, and at other times, the gun backfires, injuring the soldier wielding it.


    Overall, it has cost a lot of loss of reputation in the army," Adam said, with a helpless expression on his face.


    "God damn it!" Mohammed cursed again in annoyance.


    "Then why is Vijayanagar able to do it? Why are they not facing all these problems?" For this question, it was Moin Ali who responded. "Your majesty, before these muskets were produced, it looks like Vijayanagara had made a lot of reforms which led to this result. First, the weights and measures of Vijayanagara were unified, making it easier for transactions. The power of the nobles was highly reduced, and thend was distributed, making the ordinary people rich. As the peasants were no longer tied to thend, more people began to be employed by various workshops, making the manpower abundant. When the new model was introduced, it was not actually introduced by the emperor, but it was a merchant who found out about this method, and all the other merchants followed suit. As far as I can see, after weakening the power of the nobles in the Vijayanagar Empire, they chose to transition themselves into a rich merchant ss, which is more progressive in nature. There are more reforms that have taken ce which I can''t understand."


    Moeen Ali concluded, as he took arge document from his bag and handed it over to Muhammad with one of his knees lowered and with a humble expression.


    "Your majesty, I havepiled all the changes that took ce in Vijayanagar in this document. Please look at it." Mohammed, taking the document, fell into deep thought as he read it.

 Chapter 156 The European Merchants Visit Part: 1

    156 The European Merchants Visit Part: 1


    Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi.


    Vijay was anticipating the new Bharathinguage to bepleted and thend audit to be finished in a matter of a few weeks. However, he was suddenly disturbed by an interesting news. After the Portuguese left, there wasn''t much connection with European traders, except for the asional merchant who came to the Vijayanagar Empire to buy goods and then left.


    This time, it was a full convoy of merchants from multiple European countries. Vijay could only imagine that his support for the Portuguese had caused quite a stir across the European continent.


    Six hours ago,


    Arabian Sea.


    A sizable fleet of ships approached the Indian subcontinent, disying a variety of gs. Some bore the g of the Holy Roman Empire, while others disyed the gs of France, Ennd, and the Swedish Empire and several others showcased gs representing major merchant alliances.


    As they approached the maind, they caught the attention of a nearby scouting vessel. It looked like an old, antiquated ship that the Europeans used a few decades ago. Naturally, the scouting vessel was the Mughal frigate captured in war. Due to the demand for military vessels, Vijayanagara had to make do with whatever was avable until the BNV Hampi ss sloops were put into service.


    However, despite looking down on the small ship, the European merchants followed the instructions and docked in Kochi port. Upon disembarking, they were weed by the local administrator.


    "Wee, guests from afar. Vijayanagar wees you," he smiled, and weed them with his hands joined. They understood him because there was a white man tranting for him, who seemed to be of Dutch descent. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Being merchants and top officials in their respective countries, they were well-versed in several majornguages on the European continent. However, the French merchant/representative, Jean Baptiste Dubious, was annoyed that he did not understand a single word the natives or the Dutch had spoken. He believed that all European nobles spoke French, thenguage of nobility, so he did not find a need to learn any othernguage. But due to necessity right now, he had to ask his colleagues to trante for him with an embarrassed tone.


    Fortunately, he was not embarrassed, as another white person of Iberian origin stationed in Vijayanagara spoke in Latin. Now he could understand, as Latin and Greek were among the mainnguages from which most Europeannguages originated. Therefore, it was necessary to learn Latin and Greek.


    Now that themunication issue was mostly solved, they were led on a tour of the port city of Kochi, with the official Nagappa Reddy leading the group. Nagappa Reddy is the same head of the coastal vige who had met Vijay on his first tour of the Empire during his first year of Rule.


    Later, due to his good fortune of meeting the emperor and already being present on the powerdder of the empire as a vige chief, Nagappa Reddy was given a chance to educate himself free of cost. He hesitated quite a bit when the offer came to him, as he was already a vige chief and had a lot to lose. However, due to the persuasion of his daughter, he epted the offer. Over the next few months, he was taught many things, including how to read, write, and basic management. Fortunately, as he had rich practical experience in management and seemed to have a good affinity with management roles, he was able to turn theoretical knowledge into applicable skills very soon. With his talent, he soon rose in the ranks and was finally assigned to Kochi Port as an administrative officer.


    When Nagappa heard from the scouting vessel about the approaching European merchant and warships, he panicked at first but soon calmed down after being informed that the Europeans came with a trading intention, not for war. Out of caution, he still ordered the battleship to be stationed at sea, while the merchant fleet was allowed to dock. He also requested a toon to be stationed and on guard in case anything went wrong.


    These details did not escape the notice of the merchants. They had never been so heavily guarded in their lives. While no one objected to this treatment, they were still unhappy about it. The British representative, Thomas Bartholomew, could not hold back his emotions and spoke out.


    "Sir Nagappa Reddy, what is the reason for your empire being so guarded against us? We just want to trade. Why did you stop our warships, which came with us as escorts, and these troops? We are not soldiers. You had no reason to bring them along."


    After tranting the question, Nagappa smiled and replied, "Honestly, Mr. Thomas, we are very wary of you Europeans."


    This opening line left everyone in the merchant group taken aback, with perplexed expressions, as they did not know what caused this impression of them in the mind of the person standing in front of them. If Vijay had seen their expressions, he would beughing hysterically with rage. ''Just traders?'' Vijay would even believe that KFC is vegan rather than believe that the Europeans have good intentions towards the Lowly indian mud legs, especially the lovely and kind John Bull, the shit-stirring stick of the world. This is one of the reasons why Vijay doesn''t like European countries so much. Even in the 21st century, they have the same attitude. Theyin daily about the crises happening in North African countries while being very clear that the crises are happening solely because of them. Even during the Russian and Ukraine war, despite them purchasing a bulk load of energy from Russia, they went around criticizing other countries for buying Russian energy. There are more instances like this. Honestly, it was fortunate that Vijay was not here. If he were, he did not know if he could control his mouth, so Nagappa continued.


    "Our first contact with you was a few hundred years ago. At first, your people, just like you, came as merchants, fooled our local nobles and rulers, bought a piece ofnd, and suddenly turned against us. Then started conquering ournd, preaching about your gods and denying us of our own culture, and monopolizing certain sectors of trade. Even recently, the Dutch East India Company tried to assassinate His Majesty and take over the empire. They even controlled the whole of Sri Lanka. If not for the quick actions of our Highness, your ns would have seeded. So, respectfully, Sir Thomas, we are more than wary of you Europeans, and we have a bloody good reason for it."


    Everyone turned silent as they heard the answer, as they did not know what to say. It''s not like they can deny it; they know their own affairs.


    But Thomas did not let go and asked, "Then what changed that made you allow us to trade with you? Are you not afraid that we will join hands and do something detrimental to you?"


    ''Shut up, idiot. Why are you threatening them?'' was the thought in every merchant and representative''s mind, but it was already toote as the administrator stopped his walk, eyed Thomas from the corner of his eyes, and replied with a smile that was out of the ordinary for the situation, "You can try, sir."


    This answer caught everyone by surprise. '' Weren''t they afraid?'' thought Thomas.


    "It''s nothing, sir. While your European Navy may be first-ss in the world right now, we are not an ind country; we do not need a strong navy to survive. We are arge country with a vast area of 1.3 million square kilometres, a poption of at least 35 million people, and a strong standing army of 200,000 well-trained and well-equipped soldiers. We are now capable of producing cannons, muskets, and flintlocks ourselves at home. So, Sir Thomas, if you really want to do something against the Vijayanagar Empire, you will have to ally with most European countries and convince them to join your cause," Nagappa said with the same smiling expression as he turned around and continued to walk. His words were still echoing in the air until the stunned expressions on the Europeans'' faces were broken by Nagappa himself.


    "As for if it is possible, we all know that this task is impossible considering the differences among yourselves. This is one of the reasons we are looking to trade with the European countries, in order to achieve a win-win cooperation and exchange our interests."


    There was an absolute hush among the merchants as they slowly walked along with a listless expression. Considering the poption alone, tsarist Russia, which gave them nightmares in the current era, only has a poption of 14 million people, not even half of Vijayanagar''s poption. In this era, it is still the poption that decides the strength of a country. Moreover, even if they are capable of upying the coastal regions, the Indians can always go ind and fight back from there. They are standing on the most fertilends in the world, they have no shortage of food, and by the looks of it, even the mineral resources are abundant. Thinking of all these possibilities, the representatives of the European countries quickly put away their evil thoughts as they wanted to inform this message to the maind after confirming the details.


    Seeing their faces, Nagappa Reddy smiled, thinking that his mission was sessful. He was ordered to boast about the military strength of the Empire to make the Europeans wary. Vijay did this to put up a temporary tough front against the Europeans until he found a way to consolidate different castes in the empire. If the Europeans found out about these cracks, Vijay was sure that they would exploit them. Until Vijay found a way to consolidate the different castes in the empire, he nned to put up a tough front until it was not possible or until the Portuguese spread the news about the situation here into the European continent.


    But would they? Vijay did not think so because Portugal is a small country, distant and unable topete with the rest of the European countries. Portuguese itself couldn''t take advantage of the Vijayanagar Empire due to its small poption and the ongoing war. So, they do not want to deal with stronger European countries that will be even more massive with the wealth brought by plundering India. This was also one of the uses in the trade and peace alliance agreement between the two countries. Vijay believes that by the time the Portuguese were capable of vying for Indian interests, the Empire would be much stronger than it is now.

 Chapter 157 The European Merchants Visit Part: 2

    157 The European Merchants Visit Part: 2


    The merchants and representatives entered the city along with Nagappa Reddy. It was as if they had travelled into a different dimension. They had never seen such neatly paved roads; the roads were exceptionallyrge, evenrger than most European roads found in capital cities. However, what they were in was not the capital of Vijayanagara, but just an ordinary port city.


    They walked on a footpath specially designed for people, with a width simr to the normal European roads found in most towns, wide enough for a carriage to pass through. However, it was wholly designated for people to walk on. The main roads, where carriages were allowed to travel, amodated three carriages side by side, with a gap left for one more carriage. The centre of the road had a barrier, preventing vehicles from one side from intersecting the other. When they were confused about how the carriage on one side could go to the other side, they found a few intersections inserted at intervals in the barrier. nts were nted in the barrier, about the height of 2 meters. They also noticed the exceptional cleanliness of the road, as people were regrly cleaning it. It seemed peculiar that the carriages travelled only one way, and the opposite direction had a separate and dedicated road. Some merchants sneered, thinking all this was a waste of resources and questioning the usefulness of such a big road. However, a few intelligent ones caught on to the intent behind the roads. They noticed numerous signals nted beside the road, guiding the carriages. This mechanism could prevent idents and eliminate congestion, making travel much easier. Unfortunately, the military importance of this point was not considered by the merchants.


    Nagappa Reddy quickly brought them to the market centre in Kochi City. "Dear guests, you can inspect any product you want in this market. It contains everything that Vijayanagara is willing to trade. So please feel free to go around and select the products you would like to purchase. Unfortunately, as this is a small market run by private individuals, they are not capable of doing bulk business directly with you. Hence, the Vijayanagar government will directly purchase the materials you need from the people and put them up for trade, Making it convenient for you."


    Understanding the details, they quickly went into the market. The market was not so busy, as the people had been informed of the guests'' arrival already, leaving the market mostly without any customers and providing the Europeans with ample space and time. The merchants went from shop to shop, inspecting various goods. The spices, which they had only dreamt of, were being put in front of them in piles and piles, just like some cheap ck bread found back home. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Upon looking at various materials, British representative Thomas Bartholonew had a greedy expression on his face. He never imagined the wealth of this country; thend here was like nowhere he had seen. Every inch ofnd was fertile, and no matter where he looked, there were farms with abundant grain. From the looks of it, the yield density was even more than what is found in the Ukrainian region, and on top of that There seems to be arge poption of Talented Craftsmen Capable of producing a lot of Exquisite handicrafts.


    "If I could monopolize the trade route, how many benefits would I gain? Wouldn''t I be canonized as a higher noble and have my own fiefdom in that case?" he thought, but he quickly put away his greedy expression as he was being monitored.


    Throughout the day, the merchants inspected various goods and wrote down the items they would need. Many of them were really excited by the quality of materials present in the market.


    When negotiations fully beganter, the person representing the Vijayanagar Empire was Laksh, who was proficient in Latin and Portuguese and was sent by the Ministry of Trade and Commerce to conclude the deal. Vijay''s instruction was to offer a slight discount to the Europeans on the original price, and on top of that to further increase the discount after reaching a certain scale of purchases. This is because Vijayanagar aims to use these European countries to run the industrial chain of the Vijayanagara Empire. In the near future, Vijay will be pushing for tools that will allow for faster and more precise production. He wants to make Bharat an industrial country as soon as possible.


    It took a whole day to finish the negotiations with the European countries as they were struggling to increase the scale of their purchases. Finally, the total volume of the goods they procured amounted to around 280,000 tons, with the incentive of discounts and a little cash back to the representatives as a bribe. The items the merchants bought included spices, weaponry, special grains unique to South Asia, textile products, luxury goods, antiques, handicrafts, and many other small items. Overall, both parties were happy with the deal being reached.


    In exchange for the goods, Vijay asked for precious metals like gold, silver, copper, bronze, etc. However, there were special asions when Vijay ordered the negotiator to exchange some specific products from Europe.


    In a particr instance, Vijay instructed Laksh to engage in a special trade negotiation with the Vian merchant, Leonardo Bellini. The proposal was to exchange the goods acquired by Leonardo in Vijayanagara for volcanic ash, with the goal of achieving aplete repayment through this uniquemodity. Perplexed by the barter suggestion, Leonardo voiced his surprise, "Volcanic ash? Why would the Vijayanagar Empire need this?"


    But the words of the negotiator left him speechless." It does not matter what we want or how we use volcanic ash, but, sir, all you have to know is Vijayanagara could support you with cheap materials and weaponry in your fight against the Ottoman Empire." This assurance sealed the deal. While Leonardo was already inclined towards the trade, given the significant profit potential of volcanic ash being abundant in the Italian region, his curiosity prompted him to inquire about potential unique uses that he might not be aware of.


    But now that the Vijayanagar Empire put it like that, he forgot about whatever Vijayanagar wanted to do with the volcanic ash and asked the question, "How could you be of help to us, sir?"


    "It is very simple, actually. We will not sell or trade with the Ottoman Empire at a preferential price as we did with the rest of the European countries, and your treatment will be the same as the Portuguese. We can sign a peace and trade alliance as our emperor sees huge interests to gain for both parties. This way, we can provide you with necessary war supplies whenever needed at a discounted price. Currently, we are able to produce a 20-kilogram calibre cannon, flintlocks, and muskets at a very cheap price. If you could provide us with a few talented and skilled craftsmen in this department, we could even produce more advanced weaponry at a lower cost. Moreover, we are not interested in conquest outside of our homnd, so you can rest assured."


    Considering the conditions set forth by the Vijayanagar Empire, Leonardo entered a contemtive state. Eventually, he decided to transmit the message back home, gauging the reactions from the doge, and proceeding ordingly. At present, he finalized the trade deal at a preferential price, offering volcanic ash in return.


    Vijay sought volcanic ash for the production of Roman cement, an essential material for temple construction. This resource, crucial for Roman cement production, wasn''t abundantly avable in the Indian subcontinent due to its low volcanic activity. Europe, on the other hand, had many active volcanoes, enabling the production of Roman cement by the ancient Romans.


    Following the negotiations, the merchants departed with their ships, while their assistants awaited the procurement of goods to be transported to Europe at ater date. On the other hand, the representatives requested a location to establish an embassy.


    Upon hearing this request, Vijay faced a dilemma regarding bringing these foreigners ind. After careful consideration, he permitted only the Republic of Venice to build its embassy in the capital, while other nations could establish embassies in Thiruvananthapuram. This specific location was chosen because Vijay directed the creation of a special economic zone in Thiruvananthapuram, apanied by the construction of arge free port to facilitate business for the merchants.


    With the establishment of this special economic zone, Vijay mandated that foreigners be confined to this area, effectively restricting their entry into the maind. Additionally, Thiruvananthapuram''s strategic location between the Western naval base in Mangaluru and the southern naval base in Colombo offered apromised position in case of future troubles, albeit under worst-case scenarios. A special department was also established to manage economic zones like this one. This special economic zone would enjoy the privilege of creating its own regtions, distinct from the maind, adapting to the situation and contributing to a more robust economic model.


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 Chapter 158 Dakshin Bharata Varsam Part: 1

    158 Dakshin Bharata Varsam Part: 1


    "Hehe."


    "What happened?" Kavya asked Vijay, who was giggling like a fool. He was eating just moments ago, but after a servant came and said something to him, he started giggling. Intrigued, Kavya inquired.


    "It''s nothing; the new Bhartinguage haspleted its formation," he said with excitement.


    "So much excitement for only the formation of a newnguage?" she asked, not understanding what was so special.


    "You don''t understand, wife. This is thenguage I am nning to use to unify the culture of our Empire. Also, since this newnguage is formted, I can go ahead with my n."


    "What n?" she asked with a naive and clueless expression on her face.


    Vijay, looking at her cute expression, could not deny her the answer and replied with a smile on his face, "It''s the establishment of a new Empire."


    Kavya was taken aback, as her eyes bulged. Looking at her expression, Vijay could not resist as he attacked her and took a small peck. Before Kavya could recover from the sudden attack, Vijay ran away.


    Looking at the retreating figure of her husband, her flushed and angry face soon turned into a smile as she loosened her fist.


    Vijay quickly went to meet Tukaram and the other schrs as they had sessfullypleted the task. Meeting them, he expressed his most sincere gratitude and promised that he would reward them in the future. As he excitedly took over the dictionary, which he had requested to be written, he was delighted to see that, although, for the most part, most of the words were in Sanskrit, a lot of words from othernguages around Bharat were also included.


    Especially, the swear words were reced with more impactful expressions. Sanskrit, being a very poetguage, transforms even scolding into an art. For example, calling someone a donkey could sound like praise, "Ay Vaishaka Nandan." Upon hearing this phrase, the person being scolded might even perceive it as apliment. However, after incorporating many swear words from othernguages, there''s now a variety of rich and diverse words to convey your utmost emotions to someone. Initially, the schrs were reluctant, or perhaps they didn''t even consider this task. However, it wasn''t until Vijay issued the order that they proceeded. Naturally, he didn''tmunicate with them directly but dispatched his guard to deliver a letter to Raghavendra Bhatt. Raghavendra then engaged with the group of schrs, carrying a hint of annoyance in his tone, as most of the swear words the schrs came up with were directed at him for bringing up the idea in the first ce. As for what is bothering Raghavendra, Vijay remains unaware.


    Finally confirming that there was nothing wrong with the newnguage after going through it for a brief period of time, he called for a government meeting.


    The next day, something happened in the Vijayanagara Empire that had not urred in many months. All the ministries gathered together in the royal pce with His Majesty''s order. Soon, Logananda Senapati, the Marshall and the minister of war of the Vijayanagar Empire; Raghavendra Bhat from the Ministry of Culture and Religion; Lokesh from the Ministry of Public Health; Arjun from the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Rajesh from the Ministry of Trade andmerce; Bhuvan from the ministry of judicial affairs; Narasimha from the ministry of agriculture; Nirmal from the ministry of transportation; Kumar from the ministry ofmunication. Finally, after everyone arrived, it was the old man Ravichandra Rao who entered. After Prime Minister Ravichandra Rao entered the room, everyone stood up and greeted him. He had made quite a name for himself, especially when Vijay was out of the kingdom during the war. Prime Minister Ravichandran Rao looked after the daily affairs of the Empire, earning respect among his fellow ministers. Finally, the entire government had gathered.


    Everyone patiently waited for a few moments, and then Vijay also arrived. "Long live your majesty, Long live, Long live !"


    "Everyone, sit down," he waved his hand as he took his own seat.


    "Everyone must be wondering why I have initiated this meeting away from your busy schedules. Something important came up, so I had to call you all to fulfil my orders."


    "Please let us know, your majesty. We are all your aids, and we will do whatever you ask of us."


    "Good. First, let me tell you some good news. I just received the news that the new Bhartinguage has beenpleted in its formation, so it is possible to promote it on arge scale."


    Hearing this, everyone was surprised and delighted, except for Raghavendra Bhatt, of course, as he had to endure a lot of scolding from the schrs.


    "This is indeed good news, Your Majesty. It is worth celebrating," Logananda said.


    Vijay shook his head and replied, "No, this is not why I called you all here. The reason for this meeting is another important matter altogether."


    "What is it, your highness?" Ravichandra, the old butler, asked.


    "Before I reveal the answer, let me ask you this: What concept unites our rich and diversend of thousands of cultures, kingdoms, and empires together? What is the connecting factor among us that makes a Tamilian no different from, let''s say, a person from Gujarat?"


    Everyone fell into contemtion, but none dared to answer the question. The idea lingered in their minds: Is there truly such a thing? They asked themselves.


    "Let me tell you. It is our way of life and what we believe in, that is essentially no different throughout the subcontinent. So, what I want to do is give the people two more things to unite us all and make us more cohesive."


    23:34


    "I am going to establish a new Empire. Vijayanagar Empire will be no more."


    *Gasp*


    What is His Majesty talking about? That''s the thought in everyone''s mind, particrly in Ravichandra Rao''s mind. He did not know what the young master who grew up under his care was thinking, and he was the first to question.


    "Your Majesty, do you understand what you''re talking about?, Kindly take back your sentence. How can you dismantle the foundation of the Empire that your forefathers painstakingly built just like that?"


    Vijay, listening to Ravichandra Rao''s rebuke, although a bit harsh, did not take any offence. He knew that the old man was just trying to look out for him, as he was worried about what would happen if the empire was destroyed in his hands because of his meddling. It was kind of like changing the brand name of a multinationalpany¡ªlike going from KFC to something else. Such drastic changes could potentially lead to the copse of thatpany. The same thing could potentially happen to the Vijayanagara Empire. But Vijay is not worried, as he believes he has found a better brand. His current jump is from a strong and durable Mahindra brand to a world-ss brand like Hummer.


    "Old man, my decision will not change. Consider this: the newly upied territories ¨C Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Sri Lanka ¨C all had their own prosperous kingdoms and empires. Will they be subservient to an empire with the name of Vijayanagar Empire, which is no different than their own in seniority? Currently, due to the growth of the empire and the strength of the army, no internal strife has broken out. But what about the future? If I keep worrying about internal strife, how can we expand the empire? Even the Tamilians, who had the glorious Ch dynasty, were so hard to tame at the beginning. Can you imagine how difficult it will be to tame the rest of the territories?"


    The old man relented a little but still was not convinced, as the concepts he formed throughout his life were not so easy to ovee. ording to him, no king has ever destroyed his own foundation and formed a totally new empire. This is the first time he has heard or witnessed it. However, seeing the determination in Vijay''s eyes, he let out an audible *sigh* as he had to go along with the n. "Then what is the name of the Empire, Your Majesty?" Arjun asked to cut through the tension.


    Hearing the question, Vijay straightened his back and recited a sloka from Vishnu Purana:


    "?????? ???????????? ????????????? ???????? ?


    ????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?? n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Uttara? yatsamudrasya him¨¡dre?caiva dak?i?am var?a? tadbh¨¡rata? n¨¡ma bh¨¡rat¨© yatra santati?.


    The country (Varsam) that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains is called Bharatam; there dwell the descendants of Bharata."


    Listening to this sloka, everyone quickly understood what his majesty wanted to name the Empire, and they couldn''t help but apud the name selected. With the name, they also got to know the extent of his majesty''s huge ambition to be the supreme king of the Bharatiya subcontinent, a feat achieved by only a few great monarchs.


    "The name of our new Empire will be Dakshina Bharat Varsham (The South Indian Empire). The word Bharat inherently connects all the faiths, cultures, and people together. I bet you are more confident in the establishment of this new Empire now that you know the name. This is the blessing and will of Lord Vishnu," Vijay said as he folded his hands and prayed silently.


    Everyone else in the room also did the same.


    "Roshan, spread the news around the empire. See how the people react."


    "Yes, Your Highness," Roshan said.


    "Your majesty, then what is the second thing that you mentioned to unify the minds of all the people?" Arjun asked.


    "Well, that is another thing to which we are already connected. But I just came up with an ideology that can further put aside our differences. As for when this ideology should be implemented, it will be after the empire is established. I will tell you at that time."


    The meeting ended as all the ministers left, except for the prime minister Ravichandra Rao and the minister of war, Logananda Senapati.


    Intrigued, Vijay asked them both what the problem was, but the words that left their mouths stunned him.


    "Your Highness, please let us retire."


    To Be Continued...


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 Chapter 159 Dakshin Bharata Varsam Part: 2

    Chapter 159 Dakshin Bharata Varsam Part: 2


    Hearing the words spoken by Logananda and Ravichandra Rao, Vijay was very disappointed and sad as he furrowed his brow and thought, "Were they threatening him?" This was something he never expected to happen. However, Vijay decided to wait for both of them to exin themselves, giving them an opportunity to rify their intentions.


    Observing the frown on Vijay''s face, Ravichandra quickly concluded that Vijay had misunderstood them. He promptly cleared the matter, "Your Highness, this is not because we disapprove of your decision. We had already decided to retire after the war with the Mughal Empire ended. We both are getting old, and the responsibilities in the Empire are getting heavier. We can no longer fulfil our duties. So, please let us retire," Ravichandra exined.


    Hearing this, Vijay''s frown lessened. It was okay if they weren''t threatening him, but thinking about the reason for their retirement, Vijay fell into deep thought as he looked at the grey hair of the two old men. Although reluctant, he couldn''t help but agree that they were getting too old for these core positions. Moreover, judging by their reaction after he revealed his decision to change the name of the Empire, Vijay concluded that these two loyal old men were bing rigid and unable to ept new things. He reluctantly agreed, considering the interest of the Empire.


    "Alright, I will grant you this request, but you are still responsible for all the affairs in the Vijayanagar Empire until you can train a capable sessor for me. Do you both have anyone in mind?" Vijay asked them.


    The old men were surprised that the task fell on them; they thought his majesty would promote someone himself. Looking at their disbelieving faces, Vijay replied, "Come on, you both don''t need to be surprised. I know you are very loyal to the royal family and the empire, and I never doubted your loyalty. So, just bravely rmend someone who could take your ce."


    Hearing his majesty''s words, both Logananda and Ravichandra felt touched. They believed that their loyalty was not ced in vain on the young man in front of them.


    Vijay thought about it for a moment and felt that what his old butler said made sense. Vinod had been very good at managing the industries of the royal family. Due to Vijay further providing him with important knowledge about management, he became even more outstanding, and the workload currently ced on him felt minimal. Vijay could see him around the castle, just ordering around the servants as if he had nothing else to do. When he looked at the personal reports pertaining to the royal industries, they were all impable; he could not find fault anywhere.


    It was Ravichandra who chose to speak out first. "Your Highness, in the government, there are many people who could potentially take my ce. Considering the promotion of education, there are numerous talents joining the government services. However, Your Highness, I wholeheartedly rmend Vinod to take charge as the prime minister. He has already served under you as the butler of the royal families, so he has ess to all the financial details about the empire. I have personally trained him since a young age to be loyal to the royal family and the empire, so his loyalty is guaranteed. I think, with a little training, he could easily handle the tasks I am currently doing."


    Vijay thought about it for a moment and felt that what his old butler said made sense. Vinod had been very good at managing the industries of the royal family. Due to Vijay further providing him with important knowledge about management, he became even more outstanding, and the workload currently ced on him felt minimal. Vijay could see him around the castle, just ordering around the servants as if he had nothing else to do. When he looked at the personal reports pertaining to the royal industries, they were all impable; he could not find fault anywhere.


    "What you said makes sense, but what about my butler?" Vijay asked.


    "Your Highness, let me take my old position back. I have already served as the prime minister of the Empire, so these tasks of managing the royal industries should be no problem. Taking care of the heir of the Bharatiya Empire will be my greatest wish."


    Vijay totally ignored the old man''sments about his child and felt that what the old man said for the rest of the part made sense. "Okay, Uncle Ravi, we will do as you say. From tomorrow, take Vinod with you, and make him familiar with all the mechanisms of the government. I am nning to hold a canonization ceremony in a week at thetest," Vijay said. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Marshall Logananda, do you have any suggestions?"


    "Your Highness, although I know that you have no good feelings about the person I am about to rmend, I can see no one more suitable than him."


    This sentence intrigued him. At first, Vijay thought that Logananda would rmend his son, Ramaiya Senapati. But ording to what the old man said, he has bad feelings towards the person the Marshall is about to rmend. Who could that be? Vijay fell into deep thought. Before Vijay could guess, the old man answered himself.


    "Your Highness, I can find no one suitable to take my ce than Kiran Pujari."


    This caught Vijay by surprise. He would have never guessed that it would be Kiran Pujari. Now that he thinks about him, although he did not have any bad impressions on him, he did not have any good impressions either.


    "Your reason being," Vijay asked, truly intrigued by the reason Logananda would have in choosing Kiran instead of his own son.


    Looking at the doubt in Vijay''s eyes, Logananda answered, "Your Highness, although my son Ramaiya is very talented, he has not experienced the loss of a battle, and he has a more radical way of thinking, which is not suitable for him to be in my position. On the other hand, I see both these talents present in Kiran Pujari. After he defeated one of the topmost generals in the Mughal Empire with huge casualties, he has grown more stable and is more adept at noticing minor differences on the battlefield. Also, due to him losing so many soldiers, he has been trying new ways and tactics that could be used. So, Your Highness, I really think there is no one more suitable for the task than Kiran Pujari."


    Listening to all the things the marshal said, Vijay had to ept the suggestion as he could not find any fault in it. "Alright, Marshal, we will do ording to your wish. Simrly, Kiran Pujari will hand over his guard duties to his deputy and work under you until he is ready to take over the task."


    Both the old men were happy with the result they obtained.


    While everything was calm in the royal pce, the earth-shaking news spread throughout the empire, causing the people to be excited and start discussing the new development spontaneously.


    "Hey, did you hear? His majesty is going to end his reign as the emperor of the Vijayanagar Empire and establish a new Empire."


    "What are you saying? How can his majesty do that? The Vijayanagar Empire has prospered and be our home for the past 320 years. Does his majesty not value the hard work done by his ancestors, especially the founder of the Vijayanagara Empire, Harihara Maharaj?"


    "Hey, don''t you know? His Majesty said that the new Empire would be called the Dakhin Bhartiya Empire. Doesn''t Bharat mean us? If there is Dakhin Bharat, will it be Akhand Bharat after defeating those barbarians?"


    "Hey, what you said does make sense, but who told you that Bharat means us?"


    "Don''t know. All the slokas as well as my parents at home keep saying that Bharat is the ce where all the sanatanis live. Doesn''t that mean even thend upied by the barbarians is ournd?"


    "Hey, what you said makes sense. Maybe His Highness wants to conquer the rest of Bharat and free our brothers and sisters in the north of the Empire and be a great Samrat like Maurya Maharaj or Ashoka Maharaj. I think we should support him. What do you say?"


    "Hey, that''s what I was also thinking. Since His Highness took the throne, it has been good days for us. We had an abundance of food and cheap clothes, ample spare money to buy whatever we wanted, and our family was even able to get a plot ofnd after thend was distributed by his highness. I am sure our future will be bright with the rule of his highness."


    Such conversations took ce in various ces of the Empire, as themon people were very supportive of the new change. However, the elite was skeptical of this change; they did not know if this was a good change or a bad one. For the most part, their immediate interests were not being damaged, as the only thing that had changed was the name of the Empire they were loyal to.


    When this news reached the Mughal Empire, Muhammad frowned, fully understanding what this name change meant. It was a direct deration of war on the rest of the subcontinent. He became uneasy, knowing that if he did not take any action, the rebellion would break out at any moment. He had worked a lot to bring the Mughal Empire into cohesion with violence and various factors. Now, if Vijayanagara could bring the people together with only a name change, he was in big trouble.


    But soon he calmed down, thinking about the representative sent by the Ottoman Empire. He was excited, as the Ottoman Empire had promised to support him in his conquest against the Southern Indian Empire. In a few weeks, he was about to receive a shipment of artillery from the Ottoman Empire. The transportation was so fast because the trade route from India to Europe through the Red Sea was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. The shipments would be received at a port in Karachi. Although he could notpete against the Vijayanagara Empire right now, he could divert the attention of the Empire to another ce.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 160 Dakshin Bharata Varsam Part: 3 (Data dump alert)

    Chapter 160 Dakshin Bharata Varsam Part: 3 (Data dump alert)


    Day 1 Dhwaja Aradhana


    Vijay was happy after learning that his decision to establish a new empire was highly supported by themon people in the Vijayanagar Empire, including the people of the new territories. As for the elite, they were skeptical of the change, but they did not oppose it as firmly as Vijay guessed.


    Because of this, Vijay was confused. Weren''t they afraid that the establishment of a Bharat Empire would consolidate the people in the empire, leaving next to no ground for rebellion in the name of cultural freedom? When he fell into deep thought, he suddenly figured it out. The concept of soft power was still very foreign to everyone. Maybe the ancients realized the power of soft power, as it spread India''s cultural civilization to the whole of Asia.


    But the descendants, with the arrival of troubled times, had no time to think about the civilizational heritage of thisnd. Vijay felt like he got lucky and went on with the first day''s events.


    Today''s event is the Dhwaja Aradhana (g hoisting). The g Vijay designed for the empire and for the future of the Bharatiya civilization is a saffron g with a Vishnu chakra in the middle. He chose this because Vishnu is representative of thews of order. Vishnu is the underlying order that keeps the world stable.


    With the hopes of keeping his people and civilization stable and safe, the first event of the day was carried out - a huge homa (fire Puja) in the pce.


    Vijay, along with his wife Kavya and his rtives, attended the event. The priest chanted slokas and mantras to Ganapathi, the destroyer of bad luck and the first God to be paid respects. The flower, which was embedded in the hand of Ganesha''s idol, fell down on the g, as a token of good luck.


    "Ganpati Bappa Morya!"


    "Ganpati Bappa Morya!"


    There was soon a fervour of chanting, as this was seen as a blessing from the lord for the future cause of the empire.


    After the huge homa, Vijay boarded an elephant with his wife on a carriage and went on a procession throughout the capital.


    The weather was very good; it was a bright sunny morning. The capital city Hampi was bustling with activity. Saffron gs led in every corner of the street, and people wore saffron clothes in a mood of festivity. Kids ran around the streets withughter, and everyone gathered on the side of the road for the emperor''s procession.


    *Bang, bang, bang*


    Momentster, the people began to feel the vibrations in the ground as the drums were yed at a thumping intensity, drawing attention to a herd of elephants.


    The elephants were all decorated in saffron colours, with people riding on them. In front of the pack of elephants was an elephantrger than every other, with a colossal figure and longer tusks. Atop that elephant was a young man, adorned with various ornaments and holding a sceptre. This was none other than their beloved emperor, Vijay Devaraya. As soon as the people saw him, they started cheering loudly, throwing flowers at him along the path he took. Some even knelt on the ground as a sign of respect.


    The people around him on the elephants held a saffron g with the Vishnu chakra embedded in it, officially unveiling the new g for the nation.


    They kept shouting:


    "Bharat Mata ki!"


    "Jai!"


    "Bharat Mata ki!"


    "Jai!"


    "Bharat Mata ki!"


    "Jai!"


    The people also joined in for the Jaikara (joined in on the chanting). The atmosphere was very enthralling, and that day was the first day people did not care about who the other person beside them was and danced together to the rhythm of the drum beats.


    After the grand procession, arge 6-feet g was hoisted in the royal pce symbolizing the birth of the new Dakshin Bharat Empire. Later that evening, A cultural program was held in the pce grounds as people from all different cultures streamed in to disy their talents to the crowd of thousands surrounding them. This went on until the night as they got ready for the next day.


    Day 2 Janapada Keerthana.


    This day was dedicated to showcasing the immense culture of thisnd, and the Janapada Keerthana (songs of thend) event was held. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Artists from all over the empire came to the event to showcase their talents.


    From Andhra Pradesh: Kttam, Vsini Natyam, Dhimsa


    From Arunachal Pradesh: Aji Lamu, Roppi, Phoning


    From Assam: Bagurumba, Ali Ai Ligang


    From Bihar: Kajari, Jhumari


    From Chhattisgarh: Dandari, Gendi, Panthi, Karma, Damkach


    From Goa: Mando, Talgari, Suvari, Dasarawadan, Kunbi, Fugadi


    From Gujarat: Raas, Bhavai, Tippani


    From Haryana: Gugga, Khoria


    From North East: Kullu Nati, Namgen, Hikat, Chham


    From Kashmir: Dumhal, Kud, Bhand Jashan


    From Jharkhand: Phagua


    From the capital: Krishna Parijatha, Nagamand, Bhootha Aradhane


    From Ker: Kaikottikali, Thumbi Thul


    From Madhya Pradesh: Karma, Gaur Maria, Kaksar, Ahiri


    From Maharashtra: Pavri, Dhangari Gaja


    From Manipur: Khamba Thoibi, Pung Cholom


    From Meghya (North East): Khuam, Nongkrem


    From Mizoram: Cheraw, Khuam


    From Nagnd: Changlo-Sua lua


    From Odisha: Ghumura, Ruk Mar, Goti Pua


    From Punjab: Jhumar


    From Rajasthan: Kgi ghodi, Kalbelia, Bhavai, Sapera dance


    From Sikkim: Singhi Cham, Khukuri, Tchi


    From Tamil Nadu: Karagaattam, Mayil Attam, Kattam, Kummi, Kavadi


    From Tripura: Garia, Hozagiri


    From Uttar Pradesh: Raasl, Chark


    From Uttarakhand: Barada Nati, Chapeli, Langvir


    From Bengal: Gambhira, Kalikapatadi, Domni.


    A total of 77 different dance styles were performed by various artists. Although the dancers did not originate from the regions where the dance originated, due to the Mughal hindrance, the travel of these artists was not possible. However, as the dances were not so rigid as to say that only a certain group of people could perform them. Usually, a certain style of dance had multiple artists. When an artist felt that this style of dance could express their artistic conception more beautifully, they would practice in that style. Hence, artists like this could be found all over the Empire. Due to time constraints, a single dance style was allocated only one slot, with 5 minutes for each performance. Vijay was really tired after sitting through the whole 7 odd hours of different and unique dances and music.


    This single event alone took half a day to bepleated. The next event Vijay especially ordered the Bukha Youdha Street Management Committee to open up the street to the people today for free of cost, considering that it is an auspicious and once-in-a-lifetime day.


    The different master chefs were not scared of the crowd; instead, they heaved a sigh of relief as they felt serving thousands of people was an easier taskpared to people challenging them every week. With the same happy attitude, they banded together and decided to make a huge thali meal for everyone who arrived.


    The main course was decided from the selection of 5 cuisines, and the side dishes were also contributed from various cuisines of the Bhartiya Empire.


    It was the happiest day for the people as they had never tried such delicacies in their lives. They ate the food with fervour, and some evenined that they were not fat enough so that they could eat more.


    The people who enjoyed the meals that day were determined to work hard in life to return to Bukha Youdha Street someday and relish the heavenly foods once again. Among them, one individual worked exceptionally hard and eventually became a famous merchant. In an interview, he mentioned that the reason he quit his job and put in so much effort was to be able to visit Bukha Youdha Street whenever he desired.


    At night, deepams mps) were lit all over the street. If you could see the aerial view of the Empire right now, you could see distinct cities withmps lighting up the whole night sky. It was not only the capital but also therger cities that were celebrating this event.


    At the end of the day, craftsmen from all over the Empire showcased their crafting skills to the audiences. The variety of ancestral skills that were hidden from the public for hundreds of years was brought out, showcasing the marvellous cultural heritage of Bharat.


    Day 3 Kshetra Darshan


    Today had a dense schedule packed for Vijay, as it was the Kshetra Darshan event (pilgrimage of temples). The first ce he visited was the Anjanadri Hills, which was the birthce of Lord Hanuman. Through the narrow path of a trek through the mountains, Vijay, and surprisingly even Kavya made it through.


    The temple was a small one, not because there were not enough people praying there or because of the shortage of money, but because the temple was built on a boulder. Therefore, there is not enough space to build arge temple. The boulder is very special as it is anthropomorphic, having the face of a human that formed naturally.


    After paying his respects to Lord Hanuman by chanting the Hanuman Chalisa and reciting the Rama Nama (name) a thousand times, he left the premises of the temple.


    Later, he visited other temples located in different areas, such as the Virupaksha Temple, Pushkarni. He also explored the Hazara Rama Temple and sought the blessings of Lord Chandikeshwara. Although he desired to visit more temples, time constraints allowed him to tour only these prominent locations, each situated in distinct areas, and all of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.


    In the evening, the program involved schrs discussing theological and social aspects of the new Empire. Surprisingly, they all adapted to the Bhartinguage quickly, as they were participants in this program.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 161 Dakshin Bharata Varsam Part: 4

    Chapter 161 Dakshin Bharata Varsam Part: 4


    Day 4 Yuva Utsava, Festival of Youth.


    Vijay is genuinely enthusiastic about the events unfolding today, particrly those rted to the future of the Empire. He often recalls a saying from his previous life, "The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country." Though the quote is attributed to Jawahal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India who made a lot of blunders when he was in office, Vijay recognizes his role in steering India in a distinct direction from Pakistan, a nation with its poption begging abroad. The significance of nurturing the youth for the future resonates with Vijay, and he believes in its relevance.


    So the day was dedicated to the children of the Empire, with various events organized in the pce grounds. Martial artspetitions, archery contests, and track events such as traditional running, ry races, high jump, shot put, and other simr games were part of the festivities.


    It has been 2 years since schools were introduced in the empire. Every year, the number of students enrolling in schools is gradually increasing as the requirements for civil servants also gradually increased. Vijay wanted to make educationpulsory, but he hesitated as he did not have a unifiednguage and ideology to unite the nation''s future. As for adults, it is very hard to change their worldview as they have already solidified their minds about how the world should work, whereas children are different; they are malleable and can be shaped in the right way.


    *p*


    The eventsmenced with a hundred-meter track race for boys under 14. The children ran with all their hearts, cheered on by the crowd. The final winner, a kid in green attire, imed the first prize. In excitement, the people lifted him on their heads and tossed him in the air, and theughter of the victorious child echoed through the grounds.


    After the first event, multiple events took ce to save time. Field events like shot put and high jump were conducted in one part of the pce ground, while in the other part, a ry took ce.


    After thepletion of these track and field events, it was time for group sports. The first sport yed was rugby, essentially American football. The teams ying today had already yed against many schools in the surroundings, and the two teams participating here right now are the finalists.


    Vijay observed this game with interest. It''s peculiar because it feels amazing to y, yet it may not be as entertaining to watch. The sess of American football''smercialization is often attributed to events like the Super Bowl, which turned the game into a spectacle. Additionally, the cultural significance of ying American football in high schools contributed to its sess. These factors yed a crucial role in making it a popr andmercially sessful sport in America. However, many other NFL games don''t enjoy as much viewership, even within the country. Regr-season games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and NFL Network averaged only a 17.01 household rating.


    The scrum began as the stronger and more bulky boys took the brunt of the opposition yers. With the ball secured, the y officially began. The points fluctuated from one team to another as the strength of both teams was considered even, but finally, it was the blue team that had won.


    On to the next event, it was the Kabaddi event, and now this was the event Vijay was most looking forward to. After introducing the new set of rules to the army, this sport spread like wildfire across the empire. It became so popr that it even spread into the Mughal Empire, and kids could be seen ying in their vige grounds. While the rugby game had to be manually introduced to each school, Kabaddi caught on very quickly as the games, after the rules changed, became more intense and quicker.


    The teams participating today, simr to the rugby game, had already yed against all the schools in the surrounding areas, making them the finalists. The game began with the rider of the blue team stepping inside the opposition team''s court. He first touched the bulk line and became safe. Then the boy, who had the build of a wrestler, went on a hunt. He came to one corner and tried to kick the defender, but he missed. All was not lost as he saw that the defender at the opposite corner hesitated a bit. So taking the chance, he sprang into action as he swept across the field with his hand. The defender on the other corner tried to catch his leg, but with the exmation of the crowd, he managed to jump over the defender and fell into the lobby area. Without any dy, he ran across the court into the midline.


    A simr situation happened with the red team''s rider also. The match was neck and neck, and the crowd was bing more and more intense as there was not even space for the sand to fall down. Finally, it was the red team that ended up as the victor. Vijay was happy as he pped his hands, but seeing therge crowd barely controlled by the guards, he heaved a sigh of relief. He felt lucky that he did not order all the schools in the empire to send their yers to the capital, as that would be disastrous with their parents alsoing with the kids. On another note, he felt like he should soon introduce cricket, football, and other sports. Additionally, he also felt that he should build a stadium for such events. Sports events could bring a nation together unlike any other event in the world. So, he decided to do that in the future.


    The next event was the martial arts matches and a young boy hailing from Ker won the championship. He used a special and distinct style of Kri to snatch the victory. Special events like horse racing also took ce, where a jet-ck horse along with a lean boy wearing a blue headband won the race.


    The events finally came to an end as Vijay awarded everyone their medals of honour and guaranteed amodation to the military and police academies. The kids were very happy as both being a soldier and a policeman offered very good social benefits along with good sries.


    In the evening, it was time for the smart ones to participate as they showcased their talents with various debates, ideas, and creations. Some of them were even admitted to the Bharti Academy of Sciences. Taking this chance, the royal families''panies also recruited a few talented kids.


    Spontaneously, a light show also began depicting various epics like Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Vishnu Purana.


    The day ended with the delightful smiles of the kids who won the various culturalpetitions held.


    Day 5: Vani Pratibhotsava, Celebration of Knowledge


    The fifth day is dedicated to the celebration of knowledge. The Bhartiya civilization is fundamentally centred around knowledge, and the very word "Bharat" trantes to the seeker of light or seeker of knowledge. In the scriptures, most gods are questioned for their morals, and discussions about what is right and wrong are prevalent. This knowledge-centric approach persists even in the 21st century. For instance, the effort to build a temple in Ayodhya for Lord Rama, in his own kingdom and in his own home, involved legal battles for the reconstruction of his home, Again highlighting that questions of what is right and wrong which were asked even in the 21st Century even when it concerns Lord Rama. Vijay ns to bring about changes early on in this timeline and expedite the return of Lord Rama, but overall, the point is that the knowledge-based foundation of the Bhartiya civilization is still alive and well in the future.


    For this event, engineers and scientists from the Bhartiya Academy of Science were invited to give lessons and spreadmon knowledge among the people. Vijay did not even spare Hey Ram, who came out of his busy schedule of manufacturing canons for the Europeans, in order to spread his knowledge about metallurgy and ironworking.


    It was a day for intellectuals. The schrs who were invited to pen the Bhartinguage were put in public view to quarrel among themselves. This had been going on since they arrived, as they quarrelled among themselves for every little disagreement. But Vijay did not mind, as the intellectuals arguing among themselves meant that they had ample opportunity to showcase their talents. The people got bored quickly watching these old men quarrelling among themselves, but a few of them stayed and listened to the interesting conversations that opened their world views. The old men were questioning the nature of everything. Some asked why everything falls down, and some even asked why birds fly. Such questions, which seem to bemon sense, had been asked, forcing open the listeners'' worldview and pointing them towards the path of seeking knowledge.


    The day ended as the old men got tired. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 162 Dakshin Bharata Varsam Part: 5

    Chapter 162 Dakshin Bharata Varsam Part: 5


    Day 6: Rajasuya Yagna, Ritual of Sovereignty


    Today is the day of Rajasuya Yagna, a ritual of sovereignty and the deration of the kingship of the Empire.


    In this event, the pce grounds were filled with numerous homa''s . Vijay, looking at the whole scene from a stage above, saw what looked like bonfires burning throughout the pce grounds. The priests near the homa''s chanted mantras and poured ghee with a wooden spoon. As they kept chanting the mantras, the main Homa on the main stage was also lit up. The senior priest, under the watchful eyes of the ministers and family, made both Vijay and Kavya sit down next to the homa. His chanting synchronized with the priests below, and various rituals were performed. Vijay felt a little dazed, feeling unreal. Bing the emperor of Vijayanagara and now taking his first step to revive the cultural identity of Bharat, which had not been awakened until January 22nd, 2024, was an unreal feeling for him.


    With thepletion of the ritual by the evening, he went to bed early, as tomorrow was the main day for his coronation.


    Day 7: Rajyabhisheka, Coronation.


    Vijay woke up early, took a cold bath, paid respect to the Gods, and started dressing up. Today was different because he added more ornaments. He wore the crown of the Vijayanagar Empire, with the Talwar gifted from the Maratha royal family, along with a sengol from Tamil Nadu and ornaments from different parts of the Empire. This signified his eptance of all cultures and practices born of thisnd. A saffron tka adorned Vijay''s forehead, and his shoulders were covered with three lines of vibhuti (ash-coloured powder). Vijay''s eyes were zing with confidence. His aura had changed quite a bit since his rebirth, from a thoughtful and diplomatic king to an experienced and majestic emperor. He left the room with graceful and measured steps, the ornaments in his attire making a majestic noise. As he stepped out, he was greeted by Kavya, who had just gotten out herself. She was wearing a stunning red Kanchi silk saree with golden patterns stitched on it, and she wore the queen''s crown, adorned with exquisite jewellery.


    Vijay walked towards her with graceful steps, stretching out his hand. Without hesitation, Kavya took his hand, and they proceeded to the main hall. The drums in the pce hall rang out, signifying the arrival of the emperor and the queen. As soon as the minister''s and his family saw them, they quickly knelt down in reverence. Both Vijay and Kavya looked like embodiments of the divine. The coronation procession began simrly to the first day, with the only noticeable change being the heightened excitement of the people. More spectators gathered, with some even standing on distant buildings to catch a glimpse of the procession. Fortunately, sniper rifles were not invented yet, and security checks for weapons had been done.


    After the procession, they returned to the pce grounds, and Vijaypleted his coronation by taking an oath. He pledged to uphold Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha for the people of Dakshin Bharatiya Varsham. It was a simr oath to the one he took when he inherited the Vijayanagar Empire from his ancestors, with just a few differences in the details.


    For the final step, Vijay established the national deity, essentially representing the spirit of the nation. Many people didn''t fullyprehend this, as Vijay chose Bengaluru for the Pran Pratishtha, marking the establishment of the new deity. Vijay had contemted changing the capital from Hampi to Bengaluru for a long time but had faced constant conflicts because of the wars over the prolonged duration. With the current period of rtive peace, he opted to initiate the shift by inaugurating the national spirit in the new capital.


    Vijay quickly reached Bengaluru and an idol made of posupu (turmeric) was shaped into a female goddess. Hindus believe that everything in the world is a part of the divine, and anything could be a god if a person can see the god in that existence. Posupu was used because it is a beloved item of female goddesses. After the Prana Pratishtha, the pooja for the newly inaugurated goddess took ce, symbolizing the spirit of Bharat, the idol of Bharat Mata (Mother India). With the ceremonypleted, Vijay rose up and decided to give a speech to the people.


    " My People, Children of the Dakshina Barathiya Empire!


    We stand upon the dawn of a new era, bathed in the golden light of our ancestors'' wisdom and the hopeful me of our future. Today, we dere to the world: the spirit of Bhartiya civilization, like the eternal Ganga, shall not be quelled, but renewed!


    Ours is a legacy etched in the stars, a symphony of knowledge and culture resonating down the millennia. From the snow-capped peaks of the Himyas to the sun-kissed shores of the southern seas, our civilization has stood as a beacon of human ingenuity. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Remember the towering temples of stone and poetry, whispers of a time when science danced with spirituality, birthing wonders like the zero and the decimal system. Recall the epics of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, echoing across generations, their timeless lessons guiding us even now. Remember the wisdom of Patanjali, the grace of Bharatanatyam, and the tapestry ofnguages painting our history in vibrant hues.


    Yet, people of the empire, we cannot deny the shadows that crept across our path. Wars, invasions, divisions ¨C these stains upon our tapestry remind us of the fragility of unity. We faltered, forgetting the essence of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", the world as one family.


    But despair not! For within every setback lies the seed of a greater rise. Today, we pluck that seed from the fertile soil of our past and nt it firmly in the future. This coronation is not just of a king and queen, but of a new Bhartiya spirit, awakened and aze!


    This spirit whispers of a Dakshina Barathiya Empire where knowledge flows freely like the mighty Kaveri, nourishing every mind. Where the artisans'' chisel and the farmer''s hand, the schr''s quill and the soldier''s shield, together weave a tapestry of progress. Where every voice, from the bustling marketce to the quiet viges, finds its echo in the halls of power.


    Our path will be paved with the values that have sustained us for millennia: Dharma, the righteous path; Artha, prosperity for all; Kama, the pursuit of joy; and Moksha, liberation from ignorance. These are the cornerstones upon which we build a nation where:


    Every child, regardless of origin, finds a cradle of education to nurture their dreams.


    Every field blooms with the sweat of honestbour, ensuring abundance for all.


    Justice flows like the monsoons, cleansing society of corruption and inequality.


    The arts flourish, celebrating our unique cultural tapestry and enriching the world.


    Innovation thrives, harnessing the power of knowledge to conquer disease, poverty, and ignorance.


    My subjects, to realize this vision requires not just my hand, but yours. Let us join hands, Schrs and farmers, merchants and warriors, women and men, united in a single purpose. Let us revive the spirit of Bhartiya civilization, not through empty nostalgia, but through a vibrant present and a future forged in unity and action.


    Together, we will make Dakshina Barathiya Empire not just and of wealth and power, but a beacon of light for the world, a living testament to the eternal me of our civilization. Today, we do not merely crown a king and queen, but a nation reawakened, rising with the sun, ready to illuminate the world!" Finally, after the speech, Vijay let out the loudest roar, encouraging the crowd to join in. The excitement within them was palpable, with many on the verge of boiling over as they shook in anticipation.


    "Jai Dakshina Bharatiya Varsham! Bharat Mata ki!"


    The ministers screamed, "Jai!"


    "Bharat Mata ki !"


    The farmers shouted, "Jai!"


    "Bharat Mata ki !"


    The merchants echoed, "Jai!"


    "Bharat Mata ki !"


    The schrs cheered, "Jai!"


    "Bharat Mata ki !"


    The soldiers roared, "Jai!"


    "Bharat Mata ki !"


    Thebourers yelled, "Jai!"


    "Bharat Mata ki !"


    The artists eximed, "Jai!"


    "Bharat Mata ki !"


    The citizens resounded, "Jai!"


    The historic event that would be talked about for centuries ended like this. Future historians would call this week, The week that started the revival of an ancient civilization, which would exist for the rest of human life until their gradual evolution when they no longer needed the faith that guided humans from the birth of the species to an intergctic species. The Bharatiya civilization, which was nearly extinguished, was rekindled by the Emperor of Akhand Bharat, Vijay Devaraya. Many adversities did not extinguish it; kingdoms changed, empires changed, governments changed, but civilization and culture persisted.


    That special day would also be known as the revival day in the history of civilization. The seven days leading to the great day would be celebrated as an annual event for centuries toe. Although some little details changed, the whole intent behind the celebration remained the same.

 Chapter 163 Nationalism ? And Reaction Of Muhammad

    163 Nationalism ? And Reaction Of Muhammad


    A few days after the coronation, Vijay issued an order for the trantion of names of schools, police stations, courts, and other official documents into the Bhartinguage. Subsequently, an official bill was passed, dering the Bhartinguage as the officialnguage of the empire. It would be incorporated into the curriculum of all schools and colleges, serve as an officialnguage in courts and police stations, and be taught alongside regionalnguages. Simr to how English was taught in Vijay''s previous life, the Bhartinguage would be thepulsorynguage, and all the core subjects like maths and science would be written in the Bhartinguage, while the regionalnguages would serve as secondarynguages based on the locality. Additionally, there was an option to choose a thirdnguage when necessary.


    Vijay implemented a policy of making twonguagespulsory: one national and one regional. The goal was to prevent potential future issues. The intention behind establishing a nationalnguage was to weaken any future regionalism that might arise and to make the empire more connected. However, Vijay did not suppress regionalnguages; they were preserved and allowed to propagate whenever and however needed. The introduction of amonnguage formunication across the empire was aimed at fostering unity. Vijay believed this was not a difficult task, considering that in his past timeline, most Bhartiyas were familiar with at least two to threenguages. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Choosing to shift the capital to Bengaluru, which was in close proximity to most southern states, was another move Vijay nned to take. These are the regions where regionalism was more prevalent in his previous life, Vijay aimed to curb this sentiment and promote the growth of nationalism. The term "nationalism" might evoke difort among Europeans due to historical associations with fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, Communist China and the Soviet Union. European countries are actively working to dissolve this nationalistic mentality among their people.


    Vijay thinks that the problem of Europeans being unable to cope with nationalism and channel it to a better cause is because countries in Europe are not diverse enough, and the diverse countries cannot produce nationalism. Additionally, they don''t seem tost a long time either. For example, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had a very diverse number of cultures, eventually split up into different countries due to cultural differences. Europeans have not found anything that binds all European cultures together, except for Christianity. Unfortunately, Christianity is too shallow to bind the diverse continent together.


    In this perspective, Bharat stands apart from Europe, as it did not give rise to the spread of religions with shallow narratives like the Abrahamic ones, which revolve around specific protagonists. Instead, Bharat developed aprehensive way of channelling faith, incorporating elements from diverse cultures and creating a more resilient and profound spiritual foundation. Simr to America, Bharat is geographically isted from the rest of the world by the ocean, the Himyas, and other mountain ranges, making it an ideal cradle for civilization. For an extended period, foreign invasions were minimal, and with advanced developments in science and technology, there was little impetus for unification across the subcontinent. Various regions thrived independently, growing almost like separate countries.


    Vijay often expressed the view that India is simr to Europe but was forced to unify due to the threat of foreign aggression. Despite the historical challenges, no region in India gave up its native culture. Also, Bharat was not naturally inclined toward unification; it was the result of foreign aggression that ignited nationalism among every Bhartiya.


    Hence, unifying India in the 21st century was seen as a miracle to the world, as no one thought that India would be whole, but it did. Hence, nationalism in India is not bad; on the contrary, it is very good because of theplexity of cultures in India, which would never lead to fascism or dictatorship. The government is epted because it is arge body of power that is democratic and could get equal representation of all cultures in India. The decisions of the government could be seen as decisions made to make a unified India prosper, even if some states need to sacrifice their interests a little. But this will not be the case in dictatorships or fascist regimes, due to the highly centralization of power. Any decision made will at least offend a few cultures or regions in the nation, and they will think that the centre is against them.


    Europe could potentially embrace nationalism if the European Union aspired to be a unified country, dissolving the national boundaries of its diverse cultures and nations within. The adoption of nationalism for a unified European country wouldn''t necessarily lead to dictatorship. the same principle applies to Bharat.


    Back to the present, the response from Europeans to the name change was rtively muted. They couldn''tprehend why such a fuss was made about changing the name of the Empire. In Europe, it wasmonce to change the name of a country whenever the need arose. What they failed to recognize was that certain names carried a power distinct from others. For instance, after the copse of the Roman Empire, no single nation dared to inherit its title. European countries quarrelled over the right to im the throne of the Roman Empire, but ultimately, none dared to assume the name of the Holy Roman Empire, the most sessful empire in the European continent. Unaware of the history and nuances of Indian civilization, Europeans did not pay much attention to this significant event.


    But the changing of names on all the official buildings caught their eye. Before, it was written in somenguage called Tamil. Now, after inquiry, thenguage of Tamil was still there in one corner, but a newnguage called the Bhartinguage was added to the other. ''What was the point?'' they thought in doubt, but soon they lost interest as they did not pay any attention to this change after a while but were busy with their own affairs of making money. But one among them was cooking some evil plot - it was Thomas Bartholomew, who had a devious smile on his face after he sent a letter back to the maind.


    He also ordered the guards he brought with him to form a forward base on the ind of Mauritius, near the Dutch colony of South Africa. He did this because he thought that this would be an ideal location for conducting operations in the Indian maind. For the past week or so, he had been driven mad by all the materials shipped from thisnd and the money being made. This empire alone was enough to fulfil the spice requirements of a quarter of Europe. How much money was that? And the manufacturing capabilities of this empire were astonishing. Because of how fast they produced the weapons that had been ordered, Thomas really wanted to sneak ind and see how this manufacturing was done very badly. However, he was stopped by the damned Negroes guarding the special economic zone. ''Why were there Negroes in thisnd anyway'', he said, annoyed.


    It was Vijay''s n to arrange for ck African-origin people to stay guard and prevent the white people from making any unnecessary and unwanted moves. He did this because there was not enough vignce from the people born in Vijayanagara, as they had not yet seen the cruelty of the white man, but the ck people had, and they had enough hatred not to fall for the white man''s tricks.


    The reaction unlike the Europeans, was much different in the Mughal Empire.


    "Your Majesty, the new report," Moin Ali said as he handed over a document to His Majesty, Mohammad the Fifth. Mohammad took over the document and started to read it. Seeing thetest changes in the Vijayanagar Empire, oh no, it is the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire now. ''whatever it is, the empire of infidels,'' he thought annoyed. But when he read about thenguage unification bill that was passed, he stood up suddenly. His family had been trying to make Persian the nationalnguage of the Empire for many generations, and it had not seeded. With the slight change he made, the infidels under him would rather die than ept his rule.


    Because of this, he was in a very tied-up situation, as he could not make any drastic changes to the power structure of the Empire, as one wrong move could make ite toppling down very quickly. He was nning to impose the new manufacturing standards of the southern neighbour on the nobles forcefully. But when he thought about how he could resist the infidels yelling, ''I would rather kill a few and die before epting your rule,'' after the instigation by the nobles, he shuddered, Just thinking about 70 million people bing frantic.


    But the crow mouth effect of Muhammad yed an effective role, as the next content in the letter was about a few small-scale riots that had broken out towards the southern end of the Empire. Apparently, the people had been proiming that they needed to go home. When denied, they even fought back and tried to march forcefully. Fortunately, the border was filled with soldiers, so although the people had arger number, they were no match for the trained soldiers.


    "Where is their home, and why do they keep yelling we want to go home anyway?" Mohammad said as he put a hand on his head, confused. "Your Majesty, what I think they mean is, as the southern neighbour changed its name to Bharat, the infidels felt that it was their call to return home."


    Listening to this reason, Mohammad yelled, "God damn it!" He got up and punched the wall in annoyance. Then he made his firm decision and ordered, "Let that new guy Naveen take charge of our forces in the infidels''nd and assassinate that bastard Vijay."


    Moin Ali was shocked and asked, "But your Majesty, will this be wise? If what you said needs to be sessful, we will have to mobilize even the most secretive assets. Once failure urs, we will lose all our pawns in the empire," he said, worried. But Mohammad had a wry smile and replied, "Don''t you see it, Moin? The establishment of the Bhartiya Empire has already shaken the roots of our Empire. Now it is just the southern areas that want to go home. But what if the news spreads? No matter how much you control, this is and of 70 million infidels. It is not so easy to hide anything from them.


    "So taking out Vijay Deva Raya is the only chance to resolve our conflicts quickly. But in case the operation is unsessful, even if we do not make a move and start a war, I don''t believe that the bastard Vijay would not... God damn it all," Mohammad exined as, by the end of the sentence, he got annoyed again and yelled.


    "It''s a pity. I wanted to use this pawn for a while longer. It was a very talented pawn. Unfortunately, its time for it to perform its mission hase," Mohammad said, thinking about Naveen. But Moin Ali felt a tinge of doubt, which he quickly covered up.


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 Chapter 164 Graduates Of The Navel Academy

    164 Graduates Of The Navel Academy


    Vijay remains oblivious to any plotting against him in the Mughal Empire. He is currently in a good mood, knowing that the government-ordered Hampi-ss sloops have been sessfully manufactured. However, the orders took longer to fulfil due to dys at the Shivaji shipyard, Ch shipyard, and Ashoka shipyard. These dys were caused by their unfamiliarity with the new ship and the fact that logistics channels were not yet properly established. The entire process took a bit over a month and a half. While this might seem rtively short, it bes evident that with all orders directed to the Raya shipyard and its dock area further expanded to manufacture multiple ships simultaneously, three ships could be produced in a single day, almost catching up with the rest of the shipyards. If the new shipyards operated at the normal efficiency of one ship a day before the expansion of Raya shipyard, thebined efforts of the four shipyards could havepleted the task within a month, which did not happen.


    Partially, it is Vijay''s fault, as he had ordered all four shipyards to have their own shipbuilding talent, logistic channels, and different managers. It was practically no different from forming three new shipyards. Fortunately, due to this insistence and a lot of government and royal family support, a small local economy for the maritime industry consisting of a few dedicated workshops making ropes, wooden nks, leather, etc., has formed in the local area where the shipyards are located.


    Soon, the delivered ships were received by the government, waiting for further orders from Vijay on how to handle them.


    The ships were manufactured. Thenes the main problem: what about the people who will sail them? Fortunately, the mock battles in Lake Chilika havee to a conclusion, so Vijay quickly leaves for Odisha to meet his new officers. After a day of travel, he made it to the end goal. When he arrived at the naval testing ground, there was amotion as no one had expected his majesty to show up for their graduation ceremony.


    Yes, after the mock battles, both recruitment into the Coast Guard and the graduation ceremony of the first naval officers'' ss have been held. Vijay was greeted by the principal of the naval academy. This principal is actually an acquaintance of Vijay, as he had worked under Vijay''s orders during the Mumbai battle. It is the captain who led the battleship during the first Mumbai war, Srinivas. Originally, he was due to get promoted to a higher rank, but unfortunately, he was injuredter in battle. Still, seeing that he was very loyal to Vijay and the empire, Vijay promoted him to the principal of the naval academy. At the time, the academy was still functioning without a principal and was directly managed by Vinod. Another major reason is that most of the teachers of the naval academy are of Dutch origin. So, Srinivas was a very crucial part of the naval academy, as he was also tasked with keeping tabs on the foreigners for any suspicious behaviour. So far, he has done fabulous work, as he has already caught a few mice trying to spread their religion under his nose. This was the mostmon type of mice, while there were still some extreme variants, and the punishment for such mice waspulsory maintenance of the ships, the duration depending on the offence level. The punishment was Srinivas''s idea as he felt putting them in forcedbour was a waste of important technical talents.


    Anyway back to the present


    "Wee, Your Majesty! Wee to the graduation ceremony," Srinivas said as he handed over a bouquet to Vijay.


    Vijay took the bouquet, smiled, and nodded. After a few more pleasantries, Vijay said, "Let''s go, let''s meet up with Gangadhar."


    "Right this way, Your Highness," Srinivas said as he led the way. When he got inside, Vijay frowned as he looked at all the new recruits wearing the dress assigned to the army. Noticing this detail, he quickly made a reminder for himself to change this as soon as possible.


    Soon, Vijay met up with a dark-skinned man in his early 30s, no taller than 6 feet, with a lean physique. This person was none other than Gangadhar, the only other person in the empire who had been a Battleship captain with extensive experience in naval battles in the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire. Unlike Srinivas, who had help from Vijay, Gangadhar formted the battle ns himself, during the first encounter with the Mughal frigates, as well as the constant harassment by ships sent by the Mughals during the year-long war, it was all his tactics that dealt with the enemies. Even if Srinivas was in good health, Gangadhar was undoubtedly the only contender for the position of admiral of the Bharatiya nausena (Indian Navy).


    Seeing Vijay arriving, Gangadhar quickly greeted him, and after Vijay responded to his greetings, Vijay questioned, "How is our first batch of recruits?"


    Listening to the question, Gangadhar answered, "Your Majesty, out of the 10,000 students, only a thousand enrolled for shipbuilding and design. Out of those 1,000 people, only 200 qualified and were recruited by Your Highness''s shipyard. As for the rest, half of them have decided to work as ship maintenance personnel and try again in a few years. Surprisingly, the rest were recruited by the three new shipyards Your Majesty had founded." Vijay did not reply as Gangadhar continued, "As for the ship maintenance course, there were 1,000 people enrolling, but fortunately, the sess percentage of this course was high, as more than 700 people graduated. For the crucial officers and sailor course, 8,000 people enrolled. Out of these 8,000 people, only 6,000 were selected. ording to my own criteria for graduation, only 4,950 recruits actually made it through. But, Your Majesty, as per your instructions, due to the urgent need for sailors for the Coast Guard, I had to make concessions and pick another 1,050 barely qualified recruits from the disqualified." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Vijay nodded, as this was what he expected. The courses in the Naval Academy are hugelypressed into very targeted courses, putting aside any other foundation that would normally be required. For example, properties of water or any mathematical calctions, aside from what is required to operate the cannon, were not taught. The only things taught in the whole span of almost 2 years were the ways to operate a warship, types of knots, how to handle different terrains, how to aim cannons and fire, different naval tactics, and practical hands-on experience. This was done to quickly produce ready-made naval officers as soon as possible. In the future, this practice would be normalized as the pressure on the naval front decreased.


    "Except for the bottom sailors, did you find any gems?" Vijay asked, with anticipation.


    Hearing this question, Gangadhar became quite happy as he replied, "Yes, Your Highness, by Shankara''s (God Shiva) grace, we have a few excellent prospects whose talents are even higher than mine before the war with the Mughal Empire."


    "Oh!" Vijay eximed lightly, a little taken aback. More talented than Gangadhar? Hearing Gangadhar''s evaluation, Vijay was quite surprised, given that Gangadhar himself had proven to be a genius during the year-long Mughal battle. Gangadhar disyed ingenuity even in his first battle. While one might argue that Gangadhar took advantage of the Mughals'' unreadiness in the Chilka Lake during his initial engagement, it couldn''t be denied that it was his first practical battle. Despite being abruptly pulled into the naval academy, he performedmendably. Furthermore, upon returning after the war, Gangadhar swiftly absorbed all the missed knowledge, evolving into a more well-rounded tactician and a naval expert essential for the Bharatiya Empire.


    Looking at Vijay''s surprise, Gangadhar loftily exined, "It is true, Your Highness. I am not lying to you, and it is not just one. There are three excellent candidates who graduated. Please,e, let me show you."


    Soon, Gangadhar and Vijay reached a hill that provided a higher vantage point. Below the 50-foot elevation, the recruits were celebrating their graduation with songs and dances. Gangadhar directed Vijay''s attention to a table where three boys sat separately from the others.


    Vijay raised his eyebrows as he eyed Gautam. Gangadhar continued, "That fat man sitting opposite to Gautam ispletely opposite to him. His name is Sarvesh. He is very aggressive and fearless in his tactics. Sarvesh thrives on direct confrontation and overwhelming with force. He charges into the fray with reckless abandon, oveing with brute force to conquer his enemies. His strengths are his courage, offensive power, shock tactics, intimidation, and breaking through enemy lines. His weaknesses are also obvious; he is vulnerable to ambushes and well-coordinated defences. He is also prone to making reckless decisions."


    22:25


    Pointing towards the three boys, Gangadhar stated, "These three are the new prospects I mentioned. The one with a long beard and moustache is called Gautam. Despite his current appearance, he was quite clean and tidy in the naval academy. The trials made him appear like this, but please don''t judge him based on his looks. In my opinion, he is the most well-rounded among the trio. During the mock battles, he showcased outstanding methodical and calcted approaches. Gautam prioritizes precise manual and strategic positioning. He excels in utilizing terrain and the environment to his advantage. His main strength lies in his strategic mind, showcasing proficiency in nning, resource management, adaptability, and using cover and nking. As for weaknesses, from my observations, he tends to react slowly to unexpected situations and hesitates when ites to taking risks."


    Vijay raised his eyebrows as he eyed Gautam. Gangadhar continued, "That fat man sitting opposite to Gautam ispletely opposite to him. His name is Sarvesh. He is very aggressive and fearless in his tactics. Sarvesh thrives on direct confrontation and overwhelming with force. He charges into the fray with reckless abandon, oveing with brute force to conquer his enemies. His strengths are his courage, offensive power, shock tactics, intimidation, and breaking through enemy lines. His weaknesses are also obvious; he is vulnerable to ambushes and well-coordinated defences. He is also prone to making reckless decisions."


    Vijay eyed the bulky figure of Sarvesh as Gangadhar pointed to thest person with a bald head and a muscr physique. "This kid''s name is Akhil. By the looks of it, he may seem like a thug, but he is actually quite a cunning bastard. His tactics even make me itch with annoyance when I think about my enemies using the same strategies against me. Akhil is unpredictable and cunning. He relies on deception, misdirection, and guerri tactics to achieve his goals. He excels at using distractions, ambushes, and hit-and-run attacks to confuse and demoralize his opponents. His strengths lie in his stealth, agility, surprise attacks, and ability to manipte enemies. However, his weaknesses are also apparent, as he heavily depends on deception and timing. His battle style could be vulnerable in prolonged engagements, and he does not have a good counter if his mind games and deception were to be exposed."


    Vijay nodded his head in understanding. Overall, he was very satisfied with these three individuals, each possessing distinct strengths. Vijay recognized the potential to assign them to terrains where they felt morefortable, even though it could lead to over-reliance in the future. For now, Vijay epted it as he needed the Coast Guard to bebat-effective as soon as possible.


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 Chapter 165 New Cannons And A Mystery Girl

    165 New Cannons And A Mystery Girl


    Vijay returned to the capital after congratting the graduates and immediately drafted appointment letters for Gautam, Sarvesh, and Akhil. Gautam, recognized for his tactical prowess, was appointed as themander of the eastern fleet, tasked with leading the charge against the main Mughal Navy Base located in Kolkata. Vijay selected Paradeep Naval Base on the eastern front for Gautam, appreciating his stability and ability to engage in long, drawn-out battles with the Mughal Empire. No other alternative seemed as fitting.


    Sarvesh was positioned in the Mumbai base, as he was expected to y a crucial role in deterring merchants and the Mughal Navy stationed in the Gujarat region. His style of warfare suited the rtively open Arabian Sea, where the chances of ambush were much less. Akhil was stationed at the Colombo Naval Base in Sri Lanka, with his strategic style of warfare designated to deal with foreign aggression when the time arises. The terrain around the southern part of the maind and Sri Lanka was advantageous to Akhil''s style, as it was filled with numerous inds that could be utilized to his advantage.


    Vijayanagara established three naval bases, with each military base hosting amander as the topmost leader, a lieutenantmander as the representative from the Ministry of War, and the Admiral of Bhartiya Nausena. The eastern military base, located in Paradeep port, was headed by Gautam as themander, armed with 35 Hampi ss sloops and a single Dutch battleship. He had directmand over all the sloops except for the battleship, which was directly controlled by his lieutenant, as stated in the appointment letter sent by Vijay. This structure aimed to maintain checks and bnces in the Navy. Although not error-proof, Vijayanagara only had 250 warships, most of which were captured from the Mughal Empire during the war, leaving only 122 new battle-ready warships. Thus, Vijay was not overly concerned about introducing more measures to control the power of these military leaders.


    The Western naval base, located in Mumbai, was headed by Sarvesh as itsmander. The number of ships he controlled was the same as the eastern naval base: 35 Hampi ss sloops and a single Dutch battleship.


    The southern base, located in Colombo, Sri Lanka, was headed by Akhil as itsmander. Akhil controlled a force of 50 Hampi ss sloops. He had no battleship assigned to him, So he was allocated more sloops. Also with his stealthy style of warfare, a battleship was deemed unnecessary, as it would only serve as a huge beacon alerting enemies.


    With the establishment of the three military bases, the manufactured sloops were dispatched to their various posts with a crew of 40 new recruits and 10 experienced Mughal war veterans in each sloop to guide the neers through the journey. Additionally, patrol routes were established. The patrol route of the Western military base extended from the northernmost border of Maharashtra to Mangaluru. For the Eastern Naval base, its patrol route was from Bsore in the northern part of Odisha to Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The Southern Naval base patrolled from Mangalore in the west to Chennai in the east. The southern military base''s job was to patrol the waters of Sri Lanka and the southern part of the maind, protecting shipping routes and preventing illegal foreign entry. This formation provided reliable coverage for the entire coastline of the Dakshina Bharatiya Empire.


    For the next few days, this formation was put into action as the new sloops started patrolling the coastal waters. This formation was also given a name, the Trikona Vy¨±ha (triangr formation). The movement caught the attention of both the Mughal Empire and the European merchants and representatives. The Mughals did not show any immediate reaction, bing suspiciously quiet. Even the frequent skirmishes that happened between the two empires reduced significantly. Vijay was doubtful about what could have caused this to happen. However, with no news from the Mughal Empire except that the people were growing more restless and that Muhammad was preparing for something else by hoarding weapons, there was nothing else notable.


    As for the Europeans, they were initially surprised by the new sloops, which seemed to be no worse than theirst generations. However, since it was only a small sloop and not a battleship, many of them did not take this new development seriously. Some even rejoiced, thinking that there would be no pirates in the presence of the Coast Guard. However, there was one person filled with hatred ¨C Thomas Bartholomew, the representative and merchant from Britain. He was annoyed, as he had initially nned to contract the security services for this empire andter infiltrate it slowly. The establishment of coastal defences heavily interfered with his ns. " Damn it all..." He Cursed, As he broke an antique pottery on the table. But Vijay would not be afraid.


    Now, with a secure and growing economy, Vijay felt a sense of confidence, as he was no longer afraid. The strength of both empires had significantly equalized. Although the Mughals had a muchrger poption, this demographic advantage proved to be a curse for the Mughal Empire, making it increasingly difficult to suppress, especially after the Dakshina Bharatiya Empire was established in the name of Bharat, impacting a lot of people in the Mughal Empire. Vijay also took advantage of this situation and yed a role in it by continuing to fund the remaining members of the Mughal Bridge group who agreed to help out again. Additionally, new members joined, making the task much easier with already existing logistic channels.


    So, Vijay shifted his attention to the news sent by the Boswell Design Bureau. ording to the letter, Danior hase halfway to finalizing his draft for the 500-ton frigate, and he is requesting Vijay to arrange for the production of a stronger main cannon because it would be a waste to use the old cannon as the main gun in a 500-ton frigate, which is capable of carrying much more.


    So, he quickly outlined a design for a brand new naval cannon and left for Raya armoury to meet with Sai, the designer of the 20 kg calibre cannon.


    "Uncle Ravi, arrange the carriage."


    Oh yes, Ravichandra Rao is back to being his butler, as Vinod had fully taken over as the temporary prime minister of the Empire.


    Soon, Vijay reached the Sai Design Bureau, affiliated with the royal family''s armoury. When he entered the design bureau, he was greeted by a messy Sai, exactly how he met the man the first time. Vijay is already used to dressing the same way, so Vijay did not mind his attire and questioned, "Enough of the formalities, tell me, are there any advancements with the cannons?"


    Hearing the question, Sai, who was stiffly trying to tter Vijay, quickly regained his confidence as the question was based on a field he was immersed in. He replied, "Your Majesty, with the help of the Bharatiya Academy of Military Sciences, the ratio for a more optimal mix of metals was obtained, getting a more heat-resistant variant of the metal we used before for cannon making. With this improvement, it is now possible for the cannons to be operational for a longer duration. Also, Manoj Reddy, the person who perfected the ratio for gunpowder, was sessful in refining the gunpowder into smaller particles than before, making it easier to burn and more explosive and efficient. So, Your Majesty, the cannon, although it looks the same from the outside, has increased the operation time by 30% and an increase in range by a whole 15%."


    Vijay was very satisfied with the improvements done, as these enhancements could be applied across all military sectors, including muskets, flintlocks, and even the standard 12-kilogram calibre cannons. However, he still had a sense of unfulfillment and asked, "Then what else is there? Any new ns for designing a new cannon?"


    Hearing this question, Sai excitedly answered, "There is, Your Highness. This is the new design n for a 25-kilogram cannon, an improved version of the 20-kilogram cannon." Sai showed off with pride.


    Vijay, upon examining the design, acknowledged it as a significant improvement, but still, he felt that it was somewhat of an upgraded version of the 20-kilogram cannon. Consequently, Vijay nodded his head in approval for the remarkable progress but still presented the outline for a 30-kilogram calibre breech-loading cannon. Observing the outline, Sai was momentarily mesmerized. The concept presented was distinctly different from anything he had contemted before. He hastily snatched the outline from Vijay and began envisioning the workings of the cannon in his mind.


    "Amazing, amazing..."


    "Wow, look at this; with this, the operator could load the ammunition from the back."


    Vijay "..."


    "Hey, the gunpowder could also be filled in this round cartridge, solving the hassle once and for all."


    Vijay "..."


    "Wow, there is also a separatepartment used to preload the Canon... why did I not think of that?"


    Vijay "..."


    "Hey, using this helical rod could be used to elevate the Canon; with this, there is no need for all theplex levers."


    "It''s great. How did you think of all this, your Majesty?" Sai asked as he lifted his head.


    Sai "..."


    Sai looked around the room but could not find Vijay. ''Why did his Majesty leave?'' he thought to himself with confusion. Soon, he picked up a chalk, got rid of all distractions, and started making a rough draft out of the outline Vijay gave him. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Vijay felt like Sai would go on yapping for a while, so he left the design bureau and went to the Bharatiya Academy of Military Sciences to hand over his outline for a quick-fire, medium-range 15-kilogram Cannon.


    As he reached the academy, he was greeted by all the technicians who were hurrying around. There were quite a few people who behaved like Sai, but Vijay did not mind, feeling more at ease with these scientific researchers than with anyone else, as he was one of them in his previous life.


    As Vijay reached the corridor of Heyram''s personal workshop and office, he could see a beautiful light-skinned girl walking out of the director office. She was carrying a tray with a few empty tes. The girl, upon seeing him, was startled but quickly regained herposure and greeted him as she left. What surprised him was a head poking through the workshop door of the director of the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences. This head was none other than Heyram''s. Vijay looked at Hey Ram with a suspicious expression, but soon, remembering the girl who had just left holding the food trays, Vijay had a smile on his face as he eyed Hey Ram with an all-knowing expression.


    Seeing that his cover was exposed, Hey Ram quickly ran into the workshop, as if running away would save him from the shame. Vijay entered the workshop, and Hey Ram greeted him normally as if everything that happened a few moments ago did not happen at all. However, a slight blush on his ears gave him away. Still, Vijay did not embarrass him as he handed over the outline for a 15 kg calibre fast-firing, medium-range naval Cannon.


    As Vijay left the academy, he snapped his fingers, and a person among his guards quickly appeared beside him and knelt down. Vijay had a stern expression on his face.


    "That girl, who is she? Is she cleared in the background tests?"


    "Your Majesty, that girl is named Umashree. She is the daughter of the cook in the academy. Their background is clear; both father and daughter originated from Vijayanagar Empire, especially the capital. There is no doubt about their origin, and since both father and daughter live in the academy, there is no chance of leaking any secrets. Upon investigation, we found that the girl is lively, smart, and innocent. However, her father, while loyal to the Empire, has a clever mind. It is suspected that he ordered his daughter to get close to the director with the intent to get married."


    Hearing the result, Vijay let go of his frowning brows. As it was not a security threat, he didn''t consider the cook''s intentions offensive, understanding the desire for one''s daughter to live a good life.


    "Alright, as you were."

 Chapter 166 New Merchant Ship And Land Distribution

    Chapter 166 New Merchant Ship And Land Distribution


    A month passed in the blink of an eye, and various tasks in Dakshina Bharat progressed at the expected speed. The reconstruction of temples was going well, the foundation for the Vishnu temple in Sri Lanka had beenid, The volcanic ash had also been imported from the Italian region, and road construction in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha had beenpleted. Due to the existence of the Coast Guard, trade through the sea increased, making it more efficient to transport goods from one coastal region to another through sea routes. However, there were small hups, like cunning fishermen forming groups and attempting to join forces to be pirates, Forchunatly they were met with a bad end as a group of Hampi ss sloops sted through their boats.


    The four shipyards, havingpleted the military orders for new sloops, turned their attention to building merchant ships. They approached Boswell Design Bureau for the task. Since Danior was upied with the design of the new 500-ton frigate, his disciple Vishesh Nedri, along with a group of students, took on the responsibility of designing an armed merchant ship for the shipyards. Danior provided assistance whenever he could, which led to the design beingpleted in a week.


    The first prototype, named the Dhana ss Armed Merchant Ship (Dhana = Wealth), was sessfullypleted in the Raya shipyard. It featured a length of 33 meters, a beam of 8 meters, and a draft of 3 meters. The ship adopted a robust round hull for extra stability and a two-mast design with Lateen sails. Armed with 15 6-kilogram calibre swivel guns, it was equipped to defend against pirates and privateers.


    The Dhana ss included a cargo hold below the deck for transporting goods, and hatches and winches facilitated the loading and unloading process. As a merchant ship, it required a smaller crew than the Hampi ss sloop, with only 35 crew members needed. Under normal sailing conditions, it can achieve a speed of 5 to 6 knots, which could increase to 8 knots in special weather conditions. The carrying capacity varied based on cargo volume and type, But typically it ranged from 100 to 120 tons, with a discement of 200 tons.


    As soon as the prototype of the Dhana ss armed merchant ship was manufactured and confirmed to be sea-ready after testing, it caught the attention of Raghavendra Rao, the butler of the royal family. Orders were promptly ced for 10 Dhana ss armed merchant ships from the royal industries. Most of the royal family orders were tilted towards Raya shipyard, but upon witnessing the new merchant ship, Vijay''s uncle, Ravi Shetty, also expressed interest and ced an order for 5 merchant ships from Shivaji shipyard. Additionally, rich merchants from the empire joined in, spreading their orders among the four different shipyards. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Finance Minister Jagannath Mohan happily reported to Vijay that with the surge in trade volume, the empire was expected to surpass the growth rate by 9%. This positive economic development signalled a promising future for the Bharatiya Empire.


    This news pleased Vijay, as the empire had been growing its finances at a rate of 10% per year since he took the throne. The year 1654 was thought to be an exception due to the financial burden brought by the war and the acquisition of new territories. Fortunately, foreign orders poured in by the end of the year, and smoother transactions through shipping lines contributed to exceeding growth expectations, projecting a growth rate of about 15%.


    While happy with the results, Vijay remembered thend distribution n he had considered. He reviewed the merit records from the military logistics department during road construction, where a single worker was granted 5 acres ofnd. For particrly hardworking individuals, this allocation was increased to a higher number of 15 acres per person.


    Vijay soon signed the merit list and formted thend distribution bill, passing it to the government to handle the remaining matters.


    The newly connected vige of Lingapura in Maharashtra had a special significance, with its name derived from a Shivalinga found in the area. Initially settled by devotees seeking a tranquil ce for worship, Singapura had transformed into a vige over time. The recent construction of a gravel road connecting it torger towns significantly improved its essibility, fostering greater connectivity with the outside world.


    People from this vige, including the Singh family who arrived as outsiders, were recruited for the road construction. The allure of their own house, cattle, and grain attracted them. The Singh family, consisting of four members, three of whom were men, signed up. After enduring six months of hard work, they were allocated two cattle and a house as a reward for their efforts.


    The three men, Kabir Singh and his twin sons, Abhay Singh and Aryan Singh, returned to the vige after the final day of theirbour. They spent a few days peacefully until news sent to the panchayat disrupted their calm lives.


    Observing the rush of people towards the panchayat, Kabir Singh and his sons joined to see what had happened. As they approached, arge crowd had gathered, and, owing to their taller stature and better build from long-termbour, they managed to push themselves to the front. In front of them, soldiers of the Empire blocked their path, and the situation calmed with their intervention. A middle-aged man in good attire cleared his throat and bellowed, "Good morning, gentlemen. I am here in your vige under the orders of the government to oversee that the distribution is done ording to the decided-upon ratio."


    The people exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of what more there was to distribute. The man continued, "Thend confiscated from the Mughal nobles and elites will be distributed to all of you based on the work you have done. Thisnd will henceforth be entirely owned by you, and you can decide what to do with it."


    "What?"


    Shocked murmurs and disbelief spread among the people. Some even pped themselves to check if they were dreaming. The Singh trio, being outsiders, had no property like the higher caste people, so they were treated no differently from the lower caste individuals who werendless. However, His Majesty had given them a chance to earn their ce in this vige. With only a few months of hard work, they had earned themselves a good home, no different from an average higher caste person in the vige. Now, His Majesty also wanted to distributend, and they didn''t know how to react; it was all surreal.


    The call of names began, and Kabir Singh remained in disbelief, not paying attention. But He was soon shaken awake by his sons, who were quicker to recover. A few names had been called, and 5 acres ofnd each were distributed. Kabir eagerly awaited his family''s turn.


    The person continued to call, "Jayamma," surprising everyone with the mention of ady''s name. The vigers looked at each other in doubt, but soon, someone recognized the name and hurried back to the vige to call Jayamma. Wearing clean but worn-out clothes, she arrived at the panchayat after being informed that the government representative had called for her.


    She was in a panic as she did not know what to do, but as she entered in front of the Civil servant, The man took a metal te and handed it over to her. "Jayamma, receive 10 acres ofnd, plot number 132." Hearing this, everyone was surprised, as there was soon an uproar. "What reason was there for a woman to get that muchnd without even working for it? " Some of them questioned the civil servant from the government.


    The civil servant maintained a solemn demeanour as he retrieved another book, indicating a possible clue to the woman''s unexpected reward. Upon inspection, he confirmed, "Ah, yes, this is extrapensation for you from the government. Unfortunately, your husband has passed away due to a rock falling on him while working in the hilly regions." He proceeded to open another box, producing a document. "Here, take this. You can enrol your 10-year-old daughter in school in the city. The government will assume all mary responsibilities for her education due to your husband''s death in service."


    The people finally understood that the reason why thend allocation was doubled was because of the death of her husband. Now, no one hadints. But Jayamma, who heard the reason, sat down crying in happiness. She was very worried about what to do after her husband passed away, and how she could take care of her daughter alone. Now, with the aid provided by the government, her burden had lessened.


    "Thank you, Krishna," she prayed to her ista devatha (favourite god).


    Jayamma''s life took a new turn from that day onward. Influenced by her daughter''s persuasion, she decided to mortgage thend allocated to her to open a restaurant in the capital. This marked the beginning of her journey as the first rich businesswoman in the Empire. However, the full extent of her sess and the impact on her faith would only unfold in the future..

 Chapter 167 Land Distribution And Elites Scheming

    Chapter 167 Land Distribution And Elites Scheming


    Back in Lingapura, The calling from the civil servant continued until Kabir''s name was called. Kabir, along with his two sons, made their way near the civil servant. The civil servant was surprised that three people showed up so he warily said, "I only asked for Kabir. Who are these two? Let them go. I will not break the rules and allocate extrand for you. Don''t make a mistake and lose the allocation that has already been allocated to you." He warned with a stern expression, as he was already experienced in this affair, having encountered such situations in other viges. Fortunately, he was also assigned with five soldiers. As the soldiers had just fought in a war, they still had a bloody aura on them, deterring anyone challenging the rule ofnd allocation.


    Kabir quickly realized that he had been misunderstood. Looking at the soldiers who came forward to apprehend them, he grew panicked as he exined quickly, waving his hands, "Sir, sir, no, please. You have misunderstood. I have no opinion on how thend is distributed. I just wanted to ask if my sons were also allocatednd, as they also participated in road construction."


    Upon hearing this, the civil servant finally became clear of the trio''s intention, and the soldiers stopped, returning to their positions.


    The civil servant looked through the merit list and asked, "What are the names?"


    "Sir, these are my sons. Their names are Abhay Singh and Aryan Singh. They both participated in road construction under me. It was the construction site 1325 with the construction groups 36 and 37."


    The civil servant, looking through the ledger, confirmed that their names were present. "Oh, there it is. So, Mr. Kabir, do you want tobine thend allocated to the three of you into a single plot? With this, thend will be themon property of you three."


    "Yes, please, sir. That would be very helpful," Kabir said, thinking it was a good idea.


    The civil servant, nodding his head, calcted the totalnd to be allocated, adding the three people''snd. But when he saw thend that had been allocated, he was quite surprised and said, "The Singh family is allocated with 35 acres ofnd."


    Hearing the allocation, the people were in an uproar again.


    "Why was theirnd so much?"


    "Aren''t they three in good health? Who died in their family to get so muchnd?"


    "Yes, yes, this is not fair."


    "Even if someone died, ording to my calction, the total should only be 20 acres ofnd. Why is it 35?"


    "They must have done something suspicious."


    "..."


    "..."


    Suchments permeated the crowd as all eyes were on the three men and the civil servant, who was already turning the pages to find out the reason the Singh family got so muchnd allocated.


    But as he looked at the details, his doubt turned into a hint of reverence. ''No wonder he knows the site and group number,'' he thought.


    "There is no mistake in thend allocation. 35 acres are allocated to the Singh family because both sons, Abhay Singh and Aryan Singh, worked as team leaders for construction groups 36 and 37. Due to their exceptional contribution, they were awarded 10 acres ofnd each."


    The murmurs lessened, but still, there were a few questioning voices.


    "Isn''t it still only 25 acres? Where did the additional 10 acrese from?"


    "Yes, yes. We are also familiar with how the road management of the construction works."


    "..."


    "..."


    The civil servant got a headache as these people would not let him continue. "Shut up!" he yelled, silencing the crowd.


    "Again, there is no mistake in thend allocation. Kabir Singh here was able to be one of the managers of construction site 1325, managing 40 different construction groups. Hence, due to his excellent service, he was granted 15 acres ofnd."


    Now they all shut up, as when they were in the construction group even their group leaders were intimidating, not to mention a manager from the construction site.


    As the issue was settled, Kabir received the token and the location of their family''s new plot ofnd.


    However, when looking at the map hung beside the civil servant, he was surprised. ''Wasn''t this the same plot ofnd that the zamindar had?'' He became nervous, as he did not want to offend the local zamindar. Seeing his worry, the civil servant guessed his thoughts andforted him, "Do not worry; thisnd is guaranteed by His Majesty, the Emperor Vijay Devaraya himself. You don''t have to worry; no one will bother you about the rights to thisnd."


    Hearing theforting words, Kabir calmed down and left with his sons. But still, to be sure, he went on the route which would intersect with the zamindar''s house. As he got close to the zamindar''s house, he was surprised to see that the zamindar had left his house in a hurry, and his house was guarded by soldiers. Looking at the Zamindar''s face, he seemed to be livid with anger.


    That evening in a town called Dhule, many elites in the society had gathered together. These elites consisted of higher-caste people and richndlord families.


    The zamindar from Singapura also arrived with the same livid face and started to rant. "This bastard civil servant took away mynd by force, iming that I collect an exorbitant amount of grain from the proceeds. How dare he say that! I only collect 90% of the proceeds. Don''t I still leave 10% for those untouchables? I am already kinder than those blood-sucking Mughal dogs who only left 5% of the proceeds."


    "Hey man, why are you scolding that civil servant? All thesews are made by that young emperor. It is all his fault."


    "God damn it."


    A person among them interjected with a different view, "But isn''t thend confiscated only a little of your property? If I remember correctly, you encircled upward of 75 acres ofnd. Even with yournd confiscated, you are still left with at least 40 acres ofnd, which is still tax-free until the next year."


    "Hey, what do you know? Until now, people followed whatever I said because they were dependent on me. Unfortunately, that won''t be the case anymore. We had no ideand would be distributed like this. If we had known, we would have sent our children to secure somend for our families. Now, only the untouchables participated in the construction, and they acquired a significant amount ofnd left behind by the Mughal elites. Withnd in their possession, who will they listen to now? Can you bear it? The untouchables, who were living under your feet just a few days ago, suddenly don''t need you and could even be your equals."


    "How do you think this is eptable?"


    "Yes, yes, what he said was correct."


    "We are the higher-caste people. We are the knowledgeable, brave, and talented people. How can that boy emperor take the side of those filthy untouchables?"


    "Who knows, maybe he was born from one too."


    "..."


    "..."


    Such discussions continued as the scolding of Vijay grew increasingly vulgar until the discussion was brought back to the topic when a person asked.


    "So what can we do?"


    "Should we start causing trouble for the civil servants?"


    "No, that won''t work. Although we can take down those five soldiers with them, what will happen after that? I can imagine us being hunted down by the military after that."


    Silence ensued in the room.


    "Why don''t we incite the people into starting riots, in the name of freedom?"


    "Idiot! Thest time someone tried that on arge scale, they were all killed. Do you think you''ve lived enough and are seeking death? Also, after thend has been allocated, the untouchables have unwavering support for the Empire. Who do you think outnumbers the other, us or the untouchables?" N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Sigh."


    There was a collective sigh again from the room.


    When they did not know what the solution was, a famousndlord around the town brought in a mysterious person clothed in ck into the room.


    In the doubtful eyes of everyone, he replied, "Maybe I can help you all out."


    Back to Hampi.


    The suspicious activities quickly reached Vijay''s attention, though the reports were vague and failed to identify the responsible party. Despite theck of concrete information, Vijay couldn''t help but specte that it might be the work of Mohammed the 5th. The passing of thend distribution bill had stirred dissatisfaction among the elites in the newly acquired territories of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. While their interests were indeed affected, it wasn''t to the extent of sparking a rebellion against the empire.


    However, what irked them more was the newfound financial independence of the lower caste people. This aspect left them fuming. Initially, Vijay wasn''t overly concerned, considering only a minority of elites participated in meetings across the new territories, and the rest were rtively rational. His worry escted when he sensed a mysterious force attempting to connect these minority elites in various towns and cities. This was rming not because of the elites themselves ¨C Vijay wasn''t afraid of them ¨C but due to the shadow group orchestrating these connections.


    Vijay''s concern was heightened because this shadow organization posed a potential threat if timed correctly. What troubled him more was the realization that it might be affiliated with the Mughal Empire. The absence of this organization in Sri Lanka eliminated the Europeans as potential culprits. With these considerations, Vijay went into contemtion, preparing to observe how events would unfold and nning to respond ordingly.


    Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.

 Chapter 168 Marriage

    Chapter 168 Marriage


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Hampi.


    It has been a week since thend has been distributed to the workers of the new territories, and a lot of things have happened. First, the elites in the new region became more and more united. Their goal was still unknown, but Vijay ordered Roshan to keep watch. Also, within the week, the first naval confrontation of the Hampi ss sloop with the Mughal Empire took ce. Fortunately, the result was not disappointing, as the Hampi ss sloop both outssed and outmanoeuvred the old Mughal frigates. Due to this confrontation in the eastern Naval base, Gautam also became a household name among the naval officers.


    One more surprising thing is that Hey Ram, who Vijay thought was a dense and rigid man, made a big move just after his visit to the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences. Hey Ram informed his rtives about Umashree. His rtives were very happy with this development and soon geared up and went to Umashree''s house to talk with her father.


    Fortunately, Umashree''s father also wanted the same thing. So, both families called a priest to settle on a date for the couple''s marriage. Surprisingly, the priest said the marriage should bepleted within the month, and he also informed that the nearest Shuba dhina (Good day) for marriage is due in a week. So yes, Hey Ram''s marriage will go ording to tradition and not how Vijay got married hurriedly. Well, that was because Vijay''s marriage took ce in a time of war, so Vijay had no time to waste. Anyway, Vijay had informed Kavya to attend the marriage process, and he would join her on the final day.


    Kavya got up this morning excited. Ever since bing the queen of the Empire, she was not able to do many things. While Vijay is quite liberal in his ways, Kavya does not want her actions to affect his reputation. She does not want her husband to be Rama for her. So, she herself held back. But participating in a traditional event like this is very rare for her. Vijay''s direct rtives are only the Shetty family, who do not have any children of marriageable age, nor do her direct rtives have any children of marriageable age; her nephew is still only 2 years old. Thinking about it, she bes emotional. ''It has already been two years since the fall of home,'' she thought. Although the region where her family originated, Maharashtra, was part of the Bharatiya Empire, she always felt that the ce where she grew up was her home. But she soon lost her mncholy, thinking that Vijay would sooner orter take back what should belong to this nation.


    Anyway, she excitedly dressed up in a beautiful green saree and left for the event.


    The first event was Nichayathartham, an event simr to an engagement in Western culture.


    She was warmly weed, and greeted by Hey Ram and his family. She was also given a separate chair that almost looked like a throne, and she sat down gracefully.


    Kavya noticed a te of sweets ced in front of her. Normally, she refrains from indulging in sweets ever since Vijay yfullymented, "If you eat too many sweets, you may be fat." Even though she understood Vijay said it in jest, she took those words to heart. The weight of her role as the Queen of such a vast and powerful empire often made her restless and uneasy. She was aware that not all of Vijay''s subjects fully embraced her as the queen. Additionally, the absence of an heir added to her uneasiness. Despite Vijay''s reassurances that the matter would be resolved in a few months, Kavya couldn''t shake off the feeling of unease.


    Anyway, back to the present, Kavya decided to treat herself well on this auspicious asion, taking adoo out of the numerous sweets ced in front of her. She took a small bite and eximed, "Mhm, tasty," looking like a chipmunk. But soon she remembered that she must stay modest. She secretly finished whatever was in her mouth and took small bites one at a time for the remaining part. Fortunately, she was sitting on a balcony all by herself with some guards.


    The event after Nichayathartham was sangeet, a really fun event where both familiese together and bond over songs and dances. Seeing the happy faces below, Kavya felt a hint of pity that she could not join them as she had to maintain the royal dignity. Apart from that, she enjoyed the spirited performance of the young girls and the rigid dance steps of Hey Ram. Seeing this, she couldn''t control herughter.


    The next event took ce at night, called haldhy. This event was nothing but applying posupu (turmeric) for both the bride and groom. This is done in the belief that posupu could ward off evil spirits. Usually, the posupu paste is applied to both the bride and groom in their homes and Kavya was in the home of the bride.


    Thest day of the marriage had arrived. And, as promised, Vijay also joined Kavya, wearing a white dhoti and saffron shawl.


    As Vijay entered the venue for the wedding, the security had been heightened, with guards meticulously checking everyone for weapons. Upon stepping into the temple, Hey Ram, apanied by Uma Shree''s father, personally greeted Vijay. Vijay warmly exchanged greetings with Hey Ram and his father-inw, expressing his joy at seeing Hey Ram settle down. As the director of the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences, stability in Hey Ram''s life was crucial. Vijay extended his blessings to Hey Ram, emphasizing, "Hey Ram, always remember, in a family where the wife is content because of her husband and the husband is also joyful because of his wife, only their prosperity resides - this is incontrovertible."


    Hey Ram bowed down to Vijay, taking the words that Vijay said to heart, and invited Vijay inside. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The first event of the day was Mangshnanam. The bride and bridegroom bathed in the secret waters of the temple, separately, of course. Next, after the bath, both Hey Ram and Umashree were brought to the Kalyana Mantapa (marriage tent? Anyway, it is four poles nted in the ground with coconut leaves on top for cover). The priest chanted many mantras and slokas. After a long wait, the Mai Maatral (exchange of flower gands) took ce. The Karnataka musicians continued to y the music throughout the ceremony.


    The next event considered a core part of Hindu marriage, took ce ¨C Saptapadi. This ritual is nothing but walking seven steps around a Holy fire. This signifies the vows of each other and the responsibility of each other. After this event, rituals took ce for a few more moments until it was time to tie the knot.


    The Mangalsutra Daravana (equivalent to putting a ring on the finger) soon took ce. All the people, including Vijay and Kavya, who were provided separate seats, stood up and threw grain in their hands towards the couple as a blessing.


    The musicians also started to beat the ta loudly at this very moment. Umashree was in tears, and seeing this Kavya was also in tears. ''Why?'' Well, Vijay would say he is a scientist, not a god. Finally, after tying the knot, the thing the people were waiting for was the reception. It was when both families of the bride and groom fed the people who entered to bless the marriage. Vijay and Kavya had the food separately served to them. Finally, after Hey Ram''s marriage, Vijay and Kavya were nning to leave.


    But some sort ofmotion happened outside the temple. Vijay''sasked, "What is happening?" The guard beside Vijay enquired about the news and answered, "Your Majesty, it seems that some goons wanted to extort money from a guest entering the marriage outside the temple."


    Vijay frowned upon hearing this and asked a stern question, "Are events like thismon?" If so, Vijay would be very angry with the local police. But fortunately, the guard soon answered, "It is not like that, Your Highness. It is said that the guest who was harassed owed a lot of money to this specific person and did not pay the money back. So, the person employed this gang to extort the money. This kind of thing is quite rare."


    Vijay''s tension eased slightly. While he was not condoning such behaviour, he understood that the absence of a proper financial regtion infrastructure contributed to such incidents. Witnessing this, he realized the need to expedite the establishment of such regtions.


    "Okay, send these people to the police station and leave half of the guards in the temple to provide security for the people."


    "But, Your Majesty, what about your security?"


    "Don''t worry about me. Out of my 500 guards, there will still be 200 by me, so you don''t have to worry."


    The guard hesitantly agreed and sent the orders to his deputy to stay in the temple. He led the 200 guards and followed Vijay out of the temple.


    Inside the temple, as soon as Vijay left, a person among the guests dressed in white attire like a Brahmin saw this scene and muttered, "Alhamdulih, this kafir''s time hase." He turned around and signalled to a servant carrying flowers near the gate. The boy, as if waiting for the signal, soon climbed up a tree with the flowers and started to decorate the tree to reduce suspicion. But when he was on the tree, he sent a secret hand signal to a certain person standing in the crowd, watching the goons making trouble outside the temple premises. As soon as he saw the signal at the corner of his eye, he left the scene. "Ahu Akbar, the n must seed," he said as he disappeared into an alleyway.


    P.S. Hey Ram, in real life, is one of my good friends, and we boys always tease him in ss by calling this girl Umashree''s name. He is kind of like the guy who mingles effortlessly between all the small groups in ss. So, this marriage chapter is dedicated to him, and My blessing for it to happen in real life too. Hoping for my dear readers'' blessings.

 Chapter 169 Ambush Part :1

    Chapter 169 Ambush Part :1


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, a forest near Madikeri.


    Arge convoy travelled through the gravel road that had been newly constructed, connecting the Madikeri town to the main road of the capital. Vijay and Kavya were in a carriage adorned with beautiful patterns and that wasrger in size. After finishing Hey Ram''s marriage in Madikeri, where the family god''s temple of Hey Ram was situated, they both left for the capital.


    Inside the carriage, Vijay had closed his eyes and was enjoying thepany brought by Kavya, who held his hand and slept on his shoulder. Unbeknownst to Vijay, 1 km ahead, a group of 50 ck-clothed men were waiting for Vijay''s arrival. Surprisingly, among those men, two faces were recognizable. One was Naveen, who tried to form a secret society inside the secret service and military of the Empire, whoter escaped and joined the Mughal Empire.


    The other person was the same individual who received the hand signal from the flower boy in the temple. Naveen waited with bated breath for Vijay''s arrival, recognizing that this was his only chance for revenge. He had exhausted all means to gather information about the emperor''s schedule and whereabouts, even going as far as using all his connections.


    Naveen harboured no hope for Mughal Emperor Mohammad to grant him a second chance. He believed that Mohammed had already yed his cards in the Bhartiya Empire, leveraging all the pawns he had developed in thest two years to introduce assassins and the Ottoman Cannon within the defence line. Though Naveen didn''tprehend how Mohammad achieved this, he knew he had a simpler time of it. Contacting his colleagues in the secret service who hadn''t been apprehended due to their lower profiles, Naveen provided them with the names and the stolen amounts of their gold in the secret society. He also issued a threat: cooperate or face exposure to the police chief.


    After this threat, most of them were convinced, as they still remembered what happened to the people who stole money from the empire. They did not want to die suddenly in some alleyway. Moreover, this time they were not actually stealing anything but just conveying the information they knew to this person. It is also stated in the letter that they would get a certain amount of money for their service. This tilted the fragile bnce in their hearts. As the war had stopped, they were facing money shortages. When they were in the war, they were earning a lot of money. Now, suddenly, their streams of revenue became singr, making them very ufortable who were used to an affluent life inside their homes. However, with the tightened watch of Roshan, they had no chance to act up. But now, With the promise of gold and silver, they became greedy, so most of them agreed.


    Vijay, who was sitting in the carriage, arrived near a canyon. The guards around him were vignt, looking around for wild animals. However, Vijay felt that something was off; he had an uneasy feeling. He looked around, but seeing that there was no unusualness around him, he was in doubt, ''Could I be thinking too much?'' Vijay thought to himself. Despite this, the feeling did not leave him. He stiffened his back, leaned forward, raised his head, and looked around again, this time more carefully. Kavya also was alerted by Vijay''s movement. "What happened?" she asked with a worried expression after seeing Vijay''s serious face. She gripped tightly to Vijay. But Vijay did not know how to answer the question, as he himself did not know what happened; he just felt very uneasy, and the feeling was increasing in magnitude. He tried to calm down, but the uneasiness did not go away; instead, it increased as the convoy moved forward.


    Vijay leaned back into the seat again, trying to figure out what was wrong with him. But, Out of nowhere, an unbearable feeling hit him; he sensed that some huge monster was about to devour the carriage. The sensation permeated each and every cell of his body. It was a visceral feeling that he couldn''t choose to ignore. Taking this feeling seriously, he immediately hugged Kavya, opened the door of the moving carriage, and jumped outside. The maid in the carriage was surprised by what His Majesty suddenly did, but the next moment...


    * Bang *


    A loud bang erupted from somewhere in the north as a cannonball came hurtling towards the royal carriage, sting right through it and obliterating everything in its path. Unfortunately, the maid was also ripped apart, and debris was scattered everywhere. Blood from the maid stained the wooden debris.


    "Ambush!"


    "Guard formation!"


    The guard captain was scared out of his wits when the carriage exploded, but he soon felt relieved as he noticed that his majesty and the queen were all right in a patch of grass a few meters beside the carriage.


    Vijay''s face drained of blood just thinking about the event that had just happened. He and Kavya were almost killed, and the thought of what would happen to the empire after his passing filled his mind with rage. He got up and moved Kavya to the back of the defensive formation. At the same time, Vijay kept counting the seconds, calcting how long it would take to reload and fire a second round. Vijay felt uneasy again, knowing that the cannonball was getting reloaded, but this time he chose to trust his instincts more. He focused.


    Right after the aim was finalized and the fuse was lit, Vijay intuitively felt that this was the right time. He suddenly yelled, "Run to the right quickly," as he bolted towards the right, carrying Kavya on his shoulders as fast as he could. The guards also followed his instructions and ran towards the right. * Bang * The cannonball hit the spot where they were previously standing, although most of the guards escaped. Unfortunately, there were still two casualties.


    Seeing the bodies, Vijay immediately realized that he couldn''t keep doing this. He felt lucky for himself, his wife, and the guards that the cannon was ced at a farther distance, and arrows couldn''t reach that far. If cannons, along with archers were used, maybe there would be a bunch of dead bodies in the forest. Looking around, he saw a boulder and decided to hide behind it. Vijay waited for the next cannonball shot, gauging the timing with his intuition. He yelled, "Behind the boulder to the left, run now!" Everyone reacted instantaneously and ran towards the boulder. Fortunately, there were no casualties this time. As Vijay got behind the boulder, he heaved a sigh of relief. The guard captain also got the chance to send the fire signal, and simultaneously, a cannonball was fired towards the boulder. * Bang * Fortunately, the boulder held on, But there were still some cracks on it.


    Seeing the cracks that almost made it a quarter of the way through the boulder, Vijay knew that this couldn''t go on. "God dammit," Vijay eximed as he unsheathed his Talwar. His eyes turned red as he ordered, "100 of you form a defensive formation around the queen. If something happens to her, it will be your heads that will roll." Vijay was in an irrational rage as he was about to let the remaining guards follow him. The guard captain, noticing this, wanted to dissuade Vijay from doing such dangerous things, but his pleading was taken as nothing, as Vijay''s decision did not change. So, he tried to ask Kavya to convince His Majesty, "Your Highness, the queen, Please try to convince His Majesty not to do such dangerous things." Suddenly, Kavya''s hand held onto Vijay''s clothes. When he turned around, Vijay saw that Kavya had recovered from the shock of the explosion and the death of the maid, putting on a brave posture. She touched the wound on her hand, took some of her blood from it, and drew a Tk on Vijay''s forehead. She said with a brave expression, contrary to what the guard captain expected, "Come back victorious."


    Vijay felt encouraged by his wife''s words as he quickly ran parallel to the boulder. After reaching a certain distance backwards, Vijay circled towards the ce where the cannon shots were fired from. Some 80-odd guards, along with the guard captain, joined him. Vijay spearheaded the formation himself as he gave fast orders about the dodge patterns for the cannon shots.


    The boulder was halfway crumbled when the attention of Naveen, who was overlooking the operation, caught on to Vijay running towards him from a different direction. He swiftly ordered the cannon to change its aim and shoot towards Vijay.


    Naveen felt very happy, as he was quite depressed that Vijay managed to escape the first shot and the numerous shots after that. He was questioning himself about how it was possible, but ultimately, he did not know and let the thought go. The only thing he knew was that Vijay''s death was confirmed as he himself was running towards it. Even if, by some miracle, all the cannonballs missed him, the arrows would not. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 170 Ambush Part :2

    Chapter 170 Ambush Part :2


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, a forest near Madikeri.


    The first cannonball toward Vijay was about to be fired as the fuse was lit. Vijay, running at full speed, felt the danger instantaneously and ordered, "Dodge right." He was the first one to swiftly dodge to the right, and the guards followed suit. However, there were still three casualties as they could not dodge quickly enough. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Dodge left."


    "Swish."


    "Dodge right."


    "Swish."


    This video game-like operation continued for a few more rounds as more people were sted apart, turning into mist . Some were unable to properly grasp the timing of the dodge, while others tripped on something while dodging. Vijay also realized that his soldiers were getting decimated, and they couldn''t dodge as well as he could. But he had no other choice. By the time the reinforcements arrived, he was sure that he would have no chance to escape with his wife.


    Naveen felt scared as he saw Vijay, along with his soldiers, still continuing toe forward with all their might. Panicking, Naveen snatched the bow from the assassin next to him, swiftly nocked an arrow, and fired as Vijay approached the arrow''s firing range.


    * Swish *


    The arrow streaked through the air, aimed at Vijay''s skull in a deadly trajectory. However, sensing the malicious intent of Naveen, Vijay swiftly dodged to the side. Tragically, his guard captain, positioned right behind him, couldn''t evade the projectile fast enough, and the arrow struck him squarely in the throat.


    "Chief!!" Two distinct sounds rang out from behind Vijay, but he didn''t have the time to identify the voices. Reacting quickly, he ordered, "Shields!" The guards swiftly grabbed the wooden shields from their backs, attempting to absorb the impending arrows. Despite their efforts to evade the projectiles, not everyone was sessful.


    The shields proved effective only if the guards could urately predict the direction of the arrows. Moreover, they slowed down the charge. As casualties increased, multiple arrows struck individuals simultaneously, leaving them defenceless. The guards attempted toe closer together, forming a protective barrier to shield those inside the formation. Death was not their primary concern, knowing that their families were already taken care of by His Majesty. They were content, knowing their children would receive proper care until adulthood.


    Despite the chaos, Vijay moved with agility and grace, navigating the airborne projectiles like a skilled dancer. The guards were astonished by His Majesty''s prowess, though not everyone possessed the same foresight as Vijay to anticipate the arrows'' trajectories.


    "Swish"


    "Swish"


    "Swish"


    Vijay ran forward, attracting a barrage of arrows. Three arrows were fired at once, directed towards him. Vijay dodged and weaved around the arrows like a feline. He jumped forward with a flip, and more arrows cut through the air. This time, the onught was more dense. Vijay deftly avoided the arrows he could, swinging his Talwar at the ones he couldn''t avoid. An arrow was directly pointed towards his head, but he quickly averted his head to the side, and the arrow passed right behind him, hitting a guard. Another arrow went through his torso, but Vijay twisted his body at thest second, causing only the armour to be damaged.


    After various efforts, Vijay arrived near the group of assassins. However, his men were now reduced to only 20, and Vijay, along with his men, were consumed with anger and rage due to the fall of their brothers and their chief.


    Vijay was the first to pounce at the man holding a bow. The man attempted to reach for the knife in his buckle, but Vijay didn''t give him a chance. He thrust the Talwar into the man''s neck, using the same momentum to twirl his body to the side and withdraw the Talwar. The swift motion caused the neck to split open on one side, with the head resembling a soda can opening, the cap dangling around and a gush of blood. Vijay immediately leapt forward, ready for the next confrontation.


    His deep ck eyes remained as calm as snow as he ran forward, kicking up dust in his wake¡ªan eerie contrast to the chaos unfolding around him.


    Vijay, disying remarkable agility, swiftly dodged the iing knife thrust as hended from his leap. Without breaking his momentum, he crouched down and used his left hand to propel himself forward, resembling a monkey with a sword in hand. His eyes fixated on his prey, he executed a leg-sweep, bringing down the assant. As the fallen individual attempted to rise, Vijay harnessed the energy in his legs and leapt forward with a full-body extension, like a raider leaping to cross the midline.


    Before the person could react, a resounding *crack* echoed through the chaos¡ªthere was now a fatal hole in his head. Blood gushed all over Vijay''s face, with only his deep ck and calm eyes visible. The seamless sequence of movements demonstrated Vijay''s deadly efficiency in the midst of battle.


    The guards were no less violent, exchanging injury for injury. They pounded on the assassins, not caring about their own bodies. Despite numerous stabs to their bodies, they still managed to swing their swords and hack the heads of their opponents.


    Vijay continued his relentless ughter, his eyes turned red as his body was covered with blood. He looked around for his next prey and soon noticed Naveen. Remembering him from somewhere, Vijay intuitively felt that he was the one responsible for all this. He kicked the ground hard and ran forward with all his might.


    Naveen went crazy, realizing that no matter what he tried, he couldn''t kill this pest. Seeing that hispanions were getting ughtered, the reality finally hit him that the task would not bepleted, and his chance for revenge would also end here. his eyes turned red. Remembering his parents and his good-for-nothing brother, he roared unwillingly, "Ahhhh!"


    Unable toe to terms with the current situation, he also unsheathed his Talwar and ran forward, determined to hack Vijay to death.


    As Vijay closed in, he swung his sword towards Naveen''s neck, intending to sever it in the first swing. Naveen on the other hand, was skilled in swordsmanship and it was one of the reasons for his sess in the secret service, quickly ducked down, avoiding the blow. Seizing the opportunity, Naveen thrust his sword towards Vijay''s torso. Sensing the danger, Vijay swiftly twisted his body in a split second, avoiding the fatal thrust.


    Both parties distanced themselves for a few feet, and their eyes were filled with mutual hatred. It didn''t take long for them to re-engage. This time, Vijay waited for the attack, and Naveen didn''t disappoint. He thrust the sword towards Vijay''s chest, but Vijay moved to the side and swung at Naveen''s wrist, slicing it clean off.


    However, as Vijay almost let go of his guard, Naveen had a grin on his face which turned into a smile. ''Not good,'' Vijay thought as Naveen drew a de from his waist, stabbing towards Vijay''s head. Vijay''s senses went into overdrive as the knife came dangerously close to his face. He could practically feel the Yama Pasha''s (God of Death''s rope) presence slithering before him.


    Using all his reflexes, Vijay managed to narrowly avoid the blow. However, the corner of his shoulder was not left unharmed, as the skin was torn off. Fortunately, it was not a severe injury, as only the skin was torn.


    The next moment, Vijay grabbed hold of Naveen''s hand with one hand and pulled him forward, while holding the Talwar with the other. Vijay thrust the Talwar into Naveen''s heart, and Naveen lost his life just like that, with disbelief on his face and a hint of loss. Unfortunately, Naveen died without knowing who actually killed his family.


    Looking around, Vijay found that there were only Ten of his guards remaining alive, and a captive, as the rest of his guards had died. He felt sad for them but also relieved that he was alive. He quickly met up with Kavya; fortunately, she was rtively unharmed. Kavya was startled at first after seeing Vijay drenched in blood, but upon realizing it was not his, she burst into tears and ran forward to hug him. Vijay also hugged her with relief on his face, ignoring the blood he painted Kavya with. Vijay was very thankful that Kavya was alright. Vijay became angry again as he remembered that he and Kavya could have almost died, potentially leaving the Empire in chaos and destroying the Bharata dream forever. Vijay felt restless and could not wait any longer.


    After today, Vijay decided to make reforms at any cost. Let the Blood flow if that is what it needs.


    Soon, the reinforcements also arrived, but Vijay did not go with them. Instead, he wrote a letter to Logananda about his instructions. He also wrote a separate letter to Uncle Ravi.


    Vijay wants to pull out all the dark elements in the empire right here and now, this is a dangerous task as a lot of things could go wrong at any moment.


    "Spread the rumours of my death among the elites," Vijay chose to take a gamble for long-term peace. Throughout the empire, the death of Vijay Devaraya would be known to the higher-ups of all the departments. As for the people, no one will actively spread the news in order to keep a rtively stable environment. But the elite of the society will definitely know, as they, without a doubt, have a channel for information within the government.


    Vijay tended to his injuries and ordered for his men to make a camp for the night. Early in the morning, Vijay moved to one of the secret castles in the Empire built by his family.


    P.S. Is it too much gore, or is it okay? Are simr chapters needed?

 Chapter 171 Reaction Of The Elites

    Chapter 171 Reaction Of The Elites


    The messages Vijay sent through secret channels soon reached Ravichandra Rao. The old butler almost lost his footing aftering to know that His Majesty almost lost his life. However, he was relieved to know that His Majesty was safe in the Udupi pce. However, looking at the instructions sent by His Majesty, Ravi frowned, as he could understand what His Majesty''s n was. He couldn''t help but think that the n was too risky and reckless. However, he chose to believe in Vijay because he believed that the people of the Empire would support Vijay when the time came.


    Finally, The rumour, through various channels, reached the ears of various elites of society.


    Hey Ram, who was about to spend his first day with Umashree, was stunned when he received an urgent message from a messenger. Hey Ram could not see who the sender was, but upon opening the letterhead, the news about the passing of His Majesty and the queen in the Madikeri forest was written.


    Just reading this sentence, Hey Ram couldn''t hold on to his body. He stumbled back and fell down; his face still wore an expression of disbelief. He couldn''t imagine how His Majesty, who had attended his marriage just a day ago, ended up being dead.


    The reality settled in, and tears welled up in his eyes with uncontroble sadness, tears streaming down his face as he sobbed, "uhaaaa, uhaaaaaaa." It was His Majesty who gave him a chance to shine. It was also His Majesty who provided encouragement and appointed him as the director of the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences. Hey Ram did not know what would happen to the kingdom next.


    Hearing her husband''s heart-wrenching cries, Umashree hurried over with quick steps. As she saw her husband lying down on the ground and crying, she did not know what had happened. She got scared about what could have happened and went closer to check on him. Uma Shree came closer, and seeing her face, Hey Ram hugged her and cried even louder as he handed over the letter to her.


    Reading the letter, Uma Shree was also saddened. She, too, was a person of this Empire, enjoying the benefits brought by His Majesty. Remembering the care that the queen gave to her, she couldn''t help but drop a few tears for the queen.


    But soon she became scared as she noticed something, face turned pale as she shook Hey Ram''s arm and said hurriedly "Husband you have to pack your back quickly we have to leave this Empire "


    "What are you talking about?" Hey Ram asked, shocked by what his wife was saying. "Yes, please, let''s go quickly."


    "But why?" Hey Ram still asked, not moving an inch.


    "Look, it says that His Majesty and the queen died in the Madikeri forest. It is most probable that His Majesty and the Queen were ambushed on the way to the capital after they left our marriage. Also, remember how His Majesty ordered for half his guards to stay here and how suddenly the guards ran in a hurry in the direction of the forest yesterday evening. Husband, I think the me for His Majesty and the queen''s death will fall on us."


    Taken aback, Hey Ram did not think of all this. dread soon filled him as his face turned white But where else could he go? He could not go to the Mughal Empire now, could he? But he made up his mind, "Let us go to the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences. I am a director there, so it should be safe for a period of time. We will think of something else after that."


    The news reached the intellectuals as well as Tukaram. The intellectuals were very surprised and saddened by the news. They had never met such a monarch who was so encouraging towards intellectuals and who was so open-minded about the lower caste people.


    Now that Vijay Devaraya was no more, they had no reason to stay, as the new Empire would fall into turbulence and be no safer than the Mughal Empire.


    Tukaram sat there meditating under the tree in his courtyard. His meditation was disturbed by an intellectual from Bihar, "Tukaram Maharaj, please return with us. His Majesty, the emperor of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, Vijay Devaraya, is no more. The situation in the empire with no heir will get more turbulent, with various parties battling for the crown. It is better you also leave with us."


    Hearing the words, Tukaram frowned as it was a piece of unpleasant news. Still doubtful, he closed his eyes and meditated for a few moments. The intellectual from Bihar waited for Tukaram''s judgment. Many intellectuals were waiting for Tukaram''s decision, as he was known as the man who had the deepest spiritual connection with God. Soon, a smile ran across Tukaram''s face as he said, "Vittoba said that the emperor of thisnd has a lot more to achieve. Life runs in a circle, life and death, beginning and end. The emperor is creating an end for himself to pave a new beginning."


    Hearing those words, the Bihari intellectual was shocked. "Is he still alive?" he thought with incredulity, but he really hoped that His Majesty Vijay would be alive. He soon went to convey the message of Tukaram to the rest of the schrs. With thement of Tukaram, most of the intellectuals decided to stay.


    Vinod, upon receiving the news, fell down from his chair in his office and started sobbing. He did not eat or drink for the rest of the day, rejecting all requests for meetings out of worry that someone would learn of the news. Raised by the royal family since childhood, now that there was no royal family, he questioned his purpose in life. He wanted to discuss this matter with his master, Ravichandra Rao. Fortunately, he was relieved of his pain when his master came to support him in the work and to inform him that His Majesty was alive. Unfortunately for him, his instructions were to act like a weeping mother for his dead son. Hence, he was told the newste to allow him to convincingly convey the news to the crowd around him.


    The news started spreading around the spy organization. People who had escaped the first purge suddenly reappeared, trying to connect with each other and reform the secret society. They attempted to approach various groups in the army, casting their bets on who would win the throne. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Within the army, the news did not spread widely, thanks to the efficient control exercised by Logananda. An old man with seniority and extensive military experience, Logananda managed to maintain discipline and order. Following His Majesty''s directive to allow certain moles to develop, provided they didn''t jeopardize overall stability, Logananda allowed a few moles within the army to exist and grow unhindered. He noted down who were all the bad fish for ater date.


    When pondering the intent behind the instruction, Logananda, an old man with a lot of life experience, despite not being particrly talented in politics, realized that His Majesty was using himself as bait to lure out the poison within the body of the empire.


    He did not even inform this matter to his generals and the new martial. Logananda had full trust in his boys, but the test had to be done. This test was kind of like the Agni Pariksha of Mother Sita. Even though Lord Ram knew that Sita was innocent, he had to put her to the test in order to maintain her dignity within the rajya.


    The spy from the secret service tried to contact both Kiran Pujari and Ramaiya Senapati at the same time. The intent was to bait the two most probable candidates for the throne, with Ramaiya being the son of the great military general and the old martial of the Empire army, and Kiran Pujari being the new martial of the Empire.


    But the result made Loganandaugh out loud. Ramaiya Senapati, as soon as he heard the news that His Majesty had died from the secret service members'' mouths and they wanted to work with him to take over the empire, did not think much. He quickly shed at their necks, cutting it cleanly in half. Then, remembering the news about His Majesty''s death, he ran to his father to confirm the news, with a sad expression on his face.


    Kiran, on the other hand, as soon as he heard the news, arrested the spies and brought them to Logananda in an uneasy mood. The two generals who were contacted also reacted in the same way as Ramaiya did, bringing the heads of the spies with them.


    It was then that Logananda informed them about Vijay''s status of being alive and well. They were soon relieved and quickly became excited about the next n.


    Seeing that it was a failure to woo the generals, the agents'' eyes fell on the smaller officers. Many captains and lieutenants started to join the cause, and groups were soon formed within the Empire army.


    The news of Vijay''s death along with the Queen spread among the elite of society, eliciting a range of reactions. Some were shocked and saddened, while others found delight in the news. The Nobles of the new territory, who had already established connections with Mughal spies, began funding secret service agents sympathetic to their cause. Muslim extremists also joined the movement, further strengthening the cause as they utilized their own connections through the masjids. In the following days, the overall atmosphere within the empire deteriorated as the rumour reached more people, and the streets were no longer peaceful.


    The ministers were also tested like the generals by the old man Ravichandra Rao. Fortunately, they turned out to be loyal to the Empire. Still, it could not be said the same for their subjects, as they started to embezzle the money of the Empire, forming a bureaucracy faction different from the secret service faction. They also started to fund separatist forces in the army.


    The jihadists were going crazy as they were finally left free, So they started to do all kinds of inhuman deeds in private.


    In the Kalyan household.


    "Patriarch, shouldn''t we take this opportunity and choose a side quickly?" Jivan Kalyan, a member of the Kalyan family, said.


    "No, that will not be done. We will close our business for a few days until everything returns to normal."


    "But, patriarch, how can you say that? Don''t you see how the condition is outside? The Muslims are forcing the people to convert left, right, and centre by any means necessary. The army is also being fractionalized. I also heard that the intelligence organization of the emperor is also ying a hand in this. The nobles of the new territories also are ying a huge role in this divide of the cake, and the businessmen of the capital are not left far behind in this partition of benefits."


    "Idiot, stupid, pig brain. Don''t you realize that since His Majesty started recruiting for the army, 70% of the personnel aremon people? Themon folk are very loyal to His Highness. Those forming factions in the army are mostly the sons of elites or fallen nobles. Moreover, it''s simr to what happened during the time of the Vijayanagar Empire when the nobles joined together to set off a rebellion. And, take note that all the main ministers have been absent for a few days now. Only the vice ministers and lower-ranking officials have joined this group. If the rumours are indeed true, we''ll see how it ys out in theing days."


    "Patriarch, you mean?"


    "Yes, I am saying that His Majesty is rounding up the sheep again for a ughter."

 Chapter 172 The Purge

    172 The Purge


    Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, Udupi.


    Vijay is going through all the information collected in the past week. He has to say it has been hectic at the least.


    "So, Roshan, tell me how did the Assassins get inside our Empire, and how did they even manage to sneak in a cannon?" Vijay asked.


    Roshan felt embarrassed to admit it, but he still replied truthfully.


    "Your Majesty, they were brought in by some Muslims within our Empire. In the past, they portrayed themselves as Pro-Hindu to attain higher positions. The government also wanted to showcase them as an example for other Muslims. However, it seems they were acting with deliberate intentions to rise in ranks and serve the interests of the Mughal Emperor, Muhammad. We were unaware of their true motives until recently.


    Background checks had been conducted on them, revealing that they were born and raised in the Bharatiya Empire, and their grandparents were also Hindus. They were assumed to be safe due to this reason, and with the push of the government, they also increased their influence within the Muslimmunity, directly bing imams. Unfortunately, the book seemed to be more important to them than the country. Mohammad managed to convince them to work for his cause by offering a small price - a visit to Ma, their holynd.


    As for the cannon, it was brought in through the frontline with thebination of Muslims and that of the secret service. Muslims helped transport internally, and the secret service was responsible for getting it through customs, acting as a distraction for the soldiers."


    This news annoyed Vijay. When the n to highlight and make an example of the pro-Hindu Muslims was brought to the table, he had reservations, but he still signed the bill , in the spirit of giving it a try. As expected, the n did not work, but he could never have expected that these people, who were born and grew up in the empire, would do such a thing.


    "Then how did they get to know my location?"


    "This is because of the X secret service agent, your majesty. Due to his familiarity with how the system works, he made a lot of connections within the secret service and gathered a lot of dirt on his colleagues. He used the same dirt to threaten them and got them to reveal your location."


    "Dammit, alright," Vijay said in annoyance. He now felt that he should have split the secret service the first time they tried to infiltrate the army. But it is not all bad now, as he could thoroughly cleanse the empire of its filth and immediately push reforms, not giving the unstable elements a chance to rise.


    "How is the situation in the empire?"


    "It''s quite concerning, Your Majesty. The citizens and soldiers are bing suspicious, especially since you''ve been out of the public eye for a full week, disappearing abruptly. The overall security condition of the Empire is deteriorating rapidly. Factions are emerging within the army, and these factions are receiving support from both the bureaucratic and secret service factions. I regret to inform you that there are ns for a rebellion in the near future. Furthermore, the newly acquired territories are bing increasingly radicalized as nobles continue to recruit individuals. There are reports of silent kidnappings of women by Imists, with victims being sent to the Mughal Empire," the report detailed.


    "Alright, that''s enough. Are all the names recorded?" Vijay asked sternly.


    "They are, Your Majesty," Vijay nodded as hemanded, "let the n begin."


    "Yes, Your Majesty."


    In the barracks of the capital, Logananda sat on the main chair, carefully reading the letter he had received. Upon receiving the order from Vijay, a smile spread across Logananda''s face as he delegated tasks to the generals and Kiran Pujari.


    Within the military camp.


    "Hey, when do you think is the chance for us to take the Bird Nest?" a sergeant asked the lieutenant next to him. Both belonged to one of the factions aligning with the rebellious forces.


    "In just a few days," the lieutenant confidently replied.


    They walked in the hallway, talking in a secret codednguage. Unfortunately, as they proceeded, a lot of eyes were focused on them.


    Logananda meticulously reviewed a report submitted by Aditya, who was assigned to collect spy information within the army camp. Logananda chose Aditya not only because he wasn''t an official member of the organization, eliminating the chance of corruption, but also due to his extensive experience in espionage and covert operations. Additionally, Logananda held a favorable impression of the young man, recognizing his significant contributions during the remation of new territories and throughout the one-year war.


    The next challenge for Logananda was how to convey his orders to the soldiers without alerting the factions within the army. Aditya proposed a solution, ''Your Highness, old martial, I''ve observed that only 12% of faction members regrly attend temple prayers.''


    ''Your point being?'' Logananda inquired.


    ''This is typically done by Muslims, but we could transmit the orders by hanging a notice board with all the faction member names on it in the temple. As for the 12% who attend temple prayers, silencing them won''t be a problem. The faction won''t notice the missing 12% so quickly. within this time we can act.''"


    Logananda considered the n and found it feasible. "Okay, let''s do that," he said as he passed on the orders.


    Soon, with the discust of the preast, notice boards were hung in various temples near the barracks throughout the empire. Soldiers were surprised to discover that many separatist and rebellious elements were among them. When they saw someone on the listing to the temple, they swiftly apprehended and detained them.


    After the majority of the soldiers learned about the news, the operation began. Squads formed, and perpetrators listed on the notice board were quickly apprehended. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As the time to act arrived, the sergeant and lieutenant in the hallway were swiftly caught by the surrounding soldiers. "What are you doing? Let me go! I am yourmanding officer. Don''t you know militaryw? Let me go, you filthymoners!"


    "Hey, let me go now! Don''t you know who I am? I am the son of thete great Raghupati Naidu. Let me go, you lowlifes!"


    Simr events unfolded in barracks across various locations in the empire. Noticing the change within the army, bureaucrats and members of the secret service faction quickly mobilized their troops. Police officers who fell for their greed acted as soldiers for the rebels. Unfortunately for them, they wouldn''t be doing what they were doing if they knew Vijay was alive.


    After purging the army of the rebellious elements, Logananda ordered the army to move inward. The people were stunned as their own army marched towards various cities. When the news spread, they were shocked by all the events that had taken ce. They were on the verge of rioting when they heard that Vijay had passed away. However, noting the uncontroble nature of the people, Raghavendra Rao quickly sent the message that His Majesty Vijay and the Queen were alive and well.


    The old prime minister''s words temporarily settled the people''s hearts, but the separatist forces'' hearts sank as they finally knew that they had fallen into the trap of the emperor. But now, they could not go back after showing all their cards.


    The rebel forces, initiallyprised of police officers, were strongly united in their belief that Vijay was dead. However, their unity crumbled as soon as it became known that Vijay Devaraya was alive. Though they tried to run, they couldn''t hide, as the government issued bounties to disclose the locations of all individuals on the distributed list in government offices. The remaining police officers, who were innocent and confused about the whole ordeal, swiftly moved in toplete the task after identifying the culprits. The army yed a crucial role, blocking various main cities to prevent entry and exit, thus capturing the fleeing enemies.


    As the enemies attempted to flee, they even banded together to form a squadron. Trained by the empire military, theirbat effectiveness was not negligible. Fights broke out in the outskirts of cities, with casualties mounting due to the use of muskets. This urred not only in the capital but also in various cities with varying intensity. However, due to theck of logistical supply for the rebels, they eventually sumbed to defeat.


    In the new territories, a simr scenario unfolded. However, this time, after debilitating the forces of the nobles, the leaders of the rebellion, the nobles, were beheaded without mercy for the sin ofunching the rebellion.


    Within the secret service, Selvan utilized his ground intelligence work and cooperated with Roshan at themand level and Aditya, who was working in providing intelligence services to the military, to track down all the escaped secret service agents , and capture them.


    The bureaucrats were the easiest, as they were toothless tigers without the support of the police or the army. They were quickly arrested, and the topmost official who got caught in this raid was the deputy of the agricultural ministry.


    The Muslims were thest to bear the brunt. All the masjids were seized, and imams whose involvement was confirmed were arrested. The local goon units they controlled were apprehended and incarcerated. The kidnapped women were rescued and, if willing to return to their families, reunited. In cases where the women had been taken advantage of and did not want to return home, Vijay arranged for them to work in an orphanage as caretakers for the children. This operation took a whole week, as 30% of the Muslim poption was arrested suddenly within the empire. The leaders among the Muslims who supported the cause were directly beheaded as a warning. Blood flowed in a stream that day.


    Regarding the seized masjids, Vijay chose not to emte the barbaric actions of the Imic invaders. Firmly believing that two wrongs don''t make a right, he refrained from the destruction of mosques and desecration of religious symbols. Instead, viewing Sanatana Dharma as a continually evolving and civilizing way of life, Vijay made the decision to preserve the mosques and ultimately handed them over to the Muslimmunity following the implementation of religious reforms.


    After two weeks of turmoil, the purge finally ended. No mercy was shown to the soldiers who went against the empire, as nearly 9000 of them were killed. Initially, Vijay contemted pushing them into forcedbor, but realizing the need for deterrence, he ordered the execution of all locked-up criminals from the army. In various fields like the police, bureaucrats, and nobles, top leaders were killed, and nearly 30,000 supporters were arrested and put into forcedbor camps.


    Vijay finally boarded a carriage and left for the capital.


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    Mithun_ReddyGaru


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 173 Mohammads Reaction And Split of The Secret Service

    173 Mohammad''s Reaction And Split of The Secret Service


    Two weeks ago in the Mughal Empire, Agra.


    Mohammed was awaiting news of Vijay''s death from Naveen. He waited with a bated breath in anticipation. A week passed just like that, and although he did not receive any news from Naveen, rumours were spreading around the Bharatiya Empire about the death of Vijay Devaraya. Mohammed used some of his connections to learn about this news; he was ted at first and even threw a banquet.


    But still not hearing any news from Naveen after all this time made him hesitant to act. He called over Moin Ali, "What do you think, Moin? Do you think we canunch an attack now?" Moin Ali thought for a while and, after referencing all the knowledge about the Bharatiya Empire in his mind, he replied to His Majesty, Muhammad, "Your Majesty, I do not rmend it. The events that have been happening are a little suspicious. The sudden disappearance of Naveen and the assassins sent to the Bharatiya Empire are the main points of unease. Another point is that it is very suspicious that, despite all the noise that has been happening in the Bharatiya Empire, the real power holders like the military generals and the ministers have not taken any action against the people''s behaviour of inciting riots. On the other hand, they seem to be fanning the mes and making the people more belligerent."


    "So, Your Majesty, all of this looks like a ploy yed by Vijay Devaraya. ording to me, the uneasy atmosphere in the Bharatiya Empire will be settled quickly."


    "What you said makes sense. Unfortunately, if what you said came true, a good pawn like Naveen would be wasted. Fortunately, his knowledge of the organisational structure of the Secret Service became very useful for us. Then tell me, what do you think aboutunching a surprise attack when the Bhartiya Empire is least prepared during the chaos?" Muhammad asked with anticipation. Moin Ali''s eyes flickered with thement made about Naveen, but soon he recovered as he answered, "I do not think it is feasible, Your Majesty. In thest war, we lost thousands of soldiers, and more were captured. I do not have the details about the exact number of troops we have avable now, but it should not be enough tounch a war against the Dakshina Bharatiya Empire."


    Muhammad pondered, as it was his concern too. He quickly called Iqbal, "Iqbal, how many troops do we have that could be deployed at any time?"


    "Your Majesty, we currently have 80,000 troops that are ready for dispatch."


    But he soon added, "But please refrain from using them, Your Majesty. If your will is tounch a war on the Bhartiya Empire, I plead with you to reconsider. The army of 80,000, even with the new muskets we are sessfully producing, will not be able to take on the Bhartiya Empire. Also, these 80,000 people were crucial in suppressing any rebellions that would take ce in the empire. Please, Your Majesty, give me a year and sufficient resources. I will rebuild the army capable of taking on the Bhartiya Empire again."


    15:31


    Iqbal said in a single breath, fearing that His Majesty, Mohammad, would want to wage war on the southern neighbour again.


    Mohammed let out a deep breath as he realized he had no chance of taking advantage of the uing chaos. He couldn''t help but envy the natural geography of the Dakshina Bharatiya Empire. With only onend border, the Dakshina Bharatiya Empire was surrounded by water on three sides, enabling them to station their maximum soldiers on the Border without worrying aboutnd invasions. Meanwhile, he found himself caught in a moreplex situation, having to contend with the Assamese Ahom Kingdom to the east, the Dakshina Bharatiya Empire to the south, and the Safavid Dynasty to the west.


    "Sigh." He sighed, feeling disappointed.


    In the following week, Moin Ali''s predictions came true as news confirmed the well-being of Vijay Devaraya and his wife, Queen Kavya Devaraya. Throughout the week, all separatist forces who opposed Vijay''s rule were also wiped out cleanly.


    What annoyed Mohammad was that most of his pawns within the Bharatiya Empire were also beheaded, and almost 30% of the Muslim poption was arrested. Although he felt a little anger, he wasn''t irrational enough to wage a war, especially considering that the converted Muslims were not even pure-blooded like him.


    Unexpectedly, with the Bharatiya Empire arresting a quarter of their Muslim poption, the Hindus in his Empire became emboldened. A freedom movement started in the countryside areas where the Empire''s control was less. Mohammad was annoyed by this news, wondering why these people didn''t ept his reign as a superior being and devote themselves to Ah.


    In order to quell the internal struggles, he quickly mobilized the army to temporarily suppress the freedom movement within the empire and nned to wage war against the annoying Ahom Kingdom.


    Back to the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire.


    Vijay convened a government meeting attended by all the ministers. Roshan, the spymaster, and Selvan, along with Aditya, who were both involved in intelligence, were present at the meeting, marking an unusual urrence.


    "Good morning, my ministers. I have deliberately proceeded cautiously with reforms in recent years to minimize bloodshed. However, it appears that dying further only strengthens opposition within the empire. Henceforth, this entire year will be dedicated to relentless reforms. I expect your unwaveringmitment, working day and night. By the year''s end, I demand theplete implementation of all my reforms."


    Vinod, along with all the other ministers, looked at each other in seriousness. More reforms? They thought, as even the current mode of governing by the emperor was unheard of. What more does His Majesty the emperor, want to do?


    Observing the silence, Vijay raised his voice and reiterated, "Have I made myself clear?"


    " Yes, Your Majesty," everyone answered in unison. At this moment, there was no one in the Empire who could oppose Vijay Devaraya. Those who opposed were either buried six feet in the ground or rotting in jail or quarries.


    "Good. Now, the first task is not a reform but a rectification."


    "I am extremely disappointed by the recent performance of the secret service. Two rebellious factions have emerged consecutively from within, and the assassins who nearly seeded in killing both me and my wife were also led by a former secret service agent."


    Roshan bowed his head down in shame, prepared to ept any punishment, feeling embarrassed that all this had happened under his watch. Surprisingly, His Majesty''s next words indicated that he was not angry with him.


    "But it was to be expected, as the tasks of the secret service are very broad and cover all fields. There is only so much a person could handle. So, I decided not to hold Roshan personally ountable for the errors because the problem is within the management structure of the secret service. When it was established, the organization was small and worked very well with centralizedmand. But now that the Secret Service covers the entire Empire and also has to monitor the Mughals'' movements along with keeping an eye on the Europeans, the current structure of the Secret Service can no longer be used. Also, Roshan''s devotion to The Empire was made clear in the past week, as he was the one who was able to catch the most ex-agents from the secret service."


    Roshan was relieved that he wouldn''t be fully sacked, but His Majesty dropped a bomb in the meeting, saying, "Not holding Roshan personally ountable does not mean that the secret service will remain the same. No, we have learned from our mistakes and paid the price, so we must change. Therefore..."


    "As of immediately, the secret service will be dissolved."


    Roshan was shocked. Before he could plead with his majesty, Kiran Pujari, the martial of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire military, was the first to object.


    "I kindly request you to reconsider the decision, Your Majesty. Although mistakes have been made by the secret service, their contribution to the Empire is also immense. We havee to the conclusion after our experience within the military that fighting a war without intelligence is no different from fighting a war blindfolded."


    Hearing kiran''s argument , Many ministers also seemed to agree with him as they nodded their heads.


    "When did I say that I did not want the intelligence services provided by the secret service? In ce of the dissolved secret service, three new agencies will be established."


    Hearing his Majesty, everyone, including Roshan, calmed down with a breath of relief.


    "The three new agencies are Bharatiya External Praj?¨¡, which is responsible for collecting foreign intelligence information; Bharatiya Internal Praj?¨¡, solely responsible for collecting information within the empire; and Bharatiya Sainik Praj?¨¡, directly responsible for military intelligence during wartime and spying on enemy military intelligence."


    "The Bhartiya External Praj?¨¡ will be headed by Roshan as its director."


    "Roshan is very adept at infiltrating various enemy institutions, as we have seen happen in the past. He was able to source information directly from Mughal military institutions. Therefore, Roshan is well-suited for the work of external intelligence. The Bhartiya External Praj?¨¡ will be directly under the control of the government."


    "As for Bhartiya Internal Praj?¨¡, its director will be Selvan."


    "His intelligence-gathering techniques are very grounded. He leverages themon people and a plethora of contacts for his intelligence work. He is adept at extracting usable and important information from the mountain of intelligence collected through this mass intelligence acquisition model. The Bhartiya Internal Praj?¨¡ will be directly under the control of the royal family."


    "As for thest, Bhartiya Sainik Praj?¨¡ will be headed by Aditya. He has proven time and time again that he is very adept at providing critical intelligence during war. We have seen this happen during the one-year war, the quelling of the rebellion in the new territories, and even recentlyst week when he helped Logananda identify internal traitors among the army." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Bhartiya Sainik Praj?¨¡ will be under the Ministry of External Affairs, as an equal department to the Bhartiya Army and Bhartiya Navy."


    "All three of these departments have separate tasks, but keep in mind, all three are responsible for keeping each other in check, or else you will be reced."


    Hearing this news, everyone was taken aback for different reasons. Vinod was impacted because the government would get its own intelligence department. Kiran Pujari was also taken aback for the same reason. Selvan and Aditya were overwhelmed with joy and disbelief as they rose up in rank so quickly to the same position as their chief, Roshan. Roshan was taken aback by the sudden formation of two newpetitors and his previous assistant and friend of the same cause suddenly bing his equals. He was also a little unwilling to let go of all the power he had wielded before, but his life experience told him that it would be dangerous to hold on, so heforted himself, feeling that it was for his own good, and the pressure on him would not be so high.


    P.S. Praj?¨¡


    (??????) Means "wise", "learned man", "intellectual", "clever", or "intelligence dependent on individuality". It can also mean "intelligence", "judgment", "mental attitude", "insight", or "mental disposition".


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 Chapter 174 Dharmic Islam And Christianity Part: 1

    174 Dharmic Im And Christianity Part: 1


    The work for the split of the Secret Service started immediately. The people working outside the Empire automatically joined the Bhartiya External Pragya, and they did not feel anything different from their day-to-day work, as their leader was Roshan as always. More people were recruited and assigned jobs throughout the week of reorganization.


    Selvan assumed control of Bhartiya Internal Pragya, where all individuals working within the empire were directly assigned to him. Under his leadership, significant changes were implemented. He removed most agents operating at higher government levels, which were rife with corruption and bolstered the workforce at the ground level. The size of Bhartiya Internal Pragya expanded rapidly, facing no human resource constraints, as the requirements for bing an agent in this department were minimal, just a bit of foresight, keen vision to spot what was needed, some acting talent, and knowledge about the surrounding areas were sufficient. Within the week, numerous agents were enlisted for Bhartiya Internal Pragya. With the exception of Selvan, Vijay, and a few core agents, the agents themselves remained unfamiliar with each other. To prevent any mixing among the agents, they were stationed in separate areas to monitor their turf independently. These agents held regr jobs such as policemen, civil servants, merchants, shop owners, etc., while also fulfilling their side role of collecting information for the Bhartiya Internal Pragya, taking two sries.


    However, the main challengey in sorting out such a vast amount of RAW data from an extensivework of agents. The majority of Bhartiya Internal Pragya''s manpower was utilized for this task. To address this issue, Selvan recruited individuals from the military academy to assess the usefulness of the information, ssifying it from E to S.


    As for Aditya in the Bharatiya Sainik Pragya, as there was no previous existence of a department like this, he had to start from scratch. However, he was not hopeless; he recruited his previous subordinates under hismand. A small hup urred during the recruitment process, as his subordinates had to go through Vijay''s approvals. Vijay ordered them to be put into the Military Academy for training in the hardest setting to see if any of them would break and reveal something they shouldn''t have. At the same time, he ordered Roshan to collect information about them in the Mughal Empire. Since Roshan had only one aspect of intelligence to take care of, he quickly gathered the information. It turns out all of Aditya''s subordinates were part of his resistance team against the Mughal Empire. So, Vijay let his guard down for the moment. Still, to be careful, he appointed someone he trusted as the deputy of Bharatiya Sainik Pragya.


    Vijay decided to adopt Bharatiya Sainik Pragya, associated with the military, for carrying out some unorthodox tasks for the empire, keeping it a secret within the military and at the highest level of governance. Bharatiya External Pragya and Bharatiya Internal Pragya would be made public for everyone to see. There were several reasons for this, with the main one being for the departments to be ountable to the empire and visible to everyone. It also added ayer of deterrence among the elite of society. Vijay added a use: no matter which intelligence department, if it is found out that an agent has taken any money from the outside world, the agent who took the money will be put to death, no matter how small the amount. Vijay did this to cut off the hands of the elites who would want to have their eyes and ears around the Empire and the government.


    The government soon took over Roshan and his department from Vijay as the information poured in from outside the empire. Vijay only took over the Bharatiya internal Pragya for himself because he felt that as an emperor, it was the most important intelligence report he should pay attention to. It is the current mood of themon person towards the empire. It is his duty to ensure that the Empire is internally stable. It does not matter if the external intelligence is messed up; he will get another chance. But if there are troubles internally, there will be no other chance. So, Vijay ordered a daily report on the emotions of the people towards the emperor. Two new constructions started in Bengaluru, the future capital of the empire for the establishment of Bharatiya external Pragya and Bharatiya internal Pragya. The sizes of the buildings wererge; each building was the size of the Pentagon in width. As for the height, it was only left with one floor in case it is necessary to expand in the future.


    After addressing the details about the intelligence departments, Vijay sat down to lunch that Kavya brought in. He then proceeded to read the Holy Book of Im and the Holy Book of Christianity to identify problematic lines or ideologies within them. Vijay noted that although the holy books of both these faiths are simr in most cases, they are quite different from the Quran and Bible he encountered in his previous life. In this timeline, he observed that the holy books are a bit on the radical side of things. Starting with the Holy Book of Im, after reading it, he got a headache as there were too many things that he felt needed to be changed.


    For example, these versus that was against the idol worshippers.


    Surah IV, verse 76: "Believers fight for the cause of Ah, while disbelievers do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil"


    Surah II, verse 193: "Fight against them until idtry is no more"


    Surah II, verse 217: "Idtry is worse than carnage" Or this verse about polygamy


    Verse 4:3: "If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three"


    It does say only for orphans but who knows how its followers interpret it. These verses about jihad


    2:190: "And fight in the way of God with those who fight you, but aggress not: God loves not the aggressors". Muslim schrs believe that this verse implicitly forbids killing nonbatants, including women and children.


    9:5: Understands to mandate fighting against all non-Abrahamic non-Muslims until they convert.


    9:29: Requires fighting against the People of the Book until they either submit to Muslim rule.


    2:216: About Jihad in the way of God.


    9:1-11: Extolled the notion of jihad martyrdom in the Holy Book Of Im. Next was the Holy Book of Christianity, and it presented the same problem. For instance, verses about the conversion of others were problematic.


    Matthew''s gospel. Matthew reports that Jesus said, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.


    Matthew 18:3: "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and be like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven".


    Matthew 10:14: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet".


    This verse about Christ iming Himself as the only true God and the idol worshipers being equated to worshippers of Satan was also problematic.


    Exodus 20:3¨C6: "You shall have no other gods before me"


    Exodus 20:4-5: "You must not make any idols. Don''t make any statues or pictures of anything up in the sky or of anything on the earth or of anything down in the water. Don''t worship or serve idols of any kind, because I, the LORD, am your God" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    1 Corinthians 10:14: "Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idtry"


    1 John 5:21: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols"


    There were many verses like the above within both the Holy Book Of Im and the Holy Book of Christianity. If he had to list out everything within one sitting, it would take hours and hours. Overall, after reading both the Holy Book of Christianity and the Holy Book Of Im, he felt funny and angry.


    "What are they thinking about themselves? Is the Holy Book of Christianity the Captain America and the Holy Book Of Im the Iron Man, sometimes fighting themselves in civil war and thinking too highly of themselves, regarding all the other polytheistic faiths as the Chitauri army that must be destroyed? What a load of crap."


    Vijay felt very disgusted about how highly both the followers of the protagonists think of themselves, iming their masters are the supreme beings above everyone, simultaneously preaching to the worshippers to let go of their pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth when he could see no one better embodying all those seven sins better than the heads of the followers themselves.


    unting oneself''s god as almighty and supreme¡ªis that not pride? Wanting the world to follow their god''s teachings¡ªis that not greed? And a man marrying a 6-year-old and impregnating the same girl at nine, and also defending it as a religiousw¡ªis that not lust and degeneracy? Many other instances when our protagonist''s followers show envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.


    Vijay always believed that it was a man who created religion because no religious book talks about dinosaurs, and in some way or another, the book is biased towards a man. The only difference between Sanatana Dharma and Abrahamic faith is that Abrahamic faith wanted to use religion as a tool to take over the world, while Sanatan Dharma or any Dharmic faith sees it as a tool to understand the world better.


    Vijay would never im that Sanatana Dharma is perfect as he knows that there are some bastard existences in it and also new characters keep popping up that are just embodiments of sin, this happened because the Dharmic faith is very liberal; people have the liberty to interpret the divine as they see fit. Sometimes, the result this produces is not always good. One instance is in the northern side of India when the Imic invasions of the Pathans took ce. A priest''s wife and daughter were raped and killed. In revenge, he hunted down the Pathans one by one and gave them as a sacrifice to a deity. Although the intent seems to be to seek revenge, the concern arises about when this will stop and not be a ritual that people think they should do. Simr rituals could be found throughout the ancient literature in Sanatan Dharma. Fortunately, since Dharma is very liberal, people choose not to follow these practices in the 21st century, and no one calls them sphemers.


    After identifying all the faults and problematic things within the two Abrahamic books, Vijay fell into contemtion about how to change them.


    To Be Continued...


    P.S. Did a little change yet to prove another point that no one will care if anyone shits on Hindus and their gods it''s only the Abrahamic religions that people care. Ahhhh, I''m jealous.


    P.S. Again In this timeline the holy book is different don''t @me


    P.S. Apparently India also has some sort of sphemyw, so had to be careful. Like it ? Add to library£¡


    Mithun_ReddyGaru


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 175 Dharmic Islam And Christianity Part: 2

    Chapter 175 Dharmic Im And Christianity Part: 2


    Vijay decided to iste himself in a pce on the outskirts of the capital. Even his wife did not know what he was doing. Vijay didn''t allow a single guard toe close to him in a 100-meter radius. He ordered a few prisoners to serve him food and water during his stay. Vijay did not feel threatened by the prisoners around him because all the prisoners he recruited to assist in his daily life were handicapped and were promised freedom afterpleting this task. Also, to ensure that these prisoners did not y any tricks during the day, they were also threatened that their families would be killed if any funny moves were to be discovered. For this same reason, only the prisoners with families were selected.


    The prisoners, seeing hope at the end of the tunnel along with the threat of their families'' deaths, decided to serve Vijay wholeheartedly. Vijay first focused on working on the Holy Book Of Im. He identified the core simrities between the Dharmic philosophy and the Holy Book Of Im and decided to ce more emphasis on that part. Vijay then removed all elements of bigotry, such as jihadism, seeking the destruction of idol worshippers solely for worshipping idols, the grand goal of conquering the world through Im, and the eptance of polygamy. References to paedophilia were also eliminated. For instance, in Vijay''s version, Aisha got married to Mohammed at 16 and stayed in her parents'' home until 19, after which their love was consolidated, simr to the original narrative. Vijay simply added 10 years to the girl''s age.


    In Vijay''s version, Mohammad is portrayed as a loving and peaceful soul who does not wish for any kind of war and advocates for peace, embodying a "live and let live" philosophy.


    After removing the Holy Book Of Im''s disdain for idol worshippers, which might be understandable for Southeast European, Western Asian, and North African audiences given their experiences with lunatic idol worshippers and gods associated with ws and sins like Zeus, Ares, Dionysus, Venus, Freyr, Freya, Hathor, Bastet, Mokosh, Dazhbog, who, although as a whole on the good side, still had some ws and epassed the sins directly as stated in this new holy book of Im. For a binary society that, until the 21st century, struggles to consider the fact that there could be shades of grey between absolute right and wrong, The old gods seemedpletely uneptablepared to what Im and Christianity proposed, fully adhered to their philosophy quite a bit with its seemingly perfect in all aspects protagonists who state what the absolute right and wrong is, which ended up building the moralpass of the indicated audiences for the era they were in. But they just could not understand how the Hindu philosophy could be different from what they have experienced in their region, pigeonholing Hinduism with the other polytheistic faith systems.


    Now that the original reason for the spread of Im and Christianity is resolved, Vijay will have it no more as it is time for the religion to keep up with society. So, he transformed the book into a more eptable narrative, in which Muhammad condemns anyone who wages war in the name of God. For such people, he sternly advocated their conversion and urged them to embrace his teachings¡ªan antithesis of the Im and Christian faiths, one could say.


    This is a trick used by Vijay because he could not find a way topletely eliminate the conversion of faith in both the Im and Christianity, as they are deeply rooted in the core of the belief. So, Vijay came up with a clever solution. The new Dharmic Muslims will not go around converting followers of other religions. Instead, they will focus on converting those Muslims and Christians whom they believe are bringing a bad name to the lord, spreading evil in the name of God. ording to the Dharmic Muslim philosophy, the spread of Im and Christianity was brought about by opportunists who wanted to conquer the world in the name of a benevolent God.


    It took an entire week to make alterations to the Holy Book Of Im . Following that, Vijay undertook simr modifications to the Holy Book Of Cristianity . In Vijay''s version, he used Jesus''s original name, Yeshua, steering the text more towards the Dharmic faith. Simr to Im, conversion was now intended only for believers in the "false God" Jesus and " The Prophit ". ording to the new Christian perspective, Western countries had hijacked Yeshua''s story to control themon people, propagating that they had to do certain things to get rid of the sins theymitted, which was ridiculous. It was deemed necessary to return to the original kingdom of God, as God would not want His children to fight over which form of God is supreme or to do certain things to rid of their sins.


    Yes, to make these religions morepatible with the Bharathiya philosophy, both the new Holy Book Of Im and the new Holy Book Of Christianity now reference the protagonists as a representative/incarnation/avatar of an almighty energy¡ªshapeless, formless, eternally existing, epassing the universe and transcending the material realm. This portrayal aligns closely with the concept of The Brahman in the Sanatana Dharmic philosophy.


    Vijay did, at one point, explicitly think about pointing out the linking between the Abrahamic and Dharmic faith systems, as he considered making Jesus Christ and Muhammad incarnations of Vishnu. However, he refrained atst, doubting the believability for future generations. Even if he could somehow convince the present about this, the narrative he created might eventually be deemed unrealistic in the future. So, Vijay left it as it was with only the description and no clear linkage and entrusted all the work to the epting nature of the Sanatan Dharmic faith, relying on its amodating and all-inclusive nature.


    Vijay has no doubt about this possibility because even in the 21st century of his previous timeline, with the original version of the Holy Book Of Im and the Holy Book Of Christianity , some Hindu schrs tried to imply that Jesus Christ could be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu; it''s just that he had incarnated in the Arabian region. Now, with the changes made by Vijay, the Christian and Imic philosophies align more closely with the Dharmic philosophy, and it should not be hard to make the connection.


    It took another week toplete the alterations to the Holy Book Of Christianity.


    In order to maintain secrecy, Vijay did not inform anyone but chose to write the two holy books himself. First things first, he visited the royal family''s storeroom where all the prized possessions of the royal family were kept. Vijay picked out two items from the treasury. The first items were ancient and old copper tes; there were thousands of them well-preserved. Vijay did not know why these copper tes, which were ancient and were once used for inscriptions a thousand years ago, were lying in the storeroom. But right now, he couldn''t care less as they became very important to him.


    The second item he took was the Carbonn ck ink that was also well-preserved in the storeroom. Vijay wanted to guess the age of the ink, but he finally gave up as he could not guess.


    Vijay chose the old copper tes and the old ink to ensure that his narrative would remain intact in the future age of carbon dating. When carbon-dated, he wants the inscriptions he is making today to show at least a few hundred years before Christ. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Soon after having the copper tes and the ink transported to the pce, he was working on them in the outskirts of the capital.


    Vijay decided to outline the words with carbon ck ink on the copper tes for the craftsmen to emte. With Vijay''s superior brainpower, he was able to emte the handwriting and the style of writing of the original writer of the Holy Book Of Im and the Holy Book Of Christianity.


    Afterpleting the outline, Vijay summoned the prisoners who were also craftsmen that had previously worked under the nobles. They had originally been imprisoned for helping the nobles produce weapons and equipment used against the empire. In order to be authentic, Vijay brought in sharpened stones, hammers, chisels, flints, bellows, and sharp animal bones as tools for the inscription. All these ancient tools were also brought by Vijay from the royal family storeroom. He couldn''t help but wonder which of his ancestors had an interest in collecting such old antiques, but considering the use scenario now, he would wholeheartedly like to fall on his ancestors'' feet and thank them.


    The craftsmen, who were promised their freedom uponpleting the task, although they could not understand thenguage, quickly got to work, guided by the outlined words.


    Following Vijay''s instructions, the new Holy Book Of Im and The Holy Book Of Christianitywere ready. However, Vijay decided not to disclose The Holy Book Of Christianityjust yet, as he didn''t have the strength to take on all the Western countries together. Im, on the other hand, presented a different scenario. The only threats from Imic extremists were within the empire and from the northern neighbour, which Vijay had stopped worrying about after the one-year war.


    They were not initially ustomed to working with the ancient and old practices that His Majesty ordered, but they soon got used to it. A single person was able to engrave 10 copper tes per day. With the help of hundreds of craftsmen, the engraving of the Holy Book Of Im waspleted within a week, while it took a little longer for the Holy Book Of Christianity, requiring one and a half weeks.


    Following Vijay''s instructions, the new Holy Book Of Im and The Holy Book Of Christianitywere ready. However, Vijay decided not to disclose The Holy Book Of Christianityjust yet, as he didn''t have the strength to take on all the Western countries together. Im, on the other hand, presented a different scenario. The only threats from Imic extremists were within the empire and from the northern neighbour, which Vijay had stopped worrying about after the one-year war.


    Vijay ordered the prisoners to carry the Holy Book Of Im and ced it in a natural cave, well hidden on the outskirts of the forest. Using the same ink he used to draw on the copper tes, he made various inscriptions on the walls of the cave. These inscriptions depicted the journey of a disciple of Muhammad who came to thend of Vedas to learn about their culture and discuss it with his master, Muhammad. It also mentioned that he brought along the book personally written by his master. Unfortunately, although fascinated by the Vedic way of life, the disciples did not like the divisions among the same people. The inscriptions conveyed the news that he wanted to return to his master but, unfortunately, couldn''t make it back. He decided to meditate in this cave until his eventual material death, only to join his master in spirit. All these stories were then chiselled into the wall by the craftsmen. Vijay used a different handwriting for these inscriptions, and since it was okay to be inurate, the craftsmen chiselled the rock walls faster. The whole work took only a few hours with the help of hundreds of craftsmen.


    Vijay then ced a fire near the cave, which lit up all the dried branches, burning the surrounding trees. Vijay did this in order to cover his recent traces. The prisoners were then ordered to transport the Holy Book Of Christianity to the royal family storeroom. Vijay arranged a separate room inside the storeroom for the Holy Book Of Christianity to be ced.


    After the task waspleted, Vijay heaved a sigh of relief and brought the prisoners back to the pce on the outskirts of the capital. All the prisoners Vijay interacted with were brought here in the name of rewards, Vijay ordered a batch of meals from the Bukha Youdha Street for all the prisoners as a part of their reward. Vijay had them fill their stomachs with their favourite foods, and then he dered that all the prisoners would be free citizens in the morning.


    "Yeah, he he he," they celebrated, but Vijay had a hint of pity and guilt in his eyes, which was eventually crushed by reason. Vijay also ordered wine to be served to them.


    Vijay''s guards did not know why his Majesty was serving these prisoners so well that even they got jealous. Still, they did their duty ording to their obligation. After eating and drinking very well, the craftsmen and the servants Vijay recruited from the prisoners were drowsy and fell asleep.


    Looking at the people who would eventually be forgotten from the annals of history but contributed the most to the peace of the world, Vijay felt somewhatplicated as he left the pce with a heavy heart.


    Outside the pce, the guards were waiting for him. Vijay ordered, after making his mind clear, "Burn it down."


    The soldier, who now understood why his majesty fed the prisoners so much, couldn''t help but be thankful that his majesty was not feeding him. What His Majesty did throughout the month was unknown to anyone in the Empire except these prisoners. Now that these prisoners were also being killed, it was only his majesty who knew what he was doing. The guard was curious, but he did not try to inquire, as he still remembered his colleague who tried to inquire about the news and was demoted to amon infantry in the army. Maybe if he knew the news, he would also be killed by his majesty.


    The fires were soon lit up, and the pce soon caught fire. The drunken prisoners could not get up as quickly, as they were still in a trance from drinking alcohol.


    But being caught on fire fully woke them up.


    "Ahhhhhh"


    "Ahhhhh"


    "Helllppppp"


    Screams filled the surroundings as the flesh and blood of numerous human bodies sizzled while they were writhing on the ground inside the furnace of a pce. Most of them turned into ashes within the pce premises, while some able-bodied craftsmen were able toe out of the pce driven by instincts alone, their bodies covered with mes as they writhed on the ground.


    Vijay did not avert his eyes from what he had done. None of these prisoners deserved to die like this. Although prisoners, their sentence was only a few years of forcedbour. Vijay even chose only the Hindu prisoners so that they could not understand what they were doing. If it was a Muslim person, Vijay was afraid that he would leave clues somewhere during the transit or he would not even cooperate, as Vijay knew how steadfast Muslims can be.


    A craftsman who expressed his desire to open a workshop after his release while he was working, managed to make his way to Vijay. As he looked Vijay in the eye with resentment, the agonizing scream of the young man rang out, "Whyyyy." Vijay did not avert his gaze like a coward; instead, he looked straight into the young man''s burning eyes, who stood only to question him despite being on fire. Vijay solidified his mind after the young man couldn''t hold on anymore and fell to the ground, eventually turning into a sizzling dead body of flesh and blood.


    Vijay did not leave the location; he waited until the fires calmed down. This was the first time he had to sacrifice hundreds of people for his own desire. It felt bitter and nauseous, but Vijay did not act on his emotions. He kept this emotion deep inside him, just to always remember what he had to do to change the direction of his civilization to a better route. Although he was confident that what he was doing was for the better, he could not predict the future. If his ns failed, the lives of hundreds of these craftsmen would be on him, Vijay Deva Raya Alone.


    Thinking about all this, he saw his hands, which were clean as snow, but he could feel that they were covered with blood. Vijay did not reject this emotion, as he felt that the responsibility on top of him increased even more than before.


    He soon left the ruins of the old pce. Vijay went home and sat in his room to meditate in order to control his mind.


    To Be Continued... P.S. I hope this chapter answers what Vijay''s response will be. I chose this route because even in the 21st century today, 99% of Muslims and Christians in India and Pakistan were previ

 Chapter 176 Dharmic Islam And Christianity Part: 3

    176 Dharmic Im And Christianity Part: 3 N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Vijay got up refreshed this morning after a day of rest, but he was doubtful about why the news about the cave discovery within the empire had not been heard. Doubtful, he summoned Ravichandra and asked, "Uncle Ravi, did the construction of Highway 75 not begin?"


    "It did, Your Majesty. It''s just that it has been dyed because apparently, they found a huge rockyer just a few feet below the ground in the nned route, hampering their progress. It is said that they will take a detour and rejoin the nned road again."


    Vijay''s heart turned cold because the whole point of him choosing the cave was that a highway was about to be constructed, and there was a high chance that someone would discover it. But now, if the highway is detoured even a little from where it is nned, it is practically impossible, especially to discover the cave in a dense forest. Vijay had to do something; he did not want to find prisoners again. But to be safe, he asked, "Where did the deviation take ce, and where did the road realign again?"


    Ravichandra Rao did not understand why his majesty was asking these questions, but he still replied, "Your Majesty, the road deviated 5 km from the Lokesh Palya town, and it got realigned just before the Bandipur forest."


    Vijay let out a sigh of relief as he did not have to change anything; the Bandipur forest was where the cave was located.


    The day passed in a blink of an eye.


    Bandipur Forest.


    The construction group finally reached near the cave. It was a gravel road that was beingid down, but as the road passed through the forest, it was more difficult to clear out the trees and the flora in the way. Naga Verma, a middle-aged man, was the team construction leader. If we take a God''s eye view of the ce they are working on, a burnt patch of forest is visible just a few feet beside the construction site. Unfortunately, from Naga Verma''s perspective, trees blocked his vision. Just when Vijay''s n was about to be foiled, nature decided to help out as it started to downpour. Naga Verma''s son, Partha Verma, who ran out first, stumbled onto the burnt patch ofnd in the forest.


    "Father!"


    Naga Verma was startled by his son''s panicked call. He moved quickly to the ce where his son''s voice came from, alert and fearful, thinking something had happened to him. When he found his son, he was shocked to discover a burnt patch ofnd in the middle of the forest. ck soot covered the ground like a darkke in the midst of greenery. By the looks of it, it had not been many days since the fire had been lit, as small grass shoots could just be seening out of the ground. Soon, the construction team also joined in, equally surprised.


    "Father, that looks like a cave. Let''s go and stay till the rain stops."


    Everyone''s attention was caught by Partha as they looked in the direction he was pointing. Naga Verma, under normal circumstances, would not have considered entering an unknown cave. However, the current situation is different. With a lot of people along with him and the added factor of the downpour, he decided to take a look.


    When they reached the entrance of the cave, they felt a foul smell, and Partha even sneezed a few times. Looking inside, Naga Verma was surprised to find the burnt corpse of a tiger. It was charred and had already dposed over the past few days. This discovery relieved the group, as they no longer had to fear encountering a wild animal. It also became clear why there was a fire in this part of the forest.


    It seemed that a hunter had identally stumbled upon a tiger''s cave. To ensure safety, the hunter might have lit the fire. Additionally, when moving the dead body of the tiger, it could be seen that the tiger was injured in its leg, probably the reason why it did not escape the mes.


    The downpour continued heavily. The group dug a little bit and buried the tiger. As they went inside the cave, they were surprised to find some sort of ancient writings chiselled into the cave walls. The ck ink marks were faintly visible, and Naga Verma couldn''t determine how long ago they were made due to the fire. The chiselling was done using an old and ancient technique that no one used in the current era. However, what puzzled Naga Verma the most was thenguage; it was something he had never seen before.


    But among the group, there was a Muslim named Fayaz Ali Khan who suddenly recognized thenguage and knelt down, screaming, "Ah!"


    "The word of Ah," the man said.


    Fayaz Ali Khan is a pseudo-Muslim who believes in both Ah and Ishwar. He is a first-generation convert who was forcefully converted in the Mughal Empire because he couldn''t afford to pay the tax officers. Fortunately, as the new territory was conquered, he became a citizen of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire.


    Fayaz Ali didn''t understand the old Holy book Arabic, but he still recognized that this was a text simr to the holy book.


    Father and son, Naga Verma and Partha Verma looked at each other in nk dismay. They didn''t know what to do. However, looking around the cave, they found a tomb. Naga Verma felt hesitant about whether he should open it, fearing potential curses. But Partha, without such worries, ran forward without a care in the world and opened the tomb. It was made of some sort of rock, which is why it was not burnt. Before Naga Verma could stop his son, Partha opened the tomb with some difficulty; But inside the tomb, he saw that there was only a copper te inscription book. He was disappointed, but the world of Im took a different turn that day.


    As the rain stopped, the news about the discovery of the Holy Book of Im spread throughout the surrounding areas. Vijay, upon receiving the news, was very pleased, although he did not show it. He immediately sent a toon to guard the cave.


    Muslims from all over the surroundings came to visit the cave, hoping to obtain the book that the almighty God, Mohammad, had written. However, when they discovered the content of the book, they were shocked, as it waspletely different from what they had read before. They didn''t know which version to believe, and Vijay pretended to be ignorant.


    "Uncle Ravi, don''t you think this version of the Holy Book of Im is better for us? This version makes it easier for Muslims to get along," suggested Vijay.


    "You may be right, Your Majesty."


    "Alright, I have decided. Print this new version of the Holy Book of Im in bulk as soon as possible. I want the Holy Book of Im to be reced in all the masjids immediately."


    "As you order, Your Majesty."


    "But, Your Majesty, will the people ept it?"


    "Don''t worry, I have my own way."


    Ravichandra nodded and left. Vijay then recruited about 10 people who were raised in the royal family, asking them to read the new version of the Holy Book of Im. After gaining sufficient understanding, Vijay encouraged them to embrace Dharmic Im as their faith and be imams of the new Imic ideology. All of them readily agreed with the order of his majesty, the emperor, and their master. Some of them also found the new version of the book intriguing. Vijay then instructed them to mingle among the Muslims in the empire, gaining poprity by preaching this new Imic narrative. Later, Vijay would help them reach top positions in the religious hierarchy to ensure the fostering of the Dharmic Im narrative.


    People from all the surrounding areas flocked to the cave to touch the book that the almighty Prophet Mohammed had written; rumours also started to circte with the help of a certain someone. As Muslims heard about the new story, some felt enlightened, while others were doubtful. Doubts about the book being a ploy by someone began to circte among the Muslimmunity in the empire. Undeterred, Vijay reced the Holy Book of Im in all the masjids. The people who embraced the new Dharmic Im ideology were appointed as imams in the masjids. Shallow believers of Im, who had converted due to heavy taxes and pressure from the Mughal Empire, found sce in the new Imic ideology. This version of Im did not prevent them from going to temples or force them to convert their rtives and neighbours with whom they had grown up.


    So, new missionaries were formed with covert help from the government to quickly convert the old Muslims to new Muslims. The dress code was also different from the old Muslims; the Dharmic Muslims wore a saffron Taqiyah with a white overall. But the old Muslims who were sceptical did not believe in the new Holy Book of Im or even that Muhammad wrote it; so the story of Muhammad''s disciple was analyzed again and again, unfortunately finding no fault. At times, fights also broke out between the two distinct camps, leading to an all-out civil war within themunity.


    Vijay also pushed this issue to the government and let them not care about this, but secretly, Vijay sent in his people to lessen the number of the old Muslims in the empire. As a result of frequent shes between the old Muslims and the Dharmic Muslims, thousands of casualties urred. The 10 people Vijay selected were also showing signs of leadership as they showcased their superior intelligence and decision-making capabilitiespared to others. With ideas and inspiration stemming from the past Earth''s timeline, they were able to defeat anyone in a religious argument from the old Muslim side when it came to debates, which happened asionally when there was no war.


    From start to finish, Vijay acted like all of this had nothing to do with him, but in reality, he yed a role from the very beginning.


    This adjustment of Im went on for almost two months since the cave was discovered. When the majority of Muslims in the Empire became dharmic, Vijay also happily gave their masjids back to their control on the condition that the mosque would only be allowed for the dharmic Muslims. Also, he happily announced, "Just as evil can never seed against justice, the false believers of Mohammad can never spheme his name for their greed and evil ambition to rule the world. I now hereby announce that I will fund 10rge masjids for the Real Imic believers, the real Muslims."


    The people were very happy. The lives of the Dharmic Muslims became easier as they did not have to worry about when someone would question them about their beliefs in this Hindu-majority Empire. Now that their beliefs were not antagonistic at their core but somewhat simr, they did not have to maintain an antagonistic rtionship with the brothers and sisters of the Empire. People also started to get close to them as they found out that these new Muslims who wore saffron hats were much more amicable than the previous Muslims.


    Just as Vijay suspected, in the future, during the prized state of the world in the 19th century (technology improved because of Vijay) of this timeline, attempts were made to prove that Dharmic Im was false. It was alleged to be a ruse used by the Great Indian Emperor to damage and wipe out Im from hisnd. Carbon dating was employed for the first time on the copper inscription. Surprisingly, the inscription seemed to be made at least seven centuries before Vijay was born. When this information was revealed, the world was shocked because the inscription was found to be even older than what they had believed, turning out to be older than the birth of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad, which strengthened the Dharmic view that Im and Christianity were tampered with.


    While there were still some arguments that the Indian Emperor could have nted the inscriptions, there was no definitive evidence. There was not even a single talk about the reform of Im in Vijay''s rule. There was also a vast majority of Dharmic Muslim believers and their Hindu supporters who did not ept the Abrahamic ideology of Im, so finally, the case was overthrown.


    However, it waster picked up thousands of years into the future. At this time, Vijay did get caught, but no one cared. The need for a divine being had long passed the human need. In conclusion, Vijay was credited with the reform of Im, which avoided a lot of bloodshed in the Southern hemisphere of the world.

 Chapter 177 Hindutva Reform ( Error in Hinduism Data Dump )

    177 Hindutva Reform ( Error in Hinduism Data Dump )


    There were different reactions from different people with whom the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire was in contact.


    Mohammad was furious with this new sphemy that came from the southern neighbour; the already unhappy rtions became even more intense. In retaliation, more temples were destroyed, and more resources were poured into the army for the raid on the eastern kingdom. Additionally, the missionaries of the Dharmic Iming from the southern Empire were swiftly killed, creating a no-entry zone for the Bhartiya Dharmic Muslim citizens. Contrary to what Mohammad expected, the move he made created more curiosity among the Imic schrs within the Mughal Empire.


    After obtaining the new Dharmic Quran from various channels, some of them threw it into the fire, iming that it was the work of the devil himself, while other more open-minded schrs found this new version of the Quran to be more inclusive, more peaceful, and providing more answers to their doubts. Knowing the temper of their Emperor, they did not spread their thoughts out loud, but in the underground, traction for Dharmic Im was quickly forming. This matter was known by Moeen Ali, but he decided to hide it from His Majesty the Emperor for some reason. Also, he acted as a transmitter of the new Dharmic ideas from the Bhartiya Empire to the Mughal Empire. These ideas created a huge wave among the forcefully converted Hindus, who found the new Dharmic philosophy simr to what they followed in the past. So, despite Mohammad''s ban, the spread of Dharmic Im was slow but gradual.


    Out of frustration that he could not march the army against the Bhartiya Empire immediately, he increased the pressure on the masjids in the empire to convert more people. This news also reached Vijay. Vijay became furious and issued a recruitment order for 30,000 soldiers, nning on increasing the standing army of the empire to a total of 150,000 soldiers in theing year.


    The European merchants and representatives were pleasantly surprised by the development of the empire. Although they did not know if the news about the discovery of the original Im was true or fake, it was good news for them. This new Dharmic Im movement was simr to the Protestant movement they had in Europe. Thinking about taking advantage of this divide in belief, they wanted to see if they could cause some trouble for the Ottoman Empire.


    For this very reason, a new copy of Dharmic Im was quickly sent to the European continent. As for the targeting nature of this new religion, which only aimed at the Abrahamic faiths of Im and Christianity, while skeptical, they did not mind, as it was nothing new to them. They always tried to convert Muslims to Christians and vice versa, so it is nothing new that this new version of Im wants to convert Christians. The only surprising part is that it only wants to convert Christians and the original Muslims. Well, it is left for the leaders to decide what to do with it.


    Vijay was uneasy as he was running out of time. He predicted that there would be peace for at least a few years, but the recent events made him more restless. Also, he could imagine that within the next 5 months, his army would be ready. he clenched his fist, He could not wait for the day when he crushed the Mughal Empire.


    But for that, he had to prepare. Now that Vijay had stepped into the territory of religious reform, he did not want to leave out Hinduism / Sanatana Dharma. For that, he proceeded to summon Tukaram to help him identify the faults within the culture and religion of Sanatan Dharma. Tukaram, as an intellectual and poet of the Bhakti movement sought to break the lines between castes, one of the chains holding back Hinduism, his input was very necessary. Tukaram soon arrived and greeted Vijay with a smile, and Vijay reciprocated his greeting. Vijay then informed him of his main concern. Tukaram was surprised by Vijay''s question but still went on to discuss it with Vijay.


    "The core problem of Hinduism stems from the caste system. The main castes - Brahmins (priests and schrs), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and farmers), and Shudras bourers and artisans) - provided a basic framework for social division. Initially, in the early stages of society, this caste system worked very well, facilitating a division ofbour that propelled the Bharatiya civilization unlike any other. However, as society became moreplex, different groups specialized in specific upations, leading to a degree of hereditary transmission of roles."


    He continued, " Over time, the caste system diversified with regional variations, incorporating local customs, practices, and hierarchies. New sub-castes emerged, further solidifying social divisions, indirectly reinforcing the caste system."


    Vijay nodded his head as he added his own input, "Yes, Saint. Then this Manusmriti was also a hugely influential legal text that codified and legitimized the varna/caste system, which was bing more and more unfair. The Varna system assigned specific duties and restrictions to each caste, further solidifying the notion of caste as hereditary and divinely ordained."


    Tukaram also agreed and then presented some of the verses he found most problematic in different criteria:


    9.335: "A Brahman alone among men deserves a share of the sacrificial feast; because he is himself a sacrificial fire."


    10.47: "If one of the twice-bornmits adultery with a woman of a lower caste, he shall be fined the sum of six hundred (Money); but if hemits adultery with a woman of a higher caste, he shall be banished from the country."


    4.180-181: "A Shudra, whether learned or ignorant, is unfit to pronounce the Brahman''s incantation; for he who is born of sin can by no means purify the sinless."


    10.49: "If a Shudra teaches the Brahman''sw to one who is not twice-born, he shall be poured hot oil into his ears; if he recites it to himself, he shall be whipped."


    9.313-314: "If a Shudra dares to sit on the same seat with a Brahman, he shall be made to rise by the king; and if he speaks to a Brahman, he shall be fined; if he spits on him, he shall have one of his teeth broken; if he uses abusivenguage, he shall have his ear cut off."


    Tukaram also shared some of the problematic points about women''s rights.


    "Your Majesty, I really do not know where our society went wrong. In the past, we had glorious queens and empresses, and women were given the right to choose their own husbands through the act of Svayamvara (The word ''Svayam'' means "self," and the word ''vara'' means "choice." Hence, it means "self-choice" or "one''s own choice"). Even now, you can see some of these practices still survive to make it to this day, as somemunities from the Myali and Himyan regions still follow the matriarchal society rules.


    But, Your Majesty, I really do not know where and what caused such a huge change in which women have been brought down this drastically. All in all, these are some of the verses I found very problematic."


    9.3: "Day and night women must be held by their protectors in a state of dependence. In childhood by their father, in youth by their husband, when her husband is dead by her sons; a woman must never be independent."


    5.148: "A woman should never be independent even in her mind. Let her husband guard her in childbirth, her father in youth, and her sons in her old age. A woman should never be free."


    9.2: "Here are the duties of a woman after marriage: she must not drink intoxicating liquor, nor frequent assemblies, nor wear immodest clothes, nor paint her face."


    5.147: "It is the duty of every woman to restrain herself from anger, impatience, and envy, and to be always cheerful and forgiving."


    9.45-46: "A wife who hates her husband is a sinner; let her therefore control her mind, her speech, and her body; and let her always be cheerful."


    Tukaram also shared some of his disliked punishments stated in Manusmriti.


    8.279-280: "If a Shudra abuses a Brahman, his tongue shall be cut out; if he strikes him with his hand or foot, a hundredshes shall be inflicted on him."


    This gave Vijay a lot to think about. Tukaram soon left Vijay to his devices to ponder how to change this situation. Although Vijay implemented reservations in civil service and schools, along with making the lower-caste people more affluent by dividing themnd, the discrimination in the society did not change. The people of lower caste are still looked down upon, so Vijay had totally given up on changing the worldview of the adults in the society.


    15:54


    9.281-282: "If a Shudra desires to set up his fire (for preparing food) near the fire of a twice-born man, he shall be made to pay a fine of two hundred panas; but if he lights it (without permission), he shall be whipped."


    8.313-314: "A king should not y a Brahman even though convicted of all possible crimes; he may banish him from the country, but he must not kill him."


    Vijay was finally updated from the list of norms that are practised even to this day that Tukaram gave him.


    This gave Vijay a lot to think about. Tukaram soon left Vijay to his devices to ponder how to change this situation. Although Vijay implemented reservations in civil service and schools, along with making the lower-caste people more affluent by dividing themnd, the discrimination in the society did not change. The people of lower caste are still looked down upon, so Vijay had totally given up on changing the worldview of the adults in the society.


    Hence, Vijay gave his utmost attention to the kids, as hepletely removed teaching about caste in schools from a young age. Although this caused widespread pushback from the society, Vijay used his army to suppress the unrest. Also, 40-50% of the soldiers in the army are from the lower caste, and brainwashing education has been going on in the Military academy to blur the barriers of caste among the young teenagers in the army.


    Any officer who shows discriminatory casteism tendencies would be kicked out for various unknown reasons. Despite all this, Vijay needs a solidifying ideology that pushes the culture and behaviour of the people in a better direction in the future. Vijay already had an idea about how to do it as he thought about the Hindutva moment proposed and poprized by Shri Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, poprly called Veer Savarkar, the freedom fighter who was buried in history by his own people.


    Now, what Vijay has to do is to consider the current situation where the society is and change the Hindutva ideology into a usable model for this era.


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    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 178 Vijays Change of The Hindutva Ideology: Finalizing the Frigate Design

    178 Vijay''s Change of The Hindutva Ideology: Finalizing the Frigate Design


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Hampi.


    Vijay sat down in the study room and pondered about the Hindutva movement that Veer Savarkar proposed. The Hindutva movement he proposed was aimed at the total reform of Hindu society, attempting to correct all the wrongs in the culture. This loose concept waspiled into an ideology and politicized by Veer Savarkar.


    The roots of this reform go back centuries, as Hinduism is not a typical religion but a way of life dictating how people live their day-to-day lives. So, it is challenging to change aspects of life considered wrong within the culture, even if people are aware of these issues. For example, child marriage is recognized as wrong, yet it remains epted in the culture, persisting even in the 21st century. The silver lining is that child marriages are generally between children themselves, and the rate of such marriages has been declining year by year at a staggering rate, which is positive.


    So, returning to the Hindutva Movement, the Hindutva movement found inspiration in several historical events. One significant influence was the Bhakti movement that flourished across Bharat from the 11th to the 16th century. During this transformative period, eminent poets and intellectuals such as Kabir, Ramananda, Ramanuja, Vabhacharya, Eknath, Guru Nanak, Tukaram, Namdev, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and others emerged as proponents of the concept of devotion to God, transcending the barriers of caste and religion. This emphasis on spiritual devotionid the foundation for future reforms within the societal framework. The Bhakti movement''s use of vernacrnguages also yed a crucial role, making its teachings more essible and influential, particrly among the lower sses of society.


    Additionally, another historical event that significantly contributed to the Hindutva movement and the resurgence of the concept of a unified nation and civilization urred in 1857. This event was none other than the First War of Independence against British rule. The rebellion not only symbolized resistance to colonial oppression but also ignited a wave of nationalist sentiments across the subcontinent. The echoes of this movement reverberated through time, leaving asting impact on the collective consciousness and fostering a sense of unity and shared identity among the people.


    Finally, in the 19th to the early 20th Century, the Hindu revivalist movements emerged, influenced by Bhakti ideals and anti-colonial sentiments.


    The ideology of Hindutva was then founded in 1923 as Savarkar published "Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?", outlining his vision for a Hindu nation, turning a cultural and religious identity into a political ideology of the Hindus. From the 20th Century onwards, the Hindutva movement evolved, facing criticism and evolving interpretations, finally bing mainstream in 2024.


    15:55


    Although this ideology received a lot of criticism, it is actually highly misunderstood by a huge amount of propaganda, Because ording to Veer Savarkar''s Hindutva ideology.


    1. Savarkar argued for a Hindu nation where Hindus, defined by shared nation, race, and culture, would be the dominant group.


    ording to Vijay, this perspective was not controversial. In his view, the people of thisnd and culture had yed an integral role in its evolution and development since the early stages of human existence. Therefore, he believed that every dharmic follower had the rightful im to consider Bharat as their exclusive home. This sentiment reflected a deep connection to thend, emphasizing the cultural and historical roots that had shaped the civilization over multiple millennia.


    2. Savarkar also went beyond religious affiliations and included Indian-originating religions like Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism as part of the broader Hindu identity, whereas Muslims and Christians would be excluded due to their foreign religious origins.


    Vijay did have some problems with this, but not with respect to Abrahamic Muslims and Christians; on that point, he totally agreed. His problem stemmed from forcing the people of other Indian religions to identify as Hindus.


    3. Savarkar emphasized a unified Hindu culture and identifying oneself as a Hindu first above their caste affiliations. He also emphasized that all religions could be tolerated in Bharat as long as they did not pose a threat to Hindu culture and political dominance.


    4. Savarkar''s Hindutva was deeply intertwined with opposition to British rule, presenting Hinduism as a unifying force against foreign domination, which highly resonated with many Indians seeking independence.


    Vijay could do away with this point, as India has not been colonized by the British yet, and never will be.


    5. Savarkar emphasized the history to highlight a golden age of Hindu rule and portrayed the true nature of Muslim invaders, thereby justifying his vision of a Hindu nation. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Well, Vijay is currently living in that age of Muslim invasions; he does not need any justification.


    The Hindutva movement, initiated by Veer Savarkar, strongly emphasized the aforementioned points. Despite its seemingly non-extreme nature, this ideology faced misunderstandings and vilification throughout its existence. Unfortunately, the period following British rule saw the rise of leaders with strong anti-Hindu sentiments. Some notable mistakes during this time included the destruction of Kolkata, one of the most robust industrial centres, due to the socialist direction the country took. Additionally, the first education minister, Mana Azad, despite keeping religion out of schools and maintaining a very secr approach, failed the Hindus with the portrayal of many Imic invaders in a favourable light. Also, Azad was a fervent believer in the Caliphate and the Ottoman Empire. He mobilized Muslims in India to fight the British in Turkey, urging them to use whatever means necessary to kill British soldiers in the name of religion, regardless of nationality.


    The first prime minister was also out of touch with the real soil of the nation, as he formed a university only for cultivating civil service talents who aligned with his ideology that Indians arezy and Hinduism is backward (a recording came out recently). This move created far-left intellectuals who opposed Hindu liberation in every way possible and served the Muslim minority, as they were politically close to the government. Even when the Muslim leaders in the future wanted to amodate Hindu sentiments, the intellectuals denied the opportunity and went to court on this issue.


    Even Gandhi, the most prominent freedom fighter from India, supported the Khfat movement, which included leaders proposing absurd uses such as Hindus being forbidden to prevent Muslims from eating beef, refraining from performing rituals or worship in the presence of Muslims, and in case of disputes, Hindus were not to engage inmunal violence but leave the resolution to the benevolence of Muslims. Despite the movement being portrayed as a unity of Hindu and Muslim movements, it included many controversial uses. In the 21st century, during the Gyanvapi Mosque remation case in court, several Muslimmunity leaders were willing to hand over the Mosque, which was originally a temple. This could be seen with the naked eye, with clear evidence as the top part of the building being a mosque and the bottom support structure part being a Hindu temple dating far before the mosque was built on top of it. Despite this evidence, left intellectuals demanded proof, and even the idol in the footwash ce in the Mosque that had been trampled upon and desecrated was turned into a fountain, leading to an infuriating situation.


    Isn''t the situation simr to asking an armless man for a disability certificate? How ridiculous is that?


    Pushing all these annoying thoughts from his previous life away from his mind, Vijay corrected some of the points in the Hindutva Ideology he thought would not work in this era, and adjusted some points ording to his opinion.


    For example, instead of Hindi as the mainnguage for the Hindutva movement, Vijay reced it with the Bharathinguage. Also, Vijay arranged for religions like Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism to be separate from Hinduism but more closely linked with the dharmic aspect of Sanathana Dharma, as he believed that Savarkar''s idea had more drawbacks than benefits. Although all three religions originated from Hinduism, they became different schools of thought, essentially forming their own religious consciousness.


    So, Vijay did not insist on bringing all the Dharmic religions under the same basket as Hindus. Instead, he made Sanatan Dharma the cinematic universe, serving as the connecting factor for all Indian religions, which is more eptable. In the past timeline, Sanatan Dharma became no different from Hinduism, but it was not always like that. So, Vijay wrote down his ideology to de Hindu-fy Sanatan Dharma and made it more universal for all dharmic religions, which could potentially also include foreign ones like Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto.


    After roughly noting down his ideology, he decided on the name for this new ideology as Sarvatra Dharmic Ideology (Universal Dharmic Ideology).


    Vijay did not intend to publish this ideology in a book or present it directly to the public, as he anticipated significant resistance, even from the lower caste people. Instead, he nned to employ soft propaganda through literature, poems, stories, and general education in schools to influence children''s thinking in this direction.


    By doing so, subtle hints could go unnoticed by most adults, and the minds of the children could be gently guided. However, a major challengey in the need for a substantial number of books, which, in turn, required significant production and printing capabilities. So, Vijay decided to finally do something about it. His uncle had reminded him long ago about the shortage of paper, and he had been pushing it to a further date because of hisrger n. Now, it was the right time to implement the Super-scale upgrade of Bhartiya industries.


    Vijay sent his ideology to Tukaram to polish it out. He also sent a message to keep it a secret. In the happy mood ofpleting something extraordinary, Vijay spent quite a bit of time with Kavya. Delightfully, his mood improved again as Ravichandra brought him some more good news.


    "Your Majesty, this came from the Boswell Design Bureau." Ravichandra Handed Vijay a document.


    "Took him long enough," Vijay murmured as he was waiting for this news.


    Opening the document, it was the design n for the 500-ton frigate.


    Observing the designs, Vijay couldn''t help but admire Danior in his heart. ording to these specifications, the ship would be on par with any middle-level European shipbuilding power in the world. He was highly satisfied with the significant advancement of the Bhartiya Empire in terms of navy shipbuilding capabilities.


    The empire had experienced a remarkable leap, progressing from having no warship building capabilities to producing a hundred-ton sloop that was only slightly outdatedpared to European standards. Now, there was another substantial leap, moving from a 200-ton merchant ship to a frigate that matched the standards of any middle-level European power. Vijay eagerly anticipated the design and manufacture of the Empire''s battleships in the near future.


    Going over the specifications: the approximate length is 42 - 45 m, which is longer than average for maneuverability. The beam is 10 to 11 m, which is a narrow beam for faster speeds. The draft is a 4 - 5 m, shallow draft for navigating tight spaces and coastal waters. The primary wood used, oak, was a problem as it was notrgely avable in the empire, but he quickly got an idea of where he could import it from. Along with oak, iron reinforcements were also used to make the hull structure strong and durable, in addition to adding a feature of ramming capability. It is a two-mast square-sail warship with smaller sails like staysails for versatile and optimal wind control.


    In the artillery department, it could carry 16 to 20, 30 kg heavy naval cannons, along with 8 to 12 swivel guns of 15 kg calibre.


    The crew of the ship is 180 to 200 men, which is arger crew than usual for faster sail handling and coordinated manoeuvring.


    The cruising speed is between 8 and 9 knots, which is faster than average frigates, as this frigate was designed for swift travel and pursuit. In exceptional and ideal conditions, the ship can reach a maximum speed of 11 to 12 knots.


    The discement of the ship is approximately 450 to 500 tons.


    Vijay was very satisfied with this design, so he quickly signed the document for a trial production of the 500-ton frigate. Vijay then named the frigate BNV Vinayaka ss.


    P.S. The Religious thing seems to be rubbing a lot of people the wrong way, so after this chapter, I will keep the religious thing to a minimum. Thanks.


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    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 179 Republic Of Venice and the Ottoman Empire Part :1

    Chapter 179 Republic Of Venice and the Ottoman Empire Part :1


    Italian Penins, Republic of Venice, Mazor Consegio (Vian for Great Council of Venice).


    Today marked a momentous day in the history of Venice, a departure from the events of the past Earth timeline. Dignitaries, nobles, and members of the parliament arrived in opulent carriages at the Great Council of Venice. The council itself stood as a grand pce, befitting even the most esteemed emperors.


    Inside the council chambers, the walls exuded grandeur, adorned with fine artworks curated from diverse regions of Europe,plemented by the finest Italian masterpieces. The ceiling boasted intricate golden patterns, symbolizing affluence and luxury.


    The main noble families of Venice entered the grand pce as the new Doge took his office. The Contarini family, headed by the old patriarch Giovanni Contarini; the Molin family, headed by Marco Molin; the Erizzo family, headed by Antonio Erizzo; the Barbarigo family, headed by Lorenzo Barbarigo; the Gradenigo family, headed by Francisco Gradenigo, andstly, it was the Morosini family, headed by the new Doge himself and the youngest patriarch of the top noble families at the age of only 40, Giovanni Morosini.


    The way Giovanni became the Doge was due to unusual circumstances because after the death of the 100th Doge, Francisco Molin from the Molin family, it was Francisco''s closest politicalpetitor, Carlo Contarini from the Contarini family, who should have seeded him as the new doge but unfortunately, things did not go as intended. Carlo also passed away due to some strange illness.


    Following two consecutive deaths of some of the most prominent politicians, the potential contenders grew skeptical about vying for the position of the 101st Doge. Surprisingly, it was the Morosini family, which had long been in decline, that stood firm during the final push for the top spot in the republic, ultimately producing the 101st Doge, Giovanni Morosini.


    In reality, this is because of Vijay''s butterfly effect. Francisco Molin, who should still be alive and whose death was not until 1655, died as the 100th Doge. Also, his sessor, Carlo Contarini, who should have seeded him as the 101st Doge, would live until 1656. However, due to some reasons in this timeline, he prematurely died even before epting the title of the Doge. Instead, a new figure emerged as the 101st Doge from the family that had not produced a Doge for a long time.


    Inside the Mazor Consegio, as all the nobles and dignitaries got seated, Giovanni started his speech.


    "My esteemed parliamentarians, noblepatriots, and distinguished dignitaries, I extend unto you all my most gracious salutations. By a twist of fate, I find myself elevated to the esteemed position of the 101st Doge by your decision. In these unforeseen circumstances our Vian Republic is facing, I pledge, with unwavering solemnity, to dedicate the entirety of my existence to the advancement of our revered Republic.


    Be assured, my noble colleagues, that mymitment knows no bounds, and I shall toil tirelessly in pursuit of the Republic''s prosperity until my final breath escapes me."


    The People in attendance graciously nodded their approval as Giovanni pressed on with his noble promation.


    "First, let us begin by honouring Francisco Molin, the revered 100th Doge of the Republic of Venice. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have lost him. Doge Francisco served the Republic from 1646 until his demisest week in 1654. He was elected as Doge during a time of great turmoil for the Republic as it was engaged in a war against the Ottoman Empire.


    I had the privilege of meeting Doge Francisco; he is my mentor in politics, and he was a skilled diplomat and politician. He adeptly navigated the Republic through a challenging period. In my opinion, his greatest achievement was awakening the Vian nobles from their luxuries and deranged lives, as they were resistant to acknowledging the changes in the world. He reminded us that Venice is no longer the superpower it once was, and without change, the republic would cease to exist. This, my fellow nobles, is what I consider his most significant aplishment."


    Everyone nodded their heads. Some of them still could not extricate themselves from the luxury they used to experience in their teenage years.


    "Francisco survived the great gue of Venice in 1630, which killed over 100,000 people. He also survived the outbreak of the Cretan War in 1645, which pitted the Republic against the behemoth Ottoman Empire. He oversaw the signing of the Peace Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, bringing an end to the 30 Years'' War. Despite all these achievements, God yed a joke on him, taking him away from this world to his Kingdom of God all of a sudden."


    "I thank the Molin family for the continued support for the Republic. It is families like yours that form the backbone of our beloved Republic."


    *p, p, p.*


    The old man, Marco Molin, got up and epted the people''s praise and gratitude as he smiled and sat down.


    "Now, for the main reason I called this meeting. With the help of the Southeastern Empire in Asia, we were able to buy a lot of weaponry and supplies at a very cheap cost. Due to this, our military, which was on the back foot in many of our territories, gained a breather, as the newly imported weapons were abundant enough to equip a lot more soldiers than we could before.


    I have also sent a recruitment notice to the ind regions of the Italian Penins, looking for warriors in the fight against the evil Ottoman Empire. So, I hereby propose that, in order to gain further advantage, we set up our workshops in the Southeastern Empire, taking advantage of the cheaper raw materials and human resources. ording to my current calctions, the price of the 40-pounder, which we are currently importing, could be reduced by another 40%, which is impressive considering that the cannons we bought from the East were already much lower than the market price in Europe.


    So, gentlemen, please vote."


    The discussions broke out as the silent hall became loud, with many nobles starting to speak amongst themselves. Doge Giovanni did not stop them and looked ahead for the results. While he was waiting for the result, a noble raised his hat and asked a question.


    "Dear respected Doge, can we not negotiate with the Portuguese to share the manufacturing technology with us? Recently, they have been making news throughout the continent for their production capabilities of artillery, and the Spaniards have been getting sted ck and blue for this reason."


    Listening to this question, Giovanni answered, "Respected sir, I have no hope in this negotiation. Many countries, even their allies, have tried to negotiate with them only to be declined. Apparently, they barricaded a whole town to keep the secret. Also, I do not want to spend too much of our resources, which are already in short supply, to procure knowledge about new manufacturing technology that will eventually be revealed in a few years all over the continent.


    And I do not know if you know this, sir, but the technology used by the Portuguese was developed in the Southeastern Empire. So, if we y our cards right, we could also potentially acquire this technology."


    The noble who asked the question was thoughtful as he sat down.


    Finally, after the votes, the result disappointed Giovanni, as although not an outright rejection, the decision would be pushed forward for more consideration.


    "Sigh."


    He sighed in disappointment and moved on to other topics about the reforms of various outdated institutions.


    The meeting ultimately ended with a disappointed Giovanni, as the majority of his proposals for the modernization of various institutions and closer connections with the Southeastern Empire ended in failure. He had miscalcted the greed of the nobles even in the midst of war. The people running these institutions did not want anything to change, fearing that their power would be damaged. Even though Giovanni tried to convince them that nothing of that sort would happen, they did not want to take any chances.


    *Sigh.*


    He sighed again as he left the parliament.


    But something unexpected happened that immediately changed the parliament''s mind¡ªthe Battle of Dardanelles started. Two inconclusive naval battles were fought at the Dardanelles between the Vian and Ottoman fleets. the following month, Another indecisive battle urred, with both sides suffering significant losses. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The Ottomans were invading Crete, a Vian property.


    Even though the Republic of Venice has been at war with the Ottoman Empire since 1645, this particr battleunched by the Ottomans is clearly focused on destroying Venicepletely. With the pressure imposed by the Ottoman Empire, the members of the parliament started to listen to Giovanni''s reform movement and agreed to strengthen ties with the Southeastern Empire.


    Historically, the Ottomans focused on attacking Vian territory and defending the Dardanelles, countering the Vian strategy of breaking the Ottoman blockade of Crete by forcing their way through the Dardanelles and attacking the Ottoman capital, Constantinople. The changes in this timeline make it difficult to predict how these dynamics will evolve.


    To Be Continued...

 Chapter 180 Republic Of Venice and the Ottoman Empire Part :2

    Chapter 180 Republic Of Venice and the Ottoman Empire Part :2


    Constantinople, the royal pce.


    Mehmed IV is enjoying a luxurious evening ying with his new concubine. He has been in a good mood recently as the battle against the Republic of Venice has been going on smoothly. ording to his expectations, within a few years, the Vian Republic, which was so glorious in the past, would just turn into a name.


    "Hehe."


    He couldn''t help but chuckle when he thought about it as he got out of bed and went to attend to his affairs.


    Surprisingly, the Imam of Hagia Sophia, Ekrem Sabri, was awaiting him with a worried and fearful expression. Mehmed does not know what is wrong with Sabari. Wasn''t he just happy a week ago when he met him at the banquet?


    "What is the problem, Ekrem Sabri? Why do you look so worried?"


    "Your Majesty, please take a look at this," he said as he handed over a book to Mehmed.


    Curious, Mehmed turned over the book and saw that it was written in Quranic Arabic. However, as he continued reading, his veins started to pop out on his neck and head, indicating his growing fury.


    "Who the Fuckmitted such a sphemous act? I want their family vited in front of them, limb by limb, and give them the most cruel death possible to appease Ah."


    "Ekrem Sabri, WHO... IS... IT?" Mehmed said, practically roaring thest words word by word.


    Sabri was startled by the emperor''s anger as he quickly knelt down and replied, "Your Majesty, I do not know. But since a few days ago, this book has been circting throughout the European continent. European merchants managed to sell it to our northern territories. It has caused a lot of discussion among the newly converted Muslims in Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, and Serbia."


    "ording to my knowledge, conversions to this new Dharmic Im have been increasing. Apparently, when inquired, the reason is that this new version of Im does not oppose its believers from having multiple beliefs. They believe that all gods in the worlde from the same energy, so they think that Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad could be the same person interpreted in different ways and different views. Despite how appalling this sounds, it has gained traction among the newly converted Muslims and some religious intellectuals."


    "No, no, this cannot happen. This is sphemy to the gods. This must be stopped at any cost."


    "Hey, go call Grand Vizier," he ordered his servant.


    Soon, the Grand Vizier, Koprulu Mehmed Pasha, arrived at the royal pce and greeted His Majesty. He also cast a sidelong nce at the Imam of Hagia Sophia who knelt down on the ground not daring to raise his head, but he couldn''tprehend the circumstances the Imam was in.


    As His Majesty handed him the Dharmic Quran, he too was shocked and angered. As the top politician in the empire, he could grasp the immense political and religious significance of this book. The book practically advocated that its followers should not guide the infidels toward the light of the Lord. epting this book meant denying the opportunity for the rest of the world to experience the glory and kindness of the Almighty God.


    "God dammit, who could be so cruel?" he cursed but quickly shut his mouth in the presence of His Majesty, the Emperor, and apologized.


    Then, he humbly knelt down and asked for instructions. "Your Majesty, what can this humble servant do for you?"


    Mehmed replied, "Find out about anyone who converted to this Dharmic Im and ughter him in public as an example for the people who try to spheme against God."


    "Impose a strict ban on this book throughout the empire. If this book is found in the possession of someone, burn down his house along with him and his family."


    "If a merchant is found smuggling this book into the empire, ughter his whole caravan, no excuses."


    "If a high-level intellectual is found secretly holding onto this Dharmic Im, shame him in public, tie him to a horse, and drag him throughout the thorny path naked. Let him bleed to death, and let his family be sold as sex ves."


    "Send a notice to anyone who brings forward evidence of possession of Dharmic Im. He would be granted a virgin 16-year-old ve, along with some of the money the sphemers had."


    Both the imams and grand viziers were chilled by the decisions made by their emperor. This was the most cruel step he had taken to block some news. Still, They sort of understood the reasons. This Dharmic Im is a knife directly to the heart of Im. How could the Ottoman Empire, the torchbearer of Im, tolerate this?


    As both the imam and the grand vizier left, Mehmed called for his intelligence officer, Mustafa Kemal. "Mustafa, find out where this new Dharmic Im originated. I suspect, from the name of it, it should have originated from some eastern country. Give your attention to this."


    "Yes, Your Majesty."


    Soon, a bloodbath unfolded in the Ottoman Empire as new converts were ruthlessly ughtered, and the streets became stained with blood. Before the emperor took any action, Dharmic Im gained poprity due to its tolerant stance toward Christians and followers of other faiths. Because of this, those who had been forcibly converted felt a glimpse of spiritual sce for their sinful soul and turned to Dharmic Im. In the main cities of the Empire, several hundred people openly dered their faith in the new belief, attempting to persuade fellow Muslims to join them.


    However, this wave of conversions came to an abrupt halt due to the emperor''s fury. Houses were set aze on almost every street in the empire''s cities. Schrs who supported the new ideology faced brutal punishments, being stripped naked and dragged along thorny paths, tethered to maddened horses. Their families suffered even more, being turned into sex ves and sold in the market.


    These atrocities suddenly stifled the new wave of Dharmic Renaissance that had almost taken over the European part of the Imic country. With the eptance of Dharmic Im and its more tolerant nature, the Ottoman Empire could have be more consolidated, given its diverse poption that included Christians, Muslims, Jews, and other faiths.


    The inclusion of Dharmic Im with its tolerant nature might have lessened the influence of Imic extremists, making consolidation within the Empire stronger. This could have made it difficult for any independent movements to ur within the European part of the Empire.


    Unfortunately, unknown to Mehmed IV, his decision today led to an increase in Imic extremism due to the West attempting to impose this new Dharmic ideology on what they perceived as the ''real Muslims,'' causing more pressure on minority religious groups in the empire as they were coerced to convert, which led to freedom movements urring much faster than in the previous life. The once-secr approach of the Ottoman Empire had also be more and more of a joke.


    Fortunately, Despite the brutal suppression, Dharmic Im had not been entirely wiped out. Some schrs who adhered to its ideology managed to survive and preserve their lives. These individuals didn''t forget the atrocities they witnessed; instead, they secretly documented everything. Later in their lives, they passed on their values to the younger members of their families. Surprisingly, this led to a positive phenomenon for the Turks.


    In the Second World War, following the dissolution of the Ottoman Caliphate, many followers of Dharmic Im rose to power in the Republic of Turkey. They carefully propagated this ideology among the people. As a result, Turkey became more epting of secrism when it joined the European Union as an observer state, a process that unfolded more swiftly than in Vijay''s previous life.


    Now back to the present, Mustafa Kemal finally concluded his investigation and brought back the news to his majesty, emperor, Mehmed IV. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Mehmed IV was reading the reports of the decreasing new cases of Dharmic Muslims as Mustafa entered his room. Mehmed put aside the report and asked, ''''So did you find out where this poison originated from?''''


    ''''Yes, Your Majesty, this book was imported from the Southeastern country called Dakshin Bharat Empire. It was previously named The Vijayanagar Empire. It is the country that is neighbouring the Mughal Empire, and I believe we have some connection with the Mughal Empire.''''


    ''''It''s that country, no wonder. It is that cursednd that produces all these demonic practices like Hinduism, Buddhism, and any other -isms that those kafirs call as gods.''"


    Mustafa continued, "Despite my initial conclusion that the Dharmic Quran may have been authored by some Hindu intellectual who knows Arabic, it turned out not to be true. I have confirmed this, as our sources within the Mughal Empire informed me that the young emperor of the Bharatiya Empire did not even bring up the reform of Muslims in his reign. On the contrary, he was more eager to enve all the Muslims, as he managed to arrest half of the Muslim poption in the empire (the Mughals'' gaslighting).


    Additionally, it was confirmed that this new Dharmic Im had its roots in an ancient inscription found in a cave, rumoured to have been owned by one of Prophet Mohammed''s disciples. The spection went further, suggesting that Dharmic Im was endorsed by Prophet Mohammed himself. While the authenticity of this information might be a matter of im, there''s no conclusive way to disprove it as the inscription is genuinely old, ording to the reports avable older than the empire.


    "Fuck it," Mehmed IV cursed, finding it difficult to deal with now. If the book was just some alteration from a bastard born from 10 fathers, it would have been easy by just capturing the bastard and tearing him to pieces in front of the public.


    Now that he knew it was actually a copper inscription that could potentially be older than the Ottoman Empire, he found it very hard to deal with. In anger, he yelled, "Can''t that bastard Muhammad deal with this pesky idol-worshipping empire?"


    "His Highness, Muhammad tried, Your Majesty, and lost very badly with a staggering 30000 - 40000 casualties. The army strength of this Bhartiya Empire also recently has been increasing from 50,000 to 100,000, and now there is a rumour circting that more soldiers are being recruited. Also, it is rumoured that the technology of this empire in military artillery is not very backwardspared to the European continent, so it is actually Muhammad who is afraid that his seat in the Indian subcontinent is not very stable."


    Sweat trickled down his head as he heard the numbers. Even the Ottoman Empire at its strongest only had a 250,000 army, which has now been reduced to a 150,000 army, responsible for the security of the vast empire.


    He went into contemtion, denying direct intervention as he was not stupid and brave enough to fight a war against a strong enemy thousands of kilometres away who could always replenish his army from the 35 million poption.


    But soon he thought of a solution, "Send a message to Mohammed. Ask him to prepare gold and silver. The Ottoman Empire is ready to manufacture 10 man-of-war, ship-of-the-line battleships for the Mughal Empire at cost price. Also, exin that this construction will bepleted within the year if the deal is reached."

 Chapter 181 30 Kg Semi Breach Loader And 15kg Swivel Cannon

    Chapter 181 30 Kg Semi Breach Loader And 15kg Swivel Cannon


    Dakshin Bharat Empire, Hampi


    There is still a month left for the Western New Year 1655, and as for Ugadi, the Bhartiya New Year, it is still 5 months away. By the end of the fifth month, he will also turn 25, along with the army ready for war. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Vijay now wants to immediately build the capital of the Empire and improve its industrial foundation. However, for that, he must initiate economic reforms throughout the empire. Unfortunately, the government is not yet ready for economic reforms. Therefore, Vijay sets his sights on reforming the government and dividing the administrative territories of the Empire. Suddenly, the door opens.


    *Kreak*


    "Your Majesty, we received two messages from our armoury and the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences. The naval cannon and the swivel gun have been manufactured, and you have been invited to test their effectiveness and approve of them," Uncle Ravi informed him.


    Vijay was happy that the navel artillery had been produced, but considering his current urgent task, he rejected the offer and ordered, "Have martial Kiran Pujari along with the admiral Gangadhar have a look at the guns. "


    "As you wish Your Majesty," Ravichandra left after receiving the order.


    Nagpur forward base, Maharashtra,Dakshin Bhartiya Empire.


    Kiran Pujari hade to inspect the newly built forward base of the Empire. As Nagpur is in a central location at the northern border and has optimal transport station channels across the empire, it was decided as the main forward base of the Empire. The Nagpur forward base would connect to other forward bases in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.


    Kiran Pujari is walking across the fort, tapping on the wall to see how it is built. Along with him, Ramaiya Senapati also followed along. Ramaiya, surprisingly, despite being of noble birth and being the son of the old martial, did not have an arrogant expression on his face nor did he feel that he had been stolen from his position by Kiran Pujari; instead, he respected Kiran for his battle against the old man, Aamir Ali Khan, because Aamir Ali had left a shadow in his mind when he was a lot younger.


    When he was still in his teenage years, Aamir Ali Khan had him kidnapped in order to negotiate a deal with his father. He felt very guilty at the time and also very scared of Aamir Ali Khan. As he got older, the fear disappeared, but still there was some waryness towards the old man, as he knew what that old man was capable of, and so he respected Kiran Pujari for defeating him.


    Kiran Pujari, who was nodding along as he inspected the fort, suddenly stopped and frowned. He pointed at a location and said, "Reduce the angle of the opening in that location; it is too steep; it will be dangerous during wartime, a cannonball coulde through."


    Ramaiya looking at the slightly off window, responded " Yes martial sir"


    Kiran Pujari nodded as he continued his inspection but suddenly footsteps were heard.


    Tap tap tap.


    Kiran Pujari and Ramaiya Senapati were disturbed by an approaching messenger, but before they could ask, looking at the royal family''s seal on the letter the messenger brought, they both stood at attention and collected the letter. The messenger left as Kiran Pujari read the letter; his eyes lit up as if it were a letter to inspect the cannons. Although he knew that this cannon was not for the army, as it was specifically designed for the Navy, who knows, maybe in the near future, it could be modified for army use also. Excited, Kiran Pujari bid farewell to General Ramaiya Senapati and left for the capital.


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Sri Lanka, a southern military base.


    Admiral Gangadhar is inspecting and guiding the new recruits of the southern naval base in their formations and Battle tactics.


    Akhil, themander of the base, is assisting him. Gangadhar, after bing the admiral, did not stop studying because he was not fully educated when he joined the Navy. He was required on the battlefront right away, so he missed out on a lot of things. His thinking was still in a two-dimensional way when he was themander. However, after going through the ''military tactics and Formations'' bookpiled by Dutch sailors, he has begun to think in a more three-dimensional way. Hence, he has been visiting the three military bases regrly. He hase to the southern base to practice and perfect his knowledge of stealth warfare. The southern base is very useful as it is in an advantageous location where many small inds can be found.


    After his training drills, he came back to his office on the base to rest for a while. These government-provided offices were exclusive to him across all three military bases. To his surprise, a messenger awaited him in the office with a letter from the Emperor. Reading the message, tion surged through him. This was his first time inspecting a newly developed cannon, two of which were specifically designed for the Navy. Bidding Akhil a cheerful farewell and offering words of encouragement, Gangadhar set off for the royal capital as well.


    The first stop: the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences.


    First, Admiral Gangadhar arrived at Mangaluru port, having traversed the Arabian Sea swiftly. Kiran Pujari, travelling bynd, arrivedter that night. Following Vijay''s instructions, they exchanged greetings the next morning.


    "Marshall Kiran Pujari, hello."


    "Admiral Gangadhar, hello."


    "Shall we go?"


    "Yes, please, let''s go."


    Their conversation was brief, which showed theirck of personal interaction with each other while maintaining mutual respect for their shared rank. Entering the academy, they were greeted by Hey Ram and his team of scientists.


    "Wee, Marshall Kiran Pujari and Admiral Gangadhar. Please,e in."


    Formalities were brief before they were led to the swivel gun. Kiran Pujari, ustomed to standard army cannons, eyed the new weapon with doubt. It looked awfully simr to the normal 15kg calibre cannon used by the army. While the overall frame remained simr, the tform held subtle modifications. Admiral Gangadhar, however, having utilized swivel guns in the Navy, held a hunch about the implemented changes.


    " Tell us about it, " Kiran Pujari asked.


    " With pleasure sir, " Hey Ram responded with a smile.


    "This is a 15kg calibre short- to medium-range swivel gun designed for the Navy. It features a 5-inch barrel with a barrel length of 9 feet."


    "The barrel weighs 1.75 tons, while the bridge plug and chamber weigh 250 kilograms and the swivel tform weighs 600 kilograms. The total weight of the tform and gunbined is 2.6 tons."


    Kiran Pujari and Gangadhar nodded along, As Gangadhar asked, "What about its ammunition?"


    "Yes," Hey Ram exined. "The projectile''s weight can reach up to 16 kilograms, but that''s the maximum for safe firing. Such a heavy shell wouldn''t achieve high firing speeds. Therefore, we rmend using projectiles between 13 and 15 kilograms for optimal rate of fire.


    This cannon can hit targets within a range of 600 meters, making it effective against ships approaching both close and medium ranges. But its most impressive feature is its fire rate of 6 to 8 rounds per minute. While an exceptional artillery crew could theoretically achieve a faster rate, 6 to 8 rounds is the more realistic benchmark with moderate effort and skilled personnel."


    Finally, the time for testing the cannon arrived. Hey Ram led his trained artillery crew, who were permanently stationed at the academy for testing purposes, renowned as one of the Empire''s top artillerymen, to test the cannon. Their performance would serve as a benchmark for potential Navy crews.


    The gun was mounted on a Hampi-ss sloop stationed in the academy''ske for the test. Three crew members worked in synchronized precision. One loaded the gunpowder-packed ammunition into the barrel, another adjusted the aim based on readings and targeted the designated point, while the third awaited the order. Finally, a lit fuse ignited, and a resounding "Bang" echoed across theke.


    A dull sound echoed throughout the calmke as the sloop was pushed back a few inches. The test did not stop there; the artillerymen continued to execute the process of firing the same cannon again and again until the cannon became too hot to touch, as they worked tirelessly like machines.


    "Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang."


    Six consecutive back-to-back shots were fired. The boulder 500 meters ahead had been turned into smithereens. Satisfied, Kiran Pujari and Gangadhar signed the approval for navel trials. Finally, both of them headed to the Raya Iron Works, where the 30 kg semi-breech-loading cannon was manufactured. They both received simr treatment to what Hey Ram provided them by the manager assigned by the royal family, They were quickly taken to therge naval cannon. It was then that they met Sai from the Sai Design Bureau, who designed this breech-loader cannon. He looked like a homeless person in his attire which could be considered as an offence but as he was the person chosen by Vijay both military bosses did not bother him. He then went on to exin the cannon with excitement, "This is the first cannon of its kind in the empire. Many innovations were utilized in manufacturing this cannon. It has a barrel width of 7 inches, a length of 16 feet, and a barrel weight of 4 tons. The weight of the wedge bridge and chamber is 600 kilograms, and the weight of the frame on which it sits is 1.2 tons, making the total weight of the cannon and the frame average between 6.2 to 6.5 tons."


    "The projectile is a behemoth, featuring a 32-kilogram calibre with a range of up to 2000 meters and a rate of fire ranging from 2 to 3 rounds, depending on the experience of the crew."


    "Many innovations have been made, such as this helical screw, which reces the levers used as aiming support for the cannon. With this helical screw, we can easily change the elevation of the cannon just by turning this handle over here," he said, pointing to the round handle, as heter twisted it around so they could see the cannon rise in elevation.


    "Unfortunately, these helical screws can only be crafted by the best craftsmen with their own hands, and there are only 50 craftsmen of such calibre in the empire. So, not too many cannons with such specification could be made."


    "Moving on to another innovation, this cannon can preload a separate ammunition, with the help of the cartridge over here," he tapped on the rectangr box beside the barrel.


    "This cartridge can hold a single ammunition shot along with the required gunpowder. After firing a shot, you just slide this back and load it inside the barrel from its breach, loading it into the cannon very swiftly," he exined, pulling the box and flipping it into the opened breach of the cannon. Kiran Pujari''s eyes lit up; as an army person, he understood the convenience of this method.


    "Finally, we also had some innovation in the gunpowder department. My dear friend, Manoj Reddy, was sessful in granting the gunpowder even more, making it morebustible and explosive. The power it packs has increased, so it is no longer necessary to use arge amount of gunpowder. The necessity of gunpowder has been reduced by 20% because of this improvement."


    "Sir Sai, could you show us how it works in practice?" Gangadhar finally asked, realizing that the energetic man might go on forever if not stopped.


    "Oh, look at me! Yes, yes,e along,e along," he said as he took Kiran Pujari and Gangadhar to a testing ground where another cannon was ced.


    The same firing procedure took ce, but this time only two people were required: one for loading the cannon and the other for aiming and firing.


    "Bang!"


    A deafening roar echoed from the cannon as the boulder, one and a half kilometres away, was blown into pieces. The boulder was actually the same size on which the 15 kg cannon was tested earlier in the day.


    Satisfied by the demonstration, both Gangadhar and Kiran approved of its production and for a trial run in the Navy. It''s just that Gangadhar felt unable to wait for the Vinayaka ss frigate until he could actually see the wrath of the monster.


    P.S. fuk, Missed the Deadline by 30 Mins

 Chapter 182 Division of the Administration And The Establishment of States (Essay)

    182 Division of the Administration And The Establishment of States (Essay)


    Hampi, Dakshina Bharatiya Empire.


    It was not an ordinary day for the civil servants of the Empire as their bosses were collectively busy with a big event. There was excitement in the administrative circles of the Empire; the government meeting was held again by the order of The Emperor, Vijay Devaraya. All the ministers made it to the capital, as something exciting was about to happen. Thest time something like this happened, significant changes urred within the empire. Now, they could not anticipate what new change was about to take ce.


    In a significant gathering, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Arjun, the Minister of War, Kiran Pujari, the Minister of Justice, Bhuvan, the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Rajesh, the Minister of Communication, Kumar, the Minister of Transportation, Nirmal, the Minister of Finance, Jagannath Mohan, the Minister of Agriculture, Narasimha, and heads of the three intelligence departments joined the assembly. Also present were Raghavendra Bhatt, the Minister of Education and Culture, Lokesh, the Minister of Health, and the Prime Minister, Vinod, setting the stage for a crucial cab conve.


    Vijay was soon informed of the arrival of all the ministers and officials.


    * kreak * "?? BaDum baDum ??"


    The giant door opened as a young adult, adorned in imperial robes, walked in.


    "Long live your majesty, long live, long live," Vijay was greeted as soon as he entered the hall. He waved his hand for everyone to sit down, slowly walking towards the podium and took a moment to look at all the anticipating faces in the crowd of ministers. Without wasting any time, Vijay nodded and delved straight into his speech. "Today marks themencement of the initial reform discussions, with many more to follow. The primary agenda for today is determining the administrative divisions within the empire."


    As the purpose of the gathering became clear, everyone exchanged nces, realizing why his majesty had convened them. The ministers held their anticipation, awaiting Vijay''s next words.


    "With our empire experiencing considerable growth, managing it through traditional means has be challenging due to the substantial increase in poption. Consequently, I''ve resolved to undergo aprehensive overhaul of the administrative divisions within our empire."


    "Let''s begin by establishing the foundation of our empire. The social structure will be organized into three living environments: uuru (vige), grama (town), and nagara (city). A uuruprises more than 100 houses or families, while a grama consists of over 1000 houses or families with multiple streets. As for a nagara, it should have a minimum of 10,000 houses or families, ranging up to a poption of 100,000."


    "Everyrger uuru is to be equipped with essential facilities, including a Panchayati, police station, post office, and a school. While some services might be overlooked for very small and isted uuru''s, having a Panchayati is non-negotiable. Viges with post offices will be considered a distinct administrative unit slightlyrger than a uuru, categorized under a grama referred to as ''post''."


    "Every grama, without exception, must house a police station, post office, multiple schools, and a gram panchayat."


    "A grama surrounded by uuru''s andrger than typical grama will be designated as a taluk, functioning as the administrative area overseeing all the uuru''s under its influence. A taluk is mandated to have and audit bureau."


    "Above the taluk, there is another administrative division that is also a grama, but this grama should have a poption and size closer to some small cities. It should have administrative control over its surrounding taluks. This specific grama will be called a Mandal grama (district)."


    "Next, wee to Nagara (cities). A nagara should have, without any excuse, multiple police stations, multiple post offices, numerous schools, multiple courts, differentnd audit bureaus, and a panchayat."


    "A Nagara, which is considered as a core driving point for the whole state, could be deemed as the state Kendra Nagar (capital)."


    "A Kendra Nagar, without any exception, is also expected to have a University of higher learning along with police, military, and naval academies," Vijay said as he took a cup of water beside him and drank it to quench his thirst. On the other hand, all the ministers were diligently writing down whatever Vijay conveyed.


    "As we move to the broader administrative scale, the Empire will be segmented into eight states."


    "These states will be allocated based on ethnic groups, epassing Kannadigas, Tamilians, Myalees, Telugollu, Sinhalese (Lanka), Marathis, Odia, and the Chhattisgarhis."


    "Each of these ethnic groups predominantly resides in eight distinct parts of the Empire. With the Empire named Bharat, it is only fitting that each region takes pride in its cultural heritage. Previously, under the Vijayanagar Empire, the focus was on unification, and regionalism was not encouraged. However, now that we all share themon mothend, Bharat, I am granting freedom to these ethnic groups to embrace their own cultures and take pride in their heritage. Consequently, I have chosen to name each state after the illustrious empires that have flourished in their respectivends."


    Hearing this, everyone was taken aback by the decision his majesty made. Wasn''t his majesty afraid of regional conflicts and riots? Vinod, the new prime minister, decided to ask directly.


    "Your majesty, will doing this not reduce the control of the Empire on these regions? Also, I suspect that regional conflicts will ur if the regional pride of the ethnic groups overwhelms the national pride."


    Vijay, upon hearing the question, nodded his head in acknowledgement, as he could also understand Vinod''s plea. However, he shook his head and replied,


    "Your concern would be valid, and I would share those worries if we were still the Vijayanagar Empire. However, as a unified Bhartiya nation, Bharat holds a paramount position as the most significant spiritual entity in this subcontinent. Also, I have to rify that I never suggested grantingplete control; instead, measures will be in ce to prevent any misuse of the empire''s benevolence. Primarily, the Empire will directly centralize military, police, and financial control over the regions. Furthermore, in the educational domain, emphasis will be ced on the concept of Bharat, introducing regional cultures only after students have gained aprehensive understanding of Bharat."


    Hearing Vijay''s measures, Vinod let out a sigh of relief, knowing that the military and financial control would still be under the empire''s government, if So, he was not worried.


    "As the inaugural state, dedicated to the Kannadigas, the original home of the Vijayanagara Empire and a torchbearer for the Bhartiya Empire, I proudly announce that the Vijayanagara Empire stands as the strongest and most illustrious empire ever produced by the soil and people of Kannada. Therefore, the region where the Western and Eastern Ghat ranges converge into the Nilgiri hillplex, in the western part of the Dan Peninsr region of Bharat, will be known as the state of Vijayanagara. The administrative Kendra Nagar of the state will be the current capital of the Empire, Hampi. Mangalore will serve as the economic Kendra Nagar, and the cultural and educational Kendra Nagar will be a fusion of two historic towns, Vpuri and Dwarasamudra,ing together to form Hoys, named after the great Hoys dynasty (10th to 14th Century)."


    Apuse echoed throughout the hall as Vijay concluded his deration.


    " Now, Speaking of Tamilians, renowned for their rich cultural heritage and a grand empire equal to any in Bharat, the region inhabited by Tamilians will be known as Chpuri. Positioned on the southeastern coast of the Bharatiya penins, Chpuri will be bordered by the Western Ghats and Dan teau to the west, the Eastern Ghats to the north, the Eastern Coastal ins along the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait to the southeast.


    Chpuri receives its name in honour of one of the greatest Bhartiya Samrajyas, the Ch Empire. The Ch Dynasty, reigning from the 9th to the 13th centuries in Dakshin Bharat, boasted a vast empire spanning southwest Bharat and extending beyond to the Mi Penins. It stands as Bharat''s most eminent naval empire. The administrative Kendra Nagar of Chpuri will be the sacred city of Meenakshi Amma (Diety), Madurai. Chennai will serve as the economic Kendra Nagar of the state, and for the cultural and educational Kendra Nagar of the Chpuri state, Thanjavur will hold this distinguished position due to its ancient roots and being the capital of the great Ch Empire. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    *p p p*


    "As for the Myalis, a state will be formed situated between the Lakshadweep Sea to the west and the Western Ghats to the east. The name of state will be named after the great Chera kingdom, which existed from the 5th century BCE to the 12th century CE, as Chera Nadu. The administrative Kendra Nagar of the state will be Thiruvananthapuram and the economic Kendra Nagar of the state will be Kochi, along with its cultural and educational Kendra Nagar in Kozhikode (Calicut), the famous spice trade region in the empire."


    *p p p*


    "As for the people of Telugu, a state will be formed on the southeastern coast of the Bharatiya subcontinent. It is embraced by the Western Ghats and Dan teau to the west, the Eastern Ghats to the north, and the Eastern Coastal ins caressed by the Bay of Bengal to the east. To the southeast, it meets the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait."


    "The state for the Telugu people will be named Kakathapuri, named after the great Kakatiya Empire, which spanned from the 12th to the 14th century in Dan, Bharat. The Kakathas were renowned for their military prowess, and their architectural legacy is epitomized by the iconic Thousand Pir Temple, reflecting their vibrant cultural patronage."


    "The Kendra Nagar of the state will be Bhagyanagram (Hyderabad), the economic Kendra Nagar of the state will be Visakhapatnam, and the cultural and educational Kendra Nagar of the state will be Warangal, the ancient capital of the Kakatiya Empire."


    *p p p*


    "The Sinhalese on the Lanka Ind will also get their own state, in the position southeast of Bharat, Surrounded by the Bharatiya Samudra on all sides, the Gulf of Mannar, and the Palk Strait, it lies to the northwest, while the Bay of Bengal and the Ladive Sea nk its eastern and western coasts."


    "The state of the Sinhalese will be called Anuradhapura, named after the greatest Sri Lankan ancient Empire, Anuradhapura Kingdom, that flourished from around 377 BCE to 1017 CE, centred around the city of Anuradhapura."


    "The state for the Marathis will be named after one of the great Maratha kingdoms, the Satavahana Kingdom. The Satavahana Kingdom as an ancient Bharatiya dynasty that thrived from around the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE is a perfect choice. The Kendra Nagar of the state will be Pune, the economic Kendra Nagar of the state will be Mumbai, along with the cultural Kendra Nagar being the holy city Nashik."


    18:37


    "The Kendra Nagar of the state will be the old capital, Kandy, the economic Kendra Nagar of the state will be Colombo, along with the cultural and educational Kendra Nagar of the state being Anuradhapura, which will be renamed Anuradha Nagar for rification between the state and the Kendra Nagar."


    *p p p.*


    "The people of the Maratha ethnic group will get their own state in western Bharat, bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west, extending across the Dan teau."


    "The state for the Marathis will be named after one of the great Maratha kingdoms, the Satavahana Kingdom. The Satavahana Kingdom as an ancient Bharatiya dynasty that thrived from around the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE is a perfect choice. The Kendra Nagar of the state will be Pune, the economic Kendra Nagar of the state will be Mumbai, along with the cultural Kendra Nagar being the holy city Nashik."


    Vijay felt very sad about the decision, as the greatest Maratha empire did not get a chance in this timeline.


    "p p p."


    "As for the people of Odia, a state will be made situated on Bharat''s eastern coast, embraced by the Bay of Bengal to the east."


    "The state for the people of Odia will be called Gangapuri, named after the great Ganga Dynasty, flourishing from the 6th to the 15th centuries."


    "The administrative Kendra Nagar of the state would be Cuttack, and the economic Kendra Nagar of the state would be Paradeep, which will be built into a city. As for the cultural and educational Kendra Nagar of the state, it will be Bhubaneswar, with its history spanning over a millennium."


    *p p p.*


    "As for the people of Chhattisgarhi, a state will be created Located in central Bharat, in andlocked area surrounded by Satavahana and Gangapuri. Its geographical position is characterized by proximity to the eastern, southern, and western parts of the Bharat subcontinent."


    "The state for the people of Chhattisgarhi will be called Kchuripuri, named after the great Kchuri Dynasty, which flourished from the 6th to the 13th centuries and contributed to art, architecture, and cultural developments of the area."


    "The administrative Kendra Nagar of the state will be Raipur, with the economic Kendra Nagar of the state being Bspur. Along with the cultural and educational Kendra Nagar of the state being Jagdalpur."


    P.S. sorry it turned into a essay , had too much info to convey in a chapter, maby ill make it more interactive in the future . Thanks.


    Like it ? Add to library£¡


    Mithun_ReddyGaru


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 183 Changes

    183 Changes


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Maharashtra (Satavahana), Wardha grama (town).


    Satish, the police officer of Wardha town, got up early today as he was informed that a package would be sent to the town from the royal capital. Satish has changed a lot since he took the post of the police officer. He has been promoted a few times, from an officer of a small vige to an officer of a medium-sized town like Wardha. Before, he only had a group of subordinates whom he recruited himself, but now he has two different police stations in the town to take care of. He was also assigned new police officers from the head branch of the district, in order to assist him.


    After dealing with the challenges of the recent Imic rebellion, the past few days offered him a much-needed rest. Now, tasked mainly with resolving civil disputes and handling petty theft cases in the town, he found himself growing bored. The once-eventful routine of rising early, donning his police attire, and eagerly awaiting something more exciting began to feel monotonous. Just as the dullness was taking hold, the individual he had been expecting finally appeared. Holding a letter marked with the seal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the long-awaited Orders had finally arrived.


    Opening the letter, there were multiple orders for him to follow, along with some instructions given in general to all the officers at his level from the Minister of Internal Affairs, Arjun. After reading the letter, he did not dy any longer and got to work. First, he visited a carpenter and asked him to make two new banners for the pair of police stations in the town. In total, two new banners were ordered, and he also mentioned the specifications for both banners.


    "Sir craftsman, create Two identical banners measuring 1.5 meters in height and 5.5 meters in length. At the top, inscribe '' Police Station'' in a bold Bharathinguage. Right beside it, in slightly smaller font, add ''Wardha Branch.'' Below, repeat ''Police Station'' and ''Wardha Branch,'' maintaining the same format, but this time in Marathinguage. Ensure that the text in the Bharathinguage upies 40% of the banner, with the Marathinguage covering 30%. For the remaining space below the banner, include the address of this town."


    The craftsman, diligently noting down the orders, ended up looking perplexed, scratching his head, he said with an embarrassed expression. "Sir, please forgive me, but I don''t know how to write in the Bharathinguage as I haven''t attended a school that teaches adults yet."


    Satish remained calm upon hearing the craftsman''s embarrassment, as he had anticipated the problem. To reassure him, he said, "Do not worry; I have a sample of the written text for you. Just emte this." He handed over the written sample in the Bharathinguage. Additionally, Satish provided the craftsman with the Town address to include on the banner.


    "Ensure that the background of the banner is yellow throughout its length. However, the area where the address is mentioned should have a red background."


    "In addition, on the right side of the banner, draw this symbol," Satish said, handing over the police emblem.


    The emblem featured a Garuda with two lions on either side, all three animals standing on a pedestal. The Garuda was positioned at a higher elevation than the lions; both lions were at an equal elevation but at a lower positionpared to the Garuda. After conveying all his instructions, Satish was about to leave when, surprisingly, Nagappa showed up. Nagappa also brought multiple orders for banners, but unfortunately, he was not proficient in the Bharatinguage. Still learning, he wasn''t yet skilled enough to write it. Satish assisted him, and to his surprise, along with making a banner for the panchayat, Nagappa also created banners for inns and workshops. Intrigued, Satish asked for the reason.


    "Don''t you know about thew that has passed in the government? It''s called the ''Local Representation Law.'' ording to thisw, all workshops and businesses in the Empire should identify themselves with a banner within this month. Thenguage for which the banner should be made has also been specified. Businesses can have their own text on the banner, but 40% should be in the Bharatinguage, 30% in the localnguage, 20% for the address of the business, and the remaining 10% ording to the owner''s wishes. The government has given a month''s time toply, and if a business is found without a banner after this period, they will be fined."


    Satish became thoughtful because he did not receive this information; perhaps he would get it at ater date. Nagappa, after finishing his orders, was about to leave. Suddenly, he remembered something important and hit his forehead with his hand, muttering, "Look at me, even this important thing I forgot." He then said, "Sir craftsman, before doing all that,e with me to the outskirts of the town; the banner for the town should be made first." Upon hearing that it was for the town''s banner, the craftsman also put down his work and apanied Nagappa. Satish followed along as he had to help out with the writing.


    Soon, the group arrived at the outskirts of the town, and the boulder, which served as a banner for the town, was quickly whitewashed by the craftsman. Satish helped outline the words "Wardha Grama," signifying the new designation of the town. Finally, with this change of the designation, they were being formalized in the governance system. Simr scenes unfolded in various towns and viges across the region. New towns and viges swiftly entered the governance structure, a development unseen before due to the abysmal management structure of the government.


    The government suddenly realized that there were a lot more viges in the Empire than they had previously calcted. Although these new viges were already known to the local administrative bodies, for some reason, they didn''t show up in the central government report. With the administrative divisions now clear, the Government of the Empire began assigning district, taluk, and post identities to the cities, towns, and viges that were found eligible.


    This caused quite a stir in the empire. The positive oue of this division was the exposure of many local or regional emperors who held a strong influence over viges of around a hundred or two hundred houses. Previously, they maintained connections with the administration in the nearest town, colluding with careerists to help cover their tracks. However, with the nationalization of the entire system, the foundation on which they relied to feel proud became non-existent, as their contacts, umted over generations, suddenly became useless. Multiple cases were unearthed throughout the empire, particrly in the Chpuri state, where individual pride runs high. After sensing that their status was threatened by the implementation of the vige-town-city and post-taluk-district system, many local leaders, deeply hidden in small mountain viges, emerged to cause trouble.


    These leaders,cking substantial knowledge due to consistently focusing on protecting their own backyards and relying solely on their connections to maintain power, suddenly turned into bandits near their viges, attempting to monopolize the influence that was threatened. Surprisingly, this turned out to be advantageous for the government, as the police force was swiftly dispatched. Even though the bandits and their men outnumbered the police whenparing total numbers, with the administrative division determined, resources were efficiently distributed. The Emperor''s BIP was also working hard to provide regional updates ASAP, and with intelligence, the police turned into swords, clearing trouble taluk by taluk and district by district. Within a month, all these issues were resolved, and millions of viges, hundreds of thousands of towns, and thousands of cities were firmly centralized under the government''s control.


    Unfortunately, this caused a lot of trouble for the government as the administrative work they suddenly acquired was more than they could handle.


    But the problems in the Empire did not end there. Arjun, the minister of internal affairs, came in worriedly. Vijay, who was going through the reform report, was surprised by his arrival. Vijay motioned him to sit down and asked him to exin his reaso for his arrival.


    Arjun replied with an aggrieved expression, "Your Majesty, the jails in the Empire are bing unsustainable. Due to the abundance of recent manpower, the reconstruction of temples has begun to bepleted one spot at a time. Because of this, the hundreds of thousands of Muslim prisoners, the rebels from before, and the bandits recently captured have rendered the jail unsustainable."


    "It has be too expensive to adhere to the Minister of Health''s hygiene, safety, and health regtions. Your Majesty, could you please consider reducing these safety and health regtions? Following them is turning out to be too costly for the jail."


    Hearing the reason, without hesitation, Vijay denied, "No, the health regtions cannot be reduced or changed, for that matter. If not for these regtions, with hundreds of thousands of prisoners living in tightly packed spaces, along with the sweat, blood, and dirt on their bodies, it is inevitable that a gue would break out. What if this gue spreads towards the civilians?"


    "It can''t be that exaggerated," Arjun thought, but he did not say it out loud, as his majesty looked to be very serious. He wanted to ask what the solution that is different would be, but seeing Vijay''s contemtive expression, he quieted down, thinking that his majesty coulde up with some idea. And an idea Vijay dide up with shortly after.


    "Let''s do this. I will find something else for these prisoners to do."


    "But your majesty, the reconstruction tasks are bing less and less week by week."


    "I will find some other project to do, but this time it will definitely take longer, and I need at least a million workers working on it. So there is no problem for these prisoners to do this task. The work schedule will be the same as before, also make sure that the work is divided sustainably. I don''t want this workforce to die due to the excessive load of work."


    "Yes, your majesty. I will make sure of it," Arjun said as he left the pce with a thoughtful expression. ''New project, what could his majesty be up to that needs a million workers? Is his majesty going to build a bigger road?'' ''But didn''t the minister of transportation, Nirmal, say that the road construction is in its end phase?''


    ''.....''


    ''...'' n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


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    Mithun_ReddyGaru


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 184 Building The Capital

    184 Building The Capital


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Vijayanagara (Karnataka).


    In arge two-storymercial building,


    An old man with grey hair and energetic eyes is looking over at the documents on his table. messy blueprints and manuscripts can be seen scattered around the room, and scrambled and crumpled architectural design drawings could be seen in the dustbin that had been overflowing.


    After looking at the new documents out of the existing pile on the table, the old man selected a few and kept them aside to review again at ater time. The rest, he crumpled up and threw towards the dustbin, which amusingly bounced off the mount of papers in the dustbin and fell outside.


    This old man is none other than Vishwakarma, the architect tasked with the reconstruction, repair, rebuilding, and construction of temples and monuments of Bharatiya Heritage. It was work as always for him. He had been living a very satisfied life all these months. Although he could not directly participate in the construction as he hoped, being in charge of the reconstruction and founding of temples all over the Empire filled him with great joy, seeing as how one monument after another continued to regain its past glory. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    *Knock, knock.*


    The door was suddenly knocked by someone. Intrigued as to who would want to disturb him, he called the person inside.


    Surprisingly, it was a soldier wearing the emblem of the royal family. It meant it should be the royal guard, Noticing this detail with his still sharp eyes, Vishwakarma quickly stood up to wee the guard inside. The guard, who was weed, did not insist on sitting down but conveyed the news as he was tasked to do.


    "Respected sir Vishwakarma, it is the order of his majesty Vijay Devaraya to ask for your presence in the royal pce tomorrow. His Majesty has an important task for you to handle."


    Hearing the guard''s message, Vishwakarma was surprised at first, but he replied, "Yes, sir guard, most definitely." Although he had work to deal with, he could not deny the emperor now, could he?


    "Then, sir, I will take my leave." The guard said as he bid farewell.


    A day ago, Vajrakarma, who was in Anuradhapuri (Sri Lanka), was also visited by the royal guards. Simr to what his master would receive, he also got an invitation from his majesty, the emperor. He was unwilling to go at first, as the Vishnu temple construction had been progressing efficiently, and he was worried that his absence might lead to mistakes. However, considering it was his majesty who demanded his presence, he could onlyply.


    The next day, Vishwakarma was surprised to meet Vajrakarma in the pce, as was Vajrakarma to meet his master.


    After exchanging information, they finally learned that it was his majesty who invited them both together. They found themselves in the waiting hall of the pce, awaiting his majesty''s arrival. Dignified maids served them with sweets and milk as they patiently waited. It did not take long for Vijay to arrive, as both master and disciple stood up to greet Vijay. "Long live your majesty, long live." Vijay nodded his head and had them sit down.


    Without further dy, so as not to waste the time of the two busy men, he got to the point.


    "The Empire has an abundance of free human resources. Not using them is a huge financial loss to the Empire. So, I have decided to start a new project now that the refurbishment of temples is almost finished, and the reconstruction of the ancient temples is going forward efficiently."


    Both the father and son looked at each other, notmenting on where the human resources came from, but Vishwakarma replied, "Just tell us what needs to be done, Your Majesty. No matter the cost, this old man will get it done."


    "Yes, I know that you want to retire after the construction of the temples, but this matter is of too much importance, so I need your expertise,"


    "I have decided to build the new capital of the Empire in Bangalore town. So, I have some ns. I need you to lead the architects in designing the new capital."


    Both the father and son were surprised by the news his majesty revealed. Although there were rumours in upper-ss circles that his majesty wanted to change the capital, it was the first time hearing the words from his majesty himself.


    But they soon recovered, not wanting to offend his majesty. Vishwakarma inquired, "It Can be done, your majesty, What ideas do you have?"


    Vijay nodded his head and shared his thoughts. "The capital I envisioned should not be any smaller than any great empire''s capital. The size of the new capital is designated to be 6 square kilometres, capable of housing 120,000 people.


    Also, four monuments would be built in the capital. One, the parliament building, two, the royal pce, three, the Bharat Mata temple, and four, the Bharatiya Academy of Civil Sciences. All of these monuments should be made with stone and Roman cement for them tost at least a millennium."


    Vishwakarma and Vajrakarma were shocked by theyout of his majesty. You have to know that even Agra is only capable of housing 200,000 people with its area being 5.18 square kilometres, but that is arge Empire, at least double the size of Dakshin Bhartiya Empire. So, the old man got excited again as he would get a chance to build the greatest city in the world.


    " We agree"


    After that day, the preparation work started immediately. The town Bengaluru, which used to exist, became known as the old town, further transitioning into a taluk in Bengaluru.


    Architects all over the Empire gathered urgently, putting away their tasks, and started surveying thend.


    Within a week, the survey waspleted. Vishwakarma, Vajrakarma, and architects proficient in different styles of architecture joined forces to design the four monuments of the city. All four architects incorporated design elements from all over the subcontinent, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, showcasing the inclusive and vast culture of the region. As a representation of the subcontinent''s Power centre, it was only fitting that the capital epassed all the cultures of the subcontinent. After various debates and with the indirect input of Vijay, who sent knowledge and inspiration seeds directly to the architects'' dreams, the parliament was decided as arge and tall 33-meter pink sandstone monument to be built with Rajasthani pink stone. As for how his majesty would acquire the stone from Rajasthan, it was for him to decide.


    The royal pce is decided to be built in a separate forest area with the height of 27 meters and a width of 150,000 meters. The pce is designed with expansion in mind, with the pirs being thicker than what is needed. This pce is on the outskirts of the new royal capital. It will be constructed with stone and Roman cement, covering a huge estateplete with forests and hills, taking up an area of 300 square kilometers. Although most of thend is forest, it is still arge plot ofnd.


    Even though the city is initially nned to cover only a 6 km urban area, its design takes into ount future growth and expansion. Vijay made this decision by considering the future potential of Bengaluru, which was one of thergest cities globally in the 21st century. In that era, Bengaluru spanned 750 square kilometres, experiencing continuous urban development and expansion with a poption reaching 18 million people. Now, as Bengaluru transforms into the capital of Akhand Bharat, Vijay has mandated that it bes its own capital territory, epassing a vast 2000 square kilometres. This territorial region is centred on the original 6 km Bengaluru urban area. Furthermore, all the small viges and towns falling within Bengaluru''s sphere of influence will be under the direct control of the central government.


    Bright minds collided, and the ns came together. The city was finally nned to be split between multipleyouts, with the centralyout consisting of the parliament building, the Academy of Sciences, the Bharat Mata temple, important government buildings and arge parade square for ceremonies to be held in the future. A residential district was also nned, radiating outwards from the central core, and the city would be divided into several residential districts. The prices of these districts are not fixed by the owner of thend i.e the Government and the royal family (before it was a forest), but as a principle of the free market, the areas closer to the core would be auctioned off at a higher price than the areas at the back. Areas are also dedicated to workshops and marketces to foster the economic activity of the capital. Vijay is nning to make this area a marketce only in the future after industrialization begins.


    A few areas closer to the central area are designated as the foreign affairs street, dealing with foreign guests and hosting delegates from abroad. In the near future, after Akhand Bharat is achieved, these streets dedicated to foreign affairs be filled with embassies of different countries, giving it the name the Embassy District of Bangalore.


    Next were the public amenities, with plots ofnd reserved for the construction of Sikh, Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist temples. These ces would be scattered throughout the city at varying locations. Additionally, plots ofnd were allocated for the construction ofrge gardens and toilets at each street corner. Taking inspiration from the Sindhu Valley Civilization (Indus), whose drainage system continued to function even after 5000 years, surpassing the effectiveness of the drainage system built by Pakistan that couldn''t even manage water flow. Prioritizing functionality, proper drainage, and waste disposal systems were nned to uphold the hygiene of the city. For water supply, awork of canals, wells, and aqueducts was nned. The main water source for the capital city would be the Arkavati River, a tributary of the Kaveri River.


    The Arkavati River originates in the Nandi Hills of Chikkabapura area of Vijayanagara state, flowing only 90 km away from the nned city. Vijay ordered the riverbed to be widened and a canal to be built from the nearest point of the river to arge reservoir nned for the city. As the Arkavati River is a seasonal river highly dependent on monsoons, to avoid heavy floods in the rainy season and drying up of water in summer, multiple dams and reservoirs would be built along its route in Vijayanagar state.


    Finally, when it came to the design of roads in the capital city, Vijay decided to take inspiration from Japanese scientists who used fungus in a maze to design the Subwaywork, making it one of the most efficient in the world. Vijay used the same concept by making the topological and geographic representation of Bangalore. The terrain was made into a 3 * 3 m representation, important buildings were ced, and destination points were marked with sugar cubes. Ants were released on the map, and soon, the ants navigated the most efficient route from one ce to another given the terrain.


    In this way, the roads of Bangalore were designed, making it the most well-thought-out metropolitan city in the world. The design earned praise from architects even in the future, acknowledging it as one of the most forward-looking Designs globally. The ancient capital not only kept the future in mind by utilizing natural means to design the roads but also left space on the side of the road for possible expansion in the future. Finally, with all factors considered, the group of architects led by Vishvakarma submitted the proposal to Vijay for his approval. After reviewing the details of the design, Vijay nodded his head as it adhered to his specifications, and he finally approved the construction of the capital.

 Chapter 185 The Trouble Of Geese And Planning The Constitution

    185 The Trouble Of Geese And nning The Constitution


    The next day, the change of the capital spread throughout the Empire like wildfire. The people were shocked as they could not understand what was wrong with their original capital. Why did His Majesty have to move it to some small town and rebuild the capital from scratch?


    Despite the doubts, the support for Vijay was unshakable among themon people. However, it was the elite of the old capital who were against this move. Their whole lives were invested in the old capital city, Hampi. As the Empire became stronger, the capital city of Hampi became more prosperous. Now, suddenly, if His Majesty moved the capital to some other ce, the contacts and rtionships they had built in the capital would be lost.


    So, they tried very hard to change the Emperor''s decision. Vijay did not believe the saying from hisst life that capitalists have a memory span of 3 seconds. But now, he could onlyugh bitterly and ept the fact that capitalists, if left unregted, would not even blink an eye to sell the rope that would eventually be used to strangle them.


    The small and medium-sized capitalists in the old capital city, forgetting about the ughter that took ce a few months back, began making covert moves such as bribing the police or civil servants to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, within a day of their attempts, they were invited to the police station after their small tricks were monitored by the Bhartiya Internal Pragya. This incident, leading to the arrests of multiple high-profile figures, marked the first discovery of the BIP.


    The revtion of the Bhartiya Internal Pragya surprised the people of the Empire, making them aware of the existence of such a department under the Emperor. It increased the deterrence of the royal family, especially on the elite families who were hesitant to try something regarding the move of the capital. The Bhartiya Internal Pragya swiftly dispelled their ideas.


    Despite this, the elite families banded together and made a plea with Vijay for a way out. Understanding the economic importance of these merchants, Vijay decided to sell them some primend in Bengaluru for a dirt-cheap price.


    Hence, the problem was solved in this manner. However, this was not the only issue resolved in the Empire with the construction of the new royal capital.


    In the outskirts of Mangaluru, there stands arge jailpound, stationed here for the prisoners.


    Today is not a typical day for the prisoners. Since they finished their work in the quarry, they were allowed to stay in the prison. Although the conditions were not great, at least they could rest most of the day. However, that is about to change today, as new work hase looking for them. Upon hearing this news, many prisoners wanted to escape the prison and get out of the hellish ce, but all attempts were failures.


    Unable to resist their fate of hard manualbour, they could only ept it. However, before leaving the prison, without missing a person, all the prisoners nced at something that was used to guard them. Looking into the prisoners'' eyes, a desire to Devoure the hateful thing could be seen. Surprisingly, what they were seeing was not a person or a monster but a bird that was not much taller than a chicken. Yes, these are geese, used as guard dogs in the outer perimeter of the prison.


    It was actually Vijay''s idea to use geese as guard dogs for the facility after being inspired by the Americans. He chose the bird for multiple reasons. Firstly, geese are intelligent and known for their problem-solving abilities. They also exhibit social intelligence, forming strong bonds with their flock and disying cooperative behaviour, such as taking turns leading the formation during a fight. Secondly, geese are highly territorial birds. They fearlessly protect their nesting territory and do not hesitate to use their beaks and wings to fend off intruders when threatened.


    Thirdly, geese have excellent eyesight, allowing them to detect potential threats from a considerable distance. Their keen vision and heightened senses, superior to humans, enable them to adapt better at night. Most importantly, geese are vocalmunicators, using loud hissing sounds as an alert system signal in the presence of potential danger. This serves as an early warning signal for the prison authorities about a jail escape attempt. Additionally, geese are not easily bribed, unlike dogs, which adds to their effectiveness.


    Basically, geese are an infrared-enabled siren, operating as a low-maintenance, automatically operated, artificial intelligence-enabled, low-cost, high-efficiency, autonomous system. So, it''s no wonder the prisoners dislike these vignt birds.


    The jobs quickly filled up as the quarry sites were full once again. Just after the reconstruction work on the temple sites ended, they were given two days of rest and then back to work. This time, the intricacy of the work was not too high, but the sheer amount of work was immense.


    Vijay, on the other hand, was working on something else ¡ª the constitution of the Bharatiya Empire.


    The idea of the governance system had been a recurring thought since his rebirth. Ultimately, as a result of the experience from the future and his present, Vijay concluded that the absolute monarchy system wouldn''t suit the most diverse country in the world, where one million cultures had one million requirements. Opting for a constitutional monarchy, somewhat simr to the British model but with distinctive features, Vijay aimed to create a unique governance system for Bharat. He nned to incorporate all the knowledge he had gained into the new constitution of the Bharatiya Empire.


    First things first, Vijay divided the executive and legitive branches. The executive branch held power butcked decision-making rights, while the legitive branch had decision-making rights butcked power. As a result, he decided to split the Department of Justice from the Ministry of Justice, and the Bharatiya Academy of Sciences from the Ministry of Education.


    Vijay made this decision because he nned two power structures within the Empire. First, is the Imperial Committee, which has the emperor as the head and soul leader. The Imperial Committeeprises six separate executive branches: the Military, the Bhartiya Internal Pragya, and the new Tax Department, with the authority for taxation by force like the Americans. These three ministries form the trishul of the Imperial Committee. The other three, representing the judicial division, the Academy of Science, and the Swatch Bharath Society, are known as the Brahma of the Imperial Committee.


    While there is already a Ministry of Education, Vijay wanted to maintain a bnce between the Imperial Committee and the government when it came to the education of future generations. The Academy of Science serves as an institution for the highest research in the Empire, and naturally, intellectuals aspire to join it. The academy conducts bleeding-edge research with state funding, focusing on areas that the private sector may not cover. This separation ensures a distinct and specialized focus on advanced research within the academy. Moreover, it guarantees that the academy has a significant influence on the curriculum of schools, a control Vijay insists on to avoid a repetition of the 21st century where invaders were glorified.


    Swachh Bharat Society is another interesting department designed by Vijay. it is an imperial and public-run society, where every citizen in the Empire has the right to join after passing the Civil exam that will be held in the future. Swachh Bharat Society has significant privileges, to the extent that it can scrutinize any ministry or department in the Empire. The primary goal of the Swachh Bharat Society is to minimize corruption within the government and the Imperial Committee. To ensure that there is no corruption within the society itself, Vijay set up a few rules.


    1. Any member of the Swachh Bharat Society will not serve in themittee for more than 2 years.


    2. Any member of the Swachh Bharat Society will not serve in their home state but will be assigned to a totally new state.


    3. No descendant or rtive of the selected member of the Swachh Bharat Society will be given a job in the society or any other government department.


    4. Swachh Bharat Society members caught being corrupt would be subject to capital punishment, regardless of the scale of corruption.


    Rules like these aim to maintain a clean and efficient executive branch within the Imperial Committee. Simr regtions are also applied across various branches of the Imperial Committee, ensuring rotation and preventing concentration of power. For instance, the Director of the Tax Bureau, Chief Justice of the Judicial Department, Chief Scientist of the Academy of Sciences, and top brass in the Intelligence Department are subject to changes at specified intervals, limiting their terms. Additionally, there''s a strict prohibition on having their descendants or rtives within the same unit. These measures contribute to the prevention of corruption and the promotion of transparency within the government.


    The exception to the term limits rule is applied to the military and the leader of the intelligence department. In these cases, qualifications and experience y a significant role, allowing for flexibility in leadership appointments based on expertise and strategic needs. However, even with this flexibility, there are checks and bnces in ce. For instance, the head of the military department, currently Kiran Pujari as the Marshal, follows a rotation system where both the Admiral and the Marshal take turns serving as the Minister of War. This ensures a level of scrutiny and shared responsibility within the military leadership. Vijay also strategically ces his trusted personnel as direct juniors to the military top dogs and the Chief of Intelligence, Selvan, with the right to override themands of their bosses in an emergency dered by Vijay.


    This was not the only stopgap, as the sries of all the Imperial Departments were funded directly from the Imperial Treasury, distinct from the Royal Treasury and the national treasury. Vijay, having experienced a small rebellion within the army, decided to tighten control over it. He implemented a 15.1% rule, wherein 15.1% of the fiscal revenue of the Empire would be allocated to the Imperial Treasury. This allocation was used to pay the six departments of themittee. Each department''s expenditure was fixed, with the military taking 5%, the intelligence department taking 2%, the tax department taking 2%, the judicial department taking 1%, the Academy of Sciences taking 3%, and the Swachh Bharat Society taking 2%. The remaining 0.1% was allocated as the sry for the Emperor as the head of state. The only time the rule can be changed is either during a Wartime economy, national emergency or financial emergency.


    The allocation may seem substantial, but each department has numerous sub-departments to manage. For example, the military department oversees the army, the navy, the Bharitiya Sainik Pragya (BSP), the Noble Bureau (details to be exined in the next chapter), logistics, and the Bharitiya Academy of Military Sciences. It also manages the military court, headed by a representative of the royal family, the judicial branch of the Brahma, and a member of the Ministry of Justice. With the Imperial Council outlined, the next consideration is the structure of the government. Drawing heavily from the future, Vijay decided to establish three permanent houses in the parliament: Liberals, Conservatives, and Radicals. These houses are not actual political parties but rather designations. Vijay banned the party system, deeming it a waste of resources. In the electoral process, individual members of the public stand for election after dering all their wealth and that of their direct and close rtives. If elected, the winning member chooses between the Conservatives or Liberals based on their ideology.


    The Radicals represent a special concept introduced by Vijay, reserved exclusively for the youth of the Empire. The Radical House consists of individuals aged 20 to 30, elected by the students of the country aged 16 and above, aiming to introduce the world of adults early on. While they may not possess significant legitive power, they have the ability to be heard in the Parliament. This allows the youth to present new and fresh ideas to the older members. Additionally, it is mandatory for the Parliament to implement at least one regtion proposed by the Radical House in a controlled environment.


    P.S. I acknowledge it might seem overly idealized. I have more details to share, but delving further might make it resemble a report. Therefore, I''ll share an image on Discord. I hope this chapter provides readers with a general understanding. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

 Chapter 186 School Structuring , Balancing Powers

    186 School Structuring , Bncing Powers


    As Vijay was working on the constitution, he called in a few ministers to helpy the groundwork for the big changes that were going to shake up the empire''s power structure. One of them, Raghavendra Bhatt, the Minister of Education, showed up at Vijay''s office pretty quick. Raghavendra, a middle-aged guy dressed in saffron, gave a respectful bow and a "Namaskara" as he greeted Vijay, "Long live Your Majesty. Long live, Long live."


    After the usual pleasantries, Vijay handed Raghavendra a document that outlined the proposed changes in the education department. He then got straight to the point, telling Raghavendra why he''d called him in. "I intend to grant some legitive privileges to the young people of the Empire. This news will be revealed in a week, as Massive changes are about to take ce. But by that time, I need at least the structure of education institutions in the Empire to be clear."


    Hearing this, Raghavendra Bhatt, despite being a knowledgeable schr in his own right, was puzzled by what His Majesty was talking about. What does granting legitive rights to young people mean? What do the young people know about participating in the governance of the Empire? Although he wanted to ask these questions, considering that His Majesty is also a young man, he refrained from saying something offensive. So he hesitantly agreed in order to fully understand what His Majesty''s n was. "Please instruct me, Your Majesty; I will get the job done."


    "Okay, it is nothing, actually. I need you to formalize the education in the Empire. Not like now, where although the schools are spreading rapidly, the content and age groups joining are mixed. So, clearly divide the levels of education a person is receiving. I have roughly divided education in the Empire into 4 stages: the school, the college, the university, and the post-graduate.


    The school is generally for kids aged from 5 to 16, covering a total of 11 years starting from UKG and ending with the 10th standard. They will be taught a wide range of subjects, including core topics like science, arithmetic, general knowledge, Bharatiya history, and life skills.


    As for college, it is for teenagers aged from 16 to 18 who have kind of figured out what direction their life will take. At this stage, they would learn the general spectrum of whatever they are interested in. It is also at this stage that they will be introduced to junior politics, as each institution is obligated to have its own student political body connected to the Radical House of the Parliament.


    Afterpleting college, if their aim is to pursue higher and deeper study in their field of interest, universities fulfil that role. Typically, teenagersplete their degrees in 2-4 or more years, depending on the course they choose. Another option is that afterpleting college or university if the person is gifted in leadership, They could pursue a career in the Radical House as a politician until the age of 30, although it is highly unsteady as a career choice. A wrong move can get them out of the seat they are in, but still, it''s a ce of grunt work and experience for the ambitious. If the person wants to pursue further education and scientific discovery, they could join the Academy of Sciences toplete their post-graduate degree, with guaranteed employment afterwards, either in the Academy of Sciences or as a professor in college. So, all in all, I need you, Raghavendra Bhatt, to polish out all the details ording to my request and submit it to me for it to be officially put into motion."


    Raghavendra Bhatt diligently wrote down all the instructions Vijay gave him, quickly leaving to fulfil his tasks as time was tight.


    The next person called was the Minister of Justice, Bhuvan, along with the Finance Minister, Jagannath Mohan.


    "Sit down," Vijay said to the two ministers who had just arrived.


    Bhuvan and Jagannath Mohan sat down, not getting a clue why they were called. Soon, Vijay conveyed the reason.


    "The reason why I invited you both is because there is an important matter to discuss with you. First, Bhuvan, take a look at this."


    Vijay handed over the outline n of the Judicial Department to the Imperial Committee, which would act as an executive branch separate from the legitive branch. He also exined the different powers and objectives of both branches through the outline he gave. Bhuvan had been handling both affairs until now, but upon reading the document and realizing that half of his power would be stripped away, he became sad. However, he soon recovered, understanding the reason for this division as many times even his own subordinates had misused this privilege.


    Seeing that Bhuvan epted the changes so quickly, Vijay felt satisfied and encouraged. "I hope you continue to be the Minister of the Judicial Department as you have been doing an excellent job by bringing newws and regtions to the Empire. I hope you continue to do that. Don''t worry about the loss of the executive powers. The time for a person to be a Chief Justice is only a few years, but in the legitive branch, you get a longer time. With your achievements, I have no doubt that you can retain your position."


    "Yes, thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I will do my best."


    Next, Vijay talked with Jagannath Mohan about taking away the taxation privileges from the Ministry of Finance. Jagannath Mohan was actually very disappointed about this change because taxation ounted for a major part of the powers of the Financial Department. Although it was originally His Majesty''s right, after having such influence, he felt a little reluctant to give it away. ording to His Majesty, he could still be the Director of Taxation in the executive branch, but then he would only be in power for a few years. However, that came with the price of never being able to participate in politics again after his service. Not only him, but even his descendants would not be able to participate until his death. Although after his death, there is no such restriction, who can be sure his contacts would be functional after his death? So, reluctantly, Jagannath Mohan also epted the general trend of the Empire.


    Next, Vijay called Vinod and exined the reform of the government in the Empire. Vinod was initially shocked because, ording to His Majesty''s n, he would get the right to control most of the ministries in the Empire, including the three main ministries: the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Bharatiya External Pragya. All three, dealing with force, knowledge, and resources, were given to him. Wasn''t his position just the second for the Empire? Vinod thought as he could not understand why His Majesty would do such a thing. So, he directly asked, "Your Majesty, I do not understand why you are doing this. Doing so would lead to a high chance that the Empire will no longer be under your control," Vinod warned. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Vijay felt happy and relieved that Vinod, despite being given such an opportunity to be the second inmand of the Empire, chose to warn him of the consequences. He smiled and replied.


    " Vinod, do you really think that it is possible to conquer and establish a united Bharati Empire just by myself? There are millions of cultures in ournd, and those millions of cultures have millions of different demands. How can it be possible that a single person like myself can govern a poption of hundreds of millions of people? Don''t you wonder why no empire that originated from our mothend, Bharat, was able to maintain the unified empire they had conquered? Isn''t the copse of their empires because of internal strife? So, my goal is not to build an empire that will onlyst a few centuries, but a great and united Bharatiya Empire where all cultures will get their representation ording to their strength in the parliament the people run. Also, don''t underestimate the powers I have. I have the right to dissolve the Parliament whenever I need. I can dere a national financial or military emergency whenever I see fit. All the taxation of the empire should directly go through me, and I am in control of one intelligence agency directly and one indirectly in order to keep the government in check. So, I am not really powerless, and you don''t have to worry about me losing control of the government under my watch. But after me," Vijay said in a contemtive expression, " who knows."


    Vinod finally left the pce with a thoughtful expression after listening to what His Majesty had to say.


    Vijay continued to work diligently on the constitution of the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, anticipating its role as the foundation for the United Bharatiya Empire. In a strategic move, he implemented restrictions on politicians to deter them from promoting their family members in politics. Specifically targeting existing politicians, the restriction disallows their children from participating in elections, even for the Radical House of the Parliament. The intention is to curb the potential abuse of influence and reputation to secure political positions for their offspring, ensuring equal opportunities for everyone to ascend the social hierarchy. Vijay explicitly articted this provision within the Constitution, reflecting hismitment to infuse new talent into the politicalndscape every five years, despite the associated resource expenditure, which he deems justifiedpared to the expenses incurred in political propaganda during his previous life.


    Speaking of propaganda, Vijay incorporated a use in the Constitution stipting that every media entity in the Empire must be privately owned and entirely ountable to its owner. He introduced this provision to minimize the influence of politicians, elites, and capitalists on the media by severing shared interests. While this approach may lead to the prevalence of family-owned media entities, Vijay is unconcerned, as the media is not highlypetitive in terms of technology. Any technological advancements in the future were universally adopted across the media industry. Therefore, the primary focus of the media remains the content and delivery of news. In a diversendscape of numerous private mediapanies, only the most trustworthy and user-friendly are expected to thrive. Vijay also implemented this measure to safeguard against potential foreign interference in the media in the future.


    In summary, Vijay established a governance structure that maintains a delicate bnce between an emperor and a Prime Minister. While initially, both the Emperor and the Prime Minister appear to have equal rights, potentially leading to disagreements and even civil unrest, Vijay designed the system to ensure the Empire remains highly centralized under the leadership of a capable individual. This capable leader could assume the role of either the emperor or the Prime Minister, depending on who has more control of the empire with the tools given. Vijay crafted the power structure akin to a seesaw, where the weights on both sides are loosely identical. If one side gains strength, it tends to tilt the power in its favour, as some weights from the opposing end shift towards it. Simrly, if a Prime Minister is a formidable figure like Bismarck, certain powers of the Emperor be less effective, as some powers of the Prime Minister counteract those of the Emperor and it is constitutional to influence the executive powers through the emperor. The same principle holds for a powerful emperor, who can potentially suppress the Prime Minister and make him a tool man and the government a glorified employee organisation. Vijay falls under the second type of scenario with his achievement and influence.


    Finally, Vijay outlined the election process for the government and for the position of Prime Minister.


    P.S. The Next chap is thest in this Arc I promise. Like it ? Add to library£¡


    Mithun_ReddyGaru

 Chapter 187 Nobility, Inheritance, Election Part :1

    187 Nobility, Inheritance, Election Part :1


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, satavahana state ( Maharashtra ) Amravati City.


    Near the Ancient Shri Ambadevi Temple in Amravati, there is a monk dressed in white overalls adorned with a Mupatti, a white mask worn by Jain followers to prevent idental harm to microbes in the air. This monk is named Kishore Bbhadra, standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall with a lean build reminiscent of a strong farmer. Originally born into a noble family, Kishore faced neglect due to being a bastard conceived from a lower-caste woman. Initially harbouring anger for being disregarded, his life took a turn when his mother noticed his unusual mood swings. Concerned, she took him to a Jain monk named Jagannath Varma. Under Varma''s teachings and care, Kishore relinquished his obsession with revenge and embraced the path of a Jain monk. His disinterest in familial ties persisted, especially after the passing of his mother due to a strange illness and his master due to old age.


    Since then, he has shed the baggage of typical human rtionships, retaining only the name Bbhadra from his father''s lineage. Not because he feels attached to the family anymore, but because the name Bbhadra resonates well with his journey. ording to Jain teachings, Bbhadra is among the sixty-three illustrious beings called ?al¨¡k¨¡puru?as, who are said to grace every half cycle of time. Jain cosmology suggests that ?al¨¡k¨¡puru?as are born on this earth in every Dukhama-sukham¨¡ ara. Legend has it that his father''s family was once blessed by Lord Bbhadra, but unfortunately, the blessing seemed to run out as the Bbhadra noble family participated in the rebellion against the emperor and perished.


    When he was aimless and traversing the Empire from one ce to another, he halted in Amravati, where he discovered sce and purpose. Arriving in Amravati just after the Then Vijayanagar Empire conquered the Satavahana state, witnessing the aftermath of wars and oppression, he resolved to dedicate his life to the well-being of all.


    Since then, he has applied his knowledge and seeded in bing a civil servant. Fortunately, with the blessings of Lord Adinath of Amravati (Jain God) and considering the scarcity of literate individuals at that time, he secured a position as a civil servant, rapidly ascending the ranks until he became the administrative head of Amravati. Despite receiving praise from the people for his effective leadership, which he initially disliked, attributing it to his noble family background and high-standard Gurukul training, he eventually epted the praise for what it was. He realized that he couldn''t change who he was or his past; all he could do was utilize the knowledge he gained for a good cause. However, it wasn''t all praise, as he faced dislike from subordinates due to his stringent approach with zero tolerance for mistakes.


    Kishore Bbhadra was doing his work as usual in Amravati City. Today was the day he would implement the hygiene regtions sent by the Ministry of Health. Surprisingly, he heard a knock on his door. Intrigued as to who it was, he told the guest toe in. To his surprise, the one who entered his room was a royal guard. The royal guard, upon seeing the white-clothed monk, bowed his head. He opened the bag he was carrying and, with two hands, handed over the letter written by His Majesty Vijay Devaraya. Intrigued, Kishore also took the letter and read it fully. He was shocked after reading the letter because it was written that His Majesty had instructed him to resign as the administrative head of Amravati ande to the capital as he had an important assignment for him.


    Vijayanagara state, Hampi.


    After a day of travel, Kishore Bbhadra finally made it to the capital. Swiftly, he was taken to the royal pce after some rest. Entering the royal pce, he was greeted by the old prime minister. Subsequently, the guards who were leading him disappeared. The old minister, Ravichandra Rao, led him to the room where His Majesty was waiting for him. Seeing the young man in the luxurious room, he respectfully bowed down and greeted, "Long live your majesty, long live, long live."


    Vijay, looking at the white-clothed middle-aged monk, nodded his head as he was looking forward to meeting him, the person who would eventually have a high position in the empire.


    "Respected monk, please sit down. I have some important responsibilities for you to handle."


    Kishore Bbhadra quickly sat down at the edge of the chair and leaned forward, waiting for His Majesty to assign the task.


    Vijay took out a file from the cupboard beside him and handed it to Kishore. As Kishore read the document, Vijay went on to exin,


    "I am working on reforms for the empire, where the three main entities of the constitution¡ªthe government, imperialmittee, and Election Nobility and Exams Commission (ENEC)¡ªare used to govern the empire. Naturally, the reason I called you is that I deem you capable of leading the election Nobility and examsmission."


    Kishore Bbhadra was taken aback by this revtion. From the details he was studying, he realized he would have a lot of power in the Empire for a short period. It could also be called near-emperor-level power for a duration. ording to the document, the Election Nobility and Exams Commission or ENEC is an independent entity different from the legitive and executive branches. During the election of politicians, the assignment of nobility, and during the main civil, police, school, college, and university examinations, the ENEC has full control over 25% of the standing army of the Empire. Basically, the Election Nobility and Exams Commission is an entity that can dere a national holiday and bandh on three different asions only. Reading all this, he could not understand why His Majesty the Emperor would choose a monk like him to wield such great power because he knew that with great poweres great responsibility.


    Vijay, as if he understood the monk''s thoughts, answered, "I have been searching for suitable talents for this position over the past two months. The head of this entity should be without a family and a dedicated social worker who puts duty above his own well-being. Out of many candidates, you were selected because you meet all these conditions, and you also passed the tests I have put in ce."


    "Tests?" Kishore asked with a doubtful expression, as he did not go through a trial as far as he could remember.


    "You may not know this, but the constant pestering of that beautiful woman, the rich merchant, and the hoodlums you dealt with were arranged by me. Also, the rumour that there was a miracle happening in Amravati was spread to me in order to see if you could handle the influx of people. But to my surprise, even that test was passed by you with flying colours, as the incident was handled immactely."


    Kishore Bbhadra quickly understood and expressed his emotions with a wry smile. ''It looks like His Majesty has thoroughly investigated me,'' he thought. But then, he was also relieved that His Majesty did not mind his origin.


    Soon, he agreed to the arrangements made by His Majesty, as he could feel that his new position was of great importance. Although he could only stay in the position for 10 years, he is confident that with his work ethic and discipline, he would prove to the people hispetence as the observer of the Empire.


    Oh yes, the head of the Election Nobility and Exams Commission (ENEC)will be called the observer. Themission will have a special provision of military control of the Empire for a limited duration under the Election Nobility and Exams Act of the Constitution. The observer could only be a monk who has no family, and an observer can serve in office for only 10 years and could be reelected if the people find that the elections and exams have been implemented well.


    Kishore soon left the pce.


    Vijay was left alone as he finally decided to conclude the constitution. After going through the constitution he had written a few more times, he finally took up a nk leather strip and wrote a royal edict.


    The next day.


    2 months for Ugadi and 3 months for thepletion of troops''bat effectiveness.


    The Royal edict, which passed through the Empire, caused quite a stir. This time was different from the first few times in which His Majesty called for themencement of government meetings because, this time, the elite of society were also included along with the ministers of the Empire. Intellectuals and Gurus also showed up as they were invited. Everyone gathered at the pce grounds where the seatings were arranged. Tukaram was also invited and sat in the front row. The ministers also arrived, and the security of the pce grounds was increased. Along with the royal guards, an additional 50 infantry squads were arranged for security. The hundreds of seats on the pce grounds quickly filled up. The weather conditions were also very good; although not too sunny, it was just right with a warm atmosphere all over the pce grounds.


    "Dhum dhum dhum"


    To Be Continued...


    P.S. I did want to end this arc with this chap, but as I wrote It became 4500 words so I will split it into 3 chaps. I will release the rest of the 2 chaps shortly.


    P.S. Edit, I changed the observer''s military privilege to 25%.


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    Mithun_ReddyGaru n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 188 Nobility, Inheritance, Election Part :2

    188 Nobility, Inheritance, Election Part :2


    Dakshina Bharatiya Empire, Vijayanagara State, Hampi, Pce Grounds.


    "Dhum dhum dhum."


    The drums rang out as Vijay finally made his entrance through the red carpet that had been rolled out through the centre of the crowd.


    As Vijay passed through the crowd, all the ministers, intellectuals, and elites rose from their seats and bowed down to Vijay as they greeted, "Long live your majesty, long live, long live." Vijay was wearing a purple dhoti with a yellow scarf covering his upper body and adorned with multiple jewels. He walked through the crowd looking majestic, while Kavya followed behind him, dressed in a purple silk saree, looking beautiful as always. Making it to the front row, Kavya sat on the dedicated seat provided for her.


    Vijay made his way onto the dais, looking back at the crowd with a confident expression. Finally, he turned around and took his seat. After a little girl sang the Ganapathi Mantra for an auspicious beginning, Vijay began his speech.


    "Respected ministers, schrs, and elites of the society, you have my gratitude for attending this event. Today marks a turning point in the empire''s long and prosperous history. It is the day when the Empire leaves behind its old, outdated, and medieval way of life for a prosperous modern world."


    The audience looked forward to what His Majesty Vijay Devaraya would unveil, but some of the ministers disyed no expression, already aware of some of the reforms His Majesty was about to implement, and the earth-shaking changes it would bring.


    "From today, it starts the period of transition until the end of the month."


    The people below did not understand what the period of transition meant, but they kept listening. They could feel that it was an important matter, seeing how the important ministers stiffened their bodies.


    "The Empire, since its founding in the 14th century, has been an absolute monarchy throughout the 13 generations of kings before me. However, from now on, it will be a constitutional monarchy, in which I relinquish some of my powers for the betterment of the people and the empire."


    "What!"


    "Huhhhhhhhh" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    This caused a huge uproar among the crowd. They could not understand what His Majesty meant by giving up some of his powers. Kavya was also taken aback by this move from Vijay, but she quickly settled down, as she did not care what Vijay did as long as it was his decision, And she, being his wife, was sure that it was his decision and there was no outside influence. If it were her father, he would oppose his son-inw doing something like this. But Kavya did not care. She did not have any good feelings towards the position of the royal family because of the tragedy experienced by her own family.


    "What is His Majesty talking about?"


    "I don''t know. Do you know?"


    "Is His Majesty being controlled by someone?"


    "Who can control His Majesty in this entire subcontinent? Even the Mughals would not. As for the nobles, don''t even ask."


    "Hey, you both, stop specting. We are just some small-time merchants. Shut up and listen."


    Vijay waved his hand, calming the uproar. Then he went on to say, "Let the Pratham Mantri (Prime Minister) Vinod exin the reform content," and returned to his seat.


    Vinod came up on the stage and started his speech, "Respected ministers, nobles, elites, and schrs, first let me exin the concept of the constitution. A constitution is a set of fundamental rules that determine how a country or an Empire is run. For the betterment of the Empire, His Majesty himself decided to be tied down to a set of rules he created."


    p, p, p.


    Intense apuse rang through the pce grounds. Though the people couldn''t fully understand, they could conclude that His Majesty came up with a set of rules that he and the people should follow.


    "Now let me tell you about one of the three entities of the Empire''s constitution¡ªthe government. This term should be known to everyone by now as you have already dealt with me or the set of ministers. From now on, the government will be a political body that moves forward for the betterment of the people of the Empire. It will officially be an independent body from the emperor. The government, from now on, will be an equal entity with the imperial council and the Election Nobility and Exams Commission (ENEC), which will be exined shortly.


    The government will be divided into two main parts: the central government and a state government. A central government is the controlling power over the unitary Empire, and a state government is a governing body with power over the unitary state, for example, Chpuri.


    ording to the constitution, the citizens of the Empire who are eligible can vote for a representative among the people themselves. One representative is chosen for a single district, and these elected parliament members can choose the house of their preference after winning the election¡ªeither conservative or liberal, depending on their campaign and what their voters need. The elected person then serves as a Member of Parliament (MP), and the leader selected among them will be the Mukhya Mantri of the state (CM). The Mukhyamantri can then form a state government."


    The central government is also formed through a simr election process, but the Pradhan Mantri will be elected by the Members of Parliament across the Empire. The person who wins the election bes the Pradhan Mantri and forms the central government. The term of duty for a minister in both state and central is 5 years, after which they could potentially be re-elected.


    '''' ... ''''


    '''' ... ''''


    Vinod finally finished his introduction bypleting the speech with an exnation of the consequences of being a minister, such as dering wealth and not allowing any family members to participate in politics until the death of the parliament member, etc. Discussion broke out, with a loud noise of people mumbling among themselves.


    "Doesn''t that mean even I, not being a noble and just a small merchant, could be a member of parliament?"


    "It does look like it, But why did His Majesty make it like this."


    "Who cares? All I care about is that wemon people are also eligible to participate in the election. The only bad taste in the mouth is that even those from low castes get a reservation in the parliament. What a waste."


    "Yeah, that is also one thing. Hey, didn''t you notice that there is no way to make a lot of money by being a politician? The Prime Minister just said that the collusion of politicians with merchants would be punished by death. Also, all donations should be dered. Does this not cut off our path? How can we make money if the merchants are not allowed to fund the election?"


    Multiple discussions like this among the smart people who quickly grasped the concept broke out, butmon discussion among them is that a lot of people are happy because they see adder that would lead them to the topmost power position in the Empire.


    The only losers are the ministers who will be subject to re-election and the nobles whose power has been depleted. Unfortunately, most of the nobles are dead orpletely suppressed by Vijay.


    " What is this guy thinking? If he wants to give up his power, why should he involve us too?"


    "....."


    "..."


    Discussions like these among nobles took ce, although they were in a very hushed voice as they did not want to be heard.


    Vinod, addressing some questions, answered them with rity, "The sry of the ministers is not fixed, as it depends on the growth of the Empire. If the Empire grows at a good pace, you could potentially earn the money merchants earn in a decade, because each minister in power gets a sry of 0.1% of what the department contributed to the Empire''s growth."


    Vijay made these rules to prevent politicians from colluding with capitalists to exploit the nation and the people. That is the main reason Vijay decided on such an exorbitant amount of sry. In the context of India in his past life, the time of his ident was a 5 trillion dor economy as the thirdrgest economy in the world, which was bested by USA and China. The economy grew by 7% every year, increasing the revenue by 350 billion dors per annum. ording to his new regtion of 0.1% sry, a pool of 350 million would be formed to be distributed among the ministers of the central government, hence making the ministers millionaires and multi millionaires in just a single year.


    Oh yes, Vijay also put down a rule that all the money erned should only be used on industries they are not in control of, and that too, the money could only be used after resigning orpleting the term of the minister.


    Finally, after Vinod cleared everyone''s doubts, he got down the stage with a loud apuse. Seeing this scene, Vijay was satisfied, as he was confident that with his help and Vinod''s own achievements, the position of Prime Minister would be confirmed.


    To Be Continued...


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    Mithun_ReddyGaru

 Chapter 189 Nobility, Inheritance, Election Part :3 (200 Word Monologue At The End)

    189 Nobility, Inheritance, Election Part :3 (200 Word Monologue At The End)


    Dakshina Bharatiya Empire, Vijayanagara State, Hampi, Pce Grounds. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Next, it was Ravichandra Rao who got on the stage. Immediately, everyone silenced down for the old prime minister to speak.


    "The second entity of the constitution is the imperialmittee, where His Majesty the emperor controls the military of the Empire, the internal intelligence, taxation, executive judicial division, The Academy of Sciences, and the Swachh Bharat society."


    "..."


    "....."


    "....."


    He then went on to exin what each department is responsible for and also His Majesty''s share of 15.1% of the fiscal revenue of the Empire.


    Hearing this, everyone quieted down as they looked at the power His Majesty possesses. It is not weaker than the government; on certain asions, His Majesty''s power remained unchanged, as he could dissolve the parliament whenever necessary.


    It was then that the smart people, who were actually the majority among the crowd as the crowd was filled with elites, discovered that His Majesty the Emperor was actually the supreme ruler of the Empire, and the prime minister was just a puppet under him. Considering that His Majesty could influence the parliament with the various departments he controls, including theplete control of the military, the so-called constitution is not much of a hindrance to him. The only department that could remotely harm His Majesty is the Swatchh Bharat Society. However, it begs the question: why would the royal family need to embezzle state money when they are already the richest in the empire? So, in actuality, the chains Vijay made are invisible to him.


    The less intelligent among the crowd thought it was unnecessary, as His Majesty was eating the food by the hand that went around his neck.


    Finally, after Ravichandra Rao finished the speech and cleared the doubts, it was the monk Kishore Bbhadra who made a first time appearance in public. He stood on the stage as he was stared at by hundreds of curious and inquiring gazes. If it was anyone else in his position, they would already run away or pee their pants, but Kishor was different. He was not scared of these elites as he had nothing to fear even under the gaze of the emperor. So, he bowed his head as a greeting and went on to exin his duties as the observer of the Empire, the leader of the third entity in the constitution of Bharat.


    "....."


    After his exnation, the audience of elites finally became acquainted with the monk again as they discovered the extent of power he held during elections and examinations. What intrigued them even more was the power of nobility selection he possessed, which the monk said, would be revealed shortly.


    Finally, Vijay took the stage again as he started with a sentence that sent shockwaves down the nobles.


    "From this day onwards, the old noble titles will no longer be epted. All the nobles in the Empire will no longer get the privileges they are ustomed to."


    "It''s over, it''s over," said an elderly noble as he fainted.


    "Whattttt "


    "Nooooo!"


    The scene across the crowd mirrored a mixture of emotions, with some nobles fainting and others struggling to suppress their feelings. Some wanted to get up, yell, or storm out of the event to express their dissatisfaction, but they refrained, well aware that challenging His Majesty the Emperor would be futile. They finallyprehended His Majesty''s n ¨C he aimed to rece them and enlistmoners to aid in ruling the empire. Initially, they felt fortunate for not joining the rebellion and colluding with His Majesty''s cousin. However, now they were filled with regret, pondering if joining could have preserved their power. Such thoughts permeated their minds.


    Ignoring them, Vijay continued, "The new nobility of the Empire will no longer be based on lineage. Instead, it is a position earned by the person themselves. Nobilityes in different forms: court nobles given to politicians after winning the election, civilian nobles given tomon people contributing to the well-being of the Empire, military nobles selected among soldiers and citizens after reaching a certain merit and showing great bravery and valour for the cause of the Empire. Lastly, the Merchant nobles were granted noble titles for pioneering new industries that boosted the economy of the Empire."


    The nobility is divided into five sses, and they are granted to anyone eligible by the observer except for the Military nobility. Military nobility operates differently, with the Nobility Bureau in the military calcting the merits of soldiers and assigning the noble title with the permission of various departments. To ensure fairness in the distribution of titles, the requirements for obtaining a title are openly published, allowing anyone meeting the criteria to be considered.


    The fifth rank of nobility is held only by myself, the Emperor and the fourth rank is upied by the Prime Minister of the Empire and various kings selected for each state. The selected kings will have a simr reduced version of powers to the Emperor but at the state level. Nobility titles will be taken away after the death of the holder. The only exception is the Devaraya royal family, who will have a permanent position as the king of the Empire in various states rotating every emperor''s term.


    The benefits of nobility could vary from one type to another, butmon among the benefits is tax relief.


    Finally, the position of the Emperor," Vijay stopped, looked at the crowd, took a breath, and said loudly, "WILL NOT BE HEREDITARY."


    Thisst remark made Kavya, who was sitting rxed, stand up as she could not believe what Vijay said. Was he disappointed with her not being able to bear a child? If so, why not just marry a new wife? Does he like her so much that he is willing to let the great Deva Raya royal family end with him? She could not help but sob silently, as she did not know whether to feel happy or sad.


    This reaction was not only by Kavya, as even the ministers stood up in shock, as they were also not informed. This included the Shetty family, as Vijay''s grandfather and uncle red at Vijay for making such a decision. It was a decision of a madman.


    Sunil Shetty red at Ravichandra Rao as if asking, ''Why did you not stop him?'', seeing that Ravichandra Rao was in a calm mood. Sunil could see that the old minister knew this information beforehand.


    It was actually Vijay who made an exception and told the news to the old man, as he was worried that he would get a heart attack and die. Seeing that the crowd stood up in an uproar and made a lot of noise, Vijay became angry, as they did not sit down when he waved his hand.


    So he roared.


    "ENOUGH," a resounding roar echoed through the hall, silencing the murmurs and hushed conversations. The weight of Vijay''s roar hung in the air as all eyes turned to the Emperor.


    "The royal lineage, spanning 14 generations from the visionary Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, the founders of our glorious kingdom, to my esteemed great-grandfather Krishnadevaraya, and the legacy continued through my grandfather and my father, Sri Rangaraya. Over the course of nearly four centuries, our family has witnessed the ebb and flow of prosperity, weathering both the benevolent and the malevolent tides of time. The empire has faced challenges and triumphs, moments of ascent, and inevitable declines. Yet, the present era is marked by an unprecedented shift. In a world where one misstep can crumble even mightier empires, where uncertainty looms on the horizon, we stand at a crossroads.


    In these intricate and turbulent times, the mantle of leadership must rest upon capable shoulders. The age-old saying that ''Might make right'' has persisted, but true prosperity for an empire lies not just in the strength of the mighty but in a path for the weak to rise. Only through a passage for the weak to be strong can the empire thrive. For, if strength emerges from the weak without a clear way forward, the very strength, once nurtured from the feeble environment of lowliness, bes hard and strong with trials and tribtions, will then bursts through the confines imposed by the ''Strong'' Masters, taking the whole system with it."


    Vijay''s face glowed with seriousness as he spoke.


    "I solemnly dere that no descendant of mine shall meet their demise due to ipetence, nor shall they mark the end of the revered lineage that has governed this Empire across 14 generations. The blood and sacrifice poured into the foundation of this empire have left an indelible mark on my mind. As an emperor, I have withstood the weight of my ambition, a heavy burden that apanies the majesty of this Crown. The crown upon my head, seemingly regal, carries the gravity of my sins and the weight of the Empire.


    I refuse to let this sacred legacy, cultivated through centuries of ancestors'' efforts, be a mere pawn in the hands of a wayward scion bearing my name. Havingmitted deeds both dark and consequential, I recognize the magnitude of my actions in the pursuit of maintaining this Empire. The throne, far from a symbol of mere authority, has be a symbol of my bondage, my own bondage to the Empire.


    Upon reaching the twilight of my years, I pledge to relinquish the throne, passing the sceptre to one chosen by the very heartbeat of our Empire¡ªthemon people. In this Generational transition, the power to elect the emperor shall rest solely in the hands of the masses. Neither the privileged elites nor the influential nobles shall sway this sacred choice. The voice of themon people, resonating through their votes, shall determine the heir to the throne.


    "Should my descendant aspire to ascend to the imperial mantle, they shall receive the privilege of a head start, courtesy of their lineage. However, beyond this, they will have topete with the kings chosen by the emperor. Finally, their destiny lies in the hands of the people. The mantle of emperorship is not a birthright but a testament to the will and trust of the Empire''s citizens¡ªa testament that I entrust to the democratic spirit of themon folk to decide their sovereign."


    "So, my esteemed citizens, the destiny of our cherished Empire now rests in your capable hands. Select your ministers with discernment, for it is you who will shape the path forward. The election process is set tomence a month from now, following the transition period of a month. To participate in this pivotal event, familiarize yourselves with the constitution through thorough reading and sessfulpletion of the civil exam, scheduled tomence in just three weeks.


    As we usher in a new era, the inaugural parliamentary session will convene shortly after the joyous asion of Ugadi, two months from today. In this Land of possibilities, may your choices be guided by wisdom, fairness, and a collective vision for our prosperous future.


    In closing, let us seek the blessings of the Almighty. May God bestow upon you the strength to choose wisely, and may His divine blessings grace our beloved Bharat with prosperity and harmony. Thank you, and may the journey ahead be filled with the light of a promising dawn."


    P.S. Is it too overboard? It seems like it. Sorry.


    P.S. Some readers have expressed disapproval of the electoral monarchy. However, consider this: Vijay will expedite the timeline and usher in the industrial age more quickly. With his prestige and the training his children would receive from him, they likely maintained the throne until the 19th century solely based on Vijay''s influence. After that, it may not differ much from the 21st century in terms of technology, when the absolute rule of the strong is expected toe to an end.


    Also, note that only new politicians keep emerging, and no political dynasty is present. This provides multiple decades for the emperor to learn and exercise his power. Vijay''s descendants, as the only continuous dynasty, will always have a dedicated royal seat. It will only take a talented individual to ascend the throne or an exceptional person to fully tilt the power of the Empire in their favour, eventually bing an autocratic monarch.


    Another reason Vijay chose not to implement this reform after Akhand Bharat is that it would be more challenging withkhs of nobles.


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    Mithun_ReddyGaru

 Chapter 190 The Ahom Kingdom

    190 The Ahom Kingdom


    Northeast of the Bharatiya subcontinent.


    In the northeast of the subcontinent lies and blessed with beauty and natural resources. On thisnd, there is a powerful regional kingdom called the Ahom Kingdom, founded by a Shaan Prince who came from present-day Thand in 1228. The kingdom was established in the Brahmaputra valley for its fertile soil and good habitable conditions.


    The main inhabitants of the empire for the first few decades were the Thai ethnic group, who were the Shan people of Burma. The small gathering, which was once only a city-state, expanded heavily andter made Charaideo its capital city.


    In this present timeline, some changes have urred. General Lachit Borphukan, who became famous for his Battle of Saraighat, was noticed early on by King Jaya Dhwaj Singha.


    Further changes ensued. General Lachit Borphukan, discerning the recurring Mughal invasions, proposed an expansion of the territory to acquire more strategic depth. Jaya Dhwaj, a smart ruler who saw the merit in such actions, concurred and proceeded to conquer the Manipur city-state, certain tribalnds, and the Mrauku kingdom to the south of the empire. This move not only provided strategic depth but also opened a channel to the blue waters of the Bengal Sea.


    With thend expanding so much, although Jaya Dhwaj had to give up the capital in pursuit of the Mughals like in the past timeline, it did not take long for him to win back the capital. The strategic depth of the kingdom had increased, and the losses in battle were recovered very quickly. Unfortunately, the expansion of thend and increased strategic depth, also brought more security concerns. Although the expandednd gave the kingdom direct ess to the Bengal Sea, it also left its coastline open to the Mughals, where one of the main naval bases of the Mughal Empire existed in Kolkata. Noticing this, His Majesty Jaya Dhwaj swiftly made a move after retaking the capital. He expanded the navy of the kingdom, which was only active in the Brahmaputra River, into the sea, making it capable of protecting against intruders.


    Though not a strong naval power, the kingdom could be called a regional naval power capable enough of protecting the trading lines with different South Asian kingdoms along with the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire.


    The people of Ahom practised animism, which was the Ahom religion that believed in spirits and rituals. Later, it was influenced by Brahminism, a precursor to Hinduism. Over time, influenced by the maind, they turned to Hinduism while preserving their own rituals and beliefs,bining them with Hindu philosophy.


    The Ahom Kingdom became a legendary existence for the youth of the 21st century. In the 17th century alone, 17 battles were fought against the Mughal Empire, and all were victories with no losses. This alone is enough to give the small Kingdom a cult status for standing against the behemoth Mughal Empire. Unfortunately, nothing about this Kingdom was taught in the school or college curriculum, leading to many people not knowing about this historical powerhouse, except for those who are interested in history.


    One month ago,


    Ahom Kingdom, Charaideo.


    In arge and luxurious royal pce in the capital city of the Ahom Kingdom, a mature and handsome man, not older than 38, with typical Asian features, was sitting on his throne. He listened to court cases brought to him by his nobles with a frown on his face.


    "Your Majesty, what should we do with this case?"


    Jayadwaj, annoyed, responded with irritation, "Have him beshed 50 times."


    The court nobles were surprised. Wasn''t the punishment too much? But they clearly did not want to refute His Majesty, as just by the looks of it, His Majesty Swargadeo (Lord of the Heavens) was in a bad mood. They quickly finished the affairs of the court and left His Majesty alone.


    The reason for Jaya Dwaj Singha''s anger was because of what happened this morning. General Lachit Borphukan came to him and informed him that the Mughals were on the move again. However, this time it did not look good, as they had sessfully infiltrated the tribes down the southwest and gained a stable foothold.


    Also, he got to know that, After the Dakshina Bharatiya Empire defeated the Mughals in the one-year war, their attention shifted from the South to the East. It was confirmed that an army of 50,000 would be dispatched. More importantly, the Mughals had upgraded the fire guns to carry arger load and shoot farther distances. ording to information, they also possessed some sort of firesticks that could shoot out ming iron.


    The news greatly angered Jaya Dwaj Singha, and he was also nervous about what could be done. While contemting alone in the royal court, his courtier, Somsak, came into the pce in great excitement. Seeing the excited courtier, who always put on a stoic expression, Jayadwaj knew that it was good news, or else the courtier would not change his face suddenly. He put away his annoyance and asked calmly, "What is it? Why are you in a hurry?"


    Somsak, hearing His Majesty''s questioning, suppressed his smile and replied, "Your Majesty, a delegation has been sent by the Dakshina Bharatiya Empire to do a big trade deal with our kingdom and strengthen the ties between our two nations."


    Jaya Dwaj was still confused. "Isn''t it only trade? Why are you so excited about it?"


    "Your Majesty, this trade is exceptional. It involves Himyan oak wood and other robust timber varieties unique to the Himyan region, and it''s in substantial quantities. From my assessment, it appears that the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire is gearing up to constructrger warships. This inference is drawn not only from the type of timber being traded but also from the presence of sloops apanying their merchant vessels, who came as a military escort."


    "True, that might be the case. A few weeks ago, a merchant purchased a few trees at a premium, Perhaps that was for testing purposes. Moreover, those sloops from the Bharatiya Empire are quite impressive. Though not significantly more advanced than ours, they boast superior artillery and sea-faring capabilities. Inparison, our boats are only stranded in our coastal waters. If we had the technology and experience of shipbuilding like those Bharatiya vessels do, I would definitely resist those hateful Mughal Turks, who keep harasing our ports. "


    "But still, you did not answer my question. Why are you so happy all of a sudden?"


    "Your majesty, it''s like this. The person who led the delegation also mentioned a military alliance with our Kingdom. ording to him, the Dakshina Bharatiya Empire will be willing to provide us with artillery and training on how to use it, along with naval help. If the Mughal Empire decides tounch a war on our Kingdom, they will send their own navy to assist. Also, they have requested to train a battalion of their troops in the kingdom in jungle, hilly, and guerri warfare."


    Hearing this news, Jaya Dwaj Singha''s mood finally improved. , After hearing the information provided by his general, he had been contemting since morning, bing angry and irritated multiple times when not finding any solution. Now, with the help of the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, there is a chance of victory. cing the artry in main locations along the logistic channels should be enough to give the Mughals a headache. Additionally, since the Dakshin Bhartiya Navy was able to defeat the Mughals before, there should be no problem doing it again. With that assurance, more investment could be put into defending the Brahmaputra River. Jaya Dwaj was also proud that the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire requested his kingdom''s training in guerri forest and hills warfare, as his kingdom is number one when ites to these types of warfare. It is only because the kingdom is proficient in this type of warfare that he could defeat the Mughals over and over again. However, suddenly he frowned, thinking about something. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "But what is the price for this help?"


    The messenger, Somsak, calmed him as he replied, "Your Majesty, all the services provided would be exchanged for 50% higher Varaha worth of timber, along with the training provided for free."


    Jayadwaj Singha ":0? "


    Jayadwaj Singha questioned, "That''s it, no more demands?"


    Somsak answered, "Yes, Your Majesty, that is what I have been conveyed."


    "Okay, you may go. I will think over this matter."


    Dakshina Bharatiya Empire.


    Vijayanagara State, Hampi.


    A lot of changes are underway in the empire. The first thing Vijay did was deal with the grieving Kavya. After consoling his wife and reassuring her that they would definitely have a child, further assuring her that the only reason for the infertility of the couple was some sadhu''s curse for the rise of the family (which is a lie).


    Regarding handling his maternal grandparents and uncle, Vijay decided to endure a mouthful from his grandfather and a disapproving gaze from his uncle for a few moments until he exined his views on the future world.


    But did it change anything?


    Unfortunately, the answer is no. Both his grandfather and uncle did not approve of his decision, but they let out a sigh and gave up trying to suggest to Vijay to take back his orders. Although they knew that Vijay would never rescind his orders, just like an arrow released from a bowstring, they still had to try.


    He finally came back to the study room in the pce and started to write the inheritance conditions for his children.


    First, he began forming a council of elders, consisting of individuals dependent on the Devaraya family for their survival or family members with no inheritance rights but still connected to the Raya family for their livelihood. Currently, the only person falling into this category is the elderly butler Ravichandra Rao. However, considering that he might not be alive when the throne is eventually passed on, Vijay decided that he would personally choose his sessor, expressing confidence in his impartiality.


    These elders will be tasked with selecting the crown prince or princess for the empire based on their testing of various attributes rted to governance. This includes assessing the candidate''spetence in different aspects of ruling and their adaptability to different environments. For instance, during peaceful times, an emperor should be well-versed in economics and possess a strong grasp of military affairs to be prepared for potential conflicts.


    While Vijay and Kavya, as the only two members of the Deva Raya family at the moment, would typically be the ones making this choice, Vijay decided to expand the family to ensure arger pool of potential heirs. His aim was to have at least five children. Taking this decision, Vijay couldn''t help but feel a little uneasy about Kavya.


    To ensure a fair and unbiased selection, Vijay stipted that only the elders would have the authority to choose the crown prince or princess. The rationale behind this decision was to avoid any parental bias towards a particr child. Elders, being connected to the Raya family for the benefits it brings and collective family honour, would prioritize selecting an heir capable of leading and enhancing the family''s wealth and status. Vijay also included many uses to prevent the formation of a group of elders from forming a vote bank and ying vote bank politics. He believed that this approach would ensure a more objective decision in choosing the future emperor.


    Vijay decided not to disclose this news to anyone ( readers ) to avoid causing more uproar. Additionally, he began writing a manual titled ''How To Emperor.'' This manual would be a family tradition in the future, with each emperor writing their own version and summarizing the previous ones, creating a significant heritage for the family despite potentialpetition.


    Unknown to Vijay, his n partially failed because he didn''t share the family inheritance rules until a decade before he was about to abdicate. The next two emperors were actually selected by Vijay himself, one while he was alive and the other due to Vijay''s influence. Because of the good reputation of the Deva Raya family, even after Vijay''s reign, and the fact that the next emperor was handpicked by Vijay and had a good public opinion, the elders did not have to work hard. The somewhat capitalist nature of the family also contributed to this oue.


    However, when the public still held a high opinion of Lord Vijay Deva Raya, the same treatment was not extended to his descendants, who fell behind due to no pressure from the family. The council of elders remained untrained in catalyzing the transition of power. Fortunately, they woke up quickly and used a provision in the inheritance rules of the family to amend some of them to reduce some of the capital nature of thews. Still, it was a littlete as the people wanted to see a change in governance.


    Afterwards, the empire became prime minister-centred and emperor-driven. It wasn''t until the space age that the Deva Raya family regained the throne, and, due to Vijay''s rules, a female ruler took charge for the first time, that too due to a majority vote. Further alterations were made to consider the emperor from the family in the selection of the next heir, with the opinion of the ruler from their family also taken into ount. Also, the number of heirs at a time was capped at 50, as, following Vijay''s example, all his descendants decided to have many children. To increase the pool, all direct and closely indirect line members were given a chance at the throne. Although the main heir of the direct line initially disagreed, the pressure from the family due to losing the battle for the throne for the first time, and his own weak will made him sumb. Surprisingly, it was then that the empress was produced, leaving behind a good legacy after pioneering the Mars terraforming operation which would have been close to impossible under a government.


    P.S. The electoral monarchy is designed to be future-proof and does not make any immediate changes to Vijay''s rule. It was brought up quickly due to no resistance from the nobles and to establish the framework beforehand for the future united Bharat Empire.


    P.S. Spoiler: Independent Hindu kings will retain their kingship under Vijay''s throne and theirnd as a state in the empire under thew. However, all the main departments will be controlled by the empire, making them no different from any other state.


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 Chapter 191 Gearing Up

    191 Gearing Up


    Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, Vijayanagar State, Hampi - Capital City. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    While Vijay was nning out the inheritancews for the royal family, the people of the Empire were gearing up for the uing elections, both the voters and the candidates for their own unique reasons.


    Due to Vijay implementing aw in the constitution that only individuals who could pass the civil exam conducted by the ENEC (Election, Nobility, and Examination Commission), overseen by the Empire''s observer were eligible to vote, an issue arose. Despite efforts to promote education in the past three years, the literacy rate among adults in the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire has only seen a marginal increase. The heavy workload on adults allowed them only a few dozen hours a week for education. However, the situation was different for children who received a subpar education ording to European standards, but still, it was not too far off. The only thing holding the system back is the mass model in which the kids are taught, so such results could be seen. But still, after all things considered, were actually not bad. Unfortunately, though, the kids were not yet eligible to vote.


    Conversely, the privileged and educated individuals in society seized the opportunity and flocked to the nearest government office to register for the civil exam, seeing it as a chance to decide their leaders.


    But still, the total number of people enrolled at the end of the application submission period was only 1.5 million, including the civil servants already in the government departments. The ce where people register as candidates for the election is various panchayats of viges, towns, and cities.


    Amravati City Panchayat.


    It was a pleasant day in the temple city of Amravati, but there was one ce in the city where the atmosphere was far from pleasant. A tsunami of people could be seen swarming the entire two-floor panchayat building. The interior of the building was also packed with people pushing one another to stand a little closer to the front of the queue. Most of the individuals present were dressed in rich clothes, usually appearing dignified, but today, they resembled regr people, engaged in a fiercepetition for a better position in the queue.


    "Whistle, whistle."


    "What are you doing? fighting like shrews on the street. How can you be representatives of the people if you are fighting amongst each other like this? Stand in line, or else you will be disqualified."


    Hearing the yelling from the security guard who blew the bamboo whistle, most of the crowd settled down. Many of them were scared away by the threat, but the actually smart ones among the group knew that the police guard did not have that much power.


    Thepanion of the police guard who blew the whistle asked, looking at the crowd, "Why did so many peoplee anyway?"


    The police guard who blew the whistle replied, "Sigh, this situation happened because of the rumour that was spread after His Majesty Vijay Devaraya announced his new reform ns. The rumour was about how, if you are sessfully elected, you could earn the amount of money some rich merchants would not in a lifetime. Because of this, it caused a huge craze among the people to be in politics. Also, the lower caste people had reduced requirements, and there was a 30% reservation in the parliament for them. So, despite not knowing a single word, a lot of people came to participate; some of them even only knew the premises after arriving at the panchayat," the guard finished with exasperation.


    Unable to manage the crowd, the local ENEC officer had to set up ckboards in multiple rooms on the empty ground of the panchayat. In each room, there was a board with a few sentences written in the Bharatinguage. People were then allowed inside one by one to test if they were capable of reading the lines on the board, providing a final opportunity for those seriously considering running for the election and weeding out all the duds.


    Following the impromptu qualifiers, it became evident that 90% of the individuals aspiring to run for office were not qualified. A notable portion of them belonged to the lower caste. However, there was a silver lining in this situation. Despite the majority being from the lower caste, the sheer number of participants meant that a small percentage of them were genuinely literate and had read the new Book of the Constitution.


    Among the crowd who passed the qualifiers was Hari Atharv, originally from a lower caste. In his quest for an improved standard of living, he left his vige and journeyed to Amravati City, eventually securing a job as a bookshop keeper. By concealing his true caste and demonstrating some arithmetic skills he had picked up as a child from a Brahmin peer he knew as a toddler, he sessfully secured the position, outsmarting the old owner.


    It was at the bookstore where Hari Atharv''s life truly began, and it became the ce where he learned thenguage in earnest. Working there, he observed numerous transformations in the Empire ¨C be it the expansion of its territories, alterations in administrative divisions, or the renaming of the Empire to the United Mothend Bharat. From the introduction of the new Bharatinguage to various other changes, including when he was allowed free education in the evening schools set up by the government, he was opened to a new world of possibilities. Hari Atharv experienced it all, and his mind was profoundly influenced by the broad vision he gained through these experiences. Finally, with the new reforms introduced by His Majesty, the Emperor, Hari Atharv felt the final push he needed to cast aside any hesitation and aspire to make a name for himself in the new world unfolding under the Emperor''s leadership.


    *Mumble*


    *Murmer*


    Currently, Hari Atharv is in a line behind a middle-aged man who appears to be a rich merchant, judging by his attire made of silk.


    *Ting*


    "Next," a monotone sound rang out from the front.


    The officer at the front desk, with a somewhat emotionless tone that hinted at potential weariness from the job, asked, "Okay, sir, please write down your name, age, ce of birth, date of birth, and the reason for you standing up in the election. Also, what changes would you promise to the people of your town?"


    The merchant, undeterred by the officer''s demeanour, proudly inscribed his name in bold Bharati text, a skill he had diligently practised over the past few months. As he penned down his promises, he orally narrated them for everyone to hear, "I promise the people free water, food, and clothing for a whole year. Also, I promise free education for all the children."


    Sharing this sentence, most of the candidates who had thought of simr promises to the merchant were impressed, while a few smart ones here and there, who heard the loud promation, had frowns on their faces, including Hari Atharv. That was because he could imagine how much all these freebies would cost. There is no way the merchant would do such a thing. Even if he sold his whole family property, there is no way that he could feed that huge pit of a gold-swallowing beast.


    The official who took the application also had the same thought process as the smart ones, and also, he had seen these types of people before. So, he warned about the consequences of the candidates'' actions one final time, "Sir, are you sure that you have read the book of the constitution? It is clearly mentioned that once a candidate promises some benefits to the people, it should be fulfilled ording to the promise, or at the very least, progress should be seen. This is written as aw in the constitution, and the only time it can be otherwise is when there is some natural or man-made emergency, in which the people of your town and the Swachh Bharatmittee will decide whether you have done justice by them. So, if you do not intend to fulfil these promises after you indeed win the election, you will be put in jail depending on the seriousness of your wrongful promises."


    Hearing the officer''s warning, the middle-aged rich merchant had sweat on his face because his ns were clearly seen through. His initial scheme involved making grand promises, winning the election, reaping handsome rewards, and exiting after a five-year work. Little did he anticipate the severe repercussions if those promises went unfulfilled. Swiftly wiping away the perspiration trickling down his face, he contemted the unexpected consequences.


    In truth, he had acquired proficiency in the Bharatinguage due to his role as a merchant, necessitatingmunication with fellow traders from various states. The Bhartinguage had be mandatory, even permeating the documents exchanged between merchants of different regions. Additionally, there was a 0.5% tax reduction incentive for utilizing the Bhartinguage, which further boosted its poprity among the merchantmunity. Initially championed by affluent merchants, this linguistic trend gradually gained traction among smaller merchant groups, eventually evolving into a status symbol.


    Anyway, he knows the Bharatinguage because of his upation; that was the whole reason he could get through the qualifier rooms. Now, listening to how the officer said that he would be jailed if the promise was not fulfilled, he became scared, shook his head, threw the application, and left the office.


    Seeing him leaving, no oneughed at his embarrassment because a lot of people also left along with him. Looking at the crowd acting this way, the officer thought, ''All these people are looking to make some big money without actually putting in the hard work. Where can there be such a good thing? Hmm.'' It was finally Hari Atharv''s turn, and as he wrote down his details, this time he actually put down his actual caste. He would be a fool if he did not utilize the benefit that came with his caste for the first time in his life. No, scratch that, maybe the second time; the first time was the school.


    As for the promises he would make, it is actually very simple and practical. He wrote down that he would widen the reservoir in his vige, fix the leaking wall of the reservoir, employ some of the vigers toplete the proper irrigation channels for agriculture, create a separate market area in the vige so that the vige''s produce could be sold, and also increase the sanitation of the vige.


    These were the things he thought could be done with some hard work from the vigers and some support from the government.


    The officer, looking at the list of promises he made, was impressed. Because although these promises were not extraordinary, they were actually very conservative. Still, while looking at the caste, he was impressed that a person of such a lower caste was able to grasp such a steady path forward.


    The stern-faced officer finally showed a hint of approval on his face as he epted Hari Atharv''s application. The onlookers, noticing the change in the officer''s expression, raised their eyebrows in curiosity and cast curious nces at the departing figure of Hari Atharv.


    Hari Atharv was just one of the numerous candidates who seeded in leaving an impression on the officers throughout the empire. Individuals from diverse castes and social statuses had managed to make an impact. This marked the beginning of a new cadre of bureaucrats who would work tirelessly for the empire.


    On the other hand, the veteran ministers standing for the elections took a more straightforward approach. They collectively arranged a meeting with the public of the capital and campaigned by highlighting the results they had achieved since the formation of the government.


    "...."


    "...."


    "...."


    P.S. Saving the report for the year-end meeting.

 Chapter 192 BNV Vinayaka Trial Run

    192 BNV Vinayaka Trial Run


    Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, Vijayanagar state, Capital city-Hampi.


    In the temporary ENEC headquarters of Hampi, Kishor Bbhadra is hurriedly reviewing the data provided by the intelligence departments. His task at hand is topile a list of names for canonization as nobles of the Empire.


    A lot of people had to be considered for canonization. For example, the medical concoction workshop owner Bhupathi, who was the person who first introduced the assembly line production method, who also initiated a significant industrial boom in the empire. Because of his innovation, the war against the Mughal Empire was adequately supplied with the necessary war materials. It is not too much to say that Bhupathi''s innovation yed a huge role in the war. Although Bhupathi is somewhat prideful, that is not what Kishor Bbhadra should consider. His only duty is to be a person whopletes his job ording to the constitution and merit, not seeing the face of anyone.


    Kishor couldn''t help but acknowledge that the most challenging path to achieving the noble title was through being a merchant. Among the merchants he observed, only Bhupathi was selected, and that was for his notable contribution to assembly line production. So, ording to the amount of merit he had contributed to the empire, his name was written in the list Kishore kept beside him. It was the list of all the people who would be getting their noble titles, although most of them were first-rank nobles. Also, Scientific Personal like Sai from the Sai Design Bureau, who is affiliated with the Raya Iron Works, are also considered for his invention of therge 20-kilogram Cannon and thetest Semi-breach loading 30-kilogram Cannon. Manoj Reddy, a scientific talent, will also be getting the nobility title for his repeated improvements on the gunpowder.


    The youngest of them all was a teenager named Naveen Bhat, who worked as the chief technician for the Raya and Shetty Paper Mill. Due to the increased demand for paper, the young man came up with a solution where he attached arger driving gear to a smaller driven gear, which produced a gear ratio of 2:1. When the hydraulic power was used to spin the wheel at 10 rotations per minute, the paper mill spun at 20, increasing the efficiency of paper making.


    It is due to this that the demand for paper could barely keep up in the empire, especially since the elections and examinations were just around the corner.


    So, for his contribution, Naveen Bhatt would also be granted a noble title. Vijay, when designing the merit system, made it easiest to achieve nobility in the scientific research field and the military. The noble bureau in the military is diligently calcting the merits of soldiers to grant them titles ordingly.


    The royal pce.


    Vijay was sitting in his study room, looking over the recent documents submitted to him. One document caught his attention, It was the trade agreement with the Ahom Kingdom, along with the military alliance agreement. Vijay had a smile on his face seeing this. Although Roshan is now part of the government, he still receives frequent reports from the Bharatiya External Pragya regrly. So, he could see that the Mughal Empire was starting to get restless, as an army of 50,000 soldiers was assembled on their eastern border.


    Vijay is nning to help out the Ahom Kingdom when the timees. Putting away the agreement in a dedicated safe where his agreements with the Portuguese and the Vians were kept.


    * Knock knock*


    " Come in "


    Vijay said as the old butler Ravichandra Rao entered his study room and informed him, "Your Majesty, the BNV Vinayaka warship has been constructed. You are invited to inspect the ship."


    Vijay, upon hearing the words of the old butler, was very happy that the BNV Vinayaka warship was finally ready. The significance of this warship to the Empire was immense. With this warship, it became possible to upy nearby inds along the coast, and new military bases or outposts could be established on these inds. The Vinayaka frigate would be perfect for such operations. So, Vijay quickly finished the rest of his work, and he left for Mangalore Port immediately.


    Vijay finally arrived at the shipyard, where he was greeted by Danier Boswell, "Wee, Your Majesty. Pleasee in."


    After exchanging greetings with Danier and hispany, Vijay proceeded directly to inspect the warship. The vessel was docked in the sea area of the port, its massive size leaving him in awe. This represented thergest ship Vijayanagar had managed to produce. Although not a conventional battleship, it was a significant achievement for the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, considering they did not even have an active shipbuilding industry a few years ago. The ship featured two masts with square sails, a departure from theteen sails used in both the Hampi-ss sloop and Dana-ss armed merchant ship. Three saffron gs adorned the ship, nted at its rear and atop both sails.


    Vijay stepped onto the warship, taking note of its armament. A total of 18 semi-breech loader cannons, each of calibre 30 kilograms, adorned the vessel ¨C six on the port side, six on the starboard side, three at the rear, and three at the front. Additionally, there were 10 swivel guns mounted on the ship''s deck, each of a 15 kg calibre with an impressive fire rate of 6 to 8 rounds per minute. Despite Vijay being familiar with the specifications from the blueprint, Danier borated on them once more. However, Vijay was eager to witness the capabilities firsthand, so he suggested, "Enough of these numbers on paper, let''s put the warship to the test. Let''s see what this new addition to our Empire is truly capable of."


    Danier was taken aback by Vijay''s suggestion but quickly nodded his head, agreeing to His Majesty''s request.


    The sea trials of the BNV Vinayaka finally began. Weather conditions were noted down, and the warship, which was docked in the port, departed as it cut through the waves. There were moderate waves in the sea, which provided a better sea trial Environment. The frigate demonstrated excellent stability in varying weather conditions. Maneuverability wasmendable, responding promptly to helmmands. The crew, trained by the naval academy, coordinated well during sail handling, and manoeuvres were effective.


    The next objective was the live-fire exercises. The heavy cannons achieved an uracy of 75% hits on a target at 500 meters, with a reduction in uracy as the range increased. The reload speed in actualbat conditions was one or two rounds per minute. The swivel guns proved effective in repelling simted boarders, with their increased firepower instrumental in incapacitating the boarders at close range. Due to the iron used to produce the ramming angle, ramming tests were conducted. A simted ramming test against a stationary target was performed, and the iron-reinforced oak hull withstood the impact without any significant damage. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The next objective was the speed trials. Under normal wind conditions, the speed was 8.5 knots, and under ideal wind conditions, the warship reached a maximum of 11.2 knots. The warship proved to be manoeuvrable, as it could easily change course during the speed trials.


    After repeated testing, Vijay took some rest as the endurance test took ce, where the warship was subjected to sail in the sea continuously for 72 hours. Fortunately, due to the good training of the Naval Academy, the crew''s endurance remained high with efficient operations throughout. Vijay came back after a few days to see the tactical simtions, where the warship is engaged against various opponents. For this trial, Admiral Gangadhar was invited, and he sessfully executed the hit-and-run tactics, utilizing the speed and agility of the warship. Admiral Gangadhar gave an evaluation that it adapted well to different roles, showcasing versatility in tactical approaches. Finally, the all-around sea trial of the BNV Vinayaka-ss frigate waspleted, and the frigate passed with flying colours.


    So, Vijay ordered the Raya shipyard to manufacture eight such frigates, along with spreading an order for four each to the Shivaji shipyard in Kochi, Ch shipyard in Colombo, and Ashoka shipyard in Visakhapatnam.


    "But, Your Majesty, the oak needed to build the ship?" Danier asked with a hint of hesitation.


    Vijay waved his hand and replied, "I have already arranged for the raw material to be shipped to various shipyards; it will be avable by the time the keel isid."


    Danier finally nodded his head, confirming that the raw material was avable.


    The military machine of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire started again. Large cannons were cast in the Raya armoury, and swivel guns were also being manufactured. The naval industry supply chain Vijay set up started to run at full speed as various small products, like the wheel used to turn the rudder and the sails used in the BNV Vinayaka, were outsourced.


    Due to the order being for arge ship, the materials required were also driving the marine industry forward. Keels wereid in various shipyards within the same week. As the oak transported from the Ahom Kingdom arrived on time, the bones of the ship started to take shape. The time for the civil examination also arrived.


    P.S. Internals Finally Ended.


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 Chapter 193 Civil Exams, The Ahom Soldiers Arrival Part: 1

    193 Civil Exams, The Ahom Soldiers Arrival Part: 1


    Dakshin Bharatiya Empire.


    Today is the day of the civil exam in the empire. All the 1.5 million eligible citizens, who have applied to take the exam, havee to the nearest exam center, whether it''s a city school or a town school. Due to there being only 1.5 million applicants, the exams were conducted inrger towns and cities spread out within the Empire. The exams took ce on the school grounds of various public schools. To write the exam, some participants, who were actually from smaller viges, had to travel two days beforehand and book amodations in the towns and cities.


    The day was dered a government holiday as an exception since it is the first year of the exam, and all government employees will have to take turns writing the exam at different times of the day. However, it is to be noted that when the civil exams are conducted every year, no holiday would be given. This is because once a person passes the civil exam, he will not have to take another one for another 20 years. Hence, it is unnecessary to inconvenience the popce for only a portion of people writing the exam. Vijay arranged this civil exam for people to understand the constitution of Bharat and by connection also understand their rights and who or what they are actually voting for. Additionally, as a bonus, this exam could be an excellent gateway for people to enter civil service in the current environment of a shortage of personnel in the Government.


    Although the difficulty of this exam is very little, considering only simple questions about the constitution will be asked, Vijay is satisfied with the difficulty for now as it provides the people of lower castes with an opportunity to enter government departments in this way. In the near future, after the educational system bes standardized and more of the poption gets educated, the civil exam will be divided further. One to have the eligibility to vote, and the other one to get into civil service.


    Security was also very tight for the examination as the military was mobilized. In ces where the smaller examination centres were located, like in some remote towns, Few armed soldiers were arranged as a security measure. The medium-sized examination centres in some small cities were arranged with a squad of soldiers wielding muskets. For therger examination centres like the capital cities of different states, where thousands of applicants participated in the examination, a whole toon of armed soldiers was deployed. The applicants, after entering the examination centre, werepletely cut off from the outside world as they were tightly guarded by the soldiers at the gate. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Kishore Bbhadra, the Observer of the Empire Is working overtime, constantly travelling between various ces, making sure that everything is up to mark as hispetency is being tested by the government on this asion today. Although he may be one of the most powerful people in the Empire ording to the constitution, in practicality, he found out that it was actually not even close to the truth. Because, although he could arrange the soldiers to guard the examination centres, that was all he could do. He could only order them to guard a certain location and nothing more; it was more like temporary hiredbour than his own actual power. But Kishore did not feel sad or disappointed; if anything, he was relieved.


    He was relieved that His Majesty had such control of the army. From what he knew, the army of the Empire was primarilymanded and controlled by the emperor. The employment of the armyes from His Majesty, the emperor, and not the government. The ideology within the army, which is being taught by the officers, is also controlled by the emperor. Also, recently, most of the soldiers in the army had been from the lower and Dalit castes, making the support for the emperor unshakable. Hence, Kishore was relieved that no rift could be created with his power as a trigger.


    On a different note, while the civil exam in the empire was taking ce, some other important events also happened.


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Kakatiya Puri state, Visakhapatnam.


    The head officer of the Visakhapatnam port is waiting at the dock, as a group ofte 16th-century sailboats, numbering in dozens, makes its way to the port. Behind this group of old boats, 10 Hampi-ss sloops, which were escorting the old boats, docked in the port. But surprisingly, out of the 10 sloops, some had damage on them, whether it was holes in the hull or damage to the masts and sails. By the time the BNV vessels docked, a thousand or so men with Northeastern features disembarked from the old boats. These were the men sent by the Ahom Kingdom to receive artillery training from the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire. Their task is to learn everything there is about artillery warfare in the shortest time possible and go back home to teach the rest of the soldiers.


    The captain among them, a person wearing a unique ornament, stepped forward and greeted the administrative head of the Visakhapatnam port. The captain is called Neerab, and the person following beside him, who is the second inmand, is called Ripun. While the leaders were greeting each other, the boys at the back looked around the whole port like curious children. They had never been out of the kingdom since they were born; this was the first time they travelled to a distant country. They had quite a bit of reverence for the Dakshin Bharat Empire as it managed to defeat the Mughal Empire, their lifelong enemy.


    Although they had also defeated the Mughal Empire numerous times, unfortunately, it had no further effect on the Mughal Empire. It only made the Mughals more and more aggressive while they were getting weaker and weaker in their counter. Bharat was different because the battles they won made them stronger, and the territory also increased. The soldiers, Seeing all around,could see people looking at them with curious expressions just as they were looking at the people. The people were wearing a lot of different kinds of clothes, and the hustle and bustle of the port was evident. The port was massive, as even though their boats and the sloops wererge in quantity, they only upied a small part of the port''s upancy. Since Visakhapatnam had been dered as the financial capital of Kakatiyapuri state, construction projects have begun to take shape, as work has already begun to widen the port area yet again, Workers could be seen diligently working, discing the dirt as part of their ongoing tasks.


    18:04


    The soldiers, Seeing all around,could see people looking at them with curious expressions just as they were looking at the people. The people were wearing a lot of different kinds of clothes, and the hustle and bustle of the port was evident. The port was massive, as even though their boats and the sloops wererge in quantity, they only upied a small part of the port''s upancy. Since Visakhapatnam had been dered as the financial capital of Kakatiyapuri state, construction projects have begun to take shape, as work has already begun to widen the port area yet again, Workers could be seen diligently working, discing the dirt as part of their ongoing tasks.


    Finally, as the leaders'' discussion concluded, the captain of the Bharatiya Navy East Second Squadron also arrived and saluted the Head Officer of Visakhapatnam Port. The officer epted the salute and returned his own. Not forgetting the damages to the sloop, the head of the Visakhapatnam port, although it was not his right to question the captain of the squadron, as he had no jurisdiction over the Navy, couldn''t resist and decided to bring up the matter of the sloop. "Captain, if you don''t mind, let me ask you a question." The captain, who saluted the head, also had an inkling of an idea what the question would be, so he did not mind and replied, "Is it about the damages on the sloops?" The officer nodded his head and replied, "Yes, I know it is not within my right to know this detail, but I just got curious."


    "Well, it is not a problem to tell you. It is not even a big secret. While we were escorting the ships from the Ahom Kingdom, we ran into a fleet of Mughal vessels, so we had to fend them off for quite some time before the Ahom ships were at a safe distance away from the Mughal range of fire."


    Hearing this conversation, the captain of the Ahom soldiers, Neerab, who understood Sanskrit and could somewhat grasp the meaning of the Bharatinguage, couldn''t help but feel embarrassed. It was because their boats were too slow, burdening the Dakshin Bharati vessels and requiring them to cover their backs.


    Soon, a group of carriages was arranged for the Ahom soldiers to travel, and they were set to be housed in the Military academy on the outskirts of the city. It was a long way to travel. Neerab and Ripun saw more of the Empire''s customs as they were taken through the urban streets of Visakhapatnam. The streets were wide andrge, where three carriages could pass through at a time. Two separate roads were built for this explicit purpose. The roads were extremely clean, and trees were nted inside the barrier in the middle of the road.


    Where there was a congestion of carriages, a person, whom Ripun got to know as a police officer, controlled the flow of traffic by allowing one side of the carriages to flow while stopping the rest to avoid the same congestion.


    People on the streets wore luxurious clothes as they went around shopping for different things; they could have never imagined this was how an urban person lived their life in the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire. For all the things these people on the streets were experiencing, only the nobles of the Ahom Kingdom could rte.


    As they got to the outskirts of the urban area, they got to see a different view of where there were farnds. No matter how far they looked, it was green on green on green.


    The farnd stretched to the horizon, and water irrigation channels were made so that water could be supplied to these vast plots ofnd.


    People worked on thesends with happiness and excitement. Seeing this, Neerab found it odd because back in his home, the people who actually worked on the farms were not so happy. Even in their own family, the farm workers were not so dedicated. So, in order to rify his doubts, he asked the carriage driver.


    "Oh sir, you''re talking about the farmers. They are actually the actual owners of thatnd. Before, thatnd used to belong to the nobles, but his majesty defeated those blood-sucking vampires and distributed thend to the poor farmers who used to work on it. So, since thend they used to work on due topulsion is already theirs, they are now working hard to make the yield of crops higher than ever before."


    Neerab finally understood the ins and outs of the phenomenon but did not know how to feel. Finally, after a day of travel, they were settled in the Military academy until their 10 Day of training began.


    To Be Continued...


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    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 194 Civil Exams, The Ahom Soldiers Arrival Part: 2

    194 Civil Exams, The Ahom Soldiers Arrival Part: 2


    After half a day of travel, Neerab and his crew received a warm wee from the administration of the Military Academy, along with being introduced to their new colleagues whom they met from different parts of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire. After getting to know each other, they were assigned room numbers and separate squad numbers. Themon factor in this division is that each room had an equal number of Ahom and Dakshin Bhartiya Empire soldiers.


    5 AM in the morning.


    The door was sted open as a person with a Batton entered the room and started hitting the bunk bed, making a loud noise.


    "Wake up, maggots! It''s your time to rise and shine. Your names will be called in 3 minutes. If you are not well-dressed and ready to go, you will give me 20 push-ups and twops on the grounds right now."


    Neerab was still in a groggy mood when he was abruptly woken up by this instructor. He was annoyed and thought that they were being tortured because of their foreign identity. But seeing how his Bhartiya friend was also facing the same fate as him, he felt better that everyone was suffering together.


    Three minutes were up, and the roll call was initiated. A person who was actually from Ahom did not manage to wear his shoes on time; hence, he was punished with 20 push-ups and twops on the ground.


    The guy who got caught turned towards Neerab for help. This gesture caught the eye of the sergeant, who eyed Neerab up and down as if he would pounce on him for a single wording out.


    Neerab felt pretty intimidated by the sergeant, who looked at him as though his face was saying, "Utter a single word, NO! Even a single letter, I dare you, I dare you, say it." So, although he wanted to help out his fellow countrymen, he did not speak out. Seeing that Neerab did not speak out, the sergeant suddenly had a disappointed expression on his face for a few seconds before he hid it. Neerab, who saw this, had cold sweat on his back as he felt lucky for his choice. Overall, from the looks of it, they were not being specifically punished for their appearance or ethnicity because, on the ground, he could see a lot of Bhartiya soldiers also running along with the Ahom soldiers with lost expressions.


    The next order of the day was the manual of arms. It involved theoretical knowledge about how to use the artillery and all the details about artillery. In this ss, the artillery crew, which usually is the group of new roommates, would be taught about proper handling, loading, and firing of the artillery pieces, which also involved mastering the various steps required for efficient operation. Since this ss was theoretical, it was conducted in a ssroom where the instructor took a cross-section of an artillery piece and exined each of the steps carefully.


    The physics behind the artillery was kept secret for various reasons, with the main one being that Vijay was not yet ready to disclose the technology of artillery to potentialpetitors. Another significant reason in this case was that the Ahom soldiers only had a week or two toplete the whole training course, So teaching science would be impossible in such a short time span.


    The next day, there were fewer people running in the field after the roll call. The order of the day was crew organization.


    This was the day when artillery crews were organized into specialized roles, each with specific duties during the firing process. These roles typically included gunners, loaders, trajectory calctors, and others responsible for handling ammunition and equipment.


    Unfortunately, due to arithmetic knowledge not being emphasized in the military of the Ahom Kingdom, there were very few soldiers who had arithmetic knowledge more advanced than what they used in their daily lives.


    So, some changes in crews took ce where a Bhartiya, familiar with arithmetic knowledge, joined each crew and taught a member of the Ahom how trajectory calctions are made ording to a fixed form. Although this way of teaching didn''t delve into actual mathematics but focused on training them as artillery firing operators, certainpromises had to be made due to time constraints.


    The next day marked the first time the recruits from Ahom were allowed to inspect the artillery piece. Although it was only an old 15 kg calibre artillery used against the Dutch in the Kochi War, it was their first introduction to more modern artillery.


    The instructors, who were veterans, directed the recruits'' attention to the artillery piece and demonstrated how the inspection should be carried out. The instructor showed how each artillery part is inspected to ensure they are in proper working condition. This included checking the barrel, wheels, and otherponents of the cannon for any damage or defects.


    The next chapter in the sybus was ammunition handling, requiring a whole day. They did Training drills focused on handling various types of ammunition of different calibres that they needed to master. They also learned how to handle them safely, along with precautions for transporting gunpowder and other projectiles.


    The Ahom Kingdom could produce the iron shots themselves, but not the cartridges which had gunpowder. Therefore, more time for handling gunpowder was given, as every minute movement and detail was drilled into the muscle memory of the soldiers throughout the day, from 8 o''clock in the morning until 8 in the evening.


    Neeraj was fully exhausted, his hands feeling like lead as he carried the ammunition throughout the day. Despite everyone being tired and showing pleading looks toward the heartless instructor, he, unfazed, showed no pity. Like a strict drill instructor, he ordered the ammunition to be carried from one ce to another, citing reasons such as preparing for potential fires or addressing emergency ammunition needs in different battle scenarios. Although Neerab knew that the instructor was doing it for battle purposes, the amount of suffering he had gone through made him somewhat paranoid.


    The next day was an exciting one for the recruits as it marked the beginning of learning firing procedures. Veteran soldiers, retired from the artillery division of the army, demonstrated the step-by-step process of firing¡ªfrom loading the artillery piece to executing the firing sequence. The procedure involved preparing the powder charge, inserting the projectile, and performing the firing sequence¡ªall in a single, precise action.


    Next, it was the recruits'' time to perform. Their practice from the past few days took them a long way as they quickly reached a nice efficiency. Although they were still not allowed to fire the cannon, at least in theory, their efficiency in handling the cannon had reached eptable markers.


    The following day still involved working with the cannon piece assigned to them. This time, instead of crew training, it was an individual training model where each member of the crew had to outperform themselves to achieve better timing and precision. By this time, the leaders of each crew had already be clear, as naturally, the crew tended to listen to the person with leadership skills.


    Without any doubt, Neerab, the captain of the Ahom soldiers, and Ripun, the vice-captain, became the crew captains of their respective crews. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The next course in their sybus was Communication and Commands. In this step, the captains of various crews were instructed in a separate ss about guidelines formands, practising giving clear and concisements to ensure effectivemunication during the chaos of battle.


    While the captains were having their own sses, the rest of the crew were put on target practice where artillery crews would conduct target practice to improve uracy and proficiency. This involved aiming at designated targets and adjusting the elevation and direction of the artillery pieces. The trajectory calctor came a long way in this operation, as each time a shot was fired, calctions were made quickly for adjustments.


    The next day, the captains joined their respective crews again as manoeuvring and positioning drills took ce. The crews had to change the position and location of the cannons multiple times during the day. Although the cannons were pulled by horses, the crew members were also tired from running all day long. One more day was given for team coordination, where each and every crew was taught how to coordinate with the other crews in the context of war. Thest day of training was dedicated to safety procedures and instructions on the maintenance and cleaning parts of the artillery pieces they handled. All in all, the whole artillery training ended in 10 days. While not perfect, it set up a foundation for the Ahom Kingdom to utilize artillery in a systematic manner against the Mughal Empire. The soldiers went back to their kingdoms with a lot of gifts, a little darker than before, and also a little stronger than before. Also, the Dutch battleship stationed in the western naval base was dispatched along with the merchant ships to deliver the artillery pieces to the Ahom Kingdom.


    During all these events, The civil exams of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire also concluded, that among 1.5 million applicants, only One million sixty-five thousand six hundred fifty-two, managed to clear the exams and became eligible to vote in elections for the next 20 years.


    The soldiers sent to the Ahom Kingdom by the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire also returned, but unlike the soldiers who went back, they came back with a lot of animal skins and animal ornaments. When asked, they exined that these were trophies from the tribal people living in the Ahom Kingdom''snds, the ones who actually trained the Bharatiya soldiers. They shared these stories with reverence.

 Chapter 195 Foreign Direct Investment ?

    195 Foreign Direct Investment ?


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Cheranadu, Thiruvananthapuram Special Economic Zone.


    Thiruvananthapuram has undergone significant changes since being dered a special economic zone. Due to trade with European countries, it has embraced various cultural influences from Europe, reflected in its architecture. Many buildings showcase medieval styles of architecture from countries like Portuguese, Roman, Greek, French, and other prominent artistic influences. Interestingly, these buildings are owned by individuals from the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, not the Europeans. After engaging in business with Europeans, they became wealthy and tailored their establishments to a specific audience. Consequently, these buildings, which were originally workshops, were designed in the style of their customers as a sign of friendliness.


    The port of Thiruvananthapuram has experienced considerable expansion since being designated as a special economic zone. Despite serving as the administrative capital of Cheranadu state, it now boasts business throughputparable to other leading financial capitals in the empire. The changes in Thiruvananthapuram extend beyond aesthetics, affecting administration as well. Operations have be more standardized since the establishment of the special economic zone. European merchants conducting business here have witnessed various changes, from the renaming of the Empire to the division of the empire into various administrative states. Even recently, the young Emperor made what most Europeans believe to be a suicide move by dividing his imperial powers among three different entities, all restrained by a single set of regtions.


    But all these were just some tea-time conversations for the typical European merchant, because the news about the division of administration, or how things were done in this new Empire, held very little interest for them. The only things they considered were their own interests, as long as that was not affected they did not care. However, the British were different; being a European power without a monarchy, Thomas Bartholomew felt very intrigued by this new constitutional monarchy that the young emperor talked about. As the Book of Constitution was rtively easy to obtain because of the civil exams, Thomas bought a copy, read it carefully, and decided to send it back home as he thought there were a lot of interestingws and provisions in this constitution. Maybe Lord Protectorate Cromwell would get some ideas after reading this.


    Immediately, he took a paper and wrote a letter, along with packing it with the Constitution of Bharat, and sent it through a speedboat to Ennd. But as his messenger left the room, in a corner of an alleyway, a sneaky figure could be seen spying on Thomas and his movements. This sneaky figure was also a white foreigner dressed in the same attire as the messenger, so it could be concluded that this person was also part of the British group. While this was happening, arge sailing merchant ship docked in the port. Looking at its g, it was the g of the Republic of Venice. In order to receive the guest, a warm wee was given by the local administrative head, Nagappa Reddy.


    All the merchants looked at this special treatment and were intrigued about the rtionship. However, looking at the soldiers carrying firearms, their thoughts did not run wild. The delegation from the Republic of Venice was weed with a traditional ceremony, where flower gands were hung on them, saffron bindis were ced on their foreheads, and shawls were draped over them. The foreigners who witnessed the scene cast distasteful expressions towards the Vians for epting such sphemous religious rituals. Leonardo Bellini, who was among the Vian delegation, was very happy to be finally back. The situation back home had suddenly be more serious since the Ottomansunched a new offensive, and they had to go back into defence again. Now, the mostcking aspect of their war effort was materials and weaponry. Soldiers were not a problem because, even though European countries had many differences and sometimes fought fiercely amongst themselves, even till the bitter end, when it came to opposing outsiders like the Ottomans, at least on this matter, no one opposed or hindered those fighting against the Ottomans.


    Leonardo is in the Vijayanagar Empire this time, In order to make some significant deals with its Minister of Trade and Commerce, Rajesh, and possibly even meet with His Majesty Vijay Devaraya. However, as he looked around, he noticed that a lot of things had changed since thest time he had seen them. There are more shops and businesses in Thiruvananthapuram, and thenguage in which the banners of each business are written has undergone a lot of changes. Suddenly, he came to realize what this could mean, ''Has the Vijayanagar Empire fallen? How could that be? What happened? Didn''t they just defeat the Mughal Empire? How can it fall? Why did no one inform me of this?'' With various questions, he approached the person stationed here from the Republic of Venice.


    The person who was suddenly asked so many questions was confused for a few seconds, but suddenly he felt enlightened and replied with a smile, "Ha ha, sir, you have misunderstood. The Vijayanagara Empire has not fallen; it just changed names. The name Vijayanagara still exists, but it has turned into an administrative state where the Empire originated. A lot of changes have taken ce since thest time you''ve been here. Come, let me exin slowly."


    "Oh."


    Leonardo was relieved that the Vijayanagar Empire was still around. Now that he thought about it, it made sense, as the supply of war materials wasing in non-stop, so maybe it was just him who became unwise for a second.


    Later, when he heard the full exnation, he got enlightened and was skeptical about the changes his Majesty Vijay Devaraya made, bringing an autocratic Empire to a constitutional monarchy, as the king called it. He did not know what the future would hold for this Empire, but like the British, the Vians also had a governance system that was not monarchical. So, he also sent back a copy of the Constitution of Bharat to the Republic of Venice.


    Finally, after a few days of resting, he decided to meet with the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Rajesh, his old acquaintance. They both greeted each other with familiarity as they shook hands and chatted for a few moments about their individual daily lives. But finally, Leonardo got to the point, "Sir Rajesh, recently, our Vian Republic has gotten into some trouble as the Ottoman Empire has waged an unjust and immoral war against us."


    Rajesh was surprised by this detail, so he expressed concern, "I am sorry to hear that. Is there anything our Dakshin Bharat can do for you? His Majesty, Emperor Vijay Devaraya, has already proimed that the Republic of Venice is one of the close European partners of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, so I will do my best to convey your request to His Majesty if it is not too difficult. I''m sure His Majesty would agree."


    Leonardo was surprised by thement made by Rajesh, so he asked in doubt, "Then are you not afraid of the Ottomans causing trouble for Dakshin Bharatiya Empire?"


    "What fear? We have already been dealing with their cousin, the Mughal Empire. What does a distant Empire like the Ottomans have to do anything with us? So don''t worry; we have no good rtions with the Ottomans." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Leonardo was satisfied with this result and decided to gift the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire with a piece of information that he thought would be important to the Indian Empire.


    "My friend, please take this. This is important news collected by our intelligence from the Ottoman Empire."


    Rajesh was confused about what the Ottoman intelligence had to do with the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire. Seeing Rajesh''s confused face, Leonardo didn''t say anything but just forced the letter into Rajesh''s hand. "Take it. I assure you that it is of great use to the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire as it pertains also to the Mughal Empire."


    This time, Rajesh did not refuse as he took the letter and kept it aside.


    "So, my friend Leonardo, what more can I do for you?"


    "My friend, it''s like this. The new Doge of the Republic of Venice, His Excellency, Giovanni Morosini, felt like the limited financial resources of the republic were wasted on producing weaponry at home because of its higher cost. So, His Excellency suggested that the Republic of Venice set up factories in Dakshina Bharathi Empire, produce it here, and export it back to Europe."


    Hearing this set of operations, Rajesh was surprised, as nothing of such had been undertaken till now in the empire or any empire for that matter. So he was hesitant about how to deal with this, and he replied, "I am sorry, my friend, but I don''t have enough power to decide on this matter. I will convey this information to His Majesty, the Emperor Vijay Devaraya."


    Leonardo also agreed that this was a new concept put forward by His Excellency, the Doge, so he had some time to wait for the news until he would eventually travel back to Europe.

 Chapter 196 Business Formalisation, Foreign Direct Investment, Ottoman Trouble

    196 Business Formalisation, Foreign Direct Investment, Ottoman Trouble


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Vijayanagara state, capital city-Hampi.


    Vijay just received the folder of documents forwarded by Rajesh. He looked through it, and it contained two files. One looked like a letter from Rajesh himself, and the other one appeared to be sealed and unopened. The seal had a stamp that was not from the Bharatiya Empire as thenguage did not match, but by the looks of it, it was Vian. Thinking about the Vian representative to the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Leonardo Bellini, he could specte that this letter was forwarded by him. Vijay was curious about what was in the letter, but first, he decided to read the message Rajesh sent.


    Reading the letter, its content surprised him. The reason for his surprise, well, there were multiple reasons actually. For one, someone actually wanted to build factories in the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire to reduce manufacturing costs in their home country. Another reason that surprised him even more was that someone came up with this foreign direct investment model, which did not emerge until the 20th century by Eli Heckscher and Bertil Ohlin, who developed the theory of foreign investments using neossical economics and macroeconomic theory.


    Vijay even suspected whether this Doge was from the future like him. This thought caused him to panic because if his spection turned out to be true, then the variables in the world would be unimaginable. Although he was confident enough that with his knowledge and the golden finger gift he possessed, he could still navigate India through the troubled times. It''s better to not have such uncontroble factors altogether.


    But soon after thinking about it for a bit longer, he scratched off Giovanni Morosini being a transmigrator like him because if he was indeed a transmigrator, he would never take the Republic of Venice in the current direction it is going. Even if he were to conclude that this Giovanni guy only recently got transmigrated, he would never propose to directly invest in the Bhartiya Empire. Even a nutjob from the future would know that although using a third-world country to outsource manufacturing is cheaper, it also leads to the home country losing its capability of manufacturing, leaving it vulnerable in times of war, like many European countries by the time Vijay died. On top of that, Vijay thought if it was indeed a transmigrator, he would work very hard to centralize the power of the Republic of Venice and make it an autocratic monarchy or at least a constitutional one, not thinking about how to outsource the manufacturing in order to make a bargain.


    After being relieved from his own scare, Vijay contemted the proposal of setting up Vian workshops. Foreign direct investment may indeed boost the economy of the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, where money is being spent like water on various infrastructure projects all over the Empire. Roads are being expanded continuously, schools, academies, government buildings, dams, post offices, ship manufacturing, defence manufacturing, the building of a new capital city, refurbishing old temples, rebuilding old temples, building new temples, and many other such infrastructure developments have been going on since thest four years since he took the throne. Fortunately, the benefits are also being realized just as quickly, As the economy is continuously growing way past the target of 10% per annum.


    So finally, Vijay made a decision. He would not fully allow for foreign direct investment but decided to allow the Vians to set up factories in the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire. However, they will not own one hundred per cent of thepany. Instead, a condition will be put, especially in the case of defence equipment manufacturing, which Vijay suspects is the bulk of Vian interests in the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The Vians should invest with their own technology and Experienced personnel (main) in order to get their proportion of shares, and the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire will providend, human resources, mary investment, and policy for the remaining shares. This was the main framework he came up with, not only to earn more gold but also to increase the technical reserve of the empire, gain more polished technology, and enhance the strength of the Vians in their fight against the Ottomans. After making a few finishing touches to his n, like deciding the amount of shares and determining who manages thepany, etc., he wrote down his thoughts in detail.


    Now that he has decided to do such a thing, Vijay also decided that he should finally formalize the business environment in Dakshin Bhartiya Empire.


    Preparations have been going on for formalizations since the time he inherited the throne. For example, a unified legal system that applies throughout the Empire has been set up. Although thews pertaining to business affairs have not yet been written, the framework for businesses has been set up. Currency has been standardized, as it has always been the Varaha in the empire, and even in the new territories, the currency of the Mughal Empire has been banned, making the Varaha of the Dakshina Bharatiya Empire the default currency. Roads, bridges, and ports are being developed at a breakthrough pace and have never stopped, also facilitating business reforms. Trade is quite prosperous with the European countries, so the merchants of the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire are also slowly gaining experience and widening their worldview. Also, as one of the very first things he implemented, weights and measures have been standardized.


    Despite doing all this, there are still some areascking for the opening up of the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire. For example, education is still not sufficient enough to produce top-grade financial talents, the culture of technological innovation has not been built up, entrepreneurship has not yet been poprized, and generally, eptance among society is not yet high. The job of being a merchant is still frowned upon by the higher-ss Brahmins.


    So Vijay has to solve these hurdles as soon as possible.


    Vijay quickly called Uncle Ravi and ordered, "Uncle, please invite the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Rajesh, along with the Minister of Finance, Jagannath Mohan."


    "As you wish, Your Majesty."


    18:06


    Now that the matter is out of the way, he had to wait for the ministers'' arrival. In the meantime, he quickly reached into the folder to open the letter sent by Leonardo.


    Vijay took a knife from the drawer and peeled open the stamp. He could have directly cut the letter, but ording to him, it feels satisfying not to tear the paper when opening the letter.


    *Nice.*


    He had a smug smile as the letter did not tear.


    Unfortunately, the smile did notst as the smug grin on his face disappeared. The letter contained an intelligence report about the Ottoman Empire building 10 new 1000-ton battleships in three different ports located in the red sea: Suez, Aqaba, and Suakin. All this was done for the benefit of the Mughal Empire. No specifications of the battleships were mentioned, but Vijay could conclude that they were no different from what the Portuguese used.


    This new development caught him off guard. He thought that after the victory against the Mughal Empire, he would at least get a few years to develop the economy and strengthen the military before the need for another strike. The sudden involvement of the Ottoman Empire surprised him. However, thinking about it carefully, it did not make sense. His assistance to the Vians could have aggravated their battle situation, but it did not add up. Just to help the Vians, the Ottoman Empire, one of the overlords in the European power circle, would not go to such lengths just to aid its cousin empire.


    He thought some more, but it did not make any sense, so he left it as it is since counter-preparations were more important. Maybe if Vijay knew how much of a ruckus the Dharmic Im caused in the Ottoman Empire, then he would understand, but he did not have the intel. The information provided by the Vians did not include details about Dharmic Im, and Vijay himself did not have any intelligence channels within the Ottoman Empire to know what the Ottomans wanted hidden.


    Vijay quickly called Marshal Kiran Pujari and Admiral Gangadhar to discuss countermeasures. He also decided to double the strength of the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire Navy, so he ordered 100 more Hampi ss sloops, making a total of 220, and 20 more Vinayaka ss frigates, bringing the total to 40 frigates of 500 tons each. By the time he had written all these instructions and read the documents, both the Minister of Finance, Jagannath Mohan, and the Minister of Trade and Commerce had arrived at the pce.


    "Long live Your Majesty! Long live!"


    "Long live Your Majesty! Long live!"


    They conveyed the greetings with utmost seriousness and nervousness, as they could see from Vijay''s frowning face. However, they were unaware that the sombre mood was due to something else and not because of them.


    Vijay, noticing the serious expressions of the two ministers, quickly managed to suppress the uneasy feelings in his heart and began exining his thoughts, "Gentlemen, the business in the Empire has been improving day by day, with massive changes urring each day. More and more affluent people are being generated in the empire. As trade with European countries increases, the number of merchants is also on the rise. However, there is one problem: all this is happening in a barbaric way.


    We do not have proper regtions or systems to manage and influence the businesses in our Empire. I have recentlye to know about the inhuman conditions in which the workers toil in those sweatshops. Simr practices happened during the time of war with the Mughals, but due to the emergency, we had to ''kill a few chickens'' to warn the other businessmen. They behaved well for a while, but unfortunately, as new merchants were being generated, they ignored the warnings of the old merchants and started to be unbridled, imposing inhuman conditions on the workers.


    Seeing as there were no repercussions, the old merchants also followed suit, and this was not the only reason to reform; the logistics of the Empire were also challenged by such unhindered and unregted growth of workshops all over the Empire. It has be hard to tax these businesses when we do not even know what they produce and how much they produce. It was okay at the beginning as the contribution of tax from these businesses was less, but now it has been increasing constantly."


    Upon hearing His Majesty''s speech, Jagannath Mohan and Rajesh exchanged nces. The initial feeling was relief that His Majesty''s bad mood was not directed at them. Without hesitation, they asked, "So, what can we do, Your Majesty?"


    Vijay, while handing over the bundle of documents he had been updating since he took the throne, said, "I need you to design a framework for a system to regte and direct these businesses in a productive way so that their output would be a positive for the empire. New regtions,ws, policies, and frameworks must be written, and I have already outlined the framework and basic ideas."


    He continued, "I need both of you to go through them, and design regtions, systems, policies, and mechanisms to make what is in the document possible. For legal aspects, take help from the Minister of Justice, Bhuvan."


    "Yes, Your Majesty, we will get it done."


    "I have basically prepared all the necessary ingredients for you to work. I need the result within this week. Utilize the resources of both departments if necessary, but I need no excuses."


    "Yes, Your Majesty."


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 Chapter 197 Military Planning

    Chapter 197 Military nning


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Vijayanagar state, capital city Hampi, the royal pce.


    Vijay is sitting in the royal pce, facing Marshal Kiran Pujari and Admiral Gangadhar. A maides in, offering them beverages and snacks, including some biscuits. The maid leaves the room, gently closing the door.


    "So, gentlemen, what do you think?" Vijay asked as he forwarded the intelligence from the Ottoman Empire, provided by Leonardo, to both the marshal and admiral. First, it was Kiran Pujari who opened his mouth, "Your Majesty, can this intelligence be trusted?"


    Vijay nodded his head in acknowledgement. He had also thought about the issue of whether the intelligence could be trusted, as it was obtained from the Vians. Still, he concluded that Bharat did not have any other choice but to trust the Vians as they had no opposing interests. Moreover, the Vians needed a lot of help from the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire. The only other ce they could go for the same kind of help would be the Chinese Qing dynasty. Unfortunately, as the Qing Empire was newly established, there was a lot of internal strife among its people, so Vijay was happy to ignore that option.


    Kiran Pujari started to speak, "Assuming that the intelligence was true, Your Majesty, I do not know much about naval warfare. Still, if these 10 battleships manage to dock in a port or locate their own natural port to invade the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, we will quickly receive this news through our intelligence channels. If our Navy is incapable of fighting these 10 battleships, we can go ind and wait it out until they take the initiative to attack. As we are already self-sufficient and could afford to wait, it will be easy to defeat them then."


    Vijay nodded, agreeing with the conservative assessment put forward by Kiran. However, Admiral Gangadhar frowned, as he did not like the n even a little bit. Marshall Kiran Pujari''s n portrayed the Navy of Dakshin Bharat as incapable. Although they did not have the power to defeat 10 battleships in frontalbat, the navy was not so helpless that they would have to give up the coastal region and seek protection from the army. What a disgrace.


    Vijay put forward his own opinions, "What Marshall Kiran Pujari said is indeed the truth. We face no existential threat to the empire if the dangeres from the Navy. We have a vast expanse of t and fertilends to feed our people, but the option of abandoning the coastal region should be the final-case scenario. If we do go ind, we will be blocked off from the outside world. The trade with Europe that we have worked so hard to establish will be destroyed. The Mughal Empire could be their trading partner. Although the Mughals did not know how to conduct business, simple transactions could still be done. This could also bring our blooming economy to a standstill and increase the strength of the Mughals in turn. Also, most financial capitals of various states arerge port cities. If these cities fall, the economies of these states will take a massive hit. I do not want that to happen. In fact, I do not even want the war toe to our coast.


    "So, Admiral Gangadhar," Vijay said as he turned toward the admiral and ordered, "Marshall Kiran Pujari will be used as thest line of defence in the empire. All major ports will be fortified by the 30 kg calibre naval guns mounted on the walls. I need you toe up with a probable attack n as we know that these 10 ships would be transported out of the Red Sea and would soon move to the Arabian Sea with the destination of Gujarat port. I do not want these 10 ships to be sessful in reaching their destination. We have two such battleships captured by the Dutch, and I have recently expanded the strength of the navy to 220 Hampi ss sloops and 40 Vinayaka ss frigates. From this arsenal, I need you toe up with a battle n."


    Admiral Gangadhar was overjoyed; he was thrilled that his Majesty Vijay had not given up hope on the Navy as soon as he heard about the 10 battleship fleet. Not only had His Majesty not given up, but he had also increased the number of ships in the fleet. Now, he had toe up with a solution for this problem. He clenched his fists in determination as he quickly got up and saluted in acknowledgement of Vijay''s orders, willing toe up with suitable ns without fail. Kiran Pujari also did the same as he left the pce to get the fortifications underway.


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Vijayanagar State, Mangaluru, Raya Shipyard.


    Devendra, the manager of the shipyard, had been busy since his posting, and the work was fulfilling. The greatest joy in his life was to see all the docks in the shipyard filled with ships being built. The shipyard had be the cradle of the empire''s military warships. Until now, two types of warships had been constructed in the Devaraya Shipyard¡ªfrom the very first Hampi-ss sloop to the Dana-ss armed merchant ship and now the recent Vinayaka-ss frigate. He was happy because he received eight orders for the Vinayaka-ss frigate, and two ships were being constructed simultaneously. However, suddenly a letter came from His Majesty to transfer the orders of civilian vessels to some other shipyards.


    He was shocked by this order. The bulk of orders received by the shipyard were from civilian backgrounds, with most of them being for the Dana-ss armed merchant ships. Even the Shetty family had ordered 5 more Dana-ss armed merchant shipsst month.


    However, he could not defy His Majesty''s direct order and reassigned the old orders that had yet to start construction to other shipyards while halting new orders. The next contents of another letter from the government he received made him understand why His Majesty ordered the transfer of civilian ships. He got an order for 35 Hampi-ss sloops and an order for 8 more Vinayaka-ss frigates, both with a tight deadline of 50 days. The deadline seemed a little tight, so Devendra frowned, but it was nothing he could not handle. Now that the civilian ships under construction will bepleted and delivered to the customers within this week, all 10 dry docks will be avable for use. He nned to use these docks to build 10 ships at a time. It should be doable. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Orders from Vijay had caused a storm in the marine industry. It was chaotic at the beginning as suddenly all four shipyards rejected any civilian orders. The supporting industries thought that the shipping industry was dying down. However, suddenly the next day, a storm of new orders poured in. What''s more, these orders were for much more expensive military-grade products. The industry knew that something big was about to happen, as they learned through some channels that Manager Devendra got 35 orders for sloops, Manager Sudhakar from Ch Shipyard got 25 orders, Nitin from Ashoka got 20, and Pankaj from Shivaji Shipyard got 20.


    With the four main shipyards of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empirepletely upied by military orders, the small and medium-sized shipyards, privately owned by families, seized this opportunity and snatched up all the civilian boat orders. There were still a few shipyards that had poached skilled technicians from the main shipyards. One among them, in particr, was capable of manufacturing a 130-ton merchant ship they designed in-house,pletely different from the Bosswell Design Bureau. It was called the Berunda Design Bureau, owned by the Berunda shipyard. This ship was quite popr with merchants because although it did not have the defensive capabilities of the Dhana ss or the speed and durability, it was much cheaper for small-time merchants to afford, and the coastal waters were very safe because of the coast guard. So, with this gap created by the fourrge shipyards, the Berunda shipyard expanded heavily, taking orders from left, right, and centre. A new project was also put forward by the patriarch of the family, Gana Prabu Berunda, for the designers to create an ambitious 350-ton merchant ship codenamed the Samudra Bandhu ss.


    Everyone in the Empire was working at breakneck speeds as they had targets to achieve, whether it was a worker assigned a certain amount of work or a contractor tasked withpleting a specific length of roads. The Dakshin Bharatiya Empire was bustling with activity. While all this was happening, the three ministers of finance, trade andmerce, along with the judiciary, had been working on forming the framework for business reforms. All the necessary information had been provided by His Majesty the Emperor; it was just that the task was extensive and involved a multitude of small details. The three men had been working on this for a few days. Mohan and Rajesh knew that His Majesty considered this an urgent matter, so they fully utilized the resources of their respective ministries to tackle the task.


    Kishore Bbhadra was also preparing for the uing elections. As the elections were approaching, he had to get ready again. His list of candidates with nobility titles was also nearingpletion; he was just waiting for the list from the Nobility Bureau in the military to submit a consolidated report to His Majesty.


    Currently, his focus was on election preparations, whether it was reviewing each candidate along with their assigned symbols or ensuring there were enough materials to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections. Due to him, there was a small storm in the artisan circles of Hampi, as thousands of ballot boxes were suddenly ordered, albeit with a demand for a faster delivery time. All in all, everyone was busy with their own affairs, including Vijay, who was also upied with exercises alongside Kavya.

 Chapter 198 Elections And Bhartiya School Of Business and Economics Part: 1

    198 Elections And Bhartiya School Of Business and Economics Part: 1


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, the day of the election.


    It was dered a national holiday by the government for the obvious reason that it was the day of the elections.


    The candidates had been campaigning non-stop in the local areas. Although not yet mature, the style of future politicians could be seen in the shadows of these premature politicians. This political race also highly elevated the lower caste people, as there was a reservation for them of 30%. With a representative for every taluk and district of The Empire, these winners in the local areas could, in the future, move to higher heights as ministers of parliament. Each minister of parliament is a representative of a million people; hence, the parliament of the Empire currently has 35 vacant seats.


    For the state parliament, it is different, as the proportion equal to that of the national Parliament was selected for the state Parliament. On average, a state parliament minister became a representative of anywhere from 100,000 to 500,000 people, depending on the state and poption density of the area the candidate is campaigning.


    *Step step step*


    Neat, orderly marching steps rang out throughout every major city and town in the empire. It was the sound of trained, on-duty soldiers marching, in a neatly ordered formation. The elections were again held in various government schools of the Empire, mainly for their spacious infrastructure, along with their numerous use cases.


    The security measures arranged by Kishore Bbhadra were heavier than what he had arranged for the civil examinations. Even if there is a mistake in the civil exam, thergest disaster that could happen is some candidates passing the exam due to malpractice. The worst oue of this could be having an ignorant and unqualified person in civil service, ustomed to getting things for himself in an easier way rather than through hard work. Although it is also very damaging to the civil exam system, it is not the end of the world, as the person who cheated could always be caught during performance indicators.


    However, once there is a problem with elections, like ballot box stuffing or more serious issues such as staff manipting the voters, the consequences will be disastrous. Most likely, the candidate winning the election would not be a kind person if he went through the trouble of manipting the votes and would go to any lengths to get what he wants, even if his path is filled with evil.


    To be cautious, Kishore Bbhadra decided to utilize a total of 30,000 active soldiers as a security measure. Simr to how he handled the civil exams, he distributed these soldiers ording to the voting density of people in an area. Polling booths had already been arranged 24 hours before the election. A special paper was also procured by the Raya and Shetty paper mill, which was specially manufactured for the sole purpose of elections. It was shipped in the morning at 4 am to different polling stations in the empire. Officers were ced in various polling booths of the Empire, waiting for the first voter.


    Amravati, Amravati Public School, Polling Booth.


    A man entered Amravati Public High School. He wore neat clothes, although not expensive or luxurious, it could be seen that they had been taken good care of. This person entered the polling booth after presenting all his credentials at the door where the military was stationed for proof.


    "Name?" going inside, the officer at the polling booth asked.


    "Hari Atharv," he said. Yes, this is the same Hari Atharv who worked at a bookstore to learn and improve his knowledge. By the way, he was also the same Hari who stood up for the election as a candidate. Fortunately, Hari was one of the 1,065,652 candidates who managed to pass the civil exams. He was very surprised by the result he got, as he had achieved a very good grade, almost in the top percentile. Although he had already expected that he would get a good grade since the question paper was very simple, he did not expect that he would make it to the top 5%.


    Today, he hade to the Amravati polling station to cast his vote.


    After the election officer heard the name, he searched through his documents and finally found the name. After verifying the details again, he led Hari inside the polling booth. When he got inside the polling booth, there was another person waiting beside the door who guided him on how to cast his vote. He was given a special kind of paper that contained a list of symbols along with names that he recognized to be his opponents. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Listening to the exnation from the officer, Hari nodded his head as the officer went back to his corner near the door. Hari Atharv brought the paper to the metal desk where it was positioned in such a way that the only visual of the desktop was from behind, where it was blocked off by a wall. The remaining three sides of the desk had elevated wooden nks to disrupt the sight of anyone looking at the person casting the vote.


    Hari Atharv was very satisfied with the arrangements made by the observer. "Looks like a lot of thought went through in this election," he thought as he went through the symbols and names of everyone on the list. He found his name at the 12th position of the list with the symbol of a feather. He chose the feather as a symbol to signify his own beginnings as a lowly chicken rearer for the master and also to signify his importance to education.


    After taking the wooden seal with a stamp written ''Vote'' in red ink that he was provided with, he pressed the stamp on his own symbol. He folded the vote paper as instructed and dropped it inside the ballot box beside him. While leaving the room, which only had a single door, he also got a blue ink marking on his left index finger. He was doubtful about why he was inked, but soon he came to the conclusion that this may be so that once a person cast his or her vote, they would not be allowed again.


    After reaching this conclusion, he tried to wipe the ink away to see if it woulde off, but as expected, the ink did not budge even when washed with water. After Hari Atharv left, only three people were waiting to cast their votes. This is because even though 1,065,652 candidates are a lot, they are spread across an empire with a size of more than 1 million sq km. Hence, in small polling booths like the one in Amravati, the total eligible voters are only in the hundreds spread out throughout the day. Hari, who saw the voters, did a namaskar for them and did not forget to campaign, "Please don''t forget to vote for the feather symbol." Voters who heard this smiled and nodded to show that they would.


    More and more people turned up as voting was publicized as a fundamental and important right of a citizen. Not voting was considered equivalent to throwing away one''s own voice from being heard. This is why, out of all the 1,065,652 candidates, the majority of them showed up to vote, leaving only a few hundred people who could not make it due to a variety of reasons.


    During the elections, something historic also happened in the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire. All 10% of the women who had passed in the civil exams showed up to vote. Although women are not denied anything even in the ancient Panchayat system, they are still at a disadvantage when ites topetition with men. This right to vote was seen as a once-in-a-lifetime chance, so the women of the empire did not miss the Opportunity. Also, their being allowed to vote did not cause an uproar in the empire, as Vijay also came up with a special Voting Act ording to which women would lose their right to vote during emergency situations, like during a war. Vijay implemented this after remembering what happened in Ukraine in the 21st century. Even though the women of Ukraine were not responsible for anything that happened during the war, that situation clearly signified that for most of human existence, women were not allowed to vote. It is because for most of human existence, people have been at constant wars, and more likely than not, it was always the man who ended up dying in wars, just like what happened in the 21st century as all the women were able to evacuate warzone''s in Ukraine while the men were required to fight the war.


    The first woman who voted in this election was a 23-year-old Deepika from the Guntur district of Kakatiya Puri state. She had been a merchant''s daughter, which was one of the reasons for her literacy. Her husband being open-minded was also one of the reasons for her being given permission to study and write for the civil exams. Her husband works as a captain in the army, and being enlightened with more liberal ideas, he did not even stop Deepika from epting the offer given by the Ministry of Trade and Commerce after she passed the civil exams on the condition that she quits the job after their children are born.


    The voting ballot used by Deepika to exercise her voting rights wouldter be preserved and disyed in a museum, titled "The First Female of the Bharatiya Empire to Vote, voted through this ballot." The decision to use a physical ballot rather than a voting paper was made to maintain transparency and fairness in the election process. In contrast to some other systems, where individuals may have to dere their votes, the Bharatiya Empire''s approach ensures the secrecy of each voter''s choice.

 Chapter 199 Elections And Bhartiya School Of Business and Economics Part: 2

    199 Elections And Bhartiya School Of Business and Economics Part: 2


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire.


    The elections went on for a whole day after which the ballot boxes were sealed within an iron container, locked onto a carriage, and transported directly to different ENEC offices located in each of the capitals of each state. These ballots would be counted one by one in the care of dedicated staff who are not allowed to go outside the building until the counting ispleted. This is where the security measures were the most stringent. Thousands of soldiers stood guard outside these ENEC buildings where the counting of votes is going on; there were even 20kg calibre cannons arranged as fortifications.


    Before the results of the elections were announced, something else was going on in the business circles of the Empire. The local governments of various states sent notices to all the medium-sized and above merchants of the Empire, inviting them to join apulsory course that would take ce throughout this week. The merchants were skeptical at first, but since it was a direct order from the government, they concluded that this ss the government is talking about should be something important.


    Fortunately, even though the number of affluent merchants has been increasing, they still constitute a minority, making up less than 5% of the poption. The number of merchants in the Empire falls within the range of 1 to 1.8 million. Considering logistical and human resource constraints, managing the various sses is not too challenging. Utilizing existing buildings, the Bhartiya School of Business and Economics was established. It operated as a temporary school, set to exist for a week and then be disbanded. The primary purpose was to provide guidance on the new regtions formted by the government and educate merchants about contemporary business concepts to keep them updated.


    Finally getting to know about the actual reason, many merchantsughed with disdain as they found it ridiculous that the government would teach full-time merchants like them how to do business. So, they decided to ignore thepulsory attendance of the school. Still, the majority of the more prudent merchants numbering several hundred thousand decided to heed the call and attend the school.


    One such school was in Mandya.


    This school was temporarily established at the city''s Gowdara''s residence, once upon a time home of the Noble who used to exist in Mandya. However, as he ended up joining the rebellion, he was executed for it, and his family was demoted tomoners with all their properties confiscated. Due to the house being in such arge estate, it was temporarily chosen as the Bhartiya School of Business and Economics. All the merchants in the surrounding area made it to the school.


    Inside therge ssroom, which could hold a poption of 500 people, it was packed. There was a huge noise emanating from the room as various middle-aged uncles talked to each other in loud voices. They all wore luxurious clothes, a rare sight among themoners, as they discussed business matters. Some small quarrels also broke out when business rivals met.


    In this chaotic environment, two individuals entered the ssroom,ughing and chatting with each other. Upon seeing them, everyone in the ssroom quieted down. It was the top two merchants of Mandya, the Joshi and the Kombu family, who had a monopoly on Textile and coal in the city, respectively. They both waved their hands as the venue became normal with noise, and they both took their seats at the frontmost chairs of the ss, where people of simr calibre sat.


    A middle-aged man entered the ss wearing a ck outfit, reminiscent of what CV Raman wore. Everyone respectfully greeted this middle-aged man, as they could already conclude that he was the person sent by the ministry to teach them new regtions and principles.


    "Good morning, everyone. My name is Sarvepalli Jaya Murthy. I am from the Ministry of Finance, and I have been tasked with exining in detail the newws and regtions of the Empire that are about to be implemented. One of the main objectives of this ss is to prepare for the changes that are about toe. Another reason is to give you some knowledge about the new business models developed by the Ministry of Trade and Commerce alongside the Ministry of Finance with the help of the Ministry of Justice."


    Everyone was quiet as they listened intently to Jai Murthy.


    Jai Murthy first exined the newws and regtions that would be implemented in the near future in the Empire. A huge discussion broke out pertaining to these differentws and regtions. Different regtions caused various reactions from people in different industries. Whether it was beneficial or hurting their interests, various discussions broke out. Each and every regtion was exined clearly throughout the few days allocated specifically for them.


    At the same time, the election results also came out. Surprisingly, all the ministers who currently held their posts will continue to hold them, as the people felt they had done a good job. More importantly, as these ministers were appointed directly by His Majesty, the Emperor, and there was a universal agreement among themon people that His Majesty was the best monarch for them, they did not want to change or contradict his decision. Although the voters did have some ideas, they were still skeptical of going against the emperor, So atst, the top powers retained their positions.


    Although the top hierarchy of power remained unchanged after the election, it was not the same at the ground level. Two new sses of politicians were added below the central ministers, and they were directly voted in by the people. Hari Atharv was also nominated as a representative of the town he sessfully ran for. Just like Hari Atharv, a new breed of young politicians finally took the stage in the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, leading to a more efficient way of getting things done for the government. The efficiency of various projects in the government will also increase exponentially in theing weeks.


    On the other hand, the merchants who did not invest much in the election or fund any candidate did not care much about the election. Those who invested were either very happy or sad, but fortunately, as it is still the first election of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, the merchants who lost their bets will not be liquidated, as it happens in some Western countries.


    After finally knowing the results of the election, the sses at Bhartiya School of Business and Economics continued. After a short break for the results, a new section was taught. Mr Sarvepalli Jaya Murthy started to exin, "Now that you all know about the new regtions that are very likely to be implemented by the end of this week, let me now exin and give you some tools to better adapt and restructure your individual businesses to lead to a more sessful career.


    Currently, the businessesmonly seen in our Empire are textile businesses, coal mining, iron and steel, cotton, mining and extraction of minerals, agriculture and farming, and the newly formed chemical industry ( ink, dye, colours) and shipbuilding industry."


    Then he went on to discuss each of these industries in detail. After that, he came to different types of business structures in which a business could be implemented. For this part, the merchants listened carefully, as they were told that this part was important.


    "There are many types of businesses you could build. One is a sole proprietorship, where a business is owned and operated by a single individual. This is the type of business most of you do business in, and it is still the easiest to set up.


    Next is a partnership, where a business is owned by one or two more individuals who share responsibilities and profits. Typically, this type of business would be suitable for aw firm,pany, or different types of tradingpanies." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    This was the first time they heard about this type ofpany being so conceptualized, even though such workshops already existed. It just was not put in such a concise and easy-to-understand manner. Next, he went on to exin about guilds, craftsmen associations, family businesses, different cooperatives, and other things. The time it took toplete this course at the Bhartiya School of Business and Economics was a whole week. The businessmen lost out on a lot of time by concentrating on this course rather than on their own businesses, which led to a dip in their finances, and also the businessmen who did not attend the course seized the opportunity to expand their market, cannibalizing the ones where the owners of the merchant business were absent. But unfortunately, that would be thest proper profit. for the absentees Because after the week in which the election and business school both took ce, Vijay went through thews and regtions perfected by Jagannath Mohan and Rajesh. He signed the bill and passed it in the new parliament as the first bill of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire.


    The parliament did not have much experience in doing their job, so they just epted what the experienced ruling ministers put forward.


    The bill of economics, which epassed a lot of rules and regtions, came into effect right on time for His Majesty''s 25th birthday. It also happens to be only a few weeks away from Yugadi. The people who attended the sses quickly, as if practised, went to the nearest office of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce and registered theirpanies. Standardization of businesses took ce at a breakneck speed throughout the empire.


    While the merchants who attended the sses smoothly transitioned, those who did not remained clueless as to what was happening. After a significant amount of time without any change, they received fines from the court for not modernizing their businesses, which ended up further burdening their operations when they decided to invest their time in understanding the situation, as their market share was being eaten up. For a few who followed suit by seeking help from their friends, they still ended up falling behind because their concepts could not keep up with the merchants who attended the sses.


    Vijay was finally satisfied with the result, and he felt that the foundation for the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire to be a financial superpower wasid on this day with the bill of finance.


    Now that he hadid the groundwork, Vijay sent a letter to Leonardo Bellini about the conclusions he hade up with pertaining to foreign investment. Also, along with his decision, the new bill of finance was also sent as a reference.


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 Chapter 200 Birthday

    200 Birthday


    || ???? ||


    Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, Vijayanagara State, the royal capital Hampi.


    Today is an exciting day for the people of the imperial capital. The day is about to begin, and there is still darkness in the streets with no clouds in the sky. It is a pleasant day, with streets adorned with flowers and decorative objects forming an arch on the main road. This spectacle looks more spectacr than usual because the road is so big that the flowers and decorative items needed for this decoration require several tons of flowers.


    All the houses and shops by the street are also decorated as they prepare for a special day of discounts. Saffron gs are hung across all over the streets, ruffled by a calm morning breeze. It is only 5 o''clock in the morning, and there is still a sliver of oil in themps lit in the streets. Time passes by as the first rays of light collide with the decorated streets of Hampi, making the worlde to life with its rich colours. People also start to roam the streets in colourful clothes, eagerly awaiting the grand Imperial procession.


    This kind of event was not only held in the capital but was also organized in all the different cities of the empire. The special event of the day was Vijay''s 25th birthday, so the whole empire came together to celebrate His Majesty''s 25th birthday. The capital is decorated as such because his Majesty would go on a royal procession throughout the capital. As for other cities in the Empire, although they are not as decorated as the capital, there are still decorations in the main streets. People wore new clothes in festive spirit and collectively did rituals and Pooja in various temples in the Empire. The Poojas done today were for the well-being of His Majesty, Vijay Devaraya. Kavya also utilized her right as the key holder of the Devaraya family and decided on Annadhana (Food donation) in various temples in the name of Vijay and the royal family.


    Vijay awoke in his royal quarters. He was alone, but it could be seen that someone else was sleeping beside him just moments ago, as the bed beside him was crumpled. Vijay slowly opened his eyes as his natural biological clock woke him up. But as soon as he opened his eyes, soft music reached his ears. By the proximity of the music, he could tell that the musicians were ying just outside his room. The tune of the sitar became fuller as it was apanied by ta and a flute. Vijay recognized this tune; it was ''Janma Dinamidam,'' the Sanskrit happy birthday song. Then he suddenly remembered that it was his own birthday. Now, he understood the reason for the soft music apanying him waking up.


    ? "Janma dinamidam aye janma dinamidam,


    Sukhi bhava, sukhi bhava, sukhi bhava priyam." ?


    ? "May your days be filled withughter and delight,


    May sess and love surround you,


    Wishing you a world of dreamse true,


    Happy birthday, may you shine forever." ?


    ? "With every passing year, may you grow wiser,


    May your heart be filled with kindness and grace,


    Wishing you a life of boundless joy,


    Happy birthday, may you shine forever." ?


    It was 5:30 a.m. when the music stopped, and Vijay took a cold shower as he got ready for the day. He went to the mantapa in the pce to make his prayers to God. Kavya was awaiting him as she sat opposite a priest, wearing a beautiful red saree and looking alluring as always. She had a seat reserved for him beside her. He did not say anything and quietly sat down next to her. The rituals began as the priest prayed for his well-being and the well-being of the Empire. Half an hourter, the ritual was over as the priest left the pce.


    Seeing that they were alone, Vijay turned his head to the side and saw Kavya leaning forward to pick up the utensils. He then saw something that made his body heat up, So he silently ran his hand through the waist of Kavya as he pinched the corner, "ahh"She let out a small sound of pain, of which Vijay took advantage and gave her a little bite on her mouth. She became shy and embarrassed about what just happened, but quickly that emotion turned into anger. Noticing this, Vijay swiftly got up and ran away. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    It was six o''clock when Uncle Ravi Chandra wished him a happy birthday and handed him a list of documents. Vijay went through them all swiftly as there was not much official work this day. By 8 o''clock, he finished his official work as well as his breakfast, and he finally decided to go on the grand procession. Vijay along with Kavya embarked on a pair of elephants for a grand procession through the capital, apanied by the royal guards,and the ministers.


    "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"


    "Long live!"


    "Long live!"


    Screams rang out throughout the capital as the crowd threw flowers at Vijay when he passed through. To the dismay of Kavya, a bunch of beautiful teenage women in alluring clothes screamed Vijay''s name. Despite her displeasure, Vijay couldn''t help but smile at the attention. Even kids joined in the festive atmosphere, chanting Vijay''s name. By the time he reached the end of each street, the carriage on which Kavya was sitting would be filled with flowers, making it awkward for her to move forward. It looked like a pile of flowers travelling on top of an elephant. So, each time at the end of the street, Vijay had to clear out the flowers on his own elephant and get the maids to help Kavya clear out the flowers on her howdah.


    The procession went on for a few hours until they made it to the Virupaksha temple, where the atmosphere became even more festive.


    Vijay was momentarily mesmerized by the performances from a higher elevation. If he had to describe the atmosphere, it was like what was seen in the Baahubali movie from his past life when the giant statue of Bhaladeva was about to be established. Excluding the part where the performances were forced in that movie, the cultures and styles shown were the exact same here. Different performances were happening in different parts of the temple grounds.


    Kavya was also very happy, pping at the performances she liked. The crowd enjoyed themselves and joined in the performances. Finally, a grand Homa (ritual fire ceremony) was conducted in the name of Vijay for his well-being and the well-being of the Empire.


    After this, several sports matches took ce. First, there was a rugby match (American Football), followed by Kabaddi. However, Vijay felt like something was missing¡ªcricket. Although cricket had already been invented by the British in 1611, even before the original owner of this body was born, Vijay decided to introduce modern one-day and T20 cricket to the Empire.


    After the sports performances, there were archery and horse ridingpetitions among the military personnel.


    Afterpleting all these events, it was already 5:00 p.m. in the evening. Vijay took a few hours to discuss important matters with the ministers and the prime minister.


    Later, he devoted some time to understanding and addressing various matters rted to the development of the Raya Group of Industries.


    As night fell, the Empire was lit up with oilmps, resembling scenes from the Diwali festival. Finding it interesting, some European merchants also emted the lighting ofmps. Initially hesitant, they were reluctant to participate, fearing that these actions were associated with sphemous ceremonies or praying to some demonic god. However, upon learning that it was in celebration of the birthday of His Majesty Vijay Devaraya, they dly joined in.


    Gifts were presented to Vijay from different European merchants, with the Portuguese and Vians offering the most luxurious presents. The Portuguese representative presented him with an antique flintlock, specially crafted by master craftsmen in the royal capital of Portugal. Vijay appreciated the gift, noting that the inscriptions on the gun were in both Latin and Sanskrit. On the other hand, the Vians gifted him and deed for an acre ofnd in the centre of the Republic of Venice''s capital. Additionally, there was a business license for the Vijay Group of Industries to open a shopfront in the capital.


    He was very excited about receiving this deed, because, it would mean that although only a single family was initially allowed, the European market was slowly opening to the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire. He just had to be more calcted ande to pry open this small window opening the European market to the empire. It was then that Vijay would prove how right the words of Pliny the Elder of the Roman Empire in 77 CE were when he called India ''the sink of the world''s gold''.


    This happened under circumstances where a lot of Roman gold was flowing into India because of India''s immacte products and exquisite jewellery, which captivated the hearts of Roman women. Vijay felt like it would be no different even now.


    P.S. Finally, 200 Chapters ended on a good Note, Jai Shri Ram, let''s keep Going.


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 Chapter 201 Improving the Arsenal of Cannon Shots

    201 Improving the Arsenal of Cannon Shots


    || ???? ||


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Vijayanagar state, capital city Hampi, the royal pce.


    "Mhhhhh."


    "Ahhhhh."


    Sounds of pleasure emanated from the royal quarters in the royal pce, undoubtedly signalling Kavya''s voice. After Vijay''s birthday, just as he suspected, he could sense that his mind had stopped increasing in power, and he had received a final boost of improvement on the day of his birthday when he slept. As the days after his birthday passed, Vijay could now feel that he was capable of being a father. With this new sense of purpose, he had been spending intimate time with Kavya.


    It is also the year 1655 ording to the Vedic calendar, marking the fifth year since His Majesty Vijay Devaraya took the throne.


    The Empire has undergone numerous changes, with many small, medium, andrge businesses undergoing significant transformations. These businesses have reced terms like "workshop," "cloth shop," "woodworker," and others with the names of theirpanies, which are now registered with the Ministry of Trade and Commerce.


    Due to the sudden increase in various types ofpanies in the Empire, the Ministry of Trade and Commerce has be the busiest ministry. Business owners and new entrepreneurs alike areing in to register theirpanies or handle affairs rted to their registeredpanies.


    It''s not just the Ministry of Trade and Commerce; even the tax department has be busy with the influx ofpanies registering their names and tax returns. As an incentive to register with the ie tax department, Vijay has granted these old businesses a tax-free privilege for the current year, on the condition that they register theirpany details with the tax department of the Empire. The business owners did not resist this covert push to reveal their earnings to the tax department, mainly because the tax burden was not too significant.


    Also, the tax was decided to be 10% of the total turnover of thepany. In the case of a tradingpany, the tax is determined after considering the type of product being traded. The tradingpany also has a tax of 10% for its turnover, but it also has a different tax for the items it chooses to import. For exports, most of the products are tax-free, excluding some luxurymodities. Vijay utilized the right of taxation of the imperialmittee as a way to regte prices in the Empire.


    Suddenly, in the Empire, within a week, 1.5 millionpanies of different kinds had been registered. Although a minority, thousands of business owners decided to form partnershippanies. This decision came after Raya and Shetty Paper Mill and its management were introduced as a temte. Some of the prominentpanies registered were the Bakshi Textile Company, which sold affordable clothes for the low and middle-range markets, the Bhupathi Medical Company, which sold high-end medical concoctions, and Lata Bhai Luxurious Apparel Company, which sold high-end women''s clothing to the upper ss. The Kalyan Group of Industries incorporated various businesses of the surviving Kalyan noble family. The Shetty Group of Companies incorporated all the Shetty family''s assets in a grouppany, which also included the Raya and Shetty Paper Mill. Thousands of suchpanies were started by smart and resourceful merchants.


    The changes were not only among civilian merchants but also within the royal industries. Raya Group of Industries underwent restructuring and became a holdingpany called Raya Group Holding, incorporating all the Raya Grouppanies. This was also emted by some of the rich merchant families like the Shetty family and the leftover noble families like the Kalyan family, who managed to withstand all the purges. Although they were without titles, their heritage remained.


    Presently, Raya Group Holding Companyprises three grouppanies:


    1. Raya Heavy Industries: This includes Raya Machinery, Raya Armory, Raya Iron Works, Raya Shipyard, Ch Shipyard, Ashoka Shipyard, and Shivaji Shipyard. The shares of Raya and Shetty Paper Mill are directly controlled by Raya Heavy Industries.


    2. Raya Light Industry: While there are not manypanies under it at the moment, there is Raya Chemicals, responsible for producing the colours used in the textile industry. Vijay ns to establish a separate industry for chemicals that could be used in broader markets in the future.


    3. Real Estate, Pces, Mines, and Misceneous Assets: This grouppany holds various properties in the Empire and misceneous assets scattered throughout the Empire.


    With the businesses of the Empire standardized, Vijay can now focus on bringing in financial institutions to nurture the budding financial industry of the Empire.


    In the royal pce, Vijay finally finished his exercise, freshened up, managed some of the affairs of the Empire along with his own family''s affairs, and then made his way to the study room.


    The first thing Vijay did was make ns for the establishment of a unified banking code in the empire. Banks were not a new concept for the people of the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire or even the people of the Mughal Empire. However, this knowledge might have been lost or forgotten over time, and only schrs and the truly knowledgeable would be aware of this historical information.


    Indian temples had a rich history of functioning as banks, dating back centuries to ancient times. They served as secure vaults formunity wealth, with devotees donating valuables, gold, and wealth to temples as offerings. The priests acted as custodians, ensuring safety. Temples also provided loans to traders and farmers, fostering economic activities. This practice existed even during Vedic times.


    This historical function of temples was one of the reasons why temples in Bharat were heavily invaded. The wealth of even a small vige would be fairly concentrated in the temple. If invaders destroyed the temple, not only could they crush the morale of the people, but they could also acquire a significant amount of Gold. Another intent behind destroying the temples was to eradicate Hinduism, as invaders believed that by destroying religious institutions, the religion would die down. Unfortunately for them, they were wrong in that assumption. With the destruction of temples, the religion became more resilient and deeply embedded into the lives of the devotees, as each and every home became a temple.


    After the banks, Vijay outlined the patent system for the Ministry of Justice, providing instructions for the legition of a corresponding bill. While it was criticized for impeding innovation due to legalplexities in the 21st century of Vijay''sst life, the patent system paradoxically fueled early-stage innovation. By granting inventors exclusive rights, patents provided incentives for creativity, attracting investment in research and development. This protection encouraged inventors to disclose their ideas, fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and coboration. Early-stage innovators often relied on patent protection to secure funding, attracting investors confident in safeguarding intellectual property. However, challenges arose when patents became overly restrictive or misused, hindering subsequent innovation. Bncing the patent system was crucial to preserving its initial purpose of incentivizing and promoting early-stage inventive endeavours.


    In order to avoid the issues thate with patents, Vijay made a few changes in the duration for which a certain type of patent would be valid. For medical patents, he emted a practice from future India, which had be a pharmaceutical superpower and the pharmacy of the world. This practice involved granting patent rights for the process by which certain medicines were made, not for the end product itself. This approach allowed India to replicate foreign medicines by using different manufacturing processes, significantly reducing the cost of medicinespared to overseaspetition.


    He finally finished writing down his thoughts pertaining to these two institutions. However, it would take a considerable amount of time for these changes to be made public, as many things needed to be localized and adapted for this era. Vijay also acknowledged that there was much work to be done. So, he made a note to conduct practical and trial runs in the Empire, collect data, refine the system and mechanism, and then submit a report to him. After sending these instructions to Jagannath Mohan, Rajesh, and Bhuvan, he began picking up his pen and designing various ammunitions to be used against the Ottoman-built 10 Man of War battleships.


    Up until now, only a normal iron roundshot was used as ammunition by the cannons against structures and various things for three reasons. First, the need did not arise, and second, manufacturing different types of ammunition would require much morebour, which Vijay was not willing to invest in just yet. The third reason was that Vijay did not want to use a more lethal weapon than necessary. While he was fighting against the Mughal Empire in name, the casualties would only be the people of India stuck with the Mughal Empire. So, Vijay did not want to use more lethal ammunition.


    However, now that the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire was going up against a stronger navy, he had to pull out all the stops. This ammunition would be used both for fortification and in naval cannons.


    Vijay, in his pursuit of enhancing naval capabilities, designed a variety of innovative ammunition for the artillery. The first among them is the grapeshot, which, upon firing, spreads widely, causing area-of-effect damage. Following this is the canister shot, releasing small projectiles upon firing. The shell shot, filled with gunpowder and shrapnel, explodes upon impact. An incendiary shot, when used with gunpowder, includes mmable material to induce fires. Designed specifically for naval warfare, the chain shot features two halves of a shot attached to a chain, intended to bring down the masts or sails of enemy ships. The hot shot, a red-hot round, is fired to set the surroundings aze. Additionally, for naval engagement, there''s the barshot, strategically employed to dismantle the rigging and masts of enemy warships. Vijay''s innovation in naval weaponry aimed to provideprehensive options for effectivebat scenarios.


    He sent all these designs to the Bharatiya Academy of Military Sciences and the Raya Armory.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 202 War Of Ahom Part: 1

    Chapter 202 War Of Ahom Part: 1


    The Mughal Empire, Bengal, Kolkata Royal Pce.


    Mohammad V has been quite excited for the past few days. The army he had been training haspleted mobilization and has been sent to the border area awaiting further orders. His cousin Empire in the Mediterranean has agreed to build him 10 Man-of-War battleships. ording to the promised time, the ships should arrive in a few months at thetest. Today, he convened a meeting in Bengal, Kolkata to fully n the invasion of the Ahom kingdom. After a few moments of waiting, multiple people enter the pce. The first person is Iqbal, the Minister of War, followed by Muhammad Muizzu, the Prime Minister of the Empire.


    Also present are the Governor of Bengal, Hamza Umar, along with Malik Ali. Hamza and Malik will be themanding officers of two different battlefronts in this war, and Iqbal will be the strategist behind the war.


    "So tell me, Iqbal, how are the preparations going?"


    Hearing the question asked by his majesty, Iqbal replied with confidence and pride on his face, "The preparations have beenpleted, Your Majesty. We have 50,000 troops ready for battle at any moment. We have also dispatched 200, 20 kg calibre cannons, along with 10,000 muskets." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    When it came to muskets, he couldn''t help but praise His Majesty, the Emperor. "Your Majesty, you are the most wise in manufacturing the muskets with your own resources. Most nobles would not have responded to the Empire''s call and were always looking for profits. Also, when that route was tried thest time, we got all shoddy products. So, if it were not for you adopting the same manufacturing style as the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire in your own workshop, we would have never been able to produce so many muskets."


    Hearing thepliment, Mohammad was satisfied and showed a proud look. However, only he knew that deep down, he had a bitter smile because although he had put in a lot of resources into manufacturing these muskets, only 10,000 were produced. The war with the Vijayanagara Empire ended almost half a year ago, so you could see how producing only 10,000 muskets in 6 months could be a problem.


    Shaking off his bad memories, he asked Iqbal, "What is the battle n?"


    "Your Majesty, Hamza Umar will lead an army of 25,000 soldiers at the Gauripur border town of the Ahom Kingdom. Gauripur is also a strategic location where the Brahmaputra river flows down to our Bengal, so we can also utilize the Ind Navy in this region. Another entrance is down south in a town called Tura, where Malik Ali will lead with the strength of 15,000 soldiers. Attacking through these two regions, we can directly go to the hearnd of the Ahom Kingdom. But there are still two obstacles in fully destroying the Ahom Kingdom - this ce here in Sarighat and this ce down south in Shillong," Iqbal said as he pointed to two locations on the map. "These two ces act as natural barriers blocking us off from the hearnd of the Ahom Kingdom. Even though conquering thend till these barriers will make it painful for the Ahoms, the roots of their kingdom will not shake."


    Listening to the full n, Mohammad nodded his head in approval, and the next step was signing the documents for the start of the war.


    Bengal Eastern Border.


    Soldiers were stationed near the border as they waited for further instructions. They had been living a tough life for the past few months due to the uing war, undergoing rigorous training. They were all eagerly waiting for the training to be over, preferring to go to war instead of enduring more tortuous training. However, thest two days had been the happiest they had experienced because they were given no training tasks and were just stationed at the border, awaiting further orders. To kill time, they even yed a few matches of Kabaddi and rugby. Rugby had spread widely even among the Mughal army, although it was not favoured by His Majesty, the Emperor. The Minister of War, on the other hand, loved the game. Iqbal saw rugby as a way to resemble a battlefield. Many strategies developed in this game could also be applied in war. However, he couldn''t help but marvel at who came up with this game, which was seemingly designed for military tacticians.


    Finally, the governor of Bihar, Hamza Umer, arrived at the barracks and brought with him the marching orders. The same thing happened in Jamalpur at the southern border, where the Mughal army stationed was finally given orders by Malik Ali to march forward. Back in Rangpur, where Hamza''s troops were stationed, they started their march, swiftly crossing the Kumar River, a tributary of Brahmaputra. After further marching, they crossed the border of the Mughal Empire into the territory of the Ahom Kingdom. There were scouts of the Ahom''s along the way who were quickly dispatched with a shot from a Musket. After crossing the Gkganj River, they finallyid siege to the city of Gauripur. The city had no chance of resistance as hundreds of cannons were used to bombard the city gates into pieces. After breaching the city, it was time for plunder.A simr situation happened on the southern front. Malik Ali led his troops through the Dalu border area and straight into Tura town. The fortifications and defence put forward by the Ahom could not resist the bombardment of the Mughals.


    With the two battle fronts secured, logistic channels were quickly established. The Ind Navy dispatched from the Bengal area of the Brahmaputra River, was temporarily stationed at Gauripur awaiting further orders. At the southern front, more cannons were dispatched to the Tura frontline. After this initial victory, there was a short celebration in the army Barracks. They were proud that they sliced through the defence put forward by Ahom like a hot knife through butter.


    The morning of that day,


    Jaya Dwaj Singha was informed of the Mughals attacking his western border. Quickly, he called Lachit Borphukan and ordered him to defend the kingdom.


    Lachit nodded his head and promised to protect the kingdom with his life. Initially, he did not make any drastic moves after the Mughals invaded Tura and Gauripur because, in reality, he wasn''t confident that he could withstand a frontal attack by the Mughal Empire in such unfavourable terrain.


    However, after assessing the information about the strength and numbers of the Mughal Empire, he felt that he could give it a try. So, he fortified a few strongholds on the at the western side of the empire - Bsipara, Lakshipur, and Vinagar (William Nagar) in the south. He stationed a total of 10,000 soldiers across these three locations. With the permission of His Majesty the King, Lachit also sent a letter to the Dakshin Bharatiya Empire, asking for reinforcements.


    Unfortunately though, by the time the reinforcements from Dakshin Bharatiya Empire arrive, it would already be toote. Unlike thest time when the Mughal Empire took their time conquering one stronghold at a time, this time the Mughal army is looking to steamroll everything in front of it.


    Hamza Umar ordered them to march forward again, and this time they had the Navy backing them up. As they marched through Alomganj and Bogribari, there was no sizeable resistance put up by the Ahom Kingdom. However, things took a different turn when they reached Bsipara. The fortifications there were surprisingly strong, with cannons simr to theirs.


    When they got closer to the fortifications, *Boom* - the loud sound of a cannon rang out as a squad was sted apart. Sensing the problem, Hamza ordered the Navy to circle around and see if they could nk Bsipara. Unfortunately, his dreams were shattered when fortifications were found on the opposite banks of the Brahmaputra River near the town of Lakhimpur. Due to this unforeseen circumstance, a few frigates were not able to resist the bombardment and drowned.


    The Mughal army moved 60 km ind in the north and nearly 115 km in the south. All this took ce in just a few days. It was also at this moment that the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire received the distress signal. Unfortunately, by the time they mobilized the troops, the Mughals would have already upied arge part of the Ahom Kingdom.


    When they got closer to the fortifications, *Boom* - the loud sound of a cannon rang out as a squad was sted apart. Sensing the problem, Hamza ordered the Navy to circle around and see if they could nk Bsipara. Unfortunately, his dreams were shattered when fortifications were found on the opposite banks of the Brahmaputra River near the town of Lakhimpur. Due to this unforeseen circumstance, a few frigates were not able to resist the bombardment and drowned.


    Fortunately for the Mughals, the luck of the Ahom seemed to run out as Vinagar could not resist the constant bombardment of the southern army. This was partly because most of the artillery was dispatched with the southern army as the terrain was more forgivingpared to the north. Thousands of Ahom soldiers in Vinagar did not stand a chance, even with their artillery; they were just too outnumbered.


    After securing Vi Nagar, Malik Ali sent in reinforcements to Lakhimpur. As soon as they reached Lakhimpur, they nked the stronghold from the opposite side and bombarded the walls to smithereens. The muskets finished off the rest. With the Lakhimpur stronghold falling, Bsipara could notst long as the Navy in the Brahmaputra River managed to nk the stronghold and circle it, cutting off its connection with the Ahom Kingdom. Seeing no chance of winning, the stronghold''s captain waved the white g, epting defeat.


    The Mughal army moved 60 km ind in the north and nearly 115 km in the south. All this took ce in just a few days. It was also at this moment that the Dakshin Bhartiya Empire received the distress signal. Unfortunately, by the time they mobilized the troops, the Mughals would have already upied arge part of the Ahom Kingdom.


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