Chapter 121: Occupy Odisha

Thanks to the efficient road network 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 to commence in the newly occupied areas. In a strategic move, the old city walls were dismantled and replaced with robust concrete alternatives, or, in the case of stone walls, reinforced with cement for added durability. On the eastern front, with the collaboration of town residents, the docks in Paradip Town underwent expansion to accommodate a larger number of merchant ships.

In the western region, plans were set in motion for the construction of roads connecting Mumbai and Panhala Fort. Simultaneously, Vijay instructed the development of roads linking Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and the Paradip port. This intricate network 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 formula 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 regular workers capable of performing ordinary tasks like soaking or drying herbs or grinding them, but he lacked 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 possessing commendable qualifications. Simultaneously, he invested all his efforts in training his workers to become skilled individuals capable of handling the most challenging tasks.

This innovative approach proved immensely successful, 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, particularly from the military, where orders flooded in at an accelerated pace.

Learning from his successful experience, workshops in various industries also adopted similar methods, resulting in excellent outcomes. 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 population. Additionally, safety measures were enhanced. This wave led to the emergence of multiple large 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 occupied 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 village elder was worried about the small male population in the village, 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 village 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. Similar scenes unfolded in several places throughout the regions inside the Vijayanagara-occupied area. Construction quickly started, and cement roads were used to build the main road inside the city after widening it according to the standards of the Vijayanagara Ministry of Transportation. With the efforts of lakhs of workers, roads were laid 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 the completion 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 succumbed, 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, enhancing communication 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 a large 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.