Unduh Aplikasi
6.28% Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince / Chapter 18: Shadows

Bab 18: Shadows

The medics were treating the unconscious Narayana in the clinic, carefully applying fresh bandages to his battered face. He had been unconscious for half a day, and Rama Nayaka had come to visit him after managing the aftermath of the morning's chaos.

Suddenly, Narayana jolted awake, as if emerging from a nightmare, panting heavily with palpable tension in his eyes. He quickly looked around, trying to make sense of his surroundings.

"ARGHH," he groaned, wincing in pain as he touched his aching face and sore muscles.

Rama Nayaka stepped closer. "Narayana, take it easy. You're in the clinic. The medics are taking care of you."

Narayana's eyes darted towards Rama Nayaka, his memories of the fight flooding back. "The prince... I... I lost," he muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Yes, you lost," Rama Nayaka replied, his tone firm. "And you disobeyed a direct order. You let your pride get the better of you."

Rama Nayaka continued, "The prince has decided not to punish you, so be thankful for that. There is a direct order from above to assign you and Varun to the Royal Training Hall for morning training."

Narayana's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why? The Royal Hall? And Varun?"

Rama Nayaka met his gaze. "His Highness Harsha Deva Raya has ordered that you and Varun spar with him daily in the morning."

Narayana's eyes widened in surprise and a mix of emotions. "Spar with the prince... every day?"

Narayana vividly recalled the memories of the prince rushing at him barehanded, laughing with wild eyes, and pummeling him down with ease as he couldn't defend against any of the prince's attacks.

"But... isn't the prince strong enough?" Narayana muttered, a hint of fear in his voice.

"Follow the order with no questions," Rama Nayaka said coldly, his gaze piercing. Narayana's mouth snapped shut, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"Rest and recover," Rama Nayaka ordered. "You need to be at your best for training with the prince."

With that, the vice-commander left the clinic, leaving Narayana alone with his thoughts and the daunting task ahead.

Meanwhile, in the royal complex, Harsha was immersed in writing down plans for developing the Empire's roads. Although initially unsure of his purpose when he was reborn into this world, he had found enjoyment in navigating court politics. Now, he sought to delve deeper into kingdom management—a new area he had never explored in his previous life.

He meticulously noted the cities and inspected the terrains of various existing passageways. The Empire's cartography was quite poor, leading to inaccurate maps and difficult navigation. Harsha knew that improving the infrastructure would require better maps and a thorough understanding of the terrain.

After a bit of reading and scrutinizing the maps, he concluded that visiting some places in person would be necessary to grasp the terrain accurately. 

He had already decided on the road construction method he would pursue. During his test subject days, his brain had been flooded with various types of information through a cerebral injection node, training it to handle and process large amounts of data efficiently.

This process resulted in an extensive repository of knowledge, including an effective road construction method that was ideal for this era. Implementing this method could lay a strong foundation for the Empire's future.

"Ahh!! I am so sleepy after a good workout and lots of reading," Harsha yawned, stretching his sore shoulders and limbs.

He closed the book and jumped into the cosy bed, feeling the moonlit night envelop him. The soft mattress gradually eased his fatigue, providing a sense of relief. As he sank into the bed. The day's efforts melted away, and he soon drifted off into a deep, comfortable sleep.

Meanwhile, at some other place, A lady was restrained by two men and gagged, blood dripping from her forehead and mixing with sweat as it hit the ground. The room was dimly lit with candles and A shadowy figure sat before her on the plush sofa, engrossed in a book, indifferent to her muffled pleas.

"Take her gag off," the shadowy figure commanded, his voice cold and detached.

The gag was removed, and the lady gasped for breath, her eyes filled with terror and desperation. "So... Now tell me why did you return empty-handed? Didn't I give you a task to complete?" The figure continued reading, not sparing her a glance.

"Master! His behavior has changed radically after the head injury. Please forgive me for my failure!" she begged, her voice trembling.

The figure sighed, closing the book with a soft thud. "Haaa! I am disappointed. If he has changed, you should also change your strategy," the figure said, his tone tinged with irritation.

Just then, A man dressed in black, his face concealed by a mask, entered the room with silent footsteps. He slightly bowed towards the seated figure. "Master! I have returned from the mission."

His gaze fell upon the woman, panting heavily and bruised on the floor. "What happened here?" he inquired.

"Nothing to note. She failed her job," the seated figure responded, dismissing her plight with a wave of his hand.

"Umm... Is that so," the man in black said, casting a sidelong glance at the woman.

"Anyway, you don't have to monitor the prince anymore. I will use some other way!" the shadowy figure declared.

"But—But Master! Please give me a chan—" the woman pleaded desperately.

"SILENCE!!" The command echoed through the room, leaving a chilling silence in its wake.

The figure placed his book on the table and fixed his gaze on the man in black. "I have a mission for you. Assign someone to monitor the Nayakas Patriarch and report any strange movements. Try to intercept any contact from the Crown Prince."

He gestured to the two men restraining the lady. "Take her away."

As she was being dragged out, the lady cried out, "Master! Please, one cha—"

The figure stood up, moving to the window. He stared out at the night, the soothing breeze calming his tense frame. "Take her along with you as well."

The man in black hesitated. "May I ask why, Master?"

"Use her as a maid or something to gather information inside the Nayaka family. If she fails, dispose of her before she leaks any information. You may continue the other mission I gave you, appoint someone to oversee her,"

"Understood, Master."

The man in black left as silently as he had come in, demonstrating his immense ability and experience in maintaining stealth.

The figure remained by the window, feeling the breeze. "Haa! So he has changed, eh? This is going to be interesting." A crazed laughter echoed through the room, mingling with the moon's glow, filling the air with an unsettling aura.

Next Day

Harsha had completed his morning routine of rigorous training and sparring in the Royal Training Hall alongside Varun. Narayana, still recovering from the injuries sustained during their previous spar, was absent. After freshening up, Harsha enjoyed a plentiful breakfast, preparing himself for a day dedicated to researching terrain and maps for his ambitious road development project.

Immersed in his intense reading, Harsha was interrupted by a knock on the door. Looking up, he saw a rugged man with slanted eyes and a droopy posture enter the room. The man, dressed in a simple robe and dhoti, carried several books in his hands.

Harsha regarded the man with curiosity. "What is it?" he asked, his voice commanding.

The man bowed slightly, his movements respectful. "Your Highness, my name is Prashant. The Emperor has assigned me to assist you with the road development project. I have experience working in the field and possess substantial knowledge of the terrain. Additionally, I have some understanding of the political intricacies in the various regions."

Harsha furrowed his brows. "Ahh! I see!" He gestured for Prashant to place the books on the table. 

Prashant placed the books gently on the table and continued, "These are some old records and maps from the archives. I thought they might aid you in your research."

Harsha reached for one of the books, eagerly flipping through its pages.

"These will be very useful," he said, a smile playing on his lips. "So Tell me, which regions do you think we should prioritize for the road development?"

"I think we should prioritize the inter-city roads to facilitate the fast movement of goods within the Empire and boost trade, Your Highness," Prashant replied after some deep thought.

"That's a correct answer if you're not looking at the big picture," He responded.

"The big picture?" Prashant asked, intrigued.

"We trade with the Europeans a lot. Many of them avoid traveling deep inside the Empire due to bad road networks and long time constraints for goods. What if we connect the nearby cities to the ports with roads first?" Harsha proposed, leaning forward.

Prashant's eyes widened as he grasped the intentions of the young prince. "A huge increase in trade with European merchants?"

"Bingo!" Harsha exclaimed, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

"By creating efficient road networks from the ports to the major cities, we can ensure a smoother flow of goods. This will not only make it easier for European merchants to conduct trade but will also encourage them to venture further into our empire, increasing our economic reach."

Prashant nodded, seeing the brilliance in Harsha's plan. "Your Highness, This will require careful planning. We'll need to identify the most strategic cities and ports to connect first."

"Agreed," Harsha replied, his mind already working on the logistics. "We'll start by mapping out the key trade routes and identifying the cities with the highest trade potential," 


PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA
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Bab 19: Roads

It was a bright, sunny day devoid of any cool breeze. The cracked and parched earth stretched out toward the horizon. Faint buzzes of cicadas could be heard in the distance, adding to the atmosphere. A carriage trodded slowly through the barren landscape, accompanied by a sizeable entourage of soldier guards. Their armor gleamed under the harsh sunlight, and the clinking of their weapons gave an eerie harmony. 

Inside the carriage, Harsha sat, peering out at the unforgiving terrain. Despite the harsh conditions, his mind was focused on the task ahead. 

"Damn! It's so hot. There is no breeze either," Harsha complained, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he surveyed the dry landscape around him.

Prashant nodded in agreement, also feeling the heat. "It's pretty hot during this time of the year, Your Highness," he said, taking a deep breath and squinting at the horizon.

"The Matanga Hill," Prashant continued, pointing to a distant elevation, "would provide us with a good vantage point of the capital. From there, we can get a clear view of the surrounding terrain and better plan the roads, Your Highness."

Harsha followed Prashant's gaze, the silhouette of Matanga Hill barely visible through the shimmering heat waves rising from the ground. The hill stood as a solitary guardian over the landscape, promising a reprieve from the flat, featureless plains.

"From up here, we can see the natural contours of the land," Prashant said, joining Harsha at the edge. 

Harsha nodded. "This is exactly what we needed."

They spent the next few hours making detailed observations, marking important points on their maps, and discussing the best routes for the roads.

"What is the method used for road building in the Empire right now?" Harsha asked, his eyes scanning the uneven terrain below them.

Prashant responded pointing at the roads in the Capital from the peak, "As you can see from the paved roads of the capital, we use a similar method for the roads in most areas. It's similar to Yavana's method of road construction, Your Highness."

Harsha frowned. "Is that why the roads are so bad in most areas? Those roads are too expensive and labour intensive which makes it pretty hard to scale them for large distances."

Prashant sighed, nodding. "Yes, Your Highness. The method is labour-intensive and expensive. But we don't have any other method of making good roads,"

"We should create a new method," Harsha said with a determined look. "I have a plan in mind."

Prashant, intrigued, leaned in slightly. "What do you propose, Your Highness?"

Despite his extensive experience in the field, Prashant had long struggled to find a method that could effectively improve the empire's roads. His efforts had repeatedly fallen short, and he had been sceptical when the task was assigned to the youngest prince. However, observing Harsha's dedication and innovative approach firsthand had begun to change his perspective.

Prashant saw in Harsha a talented individual, genuinely interested in solutions rather than merely going through the motions like many other nobles.

"I need to test the method, so make some arrangements and report back to me at the palace quickly," Harsha ordered as he began walking back down the hill.

"What arrangements, Your Highness?" Prashant asked, eager to follow through.

"Stone, soil, and clay. Arrange them in a suitable place to test the road method and report back when it's ready. I expect it to be done quickly," Harsha replied, gesturing to the large stones beside him.

"Understood, Your Highness. I will arrange everything as quickly as possible," Prashant's face lit up with a smile, excitement welling inside him at the prospect of witnessing a potential revolution in the empire's road network.

As they descended the hill and surveyed other terrains near the capital, Prashant noted down the necessary items eagerly.

Halfway back to the palace, Prashant excused himself, "Your Highness, I will go ahead and start making the arrangements."

Harsha nodded, "Go ahead. Keep me informed of your progress."

Prashant swiftly departed, his heart pounding with anticipation. He would ensure that everything was prepared for Harsha's experiment. The possibility of contributing to a significant advancement in the empire's infrastructure filled him with a sense of purpose.

A few hours passed, and the intense heat had subsided, leaving an orange hue in the sky. Harsha sat in his study, absorbed in his work, when Prashant entered with a determined smile and a slight bow of respect.

"Your Highness, we have prepared the materials in the nearby field," Prashant reported.

"So fast? Hmm, I expected you to arrange it by tomorrow. Let's go see," Harsha replied, rising from his seat. He gestured for Prashant to guide him to the location.

As they walked through the palace grounds, the evening breeze provided a relief from the earlier heat. The palace walls glowed in the setting sun, casting long shadows on the path.

They arrived at the field where the materials had been arranged. Piles of stone, soil, and clay were neatly organized, and ready for the experiment. Harsha surveyed the setup, nodding in approval.

"Your Highness. I have also arranged for some workers to assist us," Prashant added, motioning to a group of men standing by, ready to follow Harsha's instructions.

"Oh! Great work!" Harsha responded, pleased with Prashant's efficiency.

He shifted his gaze to the group of men standing nervously, "Now Listen very carefully about the method!"

He began to elaborate on the method of how to create the foundation of the road by flattening the ground and ensuring it was even before starting the construction of the road. The foundation ensures its Load-bearing capacity as the earth can naturally bear loads.

The next step is to break big stones that are found almost anywhere in the Deccan plateau into Palm sized rocks to lay the foundation and then use crushed stones to fill the gaps to ensure better load dispersion, They must water it and flatten it again to ensure its load-bearing capacity and then use even smaller Stones and fill them with crushed stones and flatten them again.

Lastly, the surface has to be covered with a mixture of soil and clay and be flattened once again, Then just let it set and the Road is done without much need for different resources like stone tiles, etc. Water should be sprinkled around the road to ensure the road's inner cavities get filled and ensure it stays the way it does.

A worker who had been intently following Harsha's instructions spoke out almost involuntarily, "What about drainage?"

"For that, we'll raise the middle of the road to allow water to flow into parallel drains constructed alongside it," Harsha explained.

The workers quickly set to work, flattening the ground and breaking the stones as instructed. They dug parallel drains for the road. They efficiently laid the stones and completed the work of a small strip of the road within an hour and a half.

Finishing the work by topping the road with a mixture of soil and clay, Harsha stepped back to inspect the progress. "Good work," he praised the workers, turning to Prashant. "Make sure they are paid well for their efforts."

He knew efficiency deserves reward, and money is always a good motivator to keep them efficient.

Prashant nodded. "Understood, Your Highness."

"We'll let it set overnight. Tomorrow, we will conduct load and drainage tests. If the results are satisfactory, we'll proceed with this method," Harsha instructed.

"Also, ensure you document every detail of the process meticulously. This information needs to be circulated to the overseers during road construction to guarantee proper implementation."

"Understood, Your Highness," Prashant replied, already making notes to ensure no detail was missed.

The next day, the sun rose, casting a golden hue over the newly constructed road. The workers and Prashant were already gathered, eagerly anticipating the results of their efforts. Harsha arrived, his expression calm yet focused, ready to oversee the tests.

A series of carts pulled by oxen, each filled with heavy stones, were lined up at the edge of the road. The plan was to drive them across the newly constructed surface to assess how well they handled the weight and to ensure they didn't crumble under the load.

"Let's begin," Harsha commanded, signalling the first cart to move forward.

The first cart, creaking under the heavy load, rolled onto the road. The workers held their breath, watching intently. 

The cart moved slowly but steadily, the wheels sinking slightly into the soil and clay mixture but not causing any visible damage. The road held firm.

One by one, each cart made its way across the road, and the workers' confidence grew with each successful passage. The road held up remarkably well, demonstrating its strength.

"Now, let's test the drainage," Harsha said, moving to the side of the road where a makeshift water source had been prepared.

Water was poured onto the road's surface. The workers watched as the water pooled momentarily before following the slight camber designed to direct it toward the parallel drains. The water flowed smoothly into the drainage channels, preventing any pooling or erosion on the road itself.

Prashant, noting the successful drainage, smiled with satisfaction. "It works perfectly, Your Highness," he said.

Harsha smirked, pleased with the results. "Excellent. Send the results to the Emperor and get approval. We will begin implementing this across the Empire."

"Yes, Your Highness," The rugged Prashant scurried off smiling with the documented results and method used to make the road to seek approval from the Emperor.


PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA
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