章 15: Royal Court

Hampi Royal Palace

Two days had passed since the negotiations with the Portuguese concluded. During this time, Harsha had been travelling extensively, shuttling between the distant locations where the Dutch and Portuguese talks took place.

Finally, Harsha returned to the palace, weary from the constant transit. He arrived at the palace just a few hours ago. After taking time to rest and recuperate, he was swiftly summoned to the Royal Court. The Emperor had called for an urgent meeting to discuss the newly forged contracts.

Harsha, accompanied by Neelakanta, the assistant of the First Prince, walked briskly through the grand halls of the palace towards the Royal Court.

"Do you have all the documents and the contracts?" Harsha inquired, glancing at Neelakanta.

"Yes, Your Highness," Neelakanta replied, holding up a neatly bound stack of papers. "I have also heard that all the ministers will be present for today's discussion of the contracts."

"Oh, that's fine! The more, the merrier," Harsha responded with a confident smile.

"Respectfully, aren't you nervous, Your Highness? I've dealt with those old men before. They nitpick every little detail. They can be quite a pain to deal with," Neelakanta said, his voice tinged with apprehension.

"HAHAHA!" Harsha's laughter echoed through the hall. "I take that into account. Don't worry about me, I know how to handle them."

As they continued their walk, the elegant decor of the palace seemed to glow with the morning light streaming through the tall windows. The intricate carvings on the pillars and the lavish tapestries adorning the walls were a mesmerizing sight to watch.

Harsha's confidence radiated through his demeanour, and Neelakanta couldn't help but feel a bit reassured by the young prince's unwavering composure. The young prince was adept at negotiation. But he was stepping into a very different field of court politics so he was curious of what the young prince would achieve.

As they approached the heavy golden doors of the Royal Court, Neelakanta took a deep breath, bracing himself for the scrutiny of the ministers. Harsha, on the other hand, seemed more than ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Upon entering the Royal Court, he was greeted by the familiar sight of the Emperor seated on his throne, flanked by his First Prince Chandra and Ministers. The air was thick with a sense of gravity and importance, reflecting the weight of the discussions that were about to take place.

Harsha approached the throne, bowing respectfully. The Emperor's gaze was fixed upon him, a look of curiosity in his eyes. The room fell silent, and all attention turned towards the young prince, eager to hear the details of the agreements that had been negotiated.

Harsha, standing tall and composed before the Emperor, spoke with clear confidence. "Your Majesty, I have returned from the negotiations. I am glad to report that the negotiations were successful, and we have a valid contract signed for a year."

"Yo—," a minister began to speak, only to be abruptly interrupted by the First Prince.

"Father, I have personally confirmed the success of the negotiations, and Harsha has done his job well," Chandra asserted. He glared at the minister who had tried to interrupt, then turned his gaze back to the Emperor. "Before any of you make statements, know that Harsha had no assistance from me or the Emperor in this negotiation."

The tension in the room was palpable as the First Prince's words hung in the air. Ministers exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared to challenge the First Prince's declaration.

Harsha thought to himself, 'Haa!! Unexpected. I thought he would be downplaying this as I am his rival to the throne.'

"Your Majesty, please have a look at the contract and judge for yourself," Harsha said, handing over the documents for the Emperor to inspect.

The Emperor took the contract and briefly skimmed through it before passing it around the table for all the ministers to review. As the contract circulated, murmurs filled the room. The ministers exchanged looks of surprise.

The contract was exceedingly favourable for the Empire, addressing the crucial food security issue with remarkable effectiveness. Harsha could see the astonishment in the ministers' eyes, knowing that the terms he had secured were beyond what anyone had anticipated.

After a few moments, one of the senior ministers, Balaji Mudaliar, an old man dressed in luxurious clothing and sporting a vibuthi (sacred ash) on his forehead, spoke up, his voice carrying a tone of respect. "Your Majesty, this contract is indeed impressive. The terms are highly beneficial for the Empire."

Another senior minister, Anand Jadhav, stood up at Balaji's statement and voiced his thoughts. "Although the contract with the Portuguese is well thought out, the Dutch contract's terms regarding ships seem wasteful. Couldn't more silver be a better deal?" he said with a sarcastic smile, pointing to Harsha.

Some ministers nodded their heads in silent agreement with Anand's argument. Harsha, who had been quietly observing the discussion, broke the silence.

"Originally, the Dutch weren't considered. The deal was entirely my idea. Ships are a huge asset for an Empire with subpar naval prowess," Harsha stated firmly.

"But we can buy better ships if we just have money. The ships in the contract are 3rd rate ones anyway, Prince Harsha," Anand countered.

Harsha met Anand's gaze steadily. "The ships are indeed third-rate, but they provide a foundation for building our naval strength. With these ships, we can improve our training, fortify our coastal defences, and even reverse-engineer their technology to develop our own superior vessels. Simply having more silver does not equate to naval power. This deal is about long-term strategic advantage, not just immediate gain."

The room fell silent as the ministers considered Harsha's words. The Emperor nodded thoughtfully. "Harsha has a point. Our naval capabilities have long been a weakness. This contract provides us with an opportunity to strengthen our fleet and secure our trade routes. It is not just about the present but preparing for the future."

Balaji Mudaliar spoke again, his tone more measured. "Your Majesty, given this perspective, the acquisition of ships does seem like a prudent investment. Strengthening our navy could deter some future threats and enhance our trade capabilities to different parts of the world,"

"We should reverse-engineer these vessels and bolster our own naval capabilities," Harsha suggested to the court. "Although they're third-rate ships, if mass-produced, they can help secure our trade routes and coasts against European threats."

"Hmmm... We can consider your proposal, Harsha," the Emperor nodded thoughtfully, weighing the suggestion.

Anand Jadhav went silent as the Emperor endorsed the prospect of Harsha's contract. He knew that pushing the young prince too far would damage his own standing in front of the council and the Emperor.

"Hmm... I see," Anand sat down, silently agreeing with the decision.

The Emperor turned to Harsha. "You have done well, Harsha. As for your request to manage the Road Development of the Empire, I believe we can all agree he is fit to take on such responsibility," the Emperor declared, turning to the council of ministers.

"Road Development?" a minister blurted out aloud, caught off guard by the sudden announcement.

The Emperor replied, "Well, it's yet another idea by my son to distribute rations more effectively. Instead of simply distributing food to those who don't contribute to the Empire, he has a plan that integrates our needs. Harsha, why don't you give an overview?"

Harsha nodded and stepped forward. "The plan is simple. We will ration out grains to people who work on building and maintaining roads. People will be eager to work in exchange for food, which minimizes wage costs for the road projects and ensures that we don't deplete our grain reserves by feeding the entire population without contribution."

He continued, "Additionally, improved roads will enhance trade and facilitate faster transportation of goods between cities, leading to better trade opportunities and economic growth."

The ministers murmured among themselves, considering the implications of this plan. The Emperor broke the murmurs. "Does anyone object to the appointment of Harsha as head of the Road Development project for the Empire?" His voice carried authority.

The First Prince, who had been silently overseeing the discussion with an indifferent look, did not object to any of Harsha's proposals.

'That is quite odd. I did think that Chandra would oppose or at least interfere in the deal. Well, whatever! ' Harsha thought.

None of the ministers objected to the proposal put forward by the Emperor. The decision was unanimously passed by the Council, also gaining the support of the First Prince, which was the most surprising aspect of the decision. The approval of Chandra added significant weight to Harsha's appointment, cementing his role in the eyes of the court.

The Emperor concluded, "Very well. Harsha, you will lead this initiative. Ensure that our roads are developed efficiently and contribute to the prosperity of our Empire."

"One last thing to add," Harsha interjected before the court dispersed. "During the road development, the local nobility in the areas of construction will be contacted to oversee and provide an overview of the geography. The specific places for development will be considered later on."

The ministers nodded in acknowledgement, recognizing the importance of local insights in such a vast undertaking. The Emperor looked pleased with Harsha's thoroughness. "A wise addition, Harsha. Ensure the involvement of local nobility is coordinated well. Their knowledge will be invaluable,"

The court slowly began to disperse, the ministers discussing amongst themselves the promising future of the Empire's infrastructure.

The Emperor called Harsha over for a brief word. "You have shown great foresight today. Continue to act with such wisdom,"

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Harsha replied, bowing slightly before leaving the Royal court.