Chương 17: PROGRESS

I was currently standing on top of a hill while observing the workers hard at their job. The progress that these people had made was beyond my expectations.

Bhima and Adishri had no doubt played a major role in the extra hard work done by the workers.

The first day of the construction was a shocker for most of the artisans. The workers were present without their supervisor and instead were led by Bhima and Adishri.

Bhima was somewhat acceptable to these people, but seeing that a woman was placed in charge was a matter of discontent.

After our talk, Bhima understood that I had special appreciation for the frank nature of Adishri and that she will surely hold an important place by my side. This had led to him strictly curbing any voice of discontent among the male workers.

The women of the group were certainly surprised and somewhat happy when Adishri returned that evening with the news that the women will now have much better working conditions and equal representation in front of me. Most were sceptical but did not delve unnecessarily and decided to play it by the ear.

The masons were briefed by me on the multiple steps that I had laid down for the construction of road. The mason representative, Aakash, was the one who discussed the various problems and questions that the rest had in accordance with my plans.

Aakash told me that most could not understand why we're digging the earth only to refill it with crushed stones. Due to their lack of knowledge regarding my plans to utilize coal to make a smooth surface above the rocky layer, they raised such doubts. According to them it did not matter how finely we crushed the rocks, the road formed in such a way would not ease travel but rather restrict it further.

Aakash informed me that many senior masons had asked him to persuade me in stopping such an endeavour. They would rather make a small section of road, like in most capitals, and then allow me to show it to my father.

They thought that by doing this I would have somewhat pleased the king and then I can say that I have earned enough experience on the project. The project can then be stopped without me being overly criticized.

I informed Aakash to inform the rest to not worry about the process and just help in the finer details of the project while keeping an eye on the workers and instruct them on the proper measurements needed to complete the project.

After that the masons no longer complained and obediently followed the rest of my orders.

The next job I took notice of was that of the blacksmiths.

In the early steps of the project, they did not have much work to do other than regular maintenance of the workers tools. Seeing this, I had assigned them the tasks to create large iron rolling pins. After providing them the measurements regarding the size of the rolling pins I let Ajit (representative of the blacksmiths) to supervise this project. I had told them to finish at least ten of such rolling pins in the coming couple of months.

I could not yet better the conditions of clothing for everyone on the site, so I ordered the tailors to do the best they could and I would surely look into it in the near future.

I did not particularly like the two doctors sent to me, but they were a necessity for the project. They were tasked with setting up camp and instructed to treat all workers with care and understanding. The two doctors seemed somewhat reluctant but none of them raised any concerns. I later learned from the captain that the doctor had become afraid after noticing the absence of the supervisor.

Though I had no thought of intimidating them, I did not mind the reaction. I was pleasantly surprised that I would have to deal with them to the minimum.

I had also made preparations for the elderly and the children of the worker's camp.

The elderlies were tasked with keeping tabs on the workers group. The ones' who were still able to bear to sit for a whole day while watching the workers, were tasked to follow the group on their site and just sit on the side under the shade of some tree and return along with them at the end of their shift. After coming back, they were to report to one of the soldiers assigned if they saw something that needs to be corrected or upgraded regarding the workers.

This was due to the fact that in the few days after starting work, I observed that the workers would often ignore wounds that they deemed too small for concern and let it remain open while they worked further. Their tools were not optimal for use and they still continued without asking for repair. I had told them that they could ask the blacksmiths and their apprentices for maintenance but they still did not.

Seeing that they themselves would not come forward with their problems, I used the elderlies to keep me informed. After that, the work efficiency starting next week increased dramatically.

The elderlies who could not travel with the group would keep tabs on the kids in my camp.

The kids were asked to come to my tent every morning after their parents went to work. I had started a kind of day care programme for them. In this camp, instead of studies they were taught various things according to their age and preference.

This turned out to be very successful among both the children and the workers.

The workers were glad that their children were given an opportunity to do better than they had done, while the children were happy to have a distraction all day long without getting seriously injured or hungry.

Adishri had also started a small group, with the women workforce. In this group the women were encouraged to be a little happier and more independent. She understood that this was a long process, but she still created it. She also invited me to sit during their meeting for moral support to the women. In subsequent meetings she managed to invite the captain, Aakash and Ajit. By the end of first month the small group of thirty ladies had risen to two hundred.

Though they taught nothing of value in terms of working, this group had become a place for women to arrive after work and relax mentally.

By the end of the month, the ladies from the group of artisans also began showing interest and at the start of the new month they attended their first meeting.

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