Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince

Harsha was going through the documents as usual in his study room. He was planning for the upcoming caste reform. This reform was a vital part of his empire. It would give rise to a superior Vijayanagara Empire.

The talent of the youth and people would propel them to become a world power. Also, Harsha noticed that the temples held a lot of wealth. This wealth was not utilized properly and just lay stagnant in their treasury. The priests had no role in wealth management.

There were some cases of corruption that got buried by the men in power. This had to change; the temple wealth should be used for welfare and other purposes. He needed a solid plan for that wealth.

If he could get them into use, the Empire wouldn't have to worry much about the need of welfare providing since more than half of them can be provided and run by the temple.

A document caught his eye during his routine skim of many documents. It was the syllabus of the military academy. He skimmed through the routine. There were basic sports; there were not many.

Kabaddi and some local sports.

'Hm… this is a problem.'

Viswa peeked at the document from the side and said, "Your Majesty, I was planning to include Chaturanga in the syllabus."

"Hmm…That seems like a good idea." He sighed. "It can help you think faster and make quick decisions."

"But there is a lack of sports."

Viswa didn't say a thing. He didn't know much about sports and just watched Kabbadi from afar during the sessions with the royal guards.

'Should I introduce some sports to the academies?' he thought.

'Football, rugby, and volleyball seem to be a good idea.'

But he needed a ball for that. It was impossible to get rubber in this time. It was native to the Amazon forest.

'I guess that's a fail.'

Sensing the awkward mood, Viswa wanted to change the subject.

"Your Majesty, I have heard something interesting."

"What is it?" Harsha asked with a bit of curiosity.

"In some places of Cheranadu, the local people found some trees that secrete a sticky sap." Viswa explained. "It's sap is from the bark, which is quite unique."

"Huh?" Harsha exclaimed. "Where?"

"Cheranadu, in the former Cochin kingdom." Viswa looked a bit flustered.

"How is it there?"

"Um…I don't know, Your Majesty. According to the report." Viswa thought. "It is said some merchant planted it long back."

"What the hell?" Harsha leaned back into his chair.

He smiled.

It was the rubber tree. Harsha had no idea how it reached the subcontinent. In fact, he didn't want to know.

"I need more information on that tree," Harsha said.

"What happened, Your Majesty?"

He smiled. "We may have something good."

"..."

"I was thinking of creating a sport and changing the curriculum of the military academies." He smiled.

"We can host inter-academy sports competitions." He smiled.

Viswa looked confused for a moment and asked. "What sort of sports?"

"There are endless possibilities with that tree."

"I am still confused," Viswa admitted.

"So, the tree is called a rubber tree; it's sap, when solid, is elastic in nature." He explained.

"I see. What about it?"

"We can make equipment for sports using it's sap."

"That's good news, right?" He asked.

"Yes, it is."

"But, Your Majesty. What is the use of these sports?"

"There are many uses. It gives you coordination, teamwork, and physicality." He smiled. "It is fun also and could be a better way to train endurance."

"It could become entertainment for onlookers also." Harsha exclaimed.

"Is it similar to a crowd coming to watch Kabbadi?" Viswa asked.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Exactly."

Viswa got a vague idea of the plan and nodded in agreement.

"So, Your Majesty. What should we do?" He asked. "I can send someone to check."

"First, I need you to do a survey of those trees and give me a rough estimate of it's count." Harsha explained. "Then, I need you to check it's sap for elasticity."

Viswa diligently noted it down. Stay updated through empire

"Once you confirm the plan." Harsha ordered. "Plant in different locations."

"Alright," Viswa said.

"I need you to get the sap in a spherical mold." He explained, showing the size with his hands. "About that size."

"Hmm...for the sap, you have to carve the outer bark in a spiral pattern."

"Spiral?" He asked. "Why not the other way?"

"You can leave the sap mold hanging at the end of the spiral." He said.

Viswa tilted his head in confusion.

Harsha took a paper and drew the tree, showing the spiral formation. "You place the mold here."

"Then let it solidify."

"I see. Do we do that for multiple trees?"

"Yes."

"Then? Do we need something else?"

"We need some tanned leather. Procure it from the Arabs or the Europeans." Harsha explained.

"Leather!! Hmmm... I can do that."

Viswa thought for a while. "We might need some threads and weavers, skilled men as well, right?" He asked.

"Definitely, we need to make a few."

"How long would it take to gather all these materials in the palace workshop?" Harsha asked.

"It will take time, I suppose." Viswa explained. "I don't know how much time the rubber Your Majesty has mentioned will take."

"The others can be procured in less than 15 days."

"That's great."

Viswa smiled. "I will send out men for this as soon as possible."

"Also about the Chaturanga." Harsha said. "Implement it across the academies."

"Also decrease a bit of theory for both sides and implement war games like the border ones with the Marathas."

"Isn't it too early?" Viswa asked. "The endurance and other things might be setting in right now."

"It also increases the endurance and other stuff." Harsha sighed.

Viswa thought for a while and glanced up at Harsha. "How about we do an inter-academy field battle?"

"And the other joint exercises?" Harsha finished.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Since the sports might take some time." Viswa said. "We can at least implement this quickly."

"Hmm…Right. Inform the headmasters of the Academy." Harsha replied thoughtfully.

"Also make it free for all within all batches."

"Give promotion to officer class for the lower batches and credits for the higher batches according to their positions and the performance in the battle."

Viswa nodded. "I shall assign some of the commanders from the Royal Army for the grading purpose."

"Good!"