Chapter 188: Upgrading the village
Purana Qila , Delhi, 8th April 1557.
The next day in Delhi marked a significant date in the history of the Indian subcontinent. It was the day when two prominent empires of India, from the north and the south, made a historic alliance. Princess Meenakshi, after the end of the one-month visitation condition on terms of the trust agreement, finally signed and sealed the deal for a peace alliance between the Vijayanagar Empire and the Bhargav Samrajya.
Under this alliance, both the Vijayanagar Empire and the Bhargav Samrajya would share ambassadors on a permanent basis and engage in various diplomatic affairs.
As royalty, Meenakshi appointed herself as the first official ambassador to the Samrajya to set up the initial groundwork for a month; however, the ambassador to Vijayanagar was yet to be decided.
Moreover, she also signed another deal with Aditya regarding mercenary services. She granted the rights to hold land and recruit soldiers for the war against the Dutch, as she understood the need for modernization that Aditya could provide.
Additionally, their military presence could be helpful in times of defense needs against hostile Deccan Sultanates. The best part of this deal was the end of rivalry with the Gajapati Kingdom in the south, creating another allied kingdom with whom they could increase trade. Though they will lose their claim to occupy it in future but survival comes first.
The agreement was signed in Prime Minister Chandrashekhar’s chambers. Despite the formalities, he remained skeptical of Princess Meenakshi’s true intentions, and her extended stay in Delhi only deepened his suspicions that she might be plotting to manipulate Aditya.
Perhaps that’s why he chose not to reveal the scheme he had orchestrated with Sayantika, opting instead to continue the facade while delving deeper into Meenakshi’s motives.
After the signing, he sent Meenakshi to her quarters, intending to interrogate Aditya. However, before he could do so, a summons from the Samrat interrupted his plans, forcing him to leave Aditya.
In the King’s chamber, Aditya was surprised to find both the Samrat and Mathew present. Mathew’s demeanor in front of the emperor was unusually submissive, treating the Samrat with the utmost respect, almost as if he were his king.