Chapter 212: New weapons for expedition
Purana Qila, Delhi , 19th April 1557.
The miquelet lock gun was invented in Spain during the 1670s and gained widespread use in nearby regions, including Italy, North Africa, and the Ottoman Empire. Prior to the advent of the Bessemer process, these guns were widely utilized alongside matchlocks due to the ease of replacing their cheap iron components.
Aditya frowned, his mind racing with his past memory. Internally, he reasoned, ’Maybe I’m overthinking. This world has been filled with variables even before I regressed, and there’s no rule that events will follow the same path as in the past... But if there’s a reincarnator like me in Europe, I need to be cautious. Thankfully, I haven’t done anything too eye-catching yet, but now is not the time to dwell on this.’
He steadied himself, forcing a calm smile as he handed the musket back to the envoy. "It seems the excess work has taken its toll on me, Senhor. I’ve seen what I needed to, and I’m very satisfied. I trust the rest of the weapons will arrive on time as well."
The Portuguese envoy’s smile widened, brimming with pride. He bowed once more, replying, "I’m glad the weapons meet Your Highness’s expectations. Rest assured, the remaining shipment will arrive soon. We look forward to the fulfillment of your end of the agreement as well."
Aditya nodded and turned to Hari Singh. "Handle the rest of the process and make sure all of this is sent to the armory," he instructed. Picking up one of the muskets from the cart, he added with a slight smile, "I’ll be taking this one for a private demonstration. Consider it accounted for."
Hari Singh bowed slightly. "Noted, Your Highness."
Aditya handed the musket over to Bheem, instructing him to carry it, and informed him that they would head to the village now. Though puzzled with the recent event, Bheem followed without question.
An hour later...
They arrived at the village and made their way straight to the cement factory, which currently served as a temporary headquarters. The factory was bustling with workers, busy with the cement manufacturing process. Before reaching the office, Aditya and Bheem walked past the laborers, their surroundings filled with the sounds of industry. The office itself was illuminated by a large window, revealing a spacious room furnished with a customized table, several chairs, and documents scattered across the surface. Shelves lined one side, along with a wardrobe, and a man was busy searching for some papers—it was Vinayak.
Vinayak was overseeing the accounts when he heard footsteps. He turned to see Aditya and Bheem standing at the doorway. Placing the documents back on the shelf, he greeted them, "Welcome, Your Highness. I was expecting your arrival."
Aditya approached him with a smile. "Good to see you, Vinayak. How’s the progress coming along?"