nownovels Chapter 84 Prototype
Chapter 84 Prototype
As life settled into a stable routine, the initial chaos and hustle and bustle of Mittal Village gradually gave way to an atmosphere of order and composure.
Vijay finally got his wish and lived a rare, comfortable, and even pleasant life as a lord.
No longer needing to do everything personally or toil every day, they could entrust all village affairs to their capable subordinates, freeing themselves from the pressures of life and fully enjoying the unique comfort and leisure of a feudal lord, living a "corrupt" yet stable life.
He doesn't need to get up early in the morning or rise with the rooster to handle official business. The morning light shines into the bedroom through the window, warm and gentle. He can get up slowly, and Maya will have already prepared warm water, clean robes, and a delicate breakfast.
After breakfast, there's no need to rush to the work area to supervise or personally coordinate manpower. You can simply sit under the sal tree in the courtyard, sip a cup of fragrant tea, bask in the warm sun, listen to the birdsong in the courtyard, and watch the servants perform their duties in an orderly manner, feeling a sense of peace and contentment.
In the afternoon, when there is nothing to do, one can either browse through ancient books and illustrated books in the study to learn about the methods of building and governing ancient Indian city-states; or stroll in the courtyard to check on the growth of plants and the progress of house repairs; or simply close one's eyes to rest and enjoy this rare moment of leisure.
With no urgent matters to attend to and no thorny problems to trouble him, he lived a leisurely and carefree life, just like a feudal lord.
Behind this tranquility lies the well-organized management of village affairs.
Vijay had to admit that without his half-baked, often meddling, interference, his subordinates were doing their jobs perfectly, and things were progressing exceptionally smoothly.
Bim oversaw all internal affairs, coordinating supplies, distributing meals, and settling personnel, leaving no detail overlooked.
Rajan oversees labor, conducts rigorous assessments, assigns fair scores, and has a clear system of rewards and punishments, demonstrating strong execution capabilities.
Under the leadership of Shu Hu, the Dalits were well-organized and their orders were strictly followed, resulting in thousands of people working in an orderly manner.
Surya was in charge of the construction, which was well-planned and progressed steadily, with each project proceeding in an orderly and efficient manner.
With everyone fulfilling their responsibilities and cooperating seamlessly, all village affairs proceeded smoothly and far exceeded expectations.
What delighted Vijay even more was that, through the system's "Knowledge" ability, he was able to identify and discover many truly capable individuals among the slaves he had purchased.
Previously, there were concerns that slave owners were exaggerating, but now it seems that those Vaishya and Shudra slaves all possessed real, practical skills and were by no means just filling in the numbers.
Some are skilled in carpentry and blacksmithing, adept at crafting farm tools and repairing houses; others are adept at farming and irrigation, understanding soil fertility and seasonal changes; some are knowledgeable in commerce and accounting, skilled in calculation and familiar with transactions; and some are skilled in cooking and sewing, able to manage household affairs and make clothes—all are practical talents who can be of great use.
The addition of these people has injected strong momentum into the development of the village. Every task has a dedicated person in charge, which has greatly improved efficiency.
Based on existing conditions and considering the village's current situation and long-term needs, Vijay has formulated a clear and progressive development plan, intending to steadily advance the plan in four steps to solidify its foundation.
The first step is to strengthen infrastructure and put into practice the simple idea that "to get rich, build roads first".
Infrastructure is the foundation of a village. Without roads, transportation is blocked and goods are difficult to transport; without houses, people are homeless and their hearts are unsettled; without water, people and livestock are uneasy and agriculture is difficult to develop.
Vijay prioritized addressing three core issues: roads, housing, and water sources.
Regarding roads, main roads and branch roads are planned to connect village centers, work areas, and settlements. The dirt roads will be leveled and the roadbeds compacted to facilitate vehicle and horse traffic and the transport of goods. For housing, dilapidated and dangerous houses will be demolished, and new housing plots will be planned, with separate dwellings built for servants, artisans, and Dalits. Regarding water resources, deep wells will be dug and reservoirs built in villages and Dalit settlements to ensure drinking water for people and livestock and irrigation for farmland. Infrastructure development will be prioritized to lay a solid foundation for future development.
The second step is to develop basic industries, with logging and mining as the core.
The village is surrounded by vast forests and rich in stone and copper deposits, giving it a natural resource advantage. The logging workshop is already in operation, and the high-quality timber felled daily is used for road construction, house building, and repairs. The remaining timber, after being sorted, is not wasted; instead, skilled craftsmen from the Dalit community carve and polish it into simple ornaments, wooden pendants, and straw-woven items with exotic ethnic characteristics.
These ornaments, of course, could never be sold locally, because no one would be willing to buy items made by the untouchables. Not only would they not fetch a good price, but they would also cause class controversy.
Vijay had already planned that once the caravan was assembled, he would transport these ornaments to surrounding city-states and markets for sale. With their exotic appeal and low cost, he was sure he could open up sales channels and provide Dalit with some small subsidies.
Regarding mining, we should first establish mines and produce ore. As for whether to sell the ore directly or process it ourselves, we need to consider that further.
The third step was to establish a caravan.
The feudal manor economy of Mittal Village is self-sufficient, closed and conservative. Servants and Dalits work without pay, which seems great, but in Vijay's view, it is devoid of any vitality for development.
Vijay knew that to develop, it was necessary to revitalize the economy, circulate goods, and create wealth.
Simply relying on unpaid labor is insufficient to motivate people; an effective incentive mechanism must be established.
Directly distributing wages in cash carries enormous risks. The surrounding villages and Harappa City are complex and intertwined with various factions. Rashly breaking class rules and giving money to the lower-class slaves could easily provoke suspicion and repression, or even lead to disaster.
After much deliberation, Vijay decided to replace the fixed salary with a reward system.
Whether servants, Shudras, or Dalits, they were all rewarded with money for completing their tasks well and performing their duties exceptionally well.
The amount of the reward varies depending on the size of the merit; although it is not much, it is real money.
At first, everyone was filled with fear and trepidation, never imagining that slaves and servants could obtain money. They were both surprised and apprehensive, but since they had nowhere to spend it for the time being, they could only regard it as one of the lord's little hobbies.
The fourth step is to open a grocery store and build an internal economic cycle.
Vijay had a Vaishya slave named Anan, who was skilled in trade (3/5), negotiation (3/5), and accounting. He was a talented person who had previously organized and led caravans and was very experienced.
Vijay has already devised a plan to establish a dedicated caravan for Harappa Village, not for the kind of long-distance voyages to the East, but simply for normal trade between Harappa City and several surrounding towns within Brahma's territory.
Since a contract had been signed and the system could also assess the approximate status of the servants, Vijay was quite at ease; these guys were unlikely to simply abscond with the money.
If they dare to escape, as long as they are within Brahma's territory, terrible divine punishment will befall them at any time (it is said).
Before a formal caravan was established, Vijay ordered Anan to go to Harappa to purchase various daily necessities such as salt, cloth, spices, farm tools, and pottery bowls, and to transport them back to the village to open a general store.
Instead of distributing goods for free, the grocery store displayed prices and allowed Vaishyas, Shudras, and even Dalits to purchase them, breaking down class barriers and establishing a simple internal trading system.
This decree immediately caused a huge uproar among the servants and Shudras, with voices of dissent rising everywhere.
No one wants to touch the class system or come into contact with the "untouchables," who are of extremely lowly status. To allow them to shop and trade on equal terms with the Vaishyas and Shudras of the higher class would be a blatant trampling on the class order and an intolerable act of transgression!
If word of Vijay's actions were to spread, the Brahmins of Harappa might come to question him.
In Vijay's courtyard, Rajan approached Vijay and spoke with concern and bewilderment: "By Brahma, master, this is absolutely unacceptable!"
"Dalits are untouchables, born inferior to others. How can they be placed on equal footing with Vaishyas and Shudras? This is against the natural order and a desecration of social hierarchy!"
"Yes, since ancient times, there has been a strict hierarchy and distinction between the noble and the lowly. Dalits can only bow their heads and work, obeying orders. How can they be given the right to trade? If this is tolerated, order will surely be disrupted!"
"If word gets out and the nobles and Brahmins of Harappa find out, they will surely think that our master is indulging a commoner and showing contempt for social class, bringing disaster upon himself. It would be a losing proposition!"
Upon hearing this, Bim rushed over and overheard Rajan's admonition. Bim, who had always supported Vijay, agreed, saying, "Master, this precedent must not be set!"
"Master, the class system is deeply entrenched. Breaking it suddenly may not be convincing and could easily cause trouble. Please postpone this order and consider it further."
Only Maya remained steadfastly by Vijay's side, offering her support in a soft voice: "What Master thinks must have a reason. There's no need to care about what others say. I trust Master."
Vijay naturally understood the reasons behind the criticism and admonitions from the crowd.
He was well aware of the stubbornness of class divisions, but he also understood the importance of breaking down barriers and revitalizing the economy.
I just didn't expect your servants to react so strongly!
Of course, he can also make a one-man show.
At least in this small village of Mittal, no one has been able to defy his will!
But it seems unnecessary!
If it really attracts the attention of the Brahmins of Harappa, then it would be a complete loss.
"I understand your concerns!" Vijay sighed, feeling a bit of a headache.
After careful consideration, in order to avoid being too radical and exacerbating the conflict, Vijay decided to make some adjustments to the plan: to set up a separate grocery store for the Dalits, separate from the shops of the Vaishyas and Shudras, and have Shuhu send people to take over its management.
As the steward of Dalit, Shu Hu, though of low birth, was Vijay's official servant and held real power. It was both reasonable and convincing for him to manage Dalit's exclusive shops.
Although the discontented villagers still harbored resentment, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and bear it, no longer openly opposing it, due to Vijay's authority and the intervention of Treebeard.
In the early days of the grocery store's opening, the results were not ideal.
Having been instilled with the idea of inferiority for a long time, Dalit had long been accustomed to being submissive and not daring to overstep boundaries. Even if the shop allowed purchases, no one dared to step forward. Everyone shrank back and watched from a distance, afraid of breaking the rules and incurring punishment.
The Vaishyas and Shudras welcomed this greatly. Daily necessities and small items that were difficult to buy on ordinary days could now be purchased in the village, making life much more convenient. They flocked to the shops to make purchases, and the square by the well in the center of the village became lively again after a long time. The Vaishyas and Shudras interacted more and gradually had normal communication, no longer isolated from each other.
Vijay saw this and was quite satisfied.
Breaking down barriers and promoting communication are key to uniting the tribe, and the improved atmosphere is a good start.
At the same time, various projects in the village are progressing steadily and achieving remarkable results.
The logging workshop has been fully completed, and two groups of Dalits are cutting timber every day. Although the Dalits are not yet skilled and their teamwork is lacking, the basic framework has been established, and all that is needed is a little time to get them on track.
The side roads gradually extend from the village to all directions. Although they are not wide roads, they are at least basically flat, so that vehicles and pedestrians will not be so bumpy when they ride on them.
The mine has already excavated its first entrance, prioritizing safety, and is slowly digging into the ore layer.
The foundations for the sentry posts surrounding the village have been laid, and the village is beginning to take shape.
The wells in several Dalit settlements were all completed, and the well water was clear, sweet, and flowed continuously.
All the old and dilapidated houses in the village have been demolished, and the open land has been leveled, just waiting for the construction of new houses to begin.
Today, Vijay devotes all his energy to the overall planning of the village and the design of new houses.
He personally sat down at his desk, spread out animal hide drawings, and sketched out the village layout, house styles, and road directions stroke by stroke, revising and designing repeatedly; he often discussed construction details with Suriya, refining everything from house structure and building material selection to spatial layout; he personally went to the construction site every day to conduct on-site inspections, engaging in theoretical discussions.
Vijay was still somewhat conflicted about what kind of Mittal village he wanted to build.
What he wants, and what he aims to rival, is not these surrounding cities.
The names of those great cities flashed repeatedly in his mind.
It follows the traditional form of "heaven is round and earth is square", with a circular outer wall and a square inner city layout, which is in line with the ancient cosmology.
Or should we adopt a central-radial layout, with roads extending outwards from a single point and houses distributed in a staggered pattern for easier management?
Or perhaps we could draw on the construction experience of famous city-states such as Harappa and Vaishali, and integrate their orderly layout and practical design?
Even at night, Vijay, after a busy day, nestled beside Maya, his mind still preoccupied with village planning. He casually asked, "Maya, what kind of city would you like to live in in the future?"
Maya's soft body pressed tightly against him, her hair gently brushing against his neck, her voice soft and tender, filled with endless affection: "Shiva, bless me! No matter what I look like, wherever my master is is the best place!"
Gentle words dispelled all fatigue, and Vijay felt a warm glow in his heart as he gazed at the moonlight outside the window.
He wanted to personally build a home for Mittal, a stable, prosperous, and hopeful home where everyone could live and work in peace and contentment, free from the suffering of war, hunger, and humiliation.
At the very least, we must leave a deep imprint of our presence on this future city!