Be a lord in the world of Indian mythology

Chapter 93 Strategizing

As dusk slowly enveloped Mittal village, the daytime clamor of labor and training gradually subsided, and clusters of bonfires lit up in the courtyards and camps, their warm yellow flames flickering and dispelling the evening chill.

As a clan lord, Vijay spent his days mingling in the filthy Dalit, running around the wilderness training grounds, doing trivial things that ordinary noble lords would never touch. To outsiders, he was simply unseemly.

The chief steward, Bim, who was standing to the side, looked at him with a hint of incomprehension and slight complaint in his eyes, but dared not say anything.

Vijay didn't care at all; on the contrary, he felt relaxed and exceptionally happy.

Through observation and targeted training, he became increasingly certain that his training approach was correct.

These Dalits, who possess different bloodlines, are still undisciplined and have varying combat capabilities, and are not yet ready to be deployed as regular armed forces in actual combat. However, the wildness and power hidden within them have been gradually awakened.

Given time, and with the addition of systematic discipline and martial arts training, this group will surely shed their numb servility and reveal their long-dormant sharp fangs.

What reassured him even more was that, judging from the various trials, rewards, punishments, and collaborations he had witnessed today, the thoughts and intentions of these people were all under control. In the future, the power in their hands would only be used by Mittal Village and would not turn against them.

When you relax, even simple meals become palatable.

Below them were several servants who were still in the village and had not yet eaten. Vijay invited them over to have a meal together and discuss some work matters.

On the table was a plate of traditional local hand-grabbed rice, paired with unique local spices. In the past, Vijay always thought the spices tasted strange, but now, after a long and tiring journey, his taste buds have become accustomed to this unique flavor.

He grabbed a rice ball and ate it in big mouthfuls, then picked up his water bag and tilted his head back to pour the cool well water down his throat.

The cool river water flowed down my throat, washing away the heat from my body. Water droplets slid slowly down my neck and strong arms, and most of my fatigue dissipated.

He secretly paid attention to the system prompts within his body. Now that his mental state was becoming richer and his experience and strength were growing in tandem, the threshold for triggering extra system rewards and obtaining pleasurable feedback was also getting higher and higher.

Vijay could only sigh deeply, unsure of what to do.

Just as he was leisurely having his meal, hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate. Kara, who had gone out to contact the slave traders, rushed back.

He traveled back and forth between Harappa and Mittal today, making two round trips in a single day. The journey wasn't far, but he was exhausted and dared not rest for a moment. His forehead was covered in sweat, and his clothes were covered in dust. It was clear that he was extremely diligent and put his master's instructions first.

Vijay looked up at him, about to say a few words of praise for his dedication.

Kokara walked to the center of the courtyard, and without saying a word, knelt down on both knees, prostrating himself on the ground. His expression was one of despair, and his voice was full of remorse: "Brahma above, your subordinate is incompetent and has failed to complete the task assigned by your master. Please punish me!"

Vijay was slightly taken aback upon seeing this, his heart filled with doubt.

Previously, he had arranged for Kara to go to the slave traders to purchase slaves with the strength of warriors to supplement the tribe's fighting power. Now that Kara was in this state, it was clear that something had changed.

He put down his food and said in a deep voice, "Get up and speak. What exactly happened?"

Kara remained prostrate on the ground, explaining with deep remorse, "Master, I found a slave trader as you requested and clearly stated that I wanted to buy slaves with the fighting strength of warriors, but he refused on the spot. I repeatedly pressed him for the reason, but the trader refused to reveal the specific reason, only saying that he could not provide such manpower."

Vijay frowned slightly upon hearing this, a sense of confusion rising within him.

In this land of numerous city-states, slave traders roamed far and wide, gathering all sorts of people for profit; making money was their biggest criterion.

Turning down business opportunities and actively refusing high-priced orders is simply not in a businessman's nature.

He wondered to himself: Was the price I offered not generous enough? Or was there something wrong with the way we traded?

He suppressed his doubts and said in a kind and gentle tone, "Things have come to this point, there's no need to keep kneeling on the ground. Get up, this is not your fault."

Kara then slowly stood up and stood to the side with her head bowed.

Vijay's magnanimity and his refusal to punish without asking the reason earned him the secret admiration of Bim and the servants who had been invited to dine with him.

It is truly rare for a lord to wield power yet show compassion for his subordinates.

Vijay's gaze swept over the crowd, and he could see that everyone was grateful. However, when he secretly checked Kara's loyalty panel, the value remained stable without any increase.

He knew in his heart that such favors alone were far from enough to completely subdue this subordinate with ulterior motives!

The night passed peacefully.

The next day, just as dawn broke, the morning mist enveloped the entire field, and the dew clung to the grass and leaves, crystal clear.

Vijay, accompanied by Kara and Rajan, set off personally to the slave market in Harappa.

Vijay and his party traveled by carriage. As the streets became more crowded and the hustle and bustle of the city gradually rose, they navigated the streets and alleys with familiarity and found the fat slave trader with whom they had worked for a long time.

Upon seeing Vijay arrive in person, the merchant hurriedly stepped forward to greet him, bowing deeply with utmost respect and courtesy, treating him with far greater deference than any ordinary customer. "Shiva bless you! Your esteemed master Vijay, I am truly humbled by your personal visit."

Vijay smiled and gestured for the other party to dispense with formalities, then got straight to the point: "Yesterday, my subordinates came to purchase slaves of warrior rank, but you refused without explaining why. I was puzzled and came here today to find out the reason."

The fat merchant's smile slowly faded, replaced by a helpless expression. He sighed deeply and said sincerely, "Master Vijay, it's not that I'm intentionally refusing business, but the slave traders in the entire city of Harappa, and even in all the surrounding city-states, are unable to provide you with warrior-level slaves."

Vijay remained calm, carefully observing the other man's expression. He could tell that the man's words were sincere and not a deliberate attempt to evade or make things difficult. So he raised his hand and said, "I would like to hear the details."

The portly merchant gathered his thoughts and slowly revealed two fundamental reasons: "Firstly, those who have honed their martial prowess and entered the ranks of warriors on this land are mostly resolute and proud. In the traditional order, warriors are born to take pride in serving the Kshatriyas and protecting their city-states. They would rather die in battle than stoop to the level of lowly slaves and bow down to the Vaishyas."

"Secondly, even if a warrior occasionally encounters misfortune, falls into despair, or suffers defeat, he would rather choose to die peacefully and return to Brahma's embrace than wear shackles and become a slave to be bought and sold at will."

These two reasons, presented in a progressive manner, align with the local class consciousness and samurai spirit that have been passed down for thousands of years, and sound truly impeccable.

Vijay nodded repeatedly after listening, indicating his understanding. After a moment's thought, he pressed on, "Isn't there any exception? In such a vast region, there must be people who are down on their luck."

The merchant spread his hands, pondered for a moment, and replied, "There are exceptions, of course. In some remote mountain villages, there are occasionally defeated warriors or people who have suffered misfortune and become disheartened. They have lost their former ambition and are unwilling to return to their homeland. In order to save their lives, they are forced to become slaves. However, such people are extremely rare and hard to come by."

After a pause, he gave the specific market conditions and prices: "Currently, in the entire market of Harappa City, I can do my best to find you two full-fledged warriors and fewer than ten warrior apprentices."

"But even with these few, I need to communicate with them first to see if they are willing to serve you..."

When it comes to business, the merchant is very clear about the terms, stating his prices directly: "Each full-fledged samurai costs two hundred gold coins, and each samurai apprentice costs fifty gold coins. This is the minimum price for recruiting them! And that doesn't include the fees you'll have to pay them!"

Vijay frowned involuntarily when he heard the offer.

Two hundred gold coins for a formal warrior—that's outrageously expensive.

He wasn't stingy with money; the Mittal village treasury still had reserves. But he was absolutely unwilling to be taken advantage of and fleeced. "This price is rather unfair," he said.

The fat merchant wore a bitter expression: "Kubila above! Respected Master Vijaya, this is the lowest price I can negotiate. Things are valued for their scarcity. Such people are already extremely rare, and searching for them requires a lot of connections and money. I really cannot lower the price any further."

Vijay stared intently into the other man's eyes. Seeing his frank expression and the lack of any sign of deception, he knew that this was indeed the current market price.

He stopped worrying about the price and instead raised another long-standing question: "I've traveled through many villages and city-states around here, and I see warriors and warrior apprentices everywhere. If everyone relies on recruiting destitute slaves and employing outsiders, it's not a long-term solution. Where do these warriors come from? They can't all be active-duty soldiers under the Kshatriyas, can they?"

This question gave the fat merchant a starting point, and he shook his head, giving an answer that greatly surprised Vijay: "Master, you may not know this, but most of the martial artists in villages and towns are trained by local martial arts schools."

"Martial arts schools were set up in villages and towns to teach body-building techniques and combat skills. Local children would become apprentices and learn the skills. After completing their training, some would stay in the villages to protect their homes, while others would be selected to serve as offerings to the city lords and high-ranking Kshatriyas."

"A martial arts school?" Vijay's heart skipped a beat.

Looking back at the history of Mital Village, from generation to generation, for hundreds of years, the village has never opened a single martial arts school.

In the past, Mittal was powerful mainly because it relied on long-distance trade. In terms of military strength, it always relied on hiring temporary people from abroad. Although there was never any internal strife, it never lacked manpower.

But now, this old model is completely no longer viable!

The merchant, seeing through Vijay's thoughts, sincerely offered his advice: "In my humble opinion, since Master Vijay's territory is growing stronger and his population is increasing, it would be better to open a martial arts school in Mital Village. Recruiting warriors from outside is ultimately just a temporary solution; only by cultivating our own talent can we ensure long-term stability."

These words hit the nail on the head.

Vijay secretly agreed that opening a martial arts school and independently cultivating martial arts skills was the way to solve the shortage of combat power at its root.

However, with four fierce warriors from Titi Village eyeing them covetously, a conflict between the two sides is imminent. The hasty establishment of the martial arts school at this moment inevitably feels like a last-minute effort.

But on second thought, throughout history, the best time to do great things has always been the past, and the second best time is now.

If we delay any longer, the hidden dangers will only grow!

He then looked at the portly merchant and continued, "In that case, could you introduce me to a Guru who can run the martial arts school?"

Upon hearing this, the merchant shook his head helplessly again: "Master, this is something I am truly powerless to do... A Guru who can preside over a martial arts school must at least be a senior warrior, and if he is a retired warrior, he is even more valuable. Moreover, he must be proficient in various body-strengthening techniques and advanced martial arts skills. Such people are respected and have a stable future... They would never become objects to be bought and sold!"

"Even a petty person's connections can't reach this type of person!"

After a series of setbacks, Vijay was at a loss for what to do.

Foreign warrior slaves are overpriced and scarce, making it impossible to find martial arts schools or Guru, and even those who want to establish their own schools lack core talent.

He sighed softly and said to the fat merchant, "Very well, I won't force you on this matter. In the future, when you travel around, if you encounter suitable warriors or gurus who are capable of running a martial arts school, be sure to inform me immediately. The reward will be generous."

The merchant quickly bowed and agreed, "I will remember this and will certainly keep a close eye on things for my master."

After bidding farewell to the slave traders, Vijay led Kara and Rajan out of the slave market and walked through the streets of Harappa, constantly sorting through the clues in his mind.

Just when they were at their wits' end, a memory from the past suddenly surfaced.

On several previous visits to the city to see Roshman, he had seen a reclusive old man in a dilapidated dojo in the south of the city.

The old man appeared destitute, guarding a dilapidated and simple martial arts school, yet his demeanor was completely different.

When the two first met, the old man recognized Vijay's special breathing technique just by his aura, demonstrating a level of insight far exceeding that of ordinary martial artists.

Could this reclusive old man be the martial arts instructor I've been searching for?

Thinking of this, Vijay's eyes lit up again, and he immediately changed direction, leading the two of them toward the secluded streets and alleys south of Harappa.

The southern part of the city is far from the bustling city center. The streets are narrow and the houses are low. Most of them are the dwellings of the lower class and the displaced. The walls are mottled and the roads are potholed, which is in stark contrast to the magnificence of the city's core area.

As you venture deeper into the winding alley, you can see the dilapidated dojo in the distance.

Most of the courtyard wall has collapsed, the wooden door is rotten and dilapidated, the training ground in the courtyard is overgrown with weeds, and a few old wooden stakes stand crookedly in the corner, looking like they have been abandoned for a long time.

An elderly man with white hair sat on the threshold, slowly wiping an old short blade, looking relaxed, as if the noise of the outside world had nothing to do with him.

Vijay slowed his pace, signaling Kara and Rajan to wait outside the courtyard, and walked forward alone, bowing respectfully to the old man.

The old man looked up, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"You've come!"