Chapter 2: The First Steps Toward Revolution

The Burden of a Throne

As Raja Hemchandra Vikramaditya—Hemu—walked through the grand corridors of his palace, he felt the weight of history pressing upon his shoulders. The polished marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of oil lamps, and the scent of sandalwood filled the air. This was no longer a dream. He was here. This was real.

The Bharat Restoration System had given him an impossible gift: three months to rewrite history before the Mughals marched toward Delhi. He knew what was at stake. If history played out the same way, he would fall in the Second Battle of Panipat, and Bharat would remain under foreign rule for centuries.

"Not this time," Hemu thought, his hands clenching into fists. This time, Bharat would not fall.

A palace attendant bowed as he approached.

"Maharaj, your council awaits in the court."

Hemu nodded and stepped into the royal durbar—the grand court where the fate of the kingdom would be decided.

The Royal Court and the First Meeting

Inside, his ministers and generals had already gathered. The chamber was vast, adorned with golden pillars and intricate carvings of past victories. These were the men who would help him change the future—or doom it to failure.

At the head of the gathering was Tukaram Das, his finance minister, a man known for his sharp mind and careful accounting. Next to him sat Raghunath Rao, a seasoned military commander, his expression calm but observant. Keshav Pandit, his chief strategist, was already busy reading a scroll. Several other advisors, including the minister of agriculture, head of trade, and master of spies, were also present.

They all rose as Hemu took his seat on the throne of Delhi.

"Let us begin," he said, his voice firm.

The ministers exchanged glances. Something about their king seemed... different today.

The Reality of the Situation

Tukaram Das was the first to speak.

"Maharaj, the treasury is stable, but war preparations will drain it quickly. We must be cautious with spending."

Hemu leaned forward. The economy would be the backbone of his strategy. Without funds, there would be no weapons, no roads, no army.

"What is the current tax rate?" he asked.

"Ten percent, Maharaj."

Hemu shook his head. Too high.

"Reduce it to five percent."

A murmur spread across the room.

"But Maharaj," Tukaram protested, "lowering taxes before a war—"

"Will make the people wealthier," Hemu interrupted. "A strong economy will support a strong army. Reduce the tax, and instead, we will introduce a new currency system."

Tukaram blinked. A new currency?

Hemu continued.

"From now on, the kingdom will use three types of coins: gold, silver, and copper. One gold coin will be worth 100 silver coins. One silver coin will be worth 100 copper coins. One gold coin should be able to feed a family of four for six months."

The ministers exchanged glances. A standardized currency system? In this era? It was unheard of. But the logic was sound.

Strengthening the Kingdom’s Core

Raghunath Rao, the military commander, cleared his throat.

"Maharaj, the real concern is the Mughals. Akbar’s forces are strong, and they have advanced artillery. We do not have the firepower to match them."

Hemu smiled. That would change.

"That brings me to our next order of business. I want all blacksmiths and weapon-makers in the kingdom to report to me within the next three days. We will begin production of a new type of weapon—firearms."

The room fell into silence.

"Firearms?" Keshav Pandit asked, frowning. "You mean… like the ones the Portuguese trade?"

Hemu nodded. Gunpowder weapons existed in this era, but no one in Bharat had mastered their production at scale. That was about to change.

"We will begin mass-producing muskets and cannons. Our army will be trained in their use immediately. No longer will we rely solely on swords and elephants."

Raghunath Rao stroked his beard thoughtfully. "If this works, we could match the Mughals in battle… or even surpass them."

"It will work," Hemu assured him. "But that is only one part of our plan."

He turned to the minister of infrastructure.

"We will begin construction of new roads—highways that will connect every major city, every village, every trade route. If an army cannot move quickly, it cannot win wars. I want the first roads built within two months."

The minister hesitated. "Maharaj, such a project would take years!"

Hemu’s eyes burned with determination. "Not if we use the entire kingdom’s workforce. Pay them well, and they will build faster."

Tukaram nodded. "With the tax reduction, the people will have more spending power. They will work hard if they are rewarded fairly."

Hemu smiled. Finally, they were beginning to understand.

A New Dawn for Bharat

As the meeting continued, Hemu laid out the foundations of his new intelligence network, the training of elite soldiers, and plans to expand naval power to control the seas. Every detail was carefully considered.

By the end of the session, his ministers looked exhausted but inspired.

"Maharaj," Keshav Pandit said, "these plans… if they succeed, Bharat will become unstoppable."

Hemu stood, his voice echoing across the chamber.

"Then let us begin."

This time, history would be written not by invaders—but by Bharat itself.

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