Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince

The city of Bidar underwent a remarkable transformation under the reign of Emperor Harsha, emerging as one of the major hubs of trade in the subcontinent. The city's prosperity soared, fueled by lucrative trade agreements with the Yadavas, which opened up new avenues for commerce.

The influx of wealth led to a dramatic increase in land prices as Bidar grew into a bustling commercial hub, attracting merchants, artisans, and nobles eager to capitalize on its economic boom.

Amidst this flourishing prosperity, on the southeastern edge of the city, a heavily fortified area stood out.

This section housed the Empire's artillery workshop, a facility of critical importance. The workshop, entirely funded and owned by the Empire, was dedicated to the reverse engineering of the Portuguese culverin—one of the finest cannons of its time.

Recognizing the strategic value of such weaponry, the Empire spared no expense in securing this facility. Residences for the workers and their families were constructed on-site, creating a self-contained community that was both productive and tightly monitored. Soldiers maintained a visible presence, guarding the workshop and its workers, while covert forces from the internal affairs team ensured there was no breach.

The workshop was also allocated a vast piece of land on the outskirts of the city for testing and experimentation. This ensured that the delicate and potentially hazardous process of cannon-making could proceed without endangering the public.

Progress was steady, and after weeks of meticulous effort, the artisans were nearing completion of their first reverse-engineered culverin.

This achievement marked a significant step forward for the Empire's military capabilities.

The prospect of wielding advanced Portuguese artillery would bolster their defenses and establish them as a formidable power in the region. However, it also introduced a new peril: if news of this success reached European ears, it could provoke sabotage or interference aimed at stifling the Empire's power.

The mastermind behind the workshop's establishment and success was Alfonso Deva Raya. Tasked with expanding this initiative, Alfonso began laying the groundwork for establishing additional artillery workshops across the Empire. To achieve this, he needed a steady supply of skilled workers capable of replicating the Bidar facility.

Enter Prathyush, the head of the Bidar workshop and a master bombardier. Recognizing the importance of knowledge transfer, Prathyush personally trained over fifty apprentices in just a month.

He ensured they understood the basics of cannon-making, from metallurgy and mold preparation to boring and assembly. Simultaneously, he documented these processes in exhaustive detail, creating a manual that could be distributed to new recruits.

This strategy not only accelerated the learning curve but also ensured consistency in the production of artillery across workshops.

As these apprentices mastered their craft, Alfonso selected the most promising among them to establish workshops in other regions.

"Chief, we are almost done with all the checks. I hope this time we can succeed," said Prathyush's assistant, his face betraying nervousness.

Prathyush nodded solemnly.

The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders. The workshop, established as a cornerstone of the Empire's ambitious military strategy, had already faced two setbacks. Each failure put down the morale of the workers, but none more than Prathyush himself.

"We failed two times already. We cannot fail a third," he declared firmly, his voice resolute. "It would disappoint the Emperor and Prince Alfonso, who placed their trust in us. This project is not just about replicating their cannons—it's about proving that we can surpass them."

The reverse-engineering process had begun months ago when Prince Alfonso had handed them an authentic Portuguese culverin.

The first step was to thoroughly study the existing piece. Workers meticulously measured every dimension—the length of the barrel, the diameter of the bore, the thickness of the walls, and the precise placement of the trunnions. These measurements provided a framework to understand its design and functionality.

Once they had a grasp of the culverin's physical attributes, the team moved on to acquiring the necessary materials. Bronze, wrought iron, and hardwood were procured from local sources. Tools such as augers, chisels, and sanding materials were brought in, while a forge and clay molds were set up in the workshop for casting the cannon barrels.

One major limitation was gunpowder. The Empire lacked the infrastructure to produce it, so it had to be purchased from European merchants at a high cost. This dependency weighed on Prathyush, who knew it was a vulnerability the Empire must overcome in the future.

The casting process began with the creation of molds. The outer mold, cylindrical and reinforced with wooden frames, was crafted from clay.

A clay core was then inserted to define the hollow bore of the cannon. It was carefully anchored in place to prevent movement during casting, ensuring precision.

The workers melted down the bronze and iron. The molten metal, glowing with intense heat, was poured into the prepared molds. It was supervised closely, ensuring the metal flowed evenly. The barrels were left to cool slowly to avoid cracking, a problem that had plagued their earlier attempts.

After cooling, the barrels were manually bored using augers, a painstaking process that demanded precision and strength. The bore was then polished with sand and leather to ensure a smooth interior surface, vital for accuracy and safety during firing.

Trunnions, forged separately in smaller molds, were attached to the barrels through casting or riveting.

Finally, the hardwood carriages were assembled. These carriages, fitted with iron straps and brackets, were designed to keep the culverins stable during firing.

Though the artillery workshop lacked their own ammunition crew, preparations were underway to produce iron cannonballs in collaboration with other imperial artisans.

"Chief, everything is in place. Time for testing," a worker yelled from afar, breaking the tense stillness of the workshop.

Prathyush, who had been anxiously pacing near the assembly area, immediately rushed to the training fields.

The vast open space was dedicated to testing artillery and training the new cannon crew using the existing Portuguese culverins. These foreign cannons were now tools for training and reference, their dimensions and details thoroughly documented and no longer needed for replication.

The workers pushed the newly crafted cannon toward the firing range. Its gleaming barrel bore the Empire's insignia, a proud emblem of their combined effort over the past months. As the cannon settled into place, Prathyush's nerves tightened.

He stood at a distance, watching the cannon crew prepare. His fists clenched, his breaths shallow.

This was the culmination of endless nights of toil, problem-solving, and recalibration. He knew the stakes: this wasn't just a test of the cannon; it was a test of his team, their ingenuity, and their worthiness of the Emperor's trust.

'The test phase. Finally.'

The memory of their previous failures loomed over him.

The first attempt had ended disastrously when they tested the cannon with a full charge of gunpowder too early.

Lessons learned, they adjusted their protocol: this first phase would use small charges to assess accuracy and structural integrity.

The second phase, the war test, would follow only after the first had proven the cannon's resilience.

The crew loaded the iron cannonball into the barrel, packing it with a small charge of gunpowder. Workers and artisans gathered nearby, their expressions anticipatory. Months of sweat and perseverance had led to this moment.

BOOM!

The first shot thundered across the field. The cannonball roared through the air, striking its target with precision.

A murmur spread among the workers, their nerves still tight. They knew this was just the beginning. The real challenge lay in the consecutive shots—the test that had broken them before.

Prathyush held his breath as the crew reloaded. This time, they prepared a full charge. The atmosphere was thick with tension.

"Lord Shiva, give us success," one worker muttered, his hands clasped in prayer. Continue reading stories on empire

Prathyush glanced skyward, silently offering his own plea to Lord Shiva.

BOOM!

The cannon fired again, its roar splitting the air. The ball tore through the target, reducing it to splinters. The cannon stood firm, showing no signs of damage.

The crew moved quickly, reloading and firing another shot.

BOOM!

The second shot struck true, as did the third, the fourth, and the fifth.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

'Please let this succeed.'

With each thunderous shot, the cannon held its ground, unyielding. As the smoke cleared after the final volley, all eyes turned to the cannon. It stood unscathed, a witness to their craftsmanship and resilience.

For a moment, silence reigned as the artisans processed the sight. Then, the tension broke.

Cheering erupted from the workers. They embraced one another, shouting in joy and congratulating their comrades. Months of relentless effort had finally borne fruit.

Prathyush, standing at the edge of the field, couldn't suppress his grin. His heart swelled with pride as he watched his team celebrate.

He clenched his fist tightly and punched the air, muttering. "Yes, we finally did it."

But amidst the happiness, he remembered his duty. Turning to his assistant, he spoke quickly.

"Send the good news to Prince Alfonso at once. Let him know the Bidar workshop has succeeded."