My Great Empire : the parellel world

After entering the royal court, the prince followed the protocols and reached other the chair next to the empty throne,samar nodded towards the ministers and set on his chair .

Minister Ravi stood up and announced to the court that today is a special day for the crown Prince and the court .

Then he turned towards the prince and wished him a happy and long life .

After him other officials and minister congratulated the crown Prince one by one .

Samar stood up and thanked the ministers and officials for their dedication and loyalty to the kingdom .

The court session started and various things were discussed then the matter came to the lows regarding the taxes.

One group was advocating a increase in taxes and the others wanted a leniency. After haggling back and forth for two hours ,

it was decided that tax on import would be increased to 25 percent from initial 20 percent and more land would be claimed for agriculture uses, a huge ninety percent tax is to be imposed on alcohol and tobacco.

Export of gold and silver are completely restricted and farming or importing opium are now criminal offense.

After that minister Ravi announced an end to the discussion of tax laws .

Next in queue is relationship with europian traders .

A few english merchants are present in the kingdome ,they claims that they have come for trade but according to my knowledge europians has already captured few port cities of southern province,so now the has to decide whether to invite white mans in our lands or not .

After hearing it the court started to budge with murmers, they are spectical about these merchants but opportunity to trade with other continent is also huge.

Samar who was silently watching the court proceedings until now spoke for the first time," this is a huge opportunity but cunning of British is not to be underestimated" . It would a wasteg to reject the coming gold,so we will establish trade connection with them but the terms will be ours.

After that a guard was sent to invite the foreigners, British who were waiting for this entered the court sortly after .

As tokan of respect and cooperation,merchants offerd some valuable gifts ,but samar can see at a glance that noting in the gift is of europian origin on contrary everything was of native origin.

In the british deligates there is a man of native origin,who according to Samar is a translator.

"#* ####$$$$$$_&&_$$-&$$-&" said the metchant in english

"We are happy to have a opportunity to trade with your kingdom, it is a beautiful place."came the transelation, but Samar who have knowledge of the future and have studied English clearly know that the translation is not quite correct.

"That dame southern province has already

Severed all traid routs ,and we have to waste our time waiting for the permission from these barbarians ." This are the true words of British merchants.

Samar just ignored it and replied politely in native language which was then traslated in english as " it is a opportunity for us to trade with you but we should decide some regulations about trade and then sign a formal contract between the Kingdom of Indore and British East India company."

"Then what regulations kindome of indore wants to be placed ." Came reply

"It is simple

first rule is that the british has to follow the lows of our kindome in our land . Second british cannot own land in the territory of the kingdom.

Third British merchants cannot have any kind of private army in our terretory ."said Samar.

After hearing the translation faces of merchant grew pale.

If they sign such a contract then their profits will be significantly reduced and on to that colonization of this kingdom would become extremely hard unless they go on a full war , which is impossible,

"Your highness the crown prince, we are just lowly merchants, wouldn't this condition will make it impossible for us trade ,how will we trade without gold and silver ,how will we sate up workshops and warehouse if we can't own land and who can garranty our safty with so many valubles .,"

"It is not that big of a problem,is it . Your country is dry and cold but indore has fertile land with abundance of water ,so you can buy grains from here , our textile has large demand in Europe and spices are more valuable than gold in Europe,so why you need to trade gold .

You can not own land but can have it on lease.

about guards than it will be our responsibility to protect you in our kingdome . "

replied Samar .

Head of merchant was speechless becouse everything prince said is true , if trade between Europe and Indore started than gold will only flow into Indore form Europe,not the other way around and that is the reason British want these lands as their own .

After some thinking head merchant said " your majesty the prince is right but we need some time to discuss and prepare the contract"

After few minutes head merchant came with a paper and said " we agree to the terms and already signed the contract,,now we request that the kingdom also sigh it and a mutually beneficial cooperation can be formed.

After that the translator presented the contains of the contract in native laguage ,and evrything is as kingdom wanted .

Samar requested to see the contract paper and as aspected entire contact is written in english, without including the native language . There was also a hidden close in it ,which said that after 30 years this contract will be nullified and british will be given exclusive trade right in kingdom and will have permission to buy land , creat a private army and right to export gold and silver .

Samar understood the contract and underlying intention but pretented to not understand and said " this contract is written in english how can we understand it ,

what if something else is written on it ,".

" How can we think of cheating you ,your majesty the crown prince " explained head merchant.

I am not saying that you are not honest but shouldn't a contract be in both the language"came Samars answer

"Yes,your majesty " said flustered head merchant

Soon after two separate contract in different languages got prepred and head merchant signed both of them after confirming them with his loyal translator

On other hand minister of finanse signed the english contract on behalf of Indore but minister Ravi and Crown prince himself signed the one in native laguage . Corner of head merchants mouth tweached seeing it .

Court session ended and british exited the court hall with bitter smiles.