** Morning, near the Sahibi river, Khaliawas village, Rewari Kingdom. **
As the first rays of dawn illuminated the sky, Rao Todal Mal, the king of Rewari, rode atop his majestic steed, alongside his son, Randip Mal. Surrounded by a contingent of royal guards, the king and his son approached the imposing gates of the cannon factory. Their polished armour gleamed in the morning light.
The factory complex was situated within fortified walls near the bank of the Sahibi River, surrounded by forest and under heavy security protection from elite soldiers. The walls were constructed of sturdy stone, decorated with intricate carvings depicting scenes of Lord Shiva, the walls emanated a sense of divine presence.
At the entrance to the factory, a massive gate stood guard, flanked by towering statues of fearsome warriors wielding swords and shields. Above the gate, the saffron colour flag bearing the emblem of the golden sun at the center fluttered in the breeze.
Rao Todal Mal boasted proudly to his 20 year son, "Look here, my son, this is the pride of Rewari. Throughout the entire samrajya, this is the only place where cannons are made."
Prince Randip Mal looked on with awe, as it was his first visit. "I am glad, father, that you finally considered me worthy to visit this place."
King Todal Mal replied with satisfaction, "Let's go in."
As the father and son duo stepped into the vast open compound of Hemu's cannon factory, they were immediately struck by the organized chaos of the bustling workshop, where the air was filled with the rhythmic clang of metal against metal and the sound of craftsmen shouting instructions to one another, irrespective of the king's presence.
Before them stood a series of large, open-air workshops, each dedicated to a specific stage of cannon production. To their left, they could see the towering blast furnaces, emitting thick smoke into the sky as they melted down iron and brass for casting. The intense heat radiating from the furnaces caused the air to shimmer, creating an otherworldly steam.
As they delved further, they were greeted by a tall and muscular middle aged dark skinned man, wearing plain dhoti and kurta while fully drench in sweat, appeared with a polite bow, "For the Samrajya, your majesty."
King Todal Mal returned the greeting and introduced the man to Prince Randip as Rishabh Gupta, the second-in-command of the factory and one of Hemu's oldest confidants before he joined the military.
He explained to Rishabh that Randip would be in charge of extra security during Prince Aditya's scheduled visit to the factory.
Rishabh greeted the prince with respect and proposed that it would be better for them to have a quick tour of the factory under his guidance, as it had been many days since the king last visited the workplace.
Moving deeper into the factory, Rishabh toured them through areas where rows of skilled artisans meticulously shaped molten metal into cannon components. Some were busy pouring the molten metal into carefully crafted molds, while others wielded hammers and chisels to carve intricate designs onto the cannon barrels.
Both father and son marveled at the advanced machinery employed in the cannon-making process. Gigantic bellows powered by waterwheels pumped air into the furnaces, ensuring they reached the scorching temperatures necessary for smelting metal.
Cranes and pulleys dotted the landscape, used to lift heavy cannon parts and transport them between workshops. These cranes were typically made of wood and operated by ropes or chains, allowing workers to hoist heavy objects into place with relative ease.
Pulleys, consisting of a wheel with a grooved rim and a rope or chain running along it, were also utilized in conjunction with cranes or independently to provide mechanical advantage in lifting heavy loads.
By using multiple pulleys in a system of ropes and cables, workers were able to reduce the amount of force required to lift heavy objects, making it easier to move cannons and other equipment.
As they wandered through the factory, Rishabh showed them how skilled artisans painstakingly inspected each cannon component, ensuring they met exacting standards.
King Todal Mal asked, "Are we using Prince Aditya's standards?"
Rishabh felt a bit hesitant before replying, "The factory incharge had warned not to apply any changes, so we are still using the previous standards."
Intrigued by the mention of another in charge, Prince Randip inquired, "Who is this factory in charge?"
Rishabh sweated profusely at the mention and requested to meet him only after the tour was over. The nervousness of the second-in-command of the factory in mentioning the factory in charge was noted by the prince.
Finally, the trio arrived at the assembly area, where cannons were being fitted with their final components before being prepared for shipment. Here, they watched as craftsmen carefully affixed breech mechanisms, reinforced trunnions, and intricately carved wheels to the completed cannon bodies.
As Randip took in the sights and sounds of the bustling cannon factory, he couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the factory's artisans. It was clear to him that this was not just a place of industry but a testament to the power and sophistication of the empire.
Meanwhile, his father showed no change in expression as he added, "It's all the same, no change, huh. Stinky foreigner."
Seeing the disappointment in the king's expression, Rishabh attempted to change the subject. "Your Majesty, how about I show you the types of cannons we are producing?"
King Todal Mal asked, "Are you sure? That insolent won't cause any trouble?" Rishabh explained that everything was prepared for deployment this time, and his excellency would not cause any issues like last time.
Agreeing with Rishabh , King Todal Mal and Prince Randip followed him to the shipment area. Randip, curious, asked his father, "Father, it seems like you know that guy. Did something happen between you two?"
King Todal Mal replied nonchalantly, "He's the man with the worst attitude and a Portuguese on top of that. His name is Mathew Silva"
The prince inquired further, "Then why are we keeping him?"
The king turned to his son with a piercing gaze and replied, "Because this factory is being designed and managed by him. He is the hardest working person I have ever met in my life. Even Samrat Hemu has to tolerate his tantrums, and we, as his vassals, are like ants to him."
Rishabh interjected, "But Your Highness, he is the most loyal person to the emperor. He is a good man at heart but very tough on outsiders."
King Todal Mal ordered, "It's okay, Rishabh , no need to flatter your superior. It's not like we have any jurisdiction over him. Let's increase the pace."
After reaching the deployment area, Rishabh explained, "These are not mere cannons, your Excellencies," he said with pride. "Each one serves a specific purpose on the battlefield."
Pointing to a larger cannon with a shorter barrel, Rishabh explained, "This is a mortar, used for lobbing explosive shells over the walls of enemy fortifications. Its high trajectory allows it to strike targets hidden behind cover."
Next, Rishabh directed their attention to a series of long-barreled cannons with narrow bores. "These are culverins, capable of firing heavy iron projectiles with great accuracy over long distances. They are the backbone of our artillery and can punch through even the thickest fortifications. Even the Mughals don't have these as they all are 8-pounders and have much better range and firepower compared to their measly 6-pounder toys."
As the duo marveled at the diversity of cannons on display, Rishabh pointed to a massive cannon with an oversized barrel. "And finally, we have the bombards," he said with reverence. "These behemoths are designed to break down the walls of enemy fortresses with sheer brute force. Their thunderous roar strikes fear into the hearts of our enemies."
Prince Randip pointed out two cannons covered in spider webs and dust in the corner and asked, "And what are they? Are they defective?"
Rishabh explained, "These are our swivel guns, ideal for use aboard ships or on the walls of forts. They offer quick and versatile firepower against enemy vessels or troops. Since we don't have a navy, they are just kept as prototypes."
King Todal Mal touched the barrel of a bombard and said, "No matter how many times I see these pieces, I am never bored of them." He turned to Rishabh and said, "Let's pay that poor soul a visit. I have a message to deliver him. Guide us to his chamber."
As they reached the entrance of his chamber, they saw a middle-aged foreigner. He was dressed in local kurta pyjama attire, a rare sight. His head was down, and he was sitting in a chair, with long hair draped over the desk like a lifeless corpse.
To their disappointment, he reeked of alcohol, with a wine jar by his side. Rishabh woke up Mathew, notifying him that the king of Rewari and his son had arrived to speak with him.
Waking up from his slumber and still feeling a bit dizzy due to alcohol, Mathew spoke without replying, "Forget it, I am on strike... I am being betrayed... I won't care what you guys do anymore."
The sharp scent of alcohol hung in the air as Mathew's words slurred together, his voice tinged with bitterness.
Seeing him spouting nonsense, King Todal Mal asked Rishabh for his concern, to which he informed them that Mathew was annoyed with the fact that Hemu had agreed to shake hands with the Portuguese, whom he himself vowed to wipe out from India, and help him personally in taking revenge. So, what's the use of serving a man who doesn't keep his word's value.
With a furrowed brow and clenched fists, King Todal Mal's voice boomed across the room as he scolded Mathew, "You fool! How dare you speak ill of His Majesty! You misunderstand the situation. It was Prince Aditya who made the deal!"
Hearing of Aditya, Mathew got some sense on his eyes and threw the wine jar on the floor, feeling annoyed as he replied, "This is why I despise Hemu. He deceived not only me but also his true love."
Todal Mal felt a bit puzzled, then he replied, "I can clarify that he is from Ratna. Even Hemu clarified himself."
Hearing the name Ratna, Mathew became emotional and replied in disbelief, "Are you saying he's Ratna's son?!"
He took the earthen pot filled with water and poured it over his face right over the table. With a heavy sigh, Prince Randip clenched his jaw, struggling to contain his rising frustration, while King Todal mal felt pity on his poor display of manner.
Mathew stood up and went back of the corner to open his sack of belongings from the corner and replied without even facing, "If he's Ratna's kin... I must meet him myself."
Randip, intrigued by this new information, couldn't control his curiosity and blurted out, "How do you know so much about the emperor's past? And why is a foreigner like you working for him?"
Mathew took a clean cloth out of his bag, wiped his face, and gestured for them to sit as he returned to his chair.
"Interested in the truth, lad? Can you handle it?" he smirked.
*************************
//Author notes:
Well, here the production line mentioned is different from Aditya's assembly production line. In the case of cannons manufacturing, the blacksmith is responsible for the production of separate parts, which are later assembled.
However, in Aditya's workplace, it was broken down into all stages of production.
Also, by that time, the use of watermills and geared mechanisms was indeed prevalent in North India, but they were very limited to small-scale automation and lifting complex weights. The real industrial age will be introduced in later chapters.
Thanks for reading. :)