Chapter 153: Feudal Reforms

Royal Palace, Vijayanagara Empire.

The council meeting was underway as usual in the court, discussing the changes in the past month under Harsha's rule.

"Your Majesty, We have done our part in advertising, spreading the scales and selling most of the scales we have produced. We are currently monitoring any fakes and merchants using different scales to cheat the customers," said Mithun, reading from his report.

"Hoo… So how much did the standard measurement system spread in the Empire?" asked Harsha with a smirk

"Most of the small merchants have purchased the scales, and some medium-sized merchants have also. Some are still stubbornly sticking to their own scales, but I would give them two to three months before they begin to adopt the scales as they start bleeding money."

"Then it is fine." Harsha began. He scanned the room in intrigue. "So a month has passed. Today is the monthly report for the council."

"Monthly report?" asked Bhima in confusion.

"We have a monthly assessment of changes in your respective sectors. It will change; I am doing this monthly for you guys to get used to this thing."

Viswa came forward with a book in his hand that had recorded everything that was done in the past month.

"So, we have introduced the new measurement system. Revitalized the shipyard and introduced the military reforms. Lastly, we have improved upon the road construction method." Viswa began.

"There have been some law and order improvements from Asokan; trade has been increasing steadily due to the increased efficiency under the direction of Mithun; internal affairs and corruption monitoring have increased to reduce incidents like the shipyard one."

Viswa closed his book with a soft thud. "That's it, Your Majesty."

"So the other three of you haven't done much apart from handling the affairs and documents of your respective fields." Harsha said coldly.

Raj Patwardhan, Bhima Nayaka, and Bhaskara Aryananda hung their heads in shame.

Harsha sighed deeply. "If you continue down this path, I will have to replace you from the council."

The affairs of the Empire were taken care of, but he wanted more. He wanted innovation in fields. He wanted them to think to better the Empire rather than do whatever he ordered them.

That would build up a creative mind and reduce the stress on him as well, but at the same time he would step in and implement it if they don't make the cut to think of it.

"Moving on, we have some important things to discuss." Harsha began. "The Nayakara system needs to be changed. It is causing more damage than good at this point."

The Nayakara system, or feudal landownership, was a practice where the land was tied to the nobles of the region and not the farmers. They took all of the crop proceeds of the land and left the peasants and farmers who worked on the field with little to nothing to sustain themselves.

The nobles were chosen by the Emperor and given land based on their military achievement. This had a fair share of problems as they were exploiting tenant farmers.

This didn't affect the populace during an excellent year of harvest, as they would still have food to sustain themselves even after paying the proceeds.

When there was a bad harvest due to some issue like a drought. The famines would strike and kill millions of people in the region.

The Deccan plateau itself had recorded many famines, killing tens of millions of people.

"But, Your Majesty, this move is drastic. It can cause problems with landowners." Raj Patwardhan said.

"Explain!"

"The landowner brings in a lot of land tax for the Empire. If we put a cap on the crop proceeds limits, we will have less tax to work, and the people who have earned their land through rigorous military achievements will be dissatisfied."

Harsha chuckled lightly. "Don't you worry. We have begun testing new methods to increase land yield significantly. It should be ready to implement by the next harvest season. So the crop proceeds, although it will be limited, but the landowners will get more or less the same amount."

Harsha continued with a serious expression. "The problem now is the food security of the citizen during bad harvest seasons. The populace cannot survive with low crop proceeds from the owner of the land."

All of them understood the reasoning and nodded along.

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"What changes are you thinking of, Your Majesty?" asked Bhaskara.

"First, we will limit the proceeds taken by the landowner to a maximum of 50%, not more than that." Harsha began with a smirk.

"We will also lower the land tax for small landowners and encourage arts and crafts to increase handicrafts, as they are popular among European merchants."

"Hoo. It is a sound idea. The European merchants like handwoven clothes and arts," added Mithun, excited at the idea of profit.

Bhaskara contemplated the ideas for a while and glanced at Harsha.

"Your Majesty, I have a suggestion to add."

"What is it?" asked Harsha.

"Why not make sure that a slave's son is never a slave. That is abolishing being born into slavery, and the child becomes the state's responsibility?" Bhaskara asked nervously, gauging the reaction of his noble counterparts and the Emperor.

If a kid was born to slaves. He would also be considered a slave and raised as such, thus creating an unending lineage of slaves. Even bright minds would be lost in such a worthless norm.

The most impactful reason would be that there would be a drive to strive and become better or more innovative to earn money or climb up the social ladder since they usually resign to their fate.

"That is a good idea." Exclaimed Harsha. "Being born into slavery can hinder the growth of great minds that could make an impact in the Empire. This is a great suggestion by Bhaskara. We shall include this also in the edict."

Bhaskara heaved a sigh of relief after the Emperor accepted his suggestion with a positive attitude.

Harsha scanned the room.

"Moving on to the next topic of the meeting—"