Chapter 7: Royal Tour?
It has been a few days since the council's founding, now that Vijay has freed his hands from the minor affairs of Vijayanagara for the most part, he has planned to take a tour of the empire before starting his reforms. he may have all the theoretical knowledge in his head, but he does not have any practical experience.
"Vinod, prepare everything that is needed, I'm going on a tour of Vijayanagara".
"As you wish your Majesty" .a young man with black hair, black eyes and a handsome face replied. Vinod is a 30-year-old young man who is an orphan raised by the royal family since birth, and he was Uncle Ravi's protege, as such he took over from Uncle Ravi as his butler, and loyalty is guaranteed.
Accompanied by a small retinue of loyal advisers and guards, Vijay set out on his horse-drawn carriage early one morning. The people watched in awe as their ruler passed through the bustling streets of Hampi. His journey took him through many towns and villages in each part of the empire. New novel chapters are published on
As he made his way into bustling Bengaluru, Vijay reminisced about studying in this city in his past life. The memories of the city's splendour filled him with a sense of nostalgia, and he couldn't help but be a bit biased in favour of making it his future capital city. Despite being far from the sea and lacking considerable natural resources, he saw the strategic advantages it offered. Bengaluru was located within acceptable distance to all major South Indian states and occupied a central position in the region. This made it a potential political centre for his empire, allowing for better governance and accessibility to various parts of the kingdom.
While Vijay acknowledged the significance of Hampi, he realized that its proximity to the Mughal states might pose some challenges. Therefore, he believed that Bengaluru, with its strategic location and existing infrastructure, would be a wiser choice for the capital.
Vijay interacted with merchants, traders, and artisans. He observed the economic vibrancy and cultural diversity that thrived within the city . However, he also noticed the stark contrast between the opulence of the nobility and the poverty endured by some of the poor.
As Vijay ventured deeper into the heartland, he was moved by the devotion of the people to their respective faiths. He visited many temples and shrines, seeking blessings for the prosperity and unity of his kingdom. He admired the richness of their spiritual lives but also became aware of the encroachment of Islamic and Christian monasteries in the region.
Vijay never liked both religions, not for any other reason, but because they seemed like both sides of the same coin. Each religion believed that their god was the supreme god, and those who didn't believe in their god were considered outsiders or not part of their people. But Hindus consider all Indians as their people; there is even a Muslim-practising Sufi saint (Sai Baba) worshipped as a god by millions of Indians. Both Muslims and Christians could not do it, moreover. The Christians had successfully wiped out Nordic and Greek gods through their belief that Christ is the only God, considering all other deities as heresy, and both religions came to the modern world with the blood of countless indigenous religions on their hands. Vijay was determined not to let history repeat itself. He knew he couldn't forcefully eliminate other religious beliefs, as there were millions of people following different faiths. Instead, he pondered on finding a way to integrate them as peacefully as possible.
Throughout his journey, Vijay Deva Raya embraced the hardships and joys of his subjects. He dined with commoners, danced with tribal communities, and sat by the fire listening to the folk tales of the elders. The living conditions of his people became etched in his heart, driving him to be a more empathetic and conscientious ruler.
After months of traversing his kingdom, Vijay returned to Hampi with a profound sense of purpose.