Chapter 31: Alliance Discussions: Part 2
In the Vijayanagar palace, Vijay flipped the letter, upon which he could see a portrait of a beautiful teenage girl.
His eyes lit up immediately after seeing the girl. She had a nice oval face that looked very pinchable, with dimples on her cheeks and light brown skin. She somewhat resembled Alia Bhatt of future generations.
He was surprised by the quality of the painting. Then he thought it was normal, as Leonardo da Vinci"s paintings from the 15th century were still very beautiful in the 21st century.
However, what caused him to pause was seeing that the girl"s age was only 16. This caused his inner uncle to riot "Lolicon, lolicon," He knew that people in this era married at a much younger age, but being an educated 21st-century Indian Uncle, it was very hard for him to accept.
But later, he came to terms with it when he realized that he was only 21 years old in this life, so there was only a 5-year age difference between him and the girl. which is a pretty common age difference to marry even in the future generations, This thought helped calm his chaotic thoughts a little.
He wasn't worried that the portrait might be incorrect, as that would mean the proposed alliance lacked legitimacy. The king of a country wouldn't be so shortsighted and foolish.
Finally, Vijay asked the important question, "I know the Maratha Empire doesn't have much gold to buy our products. How do you intend to pay us?"
Bhupathi didn't reply verbally, but he gestured to his guard to show the items he was carrying. Vijay was confused but he didn't speak, watching as the guard opened the boxes he had brought with him. The guard took out various materials, including powders, minerals, and metals.
Before Vijay could ask the question, Bhupathi provided an answer. "Your Highness, while we may not possess a lot of gold, these products you see in front of you are all open to trade. Please choose which material you would like to trade for."
Vijay"s doubts were cleared as he began to inspect the items. There were many materials, some he could recognize, like copper and limestone, along with other miscellaneous items. However, when he laid his eyes on a particular item, he was overcome with ecstasy.
As soon as he saw the item, he remembered that in the 21st century, the Rajasthan (Now Maratha Kingdom) was home to 91% of India"s potash supply. Potash is an excellent fertilizer for plants and can be used in various industries, including detergent production and even military applications. Thinking about the agricultural experiment he had conducted a few months ago, he thought that if he could procure potash from the Maratha Empire, he could implement his reform throughout the nation.
Hence, he decided to exchange weapons and food with the Maratha Empire for potash and some metals that he was short of supply.
when Bhupathi saw the king Holding a bunch of pink rocks and laughing like a fool, he felt confident that the trade could be made. He stated, "How about it, Your Highness? Can we reach terms, for the trade agreement?"
Vijay was in a happy mood and readily agreed, "The trade for these materials is possible, but my head of business will meet you to negotiate the prices", He didn't negotiate the prices himself; instead, he entrusted that matter to the head of the business. As he was about to leave the hall, he was stopped by Bhupathi, who said, "Your Highness, we would like to have our weapons made in a traditional way. While we understand the reason you produce weapons in the European style, our soldiers are trained in traditional weapons. It would require significant resources to transition, and as a country, it"s easier to keep the source of the weapons discreet."
Vijay thought about it and agreed.
Later that day, Rajesh, the head of the business department, came to the palace to negotiate with the envoy from the Maratha Kingdom.
"Welcome to Vijayanagara, Shri Bhupathi. I hope we have a pleasant chat," he said with a grin.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Shri Head of Business. Likewise, let us have a pleasant chat," he said, grinning.
As they talked, the air around them seemed to carry an electric charge.
After a series of prolonged and extensive discussions, the alliance was formulated.
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**TREATY OF PEACE AND ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE MARATHA KINGDOM AND THE VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE**
**Preamble:**
Recognizing the shared desire for stability, peace, and a common enemy in the Indian subcontinent, the Maratha Kingdom and the Vijayanagara Empire, hereinafter referred to as the "Parties," enter into this Treaty of Peace and Alliance, known as the "Indo-Maratha Alliance," to establish harmonious relations and collaborate for the betterment of their peoples.
**Article 1: Cessation of Hostilities**
The Parties shall refrain from engaging in any military actions and aggressive manoeuvres against each other. A formal declaration of non-aggression shall be exchanged between the Parties to signify the cessation of conflicts.
**Article 2: Territorial Integrity and Borders**
The territorial integrity and sovereignty of each Party shall be respected and upheld.
**Article 3: Diplomatic Relations**
1. The Parties shall establish diplomatic relations at the highest level. Embassies shall be exchanged to facilitate open communication and cooperation.
2. The Parties shall collaborate on matters of mutual interest, including trade, culture, and education, with a commitment to enhancing people-to-people ties.
**Article 4: Ratification and Enforcement**
1. This Treaty shall be ratified by the respective heads of state or their designated representatives.
2. The Treaty shall come into effect upon the exchange of ratified documents.
3. Violation of the terms of this Treaty shall lead to diplomatic discussions and negotiations to find appropriate solutions.
**Article 5: Trade Agreement**
1. The Vijayanagara Empire agrees to sell 10 sets of soldier's equipment and 100 kg of grain in exchange for the price of 1 ton of Potash.
2. The transportation of the materials shall be the sole responsibility of yet to be formed MUGHAL Bridge Group.
3. To account for the risks associated with enemy territory, a tax equivalent to 20% of the goods' total value shall be paid. This tax is aimed at ensuring the sustained combat effectiveness of the Mughal Bridge Group.
**Article 6: Duration**
This Treaty of Peace and Alliance shall remain in force for a period of 2 years, renewable by mutual consent of the Parties.
**Article 7: Signatories**
Done in duplicate, in Sanskrit, in Hampi, on the 15th day of the year 1651.
For the Vijayanagara Empire: For the Maratha Kingdom:
[Seal] [Seal]
[Vijay] [Bhupathi]
[Vijay Deva Raya] [Bhupathi Singh]
[King of the Vijayanagara Empire] [Envoy of Maratha kingdom]
[Date: 15th day of 1651] Date:15th day of 1651
**Witnessed By:**
Rajesh, Vinod
[Head of Business and Butler]
Date: 15th day of 1651
**[Seals of the Maratha Kingdom and the Vijayanagara Empire]**
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After the preparation of the agreement, the document was shared with three parties: the Vijayanagara Empire, the Mughal Bridge Group responsible for transporting the goods, and the Maratha Kingdom.
This marked the beginning of a significant turning point in Bharata's history.
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