Chapter 98: The Naval Academy
Vijay spent a few more days happily with his wife after the breakthrough in their relationship. He was very excited, considering Kavya was the first woman he had in both his lifetimes. Finally experiencing the sweetness he had longed for, he refocused his attention towards the internal affairs of Vijayanagara.
In the initial phase, Vijay issued a decree to incorporate Lanka into Vijayanagara. However, he found himself grappling with the question of how best to shape Lanka's development. While he envisioned a focus on cash crops and maritime industries, the dilemma lay in whether to fully assimilate Lanka into Vijayanagara or grant it the status of a special economic zone. The decision carried significant implications for both the new territory and the broader empire.
Special economic zones, commonly demarcated areas subject to distinct economic regulations and policies, aim to diverge from the norm of the rest of the country. Their establishment typically targets attracting foreign investment, stimulating economic activities, fostering employment, and propelling industrial growth. Despite this, Vijay remained uncertain about the viability of this model in the current era. Consequently, he opted to defer this matter for future consideration.
The next step in Vijay's agenda is the management of assets obtained from the Dutch. This encompasses top-tier battleship maintenance technology and Dutch personnel skilled in its application, who are also cleared of any wrongdoing. Additionally, there are responsibilities that should be assigned to Danior Boswell in utilizing his shipbuilding expertise for the benefit of Vijayanagara. This intricate process demands strategic planning to seamlessly integrate these resources into the existing infrastructure of the empire.
Thinking about all this, Vijay informed his butler to call all the Dutch maintenance personnel for a meeting along with Danior.
Soon after, more than 60 white faces entered the room, looking nervous and restless. Vijay, seeing the nervous expressions, did not speak but waited for Danior to act as a translator.
The Dutch technicians had been put on house arrest as soon as they entered Vijayanagara. Although they were not treated badly, being in an unfamiliar land with unfamiliar people made them scared. They wanted to communicate with the security guards many times, but unfortunately, the language barrier prevented any sort of communication. Moreover, they were very sure that their country would not send anyone to rescue them, as they were just common people in the kingdom who had learned some ship maintenance knowledge. People like them were not very rare in their country. Just when they were losing their minds and preparing for the worst, they received a call from the security guard, who rudely gestured for them to follow him. Sweat began to pour from their heads as they entered a large building.
Soon, Danior arrived in a hurry when he received the king's call. However, he was dumbfounded when Vijay asked him to be a translator for him. It was not that he was unwilling, but he had thought that Vijay had some important orders for him. Nevertheless, he did not say anything as he translated what Vijay said honestly.
"I know you all are scared and nervous, and I would not blame you. You are in a foreign country, and on top of that, it's your enemy country. But fret not, I know that you all are innocent based on my investigations, and no harm will befall you."
As the technicians heard these words, their hearts temporarily calmed, realizing that their lives were not in immediate danger.
"I gathered you all here today for your expertise. I know that you are traditionally trained in ship maintenance and understand the ship's core structure and principles from top to bottom. What I need from you is to work for me for 10 years. During this period, you will continuously train a batch of qualified naval officers, who are crucial for my Navy," Vijay demanded.
The Dutch technicians did not mind the request; instead, they were overjoyed that their skills could be of some use. In that case, they would come to no harm at least for the next 10 years, as the monarch in front of them assured.
"After these 10 years, I would grant you freedom, and you can do as you see fit. Either you can go back to your country, or you can stay here, and I will pay you handsomely."
These words set off a storm as everyone, including Danior, who was translating, stood speechless at the promise. They had never thought they had a chance to go back to their country.
Danior was shocked for a whole different reason. He fled from the Netherlands and didn't have a chance to go back, but he was shocked because Vijay was willing to send the technicians back despite them being his spoils of war. It was the first time for him to see a noble person like Vijay, as typically, all the nobles he had encountered were greedy bloodsuckers who didn't even leave bones.
The technicians, upon hearing the translation, quickly knelt down as they nodded to Vijay frantically. Without needing translation, Vijay could see that they had agreed.
"Good, now you may leave," Vijay said as he dismissed the technicians, as he still had something to discuss with Danior. Danior, who stood back, was confused by Vijay's meaning, but soon his doubts were answered.
"Danior," Vijay commanded, "I require your expertise in crafting a patrol ship. This vessel should be capable of effectively patrolling the coastal waters of Vijayanagara and extending its reach to the shores of Lanka." Vijay's directive marked a pivotal moment, as he was now ready to invest in the long-anticipated Vijayanagara shipbuilding project, having found a qualified shipbuilder in Danior.
Reflecting on his options, Vijay acknowledged the limitations of his previous approach. In the past, he might have considered transmitting advanced knowledge from the future to his subjects. However, he recognized the inherent challenge – the information he could share would be theoretical, lacking the practical experience necessary for true progress. Even with his newfound ability to accelerate enlightenment, he understood that transitioning from basic shipping boats to formidable battleships required more than just theoretical insights.
Shipbuilding, as a complex industry, requires a coordinated effort from skilled individuals working collaboratively. Vijay comprehended the intricacies of the process, recognizing that it was vastly different from the simplicity of sharing theoretical knowledge. It became evident to him that possessing theoretical understanding alone wasn't enough for progress in naval technology. He knew this from the fact that, in the future, many nations had the necessary knowledge for building advanced navies, yet only a few succeeded. The naval industry thrived on experience, and it was this experiential aspect that accounted for the extensive timeline involved in developing a world-class navy. Japan serves as an example of such a navy, as it became a significant naval power over approximately four decades leading up to World War II, from the late 19th century to the outbreak of the war in 1939.
Vijay's choice to involve Danior in the construction of a patrol ship went beyond a tactical maneuver; it represented a strategic investment in the future naval strength of Vijayanagara. He understood the importance of fostering practical expertise within his kingdom, acknowledging that hands-on experience was crucial for translating theoretical knowledge into the actual development of advanced naval vessels, and with his Gold Finger, the process could be accelerated significantly.
Facing time constraints, Vijay couldn't afford a prolonged waiting period. With Danior now at his disposal, he decided to task him with designing and constructing a patrol ship that exceeded Danior's current capabilities. This strategic move aimed not only to expedite the shipbuilding process but also to encourage Danior to nurture and elevate the level of shipbuilding talent within Vijayanagara, a crucial requirement for the empire's future naval endeavors.
Danior, who heard the requirements, wanted to deny it immediately because it was well over his capabilities. But he was shut down by Vijay, saying, "Do not worry. I will arrange all the materials and talents required for you to experiment as many times as needed. My only requirement is that I need a patrol vessel by the end of this year."
Vijay patted Danior's shoulders, imparting the knowledge he possessed about sloops of war naval vessels. These vessels were typically smaller than frigates but larger than schooners or brigs. Sloops carried ordnance of varying calibers, including cannons and guns, tailored to the specific tasks they were meant to fulfill. They were extensively used by the Royal Navy until the 19th century.
In his effort to expedite the shipbuilding process, Vijay transmitted detailed information about these warships to Danior, hoping to foster the development of capable shipbuilding talents as quickly as possible.
Danior, who had heard Vijay's reassuring words, tightened his grip as he promised himself that he would fulfill Vijay's requirements. "Leave it to me, Your Highness. It will be done according to your instructions," he said with determination in his eyes.
Soon, two new academies were established near Kochi. The first was the Naval Officer Academy, responsible for training qualified sailors. This academy aimed to train seamen for future naval operations, with Dutch technicians helping to get acquainted with different kinds of battleships' structures and maintenance. Capable Dutch sailors who were found innocent, were appointed as teachers for teaching sailing lessons. All the soldiers in the Military Academy who were remotely familiar with ships were quickly transferred to this department. The sons of small fishermen or small-time merchants doing business in river waters were quickly transported to the Naval Academy.
Another academy was set up as a design bureau, similar to the Russian design bureau. It was named after Danior and is called the Boswell Design Bureau, tasked with designing and producing qualified ships for the Vijayanagara Navy. Similar to the army, people familiar with fishery or naval trade, or even those connected to life on the water, were transferred directly from the Vijayanagara Academy of Sciences and the Vijayanagara Academy of Military Sciences to help and learn from Boswell the knowledge of shipbuilding. With the help of Danior, who was blessed by Vijay's golden finger, the work started quickly as the design process began.
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