CHAPTER 45- Shooting Gala.

September 1538, Capital City, Dharanikota.

Parade grounds.

After the meeting, Rudra and the military members left the palace to visit the parade grounds. This place was set up to train the soldiers, especially in musket formations.

A few special companies were formed from the soldiers who had been trained here for the last few months. On that day, a special demonstration exercise was scheduled to accommodate Rudra and the military delegation's visit.

Rudra wanted to conduct a capability assessment, for the troops that were trained here. Even though he received constant updates about the situation, he was distracted with other things, such as the Ether creation and language reforms.

Language reforms were still pending. Rudra had only completed the creation of a new script, but the required paper manufacturing and printing press were left. He wanted to complete them, but the mess that the portuguese created meant that he needed to focus on the military again. 

That did not mean he left those tasks, unattended. He tasked the group he assembled, now named the Language Reform Committee, to continue the work he had started. They were currently creating a dictionary, for reference, and polishing the already established grammar rules.

He also contacted the paper and treated palm leaf manufacturers about starting a paper mill. It would adversely affect their lives, so he gave them prior notice. He also asked them to contribute their knowledge, if they thought they had something to improve the process when it was needed.

For now, though, he decided to concentrate back on the military procession in front of him. He was there with the three generals of the kingdom, along with the friends, he made during his time as the king.

Kadhumalla, who was the one running the place, was leading them and explaining to them what they had been doing for the past few months. 

"After the production of muskets began, we are introducing them in batches. There are a lot of troubles, but we are progressing mostly by schedule." Kadhumalla explained as the delegation stopped under a tent, to look at the upcoming demonstration.

"I see that you have four companies of soldiers for today's demonstration. Is that all of them you have managed to equip for the few months you have them holed up here?" General Verra Naidu Pemmisani, asked Kadhumalla. There was a tone of accusation and mockery in that question.

"I am not the one making the muskets, Verra. They are being produced as fast as they can. You would know that if you paid what is happening here some attention as your son does." Kadhumalla answered back, just as on the nose as the General. 

Kadhumalla was now working as the head of the special training institute, made for training the initial regiments of musketmen, and then the future officer corps. But before that, he was the head of Royal Guards, and before that, an officer of the armed forces of the Gajapathi Empire. 

After the loss of the Gajapathi Empire to the Vijayanagara Empire, somebody needed to take the blame for it. Gajapathi Emperor, who was also Rudra's grandfather, was convinced by his court to blame the general leading the empire's Southern Army. 

The General indeed took the blame, but negotiated a deal with Dharanikota's king, i.e. Rudra's father, so that his soldiers and officers could find safety and employment. Those soldiers would form the basis for the Royal Guards. 

General Verra Naidu Pemmisani was also in the army at the time but as an officer for the Vijayanagara Empire. He worked with Rudra's father and fought Kadhumalla's battalion. But, he lost that battle. 

But even though Kadhumalla won the battle, their army lost the war. After the war, General Veera, and Kadhumalla were working on the same side, for Dharanikota. But the fact that they worked on opposite sides is something they never forget. 

For the last twenty years, during the reign of Rudra's father, they always had an antagonistic relationship. Both of them were high-ranking officials, and friction between them could cause unforeseen trouble to the kingdom. 

"Both of you cut it out. We are here to witness the future of our armed forces. These are the soldiers you will be leading in the future, Veera. Concentrate on them, Will you?" Rudra ordered his men to stop arguing about petty things. There were more important things to be concerned about, like the exercise that would happen before him. 

"Yes, Your Majesty!" both of them said, responding to his order. Even though Rudra was a lot younger than them, he was still their king. He could remove them from power, anytime he wished, as Rudra had demonstrated, when he removed Kadhumalla, as the position of Royal guards commander, after he failed to protect the last king.

As they waited in the open tent, the four companies of soldiers organized themselves into formation. The two-line formation was divided into four groups, one for each company. A conducting band was in the back of each company, to maintain order and issue orders.

Every one of the Soldiers was holding a musket, which was loaded. Each soldier was wearing a blue armband over their dress. They were still wearing the old uniforms, issued to all the soldiers.

The plan was to equip all the musketeers with new gear and uniforms, but budgetary concerns meant that the issue was postponed. The fact the kingdom was hiring hundreds of skilled blacksmiths and other craftsmen for this issue, meant that the budget was already stretching thin. 

Not to mention the other things that Rudra had commissioned. Hiring staff for agricultural reforms, training surgeons on new surgery practices and the use of Ether, production of the said ether, the new brewery that was being set up in the capital region, the new glass works in Machilipatnam, and even the repairs of the damaged port.

All of these things that happened in the last few months, cost a lot of money. Also, the cost associated with training the soldiers was a lot. Usually, the kingdom only paid for the soldiers on the day they were working.

That means there were long periods when soldiers were not working, and hence not get paid for those days. That was usually during the harvest season, where the soldiers would find work as farm helpers, to get grain as a payment.

But, for the last few months, Rudra's order was that all the soldiers need to be hired full-time, and regular training needs to be conducted. So, while they were being trained with pikemen formations, the pressure was being put on the treasury. 

"How is the equipment process going on Kadhumalla? I know I asked Verra to focus on the soldiers, but are there any problems with the process?" Rudra asked after he took him to the side, as they waited for the soldiers to get into formation. 

"I think the equipment is going on smoothly, Your Majesty. If it can go faster, It will be a lot easier for us. By the rate it is going, it will take years to get all of the boys equipped. I suggest we increase production and hire a few hundred blacksmiths, but I know the kingdom cannot afford it."

"Don't worry about it alright. I will look into increasing the production of Muskets. In the meantime, what are you doing about the other thing I talked to you about? Somebody up for the task?" Rudra asked the man.

"I am asking around. Even your foreign affairs minister, Prabakar is helping me with it. But hiring skilled workers from another kingdom, especially the one which is antagonistic to us, like the sultanate is, means that it will take some time." 

"Ok, I will take care of that myself too. We are making muskets now, but a good army needs its field artillery. It will take some time, but I will make it happen. For now, let's focus on the soldiers. You have trained them for months, let us see how they perform." Rudra said, as he looked at the soldiers assembled a few hundred feet from them. 

The soldiers had arranged themselves into formation in the few minutes that Rudra had been discussing with the generals. They are now waiting for the orders for the start of the exercise. 

After the nod from Rudra, Kadhumalla and Colonel Bheema took off, to the soldiers. Colonel Bheema was the one who would be in charge of the battalion, once it was fully equipped, so he was also taking the lead now. 

After everything was in place, it was Rudra's turn. He dug out his presentation persona, as it is required now. He needs to show his generals the importance of the new army composition. Sure, he could order them to make use of it, but they need to do it by themselves, by believing in its usefulness. 

Though the generals do not yet believe it, firearms are the future of warfare. Failing to adapt to them means, Dharanikota kingdom would be left behind. He could not accept that, especially after knowing what would happen in the future, in the subcontinent.

"Everyone! We are looking at the Future of the armed forces of Dharanikota. In the next few years, Every one of the soldiers fighting on the frontlines will be equipped with similar weaponry as you see behind me." Hearing Rudra say that, a member of the signal staff showed a flag to order weapon presentation.

"PRESENT WEAPONS!!" shouted the commanders of each company, to their soldiers, upon which, each soldier turned to face the delegation with their muskets firm in their hands. 

"The muskets they are holding, as most of you know, are made right here, in the capital city. They are Dharanikota Flintlock model 1's. In the next few months and years, all of our soldiers will be equipped with them. Now, onto the firing exercises." 

The order was once again passed through the flags and to the colonels. New orders were once again issued.

"TURN!!"

The soldiers turned back to their original positions, back to their formations. 

"FIRING POSITIONS!!"

The muskets were pointed at the targets which were arranged before the exercise. More than 500 scarecrows were being used as targets for that day. 

"FIRE!!"