Be a lord in the world of Indian mythology

Chapter 75 The Blank Canvas

Kubera's magic is everywhere!

Vijay casually dismissed the fact that he had once again solved a minor problem with money.

The group bid farewell to the logging camp and continued their patrol southeastward along the edge of the forest.

Afternoon sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled shadows. The dirt road underfoot carries the scent of decaying vegetation and earth, and the air is filled with the unique freshness and ruggedness of the wilderness.

After walking for about an hour, the terrain gradually rose, and a gentle, undulating slope appeared ahead.

The slope is sparsely vegetated, with low shrubs and withered yellow weeds interspersed. The exposed rock and soil are in varying shades of brownish-red, which is completely different from the ordinary loess around it, and has a calm and heavy metallic luster.

The wind swept across the slope, stirring up fine rocks and soil that shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

"Master, this slope looks rather unusual." Paro, an expert in appraisal, was the first to jump out of the vehicle, his eyes fixed on the rocks and soil of the slope, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Ordinary loess is mostly light yellow or brownish-yellow, but the rocks and soil here have a dark red tinge and a faint metallic texture, which may indicate the presence of mineral veins."

Upon hearing this, Vijay slowly stopped and looked in the direction the servant was pointing.

The gentle slope is not large, only a few dozen feet square. The rock and soil on the slope are exposed, with fine textures and faint mineral veins visible. Under the sunlight, it gleams with a faint, faint reddish light, exuding a hidden vitality in its tranquility.

A thought struck him: this place was remote, far from any village, and had never been set foot here or explored before. Perhaps this was the place. "Investigate carefully, leaving no stone unturned."

This saves a few talent points!

Paro bowed in agreement and immediately stepped forward, carefully crouching down.

He first stretched out his hands, palms down, and gently stroked the rock and soil on the slope.

The soil that my fingertips touched was several times harder than ordinary loess, with a slightly cool metallic feel. The fine sand-like soil spread out in my palm, and the tiny particles shimmered with a dark red luster.

He scooped up a handful of soil and brought it close to his nose to smell it carefully.

There was no earthy smell in the air; instead, there was a faint, almost imperceptible metallic sweetness, crisp yet rich, unlike anything found in ordinary soil.

He then spread the rock and soil in his palm and examined it closely in the afternoon sunlight.

Interspersed among the fine rock and soil particles are countless tiny, brightly colored dark red fragments that refract a soft metallic luster under sunlight. They are fine yet dense, clearly not impurities, but rather mineral powder.

He picked up a few more fist-sized pebbles and tapped them lightly with his fingertips.

The "thump, thump" sound was dull and heavy, unlike the crisp sound of ordinary stones. It had a metallic solidity. When the stone was broken apart, the cross-section was flat, and the dark red mineral veins were clear, fine as silk, running through the stone. The color was warm and lustrous, definitely not inferior or poor mineral.

Paro's eyes lit up with even greater surprise, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Master! It's copper ore! Top-quality copper ore!"

Vijay slowly stepped forward, squatted down, and picked up a piece of gravel with his own hands.

It feels slightly cool to the touch and has a solid texture. When you break it open, the dark red mineral veins are clearly visible, and it gleams with a warm metallic luster under sunlight.

Although he wasn't an expert in mineral identification, he knew this thing was definitely not an ordinary stone!

This shows how important professionals are!

Is this high ground beneath the mountains where the copper mine is located?

The system message indicated that this was a rich copper mine, and the quantity was definitely not small!

Vijay stood up and looked around. This high ground on the side of the mountain forest stretched all the way to the end of his sight.

I don't know how big the mine is, but this area seems to have reached the boundary of Mittal village. After crossing this highland, it seems to be the land of the neighboring village.

This is something we need to pay a little attention to.

Returning my gaze to the present, I couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. Copper ore was far more valuable than iron ore, with a wider range of uses. It was used to forge exquisite weapons, cast ceremonial objects, forge agricultural tools, and make ornaments. It was a top-quality material and a hard currency in trade.

If this mine can be properly established, the ore produced will bring huge profits, whether for domestic use or for foreign trade!

However, Vijay pressed on with crucial questions: "Can you tell the size of the vein? Is the quality consistent?"

Paro slowly explored the gentle slope, sometimes bending down to take samples, sometimes tapping the rocks, and sometimes observing the direction of the vein. After a moment, he turned around, bowed, and reported: "Master, the vein extends along the gentle slope, quite deep, about ten zhang wide, and stretches for several tens of zhang. It is a large-scale mine. The ore is uniform in color, pure in texture, and has very few impurities. Its quality is stable, and it is definitely not a scattered, low-grade ore. It is a high-quality copper mine that can be mined for a long time!"

He paused, then added, "Copper ore is flexible, has a moderate melting point, is easy to forge, and is corrosion-resistant. It can be used to forge sharp weapons and sturdy farm tools, as well as to cast exquisite ceremonial objects and jewelry. It has extremely high commercial value and is a rare treasure of the earth's veins!"

Vijay gazed at the entire gentle slope, where the dark red soil gleamed calmly in the sunlight, and the mineral veins were clearly visible, stretching and undulating like a gift hidden deep within the earth.

Vijay looked around. The gentle slope was secluded, far from the village and the activity range of the neighbors. Surrounded by wild forests, the terrain was hidden and not easily discovered by outsiders, making it an excellent place for mining.

Simply build a simple mining camp, lay transport roads, and recruit manpower, and mining can proceed steadily without worrying about leaks.

Even if it leaks, it doesn't matter; it's just a matter of paying a little extra tax to the Kshatriyas.

Compared to the profits from copper mining, it's simply insignificant!

He turned to Paro: "Make a note of this place. I'll assign you a few Dalits. Your task afterward is to meticulously record the location, size, quality, and direction of the ore vein, and mark the mining area and safety boundaries. Do not dig blindly to avoid collapse!"

"Yes, sir!" Paro immediately took out a simple animal hide and a charcoal pencil, and carefully recorded all the information with a serious and meticulous expression.

Vijay's gaze swept across the gentle slope below. The terrain was flat, suitable for setting up temporary camps, storing ore, and forging simple tools. Simple dirt roads could be built along the slope to connect to the main road for transporting ore. The surrounding barren forests could be used to cut timber and build sheds and fences to isolate outsiders, ensuring safety and security.

He quickly sketched out a mining blueprint in his mind: first, he would have Shu Hu select a few strong and reliable young men from Dalit to be responsible for mining, transportation, and rough processing; then he would arrange for skilled craftsmen to build mining tools and simple forging furnaces; initially, he would conduct small-scale mining to explore the entire ore vein, and then gradually expand the scale, steadily advancing the project and avoiding risks.

"Let's keep going!" Vijay said no more and turned to walk towards the back of the mountain.

After rounding the small hill, a wide-open space came into view.

The group continued onward, heading south along the territory's border.

As the afternoon sun weakened, a warm breeze swept by. Low, barren woods and open fields intertwined along the way. The land was fertile but overgrown with weeds. Due to years of neglect, large tracts of potentially fertile land lay barren, with weeds growing wildly, some reaching half a person's height.

This land, however, could not conceal its fertile soil, with lush forests along its borders and traces of wild animals, resembling a newly cultivated territory, quietly awaiting his blueprint.

If this land could be fully utilized, at least a thousand Dalits would be needed!

He raised his hand, pointing to the fertile land, his tone steady and firm: "The soil here is fertile and the terrain is flat. It is adjacent to copper mines and waterways, making it an excellent place for cultivation. Once Shu Hu has selected the capable people, we will immediately arrange for Dalit to settle here, cultivate farmland, and build sentry posts, working together on both fronts."

With just a little land clearing, without the need for elaborate farming, the yield will certainly be good. At least we won't have to worry about offering sacrifices to the Brahmins anymore, and we can reduce food consumption so we don't have to keep buying food from outside.

The oxcart traveled for several more hours, and in the distance, the outline of a neighboring village could be vaguely seen. The farmland was neat and orderly, the crops were growing well, smoke was rising from the chimneys, and people were busy working.

Clearly, the neighboring village is far more developed than Mittal, and traces of cultivation by the neighbors can be faintly seen at the border, suggesting a potential for expansion.

It seems the neighboring village still has some integrity and wouldn't rashly cross the boundary drawn by the Kshatriyas.

"Reclaim farmland, become self-sufficient, build outposts, and defend the border." Vijay's tone was solemn. He didn't want to create any unnecessary trouble now; if things changed later, that would be another matter.

"The neighboring village has expanded rapidly in recent years and has already begun to encroach on the edge of our territory. We need to set up a defense line as soon as possible. Outposts need to be built along the border. We need to set up outposts, build earthen walls, and deploy guards to monitor the movements of the neighboring village and prevent it from expanding beyond the border. Secondly, we need to strictly protect core resources such as copper mines and logging sites and eliminate any thoughts of coveting."

"The sentry posts need to be staffed at all times, with shifts and patrols day and night to ensure the border is secure. Farmland is adjacent to the sentry posts, so that settlers can balance work and vigilance, respond quickly in case of an emergency, and build a solid southern defense line."

Rajan couldn't help but speak up, "Master, out of the 3000-plus Dalits, there's a mixed bag of quality, mostly old and weak; I'm afraid there aren't many truly usable ones!"

Vijay remained calm, showing little concern: "I am aware of this matter, but out of the more than 3000 Dalits in the village, even if we screen out the elderly, weak, women, and children, and only use the young and strong who can cultivate the land, work, and stand guard, we can probably only select three or four hundred out of ten. That would be lucky, and the number is far from enough for the needs of cultivation and defense."

"We must also consider those who are of bad character, cunning, and deceitful, as they are not fit for important positions."

He paused, his tone thoughtful and calculating: "Therefore, relying solely on the existing Dalits is far from enough! Mittal Village needs to cultivate thousands of acres of fertile land, build numerous sentry posts, mine copper, and maintain logging camps—everywhere is short-handed! We must bring in new Dalits to expand our manpower!"

"If there are 1 Dalits in the village, we might have 1 available men!"

"Like the large amount of Dalits Roshman gave us last time, such opportunities are rare..." Vijay looked at his servants, "We need other ways to expand the Dalit population!"

"For example, sending people to surrounding villages to recruit displaced Dalits, promising them food, shelter, and wages to attract them."

"Or, contact intermediaries and ask them to help acquire Dalit!"

Dalit was just like a roadside weed, nobody paid any attention to him.

So no matter how flippant Vijay's tone was, no one took it seriously.

Only Rajan seemed conflicted, advising, "Master, you're being far too good to Dalit!"

"If you ask me, we should just leave it alone. We shouldn't have given them so much food..."

"The amount of grain you've given them is enough to feed 1 Dalits in other villages!"

Vijay found this scene hard to imagine, considering that he hadn't given them much—just some old wheat and broken rice...

But he still reassured them, saying, "If we take good care of them, it will be easier to train a capable workforce!"

"After all, there are so many tasks; it's impossible to leave them all to the Shudras!"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

The group continued south during the conversation.

The ground beneath our feet gradually sank, and a dry air began to fill the air. In the distance, a winding river could be seen, but there was no water in sight.

Upon closer inspection, the scene before me was shocking.

This small river, which once nourished both banks and flowed through the Mittal Territory, is now completely dry.

The riverbed is wide and covered with deep and shallow cracks, like scars on the earth. The soil has a grayish-white hard crust that makes a "crunching" sound when stepped on, as hard as a stubborn rock.

The vegetation on both banks had withered, leaving only bare branches and trunks. Occasionally, a few drought-resistant withered grasses trembled in the wind, creating a scene of deathly desolation.

Vijay crouched down and probed the riverbed mud with his fingertips; it was dry and hard, with no moisture at all.

He frowned, his tone grave: "Although the dry season is severe, it shouldn't cause the Changnian River to completely dry up. There must be something fishy going on."

Rajan nodded, eagerly echoing, "Brahma above, what the master says is absolutely right. Even in years of severe drought, there was always a steady flow of water upstream and a trickle downstream. Now, not a drop of water is seen, which is definitely not due to natural drying up. It is most likely that a neighboring village upstream has diverted the water, taking it away from the river..."

Rajon's words served as a reminder to Vijay.

This is not impossible!

Vijay nodded and instructed, "Rajan, after our patrol, go and see for yourself whether it was really the upstream villages that did this!"

Vijay's eyes darkened slightly: "Just find out what's going on, and come back quickly. Don't alert them!"

"Brahma above, Master, as you wish!" Rajan immediately answered loudly, accepting this glorious task.

Vijay's gaze continued to sweep across both banks of the river, his tone slightly softening: "Although the river has dried up, it is not necessarily without water. We can simply choose a site to dig a well and draw groundwater for drinking by people and livestock, and for irrigating farmland."

He raised his hand and pointed to several flat areas in the wilderness: "At the edge of the farmland and near the sentry posts, we can arrange for Dalits to dig deep wells in batches, with varying depths, to serve both drinking water and irrigation purposes."

"I assume we won't have any problems with water supply!"

Vijay nodded slightly, while Paro took over the conversation.

"Shiva bless you, Master is absolutely right!" Paro scooped up a handful of soil and took a deep sniff.

"I've been observing all along, and it seems that the territory of Mittal Village doesn't lack water at all!"

"As long as we drill a well, we're sure to find something!"

Vijay nodded. "In addition, I remember there used to be many natural pools deep in the mountains, but they have dried up or been covered by weeds over the years. After the exploration is completed, we can send people into the mountains to investigate, clear the silt, and widen the pools. We may be able to draw in mountain streams and turn stagnant water into flowing water, which can both store water and irrigate the farmland near the mountains."

Everyone was excited upon hearing this.

After a short rest, the group continued south.

As the terrain rises, we gradually enter a dense forest. Tall trees block out the sun, their trunks thick and their leaves lush, with sunlight filtering through the layers of leaves and casting dappled shadows.

The forest is covered with shrubs, vines, and lush vegetation, teeming with life.

Wild animals can be seen everywhere in the forest. Plump wild boars are rooting in the grass, their fur shiny and their bodies relaxed. Herds of wild deer are nibbling on tender leaves, alert and agile. Wild rabbits and squirrels dart through the forest, nimble and nimble. You can even see a few brown bears, lazily leaning against the trees and sunbathing, their bodies plump and fearless.

Wild animals thrived, each one plump and leisurely, creating a scene of natural harmony.

Cross the woodland and reach the southernmost boundary of the territory.

Further south lies the territory of a neighboring village, and to the west, one can see vast stretches of undulating wasteland with fertile soil and immense potential.

Vijay took a deep breath, his eyes filled with certainty: "Surrounding the entire territory, the land is vast and rich in resources, truly fertile land and a treasure trove!"

Our ancestors had better ways of accumulating wealth, so they disdained the development of their territory!

But times have changed. To truly gain a foothold and earn respect, one must at least prevent the Brahmins and Kshatriyas from treating one as someone to be summoned and dismissed at will.

Territory development is essential!

What a wonderful canvas this is, a blank canvas waiting for me to paint on it to my heart's content!