Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince

Gomantak(Present day Goa)

General Barnabas Rodrigues anxiously awaited the Prince's arrival in the lavishly appointed negotiation quarters, where he had arrived early to prepare. The room was adorned with intricate tapestries depicting scenes of Indian epics, and a faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.

"David, is the First Prince leading the delegation from Vijayanagar?" Barnabas inquired in Portuguese, his brow furrowing with concern.

"Surprisingly not, General. It's the youngest prince of the Empire leading the delegation," replied David, his tone betraying a hint of uncertainty.

"Hmm," Barnabas muttered thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on the ornate ceiling. "A child leading the delegation? Is the Emperor underestimating us by sending a young prince to negotiate such an important deal?" He punctuated his question with a frustrated fist against the sofa's armrest.

"Damn it! We should have eliminated the king during the war! It was our mistake not to send our mercenaries to Hoysala," he exclaimed, his voice tinged with regret and frustration at the missed opportunity.

Barnabas had navigated numerous trade agreements over the years, gaining insights into the Empire's royal family. While he respected the First Prince's talents in certain domains, negotiating with the second prince had always proven the most challenging. He silently thanked his stars that the second prince wasn't leading the delegation today.

Despite feeling humiliated by the situation, Barnabas saw it as an opportunity to manipulate or secure a more advantageous deal from the inexperienced prince.

A soldier from the Portuguese delegation slipped into the quarters, his footsteps silent on the plush carpet. He leaned close to David Costa, who sat beside General Barnabas Rodrigues, and whispered urgently. David nodded, his brow furrowing with concern, and the soldier bowed slightly before swiftly exiting the room.

"General, we've received critical intelligence regarding the Vijayanagar spice trade contract," David relayed, his voice low but urgent.

Barnabas's expression hardened, lines deepening on his weathered face as he leaned forward. "What have you learned?" he demanded, his tone full of anticipation.

"Reports indicate that the Prince met with the Dutch envoy in Visakhapatnam," David began, choosing his words carefully. "They've apparently forged a trade agreement, details of which remain undisclosed."

Lord Barnabas was taken aback by this revelation but quickly composed himself. He was not one to be easily deterred. Over the years, he had learned all the court languages of the Vijayanagar Empire to ensure no information escaped him. This skill had served him well, especially when negotiating with the First Prince.

Understanding the nuances and bits of information that his translator couldn't grasp from the various languages used by the prince had often allowed him to negotiate better deals.

Meanwhile, Harsha and Neelakanta made their way to the quarters designated for the grain-spice negotiations. Neelakanta's initial skepticism had faded quickly after witnessing the young prince's deft handling of the Dutch deal. Harsha had not only secured favourable terms but had also demonstrated a keen understanding of political manoeuvring.

As they walked, Harsha's mind raced with thoughts of the impending negotiation. 'The Portuguese must have some information about the Dutch deal by now,' he mused. 'They likely have informants tracking my movements and reporting on the deals I'm making.'

Harsha turned to Neelakanta, his expression serious. "Neelakanta, listen carefully. During the negotiations, if I mention any price point related to the Dutch deal, I want you to add a bit more and reply. Make it seem like we are asking for slightly higher terms."

Neelakanta nodded, understanding the strategy. "Of course, Your Highness. We need to keep them on their toes."

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They arrived at the quarters where General Barnabas and his delegation were waiting. The room was filled with an air of tension, the Portuguese clearly on edge after learning about the Dutch deal. Harsha took a deep breath and stepped forward, exuding confidence.

"Greetings General Barnabas, I apologize for the inconvenience caused by my tardiness," Harsha greeted, inclining his head slightly. "I trust you have been well."

Barnabas rose to his feet, offering a stiff bow. "Prince Harsha, we have been eagerly awaiting your arrival."

Harsha smiled, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Shall we begin the negotiations?"

Barnabas gestured to the seats arranged around a large wooden table. "Please, take a seat. Let's get straight to business."

As they settled in, Harsha noticed the tension in Barnabas's posture. The general was clearly not pleased about negotiating with someone he perceived as a child. Harsha decided to use this to his advantage.

"For starters, we'd like to negotiate a deal that allows us to purchase grains. In exchange, we can facilitate the trade of spices," Harsha stated confidently.

General Barnabas's eyes narrowed. "And what is the price of these spices?"

"Five kilograms of silver per hundredweight," Harsha replied smoothly, "and one and a half kilograms of gold for nutmeg per hundredweight."

Barnabas's expression hardened. "That's an exorbitant price. You do realize you need the grains, don't you?"

Harsha smiled, unfazed. "Of course. That's why we're open to negotiation. If grains are included in the deal, we can offer you a discounted price on the spices."

Barnabas leaned back, scrutinizing the young prince. "What kind of discount are we talking about?"

Harsha continued, "We can reduce the price to four kilograms of silver per hundredweight and one kilogram of gold for nutmeg per hundredweight if a substantial amount of grain is provided."

Barnabas knew the value of spices and their profitability in the European markets. Yet, even for him, four kilograms of silver plus grains per hundredweight of spices was steep. He remembered that the price of spices had been around 2.5 to 3 kilograms of silver just a few months ago in the Empire.

Barnabas's mind raced as he considered the implications. 'Still, the Dutch have already secured a spice contract with the Empire, and that can significantly hamper our profits if we don't secure this deal,' he thought.

Harsha sported a wry smile. "Well, General Barnabas, there's something I've overheard the Emperor talking with the ministers. There are talks about restricting Portuguese merchants from entering the Empire if these negotiations fall through. I hope this information finds you well."

The tension in the room became palpable. The air seemed to grow colder as Barnabas and David's expressions hardened at Harsha's open warning. David fidgeted in his seat, his eyes darting between Harsha and General Barnabas, who was now deep in thought.

Barnabas finally broke the silence, his voice measured. "Prince Harsha, we understand the gravity of your words. The Portuguese have been long-standing partners with the Vijayanagara Empire, and it would be unfortunate for such a relationship to sour."

"Of course, old man!" Harsha let out a sigh, speaking in Tamil.

General Barnabas's facial expression shifted slightly at the statement, a change that did not go unnoticed by Harsha.

'So he understands Tamil! ' Harsha thought, his mind racing. 'This old man is one sly goblin. Hahaha! '

Harsha nodded sarcastically. "Indeed, it would be. Which is why I'm confident we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement. The Empire values its "partners", but we must also ensure our interests are protected."

"We will offer 3 kg of silver with grains for a hundredweight," Barnabas stated firmly, trying to seal the deal.

Harsha listened carefully, then turned to Neelakanta, who was standing beside him silently. Speaking in Tamil, he asked, "How much did the Dutch offer us for the spices and grains? Was it 3.4 kg and the grains, right?"

"It was 3.6 kg and grains, Your Highness," Neelakanta replied in Tamil, quickly composing himself despite the sudden switch in language.

This exchange did not go unnoticed by General Barnabas, who knew the translator wasn't well-versed in Tamil. He picked up on what the prince had asked to his assistant.

'Damn the Dutch! Did they really offer that much for spices? Now we have no choice but to outbid them! How do they have that much money when they're at war?! ' Barnabas thought, frustration gnawing at him.

Harsha, sensing the general's internal struggle, maintained a calm demeanor. "General Barnabas, I appreciate your offer, but as you can see, our resources are in high demand. We must consider all our options carefully."

Barnabas's expression hardened, knowing he was cornered. "Very well, Prince Harsha. We can offer 3.7 kg of silver with grains per hundredweight, along with 1kg gold per hundredweight of nutmeg."

Harsha leaned back slightly, a satisfied look on his face. "That sounds more reasonable. Let's move forward with that agreement, As a gift for our agreement we will be handling the transportation of the spices to the Port,"

Harsha extended his hand, and Barnabas shook it firmly. "Deal."

Contents of contract

Spice Trade Agreement

Between:

The Empire of Vijayanagara

Represented by: Prince Harsha Deva Raya

And:

The Kingdom of Portugal

Represented by: General Lord Barnabas Rodrigues

1. Exchange Terms:

Price and Quantity:-

- The Kingdom of Portugal shall pay 3.7 kg of silver and provide a hundredweight of grains for every hundredweight (50.8kg ) of spices received from the Empire of Vijayanagara.

- Nutmeg Pricing: - The Kingdom of Portugal shall pay 1 kg of gold for every hundredweight (50.8kg) of nutmeg received from the Empire of Vijayanagara.

2. Transportation:

The Empire of Vijayanagara shall be responsible for transporting the agreed quantities of spices and nutmeg to the Port of Gomantak, ensuring the safe and timely delivery of the goods.

3. Duration and Validity:

This agreement shall remain in effect for one year from the date of signing, with the possibility of renewal subject to mutual agreement by both parties.

4. Miscellaneous:

- Any disputes arising from the interpretation or execution of this agreement shall be resolved amicably through dialogue between the representatives of both parties.

- Both parties agree to adhere strictly to the terms outlined in this agreement and to conduct all related activities in good faith and mutual respect.

Signed on this day, [3 Ashadha 1624][June 1567], in the presence of the following

For the Empire of Vijayanagara:

__________________________

Prince Harsha Deva Raya

Neelakanta

For the Kingdom of Portugal:

__________________________

General Lord Barnabas Rodrigues

Vice General Lord David Costa

This document formalizes the terms of the spice trade between the Empire of Vijayanagara and the Kingdom of Portugal, binding both parties to the conditions outlined above.