Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology-Chapter 1225: Manufacturing the Naya Samrat (2/3)

"Impressive," Vijay praised, really impressed.

"And you put back the door in the same way, I assume?"

"Exactly, your majesty."

"Also, we have used a four millimetre steel plate within the door panel, and it is replaceable. So if the door comes under firepower and gets damaged, the entire steel panel can be replaced with only a few tools in under two minutes, giving the door constant basic projectile resistance and protecting the torso area of the soldiers."

A demonstration was once again given. A soldier fired several bullets at the door. When the door was opened, there was no visible hole on the inner side; the most that could be seen was a small protrusion.

Vijay picked up the steel sheet that had been removed from the door and weighed it in his hand. His eyebrows rose slightly as he felt its weight. Despite its thin size, the plate was quite hefty, easily around ten kilograms.

After examining it for a moment, he handed the sheet back to the engineers and waited for them to continue their explanation.

"We also worked hard to reduce the sound of the truck, Your Majesty," Pillai said. "We added a baffled steel muffler with a downward exit pipe, which reduces the engine’s noise significantly. We also have some data from the tests conducted by the military. According to their tests, the vehicle becomes difficult to locate by sound alone if it is more than 200 meters away. This is a big improvement compared to when the silencer was not used, where the vehicle’s location could be identified from over 500 meters away."

"We have installed a shuttered lantern system powered by oil, kerosene, or even coke if the other fuels are not available, serving as the eyes of the truck during the dark. The lanterns are mounted on swivel brackets, allowing the angle of the light to be adjusted as needed, whether fully open, partially open, or completely closed."

"The next feature of the truck, which we are extremely proud of, is its ability to be fully disassembled, Your Majesty. We guarantee that a two-person team with basic knowledge of the truck’s assembly will be able to completely strip the vehicle down, even to major components such as the engine, gearbox, differential, axles, and suspension, in under two hours. Reassembling everything can also be done in under two hours. With an experienced and skilled team, the entire process of dismantling and putting the vehicle back together could be completed in under three hours."

Vijay frowned, "Have you accounted for the weight of the components? If a particular part is too heavy, then this feature might not be very practical."

"We have, your majesty, and it is one of the reasons we can make this claim; no component in this truck is over 130 kilograms."

Vijay was impressed once again, "What about the fasteners? I assume they are standardised?"

"Precisely, your majesty, it is also one of the main reasons why we dare to make such a promise. Every bolt, nut and thread fitting across the entire vehicle uses one of exactly six thread sizes, M8, M10, M12, M16, M20 and M24, so only three double-headed wrenches are enough to completely take apart the vehicle and rebuild it once again."

"And we have made sure to include the complete tool set and place it right under the seats of both the driver and the front passenger, along with the first aid kit and a manual hydraulic jack."

Vijay sat in the truck to see how it felt, and he had to say it was quite uncomfortable for his taste, but from the perspective of the soldiers, it was not too bad. The seat properly supported his back; the cushioning was not adequate, but it looked easier to produce and was much better than the seats that were currently on the military carriages. However, he noticed some interesting things on the dashboard, so he asked one of the engineers to explain.

This time, it was the only lady engineer in the team who came forward to explain, "That is the engine immobiliser we have built into the car, your majesty; it is a way to make sure that we get the right people operating the vehicle."

"We have attached a keyed rotary valve on the fuel line that locks in the closed position. In this state, the vehicle cannot be started, because it becomes physically impossible for fuel and air to reach the chamber. To open the valve, we have designed the engine immobiliser system."

’So it is a lock-and-key mechanism,’ he muttered under his breath, clearly taken aback once again.

Vijay took the key and observed its grooves and patterns for a few seconds before inserting it into the engine immobiliser slot and turning it lightly. For a brief moment, he found himself expecting an electric motor to kick in and start the engine, but then he quickly remembered that starter motors were not a thing yet.

So he got down from the truck and watched the guys start the engine manually.

He took the truck for a short spin and was extremely pleased with how it handled. Yet, to his surprise, the vehicle had even more to offer. With a few additions, what first appeared to be a simple flat-bed design, something that reminded him of the small utility trucks like the TATA Ace from his future memories, was completely transformed. It first turned into a hard-top carrier similar to a Maruti Omni, and with a change of materials, it became a soft-top canvas transport, much like an auto with a covered rear.

"Excellent consideration," Vijay clapped his hands, offering his praise without holding back. The seven engineers had truly created something extraordinary. And it was not just the main design that impressed him. The truck was filled with thoughtful little features, dual spare wheels, a complete set of trenching tools, a standard-issue recovery rope, and even dedicated space for the drivetrain components neatly embedded under the bed of the vehicle. Somehow, they had also managed to fit a canvas repair kit behind the seat. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

In the end, there was little left to consider. Vijay made his decision without hesitation and ordered the immediate manufacturing of the Naya Samrat.

----

The repercussions of Vijay’s decision were felt almost immediately, not only throughout the Bharatiya Empire but also in the eastern hemisphere.

Suvarnadwipa

"What! Absolutely impossible. I could do something if it were only an increase of a few thousand tonnes, but how can I possibly handle 20,000 tonnes all at once?" a private mine operator in Vidyanagari exclaimed, his expression a complex mix of joy, desperation, greed, and regret.

"Are you sure? We are willing to raise our purchase price by 20% per tonne," a man wearing a Bharatiya military uniform with two stars on his shoulder responded, an intriguing smile on his face.

"Wha, what?" the fat mine owner exclaimed, his heartbeat increasing and the rate of his breathing accelerating. "Really?" he asked, his voice rising a few decibels, overflowing with excitement and insatiable greed.

The Bharatiya officer’s smile only widened. "It’s a policy approved by the higher-ups. Besides, why would I lie? There is no benefit for me to specifically fool you." He shrugged, then looked at the fat mine owner with a hint of provocation. "Also, I’m not the only person in the logistics department who’s received such an order; almost all of us operating on this island have received the same task, so you’d better act quickly." A sly glint appeared in his eyes. "If you want to snatch the opportunity, that is."

The fat man was completely unaware that he was being unconsciously manipulated into making a decision while overwhelmed by greed for the riches, along with jealousy, fear, and the panic that other mine owners might snatch the opportunity first. His face twisted through a range of emotions, sometimes determined, sometimes uncertain, sometimes fearful, and at other moments eager. It was as if four different personalities were fighting a bloody battle inside his mind, each vying for control.

’Success!’ The officer clenched his fist tightly behind his back, trying his best to control his own joy. But he knew the jalebi in his hands had not reached his mouth yet, so as a finishing blow, he put forward another benefit provided by the logistics department. "Oh, I almost forgot to mention," he added casually. "If you are able to arrange the entire load by the end of the month, the department is willing to purchase each tonne of iron ore at a 35% premium."

’Boom!’

The sound of an explosion was heard within the mind of the fat mine owner. All the personalities battling in his mind were brutally slaughtered, greed reigned supreme, and reason took a back seat.

"I will do it." The fat man thumped his chest.

"Excellent choice, sir. Please sign here."

The mine owner, in his excitement, quickly signed the document and became extremely happy, thinking about the life he would live after making so many millions.

"It’s always pleasant doing business with you, sir. Here is the payment for the goods and the down payment for the 20,000 tonnes we have ordered. I will stop bothering you any longer."

"Goodbye."

The excitement on the fat man’s face rose to a new peak when he saw the bond paper, which contained a sum large enough to match his entire net worth. But everything in life follows Khanda’s law of motion. The excitement that had surged so high eventually began to fade as the stimulation provided by the Bharatiya officer started to wear off.

To be continued...