Be a lord in the world of Indian mythology

Chapter 89 Planning Ahead

Since there's no conflict, what's there to hesitate about?

Vijay immediately assigned tasks to be carried out on-site.

He summoned Kara and ordered her to immediately travel to Harappa to meet with the slave traders he had previously worked with. He instructed her to offer high prices to specifically recruit skilled warrior slaves who were good at fighting and guarding, regardless of their caste or origin, as long as their martial arts skills were solid.

There's nothing wrong with sending this guy to run errands. Although his loyalty is questionable, his true purpose hasn't been exposed yet, so he's still quite useful.

Then Rajan was summoned and instructed to go to the various Dalit settlements immediately to work with the chief steward Shuhu to select strong, robust young men with exceptional physical abilities and unique talents from tens of thousands of Dalits. He was to set aside a separate camp to gather them together as reserve soldiers for unified training.

Becoming a professional soldier seems like taking too big a step; I can only test the waters first to see if I can combine military service with farming...

The Dalits certainly had no objections, but it was unclear whether the other servants would raise any questions.

Moreover, I also need to take some time to delve deeper into Dalitism, simply to implant a link of loyalty to myself into their logic, which has been deeply brainwashed by tradition and themselves.

As Vijay planned this necessary task, he left the room and headed towards his training ground.

Vijay chose to keep the location of the training ground, since it wasn't on the village's central axis anyway, so it wouldn't affect the planning.

Seeing the vast training ground completely empty still made Vijay sigh deeply.

This village tradition is really influential! Even though there isn't a proper training ground in Natiti Village, the villagers still manage to train their bodies by using the open spaces in the streets and alleys.

However, changing this habit is not something that can be done overnight; for now, we can only rely on ourselves.

Vijay focused his attention and opened the system talent panel.

Add points

Body Tempering Technique (3/5)

『0 talent points remaining』

A warm and powerful current of energy instantly flowed quietly from the limbs and bones, traveling along the meridians and throughout the body's bones and muscles. The skin, flesh, tendons and bones were quietly transformed under the nourishment of this foreign energy, and the body's original latent physical strength and physical potential were continuously explored.

The shape of the muscles was rewritten, more content was filled into the bones, and some combat skills and experience appeared out of thin air in the mind.

Just a moment later, Vijay exhaled a deep breath, which slammed into the sandy ground, stirring up a dust storm.

Clenching my fist and raising my arm, I can clearly feel that my physical strength and explosive power have increased dramatically compared to before.

So what level have I reached now?

Vijay looked down and saw Gadda beside him. He walked over and picked him up casually.

The 100-kilogram Gadda was like a straw; with a casual wave of his hand, he could create a whirlwind, and it no longer served any purpose of training his body.

Vijay sensed something, took a horse stance, held his breath, and mustered all his strength to swing Gada forward as if he were swinging a sword.

A faint mist emanated from his body, enveloping Gada, followed by a crisp creaking sound.

The hardened Gadda was like a straw, which he had forcefully broken into several pieces.

Vijay had seen this faint light on Delanvila before; it was from the small shield he used when he was fighting desperately in the Temple of the Others…

Compared to his shield, his own unformed glimmer of light seemed purer and more intense!

Gazing at the faint light, Vijay's mind stirred, and a Kanda sword slowly took shape. When he swung it, it seemed as light as a feather, yet it also felt indestructible.

It is just as beautiful as sunlight!

"I've become a warrior!" Vijay murmured to himself, perhaps he had already reached the pinnacle of the warrior realm!

Delan Villa's 30 years of consistent training, he himself achieved in just 1 minute!

I opened "Yuxi" again and took a look. Sure enough, the village's combat strength had reached 19 points.

Let's set a small goal first, like getting 100 points!

On the training ground in the early morning, the morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, and a cool breeze carrying the scent of earth and vegetation swept across the open space.

He stopped his movements, stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the training ground, gazing at the distant outlines of the rolling fields and villages, his thoughts a jumble of emotions.

Becoming stronger is a good thing, but if it comes too easily, it can easily make people feel empty.

The little things that used to amuse him can no longer interest him.

How can I please myself?

Vijay sighed. Theoretically speaking, achieving what he most desired right now should bring him joy.

And what is it that I desire most right now?

It's simply about completely eliminating Titi Village, this major threat.

So the question has come full circle!

As the sun rose higher and the morning mist completely dissipated, it was time for breakfast.

Vijay temporarily suppressed his chaotic thoughts, turned around and returned to his residence to have a meal and rest.

After a simple meal, he had just sat down under the pergola in the courtyard to rest when two figures walked quickly one after the other. They were Rajan and Shuhu, who had been ordered to select personnel.

The two men were covered in dust and dirt, their clothes stained with grass clippings, clearly having traveled for a long time through various Dalit settlements.

The two men stepped forward and bowed. Shu Hu spoke first, reporting on the recent results of the personnel selection: "Blessed by Shiva! Master, as you instructed, we have traveled to all the Dalit settlements and labor camps, and selected a group of the strongest young men from tens of thousands of slaves."

"These people have worked year-round and their strength far surpasses that of ordinary people. They are experts at moving heavy objects and digging through mountains. I have already organized them into a separate group and settled them in a temporary camp, ready to be deployed at any time..."

"But Dalit was born into a lowly family. He suffered from hunger and hardship from a young age. Even the strongest among them has a limit to his physical strength. No matter how much he is trained, he will probably not become a real combat force. At best, he can only serve as an auxiliary."

As soon as Shu Hu finished speaking, Rajan, who was standing next to him, nodded in agreement, clearly holding the same view.

Upon hearing this, Vijay frowned slightly, his tone becoming somewhat serious as he corrected their misunderstanding: "Who told you I was going to use these strong Dalits as fighting force?"

Rajan and Shuhu looked at each other in bewilderment, then hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed to the ground.

The two men offered no explanation, clearly awaiting Vijay's judgment.

"Assign these strong Dalits to dig the irrigation canals!" Vijay felt that the two guys in front of him were a little presumptuous. Although they hadn't fully figured out his intentions, as a servant, to speculate was a sin in itself!

"Go and collect your own ten lashes!"

Vijay was still kind-hearted and couldn't bring himself to kill someone over a few words.

"Then select the special ones!" Vijay stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Treebeard, his tone solemn: "You yourself are the best example. You come from an ancient forest tribe, possess alien blood, and have the special ability to resonate with the trees. Your combat strength far surpasses that of ordinary warriors, and you are not within the conventional martial arts rankings. What I'm looking for is Dalit, who possesses alien blood!"

Shu Hu listened carefully, paused for a moment, and nodded as if he understood but not quite.

Vijay continued, "When selecting, don't just focus on strength."

"Prioritize those with distinct exotic features, such as animal ears, tails, scales, unusually large physiques, or special eye colors—these are innate characteristics."

"Besides these, there are a group of people whose daily actions, physique, and perception are extraordinary. Some have a running speed far exceeding their peers, others possess powerful self-healing abilities, and still others have an innate intuition for danger. These special individuals are all singled out!"

Vijay went into more detail, revealing that he also coveted the so-called "Bloodline Return (1/5)" skill on Treebeard, feeling that it could solve many problems!

Shuhu and Rajan exchanged a glance, and then suddenly realized what their master truly meant.

Shu Hu hurriedly bowed and accepted the order: "Your subordinate understands! It was your oversight that led you to misunderstand Master's arrangements. Rajan and I will immediately re-examine all settlements and, strictly in accordance with your requirements, focus on recruiting Dalits with exotic features and extraordinary talents, and reorganize and summarize them."

"Don't forget to send these selected able-bodied men to Suriya so he can organize the manpower and start digging the canal immediately!" Vijay reminded him.

The two bowed again, turned and hurriedly left, throwing themselves back into the complicated screening work.

Not long after the two left, footsteps sounded again outside the courtyard. It was Surya, the Vaishya craftsman Vijay had just mentioned, who came to see them.

He was carrying a thick roll of animal hide drawings, walking hurriedly with a hint of anxiety on his face, clearly having important business to report.

Since the village launched a large-scale demolition and reconstruction project, Suriya, as the chief architect, has been busy every day between various construction sites, coordinating planning and allocating manpower, with almost no free time.

Upon seeing Vijay, Suriya bowed and then got straight to the point, reporting on the village's progress: "Master, as previously arranged, we have begun clearing out the old buildings. Apart from the houses, warehouses, and core residences that are still inhabited and have been preserved, large areas of abandoned dilapidated sheds, dangerous houses, and abandoned fences have all been demolished. The site clearing work is now complete."

"In addition, all kinds of building materials such as stone, clay, hemp rope, and terracotta needed for road construction, house building, and wall construction have been purchased in batches. Now everything is ready, and we are just waiting for the final construction plan to be finalized so that the craftsmen can start work in full swing."

After speaking, he carefully unfolded the blueprint in his arms and laid it flat on the stone table. This was the final version he had spent several days working on, repeatedly revising it based on the village's terrain and Vijay's needs.

Vijay bent down and carefully examined the entire planning map.

The layout on the map is clear, with the public well in the center of the village as the core hub of the entire settlement. Several wide main roads extend outward in all directions, straight and orderly, like rays.

Between the radial main roads, separate areas are divided into distinct zones, corresponding to different urban functions such as residential areas, workshops, warehouses, trading areas, and sacrificial areas. The zones are clearly defined, and each has its own function.

At the same time, several ring roads connect all the radial main roads, making transportation throughout the village convenient and easy to travel to and from.

At the outermost edge of the entire settlement, the map clearly marks the location of the rammed earth city wall and the chain of watchtowers, building an outer defense system based on the terrain, taking into account both residence and security.

The overall layout is neat and impressive, completely breaking away from the chaotic and disorganized pattern of ordinary villages.

Vijay nodded slightly after reading it; overall, it barely met his expectations.

However, considering long-term development, he still put forward entirely new supplementary requirements.

"The overall layout is very good, with a spacious feel, and there's room for further expansion if you want to." Vijay first gave his approval, then his finger hovered over the main roads and functional areas on the blueprints. "But I still want to modify two key design elements!"

Upon hearing this, Surrey's face scrunched up, looking quite distressed, yet he dared not object.

"First, the locations of main waterways and branch canals must be reserved in advance within the city. Not necessarily canals, but at least there must be waterways running through the city!"

"But Master..." Surie tried to struggle.

Vijay waved his hand. "Let's divert some of the mountain spring water from the cliffs into the farmland, and the rest into the city!"

The presumptuous arrangement left Surrey speechless.

Vijay paused, seemingly oblivious to Surrey's expression, then his look became particularly serious: "Secondly, we will simultaneously plan and construct a complete sewer system."

The filthy scene he had witnessed in Titi Village flashed through his mind; he was unwilling to let his own village become like that!

"Don't approach this city with the mindset of planning a village! Think of it as planning a large city capable of housing tens of thousands of people!"

Vijay pointed at the drawings, spitting as he spoke, clearly engrossed in the task.

"Once the population becomes dense, if human and animal excrement, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater are dumped and allowed to flow freely, the entire settlement will be surrounded by filth, and diseases will breed as a result. Laying sewers in advance and diverting sewage to low-lying purification areas on the outskirts of the village will keep the town clean from the source."

"In addition, strict sanitation management rules should be established from the early stages of construction, garbage collection points should be designated, and special personnel should be assigned to collect garbage every day. I do not want the home we have built with our own hands to become a place that is stinking and rampant with disease."

After Vijay finished speaking, there was a moment of silence.

After hearing these two new requirements, Surrey's expression was indescribable.

He could understand the first requirement, but the second, the sewage pipe, was beyond his comprehension.

Throughout his decades-long career in construction, he had only built mansions, temples, and small markets for Kshatriya nobles and Brahmins. He had seen countless city-states and villages, and even large cities like Harappa had never systematically planned the city's water supply channels and underground sewage network.

In the current understanding, villages only need to be near a water source, and sewage and garbage have always been dumped at will. No one has ever spent a lot of manpower and resources to build a special sewer system.

These two new projects mean that the blueprints need to be significantly revised, and the original materials, manpower, and construction period all need to be recalculated.

Excavating waterways throughout the region and digging deep underground sewage pipes will increase the workload several times over, and the demand for tools, labor, and building materials will also surge.

Surrey looked troubled, his brows furrowed tightly, feeling that such a plan was too far-fetched and almost fanciful.

But he knew that Vijay was decisive and resolute, and once he had made a request, he would not easily change it.

As a slave craftsman who had been taken in, he had no right to refuse his master.

After much hesitation, Surieh ultimately couldn't bring himself to utter a rebuttal. He simply slumped his shoulders, bowed dejectedly, and said, "Your subordinate understands. I will immediately revise the blueprints, recalculate the materials and manpower, and coordinate the construction plans for the waterways and sewers. However, the project will be much more difficult, and the construction period will be extended accordingly. Please be aware of this, Master."

Vijay saw through his thoughts at a glance and understood that Surrey thought his plans were unrealistic and fanciful.

However, he did not elaborate further, stating that the gap in understanding between different eras cannot be reversed overnight, and only when the city is built, clean, and livable in the future, will the facts prove everything.

He simply waved his hand, telling Surrey to go and get to work.

Holding the revised blueprints, Surrey turned away, deep in thought, and walked step by step toward the construction site.