At the evening, Aditya stood with a small contingent of royal guards before the giant doors of the cannon factory. Beside him stood Ujjwal Singh, the commander of the royal guard, cd in full chainmail armor with spear and shield at the ready.

  With a creak, the doors swung open, and Rishabh Gupta, the second-in-command of the factory, emerged, his kurta soaked with sweat, offering a respectful namaste. "Welcome, Your Highness, welcome!"

  Aditya was surprised to see an Indian rather than the rumoured foreigner technician he had expected, momentarily questioning the accuracy of his information.

  Sensing the prince's confusion, Rishabh quickly crified, "I am the second-in-command here. I apologize that our chief technician is currently occupied and unable to greet you personally. Allow me to host you in his absence."

  Aditya nodded understandingly, considering the chief's dedication to his duties. He retrieved a parchment bearing the royal seal and handed it to Rishabh. "No trouble at all. Please deliver this to him and report me of the preparations."

  Rishabh accepted the parchment graciously and assured, "It will be done." He passed it to a nearby subordinate with a command to deliver it to the chief. Aditya noted the soldier's stiff demeanor, sensing an underlying tension.

  Turning back to Aditya, Rishabh continued, "With the sample weapons you provided, preparations are nearly complete. We awaited your arrival eagerly. Please follow me."

  Aditya nodded in approval and followed as Rishabh led him across the grounds where targets were set up at strategic distances, awaiting the upcoming tests. Workers bustled about, marking safe areas for guests and setting up makeshift tents for meetings and a cafeteria for royal guests.

  They continued walking towards a rge open field adjacent to the factory. Targets of various sizes and shapes were strategically pced at different distances, some painted with concentric circles for accuracy testing. Safety barriers were set up around the perimeter, ensuring the audience could witness the demonstrations from a safe distance.

  "The field is vast enough to accommodate all our guests comfortably," Rishabh expined as they approached. "Security personnel are stationed at every entrance and exit, and we have guards patrolling the perimeter to maintain safety."

  Aditya scanned the area, impressed by the organization and attention to detail. "Excellent arrangements. Could you provide me with a brief tour of the core technology of the factory?"

  Rishabh readily agreed. By then, Aditya turned to Ujjwal Singh and instructed, "Commander, double-check everything just to be thorough. Take all the men with you."

  Ujjwal Singh nodded respectfully, acknowledging the order, and promptly set off to oversee the final checks.

  They entered a rge building filled with the heat and noise of metalwork. Workers were busy at various stages of the cannon-making process. Rishabh guided Aditya to the casting area first.

  The factory was a byrinth of workshops and furnaces, each dedicated to a specific stage of cannon production. The air was filled with rhythmic cng of hammers on metal echoed through the halls. They moved on to the cannon production area.

  Massive wooden molds lined the floor, each one a half-finished cannon waiting to be brought to life. Craftsmen worked diligently, shaping the molten metal and ensuring that each cannon met the strict quality standards of the factory. The walls were lined with racks holding various tools and instruments used in the production process.

  "This is where the magic happens," Rishabh said with a smile.

  Aditya watched as the craftsmen poured molten metal into the molds, their movements precise and coordinated. He admired their skill and dedication, knowing that these cannons would py a crucial role in the kingdom's defense. Workers hammered the cooled metal into shape, removing any imperfections and ensuring a smooth finish.

  "This is where we cast our cannons," Rishabh expined as they entered the main workshop. "We use a combination of techniques to produce both iron and bronze cannons, depending on the specific requirements."

  Aditya observed as workers heated rge crucibles of molten iron and bronze in furnaces fueled by charcoal. The furnaces were rge, domed structures made of brick and cy, with chimneys rising high above to vent the smoke and heat. Skilled craftsmen carefully monitored the temperature, ensuring the molten metal was at the optimal consistency for casting.

  "We primarily use bronze for our cannons," Rishabh continued, gesturing towards a team of workers pouring molten bronze into sand molds. "Bronze offers good durability and ease of casting, making it ideal for cannon production."

  Stood in the dimly lit workshop, Aditya scanned the rows of bronze and iron cannons. The acrid scent of metal and the rhythmic cnging of hammers filled the air. He turned to Rishabh with a puzzled expression, "Aren't bronze limited and expensive?"

  Rishabh, wiping the sweat from his brow, nodded. "Yes, Your Highness, that's why we primarily use iron despite its tendency towards weak durability and heavier weight."

  Aditya frowned, his curiosity piqued. "Then why not use steel?"

  Rishabh sighed and expined, "Steel production is more complex, time-consuming, and hence costly. We do have a separate production line for steel, but it's mainly to produce steel ingots. These ingots are primarily used for making fasteners and tools necessary for assembling the cannons. The majority of our steel is sold to other workshops that require it for manufacturing armor and arms."

  Intrigued by this information, Aditya asked, "Can I see the steel production process?"

  Rishabh smiled and gestured for Aditya to follow him. "Of course, Your Highness. Please, this way."

  They walked through the bustling factory, past workers diligently forging parts and assembling cannons. The cng of metal and the heat from the furnaces grew more intense as they approached the steel production area. The air was thick with the smell of molten metal and the hiss of cooling steel.

  The building was also rge, sturdy structure made of stone and timber, with smoke billowing out of tall chimneys. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of burning wood and molten metal. Workers moved with precision, handling the raw materials with skill and care. The furnace was a rge, cylindrical structure made of brick and lined with cy to withstand the intense heat. Charcoal and iron ore were fed into the top of the furnace, and bellows pumped air to keep the fire burning hot.

  "This is where we produce our wootz steel," Rishabh expined. "We use a process that involves charcoal and iron ore, heated in these furnaces to create a high-quality steel. It's a guaranteed method for producing top-quality steel. Although the yield is low, it has served us well."

  Aditya observed the process intently, noting the inefficiencies and potential for improvement. In his mind, he envisioned introducing the Bessemer process, a more modern and efficient method of steel manufacturing. He also considered the possibility of using the sg produced as a byproduct for a variety of environmental and manufacturing uses.

  However, he cked the technicians to implement these complex designs at certain points. He knew he would need the chief technician's assistance but also realized that his pns depended on whether the technician would agree to join him. Otherwise, he would have to find another way to monopolize the advancements which will be fatal for his future pns.

  For now, he kept these thoughts to himself and watched in fascination as the furnace roared with intense heat. Workers carefully extracted the molten metal, pouring it into molds to create steel ingots. The gleaming steel, once cooled, was meticulously inspected and prepared for distribution.

  "This is impressive," Aditya remarked, his mind racing with possibilities. "Can we tour the gunpowder production next?"

  "Of course, Your Highness," Rishabh agreed, nodding with a smile.

  Next, Rishabh led Aditya to the gunpowder production area. The building was filled with the acrid smell of sulfur and charcoal. Workers mixed the ingredients in rge wooden barrels, using semi-automated gears powered by hydro power to ensure a consistent blend. A water wheel outside the building drove the gears, turning slowly but steadily.

  "This is where we produce our gunpowder," Rishabh expined. "We use charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter, ground into a fine powder and mixed thoroughly. Safety is paramount here, as any mishap could be disastrous."

  Aditya watched as the workers moved with precision and care, the importance of their work evident in their cautious movements.

  He felt dissatisfied as he couldn't see what he came for, "Do you have any explosives in production here?" he inquired, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

  Rishabh's expression turned solemn. "We used to produce fire grenades, filled with cy and fmmable liquids, alongside packed gunpowder cans with fuse. However, after an unfortunate incident post-mughal war, the production line was halted. Now, our focus is solely on cannon production."

  Aditya nodded thoughtfully, grasping the technological level of the empire. It seemed they cked anything as explosive as his rockets, which sparked ideas about potential markets and alliances for his weapon sale.

  Just then, a subordinate rushed up to them, breathless. "Chief Mathew requests to meet the prince alone," he announced urgently.

  Rishabh's face creased with concern, but Aditya's spirits lifted. "Lead the way," he said eagerly, ready to discuss advancements.

  They entered Chief Mathew's chamber, where the sharp scent of liquor hung heavy in the air. Aditya found it disconcerting, but Rishabh reassured him, "Chief Mathew is a man of great heart, though he sometimes succumbs to the pressures of his work."

  Aditya nodded absentmindedly as he watched Rishabh excuse himself and head off alone. Finding this behavior peculiar, Aditya pushed the door open further to see for himself.

  "It's a pleasure to meet..." His words trailed off as Chief Mathew turned abruptly, holding a burning parchment in his hand, fury bzing in his eyes.

  Aditya was shocked. Before he could contempte what had gone wrong, he saw an earthen pot flying towards him in welcome.