Chapter 62: The Age of Exploration — Shadows Over Akhand Bharat
Chapter 62: The Age of Exploration — Shadows Over Akhand Bharat
Year: 1680 CE — 1700 CE | Baji (The Guardian of Progress) | Manali (The Wise Strategist)
---
1. The Expanding Horizon — The Age of Exploration Reaches Bharat
As Akhand Bharat thrived under Baji's rule, the world beyond its fortified borders was changing rapidly. The Age of Exploration was in full swing. Following the Portuguese, more European powers set their sights on Bharat's wealth:
The Dutch East India Company arrived in 1685 CE, seeking trade in spices and silk.
The British East India Company followed in 1690 CE, hungry for cotton, opium, and control over trade routes.
The French Compagnie des Indes arrived shortly after, hoping to build alliances and influence in the eastern parts of Bharat.
While these nations came under the guise of trade, Baji recognized the true threat — subtle infiltration, cultural manipulation, and eventual domination.
---
2. The Web of Influence — Infiltration Attempts
The foreign traders, limited by Bharat's strict taxes and trade laws, sought alternative methods to expand their influence:
British agents attempted to bribe local merchants and round table members, aiming to bypass the trade restrictions.
The Dutch tried to sow discord among smaller coastal states, encouraging rebellions in exchange for weapons.
The French, more subtle, introduced missionaries under the pretext of cultural exchange, aiming to influence local populations and spread their ideals.
Baji's Guardians of Knowledge and intelligence networks worked tirelessly to monitor and counter these covert operations.
---
3. Baji's Countermeasures — The Shield of Bharat
To protect Akhand Bharat from foreign manipulation, Baji implemented a series of reforms and strategies:
a) Strengthening Internal Unity:
Baji convened an Imperial Round Table, uniting leaders from all states to strengthen national identity.
A cultural renaissance was encouraged — the arts, literature, and philosophies of Bharat flourished, ensuring the people held strong ties to their heritage over foreign influence.
b) Economic Fortification:
Heavy taxes on foreign traders were increased further, reducing their profit margins.
Bharat developed its own global trade networks, reaching as far as East Africa, Arabia, and Southeast Asia, making European trade less essential.
Local guilds were empowered to dominate trade, ensuring foreign powers couldn't monopolize critical industries.
c) The Intelligence War:
Baji established the Vriksha Network, an elite group of spies and diplomatic agents tasked with infiltrating foreign embassies and uncovering hidden plots.
Secret ports were developed to monitor and intercept illegal arms and contraband entering the empire.
Attempts to smuggle Bharatiya technology were swiftly uncovered, and perpetrators were dealt with publicly as a warning.
---
4. The British Conspiracy — A Plot to Divide
In 1695 CE, Baji uncovered a massive conspiracy orchestrated by the British East India Company:
The British aimed to incite rebellion among coastal governors, promising them autonomy and foreign support in exchange for control over critical ports.
Secret meetings were held between British agents and rogue local leaders in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
The ultimate goal was to create a "puppet state" on Bharat's western coast, providing the British with a foothold.
Baji's Response:
Using the Vriksha Network, Baji set a trap — fake intelligence was leaked, leading the British agents to believe the rebellion had full local support.
At the secret meeting point, Baji's forces ambushed the conspirators, capturing British operatives and rebellious governors.
In a public spectacle, the captured agents were paraded through Indraprastha before being executed at the Great Wall, their heads displayed as a warning.
This act sent a clear message — Bharat would not fall prey to foreign manipulation.
---
5. The French Gambit — The Battle of Chittagong
In 1698 CE, the French attempted to seize control of Chittagong, a critical port in the Bay of Bengal:
Under the cover of darkness, French warships attacked the coastal defenses, hoping for a swift victory.
However, Baji had foreseen such a move and had reinforced the city with elite naval units.
The Battle of Chittagong raged for three days, with Bharat's iron-clad warships and artillery eventually overwhelming the French fleet.
The French commander surrendered, and the French presence in Bharat was reduced to minor trade posts under strict oversight.
---
6. Manali's Vision — The Debate on Isolation
While Baji celebrated these victories, Manali expressed concerns:
She argued that complete isolation could stagnate Bharat's growth and that controlled cultural exchange could benefit the empire in the long run.
Baji, still haunted by the threats of foreign infiltration, remained firm — Bharat would dictate the terms, not foreign powers.
This ideological divide began straining their bond, echoing debates of the past between duty and progress.
---
7. A Message to the World — The Fall of Invaders
By 1700 CE, Baji had secured Bharat's borders from European threats. He sent a message to all foreign powers:
> "Akhand Bharat stands tall — undivided, unyielding. Let it be known that any hand raised against this land will be cut, and any shadow that dares to loom over it shall be cast away by the light of unity."
This declaration solidified Baji's legacy as the Defender of Bharat, earning him the title "The Iron Wall".
---
8. Looking Forward — The Calm Before the Storm
Though Bharat stood strong, the Age of Exploration was far from over. Whispers of more powerful European nations preparing for conquest echoed in distant lands.
Would Bharat continue to hold its ground, or would the tides of the world eventually breach its mighty walls?
---
End of Chapter 62
As Baji safeguards Bharat from the cunning webs of foreign invaders, deeper ideological divides and unseen threats begin to surface, leading the empire into an era where diplomacy, war, and identity will collide once more.