The Strategic Vision

The sun hung low in the sky as Krishna Deva Raya, the Crown Prince of the Vijayanagara Empire, prepared for his visit to the military headquarters. His thoughts were focused and deliberate, as he knew that the strength of his military would play a crucial role in the empire's future, especially in light of the recent developments regarding the oil discovery. His father, Emperor Shriranga, had often spoken about the importance of ensuring that the empire remained powerful both militarily and economically. Today, Krishna was to observe the state of the military first-hand.

Accompanied by a small entourage, he arrived at the gates of the imposing military headquarters, where the generals of all three branches of the armed forces—Army, Navy, and Air Force—awaited him. They were all eager to showcase the state of readiness of their respective forces.

The first to greet him was General Aryan, the commander of the Army. "Your Highness, welcome," he said with a respectful bow. "It is an honor to have you here."

Krishna smiled warmly, his eyes scanning the impressive array of military hardware on display. "I look forward to seeing the progress we've made," he replied.

The group moved toward the Army section first, where rows of advanced military vehicles and weaponry stood. General Aryan began the briefing. "We have 500 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles," he said proudly. "Our troops are well-equipped for modern warfare."

Krishna nodded, impressed by the scale of the operation. The army was indeed strong, but he had always believed that a true military powerhouse required not only strength in numbers but also innovation and technological superiority.

Next, they moved to the Air Force section. The sky was alive with the roar of jets as the Air Force General, Rajan, introduced Krishna to the fleet. "We currently have 26 SU-27 fighter jets, 21 JAS Gripen fighters, and 33 Dassault Rafale aircraft," General Rajan reported. "These jets are equipped with the latest technology, and our pilots are trained to perfection."

Krishna nodded again, impressed. "What about helicopters?" he asked, knowing that mobility and flexibility were just as important as fighter jets in modern warfare.

"We have 25 Kamov Ka-60 helicopters, 15 Mi-17 transport helicopters, 5 Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopters, and AS532 Cougars for various specialized tasks," General Rajan responded, pointing to each helicopter in turn. Krishna's mind raced with the possibilities of how this equipment could be deployed across the vast territories of the empire.

Finally, the group moved to the Navy. General Venkatesh, the commander of the Navy, greeted Krishna with a broad smile. "Your Highness, our navy is ready to protect the waters surrounding our empire. We have 4 Bay-class landing ships, 6 Hobart-class destroyers, and 2 Kirov-class battlecruisers."

Krishna walked along the docks, admiring the sleek ships. "And the smaller vessels?" he asked.

"We have 20 Tarantul-class corvettes and 40 Diciotti-class offshore patrol vessels, which provide our fleet with a variety of roles in both combat and defense," General Venkatesh explained.

The numbers and strength of the military assets were staggering, and Krishna was pleased with the state of readiness. "Our defense spending has clearly been well-invested," he remarked. "We spend more than 5 billion every year on defense to buy new weapons from foreign countries, and it shows in the equipment you have."

The generals beamed with pride, and Krishna spent the rest of the day visiting the various training camps, dining in the army's canteen, and even interacting with the soldiers in the dormitories. Many of the soldiers were awestruck by the presence of the Crown Prince, and Krishna took the time to engage with them, listening to their stories and understanding their concerns. To them, it was a rare honor, and their respect for him grew with every word he spoke.

After a long day of inspections, Krishna returned to the royal palace, but his mind was not at rest. He had more pressing matters to attend to. The research institute he had set up recently had made a significant breakthrough—weight loss pills. The news had reached him, and he was eager to oversee the commercialization of this new product.

Arriving at the headquarters of the pharmaceutical complex he had bought earlier, Krishna walked into the facility with a sense of purpose. The team had developed a pill that promised to help people lose weight efficiently, and he knew that this could be the key to a new era of prosperity for the Vijayanagara Empire.

"What's the pricing structure we're thinking of?" Krishna asked Priya, his ever-diligent secretary, who was waiting for him in the office.

"We're looking at 399 Varaha per bottle locally," Priya replied. "For international markets like India, it's priced at 6,999 rupees, and for the U.S., it will be 599 dollars."

Krishna leaned back in his chair, considering the global market. "The Western, European, and Latin American markets will be the key," he said thoughtfully. "People in those regions are obsessed with weight loss, and there's a large demand due to the rising rates of obesity. I want to target those markets first."

He looked at Priya with a determined expression. "Get in touch with celebrities—maybe Britney Spears or some famous actresses from the West. We'll have them promote the product."

Priya nodded, already pulling up contacts on her phone. Krishna's mind was racing, thinking about the future of this product. If they could push this successfully, he knew that the revenue from these weight loss pills could reach billions of dollars.

But that wasn't all. He had another plan. "We'll also develop and sell the breast augmentation drugs. The revenue from that will be even more significant, and it'll help boost the country's GDP." Krishna was well aware of the power of the pharmaceutical industry in driving both wealth and influence.

"I want to establish the company Oasis Pharmaceutical," Krishna said. "And have the Food and Drug Administration fast-track the approval process for these products."

Priya's eyes widened, impressed by Krishna's foresight. "I'll take care of it, Your Highness," she said, already preparing for the next steps.

As the night deepened, Krishna stood by the window of his palace, gazing out over the empire he was poised to lead into a new era. Oil, military strength, cutting-edge technology, and pharmaceuticals—everything was falling into place. He had a vision, and with his calculated steps, he would bring prosperity to his people. The future of Vijayanagara was looking brighter than ever.

And with the kingdom's power growing, there was no telling just how far Krishna Deva Raya's empire could reach.

To be continued….