Be a lord in the world of Indian mythology

Chapter 74 The Blank Canvas

Saving all living beings is never a one-sided act of charity, much less a matter of outsiders condescendingly taking over.

Vijay knew this very well: if Dalit wanted to stand up, they would ultimately have to rely on themselves.

For thousands of years, worldly shackles have been like an invisible iron cage, keeping them firmly trapped at the bottom.

This is a societal problem, but it also has a significant impact on them personally.

Although they are born with the label of "lowly" and suffer discrimination, they have long been accustomed to humility and obedience, lost the courage to fight, and have no dignity to stand on their own.

To truly free them from suffering, it is far more complex than simply providing them with food and clothing.

External assistance is only a temporary solution. The only true way is to awaken their inner strength, let them earn their dignity with their own hands, and awaken them from their numbness.

Through screening, guidance, and education, we gradually reshape their mindset, unite their strength, and inspire their fighting spirit, transforming them from self-perceived mud and livestock into true human beings!

Only then can it truly be put to use.

This is a long road, not something that can be accomplished overnight, but Vijay has enough patience!

"Then do a good job!" Vijay nodded, arranged the tree beard, and then turned and led Rajan away from the cow dung bundle.

Even if it's just for the sake of enjoying life later, the thrill of ruling over a dilapidated village can't compare to the sense of accomplishment of building a paradise on earth with your own hands!

Having seen two great cities and many villages with his own eyes, Vijay now felt contempt as he carefully considered the matter.

Even a place that everyone praises is nothing special in Li Weijie's eyes.

They even boast of being a civilized nation, a land blessed by the gods...

Ha ha!

Vijay couldn't help but look up at the sky, and a less respectful attitude arose in his heart.

He then shook his head, quickly lowered his head, and focused his attention on the ground beneath his feet.

Mital village can be described as a place where everything is being rebuilt.

Fortunately, I have a full wallet and the system to rely on, so building a small village is a piece of cake!

Thinking this, Vijay looked at his system.

Basic Information: Mittal Village, with a land area of ​​9.89 square kilometers and a population of 3351; Status: Arid.

Economy: Holding 113517 gold coins and 9500 units of food.

Armament: 7.5 (Official samurai combat strength count is 1)

Diplomacy: Visible Friendship Level (Zombie 0, Neutral 50, Followers 100)

Treasure: Hidden

'Spectacle: None'

Intelligence: There is a possibility of an outbreak within the next three months.

We have money and food; what we lack most now is manpower!

If we can fully mobilize resources for the Dalit issue, we will not lack manpower.

But I still need some manpower, reliable manpower, preferably manpower with some technical knowledge!

Thinking of this, Vijay remembered his two newly recruited servants, as well as the three servants Mira had left behind who were still stationed in the village.

"Rajan!" Vijay turned his head. "Where are those Shudras now?"

The afternoon sun shone warmly over the village, and the air was filled with the scents of earth, grain, and a faint sandalwood fragrance.

Beside the ancient public well in the village, the bluestone wellhead is simple and heavy, the well railing is smooth and warm from the wear of time, and the well water is sweet and clear.

Seemingly lured by the few snowflakes that Vijay had thrown in, the spring water seemed to have had its underground water veins reopened.

The ever-flowing spring water continues to nourish the people living in this village, just as it has for the past hundred years.

At that moment, the Shudras that Vijay was looking for were sitting by the well, resting in the cool air, or doing some simple tasks, chatting occasionally.

Upon seeing Vijay arrive, the group stopped what they were doing, bowed respectfully, and showed their demeanor.

Vijay's gaze swept over everyone, including Gantan and Kara, who had been officially taken as his servants.

These two are undoubtedly excellent. Gan Tan's skills are useful everywhere, and those hundred-plus divine bulls are exactly what he needs to take good care of.

His location is now confirmed, as he may subsequently add more livestock to his herd.

As for Kara...

Although this guy has become my servant, his ulterior motives are obvious on the panel, but I don't know who his real master is.

You need to be a little more careful when using it!

The other three were also people who had traveled through miasma, trekked across wilderness, and experienced perilous situations.

Putting everything else aside, at least in terms of perseverance and willpower, they are quite commendable!

Vijay bent down and scooped up a ladle of sweet well water from the well with his own hands. The cool and refreshing water went down his throat and instantly dispelled the heat and fatigue, leaving his mind clear and serene.

Setting down the water ladle, Vijay calmly looked at the three men, his tone solemn: "The three of you were all Mira's servants before, but now Mira has gone north to Juluxiang City and will not be returning!"

He paused, then continued, "The three of you have had a tough time following the caravan, and now you can be considered free."

"I want to ask you, are you willing to follow me, or are you willing to stay in Mittal village, serve me as your master, and settle down here?"

The three followed the caravan back to Mittal village, and Vijay did not restrict their movements. They hadn't made any moves for many days.

They simply obeyed Bim's arrangements, lived in brick houses, ate rice, and spent their days leisurely.

It's clear they made the plan well in advance.

"We are willing to serve you as our master! Lord Mittal Vijay!" Upon hearing Vijay's question, the three of them did not hesitate at all and immediately knelt down.

"Very good!" Vijay showed a satisfied expression. "I will go to Harappa and ask the Brahmin priests to witness this!"

"I hope you will all join me in revitalizing the Mittal family! I will surely share in the glory!"

Although Vijay wanted to say that he would give them plenty of money, good food, fine wine and beautiful women!

But it seems inappropriate to say such things under the watchful eyes of all the gods and Buddhas here.

Just do it quietly!

My gaze swept over it.

Seeing this, Rajan, who was standing to the side, curled his lips slightly, revealing a hint of arrogance that was barely perceptible.

He was an old servant of the Mittal family, having served Vijay's father and his generation. He was highly senior and always considered himself an elder. He inevitably looked down on these new servants, thinking that they were less experienced and could not compare to him.

Or perhaps they feel their position is secure and that they have found someone to highlight their status, leading to complacency.

Vijay saw everything but did not reprimand him.

As the population grows, subtle social classes will naturally emerge.

Moderate comparison and competition can actually motivate servants, making them work harder and serve you better without much interference.

Upon hearing this, the three men who were already kneeling on the ground knelt down again without hesitation, their voices unified and earnest: "We are willing to serve you as our Lord, to follow you for life, to share your glory and shame, to live and die with you, and to have no other thoughts!"

Vijay nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He clearly remembered that the three men each had their own expertise, which were the skills that Mittal Village currently lacked the most.

A young man in his twenties named Bro was skilled in repair. Broken axles and damaged machinery in caravans could be repaired by his skillful hands and returned to their original condition. In his spare time, he would chat and say that he was proficient in all kinds of woodworking, house repair and farm tool making, and was a rare craftsman.

The other man, Paro, was a weathered old man in his forties with a somewhat hunched back. He was an expert in appraising treasures. He could accurately distinguish the genuine from the fake and estimate the value of gemstones, gold and silver, jade, and spices with just a touch, a smell, and a glance. His eyes were sharp and he never made a mistake.

There was another person named Yu Duo, a bearded man who was well-versed in the properties of herbs and medicinal plants. He was familiar with the characteristics, effects, and growing places of various herbs. Although he did not have any formal medical skills, he was a rare plant expert, which could be of great use at least in agricultural matters!

Back in the heyday of Mittal Village, hundreds of servants performed their respective duties. Skilled craftsmen, appraisers, doctors, farmers, and artisans gathered together, each fulfilling their role, creating an unprecedentedly prosperous scene.

Although we only have eight servants now, it is a brand new beginning!

Vijay is confident that he can restore Mittal's former glory, gradually gather talent, solidify its foundation, and make the once-dormant company rise again.

Now that Vijay's determination has been ascertained, he can naturally begin to plan the next step.

"It's still early, why don't you come with me to inspect the territory!" Vijay looked at the group, and seeing no objections, said, "Rajan, go and bring the carriages and horses!"

Rajan quickly brought over Vijay's usual horse-drawn carriage and an oxcart, and then took the lead in driving for Vijay.

Gan Tan silently took the reins from the rear carriage.

Vijay boarded the car first, followed closely by the others, who settled comfortably into their seats.

"Today we begin in the east." Vijay raised his hand, pointing to the low hill in the east, his tone resolute and his gaze unwavering.

The system's "Knowledge" notification indicated that there were plenty of resources within the territory.

Resources: Forests (abundant), Copper (abundant), Coal (small amount), Fertile soil (moderate amount), Groundwater (abundant), Gold (moderate amount), Relics (1)

The ruins probably refer to the dilapidated temple on the hill to the east.

I had already taken a look at Rajon when I rescued him.

It probably no longer possesses any divine power, after all, the information about that temple wasn't exactly hidden, and the Brahma slaves should have already investigated it thoroughly!

So let's put the relics aside for now.

If we're talking about the most useful resource, timber goes without saying; it's everywhere.

The rich copper mines and moderate gold mines buried deep within are the true treasures of this territory!

The system failed to provide a truly accurate location marker, perhaps due to the low 'Knowledge' stat. With three talent points in hand, Vijay seems poised to make a significant impact.

But after hesitating for a moment, he wavered.

Common sense told him that these veins must be related to the mountains, and the only part of Mital Village that could be considered a mountain range was the eastern part. He decided to go and take a look first.

The carriage slowly drove away from the village, heading east.

As the afternoon sun grew stronger, the dirt road became rugged and uneven, filled with gravel and potholes. As the wheels rolled over it, it would shake and sway from time to time, raising a light dust.

Rajan sat to one side, looking at the potholed dirt road, and couldn't help but complain, "These Dalits, they're idle and lazy all day long, they won't even fix the road in front of their own houses, what a bunch of lazybones and good-for-nothings!"

"Without roads, carriages and horses can hardly travel, transportation is hindered, and food is wasted. It's simply a burden on Mittal Village!" Several servants echoed, their tone filled with obvious contempt and dissatisfaction.

It's clear that no one has a good impression of the Dalits.

But this is exactly what Vijay was trying to say: if you don't assign them work and can't motivate them, then it's far from a success!

Vijay didn't reprimand him, only saying calmly, "Rajan, remember this. I'll have Treebeard bring Dalit to repair it later!"

As we continued our journey, the small hills in the east gradually came into view, standing over a hundred meters high, with several mountain ranges stretching out and dense forests covering them.

These mountains and forests all belong to the Mittal family's territory.

At the foot of the mountain, a rudimentary logging camp is under construction.

The log frame was taking shape, the timber was stacked neatly, and logging tools such as axes, saws, and planes were arranged in an orderly manner. Several apprentices were working busily and systematically under the guidance of veteran craftsmen.

Once the carriage came to a stop, Vijay alighted and walked slowly toward the logging camp.

Rajon often runs here, always leading the way.

The logging camp manager had already noticed this and knew that a distinguished guest had arrived, so he quickly stepped forward and bowed.

The old man was a small, dark-skinned Vaishya with deep wrinkles on his face and calloused hands covered in sawdust and dirt. He was clearly a skilled carpenter who had worked hard for many years.

He merely glanced at Rajan with an arrogant look, clearly not caring much about this Shudra.

But the way he looked at Vijay was completely different; his attitude was humble and respectful: "Greetings, Master of the Clan."

Vijay had never met the craftsman before, but Vijay, who belonged to the same social class, returned the greeting with his hands clasped together.

"How's the logging going?" Vijay asked calmly, his gaze sweeping across the site. He saw the timber stacked neatly, the tools all in place, and the craftsmen busy at work; clearly, everything was on track.

There are just not many workers, which explains why the progress is so slow.

This kind of efficiency won't do!

How long will it take before the logging camp is ready for use?

This is something that Vijay is concerned about.

The old man bowed and replied respectfully, "Your Excellency, the main framework, storage shed, and processing table have all been completed. The tools for felling, planing, and sanding are all ready. We only need to reinforce and sand the area further, and clean the site. It will be officially operational in less than a month!"

A month?

It's alright, but not fast enough!

Vijay nodded slightly: "I wonder if we could speed things up and finish it as soon as possible?"

The old man looked troubled, but his tone was sincere: "Master, we are short-handed and have a limited number of apprentices, so we can't speed up the process any further..."

Is it just manpower?

Vijay could tell that the old man was very protective of his possessions.

Vijay turned to Bro, who was skilled in carpentry, and said solemnly, "Bro, you will stay here to assist the craftsmen and lead the Dalits in logging, timber processing, machinery repair, and house construction. Once you have mastered the skills, you will take over the logging camp. In the future, you will be responsible for logging, tool making, road repair, and house construction."

Upon hearing this, Bro's eyes lit up. He bowed and accepted the order, his tone firm: "Yes, sir! Rest assured, master, I will live up to your expectations, study diligently, and manage the logging camp well!"

The old man looked at Bro, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. His skills were the foundation of his livelihood; how could he easily pass them on to outsiders?

Vijay smiled faintly again, looked at the old man, and said in a gentle but weighty tone: "Craftsman, please teach me with peace of mind. After it is done, I will add another hundred gold coins to buy you fertile land so that you can enjoy your old age without having to work hard anymore."

One hundred gold coins are enough to buy several acres of fertile land, build a few houses, and live a worry-free and comfortable life for the rest of your days.

The hesitation in the old man's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a look of joy. He bowed and replied, "I will obey your orders, Master, and will teach you everything I know without reservation!"