Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology
Chapter 903 - 903: Peter comes to Visit

November 25th, 1672

Puducherry Port, Cholapuri, Akhand Bharatiya Empire

The port of Puducherry was bustling with activity, with local traders proudly displaying their wares like tea, coffee, and various spices out in the open. The faint scent of spices lingered in the air, impacting the senses of anyone unaccustomed to it. Businessmen came from all over the country and even several parts of the world, like the merchants from ASEAN nations, traders from Russia who came through the Sea of Japan and South China Sea, and sometimes even the Portuguese and Spanish travelling with the logistics fleet of the Bharatiya Empire.

Merchants who have finished signing the deals could be seen hanging out in different restaurants, community spots, and entertainment venues like theaters and stadiums, watching various sporting events, enjoying musical drama or unique Bharatiya dance performances, with a sense of novelty, as back home going to the theater was something only the nobles and rich merchants would do. But in the Bharatiya Empire, such entertainment Activities, not only was it affordable, making it possible for even the workers working for the merchants to enter, but the variety of entertainment events was also diverse.

Their time in the Bharatiya Empire can be said to be very nourished compared to the depressing winter back home, where most winter is spent huddling in homes, passing the boring time by doing some useless things to pass the time.

As for the merchants who have newly arrived, they could be seen roaming around the streets, purchasing spices and herbs in large quantities in a leisurely manner. They came at the perfect time to complete the final trade before Christmas. Most merchants took things lightly, because one, no matter at what price they purchase here, they will always make a lot of profit after transporting the merchandise to Europe, and two, there is no need to be worried about the quality of goods with the stamp of Bharatiya Standards Organisation (BSO), a stamp that signifies the reputation of products from the Bharatiya Empire built over 13 years.

However, there were some merchants who wanted to maximise their interest, the ones who took each and every varaha seriously. Such merchants could be seen haggling over the price with a red face, their expressions intense, like a warrior going to the snowy battlefield, with even their Bharati being very standard without any obvious accent.

Such an atmosphere was not created in a day or two; it took several years for Puducherry to reach the condition it is in currently.

With the local government bringing forward several policies to encourage trade of commodities like tea, coffee, and spices, the port of Puducherry has quickly become one of the biggest ports in the empire when it comes to volume in trade, and it has also become one of the richest ports by all the taxes it earns. The only ports that were above it were the Chennai Port, Colombo Port, Tiruvananthapuram Port, Mangaluru Port, Mumbai Port, Chabahar Port, and Kolkata Port, even gaining the nickname 'Spice City of the East Coast'.

Everything was business as always in Puducherry, but out of the ordinary, several berths were left empty without allowing for any ship to dock in the area. This was an unusual situation. Usually, unless construction or maintenance is taking place near the berth, the port administration maximises its interest by allowing merchants to dock their ships in the berth. Keeping it empty is a huge loss of money.

This drew a lot of attention from the sailors and merchants who frequently visit the port.

" I wonder why such a premium berth is closed? " a trader from the Ayutthaya Kingdom asked the shop owner, who was sealing a deal with a Russian customer.

" I have no idea, it may be that some important guest is coming to the empire, or else it is really inconceivable for the 4th berth, the most premium one in the port, to be left empty without anyone using it, " the shop owner casually replied without turning his head.

Just then, the Russian, who was standing aside silently reviewing the purchase agreement, looked at the berth and spoke out,

" I heard a rumour in our merchants' circle that His Highness Grand Duke Peter would be arriving at the Bharatiya Empire. Considering the distance between Vladivostok and Bharatiya Empire, it's very possible that he will come to Puducherry. "

The merchant from the Ayutthaya Kingdom and the shop owner both nodded in realisation. " No wonder, considering the relationship between His Excellency Peter and His Majesty the Emperor, clearly not surprising that the stingy port administration set aside an entire large berth for his arrival, " the shop owner commented.

The look on the Ayutthaya merchant's face became a little speculative. " Why do you think Grand Duke Peter is visiting the Bharatiya Empire all of a sudden? Do you think it is because of your steam engine? "

The three men from three different nations started to gossip with each other as if they were neighbouring aunts, talking about which girl should be married to which boy and which boy to marry which girl.

---

Attracting the attention of everyone on the port, a luxurious red carpet was draped on the platform near berth 4.

Just when the people were speculating which big shot, king or queen from Southeast Asia was visiting, a large and majestic ship came into sight of the people standing on the harbour. It was a Surat-class battleship, the flagship machine of war designed and manufactured by a Bharatiya shipyard. However, instead of the flag of the Bharatiya Navy, this ship waved the flag of the Russian Empire and another flag, which many people did not recognise.

" It's the Romanov family's flag, " the Russians in the port immediately recognised the insignia of a double-headed black eagle holding the holy signs of Orthodox Christianity in both of its talons and a depiction of Lord Jesus Christ on a cross at the bottom.

" It must be the Grand Duke of Siberia, His Excellency Peter Alexandrovitch Romanov. " The Russians immediately figured out that it was their own lord, and one after another, all the Russians throughout the port simultaneously began to move towards the red carpet to show their respect to their lord. The merchant who had speculated on Peter's arrival was already present the moment the red carpet started to be draped, as that was all the confirmation he needed.

After the large battleship was firmly moored in, several men wearing military uniforms got down using the platform and stood guard respectfully on both sides of the carpet, forming a barrier.

Soon, the local and ASEAN merchants were surprised when the Chief Minister of Cholapuri, Vetri Arunachalam, personally came to the port holding a flower garland, and the people behind him were carrying several packed gifts.

Peter got down from the ship only after he got the confirmation from his captain of the guard, but he was not alone. He brought his wife, Wilhelmine Adelheid von Hohenzollern and his kids, daughter Ekaterine and son Mikhaill.

Peter accepted the welcoming with a smile, and he waved at his fellow Russians who were cheering for him excitedly, their excitement as if they were seeing their emperor. In a way, they were not wrong because most of the Russians on the eastern coast of the Bharatiya Empire doing business or trade are from Vladivostok, a city in the far east of Russia built entirely with the single effort of Peter, who is now being called the father of the Far East and Siberia. Given that there is only one ruler for the Far East for the inhabitants of civilised Siberia and the Far East, Peter is practically their emperor. Compared to Peter, even the authority of Alexis I would not mean much.

Ekaterine followed beside her mother with a noble smile on her face, waving at the people with refined grace, while little Mikhaill, still only 4 years old, looked around at everything in curiosity, his deep blue eyes reflecting a kid's pursuit of new and exciting things.

"Sigh!" Peter, sitting in the carriage, let out a sigh of relief, and the same went for his family. Although travelling from Vladivostok to the Bharatiya Empire did not take as long as travelling from the Bharatiya Empire to Europe, the journey was tiring, and keeping up appearances as a respectable noble as soon as you get down from the ship is not always so easy. Fortunately, before they set foot on the mainland, they spent a day relaxing in Nakavaram Port.

" How long will it take to reach the capital, Father? "

Peter looked at the sunlight outside and closed the curtains. " We should arrive tomorrow before daybreak, " he commented.

Ekaterine nodded and proceeded to stare out the window, looking at the vibrant streets and people passing by at high speed. She was looking forward to seeing the capital of the Bharatiya Empire, a place which her father praised so highly.

To be Continued...

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