Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology

18th July 1659

Baghdad, the new province of Persia

After Roxana Atashban received the message from the Bharatiya Empire and had the meeting with Kaveh Atashban and Fariba Atashban, she immediately informed the family of the decision that was reached by the three of them. Roxana carefully sought out her father, the patriarch of the Atashban family, Ardeshir Atashban, not only as a final confirmation before the big event but also to propose some of her ideas to both put pressure on the enemies and strengthen themselves.

Listening to his daughter's report as well as some of her ideas, Ardeshir did not think about it for too long and immediately agreed to follow the commands of the Bharatiya Empire and attack the coastal city of Barsa, along with agreeing to the ideas of Roxana after sitting with her and polishing out the plan some more. With Ardeshir's confirmation and blessing, Roxana set off to make preparations. The first thing she did after taking full control was to formally declare the region of Baghdad along with Hamedam as the new province of Persia ruled by the Atashban family.

This declaration was only made for the people in the province alone and was not publicised through the intelligence network they had built up because once the name Persia is used, all the forces in the Safavid Empire would immediately realise the wolfish ambitions of the Atashban family, and there is a chance of everyone putting aside their grudges and differences to deal with this ambitious enemy who is still very weak.

As for why Roxana Atashban had to make the declaration in such a critical moment, it was in order to encourage her own army and to boost morale. The Atashban came into power and ruled the province of Persia mostly because of the help provided by the Bharatiya Empire, the family's ideology, and the promises it made, not through brute strength.

Now, by declaring the two regions of Baghdad and Hamedam as a unified Persian province, it acts as a show of proof and a prototype of sorts to the people in the province, showcasing some of the benefits like equality and freedom that were absent under the previous regime.

This move by Roxana alone would increase the belonging of the people of the province with the name Persia and what it represents, and would further encourage the people of the province to resist the Zangana family if they ever dare to attack. But at the end of the day, what Roxana provided was only a rough prototype and not the actual product. The people, although they can sense the benefits, cannot really reach them, which means that the resistance will eventually come to an end.

However, Roxana wasn't only pouring chicken soup and dividing cakes among her subjects like a capitalist; she was actually providing the people with perceivable and tangible benefits. This will make the Atashban family completely embedded into the hearts of the people in Baghdad, and the resistance, even without a leader, would last a very long time.

In the command room of the Baghdad Military Barracks

"Roxana, are you sure about this decision? Once this is implemented, you cannot go back on it, you know?" Golnar Atashban, Roxana's aunt and the person in charge of trade asked with a worried expression on her face. She was one of the people in the family who was against the decision taken by Roxana, but unfortunately, Roxana had overwhelming support in the family since she had already proved herself as a capable leader.

However Golnar didn't stop her opposition, she continued to persuade, despite knowing that her struggle would in the end be futile, she did not give up. Being the person most well-versed in trade in the family, she knew that the decisions taken by her niece could affect the future prosperity and income of the family. Despite being a little rude, She used every means possible to change the decision of her niece.

Roxana was initially determined in her decision, but looking at her aunt, she did not know how to move forward. Although her aunt had been causing trouble for her for the past two days, she did not feel offended or annoyed, since even though both of them had differences in ideology, they both wanted the same goal. So, it did not really make much sense for her to antagonize her aunt over ideological differences.

However, that doesn't mean that Roxana wasn't feeling any pressure or second-guessing herself. Although the decision she had thought of had been proven to work in the Bharatiya Empire, it had still never been implemented before in the history of Arabia. She was a little shaken. Maybe if it hadn't been for her father to agree to her suggestion, she would have never dared to implement her own decision.

Parvez Atashban, the chief diplomat of the family and the husband of Golnar, looked at his wife and shook his head. "In my opinion, what Roxana is doing is correct. Until now, we have only gained so many supporters through stories of a better future alone, but now, once we show that we can also provide tangible benefits, even if we suffer a small loss, it will not matter since we will have overwhelming support in the places we have lost.

" Once we lose, it also means that the benefits which we have provided will also cease to exist." Looking at his niece with a smile on his face, he continued, "Roxana, you don't have to worry. Brother Ardeshir and I will be your biggest support. You do what you have to do without any fear." Parvez firmly patted Roxana on the back, encouraging her.

The confusion on Roxana's face immediately disappeared, and she became confident once more.

---

In various streets of Baghdad and Hamedam:

"Listen one, listen all! The rulers of the Persian province, the benevolent Atashban family, have reclaimed all the land from the nobles, and this land will immediately be split among the workers who have worked on the land for the longest time without any cost, on the condition that they revert back to Zoroastrianism."

"From now on, there will be no taxation in the name of the divine."

"From this day moving forward: Various messy taxes, especially those given to the nobles, will be abolished, and there will be only one tax that will be paid to the Atashban family."

"From now on, there will be no barriers to jobs."

"From now on, the Ashrafs will no longer be nobles descending from Central Asia and Arabia, Ajlafs will no longer be commoners, and most importantly, Arzals will no longer be the despicable, barred from respectful positions in society."

"From this day forward, in the province of Persia, there is no longer a Sunni or a Shiite; there is only one group of people, and that is Persians—the Persians who are the respectful and civilized people of the world, following the ancestral traditions: Zoroastrianism and Dharmik Islam, the true Islam."

"Listen one, Listen all..."

The shouts continued as the person who shouted the news excitedly ran through each and every street of Baghdad and Hamedam, happily screaming:

"What did you say? Is it true?"

"Oh Lord, thank you!"

"Oh, my blessed Lord!"

"Haha!"

"Long live Atashban!"

"Atashban! Atashban! Atashban! Atashban!"

There was uproar almost immediately in the Persian province of the Safavid Empire. The people had never expected that their new ruler would fulfil their promise so quickly.

The serfs working on the farms for many generations were immediately overjoyed, as they went from landless peasants to landowners, it was hell to heaven in one step.

People of the lower class were now extremely excited since they could now join any profession they wanted. Almost overnight, the recruits for the military doubled.

The business owners were overjoyed since almost immediately their profit margins increased from 3% to almost 15% or even 30%, depending on the type of business.

The soldiers who had fought for the Atashban family from the very beginning were overjoyed since they received 20 acres of land each, and the area of land only increased the higher the rank went. Not only that but the agricultural tax on these lands that the military personnel had received had been abolished for three years and halved for the next five.

----

20th July 1659

The day of the mission eventually came.

Loud drums and traditional instruments were played on the streets as the 20,000-strong army of the Atashban family marched out of Baghdad on their way to meet the enemy.

Hearing the commotion, the people in their homes came to the streets. Looking at the marching army, their eyes were filled with hope and expectation and, more importantly, prayer that all of them would come back safely.

The soldiers had smiles on their faces as they marched forward since they knew that even if they died, their families would live happily with the land that had been allocated.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Everyone's morale in the Persian province was really high. While the army moved forward, a lot of people from Baghdad, whether they were sons, husbands, or brothers, had farming equipment in their hands as they loudly proclaimed...

"Warriors of Persia, come back victorious, but take your time because—"

To be Continued...

P.S. Map in comments