Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology

18th March 1679

It has only been two months since the region of Lavant had been taken over by the Bharatiya Empire, but in this short span of two months so many things happened, be it the invention of the moving picture machine that is still causing waves in the Surya Nagari Frontier, or the new locomotive that has caused huge discussions both in the empire and in its neighbouring countries.

"Your Majesty, we must get one of those machines, no matter the cost," an administrator urged Nanda Bayin II, his voice almost trembling with excitement. "It's simply incredible that it can pull several hundred tonnes of weight without needing a single animal. Imagine what it could do for our trade, for our armies, for our entire kingdom!"

King Nanda Bayin II of the Toungoo Dynasty had the same thought. He gave a firm nod, "Prepare my ship," he said, his tone sharp and final. It had been years since he last set foot in the Bharatiya Empire. The last time he was on the mainland was for his graduation, and after that, when he inherited the throne from his late father, his responsibilities had only grown, leaving him with no chance to travel. Now, the thought of seeing the wonders of the Bharatiya Empire with his own eyes filled him with a sense of anticipation.

Other kings in the ASEAN nations also reacted similarly, be it King Narai, King Sourigna Vongsa II, Queen Roxana, King Ezidi Serwan, or even Emperor Zhu Yu Lang.

Everyone decided to make a trip to the Bharatiya Empire after getting the information about the steam locomotive that the Bharatiyas had invented.

The reactions within the empire were not small either; nearly all the newspapers had their headlines monopolised by the Giriraja Locomotive, even the smallest ones. In fact, it even affected the newspapers that had nothing to do with the train, which still wrote about it, because that was how much the invention of a train was a shock to the people of the empire.

Like always, the top three newspaper companies in the empire came together and held a conference, inviting senior engineers, economists, and people in the logistics industry to talk as panellists about the train.

As the popularity of the conference had gotten bigger, the venue for the conference had also gone from a small convention centre for marriages to a whole kabaddi stadium.

While all this was happening in the empire.

In the region of Lavant, a historic ceremony was being held, one that carried the weight of centuries of longing and loss. It was not merely the birth of a new kingdom, but the resurrection of an ancient power, the Kingdom of Israel, restored to the world after an age of silence. The air itself seemed heavy with reverence, as if the land remembered the footsteps of its ancestors and bore witness to their return.

Like Vijay promised, he designated the whole Sinai Peninsula from the Gulf of Suez in the west to the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, until the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee, as the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Israel.

The ceremony was held in a sacred temple of the Jews.

All five commanders of the Bharatiya Empire who had participated in the battle had stopped advancing into the Ottoman Empire and paused the war for a while, not only to replenish all the logistical supplies but also to safeguard the newly occupied territory.

Some of the commanders were confused as to why such tight security measures were needed in order to safeguard the Sinai Peninsula for the Jews, but when they understood that almost all European countries hate, detest, look down upon, or even enslave the Jews, it all made sense, and they agreed with the plan made by his majesty.

"So, by the Bharatiya Empire helping the Jews rebuild their nation, it would draw the anger of most of Europe, and some might even try to wage a... what do you call it, a holy war?" Lachit Borpukan asked as he tried to grasp Ezekiel's words.

"Yes," Ezekiel Oppenhammer replied firmly.

"Wow, that's something," Lachit muttered.

While the commanders whispered quietly in a corner, the ceremony went on in the first and second temples, at Har Habayit, the most significant religious, historical, and political centre for the Jewish people.

" Is that the priest? " Ramayya Senapati asked curiously as he looked at an old man who had just taken the centre stage of the whole ceremony.

Ezekiel Oppenheimer, son of Joseph, who was right next to the commanders, shook his head, " No, he's not a priest, but his role is kind of similar; we call him a kohen. It is believed that the Kohens are descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses. They are practically responsible for the temple service, priestly blessings, ritual purity, and other stuff, and among these kohens, that old man is the kohen gadol, the chief high priest. "

" So...it is, like a priest, " Ramayya Senapati nodded.

Ezekiel wanted to refute, but he didn't know how, because just talking about the rules, they did not look any different, and he did not have any words to describe the difference in spirituality, so he simply kept quiet.

That is, until another commander, Narasimha Nayak, raised a question.

"Is there a reason why the ceremony is being held in such a small temple?" In fact, he already knew the temple had to be some kind of sacred symbol; otherwise, why would this place be chosen out of all the grand buildings he had seen in the city? And honestly, he had seen some truly impressive ones. It's just that he didn't want to sound rude by bluntly asking if there was anything special about this temple.

Ezekiel turned his attention to the walls of the temple with melancholy.

"This is the first temple, built by King Solomon in 957 BCE. It stood until the Babylonians destroyed it in 586 BCE. Later, the second temple, the one you see in the distance, was rebuilt in 516 BCE and expanded by King Herod, before the Romans destroyed it in 70 CE.

Just like your temples that were destroyed by invaders, ours were too. And we rebuilt them, not just because we refused to accept defeat, but because this is where the Holy of Holies is, where the Ark of the Covenant once rested, and where God's presence dwelt.

This site isn't sacred to my faith alone. A few metres that way is the Dome of the Rock, a holy site for Muslims where the Al Aqsa Mosque stands, and where they believe the Prophet Muhammad began his night journey. And for Christians, this place is holy as well, since Yesu himself visited this temple."

Narasimha Nayak had a better understanding, as such temples existed in the Bharatiya Empire as well, where God was rumoured to have visited, but since it happened so far back, proving it was almost impossible.

For the ceremony to be held, all the important Jews in the Bharatiya Empire, including those who had travelled from Europe, were transported to the Sinai Peninsula.

However, during the ceremony, once people learned about the Bharatiya plan for the occupied territory, uproar broke out in most European countries.

" What, what did you say? "

" The Zionists are rebuilding the kingdom. How could this be? How dare they? "

A bishop of the church exclaimed.

" No, this needs a holy war; those blasphemers shouldn't be allowed to have their own kingdom. "

" These people were the ones who went against the divine ordinance; they practised idolatry, brought social injustice, and disobeyed God's laws. These sinners should not have their own home. "

A noble lord lashed out as he crumpled the letter.

"Deuteronomy, chapter 28, verses 15 to 20"

"If you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you.

You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.

Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed.

You will be cursed in the fruit of your womb and the produce of your soil, the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.

The Lord will send on you curses, confusion, and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin, because of the evil you have done by forsaking Him."

The Pope in the Vatican began chanting verses from the old Hebrew Bible as he prepared his Templar Knights. Even though the entire city was surrounded by the Italians and the situation was hopeless, he never once believed that his march to fulfil their divine right could be stopped.

Hearing what the Bharatiyas were about to do, even the Allies fell silent, unable, or rather unwilling, to speak for them amid the growing public outrage. The anger among the people was no less than when the Ottomans had butchered hundreds of thousands of Christians in the Balkan region.

Due to the actions of the Bharatiya Empire, the disgust and dissatisfaction toward the Jews only deepened.

In recent years, because of the close ties between the Jewish communities and the Bharatiya Empire, Jews had grown significantly wealthier. They often secured more advantageous terms during business negotiations, especially when the negotiator was Jewish as well, turning deals into what many saw as blatant patronage.

Most nobles, already consumed by greed, had long desired to seize this growing wealth that seemed like food dangling in front of their mouths. What restrained them was the fear of retaliation from the Bharatiya Empire, what if, in anger, the Bharatiyas raised prices or imposed harsh trade conditions? Such a reaction would have been a devastating loss.

But now, it is an opportunity, with the Bharatiya Empire crossing the line, there is no need to be cautious anymore.