Saving The Future - Chapter 18 Bribery

When Acharya Kautilya started speaking all the chattering in the hall quieted down.

“Our next case concerns a farmer named Raghav and a merchant named Bahu.” he then looked at the farmer and signaled him to speak.

Then Raghav the farmer started telling his story “Your majesty, 4 days ago I bought 5 acres(217800 sq ft) of farmland from this merchant for 25 silver panas.

But the next day he brought 20 men to my farm and started digging the soil and loading them on bullock carts to make mud houses from it later. When I told him to stop he said that he sold me his farm but not the soil in it.

Please grant me justice,” he started prostrating on the floor, pleading.

Chandragupta looked at the farmer and the merchant before speaking.

“Did you bring a copy of the signed contract?”

“Yes, your majesty” The merchant replied cheerfully, everything was going as he had planned. He gave the contract paper to Kautilya and he passed it to the emperor.

Chandragupta read the contract and started massaging his temples with his left hand. He thought to himself. ~how the hell am I supposed to help this farmer, contract ha no mention of selling the soil. This merchant is really an assh*le, he’s taking advantage of the loophole.~

He looked at the Merchant with an annoyed face. Merchant Bahu shuddered in fear when he looked at his majesty, he started questioning his intelligence.

~why the fudge did I come here~

Chandragupta was in a dilemma and not just him but everyone in the room was helpless. It was all clear that the merchant was at fault but how could someone prove his guilt.

Chandragupta now understood why those state officials from the lower civil court sent the case here.There was no fricking way of solving it.

He felt like he was losing face in front of so many people but then finally he heard his savior’s voice.

“Your majesty if I may?” Aariv stood up from his seat and asked permission to speak.

Chandragupta looked his son in eyes, when he saw that his son was confident he relaxed and gave permission.

“Yes, speak up Aariv”

Aariv walked to the emperor, took the contract and read it. After reading and confirming everything, he asked Raghav the farmer “Do you confess signing this contract?”

Raghav nodded his head and replied “yes, your highness”

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Aariv continued, “and do you also acknowledge that there is nothing written about selling the soil on the land?”

Raghav thought that he lost the case and started weeping: “Yes, there was nothing written about sell… selling the soil.”

He thought about the money he saved for the past 5 years so he could buy the land and make his wife and kid’s life better. He only had 3 acres of land which was not enough to feed his family’s stomach. So to save money he ate less and also worked extra hours in rich people’s farms and finally after 5 years of grinding he had saved 25 silver panas. enough to buy 5 acres of new land.

But who knew that the new land would turn into bad luck. He also had to bribe the low-level state officials just so he could get heard by the all-mighty emperor. His family was starving right now to cover all these expenses and now it seemed like he was going to lose.

Aariv looked at the weak weeping man in front of him, who was trying his best to hold his tears.

Then Aariv looked at the merchant who was beaming with joy thinking that he had won the case. “It seems that you do own the soil”

Those words fell like a rock on Raghav. The crowd also started chattering, saying that the prince was doing injustice. Even Chandragupta looked at his son, wondering if it was right to let him speak.

Kautilya was silently standing there with no expressions, he had a hunch that this was not over yet.

Bahu nearly jumped with excitement when he heard those words but then he saw his highness continue speaking.

“BUT… what about the rent? Bahu did you pay Raghav rent for using his land to store soil?” Aariv then looked at Raghav, who looked like he just saw the world turn colorful from black and white.

Aariv went near Raghav and said something in his ear and soon Raghav looked at Bahu.

“Yes you didn’t pay the rent, you need to pay 10 gold pana for storing your soil on my land,” He said smilingly.

Hearing that Bahu turned pale, bu he still tried to act smart, “but there is nothing written about paying rent on the contract”

Raghav smirked at Bahu “Yes, exactly and there is also nothing written about not paying rent either, so my land, my rules. You need to pay 4 days’ rent which is 1 gold and 33 silver panas.”

Bahu turned to Aariv who was also smirking and then he turned to the throne “Your majesty, this is wrong, I demand justice. These two are trying to fool me.”

All the commoners felt shocked hearing what Bahu just said.

Bahu didn’t realize what mistake he just commited as he was angry.

Chandragupta looked at Bahu furiously: “Do you have proof to prove that my son, the first prince of the Mauryan empire was trying to fool you?”

At that moment Bahu realized that he fuc**d up “Forgive me, your majesty, my tongue slipped in my mindless rage, please forgive me.”

he started prostrating. It looke like the tables had turned, at the beginning of the case Raghav was prostrating asking for justice and now Bahu was doing it asking for forgiveness.

“Don’t ask me for forgiveness, ask Aariv, if he forgives you then you’re lucky if not then I’ll heave your head.”

Bahu started having cold sweat. He looked at Aariv and prostrated once again.

Aariv looked at the man and said “I will forgive you but in one condition”

“I accept.. I accept whatever his highness wants me to do,” he hastily replied.

“You will sign a new contract saying that Raghav owns all 5 acres of land including the soil and any future resourced found in it. You will also pay him 50 silver panas for causing mental trauma.” Aariv looked at the prostrating man for his reply.

Bahu didn’t understand what mental trauma ment but right now he just wanted to get the hell out of here, what’s the value of mere 50 silver panas when compared to his precious life. so he accepted the conditions. “Yes, your highness, I accept”

The whole hall burst into cheers and clappings, praising Aariv.

Raghav was feeling like he was on cloud 9, not only he got his land back but also received compensation which was double the value of the land. He then looked at Aariv and felt respect and trust from the deepest part of his heart. He thought that prince Aariv was just 3 years old and he was already this smart, he could not imagine what would happen when he’d turn into an adult.

The future of the empire was in safe hands, he thought.

Mustering some courage he decided to report another crime but only to the prince in his ear.

He came close to Aariv and spoke in a low voice. “Your highness, I want to report a big crime to you.”

Aariv understood that Raghav didn’t want to speak about this crime publically so he brought his ear close to Raghav.

“Your highness, I was asked to pay 5 silver panas by the civil court official to be allowed to register my case in the Royal court. His name was Vibhuti Narayan.” Raghav slowly whispered in his ear.

“okay, I will tell his majesty about this, I will also recommend your name for 2 gold panas to be awarded to you for your truthfulness.

“Thank you, your highness but I do not want the money, I just thought that I could trust you so I told you about this. I didn’t do this money and also, money not earned with hard work is not worth it.” Raghav proudly said.

Aariv smiled warmly hearing those words and walked back to his seats but when he was passing Kautilya he whispered something “call an internal meeting”.

He sat down on his seat. After that 2 more cases were heard but they were all solved easily, then some internal matters were discussed that were of no interest to Aariv.

Finally, after 4 gruesome hours, the Royal Court was adjourned. Chandragupta walked down from his throne to Aariv and patted his shoulders, showing his 32 teeth trademark grin.

Aariv looked at his father, with those badass clothes plus scarred and bearded face, he was looking more like some fantasy movie character than an ancient emperor.

“You made me proud, son,” Chandragupta said.

“Hahaha… you weren’t able to solve that case right? I saw your face back then.” Aariv started laughing, which Chandragupta didn’t seem to mind because the father, mother and son trio had grown very close to and acted very frank with each other. Bindusara was too young to be included in the group as he was very young and had just started making sentences.

Kautilya also came to inform them about the meeting but Aariv spoke before him.

“Oh! uncle baldy, did you tell the ministers about the meeting?” he spoke in a childish voice.

Kautilya just sighed and told them that everyone was heading to the private meeting chamber.

“We should also head there”

Chandragupta looked at Aariv and then Kautilya “Wait, Aariv is also coming?”

“yeah father, I have something important to discuss with you and the council,” Aariv replied with a serious face, looking at his father.

He was going to drop the bomb soon.