Chapter 9, Attending the Military Parade in Person

"Your Excellency, when do you think this war will come to an end?" Allen Wilson shifted the topic and posed a seemingly unrelated question.

However, India's self-satisfied expansionist mindset remains a problem, as it suppresses the forces of peace predominantly led by Hindus. Yet, it is also important not to allow India to become too strong; it would be best to give India some tasks to engage in, which would not contradict the original intention of contributing to the world.

Though small, the sparrow possesses all its vital organs; the Hyderabad princely state encompasses all the elements of a nation. The entire princely state is the personal property of Mir Osman Ali Khan. In order to protect the sanctity and inviolability of private property, Mir Osman Ali Khan certainly does not concern himself with what the entire Hindu population thinks.

It is now necessary to choose the slightly less repugnant option in front of two scoundrels. This is not a good choice, but I believe that the entire British Empire cannot present a more suitable solution.

Moreover, he is aware of the evolution of the Indian Army, which is primarily composed of veterans with generally long service periods. Indian soldiers who fought in World War II continued to serve in the Indian Army in large numbers even until 1962.

After meeting with Mir Osman Ali Khan, Allen Wilson set a goal in his mind: to maximize benefits during the process of independence in British India, as this would play a significant role in his future promotion within the British civil service system

A few days later, Allen Wilson arrived at the Hyderabad military camp with several assistants to observe whether this private army had any noteworthy qualities. Frankly speaking, after witnessing the steel torrents of the future, Allen Wilson found this private army of the Hyderabad princely state to be quite unimpressive; having some personnel and firearms was all there was to it.

Considering the army of the Hyderabad princely state, there will certainly be a confrontation with the Indian army in the future. This Hyderabad commissioner, of course, has nothing negative to say, as it would be detrimental to the morale of the enemies of India in case of any setback.

British India holds a position of great importance, yet it does not belong to the British mainland, which can be quite awkward on certain levels. For instance, among the one hundred thousand civil servants currently working in British India, how many will still be able to hold onto their secure jobs once British India gains independence? No one knows, and Alan Wilson certainly does not wish to see his own figure among the army of job seekers.

Heavy weapons, such as the Maxim machine gun, were widely used during World War I. The semi-automatic rifle was merely part of the personal guard of Mir Osman Ali Pasha. The cavalry units of Hyderabad were particularly eye-catching

"Your Excellency, only strength will earn respect," Allen Wilson stated with a reserved demeanor. "Currently, there are five million troops of the British Empire engaged in battles across various fronts, representing the formidable military power of the Empire. However, the war will eventually come to an end. The weapons they wield have already been manufactured, and the tanks they operate, the planes they pilot, and the warships they command constitute an unimaginable military legacy. Rather than allowing them to rust, it would be best to utilize their residual capabilities after the war concludes, thereby minimizing the losses for the British Empire."

Indeed, as a British individual, the current commissioner of Hyderabad similarly does not consider the thoughts of the colonial residents. The facts are very clear; Ali Khan has plenty of money and now wishes to maintain the status of the private kingdom of Hyderabad. In light of the financial incentives and the books, Allen Wilson has decided to assist the ally of the British Empire for the past three hundred years

"Can you do it?" asked Mir Osman Ali Khan, the monarch, with a tone of skepticism.

"That is not the case; it is merely a simple display," Allen Wilson replied without looking back. What does this signify? Do not mention that it is now 1945; even in the twenty-first century, the venerable Lee-Enfield rifle, which was standardized in 1896, remains the primary light weapon of the Indian Army

Once India gained independence, it was impossible for the country to sustain an army of over two million troops solely based on its own financial resources. In fact, in the early years of independence, India did not excel in military strength, although it was certainly capable of bullying Pakistan.

What do you mean? Alihan seems to have grasped something, but his tone still carries a hint of uncertainty

If the war ends a little earlier, there will be time to accomplish this. If nothing is done, the worst outcome will be to surrender helplessly. Now, in response to Your Majesty's question, I believe it is possible to allow a portion of the military supplies to flow into Hyderabad. Allen Wilson gave an affirmative reply, believing that once the war ends, selling a portion of the military supplies would not be difficult.

After the conclusion of the Hyderabad private army's drill, Allen Wilson immediately extended his hand to applaud, displaying an expression befitting a three-hundred-year ally of the British Empire, greatly impressed by the drill that lacked any remarkable performance

As for the army in Hyderabad, it is clear that the religious belief of the ruler is evident, and it is obvious that this army is predominantly based on the teachings of peace. The fundamental reason for this is that the monarch, Ali Khan, is wealthy enough to sustain the flow of military supplies after the war

The soldiers in their twenties and thirties in 1945 became the main force nearly twenty years later. They were harshly taught lessons in the plateau regions. Allen Wilson did not hold a high opinion of the Indian soldiers. Reinforcing the military strength of Hyderabad was also the most effective approach.

Upon witnessing this scene, Allen Wilson even felt as if he were present at a military parade in India, with the only thing missing being the ability to transport a whole company of motorcycles. It is unclear what emotions Modi, the old sage, experienced while watching the motorcycle performance; in any case, the mood of this commissioner was not very good

Allen Wilson knew that among the 5,700,000 troops of the British Empire, there were 2,580,000 Indian soldiers, accounting for nearly half. This number appears to be substantial. However, it is a figure that can only be sustained by all the colonies of the British Empire

With a programmed smile, Allen Wilson said to Ali Khan's son Abdur Rahman, "The army of Hyderabad, truly a long-standing ally of the British Empire, is, to be fair, not inferior to the soldiers of the Indian Corps, except for its slightly smaller scale. However, considering the current combat proficiency of European armies, there are still areas that need improvement"

This indeed left the ruler of Hyderabad at a loss for words. The war had been ongoing for many years, and it was evident to all that the Allies had gained the upper hand. However, who could say when the war would actually come to an end?

Honorable Sovereign, I wish to witness the army of Hyderabad as soon as possible. Allen Wilson nodded, affirming Ali Khan's speculation; it would not be a problem to uplift the army of the princely state with the weapons used by five million soldiers.

"Commissioner, these Lee-Enfield rifles of the Hyderabad soldiers seem to be quite old models," whispered his assistant Andy, who had followed him. "Is Ali Khan trying to show off his military might to us?"