I Became the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

I Became a Sultan (2)

The farther the distance, the more the hearts drift apart.

This isn’t a sentiment exclusive to romantic relationships.

For the subjects who have never stepped out of the regions where they’ve lived their entire lives, the notion of walking for months to reach the capital is beyond their interest.

Even those subjects who thought the change of the empire’s ruler was as insignificant as the village chief or the sanjakbey changing took notice of this succession war.

To start with, the vast majority of the Ottoman regions felt the tensions of the succession war firsthand.

The rebels and Yusuf’s suppression forces, along with Ahmed’s army charging towards the capital, disturbed all of Anatolia.

Furthermore, Selim leading the army of the Crimean Khanate pierced through the Balkan Peninsula, and Selim, now the Padishah, issued a call to arms throughout the region.

Even the subjects, preoccupied with their daily struggles, felt the movement of the military.

Adding to the chaos was the rumor that the newly appointed Padishah Yusuf had predicted an earthquake.

‘The public tends to spread the rumors they want to believe faster.’

This upcoming earthquake was said to bring massive destruction not just to the capital but to the entire Ottoman territory.

In an era where a great calamity was thought to be divine punishment without religious distinctions, the looming earthquake brought an even greater fear.

Amidst this, the story of the new Padishah predicting a great disaster was like a ray of hope to those trembling in fear.

This was the reason why the entire Ottoman Empire was ecstatic about the birth of their new Padishah despite the impending calamity.

“The prince has finally ascended to the Padishah seat.”

Yusuf’s declaration spread throughout the empire, and Aishe beamed upon reading his words.

– As the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, a well-protected nation and the master of Rum, I declare: As per my father’s wish, my empire will be merciful to the powerless and miserable, and all orphans shall become my children out of compassion. Under the name of Yusuf Shah bin Bayezid Khan, my generous empire shall walk the path of glory.

After reading this proclamation repeatedly, Fatima’s expression tightened slightly.

“It’s clear to see the path the Padishah will take.”

Briefly commenting, Fatima picked up another letter.

It was a letter indicating it was time to head to the capital, but there was a problem.

“Aishe, it seems you can’t go right away. You can’t leave the baby with her mother.”

“I can’t travel long distances with the baby.”

Aishe, holding the swaddled baby, nodded.

The squirming child had bright blonde hair that resembled her mother, and her blinking eyes shone like a sunny meadow.

Looking down at the precious child, Fatima smiled softly.

“It’s truly a mysterious child, considering how my eyes keep being drawn to her.”

When her daughter was born, both Fatima and Aishe were greatly disappointed.

In a time when the value of sons was highly regarded, it was a natural reaction, but at some point, people began to gather around Aishe’s daughter.

Mehmet, who liked to quietly read, found his desk in his younger sister’s room, while Murad, who loved to run around, always ended up in his half-sister’s room.

Even Hatice, who was both a rival and a political opponent, visited frequently.

“The Padishah will surely be pleased if he sees her.”

Hatice looked at the child with envy.

In the Ottoman Empire, where there was a law against killing brothers, a concubine could only bear one prince, and unless this law was abolished, Hatice wouldn’t have another chance to bear a child.

“Still, this is troubling. I can’t just leave you here.”

The child needed at least a year of growth before being able to endure a long journey, so Aishe had no choice but to remain in Trabzon during that time.

Fatima longed to stay together, reminiscing about their past feelings, but she had to return to the capital without fail.

“You need not worry. Valide Hatun will manage the Padishah’s harem.”

With Yusuf ascending to the throne, Fatima became Valide Hatun, meaning “Mother of the Sultan,” and gained the authority to oversee the harem.

Everything from sending the faded harem women, who had been touched by Bayezid and Selim, to the old palace, Eski Saray, to recruiting and educating new harem women, all while maintaining order in the harem, became her responsibility.

“Isn’t this what Valide Hatun has longed for?”

Aishe laughed playfully, and Fatima chuckled lightly in return.

For Fatima, the harem had never been a place filled with good memories. She had to endure all sorts of humiliation and crises for having given birth to a son with no succession potential.

Most of those she would be sorting this time were those who had once looked down on her, so Fatima was not the type to leave this matter to someone else.

“Don’t worry about Valide Hatun. I will stay here with you.”

The two women looked surprised at Hatice’s statement.

It meant she was willingly giving up a good opportunity to gain Yusuf’s favor.

“There’s no need to look at me so strangely. The Padishah favors those who can be of assistance over those who merely stay close.”

Even so, it was a significant resolution, and Fatima patted her hand.

Having set aside her heavy burden, Fatima stood up with a light expression, for there was much to prepare for her journey back to the capital with her two grandsons.

As Fatima departed, Aishe’s green eyes glinted with a chill.

“Hatice, what are you thinking? I hope you don’t believe that I would buy that excuse.”

The excuse of favor was incredibly flimsy for missing the chance to form a network within the harem.

“Just think of it as a trade. I hope you will reciprocate the opportunity I gave up.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Seeing Aishe play coy, Hatice let out a sigh.

“Weren’t you planning to fill the harem with Circassian women first to secure your people?”

At Hatice’s sharp observation, Aishe merely smiled faintly.

It was a moment that required no response.

*

As Yusuf took the capital, the chaos quickly subsided.

The first order from the newly crowned Padishah Yusuf was to clean up the debris still strewn across the capital.

Out of a population of 160,000, over 10,000 had perished, 1,070 residences were destroyed, and 109 mosques had collapsed.

It was no simple task to clean up the debris, but fortunately, Yusuf had a good labor force at his disposal.

“Let’s assign forced labor to the prisoners from the Crimean Khanate.”

The captured troops from the Crimean Khanate numbered around 20,000, and there was no reason to leave them unattended.

Although it could be dangerous to manage such a large group of prisoners when the Circassian and Georgian forces returned home, Yusuf didn’t worry too much.

‘There’s hope that they might be freed if they work hard.’

These people firmly believed they would be rescued by their homeland, the Crimean Khanate, so they wouldn’t act recklessly.

As the prisoners were mobilized, the debris was swiftly cleared; however, that wasn’t the true challenge.

“The cost of recovering the damages is considerable. We need to impose a special tax and recruit stonemasons and carpenters from various regions.”

Listening to the Grand Vizier’s suggestion, Yusuf slowly gazed down at the capital.

The capital, once cleared of debris, resembled a honeycomb riddled with holes, and individuals like the Grand Vizier were eager to restore the city.

However, Yusuf’s thoughts were somewhat different.

‘Rather, this could be an opportunity.’

It was a chance to overhaul this vast city known as Constantinople.

With cement available, there were many things to be done, like constructing sewage systems and improving roads.

Thus, he had no intention of rushing the restoration.

“I need to devise a proper city plan.”

There was no need for him to map it out himself. As long as he issued commands, there were plenty of people ready to work in his stead.

With Yusuf becoming the Padishah, the caliber of the talents he could mobilize had also changed, and an environment ripe for developing them had been established.

‘I bought precise talent identification with my accumulated points.’

This was a different skill from quick talent identification, which was debated alongside emotional identification as the first trait.

If quick talent identification is the ability to swiftly judge whether someone is talented, precise talent identification allows one to discern the fields that best suit a person’s talents.

‘Quick talent identification no longer has meaning for me.’

If someone presents themselves before the Padishah, they can all be considered talented individuals.

This meant the ability to distinguish whether or not they were talented was no longer necessary.

The talent identification that allowed him to feel which field a person could excel in through lengthy conversations became far more useful.

Although he hadn’t yet had the opportunity to utilize it correctly, with time, it would prove to be invaluable.

“More importantly, they’ve finally arrived.”

Among the two men surrounded by soldiers, a deluge of curses and insults echoed loud enough to be heard from this distance.

Even as malicious intent scratched at their bodies and minds, the pair walked with confidence, and Yusuf smiled broadly.

“Finally, you look like the brother I know. Let’s go. We need to welcome our guests.”

Yusuf emerged at the entrance of the third empress’s palace, ready to greet the two distant guests.

“Welcome, dear brother Selim and Suleiman. I’ve lost track of how long it’s been since we met.”

Although he looked haggard, Selim’s eyes were clearly filled with life.

Standing fearlessly before death, Selim raised one side of his mouth in a smirk.

“Was it about ten years ago? I never thought I’d meet my little brother again like this.”

“Back then, I never imagined you’d be waiting for me in Trabzon.”

When he had met Selim in Trabzon, it felt like his heart had nearly stopped.

Had Selim taken a risk then, he wouldn’t be standing here now.

“You astonish me, brother. I never expected you to run away and come back.”

“I left something behind and came to fetch it. Did you not see the watch I left in my chamber?”

At Selim’s words, Yusuf gestured, and a momentarily absent attendant returned with the watch and handed it to Selim.

Gazing silently at the watch, Selim handed it back to Yusuf.

“This was made by my son Suleiman. How does it look?”

“It appears remarkably fine.”

“I’ll give this to you.”

Yusuf understood that this statement meant more than just gifting a watch, and Suleiman, who had been standing quietly, raised his voice.

“Father!”

“Be quiet! This is not your place. So, my brother, will you grant my final request?”

In response to Selim’s plea to spare Suleiman, Yusuf replied coldly.

“Would you have shown such mercy to your brother? After all, you killed Ahmed’s last son, Kasim.”

He had failed to fulfill the request entrusted to him by Ahmed.

Selim, having seized the capital, did not hesitate to put his nephew’s life on the line.

“You and I are different. Suleiman will not pose a threat to you.”

This was also true.

As the son branded the cause of calamity, no matter how hard Suleiman struggled, he wouldn’t be able to gather powers.

This meant he was not a threat at all.

‘Keeping him alive could make him a useful asset.’

It might also serve as an opportunity to change the method of succession. He had no intention of continuing the fraternal murder law.

Slowly approaching, Yusuf took the watch, and Selim said briefly.

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need to be too happy yet. If Suleiman proves useless, I can follow right behind you at any time.”

At Yusuf’s declaration, Selim chuckled softly.

“Didn’t I say when we first met? My son is brilliant. He will likely outlive you.”

“That could very well be.”

With those words, Yusuf turned around, and moments later, a child’s cries echoed throughout the room.

That marked the end of the cruel fraternal murder law.