I Became the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

Luck and Twisted Plans (2)

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Duchy of Moscow, which attacked the Crimean Khanate, couldn’t exactly be considered on good terms, even in casual conversation.

Moscow had united all the Russian principalities and shared a border with Lithuania, with the two duchies engaged in a war since 1492.

This prolonged conflict favored Moscow, which shared a kinship as they were both of Rus descent, and Lithuania was losing considerable territory.

It was absurd for the two sworn enemies to join forces, but the Crimean Khanate made the impossible possible.

“Those Tatar bastards again!”

“How many times is this now! Does the Grand Duke still not have an answer?”

“What are those weaklings hesitating for because of the infidel empire!”

Taking advantage of the fact that the spoils should come from someone else’s pocket, the Crimean Khanate stirred the pot between the two states to prepare a gift for Yusuf.

As the grievances of those hurt piled up, the two Grand Dukes became unsettled.

Sigismund I, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, had only been in power for three years, while Vasily III, Grand Duke of Moscow, had held his title for just five.

Such dissatisfaction was more than warranted.

‘We should be able to fight the weakened ones.’

‘The new Ottoman emperor is so vile that he could replace the Khan even after receiving all those gifts. He might not even help us!’

Calculating the odds, while total annihilation was impossible, it seemed feasible to thoroughly trample the enemy and plunder for a while.

A temporary truce was reached with a consensus to take down that bastard first.

Before the Ottomans could intervene, the two states quickly moved south and achieved significant gains.

“We have taken the head of the enemy Khan, Mehmed Giray!”

Mehmed, who succeeded Mengli, was infamous.

He had been a key player in various wars and plunders even before rising to Khan and had constantly tormented the two duchies with ambushes and raids during this war.

Thanks to the anticipated damage, when they finally managed to take Mehmed’s head, both duchies were confident of victory.

That was until Saadet’s troops arrived, however.

“As Khan, I shall avenge my brother who has gone to Allah! Kill them all!”

“Their graves will be the steppes! Charge!”

Due to the slowness of their advance to ensure Mehmed’s demise, Saadet’s forces were well-rested and swept away the enemy.

The furious cavalry of the Crimean Khanate were fearsome, but they were not the only ones on the battlefield.

Tat tat tat!

“Yes, it’s the Janissaries! Soldiers of the infidel emperor!”

The appearance of the Janissaries, sporting distinct hats that looked like they were fashioned from cut sleeves and sporting mustaches, threw the enemy into disarray.

The mere presence of the Janissaries indicated the Sultan had entered the fray, and the conflict could easily spiral into a war with the Ottomans.

With that prospect, the two duchies were forced to retreat.

“Retreat! Fall back!”

“How dare they trample on our steppes! Don’t let them go!”

Following Saadet’s order to retreat, the duchies suffered losses that diminished the glory of taking Mehmed’s head.

Having gained the support of the slain former Khan and his soldiers, Saadet ascended to the Khanate, but this wasn’t the end.

“Brother, why have you harbored such futile thoughts?”

Saadet looked at his elder brother Ahmed with an indifferent expression, while Ahmed Giray, dragged along and dirtied with animal dung and dust, spat out blood-tinged saliva.

“Ptooey! You filthy lowlife! Does anyone not know you led my brother to his death!”

“You speak foolishly.”

“If you had hurried a bit more, my brother would not have died!”

Under Ahmed’s taunts, Saadet let out a sneer.

“If you had held on until I arrived, you might have survived. Is that not true?”

“What nonsense…”

“That’s not the point. If you tried to betray me, you must take responsibility.”

Ahmed had tried to rally support against the still young and weak Saadet to kill him and claim the Khanate.

Even as brothers, it was a crime that could not be forgiven.

However, Ahmed glared at Saadet as if he would kill him, shouting.

“You tempted him with your message!”

Well, he did. Ahmed was a greedy elder brother, after all.

It wouldn’t be surprising if rebellions arose during Mehmed’s reign, now that he had become mere fertilizer for the steppes.

“Stop your foolishness. Even with the tastiest bait, the fish that bites it is to blame. Take him away.”

“You’ve become a monster! You’ve returned as a monster from the imperial capital!”

As Ahmed was pulled away, shouting furiously, Saadet took out a silk cord from his robe.

It was one of the silk cords Yusuf had given him before leaving Constantinople.

“May you go in peace, brother.”

“Understood.”

A subordinate, who politely accepted the silk, left, and Saadet instructed another.

“Bring me Sirin Bek, my brother’s woman. I shall take her.”

In order to gain strong backing from the Sirin Clan, which holds significant influence in the Crimean Khanate, it was necessary to take her as his own.

As the soldiers set out to bring her to his chambers, Saadet leaned back in his chair.

“A monster.”

Recalling Ahmed’s final words, Saadet raised one corner of his mouth.

“What kind of monster could I possibly be?”

Closing his eyes tightly, he thought of Yusuf’s face, who handed him the silk cord and urged him to kill his brothers and nephews.

The real monster existed in Constantinople.

*

Yusuf, upon receiving word from the Crimean Khanate, clicked his tongue.

“What a truly unfortunate event.”

Not only Mehmed, who had succeeded Mengli, but also Ahmed, who had died trying to incite a rebellion.

It was a tragedy for a single family.

“How is Mengli faring?”

“He reportedly collapsed in shock after receiving the news.”

Mengli, who had been forced to resign from the Khanate and had transformed into a backroom elder.

It wouldn’t be surprising for someone shocked by the loss of both sons to collapse.

“How pitiful, we must send Sinan at least.”

Sinan had been accepted by Yusuf as a companion to Trabzon and was an indispensable figure in spreading the smallpox vaccination.

With Yusuf’s sly remarks, Şemsi could only offer a wry smile.

“Do you remember he’s a surgeon?”

“Regardless, whether he’s a surgeon or not, what does it matter since he’ll find it hard to get back on his feet?”

He was a person who wouldn’t survive for many more years, even if he didn’t collapse when gripped by the neck.

It would be hard to see him in a normal state again, and Mengli’s usefulness had come to an end.

Şemsi sighed at Yusuf’s cold appraisal.

“Do as you wish.”

“Then I shall. By the way, has the introduction of the four-field crop rotation method gone smoothly?”

“Yes, as it is deemed the Padishah’s intention, many places have been quite proactive.”

For Yusuf, who dreamed of reforms in various aspects, the Ottoman administration’s guarantee of autonomy felt very uncomfortable.

The silver lining is that the influence of the Prophet is still alive.

Many would bow down at Yusuf’s command, and this perception would linger until serious mistakes were made.

“It feels like walking a tightrope. I must not fail before firmly establishing a sanctuary.”

Once the sanctuary is properly built, Yusuf could manipulate the Ottomans.

All he needed was to get through this current period.

The fast progress in developing technologies for making cannons, extracting oil, and smelting iron should likewise yield quick reforms in the administrative sector.

“Padishah, I hope you have not forgotten what I have said from the beginning.”

“You always say that. I will not rush.”

Hastening things is the work of Satan, and it pleases Allah when done slowly.

Such words were tiresomely repeated to Şemsi.

‘Changing the framework of the empire is not something that can be done in a short time. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’

Settling his frustrated mind, Yusuf asked Şemsi.

“So, is the nation being properly formed?”

“With the Janissary military band being deployed, we will see the best music.”

“With them, I can trust it.”

If conditions allowed for mass deployment of firearms, then drafted soldiers could also play a role on the battlefield.

When the necessity for troops arises in warfare, it speaks of utilizing a drafted militia.

In order to smoothly employ this militia, there’s a need to instill a sense of being one nation, which can be effectively done with a national name, flag, and anthem.

“How is the education of the orphans proceeding?”

“For now, we are selecting those who wish to be taught.”

Beyazid left behind words akin to a will, advising them to show pity for the orphans.

The Hatun, who followed the prince appointed as the Sanjakbey, opened a free meal center for orphans, while the Qadi, who managed the castle’s administration, voluntarily took on the role of protector for the orphans.

They had cared for orphans as much as possible within the Ottoman Empire, and caring for them was seen as a commendable act.

‘It’s similar to politicians visiting orphanages only during election seasons.’

Unlike in modern times, this was consistent and ongoing.

Yusuf also intended to care for the orphans and, if possible, to make proper use of them.

‘There’s a need to break free from the Devshirme system, and orphans would suffice as a decent alternative.’

Of course, there were reasons why previous sultans had utilized Devshirme to draw in Christian boys, even against local opposition.

Though it’s not permissible to make orphans into slaves, it’s acceptable to enslave Christian boys.

The implication is that it was more palatable to the Sultan to have Devshirme under the guise of slavery, allowing execution whenever necessary.

‘But even so, once brought in through Devshirme, as their power grows, they will escape control, just the same.’

If that was the case, instead of using Devshirme, charming the Christian factions and employing orphans would be a better approach.

Employing orphans had several benefits.

Soldiers’ loyalty could increase since there’d be no worry about leaving children behind when one dies, allowing for instilling loyalty from a young age.

Furthermore, as there would be no concerns for relatives, if orphans receive an education, ordinary subjects might also take an interest in their own children’s education.

“You would do well.”

“…I truly appreciate the assessment.”

Receiving the four-field crop rotation method had once again given Şemsi a great task, which he reflected in a slightly distorted face of gratitude.

At the moment when Yusuf chuckled lightly at Şemsi’s attitude.

“Padishah, urgent news has arrived from Trabzon.”

“Come forth.”

Upon receiving the paper from Ali Pasha, Yusuf soon frowned.

“Our spies in Tabriz have been caught, and the last report states that a Western envoy has been seen entering the palace.”

This meant they had been prepared in advance from noticing the signs to clean up the spies.

Surviving under Ismail’s grip, that fellow Hasan sure was lucky.

“Hasan, a useful fellow indeed. I must remember him.”

Since he shared a name with Hotan, there was no worry of forgetting.

Joking lightly to relieve his discomfort, Yusuf gently tapped the chair.

“Ismail, what are you plotting?”

*

The scarecrow king of Samtskhe in Georgia, Kvirkvare III Jakeluri, welcomed his trembling visitor.

“Let me meet the true master of Samtskhe.”

The envoy of Shah Ismail lifted his bowed head.