I Became the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

Wearing the Mask of Fury (4)

It’s not like a declaration of war was made even in the 20th century, and after a betrayal like this, expecting anything would be foolish.

I yearned for a declaration from the nations of Georgia, something like, “I’ll give you time to surrender. If you don’t, I will fight until one of us is dead,” echoing the threats of Genghis Khan.

If that had happened, at least there would have been worry instead of fear.

However, the Ottoman Empire didn’t even allow for such deliberation.

“Should we at least propose surrender?”

Without a declaration of war, they were killing every envoy that approached, completely severing any channels for negotiation.

Nonetheless, it wouldn’t have been hard to figure out that the main target would be Artvin.

In Yusuf’s eyes, Artvin was engulfed in a dark aura, much like sinners standing before hell itself.

The overwhelming fear from so many people was giving him a headache, yet Yusuf spoke firmly.

“It’s too late for a declaration of surrender. Besides, there’s nothing better to serve as an example than a big game as the prize.”

Yusuf looked coldly at Artvin.

The fortress was sturdy, and nearly ten thousand soldiers were gathered in the narrow castle, having all converged from the military forces in the western Samtskhe.

At a glance, it seemed like a place that would be hard to conquer.

‘Pathetic. No, weak.’

He could sense no will from the soldiers set up like scarecrows.

They were filled with fear of possibly dying and discontent over why they had to fight against the Ottomans, who were with them not long ago.

Crossing over a fortress manned by such people didn’t seem difficult.

“Let our entire army know. It’s time to show how intense our fury is.”

“Yes, Padishah!”

With Yusuf’s words, a grand drumbeat echoed.

Perhaps they didn’t expect to start a siege without even sending a formal envoy for surrender, as there were flustered movements atop the walls.

The first to act among the advancing troops were the artillerymen.

“Prepare to fire! Get ready!”

The artillerymen, who had retrieved cannons from the fleet and additionally brought in smaller cannons from the capital, shoved powder and projectiles into the barrel.

Like seasoned artillerymen through various wars, they were ready, and the commander gave the order.

“Fire!”

-Kawkwang! Kwang!

When the flags indicating the launch signal waved, a heavy projectile was fired with a deafening roar, filling the sight with white smoke.

The cannonball struck the sturdy fortress walls, shaking them, and the unfortunate ones hit by the projectile were smashed and flung backwards.

As a cannonball flew from a distance that arrows and catapults couldn’t reach, a comrade next to a soldier turned into a bloody mess, and the soldiers’ faces were filled with dread.

It didn’t matter that only a few had died. What mattered was that anyone could become the next victim at any time.

Behind the quickly firing smaller cannons, the medium cannons took their place, roaring loudly.

Thud thud!

“Get a grip! No need to be afraid!”

This time, the shock was greater, shaking the walls more noticeably than the smaller cannons, and the commander’s voice, yelling for the soldiers, trembled.

With the noise from the explosions making it painful for their ears, it felt like they wouldn’t hear unless they yelled loudly, and the thick smell cutting through the blood was already detected.

The resounding explosions had spooked the birds high in the mountains long ago, and with the continued thunder, no birds dared fly away anymore.

“It’s fine. I can hold on.”

Riparit, a lower noble from Georgia, clenched his trembling fist.

Unlike regular soldiers, as a noble, he had some knowledge of artillery.

Cracks were forming along the fortress walls, and even though the soldiers were deep in fear, unable to brandish their weapons, he knew that the bombardment wouldn’t last forever.

It wasn’t just a waste of gunpowder; the heat generated by the bombardment would require cooling down the cannons that expanded.

Even seeing some of the smaller cannons that had spouted flames pulling back was a sign of this.

“The enemy’s cannons are retreating! Don’t be scared! The end is near!”

As he shouted this, Riparit faintly heard a sound that seemed out of place amid the war.

-Moooh!

The strained moo of oxen scratched at his ears, and turning his head, Riparit’s eyes widened in shock.

On a four-wheeled cart pulled by sixty oxen, huge cannons were moving.

The soldiers who had been struggling under much smaller cannons could not help but be filled with extreme fear at the sight of the gigantic cannon.

“It’ll collapse! The walls will fall!”

“Shut your mouth!”

A soldier, clutching his head in fear, bellowed as the nearby commander swung his sword sheathe to silence him.

Trying desperately to prevent anyone from falling into that futile fear, the soldiers’ eyes had already turned as rotten as spoiled fish.

The massive urban cannon, measuring eight meters in length and with a range of over 1.6 kilometers, was preparing to fire, and the soldiers could only watch.

“F-fire!”

An embarrassing amount of gunpowder compared to what had been put into the cannons until now was loaded inside, with dozens of men crowding around to load a single projectile.

Even the commander shouting the order was trembling, and just as the flame was about to touch the urban cannon—

Ka-thunk!

The thick wood laid on the ground to stabilize it broke slightly, and the urban cannon lurched, igniting without any further delay.

Soon, a sound that shook heaven and earth thundered out.

Beeeeep—

Dust and smoke rose, darkening the sky, and the pain in his ears was beyond normal, ringing in his head.

Even Yusuf, relatively far away, momentarily worried about his eardrums, experiencing darkness pouring over his vision only from the noise.

It was a sound so tremendous that it evoked tales of women miscarrying from cries heard more than twenty kilometers away.

‘This is useless.’

It requires as much as three hours just to reload after firing once, which meant they couldn’t shoot more than a few rounds a day, with the amount of gunpowder being immense.

Honestly speaking, it was a weapon with disappointing returns for the amount invested, and Yusuf clicked his tongue lightly at it.

– The gates have collapsed! The enemy’s gates have been destroyed!

The powerful cannonball that could shatter even thick walls shattered the enemy’s gates to a point where not a trace remained.

Not only were the enemies stunned, not expecting the gates to fly off in a single strike, but the allied forces were momentarily taken aback as well when a misfired cannon hit the gates.

-Advance! Charge!

-The enemy’s gates have opened! Charge!

The horsemen of the cavalry, riding towards the impossibly opened gates, dashed forward madly.

Without even a chance to defend properly, they surged in, and the blazing urban cannon collapsed due to broken wood.

Boom!

-O Allah!

Like it had fulfilled its duty, the shattered urban cannon embedded itself into the ground, and the artillerymen stomped their feet in search of Allah.

Yusuf let out a light chuckle at the scene that felt almost comedic.

‘Is this luck too?’

Luck often arrives unexpectedly, leaving many to wonder what kind of event it pertains to.

There’s always talk of fortune out of misfortune or the benefits of misadventure, right?

Yet, recalling the déjà vu of when they captured Erzurum, when the lord was struck by a catapult, Yusuf decided this instance leans towards luck.

Anyway, determining whether what occurs right before one’s eyes is lucky or not wasn’t the important part.

“Şemsi Pasha.”

“I know. I will spread the word widely.”

As the Padishah decreed, a single cannon shot rang throughout the land as the gates were destroyed.

*

Luck for one can be misfortune for another.

Yusuf’s luck turned into misfortune for Artvin.

“W-we surrender…!”

Trembling, a soldier hastily threw down his weapon, but what returned was a cold blade.

A resentful look questioning why they wouldn’t accept surrender met his gaze, and the cavalryman wielding the sword replied indifferently.

“For those who betrayed the Padishah, only death awaits.”

They were outmatched in numbers and personal strength, and their only reliance was that flimsy fortress.

That too was lost in a matter of moments, leaving only death behind.

Whether fleeing or fighting, it seemed that the Ottoman forces had no intention of taking prisoners, as the blades swung.

Trembling soldiers cast away their weapons and armor, thinking of hiding like common subjects, even that turned out to be futile.

“P-please spare us! We know nothing!”

“If that’s the case, you should have run instead of hiding here.”

The response to a man dragged out after hiding in his home was laced with unfairness, and he looked thoroughly aggrieved.

Georgia’s feudal system had been largely shattered by the Mongolian invasions, yet many remnants remained.

In an age when peasants couldn’t freely leave their land, the thought of running away was far from easy for them.

Yet, the conquerors had no reason to care for their plight.

“Kill them. It’s the Padishah’s command.”

“Understood!”

With a single word of command, the soldiers swung their swords mercilessly.

The hands of the harsh invading Ottoman army wielded no hesitation, and the penalty for adult men was death.

-Aaaah! Ah!

“Your Padishah.”

Women who could serve as women were targeted for plunder, and all children were captured.

Facing a fate of being sold into slavery, they could consider it fortunate to save their own lives amid the rampant human greed in Artvin.

In a sense, there was nothing special about it. This was the common fate of those defeated in war during these times.

Turning his head, Yusuf lifted one corner of his mouth.

“Did you think you could escape my grasp?”

“P-Padishah!”

Among them were nobles, including the lord of Artvin, and as they were captured fleeing, the lord bowed low.

“I vow all I have and pledge my loyalty!”

“I have no need for the loyalty of someone about to die.”

With a cold response, the lord crawled even lower.

“Then at least spare my son! Please do not take my son’s life! It will benefit the Padishah!”

Desperately, he grasped his daughter’s arm while shouting.

“I offer my daughter to the Padishah! She’s lovely enough for your enjoyment!”

As Yusuf watched the lord begging for his son’s life while offering his daughter like a bribe, he seized the lord’s head.

Gripping his hair as if to tear it out, Yusuf lifted his head to glare at him.

“From the moment I conquered this place, everything here is mine. Don’t you dare try to negotiate over what is mine.”

In most cases, the lord’s proposal might not be as bad.

After all, the lord’s son would have had some education and legitimacy that would help in governing this area smoothly.

However, having already made his decision, Yusuf let go of the lord’s hair roughly and commanded:

“Kill all the men and display their heads, allowing those who once served them to spit and humiliate them. Take all the women, rename them, and make them slaves.”

“Yes, Padishah!”

The decision of Yusuf, who aimed to erase even the traces of their former nobility, left them in shock.

“Once all procedures are complete, burn Artvin and let all of Georgia know of our fury.”

The flames reminiscent of the harsh Mongol invasions rose from the west.