Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 9

#9. The Sultan’s Test (2)

There’s a flow of time that human effort alone can’t change.

Edison aggressively promoted his direct current (DC) method over Tesla’s alternating current (AC) invention through lobbying and media campaigns. He even electrocuted cats and dogs and invented the electric chair to make AC seem dangerous. But ultimately, AC prevailed.

Eastman Kodak, synonymous with film cameras, actually developed the digital camera first in 1975. However, fearing it would threaten their film market, they didn’t commercialize it, which eventually led to their bankruptcy.

Similarly, an irresistible trend was brewing in this era.

‘That’s the Age of Exploration.’

No matter how much he, as the Sultan, tried to restrain the Europeans, he couldn’t stop them from dreaming of, ‘India! Spices! Ehehe [an onomatopoeic expression of glee].’

Knowing full well the consequences, should he engage in a deathmatch with the Safavid Empire over Iranian land?

Are you crazy?

Still, if asked whether to fight or not.

“Of course, we must fight.”

“Your Highness…”

He raised his hand to stop the Grand Vizier, who rushed in as if he’d been waiting for this moment.

“Fighting is not a simple choice. If a state emerges advocating Shia Islam, it will consider our empire its primary enemy, and the conflict between Sunni and Shia will only deepen.”

In reality, the conflict and mutual hatred between Sunni and Shia weren’t as intense as they are in modern times. However, with the rise of the Qizilbash [Safavid’s military force], the Safavid Empire’s founding group and cavalry warriors, the emotional rift would deepen.

Seeing the Grand Vizier’s disbelieving gaze, Yusuf clicked his tongue.

‘Does anyone actually want to fight?’

If Selim hadn’t unilaterally waged a holy war against the Safavid Empire and gained the military’s support, he wouldn’t have been sent to Trabzon.

He would have been assigned to the Balkans, closer to the capital, enjoying Greek culture while Bayezid II wavered.

Even if they were lucky enough to occupy the Safavid territory, all he could think of was oil. But oil drilling wasn’t child’s play, and he’d be dead of old age waiting for it to be extracted.

‘Worrying about how many more years I’ll live, fighting Ismail I, a monster, for the sake of hundreds of years in the future is not worth it.’

There were monsters in this era.

Selim and Suleiman, who conquered lands across three continents and created an empire like a demon king in European history.

Ismail I, who occupied Tabriz, the capital of the Aq Qoyanlu dynasty, at the age of 15 and founded the Safavid dynasty.

Charles V, who inherited the largest territory in European history, became the originator of the empire on which the sun never sets, and held various titles such as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, and Lord of Italy.

None of these monsters of the era were easy opponents.

“Even if it’s not a religious issue, we have no choice but to fight for the future of the empire.”

“The future?”

The Sultan stroked his chin, intrigued.

“What is your vision for our empire’s future?”

“The Mediterranean.”

You might ask why the Mediterranean after talking about the Age of Exploration, but the Ottoman Empire was, and always will be, about the Mediterranean.

It’s not for nothing that Rome expanded its power around the Mediterranean.

He continued, seeing the Sultan’s waning interest in the obvious statement.

“We must conquer the Mamluk Sultanate and seize control of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.”

The Mamluk Sultanate controlled parts of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

It was also a wealthy nation that collected huge fees from trade connecting Europe and the Indian Ocean.

“As the Sultan knows, the empire is not a major center of trade, to put it bluntly. Spices and such arrive by sea.”

The land route through the Silk Road briefly gained importance during the Pax Mongolica [period of stability under the Mongol Empire], but after the Mongol Empire collapsed in the mid-14th century, the northern route through the Ottoman Empire became secondary.

In the end, the importance of maritime trade routes was enormous, even without the Age of Exploration.

‘Well, anyone could give this answer.’

You could tell by the Sultan’s face that he was watching a talent show.

So, he had to tell a different story.

“The West is currently trying to find new trade routes to India.”

Already last year, Vasco da Gama, who departed from Lisbon, arrived in India and heard a Tunisian merchant in India say, ‘Damn it, how did you get here?’

Even if he didn’t know this fact, the Sultan would know that Portugal had been working to develop sea routes since Prince Henry the Navigator decades ago.

“If this effort bears fruit, the empire’s profits will clearly decrease, so we must conquer the Mamluks and seize the trade routes.”

It was also important that conquering the Mamluks would allow them to drink coffee.

He was addicted to coffee, but not so addicted that he would start a war just to drink it.

However, coffee, which spread to Europe through the Ottoman Empire, played a significant role as a financial benefactor for the Ottoman treasury.

“If the empire attacks, the Mamluks will seek allies to fight with.”

“That means the new Shia state.”

“Even if a Shia state doesn’t emerge, someone will soon appear to take the place of the already faltering Aq Qoyunlu dynasty, and they will ally with the Mamluks to oppose the expanding empire.”

To be honest, the plunder in the New World by Europeans is more threatening than Europe’s discovery of the Indian route, but he couldn’t say that.

‘If I talk about the New World when even the Europeans who discovered it still believe it’s India and call the natives Indians, I’ll be treated like a madman.’

As an aside, just the fact that they called them Indians shows that Europeans still had a poor understanding of world geography.

It had been two hundred years since Marco Polo wrote ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’, but they didn’t even know where India was, calling it India instead of China or Japan.

Even Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] created a map that reached Africa a hundred years ago in 1402 during the reign of Taejong, so there’s nothing more to say.

The Sultan slightly raised the corners of his mouth at Yusuf’s words.

“That’s a valid point. Do you think the empire can conquer the Mamluks?”

“Of course. The Mamluk cavalry cannot defeat the empire’s artillery and Janissaries [elite Ottoman soldiers].”

The Ottoman Empire of this era was a cutting-edge military power, like the United States today.

They actively used hand cannons and large cannons in an era when others were using bows and crossbows.

Praising the Janissaries, the imperial guards, seemed to please him, as he burst into laughter, while the Grand Vizier frowned slightly.

“Your insight is remarkable for your age.”

“Thank you.”

Just when Yusuf thought he had overcome the crisis, the Grand Vizier opened his mouth.

“Since the Prince’s insight is so outstanding, may I ask one more question?”

It was obvious that he was going to object again, but he couldn’t help it since the Sultan was showing interest.

‘I’ll let it slide since you’ll die before me.’

Yusuf, suppressing the urge to attack the old man, nodded willingly.

“Speak.”

“Then I will ask. We may be able to conquer the Mamluks as you say, but what should we do to minimize the damage?”

It was unfair to ask an 11-year-old such a question.

“Judging by the question, it must not be an easy question for the Grand Vizier either?”

The Grand Vizier’s face turned slightly red.

He was indirectly criticizing him for asking something he couldn’t answer himself.

Even if he ended it here, he had already shown more than expected, so the Sultan would have gladly moved on, but he couldn’t just end it like that.

“If it were me, I would induce the Mamluks to dig a canal.”

“A canal?”

“Yes, a canal connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.”

People’s thoughts are all similar.

The idea of connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean had been around since before Christ, and a canal was in operation for almost a thousand years, from the time of Darius I of Persia until 767.

Of course, it wasn’t a straight line like the modern Suez Canal, but a method of indirectly connecting the lower Nile River with valleys and lakes, but that alone was valuable enough.

“I heard there were already discussions about a canal between Venice and the Mamluks?”

“There was such a thing.”

In 1488, when Portugal arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, the story had already come out, fearing that Portugal would monopolize the spice trade.

The Grand Vizier, who had been pondering for a while about the old story, nodded in agreement but looked surprised.

The prince had accurately pointed out a story that he himself barely remembered.

“If the empire wins this war against Venice, Venice, which has lost its dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean, will have to find a way out. A canal would be enough of a way out.”

“…Wouldn’t it be disadvantageous to us if the canal is completed?”

Of course. Just building it would rake in money.

Using the Suez Canal can shorten the distance by up to 9,000 km compared to going around the African Cape of Good Hope.

The route that Portugal worked so hard to develop could virtually become meaningless. This difference in distance makes price competition impossible.

“If it’s completed, how long will it take for Venice to negotiate with the Mamluks after the war with us, even if it’s fast? Ten years?”

It takes at least ten years to have intense conversations about who will provide how much funding and how the profits will be divided.

“Even if the negotiations are successful, it’s not a short construction project, so we have to assume another ten years. If the Mamluks’ finances are weakened by spending huge sums on construction, we can occupy them before it’s completed.”

Even if the construction doesn’t proceed, it’s break-even, and if it goes according to plan, they can easily occupy the Mamluks and even swallow a half-finished canal.

It was the best solution he could offer at least now, but the Sultan stopped the Grand Vizier, who was trying to refute it, as if something didn’t like it.

“Ibrahim, stop it. You’ve lost.”

“…Understood.”

Judging by the talk of defeat, he knew that the Grand Vizier had opposed the appointment of Sanjakbey [governor of a district] as he had thought.

Perhaps he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up for a while since he had been defeated by a brat who hadn’t even reached puberty.

The Sultan, casting a pathetic gaze at the Grand Vizier, turned his head towards Yusuf.

“Şehzade [Prince] Yusuf.”

“Yes, my Padishah [Ottoman Sultan].”

“I appoint you as the Sanjakbey of Trabzon and Selim as the Sanjakbey of Teke. I will give you three months.”

“Understood!”

Yusuf bowed and felt his heart pounding.

Finally, the real beginning.

***

The three-month period was for Selim, who had received a sudden relocation order, but it was also an important time for Yusuf.

‘That guy won’t step down nicely.’

Selim was appointed as the Sanjakbey of Trabzon in 1481, so he had been there for 18 years, and it was like a tiger’s den for Yusuf.

He had to be mindful of the Sultan’s eyes, so he couldn’t openly interfere, but he would surely lay landmines everywhere to prevent him from governing properly.

“Well, I wouldn’t have chosen Trabzon if I was afraid of that.”

If he had to walk a thorny path anyway, it was better to walk a path so dangerous that others would revere it.

In the Ottoman Empire, a hothouse flower could not become Sultan.

Now that Trabzon had been confirmed as planned, it was time to move.

“Hassan!!!”

“Yes!! Your Highness!!!”

Hassan came in like the wind, as if he had been waiting to be called.

He had lost some weight, probably because he had been suffering mentally and physically for the past few days, but it was still not enough.

‘That’s all visceral fat. The root cause of adult diseases.’

So, if he wanted to use him for a long time, he had to put him on a diet now.

Yusuf, who got up from his seat, said to Hassan, who felt a strange chill.

“Get ready to go out. We’re going to the slave market.”