Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 48

#48. Those Who Move (3)

Selim’s spies, who had been staying in Kefe [modern-day Feodosia, Crimea], all left at once, so I knew they had achieved their goal.

However, I didn’t know what they were planning, so I was on high alert. When I heard the news that smallpox was spreading around Kefe, Yusuf was slightly surprised.

‘Even though history repeats itself, a germ warfare in Kefe of all places.’

160 years ago, in 1346, the Mongol Empire tried to occupy Caffa [the Genoese name for Kefe] on the coast of the Black Sea.

However, during the siege, the Black Death began to spread among the Mongol army, and the Mongols catapulted the bodies of soldiers who had died from the epidemic into Caffa.

The Black Death spread within Caffa, and Genoese merchant ships fleeing the city carried the plague to Sicily in southern Italy, from where it ravaged Europe.

It was the beginning of the medieval Black Death, which killed an estimated 1/3 of the European population in just a few years, and is considered by some to be the first instance of germ warfare in human history.

‘And Caffa and Kefe are the same city.’

In the end, the same thing happened in the place that suffered the world’s first germ warfare, although this time the disease was different.

As soon as the information arrived, an emergency meeting was held, and Yusuf asked Shemsi.

“Pasha, what is the situation in Kefe now?”

“All ships departing from Kefe have been banned from entering ports, and Kefe has been placed under lockdown.”

It was the most prudent measure, and a necessary one.

Smallpox is not as highly contagious as some other diseases, but since Kefe is a major trading port, it could easily be spread far and wide by ships.

“Are there any other measures being taken?”

“They are planning to inoculate the population of Kefe with cowpox, as was done in Cherkess.”

Vaccination is a preventive measure, not a cure. However, it can create herd immunity by protecting those who have not yet been infected.

“Then let’s send the cowpox vaccine and doctors we have available.”

“Understood.”

“And what is Mehmed’s condition?”

“Since the outbreak is centered around Kefe Castle, there is a high probability that he has been infected.”

“Even if he survives by luck, his chances of ascending to the Sultan’s throne will virtually disappear.”

What makes smallpox so feared is that even survivors are often left with disfiguring pockmarks.

These scars were considered hideous, and no one would seriously consider a prince with a pockmarked face to become Sultan when there were healthy princes available.

‘This is poetic justice.’

Clearly, the current Sultan, Bayezid, had declared the implementation of vaccination.

It is a natural decision for a ruler, and even if the cowpox vaccination proves ineffective, it is better to try than to risk the devastation that smallpox could cause.

However, the Ottomans, who recognized local autonomy, left the actual implementation to their discretion, and Yusuf and his rival princes had refused to introduce it due to concerns about its reliability.

This was the result.

“It’s good to have one less competitor, but I suspect this is the work of brother Selim?”

“Considering the circumstances, that seems likely. The timing of the spies leaving and the smallpox outbreak coincide.”

“Then there must be a reason why he used smallpox.”

The spread of smallpox in Kefe was, in some ways, good news for Yusuf.

Even with vaccination, questions about its effectiveness always lingered, but this situation could prove its value.

The problem is why Selim, who knows this well, would resort to using smallpox.

“He’s the type of person who prefers a sure kill over a method that has any chance of failure.”

“There must be a reason why it’s difficult to kill him directly.”

Indeed, a prince who couldn’t even protect his own life in his own room wouldn’t have survived this long.

Honestly, using smallpox is something that no one could have predicted, so let’s put that aside for now.

“In addition, he could also be trying to cast suspicion on the person who benefits the most from this incident.”

“If he uses spies to spread rumors, it will look like I planned it.”

If he simply killed another prince, he would be seen as foolish, but using an infectious disease could draw heavy criticism.

However, neither Yusuf nor Shemsi seemed overly concerned.

“Fortunately, we have already prepared for this. Don’t you think so, Pasha?”

“That’s right. When false rumors start to circulate, I will send the letters to Padishah [the Sultan], in which I repeatedly recommended vaccination but was rejected.”

It won’t completely eliminate suspicion, but if you use the logic that you wouldn’t repeatedly make such recommendations to someone you were trying to kill with smallpox, there shouldn’t be a major problem.

Selim wouldn’t know that these letters were exchanged, because I didn’t send them to Selim or Ahmed.

‘It would be truly fortunate if those two died of smallpox.’

Anyway, Selim using smallpox as an assassination method also implies that he didn’t get vaccinated, even though he outwardly claimed he wouldn’t get cowpox.

This means there’s no chance of a happy ending where our biggest rival, Selim, dies of smallpox by chance.

‘It’s not like I prepared these letters because I expected him to use smallpox as an assassination method.’

It was just a letter prepared to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, like the saying about a crow flying and a pear falling [a Korean proverb about coincidences leading to false accusations].

I didn’t know it would be so useful.

Yusuf, having concluded the hastily convened meeting, let out a light breath.

“Finally, my brothers are starting to move in earnest.”

“Padishah is also old enough to decide on a successor.”

Bayezid is sixty years old this year, so he will be celebrating his sixtieth birthday next year in Korean age.

Of course, some people live to be a hundred years old even in this era, but it was also an age when death at any time was not unexpected.

Even the oldest brother, Ahmed, is over forty.

Yusuf impulsively asked Shemsi, unlike his usual self.

“Pasha, do you think I can become the master of the empire?”

“Are you afraid?”

Normally, I would have denied it.

I believed that even with a trusted aide or someone I cared for, I shouldn’t rashly reveal my feelings.

Maybe it’s close to an obsession.

The succession war is a situation where you can lose your life with even one small mistake, and I had to project the image of the ruler that people of this era desired.

“I can’t say that I’m not worried at all. Do you think that’s wrong?”

Shemsi smiled slightly at Yusuf’s question.

“Who isn’t afraid? Even Muhammad, the last prophet, felt extreme anxiety and fear when he first met the angel Gabriel, thinking he was possessed by Satan, to the point where he considered jumping off a cliff.”

“But no one wants a weak ruler who is consumed by fear. Don’t you think so?”

“I’m not suggesting you reveal it to everyone. I just mean don’t keep it entirely to yourself. Muhammad also received help from his wife, Khadija, when he felt fear. Prince, you are not alone.”

The first person that came to mind was Aisha.

Since the last confession, I have also considered Hatice as my wife, but the years I have spent with her are different compared to Aisha.

Besides, my mother, Fatima, was also my unwavering ally.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Yusuf nodded.

Of course, I don’t intend to completely open up my heart just because I heard these words, but I feel more at ease knowing that I don’t have to live so rigidly like an Ottoman royal.

As Yusuf’s face, which had been hardening lately, softened a little, Shemsi asked.

“Then, are there any further instructions you would like to give?”

“There are. Send the people who will administer the cowpox vaccination as soon as possible. There’s no need for unnecessary sacrifices to increase. And…”

Yusuf, who slightly trailed off, continued.

“Make sure Mehmed doesn’t survive by luck.”

If he was a brother trembling with fear and awaiting his death, it would be an act of mercy to end his suffering, a brotherly kindness between princes.

I don’t know if Mehmed would agree.

***

Mehmed, the sanjak [governor] of Kefe, was not very lucky.

In the end, Mehmed lost his life to smallpox, and as the personnel from Trabzon, acting on Yusuf’s instructions, were dispatched to Kefe, the epidemic quickly began to subside.

The capital was buzzing with two stories: one was the proven effectiveness of vaccination in Kefe.

Compared to past outbreaks, smallpox was eradicated much faster, effectively proving the vaccine’s efficacy.

As people no longer needed to fear smallpox, Yusuf’s reputation soared.

The other story was the suspicion that Yusuf was the one who spread smallpox in Kefe.

However, this rumor was dismissed by the Sultan, who had received the letters exchanged between Prince Yusuf and Mehmed, and it remained a minor suspicion.

There were six princes left alive, and after Mehmed’s death, the princes who were attracting attention in the capital were divided into three.

Ahmed, being the oldest and having several sons, had a strong claim to the throne and formed an alliance with Korkut, which greatly improved his standing.

Even though Mehmed II had enacted the fratricide law [a law allowing the Sultan to kill his brothers to prevent civil war], legalizing the killing of princes, not everyone approved of it.

Those who criticized the bloodshed that occurred during each succession war supported Ahmed’s stance.

The second highest rated was Yusuf.

Although he was the youngest, the academic community was buzzing because of the newly recognized vaccination.

In addition, thanks to his great victory against Ismail, he was receiving support from the military, and as cement, recently known to have been developed by Yusuf, began to be supplied to the front-line fortresses, his reputation within the military rose significantly.

Selim, the last, had his evaluation upgraded by forming a political marriage with the Crimean Khanate, which had explosively increased its territory in the past few years.

Although he had not achieved any outstanding feats, if the Crimean Khanate intervened in the succession war, tens of thousands of cavalry would support Selim, making him a worthy contender.

There were still six princes alive, but in reality, the candidates had been narrowed down to three.

Although he was one step closer to the Sultan’s throne, Yusuf never let his guard down.

Because he knew that unexpected variables could arise at any time.

That’s why he was able to uncover an interesting fact through informants scattered throughout the Ottoman Empire.

“Turkmens are starting to gather in Shehinshah’s territory.”

The Turkic people include Turks, Uyghurs, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, and others, and one of them is the Turkmen.

It was an era before nationalism was born, so there was no concept of being the same people as one.

Anyway, the Turkmens were a nuisance in the Ottoman Empire. The Kizilbash [a Shia religious group], who were Ismail’s supporters, were largely composed of these Turkmens.

‘It’s not just because they are Shia like Ismail.’

They are nomadic people.

They travel around the Ottoman Empire without paying proper taxes and do not adhere to Ottoman rule.

In fact, they are an unwelcome presence, like a thorn in one’s side.

That’s why I was paying attention to the fact that these people were carefully gathering around Shehinshah, but I learned one more interesting fact.

“Shehinshah and Shakulu met. Things are getting interesting.”

Shakulu, who incited the princes to rebel, and Shehinshah met, which meant only one thing.

“Finally, Ismail is moving again.”

War was coming.