Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 62

The Time of Princes (2)

The Crimean Khanate was established independently from the Golden Horde [Kipchak Khanate], one of the four major khanates that emerged after the fragmentation of the Mongol Empire.

After independence, it struggled to survive by navigating a precarious path among neighboring powers until it incurred the displeasure of Mehmed II and became a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire.

However, this turned out to be a stroke of good fortune for the Crimean Khanate.

With the reliable backing of the Ottomans, Western countries were forced to treat the Crimean Khanate with caution. Taking advantage of this, the Crimean Khanate occupied Sarai [the capital of the Golden Horde], absorbing vast territories.

Mengli Giray, who styled himself as Kagan, meaning emperor among the nomads, welcomed the incoming man.

“Welcome! You’ve worked hard coming such a long way!”

“Thank you for the welcome.”

“Were there any difficulties on your journey here?”

He wore a friendly smile, but Selim wasn’t fooled.

‘A slippery character indeed.’

It only took three days on horseback to get from Kefe [Feodosia] to Bakhchysarai, the capital of the Crimean Khanate, making it practically next door with a bit of exaggeration.

He couldn’t ignore the numerous brutally murdered corpses of slaves he had seen while traveling this short distance.

Since the other side had provided the guide, it couldn’t be dismissed as mere coincidence; it was a battle of wills and a fight for dominance.

‘Just look at this.’

There were far too many soldiers with swords around for someone supposedly treating a distinguished guest, and they exuded a fierce aura from the sheer number of people they had cut down.

It felt as precarious as walking on a sword’s edge, but Selim smiled calmly.

“I came with a strong escort, so what could be difficult? I’d gladly come again if I had the chance later.”

Mengli’s expression tightened slightly at Selim’s words.

The time when a prince had leeway was when he became the master of the empire, and the time when he personally visited was when he led the army and campaigned himself.

A murderous aura emanated from Mengli, but Selim leisurely looked around.

“It seems there are too many ears listening for us to have a deep conversation.”

The soldiers, upon receiving Mengli’s gaze, left without complaint. Mengli, now facing him alone, asked, “So, what do you want to say?”

“I’m suggesting we don’t waste our energy on something that’s already been discussed to some extent. Isn’t Yusuf the problem anyway?”

Mengli sighed with annoyance at Yusuf’s name.

The order strictly prohibiting the Circassians from looting, directed at Mengli, who styled himself as emperor, reminded him once again that the Crimean Khanate was still a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire, no matter how large it grew.

This was a very real problem.

“It’s not just Prince Yusuf; the other two princes sent me warnings as well. They said that if I help you, I won’t be able to keep this position.”

The position of Khan of a vassal state could easily be undermined by the influence of the suzerain state.

That was why he was hesitating, even after gathering 30,000 troops.

“Is it just because of that much intimidation? Everything will be over once I ascend to the position of Padishah [Ottoman Sultan].”

“Are you confident?”

“Of course.”

It wasn’t an empty boast.

Yusuf, who had taken Trabzon in his place, had clearly gained a significant advantage that made him sick to his stomach.

Thanks to his repeated achievements, the military officials did not hesitate to express their respect, and even the Sultan favored Yusuf enough to summon him to the capital.

‘But all of this is meaningless if he can’t take the position of Padishah, and the position of Trabzon, which has given him so much, will strangle him.’

Selim said casually, “There are three princes in Anatolia. So none of the three will be able to reach the capital easily. Especially Yusuf.”

Trabzon was too far from the capital.

Yusuf would inevitably have to fight the princes who blocked his path.

“If we occupy the land of Rumelia [the Balkans], we can secure a more advantageous position than anyone else.”

Rumelia corresponded to the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, land that was not given to the princes because they could reach the capital without crossing the Bosphorus Strait.

If Selim could occupy this place, he could be in a very advantageous position.

Mengli, who had been contemplating for a while, made up his mind and asked, “When are you thinking of going to war?”

At this question, Selim offered a meaningful reply: “It won’t be long. The day when a brother who wants to burn the rest of his life will move.”

***

A lot had happened in just under 10 years.

As soon as he became Yusuf, he experienced three crises and came to understand the reality, and he experienced two wars while serving as the Sanjakbey [governor] of Trabzon.

‘Looking back, I was lucky.’

Not only was he alive and well, but his main plans were also proceeding as expected.

Of course, there were many unexpected situations in the middle, but somehow he was able to steer things back to the course he wanted.

The information he now held was also within the scope of his predictions.

“In the end, all of our nephews were appointed as Sanjakbeys. Looking at the details, it seems that my brother definitely used some influence.”

Ahmed’s four sons were also appointed as Sanjakbeys.

The second, Suleiman, the third, Alaeddin, and the fourth, Osman, were assigned the sanjaks of Çorum, Osmancık, and Çankırı, respectively, which are cities near Ahmed’s sanjak, Amasya.

The most troublesome was the city of Bolu, which was occupied by the eldest, Murad, because it was blocking the way to the capital.

“Prince Ahmed must have known as well, that this is his last chance.”

The four sons were the last card that Ahmed could play.

He hadn’t shown any particular prominence in Dulkadir, and he had lost much of his base since Korkut, who had formed an alliance with him, had died.

He was a pathetic figure for a prince who was once the most likely candidate for the next Sultan.

Yusuf lightly caressed his gun and lowered his eyes.

“Anyway, I’ll have to take all of my nephews’ lives because they will be my enemies.”

“Are you sad?”

They were only elementary school students at best as Sanjakbeys.

How much would they even know? They were just playing the role of Ahmed’s chess pieces, not acting on their own.

But the words that came out of Yusuf’s mouth were cold.

“Not really. Except for the fact that they are too young to go to Allah’s arms, there is nothing to worry about.”

Perhaps it was because he had become too accustomed to Ottoman culture.

‘It’s not strange to kill brothers or nephews without hesitation in order to take the Sultan’s seat.’

Even if they were called brothers or nephews, they were blood relatives he had never seen before.

It was worse than a passerby he met on the street to talk about the affection of blood relatives and say that he was ruthless, and he couldn’t even start a war if he was swayed by this much affection.

Because countless younger and more innocent people die in war.

“More than that, what about the movements of my brother Selim, who moved to the Crimean Khanate?”

“There are no special movements yet. It seems that he will move after winter.”

Selim stayed in Kefe under the pretext of teaching Suleiman and meeting his father-in-law.

It was too obvious to not know his intentions, and he was putting a lot of pressure on him, but he didn’t budge.

Yusuf frowned slightly.

“Suspicious. There’s no way he’d be so quiet.”

The alliance between the two was uneasy.

In terms of status, Mengli, the Khan of a vassal state, and Selim, a prince, were in similar positions.

However, Selim was more in need of help, and Mengli could let go of Selim’s hand at any time.

Selim might as well raise his army quickly, as he didn’t know how long Mengli would withstand the pressure coming from all directions.

“That means there’s a reason to endure the risk.”

“Yes, something that we don’t know, but Selim knows.”

Yusuf tilted his head, wondering if there was such a thing.

Yusuf, who knew the future flow and had sent informants to various places, was one step ahead of the other princes in terms of information and judgment.

He wasn’t ignoring Selim, but it was hard to imagine being behind him.

After thinking for a while, Shemsi opened the map and said, “There is one possible part.”

Shemsi pointed to Teke, Selim’s sanjak.

“If it’s here, there’s a place where we can get better information than us.”

“…Konya, Shehinshah’s intelligence corps.”

Teke and Konya were only four or five days away by horse, and the messenger could travel back and forth in two days.

No matter how hard Yusuf tried, he couldn’t easily know the information of Konya, which took a month and a half just to move.

Especially the information of Shehinshah, which is relatively less important.

“Of course, it’s just a guess, but Prince Selim may know Shehinshah’s information that others don’t know.”

The first thing that comes to mind is the rebellion of the Turkmen, which is giving more power to Shehinshah.

In particular, Shakulu, who hopes to become the second Ismail [Shah Ismail I, founder of the Safavid dynasty], wouldn’t be strange to start a rebellion at any time.

However, this is what Yusuf expected because he knew the future flow.

“…I don’t know how he expected it, and it could be for another reason, but.”

The fact that Selim is waiting quietly meant that something was happening here in Anatolia.

Then there’s no reason to hesitate any longer.

“Pasha, we have to move too.”

“Give me your orders.”

“Contact the Circassians and Georgia. Tell them the time has come. The expected time of assembly is spring.”

“I understand.”

Looking at Shemsi, who turned around and disappeared, Yusuf sighed deeply.

“It’s been a long wait.”

Next year, the 10th year since Yusuf became Yusuf. That’s when everything will be decided.

***

Cough, cough.

Perhaps because of the cold winter wind, Shehinshah, who coughed violently, staggered and got up from his seat.

Shehinshah, who smiled slightly at the hands that hurriedly grabbed his swaying body, said, “Okay, how long have you been serving me?”

“…I’ve been serving you since you first came here, so it’s been over 25 years.”

“It’s been a long time.”

Okay’s face, which was young and unrestrained, was now full of wrinkles that told of the past years.

Shehinshah, who stared blankly at his white beard, pushed his shoulder and got up, and Okay asked with a worried voice, “You’ve been overdoing it too much lately.”

“No. Rather, I feel like I’m living properly these days.”

Shehinshah, who was struggling to hold his trembling hands, leaned against the wall, wondering if it was time to take opium.

“Even if you look at it, isn’t it better now than the pathetic past?”

Okay, who knew the past well when he fell asleep with the help of alcohol and neglected his Sanjakbey duties, sighed and said, “It’s not too late now. You can still achieve things while taking care of your health.”

“You can rest as much as you want when you return to Allah’s arms.”

Okay’s expression hardened at the feeling that he was preparing for the end.

“I know you don’t like hanging out with Ismail’s followers. So let me ask you one thing.”

“Just tell me.”

“When spring comes, I and Shakulu will start a rebellion together.”

Shehinshah also knew that Shakulu’s purpose was not to put him on the Sultan’s seat.

Anyway, the Sultan’s seat was meaningless to him, who knew his physical condition better than anyone else.

“When the army goes to war, secretly kill Ishbat.”

Shehinshah, who ordered the death of Ishbat Bey, a member of Ismail’s followers, smiled like a child.

“I was born a prince against my will, so I want to go like a prince with my own will when I go.”

Even if I make a lot of companions.