Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 76

The Winds of Change (2)

Yusuf ran his hand over the chair he was sitting on.

A seat earned through desperate struggles and countless sacrifices. He could build a tower with those who died because of him, and the blood that had flowed could fill a valley.

The sacrifices made for the primal desire to live and the ambition to become the master of the empire were great.

The image of Bayezid buried with a single silver coin and the weeping of the boy who was now a Pasha flickered in his mind, but.

‘Still, I don’t regret it.’

Yusuf’s sunken eyes sharpened.

It was the destiny he had prepared for when he became Yusuf, and he was ready to pay any price.

Still, it would be a lie if he said he didn’t want to rest, having worked so hard to get here.

‘Now that I’m on the throne, I can indulge in pleasure and live a fun life.’

Food? Food had greatly developed during the Ottoman Empire.

Thanks to bringing spices and good cooking methods from Persia, vegetable and fish dishes from Greece, and confectionery from Arabia.

Chefs who would have their heads chopped off if they served the same food to the Sultan prepared meals with their lives on the line every time.

He could confidently say that it was comparable to modern Michelin restaurants.

Then what about women?

‘I can hold them until my bones rot.’

Women of various races and ages, enough to not be able to sleep with them all within a year even if he changed women every day, belonged to the harem.

If he mentioned the type of woman he wanted, there would be plenty of people around him who would send even their own daughters to the harem.

Even if it wasn’t food or women, there were plenty of things to enjoy if he wanted, and there were officials who would run the country on their own even if the Sultan took a break from state affairs.

The Ottoman Empire was not a weak country that couldn’t withstand the Sultan taking some time off.

Living in a land of wine and meat might be a happier life than struggling to personally lead conquest wars.

“However. I can’t be satisfied with just that kind of life.”

The Ottoman blood that devoured even brothers could not accept such a life.

Even if he couldn’t achieve the goal of an empire spanning six continents, he had to not be ashamed of the future he had broken.

Yusuf tapped the armrest of the chair with his hand.

“Then I have to choose and focus.”

Having future knowledge is a huge advantage.

It means he can bring out the achievements that countless geniuses have devoted their lives to for hundreds of years.

But it’s not without its problems.

‘First of all, my knowledge is superficial.’

For example, he knows that he can create a saltpeter field using a dung mixture made of dung, humus, rotten grass, lime powder, and wood ash.

But he didn’t know what ratio to use or how much to decompose it to obtain saltpeter, so he had to go through numerous trials and errors.

Even if he brought scientific knowledge, he didn’t know exactly what experiment to prove it with, and even if he brought mathematical formulas, he didn’t know exactly how to prove them.

‘It’s only been once or twice that I’ve glossed over things by saying that I’ve discovered amazing knowledge, but there’s not enough space to explain it.’

There are plenty of scholars who can be called geniuses in this capital alone, so it would be only a matter of time before his shallowness is revealed.

Even without these reasons, the time he can use is limited, and it is arrogant to think he can do everything.

In the end, it means he has to focus on the areas most needed as the Sultan.

“The two most important pillars of a country are the economy and military power, but if I had to choose one, it would be military power in this era.”

War is a gamble, and the reason for doing it is because you can win big when you win.

It is better to conquer and plunder other people’s land than to struggle to develop trade goods and start an industrial revolution.

There were plenty of people in this era who thought the same way.

Anyway, it means he has to move in the direction of increasing military power, and the person he called for this has arrived.

-Your Majesty, Shemsi Pasha and the master craftsman you summoned have arrived.

“Let them in.”

The door opened, and Shemsi, with a tired look, and an old man came in and paid their respects.

Yusuf smiled slightly at the old man.

“Welcome, Tahir.”

“It, it’s an honor, Your Majesty.”

As Tahir answered in a trembling voice, the eunuch handed the gun to Yusuf.

It was the gun he had only used once in the succession war, and he had taken care of it himself after use, showing his affection for it.

Stroking the gun placed next to him, Yusuf spoke softly.

“Tahir, there’s no need to tremble. Even though my status has changed, my feelings for you have not.”

At Yusuf’s words, Tahir took a deep breath.

“I am grateful that you think so highly of a foolish old man who is afraid of death even though he is facing his dying days.”

“In the face of the fear of death, status and age are not important.”

“Didn’t that idiot… no, Hassan, overcome that fear?”

Yusuf chuckled lightly at Hassan’s name.

“Come to think of it, Hassan and Nene must have gotten married.”

Nene was furious when she heard that Hassan had her in his heart, and Fatima stepped in at that time.

Fatima didn’t like Hassan either, but she wanted Nene, who had helped her for a long time, to have a proper family.

Nene’s condition for being persuaded by Fatima, whom she served, was that Yusuf become the Sultan.

‘There was also the quid pro quo that we would die together if I failed.’

Now that the life-or-death gamble was successful, the two would have made a marriage contract.

“Yes. He was threatened with a knife on the first night instead of sleeping together, but the silly guy was smiling, saying he liked it.”

“If he likes it, then it’s fine, isn’t it?”

Nene doesn’t have a heartless personality, so if he keeps putting in effort, he will see results.

“More than that, I don’t know if he’s making the saltpeter field well, being distracted by women.”

“He will do well since it is Your Majesty’s order.”

The saltpeter field research that Hassan was in charge of was essential for securing a stable supply of gunpowder.

Until he occupies the land of India where saltpeter comes from, he needs to use saltpeter fields to secure a stable supply of saltpeter.

‘Nene is glaring at him from the side, so he won’t neglect his work.’

Hassan, who was freed from slavery, went to a new slave owner.

What can’t he do if he’s blinded by love?

“Let’s stop talking about Hassan, Tahir.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The reason I called you here from Trabzon is for two reasons.”

“Two reasons?”

Tahir looked puzzled.

He knew one thing was about guns, but he couldn’t guess the other.

“As you expected, the first reason is the gun. The gun played its part in the last battle, but I also clearly felt its limitations.”

Having to manage the fire attached to the fuse throughout the battle was secondary, and it was too vulnerable when a sudden battle broke out.

You can’t ask the enemy to wait while you light the fuse.

‘The enemies I will face in future wars are mostly cavalry, and the main battlefield will be the enemy’s territory.’

That means you can be ambushed at any time.

He couldn’t underestimate the monstrous Ismail or the Mamluks who had accumulated wealth through intermediary trade connecting Europe and the Indian Ocean, and he had to reduce casualties when considering war with Europe.

Yusuf picked up his gun next to him.

“So I need as many guns like this as possible.”

“The artisans in the capital will easily accept my skills and experience.”

Although Yusuf gave him the blueprints, it is not an easy decision to readily share the results of many failures and worries.

“Thank you.”

Of course, arming the troops with flintlock guns that use flint had problems not only with the manufacturing method but also with price and production.

It’s not for nothing that it took more than 100 years to completely replace matchlock guns even after development was completed.

There will be difficulties in the future, such as iron smelting and flint supply issues, but it is meaningful that he has taken the first step.

“The second is that I want you to work hard on making small cannons.”

“Small cannons?”

Tahir expressed a negative opinion.

“The problem isn’t making them, but you won’t get the firepower you want. There’s a reason why people gave up.”

Cannons have been used for hundreds of years, and it’s not like no one has thought about putting wheels on small cannons and pulling them around.

The problem is the technology. Because cannons were made by pouring molten metal into molds, the caliber of the guns into which the cannonballs went was different.

In the end, you can’t put cannonballs that fit perfectly into the muzzle, and the gas leaks through the gaps when it explodes, reducing the range.

To increase this range, more gunpowder had to be added, and the cannon had to be made larger to withstand the explosion, so large cannons became the main type as they are now.

“In the end, doesn’t that mean we need to make the holes in the guns similar?”

“That’s right.”

“If the problem is the stamping method, then we can just cut it out.”

“Ah!”

Tahir, who had already done it when making guns, immediately understood.

The machine for drilling holes is called a boring machine, and the reason why cannons became lighter in the 18th century was thanks to the cannon boring machine developed at this time.

“The basic blueprints are currently with Suleiman Pasha. Try researching with him. He’s a smart kid, so he’ll be helpful.”

“I understand.”

Making a gun by cutting a small iron rod and making a cannon by drilling a large hole in a lump of iron are different levels of difficulty.

Even if he had the blueprints, he wouldn’t dare to do it alone, but he has no reason to refuse since they are giving him a helper.

After finishing his conversation with Tahir, Yusuf turned to Shemsi.

“Pasha, I want you to support the two of them. But the introduction of the 4-field crop rotation method should not be delayed.”

The biggest reason why guns replaced bows is that even soldiers with insufficient training can be used as combat power.

It means that you can produce troops if you have a lot of weapons and people to conscript.

‘The fact that there are many people to give guns to means military power.’

The reason for improving sanitation through urban planning and increasing food through the 4-field crop rotation method is ultimately to increase the population, and the sooner it is implemented, the better.

Shemsi, who frowned at Yusuf for passing on difficult things so easily, sighed deeply.

“I will do my best.”

There is no way to refuse or escape, so the answer that comes out of his mouth is also predetermined.

Yusuf said to Shemsi, who was about to leave after paying his respects, as if he had forgotten.

“Take some candles on your way. You said a day is not enough, so I have to help.”

“…Thank you.”

“I’ve prepared enough for the others, so use them without worrying.”

Sighs piled up in Topkapi Palace [Ottoman palace in Istanbul] at Yusuf’s generosity in supporting expensive candles for them to work even at night.

***

“Aren’t you paying attention?! You have to dig more before the rain gets heavier!”

At the supervisor’s shout, the hands digging the ground to lay the sewer became even busier.

The capital was a place where it rained for half of the month in winter, and a gloomy atmosphere flowed in the drizzling rain.

Not long after the eventful year of 1509 passed and 1510 began, Yusuf was able to meet the people he had been waiting for.

“Father.”

“Daddy!”

Mehmet, who was now just 7 years old, paid his respects dignifiedly, but Murat, who was 4 years old, jumped up and hugged Yusuf.

Murat, who was 4 years old but looked similar to Mehmet in terms of height and size, gave a heavy shock.

“Oh my, you’ve grown a lot since I last saw you.”

It wasn’t just a formality, and he seemed like he would grow bigger than an adult within ten years.

Yusuf gestured to Mehmet, who was only giving Murat envious glances.

“Come here.”

“Yes!”

Yusuf, who patted his son’s head as he approached with an excited face, turned his eyes to the alienated person with a pleased expression.

“Thank you for your hard work on the long journey, Mother.”

“What hardship is there in being called by the Padishah [Ottoman Emperor]? I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief. You said you already saw Father?”

Fatima had a complicated expression as she recalled Bayezid’s coffin, which she had seen first.

The humble end of the man who had seemed so high and mighty made her let go of her old feelings.

“It was a face that was hard to see even if I wanted to, so I’m thinking of seeing him often now.”

“Father will be happy too. And now that you’ve come to me, Mother, I want you to work as Valide Hatun [Queen Mother].”

A slow smile spread across Fatima’s face, which had been like a beautiful mistress.

“Will you entrust the harem to me?”

“After checking, there are still many who will become gifts. Do as you wish, Mother.”

Similar smiles formed on the faces of the two mothers and sons.

Cold and chilling.