Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 189

The Gambling Den (3)

The Spanish commander stared at the Aurelian Walls, stained with blood and flesh.

To anyone with a sound mind, the area around the walls was horrific enough to induce nightmares.

Soldiers, reduced to mere remnants with no identifiable belongings, were mixed with the crude weapons they had wielded in life and the wreckage of shattered siege engines, rotting away, utterly devoid of human dignity.

The soldiers climbing the walls trampled over the remains of their comrades like mere obstacles, clinging to the walls like moths to a flame.

“Those damned infidels. I’m so sick of them.”

The siege had been ongoing for nearly a month, but the morale of the Ottoman forces defending the walls showed no signs of faltering.

Of course, they hadn’t expected the occupation of Rome to be easy, but facing the renowned Ottoman army head-on was proving to be a daunting task.

“I don’t know what kind of cowards gave up such walls in just one day.”

It was hard to believe this was the same city that had been looted after holding out for only a single day a few years prior.

At this, the Milanese commander offered a bitter smile.

“Haven’t you realized it in the past month? What’s truly remarkable isn’t the walls themselves, but the men who defend them.”

The other commanders agreed in silence.

Out of the initial 70,000 troops, casualties had long exceeded 30,000, and the number of wounded was beyond manageable levels, with most left unattended.

The same held true for supplies. The repeated destruction of ladders was a minor issue, but the Ottoman artillery, which relentlessly targeted their cannons with superior range, was infuriating.

If it weren’t for the reinforcements from Naples and the supplies arriving through Genoa, they would have already been on the brink of defeat. Yet, the commanders still maintained a composed facade.

“The Ottoman army is formidable, but if the walls can’t hold, they won’t last long.”

“We recently received word that the Republic of Siena also intends to participate. It seems they have a keen eye for opportunity.”

“What do you mean they’re joining now? Don’t make me laugh.”

Ercole d’Este, the Duke of Ferrara’s son and commander of the Ferrara forces, sneered.

The moment they captured the Ottoman Padishah [Ottoman Sultan], they stood to gain immense profits, far outweighing the costs incurred thus far. He couldn’t bear the thought of others trying to capitalize on their efforts at the last minute.

The others shared the same greedy glint in their eyes, as if they had already captured Yusuf. Only the Spanish commander offered a more measured remark.

“We must not forget that the current Pope is a member of the Medici family. If the Republic of Siena can keep the Florentine reinforcements in check, that alone would be a great help.”

“For that reason, we can grant them some concessions, anything besides the canal.”

“Anything but the canal sounds like a good idea.”

It was frustrating to hear them speak as if the canal was already theirs, but the Spanish commander kept his thoughts to himself.

Now that the fall of Rome seemed imminent, there were two key factors to consider.

‘Beware of Florentine support and the Ottoman fleet that occupied Tunis.’

Florence would be effectively blocked by the Republic of Siena between Rome and Florence, and the Ottoman navy could be adequately countered by the combined forces of the Spanish, Genoese mercenary fleets, and the recently joined Portuguese fleet.

Just as he was relieved that these variables seemed to be under control,

-Urgent news!

“What is it! Has a section of the wall collapsed?”

That was the only news that would warrant such urgency. However, the commanders realized it was dire when they saw the scout’s face, covered in sweat and dirt, turn pale.

“Ottoman cavalry has appeared! They’re coming from the east!”

“What are you talking about! Are you certain it’s the Ottoman army?”

“They’re flying the Ottoman flag and heading this way!”

Considering the Ottoman flag was already flying over parts of the walls of Rome, there was no way he could have mistaken it.

It was incomprehensible that they were approaching from the east, but there was no time to dwell on the reason.

“What’s the enemy’s numbers?”

“A, approximately 20,000, more than 20,000!”

At the mention of 20,000, the commanders paled.

Even 20,000 infantry would be a significant threat, let alone 20,000 cavalry. The commanders’ minds were thrown into turmoil.

“Shouldn’t we verify the facts first?! How can more than 20,000 cavalry emerge from the east?!”

“We need to retreat immediately! We’ll all be annihilated if we stay here!”

Ercole’s cry jolted the other commanders back to their senses.

If enemy cavalry were to attack during a siege, they would be massacred without a chance to resist. They shouted urgently.

“Retreat! Signal the retreat immediately!”

At the commander’s order, the sound of drums signaling retreat echoed across the battlefield.

“W, what’s going on? A retreat?!”

“It’s a retreat! Get down now, you bastards!”

As the drums signaling retreat suddenly sounded when the sun was high in the sky, the soldiers clinging to the ladders were thrown into confusion.

The reason didn’t matter. What mattered was that they could survive if they retreated.

The soldier, impatiently striking the head of a comrade who was hesitating to descend, turned his head in agitation and paused for a moment. A strange sight caught his eye.

In the distance, a massive cloud of dust was rising, and a vibration, distinct from the drums, seemed to resonate through the ground.

The Allied soldiers who saw the red flags amidst the dust clouds approaching like a whirlwind were horrified.

“I, it’s the Ottoman army! Ottoman reinforcements have arrived!”

The Rumeli Sipahi [Ottoman elite cavalry] spurred their horses even faster as they watched their prey desperately fleeing from the ladders.

The Sipahi charged towards the enemy camp, which lacked makeshift palisades, as if they hadn’t anticipated an attack, raising their lances.

-Glory to the Padishah! Death to the enemy!

All that was visible in the limited field of vision through the iron helmets were terrified enemies, and the Sipahi surged towards the enemy, who had not even formed a proper formation, like a tidal wave.

The enemy caught in the lance charge were literally scattered in a spray of blood, and the Sipahi mercilessly slaughtered the trembling, fleeing enemies.

“We’re not late.”

Yusuf bared his teeth menacingly.

The frustrating role of crouching down and silently enduring the enemy’s attacks didn’t suit him.

Tearing apart any enemy who dared to target him was more to his liking, and now was the time.

“Open the gates!”

As the promised horn sounded loudly, the gates that had steadfastly held for the past month opened with a thud.

The Allied forces, who had sacrificed many lives to open those gates, were terrified when their wish was finally granted.

The Janissaries [elite Ottoman infantry], with blood-stained bayonets, surged out of the gates with a murderous glint in their eyes.

“Oh, God!”

Ercole, the commander of the Ferrara forces, called out to God.

It hadn’t been long since he had uttered hopeful words about being able to occupy Rome, but what unfolded before his eyes was hell.

The Ottoman cavalry massacred the soldiers like wolves among sheep, and the Janissaries, who had personally opened the tightly closed gates, fired their guns incessantly.

What blocked the fleeing soldiers, who couldn’t even put up a decent resistance, was the Tiber River, about 80 meters wide.

“D, don’t push! Stay back!”

The Aurelian Walls were built along the Tiber River, and the river flowing west of the walls became a massive tomb.

Although the width was only 80 meters, many drowned because they couldn’t swim properly due to the onrushing allies.

The drowned corpses became obstacles for those who followed, and the river was quickly covered with corpses.

“Ah…”

The commanders who had evacuated first were speechless as they watched the Ottoman army surge in behind the soldiers huddled together, blocked by the river, creating a red storm of blood like flags.

There was no defeat like this, and they fled in haste, thinking that they couldn’t even save their lives if they stayed here.

The sight of those who appeared to be commanders fleeing was clearly visible from the walls, but Yusuf didn’t care much.

There was no point in catching those guys.

“Pope, I don’t think we’ll be able to drink water from the river for a while.”

The Pope was appalled that he would say such a thing after seeing this scene.

It had been over a month since they had been together, but he was a man he could never get used to.

Even though everything had gone according to plan, and he had achieved a great victory, Yusuf’s eyes gleamed ominously.

His face showed that annihilating the enemy wasn’t enough for him, and the Pope swallowed hard.

“Now that we’ve won the gambling game, all that’s left is to collect the rewards.”

Just because most of the annihilated forces were mercenaries didn’t mean there was no impact.

The supply of mercenaries that could be hired would have dried up, and now it was time to pay the price.

In the Duchy of Ferrara alone, Venice, which had many regrets from the last war, would have already begun its offensive.

Since he had moved the cavalry himself, he would have been the first to notice the Ottoman victory.

“Carlos, you should have protected what you had in your hands.”

If he had, he wouldn’t have been foolish enough to sit at a gambling table where the outcome was already determined.

Yusuf smiled coldly.

***

“Your Majesty, it’s not too late. Please reconsider.”

“I have no intention of changing my decision!”

The nobles sighed at the words of King Francis II of France.

“Even if they are allies, we cannot move our troops based solely on the Ottoman’s word that attacking Milan will be beneficial without any further explanation!”

“Is it perhaps because of the Ottoman princess’s letter?”

Francis, who had Hasna’s letter in his possession, was slightly flustered by this remark but retorted.

“This is just a friendly letter! Why can’t we do it!”

“Attacking Milan means breaking the agreement we have with Charles V. We should avoid a major war, as we still need to focus on internal stability, shouldn’t we?”

“Your opinion seems to be based on the assumption that the Ottomans will suffer a major setback?”

The person who spoke hesitated at the sharp remark, and Francis said irritably.

“Anyway, if the Ottomans collapse, that treaty will be meaningless. Are you saying I should live my whole life being wary of my father’s enemy! Is that what you’re saying!”

“That is…”

It would be strange if he had good feelings for the Habsburg family, who killed the previous king, Francis I.

It was also an event that greatly wounded France’s pride.

“They even say that the Ottoman Padishah is a prophet, don’t they? There’s no way such a man would have entered Rome to die. I won’t say any more. The army will have already set out by now anyway.”

Francis resolutely rejected the last chance to turn back, and the French army once again began its advance to take Milan.

***

Andrea Doria, who led the Allied fleet consisting of Spanish, Portuguese, and his own mercenary fleets, looked anxious.

Tunis, which had not received assistance, had already been occupied by the Ottomans, and it had been confirmed that the fleet had returned to Algiers to replenish its depleted forces.

‘But why aren’t they coming?’

Even if the Ottomans operated their army outside of common sense, they would not use the empire’s ruler as a disposable pawn.

They should have come long ago to save their ruler, but the lack of news only made him more anxious.

“Should I send a scout to Algiers?”

Sending a scout ship near Algiers, a pirate den, was a great risk, but it was unwise to ignore the instinct that kept sounding alarms.

Just as Andrea, who had decided to send a scout ship, was getting up from his seat, someone knocked loudly on the door.

-Admiral! Admiral, you must come out immediately!

At the familiar cry of the first mate, Andrea went outside the room.

“Has the Ottoman fleet appeared?”

“That’s not it! Those who attacked Rome have appeared as defeated soldiers!”

At those words, Andrea hurriedly went up to the deck, and he saw ships hastily moving to the harbor and a harbor full of people.

“What exactly happened!”

“They say that Ottoman cavalry suddenly appeared from the east! The Allied forces were completely defeated, and the siege of Rome failed.”

“Cavalry from the east?”

Hearing those words, Andrea gritted his teeth.

“The Venetians have betrayed us. They have never been a trustworthy bunch!”

It was something that could not be explained if it were not them.

Genoa and Venice had a long-standing animosity, and Andrea, a noble from a prominent Genoese family, cursed at Venice’s betrayal before suddenly coming to his senses.

The current situation must have been a plan laid out by the Ottoman Padishah who had entered Rome, and the cavalry joining with the help of Venice must have been a predetermined event.

If so, the Ottoman fleet that had captured Tunis in the first place had no intention of coming to Rome.

‘Then where did they go?’

As Andrea quickly narrowed down the options, he felt his heart sink.

There was a strategically important location that the fleet gathered in Rome could not quickly help and would be difficult to lose if taken.

***

“Is that Malaga?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Looking at the increasingly clear harbor, Murat slammed his heavy sword onto the deck.

“Occupy Malaga before the others who went to Gibraltar!”

Two ports in southern Spain.

The Ottoman fleet appeared in Malaga and Gibraltar.