Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 192

The man’s face, deeply tanned from the long sea voyage, bore the etched marks of time’s passage.

Suleiman, averting his gaze from the sailors bustling across the deck as they prepared to dock, lifted his head.

“It has been a while.”

Seeing the Bosphorus Strait, teeming with countless ships, and the Topkapi Palace [the main residence of the Ottoman Sultans] faintly visible beyond the coastal walls, he finally felt like he had returned home.

Recalling the years he had spent in that distant East, his fist clenched instinctively.

“Pasha, permission to enter has been granted.”

“Enter then.”

Ibrahim, who had accompanied Suleiman on his long voyage immediately after becoming an official, was likely to assume a significant role soon. Suleiman gave the order to enter the harbor with a commanding tone.

As they sailed into the Golden Horn [a major urban waterway and the primary inlet to Istanbul], the most important of the capital’s ports, Suleiman’s attention was drawn to a massive arched bridge.

“So, the bridge spanning the Golden Horn is finally complete. I only heard stories about it.”

“When construction first began, I doubted it would be easy, but I never imagined such a beautiful bridge would be the result.”

“And that just shows how much time has passed since I left.”

Although Taiwan Island and the Ottoman Empire were geographically distant, they maintained contact.

Soldiers who were being sent back to their homeland due to disabilities, severe homesickness, and ships requiring extensive maintenance were regularly dispatched.

However, this privilege didn’t extend to the commanding officers.

“If our service has sufficiently aided the empire, that is enough. More importantly, ensure the envoys who came here are well taken care of. You will have many responsibilities.”

“Rest assured, Pasha.”

Suleiman, entrusting the envoys from Ming [the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644] and Joseon [a Korean kingdom lasting roughly five centuries, from 1392 to 1897] who had accompanied him on his return journey to Ibrahim, watched the sailors carefully moving large crates.

“Handle them gently! If anything is damaged, I will sell you all into slavery!”

“Bring the silk this way!”

These were goods brought from Ming and Joseon.

There were high-quality silks and teas that were difficult to acquire with porcelain and money alone, but there were also wild roots whose market demand had yet to be fully established.

To Suleiman, who was unfamiliar with red ginseng, it simply looked like a wild root, and he couldn’t understand why the envoys were so proud of it.

Watching the goods being carefully stacked, Suleiman noticed the Janissaries [elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan’s household troops and bodyguards] who had come to the port and disembarked from the ship.

“The Padishah [Ottoman Sultan] requests your presence, Pasha.”

“Besides me, who else has he summoned?”

“No one else, Pasha.”

Upon hearing this, Suleiman smiled wryly.

He had heard that the empire was at war with Western powers, but the fact that the admirals weren’t being immediately called to duty suggested that they wouldn’t be urgently deployed to battle, at least for now.

“I understand. I will obey.”

Suleiman headed towards Topkapi Palace, inwardly admiring the bustling city.

The capital’s population seemed to have increased by more than half since he had left, and the overall atmosphere was vibrant and lively.

‘It’s hard to believe this is a country at war.’

This implied that the people firmly believed in their victory to the extent that the economy wasn’t contracting, and that they had unwavering trust in the current regime.

For a moment, he wondered if things would have been the same if his father, Selim, had become Padishah, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

It was a pointless speculation.

Suleiman, entering Topkapi Palace, which appeared unchanged from the outside, paid his respects to Yusuf, who was looking down at him from the head seat in the audience chamber.

“I have successfully carried out the orders of the great Padishah and have returned.”

“You have endured much hardship for a long time. I am glad to see you return in such good health. I will hold a banquet in your honor as soon as you have recovered from your fatigue.”

“Thank you, Padishah.”

He was just a small child who was embarrassed by even a pat on the head when they first met, but he was now almost forty years old.

Facing Suleiman like this made him realize how long he had lived as Yusuf.

“I heard the news. Kemal Reis [Ottoman admiral and privateer] has finally passed on to Allah.”

“That is correct. He was saddened that he could not see the Padishah one last time. His body was buried on Taiwan Island, as he wished.”

“I see.”

Even though Kemal Reis was someone who would have likely perished in a storm twenty years ago if Suleiman hadn’t been there, it was still unfortunate that he was buried in a distant land due to old age.

“He must have resented me a lot. I took someone who was trying to retire comfortably and sent him to that distant place.”

“No, he said he was grateful that, as a sailor, he could see a bigger world firsthand.”

“I’ll have to ask him if that’s true after I go up to Allah.”

Suleiman cautiously asked Yusuf, who had made a lighthearted joke.

“I heard that we are currently at war with the West. Wouldn’t it be beneficial for us to join the war effort?”

“That is quite enough. It is sufficient that the fleet returned in time. I am not so heartless as to throw those who have just returned from a long voyage straight into the battlefield. We must also consider the morale of our soldiers.”

Regardless of the guaranteed financial compensation, they had suffered in that distant land for nearly six years.

They had endured a difficult life aboard ships in a place where they couldn’t easily communicate and the food was unfamiliar. Now, they had finally returned to their cherished homeland, only to be sent straight to the battlefield?

‘It would be a miracle if there wasn’t a mutiny on board.’

In addition to the soldiers’ morale, there was also the issue of the ships’ readiness to set sail immediately.

No matter how diligently they had been repaired over time, there were limitations. It was best to assume that the ships were in poor condition.

A large-scale inspection and repair were necessary, and that was not something that could be completed quickly.

“What you need is not war, but rest. In any case, the envoy who was negotiating for the end of the war hurriedly returned upon hearing that you had arrived in Cairo.”

“Why did he return?”

“The situation has changed, so shouldn’t he bring new conditions to the table?”

Spain, unaware that there was no intention to send the returning fleet to war, had no choice but to increase the concessions they were willing to make.

“By the way, I heard that envoys have arrived from two countries.”

“That is correct. Envoys have been sent from Ming and Joseon. When would you like to meet them?”

“Well, I don’t want to meet them anytime soon. If possible, restrict their movements outside the city.”

When Suleiman looked puzzled, Yusuf smirked.

“It’s giving them the same treatment you received. They are arrogant people who believe they are the only ones in the world worthy of calling themselves an empire, so we must treat them accordingly.”

“Then what about Joseon?”

“Is there any need to treat them specially? After all, it’s just a small country in the East.”

Of course, Joseon’s national power was not insignificant on the world stage, but in the eyes of the Ottoman Empire, it was merely a small kingdom.

Even if they were treated slightly better than Ming, the envoys from Joseon would still feel uncomfortable.

“I heard that you have established substantial trade relations with the East.”

“It’s all thanks to the Ming Emperor’s deep addiction to coffee.”

“The fact that we have goods to sell is very important. You have done a great job.”

If they didn’t have anything to sell, they would have had to purchase goods with silver, resulting in a significant financial loss.

“Is there anything else to report separately?”

“There is an area in southern Taiwan consisting of several islands. I believe it would be wise to pay attention to that region.”

At Suleiman’s words, Yusuf tapped the armrest with his finger.

‘The Philippines.’

It was a region where various races and cultures intermingled due to its strategic location between East Asia and Southeast Asia, and small-scale states composed of merchants and pirate factions were prevalent.

However, it was not a place to be ignored. Even the Sultanate of Sulu alone had repeatedly defeated Spain for centuries until it was occupied by the United States in the 20th century.

“Indeed, as you said, it is an area that warrants our attention.”

As the likelihood of Spain colonizing the Philippines decreased, the region was likely to become Islamized.

Countries with Arab culture were on the rise compared to those with Chinese and Indian influences.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get involved appropriately, depending on the circumstances.

‘This is more likely to be accomplished by future generations than by me.’

There wasn’t much time left to extend influence to the Philippines during his reign.

“I will prepare for that matter separately. You have worked hard in the meantime. Go back and rest.”

“Thank you, Padishah.”

“Yes, take a rest and start a family. I won’t be able to face Selim later if you don’t.”

Suleiman gave an awkward smile.

Having witnessed Shemsi’s son suffering from an immense workload in Cairo, he couldn’t answer easily.

***

The merchants were greatly excited by the goods brought by the fleet of fifty ships.

Thanks to the canal, traveling to the distant East had become relatively easier, but this time, there were many goods that were difficult to obtain even with vast sums of money.

No matter how much quantity they brought, the supply was insufficient compared to the demand, and the merchants willingly paid exorbitant prices to secure the goods.

As gold and silver coins poured into Yusuf’s treasury, there were also entities that had to reluctantly part with their wealth.

“…Padishah, our kingdom is in a different situation than the Ottoman Empire. Three million ducats [a European gold coin] is an amount we simply cannot afford.”

“Three million ducats is a small price to pay. You must consider your actions. Or do you wish to continue the war?”

The envoy from Spain turned pale.

Milan and Ferrara, who had to share the responsibility, were occupied due to this war, and Portugal was financially strained.

The burden of three million ducats felt overwhelming, and the envoy made a new proposal as if he had no other choice.

“Then, how about a marriage between Princess Maria of Portugal and a prince of the empire instead?”

“Do you take me for a fool?”

The envoy flinched at Yusuf’s sneering and glaring expression.

Princess Maria was destined to become the Queen of Spain. It might be acceptable to arrange a marriage with Portugal to maintain some influence, but…

“I hear the princess is still quite young. Wouldn’t it take ten years until the marriage could take place? Are you suggesting that you might change your mind by then?”

“How could we easily break a sacred promise made with the empire?”

“Well, if they truly feared the empire, such events wouldn’t have occurred in the first place. Don’t you agree?”

The envoy couldn’t easily deny it.

Portugal had instigated the war by insulting Yusuf, and Spain had attacked Rome in an attempt to capture him.

“And if I were to order them to marry the Portuguese princess, they would likely resent it.”

Beautiful princesses were a fantasy, and the Princess Maria he knew was not considered a beauty.

The princes, who could choose from all kinds of beautiful women, would not welcome her as their wife. He himself would refuse.

“What do you mean…?”

“Think about it yourself. And since the princes don’t formally marry women anyway, it’s a condition that cannot be established in the first place.”

When what could be considered their last resort was blocked, the negotiations stalled.

While the negotiations were progressing slowly, news arrived that the Wattasid dynasty and the Saadi dynasty in Morocco had been conquered. Yusuf then began negotiations in earnest.

“I don’t wish to waste time unnecessarily. If the conditions I desire are included, I will reduce the amount to some extent.”

“What are the conditions?”

“First, I will take control of that area, including Gibraltar and Malaga.”

“That’s outrageous!”

In effect, it was a declaration that he would occupy the coastline connecting Gibraltar and Malaga. Yusuf raised his hand to silence the envoy who was about to protest.

“You should consider this carefully. Even if the empire takes Malaga and Gibraltar, it is an area that cannot be easily maintained.”

The Barbary pirates would undoubtedly travel back and forth between the two ports, and the surrounding coastline would become a haven for pirates.

The envoy’s face hardened at the implications, which he understood without needing further explanation.

“What other conditions are there?”

“I plan to develop Gibraltar and Malaga as trading ports. It would be difficult to prevent those who travel between the two ports. If these two conditions are met, I will only require 500,000 ducats.”

“…Really?”

Five hundred thousand ducats was still a substantial sum, but it was manageable compared to three million.

“The master of the empire does not lie. What is your decision?”

“I will seek my home country’s opinion first.”

He claimed he would seek their opinion, but it was a condition that was likely to be approved. And that was precisely the case.

The peace negotiations concluded with the inclusion of the two aforementioned conditions, and Shemsi questioned Yusuf.

“Isn’t the condition too lenient compared to the amount you reduced?”

“Even if we received three million ducats, they would have attempted to pay it in installments over a long period, and they would have tried to avoid paying after a few years by gauging the political climate.”

Or they would conclude that they couldn’t afford to pay and restart the war.

Either way, it would be a nuisance.

“The conditions recognized this time are more important. We will not be hindered from absorbing the Muslims who live in hiding and the Moriscos [Spanish Muslims who nominally converted to Christianity but continued to practice Islam in secret] who had no choice but to convert.”

As persecution intensified, people would flock to the two ports, and Spain would view them as thorns in their side.

If the treaty remained in effect for about ten years, the two ports were likely to develop into major cities.

“And there is another way to extort money from Charles.”

A very traditional method.

***

Dragut, a Barbary pirate who had proven his worth in the occupation of Malta, prostrated himself before Yusuf.

Dragut, who had been summoned by Yusuf after the end of the war, felt sweat trickling down his body due to the immense pressure.

The honor of facing the Padishah was not something that an ordinary pirate captain deserved.

“Dragut, the Mediterranean is becoming too confined for the Barbary pirates. It is time to expand our reach to the wider world.”

For example, America.