Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 104

A Sultan of the Ottomans – Episode 104

Playing with Fire (1)

It had only been a little over a year since Yusuf ascended to the throne as Sultan, a short time to truly make his mark on the world stage.

In the West, where interest in the occult was growing, he was seen as a figure of intrigue—a pagan king who had predicted earthquakes.

In the Islamic world, including among the Mamluks, he was viewed as a heretic who impersonated a prophet and slandered the Quran and Muhammad.

The prediction of the earthquake was such a shocking event that the focus remained more on the prophecy itself than on Yusuf’s other abilities.

However, the Safavids feared Yusuf more as a ruler than as a prophet.

They had been on the receiving end of his actions since he was a Sanjakbey [governor of a district].

-The Ottoman army, led by the Sultan, will soon invade!

No one welcomes the news of their country becoming a battlefield, but the fact that Yusuf was leading the enemy army caused even greater anxiety.

He was not only the only opponent who had tarnished Ismail’s image, who was revered like a god, but also the one who devastated Erzincan and Diyarbakir during the invasion of the Dulkadir Principality.

Prioritizing widespread disruption, he didn’t engage in massacres, but left behind numerous refugees, causing widespread chaos.

The Safavid West had only recently recovered from the lawlessness caused by bandits and beggars, and the thought of his return triggered deep-seated trauma.

“Those useless Georgians.”

Nur Ali Khalifa, who governed Diyarbakir, crumpled the paper he was holding.

It contained information that the Ottoman army, having completed the conquest of Georgia, was gathering troops and supplies in Akhaltsikhe.

“If only they had held out for two more months!”

Summer was slowly coming to an end, and if they had just bought a little more time, winter would have arrived, making any reckless advance impossible.

That was their only hope, but even that was dashed with the fall of Georgia.

Nur Ali, his eyes narrowed, asked his subordinate.

“How are the scorched-earth preparations progressing?”

“The preparations are complete, but the people are putting up considerable resistance. More than twenty soldiers have already died.”

“Of course, there would be resistance.”

The scorched-earth tactics were bound to be met with resistance from the people living there, and Nur Ali’s region had only just recovered from Yusuf’s previous devastation.

The fact that they were going to destroy it again was certain to provoke extreme resistance.

‘That’s why I tried to prepare as discreetly as possible.’

He had been moving cautiously, but the news that scorched-earth tactics were being prepared spread with alarming speed.

As if someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.

“The dirty tricks remain the same.”

The Safavid high command was well aware that Yusuf’s favorite methods were incitement and spreading misinformation.

When Ismail occupied Tabriz and became Shah [king], it was almost certain that Yusuf was the one who spread the rumors that caused him trouble.

To think that he had pulled off such tricks at the young age of 13 was frankly frightening.

Now that he had gained more experience, there was no telling what kind of insidious schemes he would employ.

Even if the person they had to deal with was a snake, their course of action was clear, and Nur Ali firmly ordered.

“We are merely tools to carry out the Shah’s will. We must always be prepared to follow the Shah’s orders, so do not hesitate.”

“Understood.”

The subordinate, with a heavy face, left, and a grim tension swept through the entire Safavid territory.

While mosques were crowded with people seeking solace from their fear, disaster was preparing to descend, as if Allah himself couldn’t help them.

***

An army is a monstrous entity that devours enormous amounts of supplies.

To feed Yusuf’s 50,000 troops, including the cavalry, for a month required more than 15,000 camels.

This was just in terms of food, and the scale was even larger when considering other military supplies.

‘Supplying expeditions is incredibly difficult.’

When troops move within the country, they can receive supplies from food warehouses set up throughout the Ottoman Empire, and any 부족한 [lacking] amount can be 충당 [compensated] by purchasing locally.

However, this was impossible once they crossed into enemy territory, and since scorched-earth tactics would make local procurement impossible, it was necessary to prepare thoroughly.

“Padishah [Ottoman sovereign], what should we do with the merchants who have come to see you outside?”

“They certainly have a keen nose for profit.”

By removing all the nobles in Georgia, they had created an administrative vacuum, but they had gained enormous wealth by confiscating their assets accumulated over hundreds of years.

It wasn’t just Yusuf whose pockets were full; the soldiers who had taken the spoils were in the same situation.

It was no wonder that merchants were flocking like bees.

“Yes, do we have any supplies to purchase?”

“We currently have about a month’s worth of food prepared. Of course, we can gather more food, but…”

“There will be a shortage of transport.”

“That’s right.”

The Ottomans used oxen and horses to transport supplies in the humid Balkan Peninsula, and camels were mainly used in the east, but these camels were not usually obtained through conscription.

They were camels acquired through purchase and lease, which made it difficult to easily increase their number.

It was also difficult to manage if the number of camels increased beyond a certain point.

“For us, a month’s worth of supplies is enough, but they wouldn’t know that.”

The time required to pass through Safavid territory was about a month.

Even if Ismail abandoned the scorched-earth tactics and tried to hold the area, they could supplement their supplies to some extent by plundering the surrounding area.

However, this was only known to the military command.

“Yes, they are likely to follow us to sell the necessary supplies.”

When an army moves, it’s not just the soldiers who move, but also a large number of merchants.

They were a kind of war profiteer who followed the army, supplying food, weapons, and equipment to make a profit.

“If they want to follow, let them follow. They are not the kind of people who would listen if I told them not to.”

“Merchants’ greed for money cannot be stopped.”

Even during the Crusades, there were merchants who traded regardless of religion, as long as it was profitable.

While agreeing with Yusuf’s cynical reaction, Shemsi spoke cautiously.

“However, if they fail to make a profit in this war, they may become dissatisfied.”

“That’s fine. Anyway, even if they are dissatisfied, they will come running back if they smell money.”

If it were around the 17th century, he might have been a little more careful.

Starting with the Armenians, the power of Middle Eastern merchants would become incredibly strong, and by the 18th century, they would be able to depose the Sultan.

However, that was still two hundred years away, and there was no need to be wary now.

“And if we really fight Ismail, wouldn’t they be useful?”

“Then I will allow the merchants to follow.”

Yusuf looked down at the scene outside the castle with a relaxed expression.

Soldiers preparing for the upcoming war, merchants soliciting them, and supply units hauling cannons, food, carts, and more.

The preparations were complete enough to depart immediately.

“Shemsi Pasha, the heat has subsided. I don’t want to spend the winter in the cold fields.”

Yusuf turned his head south and continued.

“Inform the entire army, the departure is in three days.”

“Yes, Padishah!”

Shemsi, who had taken his leave, left, and Yusuf thought of his formidable opponent, Ismail.

In the original history, Selim defeated Ismail, but he did not seize much territory.

The Janissaries [elite Ottoman soldiers] were greatly dissatisfied, and he was worried about the rebellion of pro-Shia forces within the Ottoman Empire.

‘But I am different from Selim, Ismail.’

Unlike Selim, who had not properly gained their loyalty, he was managing the Janissaries well.

The only 불안한 [unsettling] thing was that there were still a few followers of Ismail left within the Ottoman Empire.

They were as tenacious as cockroaches, but it was understandable.

He was an attractive ruler who was revered as a god.

“So, before the main event, I will erode your reputation first.”

Yusuf, with a grim smile, turned around.

Three days passed, and the sound of drums announcing the departure rang out.

The time had come to force Ismail into making difficult choices.

***

Ismail, sitting on the throne of Tabriz, coldly stared at the person who had come to see him.

Unlike his face, which was tanned brown by the hot sun of the steppe, theirs was pale and flushed.

“Are you calling that an excuse?”

It was a low voice, but the envoy from Venice felt like a knife was being held to his throat.

Ismail’s murderous intent, honed from countless battles, was too intense for a mere envoy to calmly 받아넘기기 [handle].

“P, please calm down. The envoy did not return, so we could not know the Shah’s will. Didn’t we move the fleet, albeit belatedly?”

“You did move it. After ruining everything.”

Ismail glared at the envoy, fiddling with a small dagger.

To think that he had trusted such people and moved his troops, he felt a surge of anger.

Ismail, rising from his seat, approached the envoy and drew the dagger.

Swish.

“Shah, Shahishah [King of Kings].”

Ismail, cutting his own palm, smeared the flowing blood on the envoy’s white clothes.

Ismail made eye contact with the envoy, who was trembling at the metallic smell of blood.

“Do not forget. Because of you, ten thousand of my brothers died in vain.”

“O, of course. Our Venice will do its best to help the Shah.”

Ismail, slightly clenching the clothes at that answer, sat back on the throne and said.

“We will withstand this Ottoman offensive. So do not forget your promise either. This is the last chance I am giving you.”

“Understood. We will be sure to keep our promise this time.”

“Go back.”

As soon as permission was granted, Ismail silently glared at the envoy who was running away in a hurry for a while.

Muhammad Khan Ustajlu, Ismail’s most trusted subordinate, wrapped Ismail’s wounded hand with his turban.

“You endured it well.”

“Because killing those pig-like seeds would not avenge the grudges of the brothers who died.”

Ismail, enduring the rising nausea, clenched his hand, where a throbbing pain was surging.

“Yes, the Ottoman army has started its departure?”

“That is correct. The Ottoman army, which departed from Akhaltsikhe, is moving towards Yerevan.”
Yerevan, located in the Armenian region, was a key city and was close to Tabriz, so the messenger arrived in less than three days.

It meant that it was a city that must be defended.

“Shahishah, are you really going to implement the scorched-earth tactics?”

“There is only one choice we can make.”

If he didn’t carry out the scorched-earth tactics, that guy Yusuf was the kind of person who would truly hold a knife to his throat.

After being defeated in Trabzon and seeing Yusuf act coldly beyond his years, Ismail had to make the difficult choice.

“There is no change in the plan. Burn everything so that it does not fall into the hands of the enemy.”

“I obey the Shah’s command.”

Ustajlu left, and Ismail gritted his teeth alone.

A deep sense of defeat washed over him.

***

Yusuf’s army, which had achieved a complete victory in Georgia, was soaring in morale, and the march faced no obstacles.

When Yusuf’s army arrived near Gyumri, which belongs to the Armenian region, they were greeted by black smoke.