Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 107

Spain was the most surprised country by the pirate attack on the Papal States.

Southern Italy, including Sicily, which Spain had absorbed, relied entirely on sea routes for trade with the mainland.

Material movement was crucial for the Italian Wars and the stabilization of occupied territories, but the Barbary pirates who plundered in the middle were a constant nuisance.

The news that the pirates, who were always under close watch, had attacked the Papal States meant that they could attack Spanish territory at any time, and the Spanish fleet, which was in conflict with the Ottomans, had only one decision to make.

“We will retreat.”

“What are you saying? Retreat! Do you mean that pirates are more important than those infidels over there?”

The captains of the Papal States and Venice were surprised and opposed Hugo de Moncada’s declaration, but Hugo’s stance was firm.

“Pirates are more frightening than the infidels over there. And we are not the only ones thinking about returning, are we?”

At Hugo’s point, the two exchanged embarrassed glances.

The Papal States fleet, whose port had been attacked, was awaiting a recall order.

Venice, which remembered being severely defeated by the Ottomans, had no intention of maintaining the front alone if Spain and the Papal States withdrew.

The reason for dissuading the return was to wait for the Pope’s decision, and Hugo left a warning.

“Tell the Pope this: He who wants everything loses everything.”

It was a Spanish proverb that perfectly described the Papal States’ situation.

They wouldn’t like the new Sultan, who was known as a prophet and undermined the authority of Christianity, and they would want to keep the expanding Ottomans in check.

However, the situation in Italy was not the time to turn their eyes outward.

Hugo, after making this point, led the fleet back, and the remaining two eventually chose to withdraw as well.

It was the same as giving up directly checking the Ottomans, and Kemal Reis, who confirmed this, also returned.

Thanks to the fleet returning without major damage, the capital regained stability in about a month.

An unusual atmosphere permeated the peaceful Bosphorus Strait.

“From now on, the departure of all ships is prohibited.”

“Please explain what’s going on! Suddenly, departure is prohibited.”

“Departure is prohibited. Resistance will be met with immediate execution.”

It was true that trade in Constantinople had decreased compared to the time of the Eastern Roman Empire [Byzantine Empire], but it was still decent even in its decline.

The soldiers who occupied the always crowded port put their hands on their weapons, and even the sailors, who were known for being fierce, couldn’t raise their voices against the soldiers’ show of force.

Next to a merchant who was embarrassed while asking around for the reason, a captain who was usually friendly spat and said.

“It’s not just a departure ban now. Can’t you see over there?”

Beyond the port where departure was prohibited, there were three or four ships floating – warships that were unmistakably familiar to those who traveled for commerce.

The merchant was surprised to see the warships positioned as if they would attack if anyone ignored the instructions and departed.

“The Bosphorus Strait itself is being controlled. No ships have passed through the strait since earlier.”

“What on earth happened that the soldiers are blocking it so fiercely?”

“It’s not that something happened, but someone is coming. Those who are quick-witted seem to have already noticed, haven’t they?”

As he said, while there were those who complained about the departure being blocked, there were also those who had slightly excited faces.

In particular, those who appeared to be sailors gathered in groups and headed somewhere.

The captain tapped the merchant on the shoulder, and the merchant, who was hit by an arm as thick as his thigh, staggered slightly. The captain laughed cheerfully at the sight.

“Who else would cause the port to be blocked like this? The Padishah [Ottoman Sultan] is returning.”

It was understandable to make such a fuss if it was the owner of the empire.

The merchant, who was still inexperienced, didn’t know whether other sultans had done this in the past, but considering the reputation that the current sultan had within the empire, it didn’t feel excessive.

Although it hadn’t been long since he ascended the throne, the support of the people was so strong that even a small complaint about the sultan would be met with dire consequences.

“So what are you going to do? If you want to see the Padishah’s feet, you have to move now.”

“Is there any need to go to a place where your head can be blown off if you make a mistake?”

“What kind of person is the Padishah? Isn’t he blessed by Allah? If you see even his feet, you can share in his grace and achieve a safe voyage. Do as you please. I’m going.”

No matter how relatively safe the inland sea of the Mediterranean was, sailing was dangerous, and sailors always risked their lives to sail.

As such, they believed in all sorts of jinxes and superstitions.

Not only the sailors who had the same beliefs as the captain, but also the people living in the capital gathered to see the Sultan’s return.

A large galley with the Sultan’s flag docked at the port.

It is the return of the great Padishah.

***

The road from the port in the Golden Horn to Topkapi Palace was less than 1 km long, but the crowd gathered on that short road was enormous.

It was too many people to simply gather for the success of conquering Georgia and retaliating against the Safavids.

The two women, who were accustomed to such hospitality, widened their eyes, and Hasna, who was held in her father’s arms, blinked her eyes.

“Is it amazing? But it’s a welcome you’ll never receive.”

Those who knelt were packed on both sides of the road, and the voices praising the Sultan rang loudly.

This was the hospitality that only the owner of the empire could receive, and in the Ottoman Empire, a woman could not become the owner of the empire.

Of course, there have been cases of Sultanas, meaning female sultans, in other countries, but the possibility of a female sultan being born in the Ottoman Empire is slim, both in the past and in the future.

Yusuf raised the corners of his lips slightly towards Hasna, who was staring at him.

“Still, when you line up those who admire you, you might even make a road longer than this one.”

I don’t know how high Hasna’s charm is, but it seemed possible because she also had a high status.

Of course, the saying that a woman who is so beautiful that she can ruin a country is not without reason, and it is a difficult era for a woman to live a smooth life if she is full of charm.

Becoming the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, he is not in a position to worry about problems that will arise because of just one woman, and he can just enjoy watching his daughter’s future.

‘There would be no problem if Charles V doesn’t fall for Hasna.’

While briefly thinking about Hasna, he entered Topkapi Palace, and a crowd led by the two children welcomed him.

“Father, have you been well?”

“I missed you!”

Unlike Mehmet’s calm greeting, Murat’s smiling and hugging showed their personalities well.

Yusuf lightly patted their heads and tapped their shoulders as they glanced at their mother.

“Isn’t it a face you haven’t seen in a long time? Go.”

When Yusuf’s permission was given, the two ran to Ayşe and Hatice.

Yusuf smiled lightly at the sight and asked the Grand Vizier, Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha.

“Grand Vizier, has there been anything unusual?”

“Thanks to Allah’s grace, there were no major problems, but Mengli Giray died recently.”

“Mengli?”

He was forced to step down from the Khan’s seat of the Crimean Khanate, and he seemed to have eventually succumbed after hearing the news that his eldest son had died.

“Send the body to the Crimean Khanate. Saadet will have to hold the funeral.”

Saadet wasn’t stupid, so he would use it politically on his own.

There was no special news other than Mengli’s death, and Yusuf turned his head to his family, who were enjoying the reunion.

“Ayşe, Hatice.”

“Yes, Padishah.”

“What are you thinking of doing? Would you like to go to the Harem?”

At Yusuf’s question, the two gave the same answer.

“I will see Valide Hatun [the Sultan’s mother] and let her know that I have returned safely.”

“If the Padishah allows, I would like to go to the Harem where I will live first.”

“You can do as you please. And Mehmet, Murat. You will also live in the Harem from now on.”

There will be a busy daily life in the future, and there was a high possibility that he would not be able to pay much attention to them.

It was better to have them live in the Harem.

Of course, they can only be there until puberty, so the period will not be long.

“I will follow your will.”

“I understand!”

The family left for the Harem, and Yusuf, who returned to his private chamber alone, buried himself in the chair he always sat in.

Yusuf looked around his bedroom.

It had become slightly unfamiliar because he had been away for quite a long time, but the scenery was still the same.

‘I gained a lot through this conquest.’

He obtained the land of Georgia, where Shemsi is working to stabilize the region, and gained financial benefits as a side income by confiscating the property of the nobles.

In addition, he devastated the western part of Safavid territory and held back Ismail.

“As a bonus, I got 40 points for the Georgian conquest.”

80 points out of the 100 points he had obtained by ascending to the Sultanate were remaining, and he had additionally obtained 40 points thanks to the smallpox vaccination when the new year came.

In total, 160 points were collected, and enough points were collected to buy a new trait.

He had been worried about what trait to buy for a long time, and in the end, he chose ‘Excellent Immunity’.

“If I keep going on expeditions like now, the most scary thing is disease.”

When you go on expeditions, you are in an environment that is perfect for getting sick.

Drinking water is scarce, so there are many people around who have not washed, and there is a high possibility of getting endemic diseases as you wander around unfamiliar foreign lands.

Having that trait doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get sick, but the value was enough just to reduce the chance of getting sick.

Even Selim of the original history is said to have died from anthrax he contracted while on an expedition.

Yusuf’s eyes, who was thinking about the next expedition, contained murderous intent.

“And next time, I must kill Ismail. He has become too dangerous.”

Ismail of the original history lacked patience.

Ismail is the one who used the scorched earth tactics to make the Ottoman army difficult, and then was defeated after talking about chivalry and fighting a full-scale war.

However, the current Ismail had the patience to endure the futile damage.

This was a more dangerous change than expected, and if he couldn’t kill him in the next expedition, there was a high possibility that he would come back as an even greater threat.

“If it gets in the way, I’ll fight the Mamluks too.”

The green eyes contained a burning intensity.

***

Peace does not come to the Harem just because the Sultan is away.

Even without women who have been newly favored by the Sultan and have risen in status, there are women who have already been favored, and they create their own power dynamics.

A new wave hit the Harem, where the two women who had taken the place of concubine were vying fiercely for influence.

“You’ve had a hard time coming a long way.”

“I am relieved to see you in good health, Valide Hatun.”

The women of the Harem were slightly surprised to see Fatima holding the hands of the two women and making a kind face.

Fatima, the Valide Hatun, was a woman who clearly showed what kind of woman could survive in the Harem.

A knife was hidden behind her smiling face, and even the words she casually uttered contained heavy inner meanings.

They never dreamed that such a woman would smile so kindly, and the women’s faces were shadowed as they thought that this was the difference between the two Hatuns and themselves.

“This is where you will live from now on. Are you satisfied?”

At Fatima’s question, Ayşe leisurely looked at the faces of the women.

The fierce women of the Harem could not help but tremble when the same green eyes as Valide Hatun scanned their bodies.

“I like this place. There seem to be many people who are not good enough to be the Padishah’s women.”

“Hatice Hatun, what about you?”

“I will help Valide Hatun and educate them well in the future.”

The Valide Hatun smiled and replied to the two’s answers.

“I will watch how you educate them.”

“Please trust me.”

“I will not disappoint you.”

The faces of the women of the Harem, including the two concubines, turned pale at the conversation between the three women.

It heralded a new upheaval in the Harem.

***

“Baba Urji, tell me again. Who are these two guys?”

“One said he was a Venetian envoy, and the other said he was a useful sculptor named Michelangelo.”

“Are you talking about these two guys who look like beggars?”

Yusuf pondered briefly, looking at the two men with black faces and shabby clothes.

‘…Is it a fake?’

They’re in such a state that I can’t believe it.