Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 12

#12. Two Monsters (1)

The war between Venice and the Ottomans unfolding now holds great historical significance.

It marked the event where Venice lost its monopolistic position in the Eastern Mediterranean, a position it had maintained for hundreds of years since the Fourth Crusade. The damage was so severe that Venice never again confronted the Ottomans alone.

‘I don’t care about any of that.’

I was heading in the opposite direction and couldn’t afford to be concerned about squabbles in the West. I didn’t have the luxury to care.

Because finding a doctor, which I hadn’t been too worried about, was proving difficult.

I realized the problem during my first consultation with a doctor.

“So, how do you reduce the heat in the head?”

“We need to extract the blood that possesses the fire attribute. This is caused by an excess of blood with hot and humid properties.”

Am I talking to a magician, not a doctor?

Yusuf felt a throbbing headache at the talk of attributes and soon recalled a memory.

“Ibn Sina?”

“Oh! Do you know Ibn Sina [Avicenna]?”

The doctor was delighted, and Yusuf rubbed his forehead.

Ibn Sina (Avicenna) was a great philosopher, but also a figure who gained fame in later generations for his contributions to medicine.

He died in 1037, but his 「The Canon of Medicine」 was considered the bible of medicine until the 17th century.

‘The problem is the medicine of this era.’

The theory he based his practice on was the theory of the four humors, extended from the theory of the four elements.

Blood is fire, phlegm is water, yellow bile is earth, and black bile is air.

The treatment involves removing problematic humors and replenishing deficiencies through diet.

Of course, in this era where medicine and surgery are not properly developed, it is not ineffective medicine. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been used for over 600 years.

‘But if you follow this medicine, you can end up with truly absurd treatments.’

For example, in the case of George Washington, the first president of the United States, he was bled 2.35 liters of blood to treat pneumonia and died of excessive bleeding in just three days.

Such bloodletting treatments also occurred during the Black Death in the Middle Ages, a method that killed even those whose conditions were improving.

Of course, just like regular blood donation is not a problem, it’s okay in moderation, but the problem is that modern people see it as being done at an ignorant level.

Still, since all the medicine being learned now is like this, I was going to let it go.

“A great musician is also needed for treatment.”

“A musician?”

“Yes, because music has a powerful healing effect.”

“Oh! Music therapy is good for the mind. But could you please leave for now?”

After sending out the bewildered doctor, Yusuf was sure of one thing.

That you shouldn’t get sick in this era.

After the first interview, Yusuf cleanly gave up on internal medicine.

Even if I only maintain basic hygiene like washing hands, I can avoid most diseases, so I’ll just focus on cleanliness.

There’s a chance I might get a serious illness.

‘Then I’ll just have to die.’

I knew for sure that there was no way to treat a serious illness in this world.

I’m not even a Sultan, and I can’t do research to change the paradigm of modern medicine.

Thinking like this made me feel better, so I shifted my focus to finding a surgeon.

At this time, European surgeons were looked down upon.

They weren’t even treated as doctors, and they were fighting with barbers for work. The situation was much better in the Islamic world compared to Europe.

Al-Zahrawi, born in the Islamic Golden Age in the 10th century, was the father of surgery, with many of the 200 or so medical instruments he created still recognized today.

Even the Ottomans had Sabuncuoglu, who devised a method for pediatric hydrocephalus surgery 150 years ahead of Europe.

‘Just the fact that surgeons work in hospitals is incomparable to Europe.’

That was the era.

Anyway, there were quite a few decent surgeons since the Janissary corps [elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan’s household troops and bodyguard] had attached military doctors, and Yusuf looked at only one thing.

A person whose emotions are easy to read so that I can easily notice even if they betray me.

As a result, a man remained before my eyes.

“Please take good care of me, Sinan.”

“Haha, I will do my best, putting my surgical tools on the line.”

Sinan’s face was cheerful as he patted a large surgical bag.

It was hard to believe that during the first meeting, he had laid out quasi-weapons like scalpels and saws in that bag and boasted about them before being subdued by the guards.

Contrary to his seemingly frivolous appearance, he was a military doctor who had worked on the front lines of war and was recognized for his skills.

“Alright, I’ll trust you. Hassan, guide him to a place to stay until we move to Trabzon.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

Yusuf, who had sent Sinan out, was lost in thought.

The three months the Sultan had given him passed in an instant, and the time to depart was approaching.

It was an incredibly busy time, as quickly as it passed.

I learned the basic knowledge that a Sanjakbey [governor of a district in the Ottoman Empire] should have from Şemsi, who still didn’t reveal his true feelings even after seeing him for over two months.

I had to learn all sorts of subjects from the six teachers Şemsi brought.

I had to cram in information I had never seen in modern times with my ordinary intelligence, and I had to make plans for the future in my remaining time.

It was a schedule that was hard to handle with a body of only 11 years old, but.

“In the future, I’ll think this is better.”

My heart was pounding without noticing at the thought of entering the midst of a bloody struggle.

A soft voice reached Yusuf’s ears as he looked outside, feeling an emotion that was hard to tell whether it was tension or anticipation.

“Your Highness.”

At the call, he turned his head, and a blonde girl stood shyly.

“Ayşe.”

She was in a plain maid’s outfit, but it wasn’t enough to hide her appearance.

She boasted a better complexion than when we first met, and her glossy blonde hair was neatly tied up, revealing her beautiful neckline.

If this were modern times, I would think she was a celebrity, but.

‘She’s still just a kid.’

It’s not something to say at the age of 4 years younger than Ayşe, but because of my modern memories, I just felt like I was seeing a cute younger sister.

Yusuf gave a playful smile to Ayşe, who was standing hesitantly.

“Why are you trying to come in at night again?”

“T-That’s because Nene told me to. She definitely told me to go.”

“That’s strange, she didn’t say anything about coming in at night.”

Ayşe, who had turned her white skin red, lowered her head.

I couldn’t imagine her past self who cursed from the start, and Yusuf chuckled.

‘It must be embarrassing. She came in bearing her shame, but was scolded by the other person.’

The happening that only brought embarrassment and surprise to each other was obviously a trick played by the two women.

It was natural for them to try to match me with Ayşe, who I quite liked for following the harsh education.

‘Fatima must like her. Leaving aside her emotions and appearance, she’s a type that’s hard to see in this era.’

She’s acting like a modest lady, but you shouldn’t be fooled by this appearance.

She had the guts to endure all sorts of sordid sounds and learn to speak with the single-minded determination to curse, so she’s no ordinary person.

How great she is, not only the mentally and physically weak Hassan, but also the five Circassian guards who were sold together are helpless in front of Ayşe.

‘If she had been born a man, she would probably have become a Pasha [high-ranking officer in the Ottoman Empire].’

Perhaps I was thinking too long, Ayşe asked carefully.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“I was thinking that you were general material. No, how about aiming to be the first female Pasha in the Ottoman Empire?”

“No thanks. I’m going to do something even greater than becoming a Pasha. For our Adyghe [Circassians] and Your Highness.”

Circassian was the name given by other people such as Turks and Russians, and they themselves called themselves Adyghe (Адыгэ), which means people living in high areas by the sea.

Ayşe’s determination was what I wanted, and Yusuf smiled brightly.

“If it happens as you say, I’ll grant you one wish. Even if it’s freeing a slave I bought with expensive money.”

“That’s a story that would make the slave trader grab his neck and fall down if he heard it.”

“Why, don’t you like it?”

“Of course not. I will definitely remember it.”

Ayşe smiled brightly like a flower.

“So why did you call me?”

“Fatima-nim called you. She said she wanted to have a comfortable conversation with you before you leave.”

“Really? I should tell her about the promise I made with you today.”

“Wow, Your Highness?!”

Watching Ayşe flail her arms in embarrassment, Yusuf burst into a pleasant laugh.

It was nothing special, but it lightened my complicated head.

What does the bloody future matter?

‘The important thing is who owns that blood.’

Yusuf steeled his heart.

***

“Load it carefully!”

The steps of loading cargo onto a small sailing ship and four galleys were busy.

There were many valuables such as gold coins and treasures given by the Sultan, so the eyes of those watching the workers were sharp.

With the people going together and their families, the number of people exceeded fifty, so there was no choice but to have a lot of luggage.

While they were loading, Yusuf looked around the galley, which had impressive long oars.

It didn’t not have a musty smell, but it wasn’t unbearable.

‘Is it because it’s exactly the time to switch to the scaloccio method [rowing system with multiple rowers per oar]?’

Scaloccio is a method of having several people hold a large oar.

Unlike when individuals grabbed one oar each, the need for skilled workers decreased, and the empty space could be filled with slaves.

From this point on, the slave rowers we think of being whipped were born.

‘There’s also a story that hundreds of people were chained up and soaked in sweat and filth, so you could tell the ship had arrived at the port by the smell even before it arrived.’

Honestly, I couldn’t imagine that level of stench.

They treated them so badly that they caused a rebellion during the war and lost the war.

‘It’s not like some exploitative boss demanding passion pay. If they had offered the condition of freeing the slaves upon victory in the war, would they have rebelled?’

I would have galleys that I could operate as soon as I became a Sanjakbey, so it was necessary to consider it.

While watching the galleys, which would be active in the Mediterranean for at least another hundred years, all the loading was completed.

The sailing ship and galleys, fully loaded with people and supplies, unfurled their sails.

On the ship cutting through the water, Yusuf looked at the capital that was gradually moving away.

‘A prince who leaves the capital can only return when he becomes the Sultan.’

I will survive and see this scenery again from the highest place.

Yusuf firmly resolved and looked ahead.

There is no need to have lingering feelings for the land to which I must return someday.

Because my future will be in the land that will arrive soon.

***

“Welcome! Brother!!”

…Damn it, why are you here?