Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 13

#13. Two Monsters (2)

When you hear about the Age of Exploration or the discovery of the New World, you might imagine the romance of sailing ships cutting through the vast ocean.

But the reality was far from it.

The staple diet consisted of meat so tough it could break your teeth and soup made from dried beans with all the nutrients destroyed. The drinking water was infested with bugs after only a short voyage.

Even these meager rations and water were strictly controlled, and stealing them could result in being nailed to the mast by both hands and left to starve to death.

Alcoholism was rampant due to the alcohol consumed instead of water, and diseases like scurvy and typhoid were common.

‘They say scurvy could be prevented with bean sprouts, but you can’t properly grow bean sprouts in dirty water.’

Unless it was a coastal voyage with regular water supplies, bean sprouts were useless, and if you could get clean water, you might as well just buy it.

To combat scurvy, it was better to provide limes, as the British did.

‘But to get them cheap enough to feed the sailors, you’d need colonies in places like India or Malaysia, where they originate.’

Perhaps because he had been on the ship for too long, Yusuf shook his head as his thoughts drifted too far.

He had been complaining about the difficulties of sailing during the Age of Exploration, but compared to what he was doing now, it was like the difference between a deep-sea fishing boat and a cruise ship.

The Black Sea was an inland sea, so the waves weren’t severe, and they sailed along the coast, frequently stopping at ports.

Thinking about the voyages of that era, this was practically a pleasure cruise, and this time was now coming to an end.

“Your Highness, they say we’re almost at Trabzon.”

Yusuf nodded at Aisha’s words.

He already knew, as they had met a ship from Trabzon some time ago.

Yusuf went up on deck and looked at the city that was getting closer.

“So that’s Trabzon.”

The Sanjak [Ottoman administrative division] of Trabzon was elongated along the coastline, and Ordu, the westernmost city, had already been reached 10 hours ago but was simply passed by.

It was out of a desire to set foot in Trabzon first, where he would be spending the most time as Sanjakbey [governor of a Sanjak].

Even though it couldn’t compare in size or splendor to the capital he had left behind, a pleasant sense of elation rose within him as he thought of it as his territory.

However, as they entered the harbor where the ships were docked, he sensed that something was amiss.

“What’s going on?”

“Could it be a welcoming crowd?”

Aisha, who said that, also didn’t look convinced.

The number of people gathered at the harbor was too large to be a simple welcoming crowd, and there were many armed individuals.

“Your Highness, what shall we do?”

Yusuf pondered for a moment at Shemsi’s words before making a decision.

“Dock the ship at the pier. I’ll check it out myself.”

“Understood.”

To start a rebellion against the newly appointed Sanjakbey? Especially when the opponent was a prince?

He wasn’t too worried, as the city would be burned to ashes by the Sultan’s wrath.

‘Selim wouldn’t be so sloppy in his work.’

If a major incident that would be recorded in Ottoman history occurred, the predecessor, Selim, wouldn’t be safe either.

With this conviction, he confidently disembarked from the ship, but this was not what he had expected.

“Welcome! Brother!!”

…Damn it, why are you here?

He almost blurted out a curse that he hadn’t even uttered when the ship was about to be holed.

Startled as he was, Yusuf shook the hand that was extended to him.

‘This is Selim I.’

A hearty laugh and a large, firm hand.

He wasn’t tall, but his eyes, looking down, flickered intensely and exuded a heavy sense of pressure.

‘He’s definitely different from the Sultan.’

His face was clearly different, but more than that, the temperament he exuded was different.

If the Sultan was like a sharp dagger hidden beneath a smile, Selim seemed like a fire that would burn everything in its path.

He was worthy of being called a monster who had usurped the throne and created an empire spanning Asia, Europe, and Africa in just five years.

Selim smiled and asked.

“So, have you finished your observation?”

“I apologize for my rudeness.”

“No, it’s understandable since it’s your first time seeing your older brother.”

Selim didn’t mind and patted Yusuf’s shoulder.

It seemed like a friendly gesture, but Yusuf frowned without anyone noticing.

‘In the Ottoman dynasty, the only good brother is a dead brother, so what’s with the friendliness?’

It was so blatant that it was almost laughable.

From the title to the attitude, everything clearly treated him as a subordinate.

Strictly speaking, he was inferior in terms of age, rank, and power, but.

‘Showing that in front of the people who will soon be governed is a different story. Well, should I play along for now?’

If he was someone who would be swayed by this trickery, he was someone who needed to be cut off.

He was treating him like a naive kid and not even hiding his emotions, so it was a good opportunity to get to know Selim.

Having come to a conclusion, Yusuf smiled brightly.

“It’s good to see you in person, Brother, but why are you still here? I thought you would have gone to Teke long ago.”

He was genuinely curious.

Teke was a Mediterranean city, so traveling by ship would require a long voyage through Constantinople [modern-day Istanbul], making it better to travel by land.

There was no chance of meeting along the way, so he hadn’t even expected to see Selim, but he was standing right there at the harbor, so how could he not be surprised?

“Going to Teke isn’t that urgent. You just have to leave three months in advance, right?”

“That’s true.”

But usually, it would be more normal to happily rush off to Teke.

Seeing that he wasn’t easily convinced, Selim burst into laughter.

“I waited to meet my brother. The other brothers grew up together around the same time, but not you. If not for an opportunity like this, when would we see each other? And…”

Selim trailed off and his eyes flashed.

“I heard that you requested to be appointed to Trabzon in my place, so I was very curious. Shehzade [Ottoman Prince] Yusuf, about you.”

So that was it.

If you’re a prince, you’d have a straw [informant] in the capital, so it wouldn’t be difficult to find out.

Regardless of the importance or size of Trabzon, it was a rural town to a prince.

The Sultan was getting old, and he was stuck in the countryside, anxiously biting his nails, and he had been saved from that.

It was worth going out of his way to meet, but he shouldn’t mistake it for goodwill.

Look at him trying to pull tricks from the start. If you’re careless, he’ll cut off your nose.

“Instead of standing here and talking, let’s go inside. The banquet is already prepared. Would Hatun [a term of respect for women in the Ottoman Empire] like to join us as well?”

Fatima, who had her face covered with a hijab, shook her head.

Yusuf was worried about what tricks he might play, but even if she joined, it would only give others the impression that he hadn’t left his mother’s side yet.

“Since it’s not a place for women to interfere, I’d like to rest comfortably.”

“Understood. When we arrive, I’ll guide you to the place where you’ll be staying.”

Yusuf called Hassan, an invitation that couldn’t be refused and had no reason to be refused.

“Hassan, you’re in charge of unloading the ship and supervising it.”

“Understood.”

Someone like Hassan, who easily showed his emotions on his face, would be of no help, and someone had to supervise the unloading of the luggage.

With Selim and Yusuf leading the way, the group strolled through the Trabzon Fortress.

The Trabzon Fortress had streams flowing on both sides, and the fortress extended to the Black Sea.

The altitude increased as they went inland, and at the end, the castle that had been used as the royal palace during the Empire of Trebizond stood tall.

Selim walked through the city and said in a voice filled with emotion.

“Do you see that market over there? A fire broke out there when I first took office, and it gave me a headache. And there was a murder in that alley three years ago, and we investigated it together.”

If you listened closely, it sounded like he had lingering feelings for the city he had been with for a long time before leaving.

‘If he was the type of person to be so sentimental, he wouldn’t have been given the nickname Yavuz [meaning “grim” or “stern”].’

Yavuz is a nickname that can be interpreted as cold-blooded or decisive.

The reason was that he mercilessly killed family members who were a threat to his power, but more than that, he was strict with rewards and punishments, so he definitely rewarded those who did well, but conversely, he often imposed heavy penalties and executions when there were problems.

Whatever the reason, it meant that he wasn’t the type to appeal to emotions, and of course, there was an ulterior motive.

“Are you talking about the fire that was concluded as an accident?”

“Haha, there was such a thing. I remember that the prince was very interested in the investigation.”

The followers echoed him, and Selim’s words were essentially directed at them.

‘Are you going to leave the scent of your predecessor until the end?’

The bigger the footprint of the predecessor, the harder it is for the successor.

It’s not like he can stop that conversation just because he noticed this trick.

It’s a difficult method to stop because he’ll just become a petty and strange guy, but Selim was mistaken about one thing.

‘I have no intention of forcibly dragging someone along who doesn’t want to come.’

When a new king ascends the throne, it’s natural for a purge to take place.

Yusuf’s eyes, which had been distant, shone coldly.

After passing through the lower city in the lowlands and climbing the hill, they came to the wall that marked the boundary with the upper city, and after receiving a salute and passing through the gate, they came to the upper city.

The upper city was home to several mosques and large bathhouses, including the Fatih Mosque, which was built in the 10th century as a church but was converted into a mosque when the Ottomans occupied the city.

At the end of this upper city, Yusuf was finally able to see the castle where he would be living and which would serve as a refuge during times of war.

It was the panoramic view of the Trabzon Fortress, which had a long history dating back to the 5th century BC.

“Let’s take our time looking around and go inside. Even when we leave, I want to taste more of the food here.”

“Good. It’s going to be my territory from now on, so I need to understand the level of the food.”

Selim raised the corners of his mouth at Yusuf’s answer, which drew a line.

No one opened their mouths while going to the banquet hall due to the tension that was created in an instant.

Yusuf and Selim sat side by side at the head of the banquet hall, and the others sat in their seats, gauging the situation.

When everyone was seated, Selim stood up.

“Today is a day that is both sad and joyful. I am sad to leave this city that I have been with for so long, but on the other hand, I am very happy to meet my brother like this. I will never forget the time I spent with you. Brother, say a word too.”

Yusuf stood up at Selim’s words.

“Today, as I looked around Trabzon, I could see how much you and my brother have worked to cultivate this land. I still have many shortcomings, but I believe that if you help me, I will be able to perform my duties well. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

Applause rang out at the words of the two brothers, and the full-fledged banquet began.

Islam prohibits alcohol, but the nomadic Turks were lenient with drinking, and some of the past Sultans were even drinkers.

As long as they didn’t cause accidents due to excessive drinking, alcohol was served with the banquet food.

Many fish dishes, which were rarely eaten in the capital, were served as befitting a port city, and as the alcohol began to flow, cheerful laughter erupted from all directions.

Selim’s eyes, whose face was flushed with alcohol, reached Aisha, who was quietly standing behind Yusuf.

“You have a very good slave.”

“I was lucky.”

“How about it, would you consider selling her to me? I’ll give you a generous price.”

Yusuf smiled as he saw the eyes gleaming with desire.

“I have no intention of doing so, so don’t pay any attention to it. I never let go of anything that comes into my hands.”

As Yusuf and Selim’s gazes intertwined after Yusuf answered firmly, the noise in the banquet hall slowly subsided.

When the tension created by the two of them weighed heavily on the banquet hall, Selim burst into laughter.

“Yes! A prince should definitely come out like that. How can someone who can’t even protect what’s in their hands be called a prince!”

“That’s right.”

Yusuf laughed with him.

As the atmosphere in the banquet hall, which seemed like a sword fight would break out at any moment, subsided, sighs of relief were heard from all over the place.

Because the existence of a prince is someone who can kill each other at any time.

When the atmosphere of the banquet hall was relaxed again, a small child walked in as the banquet hall door opened.

“Father, did you call me?”

“Oh, Suleiman! Come here.”

Yusuf’s eyes lit up at the name called with Selim’s bright smile.

Two monsters and a hunter who can only live by killing monsters gathered in one place.