Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 130

Traps and Snares (3)

The day broke.

The chilly air of dawn scattered as if fleeing, and the blood-stained hair, turned brown, fluttered briefly.

The old man, who had once dominated an era, withered rather than rotted, and Yusuf, looking up at him, ran his hand over the right side of his neck.

As he felt the long scar, now scabbed over, with a tingling pain, a bitter voice was heard.

“I’m worried it will leave a scar.”

“What problem is there with a mere scar?”

Yusuf replied nonchalantly to the Grand Vizier’s worried words.

It was a meaningless concern, as it was a self-inflicted wound, since no one would dare to wound the Padishah [Ottoman Emperor].

“Padishah, even if you create such a wound, those who know will know the truth.”

“They will think the Sultan lacked the motive to harm me, risking danger to himself.”

As a Mamluk [a soldier of slave origin], how absurd and infuriated would they be that the Sultan died at the meeting?

Showing the scar to the envoy who came to protest with an angry face, Yusuf claimed that the Sultan attacked first, and this was also made known to the entire Ottoman army.

It was a mere cover-up, but those who saw the situation at the time were only the dead and the loyal silahdars [Ottoman palace guards].

“I muddied the truth that cannot be proven. This alone was worth putting a knife to my body.”

“Even so, this matter will remain a stain. You should have left it to the old god…”

Killing the Mamluk Sultan at the meeting place was not an impulsive act but a planned one from the start.

Yusuf spoke coldly to the Grand Vizier, who was repeating words he had said even before the plan.

“Do not be mistaken, Grand Vizier. Do you think your reputation is enough to face the Sultan?”

For the Grand Vizier to go as an envoy, and for the Mamluk Sultan to hold a meeting in the center with only minimal guards?

That was absurd. There was a hierarchy.

The Sultan was caught off guard, never imagining that the Padishah who came to the meeting would take his life.

Yusuf grinned.

“A stain? Yes, this matter will remain a stain. But the political situation will not change.”

There would be no immediate problem.

The reason to maintain basic etiquette between countries is to avoid providing justification for invasion or becoming isolated.

However, not only did Europe regard the Ottomans as demons incarnate, but the Safavids [a Persian dynasty] and Mamluks, fellow Islamic states, were also mere enemies.

Whether it was infamy or notoriety, accumulating more here would not bring significant change.

“But Padishah, the stain will be passed down to future generations. Did you have to endure this?”

“Grand Vizier, I have no intention of being a great and honorable enemy who increases the sacrifices of my people. If I can save even one more person and get closer to victory, then I am fine with being called Satan.”

This was the determination he had made when he was reborn in Trabzon.

The Grand Vizier knelt down, seemingly moved, and said quietly.

“Padishah, I, too, will walk the thorny path with you.”

Yusuf shook his head firmly at the Grand Vizier’s declaration.

“It is not necessary.”

“Padishah?”

Yusuf smiled playfully at the Grand Vizier, who was taken aback by this answer.

“Shouldn’t you retire from being the Grand Vizier and do the work I have entrusted to you?”

“…I would rather walk the thorny path.”

“That will not do. There is no one else suitable but you.”

Yusuf, who had laughed while exchanging half-joking, half-serious words, looked at the Mamluk camp.

The Mamluks, who seemed ready to attack immediately after the bloody meeting, were still motionless.

But Yusuf could see it clearly.

“The disorganized rabble that has lost its center is about to collapse like a sandcastle. Prepare yourselves.”

“I shall obey.”

After the Grand Vizier, who had received the order, disappeared, Yusuf looked at the head of the Mamluk Sultan, who seemed to be staring at his army with empty eyes.

He wondered what he would think if he saw their behavior.

***

“Not only did he cunningly kill the Sultan at the meeting, but he is also mocking us like that! Even Satan would not commit such arrogant and terrible acts!”

In the Mamluk conference room, a loud voice erupted.

The man, with a face flushed red, glared at the faces gathered in the conference room with a murderous gaze.

“Shouldn’t we avenge the Sultan who died so unjustly! Why are we dragging our feet for days?!”

It had already been more than ten days since the Sultan’s death.

Those who had shouted for revenge together when the incident occurred were now only stalling for time.

He wanted to cut off the heads of those in front of him before the Ottoman tyrant.

“Calm down. We know we must take revenge. But we cannot recklessly attack the Ottoman army, can we?”

“Even if we can win, the damage will be great, so we must think rationally. How can the governor of a city act so emotionally?”

The sound of gnashing teeth was heard at the instructive words.

His hands trembled, but what he said was not wrong.

The fact that the Ottoman army was provoking them by displaying the Sultan’s head was an expression of confidence that they could be attacked at any time.

“What about that man guarding Tabriz? Is Durmish Khan Shamlu in the same state?!”

“He is the same. He said it is difficult to help, as the order he received from the Shah was to defend Tabriz.”

“Those pig-like things! We shouldn’t have helped the Shia heretics. Who is responsible for the Sultan’s death?!”

As he vented his anger towards the Safavids, who had ended the Sultan’s affair with condolences, a voice defending the Safavids’ behavior came out.

“It’s not that I don’t understand. We didn’t come to attack the Ottoman army but to hinder them.”

“Ahem, I think that’s too considerate of the heretics. Anyway, I am against attacking without the help of the Safavids.”

With these words, silence fell in the conference room, and the gathered Mamluks and Emirs [high-ranking officers], who were governors, quickly rolled their eyes.

Those who called for revenge for the Sultan, those who opposed revenge, and those who said they should bring in the Safavids.

The intentions they each had were the same.

‘The one who seizes military power now will be the next Sultan.’

‘We need troops now to push out Tuman, who remains in Cairo.’

The Sultan of the Mamluks was not succeeded by bloodline.

The Sultan, elected by the Emirs and Mamluks who were governors, would officially become the Sultan when he rode a horse covered with a saddle blanket with the Sultanate’s insignia and paraded through Cairo.

If they could gain the support of those gathered here, they could become the Sultan in place of Tuman, who had received full authority from the dead Sultan and remained in the capital.

It was natural to be greedy, and a voice breaking the uncomfortable silence was heard.

“Why rush to take revenge? Time is on our side. It will soon collapse, so it’s not too late to take revenge then.”

Since Ismail would have cut off the supply lines, they could easily cut off the tyrant’s head if they attacked the starving and fleeing Ottoman army.

Everyone knew this.

However, they had only raised their voices to gain military power and the reputation of avenging the Sultan before that.

As another fierce and secret battle of wits broke out, the entrance to the conference room opened, and a soldier rushed in.

“A, army! A new army has appeared from the north!”

“An army from the north?”

“What army could appear from there? What is the scale?”

As the eyes of those with dizzyingly high positions were focused on him, the soldier swallowed hard and continued.

“I, it seemed like there were well over ten thousand cavalry. And they are bringing a huge amount of supplies.”

“Is it Ismail? It seems like the Qizilbash [Shia militants] led by him are looting the enemy’s supplies!”

Since so many cavalry could not have fallen from the sky, this was the most likely inference.

There were some questions, such as why they came here with the loot and why they appeared from the north, but nothing else came to mind.

The conference tent reopened, and another soldier entered.

“O, Ottoman army has begun to move!”

“It seems like they are moving to take back the loot! We must stop them!”

There was no time to think further. If they regained the loot, everything would be over.

In line with the northward-bound Ottoman army, the Mamluk forces also moved in step.

***

It was enormous in scale.

The supplies, protected by cavalry with sharp blades, felt like a small city moving.

As tens of thousands of camels moved, the ground seemed to shake as if there was an earthquake.

“It’s the Qizilbash!”

A Mamluk with good eyesight shouted loudly.

The red string wrapped around the white turban was a symbol of the Qizilbash.

“Thank goodness! It’s Ismail after all! To have looted so many supplies.”

The commander shouted in joy.

The Ottoman army also seemed to have moved urgently, with 30,000 sipahis [Ottoman cavalry], similar in number to them, having been dispatched.

If only the Qizilbash joined them, they could protect the supplies and return to Tabriz.

As the commander confidently led his army to join the Qizilbash, he saw an unbelievable scene.

“The, the Qizilbash are heading towards the Ottoman army’s camp!”

“Flags! Raise our flags higher!”

Wondering if he had mistaken the camp, the yellow Mamluk flags fluttered splendidly, but the Qizilbash’s movements did not change.

The two armies mingled naturally, as if streams of water had met.

It was a terrible nightmare.

***

“That’s an interesting idea. Whose trick is it?”

“It is I, Padishah.”

Arda, the Sanjakbey [district governor] of Trabzon, paid his respects.

He had left him behind to act as a guide for the Crimean Khanate, which would not know the geography of this area, and he came up with such a trick.

Saadet, who led the troops, praised Arda with a bright face.

“The Sanjakbey’s wit was truly amazing. They were so afraid of the Qizilbash that almost no one stopped us, even if they thought it was suspicious.”

“Well done, Arda.”

“It is an honor that a humble servant like me has been of help to the Padishah!”

It seemed that a lot of time had passed.

He, who was young, had become a young man, and deep wrinkles could be seen on Arda’s face, who had been full of energy.

“Yes, how are Shemsi and Hassan doing?”

“Shemsi Pasha is still healthy, but I heard that Hassan is very worried because his wife is pregnant.”

“Nene is?”

Yusuf had a serious face.

Since the age difference between his mother Fatima and Nene was not large, it was an elderly pregnancy, and elderly pregnancies were very dangerous in this era.

“Yes. Hassan was against it, but I know that his wife strongly wanted a child who could be of help to the Padishah.”

“I see.”

Nene’s status was a maid, but she was a woman who would gladly give her life for Fatima and himself.

Yusuf smiled bitterly and said.

“If we are not careful, my mother will be sad.”

“Allah will take care of her.”

“I hope so.”

After briefly greeting Arda, Yusuf looked at Saadet, who had suffered a lot from the long journey.

“You have suffered a lot from the rough road. The merit you have established is very great.”

“I am indebted to the Padishah. I have done what is natural.”

“Even so, merit is merit. I will remember this.”

Even if Saadet’s lifeline was in his hands, there was no need to treat him unfairly.

Just looking at the Mamluk army, who were shaking the yellow flags excitedly before fleeing in a panic, showed that his merit was not small, and he could afford to give him some wealth as a reward.

Yusuf bared his teeth, slinging the gun that had taken the life of the Mamluk Sultan over his shoulder.

“Let’s see how the Mamluk bastards will come out.”

***

“Padishah, against the West, which oppresses the will of Muhammad, the Ottoman Empire and our country have maintained a long friendship.”

“That’s right.”

Yusuf looked at the Mamluk envoy indifferently, and the envoy was dripping with sweat.

Looking at the tyrant’s green eyes, which had cut off not only the envoy’s head but also the Sultan’s head, he felt a chilling sensation.

Already among the Mamluks, he was a figure who had gained notoriety and fear to the extent that there was a rumor that Satan had green eyes.

“This matter seems to have arisen from an unfortunate misunderstanding between the two countries. I would like to withdraw now to hold the Sultan’s funeral.”

“The Sultan’s funeral.”

“Yes, Padishah! I earnestly hope that you will remember that when the Ottoman ancestors passed away, funeral prayers were held in Cairo.”

“There was such a time. A funeral. Good!”

When the envoy’s face brightened at Yusuf’s answer, unexpected words followed.

“For the friendship between the two countries, this time, we will hold the Sultan’s funeral in our country as a reward. Be sure to participate in the funeral.”

“Pa, Padishah?!”

The envoy’s face was filled with astonishment at the kind words of the murderer who would personally hold the funeral.

“Go back and tell them. If you don’t want to go to the funeral together, we will hold the funeral together.”

Yusuf smiled fiercely, forcing them to be taken as prisoners or die, and the Mamluk camp fell into chaos at the words of the envoy who luckily survived and returned.

When a day passed without a proper answer and the day broke, the Mamluks had to see more than 500 cannons aimed at them.

And they came to realize one more thing about the tyrant with green eyes.

The firepower-crazed tyrant had no patience.