Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 144

Rhodes Siege (1)

Muslims kidnapping Christians for galley slaves, and Christians selling Muslims into slavery, was as commonplace as the Mediterranean wind.

It was a coincidence that the envoy was captured by pirates on their way back, but it was an eventuality they were well aware could happen.

The Knights Hospitaller [a medieval Catholic military order] received the pirates’ ransom demand for the prisoners and flew into a rage.

“This is the work of infidels! They ordered the pirates to capture the envoy!”

The Ottoman Empire responded to the Knights’ accusations with feigned bewilderment.

“Bring evidence if you intend to slander us. And frankly, we find it amusing how incompetent the Knights are to be captured by pirates. If they had any honor, they would have scuttled their ships rather than be taken prisoner.”

They harbored plenty of suspicions, but possessed no concrete evidence. Moreover, they were being ridiculed for valuing their lives over honor, leaving them speechless.

“Still, if you intend to pay the ransom, the Empire will act as a mediator. Don’t forget that this is a great favor.”

The Empire’s reputation as a mediator ensured they wouldn’t be swindled, but the pirates’ demanded sum was exorbitant.

It was an amount they would normally balk at, but with war looming, they couldn’t afford to abandon their comrades for the sake of money, even if it meant enduring the ridicule.

Yusuf, who had been needling the Knights all this time, said nonchalantly.

“Let’s end the games here.”

It was time to conclude their month-long charade.

The Grand Vizier [the chief minister of the Ottoman Empire], who had requested resignation, looked ashen as Yusuf declared the conquest of Rhodes. His resignation was promptly rejected.

Just the previous night, he had been commiserating with Hersekzade, the former Grand Vizier, over the frustrating census.

Yusuf, noticing the Grand Vizier’s somber mood, offered a comforting word.

“Grand Vizier, or rather, Hadim Ali Pasha. I’ll reinstate you as chamberlain once this war concludes, so please bear with me a little longer.”

“I will do my best, since you say this old man is needed.”

Yusuf chuckled at the Grand Vizier’s grumbling, which hinted he was old enough to retire.

Normally, one would pretend not to hear such remarks.

It wasn’t that there was a lack of talent to replace the Grand Vizier, but having an extra experienced hand was always beneficial.

“Kemal Reis is effectively blockading the island of Rhodes, correct?”

“He hopes to claim the island as his final mission before retirement. He stepped forward with great enthusiasm, so there’s no need to worry.”

Kemal Reis, who was destined to die in a storm seven years later in the original timeline, was already in his late 60s. He had more than enough reason to contemplate retirement.

In any case, the Knights of Rhodes possessed seven ships, three of which were confirmed to have sunk while attacking Murat, and one was captured by pirates.

With only three ships remaining, the blockade shouldn’t pose much of a challenge.

“How far along is the troop mobilization?”

“Most of the mobilized troops have already been transported to the island of Rhodes by ship.”

Yusuf gazed down from the ramparts as the fleet, adorned with the red Ottoman flag, loaded supplies, including cannons.

The morale of the artillerymen and Janissaries [elite infantry units of the Ottoman army] armed with guns, which had increased significantly, was palpable even from that distance.

Yusuf glanced at the fluttering purple flag of the royal family atop Topkapi Palace [the Ottoman Sultan’s residence in Istanbul] and declared.

“It won’t be long before that flag is raised again.”

Having made that pronouncement, Yusuf turned back towards the castle. A few days later, the dynastic flag was lowered.

It was the start of a personal campaign after 4 years.

***

Grand Master Caretto surveyed the scene beyond the castle walls from the Grand Master’s Palace.

The palace was built on the site of the Colossus of Rhodes, a bronze statue that was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

From the palace, which overlooked Rhodes Castle, Caretto groaned.

“Isn’t this a truly terrible sight?”

“It feels like the world is stained with blood.”

Everywhere he looked, he saw the red flag symbolizing the infidels.

The red flags covering the plains outside the castle felt as menacing as an army of demons emerging from hell.

There were fewer than 600 knights and less than 7,000 people, including soldiers and residents.

They were severely outnumbered, and Caretto asked the Grand Commander, the second-in-command of the Knights.

“What is the morale of the knights and residents?”

“Their morale is high, Your Excellency. They are fully prepared to recreate the glory of 40 years ago!”

“That’s a relief.”

Caretto smiled at the mention of the glory of 40 years ago.

In 1480, Mehmed II invaded the island of Rhodes with the massive Urban cannon, but the Knights successfully repelled the invasion, earning fame throughout Europe.

The Grand Master even received the title of Cardinal, and Caretto clenched his fist at the thought of recreating that glory.

“All the preparations we can make are complete.”

Although the preparation period was short, they managed because the Knights always had to be ready for a fight with the infidels.

All the crops were harvested and burned, and all potential shelters for the enemy were destroyed.

The port where the enemy fleet could invade was completely blocked by installing iron chains.

“The only regret is that we have few supplies stockpiled.”

There was no time to replenish supplies because the Ottomans quickly established a blockade.

In response to Caretto’s regret, the Grand Commander confidently replied.

“Still, we have enough supplies to last for 8 months. If we conserve, the period will increase further, so it is sufficient.”

If the siege lasted for about 8 months, most of the infidels gathered there would have perished.

The Grand Commander’s words that it was enough were not false.

“Your Excellency! The infidel Emperor’s ship has appeared!”

At the report of the Vice-Commander, who commanded the Italian knights, Caretto’s gaze turned to the sea.

It was estimated that more than 200 enemy ships were mobilized for this war, and among those many ships, the massive ship approaching the island was showing a unique presence.

As the purple flag became clearer as it approached, Caretto placed his hand on the white octagonal cross emblazoned on his chest.

“Loyalty, faith, generosity, glory and honor, helping the poor and the sick, respect for the Church.”

Caretto recited six of the eight doctrines symbolized by the corners of the cross and then recited the remaining two.

“Courage and not fearing death.”

Caretto, having recited all eight doctrines, opened his eyes sharply.

“We will not back down from any persecution. Our death will be the glory of the Lord, so do not be afraid.”

Caretto was prepared for a fierce siege.

***

Yusuf, disembarking from the massive sailing ship built for future naval battles, swung his foot at a welcoming face.

“Ouch!”

“Don’t exaggerate, Murat. You’ve come all the way here.”

Murat, clutching his kicked shin, grumbled at Yusuf’s cold words.

“Wouldn’t it be better to participate here than to spend time idly in Cairo anyway? At least I can gain some experience. I’m a talented person who even captured the enemy commander.”

Originally, he was supposed to go down to Yemen, but the plan was disrupted due to the damage inflicted on the troops accompanying him by the Knights’ attack.

The situation in Yemen required a significant number of reliable troops, but troop replenishment was delayed due to the ongoing war.

Yusuf clicked his tongue, noticing the long scar on Murat’s cheek.

“You brought danger upon yourself, but you’re good at talking. It’s bad enough that you look old, but you’re adding scars to your face.”

His growth was rapid, making him appear older than his age, but with the scar, he looked more like a brother than a son when standing with Yusuf.

Yusuf, averting his gaze from Murat, who was scratching his scarred wound, smiled as he looked at the gathered subordinates.

“There are many faces I haven’t seen in a long time.”

Kemal Reis, who often returned to the capital, was familiar, but there were many faces he hadn’t seen in a long time, including the two Beylerbeys [governor-general] who managed the Balkans and Anatolia.

Even Arda, a welcome face, he hadn’t seen in 5 years, since the conquest of Egypt.

“It is an honor to stand on the battlefield again with the Padishah [Ottoman Sultan]!”

“You enjoy the battlefield; you are born military officers.”

Ottoman officials were not strictly divided into civil and military roles.

In peacetime, they functioned as civil officials, but in times of war, they often stepped forward as military officials, combining both literary and military skills.

Still, disposition played a role, and there were many warlike individuals present, like true military officers.

In response to Yusuf’s words, Dukaginzade, the Beylerbey of Anatolia, replied in a firm voice.

“How can I back down from punishing those who attacked Prince Murat and Hatun [a Turkish title of respect for women]?”

“That’s right. The subjects who live thanks to the Padishah’s grace are also greatly angered by this incident. I am only happy to have the opportunity to step forward.”

The position of the royal family was solid in the Ottoman Empire.

Although the reforms were rapid and Yusuf and his subordinates endured a lot, the empire was changing so quickly that even the subjects at the very bottom could feel it.

Even if the change was not significant, the hope that life would improve even a little was important.

In any case, the news that the royal family, which was strongly supported regardless of religion, had been attacked was enraging, and the morale of the assembled Ottoman army was high.

“High motivation is always a good thing.”

Having replied, Yusuf looked at Rhodes Castle.

The towering Grand Master’s Palace was impressive, and Rhodes Castle, which surrounded the palace, was a more formidable castle to siege than any he had seen so far.

“Dukaginzade.”

“Yes, Padishah.”

“Doesn’t it seem difficult to capture that castle, even just looking at it?”

“If you entrust it to me, I will quickly put that castle in the Padishah’s hands!”

“It’s not something you should approach with motivation alone.”

It wasn’t that Suleiman was incompetent in the original history, but he couldn’t occupy it for 6 months and suffered tens of thousands of casualties because he lacked proper cannons.

‘It’s a great castle even when viewed from the perspective of modern times, which will continue for hundreds of years, not the current standard.’

Rhodes Castle was built to thoroughly counter cannons.

It was a castle that couldn’t be knocked down by cannons like the castles they had faced before, because it was dug out rather than built.

Since the land firmly supported the stone walls behind it, knocking it down with cannons was incredibly difficult and meaningless.

‘In addition, the walls are built at an angle to reduce the impact of the shelling.’

If they really tried to occupy that castle by just firing cannons, they wouldn’t even be able to use up all the gunpowder stored in the empire.

“To occupy that castle with a direct attack, you would need at least 100,000 people. And half of them will die.”

“You rate that castle very highly.”

“It’s a place worthy of such an evaluation.”

The subordinates, who had already breached higher walls than that with cannons several times, were puzzled but did not object to Yusuf’s words.

It was natural for them that the Padishah knew something they didn’t.

“Should we mobilize additional troops, Padishah?”

The troops that had crossed over to the island of Rhodes numbered only 60,000.

This was a large force that even an ordinary country couldn’t dream of, but it was far from the 100,000 that Yusuf had mentioned.

They had to mobilize more troops, and even though this place would become the tomb of tens of thousands of people, the subordinates did not suggest retreat.

‘No matter how many troop losses there are, we must occupy that place and retaliate.’

If they were afraid of sacrifice and did not properly retaliate against the attack on the royal family, the same thing would only be repeated.

Yusuf shook his head at the subordinates who were prepared for great sacrifices.

“The dead do not come back, and there are no resources as difficult to restore as people.”

It takes at least a dozen years for a person to be born and become a productive member of society.

Thanks to the abolition of the jizya [a per capita yearly tax historically levied by Islamic rulers on certain non-Muslim subjects], which reduced the taxes of the lower classes, and the increased food supply through the agricultural revolution, the Ottoman Empire was experiencing a population increase close to a baby boom.

But even so, a hundred years wouldn’t be enough to catch up with the population of Europe.

“If we can reduce the damage, shouldn’t we reduce it to the minimum?”

“What are you thinking of doing?”

“If you want to save people, you have no choice but to invest generously.”

Yusuf’s gaze was fixed on the piling up sacks.

***

The acrid smell of gunpowder and the relentless onslaught of enemy troops.

The desperate and honorable siege warfare of closing the eyes of a comrade who is bleeding and falling, and vowing to the Lord to punish the infidels.

The Knights, who had imagined that, wore dumbfounded expressions at the scenery unfolding before their eyes.

“…Your Excellency, the infidels have begun to build walls.”

“I’m watching too.”

Caretto looked at the large-scale construction site where tens of thousands of people were mobilized with a terrible expression.

The walls being built to surround Rhodes Castle were being erected at an astonishing speed, as if aided by supernatural forces.

***

Yusuf smirked as he looked at Rhodes Castle beyond the walls that were being built quickly with cement.

“I don’t know how long they can last in that small castle.”

If they can’t stand it and come out, they will be killed by the Ottoman army holding the walls, and if they endure, they will starve to death.

The Knights are in a dilemma.

“There’s a reason why you shouldn’t fight recklessly with someone who has a lot of money.”

The Ottomans had ample resources to flex.