Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 168

The Prince of Africa (1)

It wasn’t easy to fortify the port on the island of Taiwan.

The inevitable conflicts with the natives weren’t a major issue. Pests and unpredictable weather in an unfamiliar environment were the biggest problems.

Still, thanks to the stable supply of materials through Malacca and India, they were able to fortify it without any major incidents. They also occasionally captured pirates roaming the sea to extract information.

“The Portuguese are involved everywhere. They have very wide feet [meaning they have a large presence and influence].”

Suleiman clicked his tongue, looking at the soldiers standing guard with fearful expressions.

The fortress, which looked sturdy at first glance and even had cannons aimed, seemed quite threatening, but it was a small fortress meant to buy time rather than to defend.

If he wanted, he could turn it into a wasteland with thirty ships.

Of course, he had no intention of committing such atrocities, as he was planning to establish a relationship in a peaceful way.

“Anyway, it’s taking too long. I wish they would give me some kind of answer.”

“Judging from the surrounding situation, it seems they can’t make a decision easily.”

Suleiman nodded at Ibrahim’s words.

The tributary trade, the Kangō trade [a system of trade between Japan and China during the Ming Dynasty], was conducted between the Ming and the shogunate, but a dispute arose between the Ōuchi and Hosokawa families in Ningbo.

On top of burning ships, the Ningbo Incident occurred, causing a major conflict between the two countries, even involving the murder of Ming officials.

In addition, the Ming Dynasty had issued a severe maritime ban because Japanese pirates who received firearms from the Portuguese fleet began to use them.

“A maritime ban to the point where even smuggling isn’t working properly… it may be difficult for them to make a decision easily. Especially since they said this place was invaded by the Portuguese.”

“There are also rumors that Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] has suffered severe pirate damage recently, so that may be another reason.”

“But I hope they don’t test my patience for too long.”

The Ottoman fleet had also suppressed the Japanese pirates lurking in the sea lanes several times, but frankly, they were not a difficult enemy.

Most of them were made up of small, fast ships, and they were annihilated before they could even set foot on Ottoman ships.

There were many who had no patience to keep waiting for an opponent who was struggling even against such Japanese pirates.

“How about pushing into the royal palace and having a conversation? Sometimes cannons can be a good means of communication.”

Suleiman shook his head at Hajir, the younger brother of the Barbarossa brothers, who shouted cheerfully.

He was too violent, perhaps because he hadn’t completely abandoned his pirate days.

“Let’s wait a little longer. The answer will come back.”

It wasn’t too late to decide after the answer came back, and how long had they waited?

It was when Suleiman was holed up in his room, thinking that a proper answer wouldn’t come back even today, that he heard a knock.

-Pasha. An envoy has come from Joseon.

“Finally, they’ve come.”

Suleiman went up to the deck and saw a man in unfamiliar clothes and soldiers escorting him.

The man, who seemed familiar with the sight of the soldiers wearing turbans, greeted Suleiman.

“I am Yun Eun-bo, who holds the position of Jijungchubusa [a minor official position] in Joseon. I never thought I would meet a Hoehoe person [a term for Muslims in China] in Joseon.”

Suleiman nodded, hearing the words spoken in Ming through an interpreter.

“Nice to meet you. I am Suleiman Pasha from the Ottoman Empire. I heard that there were once people who followed Allah in this land.”

“They have assimilated with our Joseon people over the past hundred years. It was because maintaining outfits and cultures that created a sense of alienation was not desirable.”

The history of the Hoehoe people, who believed in Islam, was long even on the Korean Peninsula, and they maintained their religion and clothing until the early Joseon period.

King Sejong even received a Hoehoe songchuk [Islamic prayer ritual], which wished for the king’s well-being through Quran recitation and Islamic prayers, in a ceremony attended by civil and military officials.

However, at the request of the Ministry of Rites during Sejong’s reign, the clothing differences of the Hoehoe people were prohibited, and the Hoehoe songchuk was also abolished, and the many Muslims were assimilated into Joseon.

Yun Eun-bo told him this fact and quickly examined his opponent.

Those who opposed this meeting in the court, which prohibited strange and supernatural phenomena, cited religion as the reason.

“It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. This is your country.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Yun Eun-bo was relieved that the other person was more communicative than he had thought.

Having been to the Ming Dynasty as an envoy due to the Portuguese invasion, he knew very well that the fleet in front of him was the one that had crushed the Portuguese, who had turned Ganghwa Island into a wasteland with only five ships and disappeared without a trace.

‘It would be difficult to turn them into enemies.’

His heart grew even bigger as a result of scanning the ship after arriving here.

It would be a problem of a different dimension than turning the Japanese pirates into enemies. Suleiman asked softly to Yun Eun-bo, who looked nervous.

“So, what answer did you bring?”

Yun Eun-bo swallowed hard.

Originally, there were many opposing opinions and he was going to refuse, but the reaction of the court was reversed due to the urgent news from the south.

“I heard that you are a member of your country’s royal family. Is that correct?”

“That is so.”

“Upon hearing that news, His Majesty was going to allow an audience, but a large-scale invasion of Japanese pirates occurred in the south, so there was no room for that.”

Suleiman twisted his lips at Yun Eun-bo’s appearance, which was subtly gauging the atmosphere.

“Are you thinking of the Empire’s fleet as mercenaries?”

“Please think of it as a process to establish a good relationship.”

Suleiman stroked his beard and pondered, then nodded.

He thought that a show of force was necessary at least once for a smooth relationship. The Ottomans also disliked the Japanese pirates, so it wasn’t bad.

“Okay. I will accept your offer. However…”

Suleiman cut off his words and continued, baring his teeth fiercely.

“If this matter leads to a result that insults the Empire, you must be prepared to take responsibility for it.”

Yun Eun-bo nodded at Suleiman’s warning.

Not long after, the court, which was trying to make excuses for the Ming Dynasty, changed its mind when it heard the news that the foreign fleet had not only defeated 100 Japanese ships without any damage, but also that twenty more ships had joined them, bringing the total to fifty.

With permission, the steamship carrying Suleiman went up the Han River, and it was the first time in a hundred years that a Hoehoe person had entered the palace.

***

Yusuf took a sip of coffee.

“Isn’t it nice?”

Yusuf, who spoke to Shemsi, who was sitting with a tired face, looked at the newly drawn portrait with dandruff on the chair.

Since there was no possibility that a family portrait with so many people would be drawn in the future, it was a precious portrait for Yusuf as well.

Shemsi, who knew the secret of that portrait, said worriedly.

“If it becomes known who drew that portrait, there will be an uproar.”

“It’s okay.”

He answered calmly, having insisted on commissioning Michelangelo to create the portrait.

Only a very few people knew that Michelangelo had painted it, and they were not the kind of people who would blab until they went to the grave.

Even if it was exposed as a fact.

“Then I’ll just have to get castrated for real.”

Of course, it’s a joke. The authority isn’t so weak that a problem would arise just because a man painted the royal family’s portrait.

The reason why he had been recommending castration to Michelangelo was because he was annoyed by even small noises, but now there was no need to worry about such trivial noises.

These small things were in a state where they couldn’t even receive attention.

“So, it’s noisy because of the abdication?”

“Didn’t you already know this would happen? There are many voices opposing the abdication.”

“It’s not like there’s no precedent.”

During the time of his great-grandfather, Murad II, there was a precedent of abdicating the Sultan’s throne to Mehmed II after signing a humiliating treaty.

When the Hungarian crusaders broke the treaty and invaded after hearing the news that Mehmed II, who was 13 years old, had become Sultan, he was re-enthroned.

“Doesn’t that mean that the Padishah [Ottoman Emperor] is loved by his people that much?”

“I would have been upset if there was no reaction at all.”

“I want to tell that answer to the officials who are suffering from the protest letters pouring in from all over the Empire.”

“You’ve become mischievous.”

Yusuf laughed lightly.

Those who can stick protest letters to officials are prestigious people, and these people’s letters cannot be ignored.

The official who matches the level has to return the reply, so the workload will inevitably increase.

Perhaps there were many who would fall backwards if they heard this answer directly.

“It’s been 15 years. This momentary craze will subside someday.”

It will get worse again when the time for abdication approaches, but the current chaos will subside after some time.

“Hasan, what is the reaction of the West?”

The situation where the princes are gathering in the capital is not only attracting attention within the Ottoman Empire.

The West, which is greatly affected by the Ottoman’s movements, must be paying attention to this movement, and the shocking news must have been delivered quickly.

“The Padishah’s 15-year period is not short, so there has not been a dramatic reaction. However, it seems that there is hope for 15 years later.”

“There will be quite a few people who will be disappointed if I break my promise.”

“It’s a good idea.”

Yusuf smiled softly at Shemsi, who readily accepted.

“There are no lies in the Padishah’s words.”

People can lie a little, but reversing such a big matter was not a good precedent.

Yusuf tapped the armrest with his finger.

“15 years.”

Through this declaration, the shackles of 15 years were placed not only on the princes but also on Yusuf.

It seems long at first glance, but considering that it takes at least several years to apply one system, it was definitely not long.

‘Even if it feels short, I shouldn’t think anxiously.’

Anxiety creates greed.

Even if it is set to 15 years, 1-2 years will pass in an instant while calming the chaos, holding the enthronement ceremony, and handing over the work.

It will take about 17 years until the prince is fully granted authority, so the maximum period he has set is 15 years.

Since the die has been cast, his job was to finish as much as possible what he could do during the 15-year period and hand over the position.

Yusuf looked at Shemsi and said.

“15 years is not long. Resignation is impossible during that time.”

“…It would be faster to die of old age. Please consider my age.”

Shemsi, who is in his early 60s now, was not exaggerating, but Yusuf was firm.

“It’s not too late to rest after you die.”

“Hasan, how about giving your last name, Shaytan Pal Pasha [Satan Pal Pasha], to the Padishah?”

“It’s rude, but I was thinking about it too.”

Yusuf smiled at the two who were asking back if he was a Satan.

It was a joke that could be made because they were the ones who had gone through all kinds of hardships together since Trabzon.

If it were someone else, their head would be on a pole instead of laughing it off.

“Let’s stop joking around, there are many things to do in the future. So it will be a hectic 15 years.”

Yusuf has all kinds of knowledge in his head, but he had no intention of forcibly introducing it to the Empire.

‘Weapon development is limited to flintlock guns in the current situation.’

In the original history, it took more than 100 years for flintlock guns to completely replace matchlock guns.

This was due to price and production issues, and even the current Ottoman Empire, which introduced flintlocks much earlier, has not completely replaced them.

It was impossible to introduce rifled rifles that required even greater cost and time, and there was no need to mention anything beyond that.

‘The same goes for science and technology development.’

If capital is accumulated, education is expanded, and talent is created, it will develop naturally.

No matter how hard you try to advance development hastily, you never know what kind of deformed situation will result.

In the end, it was considered best to leave this development to the flow of the times, and Yusuf asked Shemsi.

“Shemsi Pasha, how do you see the current system of the Empire?”

“There are many places to fix in small parts, but I think it is the best for now.”

“There is no need to change the big picture, huh. I just need to prepare for when the current system becomes outdated.”

No matter how good a system and law are, they have a lifespan. If the country’s situation changes, the system must also change.

‘The problem is my reputation.’

Yusuf’s reputation was so great that it could be difficult to fix the system later when the moment came to fix it.

For the stale reason that he had to carry on the will of the great Padishah.

‘I have no choice but to leave it as a warning.’

If the Empire is shaken by failing to change the outdated system and maintaining it, it won’t even be a laughing matter.

Yusuf, who was thinking about the parts that needed to be done first and the things that could be postponed, opened his mouth after a long silence.

“I need to pay attention to agriculture first.”

“Agriculture?”

Shemsi had a surprised expression.

Agriculture was the field that was running most smoothly by introducing new farming methods.

“Yes, if the population continues to increase like this, there will be a limit due to food someday.”

The Ottoman Empire had a vast territory, but there was also a lot of land that was difficult to farm.

The population is increasing explosively, so the food problem will eventually hold them back.

“Is there a solution?”

Yusuf, who got up from his seat, pressed hard on the map that was hanging largely on one wall with his hand.

“I have to take this place.”

When he pointed to the northwestern part of the African continent, Shemsi sighed.

“I don’t know why, but it won’t be easy. Spain will resist fiercely.”

“It’s not about going out of the Mediterranean through the straits. It’s a land worth occupying even by land from Algiers.”

“What on earth is there in that place that makes you do that?”

“There is fertilizer.”

It was the land called Western Sahara in modern times, and it was a land where guano, also known as phosphate rock, was abundantly buried.

Even if it couldn’t be used right away due to extraction technology, it was an area that had to be preempted for the future.

‘I should get Murat to do it.’

Isn’t that why there are princes?

The first mission fell among the princes.