Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 172

Unexpected Outcome (3)

The captain, sailing between Spain and the Kingdom of Naples in southern Italy, chewed on a piece of jerky so tough it made his jaw ache.

The peace treaty between the Ottomans and the Habsburgs was a disaster for Spanish sailors.

The Barbary pirates [North African pirates operating from ports like Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli] were rampant, doubling the danger, and the days of sailing alone were unimaginable. They had to band together with other merchant ships, even at a loss.

“Ship ahoy! Pirate ship!”

At the lookout’s cry from the mast, the captain shoved the half-chewed jerky into his pocket and shouted.

It was the captain’s job to calm the sailors stirred up by the word “pirate ship.”

“There’s no need to be afraid of a few pirate ships!”

There were three ships moving together.

Even though merchant ships were weaker than pirate ships due to fewer crew and arms, they were not at a level to be endangered by ordinary pirate groups.

Before the sailors could regain their composure from the captain’s confident shout, the lookout’s piercing scream rang out.

“Pirates! Pirates! Turn the ship around! Turn it around!”

There was no need to question the screaming lookout.

They were close enough to see what the lookout on the high mast could see.

At first, it was a small dot beyond the horizon.

The small dot soon became a line, and when that line turned into numerous ships, the captain screamed in horror.

“Turn the ship around quickly, you bastards!”

The sailors, jolted to their senses by the captain’s roar, scrambled frantically, and the captain prayed to God that the fleet would pay them no attention.

As he watched the fleet disappear, maintaining its course as if it had no interest in them, the captain, drenched in cold sweat, muttered in an exhausted voice.

“Is it war?”

The captain, reminded of the pirate fleet that had attacked the Papal States’ port in the past, felt fear.

Watching the three ships disappear into the distance, Kasim remarked sullenly.

“Wasn’t it too much to mobilize even pirate ships as escorts just because my sister is going?”

Ten Ottoman fleets and about a hundred pirate ships scattered around them.

Of course, the armament of the pirate ships was not comparable to that of warships.

Half of the pirate ships were galleots [small galleys, typically used for scouting or raiding] that were not even the size of galleys, and the combat types could only mount up to 10 cannons and carry up to 100 people.

Even though 100 people seemed like a lot, there were not many combatants excluding the rowers, and the Ottomans used these ships more for support purposes such as supplies rather than direct combat.

Still, there was strength in numbers, and this many ships were enough to go to war, not just provide an escort. Hasna, who was brushing the lion’s mane, smiled softly at Kasim’s grumbling.

“Kasim, I told you to ask directly if you’re curious. I know your personality, so there’s no need to twist your words like that.”

Kasim smiled at Hasna’s remark.

“That’s why it’s uncomfortable to talk to people in our family. They know too much about what’s inside.”

“I’ve been watching you since you were born, so it’s natural that I know that much.”

“We’re only two years apart. Anyway, what is Father thinking?”

It was too much to mobilize this many pirate ships just for an escort.

Not only the Habsburgs but also the invited French would be shocked by this fleet. It was not just a simple warning.

The opportunity cost for the pirate ships taking on this unexpected escort duty was also significant.

“Maybe he was so worried about me that he overdid it.”

“Do you think I’ve only known Father for a day or two? I know he’s not that simple.”

At Kasim’s question, who claimed to have inherited his personality from his father, Hasna gestured for the people around them to step back.

As the sound of the waves and the cool sea breeze drowned out their voices, Hasna’s emerald eyes shone brilliantly.

“Do you think they can’t figure out what you’re thinking? They’ll think it’s excessive to mobilize so many ships just to protect one woman. Or they’ll think the time wasted on escorting is a waste.”

“…Is it a purge?”

“Yes, he’s planning to weed out those who have forgotten that they are the dogs of the empire and have become beasts.”

There were over a hundred ships now, but how many pirate ships would come back to escort them on the way back?

There was a high possibility that the number would be halved with all sorts of excuses.

“Why are you suddenly checking loyalty? It’s obvious that the pirates will desert if it’s not a war or a situation where they can make a profit.”

“Father is planning to give the Barbary pirates new jobs until when? I’m talking about escort missions, not looting like now.”

Kasim, who was pondering for a moment at the unexpected words, sighed.

“Should I say it’s a very Father-like idea?”

“Isn’t it Father’s consideration for a peaceful sea?”

Kasim shook his head at Hasna’s attitude, which seemed to genuinely think so.

The biggest threat in the Mediterranean was the Barbary pirates, and the ships that needed escort were Western ships, the pirates’ prey.

He wasn’t thinking of pitting the pirates against each other, so it meant he was effectively collecting tolls.

The pirate ships attached as escorts would act as a kind of pass.

‘Who are you calling cunning?’

Kasim made a disgusted face, thinking of Yusuf, who could do things he could never imagine with such composure.

From the victim’s point of view, it was blatant extortion, but it was a good plan for the Ottomans.

“If a stable source of income is created unlike looting, the size of the pirates will also increase. It means the empire has more cards to use.”

“So you’re trying to weed out the pirates who are loyal to the empire.”

“There’s no need to raise a dog that doesn’t recognize its owner.”

Hasna gave off the same cold look as Yusuf, as if blood couldn’t be hidden.

‘If my sister were a man, there would be one more dangerous competitor.’

Kasim shook his head.

Soon after, the French coast was turned upside down by the sudden appearance of the pirate fleet.

***

Yusuf put down the cylinder he had been holding to his eye.

“It’s not bad, but we still have a long way to go.”

Making a telescope itself was not difficult.

Lenses themselves had existed since before Christ, and the history of their development from reading stones to glasses had already been going on for hundreds of years.

The problem was how precisely the lenses could be cut to make a telescope and how transparent glass could be made.

“It’s just annoying that the Venetian bastards won’t give up their glass technology no matter what.”

“It’s such an important and valuable technology, so it can’t be helped.”

Yusuf nodded at Shemsi’s words.

The place with the most advanced glass technology in Europe was Venice.

Since the 13th century, all glass craftsmen had been forcibly relocated to Murano Island to prevent replication, and the technology was so strongly protected that those who escaped were punished.

Yusuf turned the slightly opaque glass in the telescope this way and that.

‘I can’t overcome hundreds of years of difference at once even with the knowledge I have.’

The glassmaking technology he possessed was only superficial.

Even limited to transparent lead glass, the amount of papers published in the early 17th century amounted to four volumes, so it was not a technology that could be viewed simply.

From the beginning, they had to start from scratch, tailored to the Ottoman situation, regarding which region to use materials of what quality to produce.

“Still, it’s good enough to supply to ordinary marines.”

The Ottoman navy, which was far away in Ming China, had already introduced telescopes to the point where they were supplied, but since the lens material was imported expensively from Venice, they were only supplied to the flagship class.

Even if the quality was poor, it was better to have it than not, so telescopes could be introduced to ordinary ships.

Yusuf picked up the telescope again and nodded as he looked at the crowd visible through the telescope.

“They’re coming now.”

The faint sound of the military band’s music was carried on the wind, and cheers rang out in the capital.

The Janissary [elite Ottoman soldiers] military band marched with cheerful music over the huge arched bridge connecting the Golden Horn [major waterway in Istanbul].

Heavy cannons followed, as if showing off their sturdiness, and the soldiers who crossed the bridge without any problems marched straight into the capital.

It was the moment the bridge, which could not have been conceived with modern technology, was completed, and Yusuf patted Hassan’s shoulder next to him.

“You’ve worked hard, Hassan.”

“No. It was a bridge that could never have been completed without the support of the Padishah [Ottoman ruler].”

“It’s nothing compared to your hard work. This bridge should be called Hassan’s Bridge.”

If the bridge connecting the Bosphorus Strait [strait connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara] is built as planned, this bridge will fade into insignificance, but it is a great honor to have his name attached to that huge bridge.

Officials, including Shemsi, looked at Hassan with envious eyes, but he bowed his head.

“The Padishah’s words are truly an honor, but would it be okay to attach another name?”

“What name is it?”

“I want to attach Nene’s name to the bridge. I want people to not forget her even after I die and hundreds of years pass.”

The officials looked puzzled at the words that he was kicking away the honor that would be given to him and attaching a woman’s name to it.

Yusuf, looking at Hassan’s wrinkled face, nodded.

“Good. It is right to follow your will since it is an opportunity given to you. Michelangelo.”

“Yes, Padishah.”

Yusuf, turning to face Michelangelo, smiled slightly.

The eyes burning with passion already showed all sorts of inspiration mixed up in how to utilize that large sculpture material.

“I leave it to you to put new life into that bridge.”

“No matter who you bring in this world, there will be no one more suitable for this job than me.”

Michelangelo, who was more sincere than anyone else in sculpture, was confident to the point of arrogance.

“Hassan, since it has been done according to your will, how about taking a break for a while?”

“No. There is no time to waste if I am to complete the Padishah’s orders on time.”

He didn’t know whether the 14 years Yusuf had left would be faster or Hassan’s lifespan would be faster, but both had a tight time to build a huge bridge across the strait.

Yusuf clicked his tongue at Hassan, who showed a strong will as if he had bet his remaining life on the construction of the bridge.

“Stubborn. Do as you please.”

“Thank you, Padishah.”

Yusuf, giving a bitter smile to Hassan, whose face was full of deep wrinkles, looked at the bridge that the people had begun to cross.

“Nene’s Bridge.”

It wasn’t a bad name.

***

The news of the Ottoman delegation that turned the southern coast of France upside down was quickly spread through messengers.

The fact that a large delegation, including the Janissary military band, was crossing France was a big issue in itself.

However, the news that the rumored Ottoman princess had come in person was enough to arouse curiosity regardless of gender.

It was even more so because she was a princess who could indirectly evoke the memory of Aisha Hatun, who had made the hearts of many virgins flutter through Yusuf’s biography, and the rumors of the women who had seen Hasna directly arrived in Paris faster than the delegation.

-She is a beauty that even women can’t help but fall for.

-It’s a pity for the men who can’t face her directly.

All sorts of rumors spread around Hasna to the point where the third prince, Kasim, was overshadowed, and as time passed, an exotic music rang out in Paris, which served as the capital of France.

The cheerful Turkish music of the Janissary military band rang out in the streets, and Ottoman troops with sharp momentum marched in step around the huge carriage crossing the city.

The roadsides were crowded with people to see the Ottoman delegation, and the nobles were gathered in the palace, which was the destination.

The military band, which had arrived at its destination, stopped playing, and when the bodyguard opened the carriage door, the nobles focused their attention.

-Grrr!

The lion, which let out a low growl as if it felt bad that people had gathered, shook its head, and when the nobles were embarrassed by the appearance of the beast, a soft tone was heard.

“Be quiet.”

-Sniff

Hasna, who calmed the lion with a single small gesture, leisurely looked around at the nobles lined up around her.

It was the moment she set foot in the heart of France.

***

“What is this again?”

Barbarossa Urudz [famous Ottoman privateer and admiral] was tilting his head.

He had heard that the pirates were focused on looting Ming China while the Ottomans were staying in Joseon [old name for Korea].

However, when he captured a pirate ship loitering on the sea route, a man in fancy clothes was caught.

-I am the envoy of the Great Ming Empire! Take courtesy as I am representing the Emperor!

“I don’t know what he’s saying.”

Urudz, scratching his head as he looked at the man shouting in Ming Chinese, gave an order.