Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 179

Became the Sultan of Osman – Episode 179

Rumors (1)

Beijing, the heart of the Ming Dynasty’s empire and the Emperor’s residence, was not a place where foreign envoys could freely move about.

The Ottoman delegation, including Suleiman, was not allowed to leave their accommodations without permission. Guards surrounded the premises, ostensibly for their protection.

With news that even the Embroidered Uniform Guard [Ming Dynasty secret police] and the Eastern Depot [another Ming Dynasty intelligence agency] were watching, even those interested in Ottoman affairs and new foreign items couldn’t easily arrange meetings.

Ironically, Suleiman’s most frequent conversations in Beijing were with the Jiajing Emperor himself.

“I’ve heard that this beverage is highly regarded among the high-ranking officials these days,” the Emperor remarked.

“Isn’t it because overcoming the initial unfamiliarity opens up a new world of experience?” Suleiman replied.

It was coffee, presented to the Emperor only after dozens of taste tests. Since the delegation brought a limited amount, it quickly became a precious commodity enjoyed only by high-ranking officials.

The black color, unlike tea, resembled the herbal medicine consumed for health, making it easier to believe Suleiman’s claim that coffee was good for the body.

Suleiman glanced at the Jiajing Emperor, who quietly sipped coffee from behind a screen.

‘It’s a bit strange that the effect is slightly less potent, as if he’s already developing a tolerance to *Kahwah* [coffee] like the empire’s officials, but it’s not ineffective.’

It’s commonly known that tea leaves also contain caffeine, but there’s a significant difference between coffee and tea.

Boiling tea at high temperatures results in a bitter taste, so it’s usually brewed at 80 degrees Celsius [176 degrees Fahrenheit], while coffee is brewed at temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius [212 degrees Fahrenheit].

The difference in caffeine dissolved in water is bound to be significant. Additionally, tea contains catechin and theanine, both of which reduce caffeine absorption.

Coffee, in practice, delivers much more caffeine. Although Suleiman wasn’t aware of these specific details, he was satisfied with the effect he observed.

It would have been troublesome if the effect were too strong, causing symptoms like headaches and heart palpitations, as often happens when someone new drinks coffee for the first time.

“I like the subtle aroma,” the Emperor commented.

“The Padishah [Ottoman ruler] also said that the aroma is important for *Kahwah*. It’s amazing that you can appreciate it,” Suleiman responded.

For an official in the Ottoman Empire with some coffee experience, fully appreciating the aroma was difficult; only Yusuf was truly capable of it.

This was a sincere compliment, but the Jiajing Emperor, unaware of its true meaning, smiled faintly.

The Jiajing Emperor, who had met Suleiman several times and discussed matters between the two empires, recalled something upon hearing the word “world.”

“Speaking of which, aren’t there those who created the current pirate situation by being pushed out by you?”

“Are you referring to Portugal?” Suleiman asked.

“I suppose that’s what they’re called in your country. Anyway, the Joseon [Korean] envoy said they disappeared to the east. Do you know what happened?”

At the Jiajing Emperor’s question, Suleiman quickly searched his memory.

He had heard about the whereabouts of the Governor-General of India, who had disappeared while exchanging letters with the home country.

‘I heard that he barely survived and came from the New World found by the Western countries.’

During his mission, he noticed their isolated behavior compared to their strong national power.

In the West, considerable time had passed since the New World’s discovery, and Magellan’s fleet had reached Malacca after passing through the New World, yet they seemed unaware of it.

The moment his remarks made them realize the existence of the New World, it was impossible to predict the consequences.

Suleiman scanned his surroundings.

‘It’s hard to lie in this situation.’

It wasn’t easy to deceive those experienced eyes watching him around the Emperor.

If his lie to the Emperor were discovered later, the current relationship of trust would collapse.

Choosing a side was difficult, but fortunately, Yusuf had provided a hint.

“If you continue east from here, there is a vast New World. I know that they went back to the West through there.”

“Did you say New World?” the Emperor inquired.

“Yes. It is a vast land still being explored not only by our empire but also by the Western countries that first discovered it.”

At Suleiman’s words, the Jiajing Emperor looked interested, and the high-ranking officials listening from behind widened their eyes.

A New World was intriguing, but if the Emperor decided to explore the distant sea, it could lead to enormous financial expenditure.

It was undesirable to pursue something with no guaranteed profit.

“Your Majesty, even if it is a New World, it will be a primitive land compared to the empire. There is no need to pay much attention to it,” one official advised.

“That’s right. The empire is complete enough as it is now,” another echoed.

“Do you think so too?” the Emperor asked, looking at Suleiman.

Suleiman, now under pressure from both sides, racked his brains.

There was nothing to gain from taking sides. He needed a decision that would appease the Emperor’s curiosity and alleviate his subjects’ concerns.

As the pressure mounted, Suleiman spoke.

“We don’t even know the sea route yet, and we don’t know what practical benefits there will be. The Ming Dynasty cannot bear such a risk alone, can it? Why don’t you get help from Joseon instead?”

“Joseon?” the Emperor questioned.

“They will be of great help in the exploration.”

Both sides seemed to think bringing in Joseon wasn’t a bad idea, and Suleiman tried to ignore the prickling guilt.

Joseon was thrown into turmoil by the Ming Dynasty’s envoy who visited a few days later.

***

No matter who said it, the 16th century was a pivotal period in Europe.

It was a time of opening new sea routes, reaching out to the East and the New World. Internally, the Reformation, which had been brewing for some time, was emerging in earnest.

It was such a turbulent period that it couldn’t be omitted from any study of European history. However, with the Ottoman Empire’s intervention, the situation became even more complicated.

“Things are flowing interestingly. Don’t you think so, Grand Vizier?” Yusuf asked.

“If the Padishah finds it interesting, then it must be so,” Shemsi replied indifferently.

It was usually a strange situation when Yusuf found something interesting, but Shemsi had witnessed such occurrences more than once or twice during their long collaboration.

The same was true now.

“Even the Pope is desperate, to the point where he directly declares that the Ottoman Empire is not an Islamic state.”

“Isn’t it because it’s better than being branded with the disgrace of receiving help from a heretical empire?” Shemsi countered.

The Ottoman army stationed in Rome alone numbered 20,000.

Since the Ottoman Empire often mobilized 100,000 men, the number might seem small, but even in the West, weakened by continuous wars, 20,000 was a force to be reckoned with.

Especially when mixed with the Janissaries [elite Ottoman soldiers], renowned for their skill.

‘We would have inevitably moved if we had tried to plunder or occupy Rome.’

Far from plundering, Yusuf had not only liberated Rome but also made it clear that he had no intention of occupying it, and was now leading its reconstruction.

Although he was demanding huge sums for reconstruction costs, no country would wage war with the Ottoman Empire for the sake of the Papal States’ finances.

The Pope, realizing that escape from the Ottoman Empire’s grasp was unlikely until Rome was rebuilt, struggled to secure even the authority he had already lost.

“Still, I didn’t know he would even bring in the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople [leader of Orthodox Christians], who was sent as a safety measure, and claim that half of the empire is a brother of faith,” Yusuf mused.

“Although there are more Muslims, the empire’s religions are largely two, so you could see it that way, couldn’t you?” Shemsi replied.

“It doesn’t matter because it benefits the empire, but it’s amusing. It’s like claiming that the empire is okay while arguing that Lutherans are heretics and should be suppressed.”

The truly amusing part was that the Lutherans, the first Protestants who followed Martin Luther’s Ninety-five Theses, were being blamed for the looting of Rome.

As the Pope’s authority plummeted, new Protestant groups sprouted up more quickly.

‘England has already started the Reformation with King Henry VIII.’

It was a religious reformation that changed the head of the church in England to the king, and other Western countries also showed movements to break away from the shadow of the Pope.

The Pope was about to face a crisis. Of course, that didn’t mean he could go against the flow of the times.

Yusuf placed the Quran and the Bible side by side and said, “Our empire must not be shaken in this atmosphere and must get out of the shadow of religion as much as possible.”

It’s difficult for a country to completely escape the shadow of religion.

Even modern countries are heavily influenced by the religion that the people of that country mainly believe in, right?

‘Still, it is necessary to freely create customs caused by religion. At least it should be a voluntary choice, not coercion.’

Even things like the hijab or burqa, which are considered symbols of oppression of Muslim women’s human rights.

There are places where people are killed for not wearing a burqa, while in Turkey, there was a big controversy over banning headscarves in public places.

In the end, it must be an environment where it can be left to the person’s freedom.

‘And this change takes a long time.’

For example, even if Yusuf now declares that hijabs and veils that cover the face can be freely removed, nothing will change significantly.

In the Ottoman Empire of this era, wearing uncomfortable hijabs and veils while working was like symbolizing noble women.

Even if Yusuf declares that they don’t have to wear it, there is a high possibility that they will not follow it.

However, when the hijab is felt as a restriction, it is necessary to prepare an environmental foundation where it can be easily removed, and it was slowly progressing.

A voice announcing a visitor interrupted Yusuf’s discussion with Shemsi.

“Padishah, Princess Hasna has come to see you.”

“I will step down now,” Shemsi said, rising from his seat upon hearing the news of Hasna’s visit.

This was partly out of consideration, allowing her to remove her veil, and partly because he was annoyed by those who hadn’t given up hope for the marriage and made requests if he spent too much time with Hasna.

Yusuf, aware of this, dismissed Shemsi and entered his private room with Hasna after leaving the audience hall.

“Yes, what brings you here?” Yusuf asked.

“A letter has come from my mother,” Hasna replied.

“Aisha?” Yusuf asked, tearing open the letter Hasna handed him and reading its contents.

The content was primarily a letter of greeting. The main subject was how Mehmet had gone to Rome and was lonely, along with small daily stories and expressions of missing her.

“What does it say?” Yusuf asked.

“It’s a common greeting and a story about missing you,” Hasna replied.

Yusuf neatly folded Aisha’s letter and placed it in his arms.

Hatuns [royal consorts] who left with the princes often exchanged greetings like this.

“Doesn’t Father miss Mother?” Hasna asked.

“How could I not miss her? Not only Aisha, but other women too,” Yusuf replied.

They had spent years together, so he hadn’t coldly forgotten them.

However, the reason he was satisfied with letters instead of direct meetings was the same reason he initially sent the women away.

“If you frequently invite them to the capital with a longing heart, the rules will eventually collapse. It can’t be helped,” Yusuf explained.

If women participate in politics, they will infringe on the authority of the Padishah.

Yusuf smiled softly at Hasna, who was mumbling.

“There will be plenty of time to be together after I hand over this position. Until then, I hope you stay healthy,” Yusuf said.

Unlike himself, who could live a long life, he didn’t know how long the women, including Aisha, would be able to be with him.

Hasna, who had been subtly observing Yusuf’s expression as he tried to shake off his bitter thoughts, changed the atmosphere and the subject.

“The letter my mother sent me contained a story about a rumor that’s been going around these days,” she said.

“Are you talking about the rumor that I predicted a great disaster would happen in Portugal?” Yusuf asked.

“Yes,” Hasna confirmed.

There were many listeners at the time, so it was natural for the rumor to spread quickly.

Since he had a history of predicting earthquakes, Islamic figures, in particular, were paying close attention.

The more Yusuf’s predictions came true, the more Muhammad’s authority would be undermined.

“I don’t remember saying that exactly,” Yusuf replied.

Yusuf’s reaction to this rumor remained consistent.

It was a word he deliberately leaked to undermine Muhammad’s authority because of the Islamic fundamentalists, but there was no need to strongly insist on it.

Hasna made a sulky face at Yusuf’s dismissive attitude, and Yusuf simply laughed it off.

As winter arrived, the rumor that started in the Ottoman Empire reached Portugal.

It was much faster than Yusuf expected.