Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 210

Became the Sultan of Osman – Episode 210 (210/213)

Expected Event (2)

In modern times, sports can draw crowds of millions, so 100,000 might seem small, but considering the difference in population and transportation of the time, it’s actually quite significant.

Urgent Divan [Ottoman Imperial Council] meetings were held in response to the news pouring in from all over the Ottoman Empire, and the first order of business was to understand the scale of the gathering.

“Where did the figure of 100,000 come from?” Yusuf asked.

The viziers [high-ranking political advisors] quickly presented their evidence.

“The Sipahi [Ottoman cavalry] are gathering in the capital the fastest. They alone number nearly 40,000.”

“Sipahi, you say.”

It’s no surprise that the Sipahi are quick to act.

As a standing army that could be summoned at any time, the Sipahi not only had faster access to information than ordinary citizens but also faced fewer economic problems as landowners.

Being cavalry, they had no need to worry about transportation.

Yusuf clicked his tongue briefly.

“I should have reformed the military system sooner to reduce their numbers.”

Reducing the current number of over 100,000 Sipahi was a long-term plan.

Even though guns and cannons had emerged as the main force on the battlefield, cavalry still had many uses, as seen during the Siege of Rome, and the Sipahi also served as a police force to maintain public order.

It was difficult to reduce their numbers in the short term, so it had been postponed, but he never expected things to turn out this way.

“They are strong supporters of the Padishah [Ottoman Sultan]; they would be disappointed to hear that. Isn’t this gathering a show of their gratitude for what they have received?”

“Who asked you to express it that way?” Yusuf said, looking annoyed.

Having led numerous wars to victory, starting with the Safavid conquest, Yusuf was not just an excellent ruler to the Sipahi but something akin to a religious figure.

It was similar to how Ismail of the Safavids was revered as a god by his followers.

Moreover, the introduction of the four-field crop rotation and phosphate fertilizers increased productivity, directly benefiting the Sipahi, who were landowners.

This meant they had good reason to be so proactive.

“The problem is that the news of the Padishah’s abdication is spreading even faster as the Sipahi gather.”

Even in the 20th century, there were mountain villages that didn’t know a war had broken out, so how much more so in this era?

Without the internet or telephones, there was a significant information gap, and the Sipahi’s movement was like spreading rumors throughout the country.

Of course, only some would come to the capital due to livelihood concerns, but it was still a sufficient reason to estimate 100,000.

Yusuf tapped the armrest.

“If that many people gather in the capital, there will be many problems.”

“Even simply considering it, there will be rising prices, public order issues, and sanitation problems in the capital. There won’t be enough space for that many people to set foot in the capital.”

Even 20 years ago, it would have been different, but the capital, already with a population of over 500,000, was overcrowded.

If 100,000 more were added, the streets might be occupied by the homeless.

Seeing Yusuf frown, Shemsi cautiously suggested.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stop their movement now?”

“No. Considering they are coming in an excited state, it could lead to unnecessary conflicts.”

If he couldn’t stop them from coming, he had no choice but to prepare as much as possible to prevent problems.

“Entry into the capital is prohibited. Instead, we will use tents to create temporary places to stay, and the arriving Sipahi will be responsible for maintaining public order. Doctors and administrators will also be deployed to prevent diseases caused by sanitation issues.”

The ministers did not object to the dispatch of administrators.

Those attending the Divan meetings were not of a rank to be rolling around in such places. Lower-ranking officials would be in despair at this news, but those gathered here didn’t care.

“And the price issue isn’t difficult to solve.”

He couldn’t be sure how many people would gather, but unless they all fasted, they would consume a tremendous amount of food.

Naturally, prices would rise, but Yusuf easily offered a solution.

“Record how much of each product each merchant sells. Let them know I will remember it separately.”

“…Padishah?”

“Of course, the same goes if I hear news that merchants are not selling goods and the people are starving.”

Those gathered in the meeting room looked pale.

Even though Yusuf was about to abdicate, he was by no means powerless.

No matter which prince became the next Padishah, they would not be able to completely escape Yusuf’s shadow, and bringing down one or two merchants was nothing.

The faces of the merchants who would soon hear the most terrifying threat in the Ottoman Empire were already vividly imagined.

“After three months, I will personally step in to resolve the situation. Until then, work hard.”

As Yusuf patted his shoulder and disappeared, Shemsi sighed.

He heard that time goes by faster as you get older, but he didn’t know why it was slowing down for him.

***

People began to gather outside the walls of Constantinople [modern-day Istanbul].

The Ottoman Empire was a country with well-maintained roads, so the gathering was quite rapid, and those who were not wealthy enough to secure accommodation in the capital lived in tents outside the city.

With all sorts of people gathering from all over the Ottoman Empire, all sorts of things happened.

A priest conducting a service with Christians and a Muslim scholar praying towards Mecca next to him started arguing.

“What original sin are you talking about? Allah forgave Adam, so there is no such thing.”

“Didn’t humans become flawed by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? And can Muhammad really be called the last prophet?”

“It is written in the Quran! Are you insulting him?!”

“Then what about the Padishah?”

When the priest mentioned Yusuf, who had actually made prophecies close to miracles, the Muslim scholar was momentarily taken aback.

If Christianity was shaken by the Reformation, Islam was confused by Yusuf.

From the claim that Allah had no choice but to send another prophet to correct the shaking Islam after Muhammad, to the claim that he was absolutely not a prophet.

It had been a debate that had continued for decades, and the Muslim scholar brazenly continued.

“The Padishah made prophecies, but he did not call himself a prophet, so he is not a prophet.”

“What nonsense…”

“Anyway, that’s how it is. More than that, we also respect Jesus as a prophet, but isn’t the claim that he is the son of Allah too absurd?”

Muslim and Christian figures held heated debates, controversies arose due to different cultures in different regions, and archery competitions were held by region.

Thanks to this, people living in the capital went out to watch, and Yusuf heard news from here every day.

“I’m glad they’re not causing as many problems as I thought.”

There were still cases of theft or assault, but they were rare compared to the crowd that had gathered.

They were generally arrested quickly.

“Isn’t it because those who deeply think of the Padishah have gathered?”

“That’s true. How did you see the people gathered in various regions competing and interacting in various events?”

“It seems good.”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to hold competitions where athletes from all over the country gather in one place at regular intervals?”

In short, he meant to hold the Olympics, and Shemsi, unfamiliar with this concept, expressed a slightly negative opinion.

“Will it be effective compared to the effort put in?”

“Our empire is too vast, and as such, various ethnicities and cultures coexist. As time passes, the sense of being the same country will fade. I want to give them the sense of belonging to one country by competing together.”

Just as the Olympics, which started for the physical training of French youth and the promotion of national morale, expanded to the whole world, he didn’t know if it would be the same in the future.

Shemsi, thinking it wasn’t bad, nodded.

“It seems like we can make a plan. Isn’t it something you’ll be doing after you retire anyway?”

“That’s right. My son will host it well on his own.”

“The next Grand Vizier will take over the plan and put it into action.”

The two laughed, leaving work for future generations.

“More than that, Padishah, may I ask what you plan to do to calm those gathered there?”

“The easiest way would be to cancel the abdication. But then you and I would have to stay in this position until we die of old age.”

“That seems like the most difficult way.”

Shemsi, who didn’t know when he would die and had no great attachment to life, didn’t want to be buried in documents either.

At the firm words, Yusuf chuckled.

“I have no intention of doing that either. I don’t want to make the abdication a lie. I’m just going to make a promise that will comfort them.”

With that, Yusuf took a sip of coffee.

***

The promised three-month period had passed.

Despite the limited time, the crowd gathered in the capital had long exceeded 100,000, and it seemed as if another city had been created outside the walls.

“Padishah, all preparations are complete,” reported Silahdar Agha [Commander of the Silahdars], who also served as an aide.

Yusuf nodded. With the rattling of chains, the heavy gates of the capital came down, and Yusuf slowly moved his steps.

The magnificent music of the military band, announcing that the Padishah had come out, rang out, and the Janissaries [elite Ottoman infantry] lined up on both sides created a path to pass.

Beyond that, the sight of so many people paying their respects, too many to estimate at a glance, came into view.

‘It’s been a while since I felt like this.’

Feeling a strange emotion that seemed to press down on his chest, Yusuf stood on the prepared platform.

“Raise your heads, I want to see your faces!”

At the words of the Janissaries, who were re-announcing Yusuf’s command, those gathered raised their heads.

Various people of different ages, regions, and statuses, easily recognizable with just a brief glance, came into view.

“It is truly a joyous day. What ruler until now has enjoyed such luxury? Even the emperor of the distant Ming Dynasty, and the emperors of old Rome, now turned to dust, would not have had such an experience.”

In a space where no noise was heard except for the voice of the Janissaries conveying the words, Yusuf continued.

“I know well the reason why you have come to this distant place. How do you think my heart feels, leaving behind such subjects? However, I have no intention of changing my decision.”

-Padishah!

At the voices popping up here and there, Yusuf raised his hand to calm the commotion.

“The judgment that my stepping down is truly for the sake of the empire remains unchanged, and the master of the empire must not utter falsehoods. For the sake of an unshakable empire, it must be done.”

At the firm words that did not give even a shred of room for hope, mournful groans erupted here and there, and Yusuf silently gave them time to calm their emotions.

Among them, there would be comrades who had shared the battlefield together, and those who had been saved by the benefits of his policies.

This meant that there were those who felt that the change of Padishah was like the sky falling.

Yusuf lightly joked towards an old man crying nearby.

“To cry on a joyous day of facing each other, you are truly poor subjects. Although I may soon step down from this position, it does not mean that I am moving away from you. Rather, it will be an opportunity to get closer. Five years. After that, I will personally tour the empire.”

In about five years, the regime would have stabilized, so touring the empire would not be a great burden for the prince who would become the next Padishah.

Having said that far, Yusuf smiled at the old man wiping away his tears and said.

“So live a long life.”

Yusuf turned and returned to the capital.

That was all the promise he could make.

***

After Yusuf’s declaration, the gathered crowd dispersed willingly.

They felt that no matter how hard they tried, they could not change his will to abdicate, and they were somewhat satisfied with the promise to tour the empire in five years.

Of course, it was not just a promise made to comfort the gathered subjects.

‘The future of the empire will depend on how well it is united as one country.’

There may be religious disputes, a wave of nationalism like in history, and the empire may be shaken by the inevitable industrial revolution.

Other countries will endlessly try to divide the empire, and the inside will be shaken by people pursuing their own interests.

To overcome these crises, it is necessary to be more strongly bound as one country.

It was a promise for that, and it was also an important matter that would postpone the planned work a little.

Thinking that the situation had been resolved well, Yusuf opened a letter that had come from Mustafa after a long time.

Yusuf, who was reading a letter containing a story of going on time and trivial greetings, paused for a moment.

-And I want to tell my father an amazing fact. Surprisingly, there are a lot of gold mines in the center of the island. I’ve already found more than ten. Isn’t it amazing?

It was amazing.

What a damn stroke of luck.

“Bring the Grand Vizier [chief minister of the Ottoman Empire]. Something has come up that needs to be discussed urgently.”

The Grand Vizier, who had rushed in, resigned after seeing the letter, but Yusuf firmly refused.

While making plans to prepare for inflation, time passed and the time came.

The princes gathered in the capital, and the world’s attention was focused on the abdication.