Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 30

#30. Sowing Discord (1)

I don’t know what others might think, but I believe I’ve done well, considering I woke up as an Ottoman prince with unwanted memories.

I survived, dodging all sorts of landmines, and properly established myself as a prince.

‘At this point, it’s beyond just resolving to become a Sultan; I’m at a level where I actually have a chance.’

It’s a bigger difference than you might think.

As Yusuf’s life became more familiar, my thoughts about this place gradually changed.

‘At first, I simply thought it was a game. No, I had to believe that.’

In one corner of my mind, as I did my best to survive, there was the thought: If it’s a game, can’t I just restart? If I die, can’t I go back?

That thought was there, and it was a kind of defense mechanism.

But as time passed, and I met more people and gained more experience, I realized that where I was, was definitely reality.

‘I definitely couldn’t have developed gunpowder or spread vaccination in a game.’

Even without these things, laughing and crying together made it impossible to think it was just a game.

Of course, I didn’t know if I had returned to the past or come to a parallel dimension.

The reason I’m talking about these identity-related things is…

“Damn puberty.”

It’s not the time to be asking philosophical questions like ‘Who am I?’, but my hormones are raging, making me have these random thoughts.

As an act of rebellion, I was drinking barley coffee with no milk.

‘Well, that’s an excuse.’

The only good thing is that I could escape that awful coffee milk flavor under the guise of rebellion.

Yusuf looked at Aisha, who was smiling brightly next to him, with a sullen face.

“What are you looking at?”

“It’s nothing. I just wish you would grow up faster.”

Just the other day, I was looking at Aisha growing little by little with a proud smile, but now that I’m being treated like this, it feels strange.

It’s like I’ll be praised if I have a wet dream.

Feeling that she would be kicked out if she teased him any more, Aisha changed the subject.

“There’s a lot of talk about the prevention method in your name, isn’t there?”

Spreading propaganda and fabrications isn’t just her specialty.

The princes, who were beyond jealous when their brothers did well, were also skilled at this.

“Some people refuse to get cow pus because it’s bizarre, and there are rumors that people who got vaccinated turned into cows.”

It’s hard to believe anyone would believe that, but people believe it well.

As an empire that recognizes autonomy, some places are actively implementing it, thinking it’s worth a shot, while others treat it like nonsense.

‘This is expected, and it’s not bad.’

The prevention method shines brighter when there’s a comparison.

Still, it’s amazing that rumors like the fake news that circulated in England, where vaccination first started, are spreading.

I guess people think the same way.

“What can I do if they don’t like it?”

The dice had already been cast, and I didn’t want to worry about vaccination anymore.

To play with my brothers, Ismail was causing a storm in the east, just like in history.

Baku, the center of Caspian Sea trade, was an impregnable fortress, similar to Constantinople.

It had triple walls and deep moats and was surrounded by the sea except for one wall.

After a short siege, Ismail captured this place and turned his blade to the White Sheep Dynasty, engaging in a major battle on the Sharur Plain.

The White Sheep Dynasty led 30,000 troops, while Ismail led 7,000 Qizilbash [a militant Shia religious group].

Despite the huge difference in numbers, Ismail once again achieved a great victory.

‘Even if history is like this, is this really possible?’

To be honest, if I had 10 luck and even got the trait system, shouldn’t life feel a little easier?

With that monster running around, I didn’t feel confident even with future knowledge and the system.

I feel like I can at least try because I have this.

‘Ismail himself is a cheat. If I wrote a novel with Ismail as the main character, it would be treated as fantasy, not historical fiction.’

The story of a child who lived in hiding, founded a country at the age of 15, and occupied the entire territory of Iran in his mid-20s was almost a founding myth.

I would have believed it if there was a record that Ismail was born from an egg.

‘And what about Selim, who defeated that monster?’

Ismail was so successful that he was overconfident, and that led to his defeat, but there was no reason to underestimate Selim.

How can I underestimate someone who more than doubled the area of the empire?

“It’s not easy.”

Aisha, who had been behind Yusuf, massaged his shoulders as he sighed, lost in thought for a while.

Yusuf closed his eyes at the gentle touch.

I know very well that there are monsters all around me anyway.

‘It’s true that Ismail is the eye of the storm right now.’

From now on, everything in the east will change rapidly due to Ismail’s movements, but it’s not like I can’t do anything in the arena where Ismail is playing.

“Aisha, is the story with the Circassians going well?”

“Of course. They have agreed to support us with troops if we block the Crimean Khanate.”

“That’s not difficult.”

Normally, the Ottomans didn’t care even when the Circassians sent tributes and asked them to stop the Crimean Khanate’s looting.

Because I didn’t feel the need to do so.

But now that the Sultan is wary of Ismail, he will gladly put a leash on the Crimean Khanate.

‘Of course, the Crimean Khanate will hate it, but they can’t resist.’

It hasn’t even been 30 years since they were occupied for opposing the empire and swore to obey the Sultan forever if they were allowed to regain the Khan’s seat.

The beaten remembers even if the one who hit them doesn’t, so they will listen quietly.

“I don’t know how many will come, but it’s better than nothing. Next is Georgia….”

The kingdoms of Georgia were supporting Ismail.

They even helped to escape the White Sheep Dynasty, but Ismail wiped his mouth and made them his vassals after occupying Tabriz, the capital of the White Sheep Dynasty.

‘If I take advantage of this time, can I start a civil war in Georgia?’

It may be possible if Mzetchabuk, who joined hands with me, stirs up other countries.

There will be those who are only looking for opportunities to expand their power.

‘If I set up the board like this, I can drive it into a one-on-one confrontation between the Ottomans and the Safavids.’

The problem is that the Ottomans are busy fighting in the west, so there is little room to lean to the east.

A war with Ismail, who is not superior in power and has gained momentum due to successive victories, needs to be approached strategically.

Yusuf, who was contemplating for a while, turned to Aisha.

“Aisha, do you know where is the best place to fight a war?”

Aisha tilted her head at the sudden question.

“I don’t know. Where is it?”

Yusuf smiled.

“It’s best to do it in someone else’s house.”

Yusuf’s eyes turned to the area marked Erzurum on the map.

***

It was the fall of 1501.

It’s been two years since I came to Trabzon, and Yusuf has actively introduced the 4-field crop rotation method, which has already proven its worth.

Even though he didn’t have the right to instruct on other people’s land as a Sanjakbey [governor of a district], he was able to introduce it in many places thanks to the Sipahi [cavalry soldiers] support policy that allowed him to have professional managers.

Yusuf’s closest aides had seen the effects of the 4-field crop rotation with their own eyes, so they couldn’t help but look forward to next year’s results.

But the expressions of those gathered at the meeting were stiff.

“Pasha, tell them the information that arrived yesterday.”

“Yes, I understand.”

In a place where Kadis [judges] and Sobashis [police chiefs] were gathered, Shemsi read the contents of the paper.

“Ismail, the grandson of Uzun Hasan, has occupied Tabriz and proclaimed himself the Shah [king] of the Safavids.”

The story of using Shah, which means king in Persian, meant that he had founded a country.

Uzun Hasan was the emperor of the White Sheep Dynasty, and his grandson Ismail declared this fact clearly and took hold of legitimacy.

“Huh… I heard he was only 15 years old.”

A mixture of admiration and astonishment erupted from various places.

Everyone knew that the White Sheep Dynasty was not in a normal state. The civil war that broke out after Uzun Hasan’s death had continued for more than 20 years.

Civil wars were fought even by sons and grandsons, and it is true that the White Sheep Dynasty was greatly shaken.

Still, it was hard to imagine that a person named Ismail, who suddenly popped out, would occupy the capital of the White Sheep Dynasty.

Their eyes naturally turned to Yusuf.

‘Could it be that the reason he was preparing for war was because of this?’

It was strange that he was raising troops in a hurry, considering that he was simply preparing for succession.

Realizing this, they felt beyond surprised and even scared.

“Now is not the time to be surprised. It’s time to make plans for the future. Omer.”

“Tell me.”

“What do you think we should do?”

Omer replied as if there was nothing to think about.

“I think we should strengthen our defenses in preparation for a possible invasion.”

It was the most stable method, but it was not the answer I wanted.

“We will occupy Erzurum and defend it from there.”

“Sanjakbey-nim?!”

Yusuf raised his hand to those who were about to object with surprised faces.

“If we have to fight a siege anyway, it’s better to do it in someone else’s territory. Even if we succeed in defending it, we will suffer enormous damage.”

Usually, when a war broke out, the outside of the castle was devastated.

Of course, if we crouched down, there was a high possibility that Ismail, who had no intention of fighting the Ottomans right away, would not attack.

‘If I avoid the battle like that, there’s no point in coming here.’

If I have to fight anyway, it’s better to fight in someone else’s land, especially in a good spot.

“Erzurum is a strategic point in the highlands, and if we hold only that place, we can check Ismail as much as we want.”

“Conversely, that’s why it will be difficult to occupy.”

Of course, it’s difficult to occupy with brute force.

“I heard that Ismail is suppressing the Sunnis after occupying Tabriz.”

It was a natural measure for Ismail.

His main justification was to build a Shia empire, and it would make his power stronger.

“I’m going to spread this fact as widely as possible.”

I will also sprinkle ashes on Ismail’s table and have a chance to get a foothold in Erzurum.

Yusuf smiled slightly.

Ismail even declared proudly that the land of Iran was his land, citing legitimacy.

‘Originally, the first one to eat is the owner.’

I’m going to put an Albatross [a constant burden or worry] in Ismail’s bowl first.

***

Sometimes, accidental encounters happen.

Young Yahya realized that fact.

“It’s been a while, Suleiman-nim.”

“Yahya, it’s nice to see you.”

Since they were milk brothers and grew up like brothers, they couldn’t hide their joy at meeting again in a distant capital.

Suleiman, who was chatting lightly, noticed the book Yahya was holding.

“What book is that?”

“Ah…”

Suleiman glanced at the book and tilted his head.

“Mechanical clock?”

“Wow, Prince. So, Shehzade [prince] Yusuf told me to learn it when I have time. He said I would definitely be interested.”

“Shehzade Yusuf?”

Suleiman, who remembered the warm touch unlike his father, became interested.

Why would he tell Yahya to read this book?

Feeling doubtful, Suleiman opened his mouth after a short thought.

“I’m curious. Let’s look at it together.”