Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 35

35. Clash (1)

Who dies first in a war?

Infantry, who must form battle lines to fight cavalry, the tanks of this era, and who must be the first to rush and cling to the walls during a siege.

Cavalry, classified as nobles within the army, yet forced to engage in close-quarters combat.

Or commanders, who hold relatively stable positions but are prime targets for the enemy.

‘The answer is whoever has the worst luck.’

When a person is destined to die, they can die in the most absurd ways.

In the 12th century, nobles gathered at St. Peter’s Church in Erfurt for a meeting, but the floor of the meeting hall on the second floor collapsed, plunging them into the cesspool in the basement.

About 60 people, including counts and princes of the Holy Roman Empire and numerous knights, drowned in excrement.

‘That’s why I bothered to increase my luck. People die in ways like that, so there’s no guarantee I won’t get hit by a stray arrow on the battlefield.’

Even Lucky himself thinks he could die at any moment, so being only moderately injured by a catapult?

Even a pebble thrown by a catapult can kill a person, so the opponent was lucky to only be moderately injured.

‘It’s a good thing the lord was moderately injured and surrendered.’

It saved time and cement, and there were no troop losses.

The victory is so decisive that it can be declared a great triumph just by looking at the commotion outside upon hearing the news of the surrender, but if it’s the result of luck that had been dormant for three years.

“It feels unfair?”

I don’t know how much effort he put into preparing for this siege.

Since he couldn’t use cannons and didn’t have many troops, cement was the only thing he could rely on, and he went through a lot of trouble to secure enough of it.

Hassan, who used to be chubby, became thin in order to create a mass production system.

‘If I had known it would end this easily, I would have paved roads between the cities.’

The amount of cement coming in continuously was enough to build a fortress, so he could have paved some roads.

The opportunity cost he missed was a waste, and he felt quite uneasy because it seemed like his efforts were being attributed to luck.

Commanders came to Yusuf, who was feeling strange.

“Indeed, Allah’s will is with the Prince. I never thought the lord would be hit by a catapult.”

“The soldiers are waiting for the Prince’s command!”

Yusuf raised his hand to calm the commanders who were pouring out words with excited faces.

“You want the reward for a just victory.”

“That’s right. That’s what the soldiers want.”

The other commanders nodded at Yagiz’s words.

The army was like a double-edged sword to the commander.

If the soldiers’ grievances were not properly addressed, insubordination that threatened their lives could occur.

When Selim, who became Sultan, waged war against the Safavid Empire, the Janissaries even fired blank shots at Selim’s tent as a sign of dissatisfaction.

‘I have no choice. Even a bland siege is still a siege.’

The situation was different from when Baiburt didn’t even swing a weapon.

Yusuf, having made his decision, began to speak.

“Who would have known? That this fortress would be opened with just a few catapult shots. This means that Allah [God in Islam] is watching over our holy war.”

“That’s right!”

If he had to be precise, it was luck rather than Allah.

“They did not recognize our hearts that came to help our brothers in faith, but we opened this holy war to help them. Therefore, pillaging will be limited to one day.”

One day of pillaging was a compromise.

‘I can’t ban pillaging if I think about the soldiers, and three days of pillaging is too long to soothe the public sentiment afterward.’

Erzurum was a key area for defense, even if it was just a passing occupied territory.

The commanders, understanding Yusuf’s intentions, nodded.

“One day is a shame, but the soldiers will understand.”

“Then I will let them know.”

The commanders went out of the tent, and after a while, a frenzy of screams was heard.

***

Breaking sounds and screams erupted throughout Erzurum.

The citadel, which served as the lord’s command post, was heavily guarded by the Imperial Guard wearing scale armor, and Yusuf asked Arda, who was guarding him from the side.

“Arda, there are others in charge of guarding, so you can explore if there are any suitable women.”

Arda, who was keeping pace with Yusuf, replied bluntly.

“It’s okay. I promised Burkanim that I would watch over the Prince from the side.”

“Burkanim, a nostalgic name.”

They were never on good terms, but he was the person who remained most vividly in his mind.

“Is the Prince okay? Isn’t this the time when you are most interested in women?”

“I have no thoughts of that.”

Due to puberty, he had sexual desires, and he could have women whenever he wanted, but he deliberately avoided them.

‘If I embrace a woman with this uneasy feeling, I feel like I’ll fall for her.’

No matter how much he has matured mentally while living as Yusuf, the fact that he could die at any moment is still a great fear.

Sometimes he even felt like running away far away, regardless of being Sultan, and there was no guarantee that he would not indulge in women and escape from reality.

‘If I get through this war safely, I’ll have at least some leeway.’

It wasn’t too late to think about women then.

Honestly, his standards had been raised because of Aisha, so he wasn’t satisfied with ordinary women.

Yusuf, who had exchanged trivial stories with Arda, entered the destination.

“Have you come, Prince?”

“This is Abadan, the lord of Erzurum. Sinan, how is his condition?”

“His right leg was crushed by a catapult, and he underwent amputation surgery. We will have to monitor the progress.”

In an era without antibiotics, 1/4 of those who underwent amputation surgery were expected to die.

Sinan had heard the concept of disinfection from him, so the mortality rate would be lower, but it wouldn’t be strange if Abadan died at any moment.

While talking with Sinan, Abadan’s eyelids fluttered slightly and he opened his eyes.

“…You are the Prince of Rum [Rome].”

The Ottoman Empire is not a country with a formal national name.

Within the empire, the term ‘well-protected country’ was mainly used, and when referring to the dynastic character, it was called ‘Ottoman State’, and when emphasizing the religious aspect, it was called ‘Land of Islam’. Since the core area was the former Eastern Roman region, it was also called the Roman State.

Other Turkic peoples also called the Ottoman Empire Ottoman, Anatolia, or Rum, which means Rome in Arabic.

“Seeing you here, did Ahun declare surrender?”

“Hmm, wasn’t that what you ordered?”

“How could an old man who fainted after being hit by a mere rock give orders?”

Who surrendered was not an important issue.

What was important was that they had entered without bloodshed.

Abadan, who had been closing his eyes with a miserable face at the faintly audible screams, said.

“Because of a wretched old man’s stubbornness, innocent people are suffering.”

“If you were going to open the door this easily, it would have been better to surrender willingly.”

It would have been futile, but at least he wouldn’t have had to worry about managing the public sentiment of those who had been plundered.

Abadan smiled bitterly at Yusuf’s criticism.

“Prince, may I ask you one thing?”

“I’ll at least hear it.”

“Having drawn tears of blood from so many people, how can I continue my wretched life? I want to go to Allah and confess my sins.”

He spoke elegantly, but in fact, he meant to be killed.

Yusuf, who had been watching him silently as if to see through him, said.

“…You’re serious.”

“Of course.”

“You’re different from the guy I met in Baiburt a while ago, even though you’re both lords.”

“At least I didn’t make tears of blood flow, so I’m better than this old man. So, what do you think?”

Before Yusuf could answer Abadan’s urging words, a voice intervened.

“No, Abadan!”

“Ahun, this is not your place to interfere. This is a story between the Prince and me.”

As Abadan said firmly, Ahun bit his lip tightly.

Yusuf, who had been watching the two of them, said.

“Are you going to take all the blame for your subordinate and son-in-law?”

If Abadan declares that all the blame lies with him and dies, Ahun, who quickly surrendered and reduced the damage, can gain support.

He could create that much public opinion.

“Ahun will be of great help to the Prince, so you won’t regret it.”

“That’s probably true. Can you be sure you won’t regret it? Angry people will throw stones at you, spit on you, and insult you to vent their anger. Your death will not be honorable.”

Being treated like that by those who had followed him until recently would be more painful than he could imagine.

However, Abadan rather wore a small smile.

“If my death can relieve their anger, I can hold my head high before Allah.”

“You’re a stupid human.”

The most foolish human he had seen after Burka.

Unlike his personal feelings, it was a proposal he had no reason to refuse. He could solve the headache problem with just one person’s death.

“Then I’ll make you a promise. Your remaining family will move to Trabzon and live a comfortable life.”

“…Thank you.”

No more conversation was needed, and Yusuf turned his body.

His subordinate, who was silently shedding tears, and his superior, who was prepared for death, would need time alone.

***

“Balas, why did you spread such rumors?”

“I, I don’t know anything about it!”

Balas, the ruler of Idir, was trembling on his knees, and Ismail, who had recently defeated the army of the White Sheep Dynasty and obtained the title of Shah of Iran [King of Iran], wore a cold smile.

Iran meant ‘Land of the Aryans’, and in fact, it meant that he had gained the support of many people.

Even in this good situation, Ismail’s heart was uneasy. Because annoying rumors were spreading widely.

“Are you really saying that you didn’t spread them? The nonsense that I massacred Sunni bastards and that I’m not a descendant of the Imam [Islamic leadership position].”

“N, no, really! Please believe me!”

Balas shouted, hitting his head on the floor several times, and blood from his broken forehead stained the floor.

Ismail nodded at Balas’s sincerity.

“It doesn’t seem like you spread the rumors.”

“…Then?”

“But what’s important is that the rumors are circulating under your name.”

Ismail swung his sword mercilessly, and Balas, half-beheaded, convulsed and fell to the floor.

Ismail coldly turned away from Balas, who was mouthing to be saved, and wiped the blood from the sword with a cloth that his subordinate had given him.

“I don’t know who it is, but it’s interesting. Don’t you think so, Nebazar?”

“Someday, they will pay for their sins with death before the Shah.”

“Of course. More than that, Erzurum was occupied by the Ottomans?”

“That is correct.”

Ismail frowned.

He might in the future, but it was impossible to wage an all-out war against the Ottomans right now.

The good thing was that the Ottomans did not have the capacity to move a large army to the east, and that this was only led by one prince.

“What about us occupying Erzurum?”

“It won’t be easy. It’s a strong fortress, and if the siege period is prolonged and we face winter, we will have to retreat.”

The longer the occupation period, the harder it would be to find Erzurum, so there was no time to spare.

Ismail made a decision.

“Then we’ll have to make it difficult for them to hold out in Erzurum. Nebazar.”

“Order me.”

“I will give you five thousand troops. Occupation is not necessary. Burn and plunder the land of the foolish prince.”

Nebazar replied with a face full of joy.

“Trust me and leave it to me.”

***

While watching Abadan’s head hanging on a pole, Arda asked.

“What are you going to do with all that cement?”

Because they had occupied it too easily, the cement that they hadn’t been able to use properly continued to pile up, and Yusuf, who was worried, replied.

“I’ll have to build fortresses at the crossroads.”