Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 38

#38. Aftermath

With Ismail seizing Tabriz, the Aq Qoyunlu [White Sheep Dynasty] fell into chaos, and Yusuf took advantage of the power vacuum to seize Erzurum.

Ismail, not one to let others take what’s his, immediately sent 5,000 Qizilbash [a militant Sufi religious order] to retake Erzurum.

‘It’s all gone to hell.’

Even in Ismail’s worst-case scenario, he hadn’t imagined such a one-sided annihilation. At most, he’d envisioned heavy damage on both sides.

His initial assessment wasn’t wrong.

Although the numbers were similar, the Qizilbash, battle-hardened from numerous campaigns, were far superior in combat.

‘Most of the 300 casualties in our army were caused by their 500-man death squad.’

Even with instructions to avoid direct engagement, they suffered such losses because the enemy pressed the attack relentlessly.

Despite the narrow battlefield preventing them from fully utilizing their numerical advantage, the Qizilbash’s skill was evident.

‘But most of them died in vain without even firing an arrow.’

This was a severe blow to Ismail. The Qizilbash were his most prized troops.

To what extent? If forced to choose between 5,000 Qizilbash and his left arm, he might cautiously offer his left testicle instead.

Of course, this wouldn’t break him, but it was a significant setback that would likely plague him with insomnia for a while.

“Dealing with the aftermath is also a job.”

Leaving one or two corpses to scavengers was one thing, but thousands of bodies could spread disease.

Furthermore, the spoils to be sorted were considerable.

The weapons used by the Qizilbash, even the horses that died with their riders, were valuable.

‘Since those who died like that are not halal [permissible] food, Muslims can’t eat them, but non-Muslims can have at it. Plus, we can get horse leather.’

They also acquired thousands of healthy reserve horses, leaving plenty even after distributing spoils to the soldiers who fought.

Most pleasing of all were the valuable gifts they were carrying.

“I want to give Ismail a gift quickly.”

Yusuf, smiling as he looked at the box containing Nevazar’s head, grabbed the reins.

The 4,000 cavalrymen, minus those left to handle the aftermath, rode towards Erzurum.

Knowing Ismail’s soldiers would have almost reached Erzurum, they moved swiftly but cautiously. Five days later, Yusuf arrived to find Erzurum half in ruins.

“If we hadn’t reinforced it, we wouldn’t have lasted long. Don’t you think so?”

“The commander doesn’t seem ordinary.”

Of course. It was Ismail, after all.

Even while besieging the city, he hadn’t neglected his surroundings, and he was withdrawing his troops despite it being midday when they arrived.

This alone revealed his capabilities. Yusuf, who had planned to ambush him if he remained fixated on the siege, clicked his tongue in acknowledgement.

“Go give him a gift.”

A cavalryman under Arda’s command left the box near the enemy lines. Soon after, a soldier from Ismail’s side retrieved it, opened it, and hurried back.

“It’s a pity I couldn’t see his happy face after receiving the surprise gift.”

He’ll probably jump for joy… or not.

***

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

Ismail, who had just smashed Nevazar’s head, roared in fury.

The commanders remained silent, their faces grim, as Ismail, seemingly consumed by rage, slumped into a chair, seething with resentment to the point of dizziness.

The news that the enemy cavalry, sent to deal with his soldiers, had returned with Nevazar’s head meant only one thing.

“Annihilation, that means. Annihilation.”

Since most of the enemy had returned, any surviving soldiers wouldn’t pose a significant threat.

He felt like asking that smashed head what he had done to be annihilated without inflicting any real damage.

One of the commanders cautiously addressed Ismail, who was barely containing his anger.

“Shah-i [Persian title meaning ‘king’].”

“I know. We have to retreat.”

Ismail made a rational decision.

Despite his anger, he wasn’t foolish enough to continue a siege with thousands of enemy cavalry nearby.

His current worry wasn’t the retreat itself.

“Was the enemy commander’s name Yusuf?”

“That’s correct.”

“It’s him.”

“…What do you mean?”

Ismail coldly replied to his puzzled subordinate.

“He’s the one who spread those strange rumors.”

It wasn’t a conclusion based on logic, but on gut feeling, yet Ismail trusted his judgment.

His intuition, which had saved his life countless times, told him so.

‘Only 14 years old?’

Age didn’t matter.

He was only two years older than Ismail himself, and at that age, he had won a major victory against Farooq’s 27,000 troops.

Having acknowledged his opponent, the reason for this defeat became clear.

‘Unlike the enemy who prepared thoroughly, I was bound to lose because I fought without knowing the opponent properly.’

With that thought, Ismail asked.

“Did you say he has seven older brothers?”

“That’s right.”

To others, he might seem like a prince with little chance of inheriting the Ottoman throne, but Ismail saw him as a formidable opponent.

If this was to be a long and bitter rivalry, he needed to prepare.

“It’s okay to use a merchant going to Trabzon, or you can bribe someone living in that guy’s territory. Collect as much information as possible.”

The ambitious king welcomed the emergence of a rival.

“And win over the comrades living in Rum [Anatolia]. We have to give back what we received.”

Following in his footsteps, Shia comrades would shake their land.

Ismail, foreshadowing a Shia insurgency within the Ottoman territories, rose from his seat.

“I will retreat. I’ll aim for revenge next time.”

Yusuf’s victory was assured.

***

Ismail was not an easy enemy to the end.

‘To think he’d retreat to Erzincan.’

As if anticipating Yusuf’s intentions, Ismail retreated to Erzincan and planted his flag with a bloodless entry.

Erzincan had to choose between Safavid or Ottoman rule, but the army, emboldened by their victory in Erzurum, arrived with axes, leaving them no choice but to open the gates.

They were so bloodthirsty that anyone who questioned their presence would be massacred.

‘It’s also our fault for just watching the retreat blankly.’

They had already achieved their objectives, so why provoke a highly venomous snake?

They simply escorted him on his way to prevent any foolish actions.

‘Besides, Ismail can’t collapse like this. He has to cause trouble for the empire.’

Although Yusuf had achieved significant results, the conservative old guard remained wary of his rapid rise, so it was right to see that he’s finally on the same starting line as his other brothers.

To surpass his brothers, he needed an opportunity to distinguish himself.

There was also a bonus.

[Great victory, score +10]

The score seemed stingy for such a victory, but the system was always like that.

Adding to the 30 points he received from the smallpox incident, he now had 40 points, enough for another trait, which satisfied him for now.

The next one required 80 points, and he didn’t know when he’d accumulate that much.

“Anyway, the important thing is that the war is over for now.”

Trabzon, already buzzing with news of the victory, welcomed him with jubilant celebrations.

Some soldiers waved gold coins looted from the dead Qizilbash, while others patted their newly acquired horses and flirted with women.

He had no intention of stopping them from increasing the population, as long as they didn’t commit crimes.

“Welcome.”

“I’m back.”

Fatima, looking thinner than when he left, gently stroked Yusuf’s hand. Aisha, standing neatly beside her, added.

“Hatun [a Turkish title of respect for women] prayed earnestly at the mosque every day for the prince’s safe return.”

She had calmly seen off her son to the battlefield, but her inner turmoil was another story.

She had worried herself sick, becoming noticeably thinner.

Fatima slightly frowned at Aisha’s words.

“Don’t talk nonsense. More than that, you’ve grown a lot since I last saw you.”

“Is that so?”

Perhaps it was a growth spurt, but he had grown considerably in just a few months.

He was now able to mount his horse without assistance, a feat he previously struggled with.

For some reason, Arda, sporting bandages where he’d been struck by an arrow, was acting sentimental, muttering, ‘Burka-nim [my Burka], the prince has grown so much.’

‘Anyone would think Burka is my dad.’

To be honest, they weren’t that close when he was alive.

Yusuf, after a brief reunion with Fatima, turned to Shemsi, who stood quietly nearby.

“Pasha [a high-ranking official], were there any problems while I was away, right?”

“What problems would I have had in the rear?”

Shemsi was modest, but managing supplies in the rear was no easy task.

Thanks to Shemsi’s veteran experience, Yusuf could focus on the war without supply concerns.

“I know I fought the war safely thanks to you. Your contribution in this war is by no means small. I’ll make sure to reward you accordingly.”

“I won’t refuse.”

Yusuf chuckled at Shemsi’s lighthearted response, recalling the hardships of the past few months.

Although the outcome was positive, the constant threat of death had been mentally draining.

He had returned to a place where he could finally rest.

‘But not all wars are over yet.’

Yusuf’s eyes gleamed.

***

Even with the victory against Ismail, a major obstacle, his work wasn’t finished.

‘Since I received help from Samtskhe, I have to pay the price.’

Even with his strong relationship with Mzetchabuk, it was unacceptable to only receive and not reciprocate.

The price was to punish other Georgian factions aligned with the Safavids.

‘Anyway, Ismail, having lost a significant number of Qizilbash, can’t afford to worry about Georgia.’

If he allied with Samtskhe to conquer other Georgian territories and extract taxes, his task would be complete.

He didn’t need to participate directly in this war.

Simply sending troops under Arda’s command would be enough to make the cowardly Georgian states cough up money.

“If this happens, Selim’s actions are almost the same.”

Selim occupied Erzincan, but Yusuf occupied Erzurum, achieving results five years earlier.

Yusuf, lying in bed and organizing his thoughts, heard a knock and granted permission to enter.

“Aisha, what’s going on?”

Aisha, arriving late at night, approached with soft steps and sat carefully on the edge of the bed.

“I came because I don’t think I’ve had much time to talk since you came back. In fact, Hatun and I prayed every day that the prince would return safely.”

“I see.”

Aisha, smiling shyly as she twisted her blonde hair, gently removed her coat, revealing a dress that accentuated her figure, and embraced Yusuf.

“Hatun told me to relieve the prince’s fatigue.”

Yusuf, inhaling her intoxicating scent, placed his hand on Aisha’s shoulder, which trembled slightly with nervousness.

“Tonight will be short.”

At his words, Aisha replied playfully.

“Won’t there be more days to be together in the future?”

That’s right. Once the reins are released, they won’t be fastened again.

‘Come to think of it, there was also a trait related to children.’

That wasn’t important right now. The priority was to soothe his feverish adolescent body.

The night was deep.