Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 43

#43. Power Struggle (3)

From the Sultan’s perspective, the Ottoman Empire was an incredibly well-structured nation.

The Timar system, unlike the feudal systems of the West, was centrally controlled, making it a significant source of power for the Sultan.

This is why the Safavid, Mughal, and Russian Empires had similar systems called Iqta, Jagir, and поместье [Pomestie: A land grant system in Russia, similar to the Timar system].

‘I have the power to kill anyone I want, and I don’t even have to worry about managing the country.’

The Ottoman Empire was so well-established with its bureaucracy that it could function even without a Sultan. It functioned well even during the reign of Selim II, who was later nicknamed the ‘Drunkard Sultan.’

The Sultan didn’t need to be solely focused on running the country.

Ultimately, what I’m trying to say is…

‘It means I’m not so busy that I need to postpone our next meeting this long.’

It’s been well over a week since I arrived in the capital.

I couldn’t help but feel that he was dragging out our meeting, considering he summoned me on my first day.

“There must be a reason.”

As I could tell from the sly Ahmed Pasha, the powerful figures of this era were not ordinary.

It didn’t make sense that the Sultan, who sits at the top of such people, would delay without a reason.

‘I might have been better off staying quiet, not knowing his intentions.’

But it was too precious a time to cower in fear.

The results could be seen later. If it interferes with the succession, I won’t hesitate to kill my father, the Sultan, Bayezid anyway.

Yusuf visited Topkapi Palace at the appointed time, and the Sultan welcomed him, who came to pay his respects.

“Welcome. How has your stay in the capital been?”

“Thanks to Padishah’s [Padishah: An Ottoman honorific title equivalent to Emperor or Great King] consideration, it has been comfortable.”

“That’s a relief.”

The Sultan smiled slightly and fluttered the paper in his hand.

“I enjoyed reading what you submitted very much. There are many interesting stories.”

“What aspects did you find so?”

The Sultan, who was slightly flipping through the documents detailing the progress of the war, pointed to one side.

“Especially this thing called cement.”

I thought the Sultan would be interested.

The Ottoman Empire is a country that wages war whenever it has the opportunity, so there’s no way they wouldn’t recognize the military value of cement.

“Is it true that it hardens as quickly and is as strong as described in the document?”

“Why would I lie? Everything written is true.”

“That’s an amazing thing.”

The Sultan stroked his long beard and gave a subtle look, which I couldn’t possibly miss.

‘If I’m going to give it, I can’t give it for free.’

Shouldn’t I get something in return?

“If Padishah wishes, I will present the production method.”

“Oh, that’s commendable.”

“However, there is one thing I am concerned about. If the technology is transferred to other countries, I am worried that it will become an obstacle to the Empire’s future.”

This was Yusuf’s aim.

The Sultan isn’t a stingy person, and he’ll give financial compensation for receiving good technology.

‘I can’t just take the money and be done with it. I don’t want to have a headache later.’

Other princes might use cement and cause trouble, and since cement appeared 200 years earlier than it should have, I didn’t know what variables would arise if the technology leaked to other countries.

The Sultan, judging that Yusuf’s point was valid, nodded and asked.

“You mean you want the production to be strictly controlled, but there’s no problem with it being produced in Trabzon?”

“Of course. From the beginning, I thought of it for military purposes, so the production method has been kept strictly secret.”

There is no eternal secret, and countless spies will come to dig up the production method, but I was confident that I could hold out for quite a while.

“If you’re that confident, then good. I will follow your wishes.”

“Thank you.”

Yusuf bowed deeply.

I don’t know when cement production will begin in earnest, but the amount the Sultan makes will be used to reinforce fortresses in Europe for a while.

In effect, I had secured exclusive usage rights for a while.

‘There’s no patent, but the Sultan’s guarantee is enough.’

Patent infringement can be resolved with monetary compensation, but disobeying the Sultan’s will must be repaid with one’s life.

I could say that I got everything I could get in the capital.

Perhaps because the main issues of the Trabzon territory and cement were resolved, the conversation that followed was more like small talk.

The Sultan listened to Yusuf’s vivid descriptions of the war situation like a benevolent father.

The Sultan sought Allah after hearing the story that Erzurum was easily conquered because the lord was hit by a catapult, and he burst out laughing when he heard that he had sent Nevazar’s head to Ismail to tease him.

The friendly conversation between father and son was coming to an end, and the Sultan asked.

“Would you like to stay in the capital longer before you leave?”

“No, thank you. I’ve already stayed for a long time, so I’ll return to my place.”

It would be a difficult proposal to accept if the Sultan asked.

‘It would be troublesome to give the impression that I’m coveting the Sultan’s position.’

Power cannot be shared even with a son, and that was why princes were kicked out of the capital at a young age.

The capital is the Sultan’s sanctuary and symbol, so no matter how much of a son you are, the longer you stay, the more uncomfortable he will become.

I could tell from the Sultan’s subtle smile at Yusuf’s firm refusal.

“If that’s what you think, then there’s nothing I can do. Yusuf.”

“Yes, Padishah.”

The Sultan, calling out in a benevolent voice, took Yusuf’s hand.

“I will always pray that Allah’s will be with you.”

“Thank you. I hope that Allah’s grace will always be with Padishah as well.”

Yusuf bowed politely and left the room.

After Yusuf left, a soldier with a sword entered the Sultan’s room, where warmth still remained in his hand, and knelt down.

It was Silahtar Ağa [Silahtar Agha: Literally “Sword Bearer”, a high ranking position in the Ottoman palace], the commander of the Silahtar, a special forces unit and the best warriors in the Ottoman Empire.

He was the Sultan’s martial arts teacher and closest aide, spending most of the day with him.

“Padishah, what shall we do?”

The Sultan pondered for a moment before coming to a decision.

“Execute all the soldiers who smuggled gunpowder as planned, and Yusuf…”

Even if he was a prince, smuggling gunpowder was a serious matter, and even if he wasn’t executed, he should at least be strongly reprimanded.

But for some reason, he didn’t feel like it, and that was why he called Yusuf directly to the capital to evaluate him.

“Leave him alone for now. I want to watch him and see what he does.”

“Then I will proceed with the execution after the prince has finished taking out the gunpowder.”

The Sultan nodded and asked himself inwardly.

If Yusuf, who was taking more than he thought from the capital, had been greedy and wanted to stay longer, what would he have done?

I can’t say for sure.

“…I might have punished him.”

As the owner of the empire, not as a father.

The Sultan coldly flicked the silver coin Yusuf had given him.

***

Ahmed was confident in taking the Sultan’s throne.

The majority of officials supported him as the next Sultan, and he had five sons compared to Selim, who only had one, so the succession was stable.

That was why he wasn’t too worried, even though he was staying in Amasya, which was quite far from the capital.

But Yusuf’s actions had upset many of his plans.

‘I didn’t like the fact that Selim, that beastly guy, moved from distant Trabzon to Teke.’

In terms of distance, he was as close to the capital as he was.

He was already in a bad mood, but the youngest son, who had moved to Trabzon, gained the attention of the whole country by making great achievements.

“Was it Hassan? If it hadn’t been for that slave bastard’s betrayal, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”

It was a great regret that he missed the opportunity to kill him easily because of the intelligence that he was preparing to escape.

Ahmed was grinding his teeth at the thought of being played by a mere slave.

He wanted to send an assassin to tear him apart, and his anger towards Hassan had turned to the Sultan.

“Father, do you like the youngest that much?”

He had always lived obediently to the Sultan’s will, but now he felt a sense of skepticism and doubt.

The thought that another brother might become the Sultan instead of him weighed heavily on his heart, and Ahmed let out a sticky sigh.

“If that’s how Father is going to be, I’ll have to take it myself.”

Even if it meant killing all his brothers before ascending to the Sultan’s throne.

A visitor came to Ahmed, who was wearing a sneer.

The face he had seen so much as a child was marked with the passage of time, and his face was slightly haggard, as if he had been through a lot of hardship lately.

Ahmed welcomed the guest who had come from afar with open arms.

“It’s good to see you after a long time, Korkut!”

“Have you been well? Brother Ahmed.”

Entering another brother’s territory was like entering a tiger’s den with bare hands, but Korkut came directly after receiving Ahmed’s letter.

Korkut, who knew he was in a dangerous position, was visibly nervous, and Ahmed gently patted his stiff shoulders.

“I called you here to have a sincere conversation between brothers, so don’t worry too much.”

“I understand.”

Ahmed, sitting face to face with Korkut, opened his mouth first.

“The fact that you came here in person means that you agree with my letter, right?”

“…That’s right.”

“You’ve thought it through. I wondered if it was really necessary to kill my brothers. If they don’t pose a threat, there’s no need to kill them.”

Korkut, who had no reason to hesitate since he had come this far, nodded as if in agreement.

“I hope you keep your promise.”

“Don’t worry. As long as you don’t have a son, I swear to Allah that I will not take your life.”

Once he ascends to the Sultan’s throne, Korkut, who has no son, cannot be a threat.

He intends to keep his promise, as he has sworn to Allah.

‘I won’t kill you as promised, Korkut. But you’ll have to live in captivity for the rest of your life.’

Ahmed smiled deeply.

The alliance between the two princes was formed.

***

They may think they’re moving quietly, but Yusuf, who is paying attention to his brothers’ movements, couldn’t possibly not know.

‘The Crimean Khanate is finally going to join hands with Brother Selim.’

In the original history, the Khan of the Crimean Khanate had a political marriage with Shehzade [Prince] Mehmed, who was in charge of nearby Kefe.

After Mehmed died, he formed an alliance with Selim by remarrying his widowed daughter.

This combination was much faster than in the original history.

‘Ahmed and Korkut. It was also unexpected that there was a connection between the two.’

An alliance between brothers who are aiming for each other’s heads was an event that would go down in Ottoman history.

Well, we’ll have to see if the end will be beautiful.

Now that his rivals have begun to build their forces in earnest, he had no intention of staying still.

“Yusuf, the preparations for the expedition are complete.”

Yusuf climbed onto the wall and looked down at the 3,000 troops gathered.

The troops, looking up at him in a disciplined manner, were not an exaggeration to call them elite, and Yusuf shouted to the troops gathered to conquer Georgia.

“Set out!”

-Boo-ooo-ooo

As Yusuf’s order fell, the sound of trumpets and drums announcing the expedition filled the plains.

Watching the troops begin to march with heavy footsteps, Yusuf said as if making a pledge.

“I have no intention of being pushed back in terms of power.”

Because he will seize Circassia and Georgia.

The princes’ time had begun to ripen.