Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 78

Becalmed Situation (1)

The orders Yusuf gave were mostly challenging tasks.

Even Tahir, who was in charge of the cannon boring machine for hollowing out cannons, racked his brains with Süleyman, who had become an engineer instead of a Pasha [a high-ranking official in the Ottoman Empire].

Yusuf had casually handed them a blueprint with many intricate parts, including gears, and they had to determine the appropriate size for the boring machine.

He also instructed them to build a water-powered boring machine using a waterwheel, which was no easy feat, even though waterwheels were commonly used in flour mills.

The two, struggling to create a working model, were summoned by Yusuf.

“Süleyman, Tahir.”

“Yes, my Padishah [Ottoman sovereign].”

“Once the boring machine is complete, you must also research how to make the cannons lighter.”

“…Yes.”

“The sooner, the better, but there’s no need to feel pressured. If you ask Şemsi Pasha, you can obtain as much funding as you need.”

They felt pressured.

Summoned to the audience chamber and suddenly treated to a banquet, the two were left breathless by Yusuf’s words.

They wanted to ask for more time than funding, but the smiling green eyes didn’t seem inclined to grant it.

They realized they would rather be wrestling with iron than attending the banquet.

Still, they were fortunate to have a generous budget allocated to them.

Those in charge of urban planning were already struggling with budget issues.

“Urban planning won’t be easy, no matter how many talented people are involved.”

For urban planning, officials led by the Grand Vizier [the chief minister of the Ottoman Empire], architects, and stonemasons gathered in large numbers for a meeting.

The only fortunate thing for them was that the capital already had a water and sewage system built during ancient Roman times.

Water is essential for a city to grow, so having a water supply is quite common, but a sewage system was very rare in this era.

‘We were lucky. If we didn’t have it, we would have to undertake a project on the scale of the Paris renovation project in the 19th century.’

As the empire grows, the population of the capital will explode, and without water and sewage systems, they would suffer from epidemics.

Unfortunately, the hundreds of kilometers of waterways leading to Topkapi Palace [the Ottoman Sultan’s residence in Istanbul] were damaged in this earthquake, but it was damage that could be repaired.

With the basic water and sewage systems in place, they only needed to do a little more work this time.

With water and sewage systems in place, one might think there’s nothing else to do, but it was necessary to reorganize the maze-like streets caused by unplanned development and secure green spaces this time.

‘If we conquer the Mamluks [a dynasty that ruled Egypt and Syria], the population of the capital will be three times larger than it is now, so we need to prepare in advance.’

Even in the original history, the population of the capital, which was only 200,000, exceeded 600,000 in 50 years, and it was likely to increase even more under his rule.

Yusuf, lost in thought for a moment, looked at Ali Pasha, who had returned from Grand Vizier to chamberlain [a senior official in the Ottoman court].

“Ali Pasha.”

“Yes, my Padishah.”

“How are Mehmed and Murat doing these days?”

Yusuf wasn’t just playing around either, and he inevitably neglected his two sons.

“As far as I know, they visit the Enderun [a palace school for training officials] frequently these days.”

“The Enderun?”

It was a kind of school in the innermost Fourth Courtyard of Topkapi.

It was the best school for training commanders and administrators, and not only those brought in by the Devshirme system [a system of taking Christian boys into Ottoman service] but also the children of high-ranking officials entered.

Because they educate extensively and strictly, graduates become talented people with both literary and military skills, and most of those who are promoted to high positions are from here.

“It’s not a place for them yet.”

The princes are also educated in the Enderun, but it’s too early for 7-year-olds and 4-year-olds to go there.

It’s still time to learn from a tutor.

At Yusuf’s assessment, Ali replied with a strange look.

“The Enderun is buzzing these days because of the two princes.”

“How so?”

“Prince Mehmed is said to be with the Effendis [scholars or teachers] of the Enderun these days.”

Those who received the title of Effendi are usually scholars, and to put it simply, they can be seen as professors at famous universities.

They have so much pride that no matter how much of a prince he is, they wouldn’t follow a child around.

“They say they know several times more than what they are taught. They all say that it is Allah’s grace that the prince is so smart. They are trying to teach him everything.”

“Hmm, so that’s why.”

No matter how much he talked with Mehmed, he didn’t feel like he was grasping his talents precisely.

That doesn’t mean he was scammed by the trait store.

‘I’ve already confirmed it through Mimar Sinan [a renowned Ottoman architect].’

Mimar was a title attached to architects, and Sinan was a representative architect during the reign of Suleiman.

He was born in 1489, the same age as Yusuf, and was just a chick in the Janissary Engineering Corps [elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan’s household troops and bodyguard].

He is considered a great architect who completed the Ottoman-style architecture characterized by large domes and spiers, but it was still difficult to expect him to show his skills as an architect.

‘Still, I definitely felt that he had a great talent for architecture with his trait.’

He directly checked the trait effect on a talented person who lived to be 99 years old, but it was unresponsive to Mehmed, which was strange.

Listening to Ali’s words, he thought that it might be because he had too many talents.

“Then how is Murat doing?”

“Prince Murat is popular with the martial arts instructors. They say he is very strong and learns how to use his body quickly.”

They are doing well according to their traits.

“Ali Pasha, didn’t I already assign teachers to them?”

“You did.”

He can call anyone to teach them without even going to the Enderun.

But the fact that they go to the Enderun means only one thing.

“They’re already trying to build their own factions.”

Yusuf chuckled.

Whether it was a calculated action or an instinctive one, it was truly like an Ottoman prince.

***

During the period when the Ottoman Empire fell into chaos due to rebellions and battles between princes, and Yusuf sent his brothers to Allah’s embrace [a euphemism for death].

Italy was also caught in the flames of war.

The Papal States, led by France, the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and the Duchy of Ferrara, formed the League of Cambrai and attacked the Republic of Venice.

When Venice, pushed back by the allied forces, could no longer hold out, disturbing news came from the Ottoman Empire.

“Do you dare utter the news that the infidel Sultan is making prophecies!”

The cardinal who delivered the message flinched slightly at Pope Julius II’s thunderous cry.

“However, it is already a widespread story in the land of the infidels.”

“It must be a rumor, just like when I first heard it!”

“It has become a highly credible rumor. He is said to have predicted not only the biggest earthquake but also the earthquakes in Edirne.”

The cardinal would not dare to say something that was not true, and the movements of the infidel Ottoman Empire are always closely watched.

This means that the information is highly reliable.

“An infidel who has been punished by God is making prophecies. Wasn’t he a prince who would have died if the earthquake hadn’t happened by chance?”

“Within the Ottoman Empire, they believe that God punished them because Prince Selim ascended to the throne.”

“Would God punish them for just one prince? It’s all because of the heinous acts of the infidels.”

It was not something that someone who followed secular power rather than faith should say, but everyone who heard it agreed.

The Pope judged that this rumor was more dangerous than he thought.

“Since such rumors are circulating, there won’t be much chaos within the Ottoman Empire.”

“That’s right. They say that the infidels praise that God’s will is with the new Sultan.”

“That’s troublesome.”

The war of succession, which was expected to last quite a long time, was settled faster than expected, and the new Sultan seized public sentiment upon his accession, so the Ottoman Empire will quickly recover its national power.

This was not welcome news for the Christian side, which had always felt the threat of the Ottoman Empire.

“That’s a relief. Venice has tried to negotiate.”

Venice, which had defeated the Holy Roman Empire and raised the signal for a counterattack, suffered a major defeat with more than 2,000 casualties and effectively declared surrender.

The Pope, who wanted Venice to be maintained in order to check the Ottoman Empire, willingly proceeded with negotiations.

The Pope quickly turned his head.

The light came down on the stained glass, and the painting praising God shone beautifully, and he made a decision.

“We must let the Sultan know what happens if he recklessly discusses God’s miracles.”

The Pope, whose authority of Christianity was power, looked at the cardinal.

“We need to change the terms of the negotiation with Venice.”

“Tell me.”

“We need their ships and the ships of the allied forces.”

If it is a land battle with a large number of cavalry and a strong central army, it is worth trying a naval battle.

“And tell the Venetian envoys that we will allow them to have ties with the newly formed infidel country in the east.”

The cardinal bowed his head at the Pope’s order to indirectly use the infidels to catch the infidels.

History was twisted.

***

The salty sea smell, the sound of waves, and the swaying hull.

Drinking stale drinking water and alcohol, and eating dried-up meals was a very familiar life.

A middle-aged man, looking down at the anchored port from the huge steamer with four sails, heard the creaking sound of the deck being stepped on.

“Reis [Captain/Admiral].”

“What’s going on.”

The title of Reis was given to admirals in the navy, and Kemal, who turned his head to his subordinate, was a man in the position of naval commander in the Ottoman Empire.

“It’s news from the home country. The new Padishah has ordered you to return home.”

“Is that so.”

His job was mainly to fight naval battles with the Knights of Malta, who occupied Rhodes Island in the southern Ottoman territories.

Recently, he also captured ships belonging to the Knights who were escaping from Rhodes.

He is currently anchored in Alexandria, Mamluk, but it is not that he has not heard any news from his home country.

“That person who is causing a stir also summoned me?”

“That’s right.”

The Ottoman Empire and the Mamluks were countries that shared many exchanges.

It is natural that the Mamluks are a country that must be passed through when goods from the Indian Ocean go to the Ottoman Empire.

Thanks to the merchants who travel to and from the Mediterranean, news of the Ottoman Empire can be easily accessed.

“A prophet.”

Those who faithfully believe in Islam said that Muhammad was the last prophet in the Koran, but Kemal had an interesting expression.

“What do you think?”

“If the Padishah is a prophet, it’s a good thing. If I get to see his face this time, I should pray.”

“That’s a good idea too.”

Even the best sailors die if they are unlucky at sea.

The sea is a place full of all kinds of superstitions, and most of them are treated as heretics in Islam.

It couldn’t be better that the Sultan is a prophet.

“If the Padishah tells me to return, I have to.”

“And Barbarossa (Red Beard) was also summoned.”

“Really?”

This was a bit unexpected.

He was the captain of the infamous Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean, and he was a man who had been supported by Korkut but fled to the Mamluks after hearing the news that he had died.

Not only the naval commander but also the pirates were summoned.

“Things are getting interesting.”

He smelled the scent of war that he had tasted several times in the surging waves.