Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 79

The Twisting Situation (2)

Clang!

I swung my sword with all my might, enough to make my arm tingle, but my opponent parried it with ease.

Despite the cool weather, sweat poured down like rain, and I was breathless.

As Yusuf visibly tired, his opponent lowered his sword.

“Your Majesty, I believe this is sufficient.”

Silahdar Agha [Sword Bearer or Master of Arms], Alper Pasha, who served as the commander of the special forces, the head of the bodyguard, and a martial arts instructor, spoke, and Yusuf sheathed his sword.

He was already thinking it was about time to stop.

The blowing wind cooled his body heat, and the waiting servants meticulously wiped away Yusuf’s sweat.

“Your skills are excellent. With a little more effort, it seems you won’t need me.”

“You flatter me so much that I might as well go meet Allah [God].”

“My apologies.”

Yusuf waved his hand at Alper, who hurriedly bowed his head at his joke.

After the previous Silahdar Agha was dismissed for failing to protect Bayezid properly, Alper was chosen from many candidates.

He still vividly remembered the sight of Alper, his muscles rippling with every movement, vowing allegiance with a voice full of emotion.

‘He’d be upset if he knew the reason. He was chosen because of his name.’

When he looked at the list of candidates, they were all named Ahmed, Mehmet, or Mahmud.

Even now, if you shout “Ahmed” in a place where people are gathered to discuss city planning issues, at least ten people would turn around, and he didn’t want to have someone with such a common name by his side.

Since he couldn’t have them change their names, he had no choice but to pick someone with a different name.

“We need to fix the Devshirme system [Ottoman practice of taking Christian boys into service] quickly.”

If they’re going to take boys from Christian families and change their names, they should at least give them a variety of names.

Yusuf sighed in annoyance and looked around.

Throughout Topkapi Palace, there were faucets that made the sound of water to prevent secret conversations from being overheard. These were essentially sound masking devices.

Deaf servants were responsible for turning off these faucets, and they were also kept nearby whenever conversations needed to be kept private.

These servants wore different clothes, and the servants around him were those kinds of people.

“Alper, is Ferhat following my instructions well?”

“As far as I can tell, he is.”

Ferhat Pasha, the successor to the Janissary [elite Ottoman infantry] commander who betrayed Bayezid and was thrown to the dogs, caught Yusuf’s eye five years earlier than in the historical records.

Receiving Yusuf’s gaze, which told him to say more, Alper began to speak.

“Rumors are already rampant among the Janissaries that the Padishah [Ottoman Sultan] is a prophet succeeding Muhammad. The Janissary Agha [commander] is in contact with the Bektashi Order [a Sufi order popular among Janissaries] to spread this belief further.”

“Hmm, he’s doing well as instructed.”

Although the Ottoman Empire professed Sunni Islam, it did not oppress all other sects.

In particular, the Janissaries believed in the Bektashi Order, which was considered heretical, and they were tolerant of all religions, ignoring the fasting of Ramadan and even drinking alcohol, which was forbidden.

They had no reason not to worship Yusuf.

‘The snowball has been rolled, so it will grow in size soon.’

Religion can be bent as much as needed.

Just as the theological differences between the Qizilbash [Shia militants], who deified Ismail I, and the Twelver Shia were appropriately compromised to create the modern Iranian identity.

Just as Turks who believe in Islam drink alcohol, religions can change as much as needed.

With time and effort, he could bind his subjects to the Ottoman state rather than to religion.

“To do that, there are so many things to do in the future.”

Binding the people living within the Ottoman Empire under the umbrella of the state is more difficult than having colonies in India.

Most people live in one village for their entire lives, and even conversions happen on a village level.

It is not easy to broaden the horizons of those whose world is limited to their village and make them embrace the nation.

‘But there’s no need to be impatient.’

It’s just the beginning, and he has many days to live.

He just needs to proceed step by step, starting with the things he needs to do right now.

“Alper.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Summon the Grand Vizier [chief minister]. We need to settle the matter of the Crimean Khanate.”

Although he is refusing meetings, he is fully aware of the Crimean Khanate’s movements.

With 30,000 people taken as prisoners, the Crimean Khanate was even more enthusiastic about plundering neighboring countries.

Since news of the Circassians’ suffering had not been reported, it was obvious what they were thinking as they plundered.

Since the Crimean Khanate was moving recklessly, there was no need to make difficult plans.

‘There will be a big commotion in the north soon.’

The patience of the surrounding countries must have reached its limit, so it is necessary to prepare on this side as well.

“The time to assess brotherhood is approaching.”

***

It goes without saying, but life as a Sultan was more glamorous than when he was a prince.

He possessed an abundance of jewels and treasures collected by past Sultans, and when he held banquets, all sorts of beauties hoped to receive his favor.

The woman in his arms was one of them.

Purple dye has always been difficult to extract and very expensive, and it was a color that symbolized emperors and authority, both in the East and West.

The woman who received the purple handkerchief, signifying her selection, last night carefully opened her eyes as the bed shook.

“Y-Your Majesty?”

“It’s alright. Lie down a little longer.”

The woman, revealing her fair skin, lay back down at Yusuf’s command.

Nigar, who had been recommended by Valide Hatun [Queen Mother] Fatima along with other women and had even been chosen to meet the Padishah, felt exhausted all over her body from last night’s events.

There wasn’t a place that didn’t ache, but Nigar’s joy soared.

‘I finally spent the night.’

Just being chosen by the Sultan and spending one night with him changes one’s status within the harem.

Having become a concubine, she could regularly spend nights with the Sultan, and if she became pregnant and received the title of Hatun [Lady], she could gain great wealth and honor.

Yusuf, who could clearly read what Nigar was thinking through emotional perception, said as he felt the maids carefully wiping his body.

“Go ahead and try your best, as you wish.”

“Yes?!”

“Why are you so surprised? The thoughts of a woman in the harem are obvious, aren’t they?”

Looking into Yusuf’s green eyes, Nigar felt goosebumps all over her body.

The eyes that seemed to dig into her soul seemed to have read her impure thoughts, and Nigar rolled off the bed and lowered her body.

Yusuf, who had put on the clothes that the women had given him, covered Nigar’s trembling body with a blanket, who couldn’t even cover her nakedness.

“There’s no need to explain. With the two Hatuns away, it’s understandable to be greedy.”

Even if Valide Hatun Fatima tightly controlled the harem, she was still only the Queen Mother.

She was someone who hoped that Yusuf would have many children, so she was an ally or even a hope for the women of the harem.

Because she was a living legend who had given birth to the youngest son, who could have died at any moment, and had even raised him to the position of Sultan.

Even though the two princes were already showing unusual signs, it was possible to have such thoughts.

“It’s a good thing to have aspirations. Try it if you can. I will call you every Thursday.”

“Thank you!”

Nigar, who thought she might be punished for having foolish thoughts, bowed her head with a moved expression.

If she was called every Thursday, the official night of cohabitation, she would be able to bear the king’s child.

“But it will be more difficult than you think.”

His two women had already given birth to princes and become Hatuns, and they were not ordinary people.

Aisha had a great influence on Circassia, to the point where the Circassian women in the harem were waiting for her.

Hatice’s status as the daughter of the Grand Vizier had been announced, and she could reach out to the daughters of high-ranking officials who had entered the harem for political reasons at any time.

It is not easy to overcome them and build one’s own power.

“I will do it.”

“It will be interesting to watch a woman who strives.”

Since she was already his woman, he would prevent her from dying, but anything beyond that was up to her ability.

It was enough to be a source of amusement.

Leaving Nigar behind, Yusuf entered his office, and his chamberlain, Ali Pasha, greeted Yusuf.

“Did you have a peaceful night?”

“It wasn’t too bad. It might not be a bad idea to visit the harem myself next time.”

The harem was a fantasy for the European elite, and they even imitated it with all sorts of delusions.

So much so that when an 18th-century European noblewoman received permission to live in the harem for a year and then assessed that the harem was like a convent, they refused to believe it.

He had obtained such a fantasy, so wouldn’t it be strange not to visit it?

“If you tell me in advance, I will prepare it according to your taste.”

“I understand.”

Yusuf, thinking it was a little funny to be talking about women with a eunuch who had lost his manhood from the morning, opened his mouth.

“Did you check what I told you about?”

“Yes, I have dispatched officials to the place where bitumen [natural asphalt] is mined. Detailed information will be available soon.”

“Good job.”

Bitumen was a type of natural asphalt, and the fact that bitumen was found meant that oil was found.

It’s not like they only used wood from ancient times until the Industrial Revolution, when they started using coal and oil.

Coal has been used since before Christ, and it is already being used in many places. However, its use only increased dramatically during the Industrial Revolution.

Bitumen from oil has been regarded as a mysterious substance since ancient times, and there are records that it was used to waterproof Noah’s Ark in the Old Testament.

Oil cannot be properly extracted and used like it is today because drilling technology has not developed.

‘But the Ottoman Empire already has regions where oil has been extracted since ancient times.’

The land that would later become Romania is that place.

It was a region where oil had been gushing out since ancient times, and they were digging tunnels to mine crude oil.

‘Even if we have oil right now, it’s hard to use it properly because we don’t have crude oil refining technology, but it’s still better to have it than not.’

We will need a lot of ships in the future, so we can waterproof them with bitumen, and we can use it as a cheaper fuel instead of expensive candles.

It can also be used as coke needed for iron smelting.

In particular, the coke problem needs to be considered.

Europe already has blast furnace technology, and they are using charcoal as coke for smelting.

The problem is that charcoal is usually used in large quantities, and a lot of wood is needed to build ships, so the forest is bound to be devastated.

“Still, it’s a shame. Oil is oil, but it would have been better to have proper coal.”

Most of the coal produced in the Ottoman region was low-quality lignite used for household purposes, and it was difficult to obtain bituminous coal that could be used as coke.

The best thing to do was to use even lignite while waging wars of conquest.

“Ali Pasha, when is the Crimean Khanate’s ship expected to arrive?”

“It should arrive by the end of today.”

Judging by how quickly it is arriving after I gave permission, it seems they are quite eager.

Yusuf, who doesn’t want to drag things out unnecessarily, also welcomes it.

“Mengli, I will finally see his face.”

He wondered what kind of face he would make when they first met.

***

Hundreds of decorated women filled his eyes.

The age range was also diverse, from women who appeared to be adults to children who looked like they were still in elementary school.

Yusuf, who had become rather indifferent due to the sheer number of women, felt a gaze that seemed to want to kill him.

It was a small child who came up to his waist.

“Little one, what is your name?”

It was a whim.

Because he was reminded of Aisha’s face when he met her in the slave market.

When the child stubbornly glared at Yusuf despite his question, a nearby man growled and became angry, and soon the child opened her mouth.

“Alexandra Lisowska.”

Hearing the name, Yusuf’s head throbbed slightly.

…Why is she already here?

Her real name is Alexandra Lisowska, known in the West as Roxelana.

It was Hürrem Sultan’s name, and he felt betrayed by luck.