I Became the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

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#9. The Sultan’s Test (2)

There are trends in the flow of time that cannot be changed by human effort.

Edison lobbied and promoted his direct current system, attempting to discredit Tesla’s alternating current by electrocuting cats and dogs and even creating an electric chair, but in the end, alternating current prevailed.

Eastman Kodak, synonymous with film cameras, developed a digital camera in 1975 but refrained from commercializing it out of fear of threatening the film market, eventually leading to its bankruptcy.

Just like that, there are trends of inevitable change even now.

“That’s the Age of Discovery.”

No matter how much he pulled at the hair of the Europeans as a Sultan, he couldn’t stop their cries of, “India! Spices! Hehehe.”

Knowing the situation that lay ahead, did they suggest a deathmatch with the Safavid Empire over Iranian territory?

Are they out of their minds, humans?

But if you were to ask whether we should fight or not…

“Of course we should fight.”

“Prince…”

I raised my hand to silence the Grand Vizier who lunged forward as if waiting for this moment.

“Fighting isn’t optional. If a Shia state rises, it will establish our empire as its primary enemy, and the conflict between Sunni and Shia will only escalate.”

In reality, the conflict and mutual hatred between Sunnis and Shias weren’t as intense as in modern times, but as the Qizilbash, a group of horse warriors that founded the Safavid Empire, emerged, those emotions deepened.

Yusuf clicked his tongue at the Grand Vizier’s disbelief in his words.

“Who wants to fight for the sake of it?”

If Selim hadn’t gained military support by unilaterally waging a holy war with the Safavid Empire, I wouldn’t have even gone to Trabzon.

I had been relaxing in the Balkans, close to the capital, enjoying Greek culture while Bayezid II dithered.

Honestly, even if we successfully conquered the Safavids, all I could think about was oil, and with oil drilling being no child’s play, I would grow old waiting to extract it.

‘Worrying about how many more years I’ll live and thinking of fighting a monster like Ismail I a few hundred years down the line is really out of the question.’

In this era, there were monstrous figures.

Selim and Suleiman, who conquered lands across three continents to create an empire that resembled the legendary demon of European history.

Ismail I, who captured the capital of the White Sheep Dynasty, Tabriz, at the age of 15 and founded the Safavid dynasty.

Charles V, who inherited the largest territory in European history, became the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire as well as the King of Spain and the ruler of Italy, holding numerous titles.

These monsters of the era were not easy opponents.

“Even if it’s not a religious issue, we must fight for the future of the empire.”

“The future?”

The Sultan stroked his chin with interest.

“What do you envision for our empire’s future?”

“The Mediterranean.”

You might think it’s ridiculous to talk about the Mediterranean after going on about the Age of Discovery, but the Ottomans could never forget the Mediterranean.

Rome didn’t expand its power around the Mediterranean for nothing.

Continuing on, despite the Sultan’s disinterest in what was obviously common knowledge, I pressed on.

“We must conquer the Mamluk Empire to secure the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.”

The Mamluk dynasty occupies parts of both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

It’s a wealthy country that makes a fortune from trade connecting Europe and the Indian Ocean.

“As you know, Sultan, to speak frankly, the empire is not a trade hub. Spices and such come in by sea.”

The overland trade route that people think of when they hear Silk Road became significant only during the Mongol Peace, but by the mid-14th century, with the fall of the Mongols, the northern route through the Ottomans became secondary.

In the end, the significance of maritime routes was tremendously high regardless of the Age of Discovery.

‘Well, any merchant could have told you that by now.’

Just by looking at the Sultan’s face, it was evident he was more interested in a performance.

So, I needed to change the subject.

“The Western world is currently striving to find a new trade route to India.”

Just last year, Vasco da Gama, who set sail from Lisbon, reached India and had already faced a Tunisian merchant in India who exclaimed, “What the hell, how did you get here?”

Even if he didn’t know the specifics, the Sultan would likely be aware of the efforts that began with the Portuguese Prince Henry decades ago to explore new routes.

“If this effort bears fruit, the empire’s profits will surely decline, so we must conquer the Mamluks to seize the trade route.”

Also, conquering the Mamluks means we can enjoy coffee.

While it’s true I’m obsessed with coffee, I’m not so addicted that I’d suggest fighting conquest wars just to drink it.

However, coffee spread to Europe through the Ottomans and became a significant economic boon to the Ottoman treasury.

“If the empire attacks, the Mamluks will seek allies to fight alongside them.”

“That means the newly formed Shia state.”

“Even if a Shia state doesn’t emerge, someone will soon rise to take the shaky position of the White Sheep Dynasty, and they will ally with the Mamluks to oppose the expanding empire.”

To be honest, the threat posed by the plundering coming from the New World is far greater than the Europeans’ attempts to open trade routes to India, but I couldn’t say that.

‘The European scoundrels still believe they’re in India, calling the natives Indians, so mentioning the New World would just get me branded as crazy.’

By the way, just calling them Indians shows how low the Europeans’ geographical awareness is.

It had been two hundred years since Marco Polo wrote his accounts of the East, yet they didn’t even know where India was, mistaking it for the land of Qi (China) or Ji (Japan).

Even Joseon had maps reaching Africa a hundred years ago during King Taejong’s time in 1402.

Seeing Yusuf’s words made the Sultan raise a slight smirk.

“Seems like a reasonable story. Do you believe the empire can conquer the Mamluks?”

“Of course. The Mamluk cavalry cannot defeat the empire’s artillery and Janissaries.”

The Ottoman Empire of this era was like a modern-day America, leading the way with cutting-edge military technology.

While others shot arrows and crossbows, we were actively using hand cannons and large cannons.

Seemingly pleased by my praise of the Janissaries, the Sultan erupted into laughter, while the Grand Vizier frowned slightly.

“Your insight is quite remarkable for your age.”

“Thank you.”

Just as I thought I had passed that hurdle, the Grand Vizier opened his mouth.

“Since the Prince’s insight is so extraordinary, may I ask you one more question?”

Seeing that he was bound to nitpick, I wanted to say no, but with the Sultan’s interest, I had no choice.

‘He’ll die before me, so I’ll let this pass.’

Suppressing my desire to attack the elderly, I gladly nodded my head.

“Ask away.”

“Then I will. While it is possible to conquer the Mamluks as you suggested, what do you think we must do to minimize damages?”

It was disgustingly juvenile for a mere 11-year-old to be asked such a question.

“Judging by the fact you’re asking, it’s likely a question even the Grand Vizier finds challenging?”

The Grand Vizier’s face turned slightly red.

He was deflecting with a question he knew he couldn’t answer.

Even if we ended it there, the Sultan would be satisfied with the already more than expected results, but it felt a bit unsatisfactory to leave it like this.

“If it were me, I’d guide the Mamluks into digging a canal.”

“A canal, you say?”

“Yeah, a canal connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.”

It’s a simple fact that humans tend to think alike.

The idea of linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean is not new and has been proposed since ancient times.

The canal was operational for nearly a thousand years, from the time of Darius I of the Persian Empire until 767 AD.

Of course, it wasn’t a direct line like the modern Suez Canal, but rather an indirect connection through the Nile’s lower reaches, valleys, and lakes, but even that had its value.

“I’ve heard that there have been discussions between Venice and the Mamluks regarding the canal?”

“That matter did arise.”

Once Portugal reached the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, concerns about monopolizing spice trades prompted talks about it.

After pondering the distant memory, the Grand Vizier expressed his agreement, albeit with a surprised face.

The fact that the Prince had accurately pinpointed a topic that he vaguely remembered surprised him.

“If the empire wins the current war with Venice, Venice, which lost its dominion over the eastern Mediterranean, will need an outlet. The canal could be that outlet.”

“…Wouldn’t the completion of a canal actually be disadvantageous for us?”

Of course. Once constructed, they’d rake in money.

They say using the Suez Canal could reduce distances by up to 9,000 kilometers compared to rounding the Cape of Good Hope.

The route painstakingly developed by Portugal could also become nearly meaningless. At this distance difference, price competition would be impossible.

“After it’s completed, let’s say, once we’re at peace and Venice seeks negotiations with the Mamluks, it will surely take at least ten years.”

As they fiercely negotiate about who will fund how much and how profits will be shared, ten years will pass in a flash.

“No matter how successful the negotiations might be, it won’t be a short construction job, so we’ll need at least another ten years. If the Mamluks, already financially strained from construction, haven’t completed it by then, we could conquer them.”

Even if the construction was never completed, it would at least break even, and if things went according to plan, we could easily conquer the Mamluks and potentially snatch the half-finished canal.

It was the best solution I could present at this time, but for some reason, the Grand Vizier seemed poised to refute it when the Sultan interrupted him.

“Ibrahim, let’s stop there. You’ve lost.”

“…Understood.”

The mention of defeat made it clear that the Grand Vizier had opposed the Prince’s appointment as Sanjakbey.

Surely, losing to a mere child who hasn’t even gone through puberty will leave him unable to show his face for a while.

The Sultan shot a disappointed gaze at the Grand Vizier and turned to Yusuf.

“Prince Yusuf.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I appoint you as the Sanjakbey of Trabzon, and Selim as the Sanjakbey of Teke. You have three months to prepare.”

“Understood!”

Yusuf felt his heart pound as he respectfully acknowledged.

This was finally the official start.

*

The three-month period was not only for Selim, who had received a sudden transfer order, but also meant a lot to Yusuf.

‘That man won’t leave quietly.’

Selim had served as Sanjakbey of Trabzon since 1481 for 18 years, and for Yusuf, it was practically a tiger’s den.

With the need to watch the Sultan, he couldn’t openly scheme, but he was bound to lay traps to ensure he cannot govern properly.

“Well, if I were scared of that, I wouldn’t have chosen Trabzon.”

If I must walk a thorny path, I might as well take the dangerous road that inspires awe.

A delicate flower unable to survive in the Ottoman Empire could never become a Sultan.

With Trabzon officially decided, it was time to make a move.

“Hasan!!!”

“Yes!! Prince!!!”

Hasan burst in as if he had been waiting for the call.

He had lost some weight, likely due to the mental and physical strain of the past few days, but there was still a long way to go.

‘That’s all visceral fat. The source of adult diseases.’

Thus, if I wanted to make good use of him for a long time, I needed to start a strict diet from now on.

Standing up, I spoke to Hasan, who seemed to feel an inexplicable chill.

“Get ready to head out. We’re going to the slave market.”

There lies the puzzle for the future.