I Became the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

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Rumor (1)

Beijing was the heart of the empire where the Ming Dynasty’s emperor resided, and it wasn’t a place where foreign envoys could move around freely.

The Ottoman envoy delegation, including Suleiman, was not allowed to leave their lodgings without permission, surrounded by many guards under the pretext of protection.

With news that even the Imperial Guard and the East Chamber were watching, those interested in the Ottomans and new customs could hardly arrange meetings.

Ironically, the person Suleiman spoke to the most in Beijing was the household manager.

“I’ve heard that this beverage has been well received among the high officials lately.”

“Once you break the wall of unfamiliarity, a new world opens up, doesn’t it?”

After numerous tastings, the coffee finally made its way to the emperor, and since the envoy delegation had limited quantities, it quickly became a rare commodity only high officials could enjoy.

The dark color of the coffee, unlike tea, also reminded people of the health-tonics they used to drink, making it easier to believe Suleiman’s claims that coffee was good for one’s health.

Suleiman cast a glance over at the household manager quietly sipping coffee behind the screen.

“It’s strange that the effects seem a bit weak, like the officials of a country thoroughly soaked in qahwa, but they’re not lacking either.”

Typically, it was known that tea leaves contained as much caffeine as coffee, but there were significant differences between the two.

Boiling tea at high temperatures makes it taste bitter, so it’s usually brewed at around 80 degrees, while coffee is brewed at over 100 degrees.

The difference in the amount of caffeine extracted in water is substantial, and on top of that, tea also releases catechins and theanine, both of which reduce caffeine absorption.

In reality, much more caffeine is absorbed from coffee, and though Suleiman didn’t know this fact, he was quite satisfied with the effects he observed.

In fact, if he had shown symptoms like headaches and heart palpitations like a newbie trying coffee for the first time, it would have been quite problematic.

“I quite like the unusual aroma.”

“Our Padishah said that the scent of qahwa is important. It’s impressive that you can enjoy the fragrance.”

For an official who had a bit of experience with coffee from the Ottomans, it was tough to fully appreciate the aroma; only someone like Yusuf would be able to do so.

This was a sincere sentiment in this context, but the household manager, unaware of the reality, smiled faintly.

Having met several times and discussed matters between the two empires, a memory suddenly surfaced in the household manager’s mind.

“By the way, weren’t there those who caused the current piracy situation due to your pressure?”

“Are you referring to the Portuguese?”

“I see you call them that in your country. Anyway, I’ve heard through the Joseon envoy that they disappeared to the east. Do you know what became of that?”

At the household manager’s question, Suleiman quickly rummaged through his memory.

While corresponding with his home country, he had heard about the disappearance of the Governor of India.

“I heard a rogue who barely escaped with his life from the new world discovered by western countries returned.”

Having been assigned to this region for a long time, he noted a tendency to remain isolated despite their strong national power.

It had been quite a while since the new world was discovered in the West, and with Magellan’s fleet having reached Malacca after passing through the new world, they didn’t even know about it.

The moment his words would make them realize the existence of the new world was uncertain, and he couldn’t guarantee how that would unfold.

Suleiman surveyed his surroundings.

“It’s a situation where lying is not easy.”

It was neither easy to deceive those with shrewd eyes watching him around the emperor nor to lie to them.

If it were found out later that he had lied to the emperor, it was evident that the trust he had worked hard to build would collapse.

Both sides were in difficult situations where an easy choice was not clear, but fortunately, there was Yusuf’s input here.

“If you continue east from here, there is a vast new world. I believe they returned to the West after passing through there.”

“A new world, you say?”

“Indeed. It’s a massive land that both the empire and the western countries that first discovered it are still in the process of exploring.”

Suleiman’s words were met with faces of interest from the household manager, while the officials listening in widened their eyes.

A new world was indeed an intriguing prospect, but if the emperor decided to investigate that distant sea, it could lead to massive financial expenditures.

Extending hands into matters of which he couldn’t be sure of the benefits was undesirable.

“Your Majesty, even calling it a new world, it will likely be a primitive land compared to the empire. There’s no need to give it much thought.”

“Indeed. The empire is quite sufficiently established as it is.”

“Do you share that sentiment as well?”

Suddenly under pressure from both sides, Suleiman racked his brain.

Taking sides awkwardly here wouldn’t yield any benefits, so he needed to soothe the emperor’s curiosity while alleviating the concerns of the ministers.

As time passed, the pressure mounted, and Suleiman finally opened his mouth.

“We still don’t know the trade routes or what benefits could come from it. It’s unreasonable for the Ming Dynasty to take such risks on its own. It would be better to receive assistance from Joseon.”

“Joseon?”

“It would be a great help for exploration.”

The idea of drawing Joseon into this conversation was well received by both sides, and Suleiman endeavored to ignore the pricking guilt he felt.

Joseon would soon be thrown into upheaval by the envoy who visited Ming.

*

No matter what people say, the 16th century was an important period in Europe.

A time of discovery of new routes, reaching out to the East and the new world, followed by an internal religious reformation that had been on the rise.

It was a tumultuous time that could not be overlooked when studying European history, and when the Ottomans entered the scene, it spilled into a more complex situation.

“This is becoming quite interesting, isn’t it? Isn’t it so, Grand Vizier?”

“If it’s interesting to the Padishah, then I suppose it is.”

Shemshi responded indifferently.

If Yusuf said it was interesting, it typically indicated something strange was happening, but having been together for a long time, he had seen such behavior more than once.

It was the same now.

“Even the Pope is desperate. Declaring the Ottomans not a true Islamic nation is quite something.”

“It’s better than bearing the infamy of receiving help from a pagan empire, isn’t it?”

The Ottoman army stationed in Rome currently numbered around twenty thousand.

While it might seem small for the Ottomans, who could mobilize up to a hundred thousand, even in the war-weary West, twenty thousand troops were not to be taken lightly.

Especially if they included the famous elite Janissaries.

“If we were planning to plunder Rome or capture it, we would have been forced to take action.”

Rather than plunder, they’ve not only liberated Rome but are also leading the reconstruction without intentions of occupation.

They’ve been sucking up a vast sum of money for reconstruction costs, but no nation would fight a war with the Ottomans for the Papal States’ finances.

At least until Rome was rebuilt, the Pope realized it would be hard to break free from the Ottomans, and he was already struggling to salvage whatever authority he had left.

“Still, I never expected them to pull in the Archbishop of Constantinople as a safeguard, proclaiming half of the empire as brothers in faith.”

“There are more Muslims, but the empire’s religion is predominantly dual, so one could view it that way.”

“It doesn’t matter since it benefits the empire, but it’s quite amusing. It makes the claim that Lutherans are heretics while declaring the empire is perfectly fine.”

What was genuinely amusing was that the first Protestant adhering to Luther’s 95 theses had been indicated as the main culprit for the plunder of Rome.

As the Pope’s authority fell to the ground, a new Protestant faction was sprouting up at a rapid pace.

“England has already begun its own religious reformation with King Henry the Eighth.”

It was a reformation that changed the head of the church in England to the king and showcased movements in other western countries to escape from the Pope’s shadow.

The Pope would likely act as if flames were licking at his feet. Though that wouldn’t change the flow of the times.

Yusuf laid out the Quran and the Bible side by side and said,

“Our empire must remain unshaken amidst this atmosphere and strive to free itself from the shadows of religion as much as possible.”

It was difficult for a nation to completely shed the influence of religion.

Even in modern states, the predominant religion among the nation’s populace heavily influences society.

“Still, customs arising from religion must be made freely. It should at least be a voluntary choice rather than something imposed.”

Like the hijab and burka, which are seen as symbols of oppression of Muslim women’s rights.

While there are places where people are killed for not wearing a burka, Turkey has seen significant controversy over banning head coverings in public places.

Ultimately, the environment must allow citizens to decide for themselves.

“And this change doesn’t require a long time.”

For instance, even if Yusuf were to declare that women could freely remove the hijab or veils now, little would change.

In the current era of the Ottomans, wearing uncomfortable hijabs and veils during work was akin to a symbol of noble women.

Even if Yusuf declared they didn’t have to wear them, it was likely that many would still adhere to tradition.

However, a foundation must be laid where they feel comfortable removing the hijab when it feels restrictive, and progress was already slowly being made.

While lightly discussing policies with Shemshi, Yusuf’s ear caught the voice announcing visitors.

– “Padishah, Princess Hasna has arrived.”

“I shall take my leave, then.”

Hearing of Hasna’s visit, Shemshi immediately stood up.

He had considerations to allow her to remove her veil, and spending too much time with Hasna may attract pleas from those unable to let go of their engagements, becoming bothersome.

Knowing this, Yusuf sent Shemshi off and stepped into his room with Hasna, away from the audience chamber.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I received a letter from my mother.”

“Aishe?”

Yusuf tore open the letter Hasna handed him and read the contents.

It was primarily a letter of greetings. Mehmet’s journey to Rome was mentioned, along with trivial matters of daily life and expressions of longing.

“What does it say?”

“It’s just common greetings and sayings of missing one another.”

Yusuf carefully folded Aishe’s letter and pocketed it.

He often exchanged letters in such a manner with the women who accompanied the princes when they departed.

“Does your father not miss your mother?”

“He can’t possibly not miss her. Not just Aishe, but other women too.”

There were years spent together; he couldn’t just coldly forget.

However, the reason for being satisfied with letters instead of meeting directly was the same as when he first sent the women away.

“If you frequently invite them to the capital with the feeling of longing, the rules will be broken at some point. It’s inevitable.”

Should women partake in politics, it would encroach on the Padishah’s authority.

Yusuf smiled gently at Hasna, who was pouting her lips.

“Once I abdicate this position, there will be plenty of time to be together. Until then, I hope you stay healthy.”

Unlike himself, who could hope for a long life, it was uncertain how long women like Aishe could remain.

Trying to shake off the bitter thoughts, Hasna subtly glanced at Yusuf, attempting to change the mood.

“My mother wrote about the rumors circulating these days.”

“Are you talking about the rumor that I predicted a great calamity would befall Portugal?”

“Yes.”

As there were many ears listening at the time, it was natural for the rumor to spread quickly.

Given his history of predicting earthquakes, especially, Islamic figures were keenly observing.

The more accurate Yusuf’s predictions became, the more Muhammad’s authority would diminish.

“I don’t quite remember saying that.”

Yusuf’s reaction to the rumor remained consistent with the present.

Though it was intentionally leaked to undermine Muhammad’s authority due to Islamic fundamentalists, there was no need to state it firmly.

Hasna frowned at Yusuf’s evasive attitude, and he merely laughed it off.

And thus, winter arrived, and the rumors that began in the Ottoman Empire reached as far as Portugal.

It was much faster than Yusuf had anticipated.