LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 180
Rumor (2)
The sudden demands of the Ming Dynasty envoy visiting Joseon were enough to turn the palace upside down.
“What on earth did that Huihui person say in front of the emperor to make such demands?!”
“This is why you can’t trust people who are nothing more than merchants.”
“It’s not too late now. We must drive them away!”
As the official who last spoke in an agitated tone was met with gazes questioning his sanity, he averted his eyes.
Given the unfolding situation, it seemed the Ming Dynasty was also in a mood to give way on the seas, making it clear Joseon was no match for them.
If they crossed paths, it would be like a half-nation that couldn’t even show its face on the coast, and such looks were warranted.
As the heated atmosphere calmed slightly, the Prime Minister, Jeong Gwang-pil, stepped forward.
“The most important matter is not the envoy’s business. Shouldn’t we deal appropriately with the envoy awaiting our response?”
“Prime Minister, do you believe it’s possible to accommodate the envoy’s request?”
At King Jungjong’s question, Jeong Gwang-pil lowered his head.
“I cannot trust what they said. We cannot ascertain if the New World truly is filled with gold and treasures as the envoy claimed; if it were, they would have acted directly rather than leaving it to Joseon.”
“That’s true. Otherwise, even if we make some achievements, we could just be exploited under the guise of tribute.”
“Indeed. And it’s also a matter of capability. Due to the long-standing sea ban policy, there are very few with experience venturing outward. It’s impossible to set out across the distant ocean as the envoy suggested.”
“Then, what should we do?”
“They’re likely aware that they cannot immediately fulfill the request to find a route to the New World. We must buy time with a legitimate justification.”
Buying as much time as possible is the best course of action.
As time passes, the emperor of the Ming may lose interest in the New World, and though it’s an ungrateful thought, the emperor could die.
“What justification would be good?”
“If you look at the Huihui’s ship, ours is not suited for long ocean voyages. We must say that we need to research and build new ships. And we should send an envoy to the Ottomans.”
“An envoy?”
“Yes, if the Ottomans send a large fleet here, we can get help in discovering a route. Use that as justification.”
Building new ships and waiting for the envoy sent to the far-off Ottomans to return will both take a long time.
If the purpose is to buy time, it’s a clever plan, but there’s one issue.
“The Ming envoy won’t likely be satisfied and will return. That’s the problem.”
“There’s also a thought for that.”
The envoy, who had been enjoying the banquet, appeared haughty and sought a reply, and Jeong Gwang-pil responded.
“Since ancient times, our country has treated the Ming with sincerity and the Japanese with goodwill. This shows how much Joseon has cared for the friendship among the Three Kingdoms.”
“And then?”
“If the New World truly is filled with gold and treasures and both Joseon and Ming gain great benefits from it, wouldn’t we lose the goodwill we built with the Japanese? They too should be given an opportunity to participate.”
His words contained a strong will not to die alone, and shortly after, a Joseon delegation visited Japan.
Following that, rumors about the New World filled with gold and treasures spread quickly in Japan.
*
Those who could be called Murad’s soldiers boarded the ship, and Mehmet looked upon the preparations for departure nearing completion and asked.
“Is it already okay to return? Staying longer would surely be beneficial.”
The wounds inflicted by the pillaging of Rome were not easily healed.
The number of victims during the pillage reached 6,000, and the citizens who fled Rome exceeded 20,000.
The population was halved, and many buildings were destroyed or burned, leaving the Renaissance-flowering city close to ruins.
Even so, those who had left were gradually returning upon hearing news from Rome, and residences were being rapidly rebuilt using cement.
There was plenty of future plunder to be had, but Murad decided to return to the Sanjakbey.
“Unlike my brother, my Sanjak people are a bit rough, so I can’t be away for long. They have no interest in places that can’t become part of the empire.”
The mercenaries from the city-states loitering around Rome had also retreated, not wanting to waste time here.
In agreement with Murad’s opinion, Mehmet nodded.
“If that’s your opinion, I won’t argue. I have no intention of staying here much longer either.”
“Take care of yourself. Don’t let your guard down and fall while in a place that’s no different from the enemy’s territory.”
“You still have that cocky tone, huh?”
After exchanging banter, Murad stretched widely and then asked.
“By the way, has there been much noise lately regarding our father’s affairs?”
“Are you talking about what was said about Portugal? Isn’t that common in the empire?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Even without mentioning the great earthquake that happened at the time of the accession, there had been several occurrences that were almost prophetic, surpassing predictions.
Just during the Rome pillage alone, they took action proactively before the results even came out.
“The fact that such a common event is being spread anew is probably what’s bothering them. The Westerners love to hunt people down under the guise of heretical judgments and prophecies.”
“It’s not such a simple reason.”
Occult matters like magic or prophecy flourished across Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, but the reason news spreads quickly now is different.
“It also signifies that my father’s influence has grown, and there is likely a campaign to tarnish his reputation.”
Those who encountered Yusuf’s chronicle and rumors were watching, uncertain about his extraordinary capabilities.
Since the opinions on whether it was fabricated or not were split, rumors that would have circulated just within the Ottoman began to spread swiftly across borders.
The problem was that the wider the rumors spread, if they turned out to be false, past events would also be regarded as less credible.
“Have we raised the stakes significantly?”
“Yeah, it’s a dumb thought.”
The more one knew Yusuf well, the less likely they would raise their stakes on the opposing side.
“Well, when you hear some interesting news later, do let me know how you’re doing.”
“Sure, now go.”
As the final preparations for departure concluded, Murad waved his hand and boarded the ship, while Mehmet nonchalantly returned to his office without even watching the ship leave.
“Prince, wouldn’t it have been better to kill Prince Murad during this opportunity? It was a rare chance.”
It was rare for the two princes to be together for a long time in a place where the Padishah was absent, especially in enemy-adjacent Rome, making it easy to frame someone.
After all, many held ill will toward the Ottomans in this place.
Responding apathetically while skimming through documents, Mehmet replied to his subordinate.
“There were more soldiers boarding the ship today than I expected with Murad. If they’re up to some shenanigans, they’d be the ones getting hurt.”
Upon hearing that there were people hiding among the citizens living as refugees and observing the situation, the subordinate who proposed the assassination broke into a cold sweat.
“Don’t talk nonsense and take your leave.”
As the subordinate bowed his head and departed, Mehmet, left alone, frowned.
“That guy needs to be removed at an opportune time.”
He wasn’t sure how many eyes and ears of his father were around here, but it was likely that among his subordinates, someone had suggested assassinating Murad.
Mehmet, who had no intention of coddling a subordinate who couldn’t grasp the situation, quickly turned the pages of the documents.
He had no intention of being held up in Rome for long, so he had to move diligently.
*
“Mustafa is reportedly aboard the ship, and I am concerned,” was written in the letter sent by Tazlu.
While he already knew that Mustafa had boarded the ship, receiving that fact through a letter filled with a parent’s worries felt different.
“No matter how stable the route is, there could be dangers, right?”
“That’s the heart of a parent.”
Even Yusuf, who knew that the odds of Mustafa encountering death were low, couldn’t help but worry, let alone Tazlu.
If he were with her in the harem, he would have helped ease her worries directly, but to Tazlu, who was far away in Basra, all he could do was write a letter.
“This time’s target goes beyond India, so I suppose that adds to the worry.”
Though not to Taiwan Island, he likely planned to reach Malacca, solidifying connections with Sultanates in Southeast Asia and the Ottomans.
Yusuf’s hand paused as he wrote the letter for Tazlu.
“I wonder if Suleiman mentioned the New World to the Ming Dynasty.”
Though it seemed that bringing the economically powerful Ming Dynasty into the New World could lead to disaster, it wasn’t too negative given the current Ottoman situation.
No matter how the Portuguese Governor of India came over, following the same path would likely lead to annihilation, bringing only losses and reducing national strength.
If it’s not the northern route, there are only two routes suitable for crossing from East Asia to America.
One is a route that can connect Malacca with Central and South America, and the other is the route Japan took in the early 17th century, leading to the Pacific and Atlantic, where Hasekura Tsunenaga met the Pope.
“Even if one discovers this route and actually arrives in America, it wouldn’t matter much.”
Looks would be deceiving, for settling in America wasn’t as simple as European countries, like England, trying to settle while failing repeatedly.
The same went for the Ottomans, especially since Spain, which destroyed the Aztec Empire, was evangelizing and converting 2.5 million natives to Christianity by the 1540s, complicating matters.
It was a game where the Ottomans could scarcely intervene, so it was better to draw in as many diverse players as possible to shake the pot.
“It’s not something that would end in a year or two, and the most threatening Ming Dynasty is caught in the threat of nomads, so I shouldn’t have to worry too much in the long term.”
There was a good reason why he had casually mentioned the New World to Suleiman.
Yusuf looked out the window as endless rain poured down.
“Şemsi Pasha, it seems winter has come.”
“Yes, indeed.”
In the capital, Constantinople, winter often brought frequent rain, and just from observing how much rain fell each month, one could infer the season.
Listening to the sound of falling rain in the damp weather, Yusuf finished the letter he had been writing and packaged it neatly in an envelope.
“The time is drawing near.”
“What time are you talking about?”
“The time that cannot be altered by human effort is approaching.”
No matter how much he tried to intervene and twist history, there were events that would occur unchanged, and those events were now approaching swiftly.
*
Upon hearing the news that Yusuf predicted a calamity, the Portuguese nobles and king scoffed.
“It seems even the infidel emperor has grown desperate enough to spread such absurd rumors.”
“No matter how Ottoman, it must be difficult for them. Especially with so many fleets having gone eastward, right?”
“Indeed, I’m not sure why they’d engage in such reckless behavior. Could it be that they are blinded by money?”
The Portuguese, who had long struggled to secure routes, would leap at any threat coming from the Ottomans.
The nobles gathered in one spot regarded news from afar as good news.
No one believed that Yusuf’s words would turn into reality.
“The infidel emperor has a tongue like a viper. Look at how he tries to thwart attacks with his words.”
“Just look at his chronicle; you can see he has often profited merely by talking.”
“Just the nickname of his close aide being ‘The Serpent’s Tongue’ speaks volumes. Isn’t that right, Giorgio?”
At the sudden mention of his name, Giorgio, former Governor of India, nodded his head.
“Indeed. I cannot trust their words.”
“Of course. Let’s believe what this person might bring us a new route.”
At these words, Giorgio wore a skeptical expression.
Going down a path they didn’t even know how to reach was highly improbable, no matter how one thought about it.
However, for Giorgio, who once sank a fleet, there was no option but to nod his head with a smiling face.
On that early morning after the cheerful party ended, the buildings of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, shook, and screams and shouts shattered the dawn.