I Became the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

사기꾼(3)

There’s a saying that you shouldn’t even drink cold water in front of kids.

I never felt the weight of that saying while raising five sons and a daughter, but I didn’t expect to feel it at my age.

“Grandfather, why can’t I drink Qahwa? I’ve heard it’s bad for kids, but is that medically proven?”

Initially, he was just a little kid asking how babies are born, but now he’s questioning the rationale after two years of living in the capital.

Yusuf, who was casually watching the babbling Batur, replied shortly.

“I said you can’t. No further explanation is needed.”

It wouldn’t be difficult to explain reasons using growth periods; I just didn’t feel the need.

Rising from his seat, Yusuf strolled through the audience chamber, looking side to side.

Orhan, who had reached the age to become a Sanjakbey; Omer, who had grown calmer since we first met; Ali, who was larger than his peers because he was Murad’s son; and the perceptive Batur.

Looking down at one son and three grandsons, Yusuf asked.

“Batur, do you think it’s unreasonable to prohibit something without a proper explanation?”

“…No.”

“It is unreasonable. And that is an emotion everyone feels.”

Yusuf lightly patted the slightly intimidated Batur’s head.

“Prince Orhan didn’t get the chance to compete for this position simply because he was born late. And Ali.”

“Yes, Padishah.”

“Your skin color is also an issue, isn’t it?”

In the Ottoman Empire, having dark skin isn’t treated as subhuman like in Europe, but it’s not considered equal either.

There’s a prevailing notion that they are poor people living in backward regions, which can be quantified by the price of slaves.

‘Just look at the management of the capital; there are mostly Europeans, with almost no Africans.’

Even though the devshirme of enslaving Christian boys has been abolished, and management is selected through exams, the ratio has changed, but—

Just the number of people receiving higher education needed to become administrators is different, so it’ll take a long time for there to be many administrators from Africa.

“Disrespecting and insulting doesn’t have to be blatant. Even casting a glance and feeling pity can be a form of discrimination. Knowing this is why I haven’t scolded you for the trouble you’ve caused.”

With a different skin color and a personality resembling Murad’s.

How much trouble has he caused until now? The only reason I turned a blind eye isn’t merely because he’s blood-related.

Ali bowed his head deeply.

“I’m sorry, Padishah.”

“I didn’t bring this up to hear an apology. There are times when things seem unfair to everyone. There were times I felt the same.”

Not only did it suddenly feel like I was 11 years old, but to survive, I had to kill all my brothers to become the Padishah.

All I had was the title of prince, and my brothers had already formed their own factions, so it’s needless to say how hopeless that felt.

“Regardless of what the reality was, I overcame it and sat here. Ali, while you can’t change your skin color, you can change the perceptions of others. Am I right?”

“Yes.”

“You can prove your abilities, or elevate those who share your skin color. There are plenty of ways, and it’s worth trying your whole life.”

Yusuf, with his hands behind his back, locked eyes with Ali.

I could tell how tough and adapting to the capital has been for the wild horse-like Ali just by looking at his murky gaze.

“Now you’re finally showing some usable eyes.”

Lightly laughing, Yusuf spoke coldly to the children.

“One: There are far more people in this world who are in positions of such absurdity that you complain about being spoiled. Just like those who are born as slaves, as mentioned in the book written by Orhan.”

The novel co-written by Hirem and Orhan had captured a lot of attention from the beginning.

Since it was written by famous Hirem, known for his biography of Yusuf, and because it came from the dynasty, it could hint at the future direction of the empire.

Right now, discussions were noisy due to the book hinting at the reformation of slavery.

“One thing is certain: just like I told Batur, the higher your status, the more likely you are to be an aggressor rather than a victim. This implies you are the same.”

In the previous Ottoman days, there was no need to even make such a statement.

If they were brothers or nephews, they would be executed without mercy if they became a hindrance to governing. Thus, only one person would survive in this position.

‘But the empire has grown too large to rule it that way.’

To keep the entire empire under the dynasty’s influence, there’s no choice but to make use of the same royal blood.

Of course, a royal rebellion could happen, but having ministers instead of royals doesn’t mean rebellion won’t occur either.

If an incompetent were to become Padishah, the danger would be the same, and the future’s decay would be the responsibility of their descendants.

Anyway, those sitting here would at least sit in positions equivalent to Sanjakbey.

“So if you end up in a higher position, you must think and act more deeply with a broader perspective. For the sake of the subjects.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Satisfied with the children’s responses, Yusuf sat back down.

“Of course, there are some whom it’s permissible to enforce absurdity upon without guilt. Do you know who that is?”

Seeing the children unable to respond promptly, Yusuf raised the corners of his mouth.

“That would be the enemies.”

For instance, Spain.

*

It’s ironic.

Due to the defeat in the distant Manila, interest in the Eastern routes within Spain has grown fervently.

No one paid any attention to the words of the former king, who moaned that he had never conspired with the Ottomans; the focus was solely on the routes.

-What kind of profit could possibly make the Ottomans pull such a trick?

That was the first thought.

To anyone’s eyes, it looked as if they had heard the rumors and urgently dispatched a fleet.

This query was quickly resolved. Goods that were kindly received from Uruji were sold, and profits were substantial enough to cover losses.

Just as the shock of the enormous profit subsided, anxiety rushed in.

“If they permitted trade due to the new king, isn’t it uncertain when they might prohibit it again?”

“They wouldn’t change things right away with the new monarch, but if the next infidel emperor’s power stabilizes, who knows?”

“Isn’t it necessary to establish a proper treaty?”

Such noble opinions directly pressured Charles, and he subtly sought the Ottomans’ opinion on the matter.

The response he received was, as expected, a firm refusal, leaving only one option for Charles.

‘Yusuf, that devilish man must not be tolerated. Prince Kasim must succeed unconditionally.’

Thinking of Kasim, who plagued him with letters pleading for more funds at every opportunity, anger arose within him, but he couldn’t just dismiss him now.

Too much money had already been invested, and Kasim’s role had become increasingly crucial.

If supporting Kasim becomes the Padishah, everything would be resolved, but it couldn’t be publicly declared, increasing the urgency of the nobles and merchants.

-Time is running out. We must act quickly before the Ottomans intervene.

-If we miss this opportunity, we will regret it for a lifetime.

This urgency grew more pronounced as merchants gained momentum, seizing opportunities while others hesitated, leading to further profits.

The fleet from Spain that had just left Manila also rode this wave.

“Hehehe, how much is all this?”

The captain laughed as he checked the boxes stacked in the warehouse.

Not only the uniquely fragrant spices but also Eastern goods that must be handled with care would fetch a high price back home.

Even though the prices of spices fell due to the Ottoman canals, they remained high due to entry through Venice or France.

Of course, the profits going to the nobles and merchants who invested in the ship and money would be grand, but the share given to the captain was also significant, making him quite pleased.

“Seeing this money must be why those Venetians are wagging their tails to the infidels.”

It was understandable to see the Venetians acting so senselessly.

“Captain, the goods check is complete! Everything is fine!”

“Seal it off tightly! And if anyone dares to touch the goods, throw them to the sharks immediately!”

The captain, who had issued the warning, turned to the merchant accompanying him.

“We might need to reduce the plants from the New World next time. Luckily, we brought back treasures from the natives, or we would have been in serious trouble.”

“Good thing we brought silver coins just in case.”

Since they had enough stockpiled seeds, they would be forced to sell at a loss, which stung a bit.

While the two discussed plans for the next voyage, shouts from the lookout echoed.

-Enemy fleet spotted! Enemy fleet!

Along with the lookout’s cry, sailors moved frantically.

It wasn’t easy to have a good encounter with other ships at sea, and the sailors changed direction with the sails.

Unlike the sailors hoping to pass without incident, the lookout shouted as he saw the approaching fleet.

-It’s the enemy! Enemy!

The two Spanish ships sailing alongside also scrambled as they neared the enemy fleet.

“Is it the Ottomans?!”

“No! It seems to be an Eastern fleet!”

It wasn’t difficult to distinguish it since the ships were clearly different from those of the Ottomans, but that didn’t mean the situation was good.

Regardless of the reason the nearly ten-ship Eastern fleet was approaching, it didn’t feel like they had good intentions.

“Captain! What should we do?!”

Glancing over the other vessels that were hastily preparing, the captain made a decision.

“We’ll look for an opportunity and flee!”

“But what about the other ships…?”

“Someone must inform the homeland of this situation!”

The option to flee together wasn’t viable. The approaching enemy fleet was much faster than expected.

The captain, who chose to offer another ship as bait, fired a few cannon shots as if to respond, and as the enemy drew near, he turned the ship to escape.

-Thud!

“Just ignore them and move!”

As he betrayed and fled, bullets from another ship hit the railing, causing wooden splinters to fly.

The two Spanish ships, furiously firing bullets in anger, were quickly surrounded by enemies, emitting black smoke, and the captain spoke with a grim face.

“If we go back, we’ll report to the homeland.”

The fleet, which didn’t even look like pirates, was unexpected.

*

Two young boys in tattered rags rummaged through a garbage pile with their hands.

They jumped several times at the smell of rotting food and the rats emerging from the trash.

One boy found a moldy piece of bread and split it in half.

“Yuri, eat this.”

Handing the bread to his hard-of-hearing younger brother, the boy gnawed at it, staving off hunger as a beggar.

“I will definitely take revenge on those damned bastards.”

Ivan IV, the Grand Duke of Moscow, vowed revenge as he gulped down food.

After his mother died, who had taken over power in place of his deceased father, all malice was directed at the young duke and his brother.

Noblemen fighting for power not only killed opponents in front of the young duke, but they also stripped him down to such a state.

To solve the issues of cold and hunger, he had to sift through the trash and was even dragged into secret chambers to be tortured.

“Ugh…”

Suddenly, pain surged from his back, where he had been whipped, and Ivan barely swallowed a groan.

Embracing his worried younger brother, Yuri, Ivan tightly closed his eyes.

‘I want to escape.’

Though he was a duke and all, the desire to flee flooded his heart, but it was nothing more than a delusion.

As long as there were guardians present, there was no way for a young child to escape this place.

When he felt suffocated by the overwhelming reality, footsteps approached from behind. Having thoroughly enjoyed being brought so low, he wondered if they had come to take him back to the castle, but that wasn’t the case.

“Ivan Vasilyevich. You are the Grand Duke of Moscow, correct?”

Turning his head, he was hit by the stench of blood.

The man, reflecting the moonlight as he wiped his hands with a bloodstained cloth, startled Ivan, who asked in a trembling voice.

“Have you come to kill me?”

“Not at all. I have come to help you.”

“Help? Who are you to say such a thing?”

As Ivan remained cautious, the man politely bowed.

“For now, think of me as a friend from the Ottoman Empire.”

“Otto…man.”

Even Ivan, so young, knew of the Ottomans. It was a name that had come up several times from the mouths of nobles fighting in rivalries.

Regardless of interest, there was no way to not know how great and dangerous the nation was, and Ivan’s face expressed shock when that name was mentioned.

“Unfortunately, there isn’t much time given. Will you accept the empire’s help and escape this hell? Or will you continue living this way?”

To continue being tortured and rummaging through the garbage?

There was no reason for hesitation for Ivan as he took the stranger’s hand.

“Congratulations on becoming a friend of the empire, Duke.”

That day, the two brothers disappeared from Moscow.