I Became the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

시간 싸움(2)

With the deaths of the instigators, Şehinşah and Shakul, the rebellion was effectively a failure.

The rebels, who had been struggling desperately within the encirclement, threw down their weapons and surrendered. Those who refused to believe in Shakul’s death, attempting to resist or escape, were immediately executed.

The time spent cleaning up after the battle was much longer than the actual fighting, taking a full day despite the urgency.

“Enemy casualties: eight thousand, our casualties: two thousand, with prisoners numbering ten thousand.”

It was a major victory with a massive number of prisoners, but also a significant headache.

Yusuf spoke to the Grand Vizier.

“To manage the prisoners, we need at least three thousand troops. There are many wounded as well.”

“Indeed.”

Casualties refer to both the deceased and the injured, and while that might be okay for the enemy, we couldn’t abandon our own wounded soldiers.

Even one solitary soldier mattered, given the potential for prisoner rebellion or manpower losses; three thousand was necessary.

“Dispatch three thousand troops to escort the prisoners to Ankara, and send an envoy to Konya to handle the cleanup here and care for the wounded.”

“That’s a reasonable decision.”

It would be difficult to refuse the wishes of Şehinşah, the prince and Sanjakbey, but the fact remained that the people of Konya had participated in the rebellion.

The rebellion had already failed, and it was time for them to take responsibility for their judgments.

If disposing of the bodies laid across the steppe and organizing the funerals and treatments for our soldiers could atone for their sins, they would do it.

‘That leaves us with thirteen thousand troops. The reinforcements from the Pasha will total fifteen thousand.’

Even if Ahmed had done his best to gather forces, that was still more than double the numbers.

In such a case, Ahmed would have to choose to defend.

‘The problem is, Ahmed can never choose to defend.’

Even if Ahmed holed up in Bolu or some other city, there would be no need to expend effort taking it.

They could simply ignore him and head straight for the capital.

Right now, the only advantage Ahmed had was being closer to the capital than Yusuf, but he would be throwing that away.

He wasn’t such a foolish man to make such a dumb decision.

“Grand Vizier, what kind of person was Ahmed in your view?”

“He may be lacking compared to Your Highness, but Prince Ahmed was definitely a capable heir capable of leading the Empire.”

What kind of country is the Ottoman Empire, that they would support someone simply because he was older than others?

Such capability was the reason, and Yusuf also acknowledged Ahmed’s talents.

“Then we must find a way out.”

The road to the capital was blocked, and an army was surging from behind.

It was the worst situation possible, but there were still paths he could try.

Yusuf stepped out of the command tent and looked around.

In the distance, the steppe was littered with the bodies of the enemy, drawing in wild beasts and birds that sensed the smell of blood, while the separated bodies of our soldiers were neatly covered by tents not far away.

In the hot weather, the faint scent of decaying bodies wafted through the air, while soldiers, dressed in stained clothes of blood and filth, were chattering loudly.

“Does this still look like a skewer to you?! Hand over the mustache! I’ll cut it right off!”

“Damn brats?! Do you think you’re standing here just because of that weapon?! Let’s at least take a look at that weapon. I promise to give it back after just a look.”

“Are you crazy asking for the weapon?!”

If you overheard them, it sounded like they were fighting, but their faces were full of smiles.

The Janissaries, filled with pride as elite soldiers, were bantering with Yusuf’s men, which meant they acknowledged each other’s abilities.

For Yusuf, it was a welcomed scene, although that wasn’t why he had come out to see it.

He turned to the Grand Vizier, who followed behind.

“Grand Vizier, do you ride?”

“Of course.”

The Grand Vizier had led armies since before Yusuf was born.

It wasn’t a horse that needed water, but Yusuf’s intent wasn’t just to ask if he was skilled at riding.

“I meant to ask if you could keep up with my vigorous riding considering your old age.”

Yusuf’s gaze was turned to the over ten thousand horses acquired along with the prisoners.

*

“Damn it! Was that truly what you conveyed?!”

“…Yes, it was.”

Hearing the envoy’s confirmation upon his return, Ahmed gritted his teeth.

Although taking the opportunity to storm the capital while Yusuf went south was a last resort, it wasn’t an impulsive decision.

He had already communicated with the management of Maltepe to get help for crossing the Bosporus Strait with his army.

However, upon reaching near Maltepe, he received the news that they were declaring support for Yusuf and rejecting his request.

“Yusuf! Yusuf! Is that his ploy again?!”

Ahmed was furious and greatly disappointed.

The manager of Maltepe wouldn’t suddenly change their mind, and there was a high chance he had been deceived from the start.

To lure him to Maltepe in that way.

“How about occupying Maltepe instead?”

He already had fifteen thousand soldiers following him.

That was thanks to his sons being the Sanjakbey, able to summon the Sipahi.

With that strength, he had enough force to adequately occupy Maltepe, a gateway to the capital, but the real issue lay elsewhere.

“Occupying Maltepe isn’t the problem. To move troops, we need to establish a makeshift bridge with the ships at Maltepe, but if we’re in danger of being occupied, all those ships can just head over to the Balkans.”

“Furthermore, there’s another issue. According to intelligence from a spy, it’s been reported that several galleys, believed to have come from Trabzon, have docked recently.”

He meant to say that they could be ambushed and obstructed while trying to establish a bridge with the ships or travel by water.

“Then how about borrowing ships from the merchants?”

“I’m afraid even that is not easy. Reports indicate that merchants coming from Cape and Trabzon have been intimidated.”

Sensitive to the surrounding news, the merchants were well aware of the ongoing situation.

No merchant would aid Ahmed, who was a strong contender for the next Padishah, especially after hearing Yusuf and Selim’s warnings.

The width of the strait was even narrower than the Han River, and they were in a situation where they couldn’t even cross that distance.

The fact that Selim had even teamed up with Yusuf in his plans made Ahmed laugh in despair.

“Ha ha ha, so those two joined forces to catch me, huh?”

If only Korkut were still alive, this humiliation might not have occurred.

If he had been requesting help, there would have been plenty of sailors willing to assist despite the risks.

No, fundamentally, if Yusuf had been taken out for good when he was still young, this wouldn’t have happened.

A wave of regret washed over Ahmed, but he clenched his teeth.

“It’s not over yet. The Padishah’s throne is mine!”

“Yes, it is not over yet. Please issue your command.”

Those meeting with Ahmed were his comrades in fate.

They couldn’t just give up on this emptily, so Ahmed quickly put his mind to work and came to a conclusion.

“The most significant threat is not that we can’t cross the strait.”

Not crossing the strait was indeed the biggest issue at hand, but it was not a matter of life and death.

The reason Ahmed and his subordinates were feeling anxious was because Yusuf’s soldiers were tightening the noose around them.

It was clear that with the passage of time, they would merely become trapped mice.

“Bring me a map.”

Ahmed pointed to trabzon on the unfolded map, creating a line from it to Bolu with his hand.

“The enemy force, approximately fifteen thousand, has reached Bolu, chasing us from Trabzon.”

There was no way to be unaware of the enemy troops following from Trabzon while also advancing towards the capital.

As that significant army advanced, Ahmed’s forces, which had been drafted, could no longer endure and surrendered.

Ahmed’s sons escaped and rejoined Ahmed, and Murad, who had recently been in Bolu, also came to him.

“And right now, Yusuf is likely engaged in battle with the rebels near Konya.”

No one could tell how long it would take to suppress the rebellion, but even if he won easily, the distance between the two armies was far.

This gap was the only opportunity for survival.

“Murad, what was the last appearance of the enemies you saw like?”

“Most were infantry, and when I saw them marching, they didn’t seem well-trained or equipped.”

It was unavoidable that the condition of the troops sent as reinforcements wasn’t good.

That was due to the weakness of the nations of Georgia and Circassia.

Ahmed looked at Murad, smiling broadly.

“You all heard, right? There’s absolutely no need to fear the enemy. We will crush them one by one.”

Ahmed’s troops turned their heads.

*

Shemshi certainly fulfilled his role.

Following the path Ahmed took, Shemshi severed their supply lines.

Well, they had already taken many supplies, so it wouldn’t cause a significant blow but could generate psychological pressure.

Moreover, it created a situation where they could gather Ahmed’s sons, the potential stumbling blocks, together and deal with them in one go.

However, not everything was going smoothly.

‘Controlling them is not easy.’

The acts of defiance among the soldiers were becoming more pronounced over time.

Soldiers who caused trouble in their own lands were bound to cause even more in foreign territory.

Especially the Georgian forces were merely conscript soldiers that hardly listened to the commands of their officers.

“…At least it’s fortunate that the Circassian troops aren’t causing major issues.”

“Haha, it seems the Pasha is having a hard time.”

Ivan, who had overall command of the Circassian troops, burst into laughter.

They had previously worked together while conquering Erzurum, so they shared a close friendship.

“If you say so, I will step in and maintain discipline.”

Arkes, one of the five Circassians Yusuf had bought with Aishe at the slave market, had now become one of Ivan’s closest aides.

Shemshi shook his head at Arkes’ words.

“That won’t be necessary. It will only create unnecessary disturbances. If the prince comes, everything will be solved.”

The defiance wasn’t limited to just the soldiers; some of the Georgian commanders were also going along with it.

Forgetting how terrifying Yusuf truly was.

“Later, there will be a fierce storm.”

“What can be done? It’s their choice.”

Just as Shemshi burst into laughter, a hurried voice came from outside the tent where the three were.

-Pasha! We have a big problem!

“What is it?!”

The messenger, sweating profusely, knelt as he reported.

“Ahmed’s army is approaching rapidly.”

“How far away?!”

“They’re likely to arrive before evening.”

At these words, Shemshi’s face turned grim.

“How could they arrive so close and yet the report be delayed?!”

“…Some of the Georgian troops assigned to reconnaissance were delayed due to raiding nearby villages.”

Shemshi, furious to the point of boiling over, gritted his teeth, but the pressing matter wasn’t that.

They had been too late in discovering this, and the enemy would probably arrive before they could escape to the nearby castle.

Shemshi issued commands.

“Inform all troops! We will meet the enemy here.”

*

Seeing the wave of Ahmed’s Sepahi filling the plain, the soldiers trembled in fear.

Even with the numerical advantage of fifteen thousand, and the hastily erected barricades to fend off the cavalry, they provided no solace.

“…Pasha, how about surrendering instead?”

“Shut up. My sword will be the one to behead you first.”

Shemshi snapped at the terrified Georgian commander as he gazed at Ahmed’s army.

It was only natural to be scared. For the cavalrymen, Sipahi, these infantrymen were just playthings.

‘The last thing I can do is deal as much damage to the enemy as possible.’

Even if it cost him his life.

That would be the last path to assist Yusuf.

-Buuuuuuuuum

As the long horn from the enemy’s unit sounded, the lined-up Sipahi slowly began to move.

As the approaching cavalry drew nearer, his hands gripping the weapon trembled.

-Taang!

An explosion resonated through the sky, and all eyes that had gathered on the plain turned towards the hill where the loud noise came from.

Yusuf, watching the scene from atop the hill, let out a long sigh.

“I feel like I’m going to die because of my overly nimble brother.”

Had he not had such traits, perhaps he would have been left behind like the Grand Vizier.

With the gun smoking black while aimed at the enemy, Yusuf grinned.

“But it’s still not too late, right?”

“If it’s too late after this, I’ll be praying facing the opposite direction of Mecca next time.”

With Arda’s joke, Yusuf’s soldiers, who had endured the harsh march, made their appearance on the battlefield.