I Became the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

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Rodos Siege (1)

It’s as common as the winds blowing across the Mediterranean Sea for Muslims to kidnap Christians as slaves, just as Christians sell Muslims into slavery.

It’s a coincidence that the envoy was captured by pirates on his way back, yet it’s something that could easily happen.

The Knights, having received a ransom demand from the pirates for the return of their captive, were thrown into a fit.

– This is the infidels’ trickery! They must have ordered the pirates to capture the envoy!

To this accusation, the Ottoman Empire responded incredulously.

– If you think it’s slander, bring forth evidence. And I wonder how incompetent the Knights are to be captured by pirates; if they had any spirit, they would have sunk themselves rather than being captured.

While suspicions ran high, there was no evidence to support them, and when they sneered that a knight cherished his life as a captive, they had nothing to say.

– However, if you do want to lower the ransom, the Empire would be happy to act as an intermediary. Don’t forget, this is a tremendous favor.

With the Empire stepping in as an intermediary, there was no worry about being cheated, but the amount demanded by the pirates was exorbitant.

It was an amount that would normally take hundreds of deliberations, and in the face of impending war, paying it was out of the question, yet they had to endure the ridicule of abandoning a comrade for money.

All this time, Yusuf, who had rubbed salt in the wounds of the Knights, calmly said,

“Let’s stop the jokes here.”

It was time to end the month-long revelries.

He had applied for resignation, but as Yusuf declared the invasion of Rhodes, his resignation was turned down, darkening the Grand Vizier’s expression.

Just last night, he had a heart-to-heart with the former Grand Vizier, Herzegovinian, who was suffering from census headaches.

Noticing the Grand Vizier’s unease, Yusuf offered consolation.

“Grand Vizier, or rather, Hadim Ali Pasha. Once this war ends, I’ll ensure you’re back in charge of the harem, so just endure a little longer.”

“Since you say I’m needed, I shall do my utmost.”

Emphasizing his advanced age to the point of retirement was a bit of a complaint from the Grand Vizier, prompting Yusuf to chuckle softly.

In situations like this, it was customary to feign ignorance.

Though there were indeed capable individuals to take over the Grand Vizier’s role, having one more hand was always better.

“Surely Kemal Reis is effectively blockading Rhodes Island?”

“He’s on his last mission before retirement, aiming to conquer the island. He’s highly motivated, so there’s no need to worry.”

Historically, Kemal Reis was fated to die in a storm seven years prior and was now already in his late sixties, well past retirement age.

Anyway, the Knights had seven ships, three of which were reported sunk while attacking Murad, and one had been captured by pirates.

With only three ships left, blockading Rhodes wasn’t going to be difficult.

“How many troops have been gathered?”

“Most of the summoned troops have already crossed over to Rhodes Island by ship.”

Yusuf looked down from the walls at the fleet draped in the red Ottoman flag, loaded with cannons and supplies. The morale of the artillerymen and armed Janissaries was palpably high from this distance.

Gazing at the hoisted purple royal flag fluttering from the heights of Topkapi Palace, Yusuf commented,

“It won’t take long before that flag is raised again.”

Having declared this, Yusuf turned his body back to the castle, and days later, the fluttering dynastic flag was lowered.

It was a reunion after four years.

*

The Knight Commander, Careto, gazed beyond the walls from the Grandmaster’s palace.

He stood in a palace built where the bronze Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, once stood.

From this palace overlooking the fortress of Rhodes, Careto let out a groan.

“What a truly dreadful sight.”

“It seems the world is entirely stained with blood.”

Wherever he turned his eyes, he saw the red flags symbolizing the infidels.

The red flags covering the plains outside the castle sent chills down his spine, feeling like an army of demons crawling up from hell.

The Knights numbered barely 600, and even combined with soldiers and civilians, they barely exceeded 7,000.

They were completely outnumbered, and Careto asked the second-in-command of the Knights.

“What’s the morale of the Knights and the civilians?”

“They’re at a level that you need not worry about. They’re well prepared to recreate the glory of 40 years ago!”

“Good to hear.”

At the mention of glory from 40 years ago, Careto smiled.

In 1480, Mehmet II, leading the Urban cannon, invaded Rhodes Island, but the Knights successfully repelled it, gaining fame throughout Europe.

The Commander even received a Cardinal’s title for this, and hearing that they could recreate this glory made Careto clench his fist.

“We’ve completed all the preparations we can.”

Despite the short period to prepare, the fact that the Knights always needed to be ready to fight infidels made it possible.

All crops had been harvested and burned, and all covering structures that could aid the enemy had been cleared.

The harbor, where enemy ships could invade, had been secured with chains to block all entry perfectly.

“One regret is that our stored supplies are low.”

Thanks to the swift blockade by the Ottomans, there had been no time to replenish supplies.

In response to Careto’s lament, the second-in-command confidently replied,

“Still, we have enough supplies to last for at least eight months. If we ration, it could stretch even longer, so this is enough.”

If the siege lasts around eight months, most of those gathered infidels would fall into hell.

The second-in-command’s assurance was not a lie.

“Sir! The infidel emperor’s fleet has appeared!”

At the report from the officer commanding the Italian knights, Careto’s gaze turned to the sea.

It was estimated that more than 200 enemy ships had been mobilized for this war, with one massive ship approaching the island standing out among them.

As it drew closer, the purple flag became clearer, and Careto placed his hand over the white octagonal cross emblazoned on his chest.

“Loyalty, faith, magnanimity, glory and honor, a willingness to assist the poor and the sick, and respect for the Church.”

Reciting six of the eight doctrines represented by the corners, Careto continued with the last two.

“Courage and a fearlessness of death.”

With all eight doctrines recited, Careto opened his eyes wide.

“We shall not retreat before any persecution. Our deaths shall be the Lord’s glory, so do not be afraid.”

Careto braced himself for a fierce siege.

*

Descending from the massive galleon built for the upcoming naval battle, Yusuf waved towards familiar faces.

“Ah!”

“Don’t be so dramatic, Murad. You’ve somehow made it here.”

Murad, clutching his bruised shin, grumbled at Yusuf’s cold words.

“Rather than waste time idly in Cairo, isn’t it better to partake in this? At least I can gain some experience. I’m a talent who has captured an enemy commander.”

Originally, he should have been heading to Yemen, but due to the heavy casualties from the Knight’s raid, the plan fell through.

Given the situation in Yemen, quite a capable force was necessary, but troop reinforcements were delayed due to the war.

Yusuf clicked his tongue at Murad’s long scarred cheek.

“You’re talking big for someone who brought this upon themselves. With a face that already looks aged, adding a scar just makes you look even older.”

Having grown quickly, he already looked older than his years, and with the scar, he and Yusuf looked less like father and son and more like brothers.

Turning his gaze from Murad, who was scratching at his scarred wound, Yusuf smiled at the gathered comrades.

“There are many familiar faces here.”

Though Kemal Reis often returned to the capital, he wasn’t unfamiliar. Alongside him, two Beylerbeys managing the Balkans and Anatolia were also familiar after a long absence.

It had been at least five years since he had seen the friendly face of Ardam, since the Egyptian campaign.

“It is an honor to stand once more alongside the Padishah in battle!”

“To enjoy the battlefield, after all, makes you a natural warrior.”

In the Ottoman system, civil officials and military officers weren’t strictly separated.

During peacetime, they often worked like civilians, but in wartime, they stepped into military roles, blending both roles.

However, temperament plays a large role, and many here were combative in nature, just like military men.

Digging into Yusuf’s words, Dukaginzade, the Beylerbey of Anatolia, replied in a firm tone.

“This is a chance to punish those who attacked Prince Murad and the Hatun, how could I possibly back down?”

“Indeed. The subjects living thanks to the Padishah’s grace are also greatly enraged by this incident. I’m merely happy to have the opportunity to take action.”

The royal family’s status in the Ottoman Empire was solid.

Due to rapid reforms, the subjects, including Yusuf, had faced significant challenges, but even the lowest subjects felt the Empire was changing rapidly, although the changes might not be huge, the glimmer of hope that life was slightly improving was important.

Regardless, attacking the royal family, which was strongly supported regardless of religion, was news enough to cause outrage, resulting in heightened morale among the assembled Ottoman forces.

“A high spirit is always a good thing.”

Responding thus, Yusuf gazed at the fortress of Rhodes.

The Grandmaster’s palace was high, and the fortress surrounding it was tougher to besiege than any castle he had seen before.

“Dukaginzade.”

“Yes, Padishah.”

“Don’t you find that fortress looks quite difficult to conquer?”

“If you entrust it to me, I will swiftly deliver that fortress to the Padishah!”

“Motivation alone isn’t enough to take action.”

In historic terms, Suleiman was not incompetent, nor was it because they lacked cannons that they failed to conquer it for six months, at the cost of thousands of lives.

‘It’s a marvelous fortress even by modern standards that span centuries.’

The fortress of Rhodes was constructed thoroughly to counter cannons.

Unlike the usual fortresses they had faced, this one could not simply be battered down by cannon fire because it was carved from the earth rather than built up.

With the earth firmly supporting the stone walls behind them, it would be tremendously difficult and futile to demolish it with cannon fire.

‘Moreover, the walls are constructed at an angle to reduce the impact of cannon fire.’

If they attempted to capture the fortress solely with cannon fire, even using all the stored gunpowder of the Empire wouldn’t suffice.

“To seize that fortress through regular means would require at least a hundred thousand men. And half of them would die.”

“You hold that fortress in high regard.”

“It deserves to be regarded as such.”

The ministers, who had repeatedly destroyed walls higher than that with cannons, looked puzzled, yet they did not refute Yusuf’s words.

It was only natural for them to accept that their Padishah might know something they did not.

“Should we gather additional troops? Padishah.”

The present forces that had crossed over to Rhodes Island numbered barely 60,000.

Although that was a formidable force for any ordinary country, it was starkly insufficient compared to the 100,000 Yusuf mentioned.

More troops needed to be summoned, and despite the fact that this place was about to become a grave for tens of thousands, no minister dared suggest retreat.

‘No matter how many troops we lose, we must capture that place to ensure appropriate retaliation.’

If they failed to take proper revenge for the royal family’s attack out of fear of sacrifices, the same thing would only repeat.

Shaking his head at the ministers who were prepared for great sacrifices, Yusuf spoke.

“Dead men do not return, and there are no resources more difficult to restore than people.”

It takes at least a decade for a person to grow into a labor force.

Though the Ottoman Empire, thanks to reduced taxes through the abolition of the jizya and increased food through agricultural reforms, was experiencing a near baby boom in population growth.

Even so, it would take more than a century to catch up with Europe’s population.

“If we can minimize losses, we should do everything we can to reduce them.”

“What do you plan to do?”

“To save lives, we must invest without hesitation.”

Yusuf’s gaze was fixed on the growing pile of munitions.

*

In the midst of the acrid smell of gunpowder and the relentless advance of the enemy.

Closing the eyes of fallen comrades and pledging to the Lord to deliver judgment upon the infidels, the Knights imagined a glorious and honorable siege.

However, the scene unfolding before them left the Knights with bewildered expressions.

“…Sir, the infidel bastards are starting to build walls.”

“I see it as well.”

Careto looked in horror at the large-scale construction site mobilizing tens of thousands.

The walls being constructed to encircle the fortress of Rhodes rose at a terrifying speed, like a trap laid by Satan.

*

Looking beyond the walls rapidly constructed with cement, Yusuf sneered.

“I wonder how long that tiny fortress can hold out.”

If they couldn’t hold out, they would die at the hands of the Ottoman troops surrounding them; if they did hold out, they would starve to death.

The Knights were in a real bind.

“There’s a reason why one should never fight someone with deep pockets.”

The Ottomans had plenty of resources to flex.