이스마일과 왕자들(4)

It was an easy task for Yusuf to conquer Erzinjan.

Unlike Erzurum, which had long served as a fortress, Erzinjan was just an ordinary frontier city.

It was surprising that they chose to resist despite not even having decent walls.

Of course, they couldn’t hold on for even two days.

– Ku-rru-ung

After suffering numerous attacks from trebuchets, the walls crumbled, and the soldiers climbing the ladders pushed through the breach.

Watching this scene from atop his horse, Ardah smacked his lips and said to Yusuf, “It’s a shame it wasn’t as easy to conquer as last time. Looks like the soldiers took quite a beating.”

Even though it was conquered relatively easily, this was siege warfare, after all. Injuries were inevitable.

“It’s unreasonable to hope for the same luck as before. Besides, the losses can be charged to Erzinjan.”

After all, unlike Erzurum, it wasn’t a territory they could hold onto.

“No need to worry about public sentiment either.”

“By the way, all preparations for departure should be complete, right?”

There was no place for the cavalry, the Sipahis, to shine in a siege, so they were all fresh and ready.

Holding the reins tightly, Ardah nodded at the question. “Yes, we can set off for Diyarbakır right away.”

Diyarbakır was a city located about 200 kilometers south of Erzinjan.

Historically, it dates back to the Stone Age and was a key city in the Mesopotamian region during ancient Rome.

‘The important thing is that it’s a route through which Ismail will pass when he returns from Dulqadir.’

Of course, capturing it with the current troop strength was unrealistic, but plundering the surrounding areas was certainly feasible.

“Then let’s set off quickly. We might arrive before news of our invasion reaches them.”

With his riding skills honed to near nomadic levels, crossing 200 kilometers could be done in five days.

Hearing the news of Erzinjan’s conquest before they could prepare was the only opportunity to plunder Bayburt, and he had no intention of missing this chance.

Turning his horse southward with 4,000 Sipahis, Yusuf grinned playfully. “When Ismail returns, he might just clutch his neck and fall over.”

If you play with fire in someone else’s house, you might just burn yours down as well. It’s a good lesson to learn, especially when it hurts.

*

Yusuf, born when the current Sultan Bayezid II was over forty, was a complete latecomer.

When Yusuf was born, the eldest, Ahmed, was already in his mid-twenties.

The only one who could claim to have spent childhood with Yusuf was Alemsha, who had already returned to Allah, and even then, it was just for a short time when Yusuf was still an infant.

Except for Yusuf, the princes were close in age and shared many memories.

Though, of course, none of them were particularly pleasant.

“Speaking of which, there was that time I ate the food Ahmed brother gave me and ended up with a terrible stomachache.”

“Did that happen? It’s too old for me to remember well.”

Selim smiled slyly at Ahmed’s somewhat insincere response.

“You might not remember, but I certainly do, since I almost died of dehydration.”

Korkut frowned at Selim’s blunt remark.

While the future was uncertain, for now, they were in a position to help Ahmed and had something to say too.

“Selim, if someone heard you, they’d think your brother did it on purpose. If we’re going by that logic, wasn’t it a bigger deal that you pushed me down the stairs?”

“Are you talking about the time I tripped and fell together with you? I recall it differently.”

“You landed on top of me.”

Rubbing the scar on his arm from that day, Korkut growled, while Mahmud, tired of this place where everyone just kept going in circles, asked irritably.

“Selim, what’s the point of bringing up old stories now?”

“Since we can’t trust each other anyway, let’s end this pointless power struggle right here.”

The commander held the title of the owner of Dulqadir and had the most troops, but it was essentially just a title.

To the princes, who thought it pointless to listen to someone weaker than themselves, he was below standard.

However, due to the deep mistrust among them, no single prince could take the reins.

“As you all know, we don’t have much time left. Winter will be upon us soon.”

“I’ve heard it’s not that cold here in winter, though?”

Maraş had a mild Mediterranean climate, and at Korkut’s comment, Selim lightly scoffed.

“Perhaps here, but in Elbistan captured by the enemy, winters are quite cold, aren’t they?”

“That’s true. Unlike here, it snows in winter.”

Buzkurt agreed with Selim’s query.

Although it was only a week’s journey on foot, there was a considerable difference in temperature.

“When winter officially begins, the enemy will return to Elbistan. They wouldn’t want to suffer in the field during such hardship. So, are we going to take a siege to Elbistan then?”

The princes, who received the best education of the era, knew well how foolish it was to conduct a siege in winter.

If they ended winter without any success, the Sultan would summon the troops, and they, having rushed there only to waste time, would surely become the laughingstock.

After briefly pondering and tapping the table, Ahmed arrived at a conclusion.

“Then we need to revise our strategy.”

Initially, the plan was to maneuver on the plains, but given that they didn’t quite mesh and the command structure was disjointed, it would likely result in a major defeat.

Although maneuvers were great for achieving fame, it wasn’t necessary to take risks.

“The operation of each unit should be left to their own discretion, avoiding direct confrontation as much as possible while preventing enemy plundering. We must now give up on the towns that cannot fortify their walls.”

“Sounds good. Finally, we seem to be talking sense.”

Smiling broadly, Selim stood up.

“With that decision made, I’ll go prepare for deployment.”

Exiting the meeting with a cheerful face, Selim entered his room, which was tightly guarded by his subordinates.

Turning to the aide who followed in, Selim’s expression instantly hardened.

“Octar.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“You haven’t forgotten our plan, have you? Troop losses are of no concern.”

He was different from the other princes who aimed to minimize troop loss for future contingencies.

His main force relied on the reinforcements from the Crimean Khanate.

‘Once I move to the Crimean Khanate, I won’t even be able to use the soldiers from Teke because they’re too far away.’

Selim, who was plotting to create a rebellion when he got to the Crimean Khanate, had no qualms about sacrificing the troops from Teke.

“There’s no need to strive for a great achievement.”

With his previous remarks having reconciled him with the military leaders, there was no longer a need to covet significant achievements.

As long as they didn’t suffer a ridiculous defeat, his position would remain secure.

What Selim wanted most in this war was simple.

“Three have died, but there are still five brothers alive; that’s too many. We need to reduce this number.”

Selim grinned cruelly.

*

After the Conqueror Mehmet II captured Constantinople at the age of 21 and established Topkapi Palace, it became a symbol of power.

Once feeling like he had everything in the world for possessing this place, Bayezid lifted his goblet.

“Grand Vizier, isn’t the world quite amusing?”

Ahmed Pasha, who had sent Hatice to Yusuf, stepped down last year, and the recently reinstated Grand Vizier, Hadi Ali Pasha, lowered his head in silence.

Being a devout and pious Muslim, this was the first time the Grand Vizier had seen Bayezid, who was also called righteous, drinking wine.

Bayezid, bursting into laughs at the heavy atmosphere, remarked toward the distressed Ali.

“There’s no need to be so tense. It’s just a lightweight question. One of the teachers from my childhood once said something like this: when a cow falls, many blades gather.”

Meaning that when it’s down, many will gather to pick it apart.

At Bayezid’s words, the Grand Vizier gasped in shock.

“How can you say such a grim thing?!”

“Seeing your grim face made me want to make a joke.”

Even as he laughed, there was a certain sincerity in it.

With a slightly flushed face, Bayezid continued to shake his goblet.

“I’m just reminded of old times. Seeing how these sons don’t listen to my words at all.”

Selim, who openly defied him, and the three who joined Dulqadir were essentially acting in opposition to his judgment.

Yusuf was slightly better than the four, but even he had taken the offensive as the Safavid with merely a one-sided notification.

“At least Prince Şehinşah isn’t making any moves, is he?”

“Hmph, don’t even mention that foolish one who doesn’t realize who’s backing him.”

“Surely, he’s not oblivious? He’s just watching to use you.”

“Even so, aligning with the Turkmen, he’s no different from the others.”

To Bayezid, they all seemed the same.

Watching how things unfolded before him reminded him of what he had done to his own father, Mehmet II.

“My father hated me so much. Well, it was for good reason. I opposed him at every turn.”

“That’s not the Padishah’s fault. The Conqueror waged wars too frequently, driving the internal finances to the brink of disaster, didn’t he?”

Mehmet II almost waged war every year, and as his reign progressed, the financial situation worsened significantly.

Even aside from financial issues, there was an irreconcilable conflict between him, who loved Western culture, and Bayezid, who valued Islamic culture.

“My father was somewhat better. At the very least, Cem listened to him well.”

“Nonetheless, you are the Master of the Empire.”

“And I rose to this position through the support of the Janissaries.”

After Mehmet II died, the supportive Janissaries rebelled, killing the Grand Vizier and elevating Korkut from the capital as a temporary Padishah.

Without that help, his brother Cem could have taken the throne.

“Isn’t it absurd? A man secured a position with the military’s help, but later his position is jeopardized because of the military.”

“…If you order it, I will execute all the rebellious humans.”

At the Grand Vizier’s words, Bayezid shook his head.

“How can you claim to be the master of an empire if you’re unable to manage such minor grievances? Once realizing it’s not yet time, the complaints will naturally subside.”

He was still too young to let go of power.

‘I don’t wish to meet the same fate as my father, poisoned by his own children.’

Bayezid, who had assassinated Mehmet through rebellious factions, smiled coldly.

When a chill swept through the room, a voice came from the awaiting attendant outside.

– Your Majesty, urgent news.

“Come in.”

With his permission, the attendant entered and spoke with respect.

“Prince Mahmud has fallen in battle against Shah Ismail.”

The six princes were now reduced to five.