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Crossing Strategies (2)

After much contemplation, Mengli relinquished the khan position of the Crimean Khanate.

Outwardly, he declared that he would abdicate due to old age and spend his remaining years in the Ottoman’s Constantinople, but no one truly believed his words.

It had long been common for a king to yield administrative duties to a successor, similar to co-regents, so outright abdication seemed quite strange.

It was clearly a retaliatory action for his past alignment with Selim, resulting in a shocking outcome for the Crimean Khanate.

“No matter how much we belong to the Ottomans, does the khan really just step down so easily?”

“Mengli, who is no ordinary person!”

From the Ottoman perspective, Mengli had sworn loyalty and become a vassal, but in the Crimean Khanate, he was a great khan.

He had achieved significant military accomplishments, even defeating the last khan of the Kipchak Khanate and declaring himself khan (emperor) after capturing the capital.

However, it extensively reminded everyone that this great khan existed only under the Empire of the Ottomans.

In a way, it was the abrupt collapse of authority painstakingly built over decades.

Though he endured such a humiliating outcome, it didn’t mean everything was resolved.

“Saadet, how long must we remain like this?”

Covered in dirt and dust, and in tattered clothes, those complaining with weary faces made Saadet smile bitterly.

Where had the glorious warrior who once galloped across the plains and slaughtered enemies gone? Now they looked like slaves being dragged for plunder.

“Be patient. Father and I are continually discussing matters with the padishah.”

Despite Saadet’s words, the soldiers wore expressions of dissatisfaction but nodded their heads.

Complaining wouldn’t resolve anything.

Battle and pillage were as natural to them as breathing, and even against Selim’s warnings, many couldn’t break their habits when they crossed the capital’s walls.

Having received assistance, Selim, who lacked the authority to discipline them, tolerated the current situation. However, Yusuf had no reason to treat them kindly.

He had declared that he would select and punish the guilty, which seemed like a natural course of action at first glance.

‘However, the real issue is determining how to select the guilty after considerable time has passed. It’s practically impossible.’

Saadet understood well why Yusuf made such an absurd declaration.

Since that profoundly moving encounter, Saadet had met Yusuf several times more, hearing the reasons directly from him.

‘To gain favor and swing the sword.’

To prevent the prisoners from being provoked, Mengli was forbidden from visiting them, making Saadet their only communication channel.

To escape hard labor, to eat a decent meal, and to receive treatment for their wounds, they had to rely on Saadet’s assistance.

The soldiers, who visited daily to make requests, showed goodwill towards Saadet, and reports of favorable actions from a steadfast Mehmed were met with the swift swing of a sword.

“Let go! Let me go! What makes you think I took a woman?”

“Shut up!”

A Janissary pointed a sword at the neck of the defiant prisoner, and the soldiers quickly muzzled and bound him, dragging him away.

Another commander disappeared like this, and like the others taken before him, he would soon be subjected to hard labor.

As Saadet observed the scene with sunken eyes, a soldier rushed towards him urgently.

“Saadet Geray! The padishah commands your immediate presence.”

Saadet swallowed hard at the sudden summons from the padishah, who had never called him so urgently before.

The moment of choice was swiftly approaching.

*

Yusuf lounged in his chair, leaning back, and asked Hadim Ali Pasha.

“How is Zembilli moving these days?”

“Nothing has changed. He meets regularly with Islamic figures like ulama and imams.”

“Hmm, I see.”

The frequent interactions between Zembilli Ali Effendi, the Islamic religious leader of the Ottomans, and scholars like ulama indicated considerable discontent.

Islam even discourages translations of the Quran for fear of its meaning being distorted, yet Yusuf, by his very existence, was altering Islam.

One could say Zembilli even asked, “Do you think you’re a god?”

Of course, to Zembilli’s inquiry, Yusuf casually replied, “I have no intention of becoming something so cumbersome.”

‘Humans can fail, but gods must not.’

No matter how much luck one has or what future knowledge is at hand, one cannot always succeed.

Unexpected variables arise, and life’s outcomes often defy expectations.

And with great heights comes the harshest consequences for a single failure.

‘Just like Ismail.’

He fancied himself a god, received divine reverence, and became a cripple after just one defeat, making him the most fitting example.

Anyway, such remarks indicated that he was keenly observing the situation.

“Padishah, do not worry. No matter how he may be the sheikh of Islam, he is still a bureaucrat of the empire and your man.”

“We shall see.”

Just as people look for divine intervention when in distress, states too tend to elevate religious values during turmoil.

The rising sun of the Ottoman Empire still did not place great importance on Islam, and Zembilli’s troubles posed no significant threat.

“More importantly, how long do you wish to remain in the eunuch position? That seat is far too small for you.”

Even if he were not to return to the position of grand vizier, there were plenty of seats where Ali could remain.

Even if he temporarily held the post of state minister or the grand admiral position of Kapudan Pasha.

The current grand vizier, Herzegovinian, had also been in a grand admiral position when he stepped down from the grand vizier post.

Given that there was not enough substance in the eunuch position for someone who had served as a grand vizier, Yusuf’s comment drew a gentle smile from Ali.

“Thank you for thinking so highly of this old man, but I am content just to be able to serve the padishah closely.”

“Once again, you evade the question. Fine. If a position becomes necessary later, I will handle it.”

“I merely follow orders.”

Looking at Hadim Ali Pasha, one could understand why he favored eunuchs throughout history.

After all, they only spoke what pleased their master; how could one dislike them?

As Yusuf chuckled, a voice from the outer hall echoed.

– Padishah, Mengli Geray and Saadet Geray have come to see you as commanded.

“Let them in!”

At Yusuf’s gesture, Ali responded, and the door opened, allowing the two nobles to enter and bow.

“We greet the great padishah!”

“Rise. Time is not in abundance.”

Upon Yusuf’s command, they stood and spoke the reason for their summons.

“We summoned you because we received reports of an invasion of the Crimean Khanate by Lithuania and Moscow.”

Mengli was startled by Yusuf’s words, while Saadet made a face that said, “Here comes what I expected.”

Only thirty years ago, Mengli had formed an alliance with Ivan III of Moscow, enabling Moscow to gain independence from a Mongolian state.

However, three years ago, the relationship had soured enough for them to invade Moscow.

It was needless to say that Lithuania had treated them like a broken vending machine, spitting out drinks for pillaging.

“How formidable is the enemy?”

“Hmm, while I cannot provide precise numbers, judging by their urgent request for aid, it would be over forty thousand combined.”

This was only a minimum estimate.

Neither country was in a relaxed position; if they had drawn swords, it certainly meant they aimed to capture the Crimean Khanate this time.

They had likely marshaled their troops by force, posing a significant threat to the Crimean Khanate.

“Padishah! Please, grant us your assistance!”

“Yes, I intend to provide help. I will free the captured soldiers and lend some Janissaries.”

“Thank you!”

Armed with gunpowder, Janissaries were a powerful force, even in small numbers. Raising one hand towards Mengli, who knelt in gratitude, Yusuf cautioned him.

It was still premature to accept thanks.

“However, you must remain in the capital. Instead, Saadet will lead the troops.”

“Padishah!”

Mengli shouted in astonishment, and Yusuf shot him a cold glare.

“Mengli Geray, do not forget your position. You are not here as a guest in the capital.”

“…Understood.”

Although it was humiliating, Mengli’s face twisted in despair at the biting reminder of his situation.

Despite the elderly man’s face being filled with frustration, Yusuf nonchalantly turned his head toward Saadet.

“Saadet.”

“Yes, Padishah.”

“Your hands will hold the fate of the Crimean Khanate. You understand that, don’t you?”

At first glance, this might sound like a reference to the precarious situation of the Crimea, but Saadet understood it meant something else entirely.

The fate of a nation often changes with a shift in its ruler.

Saadet replied with grim determination.

“I understand.”

“Then it’s settled. You have no time; off you go.”

At Yusuf’s dismissal, both left the audience chamber, and Saadet hurriedly moved.

Rearming the prisoners and laborers working in the capital’s reconstruction was not a task to be completed in a day or two.

Working late into the night, sorting patients and reclaiming confiscated equipment, Saadet returned to his lodging, exhausted, to face his waiting father.

“Saadet.”

“Yes, Father.”

An uncomfortable silence enveloped Saadet, and as the moonlight peeked through the clouds again, Mengli finally opened his tightly shut lips.

“The wolves of the plains do not engage in rank fights, you understand?”

Unlike common misconceptions, wild wolves rarely fight for hierarchy.

Typically, the oldest individuals or parents who have given birth naturally form a pack and become leaders.

“…I understand.”

Mengli’s remark implied that the eldest brother rightfully assumed leadership, serving as a warning not to covet his position.

Hearing this, Mengli lightly patted his son’s shoulder.

“Good, then.”

As Saadet quietly watched the slowly disappearing figure of Mengli, he exhaled a heavy breath.

“Father, you’ve grown so old.”

Before coming here, his once towering shoulders now seemed diminutive.

Marked by memories of his bent shoulder like a crescent moon, Saadet smirked as he opened his door.

“Father, don’t be mistaken. We are not the wolves of the plains.”

While running across the grasslands, he hadn’t noticed, but now he fully realized.

They were merely wolves trapped in an enclosure called the Ottomans.

And leashed wolves do not hesitate to bare their fangs, even at their own family.

After that, everything proceeded in an oddly slow manner, with Ottoman officials often acting uncooperatively.

After a long wait, as Yusuf observed the departing troops from afar, he finally spoke.

“Ali Pasha.”

“Yes, Padishah.”

“Do you know what happens when a wolf shows its belly while licking a human’s hand?”

“I’m unsure.”

Yusuf nonchalantly turned his body away as he replied.

“From that moment on, it becomes a dog.”

It seemed this incident would allow him to obtain a capable war dog.