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# Chapter 20. Internal Cleanup (2)

The intestines and blood spilled from the livestock stained the ground a deep red, and an overwhelmingly thick smell of blood invaded the nostrils.

Perhaps it was from seeing the blood, but the Çepahe gripping the dripping sword had a fierce bloodlust dancing in their eyes.

The scene was so imposing that the hundreds of onlookers hardly dared to breathe, yet Yusuf smiled.

“I must put on a composed front to buy some time for thought.”

No matter how much the target was an animal, witnessing a frenzied slaughter up close was shocking in its own right.

However, I had faced dizzying experiences far worse than this numerous times before.

With my mind quickly settling, Yusuf began to think fast.

This was far too bold an action merely to put off overwhelming scenes of shock.

After pondering, Yusuf could easily discern the reason.

“Smart. Very smart.”

To an outsider, it might seem like mere venting of anger, but what Burka truly aimed for was the support policies extending all the way to Trabzon.

It was a bold move that disregarded the recipients completely, yet the act of slaughtering animals gave a genuine impression of attempting to clear misunderstandings.

“If they maintain the direction of excluding Trabzon even after going this far, there will be chaos.”

If considered merely a petty move, it would be acceptable, but discontent directed at Burka would undoubtedly turn towards me.

For Burka, managing to receive support from Trabzon would minimize defectors, and even if denied, it would serve to alleviate dissatisfaction.

In fact, the latter case would likely strengthen the ties of the faction.

Understanding Burka’s intentions allowed Yusuf to genuinely smile.

“Burka Sobasi, what an interesting play you’ve made!”

Burka raised one eyebrow.

He hadn’t anticipated that Yusuf would pierce through the reasoning so quickly.

“Could it be that even the support policies originated from the Prince’s mind?”

While it was said to be a policy thought up by the prince, hardly anyone truly believed it.

Such policies weren’t the sort that could be simply crafted by being clever.

Burka had thought it was a policy created by the Pasha next to Yusuf, but it seemed a reassessment was in order.

“It is indeed surprising, but it’s not a game that can be easily overturned.”

Burka feigned perplexity and asked, “What are you talking about? More importantly, have the misunderstandings been resolved?”

Yusuf nodded.

In any case, he had only one choice.

“While I didn’t exclude Trabzon because of the misunderstanding, since you’ve gone to such lengths, I will take on the burden and include Trabzon in the scope of the policy.”

“Thank you very much.”

Burka expressed his gratitude with a smiling face, but he still had more to say.

Having accommodated his request, it wouldn’t do to let him go just like that.

“However, you mentioned wanting to clear misunderstandings, but I assume you don’t plan on just taking the captured livestock with you?”

Hand it over, you rascal.

Seeing his face contorted in despair made Yusuf chuckle.

***

A spontaneous festival erupted in the castle.

Yusuf had distributed the meat he received to the residents of Trabzon.

It wasn’t money, and there was no way to keep all that meat, after all.

“Originally, it’s best to bask in the glory using someone else’s money.”

Watching Burka’s expression sour while the people cheered for Yusuf was quite amusing.

After all, Muslims wouldn’t be able to eat the meat slaughtered in that manner.

Only meat slaughtered according to the Davihah method was recognized as halal food.

“Under emergency conditions, it wouldn’t matter, but this isn’t one of those cases.”

To be precise, the ruthless slaughter conducted by Burka could also pose a problem, but he wielded enough power that it wouldn’t harm him in the slightest.

Since most of the residents were Christians, it was perfect for pretense in their eating habits.

As Şemsiy, who entered the office with Yusuf, opened her mouth.

“Good job.”

“Good? It was just a mutual exchange of blows, really.”

Burka barely retained his power by including Trabzon in the policy scope, while Yusuf diminished his rival’s resources and gained the residents’ favor within the castle as a bonus.

That was about the gist of it.

“That’s sufficient. Time isn’t on their side anyway. Even though you’ve come up with a strategy to maintain your power, it’s limited to Trabzon.”

The more those receiving support showed favor toward Yusuf, the less likely other Sobasi could carelessly side with Burka.

Burka would certainly make efforts to avoid isolation, but that wouldn’t be an easy task.

“Therefore, let’s not be hasty.”

“I’m not rash enough to meddle with inheritance issues whimsically.”

This was a problem that one or two might come to face on a moonless night.

“First, we need to select those among the beneficiaries who have high loyalty and start forming the elite guard. The current escort isn’t enough.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

With the five Circassians as personal guards and the defensive troops spread throughout the castle, the former were few in number while the latter lacked trust.

It was necessary to establish a minimum elite guard of around 50 men to ensure safety.

Later on, when Has returns to normal, he would need to train a cavalry of 20 according to Ottoman law.

“For now, both Burka and I need to catch our breath.”

“And regarding the inheritance issue, unlike this policy, it must not be publicly announced.”

“I’m thinking of starting it off with rumors, for now.”

The inheritance of the land held by the Çepahe varied depending on whether one perished in battle or died of natural causes.

If a person owning land generating 20,000 axit dies in battle, that land is divided to his three sons as 6,000, 5,000, and 4,000 annually.

In the case of natural death, the land yielding 5,000 and 4,000 axit would pass to two sons.

No matter how many sons there were, the maximum inheritance could only go to three, which provided a loophole.

“While they might begrudgingly accept it before rumors spread, if the opportunity to inherit arises, things will be different.”

Inheritance disputes would erupt and those trying to appear favorable to him would surely emerge.

Once that kind of situation unfolded, no matter how high and mighty the Çepahe were, they would have to bow their heads.

To stop the family quarrel from igniting, there was no other way.

“I still hope to have this settled before the end of the year.”

There were about four months left in the year, so it wasn’t an abundant amount of time.

“Since it’s been about three months since I became Yusuf, that doesn’t seem like such a short time, though.”

This world offered no room for complacency whatsoever.

However, if internal arrangement succeeded, I could at least live comfortably for two years.

“Then there’s the problem of fighting with Ismail for the hair on my head.”

To avoid losing his hair against Ismail, who was currently riding high on his momentum, I had to gather forces to resist together.

Typically, there were between 1,000 to 3,000 Çepahe per mountain, and Trabzon’s mountain had about 2,500.

However, not all of them could be mobilized for battle, and ten percent had to stay behind to collect taxes.

“Even 20,000 outnumbering would be tremendous, but by comparison to the numbers led by Ismail, it would be pathetically insufficient.”

In 1500, when Ismail was 14, he led an army of 7,000.

After the Safavid Dynasty commenced in 1501, that number would only increase, so around 2,000 soldiers were bound to hop on the Allah Express in an instant.

Of course, I had to pull in forces to counter him, and considering that, even two years would pass in a frenzy just to keep my life safe.

There was a reason to say it needed to be wrapped up this year.

“The future is known only to Allah, so I can’t be certain, but I will do my best.”

“Trust in the Pasha.”

No matter how much Burka struggled, internal organization was only a matter of time.

***

As Yusuf and Burka took a breather, the ominous atmosphere enveloping Trabzon quickly dissipated.

With the power struggle among the authorities coming to an end, the focus shifted back to barley tea, and they began distributing it to the children at the free meal center.

Though it had only been a month since the store was completed, it was enough to spread through word of mouth.

“Have you heard? The Reanne baby has been reportedly very sick lately.”

“I’ve heard. Selene’s baby, who died years ago, was the same way.”

“I thought I’d better be safe since it’s a child, so I asked for barley water for about two weeks, and apparently, the baby got better.”

“Really?!”

“It’s definitely true, that’s why parents of sick children have been flocking to the free meal center these days.”

Barley-infused water wasn’t a cure, but it certainly helped more than drinking contaminated water.

As news spread of its effectiveness, when the store opened, parents with children flooded in.

The specially made huge pots steamed with hot vapor, and the appropriately brewed barley tea was ladled out and cooled in wooden barrels.

Once it cooled enough to take away, it was sold to the waiting patrons.

Amidst the busy store, Aishe was sweating profusely, scuttling about.

“What’s so great that you’re grinning like that?”

“You’re here?”

Despite the grumpy words, Aishe welcomed him with a bright smile, and Yusuf led her out into the hot air outside the store.

“I didn’t send you out to run around like this, you know.”

“I can’t afford to be lax with the responsibilities entrusted to me by the prince.”

“Clearly, it looks like it would run just fine without you.”

It was dangerous due to the fire, but the work itself wasn’t difficult enough to cause any problems.

The only problems would involve embezzlement, but it wasn’t a heavily profitable business, so there wasn’t much money to steal.

While Burka wouldn’t be foolish enough to attempt such brazen acts in a store owned by a prince.

“Didn’t the prince say that we should keep expanding the store?”

“That’s true.”

One store simply couldn’t adequately serve Trabzon, which had nearly ten thousand residents, and with thoughts of extending to other cities, it practically had to be a franchise endeavor.

Right now, it was in the stage of accumulating know-how.

“I need to personally check to see what problems might arise, right?”

“…You wouldn’t want to listen to my advice, would you? Keep in mind that I paid a high price to acquire you. If you get hurt, don’t think I’ll let you off easy.”

Under Yusuf’s stern warning, Aishe beamed a radiant smile.

“Every time I hear that, I imagine the slave trader would weep blood if he heard it.”

“That’s because you can’t even properly educate your slaves.”

“As per the prince’s orders, I will be cautious.”

Aishe, who had given a firm answer, seemed to remember something and continued.

“Speaking of which, Lady Fatima asked every day what the prince drinks.”

“…And?”

I felt a chill for some reason, and that feeling was right on the mark.

“When I told her you boil the roasted barley until it turns black, she insisted on taking it away.”

…Mother?

My one source of vitality in life was on the verge of being seized.

***

Time passed like the wind.

The dry, hot summer faded away, giving way to a season of cool weather and frequent rains.

Farmers busily sowed winter wheat in such a season.

For several months, the uneasy coexistence of the two powers continued, and no one thought this peace would endure for long.

The clumsily woven peace was destined to meet its end, and Yusuf finally unsheathed the sword he had been holding back.

Rumors that the prince was involved in the inheritance of the Çepahe spread swiftly across Trabzon’s mountains.

The brotherly bond one would expect to see only in the Ottoman royal court began to stir.