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Scammers (2)

The Spanish envoy was going back and forth with the Ottomans, creating a bizarre atmosphere.

It was not like before, where signs of war were evident.

It hadn’t been long since they got beaten up; they weren’t clueless enough to engage the Ottomans again.

However, Spain was definitely preoccupied with other matters.

Murad’s army, which had stabilized the occupied territories, had begun advancing south, yet there was no news about it at all.

And the reason for this soon came to light.

– In the East, Spain and the Ottomans clashed, with the Ottomans emerging victorious.

This news came from a merchant who brought spices from Malacca or even further away, as pepper prices plummeted.

When people first heard this news, they were perplexed.

Spain, which had never even set foot in the East, suddenly popped up out of nowhere.

But as time passed and more traders returned, what seemed like mere rumors solidified into reality.

– A fleet that set sail from the New World has come to the East and attacked Manila.

– The Eastern fleet rescued Manila, which had been plundered. The subjects of Manila willingly entered under the Empire’s protection.

Although it’s called a rescue, it was basically about Spain snatching away the catch they had captured.

There had been peace negotiations, but due to the incident in which Yusuf attacked Rome, the Ottomans reacted with satisfaction.

On the other hand, Spain was thrown into chaos.

The fortunes of both sides couldn’t have been more opposite, yet there was nothing Spain could do.

Even if they protested formally, it would be ignored, and they had no means to pressure the Ottomans, be it through military or financial might.

If they had anything like that, they would have acted before the Barbary pirates turned the Caribbean into a lawless zone.

When Charles V retreated in shock after grandly pursuing this venture only to see it fail, news from the New World prompted him to storm out.

“Cortes has returned?”

“He should have arrived in Cadiz by now.”

“Call him here immediately!”

The news that Cortes had come to Cadiz, a southern port used for ships traveling to and from the New World, made Charles press for details.

What exactly had happened? What punishment should be dealt?

After a long wait filled with all kinds of thoughts, I finally caught sight of that irritating face.

“The Marquis of Oaxaca greets Your Majesty.”

Cortes, looking every bit the victor, took his bow, and Charles snorted mockingly.

“I already heard the news of your defeat. How bold of you to show your face.”

“I apologize.”

Though he wanted nothing more than to punish him immediately, that wasn’t the pressing matter at hand.

Suppressing his anger, Charles got to the point.

“Tell me in detail what transpired.”

“Over the seas, we successfully captured Manila as planned. That is, until fifty Ottoman ships showed up.”

At the mention of fifty ships, not only Charles, but the gathered nobles also gasped.

Even fighting with the same numbers would have favored the Ottomans; having more than double was a sure setup for defeat.

Of course, those who envied Cortes’s achievements lashed out at him for this outcome.

“Well, underpowered is one thing, but couldn’t you at least have fled?”

Easier said than done.

Manila is literally a rat trapped in a box. It’s an exquisite harbor, but geographically, it was surrounded.

They could yell that he didn’t know the basics, but Cortes chose silence.

As Cortes kept quiet, the nobles grew more boisterous, and Charles’s face became increasingly crumpled.

“Quiet! Who gave you permission to speak!”

As Charles glared with bloodshot eyes, the nobles fell silent.

Even a king who faced ridicule from continued failures was still a king.

After silencing the nobles, Charles gestured.

“Continue.”

“I did my utmost against the Ottomans, but as you know, I couldn’t escape defeat and became a prisoner.”

“But how did you manage to return?”

“Barbarossa, the enemy commander, requested a trade.”

Upon hearing the word ‘trade,’ Charles raised an eyebrow.

“A trade?”

“Yes. He offered to exchange items from the New World, such as treasures or new plants, for goods from the East.”

“That sounds suspicious.”

The trade itself wasn’t a bad idea.

Unlike the Ottomans, who sold coffee from the East, Spain had to buy items with gold and silver, so gaining something to sell sounded appealing.

However, the subject was the problem.

“Yusuf is the devil. He’s not to be trusted.”

Charles, who considered Yusuf the villain destroying Christianity, didn’t utter those words lightly, as no one had experienced Yusuf’s treachery more than him.

“I know. But he released me so I could return to the New World and even made sure I took back the losses. That is indeed true.”

“What he is thinking about this matter is the problem.”

Cortes had puzzled over this for the entire return journey.

How amazing could the goods from the New World possibly be?

If the plants eaten by the natives and treasures made by people who couldn’t even create steel were so valuable, they would have already been eyed.

After a long contemplation, Cortes reached a conclusion.

“Isn’t the time approaching for the infidel emperor to abdicate? I hear the Ottoman situation is chaotic. It will only get more so as time passes.”

As the most likely Mehmet remains silent, Kasim, building a major bridge connecting Buda and Pest, and Murad, waging conquest wars in Africa, are rapidly rising.

With no firstborn succession in the Ottomans, confusion would only deepen, as no one knows who the next Padishah will be.

“Is it safe to say the Ottomans find it uncomfortable to provoke us?”

“Yes. The suddenly growing Ottomans have no choice but to handle succession with utmost care, or they could risk splitting apart.”

“That sounds plausible.”

Of course, just because the Ottomans were in a vulnerable state, it didn’t mean they would actively interfere with the abdication.

While they weren’t afraid of plans failing,

‘The worst-case scenario would be abandoning the abdication.’

Did it make sense for Yusuf, nearly fifty, to still appear youthful?

If he doesn’t continue aging, it means I could be dealing with Yusuf for the rest of my life. That’s a definite no-go.

Better to head-bang myself to death.

“It means they’ve shown goodwill to ride out this dangerous period.”

Charles drummed his fingertips on the armrest.

The safest choice was simply not to trade. Then, at least, there would be no need for worry.

However, it would be a pity to pass up the lucrative Eastern trade.

After briefly contemplating, Charles arrived at a conclusion.

“Cortes, I won’t hold you responsible for this incident. And I will permit the trade.”

“Thank you.”

While Cortes’s supporters felt disappointed, they first calculated how they could step into the Eastern trade.

Just as Charles began to think all was over and started to leave, Cortes stopped him.

“There’s one more thing to convey, Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“The Eastern fleet surprisingly knew of our attack on Manila in advance.”

Though I only had a suspicion through the envoy, there was certainty in Cortes’s words.

“How did they know? Most of those gathered here were unaware of it.”

“According to the information gathered before we left, the one who leaked information to the Ottomans is Antonio de Mendoza. The viceroy of Nueva España is the culprit.”

With Cortes’s bombshell revelation, the palace erupted into chaos.

*

Yusuf poured freshly brewed coffee for himself.

There were very few people who received such treatment within the empire, and the gentle, wrinkled old man was one of those rare individuals.

“Hassan, you’ve lost quite a bit of weight. Are you taking care of your health?”

“I’ve been taking care of myself thanks to my son’s nagging. No need to worry.”

Yusuf poured some coffee for himself and joined Hassan, sipping and smiling.

“It’s been a long time since the three of us have gathered like this. It seems our useless subordinates haven’t been showing their faces.”

“Isn’t it often that I meet with the Padishah? It’s just that Hassan hasn’t been showing his face.”

The bond they forged during their time as struggling princes, long since passed, was stronger than anything else.

Hassan brushed off Yusuf’s concerned remarks with a smile, and Yusuf replied with a serious face.

“So, is the bridge you’re constructing, while keeping a low profile, progressing well?”

“Perhaps due to the care of Allah and the Padishah, it’s being constructed smoothly. I assure you it will be completed when the Padishah is in place.”

“There’s no need to overexert yourself.”

It’s an 800m long bridge connecting the Bosporus Strait.

Comparable in length to the submerged bridge on the Han River, succeeding in construction with the technology of this era is an impressive feat in itself.

“It’s important to build it strongly enough to withstand decades. Think of it as a bridge that will connect the empire for hundreds of years.”

The bridge itself holds value, but it also symbolizes the connection between Europe and Asia.

Even in modern times, there are cathedrals taking over a century to build; a bridge of such importance shouldn’t be hastily constructed.

Hassan bowed his head at Yusuf’s resolute words.

“I will do my utmost to ensure it’s as sturdy as possible, even if it takes time.”

“Good. Until it’s complete, you must stay alive, so if your health isn’t good, let your son take over. I’ve heard he’s grown quite splendidly, just like his father.”

“Would only the sons of princes or the Grand Vizier be capable?”

While modestly mentioning the son of Shamsi, who works for the Beylerbey in Cairo, he couldn’t hide his hidden pride.

They shared light-hearted conversation, but soon transitioned to various matters of the empire.

“How are the food prices these days?”

“The price of food almost skyrocketed due to exports to Africa, but thanks to a bountiful harvest, the rise was minimal. It’s thanks to the foresight of the Padishah, who produced fertilizers.”

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the three main elements of fertilizers; the most challenging to supplement is phosphorus.

With those filled with phosphorite fertilizer, it’s no wonder a bountiful harvest occurred.

“That’s a relief. Keep a watchful eye on the situation. As Murad expands territories, the food situation will worsen. And once Africa becomes somewhat self-sufficient, it’ll send any surplus food into the Arabian Peninsula.”

In modern times, this land holds Saudi Arabia, but due to its harsh conditions and the fierce Bedouins, it hasn’t been officially incorporated into the empire.

No matter how rich the land may be in oil, there’s no need to take in land that can’t be used immediately.

Yet if there’s an excess of food, it might be worth reaching out.

“I will keep a close watch. And Spain is trying to identify the information provider on their side.”

“They’re in quite a hassle looking for someone that doesn’t exist.”

They seemed very eager to determine whether the true viceroy leaked the information.

It was blatantly obvious how hard they were scratching at the surfaces.

“If they want it that badly, I’ll have to give them the answer.”

Yusuf flashed a mischievous smile.

While the Spanish worked tirelessly to find dirt on the viceroy, the Ottomans officially announced:

– Our empire has no interest in knowing who the viceroy of Nueva España is! He never provided us any information, nor do we have a reason to collude with that sort of person! If you continue to spread slander and shake our empire, we will not forgive you!

They were not lying.

They simply denied it rather vehemently.

Shortly thereafter, the viceroy, who lamented his innocence, was dismissed, and Cortes ascended to the position of viceroy.

It was the moment another victim was created due to a scam.

*

The maritime commissioner of Guangzhou, responsible for coastal defense, tribute trade, and diplomatic affairs, welcomed the huge man with a red beard.

“Welcome, Redbeard. I have long heard of your reputation from the previous maritime commissioner.”

The man known as Uruji, bearing the nickname Barbarossa, was recognized in the Ming Dynasty as the Redbeard Prince.

It was a variation of Guan Yu’s nickname from the Three Kingdoms, and it shows how impressively he was viewed in his efforts against pirates.

“I’m glad to meet you as well.”

The two shook hands firmly, and after a brief exchange through an interpreter, they got straight to the main topic.

“I hear you’ve captured Manila.”

“It was unavoidable. They are people who share roots with Portugal. They’re no different from pirates.”

Remembering how much trouble they had suffered at the hands of pirates due to Portugal, the maritime commissioner frowned.

“If they had occupied it, Ming merchants would have faced considerable inconveniences. However, our empire intends to guarantee trade for Ming merchants just as before.”

Guangzhou is a place where trade occurs freely despite the ban on trade.

As such, the trading point of Manila was essential, and if the Ottomans provided assurance, there was no reason to cause trouble.

“Given our past relationship with the Ottomans, I will trust you this once.”

“You won’t be disappointed. But more importantly, have you heard that your emperor’s fleet sent by you was attacked and slaughtered?”

“I am aware. His Majesty was furious and commanded us to verify if it’s true.”

“Given the attack on Manila, there’s no room for doubt.”

It would be far too coincidental to chalk it up to mere chance.

“So what is it you wish to say?”

“I have a way for you to catch the emperor’s eye.”

“Let me hear it.”

Relaxing over a bitter cup of tea, Uruji began to speak, heating the maritime commissioner’s blood.

“In the near future, their ships will be coming to Manila for trade. Why not attack them on their way back and establish the emperor’s dignity?”

Uruji wore a deep smile.