Chapter 3 Authority

In Machiavelli's view, the Ottoman Empire was difficult to conquer, but easy to rule.

Selim said he really wanted to give him a big bag.

Machiavelli lived in the era when the Ottoman Empire was on the rise. Both Bayezid II and Selim I were wise rulers. In the empire under their rule, the Sultan had the final say.

The fact that later jurists had the right to depose the Sultan was simply a provocation to Allah. After all, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire was at least the shadow of Allah.

However, the autocratic system could not be maintained forever. The dynastic cycle law in the East is the best example.

But the Ottoman Empire was different from the East. It never completely established a complete national governance system. The main function of the government was military service, and even public services and tax collection could be outsourced.

But why did the Ottoman Empire never have a situation where the emperor took turns?

Selim was not a historian, but he understood that the Ottoman Empire had never had people like "Kings, princes, generals, and ministers, are they of the same kind?" and "He can replace them."

Not only the Ottoman Empire, but the entire West has basically not had an emperor from a poor background since the complete collapse of Rome.

As for the Mamluks, this is a class and cannot be generalized.

In other words, no one thinks in this direction, so the situation in the whole of Europe can be imagined.

In fact, Selim can also barely explain it.

After all, under the instigation of religion, the common people all hold the idea of ​​suffering in this life and going to heaven after death. How could there be a spiritual guy like Bongo?

In the Ottoman Empire, Islamic jurists headed by the Grand Mufti certainly restricted the power of the Sultan in the later period of the empire, but also ensured that the people of the empire believed that only the descendants of Osman were the Sultan.

Of course, being a Sultan also has a price.

Since Suleiman the Magnificent, the power of the Sultan has been divided by the powerful bureaucratic group and the Ulema, and his dignity has been trampled on.

But at least, he is still a Sultan after all. Wingdings: ♦︎♦︎⬧︎♦︎◆︎⌧︎♦︎♦︎□︎❍︎

The first thing Selim had to do was to let these parasites know who was the master of the empire. Do you really think that the Sultan was born to be killed by you?

Selim stretched his body and heard Paul's voice from outside the door: "Your Majesty, it's time for breakfast." "Bring it in, Paul," Selim replied lazily.

The Ottoman Empire's breakfast was quite rich, thanks to the vast territory of the empire.

Greece and the Bursa region in the south of Marmara provided wheat for the court;

The Balkans, Wallachia and Moldova provided sheep;

Egypt and Bulgaria provided rice; Crimea provided butter, and sugar came from Egypt and Cyprus.

In terms of quality of life, the Sultan of the Great Sarakyrio Palace was far better than the French king who urinated and defecated anywhere and shared the toilet and dining room.

However, Selim was not used to the food of the empire at all, let alone eating twice a day.

So since Selim gained the trust of Hamid I, his diet was all prepared by himself, and the Sultan allocated funds.

For example, the food in front of him was made by the imperial chef under the training of Selim. Although it was not as good as the Republic, it was still okay.

After breakfast, Selim went to the gate to prepare for the Diwan meeting, or, my morning court, Selim thought with a bit of evil taste, and asked Paul to pack four breakfasts to go there.

The sky was just slightly bright at this time. Yes, you read it right.

Selim innovated the time of the Diwan meeting and adjusted it to six o'clock in the morning. The ministers were waiting in front of the palace under the leadership of Yusuf Pasha. They had been to the Hagia Sophia Mosque an hour ago for morning prayer.

As for whether the ministers would have complaints, if they want to make the country better, they have to inspire their spirit. Mass entrepreneurship and mass innovation, right?

Constantinie in February was still a little cold. The Pashas shivered in the cold wind and rushed to the palace gate without even having breakfast.

The guards escorted the Pashas into the second courtyard of Topkapi Palace. The meeting room in the northwest corner was where the Diwan meeting was held today.

Entering the hall, Selim took the lead and sat under the golden-framed window. The Grand Vizier and the Grand Mufti sat on the left and right of the Sultan, followed by Hassan Pasha and Ali Pasha, who represented the Guards. (っ◔◡◔)っ

The breakfast that Selim asked Paul to pack was placed on the table of the four people. As for the other Pashas, ​​they naturally sat on the chairs and watched.

"My dear ministers, I believe Yusuf Pasha has mentioned the main content of today to you, right?" Selim asked casually. "Ali Pasha, please express your opinion first."

Ali Pasha is an Albanian, but he is already a Muslim. After all, in the Ottoman Empire, it is normal for people to believe in God if they want to move up, right?

"Your Majesty, I think it is not suitable for us to go to war with the Russians now. You know that the Sipahi cavalry is not very capable of serving as the vanguard of the empire, and the Guards have not yet been fully rested."

Ali Pasha carefully chose his words and gave Selim an answer that he thought was satisfactory.

"Ali Pasha, what are you talking about? Do you want those pagans to trample on the face of Sultan Hamid? How can the empire have a general like you?"

Aladdin Pasha, the general of the Guards who came from the same origin as Ali Pasha, immediately stood up to refute.

Ali Pasha, who was complacent, was suddenly confused and complained in his heart: "Hassan stood up, I admit it, I can understand Yusuf, even the Grand Mufti can still accept it, but what's wrong with you kid?"

No need to think too much, this is the spy that Selim planted in the army. For Aladdin Pasha, although Ali Pasha promoted him, people also need to improve, right?

So it is understandable that Ali Pasha surrendered to the Sultan. Aladdin Pasha kept comforting himself in his heart and ignored Ali Pasha's murderous eyes.

Aladdin can choose to ignore it, but Ali can't. Hassan and Yusuf, the two old guys, must support the Sultan.

The Grand Mufti is expected to remain neutral. After all, the Sultan wants to make money from him in the war.

As expected, Yusuf spoke up: "Ali, is His Majesty's order so difficult for you?"

Hassan on the side was more direct: "You kid, do it if you can, if you can't, let Aladdin do it. His Majesty's treasury can't support idle people like you."

Aladdin Pasha on the side was excited when he heard it, and his mind suddenly emerged with his domineering appearance as the commander of the Guards.

However, Selim did not intend to change people. If he changed people, would Aladdin be the only one in power? Then why did he bother to make friends with him before? Selim was not idle.

"Okay, Ali, I know your concerns, but I still hope you can prepare an army of 200,000 people before August, okay?

As for military supplies, the Grand Vizier and the Grand Mufti will help you solve it. I believe you can do it."

Selim said gently.

The Grand Vizier and Grand Mufti bowed respectfully and said in unison: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Ali also said with a bitter face, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Ali, there is one more thing. From today on, I will coordinate the establishment of the Imperial General Staff Headquarters. I have made it clear to the generals of the Guards that there will be a unified examination in three days."

Selim dropped another bombshell.

"Examination?" Ali had heard that the Sultan had made many suggestions to Hamid I, and the current examination was naturally among them. He just didn't expect the Sultan to execute it so quickly.

"But it doesn't matter. The Empire's army does need to be reorganized. A bunch of Orthodox Christians are mixed in the army of Allah. Isn't this ironic?"

Ali replied after thinking for a while.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will follow your will."

"As for the upcoming war with the Russians.

Well, Grand Mufti, you will be responsible for the preparation of supplies, Yusuf, you will handle the transportation of supplies, and I will personally lead the army."

After Selim determined the personnel arrangements for this war, he announced the dissolution of the meeting, and many pashas left one by one.

Selim returned to his bedroom and prepared to write a letter to Sophia.

No surprise, although Selim was a time traveler, he had not seen the power of the First Industrial Revolution with his own eyes, so he conducted an investigation three years ago, and the location was naturally Britain.

As for why Britain would receive a pagan, are you kidding? France, the filial son of Catholicism, can do it, but Britain, the pioneer of reform, can't do it?

After Hamid I sent an edict, the Ottoman Empire officials immediately connected with Britain, and Selim, who was in the name of a large import business, easily landed in London.

Under pressure from public opinion, George III really couldn't receive him lavishly, but it was still necessary to arrange a family dinner for the future Sultan.

It was also at this family dinner that Selim saw the treasures of George III, who was later called a daughter slave. What amazed Selim the most was the second princess, Sophia. Although she was only sixteen years old, she was already a beauty.

While Selim was recalling his first meeting with Sophia, he was thinking that if he really kidnapped this girl in the future, George III would go crazy on the spot. It was outrageous to think that a British princess would marry an Ottoman sultan.

The letter in his hand had been written. Selim called Paul and asked him to pass it to the Imperial Embassy in London so that Sophia could pick it up.

He walked slowly to the balcony. The Golden Horn was shining in the sunset. The jumping sea surface was dyed into jumping gold by the sun. Three-masted square ships were sailing on the sea like seagulls. That was Hassan Pasha training the navy.

In the distance, a building with a crescent moon was shining slightly. That was the Royal Academy of Sciences of the Ottoman Empire.

Selim felt the sea breeze and thought of the Ottoman Empire in the original time and space, and couldn't help but smile.

Under his influence, Hamid I established many institutions in advance and reorganized the country, which made the empire much stronger than the original time and space, and also made Selim more confident about the future.

Selim firmly believed that he would recast the Ottoman ring, just like every sultan who had established great achievements, the crescent sword had already been unsheathed.

This chapter partially explains the butterfly effect brought by Selim, which can be regarded as a little golden finger of the protagonist.