Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 1084: Tosagupeng (14)

“But why south?”

Ahmad’s strategist, who noticed Ahmad’s wavering mind, asked a question to the English military staff.

“Ahmad, your base is in Amasia. Why go somewhere with no foundation and start from scratch? And look at the location of Amasia. It’s opposite Antalya from Korkud. Even if Selim becomes sultan, wouldn’t he be able to strike both at the same time? Then the rear will open right away.

Everyone belonging to Ahmad nodded at the teacher’s point. After hearing the criticism, the English military staff nodded calmly.

“You have a valid point. But if Selim becomes sultan, it would be a fatal mistake to split between the two sides.”

“Fatal mistake?”

“The number of troops that can be mobilized will be multiplied. In that case, we can only keep one side in check and attack the other.”

“Do you mean that each person will be destroyed?”

“That’s right.”

At the words of England’s staff, Ahmad and his staff looked at the map once again.

“Indeed…”

Even if Ahmad and Korkud returned to their base and regained their strength, it was difficult to deal with Selim, who had taken control of the entire Ottoman Empire. On the other hand, although it may be impossible for Selim to attack both at the same time, each individual attack group will be able to secure sufficient power. The English military staff, who confirmed the reactions of Ahmad’s brains and advisors, continued.

“Once we establish ourselves in the south of Korkud’s base, Ahmad and Korkud will be able to defend each other. Even if Selim became a sultan, this would be beyond his power. If you use this well, you can get concessions from Selim.”

“So where would you like us to be based?”

In response to Ahmad’s question, the English military staff pointed to a place on the map with a pointer.

“This is Adana.”

“Adanara…”

After confirming Adana’s location, Ahmad and his advisors all nodded.

“It’s appropriate.”

“It seems appropriate.”

Adana’s location seemed truly appropriate. It was located neither too far nor too close to Antalya, Korkud’s base. It was also reasonably far from Mersin, the largest port nearby, and there was a highland area behind it.

To summarize, it was a city that could secure time to prepare for attacks from the sea and from behind.

“Hmm…”

Ahmad, who was thinking while looking at the map, gave an order to the guides.

“Send someone to Korkud. Korkud will accept the offer.”

“yes.”

The next day, a messenger who had memorized Ahmad’s proposal headed to the Korkud camp. And two days later, the messenger who went to Korkud’s camp returned with the messenger sent by Korkud. After politely bowing to Ahmad, the messenger of Korkud discussed his business.

“My lord sends this message to Ahmad. ‘I heard your suggestion well. I think it’s a good offer.’”

The emissary of Korkud conveyed Korkud’s demands. Afterwards, Korkud’s and Ahmad’s armies continued to launch small-scale attacks against Selim’s army. Taking advantage of the opportunity for Selim’s army to defend itself against attacks coming from both sides, the messengers of Korkud and Ahmad busily went back and forth between the opposing camps to coordinate. The English commander, who was looking at this scene, asked the staff next to him.

“As far as I know, they all know the alphabet, so why do they memorize everything? “If I make even the slightest mistake, the problem will become even bigger, right?”

The staff immediately answered the commander’s question.

“This is probably in case we are caught by Selim’s army in the middle. “The idea is to avoid getting things wrong by holding on to unnecessary documents.”

“Then the guard’s job is not just a simple guard?”

“Maybe so.”

As the English army suspected, some of the duties of the soldiers guarding the lions were related to lions.

-If escape is impossible, dispose of the lion.

This was one of the traditional duties of the lion guard. And as firearms became more common, it was a mission that saw the clearest results. When the worst happened, all you had to do was put it on the lion’s head and pull the trigger.

And the lion also knew this well. Coordination between the two sides progressed quickly and an agreement was reached the day before the Sabbath of the week. After a surprisingly peaceful Sabbath, on the first day of the new week,

the Korkud army rained down unprecedented bombardment on the Selim army’s camp. While the Selim army was trapped in the Selim army’s position under the shelling of the Korkud army, Ahmad’s army escaped Bolu and began to move south. Ahmad’s army, which bypassed the Korkud army’s position amidst the heavy security of the Korkud army, began to quickly run south. As the Ahmad Army withdrew, the Korkud Army also quickly began to retreat.

* * *

“The bolu is empty!”

“Korkud forces have begun retreat!”

“joy!”

Selim snorted after receiving the report brought by the soldiers.

“Ahmad played a trick!”

Selim immediately realized who was leading this movement. The first to move in the competition was Korkud. However, Korkud was a person who loved reading and thinking. Thanks to this, Korkud was the first to experience failure. On the other hand, Ahmad, as Bayezid’s eldest son, was a person who had learned royal studies. To put it another way, he was a political and cunning person.

Therefore, it was Ahmad who strengthened his power and survived despite all kinds of criticism.

“Are you planning on running away and holding on?”

Selim analyzed Ahmad’s intentions.

-Looking at the direction Ahmad is moving now, it is clear that Amasya has given up.

-If Ahmad moves as he is now, it is certain that he is heading south.

“…Then I think I will continue to hold hands with Korkud. “It is an Ahmad-like judgment.”

Selim shared his thoughts with his advisors. After hearing Selim’s thoughts, the advisors asked him:

“Do you wish me to form a pursuit party immediately?”

“No, not now.”

Selim clearly explained his intentions to his advisors.

“Right now, entering Konstantiniye is the priority. “The first thing to do is to clear away the noisy obstacles in Konstantinye.”

The ‘obstacle’ that Selim was talking about was the Janissaries. The staff, who understood Selim’s intentions, responded immediately.

“We will move towards Konstantinye immediately.”

“They may have laid thorns, so prepare thoroughly.”

“yes.”

* * *

Ahmad’s withdrawal from Bolu opened the road to Konstantiniye. Selim’s army, having secured the route of advance, quickly moved towards Konstantinye. As Selim’s army began to move towards Constantiniye, the French-Italian-Portuguese army occupying Gebze also responded. The French, Italian, and Portuguese troops stationed in Gebze began to advance east and prepared to greet the Selim army advancing west.

The armies of both sides joined in Izmit and began moving towards Istanbul. After receiving the report, the Italian, Portuguese and French fleets moved quickly. A large transport fleet was dispatched to enable the ground forces to cross the Bosphorus Strait, and at the same time, a messenger was sent to warn the English and Habsburg fleets that were languishing nearby.

-Retreat from the Bosphorus Strait and the Sea of Marmara, as well as from the eastern side of the Gallipoli Peninsula.

-If they remain, we will do our best to sink them!

“Do you guys want war?”

The admirals of the English and Habsburg fleets who received the warning protested fiercely, but the messengers who delivered the warning responded with a calm expression.

“There’s nothing we can’t do, right?”

“Aye…”

The English and Habsburg admirals could only groan and gnash their teeth at the messenger’s reply. It was a fleet united by three countries boasting powerful naval powers. It was obvious that if a real battle were to take place, it would be the English and Habsburg fleets that would be destroyed.

“I will inform the home country!”

“Please take care of that, but please leave immediately.”

“Ugh!”

In the end, the admirals of the English and Habsburg fleets, who passed the Gallipoli peninsula and retreated to the Aegean Sea, sent reports to their home country. England and Habsburg, who confirmed the reports sent by the admirals, sent messengers to France, Italy and Portugal to protest.

The diplomatic officials of the three countries who received the protest filled with fierce criticism responded with a calm expression.

“It’s a reasonable choice to prevent unnecessary sacrifices, but is there any problem?”

“Do we want war?”

“If you want, let’s do it. “Shall we take off other people’s flags and fight under the proper flag?”

“Keuung……”

France, which can be said to be the strongest in Europe in terms of land power, was Italy and Portugal in terms of sea power. In the end, the lions of England and Habsburg had no choice but to take a step back.

“The problem is the period. How long will you block it? “If trade stops, many merchants will suffer.”

Representatives from the three countries responded immediately to the questions from England and Habsburg envoys.

“Until a new sultan of the Ottomans is appointed.”

“Hmm…”

“So, I hope you guys can help me. The longer it takes, the more it all loses, right?’

“Keuung……”

The envoys of England and Habsburg could only groan at the seemingly virtuous request. Eventually, the English and Habsburg fleets withdrew to the west of the Gallipoli peninsula and stopped interfering with the French, Italian, and Portuguese fleets.

* * *

Once the interference from the Habsburg and English fleets ceased, the combined French-Italian-Portuguese fleet was able to demonstrate its original capabilities to the fullest. The fleet standing in the southern port of Konstantinye poured artillery fire at the Janissaries’ positions curled up in Konstantinye. At the same time, a large-scale transport fleet constantly transported Selim and the allied forces of the three countries to and from the Bosphorus Strait.

Another convoy crossed Theodosius’ Wall and brought supplies to the advancing ground forces. The Janissary commanders, who were being beaten like crazy on the sea and on the ground, urgently requested support from the Habsburg army. However, the Habsburg military commander who received the request rejected the request.

“I’m sorry, but we don’t have the resources either.”

“I can’t believe I don’t have the energy! “The land route is not open!”

“There are a lot of bandits these days…”

“Huh!”

The Janissary messenger, who heard the word ‘bandit’, looked dumbfounded.

“Hold on just a little longer. “I will help you as soon as I can.”

“Please help me.”

However, when the Janissaries’ messenger returned, the Habsburg army had retreated far away.

“Mean, mean, mean! “Cowardly, cowardly, cowardly!”

Seeing the Habsburg army retreating far away, the Janissary lion screamed to the sky.

* * *

From the moment they confirmed the Habsburg army’s retreat, the morale of the Janissaries plummeted.

“I can’t help it now.”

“How can this be…”

The devastated commanders soon ordered a halt to the battle and raised a white flag. As the white flag was raised at the headquarters, the fighting Janissaries put down their weapons one by one and raised their hands. When Janissary resistance ceased, Selim entered Constantine. The Janissary commanders who were taken by the French, Italian, and Portuguese troops bowed to Selim.

“Please forgive the disloyalty of your beliefs.”

“Please have mercy…”

Selim looked at the commander begging for mercy and ordered with a cold expression.

“I don’t need a dog that bites its owner, let alone choosing an owner.”