1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 95 Roar from Hell

Urban, a Hungarian, was one of the top gunsmiths in the mid-15th century and dedicated his life to building the most majestic cannon the world had ever seen.

In the original time and space, Urban traveled from Hungary to Constantinople and asked to cast a giant cannon for Constantine XI to realize his own ideals and ambitions.

Constantine XI was very interested in Urban's proposal, but the empty treasury was not enough to support the expensive cannon project, so he had to reject it regretfully.

Despite this, Constantine XI offered Urban a small reward in the hope that he would stay.

Urban agreed and used the limited resources at hand to forge several small cannons for the empire.

Later, Constantine XI's financial situation became even more difficult, and he could not even pay a meager salary.

Urban, who had not received his salary for two months, did not make a fuss. He quietly cast the last cannon. Then, without saying a word, he packed his bags and went directly to Edirne to join Muhammad II.

Here, he was warmly received by Mehmed II, who gave him fine clothes and delicious food, and provided him with all the materials needed to cast a huge cannon.

The Ottoman Empire was vast and rich in resources. Sultan Mehmed II obtained cannonballs from the Black Sea, saltpeter from Belgrade, sulfur from Van, bronze from Kastamonu, and tin and other metals from overseas trade.

These raw materials were distributed and transported through the Ottoman Empire's land transportation network consisting of countless carts and camels, which enabled the materials from all over the country to be quickly coordinated and allocated, fully demonstrating the superiority of the Ottoman system.

In the Ottoman court, Urban formulated a crazy plan to cast a giant cannon like a madman, and with the rigor of a senior engineer, he ensured that the plan was carried out step by step and finally achieved success.

The first huge cannon cast by Urban for Mehmed II was placed on the Cutthroat Fort. With just one shot, a Genoese galley that broke in by force was destroyed in the sea.

Before this, Isaac had sent people to look for the engineer, but he never found him.

There is no record in history books about Urban's life before he arrived in Constantinople. It is indeed very difficult to find him in the vast crowd based on a name that is not sure whether it is true or false.

Fortunately, this mysterious Hungarian came to Constantinople just like in the original time and space and sold his technology to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, this is all the supplies that Counselor Urban needs."

In the garden of the Grand Palace, a servant handed Isaac a piece of paper covered with all kinds of scribbles written in clumsy Greek.

"Copper, tin, lead, saltpeter, hardwood..."

Isaac squinted his eyes and carefully deciphered Urban’s handwriting.

"Go find Sfrangis, and write to Prime Minister Isult of Bilinchi and Speaker Martir of Cyprus, asking them to cooperate in purchasing raw materials."

After meeting Urban, Isaac immediately offered him a high salary and rewarded him with a mansion in Constantinople and Birinci.

Although the Urban Cannon has powerful firepower and great destructive power, it is very heavy. It may be effective in siege warfare, but it is very useless in defending a city.

Therefore, Isaac asked Urban to abandon the plan for giant cannons and make the cannons lighter and more convenient so that they can be easily transported.

There were many different types of artillery in those days, and not all of them were as powerful and bulky as the Ghent Cannon or the Urban Cannon. There were also quite a few light artillery pieces.

This type of artillery can be disassembled into several sections, loaded and transported separately, and then assembled after arriving at the designated location, thus saving time.

Sultan Murad II was very fond of this long-barreled light artillery that could be carried by the army, and he even made special ox carts for assembling artillery.

In a sense, this type of assembled artillery requires more sophisticated skills from the gunsmith than a reckless cannon. At least Isaac's old acquaintance Martinez could not make it.

As for the giant cannon that Urban had been dreaming of, that would have to wait until later.

"and many more."

After thinking for a while, Isaac stopped the servant who was about to leave.

"Arrange some men to guard Urban's residence and prevent him from leaving Constantinople."

Isaac knew that his act of recruiting Urban into his army could not prevent the improvement of Ottoman artillery technology at all, and it would not even be a big obstacle.

Europe's artillery manufacturing technology had developed to a very mature level by the end of the last century, and there were already quite a few engineers who knew how to make artillery.

The chaotic situation and endless wars in the Balkan Peninsula attracted cannon makers from all over the world, who flocked there, trying to find a place in the courts of various monarchs.

Among them, the Ottoman Sultan, who was wealthy and attached great importance to firearms, was the most favored sponsor of artillery craftsmen.

As for Urban, he was only the most famous of them.

For a long time to come, the Ottoman army will lead the world in military tactics and military technology, and the gap will become wider and wider. This is an indisputable fact and there is no way to change it.

Now, the anxious Isaac actually hoped that Mehmed II could attack Constantinople as soon as possible instead of continuing to consolidate the domestic situation.

As soon as Muhammad II ascended the throne, he cleared away all destabilizing factors with thundering means. As long as he does not act recklessly like he did when he first ascended the throne, his position will only become more and more stable.

Mehmed II did lack some skills in governing, but his famous ministers and generals were no pushovers.

Khalil Pasha, Zagan Pasha, and Mahmud Pasha were all capable ministers and good generals. It was basically impossible to expect them to fall on their own.

Putting down what he was doing, Isaac shifted his gaze and looked at the meadow in the distance.

Under the warm afterglow, Leonor was holding little Justinian and motioning to herself.

The warm light cast a golden glow on the figures of mother and son, making them look particularly cozy.

Isaac smiled, walked out from the shadow cast by the dome of the Great Palace, and greeted the sunset of Constantinople.

……

Ankara, Anatolian Plateau.

After the Ottoman Empire took advantage of the Eastern Roman Civil War to land in Europe, it had shifted its strategic focus to the more prosperous Aegean coast and had not yet invested more energy in the relatively desolate Anatolian Plateau.

Under such circumstances, the Ottoman Empire's management of the Anatolian Plateau was rather rough, with administrative management concentrated in several large cities, radiating to the surrounding areas through these administrative fulcrums.

The city of Ankara is one of the more important ones.

The city of Ankara is located in the central Anatolian Plateau. Compared with cities such as Manisa and Izmir on the Aegean coast, the climatic conditions here are relatively harsh and the population is not as rich as that of coastal ports.

Located on the main artery of trade between the East and the West, this place has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times, and there have been countless wars of varying sizes.

Fifty years ago, the Khan from the East, the collateral descendant of Genghis Khan, the famous "Lame" Timur, arrived here with his army and threatened the core area of ​​the Ottoman Empire.

Bayezid I, who was besieging Constantinople, hastily withdrew his troops and fought with Timur in Ankara, where he was defeated and captured on the spot, thus ushering in the Ottoman Interregnum.

It can be said that this war extended the life of the Eastern Roman Empire by fifty years.

Fifty years passed, and the Ottoman Empire was reborn from the ashes and became even more powerful, while the Eastern Roman Empire continued to decline and failed to embark on the road of revival.

The Ottoman Empire was still the invincible Ottoman Empire, and the Eastern Roman Empire was still the Eastern Roman Empire on the verge of death. The difference was that Timur had died of illness for many years, and there was no longer any powerful force that could threaten the Ottoman Empire's eastern border.

In August 1451, Karaman Bey Ibrahim II, who was supported by Isaac, assembled an army and approached the Ankara area, looting and harassing the countryside, and defeated the two Janissary Corps left behind by the Ottomans.

On August 8, Mehmed II, who received the news, led his army across the strait and launched a decisive battle with Karaman's army on the Anatolian Plateau.

In this battle, Mehmed II equipped his personal army and the Janissary Guards with the latest muskets and light artillery, and defeated Karaman's traditional Turkish light cavalry.

The Ajinki light cavalry patrolled and plundered, the Azab conscripts wore down the enemy's morale, the Janissary Guards attacked with firearms, and the most elite Kapikulu Knights and Delhi Knights broke through the enemy's formation and put the final nail in the coffin.

After the development by previous sultans, the Ottoman military tactics had become quite mature, far ahead of other European and Asian countries.

Although Karaman's army also received firearms assistance from Cyrenaica, it did not form a mature tactic, which instead caused a disconnect between the cavalry and infantry and failed to reverse the situation.

Mehmed II won the first battle and walked into Ankara holding a large golden and red flag. The envoy of Karaman Bey who came to ask for peace knelt at his feet.

"The combat effectiveness of the conscripted cavalry under the Tima system is very average, their military discipline is poor, they are greedy for money, and they don't obey orders..."

In the Governor's Palace in Ankara, Mehmed II was thinking hard and writing on a piece of paper.

After winning the battle, Mehmed II was not as excited as one might imagine. Instead, he calmed down and reflected on his gains and losses.

"The Delhi Knights are very creative and are very effective against cavalry. They can be promoted."

As Muhammad wrote, he recalled the scenes from the battlefield.

A group of knights wearing coats woven from animal fur, wearing ferocious masks and with a pair of black wings on their backs, armed with heavy weapons and cavalry shields, roared loudly and rushed towards Karaman's light cavalry.

When the Karaman cavalry saw the strange-looking enemy, they thought it was a devil from earth. Both the men and the horses were frightened and retreated for several miles.

These cavalrymen with black wings on their backs are the Knights of Delhi, who were originally founded by Kara Timur Pasha, the governor of Rumelia during the reign of Murad II. They were specially dressed to look extremely terrifying in order to scare off enemy troops and horses.

"The Janissary Guards are making a fuss and are arrogant and rude..."

Mehmed II carved fiercely on the paper with his pen, his eyes fierce.

Just today, after a battle, Mehmed II was surrounded by several legions of the Janissaries and demanded a bounty.

Mehmed II still remembered the unscrupulous behavior of those leaders.

"This is the first victory of His Majesty the Sultan. We should be rewarded."

Mehmed II was so angry that his face turned blue, but due to courtesy he had to force a smile, soothe them with gentle words, and throw a dozen sacks full of silver coins in front of them.

"Reorganize the Janissaries!" An idea flashed through the mind of Muhammad II.

"Your Majesty, the casualty report and the list you requested have been compiled. Please review them."

The door opened and in walked Zagan Pasha, Mehmed II's most loyal minister, and handed him a stack of documents.

After Mehmed II ascended the throne, for political reasons, he temporarily retained all the people left by his father, and Khalil Pasha continued to serve as Grand Vizier.

Zagan was promoted to commander-in-chief of the navy and also held several important positions at the same time.

After years of forbearance and silent support, there was finally light at the end of the tunnel, and the king and his ministers waited for the ultimate victory.

Mohammed took the casualty report, glanced at it briefly, and put it aside.

As the Sultan of a great empire, the so-called thousands or even tens of thousands of casualties were just numbers in a war game to him and were not worth mentioning.

His ancestors had left him a sound and complete conscription system and military training system, so that the lost soldiers could be quickly replaced and there was no need to worry about having no soldiers available.

"Put the list aside, I don't want to look at it anymore."

Mehmed II waved his hand and motioned Zagan Pasha to sit down.

After being persecuted by the Janissaries, Mehmed II was very angry and ordered Zagan Pasha to find out the names of several leaders.

However, after his initial anger dissipated, Mehmed II thought more deeply and lost his desire for revenge.

"In fact, we should thank those soldiers who caused the rebellion."

Mohammed smiled softly.

"why?"

"Because they reminded me that my army is not yet as good as it should be and there are many problems."

"Just think about it, what would happen if what happened today happened in our war with Christians?"

"I'm afraid it won't be very good."

Zagan Pasha smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"So, since this hidden danger has always existed, it is actually a good thing that they exposed it."

Mehmed II twirled his beard, his eyes flashing.

"Remember the three plans I told you about?"

"remember."

"Now there are four."

"The fourth plan is to reorganize the Janissaries, reform the Tima system, and strengthen our control over the military."

Mehmed II frowned.

"The military power must be firmly held in our hands, and no discordant voices are allowed!"

"Yes!"

Zagan answered, keeping it in mind silently.

"Anything else?"

Seeing Zagan Pasha opening his mouth to speak, Muhammad asked.

"The first few plans have already taken shape."

"Oh? Tell me specifically."

"As for the navy, we have already contacted some Venetian merchants, and they have agreed to sell us some of the warships from their private shipyards."

"But don't hold your hopes too high. These treacherous Christians may just refurbish the old, rotten boat and hand it over to us."

"I understand. Go on."

Mohammed motioned for Zagan to continue.

"According to your request, we have reached an agreement with some pirates, allowing them to use some of our ports in order to gain their loyalty during the war."

"They are concerned about the recent increase in the activities of Christian pirates and are very interested in our proposal."

Mehmed II nodded, his expression unchanged.

There was little authenticity in the Muslim pirates' pledge of allegiance, and Mehmed II did not place his hopes on them.

"Since you became Sultan last year, we have spent a lot of money to invite naval construction experts and skilled craftsmen from all over the world, and we have achieved some results."

"Thirty-five shipbuilders have come to Edirne, eighteen of them are from Italy, five from France, three from Lübeck, and four from faraway Persia..."

"Eight small galleys are already under construction, and I believe there will be more in the future."

After hearing the news, Muhammad II finally felt somewhat satisfied and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Where's the artillery maker?"

"Your Majesty, you don't even need to do anything about this. Christians who are not doing well in Europe will naturally come to your palace to seek a way out."

"What about diplomacy?"

Mehmed II sat up straight, his eyes flickering.

"In Tunisia, Yahya of the Hafsid dynasty is worried about his troublesome neighbors and is happy to work with us."

"On the Mamluk side, just yesterday our envoy returned from Cairo and brought you a letter from the Sultan of Chakmak."

Zagan Pasha took out a letter and handed it to Mohammed respectfully.

"According to the messenger, Chakmak Sultan treated him warmly and with great care."

"Chakmak Sultan said that he is willing to work with you to renew the friendship between our two countries and eliminate the enemy of Allah."

Mohammed took the letter, opened it, glanced at it, and understood what it meant.

For a long time, the Ottoman Empire, which originated in Anatolia, and the Mamluk Sultanate, which owned the Holy Land, were the best allies. They fought together against the invasion of the Ilkhanate and the rise of the Timurid Empire, defending the glory of God.

The Mamluks and Osmans supported each other along the way, stumbling through countless years, and their relationship was once extremely close.

The Mamluks admired the newly rising Ottomans very much and presented the Ottomans with a rare copy of the Quran compiled by the third orthodox caliph, Osman ibn Affan, as a token of friendship.

This priceless treasure made the Ottomans so grateful that they regarded the Mamluks as a "brother country" and vowed to maintain an eternal alliance.

Later, with the demise of the common enemy, relations between the two sides declined, but they still maintained friendly exchanges and often helped each other in fighting against the Karaman raiding and the pirates of the Knights Hospitaller.

And now, in order to deal with a common enemy, the two most powerful countries in the Muslim world have finally united again.

"Zagan, you've done a great job. You deserve to be celebrated."

Mehmed II put the letter down, patted Zagan Pasha on the shoulder, and the depression that had accumulated in his heart disappeared.

"These are your instructions, I just followed them."

Mehmed II ignored Zagan Pasha's usual modesty and walked to the wall to look at the map carved on it.

"My ancestor, the great Osman I, once had a dream."

Mohammed spoke slowly, his eyes wandering over the map.

"He dreamed that a bright moon sank into his chest and a huge tree grew out of it, growing bigger and bigger until it covered the entire sky."

"Four high mountains support a great tree, and from the roots of the tree flow four rivers."

"He saw the boats coming and going on the river, heard the noisy sounds of the poultry and animals, and the fields were full of the joy of a good harvest."

"He saw the hillsides covered with forests, brooks flowing from the fertile soil in the forests, springs gushing from the rose bushes, and a magnificent town gleaming in the valley."

"The light of the new moon will shine upon the towns with their domes and spires, their minarets and their towers, and the sweet songs of parrots and nightingales."

"Then, all the blades turned into sharp scimitars and flew in all directions, pointing directly at the city that sat between two continents and two seas, like a dazzling diamond in the center of two emeralds and two sapphires."

There was fanaticism in Mehmed II's eyes, and his sharp gaze was fixed on the city at the center of the world.

Constantinople.

(End of this chapter)