Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology - Chapter 833

Chapter 833: Mehmed’s Reaction
July 1670

Vajragarbha (Star Fortress), Erbil

Within the massive fortress located in Erbil, stretching a massive eight kilometres in area, the atmosphere is tense. The war is about to reach a new stage of intensity, and everyone is on the edge of their seat. The soldiers training on the training grounds were being pushed to the limits, while the sergeants responsible for training had nerves bulging in their necks, and their voices had already gone hoarse. With every stomp the soldiers took forward, a blast of dust rose off the ground, showing how much force was behind the stomp.

In such a hectic atmosphere, an unassuming military officer walked through the training ground casually. The rookie soldiers, breathing heavily, looking at the man, did not think much about it, but the sergeants and higher-ranking officers, consciously or unconsciously, took a sneak peek at the officer before they eventually averted their gaze and went back to roaring at the recruits.

Commander Lachit Borphukan was immediately taken aback when he received the news that a scout was looking for him. However, his surprise lasted only for a moment before he ordered the guards to bring in the scout with a serious expression on his face.

“Sir Commander, Emperor Mehmed IV has made a decision…”

Hearing the opening sentence was enough to make Lachit’s expression sharp, and his whole temperament underwent a drastic transformation. It was as if a reliable longsword had suddenly become a sharp and fast Katthai.

—

Two months ago,

Mehmed IV had a deep frown on his face after he received the intelligence from his spies in the Safavid Empire. Reading the intelligence, he threw away the letter with a scowl on his face.

“This brat Vijay is too young to play games with me. Does he think I wouldn’t know his preparations to launch a surprise attack on the territory we control in the Safavid Empire?”

“If that is the case, he is really too naive. Grand Vizier, what are your thoughts?” Mehmed asked as he turned his head and looked at a middle-aged man who looked to be in his mid-30s.

Grand Vizier Köprülüzade Fazil Ahmed Pasha is the inheritor of the position of Grand Vizier after the previous Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasha passed away a couple of years ago. Hearing the question, Fazil Ahmed Pasha stroked his beard, “It is good that we got to know about this matter early on, Your Majesty, but my instincts are telling me that things are not so simple.”

“The Russians, who started to mobilise for war in full force years ago, are now struggling to even set up a proper army. While it is a known fact that Russian army generals and nobles are just straw bags without any actual ability, still, being one of the strongest nations in Europe, it should not take this long to correct the mistakes on the front line. It would be acceptable if there were mistakes for one or two years, but the Russians being unable to bring together a proper army for nearly a decade—is this normal?”

Mehmed immediately fell silent. In fact, he also had his doubts, but he just did not understand what use the Russians, or more specifically the Romanov family, would have by weakening the frontline of the army. It was due to these considerations that he did not take the initiative to launch a campaign against the lowly Russians. But he did not comment; instead, he continued to listen.

“Another thing, Your Majesty—the environment in the Italian Peninsula is very weird lately. In the city-states which are republics, political parties named the United Italy Party have started to become widely popular, and in city-states, duchies, principalities, many social groups, business groups, noble groups, and even intellectual groups have formed with the words United Italy in their name.”

“A large majority of Italian people are somehow suddenly desiring a unified Italian country.”

“Although at first this did not raise any suspicion, since the increase of support for a unified Italian nation was very gradual—almost to the point of making people think that it was an organic ideology that arose from all the people in Italy—and this did keep us in the dark for a long, long time, recently our intelligence channels have picked up suspicion of operations by the Venetians behind the scenes.”

“The most interesting thing is, Your Majesty, both the Republic of Venice as well as the Tsarist Russian Empire have close links with the Bharatiya Empire.”

“This could not help but make me feel cautious.”

“So, Your Majesty, if what the Bharatiya Empire is doing is indeed digging a trap for us, then I do not suggest you increase the investment of troops and resources to defend our territory in the Safavid Empire.”

Mehmed was thinking deeply, and the various scenarios the Grand Vizier mentioned started to play out in his mind. But thinking about giving up the territory of one million kilometres, he was extremely unwilling.

With this territory, he had total control over the Caspian Sea, making it almost the personal lake of the Ottoman Empire. What’s more, if he could just occupy a few hundred more kilometres to the south, he would get access to the Persian Gulf, which would then mean getting access to the Indian Ocean. Just thinking about controlling another trade route from Asia to Europe—apart from the one in Egypt—his heart couldn’t help but palpitate. However, he was not a leader who was blinded by greed either. If the unusualness of the Russians and the Venetians were indeed related to the Bharatiya Empire, then, not to mention losing benefits in the Middle East, he would have to be worried about maintaining his dominance in the Balkan region.

His heart was in turmoil. Whether to increase the support to the Middle East or to pull back was a big decision to make, and this decision might likely alter the destiny of his glorious empire.

Looking at the wise emperor who was always decisive in making decisions hesitate so much, Fazil Ahmed Pasha stayed silent and did not make a sound, because as a person with foresight and keen vision, he could vaguely see the game of chess the Bharatiya Empire is playing. One wrong move, and the Ottoman Empire might lose a lot more than what the empire had bargained for.

In such a way, half an hour passed in silence until eventually Mehmed’s eyes regained their clarity.

“We have already won so many benefits in the Middle East. I am unwilling to give them up, but Pasha, you are also right—it is very risky to invest more resources in the Middle East lest the Russians and Venetians take advantage.”

“So here’s a strategy which I have come up with.” A cunning light radiated in Mehmed’s eyes as he told his idea in a low voice. Fazil Ahmed Pasha at first was a little doubtful whether such a strategy would work, but after listening to the full plan, his eyes lit up. But he did not get a chance to speak as the emperor continued, “In the worst case, if our suspicions are really true and the Russians really attack us with full force taking this opportunity, then we have no choice but to seek an alliance with the English, Dutch, French, and maybe even the German barbarians.”

“Will they accept the alliance, Your Majesty?” Fazil Ahmed’s mouth was wide open.

“Hmm, maybe not the German barbarians, since we have cleansed their land too many times, but as for the others…”

“Hehe, I know these infidels quite well. They actually do not hate us because we are the followers of the one and only true prophet, but our existence has caused a lot of losses to them.”

“If we promise some conditions beneficial to them, then they should be willing to help.”

“Not to mention all of them have enmity with the Bharatiya Empire. If we are defeated by one of the Western European countries, they will be very happy and even share the spoils from our dead body. But they never want our spoils, which are so rich, to go into the hands of a very powerful enemy that even their union hesitates to face.”

Hearing the thoughts of His Majesty, Fazil Ahmed Pasha was hesitant. Although he was the one who keenly perceived the underlying threads woven by the Bharatiya Empire, like a spider’s web waiting for prey to jump in, the enmity between the Ottoman Empire and various European countries goes too far back after all. When His Majesty is now suggesting to actually cooperate with these enemies and ask for their help, he felt uncomfortable all over his body, as if pig’s blood had been poured on him. He looked up with uncertainty and suggested, “In fact, Your Majesty, what I have guessed is highly speculative. The Bharatiya Empire might not necessarily link up with the Russians and the Venetians to do a combined attack. Maybe we can put things off for a while longer until things become clear.”

Hearing the suggestion, Mehmed immediately shook his head. “No, the risk is too big. We have to be prepared. If the Venetians and the Russians do not take advantage of our attention being focused elsewhere, it is only some benefits that will be lost. It will be painful, yes, but it is nothing the empire cannot handle. But if those hateful Venetians and Russians take advantage of the situation and they do attack, then not only will we be on the defensive, but Western Europeans might even take advantage of the situation and demand a lion’s share.”

“So it is better for us to act quickly and buy a piece of comfort.”

Mehmed’s eyes immediately became stern. “With that being said, immediately send the orders to the General’s Station in the Middle East. Also, send a warning to Admiral Sari Huseyin Pasha about the Bharatiya Navy likely entering the Red Sea.”

“Secondly, send our diplomats in utmost secrecy to England, France, the Netherlands, and even the Holy Roman Empire, and discuss a military alliance against the Bharatiya Empire, which can only be put into action when we demand it. It does not matter if we lose more resources than expected; The initiative should always be in our hands.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, leave it to me. I will get it done without any problem.”