The rental of the ship was expensive, but counting that we have to travel almost two thousand kilometers to reach the Crimea, the price ceased to seem so high. There was also a cheap option, to travel with the goods from port to port and transfer from ship to ship, but it was not worth the trouble... The captain of the ship informed me that if there are no delays and the weather is favorable, we should reach our destination in 8-10 days.
I was sitting in my cabin talking to Saddat. For the whole trip he did not go to the upper deck, for some reason being locked in a cabin did not make him seasick, but it was enough for him to look at the waves and he puked like a cat.
"Lord, when we get to the port of Yevpatoria to Bakhchysarai we will have to go on horseback. Not more than a day." (Saddat)
"I know, I wish I had time to let Khan know of our arrival." (MC)
"Are you afraid of problems?" (Saddat)
"The Turks have their spies in the Crimea, it would not be good for them to know that Chana is visiting some Lach." (MC)
"Lord, I have been serving you for several years ... but I don't understand what you want to achieve." (Saddat)
"You ask in the future or now? If now, I want to make the Ottoman Empire a very rich country." (MC)
"Rich? Why? Turks are enemies." (Saddat)
"I just have a good heart." (MC)
Saddat knew he couldn't take everything I said seriously, but this time I said it so confidently in my voice that he didn't know what to say.
"Have you heard of the crusades and attempts to conquer Jerusalem?" (MC)
"Just a little." (Saddat)
I told Saddat the most important things related to these events and the religious and political background.
"Now you know, do you think another crusade is possible these days?" (MC)
"I do not know... maybe." (Saddat)
"I don't think so, but there are two things worth fighting for... power and money. Currently, England, France, Spain, Portugal make a lot of money trading with the Far East, Africa and the New World. They control ports, trade routes." (MC)
"But what does this have to do with the Turks?" (Saddat)
"If the Ottoman Empire builds a certain trade route, the travel time to the Far East will be shorter and it will be safer and it will be under the total control of the Turks." (MC)
Surprise flashed on Sadat's face first, then understanding ... he smiled slightly.
"I see, everyone will attack them." (Saddat)
"One way or another... but yes." (MC)
"Building such a trade route has to be expensive. People, money..." (Saddat)
"I know, and this is where Khan comes into the scene and his Tatars who will provide the people. They can catch slaves from the Duchy of Moscow, one hundred or two hundred thousand people, it does not matter much. Of course, with such an influx of manpower, the Turks will have to allocate more troops to guard them." (MC)
"Lord, you want to use the Turks to weaken the Principality of Moscow and then turn other countries against the Ottoman Empire ... but what will you gain from this?" (Saddat)
"I will weaken two enemies of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ... and then perhaps I will come to the rescue and save the inhabitants of the Duchy of Moscow. Someone has to fight for these poor Christians... I also intend to liberate Moldova from Turkish rule and place a ruler there who will be in our favor." (MC)
My plan was ambitious, but feasible, ancient records already mentioned the theoretical possibility of building the Suez Canal, and building it two hundred years earlier may be difficult, but with the right amount of human and money resources, it is possible to do ... After all, the Ottomans also have slaves from Africa ... I was not sure if other countries would attack the Ottomans, always some country it may forge an alliance with them and this will cause further problems. However, it was worth the risk, because even if there was no great war, smaller ones would certainly break out, and, additionally, revolts.
Two days later we arrived at the port of Yevpatoria, I ordered Saddat to arrange some disguise for me, and then we headed for the capital of the country. We got to the city in the evening, it was the first time I visited the capital of the Crimean Khanate. I've seen some pictures of monuments before, like the Khan Palace. Although the Tatars were mostly nomadic people, Bakhchysarai was a modern and beautiful city for the 17th century.
Saddat orchestrated a discreet meeting with Khan's brother, Kolga Shahin Giray. Which I had the opportunity to meet in Jazłowiec before.
"Greetings Prince Jazłowiecki. Why these secrets and disguises? Would you be afraid for your life?" (Shahin Giray)
"No, I can reveal my presence, but I suspect that someone from the High Port will come here within a month, demanding an explanation ... maybe we'll bet 200,000 ducats?" (MC)
"I know that, but you yourself advised not to kill these spies ..." (Shahin Giray)
"The Sultan will become suspicious and replace them with new ones ... but that's not what I wanted to talk about." (MC)
Then I explained to him the assumptions of my plan, he was skeptical about it, but he promised to pass this information on to his brother.
"You benefit too, the Ottoman troops in the north will be weaker, and the Khanate will earn a lot of gold by supplying slaves." (MC)
"You're crazy. There is no guarantee that your plan will be successful ..." (Shahin Giray)
"You can only be sure of one thing in life ... death, it awaits everyone. Send another merchant caravan in summer, there will be something for you in Jazłowiec." (MC)
"Gold, weapons and food?" (Shahin Giray)
"I do not promise you gold, but weapons and grain will be for sure ... I know you do not have such a tradition, but try to create some infantry." (MC)
I asked Kolga to exchange our horses for less tired ones and the next day we set off on our way back to Podolia.