Chapter 26: Campaign Anatolia (Part 3)
Leaving my thoughts in the past, I began receiving reports from the scouts. The city is prepared for a siege and has not sent any men out into the countryside. Thinking we will have to annihilate such a resistant tribe I was going to round the army up and march, but the messenger sent ahead to the city returned with striking news.
The messenger reported that the city is willing to fight for their survival, if necessary, but they are also willing to negotiate as their real enemy is the knight order. The statement they sent says they are willing to become an ottoman vassal and fight against the knights together... Hearing this I decided to march the army to the city and set up a siege camp before hosting a discussion so I can have a stronger position in negotiations with the beylic.
A few hours later we have firmly established a defensible camp outside the city, are cannons were placed in defensive positions in the camp and not in siege positions for now. I decided we can now host our enemies here to negotiate their surrender, sending the messenger to invite the Saruhan family, not a representative, I told him to say that if they wish to show their bravery and goodwill, they shall come to meet me in person.
Soon the messenger could be seen leaving the castle alive, and he has brought company. They bey leading this group is an elderly man riding horseback in the front of the group with the messenger. Following the older man are what looks like his sons they are wearing heavier Turkic lamellar armor, and their horses are decorated, and in the middle of these men is what looks to be a beautiful bey's daughter. The rest of their party is filled with most likely the tribe's smaller beys and the bey's fellows or guards.
Once they left the city, I had the cannons shoot a salve to announce the arrival of our guests... Which prompted my strongest men in the Kapikulu guard to line up near the entrance to greet our guests along with me. Soon our guests walked into the camp and their soldiers announced the arrival of their bey "here is Sarukhan Bey! Head of the Sarukhanid dynasty, Bey of the Saruhan tribe, the great Ghazi of Manisa!"
*Clap clap* One of the men who followed me the longest Omar clapped and then announced "You are in the presence of the SULTAN Alaeddin of the Ottoman Sultanate! Ruler of Rumelia, Thrace, Karasi, and all of Bithynia all who are here bask in the presence of the conqueror, the mover of men, the young lion of Gallipoli!"
I just shook my head, you got to love my overzealous soldiers! looking at the man mounted still before me I said, "so shall we begin the talks, or shall we stay here whilst our soldiers battle with words?" lightening the tensions slightly as well...
Sarukhan dismounted followed by his children and then followers, my soldiers directed them toward a large tent we made for this discussion. Though there was a brief argument over placing their weapons in a box outside the meeting tent, it was resolved when I placed my weapons in there as well. Now that everyone is in the tent, we can now start these negotiations.
I sat at the head of the large table at the back of the tent, whilst Sarukhan sat opposite of me nearest the tent exit. I decided to start the conversation with a few terms, and we can work from there. I said "So, to begin the negotiations I have a few terms, not many they are the same terms I have given to the former tribes under me. If you want to work underneath me no one shall be an autonomous vassal, all who are within my sultanate shall live under my rules and form of governing. If you want to work under me you shall be named the Sanjak bey of Saruhan ruling over the same lands as before, except I shall allow you to oversee Izmir which is not in your possessions at the moment, what do you think?"
Sarukhan replied "my young sultan, you claim that all the tribes under you live under your rules... Are you trying to monopolize power under your authority?"
I replied "Just sultan is fine! And to answer your question all who live under my banners shall be allowed to live freely as long as they follow my laws. No ruler in my realm shall lead an independent army, all armies and arms shall be given by the sultan, as all men in my armies must meet certain specifications to call themselves soldiers. My sanjak beys will be responsible for overseeing and taxation of a sanjak, they will also be responsible for the calling of the Sipahi forces that will be located here as this will be considered a newly conquered territory, lands will be granted to my soldiers here as well. "
Sarukhan replied "so you are asking me to give up all my rights as an independent tribe and join your sultanate, but what guarantee do I have that my family will continue to oversee this region once I am gone? I am old, and my sons are young how about instead of me you allow my sons to oversee the lands of Saruhan?"
I replied "I see you are aware of your situation at least, and though you may be old I believe you can control this area for a few years more at least. I will see to it that your sons are properly educated before they are allowed to take the reins of the sanjak, I will bring them to my universities where they can learn all that this world has to offer and more. The fact that they will oversee a city such as Izmir they will need to understand trade, and the workings of a proper ottoman navy, leave your sons to me and they shall inherit Saruhan. But if you decline, I see no reason to allow an inheritance clause for your family and you shall not only be the last ruler of Saruhan but also the last of your line!"
Hearing this statement the younger sons of Sarukhan had their blood boiling his eldest son about 23 years old named Fahruddin was the first to respond. He said "You dare threaten our lives and our beylic? Many have tried to take our rights and have gotten their just desserts! If you want a battle we can have one but I doubt you will win!"
Hearing this Sarukhan's face went a little pale, he replied "BOY! We are in no position to argue terms, it is just that we can keep some control of our lands and keep our people's lives and dignity! But you..."
After trying to straighten his son out the old bey whose face was getting paler by the second began to clutch his chest and take slow breaths. His daughter had run over and began to tend to him... When the drama sparked again the eldest made a mistake he said "I don't care about your army! you are but a boy trying to lead a man's army if I were to slay yo..."
This clown Fahruddin was cut off by his father who even in his sickened state tried to protect his son by grabbing his throat! After being surprised Fahruddin pushed his elderly father in his rage leading to the old man nearly falling to the ground, but by the time he pushed him, I was already there to catch the elderly boy. After helping the elderly Ghazi to his seat, I looked up at this clown man Fahruddin and said "I am a boy? I have been campaigning since I have proclaimed an adult, I have led men twice my age into battles of life and death and lived! I have succeeded in establishing a Turkish throne in these lands but you? what have you done...? But push an elderly man who is trying to spare your life!"
Seeing my disdain for his actions and his brothers not supporting him either, this man backed into a corner and will do something dumb! Seeing him reach into his pocket I decided to spare this guy today as I know in the future he wasn't so bad a ruler and with my training, I can make a decent commander and Sanjak bey out of this guy... I immediately sprang into action before one of my assassins killed this man, I grabbed his wrist with one hand and with the other did my favorite Turkish martial art the "Turkish slap" *SMACK*.
With my long and heavily trained arms and hard palms this man was smacked into another dimension, I am sure. His eyes went blank and he started to fall to the ground, but before that, he was held up by his wrists by me. Holding this grown man knocked out dangling by the wrists was a funny sight to behold, but all good things come to an end, I called the guards to take this man to a cage to cool off!
After feeling as though I fixed the situation for now, I turned to the elderly bey and asked "How are you feeling and can you walk? If not, I can have the doctor take care of you as he is well trained one of the best in Thessalonica I hear."
Seemingly not able to reply his daughter said "My sultan I am sorry for this disgrace! My brothers are hot-blooded and my mother said they will only cool with time... So please do not kill my brother he is not a horrible person, just stressed out." Then she looked at her father who was asleep and sweating a lot at this point she said "My Sultan please can you help my father? He sometimes passes out like this... I have no clue what to do in times like these the doctors are no help! If you can help my Baba, I will help you in any way I can. I... I know a way to cull the various beys in the area without force, but it will only work if you are willing."
After saying the last part this brave Turkish woman still looked down and to the side with her face glowing bright red. Oh, I get it she will marry me the idea is not so bad, I get a decent vassal where I can then just insert my laws and administrative reform into the already existing setup. Yelling for the guards to call the doctor and bring a stretcher.
Once the doc arrived the old man was placed on a cloth with a wooden frame stretcher and brought to our field hospital. I put together this force of mobile doctors, they are responsible for treating the heavily injured and keeping track of the medical supplies. They are also in times of peace responsible for teaching certain members of a corps to be a medic when the need arrives so we can have a faster response to injuries lowering our overall casualty rates.
After the doctors took away the old man I escorted the lovely beauty to the field hospital, whilst her other brothers were sent to the lock-up where their eldest brother is to check on him. Walking with the green-eyed beauty dressed not in feminine clothes but in a Turkish female armor set that looks perfectly unused this was brought out just in case negotiations broke down. While walking I got the chance to get the name of the first woman, I am to wed officially Sumeyye, meaning she who is high above others... fitting for her future.