The Sun and the Lion

Chapter 21 Suleiman, Governor of Kaffa

"Your Highness, the Padishah received the emissaries of the heretics in Edirne."

The retreat from Elbistan was not a traumatic one. As soon as the energetic Selim returned to Trabzon, he began to inventory and replace the losses, and continued to plan his great cause of seizing the throne and revitalizing the country.

The disaster in Kostantiniya spread to Trabzon, and Bayezid asked the local provinces and sanjaks to provide financial support to the central government. Selim had no choice but to give the savings in the treasury to Edirne as reconstruction funds. This forced him to look for other sources of income.

Couriers between Gomen and Trabzon continued to bring him the latest political news, including Safavid envoys requesting an audience with the Padishah regarding border conflicts - but the timing of these diplomats' arrival was unfortunate. It collided with the turmoil after the major earthquake.

In short, the meeting in Edirne did not go well. Bayezid only met with the envoy symbolically and left it to the Grand Vizier to deal with it. Selim believed that the attitude and policies of the high officials had been changed due to his actual actions. changed.

In order to quell the religious turmoil after the disaster, Padishah dispatched almost all the Yenicherries stationed in the capital to suppress the Shiites in the city. It is said that thousands or even tens of thousands of Qizilbash were captured and killed. Safavid envoys, who saw this as a demonstration, condemned it, protested and demanded an end to the persecution and the release of prisoners.

Grand Vizier "Eunuch" Ali Pasha used the Safavid court's past continued persecution of Sunnis to back off the envoy's moral criticism. He in turn accused the envoy of taking the opportunity to incite unrest and refused to provide any advice on the conflict in Durkadir. An explanation and compensation that convinces and satisfies the Iranians.

This extremely unpleasant and even hostile negotiation was naturally called by onlookers as "a hole made by the chisel in the boulder." If the mason gave up here, the boulder would only have one more scar that cannot be ignored, but the hammer must continue to attack the already contracted stone. When the chisel inserted into it falls with great force, it is time to break.

"The person who thought of this metaphor is definitely a genius, but the so-called friendship between the high sect and the Persian heretics is just the wishful thinking of the father. It has never been a hard stone." Selim joked at the end. He was in a very happy mood today. Thanks to this Another good news from Arslan.

After complex political operations, Selim finally overcame all difficulties and secured the official position of Governor of Kaffa for his only son Suleiman. Previously, he had twice issued offers to senior officials to serve in Sanjak Bey, Karahisar and Bolu. request, but was prevented by the intervention of Ahmed, the governor of Roma Province (Amasya).

Although there is still a certain distance between the Crimean Peninsula and Trabzon, the two places are separated by the Black Sea rather than the rolling mountains in the hinterland of Asia Minor. Shipping makes the transportation between the two places relatively convenient. The seat of supreme power - Koh Stantiniya - also connected to the jurisdiction of the father and son by water.

Bayezid's attitude towards his grandson was not much different from Selim's. He did not hesitate to reject Suleiman's application to serve on the Balkan frontier and "exiled" him to a border province far enough away from Topkapi Palace. So as not to cause resistance to Ahmed's succession.

Therefore, Suleiman, who had completed the necessary courses and circumcision at Topkapi Palace, quickly obtained permission to leave this city, which was still foreign to him, and returned to Trabzon to seek employment.

"Father, what's wrong?" Suleiman, who was still accompanying his mother Hafsa in the garden, was invited by a servant to the governor's office. He could clearly feel his father's joy. Selim couldn't wait to share the good news with his son.

Selim glanced at the letter of appointment that was sent to him not long ago, and then greeted: "Son, look at this, this belongs to you."

Suleiman took the document and read it carefully. Finally, he looked at the monogram at the end of the letter. This was indeed an edict from a high-ranking official. The content of it was to appoint Suleiman to govern in Kfar Sanjak. The previous governor.

It is quite difficult for a young man with no previous political experience to serve as a governor of a place, and to serve in Kaffa, located in the Crimean Peninsula, while also dealing with the relationship with the Crimean Khan.

Suleiman felt nervous after the initial joy. He put the document back on the desk, but the thought of not wanting to refuse made him feel very uncomfortable.

Seeming to see Suleiman's lack of confidence, Selim comforted him: "I was not much older than you when I was the governor of Trabzon. It's just that my mother will not go to Kaffa with you, but you still have a group of servants available. , I have arranged it for you. They will give reasonable advice and help with trivial matters. Make good use of them, but do not be manipulated by them... The Tatars of Crimea are more friendly and obedient than the Georgians and Persians. Even more, their great sweat is still your grandpa."

The governor, who had always been cold and harsh in front of officials, was now teaching his son with patience and care. Few people could see this side of this ambitious man. He is both a duplicitous prince and a doting father.

Selim attaches great importance to the appointment of his only son. Find Shuyuan www.zhaoshuyuan.com If Suleiman can firmly control Kaffa and maintain a good relationship with his grandfather Mingli Gelay, then he will not only have two provinces resources, and the Crimean Tatars can serve as foreign aid, which will be valuable help in the subsequent struggle.

For this reason, he could not afford to lose anything. He was prepared to not only exercise Suleiman's ability to handle government affairs, but also control the situation in Crimea in the shortest possible time and turn it into all his bargaining chips.

"Father, you are so thoughtful, I have nothing to worry about." Suleiman still believed in his own intelligence and tried hard not to disappoint Selim. Wang Sun, who was confident enough, did not fall into mental internal friction.

Arslan said promptly from the side: "Your Highnesses, I am going to arrange the ships needed for His Highness Suleiman to take office in Kaffa." Then he received permission to leave the room.

After chatting about business, Selim became concerned about Suleiman's life in Kostantiniya. He left Trabzon after he was seven years old and was sent to the palace school in Topkapi Palace to study. He could only study through letters. comminicate. Fortunately, there is also a sworn brother Yahya - his father Omar is the qadi of Trabzon, and his mother is Suleiman's wet nurse - he went to the capital to study together, but Yahya is still in Damu Futi continued his studies and did not return to Trabzon with Suleiman.

"Perhaps when I become Padishah, he will be the qadi in your jurisdiction, and when you succeed to the throne, he will be the new grand mufti." Selim took this opportunity to shift the topic to introducing the entourage, whether they are attendants or staff. He picked it himself.

Suleiman then watched how the governor handled affairs and treated officials. Selim would explain his intentions after rejecting the officials until he boarded the ship to Kaffa Port to start the internship. First, he would Handover of affairs with the former Governor.

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