Chapter 2 First Ascension to the Throne

In February 1787, Constantinie, Topkapi Palace, Selim was in a daze at his desk, muttering to himself: It's almost time, it's today.

At this time, there was a burst of hurried footsteps outside the door, and a white male servant pushed the door open. Selim chuckled: "Paul, don't be so anxious."

The male servant stopped and stammered: "Your Highness, but..."

"I know my uncle has passed away,"

Selim said calmly, and then slowly stood up.

"Let's go, it's my turn to be Padishah."

The master and servant walked out of the palace, and Grand Vizier Yusuf Pasha and his people were waiting outside.

It's not far from Topkapi Palace to Eyup Sultan Mosque. Selim sat on the boat and thought of his uncle Hamid I.

To be honest, his uncle was not bad to him. Compared with Murad IV and other genocidal killers in the history of the empire, Hamid I not only allowed him to enter and leave the Topkapi Palace freely, but also allowed him to receive education and correspond with monarchs and ambassadors of various countries. He was really considerate.

But Selim would not be overly sad about his uncle's death, because there were more things to worry about.

For example, the upcoming Russo-Turkish war, he did not intend to stop this war, and future reforms would not be sustainable without the halo, but this war must be prepared.

"It's a pity that the extra time is still too short."

Selim sighed in his heart. He stood up, and his tall body looked particularly upright in the sun.

Yusuf Pasha, who was standing at the stern, cast his eyes here at this time. In a trance, he seemed to feel that the person in front of him was already a sultan.

The ship gradually approached the shore, and Yusuf Pasha approached.

"Your Highness, please follow me. The Grand Mufti and the Ulema are waiting for you. The Sharif will put the Ottoman sword on you."

Selim nodded slightly.

For this process that every Sultan must go through to ascend to the throne, if nothing else, it is at least better than being covered with holy oil. Selim despised the pretentious Western monarchs in his heart.

The coronation ceremony did not take too long, but sitting in the Grand Saraki Palace was just the beginning for him.

How to sit firmly and well in this position is the subsequent task. Selim does not want to be killed like the original owner.

"Paul, go and invite the Grand Vizier and Hassan Pasha to come."

The manservant heard the master's order and trotted out. Not long after, Yusuf Pasha slowly walked in from the door, and Hassan Pasha waited outside.

"Your Majesty, what do you want to talk to me about?"

It is obvious that Yusuf Pasha is a little tired. For this nearly eighty-year-old old man, from the death of Hamid to the succession of Selim, this series of things has exhausted his energy. But if the Sultan summons you, can you not come?

"Dear Yusuf Pasha, I hope you will preside over a Diwan meeting tomorrow, and I will attend in person."

Selim said gently.

"Your Majesty, what is the content of the meeting?"

Yusuf asked nervously. You should know that since Suleiman the Magnificent, no Sultan has personally attended the meeting. Instead, it was presided over by the Grand Vizier, and the Sultan secretly observed from the side.

"The topic is about the war with the Russians. Uncle said it too early. With the corrupt army and logistics of the empire, it can't beat the Russians. Don't you think so, Pasha?"

Selim's slightly casual words made Yusuf feel frightened.

"Your Majesty, we do need a reform, but not now. After all, your father and uncle are..."

"No, no, my Grand Vizier, I just want you to ensure two things. One is that after the war, the imperial army can get sufficient supplies, and the other is that the army will never be allowed to flee in the face of battle. I believe you can do it, right, my Grand Vizier."

Yusuf slowly put down his heart. He really didn't want to reform now.

But he asked himself that he could still do the two requirements of the Sultan, even though this was the duty of officials.

"By the way, there is one more thing. Didn't the empire go to France to recruit military instructors before? I remember there was a man named Napoleon. Please inform the French government and invite him over. Treat him with the highest treatment."

Selim added.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Yusuf responded to Selim respectfully, while criticizing the former Sultan Hamid II in his heart. This is not your son. It's okay to let him go at ordinary times, and state secrets can be discussed as well.

However, Yusuf also understood that this sultan was indeed different from the previous sultans. After all, no one in Ottoman history could enter and leave Costantiniya freely while the previous sultan was still alive.

"Perhaps the empire can really be revived in his hands. After all, since Suleiman the Magnificent, the empire has been declining." Yusuf Pasha silently calculated in his heart.

"Let Hassan Pasha come in." Although both of them are old, Hassan looks strong and healthy compared to Yusuf's old age.

"Your Majesty, I wonder if you have any instructions." "Pasha, please sit down. Your uncle's actions against the Russians during his lifetime have destined the Ottoman Empire to fight with Tsarist Russia. No later than this summer, Catherine, the usurper, will inevitably declare war. Do you think the empire's navy can hold the Russians on the Black Sea coast?"

Selim asked worriedly.

"Your Majesty, give me some time to prepare. You will see me sink those pagans to the bottom of the sea," Hassan replied forcefully.

"I hope so." Selim said slowly, "Paul, send the two pashas out of the palace."

After summoning the two Pashas, ​​Selim began to think about the subsequent situation - a greedy tsar, an ancient monarch, and a troublemaker.

Selim laughed in his heart again, "There won't be an elected emperor for a while, after all, I will take everyone away."

Selim sat on a chair, facing the crescent moon on the Hagia Sophia Mosque, and fell into deep thought.

Because a lot of information is quite difficult to find, there may be problems in the details. Newcomers and new books, please support more, thank you everyone.

Note: Grand Vizier is similar to Prime Minister

Grand Mufti is similar to the Orthodox Patriarch of the Middle Ages

Pasha is an honorary title of the Ottoman Empire

Grand Saraki Palace is Topkapi Palace

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