Chapter 12: A Statesman’s End, An Opportunist’s Dawn

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When Osman heard the news of Kuyucu Murad Pasha's death, he felt a pang of sorrow. Losing a ruthless yet loyal statesman left a deep void for him. But when he learned that Nasuh Pasha would take his place, disappointment took hold of his heart. As a young prince with a keen interest in history and a passion for the future, Osman knew well that Nasuh Pasha was a man driven by greed and self-interest. To Osman, this appointment was nothing short of a disaster for the state. But who would listen to a child of just seven or eight years old?

With this thought weighing heavily on him, Osman sighed deeply and muttered to himself:

"I carry a spirit from the future, but who would believe me? 'Please don't make him grand vizier,' I could say, but… who would listen? People might even think I'm possessed by a djinn or demon."

This inner conflict led him into a silent rebellion. Though he couldn't voice his concerns, he decided to keep a record of Nasuh Pasha's disloyal followers and unworthy supporters, noting down their names. "When my time comes," he thought, "these people will face the consequences."

So what exactly disgusted Osman about Nasuh Pasha? When he reflected on Nasuh Pasha's past, a deep resentment stirred within him. Nasuh Pasha was appointed as governor of Aleppo in 1603, but was soon removed from his position by Cığalzade Sinan Pasha, the serdar against Iran at the time, and replaced by Canpulatoğlu. Nasuh Pasha protested, yet his request was denied. Later, he was given the rank of vizier and tasked with suppressing the Celali rebel Tavil Ahmet. However, when he marched against the rebel, he was defeated and forced to retreat.

To Osman, these events painted a vivid picture of Nasuh Pasha's failures. "How can such a man be a vizier?" he couldn't help but think.

Osman recalled another incident that highlighted Nasuh Pasha's tendency to put personal gain above state interests. When Kuyucu Murad Pasha was tasked with the campaign against Iran, Nasuh Pasha secretly wrote to Sultan Ahmed I, proposing that Kuyucu Murad Pasha be removed as grand vizier in favor of himself. In exchange, Nasuh Pasha offered 40,000 gold coins to the treasury and promised to fund the army's needs from his own pocket.

Gritting his teeth, Osman thought to himself, "He doesn't care about the state's welfare… only his own." He struggled to understand how his father, Sultan Ahmed I, could have forgiven Nasuh Pasha and allowed him to rise in power.

Another incident solidified Osman's view of Nasuh Pasha's untrustworthiness. When Kuyucu Murad Pasha requested Nasuh Pasha's support to suppress Canpulatoğlu, Nasuh Pasha refused to send his provincial cavalry forces. For Osman, this was a blatant display of Nasuh Pasha's ingratitude and disloyalty. "If I ever take the throne," Osman told himself, "men like him, who are selfish and disloyal, will be cleansed from the state."

He longed to express these thoughts to his father, but he knew he would not be taken seriously as just a child. So he buried his anger and reflected on Nasuh Pasha's marriage. Nasuh Pasha had married the daughter of Şerefhan, the ruler of Bitlis, thus securing a considerable fortune and influence through his father-in-law. To Osman, this was yet another sign of Nasuh Pasha's character. "He didn't earn wealth with his own efforts, but by marriage," he thought. "A man who builds his power on others has no right to govern the state."

With these reflections, Osman reviewed Nasuh Pasha's actions, deeming him both unworthy and corrupt. His father's choice to appoint this man as grand vizier shocked and disappointed him deeply.

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