From a geographical standpoint, the Ottoman Empire indeed bordered Europe and Russia. If viewed on a map or globe, the Ottoman Empire was not far from them.
The question was, how large were maps and globes?
By the time the envoys from England, Russia, and other nations stationed in the Ottoman Empire transmitted the news back, and their respective monarchs or courts made decisions on whether to participate in the conflict, and then sent those decisions back to the Ottoman Empire, the empire would have long since crumbled!
What was even more unacceptable to Suleiman was that these so-called allies, who had just proclaimed they would stand with the Ottoman Empire through thick and thin, were now cowering and backing down!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Suleiman's gaze towards the envoys was no longer as friendly as before, and his tone carried a hint of threat: "If you allow the Ming Dynasty to attack and even destroy the Ottoman Empire, then I won't mind informing the Ming Dynasty of your respective monarchs' alliance with Sultan Mahmud II."
However, to Suleiman's surprise, the English envoy let out a laugh and said, "Where is the evidence? His Majesty King George III's alliance with your Sultan Mahmud II took place at the Habsburg Eagle Fortress, and it was merely a verbal agreement with no written documentation. What proof do you have to convince the Ming Dynasty or the Ming Emperor?"
The Habsburg envoy appeared even more bewildered. "Did Sultan Mahmud II visit our Habsburg Eagle Fortress? I had no idea about such a matter."
The English envoy quickly shook his head and began to deny what he had just said, "Then I must have misremembered. Sultan Mahmud II and His Majesty King George III never met."
Suleiman was furious, but he remembered that the Ottoman Empire had no other recourse. He could only suppress his anger and say expressionlessly, "You must all be aware of how brutal the Ming Dynasty's army is."
"The Ottoman Empire is not the first, nor will it be the last, nation to be destroyed by the Ming Dynasty. For now, with the Ottoman Empire at the forefront, your countries behind them can remain safe. But what if the Ottoman Empire falls? Where will the Ming Emperor's attention turn next?"
"Therefore, helping the Ottoman Empire is equivalent to helping your own countries."
However, the envoys from England, Russia, and their so-called allies remained unmoved.
Everyone understood the principle of "lips gone, teeth cold," but the Ottoman Empire had not yet fallen, and even if it did, it might not be their country's turn next. Envoys from Europe and Russia generally held a wishful thought of "it might not be me."
Seeing that the envoys from Europe and Russia still intended to remain silent, Suleiman could only take a deep breath and ask in a deep voice, "Since you do not intend to help the Ottoman Empire, I will not force you. But should you be interested in discussing business matters?"
Upon hearing the word "business," the envoys from England, Russia, and the Habsburg family became instantly interested.
The English envoy smiled at Suleiman and asked, "What business does Your Excellency the Grand Vizier have to discuss with us?"
Suleiman suppressed his anger and said, "Military ordnance. Whether it be firearms, grenades, artillery, or ammunition, we will purchase as much as you have."
The English envoy and the envoys from Russia and the Habsburg family exchanged glances, and a look of excitement appeared on their faces, completely unconcerned by Suleiman's increasingly hostile gaze.
If there was money to be made, they were all happy. Who cared if Suleiman was happy or not?
This was not due to the short-sightedness of England and other countries, but rather it was in their European genes. The genes of the Central Plains had always valued foresight and goodwill, while European genes were filled with plunder and killing, focusing only on immediate gain.
From the harm inflicted upon the indigenous peoples of the Americas to the burning of the Old Summer Palace and subsequent events, all proved the rapacious nature of Europe.
The English envoy rubbed his hands together and said, "Esteemed Grand Vizier, you know that the Ming Dynasty is the leader of the 'Five Good Neighbors' of the Small Broken Pot. Now that the Ming Emperor has ordered a conflict with the Ottoman Empire, if we sell ordnance to the Ottoman Empire at this time, it would be equivalent to offending the Ming Emperor."
Suleiman snorted, "Are you intending to refuse this business?"
"No," the English envoy shook his head slightly, then revealed a greedy yet utterly sincere smile, "What I mean is, the risks we are taking are too great, so you must pay more!"
Suleiman was furious, slammed the table, and stood up abruptly, pointing at the English envoy and shouting, "You are gouging us!"
The English envoy exchanged glances with the envoys from Russia and the Habsburg family, then smiled again and said, "Esteemed Grand Vizier, I believe you are aware that besides us, there should be no one else on this Small Broken Ball who would dare to sell ordnance to the Ottoman Empire at this time."
"No," the Habsburg envoy added with a smile, "it's not 'should be,' but 'definitely not.' Who would want to offend the Ming Dynasty and the Ming Emperor at this moment?"
As the Habsburg envoy finished speaking, the English envoy and the Russian envoy also burst into laughter.
As the English envoy and the Habsburg envoy had said, with the Great Ming officially declaring war on the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman Empire had been effectively isolated. Most countries on the Small Broken Ball would cease doing business with the Ottoman Empire, and no one would dare to risk offending the Great Ming by selling them ordnance.
The only ones daring to act against the trend were England, Russia, and the Habsburg family.
Their aim was to tear off two more pieces from the Ottoman Empire before its demise.
Filled with resentment, Suleiman suppressed his anger, let out a cold snort, and said to the envoys from England and the Habsburg family, "In that case, we have nothing more to discuss. The Ottoman Empire will immediately prepare to surrender to the Ming Emperor. Gentlemen, farewell!"
The envoys from England, Russia, and other countries, who had been laughing boisterously moments before, suddenly fell silent. The English envoy frowned deeply and said in a grave tone, "Does your Ottoman Empire intend to betray the alliance between Sultan Mahmud II and His Majesty King George III?"
Upon hearing the English envoy's words, Suleiman's heart settled. He first thought to himself that his gamble had paid off, then couldn't help but curse inwardly – these scoundrels! When you talk to them about alliances, they say alliances don't exist. When you talk to them about "lips gone, teeth cold," they talk about business. When you threaten to overturn the table, they then talk about alliances!
Suleiman let out a cold laugh and said, "Just now you said that there was no alliance between Sultan Mahmud II and King George III, and that Sultan Mahmud II had not even visited the Habsburg Eagle Fortress. So, what does the Ottoman Empire's surrender to the Ming Dynasty have to do with any of you?"
As Suleiman finished speaking, a strange silence fell upon the room.
Suleiman was calculating how to intimidate the envoys from England and other countries to continue the discussions about ordnance, while the envoys from England and other countries were also calculating how to persuade Suleiman not to surrender.
Seeing the increasingly oppressive atmosphere, the Russian envoy couldn't help but step forward to ease the tension.
The Russian envoy smiled and said to Suleiman, "Esteemed Grand Vizier, you should know that the Ming Emperor is not a benevolent person, and surrendering to the Ming Dynasty will absolutely not benefit the Ottoman Empire. Have you forgotten India? India did not resist the Ming Dynasty's auxiliary forces, but where is India now?"
Suleiman still sneered, "Although whether resisting or not resisting the Ming Dynasty's army will lead to the demise of the Ottoman Empire, you must not forget that I am the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire."
"According to the consistent traditions of the Ming Dynasty, ministers like myself and Mustafa Pasha, if willing to surrender first, will be granted a爵位 (juéwèi - noble title) of some significance. Although we will lose power, we will be able to preserve our lives and wealth, and even gain more wealth."
"At that time, I will be an Earl of the Ming Dynasty. Not only will I not have to grovel to you to buy ordnance, but I can live comfortably in the Ming Dynasty."
The Russian envoy's smile became even more enthusiastic and sincere. He even stood up and placed his hand on Suleiman's shoulder, trying to coax Suleiman back into his seat. "Esteemed Grand Vizier, although the English envoy mentioned increasing the price earlier, I believe you can understand that we are indeed taking immense risks, and raising the price is unavoidable."
The Habsburg envoy also solemnly stated, "Esteemed Grand Vizier, I can assure you that we will provide the latest military ordnance, and I can also guarantee that even if we have to draw from our respective countries, we will supply the Ottoman Empire's needs in sufficient quantities. Furthermore, the price will only increase by ten percent to compensate for our transportation losses – as you know, the Ming Dynasty's army will surely blockade all routes from our respective countries to the Ottoman Empire, and our cost of transporting ordnance to the Ottoman Empire will increase infinitely."
Only then did Suleiman grudgingly sit back down, coldly saying, "Besides ordnance, we, the Ottoman Empire, also need a large amount of grain."
The English envoy exchanged glances with the Russian and Ottoman envoys again, then nodded and said, "We will find a way to ensure the grain supply for the Ottoman Empire. The price will also only increase by ten percent to compensate for transportation losses."
Seeing that the English envoy and the Russian envoy were yielding more and more, Suleiman decided to push his luck further.
Suleiman frowned and said, "I can agree to your ten percent price increase, and even raise it by twenty percent out of consideration for our alliance."
The eyebrows of the English envoy, the Russian envoy, and the Habsburg envoy also furrowed.
The talk of "out of consideration for our alliance" was utter nonsense, because everyone present was no saint. When they wanted to raise prices, Suleiman threatened to overturn the table, and now he was willingly raising prices?
So, Suleiman was about to say "but," wasn't he?
As expected, while the English envoy and others were silently grumbling, Suleiman did indeed utter the word "but."
Suleiman continued to frown and said, "Although I would like to raise the price to compensate for your losses, I regret to inform you all that due to Sultan Mahmud II's reforms, the Ottoman treasury is now completely empty. If you can accept it, we, the Ottoman Empire, are willing to pay with oil. If you cannot accept it, then our transaction cannot be completed."
After hearing Suleiman's words, the English envoy and others internally cursed.
The Ottoman treasury is completely empty?
This was not impossible, but if you have no money, what the hell are you buying ordnance for, you idiot! This is simply a joke!
And paying with oil?
Yes, the Ottoman Empire indeed had no shortage of oil, but we in Europe need kerosene and diesel, and we can't use this raw oil!
Besides, even if Europe needed kerosene and diesel, we would buy them directly from the Ming Dynasty. Who would be foolish enough to think about transporting oil from the Ottoman Empire to refine it themselves?
Refining is worse than buying ready-made products!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. The English envoy said with a black face, "Your Excellency the Grand Vizier, you should know that England has no demand for oil at the moment. Even if you raise the price by thirty percent, the oil is of no use to us."
Suleiman shook his head slightly and said, "You may not have a demand for oil now, but you can have it resold to the Ming Dynasty. I will persuade Mustafa Pasha to order the burning of oil fields close to the Ming Dynasty's army, so that the Ming Dynasty's army cannot obtain a drop of oil from Ottoman land."
Upon hearing Suleiman's words, the English envoy and others, who had been internally cursing, became somewhat moved.
As is well known, the Ming Dynasty's demand for oil has always been insatiable, and they have transported large quantities of oil from the Ottoman Empire every year.
And with the Ming Dynasty announcing war on the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman side would certainly no longer supply a single drop of oil to the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty would only be able to obtain oil by occupying the Ottoman oil fields with its army and then extracting it. Combined with what Suleiman had just said, the Ming Dynasty's method of extracting Ottoman oil fields themselves was no longer feasible.
This meant that the Ming Dynasty would have to find new sources of oil.
Coincidentally, they themselves possessed a large amount of oil...
Even if they couldn't set prices freely, they could completely transfer the costs to the Ottoman Empire.
Thinking of this, the English envoy smiled and extended his hand to shake Suleiman's, saying, "Pleasant cooperation, Esteemed Grand Vizier."
(End of this chapter)
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