An English staff officer, acting as a strategic advisor to Prince Ahmad, spread a map across the table and laid out the operation.

“The decisive battle will take place here, at Bolu. Whether it is Selim’s forces or Korkut’s, they must pass through this region to enter Konstantiniyye. We must seize this location first and establish a defensive perimeter.”

Having heard the explanation, Ahmad turned his gaze toward his own commanders. Understanding the silent prompt, one of Ahmad’s retainers challenged the English officer.

“If our goal is defense, would it not be wiser to hole up here in Amasya? We already have well-constructed walls, and the burden of supply would be significantly lighter.”

The English officer scoffed at the question, retorting immediately.

“Are those walls sturdier than the Triple Walls of Constantinople?”

“…”

“Furthermore, while you may call it ‘holding up’ in Amasya, to the rest of the world, it will look like you have foolishly chosen self-isolation. The route through Amasya is merely the fastest and most convenient path to the capital, not the only path.”

“…”

The mouths of Ahmad’s staff snapped shut. The Englishman was right; there were coastal roads to the north and routes through the highlands south of Amasya. Yet, abandoning the well-prepared stronghold of Amasya felt like a bitter waste of resources.

Unwilling to yield completely, Ahmad’s retainer pressed on.

“Then what of supplies? How do you propose we maintain our lines?”

“The English fleet has already passed through the Bosphorus Strait. Do not concern yourself with logistics.”

The debate had clearly ended in the English officer’s favor, but the final decision rested with the Prince. As the room held its breath, Ahmad, who had maintained a heavy silence, finally spoke.

“We settle this at Bolu.”

With Ahmad’s decision made, his army and the English contingent moved with frantic urgency.

“Move it! We must march with all haste!”

“Secure the supplies properly! Do not leave a single crate of ammunition or grain behind!”

Amidst the cacophony of soldiers and officers shouting orders for the deployment, the English advisor approached Ahmad with a quiet, new piece of counsel.

“Prince Osman must accompany us as well.”

“You say my son must go?”

“Leaving him here runs the risk of him being taken hostage. Furthermore, Prince Osman is fully grown; they will not simply leave him be.”

“…”

And so, it was decided that Ahmad’s son, Osman, would march with the main host.

***

Upon confirming Ahmad’s mobilization, the armies of Korkut and Selim also began their advance toward Bolu.

Korkut departed from Antalya, utilizing the southern coastal roads to bypass the highlands and aim for Bolu. Meanwhile, Selim, departing from Trabzon, pushed his forces to their limit.

“Maximum speed to Bolu! We cannot give Ahmad time to dig in!”

Despite ordering a forced march, Selim chose a route hugging the coastline rather than cutting through Amasya.

“Ahmad has not simply abandoned Amasya. To approach the city or follow in his wake would risk unnecessary losses. We abandon that path.”

For this pivotal showdown, all three factions moved toward Bolu while meticulously conserving their combat power. A distinct characteristic of their movements was a complete lack of intersection.

Do not commit the folly of wasting time and strength on meaningless skirmishes. Control only what is necessary, exactly when it is necessary.

The three factions and the European powers backing them were mirroring the precise tactical maneuvers the Empire had demonstrated in the Mediterranean.

However, the maritime supply lines presented a starkly different picture. A bizarre situation unfolded where fleets supporting opposing factions watched each other pass without firing a shot.

“Look at that! They’re just letting them go? Are they mad?”

Imperial naval commanders would have burst a vessel in frustration at the sight, but the situation arose because the warships owned by the European powers had become exceedingly ‘precious bodies.’

These vessels—laden with dozens of costly cannons, encased in expensive steel plating, and powered by steam engines worth several times the artillery—were exorbitant investments. Furthermore, the crews trained to operate these steamships commanded high salaries.

“The Mediterranean is important, yes, but Terra and Gloria are far more critical.”

“Besides, this isn’t a war between European nations, is it? Why should we risk our expensive ships in their squabble?”

Since this was not a total war for survival among the European powers, losing warships was considered a pointless waste. Consequently, the navies intervening in the Ottoman succession crisis had all received nearly identical standing orders:

Do not fire unless fired upon.

Coupled with these orders was the prevailing sentiment among the sailors themselves.

“There’s no need for us to bleed in another country’s civil war, is there?”

Thanks to this pragmatic hesitation, the tangled maritime routes remained peaceful, with not a single battle breaking out on the waves.

***

The faction to first secure Bolu, the critical choke point to Konstantiniyye, was Ahmad’s. Upon receiving intelligence that Ahmad had seized the city, both Korkut and Selim abruptly slowed their advance.

“If we speed up and engage Ahmad first, we’ll only be doing the work for the others!”

“Getting stabbed in the back in a situation like this stings the most.”

Korkut and Selim advanced toward Bolu at a crawl, keeping a wary eye on one another. This hesitation brought cheers from Ahmad’s staff and their English advisors.

“A golden opportunity!”

“We’d be fools to miss a chance like this!”

Bought time by his brothers’ indecision, Ahmad’s forces began to fortify their defensive positions in earnest.

***

The strategists and advisors serving Korkut and Selim were not blind; they had anticipated this stalemate.

“It is not we who are tied down, but Ahmad!”

While Ahmad’s forces are fixated on Bolu, we play our hidden hand!

Selim’s hidden card was a coalition ground force comprised of French, Italian, and Portuguese troops. Concealed secretly in Yalova, south of Konstantiniyye, these forces were poised to land at Gebze and march directly on the capital the moment the order was given.

Ahmad and Korkut will grab each other by the ankles. And even if they don’t, I will force them to!

This was Selim’s gambit.

Korkut, however, held a hidden hand of his own: the Habsburg army and the Janissaries.

If the contest with Ahmad and Selim turns into a quagmire, the waiting Habsburg forces will march south, join with the Janissaries, and secure both the Sultan’s person and the capital!

This was Korkut’s plan.

Meanwhile, the plan devised by Ahmad and England was simple.

Wait until the other two exhaust themselves fighting!

“We are somewhat aware of the movements of France and the Habsburgs,” the English advisor noted. “Eventually, fierce urban warfare will erupt in Constantinople. The issue is that all European participants face the same dilemma.”

“And what dilemma is that?”

“We cannot pour everything we have into this. Therefore, the side that conserves the most strength until the very end will be the victor. The best course of action is to focus entirely on defense and force them to become impatient.”

Ahmad nodded at the Englishman’s assessment.

“Indeed. With Konstantiniyye right before their eyes, their blood will run hot.”

***

Eventually, Selim and Korkut arrived at Bolu almost simultaneously. To avoid unwanted engagement with each other, they began attacking Bolu from opposite sides.

Observing the situation, the English advisor smiled as he reported to Ahmad.

“If they were cooperating, this would be an ideal pincer attack. But they are not. Our burden has been significantly reduced.”

As the advisor noted, the assault by Selim and Korkut was a mess. They had to worry not only about Ahmad holding Bolu but also about the rival brother camped on the other side.

“If not for that damned Selim, I could finish Ahmad right now!”

“Korkut, that washed-up fool! Why does he have to interfere now?!”

Both Selim and Korkut spent as much time cursing each other as they did commanding their troops.

***

As the standoff at Bolu dragged on, Selim and Korkut finally played their hidden cards.

“Orders to seize Konstantiniyye.”

“Confirmed.”

The French commander, having verified the orders delivered by a fast courier boat, turned to his Italian and Portuguese counterparts seated beside him.

“Let us begin.”

“Agreed.”

Two days later, a fleet carrying soldiers and mercenaries from France, Italy, and Portugal landed at Gebze.

“Beachhead secured.”

“First wave landing complete.”

“Second wave is landing now!”

“Good!”

The French commander, face brimming with confidence, issued his orders.

“The second wave will immediately assume defense of the beachhead! The first wave departs for Konstantiniyye immediately!”

“Sir!”

As staff officers and messengers scrambled to relay the commands, the French commander mounted his horse. Watching the soldiers begin their march, he frowned slightly as he looked at the banners fluttering at the vanguard.

“I don’t like the flags.”

The massive banners snapping in the wind bore Selim’s insignia.

“It would have been far better to see our proud French tricolor flying there…”

***

“Selim’s army has landed at Gebze!”

Upon confirming the intelligence, the commanders of the Beylik Janissaries looked at each other with stoic expressions.

“Foolish Selim has played a bad move.”

“A stupid man. I thought he would make a good Sultan.”

“Enough idle talk! Our duty is to protect the capital and the Sultan! Focus on that!”

At the commander’s bark, the Janissary officers ceased their chatter and assumed grim expressions, launching into an operational meeting. Once the briefing concluded and the officers returned to their units, the commander remained with his staff and issued a directive.

“Where is the Habsburg army stationed currently?”

“They are garrisoned at Bolu.”

“Tell them to come to Konstantiniyye as fast as possible.”

“Yes, sir.”

Two days later, the Habsburg forces and mercenaries departed Bolu and began their march toward Konstantiniyye.

***

While the Habsburg army was en route to the capital, the first battle erupted across the Bosphorus Strait between the French forces and the Beylik Janissaries.

“Victory is ours!”

The opening skirmish ended in a French victory. The Janissaries, who had stepped out to defend, took significant casualties and immediately retreated across the strait.

“It’s a victory!”

“Congratulations, General!”

Subordinate commanders and staff offered their congratulations, but the French commander’s expression was dark.

“Cunning bastards…”

The Janissaries who had fled across the Bosphorus had not committed their full strength. Furthermore, they had already prepared a sufficient number of boats to cross the strait as quickly as possible. Their goal in this battle had merely been to gauge the combat capabilities of the French forces.

The real battle would take place before the gates of Konstantiniyye.