As a Sultan aiming to reform the Ottoman Empire, Selim III did not mind the expenses of a few hundred students. After all, the Ottoman Empire possessed vast amounts of oil, and the Ming Dynasty happened to need it. Even if a barrel of oil could only be sold for the price of an akçe, all their oil would still fetch a astronomical sum.
Compared to this, Selim III was more concerned about the attitudes and movements of Mustafa and the conservative nobles of the Ottoman Empire.
From their earlier conversation, he could see that he had failed to change Mustafa's views on reform. Mustafa still favored the conservative nobles. If those nobles were to depose him and install Mustafa, would all the reforms he had been pushing for be in vain?
Selim III waved his hand and said to Mahmut, "You can go ahead with sending the students. However, before that, I have something else to instruct you to do."
"You will secretly go to Topkapi Palace to find Mahmut and try to gauge his attitude towards reform. If he genuinely supports reform, then tell him about the strategies I have already decided upon, as well as the treaty signed with the Ming Dynasty this time, and ask for his opinion."
"If anything unexpected happens to me, remember to inform Alemdar and the Grand Vizier, and tell them to support Mahmut and overthrow Mustafa."
"If Mahmut only superficially supports reform, and his actual attitude is the same as Mustafa's..." Selim III lowered his head and pondered. After a while, he raised his head, his face filled with exhaustion, and said weakly, "Then let it be. Try to minimize any turmoil."
Mahmut was instantly flustered.
Being appointed as the Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Ming Dynasty by Selim III, responsible for matters such as the Ottoman Empire's entry into the 'Little Broken Pot' (a term likely referring to a coalition or alliance) and the armistice agreement with the Great Ming, was enough to prove that Mahmut was an intelligent man.
Not to mention that Selim III's words had already clearly hinted at his intentions.
No, it should not be called a hint.
Selim III's words were almost a blatant revelation – the Ottoman Empire was about to experience turmoil, and even the Sultan's position was likely to change hands!
Mahmut was well aware that if the new Sultan supported Selim III's reforms, it would be one thing. But if the new ruler supported the conservative faction of Mustafa, then he, as a supporter of Selim III's reforms, would surely not fare well.
The key was that he had no way to turn back.
Whether it was his past support for Selim III's reforms or his current mission to the Ming Dynasty, signing numerous treaties that were detrimental to Ottoman interests, all these actions would make the conservative nobles already view him as a thorn in their side.
Thinking of this, Mahmut couldn't help but envy the ministers of the Ming Dynasty.
Or rather, Mahmut felt pity for Selim III.
Both were monarchs of their respective countries. The Ming Emperor possessed almost absolute authority, and in the words of the Ming people, his decree was law, and he could do as he pleased.
Even the Great Qing, overthrown by the Ming, seemed to have an emperor with absolute power?
In contrast, Selim III not only faced the obstruction of conservative nobles in his reforms but also found his position as Sultan somewhat unstable.
After careful consideration, Mahmut could only sigh and say, "Sultan, the situation doesn't seem to be that bad yet?"
Selim III smiled and shook his head, saying, "Although it hasn't reached the worst point yet, it's almost there."
"Before signing the armistice treaty with the Ming Dynasty, the conservative nobles were too preoccupied with the offensive of the Ming army to deal with me, even if they were dissatisfied with the reforms. They didn't have the time to confront me."
"But now, we have signed an armistice treaty with the Ming Dynasty and successfully joined the 'Little Broken Pot.' The nobles can now shift their attention away from the Ming army."
"Coincidentally, this treaty is also very unfavorable to the Ottoman Empire – it's like actively handing them an excuse."
"If you were one of those conservative nobles, what would you do?"
Mahmut was speechless.
In all fairness, Mahmut felt that Selim III was truly wronged. The Ottoman Empire had signed treaties with other countries before, even more humiliating ones than this.
Yet, the nobles or Sultans who had signed those humiliating treaties before were all fine. It was only now, with Selim III, that his position as Sultan was threatened, and the entire Ottoman Empire faced a situation of unrest.
Where could one even go to reason about this?
Sighing inwardly, Mahmut was about to offer some words of comfort to Selim III when Selim III shook his head and preempted him, "You don't need to comfort me. I see the current situation very clearly."
"Either I will collude with those conservative nobles like Mustafa, and let the entire Ottoman Empire slowly collapse."
"Or I will carry out reforms with a determined hand. Since Mustafa does not support me, then everything I do will be considered clearing the obstacles for Mahmut's reforms."
"If even Mahmut only superficially supports my reforms, and in reality leans towards the conservative nobles like Mustafa, then it means the true God wishes to destroy the Ottoman Empire."
At this point, Selim III suddenly chuckled again and said, "But how can we mortals fathom the will of the true God? Just as you said earlier, the situation may not necessarily be this bad. Perhaps all that is happening now is a test given to us by the true God?"
Shaking his head slightly again, Selim III continued, "Alright, let's talk about the treaties signed with the Ming Dynasty."
However, before Mahmut could say anything further, a thunderous roar of killing erupted from outside the Topkapi Palace.
Selim III's face immediately changed, and after glancing at Mahmut, he said with a wry smile, "I am sorry, Mahmut. It would have been better if you had returned a few days earlier or a few days later. This time..."
Mahmut wanted to express his composure with a smile, but the smile he forced onto his face looked more like crying than smiling. "Even if I had returned a few days earlier or a few days later, the situation would not have been any different – or rather, if I had returned a few months later, the situation might have been different from now."
Selim III blinked and asked, "What do you mean?"
Mahmut said, "According to the agreement signed when we joined the 'Little Broken Pot,' the 'Little Broken Pot' will guarantee the stability of each member state. Although we all know such agreements are no better than scrap paper, the Ming Dynasty, for the sake of oil, will definitely ensure the implementation of this agreement and will never stand by and watch turmoil occur in our Ottoman Empire."
"However, because I was anxious, I rushed back. The Ming Dynasty's ambassador and guards sent to Istanbul have not yet departed."
"Otherwise, as long as the Sultan could take refuge in the Ming Dynasty's embassy, they would definitely be unable to do anything to you."
Hearing Mahmut say this, Selim III felt a sense of amusement mixed with exasperation.
Forcing another smile that looked more like crying than smiling, Selim III simply patted Mahmut's shoulder and said, "You are oversimplifying this matter. I am the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, how could I seek refuge in the embassy of the Ming people?"
Just as Mahmut was about to say something, the sounds of fighting outside the Topkapi Palace gradually subsided. Chaotic footsteps soon echoed outside the great hall, and a group of conservative Ottoman nobles, surrounding Mustafa, quickly entered the palace.
Mustafa looked at Selim III with shame, his lips moving slightly as if he wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin. All his unspoken words finally turned into a long sigh.
Selim III ignored Mustafa and instead turned his gaze to the conservative nobles, smiling and saying, "I did not expect you to have so little patience."
Among the rebels, the leader was Ali, the commander of the Ottoman Kapıkulu Cavalry Corps.
Ali bowed slightly and placed his hand on his chest to salute Selim III, then declared loudly, "Sultan, under your leadership, the Ottoman Empire weakens day by day. This is enough to prove that your reforms are wrong. After discussions among all of us, we have decided to ask you to abdicate and to enthrone Mustafa as the new Sultan and Caliph. We believe that under Mustafa's leadership, we will surely be able to restore the glory of the Ottoman Empire!"
Selim III smiled and looked at Mustafa, asking, "And you? What are your thoughts?"
Mustafa's face instantly turned as red as a pig's liver.
In Mustafa's view, if he had not made prior arrangements with these conservative nobles, and if he had not informed these conservative nobles of Mahmut's return, then today's events would not have happened.
At the very least, things would not have escalated to this point. Being directly escorted into the Topkapi Palace by these conservative nobles and then being installed as Sultan after they had already captured the palace were two entirely different concepts.
In the former case, he would be the protagonist of a forced abdication and rebellion.
In the latter case, he would be a benevolent ruler favored by the people.
Mustafa suddenly felt a sense of resentment towards Selim III. If Selim III had not suddenly summoned him to the Topkapi Palace today, he would not have contacted these conservative nobles in advance out of caution, and all of this would naturally not have happened!
Thinking of this, Mustafa felt somewhat better, even able to look at Selim III calmly and say, "Sultan, your reforms are unpopular and wrong, a deviation from the will of the true God. We are here at the Topkapi Palace today hoping that you will recognize your mistakes."
Selim III chuckled again and said, "The true God says, 'Even if knowledge is far away in China, one should seek it.'"
"The most powerful country in the world today is the Ming Dynasty, which shows that the true God's words are correct. Therefore, how can it be wrong for me to learn from the Ming Dynasty?"
Before Mustafa and the others could come up with a rebuttal, Selim preemptively changed the topic and said, "I can abdicate, and I can swear allegiance to you. However, Mahmut is innocent. He was only sent as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty by my command. Even the treaties, I was the one who had him sign them."
Mustafa looked at Selim with surprise, his expression becoming quite complex.
Judging by normal circumstances, Selim III's best choice at this moment would have been to completely abandon Mahmut, admit that he was misled by Mahmut, and then abdicate.
Although Mahmut might not agree with this statement, as long as he, the new Sultan and Caliph, recognized it, Selim III could still maintain a shred of dignity, the dignity of a repentant ruler who abdicated.
However, Selim III chose a different path, which was to sacrifice his own reputation and take all the blame onto himself, thereby protecting Mahmut.
After thinking about it, Mustafa nodded and said, "You can rest assured, I will not make things difficult for Mahmut. In fact, the Ottoman Empire needs talents like Mahmut."
Selim III also nodded, bowed slightly to Mustafa, and placed his hand on his chest in salute, "Congratulations, the new Sultan, the Caliph. I swear allegiance to you."
Mustafa suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
After accepting Selim III's oath of allegiance, Mustafa first had Selim III taken away and confined. Then, he turned his gaze to Mahmut, "And you? Are you willing to swear allegiance to me?"
However, to Mustafa's surprise, Mahmut not only refused to swear allegiance but also gave him a disdainful glance and sneered, "I learned a principle in the Ming Dynasty, which is that a loyal minister does not serve two masters, and a fine horse does not recognize a second master."
At this point, Mahmut suddenly let out a wild laugh and said, "I know that I have signed many treaties and agreements that harm the interests of the Ottoman Empire with the Ming Dynasty, and I will surely go to hell after death."
"And you! Mustafa, you have betrayed the Sultan, you have betrayed the teachings of the true God, and you will go to hell, you definitely will! Although I may not live to see that day, I will be waiting for you in hell!"
After speaking, Mahmut drew the scimitar he carried and slashed it sharply across his own throat. Blood immediately gushed out like a spring!
Mustafa was greatly startled and couldn't help but feel a touch of regret.
Although he leaned towards the conservative nobles, Mustafa also knew that Mahmut was a rare talent in the Ottoman Empire. Moreover, the treaties and agreements signed with the Ming Dynasty required Mahmut's detailed explanation and execution.
Now that Mahmut had ended his life decisively and cleanly, what about the treaties with the Ming Dynasty?
Thinking of this, Mustafa couldn't help but get a headache.