Human Nature

Chapter 755

As the undisputed central figure in this war, Abdul Hamid II felt an immense weight pressing down on him. The situation was simply too unfriendly.

Looking back through history, the Ottoman Empire had never had a Sultan as humiliated as him. In the glorious days of his forefathers, they had swept across the land invincible, crushing all before them.

The House of Habsburg had been beaten into doubting its very existence, the Russians had trembled beneath their advancing blades, and the entire European Continent had lain beneath the shadow of Ottoman iron cavalry.

Yet, "three hundred years east of the river, three hundred years west of the river"—fortune turned in its cycle, staging a real-life rendition of "Do not mock the poor old man."

From beating others to being beaten, whenever he thought of this earth-shaking reversal, Abdul Hamid II could not help but curse his ancestors in the depths of his heart.

Fine, they had made enemies everywhere—but once they had forged enmity, they should have pulled it out by the roots! Had they never heard, "If weeds are not uprooted, the spring wind will make them grow again"? They were truly a model example of screwing over their descendants.

Suppressing the resentment in his heart, Abdul Hamid II asked, "Grand Vizier, how are the preparations coming along?"

Midhat answered slowly, "The Government has already mobilized 1.2 million able-bodied young men into the army. It is expected that, over the next three months, the number mobilized will rise to two million.

"Given the enemy's fierce advance, the Government has prepared to abandon the coastal regions. The military will lure the enemy deep inland and fight a decisive battle with them there."

Abdul Hamid II did not believe that phrase, "lure the enemy deep inland," in the slightest.