I was the Queen of Persia

Page 120

She dispatched a large number of soldiers disguised as merchant caravans, and secretly deployed a large number of attack troops in the surrounding area. Taking advantage of the Fatima army's lax defenses, they launched a coordinated attack from within and without to seize the key town. Fatima Governor Fila Sedin was defeated and forced to retreat with the remaining troops.

After a series of strategic setbacks, Philasedin, despite suffering very minor losses to his main forces, lost his dominant position on the macro battlefield and was forced to abandon Damascus and retreat to the holy city of Jerusalem.

To Sahinian’s dismay, the Fatima dynasty’s control of Knife Sheath Castle severely damaged the Samanid intelligence network there, and “Clever Hassan” and many of his companions, who were ordered to infiltrate the city, were all killed.

Recalling this cowardly, lecherous, yet cunning and capable informant, recalling how he served her with such fervor, how she had drained him dry, and now seeing his head severed and nailed to a stake, Sahinnian felt a terrible pang in her heart.

“Damn Fatima! They can’t beat us, so they take it out on these poor innocent people! Hassan, that idiot, he didn’t have to take this risk, sigh…” Sahinian sighed and shook her head.

But war inevitably brings casualties. And what impressed Sahimian and the female warriors of the Saman Empire was that Hassan, who was usually as timid as a mouse, did not divulge a single piece of information after being tortured by the Fatima army, until the Fatima executive cut off his head, which was then placed on a spear and stood in front of the city of Blade Sheath.

Shahzani appreciated this and collected his body, burying it in a Muslim cemetery.

“Hassan is a hero; he has gone to Paradise, the paradise of Allah. Don’t be discouraged; he will be recognized there by the wise and brave!” Shahzani patted Shahini’s shoulder, comforting him.

"Alas, may he rest in peace in heaven!" Sahimian said regretfully.

“Now that the Fatima forces have been driven out of Damascus and retreated to Palestine, I suggest that our army strike while the iron is hot and launch a campaign against the Fatima forces entrenched in Palestine!” Shahiniyan added.

“Good idea, it’s time to drive the Mishir people out of the Holy City!” Shahzani agreed with the plan.

They then concentrated their forces to attack Palestine.

……

Jerusalem, the Fatimid army camp.

This holy city, ravaged by war several times over the past millennium, exudes a profound sense of antiquity and vicissitude. Its towering stone buildings blend elements of classical Near Eastern, Greek, Roman, and Arabic civilizations, while lush evergreen forests dot the landscape between temples and monasteries.

On the Temple Mount, the ruins of the classical era still stand desolate, while at the foot of Solomon's Wall, waves of Jewish pilgrims come and go. Muslims, Christians, and Jews—three religious groups—live together in the city, coexisting and co-existing, yet also wary of one another.

Governor Fila Sedin of Fatima had no interest in appreciating the cultural charm of the "City of Peace" at this moment. The continuous defeats had made him sullen and indecisive.

"Imams accompanying the army! Immediately summon the army of passionate jihadists, we must..."

He desperately wanted to organize troops to launch a counterattack.

"Sigh, forget it..."

However, they often cancel their plans at the last minute.

"Conscription officer! Go and conscript as many laborers and pack animals as possible from the surrounding towns and villages. We need to build more crossbows and strengthen the defenses of the military camps in various places..."

Ultimately, he ordered his troops to fortify their camps and hold their ground, hoping to slowly wear down the attacking Samanid army through defense.

At the same time, he kept sending envoys back to Cairo, begging for more weapons, provisions, and troop supplies.

……

The Fatima banner was still flying over Palestinian soil at that time.

Palestine has a long and narrow terrain, and the Fatima army attempted to build a defensive line using the hills and passes to resist the heavy and large-scale armies of the Iranian Samanid Empire. The key to this defense was the Golan Heights.

“The Golan Heights? A strategic location that has been contested by military strategists throughout history in the Near East. The Fatima people must have deployed a lot of manpower and resources there.” Shahzani stood on a high slope, holding her Biruni glasses, gazing at the distant highlands where the red flag was pointing.

Recalling the history of the 20th century in her previous life, the Golan Heights, as a famous strategic location in the history of Middle Eastern wars, is a testament to the bloodshed of various forces, including Syria and Israel. Thinking of this, and the fact that she was now leading the Iranian ironclad forces to break through this historically significant high ground, Shahzani couldn't help but feel a slight surge of excitement once again.

“Your Majesty!” Sahimian rode up and said, “The advance force has reached the area 5 Farsachs from the Golan Heights and has now set up camp and constructed defenses.”

“Very good. How is the situation with the garrison in Fatima?” Shahzani asked.

"They set up military camps at twelve passes, which are high up and overlook the surrounding area, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack. The defending troops are also very well prepared, so it will probably be a tough battle," said Sahini.

"Order Ra'ahadi to send out his Sham assassin army first!" Shahzani commanded.

“Yes, sir!” Sahimian replied.

Shahzani's strategy was clear: most of the soldiers in the Sham Assassins were Arabs from the Sham-Levant region, who were relatively more familiar with the terrain of the Syrian-Lebanese-Palestinian border and were adept at using small-team infiltration and assault tactics.

After nightfall.

Under the cover of night, the Sham Assassins, clad in light armor and boots, and armed with grappling hooks, daggers, hidden blades, and light crossbows, first silently eliminated the Fatima sentries at the outpost. Then, they gradually infiltrated the weak points of the Fatima defenses, using their agility to drive the Fatima defenders into retreat.

Then, flames shot into the sky, and the Saman Empire's attacking forces, which had been deployed and were ready, immediately executed a tactic of encirclement and splitting, launching a more ferocious attack on the isolated and helpless Fatima fortresses.

By advancing from the left and right, and launching a pincer movement, Shahzani broke through the outermost defenses of the Fatima army in just two days and two nights, leading his troops into the Golan Heights—a land steeped in the blood of war and struggle.

Chapter 281 Sword Pointing at Yemen

The Samanid army set foot on the Golan Heights, which not only offered a panoramic view of the valleys below but also controlled extremely abundant water resources. Consolidating the occupation of this area would undoubtedly greatly increase their advantage in suppressing the Fatima army.

However, before the Saman army could complete its deployment in the Golan Heights...

Shahzani learned that the advance force deployed at the front had been attacked by a group of irregular militia. Of course, the battle ended with the militia being defeated and withdrawing, but their "courage" of fighting against overwhelming odds still surprised Shahzani slightly.

It is clear that this militia is pro-Fatima and hostile to the Samanid Empire.

“Nassaks!” Shahzani waved her arm and gave the order to the intelligence officers, “Find out who these people are, and if possible, capture a few prisoners.”

The dutiful scouts had just left.

Another messenger came from Shiraz (the capital of Fars Province and the capital of the Fars War Zone), riding his horse through the layers of fences and tents of the military camps and war zones, raising a trail of dust, which showed that he was carrying urgent military intelligence.

"Supreme King of Kings! Urgent military situation along the Persian coast!"

The messenger dismounted before the Queen's army tent and, without even taking a short rest, rushed inside to report. After bowing and paying his respects, he presented Shahzani with the military intelligence report he carried with him.

Shahzani opened it and her brows furrowed slightly; her expression turned grim.

The Fatimid Caliphate's Red Sea Fleet has occupied the Omani coast and the islands in the Strait of Hormuz. Omani religious leaders and Karmaat imams, intimidated by its power, have chosen to submit. The Fatimid army has already constructed fortifications in Sohar (the capital of Oman) and the Hasa oasis, and has launched sporadic attacks on the Omani coastal provinces of Hormozgan and Sherab…

Indeed, the Samanid army was powerful, but the Fatimid navy was far superior. Although the Samanid army had deployed outposts on various islands in the Persian Gulf beforehand, it could only relatively delay the Fatimid navy's offensive.

The sphere of influence on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf has been temporarily lost.

“This is a real hassle! Well, it seems I have to take care of it!” Shahzani’s eyes sharpened.

She first drafted an edict ordering Hoslu, the commander of the Fars war zone, to continue preparing for war, accelerate troop training and horse breeding, and expedite the manufacture of anti-ship weapons such as catapults and Naftan incendiary bombs to prevent a sea invasion by the Fatima army.

“However, we still need to send an elite, all-around force as support. That way, we can launch a surprise attack on the enemy.” Shahzani had another flash of inspiration. And this task was naturally once again entrusted to Shahini, who had a strong fighting spirit and a great adventurous spirit.

"Haha, as you command, Your Majesty!" Sahimian gladly accepted the order. She could no longer contain her strong fighting spirit and was eager to join the battle.

“Yes, very good. But there is an extra task. If you can complete it successfully, it will be a glorious achievement that will go down in history! Enough to be recorded in the biographies of warriors in the Book of Kings.” Shahzani’s voice was solemn and loud.

“Please speak,” Sahimian said.

Shahzani unfolded a high-precision map, swung his club, and pointed to the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula—the Yemen region. This is the earliest civilization to emerge on the Arabian Peninsula, and a strategically vital location controlling the Red Sea.

“You know my plan.” Shahzani looked at Shahini and smiled knowingly.

“Of course, my Queen. You need us to take Yemen and cut off the Fatima army’s sea route.” Sahinien was delighted with the Queen’s favor.

“Haha, that’s right! Yemen is a natural outpost that God has given to Iran. More than four hundred years ago, Sasanian general Varez achieved great things there. And now, it is up to you to create that glory!” Shahzani said with a majestic and generous air.

“In that case, I swear by Allah Hutah, and by Rustam’s warhammer, I am willing to lead my elite troops to expand our territory. Any enemy who dares to stand in our way will be crushed by your most loyal warriors!” Sahini’s reply was equally resounding.

The deaths of her servants had long fueled a nameless rage within her. Before long, she would unleash that fury upon the Fatima, making these enemies who had murdered her lover taste the bitterness of defeat.

Therefore, the emperor and his minister summoned their advisors, military commanders, and other staff members to formulate a more detailed and thorough plan.

First, Sahini led the Torchbearer Brigade to the Kazakh Oasis to win over the pro-Iranian Kalmat militia and relieve the siege of Bahrain and Dhahran, thus dampening the enemy's morale.

However, what followed was one of the most daring and adventurous actions in military history:

After consolidating the Hassa Oasis, Shahiniyan, without supplies, led only 100 elite soldiers, infiltrated merchant caravans and pilgrimage groups, and traversed the vast and desolate heart of Najd by land to unexpectedly reach the Yemeni region, subdue the Zayd forces, and establish a base in the enemy's heartland.

This is undoubtedly a risky move. If it is not executed well, the entire expedition team will face the danger of being wiped out, and Shahzani will also lose a capable member.

However, this is also a move with huge potential benefits. If executed successfully, it will not only restrict the Fatimid dynasty's maritime routes, but also accelerate the disintegration of the weakest province in the Fatimid territory—Najj province, ruled by Muhaddab.

High risk comes with high reward, and even a steady and cautious ruler like Shahzani was willing to take the gamble.

Sahimian was even more eager to go. Her free-spirited and unrestrained nature, and her childhood yearning to roam the world like a mendicant monk, filled her with a surging longing for the battles and adventures to come.

……

The day of departure arrived quickly; it was April 1012 AD, within the month of Farvardin in the Persian calendar.

At the farewell banquet, Shahzani solemnly raised her cup and looked at Shahini and the soldiers who were going to war.

"Warriors of Iran! You are as brave as the warriors who marched into Yemen more than four hundred years ago! Go forth and create glorious military achievements that will be remembered in history! The Persian history books will remember that you galloped across the homeland of the Arabs and washed away the shame of the Sasanian dynasty's demise! Rustam's bravery shines upon you!"

Having said that, he raised his cup and drank it down in one gulp, just as Emperor Anushirvan (Khosrow I) had done four hundred years earlier when he saw off the Varez expeditionary force.

The Sasanian legacy is so dazzling and precious that Shahzani has decided to follow in the footsteps of the Iranian sages and set foot on every piece of land that the Sasanian ancestors conquered.

This is a game of strategy, this is a struggle for supremacy. She will use her sword and pen to write a new chapter in the history of the Persian Empire.

The atmosphere of the battlefield was immediately ignited.

"Iran is immortal!" A large group of soldiers shouted.

"God bless you!" Another large group of soldiers also fired and shouted.

With high morale and surging fighting spirit, Sahimian led his officers and soldiers in a resounding oath, then brandished their spears and embarked on their expedition under the crimson banner of the Saman Empire.

Chapter 282 A Daring Adventure

The swirling sand made the sky appear murky, and the hot winds kept blowing. Even though it wasn't yet the month of Aldi Behesht, the Arab region was already quite hot.

Sahimian led her expeditionary force, overcoming numerous difficulties during the desert march, and quickly reached the Kassa Oasis. Their arrival greatly encouraged the pro-Saman Karmat faction in the area. They fought swiftly, recapturing the area around Dhahran Castle and simultaneously thwarting the enemy's offensive against Bahrain.

“Polodina!” Sahimian instructed the Slavic female general accompanying her, “You will lead the troops to guard the Kazakh Oasis, and you must keep in mind Her Majesty the Queen’s wisdom in governing the country.”

“In the name of God, I obey your command. If this strategic location is lost, may my soul go to hell!” Polodina’s green eyes were sharp and piercing, and Persian was already flowing from her lips.

Sahimian nodded in agreement, and then, according to the plan, she selected 100 skilled archers and horsemen, highly proficient in martial arts, adaptable, and fluent in Arabic from the Holy Fire Brigade. Disguised, they entered the merchant caravans bound for Yemen in batches.

Before setting off, out of awe, the soldiers of Karmat presented several handsome young men to Shahini and the Iranian female warriors, who gladly accepted them.

Because this was one of the few moments during the long and arduous march ahead where they could indulge themselves to a certain extent and replenish their spiritual strength, the beautiful and thirsty Iranian female officers naturally wouldn't let it pass.

From the rather simple tent came enchanting melodies, and alluring light and shadow danced seductively. In the flickering candlelight, a voluptuous and robust body swayed and writhed wildly before finally letting out a long, satisfied moan.

This was the last moment of their stay in Anle Township. Soon, the team would be ready to embark on their adventurous journey to Yemen.

"The most difficult moment has arrived, but Rustam's courage will make them go to hell!" Sahinian looked at the desolate Nej Desert, his eyes revealing a desire for conquest and battle.

……

The Golan Heights, Shahzani's military tent.

“Oh? So the ones who attacked our army earlier were Druze followers.” Shahzani nodded as she looked at the report presented by her staff.

The Druze sect is a unique sect that emerged during the reign of Hakim of the Fatimid dynasty. It is mainly distributed in the hills and valleys of Egypt and the Levant. Its doctrine emphasizes the cult of personality of Hakim, which makes it unique among the many sects of Islam.

“Your Majesty, these armed militia have been driven from their forward positions. As you predicted, they are brave and fanatical, but lack combat skills. They have been repeatedly defeated by our army and are currently retreating deeper into the highlands,” Saman’s aide reported at the same time.

“Very good.” Shahzani nodded. “Continue to deploy tactics according to plan. We must make these blind believers understand that establishing their own ‘god’ and believing in him does not make them invincible.”

Through the curtain of the military tent, Shahzani gazed at the southeastern sky, where the battlefields of the Shahinian army lay.

Step by step, steadily and surely, with a focus on key areas, they estimated the timeline and waited until Shahiniyan conquered Yemen as planned. Then, they immediately led their troops to continue their advance, cutting off Fatima's left and right arms with two separate offensives.

……

Neizhi, the heart of the desert.

After consolidating his initial control over the Bahrain-Dahlan region, Shahini quickly mingled with merchant caravans and headed toward Yemen.

The Nejd region, despite its vast area, is barren and sparsely populated, with only scattered oases dotting the desert, and various Bedouin tribes moving about.

Due to its relatively underdeveloped society, the short period since its annexation by the Fatimid Caliphate, and the failure to establish a complete bureaucratic system, coupled with the ineffective governance of the governor-general Muhadab, the political situation here was generally divided and disorganized.

Therefore, Samanian soldiers like Sahinian, disguised as men, moved freely between the oases and trade routes of Nejd. When they were occasionally questioned at checkpoints, Sahinian cleverly defused the situation with her linguistic wisdom.

……

They have reached northern Yemen.

As far as the eye could see, mountain ridges stretched across the landscape, with lush oases dotting the desert. The Samanid troops had broken away from the caravan and were currently camped and resting in a secluded little oasis, heavily guarded by sentries.

Based on intelligence gathered along the way, the Zayd rebels in Yemen are in dire straits. Although they retreated into the mountains, using the mountain town of Saada as their stronghold, and fought tenaciously against the pro-Fatima Hejaz, Nejz, and Yemeni forces, they ultimately suffered repeated defeats due to the overwhelming disparity in strength. Currently, their territory has shrunk to the area around Saada, and their forces are estimated to number only a few thousand; their demise seems only a matter of time.

However, the spirited Shahini did not back down. Even though the Zaid forces were already very weak, she was determined to penetrate their territory, lead the rebels to turn the tide, defeat the more powerful enemy, and ultimately spread the influence of the Iranian Samanid Empire to Yemen.

This is also a quality she learned from Queen Shahzani.

"How far is it from Sadah?" Sahini asked the soldier of the Holy Fire Brigade beside her, looking at the map.

“There are 3 more Farsachs (about 18 kilometers) left,” the sergeant indicated on the map.

“Yes, that’s right. Currently, all kinds of armed forces affiliated with the Fatima court are launching offensives against the Zaid rebels, putting these rebels in a very precarious situation. It seems we must speed things up,” said Sahinnian.