I was the Queen of Persia

Page 25

The news of Khwarazm's withdrawal and pleas for peace quickly reached the front-line city of Shihanna through the postal system. The morale of the entire army was greatly boosted upon receiving this news, and Shahzani also praised her sister highly.

After resting and replenishing their supplies in Shihanna, Shahzani ordered the army to continue northward, aiming to capture Keshi before the month of Khordad (May 22 to June 21).

In contrast to the high morale of Shahzani Saman's army, the generals and soldiers of the Karakhanid Dynasty were shrouded in the dejection of defeat.

Samarkand, the governor's residence on the Karakhan River.

"boom--!"

The Karakhanid governor, Jafar Tegin, hurled the patterned pottery jar in his hand at Zhu Jiande, who was standing in front of him.

The frail scholar from the Central Plains trembled with fear and immediately knelt on the ground: "Your Excellency..."

“You foolish Peach Blossom Stone Man! Your cursed plan caused me to lose 15 troops at Shihan’s hands! Even those Khwarazmians who claimed to be our foreign aid were nothing but a flock of lambs that would collapse at the slightest touch! Tell me, how do you want me to punish you?” Jafar Tiggan glared at him, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

"Your Excellency, please calm down!" Zhu Jiande quickly begged for mercy. "I have already sent spies to Montahir's camp to persuade his generals to defect. I believe they will succeed in the next few days!"

It turned out that Zhu Jiande had already discerned that Shahzani's Saman army was united, while Montahir's Saman army harbored its own ambitions. When he was devising those two schemes, he advocated targeting the weaker Montahir army.

However, the Jafar Türk believed that Shahzani was a woman, incapable of leading troops, unworthy of the honor of a hero, and easily defeated. Therefore, they used all their assembled forces to deal with Shahzani.

Despite Zhu Jiande's repeated attempts to persuade Jafar Tegin, he could not change his mind. In desperation, he had no choice but to secretly send spies to Montahir's camp to sow discord among his generals.

He had planned to inform the governor of the matter after it was accomplished, but he did not expect that the disastrous defeat at the front had ignited the governor's anger. In order to avoid punishment, he had no choice but to tell him in advance.

"Hmph, I hope your plan succeeds! If it fails again, you will be in for a life of imprisonment and caning!" Jafar sneered.

……

Thirsty Stone City.

This city, also known as "Shahrisabz," was a prominent city during the Samanid dynasty, boasting numerous historical sites and abundant resources. More importantly, it guarded the southern gateway to Samarkand, making its strategic position extremely important.

Despite the crushing defeat at the Battle of Shihanna, the Karakhanid garrison at Keshi still mustered all its defensive forces, attempting to fight to the death against the northward offensive of Shahzani Saman's army.

But this is destined to be in vain.

After the Battle of Shihanna, Shahzani's strength increased dramatically. At the same time, thanks to the expansion of his territory and the improvement of his production capacity, it became easier to replenish the army's manpower and supply materials.

Large numbers of people enthusiastically joined the army, and more old Samanid officials, soldiers, and local militias came to surrender, bringing the frontline force to over 10, with a significant increase in armor coverage. Ironworks and armories continuously produced high-quality armor and weapons, which were consistently sent to the army. The state-run horse farms along the Surkhan River were all acquired, and the strong warhorses, grazing on alfalfa, were being supplied to the army in droves, greatly increasing the size of her heavy cavalry.

In contrast, the Karakhanid garrison at Keshi City numbered only eight or nine thousand men, which was insufficient to withstand the powerful advance of the Samanid army.

Shahzani immediately ordered an attack on the city.

The defenders of Keshi City hastily organized a resistance, but it was clear they could not withstand the offensive of Shahzani's army. Accompanied by the sounds of war drums and suonas, fierce fighting, and the clash of iron weapons, the Saman warriors scaled the city walls, and the crimson Saman battle flag fluttered atop the walls. The Karakhanid defenders were doomed.

Seeing that defeat was inevitable, the Karakhan commander immediately led his trusted guards to break out of the encirclement, attempting to wage a "harassment war" commonly used by nomadic peoples in the surrounding villages and oases, and to deal with Shahzani.

"Although this enemy force is not a significant threat, it is still a hidden danger on the battlefield. Order the light cavalry to pursue and annihilate them." Shahzani issued the order after learning that the enemy general had escaped.

A light cavalry force composed of Turkmen and assimilated Turkic-speaking tribes charged out of formation like lightning, chasing after fleeing enemy soldiers along the dirt road leading out of the city, raising clouds of dust.

After a while.

The scouts sent out arrived on horseback with news.

"Reporting to Sadar, those enemies have been killed by the Sogdian forces outside the city, and their heads are being transported here," the scout said.

“Oh, the Sogdians? They really do still exist.” Shahzani was slightly surprised.

Indeed, some Sogdian settlements still remain in the Transoxiana region.

The Sogdians and Persians were both Iranian peoples, skilled merchants and excellent warriors. For centuries, these Sogdian armed merchant caravans, led by their sabaurs (caravan leaders), traversed the Silk Road tirelessly, traveling between various civilizations and maintaining the prosperity of the Eurasian trade route.

During the Samanid dynasty, most Sogdians became Islamized and Persianized, with only a small minority maintaining their ancient traditions. However, whether native Sogdians or Persianized Sogdians (Tajiks), they were happy to provide the centralized Persian Empire with brave warriors, especially high-quality heavy infantry and heavy cavalry.

Soon after.

The cavalry unit that went on the mission returned, along with dozens of fully armed Sogdian warriors.

The Sogdian military leader at the head of the army wore a heavy lamellar armor that reached his ankles and a helmet with a face covering on both sides featuring the wings of the mythical bird Huma. He was tall, strong, and imposing.

"Warrior, hunter, and Dehgan-Ikhshid of Vakhsh village, present the enemy's head to the great Shahzani chieftain," the military leader said respectfully, leading his Sogdian warriors as they presented the heads of the Karakhan deserters.

“On behalf of the Samanid army, I thank you for your assistance and cooperation. May Khormozd bless you, and may the god of war, Vahran (Bahram, the Iranian god of war), lead you to victory,” Shahzani replied in Sogdian with a Middle Chinese accent.

The two groups of Iranians, despite their different regions, ethnicities, and religious beliefs, shared a common desire for victory in battle and a respect for history and tradition. With the guidance of Shahzani's extensive knowledge, they quickly developed a relationship.

Ultimately, under Shahzani's guidance and encouragement, Ikhshd wanted to lead the Sogdian army to surrender.

This was undoubtedly good news. The Sogdians could provide excellent heavy infantry and heavy cavalry. The Samanid Persian army had no shortage of heavy cavalry, but lacked reliable heavy infantry. The addition of this group of Sogdian soldiers could fill that gap perfectly.

But that's it.

"Report! Urgent military information!"

A messenger galloped in from the northwest, dismounted, knelt before Shahzani, and presented her with an urgent report.

Shahzani opened it and her expression immediately turned serious.

Chapter 53 Allied Forces Suffer Setback, Relieving the Siege of Wei by Rescuing Zhao

Outside Bukhara.

Montahir's siege army had already set up camp below the city walls. Samanid soldiers, using ladders and shields, continued to scale the walls. Meanwhile, from the top of the walls, the Karakhanid defenders hurled logs and stones down like hail.

Flames soared into the sky, illuminating the night as if it were daytime; the shouts of battle shook the heavens, making the entire battlefield resemble a hellish inferno.

Montahir, riding a tall, magnificent horse, watched his warriors advance step by step, and a look of delight appeared on his face.

Since the Karakhanid army captured this beautiful city last autumn, the Samani royal family and the entire Iranian people of Transoxiana have suffered immense humiliation and been forced to accept the rule of these savage Turks, even though these Turks have become quite Persianized.

Now, the former capital lay before him. If he continued fighting, charged into the city, he could reclaim his lost territory, wash away the shame, and gradually rebuild the Samanid dynasty's prestige in Transoxiana. How could he not be excited and thrilled?

However, things are not that simple.

Suddenly, a series of hoofbeats and shouts erupted nearby, as if a large and menacing army of the Karakhanid garrison was rushing in from the flank.

"God above! What has happened?!" Montahir called out to the general who rushed over, frowning as he asked.

"It's terrible, Your Highness! General Abu Mansur Elias has led his troops in a mutiny and is attacking us!" the general reported in a panic.

“What?! God! This despicable traitor!” Montahir looked incredulous.

At that moment, the Karakhanid army defending the city, seeing the inside move, immediately assembled and arrayed themselves, launching a pincer attack on Montashir, who was caught off guard. Montashir's army was thrown into chaos.

The battle situation seemed to have reversed dramatically in the blink of an eye.

Seeing no hope of victory and facing the risk of total annihilation, Montahir ordered a retreat in anger and frustration. However, due to hasty organization and being attacked from both sides, the retreat quickly turned into a rout.

Finally, Montahir's army retreated to the city of Debussy, but had suffered heavy losses, with its total strength reduced from 7 to 3, and was unable to continue launching a large-scale offensive.

……

Outside the city of Keshi, at Shahzani's military camp.

"Sadar, what exactly did the military report say that made you so serious?" Bahram asked, looking at the chief pacing back and forth in the tent, his face full of confusion.

“Take a look.” Shahzani handed the report to her sister, her brows furrowed.

“Due to the shameful betrayal of our subordinates, Montahir has lost most of its soldiers and supplies, and its situation has become precarious, with the possibility of annihilation at any moment. If they perish, we will lose an important ally, thus facing the danger of being attacked from both sides,” Shahzani explained, adding.

However, to her surprise, it wasn't Yaru and Tak who betrayed them, but someone else entirely. It seems there are quite a few double-dealers around Montahir.

"These despicable traitors, these parasites hidden in the military, are utter hypocrites! Sadar, let's lead our troops back to reinforce them, and let these rebels drown in their own blood!" Bahramu said, his face full of indignation after reading the report.

Shahzani did not make a decision immediately, but continued to pace back and forth in the tent for a while with a serious expression.

A few moments.

She had a flash of inspiration and said to Bahramu, "Order the entire army to set off immediately and march straight for Samarkand."

"Huh? This..." Bahramu was quite puzzled by this decision.

When allies are in trouble, shouldn't they immediately return to their aid? Why did the female leader instead change direction and march towards the Samarkand region?

Shahzani leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words.

Upon hearing this, Bahraim's expression lit up with sudden realization, and he exclaimed repeatedly, "What a brilliant plan!"

The idea is simple: strike directly at the enemy's weak base, forcing the attacking enemy to retreat and return to reinforce, disrupting the enemy's war plan, and thus achieving the goal of rescuing allies.

……

The army detached a portion of its elite troops, abandoned excess baggage and weaponry, and swiftly set off northward. Keshi was the southern gateway to Samarkand, and the route between the two cities, except for a few hilly mountain paths, was mostly flat, which facilitated the army's advance.

Within a day, the Samanid army, clad in scarlet battle suits and steel armor, suddenly appeared outside Samarkand under the command of Shahzani.

The governor of Jafar, who was defending the city, had expected that Muntahir's defeat would lead to Shahzani's hasty return to reinforce the city. He never expected her to act so unexpectedly, launching a surprise attack on the governor's capital. Caught off guard, he fled in haste with his family, confidants, and members of the Karakhanid Khanate, abandoning the Karakhanid garrison to the swords of the Samanid army.

The Karakhanid people were leaderless and in disarray before the battle even began. Shahzani's arrival was so swift and unexpected that they didn't even have time to organize an effective defense.

The Karakhanid army stationed at the outer fortress strongholds was the first to collapse. One camp after another fell apart, with some soldiers abandoning their positions and fleeing in all directions with their officers; some soldiers took off their armor and weapons and mingled with the civilians; and some soldiers simply surrendered.

The Karakhanid army stationed in the city was equally unable to fight. Although Samarkand was a tall and fortified city with a well-developed defense system and facilities, the defending soldiers had lost their leader and the will to resist, leaving them with no choice but to surrender or flee. More importantly, many of the defenders were former Samanid soldiers whose loyalty to the Karakhanid dynasty was already limited, and now they were turning against them en masse.

The Samanian soldiers did not expect the battle to be so easy. Apart from the fatigue from the forced march, the whole process was just capturing prisoners and picking up equipment.

……

In Samarkand, the scarlet battle flags of the Samanid army fluttered high atop the city walls.

As Shahzani led her massive cavalry through the towering Iwan-style zigzag gate, the overwhelming sense of awe stirred her already strong sense of history and national pride.

This is one of the most magnificent historical cities in eastern Persia. Within the city, enormous domes stand side by side, towering arches rise in layers, and ornate Persian geometric patterns are visible everywhere. The sturdy fired bricks and glazed tiles intertwine to create a dazzling, shimmering spectacle, yet the city remains impregnable, exuding a profound sense of historical antiquity. Streets and alleys crisscross like streams, and bazaars, mosques, and bathhouses are scattered throughout.

The city of Samarkand at this time was far larger and more magnificent than the city of Samarkand a thousand years later. Although Shahzani had incorporated many memories of this time and space, she could not help but admire it when she witnessed its grandeur and magnificence.

Persian-Islamic civilization, truly remarkable!

but.

She had no time to admire the scenery; instead, she was busy deploying garrison forces and taking over government power.

She ordered Bahramu to lead his troops to temporarily garrison the area, while launching attacks as the situation changed. She herself, however, withdrew some elite forces to prepare for a long-range maneuver tactic to continue disrupting the Karakhanids' battlefield deployment.

"I swear in the name of the radiant Khormozd. Rest assured, Sadar, with my iron axe and warhammer here, the Karakhanid hordes will never be allowed to trample this place!"

Before their departure, the brave and valiant female generals made a solemn vow.

Chapter 54 The Great Hundred-Mile Spin

After capturing Samarkand, new battle reports arrived from the front. The reports stated that after learning of the dire situation in Samarkand, the Karakhanid army temporarily abandoned its siege of Montashir and hastily assembled a force of 6 men through conscription and haphazard recruitment to reinforce Samarkand.

This was exactly what Shahzani wanted.

Combining the military geography of the Transoxiana region with the intelligence constantly relayed back by scouts, she quickly determined the corresponding strategy:

The Karakhanids used most of their forces to reinforce the area, which meant that their forces deployed in Bukhara were weakened and their rear was left vulnerable. This provided an opportunity to take advantage of the situation, attack the Bukhara oasis, and strike at its weak point.

Based on this, she formulated corresponding counter-attack tactics:

The plan involves a surprise attack and a flanking maneuver, first capturing Naheshab, a forward base on the way to the Bukhara oasis, then continuing the advance to recapture the sparsely defended city of Bukhara and annihilate the remaining enemy forces.

To accomplish this war plan, it is necessary to concentrate elite cavalry units and leverage their high mobility.

Therefore, Shahzani decided to select 15,000 light and heavy cavalry from the army to form a cavalry corps for raids and assaults (temporary, to be disbanded as needed). Of the army's most elite palace guards, currently numbering 800, divided into eight companies, she decided to send 600 to the campaign, leaving 200 to garrison Samarkand.

At the same time, she ordered the requisition of as many horses as possible to ensure that each heavily armored cavalryman had two to three horses to ride and to carry weapons and equipment, so as to ensure sufficient mobility for long-distance maneuvers.

With all preparations complete, Shahzani commanded her cavalry legion to embark on a new journey.

The journey from Samarkand to Nakhshab is approximately 20 farsahs (over 120 kilometers). The road conditions are relatively good, and there are many towns and caravan stations along the way. In addition, there are indirect benefits provided by the system. Overall, a forced march can take only one day and one night to reach the destination.

The cavalry unit marched at full speed, each rider's saddlebags filled with naan bread, dried meat, and nuts such as walnuts and pistachios to replenish their energy. The warhorses were fed fodder mixed with minced meat and egg before setting off to enhance their strength, endurance, impact, and explosive power.

Having undergone intensive long-distance marching drills beforehand, Shahzani's Saman cavalry demonstrated excellent adaptability, carrying out the entire process in an orderly manner according to her requirements.

After a long and arduous journey, as dusk approached, the Samanian cavalry had only five hours left to travel to Naheshab. They had to stop and rest to recover their strength, otherwise they would not be able to sustain the march and battle that followed.

"All troops, listen up! Rest here for one hour," Shahzani commanded. "If you need to relieve yourself, female soldiers on the left and male soldiers on the right. After you're done, bury it together."

After giving the order, she clutched her lower abdomen, hurriedly went to the left side of the column, removed her armor and clothing, squatted down, and began to urinate with a "whoosh, whoosh." The rushing urine washed over the sand, splashing muddy water everywhere, spreading across the desert. After finishing, she took a shovel from her packhorse's saddlebag and turned over the sand to cover the urine.

The other soldiers followed the same procedure, completing it smoothly and efficiently, demonstrating their high level of organization and discipline, as well as their frequent handling of similar situations.

In fact, during ancient Iranian military campaigns, each camp typically had its own temporary public toilet. When the army moved to another camp, nearby farmers would be conscripted to transport and dispose of the excrement (farmers needed fertilizer and were therefore happy to receive the waste). Any waste that couldn't be transported was buried on-site to prevent the spread of disease and plague.

However, due to the forced march, there was no time to set up a fully equipped camp. So Shahzani temporarily ordered the soldiers to relieve themselves on the spot, but also required them to bury the bodies to prevent the Karakhanid scouts from finding any traces and thus revealing their numbers and whereabouts.

Soon, all traces of the army's stay were erased. When the time came, Shahzani immediately ordered the entire army to continue their advance.

……