I was the Queen of Persia

Page 127

This group of die-hard religious nobles offered their advice to Grand Sharif in a flurry of suggestions. Unbeknownst to them, Shahzani had already planted spies and informants among the priests.

So in the end, every word they said reached Shahzani's ears without any discrepancy.

Shahzani looked at the list and ordered his servants to summon all of them. He said indifferently, "Well, I will defend your right to speak, but before that, I need to settle your recent corruption issues."

Having said that, he went to the desk where the documents were piled up and picked up a thick stack of books and letters.

"Let's set aside the past for now and start from year 375 (Persian calendar)..."

“Sharif Hassan, you have seized 4000 jeribs of land in Raimaidan village and robbed the Jawas tribe of 1800 camels and 2900 sheep…”

“Sayyid Latif, you extorted 80 dinars from passing caravans and ordered your henchmen to kill and wound more than 900 people…”

"Sheikh Ahmed, you have seized over 700 women, murdered their parents and relatives, and locked them all in your halem (harem)..."

……

"As the most devout believers among Muslims and religious scholars in the holy city of Mecca, instead of practicing strict self-discipline, you have committed such despicable acts. Do you know your sins?"

Shahzani's tone remained calm, yet it exuded an undeniable and supreme authority. Her sharp, beautiful eyes swept over everyone, causing them to fall to their knees in fear.

“Your Majesty, we know we have committed heinous crimes! Please…”

"Enough!" Shahzani interrupted them with disgust. "You no longer have the right to beg for your lives. Go to Hellfire and reflect on your actions!"

Then he ordered Nassak to take the executor away and execute all of them.

Now, no religious scholar in Mecca dared to defy Shahzani's will.

All crows are black, and these religious nobles, as the exploiting class, are more or less tainted. Moreover, due to the "halo of sacred religion," their misdeeds may be even more numerous, making them easy targets for accusations.

Of course, the most fundamental reason is that Shahzani firmly grasps the "ultimate truth of faith"—power and force.

……

Now, no one will dare to oppose the plan to transport the Blackstone back to Iran.

But Shahzani was in no hurry to do so. She wanted to personally visit Sharif Mohammed to "persuade him with reason" while maintaining control of the military.

In short, the goal was to hold a debate to convince the people of Mecca.

Upon arriving at the Kaaba, Sharif Muhammad was already prostrating himself in reverence.

Shahzani gestured for him to rise and said calmly, "I know you definitely don't want to see Blackstone leave the Holy Land. How about this? Give me a reason that I can believe, and I might consider it."

Sharif Muhammad dared not contradict him. He knelt down again with a thud, trembling as he praised the Queen's formidable military prowess and sincerely declared his obedience to her will. However, under Shahzani's repeated orders, he finally revealed his true thoughts.

"By the humble and merciful God, I, your humble servant, dare to speak out. The Black Stone is a sacred relic left by God. It has been placed in the Kaaba since the time of the Prophet Muhammad and has been worshipped by tens of thousands of devout Muslims for nearly four hundred years. It is really inappropriate to transport it to a distant land."

“If we are going to transport it away anyway, so what? Speak up, I now grant you the right to object,” Shahzani said.

Sharif Mohammed and the others dared not speak, but under the intimidating gaze of Shahzani, they forced themselves to say it.

It's nothing more than grand-sounding phrases like "religious dignity," "doctrinal taboos," "Muslim sentiments," and "God's wrath," but the core idea is still to maintain the Meccan aristocracy's exclusive control over religious symbols.

"Ha ha, Sharif, fellow Sheikhs, what you're saying is probably no longer the truth..."

Shahzani immediately began to formulate her arguments.

Then, she began to speak eloquently about her impeccable logical theory.

for example:

"Your Hejaz are weak and small, and have suffered from war and conflict many times in history. How could you possibly protect such sacred Islamic relics? We, on the other hand, are strong and powerful, and have the strength to protect relics that symbolize the dignity of Muslims..."

"Our Samanid Empire of Iran is the most powerful and most qualified to be the protector of all Muslims and the guide on the path of Islamic truth..."

“Oh? You say we are Iranians, Persians, not Arabs, but so what? Salman, the Prophet’s companion, was a Persian! Our Persian contributions to the organization and compilation of doctrine are even greater than yours, Arabs…”

"For example, in XXX year we compiled and edited Chapter XXX of the Quran; our XXX religious scholars issued XXX Hadith; our XXX Imams commented on XXX doctrines..."

"Islam is a gift from God to all believers! It is the collective wisdom of the wise men of all nations. How can it be said that it was founded solely by you Arabs?..."

"Without us Persians, would you Arabs know how to compile written religious doctrines? How to record the deeds of the Prophet? How to build mosques and minarets? How to organize government institutions? Therefore..."

"God once said..."

After all, in her previous life she was a "keyboard warrior" who had been exposed to an explosion of information and engaged in countless online debates, so she was completely adept at this, and her retorts were never repetitive. Moreover, the Horami sect she reformed was known for its debates, and its inter-sect debates were held frequently.

Under such a powerful verbal assault, Sharif Muhammad and the other Meccan clerics were quickly rendered speechless and realized that Her Majesty the Queen was right. They all prostrated themselves in admiration and showed her heartfelt reverence.

In this way, through persuasive measures based on reason, Shahzani transported the black stone of the Kaerba back to the imperial capital, Jahanshahr.

Chapter 299 Your Majesty, this way!

After Yemen and Hejaz submitted, Shahzani turned his attention to the desolate heartland of Nejz.

By this time, the situation on the Arabian Peninsula had changed significantly.

According to the intelligence relayed by the caravan scouts, Shahzani learned that:

Due to the decline of the Fatimid dynasty and the loss of troops and territory, most of the Fatimid fleet in the Persian Gulf region withdrew to Egypt, and the Sirhan Valley, a transportation hub in northern Nejd, was also occupied by Iran. All these reversals led to a significant weakening of the land and sea connections between Nejd and Egypt.

Seeing the changing situation, Muhaddaeb, the governor of Nejd who was already a traitor, immediately declared independence and established the so-called "Emirate of Nejd," no longer obeying the orders of the Fatima court.

It seems that this "three-surname slave," who has groveled before various powerful monarchs for many years and suffered repeated defeats at the hands of the Iranian army, has finally turned his luck around and established his own independent regime.

After establishing himself as independent, Muhaddab first expanded his power. Taking advantage of the vacuum created by the weakening of the former overlord's power, he launched a "holy war" against the Bedouin tribes around him who did not obey him, quelled the rebellions initiated by the tribal chiefs, plundered a lot of livestock, and greatly increased his strength.

Even so, this newly formed emirate regime was still far from being a match for the Iranian Samanid Empire; the two countries were simply not on the same level.

Shahzani opened the reports from the scouts and continued to summarize and analyze them:

The army of the Emirate of Nejd is divided into the Royal Guard and the conscripted tribal army. Similar to most Islamic regimes, Muhaddab established his Royal Guard based on naturalized infidel slaves. Its weapons and equipment came from previous aid from the Fatimid Caliphate, but its numbers were still small, only three or four thousand.

That is a change. It seems that after repeated defeats, Muhaddab is also trying to build a standing army of trusted followers to consolidate his rule, although this change is still very small.

The rest were conscripted troops composed of able-bodied young men from the tribe. They were poorly equipped, lacked morale, had uneven combat skills, and were extremely lacking in inter-unit coordination training. They were a replica of the Blackblade Cult's tribal army.

More importantly, the Emirate of Nej still lacks a well-established bureaucracy and strong central authority. It is essentially a large, disorganized tribal confederation, with severe infighting among the tribes.

“Just a rabble, still so easily defeated.” Shahzani put down the memorial, a charming smile playing on her lips, and decisively ordered the expedition to begin.

On the northern route, Shahzani and Shahini led 2000 troops out of Mecca to attack.

On the southern route, Houthi led 5000 Zaid militiamen in an attack from Yemen.

On the eastern front, Polodina led 5000 Shia militiamen in an attack from Kazakhstan.

Advancing from three directions, encircling from different routes, and coordinating closely. The harsh environment and scarce resources in the heart of Naiji make it impossible to supply a large number of troops; these forces are sufficient.

Upon learning of the Iranian military's multi-pronged offensive, Muhadeb once again unleashed his signature tirade of cursing.

"Let them all go to hell! Oh! These damned Persian Horami! I've had enough of fighting them!..."

Muhaddab paced frantically in his "palace," but he soon discovered that he was not without advantages.

Firstly, the harsh environment and terrain of Najd can offset some of the Iranian army's combat capabilities.

Secondly, his own subordinate soldiers were familiar with the terrain and skilled in guerrilla warfare using camels.

He then ordered a scorched earth policy, the filling of wells, guerrilla warfare, and a retreat deep into the desert.

However, these measures did not have much effect in front of the Iranian military, which has a relatively complete support system.

……

On the vast desert, two camel caravans are engaged in a fierce battle.

With shouts and charges, the cavalrymen charged and advanced, flanking and fighting fiercely. The camel caravans of Najd attempted a flanking maneuver, but were quickly outflanked and routed by the Iranian camel caravans.

The defeated Nejd attempted to regroup, but unexpectedly, Iranian camel caravans surged out from behind the sand dunes on the flank, their formation tight and unstoppable. Caught off guard and hastily engaged in battle, the Nejd were exhausted after a fierce fight. Except for a few who managed to break through, the rest of the army was annihilated.

Similar encounters and battles have been repeatedly fought throughout Neizhi.

While the Nejd camel cavalry were adept at guerrilla warfare, the Iranian camel cavalry were equally skilled in mobility. As a result, the Nejd camel cavalry sent to harass the enemy were gradually driven away by the Sogdian, Sistan, and Daystan camel cavalry of the Iranian army.

More importantly, Shahzani had already conquered Mecca, the holy city, and subjugated the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, and her prestige continued to grow. This religious element, coupled with her formidable martial prowess, undoubtedly amplified the awe and reverence of the people of Nej.

……

"Honorable Sheikh Abdullah, the Persian army is coming! God above! Do you intend to lead your tribe to surrender?"

"Noble Sheikh Rashid, of course! By God alone! Queen Shahzani is the protector of Muslims, and she can lead us to prosperity!"

“That’s exactly what I was thinking! But… I’m worried that we’re Sunnis, and we wonder if those Persian Khoramis will tolerate us?”

"Of course! Merchants who have been to Persia say that Her Majesty the Queen is tolerant of religions. Whether it is Horami, Sunni, Shia, Zoroastrianism, Christianity... as long as it is not an evil sect, they can live in her country."

"Yes, you're right! At least we're better than those bloodthirsty heretics, the Black Blade Cult! We'd rather be ruled by the Persian Horami than submit to the Black Blade Cult!"

……

Because Muhaddaeb's rule was unpopular, many tribes simply threw down their weapons, surrendered to the Iranian army, and became its collaborators.

"Your Majesty, the road is this way!"

Similar slogans echoed across the desert oases of Nejd.

The slave-owning guard, which Muhadeb had placed high hopes on, collapsed at the first sign of trouble and was relentlessly attacked by the Iranian cavalry.

Within months, the forward defenses of the Emirate of Nejd crumbled. Shahzani advanced rapidly, heading straight for the enemy's stronghold, and Muhaddib's fate was sealed.

"These persistent demons! Oh God! Behold these unclean women! Just wait and see, one day the warriors of holy war will send them to the fire of hell!"

While cursing and swearing, Muhaddab gathered his remaining loyal followers, disguised himself, and fled.

A scout reported that he had fled to the coast of southern Oman, then took the Arabian Sea route and fled eastward into the ocean.

"Keep advancing! You clowns, one day I will take your heads," Shahzani sneered.

With only a force of over 10,000 and a few months in hand, Shahzani successfully dismantled the "Emirate of Nejd" regime and conquered a vast area of ​​Nejd.

As a result, most of the Arabian Peninsula was essentially incorporated into the territory of the Iranian Samanid Empire.

Chapter 300 The Fall of the Fatima Dynasty (1)

Since the Battle of Sinai, Hakim's rule over the Fatima dynasty has become increasingly weak. As time went on, the power of the Berber tribal warlords and the Haqqavi Blackblade sect grew stronger, constantly threatening Hakim's throne.

Shahzani was in no hurry to advance into the Nile Delta. She ordered a move to Damascus, where frontline troops were rotated for garrison duty, rest, and replenishment. She waited for the various factions within Fatima to exhaust their internal strife before reaping the benefits.

During this temporary truce, she shifted her focus back to domestic business and construction affairs.

Syria Province, a newly established province with a predominantly Arab population, is currently undergoing a period of reconstruction. Prior to this, Shahzani transferred Liu Wenyuan, a Chinese national, and appointed him as the governor of Syria Province, Qadhuda.

Princess Salim, the former ruler of Syria, retains her royal title and prestigious status, but her influence in political life has been gradually weakened. This aligns with Shahzani's approach to dealing with the old royal family: stripping them of their power and allowing them to live a life of luxury and ease.

Selim understood the Queen's good intentions, so he deliberately distanced himself from politics and instead leveraged Syria's strategic location on the Silk Road to engage in trade in the Eastern Mediterranean. Due to his fair dealings and skillful management, he quickly became one of the leading merchants.

The economy is recovering across the entire Syrian province: irrigation areas along the Euphrates River have expanded, leading to increased grain production; several new bazaars have been built in Damascus, further enriching the variety of goods available; and the trade route from Aleppo to Mosul has been properly maintained…

In the same year that Shahzani stayed, Syria was blessed by God again, and its agriculture achieved a bumper harvest.

Wheat, barley, apples, grapes, peaches, roses, cauliflower... all kinds of grains, fruits and vegetables are plentiful, and the Syrian people, who have suffered from war and famine, are all beaming with happy smiles.

Shahzani was naturally overjoyed. The establishment of a solid material foundation meant an increase in comprehensive national strength and, more importantly, an enhancement of war potential.

A court assembly was held at the Governor's residence in Damascus to announce imperial decrees.

“Thanks to the blessings of God Hu Da! This year our province has had a very bountiful harvest. I have ordered all officials in the provincial and county-level departments of the Ministry of Finance to purchase the surplus grain for future use…” Shahzani said.

This was also a macroeconomic control method used by ancient empires, namely, utilizing the power of the imperial court to buy and sell goods at fair prices, thereby ensuring a relative balance in the supply of goods and a relative stability in prices. This measure had already appeared by at least the Sasanian Dynasty of Iran.

However, the country most familiar with this is naturally China.

Shahzani knew that as early as the Warring States period, China had the "Pingdi Law," which was further improved into the "Pingzhun Law" during the Western Han Dynasty. This measure continued to be improved in subsequent Chinese feudal dynasties.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. As the saying goes, 'low grain prices hurt farmers, high grain prices hurt the people.' Moreover, our province is just beginning to recover from the devastation. If we do not intervene, it will surely lead to famine and unequal distribution among the people. I hereby order all levels of government to implement this policy immediately!" Liu Wenyuan, the newly appointed Governor-General of Syria, replied emphatically.

“Okay!” Shahzani nodded slightly.

"In addition, most of the waterwheels and irrigation canals in various parts of the province have fallen into disrepair over time. Organize manpower to repair them properly, and if necessary, mobilize the Basij agricultural holy war army to participate in the project," Shahzani continued to instruct.

"As you command. However... most of the water conservancy facilities in this province were left by the Aramaians, Romans, and Arabs, and their design differs significantly from that of Iran. Should they be demolished and rebuilt?"

"No need. If it can be used locally for a long time, it must be suitable for the local conditions. Just repair it properly and continue to use it," Shahzani instructed objectively and pragmatically.

In the following period, Shahzani led his royal guards and close advisors, moving back and forth between Jerusalem, Damascus, Baghdad, and Basra. This was partly to consolidate the newly annexed provinces on the frontier (most of which were predominantly inhabited by non-Iranians), and partly to accumulate sufficient strength in preparation for the final offensive against the Fatimid dynasty.

……

Meanwhile, the Fatimid Caliphate, which had just been severely weakened and had a chance to catch its breath, was plunged into even more serious internal strife.

Cairo, the capital of the Fatimid Caliphate, on a night during Muharran (Hijra calendar).