I was the Queen of Persia

Page 107

"It seems they're deploying it the same way they always have."

Sahimian looked at the enemy's deployment summarized on the paper in Samarkand, her smile still alluring.

The various outposts were far apart and poorly organized, so if one outpost was attacked, it would be difficult for other outposts to provide timely support.

In such a desolate region with sparse and scattered towns and small and fragmented oases, the key to success lies in the mobility of attack and retreat, the ability of each unit to grasp and implement the tactical intentions of the higher command, the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, and the ability to sustain combat operations with limited supplies...

The kind of large-scale, epic battles fought on the Iranian battlefield are difficult to replicate here; more flexible, mobile warfare is the norm in the Arabian desert.

The Sahrawi Ridge's Torchbearer Brigade, Iraqi militias trained by Shahimian, possess such capabilities.

"Alright, let's proceed according to plan. First, eliminate the Black Blade Army's small camp at the Tamivara Well and dampen their morale!"

Sahimian pointed to the small palm oasis surrounded by desert on the map, her gaze both alluring and stern.

……

Dawn, near the Tamiwara Well.

There are not many Black Blade soldiers deployed here, only about six hundred, but because they control the well water, they have an important supply impact on the subsequent Black Blade army.

Although the water supply from this oasis well is quite limited, it is still extremely precious in the vast desert.

Hidden behind the sand dunes and bushes not far away, Sahinnian coldly watched the enemy camp with its flickering campfires in the distance. In the desert at dawn, the air had not yet dissipated the chill of the night, and lying still for a long time would make one feel a chill.

This is also one of the most relaxed moments of the day.

The defenses at Blackblade Camp were even more lax. Looking through Biruni's observation lens, enemy soldiers on the watchtowers were yawning incessantly, and sentries by the fence were also dozing off, their heads bowed in drowsiness. The patrols were also searching back and forth much less frequently.

"Attack," Sahimian said in a low voice.

Signals and command flags instantly conveyed the message of the attack, and a large number of Iranian Torchbearer soldiers rode camels, leaping over sand dunes and obstacles, and charging toward the Blackblade camp.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The Blackblade soldiers on guard duty were instantly wide awake and began shouting. The Blackblade archers who reacted first rushed behind the palisade and began firing arrows at the charging Iranian Saman army.

However, in the midst of the chaos, the hit rate was surprisingly low.

Moreover, the heavy impact camels ridden by the torchbearer were specially covered with fine and thick protective felt robes, which enhanced their defense against stray arrows while ensuring that their weight was not so heavy as to hinder their mobility.

The warriors of the Holy Flame Brigade are also equipped with new four-mirror armor made of fine steel, which has stronger defense but is lighter than the traditional heavy chainmail.

Protected by their sturdy armor and filled with rage at the Blackblade army's evil deeds, the Iranian troops stormed into the Blackblade camp, charging left and right, relentlessly encircling and annihilating the enemy soldiers in less than half an hour, leaving no one who tried to escape unharmed.

"Take stock of the spoils, collect supplies, and have the Iraqi militias set up outposts here," Shahinian instructed.

Chapter 250 The Collapse of the Flanking Force

"Whoosh—!" "Whoosh—!"

The flying arrows pierced the air and struck several Blackblade soldiers riding on camels, sending them crashing heavily onto the yellow sands of Arabia, raising clouds of dust.

"Well done! Warriors, keep firing! Keep these bloodthirsty demons at bay!"

Behind the palm grove shelter, Polokina looked at her successful attack with a delighted expression.

She wore a loose Bedouin desert rider's robe, her bare feet dangling on the camel's hump, a light chainmail vest, and a wide headscarf covering her head, making her look like a genuine Arab woman. Only her emerald green eyes, the few strands of brown hair slipping down her headscarf, and her thick Slavic accent suggested that she came from Rus' in Eastern Europe.

"Commander Polodina, several Blackblade squads are attempting to flank us and encircle us!" A squad leader of an Iraqi militia under her command reported.

"It's alright, they're just walking into a trap." Polokina looked in the direction of the attack, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed.

It turned out that there were already defensive forces on the flanks ready, so when the Black Blade troops charged in, they were met with a barrage of arrows and javelins, resulting in many casualties due to the suddenness of the attack.

In the shallow sand layer, there were also traps and obstacles such as trenches, barbed wire, and spikes. The unsuspecting Blackblade camel soldiers plunged into these ambush circles and were thrown into chaos without a fight.

The Black Blade army's several attacks were thwarted, with many soldiers killed or wounded, forcing them to retreat and await reinforcements.

"Huff—hiss!"

Taking a bite of the barley naan bread she had brought on the march, Polodina's eyes hardened: "The enemy has retreated; they were awestruck by our courage! Warriors! Gather your troops and prepare to break out!"

The spirited militiamen mounted their camels, their imposing presence rivaling that of well-trained regular troops.

Taking advantage of the Black Blade army's retreat and the guards' unpreparedness, the spurred camels charged forward at breakneck speed, tearing a gap in the Black Blade army's weak blockade and raising a cloud of dust.

The Blackblade commander was furious and tried to gather a camel caravan to give chase, but by the time they realized what was happening, Polodina's militia had already disappeared behind the endless sand dunes.

For weeks, similar small-scale skirmishes have been taking place in the Ubaid River basin. Through this mobile and flexible tactic, the Samanid army and Iraqi militias have maintained the initiative and restrained the Black Blade forces' actions at every turn.

This is naturally thanks to Shahini's training. She tailored her training to the characteristics of the Arabian desert region, specifically training the Iraqi militia in camel assault tactics.

Arabian dromedary camels have slender limbs, but they move swiftly across the sand. Through repeated combat training, the camel handlers and camels become one, greatly improving the efficiency of mobile deployment.

The resilient Iraqi militia were already excellent multi-purpose infantrymen, and with the speed of Arabian camels, they could easily reach the battlefield, form fortifications, and break out and relocate in time after defeating enemy attacks.

More importantly, due to the implementation of numerous appeasement policies, an increasing number of Bedouin tribes in the war zone chose to side with the Samanid Empire.

By employing guerrilla tactics, they maneuvered against the Black Blade Army, accumulating small victories into a major triumph, and the offensive and defensive situation on both sides was constantly changing.

Gradually, the Iranian army and Iraqi militia surrounded the Black Blade Central Army from three sides, threatening to swallow it up.

This is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Blackblade army, which only knows how to kill blindly and shout inflammatory doctrines.

"A bunch of trash!"

The Black Blade general Alabi, who was in charge of the operation, was furious and enraged as his subordinates kept reporting bad news.

"General, please forgive me! But... but those apostates come and go like the wind! By Allah, they seem to have wings, and we really can't handle them!"

"Damn scum! The holy war of Allah is not for you to whine about! Immediately reinforce your forces and conscript more Bedouin tribes. I will crush them with my holy army!"

Alabi was determined to go his own way, convinced that as long as he could incite a continuous stream of "jihadist armies," he could crush all resistance forces.

However, he seemed to have forgotten the importance of organization and tactics in military warfare.

……

On the edge of the Nelf Oasis, on the flank of the Blackblade army.

A large number of Bedouin militia cannon fodder, incited or forcibly conscripted, are stationed in this small oasis area, awaiting their masters' orders to attack.

A little further away, behind a hidden sand dune.

Sahimian lay prone in the sparse hay, peering through the Biruni observation glasses at the crowded, disorderly tents and the noisy, chaotic order, her red lips curving into a signature alluring smile.

"Prepare to fire," she calmly ordered the soldiers of the Torch Relay Brigade.

Upon receiving the female general's order, the soldiers of the Saman Empire immediately operated the pre-positioned launching devices. In an instant, dozens of wooden kites strapped with explosives streaked across the sky and crashed down on the Black Blade army's camp.

"Boom—!" "Boom—!" "Boom—!"

The explosions echoed across the oasis, and flames spread throughout the Blackblade camp. The Blackblade soldiers scattered in panic, creating chaos.

"Now! Attack!"

With Sahinian’s loud command, the Saman Empire’s Holy Fire Brigade soldiers, who had been lying in ambush, suddenly sprang out from behind their bunkers, rode their war camels, and charged in formation toward the weakest point on the Black Blade Camp’s flank.

The development of the situation is obvious.

The Samanid army swept in with overwhelming force, utterly defeating the Black Blade Bedouin militia, whose ranks were already in disarray. Simultaneously, the Iraqi militia under Polodina's command assisted the Iranian army from the other flank, launching a pincer attack on the disorganized Black Blade forces.

After several infiltrations and divisions, the various Black Blade camps were now fragmented and unable to support each other.

Seeing that things were going badly, the main force of the Arabiwi tribe perfectly followed the "law of true fragrance" and gathered its remaining troops to flee towards the Maadan Valley, leaving behind only a large number of cannon fodder tribal militia.

"Almighty and merciful Allah above! We surrender! We have been deceived by evil people, please forgive us, great Persian general!"

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, these cannon fodder Beidu and the militiamen had no courage to continue fighting. They threw down their weapons and knelt down to surrender.

"Followers of Allah, please rise."

Sahimian rode on his war camel, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling Bedouin tribesmen.

"Well said. You have been misled by the evil false prophet and have gone astray. Although we are Persians, we value order highly. So lay down your weapons and return to your tribes! Peacefully herd your camels and graze your flocks..."

Hearing her say that, the Bedouin tribespeople felt a little relieved.

"but!"

Suddenly, Sahimian's tone turned stern: "Those who willingly act as accomplices to the Blackblade heretics are not to be forgiven. Soldiers, search carefully and identify these individuals!"

Under this military order.

Those tribal chiefs and sheikhs who had once been loyal to the Blackblade Cult were all dragged out and subsequently publicly ordered to be executed by Sahinnian, their bodies hung on date palm trees.

At the same time, Sahini supported new leaders among these tribes to ensure their continued goodwill towards the Samanid Empire.

Chapter 251 Madness Before Destruction

From the Nairuf Oasis to the Maadan Valley.

The Samanid army and Iraqi militia pressed their advantage, like lions driving a flock of frightened sheep, relentlessly pursuing the Black Blade army and reclaiming all the areas they had previously controlled.

"Damn Persians!"

Looking at his disheveled subordinates, Alabi cursed repeatedly, "I thought these apostates were just a bunch of women who would only wet their pants on a blood-soaked battlefield! Oh, Allah! I never expected them to repeatedly humiliate us. What kind of devilish women are they?!"

Not only were his men in a terrible state, but he himself also fell off the camel in his panic during his hasty retreat, breaking two front teeth and a leg. He was in a very awkward situation.

The series of failures diminished his original piety and fervor for the Black Blade doctrine by more than half.

"No!" He paced back and forth in the Bedouin tent for a moment, then his eyes suddenly sharpened. "There must be another way to win the battle. I must continue to fulfill my duty as a believer! Yes! That's right! It must be so!"

"Moreover, I absolutely cannot let those Persian women succeed! God above! Believers who die at the hands of women will not be able to enter Paradise... No! I will not allow such a foolish act to happen!"

Thinking of these "terrible consequences," he couldn't help but tremble, which strengthened his resolve to resist to the bitter end.

The Maadan Valley is a strategically important area with long, winding cliffs. There are only a few narrow passes leading from the valley to the outside world. Controlling these passes would give the valley a slight advantage, making it relatively easy to defend and difficult to attack.

More importantly, the area is long and narrow, and it is impossible to complete the encirclement with limited troops. This means that even if the defense fails, an opening can be found in time to escape.

Alabi noticed these characteristics and immediately ordered the Blackblade soldiers to set up camp and garrison here, taking advantage of the terrain, and to pay special attention to controlling several key valley entrances.

Just as they were busy building fortifications and defenses, a Blackblade officer rushed in to report.

"General Alabiwi, we've captured several Persian and Iraqi scouts, all of them female soldiers!" The Blackblade officer who delivered the report had a lewd smile on his face.

"Women? Great!" Alabi's eyes suddenly lit up. "Take me there! I want to see what these female soldiers are capable of!"

Passing through overlapping tents and fences, we crawled into a semi-subterranean cell, filled with an indescribable stench, with a few torches providing dim light.

The captured were indeed several female soldiers. One of them was a soldier from the Samanid Empire's Holy Fire Brigade, and she was probably a squad leader. The others were soldiers from Iraqi militias. They were probably a reconnaissance squad that had been sent out but had inadvertently exposed their whereabouts and fallen into the hands of the Black Blade army.

"Humph……"

Recalling the humiliation of being beaten senseless by these female soldiers, Alabi's expression twisted: "It's too hot and stuffy here, how can we let the ladies still wear such heavy clothing? Men! Strip them of their armor!"

The nearby Blackblade soldiers swarmed forward, and the captured Persian-Iraqi female warriors, despite their fierce resistance, were unable to stop them due to their restraints, and their bodies were instantly exposed to the public eye.

"What excellent armor! No wonder it caused our holy warriors to suffer so many losses..."

Alabiwi picked up the removed Iranian-style heavy armor and glared fiercely at the Persian female warrior who was now only wearing red briefs: "But now, you whore of the Persian Khorami heresy! You are in my hands, and you will suffer endless torment! I will make you wish you were dead, this is the fate of you apostates!"

"Show me what you've got, Arabs." The Persian female soldier's lips curled into a seductive smile. "Bring it all! I'll fight to the bitter end, may God protect us!"

“Very well, as you wish.” Alabi nodded, glancing at the Blackblade soldiers, his facial muscles still contorted. “This Persian woman is yours! Enjoy her, she’s your spoils!”

Amidst a loud commotion, several Black Blade soldiers impatiently pulled off the Persian female soldier's panties and carried her towards the tent outside the cave.

……

On the other side of the battlefield.

“Sadar, the Black Blade Army seems to have strengthened its defenses. Most of the reconnaissance teams we sent out have returned safely, but many are still missing. The situation is not good!” An officer from the Saman Holy Fire Brigade reported to Sahinian.

“They are all warriors who disregarded their own lives! I will not let them sacrifice in vain.” Sahinian’s beautiful eyes shone with determination.

There's nothing we can do; that's war. Where there's war, there will be casualties, and no one can stop it.

However, avenging the fallen comrades is an achievable feat.

"How is the construction of the upstream water-blocking works going?" Sahinnian turned to her again and asked.

“Almost done,” the officer replied. “Praise be to God! The Qin engineers are very efficient; this project will be completed in at least a quarter of the time under their command.”

"Hmm, very good. Is the labor load sufficient?"

“There are plenty of able-bodied men from the nearby Bedouin tribes. They have turned to serve us in anger because the Blackblade Cult took their wives, daughters and livestock.”

"Very good, keep up the good work."

"Order!"