I was the Queen of Persia

Page 80

After receiving the order, Selim led his Hamadan soldiers straight to Nasrzad's camp and launched an attack.

However, the Baiyi people in the village, though isolated and without support, continued to fight tenaciously. The high and sturdy walls of the post station also posed a great inconvenience to the attacking side.

The Syrians were outnumbered, lacked combat experience, and were deficient in heavy siege weaponry. As a result, despite launching several offensives, they were all defeated by the stubborn resistance of the Bai Yi defenders.

Selim was frantic.

Fortunately, the Sacred Flame Brigade under the command of Sahimian had quickly taken control of the nearby She-Shapur (meaning "Happy Shapur," a Sassanid ruin) site and arrived in time to provide reinforcements.

After observing the military camp several times, Sahimian quickly discovered the weaknesses in the Baiyi people's defenses. He then ordered Selim to launch a feint attack from the front while simultaneously organizing elite soldiers to launch a fierce attack on the opening.

Inspired by the courage of the Iranian Saman warriors, Hamdan's soldiers were once again filled with fighting spirit, regrouped, and fought bravely alongside the Saman army. After several hours of fierce fighting, they finally wiped out the Baiyi garrison and captured the post station camp.

With the obstacles to the city of Rai cleared, Shahzani ordered Selim to garrison the Nasrzad camp, leaving some troops to be stationed in the villages of Fariszin and Saghsabad as support, while she led the main force to Rai.

……

South of Mount Alborz, the Rai-Tehran-Waramin Plain.

During the Samanid and Bayi dynasties, Rai was the core city of this urban cluster, while Tehran, the famous Iranian capital in later generations, was at that time merely a peripheral citadel of Rai, an obscure little city.

Bai Yijun knew that the Saman army was not completely holed up in the various cities, but had set up camps at key hubs on the plains outside the cities. If the Saman army arrived, they could support each other, and if they were defeated by the Saman army, they could regroup in time and retreat along the southwest passage.

Bai Yi's generals believed that since the Saman army's various corps were advancing from multiple directions and were far apart from each other, they estimated that they would not arrive at the city at the same time. Therefore, they tried to take advantage of this time difference to defeat them one by one.

But they clearly underestimated the strength of the Samanid army.

The Bahramu Group launched an attack from Qom, first approaching the vicinity of Varam. The Bai Yi army immediately organized forces to besiege them, but the brave and skilled female warrior was no ordinary person. She quickly launched a fierce counterattack, thwarted the Bai Yi army's offensive, and forced them back to Varam.

After a series of battles, although Bai Yi's army had not suffered too many losses, they had witnessed firsthand the formidable war capabilities of the Saman army's commander-in-chief, and their morale had wavered. They no longer dared to launch a full-scale attack.

At this point, Commander Bai Yi suggested: "The Saman army's forces in Nasrzad camp are relatively weak. Why not send troops to launch a surprise attack on the area to disrupt Shahzani's marching formation?"

Bai Yijun then dispatched a joint force composed of Kurds, Turkmen, and Ghulam Guards to bypass Shahzani's forces and advance to Nasrzad post station.

The remaining Selim troops immediately went on high alert, relying on the walls and watchtowers to put up a stubborn resistance. Although the Hamdans were not yet tactically on par with the Samanid army, their tenacity and indomitable spirit were still commendable.

The Hamdans tenaciously repelled wave after wave of attacks from the White Army, while Selim himself led his Scorpion Soldier on patrols to encourage the troops.

Bai Yijun launched a fierce attack on the military camp, but because the Hamdan people refused to retreat, he ultimately failed to break through their defenses.

Finally, the Saman army stationed in Fariszin and Saghsabad arrived in time, which finally forced back the Bai Yi army and lifted the siege of Nasrzad.

"Thank God! We...held the fortress!"

Selim finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her pale face had not yet regained its color. She touched her wet, smelly, and dripping crotch. There was still a puddle of water at her feet. The huge weight in her heart finally lifted.

She gained further experience in this encounter, which undoubtedly benefited her greatly in organizing the subsequent battle to reclaim her homeland.

……

at this time.

Shahzani's main force was approaching Tehran; the Khoslu-Tahmina group was closing in on the eastern flank of Rai; and the Bahraim group was threatening Waramin. The three forces coordinated their attacks, forming a pincer movement to encircle Bai Yi's army.

Although the Bai people were at a slight disadvantage, they were unwilling to surrender. They deployed their troops on the plains and oases between Tehran, Rai, and Waramin, ready to fight and try to use the advantage of fighting on home ground to offset the Saman army's momentum.

War is imminent.

Chapter 185 Battle of Ra'ibah - Tehran (2)

Winter of 1004 AD, the month of Azhar in the Persian calendar.

On the oasis plains of the Rai region.

The tents and carriages were like clouds, the soldiers were like rain, cattle, horses and camels were scattered across the plains, the armor of the soldiers gleamed with iron light, the banners obscured the sky, the smoke and fire could be seen in the distance, the army formations stretched as far as the eye could see, and the orders to attack rose and fell one after another, creating a magnificent and powerful atmosphere.

Shahzani camped on a hill near Tehran.

Several scarlet banners embroidered with Persian bugle calls stood in front of the camp. Some of them were embroidered with the names of Iranian epic heroes such as Rustam; others were embroidered with the names of Iranian emperors such as Dalabh, Shapur, and Nuh; and still others were embroidered with maxims from Iranian historical epics and Hadith verses. All the banners were decorated with gold and silver threads and were laid out according to the shape of the Kavi battle banner in the epic.

These are the monarchical banners of Shahzani, representing the authority of the Shahs of Iran.

The camp was heavily guarded by the Shahr Guard, and anyone wishing to see the Queen had to go through a strict procedure. Only those Nassak messengers who were given a mission were allowed to enter and leave freely without prior notice. At this moment, they were coming and going in an endless stream, delivering all sorts of military intelligence to the Queen's tent.

Thanks to Shahzani's efforts, the Nassakchu system had become quite complete. The Nassakchu officers not only had the power to inspect, purge, execute, and interrogate prisoners of war, but also held the privilege of transmitting the most important intelligence, making them higher in status than ordinary couriers and messengers.

"Your Majesty Shah, General Hoslu and General Tahmina have already assembled and deployed their forces east of Rai..."

"Your Majesty the Shah, Governor Bahramu has already assembled his troops south of Waramin..."

Shahzani was quite satisfied with this high efficiency in transmission and execution.

Shahzani estimates that her main force currently has 5 troops, the Bahram Group has 8 troops, and the Hoslu-Tahmina Group has 6 troops. The total strength of the participating Saman forces is 19 to 20, which seems to be less than the 25 troops of the Bai Yi coalition.

Shahzani knew that the Bai Yi coalition not only had uneven quality of its soldiers, but also suffered from numerous internal conflicts. The Sunni armed group, led by the Caliph's Religious Conscription Army, was not only doctrinally opposed to the Bai Yi Shia, but also unwilling to serve the Bai Yi regime for its own interests.

Given the right timing and methods, this 25-strong allied army could be completely divided into a disorganized mess, and then defeated one by one.

"The Khalifa's forces are deployed south of Tehran, ordered to cover the flank of Baik's main force. This is a very weak link in the coalition forces. Send out the bravest and most skilled soldiers to crush these Iraqis," Shahzani instructed his generals.

The remaining tactics were executed according to plan.

……

The sound of war drums and suonas, signaling an attack, pierced the sky. Bai Yi's army was in a state of agitation and launched an attack. They first concentrated their superior forces to try to attack the army of the Hoslu-Tahmina Group in order to open up more breakthroughs.

Armored infantry and cavalry clashed and fought, becoming entangled in a chaotic melee.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Bahram Group launched an offensive from the south, attacking Bai Yi's army from both sides.

Turks and Turkmen drew their bows and charged forward, while the heavy cavalry of Transoxiana and Khorasan clashed fiercely with the heavy infantry of Dalaman. The Khwarazmian, Ghur, Kurdish, and Ghulam troops fought back and forth, with troops of different ethnicities, organizations, and branches of service engaging in a fierce battle.

The battle lasted for two days and two nights, leaving the battlefield littered with corpses and the sand stained with blood.

After a fierce battle, the Bai Yi people realized they were at a slight disadvantage, so they quickly withdrew their forces and retreated to their main camp. The Saman army, on the other hand, pressed their advantage and advanced cautiously, advancing step by step.

The most crucial moment has arrived.

Shahzani gazed at Mount Damavand on the distant horizon, the holy mountain of the Iranian nation, shining brightly under the rising sun in the east, as if telling the heroic stories of Iranian warriors, giving her fighting spirit and strength.

Keng——!

Shahzani drew her steel warhammer, pointing it at the distant holy mountain, then shifted it slightly south, aiming it at the flank of the Bai-Yi allied forces, and shouted, "Heavy cavalry, move out and crush the Caliph's flank!"

A heavily armored force composed of the Shaher Women's Guard, Transoxiana-Khorasan heavy cavalry, and Khwarazmian armored cavalry immediately arrayed themselves for attack, their blood-red battle banners filling the vast plains, and their armor gleaming in the endless expanse.

The resounding command ignited a raging inferno of attack, turning the plains on the outskirts of Tehran into a "sea of ​​fire." Iron hooves thundered, armored horses neighed and charged, bugles blared, and armored Valkyries roared and howled. Like thousands upon thousands of Rustams and Gushaspus charging forward, their momentum unstoppable.

The Samanian heavy cavalry charged into the front lines of the Caliph's army. With their disciplined formation and fierce charge, they quickly tore through the enemy's defenses, trampling and crashing into them. In an instant, blood splattered and screams filled the air.

The troops sent by the Caliph were already mixed with a large number of incited religious zealots. Many soldiers in the army not only lacked decent weapons and armor, but also lacked the necessary military training, and were far inferior to elite regular troops.

As a result, after several rounds of attacks, the Saman Iron Legion routed the Caliph's conscripted soldiers, leaving them utterly demoralized and losing all courage.

What is more fatal than defeat in battle is harboring ulterior motives.

"Master, the Persians' offensive is too fierce! We can't hold them off at all! Merciful God above, we'd better retreat quickly, or death awaits us!" Such cries could be heard repeatedly in the Caliph's army.

Their morale plummeted with fear and panic.

Of course, Mustafa, who effectively controlled Baghdad by sidelining Caliph Qadir, was not among them. This noble prince valued his life highly, preferring to remain in the comfortable and luxurious palace of Baghdad and engage in philosophical discussions rather than face the dangers of the battlefield.

Those who exercised military power and commanded troops in his stead were all his trusted cronies.

“Damn it! Curse these devilish Persian women!” a Mustafa party leader cursed. “In the name of God! We must retreat, or we will face total annihilation!”

The tide of retreat spread like a plague among Mustafa Party leaders.

Ultimately, they made the decision to betray their allies: abandon their positions and flee the battlefield without permission!

Taking advantage of the fact that the Saman army's encirclement had not yet been fully tightened, the Caliph's soldiers scrambled and fled through the gap on the southwest side of the battlefield, handing over the weak flank of the Baikal forces to Shahzani.

Without flank protection, the Bai Yi army was suddenly attacked from both sides and fell into a deeper passive position. Taking advantage of the situation, Shahzani, Bahraim, Khoslu, and Tahmina launched a joint attack, cutting off their retreat and encircling the Bai Yi army in the oasis plain area between Rai and Tehran.

After five days and five nights of fighting, the remaining forces of Bai Yi were completely annihilated, resulting in a victory in the battle. In this battle, the Saman army killed tens of thousands of Bai Yi soldiers, captured over one hundred thousand of them, and seized the crucial and important town of Rai.

With the main forces of Baiyi's various factions annihilated, their demise was inevitable.

Chapter 186 The Fall of the Baiyi Dynasty

After the Battle of Ra'i-Tehran, Shahzani joined forces with Bahraim and Khoslu Tahmina again, and advanced triumphantly along the trade routes through Qom and Kashan, eventually reaching Isfahan, where they temporarily set up their military camp.

Sahini's torchbearer did not follow. After the victory in Tehran, they were secretly sent to Kurdistan and northern Iraq to support Selim's war for national restoration.

The various Baikal regimes were no longer able to fight. After Shahzani arrived in Isfahan, the Baikal rulers of the Fars lineage took the initiative to send envoys to surrender, giving up the entire Fars province—the birthplace of the Persians, and also known as "a paradise filled with the fragrance of roses and the song of nightingales."

Shahzani readily accepted and sent Tahmina to Shiraz, the capital of Fars province, to take over the government and bring the province into the Samanid empire.

In the Zagros Mountains, several Bakhtiar tribes were unwilling to submit to the Samanid dynasty. Incited by Bai Yijun and led by their respective sheikhs, imams, and chieftains, they frequently stormed into the plains to seize the Samanid army's supply convoys.

Shahzani crushed the unruly riders with his heavy cavalry and gunpowder units, forcing them back into the mountains. He then dispatched Bahram to lead his elite troops, completely subjugating the Lur-Bakhtiars.

Although the Zagros Mountains are mountainous, there are many wide plains and valleys between the parallel mountain ranges, and water resources are relatively abundant, which makes it convenient for large-scale legions to pass through. As long as the logistical supply lines are not cut off, there is not much of a problem.

Shahzani adopted a "carrot and stick" strategy, using appeasement to consolidate his rule after conquering the Lur and Bakhtiar people by force.

……

From the end of 1004 to the beginning of 1005 AD, during the period from the month of Da Yi to the month of Bahman, Shahzani was directing the purge of the remaining Bai Yi forces in the Jabari-Zagros Mountains, as well as other tribes and separatist forces.

It's important to note that previous Samanid dynasties never expanded their territory to the vicinity of the Zagros Mountains, but Shahzani's new Samanid dynasty did just that, and even brought the level of centralization to a new height.

The Baiyi Dynasty, like a setting sun, is about to be swallowed up by the torrent of history.

Taking advantage of the lull in the war.

Shahzani set off from Isfahan for Fars Province to experience the culture and scenery of the birthplace of the Persian people. Her growing belly did not affect her energy, and the group quickly arrived at Shiraz and Istahel.

First, we visited "Takht y Jamshid," meaning "Jamshid's Throne," which is the site of Persepolis of the Achaemenid dynasty. However, the ancient Persians were accustomed to the historical narrative of the Bishdadi-Kayan dynasty and knew very little about the Achaemenid dynasty, so they mistakenly believed that it was left behind by the legendary emperor Jamshid.

Of course, out of national sentiment, Shahzani also disliked the name "Persepolis," which was given by the Western Greeks, and preferred the title "The Throne of Jamshid," which was rich in Iranian cultural connotations.

However, objective historical facts must also be taken into account.

Shahzani then adopted a compromise, issuing a decree stating that the city was actually founded by the Keyan dynasty emperors Khoslu (Cyrus) and Darius (Darius), and was therefore renamed "Tahit y Darab," meaning "the throne of Darab."

The inscriptions of Behistun tell of the emperor's achievements. Gazing at the weathered and ancient cuneiform script, Shahzani was moved and began to recite them aloud in classical Persian:

“I am Darius! I am your great king, king of kings, lord of all nations, ruler of Iranians and non-Iranians, the sovereign of Persia, Media, Elam, Babylon, Assyria, Arabia, Armenia, Parthia, Drangiana, Aria, Bactria, and Saga…”

Then he repeated it again in a more concise and elegant New Persian.

With a passionate and eloquent expression, and a melodious tone, she stood on the high platform, facing her ministers, towering above the world, radiating boundless imperial authority. She truly seemed like a reincarnation of ancient Iranian emperors, inspiring awe and reverence in all the officials.

In an era that was quite superstitious about "sacred miracles," this was clearly one of the best ways to create a buzz.

In an instant, the historian in charge of recording took out his book and wrote down the queen's heroic spirit; the court poets sang loudly, praising the queen's powerful martial arts... The newly surrendered Bai Yi officials all kowtowed and kissed the ground, clearly regarding Shahzani as a prophet and god-king with boundless power.

Shahzani was very pleased. Since she could win people's hearts at a very low cost, why not?

After circling the ancient city ruins several times, the broken walls and ruins revealed the empire's glorious past... After the tour, Shahzani instructed the accompanying local officials to properly protect the city site and sent scholars from the army to assist in its restoration and research.

Leaving the ancient city, Shahzani visited the Sasanian-era cliff carvings, "Naksh y Rustam," meaning "Heroic Scenes." The massive rock face depicts the great deeds of the Sasanian emperors: Ardashir killing Ardaban, Ardashir receiving the "light" from Hormozd, Shapur capturing the Roman emperor Varanle... The themes are equally rich.

The Sasanian ruins in Fars Province are very rich, with palaces, Zoroastrian temples, fortresses, walkways, and towers all present. Shahzani also assigned his army of historians and scholars to participate in the protection and research of these treasure sites.

During this period of stay in Fars Province.

Bahraim sent a battle report from the front lines, stating that the vanguard army had taken control of cities such as Nihavand, Hamdan, and Kermanshah, and that their advance had reached the border town of Hulewang, capturing the Bai Yi monarch and dozens of civil and military officials, thus completely annihilating the Jabari-affiliated Bai Yi dynasty.

Of the various branches of the Baikal dynasty, the Fars and Jabari lines have been destroyed, leaving only the Iraqi line clinging to life.

In this way, all of Iran's territory east of the Zagros Mountains, including the rich provinces of Fars, Isfahan, Jabari-Zagros, and Azerbaijan, was now under the control of Shahzani, and the Samanid dynasty had effectively completed the unification of Iran.

"Issue an order to all frontline troops to set up camp along the strategic passes of the Zagros Mountains and prepare for battle. Note that our current task is to conserve our strength and not to launch an offensive into the Iraqi plains," Shahzani issued to his generals at all levels.

“Great Shah, shouldn’t we take this opportunity to conquer Baghdad?” some generals asked.

“No rush. Let the Caliph and the remnants of the Baiyi forces fight each other first. We can quietly watch these two wolves tear each other apart, and then take them down in one fell swoop when they are both exhausted,” Shahzani said with a smile.

The Mesopotamian plains, including Iraq and Jazira, although broadly considered part of Greater Iran, were, after all, the former Babylonian territory, with a stronger Semitic-Arab character, and were further removed from the center of Shahzani's rule.

Therefore, Shahzani planned to let the various factions in Iraq wear each other down first, while secretly deploying the Holy Fire Brigade and the Syrian Restoration Army to infiltrate, thus opening up another special front until the enemy was worn down.

Chapter 187 The Change of Power in Baghdad

Just as Shahzani was leading the Saman army to sweep across Jabari and unify the Iranian world east of the Zagros Mountains.

……

Baghdad, Iraq.