I was the Queen of Persia

Page 22

Sure enough, signs of the Khwarazmian army's mobilization and advance were soon discovered, and it was clear that they were heading straight for the city of Zanshahr.

The news of the impending invasion has been confirmed.

It is not too late.

Farzana decisively issued the order.

First, the garrisons of all towns, outposts, strongholds, and military oases should immediately begin full-scale training and assembly to prepare for the attack of the Khwarazmian army; second, the best riders should be dispatched on the fastest horses to deliver this message to Shahzani at the front as soon as possible.

Once the order was issued, thanks to the centralized and well-established administrative system, Shahzani's territory was quickly put into a "wartime state": troops were being assembled and mobilized, supplies were being allocated and distributed, and the entire regime rapidly formed a massive war machine.

Thanks to the road and post system built by Shahzani, the horse messenger galloped like lightning, bringing the message to the female leader fighting on the front lines.

Chapter 45 Marching North

Like a relay race, the intelligence about the Khwarazmian army's attack was rapidly relayed by messengers and couriers through the post stations scattered along the way, and soon reached the garrison at the front line in Termez.

"Oh? The Khwarazmians actually dared to invade our borders at this time." Shahzani held the intelligence report, her gaze sharp as she looked northwest, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "They really have no sense of martial ethics!"

“Sadar, should we lead our troops back to defend and counterattack the Khwarazmian army?” Bahramu asked.

“There’s no need to do that,” Shahzani waved his hand. “A sudden withdrawal while the battle is raging will inevitably disrupt morale. Besides, the journey is long, and we won’t be able to get back in time.”

“I believe our resourceful sister, Farzana, is capable of handling the enemy’s offensive. And all we can do here is to achieve even greater victories to boost their morale,” Shahzani added.

Shahzani couldn't help but think of the history of Khwarazm.

Like other parts of Greater Iran, the Khwarazmian region was long ruled by regimes established by Iranian-origin peoples. In 305 AD, the Afriq dynasty, founded by the Khwarazmians of eastern Iran, arose here. This small dynasty was not replaced until 995 AD, five years later, by another indigenous Iranian regime—the Mamun dynasty.

Although the Iranians of Khwarazm had not yet established a vast empire with a strong cultural influence like the Persian Iranians, they maintained a suzerain-vassal relationship with the Persian Empire for a long time.

During the Samanid dynasty, Khwarazm remained loyal to the Samanid court in Bukhara, and in return, the Samanid court granted them many preferential treatments. When the Samanid dynasty established a centralized system, it did not strip the Khwarazmian local rulers of their titles and powers, but rather tacitly allowed them to maintain the old tributary relationship.

Of course, during this period, Persian language and culture, with their powerful influence, gradually replaced the original Khwarazmian East Iranian language and the culture of the local East Iranian natives. But overall, the rule of the Persian central court in Khwarazm was relatively lenient and moderate.

However, historical sentiments ultimately cannot overcome the realities and threats of the present.

"Hmph, these Khwarazmians are utter hypocrites! In the past, our Samanid court gave them enough leniency, even allowing them autonomy in the border regions. But they stabbed us in the back when we were trying to restore our kingdom!" Bahramu clenched his fists in indignation as he thought of the Khwarazmian local government's treacherous behavior.

“Who can argue with that? But they are still just a small country. Sister, you must understand that under the coercion and enticement of a powerful nation, the position of a small country is often very fragile,” Shahzani said casually.

“Yes, that’s right. Just like some Turkic tribes on the northern steppes, they submitted to our Samanid dynasty when it was strong and glorious, but when it declined, they couldn’t wait to rebel. There’s no need to be merciful to such opportunistic tribes and regimes.” Bahramu agreed with this view.

"May our warriors unite in hatred against this enemy, and under the leadership of our sisters, defeat these despicable attackers!" she clenched her fist and swore.

Shahzani nodded slightly. She then wrote a letter and dispatched a courier to deliver it back to Zanshahr City via the postal system. In the letter, she offered Farzana strategies and suggestions for repelling the enemy.

……

Scouts at the front lines continuously reported back on the movements of the Karakhanid army.

According to reports, the Karakhanid army has amassed 15 troops, commanded by Subash Tegin, and has deployed defenses in the Shihanna Plain to prevent the northward advance of the Samanid army led by Shahzani.

In the border areas between the Saman and Karakhanian-controlled territories, sporadic skirmishes and encounters occurred frequently. The Karakhanian army repeatedly dispatched nomadic cavalry units to implement scorched-earth tactics, seemingly doing everything in their power to keep the Saman army at bay in the Surkhan River basin, thus protecting the southern flank of Bukhara and Samarkand.

But this did nothing to change the situation. The fall of Termez marked the opening of the southern gateway to the Karakhanid Dynasty. Within days of Shahzani's occupation of Termez, cities further east, such as Hutaliang and Pianjikent, surrendered voluntarily.

Meanwhile, in Termez, Shahzani's Saman army had amassed sufficient military strength. With all war preparations complete, Shahzani immediately ordered a northward offensive.

The objective of the campaign was Shihanna, the core city where the Karakhanid army had gathered and deployed its defenses.

……

Shihanna.

The dark brown Karakhanid army had spread across the plains outside the city, stretching as far as the eye could see. Countless Karakhanid nine-branched pine banners, along with various battle flags of affiliated Turkic tribes, fluttered in the wind.

The Karakhanid soldiers lined up in formation, and conscripted militia, infantry, feudal cavalry, heavy cavalry, nomadic horse archers, and auxiliary troops of the vassal state. All branches of the military were deployed to their respective positions under the orders of their officers.

“Very good! This is the true spirit of God’s devout warriors, valiant Turkic warriors, and descendants of Afrasiab!”

The commander-in-chief of the Karakhanid army, Subhash Tegin, dressed in heavy lamellar armor and riding a tall warhorse, looked at the endless army formation, and a look of pride appeared on his broad face.

He suddenly realized that Shahzani's army had come from afar and relied heavily on maintaining its supply lines. If those lines were cut off, they would be caught in a dilemma, and their fighting strength would be weakened. Therefore, he decided to first employ the traditional tactics of the Turkic nomadic tribes—attacking supply convoys to cut off the enemy's supplies and strike first.

Thinking of this, he immediately selected 5000 skilled horsemen from the affiliated Turgesh, Karluk, and Yangmo tribes, appointed them as commanders, and ordered them to lead their troops to immediately outflank the Saman army and destroy its supply train.

……

On the desert road 12 Farsakhs, south of Shihanna.

The Samanid army, led by Shahzani, was advancing northward in a disciplined marching formation. The vanguard, center, flanks, and rearguard were all deployed in an orderly fashion, and the vast army stretched as far as the eye could see.

In May of the Gregorian calendar, the Persian plains were already quite hot during the day. Gusts of hot wind carried dry sand and dust, and it seemed as if a ball of fire was rising from the sand, rapidly diluting the moisture in the bodies of the marching soldiers.

The Samanid soldiers forced themselves to endure the thirst brought on by the march, only taking small sips from their sheepskin water bags when they could no longer bear it.

As she rode on horseback, Shahzani constantly wiped the sweat from her pretty face; even her heavy military uniform had left her drenched in sweat. Gazing at the babbling brooks of the oases along the way, a hint of envy occasionally flickered in her beautiful eyes.

If it weren't for the heavy responsibility of war on her shoulders, she might have already taken off her full armor, wearing only a pair of briefs, and swam happily in the stream.

Chapter 46 The Battle of Shihanna (1)

The Samanid army, braving the scorching desert sun, marched with orderly and determined steps toward the Shihanna region to the north.

Shahzani opened the [Chronicles of the Persian King] system, planning to select a few more useful talent bonuses before the battle broke out.

Four talent trees:

National Management (1/25)

Military Warfare (2/25)

Economic development (2/25)

Culture and Technology (0/25)

Experience points: Level 15 (5%/100%)

Current remaining talent points: 10

Considering that she now controls a much larger territory, and that the level of governance needs to be further improved, she first checked the [National Management] line.

"National Governance - [Virtue of Faridon], Effect: Governance level of officials at all levels +15%, public loyalty +20%. Prerequisite: A reasonable and effective system has been established in the early stage, and the lives of the people have been improved (completed)."

Faridon was a wise and benevolent emperor in ancient Iranian epics. He led his army to overthrow the rule of the tyrant "Snake King" Zohak, restoring light and good governance to the land of Iran. During his reign, peace prevailed throughout Iran, and everyone followed the righteous path.

Shahzani chose to unlock this talent.

Then, she searched for the 【War and Military】 section.

"War Military - [Ardashir's Martial Arts], Effect: War command level of officers at all levels +15%, execution ability +15%, and adaptability +15%. Prerequisite: Win at least two major battles and allow your soldiers to accumulate military experience (completed)."

Ardashir Babak was the founder of the Sasanian dynasty of Iran. He rose to power early in his life, fought many brilliant victories on the battlefield, and ended the rule of Ardaban of the Parthian dynasty. As a result, his soldiers were all fierce, brave, and resourceful.

Shahzani has also unlocked this talent.

……

at this time.

A scout patrolling the perimeter of the main force broke through the thick, gray dust and galloped to report.

The scouts reported that a large number of Karakhan cavalry, numbering about four to five thousand, had been spotted moving in a flanking maneuver in an area about 6.24 kilometers to the west of the main army.

It turned out that, for tactical reasons, Shahzani had already deployed numerous small scout cavalry units around the perimeter of the main army. These cavalrymen were mostly conscripted from Turkic-Iranian nomadic tribes loyal to Shahzani, and were not only highly capable of patrolling and guarding, but also very loyal.

Upon receiving the scouts' report, Shahzani ordered them to continue the investigation.

"Sadar, let me lead the charge and send them to meet Allah!" Bahramu, still brimming with fighting spirit, volunteered.

“Haha, then there’s no need to mobilize you, my ‘Valkyrie’,” Shahzani waved her hand confidently. “I’ve already reserved troops to intercept them.”

After saying this, she immediately gave the order: about 5000 cavalry troops were to be dispatched from the two flanks to intercept the enemy army.

Thanks to the efficient execution of messengers and the military flag signaling system, the female leader's orders were quickly relayed to the relevant troops. In a short while, the Saman cavalry, having received the orders, swiftly formed battle formations and set off to intercept the Karakhan cavalry.

Thanks to the added system enhancements, the entire mobilization process was quite smooth.

"Our soldiers are indeed brave and decisive. It's a pity I couldn't join them and take a few enemy heads," Bahramu sighed, watching the departing cavalry.

　 　"Don't be disappointed, my sister. When we get to the battlefield in Shihanna, there will be a place for you to show your bravery," Shahzani said with a smile.

"Hey, yeah!"

"Let's keep going, giddy up!"

……

Saman's cavalry quickly approached the attacking Karakhan cavalry, their galloping horses kicking up clouds of dust.

Sure enough, the figures of the Karakhanid attackers appeared in the billowing dust ahead. The Samanid commander made a decisive move, ordering his troops to switch to an offensive formation and launch an attack.

The cavalry of both sides charged and fired, their horses clashing, further churning the already swirling sand and gravel into chaos. In an instant, shouts of battle, the neighing of warhorses, and the clanging of weapons filled the air. Amidst this tumultuous fighting, the two armies locked in a fierce melee, clashing and slashing repeatedly. With splattered blood, countless warriors and horses fell dead in the desert, staining the sand red.

While the Karakhanid cavalry were indeed fierce and brave, the Saman cavalry were equally valiant and skilled in battle. Moreover, thanks to Shahzani's training and systemic support, the Saman cavalry's cohesion and combat effectiveness had been greatly enhanced, making them virtually unmatched by their opponents.

After several rounds of fierce fighting, the Karakhanid cavalry's formation was broken and scattered, and their casualties increased, gradually putting them at a disadvantage. Meanwhile, the Samanid cavalry, with high morale, fought with increasing ferocity and constantly adjusted their formation, gradually suppressing their exhausted opponents.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the commanders and officers of the Karakhanid cavalry had no choice but to break up into smaller groups and take advantage of the nomadic tribes' superior horsemanship to escape.

Similar raids and counter-raids took place several times during Shahzani's march. With her meticulous troop deployment and skillful command, Shahzani was always able to detect the enemy's movements in advance, determine their intentions, and then dispatch relevant troops to counterattack and suppress them, ultimately protecting the supply convoys transporting fresh water and food from the rear.

……

May 10, 1000 AD, falls within the month of Ordibehsht in the Persian calendar.

The Samanian army, commanded by Shahzani, finally arrived at the battlefield of Shihanna.

Shahzani stood on the high slope, looking out over the desert, oasis and plains as far as the eye could see, there were dark, dense formations of Karakhanid troops and camps. The distant Gissar Mountains also looked tiny in the face of this massive army.

"My bravest sister, what do you think of this battle?"

Shahzani pointed his whip at the distant Karakhanid army and jokingly asked Bahram beside him.

"It is obvious that the Karakhanids are waiting in comfort to exhaust themselves."

Bahram is not just a warrior who can charge into battle; under Shahzani's careful guidance, she has mastered many tactics and strategies.

Bahramu pointed to the Gissar mountain range and continued:

"The Karakhanid army's generals and camps are deployed on the plains in front of the mountains, clearly intending to rely on the mountains and take advantage of the sloping terrain to suppress our army."

"However, they made a mistake: they dispersed their troops across such a vast plain in front of the mountains, making their forces weak. Once the fighting started, it would be difficult for the various units to support each other, and they would eventually be defeated one by one by our brave Iranian warriors."

After listening to her analysis, Shahzani nodded approvingly:

“You’re absolutely right. As long as we gather our forces and attack the weakest point in their formation, we’re bound to break through their defenses. Just like Rustam’s iron fist pierced the White Demon’s chest.”

Chapter 47 The Battle of Shihanna (2)

Shihanna City.

This historic city of the Samanid dynasty is now shrouded in the thick clouds of war. On the plains outside the city, an endless army stretches across the land, countless battle flags fluttering in the wind and sand.

Shahzani ordered the Saman army to make changes to its pre-battle deployment. Temporary battle camps were quickly established, and various branches of the army arrived at their designated locations and deployed into formation.

Through wartime expansion involving conquering cities and seizing territories, Shahzani's army had grown even larger.

At this time, her forces numbered 9, of which:

1. Samanid court female guards, totaling 500 people.

Second, the Samanian standing army, totaling 1 men (after the reorganization of the Khorasan cavalry).

Third, the Dehgan landlord forces, totaling 2 men.

Fourth, the Bassky General Mobilization Force, totaling 5 men, was recruited.

Fifth, the armed forces of nomadic tribes, totaling 1 people.

With 9 against 15, they were still slightly at a disadvantage. However, relying on their determination to wash away the humiliation, their high morale, and their outstanding command ability, this disadvantage could be completely reversed.

Shahzani knew that to win the battle, she needed to further optimize and reorganize her complex army. Therefore, she divided her 9 troops into three campaign legions:

The Central Army Corps, comprising 3 divisions and 3 troops, was commanded by herself.

The Left Wing Corps consisted of three divisions with a strength of 30,000 men, and was commanded by Bahram.

The Right Wing Army consisted of three divisions with a strength of 30,000 men, and was commanded by Hossloo.

……