I was the Queen of Persia

Page 172

In the Asian region, Prince Consort Iraj continued his sweeping campaign against the Eastern Turan tribes in the buffer zone, disintegrating and eliminating the Eastern Turan border armed forces.

According to past practice, the Turan cavalry, with their superior mobility, were more likely to seize the initiative on the battlefield and then plunder towns and villages within Iran.

But times have changed.

Through the large number of Turan tribes who fled and surrendered, the Samanid Empire built up a highly mobile cavalry force, capable of driving away, suppressing, counter-encircling, and annihilating Turan cavalry that came to plunder.

Furthermore, the empire's border regions were dotted with fortresses, and the crisscrossing post stations (military stations) and trade routes (official roads) effectively connected the originally isolated fortresses and strongholds.

When one area is attacked, nearby military camps can quickly receive the alarm and rush to the combat zone, with mobilization efficiency greatly improved than before.

Shahzani did not fully adopt the "Gorgon Wall" model: building extensive walls and watchtowers along the long border, which was not only costly and laborious, but also not necessarily effective in defense.

The city walls are inanimate; the enemy is alive.

In her view, building more roads and using a well-developed road system to transport troops was a better strategy to counter the southward raids of nomadic empires.

……

At that very moment, a surprise encounter was taking place in the buffer zone of the Yangjigan border region.

The Turan troops who came to invade had just set up camp when they were attacked by an armed group. The sharp-eyed Turan soldiers recognized them as a small tribe that had fled south several years ago after being defeated in a civil war.

But why is this once weak and impoverished tribe now launching such a fierce offensive? Not only are the soldiers charging forward bravely, but their weapons and armor are also quite advanced, unlike anything that a poor tribe could afford.

"God above! Tengri above! Could it be that the almighty God has bestowed a miracle, causing swords and armor to grow in the desert?!"

Those soldiers in Turan's army who were more ignorant and superstitious all thought so.

Daydreaming was of no use in the battle, and this group of Turan troops was quickly defeated, abandoning a large amount of wealth, tents, cattle and sheep, and fled north as fast as they could.

Only Shahzani and Saman's generals knew the origin of this story.

……

News of the victory was transmitted to the imperial capital, Jahanshahr, via the empire's postal system.

Shahzani opened the document of commendation and awards, and a string of Persian words came into view:

Uzbekistan Legion.

It was the subordinate units of this legion that achieved the victory in the aforementioned skirmish.

For several months, this legion has been patrolling back and forth between Zaydi, Yangjigan, and Xignahei. They fought bravely, killing more than a thousand invading Turan cavalrymen, destroying more than a hundred Turan tents, and turning more than a hundred Turan soldiers against their cause, effectively curbing the Turan tribe's advance towards the Samanid border.

He has achieved numerous military exploits.

Combat effectiveness is often related to the composition of military units.

This unit consisted of several Iranian standing army divisions, several Iranian Savaran heavy cavalry divisions, Turkmen-Seljuk cavalry units, other surrendered Turkic-Turan troops, plus local Central Asian (not yet Persianized) Sogdian, Bactrian, and Khwarazmian armed forces.

With a full complement of regular troops, heavy armored shock troops, nomadic mobile troops, frontline infantry, and camel caravans skilled in traversing deserts, the well-equipped and rationally configured military naturally facilitates the formation of combat effectiveness.

Combat effectiveness is often related to the command of the generals and commanders.

The current commander of the legion is none other than Princess Farukzad's attendant, Kyzylhan Beg.

She was originally a soldier in the Turan Khan's guard, and not only was she highly skilled in tactics and techniques, but she also had a good understanding of the customs and habits of the various tribes of Turan. Naturally, she was very proficient in training troops and waging war.

The organization and growth of this force also received strong support from Princess Farukzad.

Indeed, after his rash actions led to failure and demotion, Farukzad did not succumb to despair. Instead, he reflected deeply on his mistakes and redeemed himself through meritorious service.

She spearheaded the formation of this force, promoted her attendant to the rank of general, and then worked closely with her husband, Iraj, on all fronts, continuing the epic tale of heroes like Rustam.

The name "Uzbekistan" was chosen by Shahzani himself.

This is a word that blends Turkic and Iranian languages, meaning "one's own master." This name is also common among the various Turan tribes. In earlier Persian written records, Samanid officials repeatedly mentioned Turkic-Turan leaders named "Uzbek."

However, the Uzbeks are not only "Turkic-Turanian" in nature, but also absorbed a large number of Iranian soldiers and were deeply influenced by Iranian-Persian culture, so their "Iranian attributes" are also obvious.

Shahzani was more familiar with this because in her previous life's timeline, there was a Central Asian country and people with the same name, which was formed by the long-term integration of Turkic and Iranian cultures.

The name "Uzbek" was chosen to encourage the complementary strengths and harmonious coexistence of the Iranian and Turan ethnic groups. Therefore, when Diwan's military submitted several proposed designations, Shahzani approved this resounding and familiar name.

……

The Queen's influence continues to grow.

With its newly formed "Uzbek" legion and other troops, the Samanid Empire swept through the Turan people in the buffer zone. For several months, the Turan people dared not venture south to the warm pastures to graze their sheep and horses.

Meanwhile, on the distant European continent.

Nisa Sahini has also found a foothold in the Alps.

After the base was somewhat consolidated, various exiles from the surrounding areas—displaced European natives, homeless Sogdians and other Eastern peoples, deserted Turan soldiers and slaves, and so on—all flocked to this military advisor of the Samanid Empire.

These refugees, some having lost their homes and land, some unable to endure the "purification persecution" of the Dawn Crusade, some weary of battlefield killings, and some fleeing the exploitation and oppression of their former masters... the instinct for survival propelled them toward Nissa Sahinnian.

In their eyes, only this seemingly wanton and seductive Persian female military envoy could truly lead them out of this fiery hell and sea of ​​suffering.

With the influx of refugees.

Nisa Sahini's followers have also increased significantly.

The land they originally occupied was a small noble territory in the mountains. Although it was relatively close to the main trade route, the land was small and the resources were not abundant. As the number of people in the tribe increased, they also faced difficulties in providing for them.

With the help of his servants Bald Horse and Valera, they eventually discovered several small mountain plains and basins near the territory. The soil was good, the streams were plentiful, and the forests were not too dense.

Among the tribe were a group of strong and robust West Slavic farmers, whose robust physiques were sufficient for logging and clearing land; and a group of skilled Qin craftsmen, who could manufacture various advanced agricultural tools.

You can try cultivating a small plot of land first to grow crops for supply.

Chapter 394 The Harvest of the Mehergan Festival

Time flies.

In the blink of an eye, it was October 1029 AD, the Mehergan Festival of the Persian calendar year 398.

This is Iran's traditional autumn harvest day, a time when citrus fruits are succulent and the air is filled with the fragrance of melons and fruits.

The Samanid Empire under Shahzani's rule achieved greater material wealth thanks to its vast territory and more abundant production capacity.

As a manifestation of the development of productivity to a certain level, the Samanid Empire attempted to implement a specialization of labor in various provinces. In fact, by the 10th century AD, the Samanid dynasty had already seen simple assembly line production.

Shahzani could certainly upgrade and improve this.

The harvests from all the provinces of the empire were collected and sent to the Jahanshahr court.

As the core of the empire and a production base for the empire's wheat, barley, cotton, saffron, figs, apples, pomegranates, and other products, Khorasan Province has once again achieved a bumper harvest this year, with fragrant fruits being continuously transported to the official granaries of various cities.

The grasslands bordering Khorasan, Gorgan, and Dayistan provinces—including Bojinurd, Astrabad, Abiverd, and Nisa—have always been a major livestock base for the empire, and this year they have bred herds of warhorses, cattle, sheep, and camels.

The provinces on the northern shore of the Caspian Sea, with their unique climate, produce rice as white as cream, citrus fruits as sweet as honey, tea imported from China, and various crops adapted to the subtropical humid climate.

Other major provinces—Transoxiana, Khwarazm, Sistan, Rai, Isfahan, Fars, etc.—provide considerable quantities of barley, saffron, figs, dates, melons, grapes, onions, carrots, cauliflower, beets, garlic, cumin, walnuts, almonds, and other products.

As a vast empire, Iran's agricultural output had exceeded the farmers' needs in most years, resulting in a large surplus of grain that could be sold in cities or distributed to the imperial military, political, and religious personnel through the imperial bureaucracy.

Large quantities of agricultural products flowed from the state-owned or Dehgan and Iqta lands, from the lands cultivated by independent farmers and tenant farmers, into the imperial court and government, supporting a vast imperial bureaucracy.

During the decades that followed Shahzani's rule, material wealth continued to increase dramatically.

For several years in a row, local governments in various provinces and counties have repeatedly submitted memorials complaining that the treasury is so full of supplies that every year there is uneaten grain that dries out and molds, and the ropes used to bind the supplies rot and break.

Shahzani certainly wouldn't let it go to waste.

Iranian architects improved the structure of the granaries to better retain a dry atmosphere, slow down mold growth, and reduce losses caused by rodents, birds, and insects. Combined with Iran's relatively arid climate, this greatly reduced waste.

At the same time, the methods for replacing old grain with new grain should be improved, and a more scientific grain storage cycle should be established. Any surplus grain can also be transferred out as religious and charitable reserves for mosques, so as to prepare public welfare meals during Nowruz, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha.

If there was any left over, it was processed into fodder for the warhorses of the Savaran heavy cavalry.

In short, this series of measures has effectively controlled the waste of surplus grain.

……

Yazd Province.

The massive domes, standing side by side, and the towering Iwan Arch of Persia, highlight the centralized imperial order.

The brick towers stand tall, but these are not wind-catching towers, but pigeon towers.

This is a common pigeon loft in Yazd province. Every year, the migrating pigeons provide a huge amount of guano, which can be used not only as fertilizer, but now has another major use – extracting saltpeter to make gunpowder.

Gunpowder technology had made great progress in the Samanid Empire: state-run arsenals were producing firearms on a large scale, with muskets and cannons readily available, which would soon be used in the war against the Turan Khanate.

However, at this stage, it is the Turans who have taken the initiative.

……

Syr Darya Krai, a buffer zone north of Akagigan City.

"Disperse and lie in hiding, be careful to remain concealed."

From the tall grass on the hillside, a large number of fully armed soldiers emerged. The leader, Yuzbash (a centurion), gazed at the bountiful harvest in the distant village, a greedy glint in his wolf-like eyes.

"God above! Raiding these villages will surely yield a good harvest!" Yuzbash's eyes were already drawn to the piles of fragrant fruits.

"Chief, the commander of a thousand has ordered us to sweep through this area, plunder the spoils, and then retreat to join him," a soldier said.

"Very good. Spread out your formation and proceed with the looting as planned. Once you've succeeded, immediately regroup and move on!"

Accompanied by Turkic war cries, the fierce cavalry charged out of the tall grassy slopes and headed straight for the village ahead.

In the history of Inner Asia, this was a common occurrence—nomadic armed forces, relying on their militarized advantages and high mobility, raided settled villages and towns.

The village militia on guard immediately noticed the rising dust, a dangerous signal that the Turans were attacking. Climbing the earthen wall to observe further, they saw the Turan cavalry deploy in a crescent formation, attacking from both sides and closing in.

"Turan cavalry attack! Alert! Alert!"

The loud command alerted the villagers, and the able-bodied men and women in the village quickly armed themselves, assembled, and rushed to the earthen wall to resist and fight back.

Unlike ordinary villages, this village was formed by the "Agricultural Holy War Mobilization" army, and many of its villagers were quasi-military garrison soldiers of the Samanid Empire, making the entire village semi-militarized.

Faced with the surprise attack by the Turan cavalry, the villagers of Saman remained calm and composed, with each squad performing its duties and guarding the earthen walls of the village.

"shoot!"

The female militia leader of Saman—a veteran who retired from the "Marlziban" border guard corps in Khorezm province—raised her lioness-like voice and gave orders to her soldiers.

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—!"

Like locusts, sharp arrows whistled past, and Turan's forwards were instantly thrown to the ground.

"Bang-bang-!"

Several loud explosions suddenly rang out, accompanied by sparks that sent sand and dirt flying, startling Turan's warhorse into rearing up and neighing.

The Turan soldiers were immediately at a loss, thinking that the Persians were using some kind of "unknown weapon" again.

In fact, those were spare muskets for military villages. The empire's arsenal expanded further, not only arming the main regular army but also benefiting many militia and paramilitary outposts.

In an instant, several more Turan soldiers were shot off their horses.

"Maintain formation! Take turns providing cover!" The Saman militia captain continued to issue orders.

The Saman militia—a large group of barefoot Iranian women—were incredibly powerful and, relying on their unwavering fighting spirit, drove the Turan raiders away, preventing them from getting close. In a short time, the tide of the battle turned.

At the same time, the sound of horses' hooves clattering and dust billowing came from all sides, as if a large number of reinforcements were rushing towards them.

The Turan raiders dared not linger in the fight, fearing that if they continued to entangle themselves, they would become sitting ducks. So, before the Saman forces could surround them, they slunk away.

Chapter 395 The Princess Strikes the Heart of the Army

Around the time of Mehergan in the year 398 of the Persian calendar.

Guided by nomadic military nobles, the various tribes of the Eastern Turan Khanate launched surprise attacks on towns and villages along the Syr Darya border of the Samanid Empire during the autumn harvest season. The furthest outposts even secretly crossed the Syr Darya River and raided as far as the vicinity of Tashkent.

This is the norm in history.

For years, Turan's army has also frequently crossed the border and ventured deep into Iranian territory, Zamin, to plunder.

However, as the country grew stronger under Shahzani's rule, they became increasingly difficult to defeat, and this year they suffered an unprecedented major setback.

Turan's troops, who attempted to raid across the border, mostly encountered fierce resistance. They not only failed to seize food and slaves, but also suffered heavy losses and ultimately returned empty-handed.

A few lucky ones, even if they managed to plunder food, people, and wealth, were often pursued and attacked by the Iranian "Uzbek" legion halfway back with their spoils. After a fierce battle, they were forced to abandon their spoils and flee in disarray.

The most unfortunate among them, before they could even escape the pursuit, were encircled and divided by the "Uzbek" legion. After a fierce battle, they were all killed or annihilated. This was the fate of the raiding force that ventured deep into Tashkent.

……

All the reports of victory were compiled and presented to the capital, Jahanshahr.