I was the Queen of Persia

Page 64

She then used the same tactic again, capturing the second, third, and other strongholds at the pass. She then lit bonfires as a pre-arranged signal to order the Saman army stationed in front of the mountain to launch an offensive.

Saman's army swept through Jaggai Mountain. The various Ghaznavid armies, which were scattered and stationed there, were unable to regroup and were instead divided and surrounded, falling into a predicament of fighting their own battles. Even if they tried to hold their ground by taking advantage of the mountainous terrain, it was to no avail.

Several more days passed.

Shahzani Saman's army has defeated Rajana's Ghazni forces and has set up camp in the Jagai Mountains for a temporary rest.

"Have you found the enemy general Rajana?" Shahzani asked Saman's staff.

“Unfortunately, my Queen,” said Saman’s aide. “According to the captured Ghaznaean soldiers, Rajana has escaped again amidst the chaos.”

"Oh, what do you mean?" Shahzani asked after she understood.

“Our army captured some of the Ghulam Guards, who were Rajana’s confidantes. According to them, they were ordered to cover Rajana’s escape along a path to the southeast, but they got separated from the group and were captured by our army. If we calculate the timeline, Rajana may have already escaped the encirclement,” said Saman’s advisor.

"Southeast direction... southeast direction..."

As Shahzani walked, she thought, "To the southeast, there are countless roads, large and small, leading to Hindustan. This Ghazni woman was originally an Indian slave, and it is highly likely that she will take advantage of the chaos to defect to Sindh and the Hindustan region."

The Saman general praised the Queen's wisdom and then deployed light cavalry to pursue her. Of course, Shahzani knew that even if they pursued her, it would most likely be fruitless.

Subsequent events proved Shahzani's judgment correct. After her defeat in the Jaggai Mountains, Rajana abandoned the main force and fled to India with only a small number of close followers to seek refuge with the Hindu Rajya kings.

Regardless, this can be considered as cutting off one of Mahmoud's powerful arms.

Having defeated Rajana, Shahzani was about to regroup and return to Zhalanj when a soldier reported that a large number of Balochistan riders had attacked and looted many of the army's supply depots.

How dare a mere border tribe defy the mighty army of the Samanid Persians?

Upon hearing this news, Shahzani was very displeased: "These Baloch people are really arrogant. If we don't punish them, it may shake the morale and discipline of our army!"

They then assembled the Sargoz warriors and went to subdue them.

Dust storms swept across the desolate plains, obscuring the sun, while fierce battle raged beneath towering, precipitous mountains.

Encouraged by the defeated Ghaznavid army and out of fear of the government, the Baloch people spontaneously took up arms, mounted their warhorses, and plundered and fought against the Samanid forces.

The Saqz forces, belonging to the Saman, lived up to expectations. They were tenacious and brave, and were familiar with the Baloch people's customs and tactics. Therefore, under the leadership of the Saman officers, they launched attacks from different directions, constantly striking the Baloch tribal alliance.

Ultimately, the Samanid army defeated the Baloch. These nomadic tribes, in order to protect themselves, migrated to sparsely populated deserts and mountains to escape potential disaster. At least, they had done so in the past after being defeated by government forces.

After a series of encounters, Shahzani was determined to conquer Makran (Balochistan) once and for all to eliminate the possibility of the Baloch tribes causing trouble from behind. Therefore, he transferred Nasita and the Khwarazmian army, granted them power, and ordered them to occupy the Balochistan region.

At this point, another of Saman's advisors suggested to Shahzani:

“Your Majesty, although the Baloch people are allied with the Ghaznavid dynasty, instigated by the Ghaznavid dynasty, and simultaneously formed the ‘Devil Cavalry’ vanguard of the Ghaznavid dynasty with the Arabs, they are not unwinnable… With the right strategy, they can become loyal subjects of the Samanid dynasty.”

Chapter 143 Zhalanji's Banquet

“Yes, you’re absolutely right. If they’ve chosen the right path, that would be wonderful,” Shahzani replied thoughtfully.

She certainly understood what Saman's advisors were saying, but she knew even better that in such turbulent times of frequent wars, dealing with such a restless nomadic people required a more persuasive approach.

Battle flags blotted out the sun, soldiers marched and horses galloped.

Nasida's Khwarazmian army quickly crossed the Jaggai Mountains and continued south to conquer the vast, arid, and barren land of Makran (Baluchistan).

Shahzani then returned to Zaranj to consolidate his control over the newly reclaimed Sistan province.

The atmosphere on the victorious return journey was much more relaxed than on the way there.

The experience of fighting side by side brought the soldiers of Transoxiana-Khorasan Province and Sistan Province closer together. When they set up camp to rest, they would sit together in small groups, chatting and laughing.

The soldiers flaunted the weapons they had captured from the enemy, which they believed were their due reward for their war achievements.

Some brought out Kabul swords adorned with gold; others brought out Quzalcoatl swords inlaid with jade; some brought out Abyssinian daggers carved from ivory; and still others brought out Arabian-Bedouin daggers studded with pearls…

They also discussed the legendary tales of heroes like Sam, Zar, and Rustam. Rustam's story is widely known in Iranian cultural circles, and even more so in Sistan province…

After several days of marching, they returned to Zaranj. The Safar family, along with officials and commoners, had been waiting at the city gates to welcome them. Khalaf ibn Ahmad Safar had already sincerely submitted to the Safar regime and had held a grand banquet in the city's palace gardens in advance to celebrate Queen Shahzani's triumphant return.

The exquisite Zhalanji Palace Gardens.

The colorful camel hair carpets, the solemn and symmetrical brickwork patterns, the exquisite copper kettles shrouded in fragrant mist, the vibrant and fragrant flowers, and the babbling artificial fountains all combine to create a paradise-like scene.

The Queen's triumphant return added even more splendor to this beautiful scene.

The maids and servants presented a variety of delicacies: fragrant roasted meat; exquisitely patterned pilaf; colorful dried fruits piled high on intricately decorated ceramic plates; and fine wine in glasses that shimmered with the luster of deep red gemstones and crimson coral...

The most eye-catching items were several large jars of a dark, pungent, fermented fruit juice-like liquid.

"Your Majesty, please allow me to introduce myself."

Khalaf ibn Ahmad Safar walked to the black wine and said, "This is a special wine from Sistan Province, made from crocodiles in Lake Hamon using a special process. It is very rare and is only served to the most distinguished guests."

After saying this, he gestured to the servants to pour out the black nectar and offer it to Shahzani.

Shahzani was certainly familiar with this local specialty and had always been curious about this delicacy mentioned in historical records. However, unlike the wine made from fruit and honey that she was used to, this wine was made from different ingredients, so she had no idea what it would taste like.

However, seeing the expectant eyes of the Safar family head and all the civil and military officials present, she still smiled, picked up the cup, and took a few sips.

After a brief period of bitterness, a rich sweetness slid down her throat, instantly making her feel refreshed and invigorated. After one cup, she felt energized, and all her fatigue vanished.

How to describe the taste? It's a bit like herbs mixed with cough syrup.

“Mmm, what a delicious liquid!” she exclaimed. “Such a delicacy bestowed by God Hudda should be shared by all of you.”

He then instructed his servants to distribute the wine to everyone.

The civil and military officials thanked the Queen for her gift, raised their cups to drink, and praised her endlessly.

Liu Wenyuan, a man from Qin, was also among the banquet guests. He had repeatedly offered strategic advice and accumulated military merits, and was now a member of the Queen's advisory team, thus earning his right to attend the banquet. Looking at the jet-black liquid in his cup, he recalled the "Dragon Ointment Wine" presented as a tribute from a foreign land during the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty; this must be it. He drank it all in one gulp, instantly feeling refreshed and invigorated, and couldn't help but marvel once again at the abundance of rare treasures in this foreign land.

Dancers, clowns, musicians, and court poets all took to the stage to entertain the guests.

With glasses clinking and music playing, the banquet atmosphere reached its climax.

At that moment, a Nassak came with a messenger and presented the Queen with a scroll of secret letter. The seal and signature of Bahraim on the envelope were particularly conspicuous. Shahzani couldn't wait to open it and read it.

After reading it, a joyful smile appeared on her face.

It was a report of victory from Bahram on the Eastern Front.

Since the end of 1002 AD, Bahramu's army has been attacking the Western Khanate of the Karakhanid Dynasty. Bahramu's army has won one victory after another and advanced with unstoppable momentum. A few weeks ago, she led her troops to capture Talas, restoring the glory of Ismail Samani (the founding monarch of the Samanid Dynasty).

In recent days, she has once again defeated the forces of Ahmad Togan Khan of the Karakhanid Dynasty, swept along the Chu River-Issyk-Kul, captured cities such as Suyab and Bars Khan, and besieged Balasagun.

Ahmad Togan Khan's power was waning; his demise was only a matter of time.

"Excellent, very good!" Shahzani exclaimed with a beaming smile, then announced to the assembled officials, "The Iranians have once again achieved a major victory in their war against the Turans!"

Of course, she only offered a poetic praise and did not reveal any specific details about the military intelligence, since it is better to have as few people as possible who know about some important military information.

This news of victory brought the banquet to its climax. All the civil and military officials were present to celebrate, the court poets immediately recited poems from heroic epics, and the musicians joined in playing magnificent and stirring music.

Meanwhile, the Queen's Shahel guards once again transformed into "war dancers": they shed their heavy armor, donned light veils, and twirled and danced on the symmetrically patterned carpet, their skin peeking out from beneath the veils, their weapons flashing with a majestic, cold light.

Beautiful dancers wielding swords, accompanied by heroic epics, soaring religious chants, and victorious battle achievements... all of this showcases Shahzani's extraordinary power.

Shahzani, with an air of unbridled confidence and a "who says women are inferior to men" attitude, drank with each of her ministers in turn. She had an exceptional capacity for alcohol, quickly emptying several jars of fine wine and leaving her ministers completely drunk, while she herself remained radiant, only her flushed cheeks and slight tipsiness revealing her immense capacity for alcohol…

By the end of the banquet, all the nobles and officials of Sistan were deeply impressed by Her Majesty's military prowess and charisma, and submitted to her rule with even greater sincerity.

An official, swaying slightly, said, "The Shah of Iran... is the universe, and the Shah Queen is... the eternal sun!"

Another nobleman, completely drunk, exclaimed, "May the Queen... Her Majesty... live forever!"

The nobles of the Safar family praised and bowed again, but they had drunk too much of the fine wine, so much so that after bowing, they staggered and almost fell to the ground, but fortunately, the servants beside them helped them up in time.

Shahzani remained calm and composed until she had instructed all the guests to be safely escorted back to their residences before leading the accompanying female guards and slaves back to their quarters.

But no one knew that her stomach was already unbearably bloated, and she nearly lost control several times. After rushing back to her lodgings, she released countless gushing bubbles, accompanied by rising steam. As a result, throughout the night, there were intermittent sounds like a torrential downpour, and those unaware of the situation might have thought that the Rustam Dam had opened its floodgates.

Chapter 144 Marching into the Gur Mountains

The Samanid army rested for several weeks in Sistan province to replenish its supplies and manpower.

During this period, Shahzani also frequently mobilized soldiers to help build and reinforce infrastructure in Sistan province.

The Rustam Dam, which regulates the Helmand River, the Farah River, Lake Hamon, and other man-made irrigation canals, is the lifeblood of agricultural production in Sistan Province. This irrigation system is managed and maintained by a specialized government office, with officials at various levels working together.

Shahzani allocated a regiment of about 1000 troops to be stationed near the Rustam Dam to protect the dam from bandits and nomadic tribes, while also constructing many new irrigation facilities.

Sistan is known for its strong winds and sandstorms. Even in the relatively favorable 10th century AD, sandstorms were frequent. The sky was often a murky orange-red, and strong winds would carry sand and dust that swept through farmland and orchards, stripping leaves, bending trees, and damaging crops, thus harming agricultural and pastoral production.

To protect against sandstorms, the Sistan people built many structures called "sandbars" (also known as bands). Sandbars were usually built around large-scale irrigated farmland, and their appearance was similar to that of water-retaining dams, but their function was to block sandstorms.

Near major cities like Zhalanj and Zabul, there are numerous sand dunes, such as the famous "Bahman Sand Dune" and "Nimruz Sand Dune." However, due to war and turmoil in recent years, the local government's maintenance work on these facilities was delayed, resulting in the erosion of many dunes by shifting sands and the accumulation of sand beneath them, a situation that is far from optimistic.

With her efficient mobilization system, Shahzani mobilized the military and civilians to clear the accumulated sand, while also repairing and reinforcing the ancillary facilities of each sand dam. To control desertification more effectively, she also relied on man-made wells and canals to plant more drought-resistant fruit trees, which could both stabilize the soil and water and provide fruits and other produce.

Shahzani's measures were very popular, which made the integration process in Sistan province smoother.

The annual Nowruz festival arrived, and Shahzani spent the New Year in Sistan, presiding over the local spring plowing celebrations. While the Saman soldiers celebrated the festival, they also actively prepared for war. After conserving their strength, the Saman army officially marched towards the eastern neighboring province of Zabulstan.

……

April 1, 1003 AD, the 12th of the month of Farvardin in the Persian calendar.

Shahzani's Saman army advanced into the Zabulstan region, but Mahmoud's Ghazni army was already on high alert.

The Ghazni army established an extremely strong defensive line based in major cities and regions such as Bust, Kandahar, Zamin-Dawar, and Firouzkande, completely blocking the road to the Kabul-Ghazni Valley (the center of Ghazni's rule).

After Ayaz's remnants retreated to Zabulstan, Mahmud assigned them to the front lines of Bust. Mahmud did not overly reprimand his favorite minister for the loss of Sistan; instead, he encouraged him to continue fighting and rewarded him with slaves and wealth.

Mahmoud also promoted many brave generals and officers who had fought valiantly in previous battles, such as Eriyaruk, Asiq Tegin Ghazi, Inar Tegin, the Indian Tirah, and Suvindhere, appointing them as commanders to defend the city and actively preparing for war.

The Sultan, whose glory as a conqueror still lingered, attempted to desperately resist the Saman army's offensive.

Determined to fight to the death and avenge their defeat, Ayaz achieved an initial victory at the walls of Bust: the Saman army's siege failed, and they retreated, abandoning many fallen soldiers. Subsequently, Ayaz joined forces with Eryaruk and Tirak to pursue the enemy, forcing the Saman forces back several miles.

Seeing their attack fail, Shahzani personally led the Shahri Women's Guard to meet the enemy. The heavily armored female warriors, riding cavalry, displayed their prowess and swept across the vast battlefield. Although the Ghazni army was tenacious, they were exhausted and their fighting spirit had waned after their initial assault. They were quickly forced back to their defensive lines by the valiant female warriors.

Ayaz and other Ghazni generals had already learned a great deal about the strength of the Samanid army, so after retreating to the city, they held their ground and relied on the strong defenses of the city walls to block their advance.

Although the Samanian engineers were skilled in siege warfare, and the special engineering units composed of Qin craftsmen were even more highly skilled, all the work of besieging, attacking, and constructing fortifications had to be far more costly in the face of the Ghaznavid army's comprehensive defenses.

Seeing that the frontal attack was thwarted, Shahzani decided to use her tried-and-true tactic again: a flanking maneuver.

But which roundabout route should we choose?

Shahzani looked at the map and pondered repeatedly before finally choosing the Hindu Kush Mountains, where the Gur and Khalji Turks lived.

In short, by taking advantage of the Hindu Kush Mountains (where the Ghazni army's defenses were weak), they could launch a surprise attack on the heartland of the Ghazni regime—the Ghazni-Kabul Valley. This would not only greatly disrupt Mahmud's strategic plans but also allow him to bring the Ghurid and other regimes into his territory.

Faced with the Queen's proposal, Halshid expressed his concerns: "The Hindu Kush Mountains are long and towering, the roads are rugged, and the Gur tribes living in the mountains are a fierce and warlike group, so the journey may be dangerous."

Shahzani smiled inwardly: This is a piece of cake; I know all the historical maps by heart.

Of course, she didn't say it aloud, but simply stated: "Thanks to my blessing as the King of Kings and the brave fighting of my warriors, even the highest mountains are nothing more than insignificant plains."

Halshid also worried: "The Ghaznavid army might take advantage of the situation to launch a counterattack."

Shahzani said, "After suffering heavy losses in battles such as Jam, the Ghazni army is like a dying lion, forced to retreat to its den in disarray and passively defend itself by relying on its remaining strength. Perhaps this lion can still occasionally show its might, but in the end, it cannot escape the fate of death."

Upon hearing this, Halshid once again admired the Queen's magnanimity and wisdom.

Of course, even with grand ambitions, one must be sufficiently cautious when implementing the plan.

Shahzani appointed soldiers familiar with the geography and customs of Gur as guides and gathered intelligence from merchants who had previously traveled to the Gur region. During the battles of Hain, Jam, and Fara, many Gur-descended Ghazni soldiers were captured by the Samanid army. Samanid female soldiers used pressure, torture, and seduction to win them over and make them serve the Samanid army. Many other Gur people, admiring the queen, voluntarily submitted to her.

Shahzani then ordered Khurshid to lead the main force to stay in place and promoted several promising young officers, including Samdukht, Bahar Anar, Nafisha Yazti, Bahmani Isfahani, and Fatme Azati, to assist Khurshid.

After making some preparations, Shahzani obtained enough intelligence and led a force composed of Shahri guards, horse archers, mountain tribal infantry, engineers, and others, turning back towards the mountains.

The expeditionary force quietly bypassed the scouts from Ghaznavidy, crossed the Helmand and Farah rivers, and entered the valleys inside the Hindu Kush Mountains through a pass on the edge of the mountains.

Chapter 145 The Submission of the Ghurs (1)

The towering and precipitous Hindu Kush Mountains, along with their inner valleys, bisect the oasis plains of Balkh and the basin plains of Ghazni like a long dagger.

The Sasanian Persians and Guptas of India called this mountainous region, along with the various ethnic groups living in the mountains, "Avagana," which is the origin of the later name "Afghan."

Shahzani led the Saman army along the river valleys and passes, heading towards the Gur people's settlements in the mountains.

The various units of the army coordinated seamlessly, moving with lightning speed, obeying orders without question, and maintaining strict military discipline. The treacherous mountains and rugged roads could not deter the army's resolute advance.

Lead riders and scout cavalry shuttled back and forth, scouting for obstacles such as roadblocks, mud, and rocks ahead, and conveying the unified supreme command to each unit.

Mo Yuxuan's Chinese engineers were outstanding. They carried sophisticated tools with them and skillfully paved roads, cut down trees, and cleared obstacles whenever they encountered difficult sections of road.

The rearguard also strictly followed military orders, collecting the army's belongings and trying to erase any traces of the large army's march to prevent them from being discovered by the enemy.